JLife Manchester March-April 2023

Weddings

Get ready to tie the knot with our wedding extravaganza! Starts page 14.

Mother’s Day

Treat Mum like a queen with our all-encompassing gift and days-out guide. Page 34.

Easter Break

Keep young minds active with our exciting pick of family friendly attractions. Page 37.

Passover

Find the perfect walk in the park for your Matzah Ramble, greetings and more. Page 74.

YOUR REGULARFEATURES

JLife Meets…

Lecturer in Design and Cultural Theory Dr Bethan shows us the influence the Jewish community had on British fashion. Page 80.

Community

Check out the latest news, events, and simchas across the community. Starts page 8.

Beauty

Be beautiful outside and in with our top tips on food to improve your looks. Page 12.

Media Preview

Look out for new releases in books, tv, and film. Page 40.

New Openings

The new bars, hotels, restaurants, and experiences hitting Manchester’s streets this year. Page 42.

Competitions

Win your pick of relaxing wellness treatments from Your Health Bank. Page 48. Win an Owlet 2 Cam baby monitor worth £159 from Lesters Nurseryworld. Page 78.

Sustainability

Keep your look fresh with a clean conscience. Page 49.

Box Office

Steven Spielberg’s new semiautobiographical film, The Fablemans, is reviewed by Elaine Bermitz. Page 67.

Fashion

Update your fit with our athleisure-wear recommendations. Page 70.

AND THE WINNER IS…

Congrats to Vicky Rowan who won a luxury Silver Cross car seat worth £375, courtesy of Lesters Nurseryworld.

PUBLISHER'SNOTE

All things Weddings and prep for Pesach are the main focus, two great competitions to win a Smart HD Video Baby Monitor and wellness treatments, with lots of community events and lifestyle to enjoy too.

We look around the UK for some cost saving travel destinations, check out the new openings across the city and find out the

influence that the community has had on British fashion.

We welcome our new finance experts from Handelsbanken, plus on the subject of money, save some pennies for Mother’s Day – we’ve some gift ideas and days out for very deserving mums!

Stay close, we update our socials and website every day, and keep sending us your feedback, we love to hear from you.

PUBLISHER

Elliot Landy

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Stephanie du Preez

FEATURES EDITOR

Emily Stone

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Katerina Hough

DIGITAL MARKETING

Tracey Cleminson

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tanya Duman Photography: Instagram.com/Tanya

Rob Clayton Photography: Robclaytonphotography.co.uk

Lawrence Purcell

Joe Miles Photography: Joemiles.com

CONTRIBUTORS

PICK UP YOUR COPY OF JLIFE AT: Asda (Pilsworth, Radcliffe); Booths Hale Barns; Boyko; Brackmans; Celia’s Kitchen; Dunham Forest Golf Club; Heathlands; JS; Jackson’s Row Synagogue; Kosher City; Let’s Fress Deli; Lulu’s Kitchen Cheadle; Maccabi Centre; Menorah Synagogue (Sharston); One Stop (Bury); Sainsbury’s (Altrincham, Cheadle Hulme, Heaton Park; Sainsbury’s Local (Hale, Prestwich); State Fayre Bakery and Café; Tesco (East Didsbury, Prestwich, Cheetham Hill); Tesco Express (Prestwich, Didsbury, Hale, Cheadle Hulme, Wilmslow); Tesco Extra (Altrincham, Bury, Handforth); Total Fitness; United Co-op (Altrincham, Unsworth); Whitefield Golf Club; WM Morrisons (Whitefield).

Rabbi Greg Bank

Elaine Bermitz

Hall Brown Family Law

Thornley Groves

Alexander Knight

Marc Levy

Or Ribon PMB

Sephy Stern

Julie Burniston

Andy Hirst

CAYP Child Psychologists

Years of Friendship

2023 is a huge milestone for The Friendship Circle, marking its 15th anniversary.

To mark this special anniversary, the team is approaching Jewish primary schools in Manchester to undertake a sponsored 15 Hops, Skips & Jumps School’s Challenge for five days to fundraise for the charity.

Mimi Lyons, Friendship Circle Operations Director said: “We need to raise £500,000 a year to cover our running costs and continue our vital work, enriching the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities in the Jewish community. We have come on leaps and bounds in the last 15 years and I am proud to say we are now firmly established as one of Manchester’s much loved Jewish charities.”

Over the years, its dedicated team and inspirational volunteers have worked tirelessly on the journey to create a community where people of all abilities experience respect, acceptance and inclusion, while creating a culture of kindness.

GIFT Manchester and Feast support the community

GIFT Manchester has partnered with Feast by Ed Shaerf, a prime kosher caterer to step up support for Jewish families over Shabbat among the ongoing energy crisis.

For every £6.50 donated, each person is provided with £35 worth of food. Feast by Ed meal recipients will receive three course freshly cooked meals while Challahs are donated by Brackman’s Bakery in Manchester. GIFT covers the cost of the food through donations and ensures the meals fit each families’ dietary requirements and they safely reach their homes.

Sophie Woolfstein, GIFT’s Manchester Coordinator says: “When we first started this initiative, I didn’t expect such a major impact, not only on the families; but on the volunteer packers, drivers and GIFT team, working to make this happen. It is amazing to be part of this initiative and watch it grow, we hope to reach all those who may need it.”

Walking to Wales

Thanks to a generous £2,000 grant from Salford CVS, The Friendship Circle has launched a fun and friendly virtual WALK TO WALES group challenge, to inspire their members with disabilities to get outdoors in the fresh air over the winter months. Equipped with hand warmers, hot drinks and great conversation, the group meet fortnightly, rain, or shine, in Heaton Park to collectively walk the 200-mile journey to Wales!

For extra motivation, and a bit of fun, each participant has been given their own pedometer to track the distance travelled and will be awarded certificates for reaching key milestones (50 miles, 100 miles, 150 miles walked). Once they have achieved the virtual visit to Wales, the team will celebrate with a well-deserved Welsh themed event, awarding medals and WE WALKED TO WALES t-shirts for everyone!

