BUILDING(S) FOR THE FUTURE
Chief Rabbi opens Chigwell’s magnificent refurbishment
By MANNY ROBINSON
STUNNING. That’s the one word which describes the £1.2million refurbished Chigwell and Hainault United Synagogue in Limes Avenue. There appears little doubt that it could – and should – become a magnificent centre for the local Orthodox Jewish community.
The beautifully designed synagogue itself has plush, comfortable seats, and an impressive area to house the Sifrei
Torah. The ladies’ gallery offers excellent views of the services, too.
Enhanced facilities have also been created for the on-site nursery and a variety of classrooms for other educational and communal purposes.
The building project had taken around 20 months. The community’s financial donations (from more than 1,000 people) were matched by the family of Lord and Lady Sugar, while the United Synagogue also made a contribution.
The site will now be known as The Sugar Community Campus and the synagogue itself will be the Lord and Lady Sugar Community Hall.
The opening of the newly rededicated, refurbished and remodelled
synagogue was, in fact, a double celebration with the synagogue’s senior rabbinic couple Rabbi Rafi and Rebbetzin Chaya Goodwin formally installed into office.
Guests of honour among the 450 people at the celebratory event included Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE, Lord and Lady Sugar along with their family, the synagogue’s former senior rabbinic couple Rabbi Baruch and Rebbetzin Nechama Davis, and many other local clergy.
In his address, the Chief Rabbi expanded on the importance of celebrating new beginnings, noting both the new building and the rabbinic couple. He said: “By celebrating commencement we celebrate the future and noting the opportunities and dreams that lie ahead.”
The Essex Jewish News also spent some hours in the new community hall, now named the Johnny and Minnie Simmons Hall. It is much larger than the old one, with a fresher feel and plenty of room for any kind of celebration.
Our visit there was with Chigwell and Hainault JACS who had used the synagogue for many years, but had to relocate elsewhere while the building work was going on. Everyone at JACS was delighted and impressed by the new space.
Colin Franklin, the synagogue’s chair, thanked all those whose drive made the project happen and paid tribute to the generous donation made by Lord and Lady Sugar.
He said: ‘This is about more than just bricks and mortar. It is an investment in the very heart of our community – in the place where we gather, where we learn and where we celebrate.”
Jewish Care hub to complete by 2026
By SIMON ROTHSTEIN
BUILDING on Jewish Care’s Sugar & Ronson Campus – a first-class care and community hub on the site of the old Redbridge Jewish Community Centre (RJCC) – is fully underway.
The campus will include the Sugar Family Care Home, a 66-bed residence that will replace Vi & John Rubens House, and the modern and fully accessible Ronson Community Centre.
It will also incorporate The Dennis Centre for people living with dementia, as well as providing a communal space and the base for the charity’s social and community support work.
Jewish Care CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown confirmed that building is scheduled to complete by June 2026.
He said: “We are delighted that this project is on schedule, reflecting efficient planning and execution. We know that the community will share our excitement at seeing our vision becoming a reality, after so many years.”
The Sugar & Ronson Campus is Jewish Care’s fourth development hub in the UK and the first in North East London and Essex. It is designed to meet the needs of the community both now and into the future.
Thanking those whose name it is taking, Daniel said: “It is because of the outstanding generosity from Lord Sugar and his family, together with the Ronson family via The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation, that this muchneeded care and community campus is being built for the local community.”
He added: “Alongside their commitments – and funds already raised by the Redbridge Aid Golf Society, the Local Angels Committee and the Redbridge Sports Committee – we have been hugely supported by Hamberley Developments Limited and Patron Capital
as our Development Coordinator.
“We are also truly grateful for the key role our local community has played in showing their support for the project during the process and we hope this will continue through future campaigns.”
Jewish Care is currently running a campaign to raise the remaining £5 million expected to be needed to complete the project.
Jonathan West, director of legal affairs, property and procurement, said: “The memories made at Redbridge Jewish Community Centre are so important to Jewish Care and to the community, so we have carefully preserved the memorabilia from decades of community life at RJCC – also known to many as Sinclair House or simply ‘Club’ – which will be displayed at the new campus when it opens.”
While building is underway, the RJCC’s day and adult community centre services will continues at Woodford Forest United Synagogue. Jewish Care’s Dennis Centre for people living with dementia, and its MIKE youth leadership programme, are operating from a dedicated space at Vi & John Rubens House during this interim period.
• For further updates, including a time-lapse film of the development so far, please visit www.jewishcare.org/ Redbridge
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, accompanied by Lord Alan Sugar, fixes the mezuzah in the main entrance at the rededication of Chigwell and Hainault United Synagogue
Jewish Care’s Richard Shone, Jonathan West and Daniel Carmel-Brown pay a visit to the site for the new Jewish Care’s Sugar & Ronson Campus
Rabbi Rafi Goodwin addresses the community after officially taking office
A bird’s eye view of the building work now underway
The Essex Jewish News is the newspaper of the Jewish community in Essex and is published by Essex Jewish News Ltd.
CIRCULATION AREA
Barking, Barkingside, Brentwood, Cambridge, Chigwell, Chingford, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping, Gants Hill, Gidea Park, Harold Hill, Harlow, Hainault, Highams Park, llford, Leyton, Leytonstone, Loughton, Newbury Park, Ongar, Redbridge, Romford, Southend and Westcliff, Wanstead and Woodford.
ESSEX JEWISH NEWS TEAM: Chair: Philip Leigh
Directors: Manny Robinson, Simon Rothstein, Jonathan Bloom, Marc Shelkin, Micaela Blitz, Hazel Weinberg
Editor: Simon Rothstein
Editorial Consultant: Manny Robinson
News and Features: Micaela Blitz, Sammy Cohen, Linda Newman and Pat Lidiker
Proofreaders: Jan Martin-Ellis and Sherri Hoppen
Typesetting & Artwork: Jason Levy and Kate Abram (Dynamic Pear)
Printing: Sharman Printers
COPYRIGHT:
All material is the copyright of Essex Jewish News Ltd and must not be reproduced without the written permission of the Editor.
CONTACTS:
All stories, pictures and editorial contributions should be sent by email to simon.rothstein@hotmail. co.uk or mannyrobinson@outlook. com
For all advertising opportunities, please contact: sales@essexjewishnews.co.uk
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
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Meet the team Phillip Leigh
Each issue we introduce you to a member of the wonderful Essex Jewish News volunteer team
What is your personal connection to the Essex area?
Although I was not born in Essex, I have lived here since 1963 and opened my estate agency in 1966. I was born in Walthamstow, before moving to the East End and going to Stepney Jewish School which was actually the predecessor to Wolf Ilford Jewish Primary School. I then moved to Stamford Hill, where I attended Avigdor School, but I Ieft school when I was quite young as I was not particularly academic. As an estate agent, Essex is very important to me, and I consider it very much my home.
When and how did you first become involved with the Essex Jewish News?
Around 20 years ago, I was asked by the late Clive Bayard to join the Board to bring new blood to the paper to attract a younger and more diverse readership. I also wanted to give the paper a more updated image and outlook, which I feel it now has, and I am delighted about.
As Chair, how do you see your role now?
I still keep that initial vision of trying to always bring new and young people to the paper – as readers, contributors and trustees.
out first Chair, Frank Cass, would always say that the role of our paper is to report for the community, to the community and I am very proud that –as Chair today – this is still the case.
How do you feel the paper has changed since you became involved and what do you see for the future of the paper?
Jewish Blind and Disabled
020 8371 6611
Jewish Care
020 8922 2222
Jewish Care
Community Events
0208 418 2100 or email: timea.kasza @jcare.org
Jewish Marriage Council
020 8203 6311
Jewish Women’s Aid 0800 591 203 League of Jewish Women www.theljw.org email: office@ theljw.org
Redbridge WIZO 020 8551 1301
Resource
020 8346 4000
Samaritans
020 8553 9900 /020 8520 9191
Southend and Westcliff JACS 01268 771978
The Paperweight Trust
0330 174 4300
Phone numbers are correct at the time of going to press. If your contact number or the contact number of your organisation has changed, or if you would like a contact number to be included, please advise us.
Having worked as an estate agent for over 50 years in the local area, I have great connections with other local businesses and organisations. As Chair, I see my main role is to utilise those to canvass for financial support for the paper, grow our advertiser base and generate more revenue streams in order to ensure its continuation.
Why do you think that the EJN is important to the local community?
The EJN is a key part of our local Essex Jewish community – representing a way for our communal charities, synagogues, schools and related businesses to reach a readership of 20,000 people.
I am proud that the paper concentrates on sharing good news from the community and is apolitical. I remember
SYNAGOGUES
Brentwood Reform Synagogue
Chabad Buckhurst Hill
Chabad Epping
Chabad Gants Hill
Chabad Southend
Chelmsford Jewish Community
Chigwell Synagogue
Chingford Synagogue
Cranbrook United East London & Essex Liberal
Synagogue
Harlow Jewish Community
Ilford Federation
Leytonstone and Wanstead
Synagogue
Loughton Synagogue
New Essex Masorti
Oaks Lane Reform
Romford Synagogue
I think it has changed exponentially, when Frank and Manny Robinson started the paper (then known as The Bridge) it had an amazing amount of community support through its advertising. There were so many Jewish businesses and organisations, but unfortunately that is not the case today, and I am sad about that.
We have had to adapt with this change and whilst our adaptation has been amazing, I am still always keen to attract younger writers to Essex Jewish News. I think that it is a great opportunity for any budding journalists to learn about creating a paper and learn from journalists and writers with a wealth of experience.
Can you tell us a fun fact about yourself?
There are actually two fun facts that people may not know about me.
One is that after leaving school at 14, as I mentioned, I had my first business at 17, and at age 21 I became a London black cab driver. I actually drove a cab for six years in total, and for the last three of those I was also working as an estate agent so was doing 20-hour days. Working in the office every day, home for quick dinner and then driving until 3am. It was a case of needs must at the time, but I don’t think I would have been able to do it at all without the support of my wife, Ruth.
The other has a connection to Essex and the local community. For the past 30 years I have been involved with Sinclair House as a member of the board. Early on when Frank Cass, Ellis Birk and I were instrumental in approaching Jewish Care about merging with the centre, a relationship that has continued ever since!
How can people support the paper?
The Essex Jewish News is a vital part of our community, and is a free publication in print and online. As a registered charity, we rely on donations to keep going – so please do donate if you can via www.gofundme.com /f/m34mqw
WHERE YOU CAN PICK UP THE ESSEX JEWISH NEWS
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Limewood Court, Beehive Lane
The Shop, Southend
RETAIL
Delicacy, Chigwell
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Reuby’s Salt Beef & Cheesecake Bar, Clacton-on-Sea
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LIBRARIES
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Jason and Michelle marry in JBD’s first ever wedding
By MICAELA BLITZ
LOVE was very much in the air at Jewish Blind & Disabled’s Aztec House, as Jason and Michelle tied the knot in the charity’s first ever wedding.
The ceremony was officiated by Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg, of Woodford Forest Synagogue, and Rabbi Adam Hill. Around 60 guests – including family, friends and JBD tenants – were in attendance to help the couple celebrate.
Aidan McCarthy, JBD’s director of housing management and community services, said: “This joyous occasion marked the very first JBD wedding, and it was truly a beautiful day filled with love and celebration. We are thrilled that they chose to get married at Aztec House.”
Michelle’s parents had lived at Aztec House, in Barkingside, for many years and she spent a lot of time visiting them. Jason moved there in 2021 and the couple met a year later.
Michelle said: “It meant a lot for us to be able to have the ceremony and a
kiddush at Aztec House. For both of us, the people at Aztec House are our family. I’ve known them for many years, and I wanted everyone to be involved and all the people closest to us to be able to celebrate with us. It was very intimate and an extra special day.”
Before moving into Aztec House –one of Jewish Blind & Disabled’s three developments in Essex and East London – Jason had spent a year living in a bed and breakfast unsuitable for his needs. Since the move, he has not only got a home he loves and become part of a warm and welcoming Jewish community… but is also now happily married.
He commented: “All I can say is thank goodness for Jewish Blind & Disabled. They came to my rescue, and I can’t speak highly enough about the support I have received. I feel like I have a sense of security now, I have a proper home, I’m happy and I am safe.”
Doris walks down the aisle again… aged 104
By PAT LIDIKER
DORIS ROSE, a member at Jewish Care’s Southend and Westcliff Community Centre, recently put on her glad rags and walked down the aisle again, a mere 80 years after her own wedding.
This time she wasn’t the bride but Matron of Honour at the marriage of Jewish Care volunteer Jack Leaf to his husband Trevor – and she loved every minute.
Doris said she couldn’t miss the chance to celebrate and dance the day away, and hearing the story of the special friendship between her and Jack, you can understand why she was the couple’s natural choice.
She told the Essex Jewish News: “I first met Jack in November 2020, the day after I turned 100 and received a telegram from Queen Elizabeth. Because of the pandemic there was no big party, just a small birthday dinner with my immediate family.
“I live in my own flat in Westcliff and next day there was a knock on the door. There was Jack with a beautiful cake from Jewish Care, along with instructions to take a photo of us for the team. He gave me his phone number and said if I needed anything, anything at all, to give him a call.”
She could tell he really meant it, and that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship which continues as strongly as ever.
Jack regularly takes Doris out for afternoon tea or an ice cream by the sea, then one day asked her to grab her lippy
and he’d drive her to the West End. She said: “He parked directly outside Liberty; we took the lift upstairs and customers stood aside for us like the parting of the Red Sea. It was wonderful seeing London again, I hadn’t been for years.”
Jack was still single when he first knocked on Doris’s door with that cake… but then he met Trevor and his life changed.
Doris said: “They met on a Monday, he told me about him on Tuesday and next day they were engaged! I’d never seen him so happy… they are perfect for each other.”
She added: “For Jack and Trevor to have included me in the wedding as Matron of Honour was so special. I felt truly honoured.”
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This Rosh Hashanah we are asking you to make the most important investment, saving even more lives in Israel.
Michelle and Jason on their wedding day at JBD’s Aztec House
Jack and Trevor getting married with Matron of Honour Doris
The Jewish Living Experience Exhibition arrives in Essex
The Jewish Living Experience Exhibition came to Chelmsford, for the first time – with a launch event attended by senior civic and faith leaders.
The new President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Phil Rosenberg, and Co-Lead of Progressive Judaism, Rabbi Charley Baginsky, both spoke at the opening of the exhibition at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
They were joined by Cllr Jill Reeves (Chair of Essex County Council), Sarah Lane Cawte (Chair of Essex SACRE), Robin Harbord (School Effectiveness Partner at Essex County Council), Alex Crawford (ARU Associate Chaplain), and Sheila Gewolb and Anna Silver of the Board of Deputies.
Hanan Charles of East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue, Ben Maddison of Essex SACRE and Cllr Adrian Smith of Tendring District Council were instrumental in bringing the exhibition to Chelmsford – supported by Stan Keller of Chelmsford Jewish Community and EJN Editor Simon Rothstein.
The Jewish Living Experience Exhibition is a mobile travelling exhibition created by the Board of Deputies and aimed at school groups. It is designed to educate non-Jews about the Jewish way of life and enables visitors to gain an insight into Judaism as a living faith.
Designed by education experts, the exhibition supports the teaching of Judaism.
It covers areas including the Jewish calendar and festivals, lifecycle events, Shabbat and diversity within the community both ideologically and geographically – giving school pupils the chance to get hands on with Jewish
ceremonial and ritual items, including blowing the shofar and spinning the dreidel.
Phil Rosenberg, who was elected as Board of Deputies President earlier this year, said: “It was a pleasure to launch our Jewish Living Experience Exhibition in Chelmsford. This is such an important part of what we do, as education and speaking to young people is a vital means of building bridges and tackling antisemitism. Our belief is that when there is knowledge and understanding… there is also friendship.”
Rabbi Charley Baginsky recited the traditional Jewish Shehecheyanu blessing, which is said on moments of firsts.
She added: “This is a vital part of helping young people understand about Judaism and the different ways people express their Jewish faith.
“At the moment it is really difficult to do interfaith work, and talk about what it means to be a person of faith. Exhibitions such as this begin to give us the tools to have those conversations with each other, understand each other and to know that what is happening in your neighbour’s house is actually very similar to what is happening in your own.”
The launch was attended by people from Chelmsford’s many faith communities, including Christian, Muslim and Hindu members of Essex SACRE and officers from Essex Police.
