Gaby Wine is the JC's Community Editor and also enjoys writing features. You can contact her with community stories on gwine@thejc.com
\n","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1728fwe5wjbzqy6luou/6/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":"","url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/gaby-wine-eexcfh2l","path":"/author/gaby-wine-eexcfh2l"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"batmitzvah","url":"tag/batmitzvah","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1tcri23vbc8jp527w4n","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/does-brexit-mean-brexit-not-at-eujs-summer-u-dgvxzn1c","path":"/community/does-brexit-mean-brexit-not-at-eujs-summer-u-dgvxzn1c","title":"Does Brexit mean Brexit? Not at EUJS Summer U","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"Ari Sheldon writes about a week of pool parties, late night debates and aqua aerobics with over 300 Jewish students and young professionals from all over Europe","bodyText":"Nestled away at a hotel two hours east of Lisbon, EUJS Summer U has just hosted more than 300 young Jewish adults for a week of Jewish culture, poolside parties and educational talks, in what felt like a mix of Catskills (European style) and Club 18 to 30. Summer U is the European Union of Jewish Students’ flagship programme. Since 1983, students and young professionals have come together for a holiday in a different European city every August. 2026 was a record-breaking year for EUJS. Tickets sold out in just nine hours and 43 minutes, an unbelievable feat that caused the EUJS booking site to crash. So, what is it that attracts people to Summer U? I was determined to find out. Arriving at the hotel, I was unsure what to expect. Would it just be a summer version of Limmud, with interesting talks on politics, art and science? Or simply a week of endless fun? It was, in fact, all of the above – and more. EUJS Summer U 2026 (Photo: EUJS)[Missing Credit] As a newbie, I decided to dip my toes into as many aspects of Summer U as possible. I was a UJS delegate at EUJS’s General Assembly so was able to vote on policies put forward by various unions, and I also helped organise UJS’s party. In between, I went along to many of the talks and discussions held throughout the week. There was a vast – and sometimes surprising – range of programmes, from how to deal with the never-ending crisis of antisemitism to “Jewish Tools for Anxiety” – as well as Eighties Aqua Aerobics, led by EUJS president Hanna Veiler. The pool quickly became the social focal point of Summer U. It felt like Golders Green Road on a motzei Shabbat – but with swimming and factor 50 suncream. The UJS delegation (Photo: EUJS)[Missing Credit] The range of people was as impressive as the programming. While UJS is for students, European Jewish student unions included young professionals in their delegations. Although my young 20-year-old self did feel slightly out of place at times, I still happily immersed myself in Summer U’s continental culture, from Swiss chocolate fountains to Italian pool parties. I had heard horror stories of Summer U’s general assembly going on for hours as people argued about the placement of a comma, but thankfully, another record was broken this year, with the shortest ever GA, lasting only two hours and 34 minutes. Each night there were themed parties organised by different unions, from German après-ski to a Soviet Bloc party hosted by the Czech Union of Jewish Students. Singer-songwriter Benji Miller entertains EUJS participants (Photo: EUJS)[Missing Credit] UJS were given the opportunity to host a party of their own, and being on the party-planning committee, I felt the pressure. Even more so when, as we were setting up, we discovered the resident DJ was having a night off, so I valiantly stepped in. Had I ever DJ’d before? No. But like the rest of Summer U, it was just about giving it a go. The party was a great success, topped with an exclusive performance by solo artist Benji Miller. Thursday evening was gala night. Dressed up to the nines, we gathered in the hall waiting and hoping that our union’s name would be given an award. Miraculously, UJS won the coveted Union of the Year award, and celebrations lasted long into the night. UJS President Raphi Leon accepting the award for Student Union of the Year at EUJS Summer U (Photo: EUJS)[Missing Credit] So, as the week concluded with Kabbalat Shabbat by the pool, a late-night tisch and, of course, another party, I began to reflect on the week. Why is Summer U so loved? The answer is simple. It is a celebration of Jewish pride, community and our determination to create spaces where we belong. Will I be back next year? The answer will probably be yes.","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1tdj54dzuubi58vd4y4/1/summer-u-2026-participants-photo-eujs.webp","byline":"","description":"Summer U 2026 participants (Photo: EUJS)","height":2601,"id":"contentid/1tdj54dzuubi58vd4y4","title":"Summer U 2026 participants (Photo: EUJS)","width":3900,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":null,"publishedDate":"2026-08-26T14:58:04.285Z","authors":[],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"EUJS","url":"tag/EUJS","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Summer U","url":"tag/Summer U","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1tcrph1cte2c41if27t","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/ujs-named-eujs-student-union-of-the-year-2026-er5r73sk","path":"/community/ujs-named-eujs-student-union-of-the-year-2026-er5r73sk","title":"UJS named EUJS Student Union of the Year 2026","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"The British delegation received their award at the annual EUJS gathering","bodyText":"The Union of Jewish Students has won the European Jewish Student Union of the Year award at the annual EUJS Summer U. UJS was recognised for “investing in the leaders of tomorrow through record-breaking leadership programmes and events”, said host of the night, EUJS Vice President Matty Fisher. Fisher commended UJS for how “they powered their local communities across over 1,000 events, sold out 1,200 national event tickets in minutes, united students cross-communally, brought 2,800 students to Holocaust education events, and trained over 1,400 university leaders to tackle antisemitism...They showed that Jewish life doesn’t just survive, it thrives.” UJS were praised for their landmark [Time for Change] report into antisemitism on campus “that gained unprecedented media attention”, Fisher said. “Students refused to be defined by the challenges around them, instead reclaiming their identity with pride, resilience and joy.” Regarding the recognition, current UJS President Raphi Leon praised his predecessor Louis Danker and his team, saying: “The hard work, the dedication and the love they put into building a thriving Jewish student life up and down the country is truly remarkable, so this is absolutely their success.” Leon also thanked the UK and Ireland’s own JSoc members “who turn up to events and refuse to be intimidated by the challenging environment on campus”. He continued: “The story we’ve been wanting to tell in UJS over the past year, and we will continue to tell, isn’t defined by those who hate us. It isn’t defined by those who try to shout us off campus. It’s a story of Jewish student pride. It’s a story that exists on campuses around the UK, but also, as we find out, in some of you, on campuses around Europe.” He finished by saying: “Tell your story. Be proud… Let’s tell our own stories and let’s make a proud, diverse, united EUJS.” More than 300 young people were in Portugal for EUJS’s Summer U.","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1tcro8atjbue5v1tfot/0/2-eujs-18-jpg.webp","byline":null,"description":"","height":2601,"id":"contentid/1tcro8atjbue5v1tfot","title":"2 EUJS[18].jpg","width":3900,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":null,"publishedDate":"2026-08-26T14:35:29.048Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1lpiupcwzdt17vq2afk","name":"Ari Sheldon","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/ari-sheldon-xfmha946","path":"/author/ari-sheldon-xfmha946"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"EUJS","url":"tag/EUJS","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"UJS","url":"tag/UJS","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1tcj1nca4mvnyygmmvm","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/hungry-rapid-set-sights-on-promotion-and-a-cup-l9b1ixaz","path":"/community/hungry-rapid-set-sights-on-promotion-and-a-cup-l9b1ixaz","title":"Hungry Rapid set sights on promotion and a cup","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"","bodyText":"The start of the new Maccabi GB Southern Football League (MGBSFL) is fast-approaching with the competition now operating with a new format. Thirteen teams will contest the newly named Championship with each playing each other once, before splitting into two sections for the final half-dozen games. Hoping to finish top of the pile are Rapid Vienna, whose manager Josh Novack said: “Success is promotion and a trophy – whether that’s one of the domestic cups or the title. No less than that, but the title is the real aim, and I believe we’re the favourites to win it. As always, we’ll bring a mentality that no one else in the division has – we fight for each other and have so much heart and desire. It’s more than a game to us, and it shows in our performances. “We won the Barry Goldstein Cup in our first season, got to the final of it last season, and this season we are striving for a lot more. The league title is the aim, without a doubt, but a cup to go along with it would be nice.” A strong pre-season will help, as could the arrivals of Ben Lazarus and Roye Chitiyat and making the loan signings of Oli Gotkine and Tommy Lustigman permanent. Novack added: “We’re a top outfit and are incredibly confident that we can win the title this season.” Also harbouring title ambitions are Brady. Their manager Ricky Ansher said: “As always our aim will be to finish as high up the table as possible. But considering our title hopes fell apart on the opening day last year, we’ll take it steady for now. “Success is measured in trophies at the end of the day, so obviously a title or a cup would be great. “We finished second and reached two semi-finals last year and it still felt like a poor season. “Preparation this time has been solid and we’re getting to know each other. Confidence is high, we’ve not had any issues scoring goals in pre-season, it’s now figuring out how to stop conceding them too! “For the first time in a while, we’ve built a proper squad of committed boys, so it would be unfair to single anyone out. “Every single player has a role to play and will be integral to any success we have this season.” Schlepfield Wednesday manager Joseph Vanner wants to see his side push on this season – and that would mean claiming silverware. He said: “We had a really good debut season, but now need to push to that next step and win a trophy, and that’s what our aim and success would be. A ‘good’ pre-season has seen them contest a good amount of friendlies, and vanner said: “The squad is gelling nicely with the new players who have joined us for this season.” Citing Ollie Rokenson, Sam Goldberg, Alfie Keene, Oli Simble as the names to look out for, he added: “Of course, we would love to win the league but after last season’s cup final loss, I’m sure all the lads would like to go one step further in the cup and win the final.” Also hoping for a season to remember is 40 Year Wanderers manager Sam Anderson. He said: “It’s been a quietly busy summer with a lot of new faces entering the building, I couldn’t be happier with the business we’ve been able to do. “Pre-season has been slow, but everyone is incredibly excited and optimistic about what can be achieved. “With the quality we’ve signed, I really expect us to be a team to watch.” With new signings Bailey Stockman and Levi Haughton pulling strings behind an already lethal partnership of Dexter Purton and Sam Holden, combined with the defensive solidity Max Conway will bring, Anderson said the campaign ahead “should be an exciting one”. A team with something to prove in the new campaign are Scrabble, whose manager Ollie Sugarman said: “We are now the second generation of Scrabble and with the club technically being the second-oldest in the league behind Temple Fortune, there’s a lot of history behind the name. “After an underwhelming season last year, it would be great for us to bring some excitement to the league this time around and hopefully create a proper underdog story. “We know we have a lot to prove, but we have a young and hungry squad and that makes the season ahead even more exciting for us.” Not making any bold predictions, he said: “I will always back the boys and believe in what this group is capable of, but rather than making big statements about winning the title or gaining promotion, our focus is on playing good-quality football and showing what we can do as a team. If we perform consistently and play the way I know we can, hopefully the results will follow.” Success for Temple Fortune must come off the pitch as well as on it. Chairman Nigel Kyte said: “On field and financial stability is what we’re looking for in our record 51st consecutive season in the MGBSFL. “We’re even returning to green and white stripes as a clash kit, being a poignant nod to the colours we wore when first playing the League in September 1976!” Kyte continued: “We have a new manager in Oli Weiner, who managed a Bristol University team to success a couple of years ago. “He’s bringing in some good new players to intermix with a set of experience. So we like to think we will be staying in the top-six and contest the smaller Division One in the New Year.” Hampstead Ducks’ manager Jacob Summerfield is also quietly confident this year. He said: “I think we’ve assembled a team capable of beating anyone in the Championship on our day. “We want to take it game by game, but I see no reason we can’t be in the mix at the top of the table. I cannot tell you how much we would love to win some silverware!” Noting how his team’s preparations have been ‘uncharacteristically excellent’, he added: “We sorted a squad out early in the summer and have had a number of promising pre-season results that have allowed us to gel as a group. “The Ducks mentality is simple; to be mensches and play decent football. There is now an 18-year-age gap between our youngest and oldest player, so we’re excited to be raising the next generation of Ducklings!” Keeping his cards close to his chest as to what he hopes his side can achieve this campaign, Beitar Bushey’s Daniel Gold said: “We’ll take each week as it comes, focus on the challenge in front of us, and go from there.” A pre-season featuring lots of intense training, complemented with new signings means all involved at the club are looking forward to the big kick-off. Bolstering their midfield, a return for Dean Benzaken, along with Alon Bedell and Jason Morris, will hopefully boost those hopes. Success as far as Gold is concerned will be the ability to “bring a controlled, measured approach to our matches, looking for solidity in every part of the field...and our lovely new kits.” Bochur Juniors boss Joel Ucko won’t be taking anything for granted this year. He said: “You can have all the philosophy, identity and fancy words you like, but we just need to ensure that we win games of football. “I was incredibly proud of our County Cup run last season, and our second half of the season showed what this group is capable of. “But we also dropped points in games we shouldn’t have. So this season is about cutting out those stupid results, doing the basics properly, winning our individual battles, putting bodies on the line and ultimately winning football matches.” Mill Hill Minyan, Redbridge Jewish Care and Wolverhampstead Wanderers complete the line-up.","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1tciz9ur1jqgfx9rmas/0/both-rapid-vienna-bocher-juniors-will-be-contesting-this-year-s-newly-formed-championship-with-the-former-having-high-hopes-of-winning-the-title-come-may-jpg.webp","byline":"","description":"Both Rapid Vienna Bocher Juniors will be contesting this year's newly-formed Championship, with the former having high hopes of winning the title come May. Photo Georgia Rosenberg","height":2377,"id":"contentid/1tciz9ur1jqgfx9rmas","title":"Both Rapid Vienna Bocher Juniors will be contesting this year's newly-formed Championship, with the former having high hopes of winning the title come May.jpg","width":3500,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":null,"publishedDate":"2026-08-26T08:15:45.568Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1fyyfxzc3wmuhp160cm","name":"Maccabi GB","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1fyyfxzc3wmuhp160cm/1/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/maccabi-gb-hu8e1xwo","path":"/author/maccabi-gb-hu8e1xwo"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"Andrew Sherwood","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Maccabi football","url":"tag/Maccabi football","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1tbt2lk60chvwpv8pwc","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/the-schmooze/our-childrens-exam-results-dont-define-who-they-are-j7xkcwfm","path":"/community/the-schmooze/our-childrens-exam-results-dont-define-who-they-are-j7xkcwfm","title":"Our children’s exam results don’t define who they are","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"Lower grades than expected don’t mean the end of the road, but perhaps just a different – and better – direction","bodyText":"Every August, the same ritual plays out: envelopes torn open, screens refreshed, exam results scrutinised as though they are verdicts rather than snapshots. For a few days, a single set of grades becomes the measure of a young person’s worth, ability and future. At Gateways, the Jewish community’s only alternative education provider, we see the human cost of that ritual up close. We work with young people in Year 9 and above who have struggled to engage with, or remain in, mainstream education, often because of anxiety, low self-esteem, or experiences that made the classroom feel like the last place they could succeed. This year, our students sat more exams than ever before, with more than 80 GCSEs, Functional Skills and BTEC assessments between them, and achieved a 92 per cent pass rate. We are proud of that number. But the number is not really the point. Think about what a GCSE actually asks of a 16-year-old: five years of learning, homework and revision, all riding on a handful of hours in an exam hall. A student can have worked hard all year and still walk in having barely slept, worried sick, unwell, or carrying an emotional weight distracting them from the exam. We ask a young person to be fit, in every sense, for one day out of five years of learning, then treat that day as though it tells us everything about them. And when results land, we are often too quick to jump straight to the number and judge from there. If a young person doesn’t get what they hoped for, it is easy to catastrophise: to treat it as a closed door rather than one of several open ones. In reality, there is almost always another route, a resit, a different course, a different college, a different path entirely, arrived at a little later than planned. Either