Spectrum covered by legacy to radio show

A legacy left by a Jewish Care volunteer has aided the revival of a Sunday morning Jewish programme on London’s multi-ethnic radio station, Spectrum.

Original Spectrum Jewish presenter Jon Kaye has returned to the microphone for the hour-long show, which goes out at noon on Sundays on 558 AM and is available digitally.

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Should I make my son go to shul after barmitzvah?

Question: My son recently had his barmitzvah but now he feels that since he goes to a Jewish secondary school, he has enough Judaism during the week and no longer wants to go to shul. How do I convince him otherwise?

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Olympics meddle in summer camp planning

The Olympics has had one adverse effect — a likely fall in numbers at Jewish youth summer camps.

Ilana Fenster, of Masorti movement Noam, said it was likely to experience a “substantial drop” from last year’s record figure, although the fall was “slight” compared to years before that.

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£1m needed to fill community chest

The Jewish Leadership Council has launched a community chest to finance cross-communal ventures with plans to raise £1 million in the first year.

It is expected that the chest will build to a £5 million fund with provision for underwriting one-off projects such as rallies for Israel.

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Challenges of 'golden age' of education

It is no wonder that Jonathan Goldstein, chairman of the community’s new strategic Jewish education body, believes “we are in a golden age”.

Jewish schools were already attracting around two thirds of UK Jewish children before three new Jewish free schools were approved by the Department for Education last month.

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Newcastle Rep Council breaks off relations with Bishop

Newcastle Jewry’s representative body is breaking off links with the local Anglican bishop because of his scheduled participation in an event that will discuss boycotting Israel.

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Interfaith couples could marry in shul

Mixed-faith wedding celebrations could take place on synagogue premises under new guidelines approved by the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK.

Assembly chairman Rabbi Mark Goldsmith said this week: “It is not impossible for them to take place in a synagogue building, but it is unlikely. The synagogue would need to make the choice.”

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JFS furore spurs training against homophobia

The education director of an American organisation working for the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jews held anti-homophobia training courses in the UK last week.

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Antisemitic incidents rise slightly

The number of antisemitic incidents in the UK rose fractionally in the first six months of this year compared to last year, probably due to new reporting methods.

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Children suffer as families face mounting debts

Norwood, the family services agency, has reported a 20 per cent rise in its caseload since last year as economic conditions increase the strain on Jewish homes.

The London- based agency says that it is now supporting around 600 children and their families — with around two-thirds of cases related to the consequences of marital breakdown.

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New hope for heirs of Nazi-seized assets

The New York-based Claims Conference, the main international body for distributing Holocaust restitution funds, has bowed to pressure from the Board of Deputies and agreed to allow new claims for compensation for properties seized by the Nazis in East Germany.

Until now, the Conference had resisted calls to reopen the application process to potential heirs after its deadline of 2004.

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UJIA man is focus of Israel row

Joseph Millis, the UJIA’s new public relations and communications manager, has defended his Zionist credentials after calls for his dismissal by an Israeli columnist who accused him of a being an “extremist critic of Israel”.

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Sacks versus Dawkins in BBC debate

The Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks will take part in a discussion with leading atheist Professor Richard Dawkins in a BBC festival exploring religion and ethics in contemporary society.

The two-day event, entitled Re:think 2012, in September will be hosted by the BBC Religion and Ethics at its centre in Salford.

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