Posts by Cathy Forman

Faces and Places: 17th May 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:48:29 +0100

Faces and Places: 10th May 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:19:24 +0100

You need travel vaccines

Cathy Forman — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:11:00 +0100

If your teenager is planning somewhere exotic for their gap year, don’t forget to sort out the travel vaccines sooner rather than later. It is always worth consulting a travel clinic to ensure they have the right protection before travelling particularly for those heading to developed countries.

According to the World Health Organisation people are at risk of rabies in 85 countries worldwide, encompassing most parts of the African and Asian continents, as well as many parts of South America. Rabies is transmitted to humans from animal bites, most commonly dogs in these countries. The vaccination course takes a month to complete before travel and comprises three injections. It is generally a very well tolerated vaccine with mild, if any, side effects.

Typhoid is contracted from dirty water and contaminated food: the majority of cases in returning travellers in the UK who have travelled to India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. The risks to travellers vary but anyone who visits an area with sub-standard living conditions or poor sanitation is at most risk particularly travellers to the Indian sub-continent. The risk of typhoid is very much reduced if you are able to access clean water and hygienically prepared food. The vaccination for typhoid can be given two weeks before travel and can also be given as a combination vaccine with hepatitis A.

Yellow fever occurs in the tropical parts of Africa and South America with more than 1,500 cases a year in these areas. It is an illness carried by infected mosquitoes in these areas so as well as having the vaccination, travellers need to try to prevent mosquito bites as well. Yellow fever vaccination is given in specially approved travel centres and a certificate is issued which is essential to be presented at immigration in many countries, if you have arrived from a yellow fever area. The vaccine is given more than 10 days before travel and is a one-off vaccination which lasts 10 years.

Finally, have a look at the teenager’s vaccine records for tetanus protection. If they have not had a booster in the past 10 years it is worth getting one in case they cannot access medical care quickly when travelling. The tetanus vaccine given for protection in the UK confers immunity for travel and most teenagers should have had a booster.

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Redbridge centre rethinks on move to King Solomon site

Cathy Forman — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:34:54 +0100

Redbridge Jewish Community Centre is to conduct a feasibility study on its future as its leaders rethink a move to the £10 million King Solomon High development in Barkingside.

When the Ilford Jewish Primary moves to the KS site in September, 1,400 children aged from two to 19 will be educated on the campus. The scheme — seen as a means to regenerate Redbridge Jewish life — could incorporate the transfer of the Jewish Care-administered community centre, which is also home to Clayhall Synagogue.

Jewish Care director of care and community services Neil Taylor said this week: “Our discussions with King Solomon High School have slowed down due to their focus on the relocation of the Ilford Jewish Primary School.

We are actively working on how best to secure the future of the centre while ensuring we meet the changing needs of the community. This work includes exploring opportunities to develop the existing site.

“We are about to undertake some qualitative market research to consult with members of the Redbridge community.

We are doing this work as we are committed to ensuring our plans are shaped by current and future needs. Our final decision will be made once we understand the implications of the various options.”

Centre manager Richard Shone said a move to the King Solomon site “was not off the table. There was always an aspiration to do something to restructure the services. We want to hear from the users and potential users. The current building is 40 years-old and not fit for purpose.”

Jonathan West, a governor at both IJPS and KS, said: “It would be fantastic for the centre to come on board. But it is for Jewish Care to decide if it is a feasible move for them.”

Faces and Places: 3rd May 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:04:53 +0100

James Corden helps the fed to raise £1 million

Cathy Forman — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:16:35 +0100

Actor and presenter James Corden told the 600 guests at the annual dinner of the Fed how the work of the Manchester welfare charity resonated with him. Addressing the audience he said that he was “happy to support the charity as my mum and sister are both social workers, so I’m well aware of the struggles they face and the funds that they need”. The event, held at Lancashire Cricket Club, raised over £1 million in pledges covering a two-year period. Photos: Mike Poloway.

Faces and Places: 26th April 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:18:17 +0100

Faces and Places: 19th April 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:37:25 +0100

Faces and Places: 12th April 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:15:02 +0100

Faces and Places: 5th April 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:02:01 +0100

Belfast Seder warms up Israelis for World Cup win

Cathy Forman — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:01:55 +0100

A Seder service in Belfast proved the ideal preparation for the Israel football squad before the World Cup qualifying group game against Northern Ireland last week.

Celtic defender Rami Gershon — who played in the 2-0 defeat of the Irish — was among those who enjoyed the festival celebration in the squad’s hotel the previous evening.

He said that participating in a Seder before an important game “was very special. All the players were there as friends together. There was a family feeling. The Seder was taken by the coach, Eli Guttman, who said it was the first time he had made a Seder away from his own family. We then had a good game with a great score.”

Belfast Jewish Community’s Rabbi David Singer had offered to host the squad at the communal Seder but was told of the alternative arrangements.

