Block party buoys Mathilda Marks

A nursery and reception block at Mill Hill’s Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Primary was opened by Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks on Tuesday.

Sir Jonathan fixed two mezuzot to the new facility, which had been under construction since March 2007, and Barnet Mayor Councillor John Marshall was also among the guests. Pupils sang at a special assembly.
School head Jillian Dunstan said: “The block is absolutely wonderful and is very child-centred. It will help the school move forward in providing ever-improving facilities.”

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Chief gives EU credit crisis talk

Europe needs a new covenant of hope to carry it through the current economic crisis and beyond, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks told the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Addressing the parliament for the first time, Sir Jonathan discussed the differences between a covenant and a contract. European politics, he said, needed the former.

Sir Jonathan compared a contract to a deal and a covenant to a marriage. "A contract deals with ‘arenas of competition' while a covenant deals with ‘arenas of co-operation'.

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‘Kinder’ who fled the Nazis plan big reunion

Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks and historian Sir Martin Gilbert will address what could be the last major gathering of Kindertransport refugees to Britain.

November's event at JFS's Kenton premises marks the 70th anniversary of the Kindertransport and the Association of Jewish Refugees is hoping for a large turnout of former Kinder and their families.

In November 1938, the British government altered its refugee policy to allow entry to unaccompanied youngsters under the age of 17 fleeing the Nazis.

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Sacks opens Finchley Primary

The Orthodox community's newest school opened its doors to pupils in Finchley this week.

Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks joined the Morasha Jewish Primary's first eight reception-class pupils in a singalong before performing the official opening.

The fee-paying school - set up by Finchley Synagogue members - will accept a further seven pupils during its first year. Up to 25 additional pupils will enrol for the 2009/10 acdemic year.

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Sacks, the TV star and the 'Kabbalah' meeting

Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks has unwittingly become part of an embarrassing wrangle involving the controversial Kabbalah Centre, its offshoot Spirituality For Kids (SFK) and Esther Rantzen.  Sir Jonathan met the Childline founder while filming his Rosh Hashanah broadcast for the BBC. The theme was families and family values.

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Sacks tells Lambeth bishops that all society needs religion

Jews and Christians have done more than any religions to "mend their relationship", Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks said in the first address by a rabbi to the Anglican Lambeth Conference in its 140-year history.

Speaking in Canterbury on Monday to around 650 bishops from across the globe, the Chief Rabbi recalled the progress made towards reconciliation.

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Manchester stalwart Olsberg dies

Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks has led the numerous tributes to long-serving Manchester minister Rev Leslie Olsberg, who died on Sunday, aged 86.

Mr Olsberg was minister of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation for 36 years and was chaplain to a range of organisations. His MBE in 2007 recognised 60 years' service to the Manchester community.

He was admitted to North Manchester General Hospital, where he died, after breaking his hip last week. Nurses attempted to contact the Jewish chaplain only to discover that Mr Olsberg still held that role.

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