Aaron Lowe, Programme Manager commented: “The group are relishing the opportunity to work together as a team and achieve something they are really proud of. Once we have reached Wales, we are looking forward to using our pedometers to walk to a new virtual destination.”

JAMH Leads Money Management Workshops

JAMH ran the first of its two money management workshops for the Manchester Jewish community. The workshop was led by money mindset coach, Jessica Saoud and gave people the tools to both prevent going into debt as well as manage their way out when they find themselves in financial difficulty. Discussed were ways to cut spending, earn more money, and build savings.

Project Manager Kate Lurie commented: “More and more individuals are contacting JAMH with anxiety about finances and the cost-of-living crisis, so it’s vital that people have a basic understanding of topics such as net worth, credit rating, and making a budget.”

Evaluations from participants showed confidence in managing money rose from

an average of 5.50 before the session to 7.25 after, and the participants general mood from 5.75 to 8.00 after the session.

Jonny Wineberg, Coordinator of the money management workshops, explained: “This shows the real effect of such workshops with participants gaining both the skills and confidence to manage their money better and be more financially resilient. The mood change evidences improvement in mental health as a result, which is our key objective.”

Celebration of Volunteering Awards

Over 400 guests from the Jewish and wider community arrived at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire to see 90 charity award winners from 46 charities receive their individually personalised trophies.

Hosted by renowned community compere, Nigel Rothband, the evening offered up a mix of simcha, memories, community spirit and inspiration as speeches were made by charity professionals, executives, and the volunteers who made an enormous contribution to the community.

The evening showcased volunteers from four award categories: Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Team of the Year, Young Adult Volunteer of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Winner of the Volunteer of the Year award was Dr David Spitzer, volunteer at Kef Kids. To honour Dr Spitzer’s award, parents of a Kef Kids service user came forward to say: “Our child has highly complex medical needs and we have only been able to send him to Camp Kef (so we can get respite) due to Dr MD Spitzer volunteering his time and expertise summer and winter for years! He takes on this enormous responsibility with humility, good humour, warmth and love. He is an exceptional doctor, an incredible person, and an outstanding volunteer.”

With PMB Car Care Centre, Whitefield

In this edition we’re going to discuss brakes on your vehicle and how and when to maintain or replace them.

Brakes obviously wear with mileage. But low mileage vehicles may also suffer from brake issues. Low mileage or minimum use cars may suffer from corrosion to the brake discs due to the brakes not being cleaned when driving and applying the brakes. This may cause surface corrosion to occur to the inner and outer disc faces.

Reputable garages generally offer free brake inspections to the pads and discs and will always measure the brake discs with specific equipment. If the discs need replacing then it’s always advisable to also

replace the brake pads at this point. A bedding in period once the new parts are fitted is standard to enable the new parts to settle. Squeaks are common in this period.

There are a multitude of brake makes available. Choosing a quality brake set is the best option along with a better warranty on the parts. Ask also for brake fluid to be checked at this time. This often gets missed and moisture within the brake fluid could be present.

Happy motoring!

Pmbgarage.com

Community Heart of the

THE FUTURE LIONESSES

The girls currently form two seven a side teams, play matches every Sunday and feature in numerous tournaments each year whereby they recently finished in the quarter and semi-finals respectively. Both teams will be changing to nine a side in September and are currently looking to add more lionesses to their teams.

at every match shows just how much the teams mean to everyone. We can’t wait to challenge ourselves further when we take that next step from seven a side to nine a side and we hope to welcome new arrivals that we can help to further improve and introduce to a great group of girls.”

Cheetham Hill Girls Football team was setup by Managers Mike Berger and Richard Elton around two years ago. Featuring children from a variety of schools, which include Bury and Whitefield Primary School, Broughton Jewish Primary School, and King David Primary School, the girls are hoping to become the next Lionesses.

Many of the girls last year enjoyed sessions with England and Bayern Munich Star Georgia Stanway, formerly of Manchester City who recently went onto to become one of the stars of the Euros. Georgia told the girls that if they “practiced and worked hard they could follow in her footsteps”.

Co-Manager Mike Berger whose daughter Talia plays as a defender/goalkeeper said: “With the growing excitement in women’s football, I thought it would be brilliant to get down to grassroots level and together with Richard Elton start our own girls team under the Cheetham Hill name, which is a brilliantly run football organization. The interest was so great that we were able to actually create two teams, the Blues and the Reds and we feel we have really developed not only the talent of the girls but also allowed them to build great friendships and most of all enjoy themselves. For us as coaches it is not about score lines but the fact that we know the girls have come off the pitch having done their very best and enjoyed the match.”

Co-Manager Richard Elton whose daughter Sophia plays in midfield, for the Blues Team echoed Mike’s words: “Managing these girls is an absolute pleasure and the support we get from the families

Father of Lilly Ross who also plays with the Blues Team runs his own Recording Studio in Manchester and recently recorded the Pepsi Ad for the Champions League featuring the likes of Lionel Messi.

Andy said: “I hope to one day get the girls to record their own version of three Lions if they hit the big time. I just hope some of them can sing!”

Anyone wanting to get in contact for a free trial can call Mike on 07581 137 939.

Cheetham Hill Girls football team hosted session with Lionesses star Georgia Stanway.

PHOTO: TANYA DUMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

ETHAN MARKS HAD HIS BAR MITZVAH PARTY AT MALMASION MANCHESTER.

PHOTO: TANYA DUMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: TANYA DUMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: TANYA DUMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: YISCHAK SUGARMAN

PHOTO: YISCHAK SUGARMAN

ETHAN CELEBRATED WITH FAMILY.

THE LOWRY THEATRE HOSTED EMILY CHAPMAN’S BAT MITZVAH CELEBRATIONS.

HER FAMILY GATHERED AROUND HER.

TAL DUMAN CELEBRATED HIS BAR MITZVAH WITH HIS FAMILY IN SALFORD.

TAL WAS FLYING HIGH OVER THE WEEKEND.

Sara Ogden-Thomson Manager of The Fed’s Community Advice & Support Team

Two decades ago, The Fed ended the undignified practice of having people queue up for hand-outs.

With the cost-of-living crisis, the ghosts of those times have come back to haunt us. People no longer have to line up but requests for crisis funding are rising at a shocking rate.

In the first two weeks of 2023, we gave out as many emergency financial grants as we would normally expect in a whole year People lacked the most basic essentials:

One had no heating, lighting, or food.

One was unable to afford nappies for their small children.

One was travelling on the bus for hours to keep warm.

One person had not eaten in FOUR days.

With Pesach around the corner, you wonder how these people will cope. The answer lies with YOU

Please support our Pesach Appeal and help provide vital support which will maintain people’s dignity and restore their hope

Thank you. Wishing you Chag Kasher V’sameach.

To support this appeal please call our fundraising team on 0161 772 4800 or visit www.thefed.org.uk/donate-online/

‘

I feel like we’ ve gone back to the old days when people would queue for handouts.

Holocaust Memorial Day is a poignant time for Jewish communities across the country. In Greater Manchester, local authorities went to huge efforts to ensure the memories of those killed in the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides were properly commemorated. It also served as an ideal opportunity to celebrate the incredible survivors and promote messages of tolerance and the importance of fighting prejudice.

I was fortunate to attend ceremonies at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester City Council and

OUR COMMUNITY

Ordinary People

Stockport Council. It was a privilege to hear survivor testimony from Ruth Lachs, Janine Webber and Anne Super. It would also be remiss not to mention Ike Alterman who has touched thousands of lives with his personal story. The talk Ike gave at Burnley Football Club will never be forgotten by those who were present.

The theme this year was “ordinary people”. This led to powerful discussions around how ordinary individuals were motivated to perpetrate unimaginable crimes against humanity. Conversely, there were also those who undertook heroic acts in rescuing Jewish people in dire need. The help from selfless individuals was a common thread through the testimonies of Ruth, Janine and Anne. We live as part of a vibrant community, comfortable with our

HAPPY 75TH!

Manchester Shlicha, Or Ribon looks ahead to the Yoms and a special birthday.

This month, we will celebrate Pesach and join together for the national days of Israel.

Yom HaShoah – the Holocaust Remembrance Day and Yom HaZikaron – when we commemorate and honour the fallen soldiers and civilians who died in conflict and during their army service. Only a day later, on the 5th of Iyar, in a complicated and sacred shift from mourning and heartache – we will celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut – our 75th Independence Day.

This conjunction between our Memorial Days and Independence Day is one of the prominent symbols of Israeli identity. This proximity is difficult, almost impossible for many people, especially for the bereaved families and friends of the fallen, who find it difficult to transition from one of the heaviest national and personal mourning days to a day of the greatest joy. And yet, it has a reason. This choice echoes the Jewish tradition, where the Fast of Esther comes a day before Purim and the Fast of Firstborns precedes Pesach. This thousand-years-old

place in society and respected by our peers. However, the recent antisemitism figures released by the Community Security Trust highlight how we must remain vigilant.

At the JRC, we are continually hosting excellent events with speakers of interest to our community. On 16th March, there is a chance to hear from Lord Ian Austin, the adopted son of a Holocaust survivor, Special Advisor to Gordon Brown in Downing Street and one of our strongest ever allies in Parliament. He was at the forefront in combatting antisemitism in the Labour Party and currently serves as the UK Trade Envoy to Israel.

I hope you can attend what will be an excellent evening.

Jewishmanchester.com

tradition reminds us that, like every birth, our path to redemption required, and still does, an effort, and it has a price. But this choice also has a cultural meaning, which goes beyond the connection between the two days themselves. It symbolizes the fact that the Jewish, and Israeli people, despite being accustomed to wars and sorrow, are also a free and happy people.

As we celebrate Pesach, where our people were set free from slavery into freedom, and get ready for those emotional days, I look at the similarities between all of those stories and remember this astonishing fact – we always get up, we have been for thousands of years, and will continue to do so. Just like the phoenix that raises from the ashes, we will dry our tears, and live on, in spite, and because of our losses.

Happy 75th Birthday, our dear, beloved, unique Israel.

We will be holding a Yom HaZikaron ceremony will be on 24th April at 7pm, further details about attending will follow soon.

With Marc Levy, Chief Executive of the Jewish Representative Council

You Are What You Eat

Achieve a natural glow with our guide to food that can improve your look and feel.

When it comes to health and beauty, what you put into your body is just as important as what you put on it. Certain foods are rich in vitamins and minerals that can give you clear skin or shiny hair, as well as being good for your overall health. Check out what to eat to improve your natural beauty and feel great.

Hair

Certain foods can also help promote hair growth and keep it healthy and shiny. Foods rich in vitamin B5 – also known as pantothenic acid, a name you may recognise from beauty product labels – increase blood flow to your scalp and encourage growth. It can even help to protect against hair thinning and loss. If you struggle with brittle hair, leafy dark green vegetables such as spinach and rocket can help, as they’re packed full of vitamins A and C, as well as beta carotene, folate and of course iron.

Nails

Folate is vital for nail growth, meaning spinach can help out here. Vitamin B12 is another essential to prevent brittle nails, as it facilitates iron absorption. A B12 deficiency can result in discoloured nails with a blue or brown tinge, and wavy streaks. This deficiency can be a particular problem for vegans, as vitamin B12 is predominately found in animal products such as meat, poultry, fish, and dairy. As well as spinach, folate can also be found in citrus fruits, beans, nuts, peas, lentils, seeds, and avocados.

Skin

Eating greasy and unhealthy foods is a sure-fire way to cause a breakout on your skin, that much we all know, but a diet consisting of plenty of the proper foods can also help to keep your skin clear. Omega-3 rich foods such as oily fish (mackerel, salmon, and herring) can help to keep it moisturised, and an omega-3 deficiency can cause dryness. It can even make your skin less susceptible to UV rays and is a good source of antioxidants which are essential for skin health. Avocados are also a source of natural fats and vitamin E both of which will help stay healthy and glowing.

Eyes

Mascara and eyeliner are all well and good, but there are natural ways to make your eyes brighter and more striking. While the popular adage that eating carrots can help you see in the dark is a myth invented during World War Two to hide the invention of radar, it’s actually not all that far from the truth. Carrots are rich in beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, which helps your eyes adjust to dim light or darkness, reducing strain on the eyes at night and allowing them to appear brighter during the day. Onions contain polyphenols which help your eyes repair damaged microblood vessels, also making them appear brighter.

