Of all the cities in which a Jewish Holocaust survivor might choose to open a restaurant, a mere 15 years after the end of the Second World War, Munich, birthplace of the Nazi movement, would be the least appealing option. At least, you would think so.

One event we are guaranteed not to see: the families of superstar violinist Itzhak Perlman and that of the equally starry cantor, Yitzchak Helfgot, on stage together.

For despite the free-flowing musicality that runs through both families — four of Perlman’s five children are professional musicians — neither man seems disposed to have their children follow directly in their footsteps.

Rob Reiner has been thinking about death lately. The director, who has been responsible for some of Hollywood’s most popular films over his career, turned 65 this year and ageing is on his mind.

The photos have been taken, the memories made. The bags are now strewn across the floor. Voices have been lost, friendships formed. There have been tears and thrills, smiles and sing-songs, even a smidgen of Jewish education. The holidays are coming to an end for another year, and with them the summer camps and tours that have become a staple of the Anglo-Jewish calendar.

Miranda Salter, aged 49, from Hendon, was a performer at the opening and closing ceremonies
"Danny Boyle signed my drumsticks. He gave a speech before the opening ceremony. He said: “In 10 minutes we are going live to the world”. Then he came to speak to some of the performers. I asked for an autograph, and the drumsticks were the only thing I had for him to sign.

I remember my father once telling me about an occasion when he ran into somebody with whom he had been at school several decades earlier. This man had done very well in business, as he explained to my father before asking him what he did. “I’m a photographer,” my dad replied.

Jessica Ennis, Chris Hoy, Mo Farah and Rebecca Adlington are leading Team GB in their quest for Olympic gold.

But where, you might ask, are the young British Jewish sports stars? Among those household names competing in the Olympics, and in other sports for that matter, it is hard to identify a single Jewish performer of note.

"Everybody's read it," the woman says in a confiding tone. "We're all talking about it. Of course, much of it is made up."

Talking to this member of one of New York's strictly Orthodox communities, it becomes clear that her view of Deborah Feldman's tell-all memoir about Satmar Chasids is not positive.

There are plenty of sporting heroes — people who have scored vital last-minute goals, run world records or taken a hatful of wickets. However, Italian cyclist Gino Bartali truly deserves the accolade.