Hendon

Coffee Morning Talk

Jewish Military Museum — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:20:53 +0100

US addressing the needs of the next Chief Rabbi

Simon Rocker — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:04:38 +0100

Once the Chief Rabbi had to live in London’s East End. For more than a century, holders of the office dwelt closer to the West End, in Hamilton Terrace, St John’s Wood.

But the next Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, will have his home further out in the suburbs. The United Synagogue has confirmed that Rabbi Mirvis, who lives near his Finchley Synagogue, will be moving to an address in Hendon.He will also be equipped with a West End base to meet and entertain guests, which is to be developed for him at Central Synagogue. Rabbi Baruch Davis, chairman of the Rabbinical Council of the US, believed “people will welcome the Chief Rabbi living in the heart of the Jewish community.

“There has been a geographical shift over the years and this is a reflection of it.”
US president Stephen Pack said: “Having the residence in Hendon will provide a wonderful opportunity for Rabbi Mirvis to connect with and have an impact on the many communities across north-west London which will be within walking distance.”

The Central Synagogue base would provide “a prestigious central London environment for our next Chief Rabbi to host honoured guests as well as holding formal receptions”.

But no decision had been taken on Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks’s residence in Hamilton Terrace — which it is said could be worth in the region of £10 million.

The US said the property was in “need of significant renovation” and all options about its future were being explored.

Dementia care takes a trip down memory lane

Barry Toberman — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:46:05 +0100

Reminiscence work is an integral part of the programme at Jewish Care’s Sam Beckman day centre in Hendon for people with dementia. Now through the latest technology, centre members Miriam Gould and Dorit Nass can draw upon a lifetime of memories wherever they are.

The women are among the first to be involved in a project to produce digital life stories with the support of relatives and centre staff. The life stories — largely pictorial histories from childhood to recent times — are converted into coffee table albums which the subjects can peruse at home, sparking reminiscence, making them more communicative and enhancing their sense of well-being.

Jewish Care disability and dementia manager Padraic Garrett said the programme was being rolled out across nine homes and three day centres operated by the charity. Although life story work was not new, the My Life programme featured computers designed specifically for those with dementia.

Two staff members had taken a Department of Health instructional programme and had in turn trained a further 18 employees. Early indications were of benefits for clients and staff alike.

“People with dementia cannot store more recent memories. More distant memories they can store for longer. These stories tend to go back generations and they can also be interesting social history. From a staff point of view, it helps them understand more about a person’s life.”

Retaining a sense of identity was hugely important for those with dementia, Mr Garrett stressed.

Browsing his mother’s story book at the Beckman centre, Mrs Nass’s son, Harold, said the book was left out prominently at home. She often leafed through it — “I know because she never puts it back in the same place” — and he had noticed a difference in her demeanour. “When she looks at the book, her personality changes dramatically. She gets very emotional when she remembers a picture but it also has a calming effect. Before she wasn’t doing much in the evenings. Now she is more animated. And if my friends come round, they’ll look at the book.”

When selecting the photos, he had found it difficult to strike the right balance in depicting the life of his mother, who is almost 89 and came to Britain on the Kindertransport. The final selection runs from her starting school to family gatherings and celebrations. “My barmitzvah photos were the most relevant because they spanned the generations of family.”

Mrs Gould’s daughter, Susan Jacobs, said her 96-year-old mother had “always spoken about things from her past.

“This is a very good prompt. I leave it in the lounge and she’s always picking it up. She’ll remark about a picture. And the great-grandkids love it because it tells them stories.”

With the death and funeral of Margaret Thatcher in the news, a topical inclusion among the family photos and mementoes was a photo of the late prime minister with Mrs Gould at her bowls club.

“And she is definitely not curtseying,” Ms Jacobs insisted.

Looking on, Sam Beckman deputy manager Katarzyna Lekarska gives a demonstration of the wider aspect of the system, allowing users to play games or listen to music.
Ms Lekarska enjoyed working on the story books and had found that it made the subjects more assertive — “and it gives us more insight into their lives”.