Stan Keller helped to found the Chelmsford Jewish Community (CJC) 50 years ago and is its current Chair.
He said: “It was my privilege to welcome everyone to Chelmsford, especially in the year that the CJC is
marking our 50th anniversary.
“While we are small in our numbers, our community is very active locally and are delighted to be supporting this wonderful exhibition, which brings a whole new dimension to sharing and understanding.”
The Jewish Living Exhibition Experience also hosted a teacher training session – to answer educator’s questions and improve their teaching of Judaism –and a visit from the Mayor of Chelmsford Cllr Janette Potter and Mayoress Jackie Galley.
Hanan Charles, Stan Keller, Ben Maddison and our own Simon Rothstein helped bring the exhibition to Chelmsford
Chelmsford Jewish Community Chair
Stan Keller with the Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford on their visit to the exhibition
Chelmsford youngsters try tefillin, along with wedding and festival ritual items
Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Phil Rosenberg, Anna Silver, Sheila Gewolb and Hanan Charles
Guests at JLE Essex launch event
St Pius X Catholic Primary School enjoy their first experience of Judaism
Reverend Gary Newman retires after 40 years of service
By MANNY ROBINSON
“Iloved each and every one of my congregations, wherever I was…”
SO spoke Reverend Gary Newman, community welfare minister, at a reception at Cranbrook United Synagogue to mark his retirement after 40 years of ministerial service – 24 of those with Essex Jewish communities.
Reflecting on his time in the clergy, he said: “I never saw my kids growing up. I was never there. Now, I will be able to rest and enjoy my family which includes three granddaughters and a grandson.”
He paid tribute to his wife Gillian –whom he said had been “my guardian, the unsung hero of my career” – and his four decades worth of congregants, describing them as “the extended members of my family.”
An incredible career was highlighted by Bernard Berman, chair of the synagogue, who described how Rev Gary Newman had started at Southport Jewish community, then to the Higher Prestwich Synagogue in Manchester before moving
south to Essex – first at Southend & Westcliff Hebrew Congregation, and then onto Newbury Park Synagogue, where he spent 15 happy years in various roles including chazan.
Bernard said: “When Newbury Park merged with the newly formed Clayhall United, Rev Newman went with them. But the closure of the Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, where Clayhall held its services, meant another merger – to Ilford United – which changed its name to Cranbrook United. Rev Newman was there, too, as Community Welfare Officer.
“Through it all Rev Newman has always shown an unwavering attention to those who needed help – often in their darkest hours.”
Jo Grose, chief executive of the United Synagogue, said: “Forty years is, by any measure, an extraordinary amount of time to dedicate oneself to the Jewish community. During the four decades, Reverend Newman, together with his wife, Gillian, have served thousands of Jews from all walks of life across the country, his passion and love have shone through.”
Dawn Howes, representing the Vi and John Rubens House, added that the beloved reverend had been a consistent visitor and a positive force there.
Others to pay tribute included Geoff Hartell, former vice-president of the United Synagogue, and Harold Marco, former warden of Newbury Park Synagogue.
• Reverend Gary Newman now plans to be available for charity concerts, after dinner speeches and talks. He can be contacted via 613@hotmail.co.uk or 07882 054 321.
Teddy Sheringham helps Clore celebrate 25 years at golf event
CLORE TIVKA School marked its 25th anniversary with a spectacular charity Golf Day at the prestigious Chigwell Golf Club.
The event brought together parents, grandparents, and supporters for a day of fun and fundraising, with all proceeds dedicated to enhancing educational delivery at the school.
It was made even more special by the presence of former England footballer and local hero, Teddy Sheringham.
The charity Golf Day was organised as part of a series of celebrations recognising Clore Tikva’s 25 years of educational excellence and community service.
With the support of the local community and generous sponsors, the event successfully raised £4,000 to help the school continue providing top-quality education to its students.
Ashley Sinclair, a parent at Clore Tikva and one of the event’s key organisers, expressed her delight at the success
of the day. She said: “The funds raised will make a real difference in enhancing our children’s learning experiences. It’s heartwarming to see our community come together in such a meaningful way, and having Teddy Sheringham here was the icing on the cake.”
Louise Dorling, Chair of Governors at Clore Tikva School, also shared her thoughts on the occasion, adding: “This Golf Day was not just a celebration of our 25th anniversary but a testament to the strong, supportive community that surrounds our school. We are deeply thankful to all who contributed and to Teddy Sheringham for his generous support.”
The Clore Tikva School community looks forward to continuing its 25thanniversary celebrations with more events planned throughout the yearunderscoring the school’s commitment to excellence in education and its dedication to fostering a nurturing environment where every child can succeed.
Raymond’s stroke had a devastating effect on his and Pamela’s life until they moved in to their Jewish Blind & Disabled apartment. Now they enjoy the best of both worlds – independence with a social life on their doorstep.
Raymond & Pamela moved into their state-of-the-art mobility apartment in 2019. INDEPENDENCE.
To donate or find out more about our housing and support, please visit www.jbd.org or call 020 8371 6611
England football legend Teddy Sheringham with the winners of the Clore Tikva Golf Day
Reverend Gary Newman gives his moving leaving speech as he says farewell to Cranbrook United Synagogue
WIJPS rated Outstanding in Pikuach inspection
By TONY LEWIS
STAFF, parents and pupils at Wohl
Ilford Jewish Primary School (WIJPS) have been celebrating after the school was ranked Outstanding in every category in its recent Pikuach inspection.
Pikuach is the service accredited by the Department of Education to undertake inspections of religious education at Jewish schools in the UK, and is the statutory equivalent of Ofsted.
Headteacher Lisa West said she was thrilled that the inspectors called WIJPS a “beacon” as it meant they could clearly see how incredibly special it is.
The report praised the way the school
goes about developing pupils’ Jewish character and values as “exemplary” and “worthy of being disseminated widely as an example”.
Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin – the executive director of Chabad North East London and Essex and Rabbinic Governor for the school – played a large role in the Pikuach inspection.
He said he feels “proud and honoured” at the report and has seen first hand the excellent Jewish education at the school, where he is a regular visitor – supporting Kabbalat Shabbat, delivering termly ‘Ask The Rabbi’ lessons and running many hands-on activities around Shabbat and festivals.
The report said of the Jewish education at WIJPS: “The curriculum intent is strong and provides memorable experiences and rich opportunity for high-quality Jewish learning for all pupils, including those with additional needs and those from different backgrounds.”
In regard to Jewish personal and spiritual development, it added “pupils leave with a real love of Judaism, respect for others, and the ability to make informed choices.”
Garden party raises over
£1,000
for Haven House
THREE friends from New Essex Masorti Synagogue and Cranbrook United Synagogue got together to raise money for Haven House Children’s Hospice.
Inspired by the great work that the charity does, Jacqui, Shirley and Muriel put on a garden party with an afternoon of food, drink and entertainment.
WHEN it comes to family gettogethers you have to marvel the Bloom family who held a family gathering at the Murray Hall, Loughton.
Family members of all ages from home and abroad gathered together to reunite, catch-up, exchange, nosh and schmooze.
More than 80 attended representing over 100 years of Bloom Jewish family
The event was a great success with over 60 people attending and a huge £1,100 raised. After the cheque was presented, the organisers received a lovely letter of thanks from Haven House who were very grateful for the support.
history and tradition.
Event organiser Dean Yershon said:
“Not only does this gathering bring us all together to keep us in contact and close, but a day like this unites our near and distant family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews… all of us, all together as a family in one place.
“It has been an amazing day and emotional one that none of us will forget.”
WIJPS has the United Synagogue as its foundation body, but caters for pupils from all backgrounds, reflecting the changing demographic of the area but steadfastly holding onto its core Jewish values.
Jewish pupils account for 53% of the school, with Christian children making up 32%, and Muslim children just under 10%. There are 22 languages spoken with one third of the children having English as an additional language. Nevertheless,
the Pikuach report found from pupil and parent surveys, that responses were overwhelmingly positive, with “100% of pupils reporting that they enjoy coming to school and feel safe and secure.”
A Year 6 pupil summed up the ethos, by telling the inspectors: “WIJPS is an excellent school. We are a community and we all respect each other.”
• For further information on the school or to arrange a tour, please email office@ijpsonline.co.uk.
New Southend MP joins Reform shul for special Shabbat
SOUTHEND and District Reform Synagogue reported a near full house for the community’s annual special birthday and new members’ Shabbat.
More than 80 people were in attendance as Rabbi Warren Elf welcomed special guests including new local MP David Burton-Sampson, Deputy Mayor of Southend Nigel Folkard and his wife Marion, and the leader of Southend Council Daniel Cowan.
The senior aliyah was Brian Lazarus representing, and standing with, the older members with special birthdays. Brian proudly celebrates his 90th birthday in a few days’ time. All the new
members of the community came up for the first aliyah led by Sam Klein, creating quite a crowd on the Bimah.
Synagogue President Irene Klyman, whose family were founder members of the shul in 1946, was also in the congregation at the grand age of 96. Unfortunately, Southend’s oldest member 102 year old Pat Jacobsen was unable to attend.
Rabbi Warren Elf said: “It was a really nice service. The special atmosphere was warm and friendly. I even interviewed our new MP during my sermon which went down well with the congregation, unlike my usual line of jokes!”
Back row, left to right: Cllrs Daniel Cowan and Laurie Burton and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Nigel Folkard / Middle row (ish): Rabbi Warren Elf and Cllr Donna Richardson / Front Row: David Burton-Sampson MP, Mrs Marion Folkard and SDRS chair Lewis Miller
WIJPS pupils prepare for Rosh Hashanah
Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin on a Pesach visit to the school
Jacqui, Shirley and Muriel present their cheque for £1,100 to Haven House Guests enjoy the charity garden party
Eighty people got together in Loughton to represent more than 100 years of Bloom family history enjoy the charity garden party
One hundred… it’s the full Monty!
By PAT LIDIKER
WHEN his 100th birthday arrived this summer, it was never going to be a low-key event for well-loved Redbridge Jewish Community Centre (RJCC) member Monty Goldstein.
That’s just not his style, nor that of his wife Rhoda who turned 93 the same week.
Which was why Jewish Care liaised with their families to arrange a series of parties at the RJCC’s Tuesday Club, currently being held at Woodford Forest United Synagogue.
A week of celebrations began in style with a visit by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex who brought along a 100th birthday card with congratulations from King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Monty and Rhoda told us how much they loved revelling with all their friends. They said: “The music, dancing and partying went on all week! We want to say a massive thank you to Timea Kasza, the staff and volunteers for making it all so special.”
Timea – who is the centre and outreach co-ordinator for Jewish Care –added: “It was a great pleasure to host the celebrations and we feel extremely grateful that Monty and Rhoda chose to spend his 100th and her 93rd birthdays
with us.
“He is such a young soul, always kind and happy with a great sense of humour.”
Monty’s synagogue, Cranbrook United in Beehive Lane, also celebrated the occasion.
His melodious voice was a regular feature of the shul’s choir, until it was recently disbanded. So for his birthday, 20 members were tunefully reunited, along with the London Cantorial Singers, for a Shabbat service – where he read his barmitzvah portion.
Cantor David Rome also took part in the service together with the shul’s minister, Rabbi Steven Dansky, who paid a warm tribute to Monty in his address.
Monty was born 100 years ago in Stepney Green and, with his older brother and sister, lived above their parents’ grocery shop. From the age of eight, his passion for singing took over and he joined the choir at Stepney Orthodox Synagogue.
He left Stepney Jewish School at 14 and went to work in the clothing trade, but then came the war and he joined the Royal Artillery.
He met his first wife Adele in Brighton after being demobbed. They had two
Packed event marks 30 years since the passing of the Lubavitch Rebbe
CHABAD rabbis across Essex joined together with their communities for a combined event marking 30 years since the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
The evening was a joint project organised by the regional Chabad directors – Rabbi Aryeh and Devorah Sufrin of Gants Hill with Rabbi Odom and Henny Brandman of Buckhurst Hill, Rabbi Yanky and Rochel Abrams of Loughton, Rabbi Mordechai and Blima Wollenberg of Woodford and Rabbi Rafi and Chaya Brocho Goodwin of Chigwell.
The event was hosted by Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue in their newly refurbished hall, where over 100 friends joined together to listen to stories of inspiring messages learned from the Rebbe’s leadership and enjoy some beautiful Chabad Niggunim tunes played by musician and singer Mendel Moses.
The opening remarks were made by Chigwell Rabbi Rafi Goodwin, who
sons, Stephen and Martin, and relocated to Gants Hill, where he joined the Beehive Lane shul choir – 60 years ago.
After Adele died, his family encouraged their father to go to the social club which is where he and Rhoda met. She introduced him to a cabaret group where she put on charity concerts, and they shared a passion for amateur dramatics – becoming members of the Oxford Revue and Sue Moss groups
Now married for more than 30 years, they have seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren between them.
Looking ahead, Monty is writing a memoir and, of course, planning to spend more time at the Tuesday Club.
He concluded: “I’m not as mobile as I used to be, we don’t get out very much and we have meals on wheels delivered to our flat by Jewish Care. But with the Tuesday club, our wonderful family and so many friends around… we never get lonely.”
shared the story of his early transition from a hopeful law student to being influenced by Chabad in Leeds and becoming a rabbi.
Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin MBE – executive director of Chabad North East London and Essex – shared three inspiring stories of his interactions with the Rebbe, including how the Rebbe had chosen and given his blessings for he and his wife to move as a newly married couple to Ilford, where they are now in their 42nd year.
Another highlight saw Devorah Sufrin sharing her personal tale, having met the Rebbe as a seminary student, highlighting his vision and encouragement to make Jewish women realise that they are leaders.
Rabbi Odom Brandman, who with wife Henry are in their 20th year serving Buckhurst Hill, said: “This event was a great example of our local rabbis and rebbetzins working together to put on something special for the community.”
Do something beyond incredible
By leaving a Future Gift to Jewish Care in your Will, you’ll be doing something beyond incredible. Future Giving ensures that vulnerable older people in our community are supported, even beyond your lifetime. Without gifts in Wills we couldn’t provide the high level of care that our community deserves.
To find out more about Future Giving or our free Will-writing service contact Sarit on 020 8922 2819, email legacyteam@jcare.org, visit jewishcare.org/ futuregiving or scan the QR code below
Redbridge Jewish Community’s Tuesday Club at Woodford Forest Synagogue.
The Lord Lieutenant of Essex presenting Monty Golostein with his birthday card from King Charles and Queen Camilla (picture by Arnold Rose)
A parachute jump for Chai and my dad
By HANNAH FRANKEL
IN August of 2023 my dad, Harvey Frankel, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
In September he was admitted to the Royal London Hospital for an eight-hour procedure to remove the tumour. We were told that he would stay in hospital for a fortnight, but he was home after just eight days.
All the tests showed that the surgery had been successful in removing the offending tumour. He was recommended to have a short course of chemotherapy just in case some rogue cells had escaped.
Sadly, that December, a CT scan revealed the cancer had indeed spread to the liver and lymph nodes. We were told he had six months to live.
Dad was referred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital where he was enrolled in their Cancer Clinical Trials. Since February 2024, he has been having chemotherapy every two weeks.
I am pleased to say that dad is still here and still active, including going to Chigwell
and Hainault Synagogue on a Shabbat morning and planning the annual Yom HaShoah event he always puts so much thought and time into organising each year.
At the time of his diagnosis, dad contacted Chai Cancer Care, an amazingly supportive cancer charity which not only supports the cancer sufferer but the whole family, with counselling, massage, acupuncture and much more.
Together with my business partner, Simone Lubin, we wanted to give something back, so we decided to do a parachute jump in dad’s name, to raise funds for Chai.
We contacted Chai who were delighted and overwhelmed that we wanted to do this, and so, with their help, we contacted Charity Extra which generously allowed us to raise funds without charging us any commission, so all funds raised went directly to Chai.
A date was set for our jump and to say we were nervous would be an understatement, Simone, especially, doesn’t
like heights. She panics standing on a foot stool… so, for her, to do this would be a massive undertaking.
We arrived at the jump site near Ashford in Kent at 9am with family and friends in tow. On arrival we were introduced to our jump partners who told us that the weather conditions were perfect, warm, sunny and no wind. I think Simone was a little disappointed that our jump wasn’t going to be postponed.
A short tutorial informed us what to expect, from entering the aircraft, during the flight, to eventually literally falling out of the aeroplane at 12,000 ft and finally landing back on terra firma.