Wedding Feature

Bridal Sweet

Make a splash at your next wedding (without upstaging the bride!) with our top picks of must-have wedding attire.

Jude suit in blue herringbone

Skopes | £274

Featuring single breasted two button fastening in tailored fit, slant flap pockets, floral print lining with twin side vents, this suit from Skopes will allow you to cut a sharp figure at the wedding. Complete with flat front style suit trouser, available in both tailored and tapered fits, and featuring slant side pockets, buttoned hip pockets, welt cash pocket, side adjusters, lined to knee and heel taped hems. Add in a single breasted five button fastening waistcoat with floral lining to complete the look. Skopes.co.uk

Immie dress | Ted Baker | £250

Ottilie

fascinator | Hobbs | £79

Add a chic final flourish to your wedding outfit with this beautiful and delicate fascinator from Hobbs. Crafted from sinamay fabric and

These refined Oxford shoes are crafted in Italy by Hugo Boss. Designed with stitch-andturn seams at the uppers, these lace-up shoes are shaped in calf leather with a slick patent finish. Grosgrain piping and a leather lining add distinction to this formal pair and will easily tie into the rest of your wedding attire.

Add instant glamour your outfit with this gorgeous satin midi dress. Featuring a V-neck and two front slits in the skirt, this piece is perfect for adding the wow factor to your look. Simple enough for the ceremony, but with a striking elegance to match the evening do, this dress is ideal for an all-day affair such as a wedding.

Tedbaker.com

Romy 85 pumps

Jimmy Choo

£550

A classic silhouette heel with a subtly softer point toe, the Italian-made Romy pumps from Jimmy Choo are a timeless addition to your wedding outfit. Lined with soft leather for comfort, the gleaming glitter finish and sleek stiletto heel ensure elegance from day to night, making this the perfect shoe to go from the ceremony to the evening do. Harrods.com

Cohen’s Caterers has been committed to making events special for over 14 years, with a reputation exuding style through all it provides. The London-based company creates lavishly displayed dishes turning a simple buffet table into an ornate banquet. Now Cohen’s will be taking its expertise and passion for flair and high-quality catering to Manchester with a new kitchen opening soon.

The favoured kosher catering company of several hotels, Cohen’s stylish dishes don’t stop at presentation, they continue through its mastery of many different cuisines. Choose your ideal menu from a selection of Italian, Mexican, Indian, and Chinese dishes. If you love the style of Cohen’s catering, then watch out for its upcoming event planning services to help take the hassle away completely.

As a family run business Cohen’s Caterers provides a very bespoke and personal service for each event. Currently certified by Beth Din of London and soon to be licensed here in Manchester, Cohen’s can deliver on any request, from traditional

Good Taste

Cohen’s Caterers is taking its stylish unique kosher dishes from London to Manchester.

to contemporary menus with vegetarian, vegan, and allergen-free options all tailored to clients’ dietary needs. To make the process easy for their clients, Cohen’s can provide a tasting session at your home or at your chosen venue.

Dean Lesser gave Cohen’s Caterers a glistening five-star review saying:

We recently hired Cohen’s to cater our son's Bar Mitzvah party for 150 guests. They were absolutely brilliant! So easy to deal with, always easy to get hold of and happy to give open and honest advice. The food itself was just perfect –tasted great and loads of it. As first time Bar Mitzvah parents we were nervous, and she was calming and reassuring the whole way through. Thank you Mazi!”

Of utmost importance to Cohens Caterers is the value of its service. Cohen’s Caterers is delivered at high quality at a budget cost. Its produce, skill, and presentation compete with London’s high standards of catering with linen, crockery, and personalised service all included. The current offer of £79.99 per head for a three-course meal including all equipment, staff, linen, crockery, and fees based on reception sizes from 120 people. And for just £10 more per head you can include one of our venues that we work with and take advantage of our amazing relationships we are building with top venues in the area.

Visit Cohen’s Caterers’ website to read more about kosher catering for weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and private and corporate events and to arrange an initial consultation about your event.

Click Cohencaterers.co.uk or call 07853 721 787

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

DEMI DAVIDSON AND JARED ROSS TIED THE KNOT IN A BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR CEREMONY.

EMMA CREEK AND JORDAN TASH TIED THE KNOT AT THE MIDLAND HOTEL.

MEANWHILE PRESTWICH GIRL SABRINA HART MARRIED GOLDERS GREEN BOY MOSHE ROSENTHAL. GABY MARKS AND BEN DAVID TIED THE KNOT AT THE MIDLAND HOTEL.

LILLIE MARKS AND CONOR STEIN ALSO GOT MARRIED AT MERRYDALE MANOR.

TONI LEVINE AND CARL ALEXANDER WERE MARRIED AT STOCK FARM BARN IN ALTRINCHAM.

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO:

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

Bliss

ROTH

THE

AT SHRUBBERIES HEBREW CONGREGATION SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS AND

We take a look back at some of the happy couples who tied the knot in the past year.

A BEAUTIFUL FLORAL CHUPPAH SURROUNDED YOEL GORDON AND GEORGIA BENJAMIN.

CARMELLA YAFFA AND GARY BOLTON HELD THEIR CEREMONY AT THE GORGEOUS COLSHAW HALL.

WHILE CHANNI LEWIS AND SIMON SALTER SAID “I DO” AT SHRUBBERIES SHUL.

MERRYDALE MANOR WAS THE VENUE FOR LANA YAFFE AND GUY WYNN-DAVIES TO CELEBRATE THEIR WEDDING.

CHARLOTTE QUINN AND ADAM HERMAN BEGAN LIFE TOGETHER AT THE LOWRY THEATRE.

LISA AND MARTIN

TIED

KNOT

FAMILY.

CHARLOTTE COHEN AND MATTHEW RALPH STOLE A QUIET MOMENT TO THEMSELVES DURING THEIR WEDDING DAY.

CELEBRATING AT THE MERE GOLF RESORT & SPA MIA ADDLEMAN AND BEN GARDNER.