way, the world does not stop. At Gateways, we ask our students a different question: “What’s the worst that can happen?” If things don’t go as expected, we don’t see that as the end of the road. We look for another qualification, another route or another way to help them reach their goal. If a young person doesn’t achieve the grade they were hoping for, we don’t simply say: “You can’t continue.” We pause, we reflect and we ask: “What will actually work best for this young person?” Because sometimes, success isn’t about following the original path. It’s about finding the right one. None of that works unless the young person feels heard, accepted and safe first. Everything else follows from that, not the other way round. It is why our students learn in a space that looks nothing like a traditional classroom: no uniforms, teachers known by their first names, an environment built on relationship rather than hierarchy. The world does not stop because of it. Students simply feel more heard and are treated more like the young adults they are becoming. It is also worth saying plainly: the world has moved on. Increasingly, employers value personal skills, resilience and real workplace experience every bit as much as a 9 on a GCSE paper or an A at A-level. We do, of course, celebrate results, and we are proud of every grade our students achieve this year. But we celebrate something else too: the journey each of them has already made, simply to get here. Our students are young people who have struggled with their mental health, sometimes profoundly. For many of our families, just leaving the house and walking through our doors each morning is already an achievement, long before any exam is sat. The bar has moved. So as another results season closes, we would ask parents, teachers and the wider community to remember this: a result is a moment, not a life sentence. What we say to a young person on the day they open that envelope may matter more than what is written inside it. Here is what we tell every one of our students, and what we would ask the whole community to tell theirs: your results do not define you. What defines you is what you do next, and there is always a next. Laurence Field is CEO and founder of Gateways. For more information about the school, which supports young people between 14 and 25, go to: gateways.org.uk","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1tcskppy4wfgztfdvm0/0/gettyimages-595023342-jpg.webp","byline":"Getty Images","description":"(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)","height":2666,"id":"contentid/1tcskppy4wfgztfdvm0","title":"GettyImages-595023342.jpg","width":4000,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-25T16:24:51.009Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-25T16:24:24.271Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1p4zx03dkabjlqtflx8","name":"Laurence Field","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1p4zx03dkabjlqtflx8/2/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/laurence-field-vzqxsqg4","path":"/author/laurence-field-vzqxsqg4"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Exam results","url":"tag/Exam results","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"The Schmooze","path":"/community/the-schmooze","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community.the-schmooze"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1tbz8eqmt40jkjhblzy","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/the-jewish-deaf-association-has-always-been-there-for-me-it-is-like-my-family-cakxxy7h","path":"/community/the-jewish-deaf-association-has-always-been-there-for-me-it-is-like-my-family-cakxxy7h","title":"‘The Jewish Deaf Association has always been there for me. It is like my family’","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"Miriam Solomon, the JDA’s oldest member, tells the JC about growing up deaf and about a very special visit from the Chief Rabbi on her 100th birthday","bodyText":"Walk into Miriam Solomon’s flat in north-west London and you are surrounded by the memories of a life spanning a century. Antique wooden tables and cabinets hold history books, colourful vases and Judaica. There are tapestries and poems made and written by Miriam, alongside framed black-and-white photographs of loved ones who have since passed. The dining table is still covered with a party cloth printed with Miriam’s photograph, while balloons decorate the living-room windows – reminders that just a few weeks ago Miriam, who was born deaf in July 1926, celebrated her 100th birthday. To mark the occasion, the Jewish Deaf Association (JDA), which is itself celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, held a party for its oldest member at its headquarters in Finchley. Miriam has spent much of her adult life involved with the organisation, as a member, committee secretary and fundraiser. She calls it her family. Miriam Solomon (centre) with Sue Cipin OBE (JDA CEO), Chief Rabbi, Trudy Kling (JDA chair) and Caroline Janner (JDA trustee)[Missing Credit] There was also a surprise guest. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis joined the celebrations to meet Miriam, a member of Finchley United Synagogue, who taught the Chief Rabbi how to sign “Happy Birthday” in British Sign Language (BSL). “It was a privilege to have the Chief Rabbi visit me on my special birthday,” Miriam says, smiling at the memory from her green upholstered armchair. “He gave me a special letter, which I will treasure forever.” We sit in Miriam’s living room to reflect on her life, joined by JDA support worker Lisa Mansur, who uses a combination of BSL and lipreading to help us communicate. Born into an Orthodox Jewish family in Manchester, Miriam was one of three siblings, all born deaf. At just three and a half, she was sent with her older sister, Josephine, and younger brother, Myer, to the Residential School for Jewish Deaf Children, in London, a boarding school founded in 1860. Siblings Josephine, Myer and Miriam (bottom) Solomon as children (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit] It was there that many of Miriam’s earliest memories were formed. She returned home only three times a year – for Chanukah, Pesach and the summer holidays, and while at school, she learnt Hebrew, attended Shabbat prayers, won prizes and trained in dressmaking. “I don’t remember very much about first arriving because I was so young, but I remember being happy. I picked things up very quickly at school. I was talking by the time I was five,” she says. “There was very good discipline at the school. It wasn’t strict in a bad way. Everyone behaved and we had very good staff. The teachers didn’t sign to us. We had to speak to the teachers, but among ourselves, of course we signed. “We had Hebrew lessons two or three times a week. I learnt basic Hebrew. I still know things like the blessings for the bread and the wine. We had prayers every Shabbos in the assembly room. I still remember those prayers now.” While the girls did dressmaking, the boys did tailoring instead. “I enjoyed dressmaking. I made blouses and things like that. I was always reading books. As soon as I finished my lessons, I would go back to my books.” One person Miriam remembers particularly fondly is the school matron, Miss Novinsky. After recently discovering that her grave had been left unmarked, Miriam decided to pay for her gravestone. The mention of her former matron makes Miriam teary. “I really loved her and she loved me,” she says. “Sometimes on Sundays, other children had visitors, and I had nobody there, so Miss Novinsky would take me out. She took me to Kensington Gardens to see the Peter Pan statue. I still remember that.” Miriam’s school years were cut short by the Second World War, when her father decided that Miriam, her siblings and their mother should move thousands of miles away to Australia. “I should have stayed at school until I was 16, but I left when I was 14 because of the war,” she says, recalling the four-week journey overseas. “My father did not come with us; he had to remain in England during the war. I didn’t know at first that my father wasn’t coming with us. If I had known that, I’m not sure I would have gone.” For the next eight years, Miriam lived in Melbourne but stayed in touch with former classmates. “I did miss people from school. We wrote letters to one another,” she says. “We were all so close because we had lived together. We had eaten every meal together and had slept in the same dormitories. “I remember one girl sleeping near me telling me she had a secret boyfriend. She asked me to write a letter for her to give to him, so I wrote him a love letter for her,” she smiles. After returning to England, Miriam eventually found a new community that would shape her life. Miriam with JDA support worker Lisa Mansur (Photo: JDA)[Missing Credit] She recalls: “In 1953, we moved to London because we found out that the Jewish Deaf Association had been set up. “There, I got to know lots of deaf people through JDA. I joined the youth committee and later moved onto the adult committee. I was always the secretary. I have helped to fundraise money for JDA. More and more money is needed every year.” The shared identity, not only of being deaf but also of being Jewish is something Miriam values. “We understand each other so well. Lots of people from the community married one another. There were a lot of marriages.” She adds: “In 1957, 39 of us went on an organised holiday to Switzerland for three weeks. It was wonderful. We went up the mountains, to Geneva, Zurich and all over. The weather was wonderful as well.” For Miriam, who never married and has outlived both her siblings, that sense of family has become something of a lifeline. “JDA has always been there. It has been my family,” she says. Siblings Josephine, Myer and Miriam (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit] Reflecting on what has changed for deaf people since she was young, Miriam reflects: “Over 100 years, everything has changed. “There are better job opportunities for deaf people now. Deaf people can do better jobs and there are more careers open to them.” Yet, many of the things Miriam enjoyed as a child remain part of her life today. “I still read books. I have so many books. At the moment, I am reading poetry, I like old English poetry. Sometimes, poetry makes me cry.” We talk through her framed poems, as well as photographs around her home, including a striking portrait of Miriam aged 30 in a blue silk dress, its full skirt spread around her. That image was taken by her late brother Myer, who was a skilled photographer and handbag maker, and he was once pictured showing his craft to Queen Elizabeth II. “My brother, Myer, was a wonderful photographer,” she says, looking at the image of herself in the dress and reflecting on her lifelong love of clothes. “The dress was pale blue, my favourite colour. I don’t like black; it is moody, it is miserable.” Miriam Solomon in her beloved dress (Photo: JDA/courtesy)[Missing Credit] At this, Miriam’s support worker Lisa Mansur, who has worked at JDA for nearly 24 years, smiles.“At 100, Miriam is still Miriam. She is independent, she knows her own mind and she decides how she wants to live.” JDA’s CEO Sue Cipin OBE says: “It was a real joy for all of us at JDA to celebrate Miriam turning 100. Miriam’s stories of her extraordinary life show how much has changed for deaf people, and the crucial role JDA has played in her life and the lives of generations of Jewish deaf people. She is fiercely independent, full of character and still completely engaged with the world around her. \"Miriam has seen JDA and the Jewish deaf community evolve over generations. With JDA beside her, Miriam will always have the love, care and support she needs to live a safe, healthy, happy life.” Back in her living room, Miriam’s memories of a century remain strikingly clear. “I have seen a lot of changes during my lifetime, but I am still interested in what is happening, and I still like trying things,” she says. Her secret? “I take every day as it comes.” For more information, visit the Jewish Deaf Association's website.","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1tbzhzw5to8audnxp1f/0/miriam-solomon-at-100-photo-courtesy.webp","byline":"","description":"Miriam Solomon at 100 (Photo: courtesy)","height":1600,"id":"contentid/1tbzhzw5to8audnxp1f","title":"Miriam Solomon at 100 (Photo: courtesy)","width":1200,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-25T15:36:16.545Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-25T15:20:50.715Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1728fxo4bsa2ykh6nx1","name":"Sandy Rashty","bio":"","role":null,"title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1728fxo4bsa2ykh6nx1/2/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":"https://twitter.com/sandyrashty","url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/sandy-rashty-trzqxpre","path":"/author/sandy-rashty-trzqxpre"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Jewish Deaf Association","url":"tag/Jewish Deaf Association","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"JDA","url":"tag/JDA","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1tcqdyh6ai9b9n34hf4","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/bath-jewish-cemetery-volunteers-shortlisted-for-history-award-f8snc6dt","path":"/community/bath-jewish-cemetery-volunteers-shortlisted-for-history-award-f8snc6dt","title":"Bath Jewish cemetery volunteers shortlisted for history award","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"Voting for the Everyday History Heroes 2026 awards is open until August 31","bodyText":"A group of volunteers who devote their spare time to preserving a Jewish cemetery in Bath have been shortlisted for a prestigious history award. The Friends of the Bath Jewish Burial Ground, a small, volunteer-led charity, which cares for the recently restored 200-year-old grounds and has researched the lives of some 90 people who are buried there, is in the running for an Everyday History Heroes award. Christina Hilsenrath, chair of trustees of the Friends of Bath Jewish Burial Ground, said the charity was “enormously proud” of the recognition. “For a small volunteer charity caring for a small provincial Jewish burial ground, to have these stories recognised on a national stage is immensely meaningful. At a time when antisemitism is once again a growing concern, it is particularly important to celebrate the Jewish contribution to the history and heritage of Britain. These people were part of the fabric of Bath, and their stories are part of our shared history.” Hilsenrath, who recently published a book, Jews in Bath, chronicling the lives of Bath’s Jewish 18th and 19th century Jewish community, added: “Every person buried here led a unique life, and through years of research, we have been able to rescue those individual stories from being forgotten…Bath’s Jewish community may have been small, but it was an integral part of the city’s life, as well as Jewish life in Britain.” The daughter of a refugee who came to the UK from Berlin on the Kindertransport, Hilsenrath also noted how the charity’s research had connected people all over the world to their Jewish heritage. “Our research has put us in touch with descendants of people buried here in Britain, the USA, Australia and South Africa. Through the burial ground, families separated by generations and continents have been able to rediscover their connections with Bath and with their Jewish heritage.” Launched by historian and broadcaster David Olusoga OBE, presenter of BBC Two's A House Through Time, in partnership with Heritage Open Days and the website findmypast.co.uk, Everyday History Heroes celebrates historic and cultural sites which spotlight the stories of “ordinary” people. One national winner and seven regional winners will be announced on September 10, each receiving a donation towards their work. The Friends of the Bath Jewish Burial Ground are one of three finalists in the southwest category. The award is a public vote, open to anyone within or beyond the UK until August 31. You can vote via the link or go to: findmypast.co.uk/c/everyday-history-heroes-south-west","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1tdjwunjf9psa2p50md/1/volunteers-and-supporters-of-the-bath-jewish-burial-ground-photo-bath-jewish-burial-ground.webp","byline":"","description":"Volunteers and supporters of the Bath Jewish Burial Ground (Photo: Bath Jewish Burial Ground)","height":2432,"id":"contentid/1tdjwunjf9psa2p50md","title":"Volunteers and supporters of the Bath Jewish Burial Ground (Photo: Bath Jewish Burial Ground)","width":3648,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-26T15:33:18.295Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-25T14:22:23.949Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1cn2j86ev0rwgjo4e94","name":"Alma Green","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/alma-green-kdluefml","path":"/author/alma-green-kdluefml"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Bath Jewish Burial Ground","url":"tag/Bath Jewish Burial Ground","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1tcph1k179whlsxsysv","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/manchesters-oldest-kosher-bakery-saved-ok0s9eju","path":"/community/manchesters-oldest-kosher-bakery-saved-ok0s9eju","title":"Manchester’s oldest kosher bakery – and 25 jobs – saved","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"State Fayre had gone into liquidation earlier in the month","bodyText":"The oldest kosher bakery in Manchester and the jobs of its 25 employees have been saved after the sale of the shop secured its future. State Fayre, in Crumpsall, has been purchased by YF & SF Bakery Ltd, a new company established earlier in the month. The company was set up by Yehuda Fagleman, and his wife, Shiri, after State Fayre Ltd, was wound up and placed into creditors’ voluntary liquidation earlier in August. All 25 employees at State Fayre Ltd are being transferred to the new business. Yehuda Fagleman, who was previously director of State Fayre Ltd, said: “We are in a strong position to take the business forward and give State Fayre a new lease of life, with lots of ideas to expand and re-energise, including new product lines and other ventures. “We are excited to be able to continue serving the loyal individuals and businesses who make up our customer base.” The roots of the bakery go back to 1905, and according to State Fayre’s social media, they are purveyors of the “best bagels in town”. State Fayre Ltd acquired the business in 2017, with Fagleman and his co-director, Isaac Stefansky, taking over from Robert Rosenfeld, whose family came to Manchester from Poland and passed down the bakery – and its recipes – through multiple generations. In 2021, the bakery chose to take on stricter supervision from the Machzikei Hadas, a Chasidic synagogue, alongside the Manchester Beth Din, to ensure that its products could be consumed by Manchester’s growing Orthodox community. The business supplies its products to supermarkets, restaurants and kosher stores across Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Glasgow. Steven Wiseglass, director and founder of insolvency and corporate recovery firm Inquesta, who secured the sale of the bakery, said many of the financial difficulties of State Fayre Ltd had stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions introduced in March 2020. He added: “After the restrictions were lifted, the company’s financial difficulties continued. Energy costs increased substantially, with monthly bills rising from £2,500 to almost £7,500. “In addition, significant increases in the cost of food and other raw materials further eroded the company’s profit, along with increased payroll costs, resulting from higher statutory wage rates.” Commenting on the sale, Wiseglass said: “We are pleased to have secured a sale of the trade and assets of the business to YF & SF Bakery Ltd, ensuring the bakery will continue to operate and serve a wide client base across the northwest and beyond.”","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1tcphek2x4ski66mawg/1/yehuda-fagleman-co-director-of-state-fayre-photo-courtesy.webp","byline":"","description":"Yehuda Fagleman, co-director of State Fayre (Photo: courtesy)","height":1659,"id":"contentid/1tcphek2x4ski66mawg","title":"Yehuda Fagleman, co-director of State Fayre (Photo: courtesy)","width":1600,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-26T01:34:22.951Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-25T13:35:09.749Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1tbwd85uioh3if96xc9","name":"Lucy Pollock","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/lucy-pollock-u5iqtjuy","path":"/author/lucy-pollock-u5iqtjuy"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Manchester","url":"tag/Manchester","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"kosher bakery","url":"tag/kosher bakery","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1tcj5wff7j4u8y9hg1l","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/-eodl83k4","path":"/community/-eodl83k4","title":"Scott rips through Breachwood’s top order to set up a triumphant finale for Belmont","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"","bodyText":"Belmont and Edgware CC ended their debut season in the North Herts Sunday Cricket League by claiming a nine-wicket win over Breachwood Green CC. Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the tried-and-tested opening partnership of Scott Gerard and Josh Reynolds came up trumps yet again. On a very tricky pitch with variable bounce and a lightning-quick outfield, Gerard tore through the opposition’s top order, taking the first five wickets. Reynolds was tidy at the other end, but wasn’t able to pick up a scalp. Gerard finished with figures of 5-33and was ably supported by Zak Shipman, who nipped in with a wicket. The opposition were 80-6 at the halfway point, before spinner Jack Mendel and captain Adam Morris picked up two each to close the innings out. Morris’ first wicket was his 100th for the club, as Breachwood collapsed all out for 140. In reply, Daniel Rabie opened up with Jamie Lang-Richards, and the former was run out for just six. But, that would be the final wicket to fall. Lang-Richards and No3 Dan Humphrey had to navigate the variable bounce from the get-go – Lang-Richards was hit on the head, and took a number of body blows, while Humphrey ended his innings covered in red marks and bruises. But they dug in to strike up a scintillating 120-run partnership, with Lang-Richards hitting 69 not out – his first-ever 50 – including 14 boundaries, while Humphrey finished on an undefeated 52. The victory saw Belmont claim their sixth league win of the season, putting them near the top of the table, but just shy of promotion. Club Captain Adam Morris said: “It was brilliant to end our league campaign with arguably one of our best team performances of the season. “Everyone to a man bowled well with barely any extras. “We took good and key catches all throughout the innings, the fielding and keeping was excellent on a really tricky outfield and then a fantastic 120-run partnership between Dan and Jamie to see us over the line with ease. “It ends a great debut campaign in the league and gives us a real platform to build on for next year. “We’re looking forward to carrying this momentum forward into the few friendlies we now have to end the season well.”","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1tcj2ve38l7r9dgydar/1/scott-gerard-turned-in-an-imperious-bowling-performance-for-belmont-taking-five-wickets-in-their-emphatic-win-jpg.webp","byline":"Benjamin Gilbert","description":"Scott Gerard turned in an imperious bowling performance for Belmont, taking five wickets in their emphatic win. Photo Benj Gilbert","height":1839,"id":"contentid/1tcj2ve38l7r9dgydar","title":"Scott Gerard turned in an imperious bowling performance for Belmont, taking five wickets in their emphatic win.jpg","width":1500,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-26T08:18:35.832Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-25T08:05:31.950Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1fyyfxzc3wmuhp160cm","name":"Maccabi GB","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1fyyfxzc3wmuhp160cm/1/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/maccabi-gb-hu8e1xwo","path":"/author/maccabi-gb-hu8e1xwo"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"Andrew Sherwood","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Maccabi Cricket","url":"tag/Maccabi Cricket","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t9h9ce5zyvj373jz1g","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/family-completes-triathlon-to-fund-new-wheelchair-swing-in-norwood-garden-s2mzwco2","path":"/community/family-completes-triathlon-to-fund-new-wheelchair-swing-in-norwood-garden-s2mzwco2","title":"Family completes triathlon to fund new wheelchair swing in Norwood garden","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"Stephanie Harris has cerebral palsy. The swing will be added to the sensory garden at her Norwood home","bodyText":"A woman supported by Norwood and her family have completed a triathlon to raise funds for a fully accessible adult swing, which she and her housemates will be able to use while in their wheelchairs. Stephanie Harris, 33, who has cerebral palsy, has complex needs, including visual impairment. For the past nine years, she has been living with three other young people with disabilities at a Norwood home in Barnet, where pioneering assistive technology enables them to live independently. Stephanie joined her parents, Judith and Nigel Harris, and fellow team member Lisa to take part in the Dorney Lake Triathlon earlier this month, which involved swimming 750m, cycling 20km and running 5km. Stephanie participated in tandem during the cycling challenge, and Judith pushed Stephanie in her wheelchair while she ran round the course. A park swing for disabled people in a wheelchairGetty Images During the swimming challenge, Lisa swam while tugging Stephanie and Judith in a boat. For this part of the triathlon, time wasn’t the focus, said Judith afterwards. Rather, completing it “in an inclusive way as a team” was key to their success. So far, Team Stephanie – or Superhero Tri, Powered by Marvel 2026 – have raised over £15,000 towards the swing. On their JustGiving page, they wrote: “At [Stephanie’s home], we have created a fully accessible garden, a space providing a relaxing sensory environment full of colours and scents, where fruits and vegetables are grown to encourage healthy living and responsibility. “This next phase is to raise vital funds for Norwood and allow us to purchase a much talked about accessible adult swing, strong enough to take each resident in their wheelchairs. A tried and tested true sensory experience.” They wrote that outdoor musical instruments were also on the wish list. Stephanie Harris supporting the team at the Dorney Lake Triathlon (Photo: Norwood)[Missing Credit] Vicky Weir, who is the head of Norwood’s London services, told the JC: “An accessible wheelchair swing would make a meaningful difference for people by ensuring users can enjoy the same simple, joyful experiences, rather than watching from the sidelines. “It supports inclusion, independence and wellbeing, while also offering valuable movement and sensory stimulation that can help with balance, spatial awareness and regulation. Most importantly, it would create opportunities for fun, connection and shared memories in a safe and accessible environment.” Stephanie Harris on the front of the tandem bike (Photo: Norwood)[Missing Credit] Judith, who lives in Finchley, praised the support the family had received from Norwood. “The early years were really traumatic, but Norwood was our lifeline, and still is. Living independently is giving Stephanie the confidence to let her sense of humour and mischievous side come to the fore.” This wasn’t the first time Stephanie’s family had taken up a Norwood challenge. Previously, Stephanie and Judith took part in a 100km cycle ride in Israel, on a specially adapted Pino bike. To donate to Team Stephanie, go to: justgiving.com/page/judith-harris-23 or click here","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t9hngq9afpvjiaczhs/0/stephanie-harris-centre-and-her-family-at-the-dorney-lake-triathlon-photo-norwood.webp","byline":"","description":"Stephanie Harris (centre) and her family at the Dorney Lake Triathlon (Photo: Norwood)","height":1200,"id":"contentid/1t9hngq9afpvjiaczhs","title":"Stephanie Harris (centre) and her family at the Dorney Lake Triathlon (Photo: Norwood)","width":1600,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-24T10:51:01.263Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-21T15:55:38.776Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1t79kaogii74dugi0le","name":"Jake Levy","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/jake-levy-wu2dxjed","path":"/author/jake-levy-wu2dxjed"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Norwood","url":"tag/Norwood","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t9dv8iarfpzjgefz5x","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/london-church-celebrating-contribution-of-jewish-emigres-cp7hi9vj","path":"/community/london-church-celebrating-contribution-of-jewish-emigres-cp7hi9vj","title":"London church celebrating contribution of Jewish émigrés","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"St John’s Waterloo will hold a symposium and a concert on September 9, telling the story of musicians who fled Nazi Europe","bodyText":"A London church is celebrating the “often overlooked” cultural contributions of Jewish émigrés, who fled the Nazis during World War Two to start a new life in the UK. St John’s Waterloo, which was the official church of the Festival of Britain in 1951, is marking its 75th anniversary by holding a programme of events, including a symposium on September 9 exploring “the large creative input of those from Jewish and other immigrant families”, said Euchar Gravina, the artistic director at St John’s Waterloo and its charity the Bridge at Waterloo. Speakers include Naomi Games, daughter of the “official war poster artist” Abram Games, whose parents arrived as refugees from Russia at the turn of the century, and Sarah MacDougall, from Ben Uri art Gallery and Museum. The day will end with a song recital by tenor Norbert Meyn, who specialises in music connected to migration, accompanied by pianist Christopher Gould. The repertoire will tell the story of musicians who fled Nazi Europe in the 1930s. Alongside this, St John’s Waterloo is hosting Music, Migration and Mobility, a touring exhibition by the Royal College of Music, which traces the journeys of émigré musicians from Nazi Europe. Visitors are able to listen to oral interviews via QR codes. The exhibition is free to visit in St John’s Old Crypt space until 9 October. An art exhibition in the Old Crypt, St John's Waterloo (Photo: Eleanor Bentall)[Missing Credit] Gravina said: \"Through exhibitions, performances, talks and events, we're inviting audiences to reflect on the legacy that the 1951 Festival of Britain came to symbolise, and its enduring themes of culture, inclusion and social renewal.” The Jewish immigrant experience is deeply intertwined with the history of the church. To mark the Festival of Britain – held to lift the spirits of the nation in the aftermath of war – award-winning Jewish refugee and artist Hans Feibusch crafted murals for the church’s nave, which were restored by the church in 2022. Hans Feibusch (Photo: Pallant House Gallery)[Missing Credit] St John’s was built in 1824, and after being bombed during the Second World War, it was restored to become the Festival of Britain’s official church and a symbol of hope and resilience. Today, the church, while serving as a place of worship, is also a cultural centre, holding a music, art and theatrical events. It also promotes social justice through its at its charity, The Bridge at Waterloo. For tickets for September 9 and other events from ‘Now I make a leaf of voices - celebrating 75 years since the Festival of Britain’, go to: stjohnswaterloo.org/anniversary75/ or click here","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t9dw9zk4uaolh74s3p/1/waterloo-festival-at-st-john-s-waterloo-photo-credit-to-eleanor-bentall6-jpg.webp","byline":"","description":"A concert at St John's Waterloo (Photo: Eleanor Bentall)","height":2522,"id":"contentid/1t9dw9zk4uaolh74s3p","title":"Waterloo Festival at St John's Waterloo - Photo Credit to Eleanor Bentall6.jpg","width":4000,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-21T11:41:26.936Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-21T07:39:37.165Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1t79kaogii74dugi0le","name":"Jake Levy","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/jake-levy-wu2dxjed","path":"/author/jake-levy-wu2dxjed"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Jewish refugees","url":"tag/Jewish refugees","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"St John's Waterloo","url":"tag/St John's Waterloo","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Music","url":"tag/Music","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t8vwcxkiby3x0lpafo","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/rob-rinder-thanks-jewish-care-in-heartfelt-tribute-to-his-father-hbpx68i0","path":"/community/rob-rinder-thanks-jewish-care-in-heartfelt-tribute-to-his-father-hbpx68i0","title":"Rob Rinder thanks Jewish Care in heartfelt tribute to his father","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"David Rinder had Lewy body dementia and passed away on Wednesday aged 73","bodyText":"Criminal barrister and television personality Rob Rinder has thanked Jewish Care for its end-of-life support to his father, David Rinder, who passed away on Wednesday aged 73. Rinder’s father had Lewy body dementia, a form of the disease which can cause both severe mental confusion and physical movement disabilities from the start. In a touching message posted on Instagram on Thursday, Rinder described his father as: “Funny, beautifully flawed, loving, and my dad.” David Rinder was a London taxi driver and a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur supporter, who was “there for every one of my brothers’ and his grandsons’ football matches”. Rinder said he once represented his father as a lawyer, for bad driving, and joked that “the prosecution had a case”. “I never once doubted his pride in me,” added Rinder. “When I came out, he responded with magnificent indifference: I was still his son, there was nothing else to discuss.” Rinder has previously spoken candidly about his father’s condition and, in tandem, about the excellent care provided by Jewish Care since the diagnosis. His post continued: “In the last years of his life, Jewish Care became his home, a place where dignity and tenderness were practised every day. Walid and Tosin, among so many others there, cared for him and came to kiss him goodbye. “A Jewish man, held in his final days by people of different faiths: a quiet reminder that what is sacred in us is also what we share. He died with his family around him, loved and held to the last.” Daniel Carmel-Brown, CEO of Jewish Care, said: “Rob’s words are a wonderful tribute to his dad and a powerful reminder of the impact dementia has on individuals and families. It was a privilege for us to care for David and to support his family.” Back in June, Rinder spoke at Jewish Care’s annual dinner of the support the organisation had given him and the reassurance that his father was in good hands. He said that after first contacting Jewish Care, his overwhelming emotion was “relief – not because everything had suddenly become simple – it absolutely hadn't – but because for the first time in a long time, I felt we were no longer carrying this by ourselves. “They’re giving something back to my family that we desperately needed: not perfect peace, but the peace that comes from knowing that tonight my dad is safe, and that even when we can't be there, someone who cares for him completely is.” Rob Rinder speaking at the Jewish Care dinner in June (Photo: Grainge Photography)[Missing Credit] Elsewhere in his Instagram post, Rinder implored his followers to learn about Lewy body dementia, a condition affecting around 125,000 people in the UK, and its symptoms, which include vivid hallucinations, severe balance issues, and frequent fluctuations in alertness and thinking ability. He said: “Lewy body dementia took him far too young. It made the familiar strange and the certain uncertain. Dementia can obscure a person but it does not erase them.” During an interview in 2024 with the Lewy Body Society, Rinder said that there is a “lack of research” into the disease, which he clarified was “nobody’s fault”. “The lack of clarity of the prognosis as to what's going to happen and when […] is the most darkly frustrating and difficult issue of all,” he said. “There isn't the type of funding required to give individuals and loved ones the very real and demanding assistance that's required for a disease like this, especially where it changes very quickly and the level of care might simply, frankly, alter overnight.” He also described the journey towards a diagnosis, as symptoms appear over time. “It doesn't happen in one moment,” he said. “It's a series of subtle changes to begin with that then become more evident and obvious, and that's very difficult for families and loved ones around them because you start thinking: ‘Is there something strange going on?’ “We met this doctor who carried out a series of tests and it was quite extraordinary because, at first, [my dad] seemed to answer all of the questions very clearly. Gradually, the questions became seemingly more challenging and, again, he was able to answer them fairly straightforwardly. “And then, in the most curious way, affecting way, moving way actually, she drew a picture [of a] very straightforward shape and asked him to draw the same thing. He couldn't.” Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid, comedian Alan Carr, and Waterloo Road actress Denise Welch were among those who sent messages of support to Rinder this week.","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t8vwke6u7x51zwgekq/1/robrinder-webmainimage-jpg.webp","byline":"","description":"Rob Rinder as a child with his father and brother (photo: Instagram @robrinder)","height":1223,"id":"contentid/1t8vwke6u7x51zwgekq","title":"RobRinder-WebMainImage.jpg","width":2177,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-21T12:01:26.660Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-20T17:00:01.199Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1nb4teg0vce0zdzp479","name":"Ben Conway","bio":"Ben Conway is the JC’s community reporter. You can reach him at bconway@thejc.com.