After Simone’s numerous trips to the bathroom, we were ready to put on our jumpsuits in readiness to head out to our waiting, rather small, aeroplane.
Suited and booted, we headed out to the airfield. My nerves were beginning to kick in now. Simone, on the other hand, was really very calm. As soon as we were settled, the aeroplane took to the skies. With just 15minutes to reach the jump
altitude, there was no escaping now. At 12,000ft, the door opened.
The first jumpers left the plane to the sound of a whoosh and, before we knew it, it was our turn. Simone was the first to jump. She disappeared in a second! Now it was my turn. We ‘bum shuffled’ to the exit. I moved onto my knees bending forward with my head out of the plane. Seconds later, we were freefalling at 120 mph and, 40 seconds later, thankfully, the parachute opened.
From then on, we glided down to earth taking in the amazing scenery below us. What an amazing experience. We couldn’t believe we had done this.
I firmly believe that the support of our synagogue community, Chai, our family and friends, a little bit of chemo, together with a positive attitude, have allowed dad to continue doing the things he loves.
Chai is there for all of us so, please support them if you possibly can.
If you would like to make a donation, go to their link - https://www.charityextra. com/cause/cause-chai/164537.
Brothers Blitz their walking challenge
AS part of Aaron Blitz’s preparation for his 13th birthday and barmitzvah at Chigwell and Hainault United Synagogue, he decided to set himself a mitzvah challenge related to the number 13.
After much thought, he came up with the idea of walking 13 miles to raise money for Haven House, a local children’s hospice. His inspiration for the walk came from his desire to give back to the community and his admiration for the charity’s work.
Prior to taking up his challenge, Aaron visited Haven House in South Woodford, which offers a range of services – including
clinical care, emotional support and respite care for families – making a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of seriously ill children and their families.
“My visit to Haven House motivated me to push myself and raise as much money as possible for then,” Aaron said.
“The children at the hospice face so many challenges every day, and I hope that the money raised from our walk can help provide them with the care and support they need.”
Aaron, together with his younger brother Matti (11), started the trek early on a Sunday morning at the home of their
favourite Premier League team, Tottenham Hotspur.
After a tour of the Spurs stadium, they set off accompanied by friends and family along their route which included their local team, Leyton Orient and ending up at Haven House.
Despite the unpredictable British summer weather, the duo from Chigwell, managed to complete their walk in an impressive five hours and raised a significant amount of money along the way.
Aaron’s initial target had been to raise £1,300 to reflect his milestone birthday, but
this was soon surpassed, instead raising a staggering £7,000 for the hospice.
Parents David and Candice said: “We are so very proud of what Aaron has achieved, along with Matti. It became a real community event and we’re so proud of how many family and friends supported the day. The amount Aaron has raised was beyond what he could have imagined. He’s a real role model.”
The even better news is that not only did Aaron smash the walk and the fundraising… he also smashed it in shul on his barmitzvah day.
If you wish to donate, their JustGiving page is still open at www.justgiving.com/page/ david-blitz-1706474780291
Business partners Hannah and Simone before their jump for Chai
Hannah flies through the air to raise money for a wonderful cause
Aaron and his family at his barmtizvah
The boys and their gang of supporters at Haven House after the walk
Aaron (right) and brother Matti start their walk outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
New Holocaust Memorial Stone unveiled in Clacton
By BY PAT LIDIKER
ago, serves Jewish style food and has been become a hub for the local Jewish community, many of whom “emigrated” from Redbridge and the East End, as well as visitors to the town and plenty of hungry locals. It also now has its own catering facility for simchas and functions.
Security for the day was provided
THE sun came out on 13 September for the official unveiling of a new Holocaust Memorial in Clacton’s Sunken Rose Garden, a tranquil setting by the sea.
The new stone will, from now on, stand as the focal point for Holocaust Memorial Day services in Clacton and beyond.
Alongside the unveiling, there was a service of commemoration and an act of reflection, remembrance and hope.
The service was led by Harvey Newman, warden of the Colchester and District Jewish Community, who was joined by Councillors Dan Casey and Adrian Smith of Tendring District Council.
Harvey – who spent a year working on the project – said: “I would like to thank all those who shared this auspicious occasion with the Colchester and District Jewish Community.
“I would also like to express my thanks to Gary Green Stonemasons of Chigwell, for donating the stone, and Richard Barlow Stonemasons, of Clacton, for installing the memorial.
“It was good to see so many people support us at the service – from Clacton, Colchester and beyond – as it is so important people remember what happened.”
Councillor Dan Casey, who is chair of Tendring District Council, added: “It was a pleasure to welcome members of the Jewish community to the seafront gardens for the unveiling of this new Holocaust Memorial in
Clacton.
“It is vital that we commemorate the Holocaust and remember the experiences of its victims, as well as the victims of subsequent genocides. This new memorial will be the focal point for future Holocaust Memorial Day services in the town.”
Guests at the event included Michael Weiger, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and Essex Jewish News editor Simon Rothstein.
The idea came about when members of the Colchester synagogue felt that the brass plaque, which previously occupied the spot, was too small and should be replaced by a larger, more prominent stone memorial.
Harvey made it his mission to get it changed and together with Councillor Adrian Smith – who he has known since both their families lived in Gants Hill – he formed a team to bring the project to fruition.
The year of hard work by the pair was matched by lots of generosity from others. Gary Green, when asked if he could help with the new stone, offered to provide it for free. Richard Barlow Stonemasons then assisted by transporting and installing it.
Tendring Council gave permission for the installation and space in the Town Hall for an event afterwards, which was catered for free by Roy Lingen and the team at Reuby’s Salt Beef and Cheesecake Bar.
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Adrian – who holds the portfolio for environment of Tendring District Council – added: “This is a testimony to working together to achieve something amazing and we are grateful for the involvement and help of everyone involved.”
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Dignitaries at the unveiling included, L-R, Tanya McFerran (chair of Colchester Synagogue), Hanan Charles (Board of Deputies representative for East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue), Harvey Newman (warden of Colchester Synagogue), Michael Weiger (CEO of the Board of Deputies), Cllr Dan Casey (chair of Tendring District Council), Cllr Adrian Smith (portfolio for environment of Tendring District Council) and Cllr Bill Davidson (vice chair of Tendring District Council).
The Memorial Stone
The team from Reuby’s Salt and & Cheesecake Bar at the Town Hall event
Ellie’s debut children’s book challenges stereotypes
By MICAELA BLITZ
ELLIE Goldstein has achieved a lot of firsts in her life. She was the first model with Down’s Syndrome to appear on the cover of Vogue, has been an ambassador for the first Barbie doll modelled on a person with Down’s Syndrome and has now produced her debut children’s book.
The self-titled picture book, Ellie, is for children aged 4-7 and follows the Essex-born model’s stratospheric rise to stardom – from a baby with Down’s Syndrome, who doctors claimed would amount to nothing, to a girl who has graced the world’s most famous runways and never set limits on what she could achieve.
As well as delivering a powerful message about self-worth, it also includes a note of support to parents and carers of children with Down’s Syndrome from Ellie’s mother, Yvonne.
The paperback, which came out at the end of September, is the first children’s book in broadcaster and
author Katie Piper’s new imprint The Unseen, which works to give previously ‘unseen’ individuals a platform to tell their inspirational stories.
Katie first got in touch with Ellie after meeting her on the TV show Loose Women, and they worked together to produce Ellie’s biography, Against All Odds, which was released last year.
Ellie – who is also set to hit TV screens in the new series of Enid Blyton adaptation Malory Towers – hopes her story will inspire others.
She said: “I am thrilled to write a children’s book that challenges stereotypes about disability, celebrates the co-existence of disability and success, and encourages every child to see that no one is allowed to put limits on their life.
“Every young person with Down’s Syndrome should be able to see themselves reflected in the literature of their time, and that’s exactly what I hope this book will do.”
Getting ready for Rosh Hashanah –PJ Library style
ORE than 40 people attended a young families event hosted by Chelmsford Jewish Community (CJC) in association with PJ Library.
Youngsters got to try their hand at various arts and crafts – including building their own shofar, creating Rosh Hashanah cards and colouring picture books about saving the planet.
There was also a storytime session, led by Essex Jewish News editor Simon Rothstein and his children Katie and Miles, where guests heard Jewish tales from PJ Library’s collection.
After pizza and potato wedges, it was time to dip apple in honey and look
at ceremonial items including a shofar. CJC were delighted to be joined by former Essex resident Laurence Aronberg, now a member of Bromley Reform Synagogue, who blew the shofar so everyone could hear how it should sound.
PJ Library gifts away high-quality Jewish books to families with children – from 0-8 –each month. The awardwinning, non-denominational books celebrate Jewish culture, values and traditions through a wide range of stories and beautiful illustrations.
To find out more please visit www.pjlibrary.org.uk.
Ellie Goldstein with her new book
Some of the guests at the PJ Library event with Chelmsford Jewish community
New Jewish networking group launches at Oaks Lane
NEARLY 40 Jewish business owners and professionals gathered at the launch of a new Jewish Networking Group aimed at fostering collaboration, support, and growth within the local community.
The event, held at Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue, brought together a diverse group of attendees representing industries from finance and property to photography and catering.
The network was created to create a safe and supportive space for Jewish business owners to connect, share challenges and offer mutual support in an increasingly complex and, at times, difficult business environment.
Founder Lizi Jackson-Barrett, a business confidence coach and strategist, delivered a heartfelt presentation, sharing the inspiration behind the group’s creation.
She said: “Jews are natural networkers! We love talking to
each other, discovering how we’re connected, and supporting each other. In these difficult times there’s real power in us coming together to help each other succeed”.
Lizi highlighted the broader vision for the network, including the creation of a Jewish Business Directory which she hopes will become a first port-ofcall for those looking to support local Jewish businesses.
Throughout the evening, attendees shared their enthusiasm for the initiative. Estate agent Paul Berg said: “It’s more important than ever for Jewish businesses to support one another. I thoroughly enjoyed the first meeting and I’ll be recommending the network to family and friends”.
As the evening concluded, many expressed interest in joining the group on an ongoing basis, with several already signing up for membership.
Ellie Grant, founder of travel business Ellie Escape, said: “Having recently started my own travel
Community programme that ‘lifts spirits and connects with Jewish culture’
By PAT LIDIKER
WHETHER you opt for the enjoyment and physical benefits of yoga, table tennis, Pilates, line dancing or bowls, Jewish Care’s community programme will leave you spoiled for choice.
As the charity’s hub manager for NE London, Neil Rebak, explained: “The aim of our community programme is to have a positive impact on members’ quality of life so they leave us feeling better than they did when they arrived.”
The table tennis group (pictured) is one popular way of keeping members active and stimulated. But if your preference is to meet new people or socialise with friends over tea, coffee and a sandwich, or maybe tuck into a kosher meal at the weekly lunch club or salt beef bar, then that’s on offer too.
Options also include board games,
Scrabble, Bridge, Kalooki, quizzes, art, discussion groups and more.
Most activities take place at the Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, currently located at Woodford Forest United Synagogue in South Woodford.
Neil adds: “Our team are here to create a supportive and positive Jewish environment – staff and volunteers working together to enhance the time members spend with us.
“It’s all about keeping the brain active, staying physically fit, interacting with others, lifting your spirits and connecting with Jewish culture.”
For full details of the Jewish Care programme, plus when and where your favourite activities take place, contact Sharon Imber on simber@jcare.org or phone her on 07795 667 751.
We believe all Jewish women.
We believe her when she tells us about domestic abuse or sexual violence.
We believe her when it’s happening to her now.
We believe her when it happened in the past.
We believe in keeping Jewish women and girls safe from violence and abuse.
Support Jewish Women’s Aid this Rosh Hashanah. Scan to donate or visit jwa.org.uk/donate
JEWISH WOMEN’S AID IS HERE FOR YOU: Domestic abuse and sexual violence support services for Jewish women and girls 14+ 0808 801 0500 | advice@jwa.org.uk | jwa.org.uk
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Some of the business owners and professionals at the launch of a new Jewish networking group business at 22 it’s difficult to find benefits of advertising in the Essex
The surviving Jew, in praise of the Stanislaw Brunstein exhibition Men get baking at Chabad Buckhurst Hill
By RABBI PROFESSOR TONY BAYFIELD CBE
THROUGHOUT my life it has been a humbling and moving privilege to meet, listen to and learn from Shoah survivors.
For me it all began at South West Essex Reform Synagogue (now Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue), more than 60 years ago – with the Marmurs, Dow and Fredzia, and the Brunsteins, Stan and Esther.
The deaths of the six million are an agony far beyond articulation or comprehension. But a major part of my learning has been about the equally unique and inarticulable pain and suffering of the survivors.
The suffering of the murdered continues even to the second and third generations. And so does the faithfulness, loyalty and love expressed in the lives of Denise and Lorna, Stanislaw Brunstein’s children, and manifest in this exhibition for which Oaks Lane too should take enormous credit.
My Brunstein – which is the first thing you see as you enter our lounge – was a present I was given 56 years ago. I say ‘our’ because my wife is the daughter of a Viennese Jewish survivor. ‘Our’ Brunstein is called “The Wanderer” and shows a Jew in ragged clothing and with nothing but a sack and a stick trudging away from a flame-red sky. He’s passing under a tree which is bent into the shape of a question mark addressed to the viewer, to me, to us all. What lies ahead for the wandering Jew, the surviving Jew, for us and our children and our children’s children – even to the second and third
generations?
As loyal, faithful, loving children, the second Brunstein generation has answered unequivocally, defiantly, hopefully. Whatever the continuing cost: mir zeynen do – we are still here. And will still be here. As Jews.
Am Yisrael Chai, the people of Israel live. Today, all Jews are the children of survivors. And Jews we will remain. If we will it, the memory of Esther, Stan and his art will always be a blessing.
The exhibition – To Life! From Memory to Canvas: Celebrating the Life And Work of Stanislaw Brunstein – will be open at Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue, Newbury Park, from 18 November until 8 December 2024.
More information can be found at www. swesrs.org.uk/eventpage/exhibitions.
CHABAD Buckhurst Hill held an exclusive challah bake for the male members of its congregation.
Rabbi Odom Brandman said: “This is something the guys in the community have been asking us to do for a while –and we rose to the challenge!”
The men-only group enjoyed the full challah bake experience – making the dough and then shaping and
baking their own challah under the expert guidance of Rebbetzin Henny Brandman.
While the dough was rising, the group enjoyed three different types of kugel, two varieties of cholent and some yapchik – a potato dish with a layer of meat which is a cross between the two – all washed down with cold beers and soft drinks.
Basildon’s Yiddish song project
By PAT LIDIKER
SCHOOLS in Basildon have recently been working with musicians from the Jewish Music Institute (www.jmi.org.uk) to bring a Yiddish song project to five local primary schools in the town.
A series of four weekly workshops took place at five local schools who are all part of the Lee Chapel Academy Trust.
Project leader Joseph Finlay introduced year five pupils to themes around Jewish culture and music through learning songs in Yiddish and English.
Each school was given one unique song to learn, as well as three songs which were taught to all the schools. Joseph was accompanied by accordionist Josh Middleton during all of the workshop sessions.
The Jewish Music Institute
commissioned Joseph to arrange a song with Yiddish lyrics for the project, and he chose traditional English Folk song The Manchester Rambler for this purpose. The song was chosen as it has a strong message about caring for the land.
A final performance took place at Lee Chapel Primary School, in their 300-seater purpose-built theatre.
Pupils from all the participating schools had the fantastic opportunity to perform the songs they had learned in front of a large audience, accompanied by klezmer musicians Josh Middleton (accordion), Dan Gouly (clarinet), Anna Lowenstein (violin), Simon Roth (drums) and Oliver Presman (tuba).
• Thanks to Tikvah Chadasha: Brentwood Reform Synagogue for this news item
Synagogue
School pupils learn the importance of giving
YEAR Six pupils from Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School participated in a six-week programme with GIFT, learning about the importance of giving. They then put into practice everything they learned by visiting Tesco in
ABBA great evening, they said... and we certainly did
By MANNY ROBINSON
WHEN Jewish Care in Redbridge announced their latest show – an ABBA tribute band called ABBA GIRLS – there was an immediate rush for tickets. Gimme, Gimme, Gimmee seemed to be the one call going out.