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

Nestled within 200 acres of scenic woodland, we offer tastefully decorated private room hire for your wedding breakfast and evening reception, along with a choice of delicious menus.

We love seeing your ideas come to life and we will ensure your day is as special as you’ve dreamed it would be.

At Delta Hotels by Marriott Worsley Park Country Club, we don't just host events, we make memories.

Dreams Can Come True

Worsley Park Country Club delivers the very best of both worlds – a tranquil escape amid 200 acres of stunning scenery, as well as easy access to Manchester city centre, just a short drive away. When it comes to throwing a truly memorable celebration, you want to be in safe hands. Here at Worsley Park our team have years of event planning experience, from milestone birthday parties, lavish wedding celebrations, impressive Bar or Bat Mitzvahs to intimate baby showers and celebrations of life to remember loved ones.

At the heart of the hotel is a courtyard, perfect for alfresco afternoon tea, champagne toasts as well as cocktail and canapé receptions. Enhance the celebration and stay the night in one of our guestrooms, many rooms also feature scenic views. Golfers of all levels will enjoy challenging themselves on our pristine 18-hole championship course, at the driving range or on the putting green. Those looking to relax can book a treatment at our on-site spa or take a dip in our heated indoor pool. Select from three on-site dining options including Cast Iron Grill and The Brew Bar Lounge. Those planning an event or special occasion can choose from nine flexible event spaces, complemented by expert planning and catering services. We look forward to welcoming you soon.

Weddings at Worsley Park

Nestled within 200 acres of scenic woodland, capturing your big day in the great British countryside has never been easier. The flexible event space can host up to 220 of your nearest and dearest. Bespoke menus and packages means your wedding day will be as unique as you, from flower arches, doughnut walls and popcorn machines the options are endless. We love seeing your ideas come to life and we will have fun along the way, whilst ensure the finer details are ticked off.

Special Occasions and Celebrations at Worsley Park

Whether it's an intimate naming ceremony, anniversary, or Bar/Bat Mitzvah we'll do everything to make sure your celebration is perfect so guests will leave with a lasting smile. Transform your celebration from the ordinary to the extraordinary with our inspirational party wish list.

Worsley Suite:

Accommodating up to 220 guests, our Worsley Suite features direct access to the courtyard, which is perfect for an alfresco drinks reception during the warmer months.

Terrace Suite:

Choose a room with a view, our Terrace is the perfect backdrop. Enjoy a drink from the exclusive bar whilst you take in the stunning views.

What’s Included

Both our Worsley and Terrace suite can be used for in-house catered or kosher self-catered events. Tables come provided with linen, stands, numbers, and chair covers for all events, with an arrival red carpet for weddings and a reception room also included. Staff are available for fully catered events with menus starting from £49 per person. We supply staff at an additional cost for self-catered events, where you are welcome to provide your own entertainment. Our Memory Makers will do everything necessary to ensure a successful event and will be delighted to discuss your exact requirements.

For a brochure or to arrange an appointment to view Worsley Park Country Club call 0161 975 2000 or email worsleypark.events@deltahotels.co.uk.

Endless possibilities to turn your dream into reality at Delta Hotels by Marriott Worsley Park Country Club.

Wedded Bliss

Online gift registry

A gift registry is a great way to ensure that not only will your friends and family get you something you want as a wedding gift, but also that they won’t double up and leave you with a spare coffee machine or toaster to get rid of! Your loved ones are sure to thank you for making it more convenient and knowing they’re getting you what you want. There are plenty of online services for this, but Myregistry. com is free to create an account, and allows you to add items from any online store through use of an easy button on your browser bar. You can also link an existing list if you’ve started one elsewhere.

Invitations

Sending out wedding invites is one of the largest chores involved in organising a wedding, especially if you’re doing them all by hand.

Daisy Chain Invites offers custom invites from just 60p each. You can input completely custom text for the invites and select from a variety of fonts and have custom guest names added completely free of charge. You can even specify if some of them need to be evening invitations and samples are available to order beforehand, so you don’t need to miss out on seeing the invites in-person before you choose.

Decorations

Though less popular than other options on this list, it’s also possible to hire wedding decorations online. You can hire everything from chair covers and sashes, table linen, decorative glassware, readymade table centres, candle holders, backdrops, easels, mirrors, light up letters, and uplighters. And you don’t have to worry about disposing of the decorations after they’re done with, as they’ll go right back to the company you hired then from. Myweddinghire.com is a good option for this as it will liaise directly with your venue or wedding organiser, giving you one less thing to sort out.

Wedding favours

Saving both time and money, ordering favours online often gives you the chance to find customisable options to really give your guests a special memento of the big day without trawling round the stores. UK Wedding Favours offers so many options that you’ll be spoilt for choice, including the Favours on a Budget section for those who’d rather spend their hard-earned elsewhere. There is also a range of customisable wedding favours such as personalised chocolates, tags, and ribbons, as well as stuffed toys for the younger guests.

Planning a wedding creates a to-do list a mile long, so take some of the hassle out of the process with easy online solutions.

Di erent Every me

Your Destination for We ings, Barmi vahs and Special Events in No h Manchester

10% VOUCHER with code JLIFE23 included for bookings

LARGE AIR CONDITIONED HALL FOR UP TO 300 GUESTS STATE OF THE ART LIGHTING & SOUND SPRUNG DANCE FLOOR

ON-SITE PARKING ALL ON YOUR DOORSTEP! CONVENIENT & AFFORDABLE

A flexIble space with a RANGE OF PACKAGES available FOR BOTH events & CHARITY FUNCTIONS A space that easily adapts to your needs

Say Yes to Your

DREAM WEDDING

The Village Hotel Bury offers couples

Say yes with The Village Hotel, Bury at its wedding fair on 26th March, a must-see event for those planning a wedding this year. Enjoy a glass of fizz on arrival and discover your dream wedding with showcases from local suppliers, venue dressing, music and DJs to fit your big day.