Hendon shul joins Federation

Simon Rocker — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:02:30 +0100

A newly established community in Hendon, Nishmas Yisroel, has joined the Federation of Synagogues.

Its rabbi, Dovid Tugendhaft, was previously minister of Ohr Yisroel, the Federation synagogue in Elstree.
Federation chief executive Eli Keinwald described Nishmas Yisroel as “the fastest growing minyan in north-west London.

“It’s fantastic news. We are hopeful they will add youth, energy and vigour to the Federation.”

Chief rabbi to live in Hendon

Simon Rocker — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:52:28 +0100

The next Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, is to live in Hendon, rather than St Johns’ Wood as his predecessor, it was announced today.

The Central Synagogue in the West End of London will serve as his city base, with plans to provide a reception and other meeting rooms for him.

United Synagogue president Stephen Pack said: “Chief Rabbi-elect Mirvis and Rebbetzen Mirvis are looking forward with much excitement to their move.

“Having the residence in Hendon will provide a wonderful opportunity for Rabbi Mirvis to connect with and have an impact on the many communities across North West London which will be within walking distance.

“As well as providing an ideal private home, this arrangement provides a prestigious central London environment for our next Chief Rabbi to host honoured guests as well as holding formal receptions.”

But the US has said that no decision has been taken over the future of the current Chief Rabbi’s residence in Hamilton Terrace.

The administrative offices of the Chief Rabbinate will remain in North Finchley.

Rabbi Mirvis, who currently lives in Finchley, is due to take office on September 1.

Jewish Speed Dating Ages 45-60 at Wine & Bread, Hendon 27/5

The Speed Dating — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:55:20 +0000

Tesco goodwill for Camp Simcha

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:57:48 +0000

Camp Simcha chief executive Neville Goldschneider became a local celebrity last Friday, helping to open a Tesco convenience store near the Hendon offices of the charity, which helps children with life-threatening illness.

The Tesco Express in Vivian Avenue is supporting Camp Simcha as part of its community commitment and store manager Devang Patel presented Mr Goldschneider with a £500 cheque towards its work.

Mr Goldschneider was delighted to be asked to cut the ribbon and thanked Tesco for its backing. “The money will be used to provide many of the children who use our services with special treats such as an outing or a party,” he explained. “These treats can really make a difference to children and their families facing a relentless round of treatments and hospital visits.”

The store is stocking a range of kosher products.

Survivors share stories with London students

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:24:12 +0000

Sixth-formers participating in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz scheme completed their programme by meeting members of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre in Hendon.

As well as learning about survivors’ experiences during the Holocaust, the students heard how they had rebuilt their lives after the war.

Enfield County School pupil Aicha Konde was moved by the comments of Freddie Knoller, “who said his biggest fear is that one day there will be no one to continue sharing what the survivors went through. Hearing what Freddie said has strengthened our determination to encourage more young people to remember the Holocaust.” HSC member Lily Ebert said: “It means so much to meet students so we can share our stories and help them gain greater insight into what we went through.”

Hasmonean gets the Shaw touch

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:20:15 +0000

Moriah Jewish Day School head Alan Shaw will take up the Hasmonean Primary headship in September following the retirement of Jenny Rodin after 21 years in the post.

Mr Shaw has led Jewish schools for more than 20 years, having previously been head at Ilford Jewish Primary. He has also worked as an Ofsted inspector.

Governors’ chair Neil Nachshen said that finding someone “to succeed a head-teacher who has achieved so much in her career has not been easy. We are fortunate that a head-teacher with a track record of success was motivated to embrace the challenge of sustaining the excellent standard.”

Mr Shaw said he had been privileged to steer Moriah “during the first 15 years of its existence, developing it into a consistently top performing Jewish and Harrow school and, as acknowledged this year by the DfE, into one of the top performing schools in the country”.

He looked forward “to bringing my skills and experiences in both Jewish and secular studies to Hasmonean Primary to build on its tremendous reputation and outstanding achievements”.

Jewish Speed Dating Ages 40-55 at Wine & Bread, Hendon 28/4

The Speed Dating — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 19:39:18 +0000