Within a short period, all the tickets had been sold and a packed house
Barkingside and, working in groups, purchasing food to feed a family of five for a week – on a budget of £13. All food purchased has been donated to GIFT who will distribute it to families in need.
enjoyed two hours (with an interval for refreshments and a raffle) of all the greatest ABBA hits. Many people started dancing... in fact they were Super Troupers.
Finally, the sellout crowd at Woodford Forest Untied Synagogue, cheered the group and said simply Thank You For The Music.
Sharon Imber, Timea Kasza and Hilary Stanton all dressed for the part
‘Volunteering in Israel was the most rewarding experience’
By STEPHEN SALT SOUTHEND AND WESTCLIFF HEBREW CONGREGATION
SAR-EL - The National Project for Volunteers for Israel – was founded in 1982 by Aharon Davidi, a former member of the Palmach and a General in the IDF who served in the paratroopers and calls for volunteers from all over the world to help Israel in times of need.
I chose to volunteer after the terrible events of 7 October 2023.
I flew into Ben Gurion airport earlier this year and was asked to meet at The Aroma coffee station at 8.30am. I was designated to the Group Jabotinsky 1 and told I would be going to an army base named Tel Hashomer, a fortyminute drive from Tel Aviv. We would be packing and unpacking medical supplies for the IDF.
Our group consisted of 30+ men and women, who came from Europe, USA, and as far away as Australia. It included many non- Jews who were proud to support Israel.
On arrival at Tel Hashomer, we were taken to our quarters and I shared a bedroom with Stuart from New York.
In charge of our group were serving boys and girls from the IDF who all looked so young.
After being shown to our billet we were supplied with army uniforms. Lunch followed after which we taken to a warehouse to begin working with medical supplies.
After finishing at 4pm we met in the common room to introduce ourselves to one another. One lady said she was from Wyoming and a Christian, and had never been outside of America. It was so heart-warming to know that we, the Jewish People, were not alone in fighting for the right of Israel’s survival.
Each day began with breakfast, followed by assembly on the parade ground where we raised the Israeli flag and sung The Hatikvah. Instructions of what work was needed of us for the day were then given - then off to work.
Lunch was at 12.30pm in the mess,
then back to work at 1.30pm until 4.00pm, with supper at 6.00pm.
Some days we would all meet to talk about our experiences and tell one another about what was going on in the countries we had come from.
Sadly, we all had the same story to tell of the anti-Israel protests and support for Gaza without any thought of the terrible events that had taken place on 7 October.
We also met the leaders of SAR-EL and had the privilege of listening to a talk by Pascale who, despite losing both legs in a railway accident in France, made Aliyah to Israel, had married, had two sons and led a normal life. Her talk was truly inspiring. She was now on the SAR-EL board.
Before leaving the base on Thursday lunchtime and being driven back to Tel Aviv, we were presented with a certificate in appreciation of our service, a t-Shirt and a lapel badge.
I spent Shabbat in a hotel with my wife Marilyn who had flown over separately to be with family and friends. The hotel was full of families who had been displaced from their homes in Kiryat Shemona due to the ongoing rocket attacks in the north from Hezbollah.
When I reported back to Ben Gurion for my second week of service, I was sent to an IDF base named Hatzorim which is next to an IDF Air Force Base of the same name, and where the previously released hostages were flown in from Gaza. The base was near to Beersheva.
On arriving, we were shown to our quarters and I shared a room with two Americans and one Canadian.
This base was much larger, and here we got to mix with the IDF soldiers although doing different work.
The leaders of our group were again IDF soldiers but the person in charge of overseeing our work on the base was called ‘The Mashiach’. I did not expect to meet with him on this trip! The pattern of the day’s work was much the same as in Tel Hashomer except that we were now dealing with food stuffs. One of our jobs was to pack Shabbat parcels for the troops on the front lines.
On the second day after we had finished work, we were taken to a town called Ofakim closer to Gaza where an American philanthropist named Saka (no relation to the player who plays for my team Arsenal back home) had given a huge marquee with food stations round the sides. This was for the for the benefit of soldiers who had come off duty and where they could relax. There was music and a singer and we all joined in dancing with the soldiers after eating a delicious meal.
I got to speak to several soldiers and they all said that the problems caused
by Hamas’s attack would not be a quick fix but were all confident that Israel would prevail.
After a most enlightening evening we returned to base.
Before I knew it my second week of volunteering had come to an end.
I left the group earlier on the day because I could not chance not getting back to Ben Gurion on time to get my return flight with Marilyn to Heathrow.
I was escorted off the base by my
a taxi to take me to Beersheva where I would catch a train to Ben Gurion Airport. The train was packed with soldiers returning from duty. I thought to myself, many of them are younger than my grandchildren, this being another shocking realty of the war.
It was a most rewarding experience and I would recommend it to anyone who is physically fit to do so.
If you would like to find out more about SAR-EL and volunteering, visit
n t o n f l u c a t i o n s i n t h e f i n a n c i a l m a r k e t s b e y o n d o u r c o n t r o l I n v e s t m e n t s a n d t h e i n c o m e f r o m t h e m m a y g o d o w n a s w e l l a s u p a n d y o u m a y g e t b a c k l e s s t h a n t h e a m o u n t i n v e s t e d P a s t p e r f o r m a n c e i s n o t a g u i d e t o f u t u r e p e r f o r m a n c e
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R a y l e i g h , E s s e x S S 6 7 Q A
Stephen Salt (centre) with other SAR-EL volunteers
Stephen Salt
The simple test that could save your life
Earlier this year, NHS England together with Jnetics and Chai Cancer Care, launched the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme. It provides free BRCA gene testing for anyone living in England who is aged 18 or over, male or female, and has one or more Jewish grandparent.
The reality for our community is that far too many will be all too aware of the effects that a BRCA mutation can have on people’s lives. Having a BRCA gene fault increases the risk of developing breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer; up to 40% of ovarian cancer cases and up to 10% of breast cancer cases in the Jewish community are associated with a BRCA gene mutation and there is a 50% chance a gene fault will be passed on from parent to child.
This is why the launch of the Jewish BRCA Testing Programme is such a milestone for our community – and for cancer prevention more widely. A free, simple at-home saliva test can now tell you your BRCA genetic status, allowing you to make educated choices and mitigate against the risk of cancer if you do happen to be a carrier.
Why us? Well, the numbers speak for themselves: around 1 in 40 Askenazi
Jews and 1 in 140 Sephardi Jews have a mutated BRCA gene, compared to around 1 in 250 in the general UK population. The fact that those with Jewish ancestry are up to six times more likely to be a carrier just demonstrates the importance of this testing programme and we are so pleased to see NHS England’s investment in screening and prevention for our community and beyond.
The Jewish BRCA Testing Programme is part of NHS England’s 10 Year Cancer Plan to catch more cancer early and is the brainchild of Ranjit Manchanda, Professor at Wolfson Institute of Population Health and championed by Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England. Their aim is to use this programme as a blueprint for other communities in the future.
Of course getting tested might
feel overwhelming. The implications of a potential positive test are not to be overlooked, and this is exactly why Jnetics and Chai are at the helm of this programme and are committed to ensuring every person gets expert support and care at every stage.
For those that discover they are BRCA positive, knowledge is power. Being equipped with this information means that the NHS can provide further testing, surveillance and treatment –preventing potential cancers in later life.
Genetics do not discriminate – so
whether you’re male or female, old or young, a regular Shul-goer or someone who never goes at all - if you have Jewish family in your past, even just one Jewish grandparent, this test might save your life in the future.
To register for your free NHS Jewish BRCA test today visit www.jewishbrca.org where you will also find more information about the programme and access to a number of wider resources.
Nicole Gordon, CEO, Jnetics & Lisa Steele, CEO, Chai Cancer Care.
.
NHS England is now offering free BRCA gene testing for anyone over 18 with at least one Jewish grandparent. By identifying an elevated cancer risk early on, we can prevent more cases of cancer and ultimately save more lives.
info@jewishbrca.org | jewishbrca.org
To sign up or find out more about the NHS England Jewish BRCA testing programme visit jewishBRCA.org today. Your Jewish grandparent might just save your
HELP US ENSURE CONNECTIONS ARE SWEET ALL YEAR ROUND
CARLY
“I wouldn’t be alive right now if it wasn’t for Jami and the staff at Head Room café. I feel like I’ve got the right people helping me with the things I need.”
CLORE 2-1 WIJPS
Super Sunday raises more than £24,000 for schools
Acharity football match between parents of Clore Tikva School and Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School (WIJPS) scored big by raising a total of £24,485.
More than 500 family, friends and fans flocked to the closely-fought Super Sunday contest – which was won 2-1 by the Clore side.
There was lots of activity off the pitch too, as stalls selling food and Super Sunday merchandise contributed to the fundraising total.
The money has been shared equally between the schools, ensuring that both can continue to deliver highquality education in a Jewish setting.
Clore Tikva School’s Vice Chair of Governors, and Essex Jewish Board member, Jonathan Bloom was one of the organisers of the day of spirited sportsmanship and charity.
He said: “The East London and Essex Jewish communities have a rich history within British Jewry. This football match provided us with a unique opportunity to celebrate our vibrant community
through the universal language of the beautiful game.
“Clore and WIJPS are committed to academic excellence and strive to provide a nurturing environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
“The community’s generosity not only demonstrates their dedication to these values but also ensures that future generations will benefit from the same level of educational excellence.”
Co-organiser Michael Fine added: “By investing in our schools, supporters are investing in the future of our community; empowering our young minds to reach their full potential.
“This is why the match was about more than just football; it was about using the sport as a catalyst to bring together individuals from our community who may not ordinarily participate.
“Regardless of the outcome on the scoreboard, the primary goal was to ensure that everyone had a memorable experience.”
Words by SIMON ROTHSTEIN Pictures by WILL HOPE PHOTOGRAPHY
Left, Jonathan Bloom Right, Michael Fine
Our vital services, which have been a lifesaver to both Bernie and Carly, receive no government funding. They rely entirely on the generosity of our community.
Please help us continue to connect all those who need it, to Jewish Care and Jami’s services this Rosh Hashanah and all year round.
Scan the QR code to donate now, visit jewishcare.org/roshhashanah or call 020 8922 2600
BERNIE
“I don’t think anyone should have to be alone. I love meeting people and socialising. Thanks to Jewish Care, I no longer have to look at the four walls of my home with no one to speak to.“
Charity No. 802559
Thoughts from our communal leaders
BY CHIEF RABBI SIR EPHRAIM MIRVIS KBE CHIEF RABBI OF THE UNITED HEBREW CONGREGATIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
DURING this most painful year, in addition to the trauma of the terrorist atrocities, the capture of hostages and the tragic war, we have been subjected to a constant barrage of falsehoods. Of these, none has been so insidious as the morally inverted claim of genocide, the modernday blood libel.
On Yom Kippur, we will chant Kol Nidrei, a prayer steeped in history and emotion.
Fascinatingly, historians differ on its precise origin. Many believe that it was composed as a remedy for Jews who had been forced to make oaths of conversion to Christianity. While Kol Nidre declares ‘all vows’ made to God null and void, it was used as a pretext by medieval anti-semites to portray Jews as untrustworthy in business and other civil matters. Despite assurances that Kol Nidrei did not apply to vows between people, the lie persisted, causing deep-seated hatred.
According to an old adage, a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still lacing up its boots. Sadly, in the era of social media, this is truer than ever, particularly where Israel is concerned.
In just one such example, in July, a well-known medical journal published a letter on its website. The authors estimated that the total number of casualties in Gaza attributable to Israel might eventually reach 186,000, if one were to factor in the impact of secondary causes, such as lack of housing and poor healthcare infrastructure. No attempt was made to assign any responsibility to Hamas, nor to differentiate between the deaths of combatants and non-combatants, nor identify the ‘Gaza Health Ministry,’ on whose data its conjecture was based, as Hamas-run. Nevertheless, campaigners attributed this ‘new data’ to the journal itself, rather than to a letter it had received. Some claimed that the journal had ‘released a study,’ while others stated that the estimate was ‘peer reviewed.’ Before long, millions had read it and it was cited by activists, British Parliamentarians, and a UN
Special Rapporteur.
Kol Nidrei is chanted during our deepest moments of personal and communal introspection. In our confession of the High Holy Days, we call out to Hashem in candour: “You know the hidden secrets of every living soul. You search the innermost chambers of the conscience and the heart. Nothing escapes You. Nothing is hidden from Your sight.” This is a moment of the purest honesty.
The Torah instructs us, “Distance yourself from falsehood,” because it is not enough to be truthful; we must create an environment intolerant of falsehood.
Indeed, despite the centuries of lies and hatred, Kol Nidrei has endured because we have always found solace in moments of perfect truth between ourselves and Hashem.
When we know in the deepest recesses of our souls where truth ends and falsehood begins, no lie can diminish us.
The truth will prevail. Am Yisrael Chai!
BY RABBI KATH VARDI, CO-CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY OF REFORM RABBIS AND CANTORS
IN the book of Kohelet we read, ‘there is nothing new under the sun’ (1:9).
It would be easy this year to fully feel the force of this rather pessimistic saying. As we step into the year 5785 we recognise that, rather than settling or renewing, the world feels increasingly unsettled for many.
In such circumstances it can be tempting to allow hope to give way to cynicism, to protect ourselves from bitter disappointment and hurt by predeciding that there is little point in working towards anything different.
But this is not the Jewish way. Judaism is a religion of liberation.
We are a religion that recognises that whilst we may never reach the promised land we must always work towards it – toward a world of peace and stability which has justice at its core.
The utopian vision set out in the Torah, and most strongly in the words of the prophet, focuses on the needs of the
vulnerable which, they demand, must be protected.
To stand with the vulnerable requires courage as we are asked to be the carriers of hope, sometimes against a background of fear and discontent.
This relentless commitment to hope and change, alongside the obligation to care, is the power of the High Holy Days.
They are our season for selfreflection and adjustment. They are the days where we take a sincere look inwards and ask ourselves key questions. What do I want to be different? What do I want to do differently?
On the surface these questions may seem simple, easy even.
To answer them with honesty and vulnerability takes courage. We are being asked to embody ometz lev – courage of heart.
The High Holy Days are asking us to take the risk of changing our habits and breaking the patterns that may no longer serve us. We are not promised a guarantee that the changes we seek to make will succeed, nor that they will be simple, but our willingness to show up, in all our uncertainty, changes us, and it is this possibility of growth that is such a powerful promise of the High Holy Days.
With this internal work of hope, challenge and change, we create a practice that can emanate out to the wider world.
With these rituals we seek a chance at creating a world where justice rules and through our vulnerability, we are able to not only care for the vulnerable but work towards a time when none are vulnerable and all are equal.
May the year ahead be one full of possibility and one where hope, not cynicism, prevails.
• Written by Rabbi Kath Vardi on behalf, and with the input, of all four Co-Chairs of the Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors and Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors
BY RABBI ARYEH SUFRIN MBE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHABAD LUBAVITCH NORTH EAST LONDON & ESSEX
WE, the Jewish people have suffered much pain and suffering
during the last eleven months since the tragic sad day of the Shmini Atzeret (7th October).
We have seen and felt immense pain and suffering, yet in addition, we also saw an unbelievable coming together in unity of the whole of the Jewish people, within Israel and the world at large. Whereas, many have reared the ugly head of increased anti-Semitism, collectively, we have shown true resilience in supporting our dear brothers and sisters in Israel affected by this ongoing war.
Now, as we stand at the foot of Rosh Hashanah marking the beginning of a new year – 5785 – since Creation. A new date in the cycle of time, and everyone hopes and prays that it will also be the beginning of a new era in Israel’s history, as well as our personal life. One that is “good and sweet” materially and spiritually.
Have you ever wondered why the anniversary of creation is not celebrated at its beginning but rather on its SIXTH day, the day that “humankind” came into this world? Although much else was created before Adam & Eve, it was on their creation that we celebrate the New Year by declaring: “This is the day of the beginning of Thy works!”
Herein lies a profound lesson.
Each of us are put onto this earth to make our profound contribution as a living partner with the Creator – G-d, in making this world a dwelling place for His presence.
Yes, we can all make a difference. This includes how we interact with one another, how we see ourselves in the dynamics of a complicated world, with difference facets vying for oxygen. Yet, Rosh Hashanah, and the Ten Days of Repentance introducing the New Year, is the time for self-evaluation and mature reflection on the profound lessons of these solemn days.