Begin your wedding journey with the venue for an all-inclusive experience with its All You Need Is Love package. The Village Hotel make wedding planning a breeze with its experienced staff of dedicated wedding planners to help you through every step of the way. Its easy-to-use guest accommodation portal also allows your wedding guests to book their own discounted stay at the hotel, leaving you to focus on the important details.

In the Inspiration Suite, you will find the location of your dream wedding, with its capacity of 280 on straight tables and 210 on roundtables, the function room goes from day to night with a dancefloor and stage included in your package. Decorate your space with light up letters of the initials of the newly-weds which you can hire from the hotel, and a selfie mirror for you and your guests to make memories which will last forever.

Included in the packages starting from £4,500, is a three-course wedding breakfast, or if you need kosher food provided you can source your own caterers for the event and pay for room hire only. You can also choose an inclusive drinks menu to compliment your food.

To make your stay even more special, the hotel can include a complimentary overnight stay for the bride and groom, which you can take either before or after your big day, and a six-month leisure membership to the hotel’s gym and pool facilities. And as with any top-level hotel, there’s ample free parking for all your guests.

The Village Bury has long been on the radar of the Jewish community for all types of events and Simchas many reasons. Book a wedding before 31st March 2023 for this year and you’ll get six complimentary bottles of prosecco thrown in!

Village Hotel Club Bury

Waterfold Business Park

Rochdale Road, BL9 7BQ

gatherings@village-hotels.com Village-hotels.co.uk

Ask The Experts

Planning an event can be a minefield. Juliet Shenderey casts her eye over some burning questions.

Event planning of any kind – whatever your budget, guest numbers or event type – can be very stressful. There’s a great deal of pressure: do you know what the latest trends are? Do you have the right connections? Are you creative enough? And, ultimately, do you have the time to plan it all? These details make the difference between a conventional celebration and an unforgettable party.

Naturally, to plan the perfect event – whether it’s a wedding, party, conference, bar or bat mitzvah – you need guidance and support. But with Google at our fingertips and every ‘friend of a friend’ offering advice, who should you really turn to for help?

Researching online

The internet gives you access to thousands of suppliers at the click of a button. Simply ask Google a question, and it’ll return multiple pages of answers. Type ‘best caterer in Leeds?’ and you’ll see hundreds of websites; the same applies to photographers, venues, and everyone else in between. How do you decide who is right for you?

Glossy images, a fancy website and glowing testimonials can be hugely enticing. However, relying solely on the internet to make decisions for your event can be a big mistake. Remember: clever photography and fancy wording can make even the most basic supplier and dullest venue seem first class. In reality, you don’t know if you can trust them, if the price quoted is fair, or even if they’ll turn up on the day.

Never place all your trust in what you see online. And never hand over deposits to unknown suppliers.

Asking friends and family

Announce you’re hosting a special event, and the advice from family and friends comes flooding in. Everyone knows someone who is a fantastic musician, or had a wonderful photographer on their wedding day. Perhaps they’ve even offered to help out themselves, such as suggesting your gran makes your birthday cake?

Though the advice is usually well-intentioned, and can be helpful, it’s certainly not risk-free and can place you in an awkward situation. What was perfect for your friend’s event may be completely out of place at yours. We all have different budgets, tastes, and expectations.

Tread carefully and don’t feel under pressure. Each person, and every event, is unique.

Hiring an event planner

When you’re hosting a special event, you need to ask the experts. That’s where an experienced events organiser steps in. We’ll bring our expertise in event planning to the table objectively: giving you clear advice as to what will – and won’t – work.

With years of experience at Shenderey Events, we’ve worked with a wealth of suppliers and venues. Therefore, we know who can be trusted to deliver, who matches your budget, and who’s just right for your special day. And we’ll do all the planning for you: negotiating with suppliers, chasing up paperwork, and managing the venue on the day. All that’s left for you to do is relax and enjoy.

For impartial advice, dedicated support and experience you can trust, turn to the professionals to plan your next event.

Shendereyevents.co.uk

Creative Balloon create balloon displays such as balloon arches, balloon lettering and numbers, and themed displays such as princesses, safari, and Halloween. There are displays for all manner of events from birthdays to baby showers, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and engagements with helium balloons ranging from bright colours to customised lettering and foil balloons. It all started on the kitchen table as JLife reports.

Hi Alex! So, how did you get in to balloon art?

Hi! I’m a creative at heart and have always had an eye for colours and display, it was nearly two years ago now that I'd made a balloon display for my youngest daughter Delilah (who was about to turn two years old.) I was getting everything ready when I sat the balloons I’d bought on the table and tinkered with them until I got it just how I liked it.

I left it there and my husband came home from work later that day and after seeing the display, remarked how nice it was and immediately asked me how much I'd spent on it! When I told him I'd done it myself, he said: “How have you done that, it's amazing! You're a hairdresser, not a balloon-ologist!”. And that's when it all started.

Walking on Air

just in time ready for the guests arriving the next day.

And what do you like most about the work?

One of the fun elements I like best is taking an idea or a thought that a client has and turning that into a reality for them. Especially when it's decorating a big open space, it really allows me to be creative once they give me their colour ideas and themes.

It’s a great story Alex! How did it develop into a business and what sort of challenges have you faced?

My husband encouraged me to do more displays and start letting people know straight away to book some jobs, and although it was lockdown when I started, it's been job after job ever since. Starting with family first, and then friends, and now more general enquiries.

Some of the more hectic and elaborate displays were difficult, one notably was an outdoor installation for a Bar Mitzvah where I was tasked with decorating an outside entrance to the garden and marquee. It was all fine on paper until the weekend came along with gale force winds which proceeded to blow the display away. After a frantic re-supply of the balloons, we thankfully managed to replace the display

Recently I was tasked with making a display in a local venue for a 40th birthday, it was a very vibrant colour scheme which I loved, and the venue ended up keeping the display up for weeks after. It was lovely for me to see because I don't often get to see the displays again once they’re installed.

Instagram.com/Creative_Balloon_ Displays

Alex Laddin from Creative Balloon Displays discusses her creative process and how she

got into the craft of balloon art.

When it comes to the property market, house prices continue to be a much discussed topic around the dinner table. This subject matter gained pace and notoriety from the start of 2020, with the rise in prices having a varying effect on your property journey depending on which camp you were in.