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The Board of Deputies is setting up an immersive website, consisting of multiple short films featuring children aged seven to 13 talking about Jewish beliefs, lifestyles and cultural values. The website will allow school pupils to “walk” through a “Jewish neighbourhood”, where they will find different Jewish buildings, such as kosher restaurants, synagogues and a Torah scribe’s workshop. Board of Deputies’ education officer Anna Silver said: “We hear over and over again that schools don’t have big budgets for religious studies. There is nothing like [the website] within schools at the moment. We are really excited to fill this gap.” Board of Deputies Vice President Jeremy Michelson said: “We are very excited to have the opportunity to create a resource to support the teaching of Judaism in Religious Education in primary schools. \"It will be free for schools to use and provide an immersive experience where students can virtually visit a Jewish neighbourhood and ‘meet’ Jewish children and adults, in Jewish homes, synagogues, shops etc. There is a real need for good quality, authentic and accurate educational resources on Judaism for this age group, which show the diversity and lived experience of British Jews today.\" The Board of Deputies is looking for children from a wide range of backgrounds and different parts of the UK to ensure the material reflects the diversity of the Jewish community. Participation is unpaid, and parents or guardians will need to be present during filming. The Board is already running initiatives to increase awareness of Jewish heritage and culture in mainstream education. It oversees an interactive travelling Jewish Living Experience Exhibition (JLEE) and Jewish Living Online (JLO), a free, digital resource which teaches about Jews, Judaism, and antisemitism, created in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League. In July, the Board won a government grant, in partnership with Catholic organisations, to create lessons on antisemitism, which will be taught in Catholic schools in the Midlands. For more information on the casting call, email: anna.silver@bod.org.uk","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t8tfofpazlg6u92l59/0/a-passover-celebration-photo-getty.webp","byline":"Getty Images","description":"A Passover celebration (Photo: Getty)","height":2666,"id":"contentid/1t8tfofpazlg6u92l59","title":"A Passover celebration (Photo: Getty)","width":4000,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-20T15:10:34.268Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-20T13:56:38.689Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1t79kaogii74dugi0le","name":"Jake Levy","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/jake-levy-wu2dxjed","path":"/author/jake-levy-wu2dxjed"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Board of Deputies","url":"tag/Board of Deputies","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Religious studies","url":"tag/Religious studies","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Judaism","url":"tag/Judaism","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t8qjdck5zmrrpqsvi4","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/grade-expectations-jewish-schools-shine-on-gcse-results-day-gfb9heg8","path":"/community/grade-expectations-jewish-schools-shine-on-gcse-results-day-gfb9heg8","title":"Grade expectations: Jewish schools shine on GCSE results day","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"Jewish schools across the country exceeded national averages","bodyText":"A week on from a strong set of A-level results in Jewish schools up and down the country, the countdown is finally over for GCSE students, who have followed suit with their own impressive performance. Immanuel College set the standard again this year, with nearly 61 per cent of their results at the top grades 9 to 7, close to triple the national average. Almost a quarter (23.6 per cent) of their results were at grade 9, while nearly half (42.6 per cent) were either grade 9 or 8, and almost all were 4 or above (98.1 per cent). Five students achieved seven or more grade 9s, including Evie Lightman who received ten. The cohort also performed exceptionally in several individual subjects, with every student who took visual arts and Modern Hebrew achieving a grade 7 or better. And for the third year running, a photography student – this year, Joshua Sakhai – attained the top marks in the country. Headteacher Christopher Jones said: “These successes reflect the determination of our students and the commitment and support of our teaching staff”. Joshua Sakhai (right) with one of the photos in his portfolio (photos: courtesy)[Missing Credit] JFS, the largest Jewish school in the UK, continued to improve year-on-year in their results at the top grades. This year, 55 per cent of all grades were 7 or higher, compared to 53 per cent last year and 48 per cent the year before. Headteacher David Moody said: “In a school of JFS’s size, achieving results of this standard across such a large cohort is fantastic and we could not be more proud of everyone involved”. “Behind every statistic are hundreds of individual students whose determination, ambition and resilience have brought them to this point, and they have our heartfelt congratulations.” At King David High School in Manchester, more than three in ten (31 per cent) of all students bagged a clean sweep of grades 7 and above in all of their subjects. In the Solomon stream, the highest of three academic tiers in each year group at the school, 45 per cent of all grades were 8 or 9. In addition, every pupil who entered the Higher Project Qualification, an independent research project completed in addition to their nine academic subjects, achieved an A* or A. Headteacher Tracy Basger said: “We are incredibly proud of our students and the exceptional results they have achieved this year. These outcomes are a testament to their hard work, determination, and resilience throughout their studies.” Left to right: Gabriel Bookbinder, whose results included five 9s; Sam Wernick, who achieved eight 9s and two 8s; Max Barker, whose results included seven subjects at grade 8 or 9 (photos: courtesy)[Missing Credit] Nearly half of results at JCoSS – 48 per cent – were between grades 7 and 9, with more than a quarter – 29 per cent – at either 8 or 9. An impressive 91 per cent were at or above the pass mark of 4. Lily Crewe achieved nine grade 9s, with seven 9s for Dani Bozo, Liv Rosenberg, and Tomer Velasquez-Ramirez, and six 9s for another seven students. The school acclaimed a number of students who significantly exceeded their individual targets: Raffi Alexander, Mia Bladon, Maya Cabili, Daniel Coburn, Ruby E Cohen, Alicia Emanuel, Noah Greenstein, Eden Kessel, Tristan Lewis, Greg Mann, Jessica Meltzer, Eitan Overlander-Kaye, and Hubert Zalucki. Headteacher Dr Melanie Lee said: “At JCoSS, we believe that success comes in many forms and that every student who has worked hard, overcome challenges, and exceeded expectations deserves to feel immensely proud today.” Students at King David High School in Liverpool excelled in the core subjects, with 87 per cent achieving at least a grade 4 in both English and mathematics. The school commended Samuel Becker and Zachary Patino as their top performers, with their results sheets dominated by 8s and 9s. Headteacher Michael Sutton said that “we are incredibly proud of what this cohort has achieved and of the supportive school community that has helped them succeed”. Deputy headteacher October Wright added: “It has been such a productive year, and it is a real joy to see our students revelling in their success and happiness today. Their achievements reflect resilience, determination, and a genuine love of learning.” Theo Hawes from King David School in Liverpool, who achieved a 9 in music (photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit] Similarly, at Leeds Jewish Free School, 84 per cent of students achieved at least a grade 4 in both English and mathematics. Executive headteacher Charlie Kelsey said that this year’s cohort has “approached their studies with maturity and determination and thoroughly deserve their success”. Head of schools Sagi Yechezkel added: “We are proud to be a school that combines academic excellence with outstanding pastoral care and Jewish values.” “Our students leave us not only with strong qualifications, but also with the confidence, resilience, and compassion needed to succeed in the next stage of their education and beyond.” Back down south, an excellent 32 per cent of grades at Yavneh College were either 8 or 9, with more than four in five (81 per cent) at 5 or above. Four students achieved six grade 9s: Amelie Brownstein, Ethan Abrahams, Libby Ross, and Josh Blanks. Executive headteacher Spencer Lewis said: “I could not be happier for the pupils, particularly all those who, like in last week’s exceptional A-level results, have made such a huge amount of progress over the last few years.” Yavneh students celebrate outside the school (photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit] As in their A-level results, students at Hasmonean Girls School outdid their peers at Hasmonean Boys School, albeit only marginally; the girls achieved 56 per cent of grades between 7 and 9, compared to 53 per cent for the boys. The girls also passed 93 per cent of their exams with grade 4 or above; that same figure was 91 per cent in the boys school. Headteacher of the girls school Alice Lucas said the results are “the product of hard work by the girls who have maintained their commitment to Jewish Studies alongside their secular subjects”. And interim headteacher of the boys school James Fisher said their “incredible set of results” are “a testament to the long hours and hard work that our students put into their study over many years”. King Solomon High School improved upon last year in their percentage of students receiving a grade 4 or above in both English and mathematics, with 71 per cent achieving the feat, up from 67 per cent last year. They celebrated three students in particular with exceptional results: Mariia Falbiichuk, who achieved an outstanding nine grade 9s, and Kamile Sarapinaite and Lucia Vajushi who scored four 9s apiece. Headteacher Jonathan Harris said: “I have only been headteacher at King Solomon for a short time, but this morning I had the privilege of seeing something that staff here have spent years working towards.” “These are the strongest GCSE results the school has seen for a number of years, and I am incredibly proud of our students… seeing the smiles, hugs, and celebrations around school this morning has been wonderful.” Last but not least, Gateways, the charity which supports Jewish people between the ages of 14 and 25 who have struggled to remain in mainstream education, had plenty to celebrate with a brilliant 92 per cent pass rate among their GCSEs, Functional Skills, and BTEC qualifications. Laurence Field, founder and CEO of the organisation, said: “For so many of our students, this journey didn’t start in a classroom. It started with simply finding the courage to walk through our doors. Some had been told that school wasn’t for them. Some had stopped believing they could do this at all.” “This year, we watched those same students find the courage to sit their exams, resit when they needed to, and refuse to give up on themselves.” “And while we are incredibly proud of everyone who achieved the results they were hoping for, we also believe something fundamentally important: your exam results do not define you, and one day in the year should never define your future.” PaJeS, Partnerships for Jewish Schools, heralded the “outstanding” GCSE results achieved across England during what they say was “one of the most demanding years Jewish school leaders have ever had to navigate”. Earlier this year the Bell Review, led by public policy analyst Sir David Bell, was commissioned by the government after it was shown that school-related antisemitic incidents were being recorded at double the rate pre-October 7. Rabbi David Meyer, PaJeS CEO, said: “These results are all the more remarkable when one considers the challenges facing our school leaders this year. As the Bell Review is now recognising, our leaders and teachers have been under immense pressure, with an entirely understandable focus, first and foremost, on keeping our children safe.” “Credit goes to our school leaders, staff, and teachers, whose resilience has carried our schools through a genuinely difficult year – and, of course, to the parents and students who have worked so hard to achieve these outcomes.” The results in Jewish schools exceeded the national averages in UK schools. Across the country, 22 per cent of grades were 7 or above, and 67.3 per cent were at least the pass mark of 4.","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t8qjuld49meg5alkcc/0/gcse-results-webmainimage1-jpg.webp","byline":"","description":"Family affair: students at King David High School in Manchester open their results with their parents. Left: Tamar Pletnick, who achieved four 9s and two 8s among her results; right: Yakov Rich, who achieved three 9s and three 8s among his results. (photos: courtesy)","height":587,"id":"contentid/1t8qjuld49meg5alkcc","title":"GCSE-Results-WebMainImage1.jpg","width":1045,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-21T09:36:44.190Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-20T11:46:40.837Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1nb4teg0vce0zdzp479","name":"Ben Conway","bio":"Ben Conway is the JC’s community reporter. You can reach him at bconway@thejc.com.
