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Rabbanit Nicole Duke is not an obvious leader, but her guidance behind the scenes at crucial times and life cycle events helps countless people through both difficult and wonderful times. First she is a shomeret, a kashrut supervisor enabling kosher functions to take place. She is also responsible for the chevra kadisha - the organisation dedicated to caring for the deceased and preparing them for burial - at the main Orthodox cemetery in London, and she single-handedly runs a hotline advising, guiding and arranging help for people who have just lost a loved one.

We discuss the emergence of women into these roles and what women can bring to the world of kashrut in particular, as well as revealing some of the little known world of what happens when a person passes away.