Community
Moishe House to open South London premises
Clapham home the latest in worldwide network where residents organise activities for their peer group
July 24, 2019 10:03
Clapham home the latest in worldwide network where residents organise activities for their peer group
July 24, 2019 10:03South London’s first Moishe House, a communal house whose residents run events for young Jewish adults, will open on Sunday in Clapham.
The latest addition to the Moishe House family reflects a growing, cosmopolitan Jewish community in the locality.
The UK’s first Moishe House opened in Willesden 12 years ago, followed by a second in Belsize Park early last year - part of an international network that now spans 100 communities across the Jewish world.
In return for help with their rent, the residents organise Shabbat and festival celebrations, social action programmes and cultural activities for their peer group.
Livia Frankish, 25, one of the first three Clapham housemates, is looking forward to “living with other Jewish people for the first time and having people every single Friday at home to say 'Shabbat Shalom' to. I want to meet more people and develop a new social network of young professional Jews in London."
Joining her will be Neetu Puranikmath, 26, and Emily Zinkin, 27.
Ms Puranikmath hoped “to create a pluralistic Jewish community. Diversity can mean many things -- diversity of thought, opinions, backgrounds, levels of Jewish practice. We hope to create a space where every Jew in South London will feel welcome, no matter their level of religiousness."
Ms Zinkin said: "Identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community means I personally understand the importance of inclusion and I want this community to be about supporting and uplifting all its members, no matter their background or religious practices."
The Moishe House expansion has been aided by the support of the Genesis Philanthropy Group, the foundation established by Russian-speaking businessmen, which announced plans to invest in Anglo-Jewry last year.
Marina Yudborovsky, the director of strategy and operations for Genesis, said, "Moishe Houses provide unique spaces for young adults to engage with their Jewish identity in a relevant, accessible and inclusive way".