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\n","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1728fwe5wjbzqy6luou/6/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":"","url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/gaby-wine-eexcfh2l","path":"/author/gaby-wine-eexcfh2l"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"One Shabbat","url":"tag/One Shabbat","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t79umx4ucjm7jq77hr","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/was-booba-at-cable-street-we-want-her-photograph-kqdy01vw","path":"/community/was-booba-at-cable-street-we-want-her-photograph-kqdy01vw","title":"Was Booba at Cable Street? We want her photograph","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"This year marks the 90th anniversary of the famous fight against fascism and antisemitism","bodyText":"Campaigners are calling upon members of the UK Jewish community to unearth photos and biographical information about the Jews who participated in the Battle of Cable Street in 1936. They say they are worried that the Jewish community and the fight against antisemitism, which were pivotal to the events of the day and the surrounding context, are being left behind by contemporary narratives. The Battle of Cable Street took place on October 4, 1936, when thousands of anti-fascist protesters blocked a march by the British Union of Fascists through a largely Jewish area. The protesters, among them many Jews, clashed with police, who had been deployed to clear the route for the fascists. The confrontation eventually forced leader Oswald Mosley and his supporters to turn back. It became a landmark moment in British anti-fascist history and is particularly significant in the history of British Jewry, symbolising resistance to the antisemitism and fascism of the 1930s. Organiser of the campaign Eve Kay said that as we approached the 90th anniversary of the battle, “we need to put the brave Jews of 1936 back at the centre of Cable Street”. Her comments come after the JC reported that a march organised by Unite the Union, one of Britain’s largest trade unions, initially failed to mention the participation of Jews in the Battle of Cable Street on their webpage about the event, prompting widespread outrage including among descendants of Jews who were on the front line 90 years ago. The event was also originally scheduled to take place on Shabbat, Saturday October 3. Unite subsequently claimed it erroneously omitted any mention of Jews and updated their page. It also amended the date of the march, to Sunday October 4, the anniversary of the actual event. Kay continued: “In 1936, the fight was against right-wing fascism… today the threat is different. It comes predominantly from the left. Fighting antisemitism today is about calling out and refusing to accept that hatred. The campaigners said that any photos sent to them to will be used across a range of events being held to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street later this year. Meanwhile, the Board of Deputies is also hosting a range of events to mark the anniversary during the first two weeks of October. Anyone with photos of relatives who lived or fought in Cable Street or who is interested in working with the campaigners should email cablestjew90@gmail.com","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1s36l76tbzmrh2fyo0r/1/gettyimages-613607292-jpg.webp","byline":"AFP via Getty Images","description":"People hold placards as they walk along Cable Street while taking part in a march commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street on October 9, 2016. (Photo: Getty Images)","height":2666,"id":"contentid/1s36l76tbzmrh2fyo0r","title":"GettyImages-613607292.jpg","width":4000,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-19T15:32:42.521Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-19T12:35:19.739Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1nb4teg0vce0zdzp479","name":"Ben Conway","bio":"Ben Conway is the JC’s community reporter. You can reach him at bconway@thejc.com.
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\n","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1nb4teg0vce0zdzp479/4/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/ben-conway-lvmefgmr","path":"/author/ben-conway-lvmefgmr"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Colombia","url":"tag/Colombia","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"WJR","url":"tag/WJR","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Earthquake","url":"tag/Earthquake","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Aid","url":"tag/Aid","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t76efujs3gx57jzgaq","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/from-london-to-alaska-chabad-style-n9dmtvm6","path":"/community/from-london-to-alaska-chabad-style-n9dmtvm6","title":"From London to Alaska, Chabad-style","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"The rabbi of West Hampstead Chabad writes how journeying to a destination thousands of miles away brought him and his fellow travellers closer to Hashem","bodyText":"For the past 15 years, Chabad of West Hampstead has been taking members of the community far beyond the familiar. Together we have trekked to Machu Picchu, Everest Base Camp, Mount Meru, the Himalayas of India, the Great Wall of China and many other extraordinary destinations. People often ask why. The answer has never really been about the mountains. When you spend days together away from everyday life, often with little or no phone signal or wi-fi, something remarkable happens. Conversations become deeper. Friendships become stronger. Relationships that last a lifetime are forged. Standing in Hashem’s magnificent world, surrounded by creation at its most awe-inspiring, reminds us how small we are and how great our Creator is. The physical challenges reveal strengths within us that we never knew existed. This year we decided to do something different. Rather than another expedition focused purely on trekking, we chose a destination that would combine hiking with fishing, glacier cruises, bush planes and ATV adventures. Alaska seemed the perfect choice. One of the group with his catch (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit] Because this was a community journey of growing, learning and sharing together, we made one commitment before we even boarded the plane: every experience, every challenge and every encounter would become an opportunity to learn a lesson for life. Little did we know that those lessons would begin long before we reached Alaska. One of the greatest challenges in planning the expedition was kosher food. Although Alaska has two Chabad Houses and even a kosher tour operator, providing food for a large group travelling into remote wilderness – while maintaining the standards of kashrut and quality our community expects – was far from straightforward. After exploring numerous possibilities, we settled on an ambitious plan. We would fly via Los Angeles, purchase everything there and transport it north to Alaska. But even that was easier said than done. Our trek was due to begin on Sunday morning, which meant arriving in Los Angeles before Shabbat. Since the kosher supermarkets would already be closed by Saturday night, everything had to be bought on Friday and somehow stored frozen throughout Shabbat. We weren’t talking about a few shopping bags. This had to be enough food to feed us for an entire expedition over many days. There was just one problem. Our flight landed late on Friday afternoon, after the shops had already closed. With no obvious solution, I picked up the phone and called a kosher grocery store almost at random. After chatting with the person who answered for a few minutes, something about his voice sounded familiar. “Is this Mendel?” I asked. There was a brief silence. “Is this Dovid?” We both laughed. It turned out we had known each other over 20 years earlier when he had lived in London. Without hesitation he said, “Don’t worry. Send me your shopping list. I’ll prepare everything before Shabbat, freeze it exactly as you need it, and I’ll come specially on Saturday night to open the shop just for you.” Trekking up snow and ice (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit] What had seemed an impossible logistical challenge disappeared in a matter of minutes. Looking back, it felt like Hashem was quietly reminding us that when we’re travelling to strengthen Jewish life together, He prepares the road before we even begin walking it. It was our first taste of Hashgachah Pratit – Divine Providence – and it would certainly not be our last. The next lesson arrived before we had even reached Alaska. Standing in the immigration queue after landing in America, a gentleman greeted us in Hebrew. Naturally we struck up a conversation and soon discovered, to our amazement, that he actually lived in our own neighbourhood in West Hampstead and regularly attended another local synagogue. As we chatted, I casually asked him whether he had ever put on tefillin. “No,” he replied. I was genuinely surprised. Here was someone who had been part of the local Jewish community for years, regularly attending synagogue, yet somehow had never had the opportunity to wrap tefillin. So there, in the middle of the airport terminal, he put on tefillin for the very first time. We took a selfie together to mark the occasion. As I walked away, I couldn’t help wondering how something like that could happen. How could someone spend years in a Jewish community and never once be offered the chance to perform such an important mitzvah? Only a few minutes later, my phone buzzed. It was a selfie from the Chabad Rabbi in Istanbul. Standing beside him was one of the members of our own Chabad house. The accompanying message simply read: “First time putting on tefillin!” I smiled. Moments earlier, I had been quietly questioning someone else’s journey, only to discover that one of the people in our very own community had also never put on tefillin until that very day. Hashem’s message couldn’t have been clearer. Never judge another Jew. We never know another person’s story, the opportunities they have had – or haven’t had – or the journey they are still travelling. Sometimes the lesson we think belongs to someone else is really meant for us. Before travelling, we had made a list of everything we hoped to experience, despite knowing that much of it depended on chance. One by one, every wish became a reality. We watched as majestic moose grazed peacefully among lush vegetation as grizzly bears wandered through their natural habitat. Bald eagles soared overhead while their young waited in enormous cliff-top nests. Thousands of sea birds scattered into the sky as eagles swooped down to hunt, a breathtaking reminder of the delicate balance Hashem built into creation. We explored glaciers – towering blue walls of ancient ice that cracked and thundered into the sea with astonishing force. Getting ready to go fishing (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit] Then came an unforgettable surprise. As our boat returned across the glacial waters, we spotted a plume of spray rising from the sea. A whale. Not just any whale, it was a sperm whale. Our guide, who had worked these waters for ten years, told us he had never seen one of this size at that time of year. We watched in amazement as it surfaced repeatedly before making one final majestic dive, its enormous tail lifting gracefully above the water before disappearing beneath the surface. It was one of those moments that no photograph can truly capture. We also experienced Alaska from the air, boarding a small seaplane that flew us to an even more remote area, inaccessible by road. There, we learnt the art of salmon fishing. Our group caught 11 magnificent salmon. Some were grilled immediately on the boat, the freshest fish any of us had ever tasted. The rest returned with us back to our accommodation and became the centrepiece of our Shabbat meal. As we enjoyed fish that we ourselves had caught only the day before, many around the table recalled the famous story of Yosef Mokir Shabbat, which means “Yosef who treasures Shabbat,” because, however little earned, he would spend on something special for Shabbat. Even after feeding our own group, we still had several salmon remaining, which we happily donated to the Chabad House in Anchorage. Our trekking centred around Denali, North America’s tallest mountain. Although we were hiking in the foothills rather than climbing the peak itself, Denali dominated the skyline every day. Remarkably, Denali’s summit is visible for only around 60 days each year, as usually it is hidden behind clouds in the Alaskan sky. Yet, throughout our stay, the skies remained brilliantly blue. Every single day, we saw the mountain in all its splendour. Looking up at Denali was a constant reminder of the greatness of Hashem’s world and the challenge we all face – to keep climbing spiritually, always striving to become greater than we were yesterday. Perhaps the most fascinating lesson came from the humble salmon. Salmon spend years travelling thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean before somehow finding their exact birthplace and swimming upstream against powerful currents to return home. Alaskans have cleverly built sustainable fisheries around this remarkable instinct. Young salmon are born in protected hatcheries before being released into the wild. Years later, almost instinctively, they return to exactly where they began, making it easy for the fishermen to get thousands of fish entering their fisheries with no effort to catch them. Watching this process, we couldn’t help but reflect on our own lives. No matter how far we travel or where life takes us, every Jew has roots. Like the salmon, we should always know how to return home – not only to our families or communities, but to our spiritual roots, our Torah and our relationship with Hashem. Unlike the salmon however, we should not wait until the very end of our life to reconnect. West Hampstead Chabad group trekking the foothills of mount Denali (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit] One participant joined the expedition during the year of mourning for his father, making a daily minyan essential. We carefully ensured that more than ten men travelled, even allowing an extra participant as a safety margin. Then reality intervened. One member became unwell and returned home. We were down to ten. A few days later another participant faced an emergency and also had to leave. Now we were only nine. Many people told us it would be impossible to solve this problem. But within minutes, messages started spreading through Jewish WhatsApp groups around the world. Somehow, they reached a wonderful young man in New York. “I’m coming,” he simply replied. A ticket was booked. Within a day, he arrived in Alaska, became an integral part of the group and ensured that Kaddish could continue every single day. Once again, what looked impossible became possible. Summer in Alaska creates fascinating halachic questions. Although the sun dips below the horizon, darkness barely arrives. Determining the correct times for Shema, Ma’ariv and the beginning and end of Shabbat required careful preparation before we even travelled. Many evenings, we waited until almost 11.30 pm simply to recite Shema. Friday was even stranger. After returning from an excursion, shopping at Costco and unpacking supplies, our chef only began preparing Shabbat dinner around 9pm. Cooking continued until almost 11pm. Candle lighting followed at around 11.30pm. Preparing for Shabbat close to midnight felt surreal yet beautifully demonstrated how Jewish life accompanies us wherever we find ourselves on earth. Our Airbnb happened to be next door to a Jewish family. We invited them for Friday night dinner, assuming they would politely decline given the late hour. Instead, they arrived shortly before candle lighting with their daughter. I asked whether they would like to light Shabbat candles. They agreed. As mother and daughter lit the candles together, tears rolled down the mother’s face. She later told us she had not lit Shabbat candles for many years. I explained an idea that touched her deeply. Jewish women across the globe light candles as Shabbat moves westward around the world. Australia begins, followed by Asia, the Middle East, Europe and then North America. Alaska is among the very last places on earth where Shabbat candles are lit.“By lighting here,” I said, “you complete the circle. You are not just lighting candles for Alaska. You are completing the chain of Jewish light around the entire world.” The West Hampstead Chabad group in front of one of Alaska's lakes (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit] Before we left, we presented them with a calendar containing the candle-lighting times in Alaska for the coming year. They promised they would continue lighting every single week. During our stay, we visited both Chabad Houses in Anchorage and Mat-Su. Seeing the dedication of the shluchim serving Jewish communities in such remote corners of the world was deeply inspiring. While visiting Mat-Su we discovered they still lacked a Sefer Torah. The conversation stayed with us. Only a week later, while visiting the Rebbe’s Ohel (tomb) in New York, one member of our group unexpectedly met an old acquaintance. “I’m rushing,” the man said. “I’m flying to Alaska.” “Where in Alaska?” “Mat-Su. They’re dedicating the new mikveh.” Another seemingly random encounter. Another reminder of Hashgachah Pratit – Divine Providence. Our group has since resolved to help provide a Sefer Torah for Chabad of Mat-Su – a lasting reminder of a journey that gave us so much. Looking back, Alaska was far more than magnificent scenery, thrilling ATV rides, unforgettable hikes and spectacular wildlife. It became a journey of friendship, growth and countless reminders that Hashem accompanies us wherever we travel. Every glacier, every mountain, every salmon and every unexpected meeting carried a lesson. Fifteen years of travelling together has taught us that while the destinations are unforgettable, it is the people we meet, the friendships we build and the moments of spiritual growth that remain with us long after we return home. And if reading this has given you a taste for adventure…the next Chabad West Hampstead expedition is already on the horizon. New Zealand, summer 2028 – our winter. If you’d like to join us for an unforgettable journey of adventure, friendship and inspiration, we’d love to have you along. chabadnw6.com","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t76evlwet3tnd7wxtx/0/the-west-hampstead-chabad-group-in-front-of-a-glacier-photo-courtesy.webp","byline":"","description":"The West Hampstead Chabad group in front of a glacier (Photo: courtesy)","height":3000,"id":"contentid/1t76evlwet3tnd7wxtx","title":"The West Hampstead Chabad group in front of a glacier (Photo: courtesy)","width":4000,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-19T13:12:26.933Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-19T12:28:56.223Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1t7699osffb00w6yuc6","name":"Rabbi Dovid Katz","bio":"","role":"Rabbi Dovid Katz","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/rabbi-dovid-katz-pgwnqyc8","path":"/author/rabbi-dovid-katz-pgwnqyc8"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"West Hampstead Chabad","url":"tag/West Hampstead