Bone marrow group wants more screen tests

A year-long global fundraising campaign supporting Jews needing bone marrow matches has reached London.

Volunteers from the British Friends of Ezer Mizion, which organises bone marrow testing in Israel, were outside north-west London synagogues and shops seeking donations towards a £2.5 million UK target.

Simon Maurer of the British Friends says the campaign will enable “many more Israelis to go for a bone marrow test, which will improve the chances of Jews worldwide finding a match”.

More..

Haringey’s Orthodox community consulted over new loft extensions

Haringey’s strictly Orthodox community is being consulted over new guidelines clarifying the council’s position on loft extensions.

At a meeting with 30 members of the South Tottenham kehillah, Haringey’s chief planning officer Marc Dorfman said the aim was to produce design plans showing what constituted “an acceptable extension”.

More..

Marjorie Ziff: Birthday gift of £16m

Leeds benefactor Marjorie Ziff celebrated her 80th birthday on Tuesday by opening a £16 million Leeds University building which bears her name and that of her late husband Arnold.

The Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Charitable Foundation is a major funder of the administrative building, located at the main entrance to the campus. Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks was among a host of dignitaries at the opening, paying tribute to the Ziff family’s generous support for Jewish and other causes.

More..

Joy Wolfe was guest speaker at Leeds UJIA

Joy Wolfe, joint president of the Zionist Federation, was guest speaker at Leeds UJIA women’s division annual appeal lunch. As a replacement for BIcom head Lorna Fitzsimons, who had to withdraw from attending due to illness, Mrs Wolfe told the 110 guests: “The Palestinians want peace as much as we do. It’s their leadership that has let them down.” Richard Manning, chairman of UJIA UK programmes, reported that 75 per cent of the community’s 16-year-olds are visiting Israel this summer. The event was held at the United Hebrew Congregation.

More..

£6m grant for Leeds Jewish Housing Association

Leeds Jewish Housing Association has been granted planning permission for a £6 million development at Queenshill Court and Queenshill Way.
The scheme involves the demolition of 37 dwellings and the building of a sheltered housing development comprising 46 two-bedroom and 16 one-bedroom flats.

There will also be a communal lounge and staff offices with gardens and car parking.

More..

Expense-row MP 'flipped homes'

Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton has been caught up in the continuing controversy over Parliamentary expenses.

He had declared his mother’s house as his main residence while his family home’s mortgage, where his wife and children lived, was paid by the taxpayer, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Later, after spending considerable sums decorating the family home, Mr Hamilton “flipped” his designated home to a new flat in Maida Vale, London, which was also then decorated at the taxpayer’s expense.

More..

Tenants keep out construction vehicles

Leeds Jewish Housing Association residents have won a battle to keep cranes and diggers away from their street during the £4 million expansion of an LJHA sheltered housing complex.

The association had earmarked Queenshill View, where they live, as a site entrance for the development, which is directly linked to the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Community Centre.

Residents voiced concern at the prospect of pollution, noise and parking problems in the narrow street where the 10 properties are home to families with a total of 17 children.

More..

£2m Leeds unit opens

Leeds care home Donisthorpe Hall is opening a £2.2 million unit for dementia sufferers on time and on budget despite the original builders having gone into administration.

The three-storey 21-bed Woodlands unit, due to take in residents at the end of April, offers specialised care and modern facilities. It is currently available for public viewing.

More..

Levy to pay key staff

A communal levy to maintain the posts of two key Leeds professionals is to be discussed by local synagogues.

Addressing Sunday’s meeting of Leeds Jewish Representative Council, Robert Bartfield said the jobs of community development worker Neil Clarke and Leeds Jewish Initiative co-ordinator Natalie Jackson had been preserved through a mixture of private and organisational funding. Some of this comes to an end in September.

More..