As we reflect on the longest war in Israel’s current history, let us realise that we all have a part to play in a unified response to support Israel battle for existence. At the same time, ensuring that we play our part by fulfilling our earthy mission in making this world a befitting dwelling place for His Divine presence to rest and be felt, by undertaking a practical resolution to grow our Jewish pride and attachment to G-d through increased Mitzvot –good deeds.
Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Healthy and meaningful New Year and an everlasting peace brought about through our righteous Messiah.
BY RABBI RONI TABICK RABBI OF NEW STOKE NEWINGTON (MASORTI) SHUL
“Who will live and who will die; who in their time, and who not in their time; who by fire and who by water…”
AS we recited these wellknown words last year on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we couldn’t have known how they would resonate so painfully just a couple of short weeks later, as Hamas’ brutal attacks on the 7th of October took so many innocent lives before their time.
The year that followed has been full of pain, fear and heartache for so many of us, as we’ve mourned the dead, prayed for the hostages still in captivity, and feared for the lives of our friends and family in Israel and at home.
My own community of New Stoke Newington Shul took part in the Board of Deputies scheme to hold in mind a particular hostage and pray for their safe release. We experienced the incredible joy of Shlomi Ziv’s rescue in June, followed by the heartache of the death of Avraham Munder a month later. Now we are focussing our attention on Oded Lifschitz, who is believed to be still alive in Gaza as I write these words. It is a reminder that kol yisrael areivim zeh bazeh, all Jewish people are responsible for each other - and indeed, this year has brought Jewish communities closer together in many ways.
What wisdom does the Unetaneh Tokef prayer, whose words I began the article with, offer us at this difficult time?
“Repentance, prayer and charity can annul the severity of the decree”.
Sometimes we may misunderstand these words as promising that we can avoid suffering if only we repent enough, pray hard enough, give enough tzedakah. Sadly we cannot - suffering and pain are an inevitable part of life. What is promised is that we can make the suffering less severe, by transforming our pain into efforts to make the world better.
In response to pain, to antisemitism, hatred and violence, it would be easy to turn inwards, to turn to anger and hate ourselves, allow ourselves to be ruled by fear. It is my prayer for the entire Jewish community that instead we find ways to turn to repentance, prayer and charity, to recognise our own mistakes, to turn to God as ruler of the universe, and help to heal our broken world.
Rosh Hashanah Message from the President
In June 2024, aged 38, I was elected as the youngest Deputies' 264-year history. While it is certainly a challenging my team and I have hit the ground running with pace for our three-year term:
• Fight antisemitism;
• Stand up for peace and security in Israel and
• Defend our religious freedoms;
ROSH HASHANAH MESSAGE FROM
In June 2024, aged 38, I was elected as the youngest-ever President in the Board of Deputies’ 264-year history. While it is certainly a challenging time to have taken up the role, my team and I have hit the ground running with pace and energy, and set five key priorities for our three-year term:
• Fight antisemitism;
• Stand up for peace and security in Israel and the Middle East;
• Defend our religious freedoms;
• Make our community more united, inclusive,
THE PRESIDENT
• Celebrate our faith, heritage, and culture as
of Israel. People who have lost loved ones, suffered a life-changing injury, or who have spent too many hours waiting to hear the fate of a kidnapped relative.
elected as the youngest-ever President in the Board of it is certainly a challenging time to have taken up the role, running with pace and energy, and set five key priorities
Understandably, combatting antisemitism is the number community right now. We will be conducting a comprehensive legislation, policing, and prosecution, to keep our community by-sector inquiry into the media, social media, universities, secure our wellbeing. We will tackle extremism in all the far-right or the far-left, to ensure our society remains education, training, and interfaith outreach to inoculate
security in Israel and the Middle East; freedoms; united, inclusive, and outward looking; and heritage, and culture as British Jews.
• Make our community more united, inclusive, and outward looking; and
• Celebrate our faith, heritage, and culture as British Jews.
Much is made of division in our own community, particularly regarding Israel. But on so much we have been united over the last year, whether campaigning to release the hostages, pushing back against Iran and its proxies, or working and praying to bring a lasting resolution to the conflict, speedily and in our days.
Nearly a year on from the horrific events of 7 th October, Israel. People who have lost loved ones, suffered a too many hours waiting to hear the fate of a kidnapped
Despite the challenges we must be proud to express our unique history and culture.
antisemitism is the number one priority for most in our conducting a comprehensive review of hate crime prosecution, to keep our community safe. We will conduct a sectorsocial media, universities, workplaces, arts and sports, to tackle extremism in all its guises, whether it be from Islamists, ensure our society remains cohesive. And we will expand outreach to inoculate people against the virus of hatred.
Much is made of division in our own community, particularly much we have been united over the last year, whether pushing back against Iran and its proxies, or working to the conflict, speedily and in our days.
A key mission must be to make our community more inclusive, and we will launch a Commission on Disability Inclusion in the Jewish Community to better engage a wider range of people. The Board of Deputies’ 200 member organisations run from Cornwall to Aberdeen, and we will celebrate our regional communities and heritage. As the Board’s youngest-ever President, I want to connect with our next generation to ensure it is active and engaged.
events of 7 th October, our hearts go out to the people of ones, suffered a life-changing injury, or who have spent fate of a kidnapped relative.
Understandably, combatting antisemitism is the number one priority for most in our community right now. We will be conducting a comprehensive review of hate crime legislation, policing, and prosecution, to keep our community safe. We will conduct a sectorby-sector inquiry into the media, social media, universities, workplaces, arts and sports, to secure our wellbeing. We will tackle extremism in all its guises, whether it be from Islamists, the far-right or the far-left, to ensure our society remains cohesive. And we will expand education, training, and interfaith outreach to inoculate people against the virus of hatred. Nearly a year on from the horrific events of 7th October, our hearts go out to the people
Despite the challenges we must be proud to express A key mission must be to make our community more Commission on Disability Inclusion in the Jewish Community of people. The Board of Deputies' 200 member organisations Aberdeen, and we will celebrate our regional communities youngest-ever President, I want to connect with our engaged.
We have been through some hard times in Jewish ingenuity and resilience. This last year has been uniquely that we will come back stronger.
own community, particularly regarding Israel. But on so the last year, whether campaigning to release the hostages, proxies, or working and praying to bring a lasting resolution days.
We have been through some hard times in Jewish history and emerged from them with ingenuity and resilience. This last year has been uniquely challenging, but I am determined that we will come back stronger.
With your help, I know we will.
With your help, I know we will.
Wishing you all a Shanah Tovah uMetukah!
Wishing you all a Shanah Tovah uMetukah!
be proud to express our unique history and culture. our community more inclusive, and we will launch a Inclusion in the Jewish Community to better engage a wider range 200 member organisations run from Cornwall to our regional communities and heritage. As the Board's
Phil Rosenberg President
Phil Rosenberg President
Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue
1 Victory Hill, Hermon Hill, Wanstead, E11 1UL
Rabbi Dr Tali Artman-Partock and all of our members wish you a happy and healthy Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Most of our High Holyday services this year will be in the synagogue. If you would like to join us please contact our Administrator at admin@sukkatshalom.me.uk
If you would like more information about the synagogue please contact us on: Tel: 0208 530 3345
(Answer phone, please leave a message) Email: admin@sukkatshalom.me.uk Website: sukkatshalom.org.uk
New Essex Masorti Synagogue wishes the community a happy, healthy, peaceful & sweet 5785
We would be delighted to welcome you to our High Holy Days, and fortnightly Shabbat services.
To find out more and to book yourself a place, please email: nemasorti@hotmail.com or phone: 07922 090180
New Year greetings to the Community 5785/2024
Harlow Jewish Community
Our services are as follows:
Erev Rosh Hashana, Wednesday 2nd October 7.30pm
Rosh Hashana, Thursday 3rd October 10.30am
Kol Nidrei, Friday 11th October 7.30pm
Yom Kippur, Saturday 12th October 11am. Yizkor, at 5.30pm
Havdalah, 7pm followed by light snack. Everyone welcome, no tickets required. Please contact Cheryl Petar Cheryl.petar@btopenworld.com
ILFORD FEDERATION SYNAGOGUE
A thriving community
2a Clarence Avenue, Ilf ord, Essex IG2 6JH Tel: 0208 554 5289
Rabbi & Rebbetzen Singer, The Honorary Officers, Board of Management and our Community send greetings to all EJN readers for a Healthy and Peaceful New Year.
Southend and District Reform Synagogue 851 London Road Westcliff-on-Sea Essex SS0 9SZ Telephone 01702 711663 www.southendreform.org.uk
Southend and District Reform Synagogue 851 London Road Westcliff-on-Sea Essex SS0 9SZ Telephone 01702 711663 www.southendreform.org.uk
Rabbi Yanky & Rebbetzen Rochel and family, the Honorary Officers and Board of Management wish all readers a sweet and healthy New Year
WOODFORD FOREST UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Rabbi & Rebbetzen Wollenberg, Rabbi Hill, the Honorary Officers & Synagogue Council wish all readers a Shana Tova
A Happy & Kosher Pesach from everyone at WOODFORD FOREST UNITED SYNAGOGUE
All welcome
All welcome f-or current informa on please go to www.wfus.org.uk Telephone 020 8504 1990
Please go to www.wfus.org.uk Tel: 020 8504 1990 E: office@wfus.org.uk
A fresh approach to design, branding and communications www.dynamicpear.co.uk
Wishes the Essex Jewish community a very Happy New Year
Fullwell Avenue, Barkingside, Ilford Essex IG6 2JN
Telephone: 8551 1097
email: admin@cloretikva.redbridge.sch.uk
The governors, staff and pupils wish the community a happy, peaceful and safe Pesach Clore Tikva
The Executive and Council of Southend and District Reform Synagogue, together Rabbi Warren Elf MBE, warmly wish the community and all readers a happy and healthy New Year
The Executive and Council of Southend and District Reform Synagogue, together with Rabbi Warren Elf MBE, warmly wish the community and all readers a happy and healthy Pesach
Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat morning services are held weekly by Zoom and fortnightly in the shul.
The services for the High Holy Days will be held in the shul and via Zoom.
Shabbat services are held weekly online or in person on alternate Saturday mornings at 10.30 am. Please contact the synagogue for details of online Friday night services.
You are welcome to join us. Please contact the synagogue for details.
Ms M
Tel: 020 8498 1300 info@kshsonline.uk www.kshsonline.uk
Tel: 020 8498 1350 office@ijpsonline.co.uk www.ijpsonline.co.uk
The Governors, Staff and Students at both schools wish the whole community a very happy and peaceful New Year
a Happy New Year
wish all of our friends and supporters a ver y happy and healthy Rosh Hashanah
On behalf of Executive Directors:
Rabbi Aryeh MBE & Devorah Sufrin of Chabad Gants Hill
Rabbi Odom & Henny Brandman of Chabad Buckhurst Hill
Rabbi Yossi & Rivkah Posen of Chabad Epping
Rabbi Tzvi & Mushkie Birnhack of Chabad Southend-on-Sea
Gants Hill: www.chabadilford.co.uk
Buckhurst Hill: www.chabadonthehill.co.uk Epping: www.chabadepping.co.uk
Southend: www.chabadsouthend.co.uk
For all advertising opportunities, please contact sales@ essexjewishnews. co.uk
Rabbi Geoffrey Rebbetzen Michelle The Board of Management all the staff at SWHC warmly wish the Community and all EJN Readers a Happy New Year & well over the fast
Southend & Westcliff Hebrew Congregation
The Shul by the Sea
Finchley Road
Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 8AD 01702 344900 from
www swhc org uk shuloffice@swhc org uk
V’Gmar Chatima Tova
Rabbi & Rebbetzin Goodwin, the honorary officers and synagogue council together with our pre-school nursery wish all readers of the Essex Jewish News a Happy New Year.
‘I wanted to do something for Israel… so I walked’
MORE than £6,000 was raised by Southend and Westcliff Hebrew Congregation (SWHC) warden Geoffrey Pepper, 74, when he walked “in perfect conditions” for Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem – the proceeds of which are ringfenced towards the completion of the Gandel Rehabilitation Centre in Mount Scopus.
The new centre, which is treating hundreds of rehabilitation patients with cutting-edge equipment and advanced techniques, opened earlier this year in order to meet the additional need of those injured in the war.
Geoffrey, who was an insurance broker for 45 years, lives in Westcliff with his wife Jennifer. Here he chats to the EJN’s Linda Newman about his charitable exploits.
Geoffrey, how did this amazing walk come about?
I’ve done quite a few walks for charity over the last 20 years; including several for the Southend and District Aid Society, who are an independent charity raising funds for the Jewish Care Community Centre in Westcliff. In the past I’ve raised £5,000 for a walk, but this year’s walk has set my new personal record.
How did you find out about the Gandel Rehabilitation Centre?
I like to think it was divine intervention! My wife has special treatment on her arm at the Chai Cancer Care in Hendon and I took her there one week in May. While I was waiting for her in reception, I picked up a copy of the Jewish News and out dropped a leaflet for Hadassah. Since the atrocities on 7 October 2023, I’ve wanted
to do something for Israel and I decided that this would be it.
Can you tell us about the walk?
I walked 10 miles in just over two hours. I went along Southend seafront to Thorpe Bay, back to Westcliff again and up the hill up back to the Southend and Westcliff Hebrew Congregation synagogue building, where I’m the warden and have been for nearly two decades.
What support did you have?
Because I am a Type One insulin dependent diabetic, I was supported on this walk by Community Security Trust (CST) volunteers Howard Miller and Laurence Rose who each walked part of the way with me. Friend and computer “genius” Garry Steel cycled part of the way, keeping an eye on me by satellite. My cowarden, Derek Silverstone took the photos!
How did you go about getting sponsors? Friends, family and members of the shul were marvellous sponsors and I had a page set up with Just Giving which was very successful – I had 130 sponsors in all. How often do you walk for charity?
I do one a year.
What training do you do beforehand? I am generally active as regards walking anyway, but I start intensifying three months before a charity walk building up to two hours, six times a week until the big day.
Do you do any other keep fit activities? I walk around the shul and up and down the stairs in my job as warden! Wardens manage the services on weekdays
and on Shabbatot.
SWHC feature quite a lot in these pages for their fundraising exploits… you must be very proud?
I am! Many members of our shul are serial fund raisers! We have regular Israel coffee mornings (Vice Chairperson Marilyn Salt)
a Magen Dovid Adom committee, raised funds for Chai Cancer Care and children’s charity Camp Simcha. Our Rabbi Geoffrey Hyman does regular charity bike rides for MDA. This year’s SWHC Yom Kippur Appeal is for ZAKA Search and Rescue in Israel.
New book has no age limits
Pat Lidiker talks to Southend pharmacist-turned-author Lawrence Collin
RETIRED Southend pharmacist
Lawrence Collin realises how lucky he is to have discovered a new career allowing him to meet different challenges and people every day.
He is now a published author, with his new book Jewish Nonagenarians featuring 12 ordinary people whose combined memories encompass both tragedy and triumph – sharing many exciting and unexpected stories along the way.
When reviewing the 200-page book I took Lawrence’s advice to read just one chapter a day, in order to truly absorb each character. The book is a real page turner and you quickly realise his talent as a natural story teller.
As a journalist too I felt compelled to start with his funny, name-dropping interview with former Daily Mirror reporter Donald Zec. The son of refugees, who fled from Russia to London, Donald was born in war-torn London’s West End in 1919 where, along with his 12 siblings, he had no inkling of what their future held.
He left school at 14, drifting from job to job as a violinist, actor, selling dodgy houses and more until he struck gold, landing a three week trial at the Daily Mirror. It was to last 40 years, during which he was despatched to Hollywood
in its golden era.
Lawrence had huge fun talking with Donald, wheedling out gossip about the stars he interviewed and often befriended including Humphrey Bogart, Charlie Chaplin, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. There are plenty more in the book.
Sadly Donald, who died at 102 in 2021, and the 11 other Jewish nonagenarians (90-99 year olds) featured have now all passed away, but Lawrence has ensured their lives are now in print for new generations to discover.
Readers will learn how they made it through the brutalities of World War II – many fleeing Nazi occupied countries as young children – to go on to live long, happy and fulfilled lives.
Since retiring from his full time job running his own pharmacy, Lawrence (now 74) continues to work part time as a locum while he and his wife Pamela also have more time to enjoy their property in Spain. The couple have a son, daughter and two grandchildren all living in the Southend area.
His love of writing was honed as editor of Community Voice, Southend and Westcliff Hebrew Congregation’s own magazine.