Now, despite all the doom and gloom towards the back end of 2022, we have hit 2023 on a much more positive note, with stability playing a huge role in calming the markets following the uncertainty and apprehension as interest rates and positive buyer sentiment was brought into question. As the dust now settles and mortgage rates start to fall, many buyers who missed out on purchasing their next or first home, reset and recalibrate their options.

The level of house price growth across the UK seen during the pandemic was unsustainable, so an easing in growth was always on the cards. The good news is that the level of stability we’re now seeing in the market following last year’s political turmoil, coupled with elements such as the cost-of living crisis and interest rate hikes (all of which were bound to have an impact), mean that the market isn’t quite as downbeat as at the end of last year.

I would suggest we will see house prices pause for breath

as we progress through the year, however even with, for example, a estimated 5% to 8% fall this only brings prices back to where they were in 2021; not at all a complete reversal of the increases we’ve seen over the last two years, taking into account that the average house price has increased by £50,000 since the beginning of the pandemic.

So, this leads me to a more long-term projection of the housing market. If an estimated 5% to 8% price fall this year is correct, the long-term projection of the housing market is still one of growth. Once we have seen the initial adjustment in prices, the likelihood is that we’ll go back to growth, but perhaps not to the levels we have seen over the last two years. However, while the race for space is still evident following changes in working practices, with more people than ever working from home, demand continues to outstrip supply, which is likely to put upward pressure on pricing in the medium term.

The property market remains a positive place to be for both buyers and sellers, however urgency is key as high demand continues to put pressure on limited supply.

Contact me today to start your buying or selling journey in Prestwich.

With Liam Pope, Prestwich Branch Manager of Thornl ey Groves Estate A gents

Urgency is key as high demand continues to put pressure on limited supply

Over the last five years, life has become a little tricker for Prestwich landlords, with changes to their taxation status, mortgage interest relief and an additional 3% stamp duty for a buy-to-let property, leading lots of landlords to ask themselves: “is buy-to-let in Prestwich still worth the risk?”

Let’s delve a little deeper. Looking at taxation, in 2016, the government added a 3% supplement in stamp duty on all buy-to-let properties. Then, in 2017, the government started to reduce mortgage interest rates by stopping landlords from deducting the interest they paid on their mortgage before paying tax on the rental profits, and replacing it with a flat rate tax credit based on 20% of the interest they spent on their mortgage. Now, if you’re a basic rate 20% taxpayer, there would be no affect, however the effect for higher rate taxpayers (40% +) saw their tax relief cut in half.

Now, the main question: “what do I consider the advantages and drawbacks of buy-to-let in Prestwich?”

Well, to a large degree, as with all investments, it depends on why you are investing and what your final objective is. The rewards – earn money two ways with buy-to-let; the first being through rental income from the property. As it stands, the average rent achieved in Prestwich is £981 pcm, a rise of 11.1% in the last 12 months, giving an average yield of 4.1%, yet some areas of Prestwich can easily achieve 5.4% to 7% yield. And the second way to earn money from a buytolet investment? Capital growth as your Prestwich property increases in value. Prestwich properties are flying on this front, with values currently 32% higher than they were three years ago – huge when you compare to Manchester City Centre, where values are only 10% higher.

Now, we’re here to present honest information, so let’s take a look at the drawbacks of a Prestwich buy-to-let. Your tax bill is higher today than a few years ago – but isn’t everyone’s?

Property values may fall, meaning the capital you invested will reduce. Yet, if that same capital was sat in the bank, it would decline in value anyway due to inflation.

What about responsibility? Everyone knows that being a landlord comes with a huge degree of responsibility, with over 170 pieces of legislation and orders to comply with. This is where we come in. Finding a suitable letting agent to assist with the management of your rental property takes the stress and worry away from you. You can call or pop into our branch 6 days a week to speak with one of the team about the management of your buy-to-let property.

So, the big question: “would I recommend investing in a buyto-let property today?”

More people than ever are looking to rent in the private rental sector, with a surge in demand of 57% in the past five years. Yet, supply has not been able to keep up with this demand. An average of 11 prospective tenants registered for every available property throughout 2022. This imbalance between supply and demand is further impacted by the costof-living crisis, which is forcing many prospective firsttime buyers to stay in their rental home for longer. In my opinion, the lack of supply presents a great opportunity for prospective landlords to bring additional stock to the rental market.

Get in touch if you’d like to find out more about the buy-to-let and property investment in Prestwich.

ALL PHOTOS: ROB CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

JAMES BOLCHOVER HAD A BAR MITZVAH PARTY TO REMEMBER AT THE MERCURE PICCADILLY HOTEL. Advertisers

TWIN BROTHERS YAAKOV AND YITZI RICH STAND SIDE BY SIDE AT THEIR B’NEI MITZVAH AT HOLY LAW SYNAGOGUE.

VICTORIA ALMOND AND YONI HARBER RECENTLY TIED THE NOT.

LET’S DANCE!

WITH A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY AT THE HILTON HOTEL.

JAMES CELEBRATED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

It’s Coming Home

Jake Sorkin is a driving force behind the ultimate app for football fans.

A social media entrepreneur has set up an app so football fans can get all the essential information on the game in one place … and then chat about it online.

The app, called hoof, is a game changer for anyone who loves the beautiful game, and has been designed by 27-year-old Jake Sorkin from Leeds, a former Manchester Jewish Soccer League striker, and son of Gaynor and Jeremy, along with London-based fellow co-founders Ben Simpson and Tommy Leasor.

It’s all free to download and use and once on the homepage fans see a range of topics clearly set out like mini social media feeds where they can post on chats ranging from the January transfer window to opinions about who is the best ever British player – a topic inspired by Gareth Bale’s retirement. There are also hubs for supporters wanting to chat about the Premier League, the Championship or their favourite teams. The app has tackled the issue of online abuse with a zero-tolerance policy.

The topics will keep on changing depending on what’s popular or controversial right now but the aim is to have separate topic pages for all teams and talking points from around the world.

