Inside your 24 page Community Newspaper
CHANUKAH ISSUE 5786/2025
VOLUNTEER AWARDS
WHISKY NIGHT
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE
Page 4
Page 7
Pages 15
THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN ESSEX & EAST ANGLIA
Communities ‘raise the bar’ for Mitzvah Day anniversary By SIMON ROTHSTEIN
Cheder pupils making cards at ELELS
Harj Sethi from Nishkam SWAT and WIJPS Head Boy and Girl man the collection stand Clore Tikva pupils building bridges with each other
M
ITZVAH DAY once more captivated Essex, as schools, communities and care homes were full of green – celebrating 20 years of this very special day. At Clore Tikva School, pupils and parents collected toys for Camp Simcha and donated food for Chabad Aid. The children also brought to life the Mitzvah Day theme of 20 Years of Building Bridges, with youngsters from Years 5 and 6 reading and working with the younger pupils in Years 1 and 2. The school’s Head of Jewish Studies Samantha Bendon said: “Mitzvah Day was wonderful, especially seeing our children building new friendships and connections. The most important thing is these good deeds will continue throughout the year.” At Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School,
families supported Mitzvah Day collections for Camp Simcha UK and Nishkam SWAT, the Sikh charity which distributes food to homeless and financially disadvantaged people in the local area. WIJPS Jewish Studies Lead Deborah Harris said: “A huge thank you to our community, whose generosity will truly make a difference.” Year 5 pupils then visited Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House in Ilford, sharing conversation and laughter with the residents – bringing plenty of smiles. Wallace Leventhal, who lives in the care home, said: “It is so nice to interact with young people and see their amazing smiles.” The children were equally enthusiastic, with young Isabella saying: “It was an amazing experience… finding
Members of Ilford Federation Synagogue with their collection for Chabad Aid
out fascinating facts about them.” Residents at Vi & John Rubens House also enjoyed a celebration funded by Cranbrook United Synagogue, with members’ artwork displayed throughout the week. Children at the East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue Cheder made Mitzvah Day cards for the community’s Friendship Club, while the adults volunteered at Haven House Children’s Hospice. At both Ilford Federation Synagogue and Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, members collected food donations for Chabad Aid. The anniversary was marked with a variety of good deeds well beyond Essex – with 40,000 volunteers taking part across the world. This year’s flagship project was the Big Soup Serve, reaching its goal of
Chigwell celebrates as new Torah arrives By PAT LIDIKER
T
HE streets around Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue came alive as a 200-strong crowd celebrated the arrival of a new Sefer Torah. Music, dancing and singing marked the joyous occasion as the scroll was carried under a chuppah to the synagogue. Marcia and Martin Wohlman, whose family own the scroll and have officially loaned it to the synagogue, described the event as “just like Simchat Torah all over again!” Members of the community joined the parade on Manor Road, alongside the Wohlmans, their children and other family members. The arrival of the Torah was the culmination of a long journey. Rabbi Rafi Goodwin had highlighted the synagogue’s need, as only two of its existing Torah scrolls were still suitable for use, while others were beyond repair. Marcia, who had recently benefited
from the estate of a dear 96-year-old aunt in Vancouver, said: “This gave me the opportunity to obtain a new Torah to lend to the synagogue where Martin and I have been members for the past 10 years.” The scroll was ordered from Israel with the assistance of Rabbi Rafi, who liaised
for the presentation. The Wohlmans invited the Rabbonim, Honorary Officers of the synagogue, family and friends to their home to watch the sofer (scribe) complete the final letters. The Torah was then dressed in its mantle and, escorted by CST and the police, carried and danced to the synagogue accompanied by music. On arrival, two other Torah scrolls joined the new one, allowing all to enter its new home together. A short service was followed by The Wohlman family with the new Sefer Torah a buffet in the Johnnie and Minnie Simmons with Rabbi Yehuda Pink from Solihull. Function Hall. Rabbi Rafi brought it home in a holdall, Rabbi Rafi said: “What a beautiful and the family watched as the two rabbis simcha for the community and the assembled it in Golders Green, sewing Wohlman family. The first time we will the parchment onto wooden poles (Atzei officially call people up to make blessings Chaim). over the new Torah will be on Shabbat A date was set after the Yom Tovim Chanukah. By divine providence, we will
Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School kids bringing cheer to Vi and John Rubens House
delivering 5,000 portions of soup for the homeless and vulnerable. Looking back over the day and the last 20 years, Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks CBE said: “We know Jewish communities support local charities day in and day out. But what we saw on Mitzvah Day raised the bar, engaged new people and causes, strengthened essential bridges between communities, and maybe most importantly, felt great.” • WIJPS and Clore Tikva pictures by Karen Zetter read about how each tribal prince brought a dedication offering for the Tabernacle.” Synagogue Chair Colin Franklin added: “This was a wonderful occasion for our community. We are deeply grateful to the Wohlman family for their extraordinary kindness and generosity. Their commitment to our synagogue and Jewish tradition is inspiring, and this new Torah will enrich our services and strengthen our connection to Torah for generations.”
The parade on route to Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue