Rabbi Dr Michael Hilton lived in Kenton as a child, and attended Quainton Hall School, Harrow and Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood. He studied Latin, Greek and English Literature at Oxford and completed a doctorate about English translations of the Anacreontea. Michael worked as a Housing Officer with homeless families before training for the rabbinate at Leo Baeck College.
Michael is an experienced and innovative congregational Rabbi. He served Menorah Synagogue Cheshire Reform Congregation and North London Progressive Synagogue before coming to Kol Chai in 2001 and returning to the area where he grew up. His grandparents lived in Hatch End during World War ll.
At Kol Chai he has overseen the change from a congregation with more children than adults to one where most members are young adults or parents of young adults. During his time he has encouraged and supported:
Michael has written two books in the field of Jewish Christian Dialogue: The Gospels and Rabbinic Judaism (1988, with Gordian Marshall OP), and The Christian Effect on Jewish Life (1994). He has recently completed an MA on the history of the bar mitzvah ceremony. Michael is married and has three sons.
