‘I am so grateful to the place which started me on my learning journey’

Rabbi Colin Eimer and Dee Eimer set up the nursery in 1982, inspired by the desire to send their daughter to a Jewish early years’ setting. Initially, nine girls and one boy attended, and it was managed by headteacher Pamela Hartog, who was also at the closing celebration. She said: “I feel privileged to have been headteacher for eight years.” At that time, there was no social media or technology, so Alonim gained popularity purely by word of mouth.

Sebby Blain, aged four, celebrating Purim at Alonim (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit]

Esther Lee, 42, attended Alonim as a child from 1985, where she met her now-husband, Nick, for the first time. She described it as “a very happy place”. Esther and Nick, who live in Mill Hill, decided to send their own children to Alonim years later. “It’s a loving environment that I feel happy sending my kids to…. They love my children like I love my children.”

In 1989, Roz Levenson took over as headteacher, working for 38 years at Alonim overall, until 2021. During this time, she saw the number of children rise. Roz said: “At first, I was very nervous… but children being children, they become your main priority and become the focus of your day. So, I got to like it very quickly.”

Parent Jessica Levy said: “The fact that so many of the staff have been there for such a long time is a real testament to how much it feels like a real family. That continuity and care is so rare and is a big part of what makes Alonim so special.”

The the Alonim heads, past and present (l-r) Pamela Hartog, Patsy Maltz and Roz Levenson (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit]

With reference to its closure, Patsy spoke of changing trends in the childcare industry to accommodate parents' needs, especially working parents. She feels nurseries are now more of a commodity rather than a luxury, as they once might have been. She told the JC: “We are just not competitive enough. There are daycare nurseries… open from half past six in the morning to half past seven in the evening. And the building we are in is not purpose-built as a nursery, meaning it has never been possible to take children under the age of two, as the facilities are not suitable.”

This closure follows the shutting of Gan Alon nursery (on the Sternberg site, Finchley) last year. However, many of the Alonim children are going on to Wolfson Hillel, and others are moving elsewhere.

Original staff body at Alonim, with all three headteachers on the left of the photo (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit]

Parent Eli Tamir commented: “What has been nice to see over the last few years is, although it’s a Jewish nursery, is that there are also families from other backgrounds who feel very included. They really try to celebrate festivals from all the different backgrounds, and there is an interfaith element to the education.”

In recent times the demographic of the nursery has significantly shifted, from Jewish majority to minority, reflecting changes in the local community.

In an emotional farewell, Roz declared: “Alonim’s heart may have stopped beating, but its nefesh, its soul, remains strong - I'm proud of the legacy we will be leaving behind…. If we had the resources, we would stay open.”