Community life

Miliband smells a winner as he joins Gefiltefest crowd

Zoe Winograd — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:30:06 +0100

It must have been the sweet smells emanating from the London Jewish Cultural Centre in Golders Green that persuaded David Miliband to change his plans for his family’s Sunday.

The LJCC was hosting the annual Gefiltefest and, unable to resist the aromas from the various stalls, the Milibands opted to join the other 650 food lovers.

Standing beside Gefiltefest patron and cookery writer Claudia Roden, Mr Miliband said his mother had been a fan of Ms Roden’s recipes.

“It wasn’t so much the cheesecake, it was the chicken, couscous and chickpeas,” he recalled. But in terms of traditional Jewish food, chicken soup got the former Foreign Secretary’s vote every time.

The all-day programme included cooking demonstrations, hands-on sessions, children’s activities and food-related stalls run by volunteers from across the community.

“Everyone can connect with food on some level,” said Gefiltefest founder and director Michael Leventhal.

“We have always been determined to make the festival accessible to the whole community.”

Winners of Gefiltefest 2013 Food Awards, presented by JC chief executive Tracy Abraham and Israel embassy cultural affairs councillor Iris Ambor, included Kaifeng (best kosher restaurant), Kosher Kingdom (best kosher deli) and the Kosher Deli Group (best butcher).

An Ashkenazi versus Sephardi cook-off proved a big attraction with the Israeli head chef at Made in Camden, Eran Tibi, winning over the judges with his Moroccan doughnuts and filo pastry.

“Sephardic cooking is popular because it is all about taking a traditional dish and interpreting it to what’s in season and what your loved ones like,” Mr Tibi explained.

Judge and food critic Daniel Young mused that “Jewish food has to have a connection, a soul. The cook-off was not about which food is better, but what can be done with the food to bring out the flavours.” Other highlights of the festival included challah baking, pickling, a talk by Rabbi Harvey Belovski on kosher locusts, a conversation on kosher food in literature between author Francesca Segal and lecturer Ariel Kahn and cookery demonstrations by chefs Fabienne Viner-Luzzato and Silvia Nacamulli.

Among the challah bakers was Benji Levine, 26, from West Hampstead, who hoped “to use the skills I learn in my own kitchen. I like Jewish food so this seemed like the perfect event.”

Daniel Susser, 23, from Finchley was on a tasting voyage of discovery. “Food is something everyone has in common. No matter what branch of Judaism you belong to, there’s always food.”

There was also a social action element to the day with food co-ordinator Tarryn Klotnick — “queen of the kitchen” in Mr Leventhal’s words — endeavoured to ensure minimal wastage.

Proceeds from the festival will be distributed to food charities at home and in Israel.

Wizo raises nearly £2m

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:56:39 +0100

Wizo UK has raised £1.9 million for its welfare work for Israeli children and families over the past financial year. The news was revealed at its AGM and Rebecca Sieff Day event in London.

Awards went to Nicky Miller, Natalie Pearce, Elissa Winston, Anita Royston, Sylvia Morris and Helen Reisman. The guest speaker was Watford Grammar School for Girls head Dame Helen Hyde, who has driven Holocaust education there after discovering the fate of her own family during the Shoah.

Mitzvah Day relocates

Anna Sheinman — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:49:10 +0100

Mitzvah Day is moving to JW3, the new Jewish cultural centre in London’s Finchley Road.

It will transfer next month from JHub in West Hampstead to the JW3 building, which will open officially in September. Mitzvah Day head Laura Marks said the move “represents our next stage of growth”. The Union of Jewish Students also has its offices on the site.

Innovative Hasmonean girls win a trip to India from charity

Sandy Rashty — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:48:57 +0100

Five teenage Hasmonean girls have won a trip to India this summer in recognition of their charitable endeavours.

Three-hundred teams of five 13-18-year-olds entered the Wings of Hope Achievement Awards, recognising innovative methods of fundraising towards free education in schools in India and Malawi. A judging panel including Only Fools and Horses star Sir David Jason chose Hasmonean’s Sara Cowen, Anna Lawson, Chani Shear, Tsiona Hill and Olivia Dowell, the self-declared Team Unity, who trekked up the snowbound highest mountain in the Peak District in February, raising £3,000 for the charity.

“We brainstormed loads of different things, like a craft fair,” Olivia recalled. “But we needed the challenge and the trek was a really good experience.”

Anna added: “It’s important not just to focus on your religion but also to help others outside your culture.”
As part of their prize trip, the girls, aged 13 and 14, will visit Indian schools to see where their money has gone and will have the opportunity to teach a class. They will also tour a Jewish-run pharmaceutical company in India. Sara, who wants to pursue a career as a paramedic, said it would be a “really good opportunity”.

Headteacher Rachel Fink said participation in the programme “says something about us moving forward as a school, focusing on a Jewish and secular education and working with the community out there. Our students have shown that it is possible to contribute to wider society without compromising their values. The girls are a credit to the school, their families, the community and teenagers in general.”

Moriah primary makes headway

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:48:47 +0100

Moriah Jewish Day School has appointed Judy Lethbridge as its new head, replacing Alan Shaw, who is moving to the top job at Hasmonean Primary for the next academic year.

Informing parents of the decision, governors’ chair Alan Capper wrote that the school had wanted “to recruit a head who would drive the school forward.

“We hope that Mrs Lethbridge will place us firmly on the path towards raising our Ofsted rating from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’. Her track record at her last three schools demonstrates her capability to raise standards for all pupils.”