Chabad","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t409ck9d85m6ugfrjc","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/music-unlocks-emotions-the-therapy-helping-families-get-through-illness-at-chai-cancer-care-nia40kii","path":"/community/music-unlocks-emotions-the-therapy-helping-families-get-through-illness-at-chai-cancer-care-nia40kii","title":"‘Music unlocks emotions’ – the therapy helping families get through illness at Chai Cancer Care","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"","bodyText":"Music is helping families affected by cancer process difficult emotions, find connection, regulate anxiety and begin talking about what they are going through, as Chai Cancer Care expands its therapy service. Katherine and Aaron Landau first met as teenagers through their shared love of music and went on to have two sons. But, in August 2024, at the young age of 35, Katherine was diagnosed with lymphoma. The couple immediately approached Chai Cancer Care, from whom they received a variety of support, including reflexology, massage treatments, other forms of therapy and family support. But when music therapy was offered to Aaron by the Hendon-based charity, which has satellite centres across the UK, he initially couldn’t face the idea. Music had always been such an important part of their relationship, but in the midst of Katherine’s diagnosis, Aaron, who is part of a jazz band, said he found the idea of engaging with it emotionally overwhelming. “When music therapy was first suggested, I said no,” said Aaron, who is a dentist by trade. “Music had always been a huge part of my life, but after Kat’s diagnosis, I couldn’t listen to it. Every song made me burst into tears. Music, which had always brought me joy, had suddenly become too painful.” Eventually though, he agreed, and he found the first sessions to be mostly just about playing music. “I wasn’t really ready to open up emotionally. But after a few weeks, I found myself talking more and playing less. We’d begin with music, and then I’d just start talking. Everything I’d been holding in came pouring out. “We also started writing pieces of music together. Rather than writing complete songs, we’d create little musical ideas that reflected exactly how I was feeling in that moment. Exploring why the music sounded the way it did helped me understand my own emotions in a way I couldn’t have done with words alone. “I had music therapy once a week for almost a year. After a couple of months, I slowly began playing music again at home. It gave me a safe, non-judgmental space where I could express everything I was feeling and someone to guide me through it.” Katherine and Aaron Landau (Photo: courtesy/Chai)[Missing Credit] Aaron said that without music therapy, he wasn’t sure he could have coped. “It gave me somewhere to say how unfair life felt, how angry I was and how overwhelmed I was. \"Then I could go home, be present for my children and support Kat because I’d begun to process those emotions instead of carrying them around all day. The therapy helped centre me. It reminded me that although life was incredibly difficult, I still had my children, my wife and an amazing support network. It gave me the emotional strength to keep going.” Someone else who saw the benefits of music therapy was Sarah*, from Manchester, who began attending Chai after her one-year-old son, Eli, was diagnosed with cancer. While Eli received play therapy during his treatment, his older sister, Leah, turned to music therapy. Sarah said: “Leah needed individual attention, somewhere positive that was just for her. You can see how much more confident she feels. She comes home, plays the keyboard, teaches her brothers and sisters songs she’s learnt and feels so proud of herself.” She continued: “Music unlocks emotions. I sat in some of the sessions and was crying my eyes out. Even for me, it was therapeutic. She would tell you she feels much calmer now. The music therapy has given her confidence and something that’s hers. I wouldn’t have got this kind of support anywhere else. Chai understood our family, our background and our lifestyle.” Ben Ziff (right) and Bertie, with the painting, done by Ben's children, which has been used for the front cover of the song 'Big Little Life (Cece's Song)'[Missing Credit] In June, the JC wrote about the powerful role music played in helping north London father and drummer Ben Ziff through grief, after he co-wrote Big Little Life (Cece’s Song) with Bertie Green (AKA “Bertie”). The song celebrates the brief but joyful life of his daughter Celine (Cece), who died aged one year and 19 days from an extremely rare form of cancer. Ben, 39, said: \"Music didn't remove the grief. It gave me a way to channel it. It allowed me to create something for Cece that carried her voice, her joy and her place in our family. That's what the song means to me; it's her legacy.” Chai's Charlotte Hildebrand (Photo: Chai)[Missing Credit] Chai’s head of client services Charlotte Hildebrand said music therapy “can provide comfort and connection at a time when families are facing some of the most difficult experiences imaginable. We are proud to be expanding our music therapy services, supporting [everyone] whose lives are profoundly affected by a diagnosis”. *Names and details have been changed For more information on Chai’s services, click here or go to: chaicancercare.org","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t405daahrxkyhp30j5/0/chaiaaronlandaumusictherapy2-png.webp","byline":null,"description":"Screenshot","height":1179,"id":"contentid/1t405daahrxkyhp30j5","title":"ChaiAaronLandauMusicTherapy2.PNG","width":2556,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":null,"publishedDate":"2026-08-19T12:20:50.875Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1728fpuemtzfjosxj9s","name":"Daniel Ben-David","bio":"Daniel Ben-David is a senior reporter for the Jewish Chronicle. You can reach him at dbendavid@thejc.com
\n","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1728fpuemtzfjosxj9s/7/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/daniel-ben-david-ayuw7esn","path":"/author/daniel-ben-david-ayuw7esn"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Chai Cancer Care","url":"tag/Chai Cancer Care","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Cancer","url":"tag/Cancer","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Music","url":"tag/Music","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t7xas7eq0vhlu1yedl","url":"https://www.thejc.com/family-and-education/stamford-hill-school-fights-council-order-to-move-because-of-noise-f9whqpqt","path":"/family-and-education/stamford-hill-school-fights-council-order-to-move-because-of-noise-f9whqpqt","title":"Stamford Hill school fights council order to move because of noise","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"Talmud Torah London hopes the Court of Appeal will allow it to stay put","bodyText":"A Charedi school in Stamford Hill which is rated good by Ofsted is battling against a council order to vacate its premises because of the impact of noise on neighbours. Hackney Council says Talmud Torah London (TTL), an independent school with 89 boys from five to 13, did not have planning permission to use the site as a school. In April, a legal challenge brought on behalf of two pupils against the independent Planning Inspector’s decision to uphold the council order failed in the High Court. But an appeal has been made to the Court of Appeal in an effort to stop the school being forced out of its premises next January. The council has twice refused retrospective planning permission to the school, which opened on the site six years ago. In her ruling, High Court judge Mrs Justice Lieven noted that there was “no dispute that there is a significant shortage of school places in the area for Charedi children and that this has been a longstanding issue”. There were two schools “in close proximity” to TTL , both of which materially impact on the noise environment. In her report, the Planning Inspector said neighbours had consistently complained to the council about “noise/disturbance, light pollution and loss of privacy in connection with the use of the school. “Noise nuisance is resultant from the use of the playground by children when the school is open, including balls being continually kicked against the playground’s timber fencing and from the use of the fire escape staircase. “In addition, there is significant use of megaphones, public address systems, and whistles by staff to control the children throughout the day. The school bell also rings every half hour.” Residents who lived next to the playground had told the planning inquiry that they “have had to change the way that they occupy their homes since the school opened. They can no longer work from home in the rooms at the back of their house during the day, nor sit in the garden when the school is open, due to the noise and disturbance which is incessant,” the inspector reported. She had no doubt that the noise generated by the playground had “a harmful impact on the living conditions of neighbouring residents, who have a reasonable expectation to some peaceful enjoyment of their home and garden.” The inspector suggested that TTL could apply for planning permission elsewhere or seek it for a smaller school on its current site. Mrs Justice Lieven ruled that the inspector had been “entitled to take into account the level of the noise and the fact that the school use was taking place on Sundays and Bank Holidays when local residents could expect respite from the noise”. Solicitors Leigh Day who are acting for the children, told the JC: “We have filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal on behalf of two Charedi children, arguing that the High Court did not properly grapple with the human rights impacts of the government’s decision to allow planning enforcement action to proceed against the school.” A council spokesperson said; “This administration is clear that all of our children must be able to learn in a safe, supportive environment that allows them to shine. Young people in the Charedi community are no exception.” The council would await the outcome of the appeal before commenting further, the spokesperson said. “Our education and property teams are working to look into the needs of this particular school community, and explore all options that prioritise the children and their education, alongside planning requirements.\"","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t7x355vswvckwbwci4/1/copy-of-8a9a1ed06b4445389925b155f7585404-jpg.webp","byline":null,"description":"Hackney Town Hall","height":645,"id":"contentid/1t7x355vswvckwbwci4","title":"Copy of 8a9a1ed06b4445389925b155f7585404.jpg","width":968,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-24T12:02:24.840Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-19T11:09:10.195Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1728gm84ppf6slea23d","name":"Simon Rocker","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1728gm84ppf6slea23d/3/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":"","url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/simon-rocker-veaet6pf","path":"/author/simon-rocker-veaet6pf"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Hackney","url":"tag/Hackney","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Charedi schools","url":"tag/Charedi schools","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Stamford Hill","url":"tag/Stamford Hill","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"planning permission","url":"tag/planning permission","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Courts","url":"tag/Courts","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Family & Education ","path":"/family-and-education","id":"contentid/section.thejc.family-and-education"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t757by4z1ynoahqeqq","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/elliott-didnt-just-take-photos-he-allowed-us-to-be-seen-r3yv7bm2","path":"/community/elliott-didnt-just-take-photos-he-allowed-us-to-be-seen-r3yv7bm2","title":"Elliott didn’t just take photos. He allowed us to be seen","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"The co-founders of campaign group Stop The Hate write about why the loss of Elliott Franks will be felt so deeply","bodyText":"For almost three years, there was one person you could expect to see at almost every Stop The Hate event – Elliott Franks, camera in hand. Whether there were thousands marching through central London or a handful of us standing in the rain, Elliott was there. Over time, he stopped feeling like a photographer who came to cover our events and simply became part of them. Part of us. That is what makes losing him so hard. Stop The Hate has always been about showing up. Elliott understood that better than most because he always showed up too. Week after week, event after event, he stood alongside us, documenting moments of anger, defiance, solidarity and, sometimes, enormous joy. And he caught those moments like nobody else. So many of the photographs that tell the story of Stop The Hate were taken through Elliott’s lens. His pictures ran across the national press and travelled far beyond the people who were actually there. He enabled us to be seen. A protest lasts an hour or two. The right photograph travels around the world. Elliott’s pictures gave our campaigns a reach we could never have achieved alone. There are moments from the last three years that hundreds of thousands of people saw because Elliott was standing in exactly the right place at exactly the right moment. But when we think about Elliott, it is not press coverage or campaigns that first come to mind. It is Elliott himself. He was kind, charming and unfailingly lovely. He became one of those familiar faces you simply expected to see. Amid all the noise and intensity that surround our events, seeing Elliott was reassuring. There he was again, smiling, saying hello and, inevitably, producing the best photographs of the day. Because Stop The Hate has never just been a campaign. It is a community. A family, built out of people who keep turning up for one another, in good times and in hard ones. Elliott was a big part of that family. You do not realise how deeply someone is woven into a family until they are no longer there. At our next event, many of us will look around and expect to see him. The gap he leaves will be felt by everyone. Elliott leaves us an extraordinary record of what we have done together. Photographs of moments we will never recreate, of people standing together, of campaigns that mattered, and of a community refusing to be silent. Those photographs will mean even more to us now. Elliott spent almost three years capturing our memories. In the process, he became part of them. We will miss him terribly, and we will always be grateful for everything he gave us. May his memory be a blessing. Yochy Davis and Itai Galmudy are co-founders of Stop The Hate UK Elliott Franks obituary","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t7yhmeromzx6p1v0nt/1/elliott-franks-photographer-photo-russell-franks-linkedin.webp","byline":"","description":"Camera in hand: Elliott Franks","height":1223,"id":"contentid/1t7yhmeromzx6p1v0nt","title":"Elliott Franks photographer (Photo: Russell Franks/LinkedIn)","width":2177,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-20T17:03:52.514Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-18T16:43:37.215Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1t7c4pxj8cxbjnzhmoo","name":"Itai Galmudy & Yochy Davis","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/itai-galmudy-yochy-davis-q3zslhhu","path":"/author/itai-galmudy-yochy-davis-q3zslhhu"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Elliott Franks","url":"tag/Elliott Franks","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Stop the Hate","url":"tag/Stop the Hate","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t79o134x61lkxn0gq1","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/edgware-and-hendon-reform-first-uk-shul-to-join-global-inclusion-network-tnhslpgc","path":"/community/edgware-and-hendon-reform-first-uk-shul-to-join-global-inclusion-network-tnhslpgc","title":"Edgware and Hendon Reform first UK shul to join global inclusion network","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"The Sunflowers scheme champions people with hidden disabilities","bodyText":"A Progressive congregation has become the first synagogue in the UK to join an international scheme that supports people with hidden disabilities. Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue (EHRS) is now a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower organisation, joining a network of thousands of places around the world which make provisions for people with non-visible conditions, such as autism, anxiety, dementia or chronic pain. People with a hidden disability sometimes wear a lanyard or pin with a sunflower in public places to make others aware they may need extra support. Sarah Koster, head of development and engagement for families at EHRS, told the JC that being a Sunflower organisation was another step towards increasing inclusion. She said: “Becoming a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower organisation is an important milestone for EHRS. We want everyone who comes through our doors to feel that they belong, that they are understood and that they can ask for support without judgement. Inclusion is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to continually learning, listening and improving.” As a Sunflower organisation, EHRS is delivering training to its staff team on hidden disabilities, which, said Koster, would be extended to EHRS volunteers and lay leaders over the coming months. This would “[help] to ensure that the commitment to inclusion becomes embedded throughout every aspect of community life”, she said. The Senitt sensory room at EHRS (Photo: EHRS)[Missing Credit] Koster added: “The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is more than a symbol. It communicates that EHRS recognises that not every disability is visible [and] understands that individuals may need additional support.” As part of their efforts to improve accessibility, the EHRS launched the state-of-the-art Senitt Sensory Room three years ago. The space is used by a wide range of groups as a breakout area during events and services, as well as by the synagogue’s on-site Nagila nursery. The shul also invited organisation Electric Umbrella, which promotes inclusion through music, to their Kaytana summer camp and runs support groups for parents and grandparents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), working together with Norwood.","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t79o7kg1sm8d3500rk/0/entrance-of-ehrs-showing-it-is-a-sunflower-organisation-photo-ehrs.webp","byline":"","description":"Entrance of EHRS, showing it is a Sunflower organisation (Photo: EHRS)","height":1232,"id":"contentid/1t79o7kg1sm8d3500rk","title":"Entrance of EHRS, showing it is a Sunflower organisation (Photo: EHRS)","width":1090,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":null,"publishedDate":"2026-08-18T16:35:01.204Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1t79kaogii74dugi0le","name":"Jake Levy","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/jake-levy-wu2dxjed","path":"/author/jake-levy-wu2dxjed"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Edgware and Hendon Reform","url":"tag/Edgware and Hendon Reform","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Inclusion","url":"tag/Inclusion","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t7b7mm6p1m25v6en2o","url":"https://www.thejc.com/family-and-education/hackney-offers-space-to-homeless-charedi-girls-school-u4dl41ob","path":"/family-and-education/hackney-offers-space-to-homeless-charedi-girls-school-u4dl41ob","title":"Hackney