But how did this unique book evolve? He remembers chatting in his shop 14 years ago to a regular customer, Bernice Clark, a spritely 90 year old, about the origins of her Eastern European accent.
Lawrence says: “Bernice told me that when she was five her entire family was uprooted from Poland, emigrated to Palestine and opened the first hotel on Mount Carmel during the British Mandate.”
He was so fascinated by her story he interviewed her for Community Voice, after which Otto Deutch who came over on the Kindertransport from Vienna to Westcliff, stepped forward. One meeting led to another and he in turn introduced Lawrence to other people his age with stories he felt sure would be of interest.
The Jewish grapevine went into overdrive and he was put in touch with others with equally extraordinary backgrounds. The main things they had in common were their Jewishness and their age, hence the title of the book.
Lawrence adds: “I gradually realised they had all lived through one of the most turbulent eras in history. Spinning into the doom and gloom of the Holocaust and World War II, like some gaping black hole, many emerged blinking into post war devastation and dislocation.
“But almost all demonstrated in their own ways a remarkable ability to get on with the job in hand until the end. I felt their stories deserved to be read as testimony to the survival power of the human spirit.”
• Jewish Nonagenarians can be bought from www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk –with Lawrence available for synagogue and community talks about the book by emailing lncollin@hotmail.com.
Geoffrey Pepper celebrates at Southend and Westcliff Hebrew Congregation synagogue after completing his charity walk
Lawrence Collin with his new book
60 Second Schmooze: Linda Newman
Micaela Blitz speaks to the newest member of the Essex Jewish News editorial team, Linda Newman, about her glamorous magazine career, new book, and a run in with the long arm of the law!
Welcome to the EJN, Linda. Tell us a bit about yourself…
I was a magazine journalist for 45 years and really loved it. I was working for titles including Hello! and Woman’s Own I then moved into teaching journalism at Harlow College as part of the NCTJ course.
Although I was brought up in North London, I’ve lived in Essex for all of my married life. When my husband Richard (Brookes, former cartoonist for the Evening Standard, Daily Express and Metro) and I were looking for our first home we saw an ad for a terraced cottage in Loughton. I’d never heard of Loughton before, but we came, we saw it, we were hooked and have lived in Essex ever since.
Why did you decide to join the Essex Jewish News team?
I suppose that the ‘itch’ to write never goes away. Now that I’ve finished working and contributing to a book (about my days as a magazine journalist), I was looking to do something else.
I volunteered at the Redbridge Talking Newspaper as a script editor but was looking for a different challenge. When I picked up a recent issue of Essex Jewish News I thought, what could be better –I’m Jewish, I live in Essex and I’m nosy. So, I got in touch and here I am and excited to be part of the EJN team. What do you like most about the paper?
I have always enjoyed reading it for the variety of content, its professionalism
cooking, so I gave her my mum’s recipe for salmon cutlets and posted her several boxes of Matzo meal. That lady was so glamorous and wonderful inside and out. Was there anyone that you were too starstruck to interview?
Cat Stevens. I was a HUGE fan – but there was no way I was going to turn down the chance of meeting him; it was a challenge though being super professional and asking all the right questions when I was ‘swooning’ inside.
You have used your past experiences to write a book, The Magazine Girls, which chronicles your time working in magazines. Can you tell me a bit more about it?
How long did it take to write?
The book took about four years in all to write and publish because there were seven people involved in the process – writing, producing pictures, editing people’s text and making sure we weren’t doubling up on one another. The task of co-ordinating it all fell to me!
Can you tell us a secret about yourself? When I was 10 years old, I played truant from school with my best friend. We went to Trafalgar Square where a policewoman spotted us and marched us off to Scotland Yard and I didn’t stop crying, but I never played truant again!
and warm community feel. I like the fact that the subject matter is inclusive of all forms of Judaism.
Can you tell us about your career working in magazines.
Before I left school at 16, I wrote to all the magazines that I loved reading: Rave, Fab, Disc Weekly asking for a job interviewing pop stars. I was a mad pop fan. Unbelievably and very luckily for me, I had a reply from one magazine publishing company telling me about their secretarial training scheme – and after six months I got a job as a junior editorial assistant. Soon after, I joined Rave as a trainee sub editor/writer when I was 18 years old. It was absolute heaven. From then, there was no looking back. I went from magazine to magazine. This was back in the day when you could walk in and walk out of jobs, but you still had to be good, talented and hardworking or face the sack – and I was very dedicated. Working in the magazine world must have been very glamorous, can you share some of your highlights?
I once flew out to interview veteran Hollywood actor Anthony Quinn at his villa in Italy for his life story for Hello! magazine. I was terrified of this huge hulk of a man, but I had a great interview which ran in three issues.
I was also lucky enough to attend the Coronation Street 25th anniversary party where there were stars of past and present all looking a million dollars. As a mad Corrie fan, it was a great experience!
I have fond memories of meeting the comedienne Marti Caine - she loved Jewish
The idea of putting our collective stories into a book came up one raucous Magazine Girls’ lunchtime – one of many such lunches over the years – in restaurant Joe Allen, a media haunt just around the corner from the publishing house in The Strand where we all met over 50 years ago. We’ve all been friends since we met working in magazines from the ages of 16 – not a university qualification between us! Friends for life, we’ve attended one another’s weddings and celebrated and commiserated all kinds of occasions together over the years. And we like nothing better than when we meet up talking about our experiences as magazine journalists interviewing the great and the good of the music, fashion and beauty industries. ‘Hate’ to name drop, but think Mary Quant, Twiggy, Elton John, David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Cat Stevens, The Who, …. and many more.
On that particular day, we were chewing over some of the big names we’ve interviewed between us, particularly during the 1960s, 70s and 80s – and that was it – the book was born.
• The Magazine Girls 1960s-1980s is available to order from Amazon, all good bookshops or direct from www.troubador.co.uk Price: £10.99
The magazine girls... Linda, aged 21, with fellow pop writers Sandie Robbie and Jan Iles-Kaluza and the Father Christmas, Richard Brookes, she later married
At work... A 20-year-old Linda interviewing one of the stuntwomen from the Avengers TV show - moments after falling into the River Thames. The interviewee lived on a houseboat!
Finding hope and happiness after grief
Linda Newman meets the incredible Ashleigh Rosenbaum
WHEN the smartly dressed, pretty young woman comes into the room for our interview, there is no indication that until just a few years ago she was “emotionally stuck,” as she describes it, “at the age of eight-years-old.”
Today, Ashleigh Rosenbaum, 24, a former pupil of Clore Tikva and King Solomon schools, appears a calm and quietly confident young woman.
However, as we chat, she describes how the death of her mother – when Ashleigh was just a young child – turned her life upside down.
Ashleigh’s story is a very personal, often very raw tale of searing loss, pain and rejection.
She decided to write a book in loving memory of her mother – titled The Only Way to Cope Is the Strength of Your Hope and available on Amazon price £7.99 – which she hopes will help other
young adults who have experienced deep loss as a child.
It was also a brave decision on Ashleigh’s part as she describes the cognitive condition she has suffered with for most of her life and which made the sad situation at home much more difficult for her and everyone else to deal with.
She tells me: “When I was two or three years old, I was diagnosed with delayed development of the brain and I was way behind developmental targets for walking, talking and understanding.”
Ashleigh, her older brother David, mother Chantal and estate agent father Gary lived together in Loughton. When Ashleigh was four, Chantal developed breast cancer, but after two years was given the all-clear. Tragically, the illness returned and Chantal died at the age of 39.
From that time on, Ashleigh’s already
Rob Rinder helps Chigwell community
By HARVEY FRANKEL
Tdelayed development took a dramatic step back for the worse. She says: “When my mum passed it sort of trapped my mind and I became stuck at that stage in my life even though I was growing physically.
“The best way to describe it is like when you are watching a movie and press pause, or when you are going upstairs and get stuck on one step.”
Although Ashleigh’s memories of her mother are incomplete, She has built up a rich picture from what people have told her, old photographs and Ashleigh’s own special visceral memories.
She told me: “My mum was the most inspirational, bravest human being. She had the strongest spirit and fought for four and a half years with that terrible disease, never giving up; she was beautiful inside and out. And she loved making others laugh, like when she made the hospital patients giggle when she walked past wearing a short pink wig and daft clothing.”
“When mum died, I was in so much pain – I so desperately missed her. I missed having a mother figure around, missed the happiness, the positive energy and love mum brought into our home. I wanted to hear her laugh again and say, ‘Oh Mash’ [Ashleigh’s nickname] and give me a hug and a kiss.
experiencing rejection. Looking back, she says she understands why, “I was emotionally immature and very needy; I expected friends and later boyfriends to mother me, and at times I was like a little puppy following people around because I didn’t want to be alone. And if someone didn’t reply to a text within a couple of hours I would panic and overthink and very often go into a sulk. I can see now how annoying that must have been for others.”
So why, how and when did everything change for her?
She explains: “It was 2021 during Covid lockdown and many people were breaking the rules, which I didn’t want to do. I decided not to see my grandparents, who I am very close to because of the risks involved to them. So, I made the decision to isolate myself in my room, staying up there, eating my meals in my room, keeping away from everyone and I stuck to it for a long time.”
“Our mums and dads have different roles in our lives. I do appreciate my dad and he did everything for me, but at the same time he was carrying too much dealing with his own pain and grief.
“I see that now and why there was some emotional distance between us. I have amazing grandparents who have helped so much, yet I still felt completely lost.
“My behaviour brought many challenges for my dad and my grandparents because often I couldn’t find a way to express myself and my frustration came out in tantrums and screaming.”
Ashleigh received counselling in school and also help with her work, plus tuition out of school, meaning she managed to stay within the correct form year for her age.
She says some of her hardest challenges she experienced were with friendships and relationships, often
displaying hate or bitterness.
mark Yom HaShoah
HIS year, to commemorate Yom HaShoah, Chigwell and Hainault
United Synagogue welcomed more than 250 guests to a special event where the keynote speakers were Angela Cohen MBE and her son, broadcaster and barrister Rob Rinder MBE.
I have been organising this event successfully for a number of years, I am very grateful to Mandi Dobias for arranging and inviting them. I am also extremely grateful to Rabbi Rafi Goodwin and the members of our community for their help and input that made it so successful.
Angela is the founder and chair of The ‘45 Aid Society and both she and Rob regularly talk about issues relevant to the Holocaust particularly the experiences of Angela’s father and Rob’s grandfather,
Holocaust survivor Moishe Malenicky, during and after the Shoah.
Angela described her work with the society, involving bringing together survivors and their second and third generations, in order to celebrate the lives they led after liberation and keep alive the memory of those they lost who died in the Holocaust.
She concluded with a film about a unique weekend in Prague in 2019 when The ‘45 Aid Society arranged for a group of survivors and their families to recreate an iconic photo taken of those same survivors as children, just after their liberation in 1945.
Rob spoke about the strength of character of the survivors and the way in which they rebuilt their lives after experiencing such horrors, never
This year commemorated the deportation of 400,000 Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz, where many were murdered on arrival.
A short film about this was shown, after which I detailed my involvement with Yad Vashem UK and my passion for the Twinning Programme that I promoted first at Chigwell & Hainault and then with other shuls in the area. This is where, on their bar/batmitzvah, a child will be twinned with a young person murdered in the
Ashleigh puts the change in her development down to making mature decisions for herself, taking control for the first time, and as she puts it: “I am quite spiritual and I think the Universe gifted me and released that ‘stuckness’. It was as if the Universe and my mum were saying, ‘Yes Ashleigh this is the right thing to do,’ and it changed a lot for me.”
As things continued to improve, Ashleigh decided to write her story, which she completed over a couple of years, “Slowly, the frozen bit of me changed and I moved forward. Now I feel like the 24 year old that I am.”
When Ashleigh left King Solomon, she went to Epping Forest College (now New City College) and studied performing arts. Since finishing college, she has volunteered for roles at a riding school for the disabled and for Haven House and currently she is applying for jobs.
Living with her dad, his partner Ann and her daughter Michaela, 27, Ashleigh feels positive about her future, “I know mum would be very proud of where I am now from where I was and for what I have achieved.
“I now know there is always hope, happiness and positivity after grief.”
Holocaust who did not have a chance to mark this important rite of passage.
At every Yom HaShoah event I have organised I’ve always involved the children, as they are our future. This was seen in our moving candle lighting ceremony.
Rob Rinder lit the lead Memorial Candle, accompanied by Holocaust survivors from the local community. Twenty-two children then entered the hall and lit a candle in memory of their Holocaust twin stating their twin’s name and the age they were murdered.
Rabbi Rafi Goodwin opens the Yom HaShoah ceremony with a message of welcome
Ashleigh Rosenbaum with her new book
Extraordinary co-incidence that links actor to the past
Linda Newman speaks to Cable Street star Joshua Ginsberg
“They Shall Not Pass.” “They Shall Not Pass.”
THESE were the cries heard across East London on Sunday October 4 1936 as more than 100,000 Jews, Communists, Irish dockers and trade unionists blocked the march of Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists which was intended to intimidate the Jews.
Attempts by police to remove the barricades failed as people fought and missiles were thrown as the people of the East End united and Mosley was forced to retreat.
Now those chants of “They Shall Not Pass” are calling out once more. This time from the stage of musical theatre, telling the story of ‘The Battle of Cable Street’, through the lives of three young people, growing up against a background of rising tensions in the East End.
Titled Cable Street, the production is brought up to date through a 2024 walking tour of the area. The theme, tensions and violence on the streets are
topically
reminiscent of recent events.
The show’s first run in February opened to five star rave reviews. A second run at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant opened in September and runs until October 10.
The musical – “an absolute belter” said one reviewer – is a collaboration between composer and lyricist Tim Gilvin and playwright Alex Kanefsky, whose grandmother witnessed the Cable Street standoff.
The production reflects that story and the elements that still resonate today. Adam Lenson directs a strong cast, many previously in West End musicals including Dirty Dancing, The Book of Mormon, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon.
During a break in rehearsals, the Essex Jewish News caught up with the show’s star, 25-year-old Joshua Ginsberg, who spoke about his character Sammy.
Joshua said: “Sammy is in his early 20s; he used to be a flyweight boxer. He gave that up and is now looking for work, but finding it very hard due to the
Loving Midsummer
By SIMON ROTHSTEIN
LIVING in Essex gives us access to a number of wonderful theatres.
Ilford has the Kenneth More, Southend the Cliffs Pavilion and Chelmsford the Civic. But perhaps the jewel in the crown is Colchester’s Mercury Theatre. Taking its name from the Roman messenger god, the Mercury offers a vibrant, eclectic and entertaining mix of shows to suit all tastes.
Earlier this year, the Mercury played host to the musical rom-com Midsummer. Penned by award-winning playwright, David Greig, and composed by songwriter, Gordon McIntyre, Midsummer tells the story of two ill-matched thirty-somethings – hard-drinking lawyer Helena (Karen Young) – who is stuck in an affair with a married man while everyone else seems to be settling down – and small-time crook
racism around the East End.
“I sympathise with Sammy’s anger and I would feel the same if I was getting constant antisemitic abuse. But he’s an optimist and tries to see the humour in dark situations.
Joshua is one of four children and was brought up in London. “Like Sammy I come from a close Jewish Orthodox family,” he told us.
“Also, like Sammy, I try and see the bright side of things!”
But there is also a much deeper link between the two young men, an uncanny connection between the character he plays in the musical and Joshua….
“When I got the part, I was asked to do some research about my family to see if there might be a connection in some way to Cable Street.”
And yes, there was. Very much so. A discovery that left Joshua “gobsmacked”.
Joshua’s great grandparents settled in a road close to Cable Street after they fled the Polish pogroms in the early 1930s.
He said: “It turns out my great grandfather, Isidor Baum, was one of the many Jewish residents in the area who took to the streets to block the Blackshirts. When I asked my grandfather about it, he said one of his earliest memories was being told how his father – so my great grandfather – came home with a bloody face, blood pouring from his head sustained in the battle of Cable Street.”
Before that revelation, Joshua says he had no idea about this chapter of
his family history. “I was gobsmacked,” he said, “I didn’t even know about Cable Street, so it’s a pretty amazing connection and makes everything in the show so much more personal for me.”
Joshua’s grandfather, retired surgical oncologist, Professor Michael Baum, 86, is of course, very proud of his grandson and the two are very close: “My grandfather is one of the people who got me into theatre from an early age. We would always discuss the deeper meaning of what we’d seen afterwards and I enjoyed those conversations as much as the shows.”