He added that Mrs Lethbridge, a Pinner Synagogue member, was “keen to enrich the inclusive and tolerant religious ethos of which we are so proud. We all believe she has the vision, ambition and ability to make a difference.”

Immanuel College aids sick teacher

Sandy Rashty — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:43:44 +0100

Immanuel College pupils, former students and staff have been raising funds for the family of its popular head of geography who has terminal cancer.

Paul de Naeyer, who joined the Bushey school in 2004, has not been at Immanuel this academic year.

“I spoke to my consultant and we discussed how long left,” said Mr de Naeyer, who is in his late 30s. “She said it was months and that 12 would be a good effort. I am now basically just trying to control the pain by increasing my tablets as and when.”

Current and ex-pupils used the popular ratemyteachers.com website to express their admiration for Mr de Naeyer, who also organised school ski trips. Further tributes were paid on a fundraising site page, where former Immanuel student Joe Hyman wrote that he “really enjoyed the first ski trip you arranged for school. I hope you know how much everyone at Immanuel appreciated you.” Genevieve Schwartz said he was “one of the most inspiring teachers I have ever had”.

The school recently held a “Wear Orange for Paul Day” — orange is the favourite colour of Mr de Naeyer, who is married with two young sons. The day raised £4,000 and a film show will be held next month to generate further cash.

“The generosity and kindness of all at Immanuel has been unimaginable,” Mr de Naeyer said. Paul Abrahams, a close friend and the head of modern languages at the school, said: “We are all thinking of Paul and his family at this difficult time and are doing whatever we can to support them.” More than £18,000 has been raised to date.

Liverpool welfare in cash crisis

Jonathan Kalmus — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:39:22 +0100

Merseyside Jewish Community Care chief executive Lisa Dolan has warned of a funding crisis as the MJCC faces a £39,000 operational deficit, its largest in recent times.

Ms Dolan reported “concerns over the economy and the direct impact of local government decisions upon our community. Cuts to grant funding have hit MJCC very hard.”

The charity receives no public funds for its work but has seen a 13 per cent rise in people registering for help this year, taking the total to 588. Overall demand for MJCC services is up by 35 per cent.

A £20,000 grant towards kosher meals and £9,000 in carer grants from Liverpool City Council were cut last year.
The kosher meals service provides 5,000 meals annually and costs £55,000 to run.

“It is vital that potential funders fully understand what we are about and the value of the service we provide,” Ms Dolan said.

“All community members can act as ambassadors for MJCC, informing GPs, councillors and professionals in the city about how we provide well-being and preventative health services.”

House calls in Salford

Jonathan Kalmus — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:36:31 +0100

A kosher social housing scheme is expected to make a significant dent in the property shortage for Charedi families in Salford.

The Stamford Hill-based Agudas Israel Housing Association will be offering 23 new-build family homes in the Kings Square development off Leicester Road, Salford, an area where over 200 Jewish people are reported to be in need of social housing.

Developer Countryside Properties has worked with Jewish advisers to design the houses with kosher kitchens and succah roofs to entice Jewish buyers. However, under the plans before Salford City Council, Countryside was not obligated to offer a social housing element, so AIHA stepped in to purchase three, four and six-bedroom properties to support the families with the greatest needs. Most will be rented with some sold in a shared-ownership scheme. Open days are being held for applicants.

AIHA chief executive Ita Symons reported that over 100 applications had already been received. Families will move in the day properties are handed over by the developer in August.

“We’ve got a huge waiting list and huge demand for these wonderful houses,” Mrs Symons said. “We do all the preparatory paperwork beforehand so people do not have to wait to move in. We may buy more of these houses as demand is so high.”

Shenley's wizard from Oz

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:30:50 +0100

Rabbi Alan Garber will be returning to the UK from Australia to take up the Shenley Synagogue pulpit.

Shenley members unanimously supported the appointment of the minister and his wife Tanya on Sunday, and the Garbers are expected to start work before the High Holy-Days.

The rabbi grew up in Kenton and is a Leeds University graduate. After spending two years in marketing, he studied in Israel, coming back to work at the Jewish Learning Exchange, Kisharon and Noam Primary School. He studied for his semicha in Gateshead and his first appointment was as a university chaplain.

Rabbi Garber then moved to Sydney, his wife’s homeland, to become associate minister of the Great Synagogue. His responsibilities there have been wide-ranging.

The couple’s plans for Shenley include holding “warm and welcoming” services, innovative educational schemes and social activities for all age groups.

“We are looking forward to helping this young and vibrant community grow,” Rabbi Garber said.

All is lovely in the building of Eden primary

Zoe Winograd — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:24:31 +0100

A belated building dedication at Eden Primary in Haringey was organised to show how the school had made its “house into a home” since opening in 2011.

Parents and staff at the cross-communal primary — one of the government’s first free schools — enjoyed performances and speeches from the 60 reception class and year one pupils. “It is really caring at this school because the mummies and the daddies are kind and help each other,” said one of the young students.
Eden head Jo Sassienie and school co-founder and governors’ chair Peter Kessler spoke about its progress. Ms Sassienie thanked parents of the first pupils for taking “a leap of faith”.

Demand is being sustained with 30 more students enrolled for the September academic year.
As part of the celebrations, a time capsule filled with items made by the children was buried and Olympic triple jumper Yamile Aldama gave an expert lesson in the rudiments of hop, skip and jump.

Eden parent Sara Borchard said: “This school just felt right from the first moment — all-inclusive and friendly.”

It accepts children from all strands of Judaism and has a handful of non-Jewish pupils. “On iss-ues where different sects of Judaism clash, then we celebrate the clashes,” Mr Kessler said. Eden will also be running adult learning activities.