Rain causes synagogue ceiling collapse

A large part of the ceiling at South West Essex and Settlement Reform Synagogue has collapsed, leaving rainwater to pour through a gaping hole in the 20-year-old prayer hall, flooding the floor and drenching seats. Scrolls, prayer books and other portable items were removed undamaged.

"The shul, sadly, is unusable," said congregation chair Jan Mortlock.

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Candidates face Board hustings

The way is clear for Board of Deputies president Vivian Wineman to serve a second three-year term after nominations closed last Friday without a challenger.

But, as predicted in the JC, there will be five candidates contesting the three vice-presidential posts - sitting officers Jonathan Arkush and Jerry Lewis will be up against Laura Marks, Alex Brummer and Denise Lester.

Treasurer Laurence

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Brighton learning to co-operate

A cross-communal adult education programme involving Orthodox, Reform and Liberal rabbis launched in Brighton yesterday, marking the festival of Lag b'Omer.

With sessions ranging from first century Judaism to antidotes to antisemitism, the eight-week venture is a spin-off from last year's one-day Sussex Limmud.

Scheduled to take part in the programme at the Ralli Hall community centre are Ra

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Charity founder aims to make audible difference

A hearing aid charity founded by a Golders Green audiologist has started out by giving life-changing assistance to a Georgian refugee in London.

Nathan Gluck set up Shema Hearing Support last month to help those in financial difficulty.

Early beneficiaries include Sam, a father in his 40s who could no longer talk on the phone and Lada, whose poor hearing had hindered her job search.

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Staying power up north

UJIA is running a recruitment assistance project for Jewish students in Manchester in an effort to keep them in the city after their studies.

The Manchester Jewish Interns scheme identifies intern and employment options in local companies. It has already landed three postgraduates positions in marketing and human resources.

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Care chiefs press Cameron over welfare reform delays

Fundamental reforms to address a crisis in the care of the elderly have been delayed again, despite pleas from charity chiefs.

The Jewish Care and Nightingale Hammerson chief executives, Simon Morris and Leon Smith, were among the 78 signatories of a letter to David Cameron this week, calling on him to urgently address "the devastating impact of years of failure to reform".

The letter contin

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Charities losing out on Gift Aid

Many communal charities are missing out on thousands of pounds a year because of a failure to claim Gift Aid on donations.

The lost income was revealed in a survey conducted by the Achisomoch Aid Company, which runs one of the largest charity voucher schemes within the Jewish community.

AAC trustee Michael Hackenbroch said: "It shows that not enough people are aware of the benefits of donati

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