A COVETED INVITE

JAMH was recently invited to the King’s coronation party at Buckingham Palace.

JAMH’s innovative multifaith work has earned them recognition from King Charles III. JAMH recently ran an innovative six month project funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) that involved replicating their successful model of mental health support to the Sikh and Muslim communities. In addition, the new project created stronger referral routes for those using food banks to access free counselling and therapy.

Jonny Wineberg who led on the project said: “This was a great honour for JAMH that recognised the amazing work of all our partners in tackling both food poverty and mental health across different communities. To be alongside so many other diverse community activists at this event in the Palace Garden was both inspiring and humbling.”

JAMH was invited to attend the communities, and identities, sharing the stories of Jewish Manchester with the world. The new space welcomes and reflects the diversity of Manchester’s Jewish communities and the museum’s local community, creating a space for sharing and connection.

Manchester Jewish Museum's architects win two RIBA Awards 2023 for the outstanding project of the museum's new building.

Coronation Garden Party at Buckingham Palace by the DLUHC after Minister for Faith, Baroness Jane Scott's recent visit to see the project. Three representatives from JAMH were invited – Chair and Co-Founder Dr Sandi Mann, Trustee; Trustee and Project Lead Jonny Wineberg; and JAMH Co-Founder and Project Manager Kate Lurie. They were each permitted a plus one: Kate took husband Michael while Sandi and Jonny both took their mothers Pat Mann and Norma Wineberg – both of whom have clocked up decades of active community service themselves. Sandi said: “JAMH has had an incredible impact on the mental health of our community in the past four years and is now working with other communities too. It is only four years since JAMH was established in response to tragic suicides in the Jewish community. For us to be recognised and acknowledged by the government and royal family like this is a great achievement and testament to the hard work of all our Trustees and staff.”

Although the newly crowned King did not actually attend the Garden Party as planned, the Prince and Princess of Wales were there in his place.

Kate said: “The event was a marvellous experience and a great way for JAMH to raise its profile. I was honoured to represent my charity.”

The JAMH attendees were fed royally with kosher sandwiches and cakes on sealed china plates. Sandi said: “It is good to know that the royal family is inclusive and welcoming to Jewish guests. Requesting kosher food was not a straightforward process so it was a wonderful surprise to find that we were catered for.”

JRC Announce Awards Evening Date

The Greater Manchester Jewish Community Awards has announced its award ceremony will be held on 7th September, giving back to those who inspire the Manchester Jewish community.

The award categories this year are: Volunteer of the Year, Volunteering Team of the Year, Young Volunteer of the Year (under 18), Communal Employee of the Year, Friend of the Community, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, Special Recognition, and Emergency Response.

The Community Awards is an opportunity to award individuals, teams, and organisations who have gone above and beyond in giving their time and expertise to the Manchester Jewish community.

Sha a’rei Shalom Adds New Community Events

Recently Sha a’rei Shalom has added a regular coffee morning at its usual spot at Elms Street, hosted by its friends from Jacksons Row. All are welcome to attend the get together to meet old friends and make new ones.

Each Monday at Elms Street Sha a’rei Shalom has its Little Music Stars Events, an opportunity for children from three months to four years to get involved in music and movement sessions. Classes are £6 with a 50% off sibling discount and you can have a trial session for £4.

Sha a’rei Shalom is also very proud to continue supporting Prestwich Street Kitchen food bank, it’s always very grateful to community members for their donations of tinned and dried goods which, together with toiletries, are much appreciated.

Jewish Studies Teacher Appointed Rabbi at Mizrachi

Head of Jewish Studies at King David High School, Rabbi Benji Rickman, has been appointed as the new rabbi of Manchester Mizrachi, Zionist Jewish educational organisation.

Mizrachi UK was founded in 1902 with the common belief that the Torah should be at the centre of Zionism with Jewish nationalism being used as a tool for achieving religious objectives. Mizrachi UK Chief Executive, Rabbi Andrew Shaw said: “We need to make sure that people in the Diaspora are strongly Jewish and Zionist.”

Rabbi Rickman who will be taking on his new role at Mizrachi UK alongside his fulltime roll at King David High School said: “I am delighted to join Mizrachi and to be able to build on the work of my predecessors to provide authentic programmes based on Torat Eretz Yisreael, working in conjunction with all the communities across Manchester and the North.”

Local Actress to Star in London Musical

Manchester Jewish Musical Theatre Actress Harriet Caplan-Dean has been cast in a production of The Coffee Shop Musical, a new show being staged at London’s The Other Palace.

Harriet has just ended a run in the UK tour of Six the Musical, a musical about Henry VIII’s six wives. Harriet was the dance captain in the 2022-23 UK tour of the show, also acting as an understudy for the role of Catherine Parr on the tour. She played her last performance for Six in May of this year in the role of Catherine Parr.

The Coffee Shop Musical, by Leo Mercer and Steven Hyde, is set in the year 6421 and features two robots narrating a documentary about humans after their extinction.

Named Best Musical at Manchester Fringe 2022, the production will also be shown in Manchester and Nottingham.

JNF UK Launch Leadership Programme

Jewish National Fund (JNF) UK has launched its second Fellowship Programme to cultivate the next generation of Jewish leaders.

The second launch follows the success of the programme’s first installation in 2021, which included 11 student participants taking a 15-month course including some visits from high calibre speakers and ending in a trip to Israel.

Led by Michael Cohen, the programme this year will provide a selection of Year 12 students from across England an opportunity to engage in Israel-centric educational activities and leadership training with additional networking training opportunities. Like the previous cohort, these students will also be granted a trip to Israel at the end of the course.

Interim Chief Executive at JNF UK, Elan Gorji says: “Our community comprises an array of inspirational individuals, and we hope that the JNF UK Israel Fellowship Programme will enable our future leaders to learn from them and follow in their footsteps.”

Fed Awarded for Inclusive Coronation Events

The Fed has been named winner of the coronation Community of the Year Award in a competition run by National Activity Providers Association and the National Care Forum. The award recognised the charity for providing a care service that went above and beyond to celebrate the coronation.

The Fed was awarded £1,000 which will help fund music therapy for residents of Heathlands Village by David Robinson of charity Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Foundation.

Joyce Khan, The Fed’s Marketing and Communications Manager, said: “We’re over the moon and even a little embarrassed by the praise heaped on us by both organisations. A large part of our approach involves finding ways to counter loneliness and social isolation and to improve people’s wellbeing. So, when the coronation date was confirmed, we got our skates on in our usual way and planned no less than seven glorious events for young and old and inbetween!”

Teachers Committed to Learning About ADHD

Teachers representing Jewish schools in Manchester recently attended the Wellstyle Community Hub – ADHD Support Centre – which aims to provide comprehensive support services for diagnosed and undiagnosed children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD.

The session was led by Dov BenyaacovKurtzman, Chief Executive of Eden Wellstyle, who aimed to enlighten the teachers, improving their understanding of ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and how it can affect children during lessons and during their educational progression.

Dov said: “ADHD manifests uniquely in each child, resulting in a wide array of symptoms.” Which is why the dedicated team at Wellstyle Community Hub consists of ADHD coaches, therapists, behavioural specialists, ADHD nurses and many other professionals who are all committed to improving the quality of life of those affected by the disorder.