Meanwhile lunch break over, it’s time to rehearse a dance number. “The great thing is that there are so many different musical genres interwoven into the show to represent the different communities,” said Joshua from big soaring ballads, to Irish songs, to rap, which is one of Joshua’s specialities.
Of his other interests, Joshua loves creative writing. When he was living in Bristol his play Three Dollar Bill was put on at The Bristol Old Vic through the Youth Company.
“My writing is on pause at the moment,” said Joshua, “because I’ve been so busy, but when I get more time I would love to do more.”
Well that time could be on hold for a good while to come with predictions of a longer West End run for Cable Street to come next year.
• To book tickets for Cable Street – which runs until 10 October with extra matinees now added between the High Holy Days – please visit www. southwarkplayhouse.co.uk.
Bob (Ross Carswell), on the run and with little going for him.
A one-night stand turns into a lost weekend – all perfectly narrated by Will Arundel and Laura Andresen Guimarães, who give us the real thoughts of the characters as scenes are re-enacted from different viewpoints.
What made the show so special is that these four talented actors really connected with the audience – a testament to the Mercury’s dedication to putting on new shows with new talent.
Some of the scenes were genuinely laugh-out-loud funny – adult humour, but with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Midsummer is not a show to be taken seriously. It’s fun, silly, upbeat and rude. That said, some of the jokes and songs were more miss than hit.
it’s certainly one to try and catch.
Joshua onstage in Cable Street - photo by Jane Hobson
It plays with the tropes of romantic comedies, following the formula but in selfknowing ways. It’s very easy to imagine Midsummer as a Richard Curtis film.
A perfect show for a date or a night out with friends, should Midsummer come back to the stage in 2025
Joshua and his grandfather - photo by Deborah Goodman
Midsummer
By DR EMMA HARRIS
SPERSPECTIVE The Interfaith
INCE I was a child, I have been lucky enough to travel far and wide and had many opportunities to visit incredible places of worship – from synagogues and churches to mosques and temples – but I had never attended a service of another faith.
Travelling with my parents, we always left before a service started or didn’t dare to enter if one was going on. Without questioning, I was always told that it is simply inconsistent with Jewish faith and its practices.
As an adult, I consider visiting places of worship part of my interfaith work but still I had not attended a service.
I had cause to question this recently when I was invited to attend Evensong – the Anglican Church service – at Westminster Abbey. Some may say that I should have refused to attend. I thought long and hard before coming to the conclusion that it would be an honour.
Before I continue telling you, dear readers, about the event, I want to share with you why I made this decision.
I recently organised for the Woolf Institute’s Summer School cohort –all of whom are Christian – to tour the Cambridge Central Mosque and Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue, enabling them to meet members of the respective communities and hear firsthand about their religion and religious practices. I hosted the same group for a Friday night Shabbat dinner and sang songs from my childhood.
I was brought up to understand that once I turned 12, I could no longer sing in front of men, except family members. Last year that changed when I hosted my first Shabbat dinner for more than 30 Summer School students and staff. I felt that if I want people to understand me, I need to show them the real me; the one whose faith may be somewhat in turmoil but who still loves to show its beauty. Singing Baruch kel elyon – with 30 pairs of eyes on me – is a special moment. It takes me back to witnessing my Mummy kvelling on nachas as I sang this almost every Shabbat. She loved that song and I want to share that with others.
In this interfaith setting, I want to showcase what is beautiful and striking about my religion. As I welcomed them and explained what was about to happen, I started to choke as I pointed to the candlesticks, a wedding gift to my parents from my maternal great grandma Tamara, a blessing that they would continue to keep a Jewish home. I needed a moment to gather the strength to continue. But I wanted to carry on – Shabbat is a beautiful and poignant end to the working week and sharing that with the cohort is a blessing. Family is a big part of Shabbat and without that, I honestly feel lost. But sharing a family Shabbat with the cohort once a year – and with my surrogate Institute family – is more special than I can describe. How can these students understand me if I don’t show them who I am.
And that is how I felt about the
invitation I received. If I had not accepted, I would not have had the opportunity to really see my friend and colleague, Fr Dragos Herescu. Dragos is the Principal of the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS), a member of the Cambridge Theological Federation. Since its establishment in 1999 – a year after the Woolf Institute –IOCS has remained true to embodying the Orthodox tradition. Dragos is also the Romanian Orthodox Priest at the Parish of St John the Evangelist in Cambridge. I consider him a good friend. It’s not that we see each other very often. Quite the opposite, in fact. Yet when we do have the opportunity to catch up, there is genuine respect, a fulfilment of ‘love your neighbour’ and true ecumenical fellowship in our encounters.
This year, IOCS celebrates its 25th anniversary, an incredible milestone and one which deserves praise and acknowledgement. They held Evensong and a thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey; I had no idea the depth of my gratitude to have such an opportunity to witness this incredible event. I was one of only 50 attendees –a humbling thought – and was probably the only Jewish representative.
His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain and The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Prof. Rowan Williams of Oystermouth acted with tremendous grace as the hosts of the event. On arrival at the Great West Door entrance of the Abbey, I came face-to-face with an enormous queue of those wishing to attend Evensong. My invitation card came in very handy, and I was whisked through by the Abbey ushers to join the other guests.
As the public queue wended its way round to the main seating area, the IOCS guests were warmly welcomed and invited to sit in the quire stalls, alongside the Abbey choristers whose beautiful voices reverberated throughout the Abbey. At choral Evensong, most of the service is sung by the choir on behalf of those present. It was a moment to share with colleagues, to watch as they closed their eyes to listen intently and be guided in contemplation and prayer.
At the end of Evensong, we remained where we were in the quire until members of the public had departed before being led to St Edward’s Shrine for the Thanksgiving Service led by Dragos. It is this part of the celebration that was the most memorable, that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It reminded me how true devotion is special to the individual. I was overwhelmed by my friend’s prayerfulness and felt I understood him more. He is a particularly genuine person but to witness his commitment to, and his understanding of, his true faith brought a sense of calm and peace over me.
I was grateful to be there and thankful to Dragos for allowing me to see a glimpse of his authentic self. He prayed for the Cambridge Theological Federation (of which the Woolf Institute is a member), for each house, its staff and students. Isn’t it beautiful when someone prays for you and sends you blessings? Whatever faith they hold, being true to their beliefs, being a good person and wishing you well is special and heartfelt. I felt acknowledged. I felt affirmed. It was, indeed, a privilege to be sitting in this incredible space,
not open to the public due to the fragility of the shrine. I continued to watch my friend; I was captivated by his expressive face, full of emotional devotion. It was a moving experience.
Not long after this event, our Summer School students gave short presentations on a topic of their choice. Ashley, one of the cohort, had attended a Sunday Church service over which Dragos presided. Generous as he is, he spent time with her to discuss shared sacred space at St Giles Church in Cambridge. Ashley had first attended the Anglican service there before the space was taken over by the Romanian Orthodox. She told us the story of how the Romanian Orthodox came to share the sacred space with St Giles’ community, of ecumenical openness and generosity, of intra-faith working well. They extend the hand of friendship to each other. It was a beautiful story to tell the group. I was grateful that Dragos had engaged with Ashley and talked about the shared space; it was an eye-opening experience for her and one she will never forget.
In their mission, IOCS is now “more committed than ever to being ‘A Home for Generous Orthodoxy’, where the learning, research and witness that we do in Cambridge is nourished equally by the richness of the Orthodox faith and by the joy of togetherness with other traditions”.
How truly grateful I am to have a friend in Dragos with whom I can share such incredible moments of prayer and ecumenical fellowship. May our friendship and collegiality grow from strength to strength and may others join us to continue “the joy of togetherness”.
The EJN’s Emma was one of only 50 attendees at a special Evensong at Westminster Abbey
Tottenham Chutzpah...
But for meshuganah Jews you can’t beat the magic of Leyton Orieyenta
YOU need a Degree in Aggravation to be a Leyton Orient supporter! I wrote those words in a feature for the Jewish Chronicle some 60 years ago when I was a rookie sports reporter for a paper called the Stratford Express
My job was to follow Orient one week and West Ham the next. Talk about a double whammy.
But there was one outstanding feature about Orient in those days. It had a heimishe atmosphere that one never experienced at any other football ground.
On those other grounds journalists went into the press room to eat neatly cut sandwiches cut into triangles or a cake or two. At Orient match days were like a kiddush. We had smoked salmon sandwiches, fish balls, pickled cucumbers, pickled herring and chopped herring.
And all because the Orient chairman at that time was the Jewish, cherubic, cigar smoking Harry Zussman.
Zussman, the East End fairy godfather of Orient, made sure that his Cinderella club went to the ball. They won promotion to the First Division - as the Premier League was then called - for the only time in their history in 1961-62 season.
Backed by two other cigar smoking entrepreneurs, Leslie Grade and Bernard Delfont, bought celebrities to the club. Indeed, at one time, thanks to Grade and
VIEW FROM THE SIDELINES
By MANNY ROBINSON
Delfont, Orient actually rivalled Chelsea as the club where the celebrities wanted to be seen.
When Brian Winston, who was also Jewish, replaced Harry Zussman as chairman, the West Stand at Orient became known as Kosher Corner.
Sadly, Orient’s stay in the top flight lasted only one season and they were relegated. Since then, they have bounced around the football pyramid and now sit towards the bottom of League 1 (the old Third Division).
But that fall from grace has never dampened the enthusiasm of the Orient fans. As you might have read in an earlier issue of the Essex Jewish News, two former Redbridge residents, Jonathan Glass and Eddie Gershon, have helped to launch the Leyton Orient Jewish Supporters Group, with strong backing from the club. The name... it had to be MeshuganOs.
Eddie said: “If you ask football fans which club is most associated with its
Was Elvis Presley Jewish?
Some people have Suspicious Minds
IAM often bemused when a celebrity or wannabee celebrity suddenly hits the headlines and some people rush to find out if they are Jewish.
Someone seeing the third cousin once removed of this or that celebrity enjoying lockshen soup in a restaurant seems to them to be evidence enough that there must be a linkage!
But a petty serious investigation has been going on recently ... that of Elvis Presley’s Jewish roots.
The King might have left the building – he died in 1977 - but when he was asked why he wore both a chai and a Star of David he replied: ‘’I don’t want to miss out on heaven on a technicality’’.
Rumours about Elvis being Jewish have circulated for years but, earlier this year, Carrie Zeidman decided to make an in-depth investigation herself.
her own business Twigs Genealogy Research in which she validates or debunks family stories.
Carrie, who lives in Las Vegas, runs
Reporting her findings in the magazine Who Do You Think You Are?, she said that rumours of the King of Rock and Roll being Jewish came down to just a few things: his choice in jewellery and his mother Gladys Love Presley, who died in 1958. In 1964 a small headstone, designed by Elvis Presley himself was added to her grave. This headstone featured a cross in the upper right corner and a Star of David in the upper left. Carrie Zeidman said that Elvis had a lot of Jewish connections in his life, particularly Rabbi Albert Fruchter and his family who lived upstairs from the Presley family in Memphis. The two families were very close and Elvis actually became the rabbi’s ‘Shabbos goy’ – where a non-Jew assists an Orthodox family to do things
Jewish supporters, the answer is likely to be Spurs.
“While it is true that Spurs has always been the favoured club for a large number of Jewish fans, we believe that Leyton Orient runs it pretty close and, as a percentage of its overall support, the Os might well be one of the, if not the best supported club amongst the Jewish community in England.”
Well, I don’t know about that. Arsenal, for example, have a very large Jewish following. And so, too, for that matter do Luton Town.
But Orient are much more closely associated with the Jewish community, particularly in Redbridge and the surrounding areas. Every year Orient send two or three players to the Vi and John Rubens House to meet the residents. It’s a tradition that has been going on for many years.
The best quote about Orient I heard came from Alec Stock who was made manager of the club by Harry Zussman in
Yiddish to English Dictionary
Chutzpah:
Someone with gall, self-confidence or nerve
Heimishe: Homely and warm
Meshuganah: A crazy person
Yenta: A busybody or gossip
1950. As we sat in his office, he said that he had been offered the job as manager of Arsenal and had accepted.
Stock left Orient for Highbury but returned to Brisbane Road just 53 days later saying: “My mind said Arsenal but my heart said Orient.”
Many people at that time thought that Stock was meshuga for walking away from Highbury. If true, he would have become the first of the MeshuganOs.
forbidden on Shabbat like turning on the lights. This was a role he would not have done had he been Jewish.
From her investigations, Carrie found that Elvis’s great grandmother Martha Sue Tackett was the daughter of Nancy J Burdine, a Jewish women and Elvis’s great-great grandmother.
Under Orthodox Jewish halachah, religion is passed through the matrilineal line and, since the line from Nancy to Elvis was all women, Elvis could be Jewish strictly speaking.
However, sadly, Carrie concluded: “This family story, like a lot of family stories, doesn’t add up and is just that ... a story. There was not one concrete indisputable fact that I could find which showed any proof to back up that claim
that Elvis was Jewish.
“There is no real hard documentary evidence of a Jewish ancestor on Elvis’s maternal side, so I have to conclude that maybe he just liked the imagery.
However, Carrie isn’t the only one to have researched Elvis’ roots.
Speaking to the Jewish Chronicle last year, Martin Lopes Dias, a tribute artist known as Elvis Shmelvis talked about his own research.
Martin said: “Elvis’s mother Gladys did tell Elvis that he was Jewish, but in the 1930s in the Deep South racism and antisemitism were rife – so she told him not to say anything. She never even told her husband that she was Jewish.”
Does that leave you with Suspicious Minds? Uh Huh!
Elvis wearing a chai...and a Star of David
Elvis wearing a chai...and a Star of David
Elvis Presley’s mother’s memorial stone with the Star of David on the top left hand corner
By SHELLEY POSNER
Cookery
THE Yom Tovim are upon us once again and unusually we are well into October for the majority of the holidays. Summer such as it was is over, and the leaves are turning and it will soon be winter.
Therefore, I have come up with some warming dishes to serve for the holidays in the event that we have some inclement weather. These are not too taxing to make so you can plan your menus well in advance. I have solved the ever-present dilemma of meat or fish by including a recipe for each.
You can use an alternative parev cream for the clafoutis but I do prefer it in the original form as it seems to have an extra richness with the double cream. The Romesco sauce that goes with the fish cakes can be served alongside all sorts of other dishes –chicken, lamb, beef as well as fish - so it’s worth making plenty and freezing some for future use!
Whatever you are making this Yom Tov, I wish you and your families a Happy Healthy and Peaceful New Year with only good things ahead. Shana Tova to you all!
CHICKEN WITH OLIVES & CAPERS:
This is an easy dish which lends itself to entertaining as everything can be prepared days in advance. You can substitute the chicken pieces with other portions such as a mixture of legs, thighs, breast, wings etc. It’s delicious served with a heap of mashed potato or rice to soak up the delicious juices.
1 chicken cut into 8 portions
5 cloves of garlic crushed
A few sprigs of fresh oregano or ½
tsp dried
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
3 tbsp olive oil
100g green olives pitted
60g capers plus 2 tbsps of their liquid
70g dates or prunes pitted and quartered
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper
125ml white wine
1 tbsp dark muscovado or soft dark brown sugar
Chopped parsley or oregano to garnish
Preheat the oven to 220 deg C / 200 deg Fan / Gas Mk 6
Put the chicken into a large dish skin side up. Add all the other ingredients except the last quantity of wine, sugar and garnish. Season well with salt and pepper. Mix everything together really well. Cover and leave to marinate at room temperature for around an hour, then put it into the fridge for up to 48 hours, turning and basting once or twice.
When you are ready to cook, tip everything into a shallow ovenproof serving dish or roasting tin so it fits in one layer. Ensure the chicken is skin side up. Pour over the white wine and sprinkle the sugar over the top. Roast for around 50-60 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is almost blackened. If it browns too quickly loosely cover it with tin foil. Remove from the oven, fish out the bay leaves and scatter with the chopped parsley or oregano leaves. Serve at once.
FISHCAKES WITH ROMESCO SAUCE:
These little fishcakes can be made in advance and served either hot or at room temperature. Serve the sauce on the side as a dipping sauce. You can use any white fish such as cod, haddock or plaice but make sure it is skinned. Don’t be tempted to chop it too finely, you don’t want it in a paste, just coarsely chopped.