Council offers space to homeless Charedi girls school","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"Beis Yaakov Primary had been urgently looking for premises for the new school term","bodyText":"Hackney Council has come to the rescue of a homeless Charedi school by offering premises to enable it to open for the new school year. Beis Yaakov, an independent girls’ primary, which had been forced to vacate its previous building in July, had turned to the council after being unable to find an alternative. Now it has been given temporary use of part of a former school building which was closed last year. Councillor Soraya Adejare, cabinet member for children, young people and early intervention in the recently elected Green administration, said the building of Oldhill Community School would now provide “a temporary home” for Beis Yaakov. “This will ensure children that do not currently have a place to learn can continue to receive their education in the new term, while it searches for a long-term home,” she said. The space was “urgently required for the school to avoid closure and ensure the more than one hundred pupils on its roll still had a place to study in the new school year,” she added. “Unlike some independent schools, Charedi Jewish schools like Beis Yaakov serve the community’s needs rather than acting as profit-making private institutions. They are often charities and offer heavily subsidised education to their pupils. “This may make it difficult for them to find adequate buildings to teach their children, particularly when they are facing urgent displacement…” Councillor Soraya Adejare (left) with Hackney Mayor Zoë Garbett (centre) (Photo: Getty)Getty Images “While local authorities have no statutory duty to provide independent schools with sites, they do have to ensure that all school aged children within the borough have a place to learn.” While the site is partially occupied by a children’s centre, it has “multiple entrances and a floor plan that easily allows for multiple organisations to share the building while remaining separate”. In return for the licence, Beis Yaakov will pay the council a fee. Motty Pinter, of Charedi education organisation Chinuch UK, said: “We are extremely grateful to Mayor Zoë Garbett, Councillor Soraya Adejare and Hackney’s director of education Jason Marantz for working with us so diligently to find a solution for a school that urgently needed a new home. “For Beis Yaakov and its pupils this makes an enormous difference. It also shows what can be achieved when the council and the community work constructively together. This is a promise made and a promise delivered, and we very much welcome it. “We look forward to continuing those discussions about this and other sites, so that buildings which would otherwise stand largely empty can continue to serve the educational needs of Hackney’s children.”","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t7b5l87emxb23jic7p/3/oldhill-jpeg.webp","byline":"","description":"Beis Yaakov's new home on the site of the former Oldhill Community School in Stamford Hill","height":545,"id":"contentid/1t7b5l87emxb23jic7p","title":"oldhill.jpeg","width":968,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-21T12:10:49.655Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-18T15:54:50.509Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1728g0yvzl61vnjeulx","name":"JC Reporter","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":"https://twitter.com/JewishChron","url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/jc-reporter-va5nj52d","path":"/author/jc-reporter-va5nj52d"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Charedi schools","url":"tag/Charedi schools","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Hackney","url":"tag/Hackney","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Green Party","url":"tag/Green Party","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Chinuch UK","url":"tag/Chinuch UK","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Family & Education ","path":"/family-and-education","id":"contentid/section.thejc.family-and-education"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t76cpksjebxs61u5n2","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/housing-hub-proposed-for-orthodox-community-in-salford-with-built-in-succahs-l25yy3ww","path":"/community/housing-hub-proposed-for-orthodox-community-in-salford-with-built-in-succahs-l25yy3ww","title":"Housing hub proposed for Orthodox community in Salford with built-in succahs","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"The plans address an ‘acute shortage of suitable affordable housing in Salford’ for the Orthodox community","bodyText":"A major housing development in Salford has been proposed by the Agudas Israel Housing Association (AIHA), with features tailored to the lives of the local Orthodox Jewish community. Central to the plan is a three-storey community hub, containing an event space suitable for up to 70 people, and five assisted-living flats for people with disabilities. The complex will also have 24 terraced three-storey homes, each with three, four or five bedrooms. Homes are set to contain specific customisations, including separate areas for dairy and meat preparation and succahs in the gardens. The one-and-a-half-acre site, which is located in Broughton, has been vacant for two decades. The previous building, Hanover Court, a 16-storey residential block, was demolished in 2006. CGI rendering of the community hub (Brooks Murray Architects / Agudas Israel Housing Association)[Missing Credit] The plans are classed as a major development and are waiting for approval by the council. They will be considered by a planning committee before the end of November. AIHA said that their aim was “to assist the community in providing adequate affordable homes and amenities to address these needs”. In the planning statement, they added: “There is an acute shortage of suitable affordable housing in Salford and the wider Manchester area for the needs of this community. “Their members’ way of life requires them to live close to each other as a community, to the extent that many prefer to stay in unsuitable properties rather than to move away from their community.” In 2023, the Salford City Council approved the sale of the land to London-based charity Delapage, which is developing the scheme, with AIHA set to run and fund the facility. AIHA intends to offer 50 per cent of the homes available at affordable prices or rents, subject to funding. The organisation also operates many of the properties within the nearby 700-home Broughton Green estate. Brooks Murray Architects is leading on the design of the complex. The community hub is set to be a curved building with a roof garden, adjacent to the residential units. In an article in the Manchester Evening News, the architects said: “Ultimately, the proposal is not just about providing housing, but about creating a place where community life can flourish, where families feel at home, relationships are strengthened, and a strong sense of identity and belonging is reinforced.” The project follows news earlier this month from other Jewish housing associations in the north, namely, the merger of the Manchester Jewish Housing Association and Liverpool Jewish Housing Association into the new North West Jewish Housing Association.","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t76cu9cl05vv9gnad4/1/0_hanover-square-homes-jpg.webp","byline":"","description":"CGI rendering of the terraced houses (Brooks Murray Architects / Agudas Israel Housing Association)","height":856,"id":"contentid/1t76cu9cl05vv9gnad4","title":"0_Hanover-Square-homes.jpg","width":1200,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-18T13:28:34.958Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-18T12:29:02.784Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1nb4teg0vce0zdzp479","name":"Ben Conway","bio":"Ben Conway is the JC’s community reporter. You can reach him at bconway@thejc.com.
\n","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1nb4teg0vce0zdzp479/4/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/ben-conway-lvmefgmr","path":"/author/ben-conway-lvmefgmr"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Housing","url":"tag/Housing","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Manchester","url":"tag/Manchester","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Orthodox","url":"tag/Orthodox","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Orthodox Judaism","url":"tag/Orthodox Judaism","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t42fmg0m2n4hpkkidf","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/jfs-considered-cancelling-after-school-revision-as-pupils-faced-antisemitism-on-way-home-ox8axskp","path":"/community/jfs-considered-cancelling-after-school-revision-as-pupils-faced-antisemitism-on-way-home-ox8axskp","title":"JFS considered cancelling after-school revision as pupils faced antisemitism on way home","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"","bodyText":"Jewish Free School (JFS) considered cancelling all after-school revision sessions for its Year 11 students because pupils were so frequently being targeted on their journey home, the school’s headteacher Dr David Moody has said. Appearing recently on WIZO UK’s podcast, Impacting Your Future, with journalist Rosa Doherty and Nicola Miller, WIZO UK’s chief operating officer, Moody said antisemitic incidents affecting JFS pupils increased markedly in the months following October 7 and they “regularly” reported incidents on their way home, leading him to question whether it was safe for students to remain at school after hours. “There was one point where I was thinking of pulling the Year 11 intervention which went on after school, because regularly something would happen on the way home,” Moody said. Pupils, he claimed, were reporting incidents “a couple of times a week”. The headteacher of the UK’s largest Jewish secondary school praised the police response to incidents involving JFS pupils, recalling one occasion when officers waited at Kingsbury station to arrest a man accused of verbally abusing a pupil the previous week. He also praised neighbouring schools for taking firm action when their pupils were involved in antisemitic incidents. The interview with Moody comes amid a recent BBC report highlighting that Jewish school heads are spending more time dealing with security than with teaching and education. Moody also revealed during the interview that the school received a significant increase in applications from Jewish children experiencing antisemitism in mainstream schools in the wake of the Hamas-led attacks. “They’ve come to us as a place of refuge,” he said. The increase came as the school community itself grappled with the immediate impact of October 7. Moody described a period of grief and fear that, for some pupils, continues to this day, with students directly affected by relatives who were murdered, taken hostage or otherwise caught up in the attacks. He recalled that a planned visit by His Majesty the King was postponed because the school and wider community were concerned about the additional attention it would bring. “You’re never going to be safer than the day when the King visits, but it raises the profile of a school at a time when the community wanted JFS to have a low profile,” he said. “Nobody really knew what was coming.” Despite the heightened security concerns, Moody said the school had sought to reassure pupils without creating further anxiety. “You’re trying to put people’s minds at ease without making people fearful,” he said. “It’s about finding the right balance. It’s not about breeding fear.” He praised the Community Security Trust (CST) for helping JFS maintain robust protection, saying the presence of security staff made pupils feel reassured rather than vulnerable. “You don’t feel vulnerable in JFS,” he said. “You feel protected by a group of trained people who are there to have your back if there’s an incident. It’s a real reassurance.” Moody said pupils had also shown considerable resilience since October 7, with a stronger sense of Jewish identity and solidarity emerging within the school. “The students have responded really well. There’s a maturity about our kids. They look out for each other,” he said. “I think they’ve been deeply impressive.” “It means more to be Jewish. There’s that togetherness and that looking out for each other,” he added. Although Moody is not Jewish himself, he said his time at JFS had given him a deeper understanding of Jewish life and had had a profound personal impact on him. He described the Jewish community as “one of the most exceptional groups of people I’ve ever met” and JFS as “the most welcoming, kind and loving community that I’ve ever worked in”. “I’ve never been professionally happier,” he said. “I feel like I’ve got a home.” The full interview is available on WIZO UK’s YouTube channel and on spotify","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t42etgne7yntbuh787/0/jfs-head-dr-david-moody-photo-wizo-uk-impacting-your-future.webp","byline":"","description":"JFS head Dr David Moody (Photo: WIZO UK/Impacting Your Future)","height":1572,"id":"contentid/1t42etgne7yntbuh787","title":"JFS head Dr David Moody (Photo: WIZO UK/Impacting Your Future)","width":2846,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-18T09:17:33.545Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-17T17:22:24.491Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1728g0yvzl61vnjeulx","name":"JC Reporter","bio":"","role":"","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":"https://twitter.com/JewishChron","url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/jc-reporter-va5nj52d","path":"/author/jc-reporter-va5nj52d"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"JFS","url":"tag/JFS","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Antisemitism in schools","url":"tag/Antisemitism in schools","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Jewish schools","url":"tag/Jewish schools","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Schools","url":"tag/Schools","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Jewish secondary schools","url":"tag/Jewish secondary schools","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Antisemitism","url":"tag/Antisemitism","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"Community ","path":"/community","id":"contentid/section.thejc.community"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t6iooc863cp6n6zns5","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/life-of-opera-pioneer-sir-rudolf-bing-honoured-at-glyndebourne-by-ajr-lvz477sf","path":"/community/life-of-opera-pioneer-sir-rudolf-bing-honoured-at-glyndebourne-by-ajr-lvz477sf","title":"Life of opera pioneer Sir Rudolf Bing honoured at Glyndebourne by AJR","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"The event marked ten years since a plaque commemorating his contribution to British culture was unveiled at the world-famous opera house","bodyText":"The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) held a ceremony last week to mark a decade since the unveiling of a blue plaque recognising the life of esteemed opera impresario Sir Rudolf Bing KBE. Born in 1902 in Vienna but forced to flee Austria with the rise of the Nazi regime in 1934, Bing made a life in England and established himself as a pivotal figure in the international opera world. Playing a key role in the early years of Glyndebourne, the country house in East Sussex which hosts the annual Glyndebourne Festival Opera, he served as the general manager between 1936 and 1949. Bing went on to spend 22 years as the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, again helping it become one of the leading opera houses globally. Austrian-born Jewish refugee and opera impresario Sir Rudolf Bing at Buckingham Palace after his investiture, in November 1971 (Photo: Getty Images)Getty Images A plaque at Glyndebourne in Bing’s honour was unveiled ten years ago, and guests and members of AJR gathered round it to mark the anniversary and remember the trailblazer. Among the attendees was Bernhard Wrabetz, the Austrian ambassador to the UK, and AJR members Maurice Peltz and Maria Ault, both of whom will celebrate their 100th birthdays in November. Ault’s mother, Henriette Bewersdorff, was herself a celebrated opera singer in Germany before fleeing that Nazis. Ault said that the ceremony was “a very special day”, adding: “My mother was an opera singer before we escaped Nazi Germany, so being at Glyndebourne to honour Rudolf Bing feels like a wonderful tribute to the courage and achievements of so many Jewish refugees.” Maria Ault (left) and her daughter, Lynda O’Connor (credit: AJR)[Missing Credit] After the ceremony, which included a speech from Gus Christie, executive chairman of Glyndebourne, guests attended the opera house’s production of Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss, conducted by Robin Ticciati, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. AJR’s Blue Plaque Scheme was established by trustee Frank Harding MBE to recognise the achievements and contributions of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution to British life and culture. Harding said the event was “a fitting opportunity to celebrate the remarkable legacy of a man whose vision transformed the world of opera”. He added: “Bing's journey from refugee to one of the 20th century's most influential cultural leaders embodies exactly what the AJR Blue Plaque Scheme seeks to recognise – the extraordinary contribution that Jewish refugees made to Britain after escaping Nazi persecution.” So far, 19 plaques have been placed across the UK and internationally, commemorating outstanding individuals in the fields of science, music, medicine, education, and more. The plaque for Sir Rudolf Bing KBE (credit: AJR)[Missing Credit] Bing is uniquely honoured with two plaques; in 2017, another was placed in Edinburgh to recognise his role as co-founder of the Edinburgh International Festival in 1947. The next plaque in the series is set to be unveiled at Wigmore Hall to honour the Amadeus Quartet, three of whom were Jewish refugees from Vienna. “Each plaque tells a story of strength, talent, and achievement,” Harding added. “Together, they ensure that the lives and contributions of Jewish refugees remain visible in the places where history happened. “As we mark the tenth anniversary of this plaque and continue to expand the scheme, we are preserving not only individual legacies but an important chapter of British history that deserves to be remembered by future generations.”","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t6ipzrlo818xuzb7a6/2/frank-belinda-harding-michael-alex-newman-austrian-ambassador-to-the-uk-bernhard-wrabetz-and-his-wife-joana-wrabetz-danny-kalman-lady-linda-reich-jpg.webp","byline":"","description":"The blue plaque for Rudolph Bing at Glyndebourne, with members and supporters of AJR (credit: AJR)","height":2909,"id":"contentid/1t6ipzrlo818xuzb7a6","title":"Frank & Belinda Harding, Michael & Alex Newman, Austrian Ambassador to the UK, Bernhard Wrabetz, and his wife Joana Wrabetz, Danny Kalman, Lady Linda Reich.jpg","width":4000,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-18T12:10:18.892Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-17T16:31:30.252Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1nb4teg0vce0zdzp479","name":"Ben Conway","bio":"Ben Conway is the JC’s community reporter. You can reach him at bconway@thejc.com.