“Their chef brought over everything that they needed,” explained the rabbi’s wife, Judith. “He even offered to bring over Pesach items for us. We did host some fans who were in Belfast for the match and a few Israeli travellers.”

However, the staging of the match on the second night of the festival disappointed Northern Ireland Friends of Israel co-chair Steven Jaffe, who said: “It was a shame that the community could not be represented at the match.”

Although there had been talk of protests, “the biggest thing the Israelis had to contend with in Belfast was the extremely cold weather. Northern Ireland fans joined Israeli fans in walking to the game and the atmosphere was exceptionally warm with Israeli flags flown from all sides.”

Faces and Places: 29th March 2013

Cathy Forman — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:28:18 +0100

Muslim aid for Bradford Reform

Cathy Forman — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:51:37 +0000

Bradford’s Muslim community has pledged financial support for urgent building work at Bradford Reform Synagogue.

Zulfiqar Karim, general secretary of Bradford’s Council for Mosques, accompanied shul chairman Rudi Leavor and council member Alan Harris to a Bradford Council meeting to apply for funding for the Moorish building in the city centre.

Mr Karim said the synagogue was a “beautiful piece of architecture that needs to be protected. It needs to be made watertight and that had to happen quickly.

“I took it upon myself to raise cash in the Muslim community. Rudi was in a dilemma and he must have said a prayer as I turned up. There is an ageing population of Jews in the community. Religion does not come into it.
It is a wonderful building that happens to be a place of worship. Our community should stand together.”
He noted that, following the closure of Bradford Hebrew Congregation at the end of last year, “this is the last remaining synagogue in Bradford and it would be a real shame if there was nothing there to show the history of the community”.

Mr Leavor estimated that the Grade ll listed synagogue needs up to £100,000 to repair the leaking roof and damaged guttering. It also needs to provide wheelchair access to the Bowland Street site, which opened in 1880.

He added that Khalid Pervaiz, the owner of Drummond Mills, 50 yards from the synagogue, had offered shul-goers use of the mill’s car park. “We are thrilled to have established closer relations with the Muslim community.”

The shul currently has 40, mostly elderly members many of whom live as far afield as York, Halifax and Huddersfield. It has generated income through a Friends of Bradford Reform group, formed three years ago, that has 60 supporters worldwide who pay a £60 annual membership fee. “It all helps,” Mr Leavor said.

He was pleased that local Respect MP George Galloway had tabled an Early Day Motion in the Commons drawing attention to the help for the Jewish community by Bradford’s Muslims.

Faces and Places: 22nd March 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:25:04 +0000

Faces and Places: 15th March 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:16:18 +0000

Faces and Places: 8th March 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:37:40 +0000

Windows that need to be kept in frame

Cathy Forman — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:22:15 +0000

Birmingham Central Synagogue is seeking homes for 36 etched glass windows before its move to smaller, modern premises on its Pershore Road site.

Shul president Geoffrey Clements explained that 42 windows, depicting the festivals and other significant occasions, “were specially commissioned in 1960 for the [then] new building and are unique. We only have the space to include six of the windows in our new building and are therefore looking to find homes for the other 36, generating some useful income for the community at the same time. They are extremely valuable and would cost in excess of £5,000 each if they were commissioned from new.”

Work is under way on a construction project, due for completion before the High Holy-Days, to convert the synagogue’s Malcolm Locker Hall into a shul for its 200 members. The current synagogue building was sold to a care home developer to fund the £500,000 redevelopment.

A celebratory dinner to mark 50 years of the Malcolm Locker Hall attracted 150 people. The evening’s brochure featured photos of community events down the years and film footage of the opening in 1961 was shown.
Images of the windows can be viewed on the shul website, www.centralshul.com

Faces and Places: 1st March 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:47:51 +0000

Faces and Places: 22nd February 2013

Cathy Forman — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:24:13 +0000

Glasgow looks to its 'Futures'

Cathy Forman — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:16:18 +0000

Glasgow’s Community Futures Project has highlighted a lack of barmitzvah education in the city.

Fiona Frank — who has been seconded from the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) to co-ordinate responses to the consulation document — said that participants in an informal meeting on Sunday “had a chance to talk about what they wanted and to have their views heard.The highlight of discussion was people’s requirement for barmitzvah education to be run by the city’s Orthodox synagogues. Currently Glasgow’s Reform synagogue and Lubavitch are the only ones to run barmitzvah education.”

The meeting at the Jewish Community Centre in Giffnock was part of the second phase of the Community Futures consultation. The Glasgow Jewish Representative Council has organised focus groups, meetings and surveys to help formulate future provision for the city’s Jewry.

There was also discussion about how best to promote debate about Israel within the community.

In a closing statement, rep council co-vice-president Paul Morron told the gathering that the consultation was”not just empty promises. Looking ahead, we are a shrinking community and we need to influence changes.”
Closing on February 24, the consultation survey has attracted 230 responses.

A report on Ms Frank’s findings will be published in March. The representative council’s final report is due in May.