Food For You team raises £31,000 for Israeli soup kitchens

The Food For You team raised £31,000 for the Hazon Yeshaya soup kitchens in Israel from the launch of its third book of recipes, Have We Got More Food For You. Lady Sacks and Lady Jakobovits were among the 800 visitors, who bought 1,000 copies. Gordon Ramsay, Nigella Lawson, Nancy Lam and Heston Blumenthal were among the celebrity contributors and the Hampstead Garden Suburb committee also sourced inclusions from family, friends and colleagues.

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Residents and staff of Edinburgh House dance the night away

There was ballroom dancing, champagne, canapés and dinner at Edinburgh House, the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Home for the Aged, at its end-of-summer party. Residents, family and staff danced the night away with a number of staff members wearing their national costumes.

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Peter Livesey wins third Backgammon qualifier

Peter Livesey won the third qualifying tournament of Norwood's backgammon series, held at the Sketch restaurant. Michael Flesch was runner-up and David Tucker finished third.

The event raised £8,000, with a special backgammon board auctioned for £900. By the time of the grand final in February, the charity hopes to surpass the £80,000 earned from last year's competition.

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Newsnight's Emily Maitlis hosts the Jewish Culture Awards

Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis will host the Jewish Cultural Awards ceremony at the Shaw Theatre on Sunday evening. Michael Feinstein, Maxim Vengerov, Maureen Lipman and Janet Suzman will be among other stars at the awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to Jewish culture in art, music, film and TV, literature and theatre. The event is in support of the London Jewish Cultural Centre.

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Magen David Adom's first young patrons event hosted by Israeli Ambassador

Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor addressed Magen David Adom's first Young Patrons event, held at the Baker Street offices of BDO Stoy Hayward. Mr Prosor explained how he and his wife had volunteered for MDA and answered questions from the 120-strong audience, who enjoyed champagne and canapes. The evening raised £7,000.

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Jewish Care's Challenge committee supporters raise £2,500 from a Soho Walk

Thirty supporters of Jewish Care's Challenge committee raised £2,500 from a Soho walk led by Clive Bettington, founder of the Jewish East End Celebration Society.

The walkers met in Soho Square and their route took in the former sites of Jews' Free School and Dean Street Synagogue. Also of interest were the one-time Wardour Street workshops where tailors rubbed shoulders with movie moguls.

Chaired by David Peterman, the Challenge committee fundraises for the Princess Alexandra Home in Stanmore and other local services.

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West End offers to tempt worshippers

Located just behind the Oxford Street shops, the Western Marble Arch Synagogue has come up with some special offers of its own for potential young congregants.

Temporary seats for the High Holy-Days, normally priced at £160 for men and £110 for women, are being offered free of charge to anyone in full-time education. The offer applies to those of school age wanting a guaranteed seat next to a parent, or to higher education students.

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7/7 survivor gets the community talking

London area synagogues have been key backers of the WalkTalk community cohesion initiative launched by a woman who lost both legs in the 7/7 bombings.

Gill Hicks - who now has prosthetic legs - has spent the past month covering the 200 miles from Leeds to London with her husband Joe Kerr and a variety of supporters. Their aim has been to promote dialogue between people of different backgrounds while walking together, or during refreshment breaks.

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Eve Pollard lauds the League of Jewish Women

Writer, broadcaster and former Fleet Street editor Eve Pollard lauded the League of Jewish Women for its diverse welfare work among the wider community when she addressed its 65th anniversary lunch at the Goldsmiths' Livery Hall. The 220 guests also heard league president Ella Marks review its achievements down the years. Chair of the executive Marilyn Brummer presented Ms Pollard with a certificate for trees planted in her name in Israel.

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JFS art project winners rewarded with Israel Embassy tour

Winners of the JFS Israel at 60 art project were rewarded with a tour of the Israel Embassy, organised by the Jewish Agency. They learned about the building's history, met ambassador Ron Prosor and later enjoyed a picnic in the park opposite Kensington Palace.

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