David Dein MBE, Raffi Berg, Josh Glancy and Adam Wagner are some of the star guests at Eden Primary School’s Tree of Knowledge programme this month.

Parents at the Muswell Hill school launched the adult education event in 2013 for the community and its neighbours to share knowledge, ideas and skills. 

Back after a three-year break due to Covid, Tree of Knowledge is open to everyone and features sessions covering politics, history, religion, sport, music, food and wellbeing on the Wednesday evenings of 7, 14, 21 and 28 June. 

Dein is an international ambassador for the Football Association and ambassador for the Premier League and Glancy is a Sunday Times special correspondent and JC contributor.

Wagner is a barrister and human rights advocate and Berg is the author of Red Sea Spies and a BBC Middle East correspondent.

JNV DAVE RICH ANTISEMITISM 19

Dave Rich: the expert on the world's oldest hatred (Photo by John Nguyen / JNVisuals)

Also included in the list is Dave Rich, author of Everyday Hate: How Antisemitism is Built into our World and head of policy at Community Security Trust and Dominique Woolf, winner of Jamie Oliver’s Great Cookbook Challenge TV show.

Berg said: “It’s impressive to see a Jewish primary school running a ‘Limmud’ style adult learning programme like this, with a diverse and thoughtful speaker programme.

“I’ll be telling the true story of The Red Sea Spies - secret agents, a lost biblical tribe and a fake holiday resort brought together in an astonishing operation carried out by the Mossad. A case where fact really is stranger than fiction!"

There will also be sessions from author Jonathan Bergwerk on why Shylock and Fagin are literature’s most misunderstood Jews; mindfulness coach Jo Kaye exploring stress through meditation; Dr Toby Greene addressing Israel and its future; Rabbi Zahavit Shalev on what Judaism has to say about neurodiversity; and Dr Hugh Selsick on how to sleep better.

Eden Primary’s headteacher Jo Sassienie said: “We are so excited to be able to bring back the Tree of Knowledge this year. 

“The event perfectly encapsulates Eden Primary's core values of intellectual curiosity and creativity and these form the basis of our approach to teaching the children every day.

“There is an immensely diverse lineup this year, from culture and politics to conducting and flower arranging, offering something for everyone and we look forward to seeing the school and local community come together to learn and have fun.”

For the full speaker line up and to book tickets go to https://epg.bigcartel.com/