For the Fishcakes:
1 fat spring onion chopped in rough pieces
1 clove of garlic chopped in half
1 egg
600g skinless white fish roughly chopped
A small pinch of chilli flakes
Salt and pepper
3 tbsp medium matzah meal or dried breadcrumbs plus extra for coating Vegetable or sunflower oil for frying
Put the spring onion, garlic and egg into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the fish, salt and pepper, the chilli flakes, matzah meal or breadcrumbs and pulse again a few times until you have a coarse mix. Don’t overdo it!
Transfer the mixture to a bowl, cover with cling film and pop it into the fridge for half an hour to firm up.
Meanwhile make the sauce…. Romesco Sauce:
3 roasted peppers from a jar roughly chopped
1 garlic clove roughly chopped ½ red chilli deseeded and roughly chopped
40g blanched hazelnuts or almonds
1 ripe tomato roughly chopped
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
4 tbsp good quality olive oil
Salt and pepper
Put all the sauce ingredients into a blender or processor and whizz into a textured sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning. If it is too thick add a little more oil. If you want it really smooth then pass it through a sieve. Transfer to a small serving bowl and refrigerate.
When you are ready to cook, shape the fish mixture into small balls and flatten them into little patties just like gefilte fish. Coat each one on both sides with the extra matzah meal or breadcrumbs. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan on a medium heat but don’t let it start smoking.
Fry the fish cakes in batches for around 3 -4 minutes each side until a deep golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper. Serve the fishcakes on a bed of rocket or lettuce with the Romesco sauce on the side.
CLAFOUTIS WITH FRESH FIGS:
I love a dessert that is quick and easy to make and this definitely hits the spot. This is a glorious French pudding, best eaten fresh and best served slightly warm rather than straight from the oven or cold from the fridge. It’s wonderful served with pouring cream, vanilla ice cream or custard. You can also vary the fruit and make it with berries, cherries or peaches, plums, pears, apples etc.
For the batter:
50g ground almonds
2 tbsp plain flour
100g golden caster sugar
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
250ml double cream
A handful of almond flakes
Icing sugar for dusting
Around 10-12 fresh figs halved
Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5.
Oil or butter a 23cm flan dish or tin (not loose-bottomed)
Put all the batter ingredients into a blender and whizz until they are well blended.
Pour the batter into the greased flan dish. Push the figs into the batter cut side up so that they are all in a single layer with the cut side just showing through. Scatter over the almond flakes.
Transfer the dish carefully to the oven and bake for around 20-25 minutes until the sponge is well risen and golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Dust with some sieved icing sugar to decorate.
Travel
Berlin: A city of two halves
By CHARLEY SANDS
ADIVERSE city brimming with culture and pride, a vibrant night life and endless photo opportunities. I’m sure this is what many expect an 18-year-old to report back after a group trip to the city of Berlin during the summer holidays.
However, the bars, restaurants and shopping malls disguise the city’s hidden history: its responsibility as a central location of the early persecution of Jewish people, and other minority groups, during the Holocaust.
As a regional ambassador, representing the eastern region of the UK, for the Holocaust Educational Trust, I recently came back from a six-day study visit to Berlin, which I can now acknowledge was both the favourite, and least favourite, trip of my life so far.
My days whilst on this trip felt fragmented. In the morning of our first day, we visited the Neue (new) Synagogue, learning more about how the Jewish community spirit withstood the hatred of the Nazis, and learnt more about their existing community, even smelling the preparation of a delicious cholent for the Kiddish the next morning.
However, soon after, we visited the “voidless void” exhibition in the Jewish Museum, representing the hopelessness of the Jewish community of Germany and the devastating inevitability of antisemitism in society, as is being experienced internationally at the moment due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Within the space of a few hours, I’d connected with my own faith in a beautiful synagogue, chatted with my friends about it (and of course general gossip) over shawarma at lunch, but then became speechless over the graphic, yet simple demonstration of persecution and hatred – all these places being within a two mile radius of each other.
When debriefing this first day with my friends over an Aperol Spritz, we identified the hypocrisy of this city and
its tourism, highlighting importance of our positions as ambassadors to be able to experience both sides of this city equally.
Berlin is a city embedded with memorials for the victims of the Holocaust, however they may have taken the concept of “embedding” them too literally. These can be found within remote, less popular areas of the city where you would only find them if you were directly looking, limiting both the accessibility of these monuments and the amount of people who could stumble upon them.
The memorial for the murdered Jews of Europe, adjacent to Tiergarten Park, beautifully represents the individuality of each victim of the Holocaust through varying shapes and heights of stone, at least it did to us, a group of young people who dedicate time to learning more about the Holocaust, including having all visited Auschwitz 1 and Birkenau camps.
However, as an oblivious tourist, due to the lack of plaques or signage explaining the memorial, this important memorial would be given a glance at most, and walked straight past to the Reichstag Building. The latter, ironically, a turning point in Hitler becoming the “Fuhrer”, yet is explored, advertised and celebrated on a completely different scale to the memorials of the victims of Nazi dictatorship.
Near the end of the trip, we visited Ravensbrück concentration camp, on the outskirts of Berlin. Used as an exclusively female concentration camp, we learnt more about the hierarchy of prisoners within the camp, and also the sacrifices these women would make in order to ensure their survival.
As a young Jewish woman myself, to say I was overwhelmed walking through the site of the concentration camp was an understatement. To see most of the camp “barracks” destroyed, yet the guards building memorialised, even being used as youth hostels, revealed that the priority of organisations that
preserve the camp was not necessarily to pay respect to each innocent victim of the Holocaust, as every single memorial, museum and camp site should be.
However, my visit to Ravensbrück, evoking disappointment and rage, completely contrasted to my experience at the Gleis 17 memorial, a sensitive yet beautiful place of respect, memorial and inclusivity, where I will remember visiting for the rest of my life.
Known as Platform 17 in English, this memorial surrounds a train track that was once used to deport the Jewish, and other minority communities of Berlin to ghettos, concentration camps and death camps.
Either side of the tracks lay plaques of the date of deportation, the number of Jews deported and also the destinations of deportation. Although this evoked feelings of sorrow beyond words, the tracks are covered in sprouting plants and flowers, following
into a wild forest of trees.
Personally, this stood as a message that although the Jewish victims of the Holocaust will never be forgotten, we can find beauty in remembering them, with the blocked tracks also symbolising the refusal of the city of Berlin to ever let an event like this happen again, which hopefully reflects the German national attitude to genocide and persecution of innocent victims across the globe.
In conclusion, I’m still not quite sure about how I feel about my trip to Berlin, and I don’t know if I ever will be. The contradiction between the cultural melting pot it is now and the persecution it allowed less than a century ago will never make sense to me. However, it has further emphasised my duty as a regional ambassador; to use my experiences as a point of education and improvement when remembering the Jewish victims of the Holocaust for as long as I possibly can.
Charley Sands and the Holocaust Education Trust’s young ambassadors on their visit to Berlin
The Ravensbrück concentration camp
The Gleis 17 memorial
OBITUARIES
Tributes to those we have lost,
RENEE BRAVO
Born: 3 November 1928
Died: 26 July 2024
“IHAVE a wonderful relationship with God. I speak to her every day.”
That quote from an article written in the Essex Jewish News by star columnist Renee Bravo was brilliant in its simplicity and the message that she wanted to convey to readers.
One EJN reader wrote some time ago: “I often didn’t agree with Renee’s views but her column was always the first I went to when the paper came out.”
Renee, one of the most admired writers for the Essex Jewish News and its forerunner The Bridge, spent her life trying to get women interested in the synagogue and the synagogue interested in women.
Her Judaism was an essential part
MELVYN HARTOG
Born: 30 December 1947
Died: 16 June 2024
of who she was and she prayed at every morning service, leaving out the bits she didn’t approve of.
She never shied away from sharing her thoughts with the world and did so in sermons, articles and even radio broadcasts. She was also a prolific letter writer with her name often seen in The Times Jewish Chronicle and other newspapers.
One example of Renee’s strong viewpoint was her attitude to the mechitzah, the curtain separating women from men in an Orthodox synagogue.
She wrote: “If the reason for the curtain is a man cannot look at a women without thinking lewd thoughts then surely it is the man who should be put behind the curtain. Is this not a
CHIEF Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis led the many tributes to beloved Essex resident Melvyn Hartog, who headed the United Synagogue Burial Society for 23 years.
The Chief Rabbi said: “Melvyn was one of the finest people I have ever known. He was warm hearted, humourous and a compassionate mensch.
“Melvyn’s selflessness and generosity of spirit knew no bounds. As head of the United Synagogue Burial Society, he brought comfort, reassurance and consolation to thousands of people and was an extraordinary beacon of light and inspiration to us all.”
Michael Goldstein, president of the United Synagogue, added: ‘’Melvyn was a larger-than-life character who put his heart and soul into helping families at the most difficult and delicate time of their life.”
Both men praised Melvyn’s commitment to the role, including how he would speak to communities – through a challenging session called ‘Talking About Death Won’t Kill You’ to encourage loved ones to make arrangements should the worst happen. As a result, countless families were
better prepared.
Melvyn was a member of Ilford Synagogue in Beehive Lane, now known as Cranbrook United Synagogue, for many years.
Malcolm Nathan, former chair of the synagogue, recalled: “Whenever there was a problem and Melvyn knew it involved Ilford Synagogue he pulled out all the stops.”
After moving from Redbridge, Melvyn and his family settled in Chigwell where he became an active member of Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue.
In a tribute, the shul said: “’Melvyn’s contributions to local synagogue life extended far beyond his official role. He was a regular on Shabbat mornings, actively participated in shiurim (Torah classes), led prayers during shiva observances, and joined the community on shul events and synagogue trips abroad.
“His warm smile and positive personality will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”
He is survived by wife Marilyn, daughters Laura and Deborah, granddaughters Chloe, Olivia, Sophia and Amelie and his siblings Barry and Vivienne.
terrible insult to our men?
She continued: “When I was young. I was not particularly attractive. Now that I am old, even less so. I am short, fat and ugly with buck teeth and bandy legs. If there is any man who is distracted from his prayers by the sight of me, psychiatric help is available under the National Health Service.”
Another of her battles was to win the right for woman to say kaddish in shul, something that was not allowed then in an Orthodox synagogue.
Renee’s husband, Harry died at the age of 69 in 1989 so Renee was a widow for 35 years –but the story of her husband’s tombstone is one that indicates the character and determination.
She wanted a tombstone with a Shakespearean quotation on it. The Orthodox authorities refused, saying only Biblical or Talmudic quotations were permitted. She refused to accept this and spent days going around London cemeteries looking for examples which showed the authorities claim was indeed against their own practice. She even found one which said: “If Millie is there, it must be heaven”. Hardly biblical. She won her case which is why Julius Caesar is remembered on Harry Bravo’s tombstone.
Renee, I am sure, would like to be remembered as a kind of activist.
She was the first married woman to insist on being a member in her own right at the then Ilford United Synagogue. And also insisted when she got married of having her own passport and not simply to be linked as an appendage on her husband’s passport. That was very unusual at the time.
Renee was very proud of the claim that she believed she was the only woman to have been both the lady captain of a golf club and also life president of a shul, the New Essex Masorti Synagogue of which she was a founder member.
She graduated with a BA in Humanities from the Open University at the age of 47 which gave her immense satisfaction and pride.
Having been deprived of her secondary education because of the war when given the opportunity to enjoy the intellectual stimulation of a university education and she grabbed it with both hands, despite working in the family shop and looking after her aged mother at the same time.
A remarkable woman.
Renee is survived by her daughter Ellie and a large family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
written by MANNY ROBINSON
Adored EJN
columnist Renee Bravo
SID GREEN
Born: 18 May 1931
Died: 11 June 2024
ATAILOR, black cab driver, market trader, fashion house worker, computers, kosher butcher... Sid Green had done them all. And more.
But when it came to the role that gave him the greatest satisfaction it was surely as a volunteer of over 45 years for Jewish Care.
His particular ‘baby’ was Jewish Care’s Supportive Communities group Chaps That Chat – where men come together once a month to listen to a speaker or discuss the events of the day.
Sid chaired those meetings with a sense of humour and an ability to let everyone who wanted to say his piece.
When it came to getting people to come along to the group or to find out if someone was unwell, few people stuck to that task like Sid Green.
He would phone his circle of friends on a regular basis and was heartened to hear they were well or concerned if they were ill. He could spend hours on the phone trying to get speakers for his group, chasing them like a terrier until he
RABBI LEE SUNDERLAND
Born: 16 October 1962
Died: 27 May 2024
THE phrase “pillar of the community” has often been overused but, in the case of Rabbi Lee Sunderland, minister at Romford Synagogue for 23 years, it describes him completely.
Rabbi Sunderland died at the age of 61 after a short illness. More than 300 people attended his funeral at Waltham Abbey, including local politicians and the Archdeacon of Southend, Revd Canon Mike Power, who said: “I am heartbroken at losing a close friend.”
Rabbi Sunderland’s greatest gift was his ability to reach out to others whatever their faith and was always present at events organised by the Romford community. He was also successful in securing that
HAROLD MARCO
Born: 30 November 1941
Died: 28 July 2024
CRANBROOK United Synagogue suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Harold Marco who had been organising and running synagogues in the area for more than 50 years. He was instrumental in the success of the merger between, first, Clayhall and Newbury Park Synagogues and then the merger between Clayhall itself and Ilford
got what he wanted.
To sum it up: Sid was a mensch and warm tributes had been paid to him only a few weeks before his passing at a meeting at Woodford Forest United Synagogue to mark, not only his 93rd birthday, but to celebrate those 45 years or more by him as a volunteer for Jewish Care.
He was presented with a framed certificate by Jewish Care to mark his outstanding services as a volunteer.
Among the tributes was one from Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North who was unable to attend personally but sent a letter of congratulations.
In it he wrote: “Many years ago at Sinclair House you saw the need for a local group where men could get together and talk about current events affecting them and enjoy each other’s company.
“That journey would take you and Chaps That Chat to places like City Hall, the Imperial War Museum and, of course, the Houses of Parliament. The incredible success of Chaps That Chat speaks for itself. Your group has grown, not only because your members enjoy it, but because of your own determination.
“Even the global Covid pandemic could not stop Chaps That Chat with meetings carrying on virtually throughout lock-down. Thank you for your years of
the Holocaust Memorial Day be recognised as a multi-faith service in the borough.
Among the many tributes was one from the Conservative MP for Romford, Andrew Rosindell.
He said: “Rabbi Sunderland was a pillar of our community, dedicating his life to his faith and the fostering of unity amongst all people.
“He was more than a religious leader; he was a cherished friend and a steadfast advocate for the religious freedom we hold dear. Romford mourns the loss of a true champion and a compassionate soul.”
Showing Rabbi Sunderland’s popularity crossed boundaries, the Labour Parliamentary candidate Andrew Achilleos added: “He had been a central figure in the Romford community, representing cohesion and always speaking of the need for peace.”
Rabbi Lee Sunderland was born in Australia where the family emigrated but they returned to the UK when Lee was just one year old, settling in Glasgow.
He served the communities at Southport and Dublin before becoming minister of Romford Synagogue, a position he occupied with great success for 23 years.
It is understood that plans are in hand to erect a monument in Romford to mark Rabbi Sunderland’s tremendous contribution to inter-faith relations in the borough.
Rabbi Sunderland is survived by his two sons Avi and Chaim and his brother David.
United Synagogue to form the Cranbrook community.
Despite failing health, Harold continued to work for the shul. From his hospital bed, he still helped to organise the weekly yahrzeit list, the call-ups for Shabbat and even funerals, stone settings and shivas.
Mike Callaghan, former chairman of Cranbrook United and a close friend for many years said: “Harold was not big in stature but he was a giant among our community. His passing will leave a huge void in our shul.”
Harold is survived by his wife Helena, daughter Lisa and son Jason.
dedicated service.”
Sid had said at that meeting: “Volunteering is something I do without thought.”
Tributes were also paid by senior members of Jewish Care, including CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown.
Sid Green was born in Lower Clapton and the family moved to Ilford in 1969. His wife, Gloria, sadly passed away in 1981 but six years later he met his partner Frances and they had been together ever since. He is survived by Frances, his children Lisa and Russell, three grandchildren, Arron, Alfie and Hannah and a great grandson, Jackson.
MONUMENTAL MASON
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Sid Green on his 90th birthday