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Franks, who lived in Merton in south-west London, had been a professional photographer since 1999. The last time he was pictured himself was a few weeks ago, waiting outside Downing Street for Andy Burnham to appear as the new prime minister. Franks was the photographer for Jewish campaign group Stop The Hate, which, since October 7, has campaigned and protested against antisemitism and antizionism. His images often appeared in the JC. He was found dead at his flat in late July, after the police were alerted by his neighbours and was taken to a mortuary as, according to his brother, Russell Franks, 65, who spoke to the JC, the police could not identify his next of kin. Russell announced his death on X on August 14, writing: “With great regret and sadness I have to tell you of the passing of my brother Elliott Franks at his home aged 62. “He was our loved brother, a world class professional photographer one of the most talented and artistic people I have ever known. “We do not yet know the burial arrangements but will make this known as soon as we can.” He told the JC: “Elliott was quiet, retiring and kept himself to himself. He was completely focused on his work as a photographer and helping the Jewish community. He was very passionate in his support for Israel. “He never strived for awards or accolades. He was just whole-heartedly committed to his work and was out there working rain or shine.” Elliott Franks often took photos of rallies, including the community's rally against antisemitism in May (Image: Elliott Franks)[Missing Credit] Russell said police told him his death was not being treated as suspicious, but the family had still not been told the cause. Franks won numerous awards in his career, one of which was the Outstanding Commitment award from the Surrey Community Development Trust in 2009, which the JC published a story about. In a statement on X, Stop The Hate paid tribute: “For almost three years, Elliott captured every moment. He came to every event, stood alongside us time and time again, and through his incredible photographs, told the story of so much of what we did. His contribution cannot be overstated. “Elliott’s pictures appeared across the national press and gave our campaigns a reach far beyond the people standing with us on the day. Without his photographs, so much of what we did would never have reached the audiences it did. He didn’t simply capture our campaigns, he helped make them matter. “But Elliott was far more than the man behind the camera. He became part of our community and a much-loved and familiar face to all of us. Always lovely, always charming and, without fail, always there with the best pictures. “So many of the moments and memories from the last three years were captured through Elliott’s lens. We will always be grateful to him for that, and we will miss seeing him enormously. “Our love and thoughts are with Elliott’s family, friends and everyone who knew and loved him. May his memory be a blessing.” Elliott Franks photographed British-Iranian human rights and women's rights activist Lily Moo speaking at a Westminster protest (Image: Elliott Franks)[Missing Credit] One friend of Franks and fellow member of Stop The Hate, talent agent Jade Reuben from Hertfordshire, said: “After October 7, many of us were brought together from completely different walks of life and across generations, people who might otherwise never have met. Through our shared grief and our advocacy for the hostages, we formed friendships and a community bound together by something none of us ever expected to experience.” Reuben said of Elliott: “He was incredibly talented, yet so humble, softly spoken, kind and generous. He never charged for his work and simply wanted to contribute. “Elliot was the true definition of a mensch. He gave so much of himself to others, and his loss is devastating. He will be forever missed and remembered with enormous love and gratitude.” Another Stop The Hate member and friend, Aviva Elias, 63, from Hendon, said: “I cannot believe our angel with his camera is gone. Elliott was a gentle soul, who walked among us and always got the best shots. He never raised his voice, he never called attention to himself, just to his lens. I, like so many of us, am utterly devastated.” Another member, Jael Cohen-Rothschild, 21, a student from London, said: “He was such a lovely person and always so supportive. I even picked up photography as a hobby because of him. I'll miss him dearly.” One friend who didn’t want to be named, who is also a member of the group, said: “I am deeply heartbroken and saddened by the news that my friend and incredible photographer, Elliott, has died. “Elliott was always very kind to me, supportive and ready to help. He had a huge heart and even huger patience. “For someone with such incredible talent, he was remarkably humble...He was passionate about what he did and really had an eye for things.” Lydia Tischler MBE, Holocaust survivor, speaking at this year's Yom HaShoah, in Westminster, in an image taken by Elliott Franks (Photo: Elliott Franks)Elliott Franks Showbiz journalist Sarah Tetteh, a JC contributor, who met Franks at the opening of the Nova exhibition earlier this year, said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Elliot Franks. In the short time we met, I was blown away by his exceptional talent and empathy. It was a privilege to have my photo taken by him at the Nova exhibition. May he rest in peace.” Franks was also a talented dance photographer, contributing to Dancing Times magazine for many years. Its former editor, Jonathan Gray, told gramilano.com: “I am shocked to hear of the death of Elliott. Not only was he a marvellous photographer, he was such a kind and considerate person as well.” The Foreign Press Association (FPA) in London mourned his passing on X, posting: “We are heartbroken. One of our much-loved members, Elliott Franks, 62, has passed away. One of the official photographers at the FPA Awards and a dedicated presence at our FPA briefings. A kind, special soul will be deeply missed. Our thoughts with his family.” The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan also paid tribute on X, writing: “Very sad to hear of the passing of photographer Elliot Franks. I’ll always remember his talent, kindness and sense of humour over the many years I knew him. Sending love to his family and friends.”","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t6bad95d59xjw799rr/1/whatsapp-image-2026-08-15-at-19-31-19-jpeg.webp","byline":"","description":"Elliott Franks (Image: JavidClicksLondon)","height":1576,"id":"contentid/1t6bad95d59xjw799rr","title":"WhatsApp Image 2026-08-15 at 19.31.19.jpeg","width":1182,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-18T10:07:50.477Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-17T09:56:04.157Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1ki7z9yotxyj8u58gpx","name":"Jamie Shapiro","bio":"Jamie Shapiro is a reporter for the Jewish Chronicle focusing on civil upheaval and conflict. You can reach him at jshapiro@thejc.com
\n","role":"Reporter","title":null,"facebookUrl":null,"imageUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1ki7z9yotxyj8u58gpx/8/image.webp","instagramUrl":null,"twitterUrl":null,"url":"https://www.thejc.com/author/jamie-shapiro-vtiq4j5s","path":"/author/jamie-shapiro-vtiq4j5s"}],"articleType":"NEWS","cookTime":"","teaserSummary":"","byline":"","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Stop the Hate","url":"tag/Stop the Hate","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"Death","url":"tag/Death","dimension":"tag"},{"__typename":"Tag","name":"tribute","url":"tag/tribute","dimension":"tag"}],"parent":{"__typename":"Section","title":"UK","path":"/news/uk","id":"contentid/section.thejc.news.uk"}},{"__typename":"Article","id":"contentid/1t3csqwrlxsmewv7iai","url":"https://www.thejc.com/community/kindertransport-refugee-and-legendary-volunteer-harry-heber-passes-away-aged-95-x4gv8aap","path":"/community/kindertransport-refugee-and-legendary-volunteer-harry-heber-passes-away-aged-95-x4gv8aap","title":"Kindertransport refugee and ‘legendary’ volunteer Harry Heber passes away aged 95","teaserHeadline":"","teaserImage":null,"teaserOvertitle":null,"subtitle":"Harry Heber arrived in Harwich aged 7 as a Kindertransport refugee and, after retiring, went on to create more than 60,000 pairs of prescription glasses for people in need","bodyText":"Harry Heber MBE, who escaped Nazi persecution as a seven-year-old Kindertransport refugee before devoting decades to helping vulnerable people around the world, died this week aged 95. Heber was a long-standing member of the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) and World Jewish Relief’s (WJR) longest-serving volunteer. He was born in Innsbruck, Austria, and fled for Britain with his older sister Ruth, who was ten, following Kristallnacht in November 1938. The siblings were separated during their journey but were eventually reunited with their parents in Britain, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. Harry Heber with his sister Ruth Jacobs at the Chanukah party and 80th anniversary of AJR at the Austrian Embassy, in London, December 2021 (Credit: Adam Soller Photography)[Missing Credit] Their escape had been facilitated by the Central British Fund for German Jewry, now called World Jewish Relief, which helped Jewish refugees flee Nazi persecution. Heber went on to build a new life in Britain, qualifying as an optician. Following his retirement, he put his professional skills to work helping vulnerable people overseas. In 1998, he began voluntarily running World Jewish Relief’s Optical Programme, continuing for more than two decades. He made more than 60,000 pairs of prescription glasses for people in need across 15 countries, including older Jewish people in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. Among those he helped were people in Belarus affected by the fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. “His work helped thousands regain their independence and ability to read, carry out everyday tasks and leave their homes safely,” WJR said. Harry Heber in WJR's office with his 1930s registration slip (Credit: WJR)[Missing Credit] He completed more than 8,500 hours of voluntary service and in 2019 received the Edwards Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Volunteering Award from the Jewish Volunteering Network. In the 2023 New Year Honours, he was appointed an MBE for charitable services and Holocaust education. Despite the experiences of his childhood, Heber remained closely connected to his Kindertransport story and to the refugee community. He was a long-standing member of the AJR and lived for many years in St John’s Wood, London. In 2016, he and Ruth returned together to Harwich, 77 years after arriving there as child refugees. The Holocaust Educational Trust described Heber as a “true mensch”, saying that the Kindertransport had given him “a chance to live a full life” which he had “paid back tenfold”. Michael Newman OBE, chief executive of the AJR, said the charity was “deeply saddened” by the passing of Heber. He was a man who “devoted much of his life to helping others” and “remained deeply connected to his Kindertransport experience and to the AJR community throughout his life,” Newman said. Harry Heber with his sister Ruth Jacobs, and author Meriel Schindler at the Chanukah party and 80th anniversary of AJR at the Austrian Embassy, in London, December 2021 (Credit: Adam Soller Photography)[Missing Credit] Paul Anticoni OBE, chief executive of World Jewish Relief, described him as an “absolute legend” and the charity’s longest-serving volunteer. As a volunteer, Anticoni said Heber provided “the gift of clear eyesight to tens of thousands of vulnerable individuals across the world. His dedication and commitment to assisting others was shaped by the help he received as a child. He was a truly special, deeply kind gentleman who made us laugh and inspired us all.” The Holocaust Educational Trust said: “The Kindertransport gave him a chance to live a full life, he paid this back tenfold, giving back to the lives of countless others. “His legacy is not one defined by harrowing beginnings, but by his passion for helping others in his own unique way.” Reflecting on his volunteering, Heber once said: “I saw an opportunity to help and to give something back.”","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t3cls4gxdtbwdeq48t/1/harry-heber-mbe-jpg.webp","byline":"","description":"Harry Heber, optician, photographed at the office of World Jewish Relief (Credit: WJR)","height":2406,"id":"contentid/1t3cls4gxdtbwdeq48t","title":"Harry Heber MBE.jpg","width":3574,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":"2026-08-14T10:07:08.464Z","publishedDate":"2026-08-13T14:32:59.540Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1728fpuemtzfjosxj9s","name":"Daniel Ben-David","bio":"Daniel Ben-David is a senior reporter for the Jewish Chronicle. You can reach him at dbendavid@thejc.com
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The Righteous Road Trip, which is co-produced by Jewish News and directed by Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth, received the award at the Burbank International Film Festival, which ran from August 2 to 8. The 40-minute film follows British-Israeli humanitarian Jonny Daniels and his dog, Tyson, as they travel nearly 2,000 miles through Poland, Slovakia and Hungary in a van packed with Christmas trees and gifts to give to some of the last surviving Righteous Among the Nations – non-Jews recognised by Yad Vashem for risking their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Fewer than 65 of those honoured are believed to still be alive, with many now in their nineties or over 100. A still from the film The Righteous Road Trip (Credit: The Righteous Road Trip/Big Year Productions)[Missing Credit] Jewish News co-publisher Justin Cohen conceived the project and serves as one of its producers, working on the film alongside Daniels and Holocaust educator Stephen D Smith, with Roth directing. Combining footage of Daniels’ journey with archival material, the documentary tells the stories of those who risked their lives to save Jewish neighbours, friends and strangers during the Holocaust. Jonny Daniels and Righteous Among the Nations recipients in the film The Righteous Road Trip (Credit: The Righteous Road Trip/Big Year Productions)[Missing Credit] Roth said she was “deeply touched and honoured” by the festival recognition, adding that the award would help bring the rescuers’ stories to wider audiences. “Thank you to the judges and audiences for recognising the film in this way, and especially for giving the stories of the Righteous Among Nations this moment of celebration and honour for their acts of unparalleled moral courage,” she said. “This award means so much to our team, and we can’t wait to keep sharing this special film with audiences around the world.” Jonny Daniels with a Righteous Among the Nations recipient in the film The Righteous Road Trip (Credit: The Righteous Road Trip/Big Year Productions)[Missing Credit] The award comes less than two months after the film had its world premiere at the Dances With Films festival in Hollywood in June. It has also received recognition at the Croatia International Film Festival, where Roth was named Best Director. Presented in English, Polish, Hungarian and Hebrew with English subtitles, The Righteous Road Trip was produced in association with From the Depths, 18Reflections and Memory Workers. Philanthropists Eitan Neishlos and Jonathan Zlotolow are among its executive producers. The Burbank International Film Festival featured more than 120 independent film screenings during its week-long run in the Californian city.","image":{"__typename":"Image","baseUrl":"https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1t3884ey360rvuhkzkr/0/jn-3-png.webp","byline":"","description":"Still from the film The Righteous Road Trip (Credit: The Righteous Road Trip/Big Year Productions)","height":639,"id":"contentid/1t3884ey360rvuhkzkr","title":"JN 3.png","width":1229,"altText":null},"sponsorLogo":null,"sponsorName":"","sponsored":false,"updatedDate":null,"publishedDate":"2026-08-13T13:17:39.676Z","authors":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"contentid/1728fpuemtzfjosxj9s","name":"Daniel Ben-David","bio":"Daniel Ben-David is a senior reporter for the Jewish Chronicle. You can reach him at dbendavid@thejc.com
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