Other sections include all the latest upto-the-minute scores and tables for teams in the UK, Europe and the USA and masses of information on individual players such as Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe. This includes appearances, goals, assists, total shots, shots on target, fouls committed, yellow cards, tackles and much

more. Information on teams includes fixtures, statistics and squad.

But it’s the online banter fans love that’s at the heart of the app with hoof, short for Home Of Online Football. hoof is cleverly designed to ‘hoof’ racism and discrimination out of any of the chat the fans post on there. It uses a programme called Google Perspective to analyse all the posts and block any from being published deemed to break the rules. Swearing, though, is allowed as that’s accepted as part of fans’ banter. There is also a Report button so swift action can be taken against any posts deemed offensive.

Jake is the app’s Chief Marketing Officer: “All the essential football information fans want to search for and discuss is on hoof. Fans would have to trawl through six or seven other apps to find what hoof has right at your fingertips. hoof is a centralised social media platform for football.

“The topics will be ever changing to deal with breaking news and the kind of controversies and themes fans want to talk about.” Jake added: “The modern fan is driven by an insatiable appetite for content, constantly looking for new information to digest and discuss. As well as providing a safe space for users, we want to give every supporter the ability to become their very own pundit, equipped with best-in-class tools to discuss the beautiful game. We have

created the ultimate playground for fans to experience social media like never before.”

The hunger for the app is certainly out there. After hoof was profiled on popular radio station talkSPORT the number of users rocketed.

hoof Co-Founder and Chief Executive Ben Simpson adds: “We have an unwavering zero-tolerance policy towards abuse of any kind and any user found to be engaging in forms of discrimination will be immediately banned. The big social media platforms have shown time and time again they are entirely unwilling to pursue any kind of solution to the issue of online abuse – that is where hoof steps in.

“The key to combatting this problem revolves around being proactive, rather than reactive. Abuse is not difficult to mode. It is, in fact, one of the most predictable and preventable trends online. We actively encourage people to hold us accountable and we want to work with organisations and institutions across football to tackle this issue as firmly as possible.”

Since leaving Leeds Jake has since gone on to build several highly successful football twitter accounts with a combined total of 20 million followers. He is now concentrating fully on hoof. But which team does he support?

“I may come from Leeds but I support Liverpool as my dad followed them through the 70s and 80s. That, I’m sure, will spark some banter in itself,” he admits.

The hoof app is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play or you can download it at Install. hoof.app/welcome

ABOUT TOWN

Find out all the best events to look out for in the coming weeks.

Manchester Film Festival

Odeon Great Northern | 10th-19th March

Featuring new films from actors Nicholas Cage, Timothy Spall, Minnie Driver, and Juliet Rylance, join Manchester Film Festival for its ninth year in Deansgate. Taking place over eight days, the festival contains over 100 films from the UK, six feature film world premieres, and 17 UK premieres. Book tickets for a session of short films or a full-length feature with screenings to match everyone’s taste.

Maniff.com

TEDxManchester Bridgewater Hall | 4th March

Famed for their inspirational and vast subject matter, TED talks have become a staple for sharing personal stories alongside informative research. Speakers include Damian Hughes (Peak Performance Expert and best-selling author of High Performance: Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best), and Joy Milne (A Nurse with Superpowers as she speaks about how she diagnosed her husband’s Parkinson’s Disease through sense of smell).

Ted.com

The Magical Music of Harry Potter: Live in Concert The Lowry | 3rd April

Hear the award-winning music from the Harry Potter films like never before at an unmissable evening for all Potterheads featuring an original actor, star soloists, a choir, and symphonic orchestra. The evening will feature the music of John Williams, Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper, and Alexandre Desplat as well as music from the West End hit Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Thelowry.com

Manchester City Centre | 16th April

Manchester’s annual marathon returns this April to challenge runners and fundraise for charities of their choice. Welcoming runners of all abilities, Manchester marathon has hosted some of the world’s greatest elite runners, as well as those who thought completing a marathon would be impossible. As one of the five most popular marathons in Europe, the Manchester Marathon is the sporting event to take part in.

Manchestermarathon.co.uk

Manchester Opera House | 21st-25th March

Starring Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who, Victoria) and Aidan Turner (Poldark, The Lieutenant of Inishmore) this play imagines how we would live if we had a daily 140 word limit on our speech. It is estimated that we speak more than 123 million words in our lifetime. Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons is a gentle and funny rom-com which invites us to think about what we say, how we say it, and what happens when we can’t say anything anymore.

Atgtickets.com

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

PHOTO: AWOL

Adidas Manchester Marathon

Following on from the fantastic success of the previous years, we are now looking for men and women to take part in the Dancing Strictly experience.

Either in the competition or as part of the group routine.

As a part of the Strictly experience competitors will receive: Introductory dance classes, a professional partner, classes to learn your choreographed routine – dance will range from the cha cha cha to the Viennese waltz, fabulous costumes for the performance as well as hair and makeup.

As part of the group routine you will receive: Dance classes,

routine, fabulous costumes as well as hair and makeup.

TAKE HER OUT…

Treat mum like a queen this Mother’s Day with our recommendations on some thoughtful days out and gift ideas.

and coffee. All equipment and materials are included: “Just bring your imagination and prepare to have fun”.

Eventbrite.co.uk

Mother’s Day Sunday Lunch | Browns’ | 19th March

Spa Treatments and Afternoon Tea | The Midland Hotel

The Indulgence package at The Midland provides you with a 50-minute spa treatment at the newly renovated Rena Spa, a glass of champagne, an afternoon tea in The Tea Room, and a £10 off retail voucher for £139pp. Treat your mum at the awardwinning spa featuring pool, sauna, and steam room facilities with treatments including facials, body massages and wraps, maternity treatments, and a range of holistic treatments. Serving afternoon tea since 1903, The Midland is the prime spot for afternoon tea. It also boasts to be Manchester’s only setting dedicated to afternoon tea.

Themidlandhotel.co.uk

Monet’s Garden Beginners Painting Class | Inch Arts | 18th March

Accessible to all abilities, this painting class in Altrincham will give you time to bond with your mum while exploring a new hobby. This three-hour painting class at £45pp gives you the opportunity to recreate Monet’s famous waterlilies painting in acrylic paints. The session will involve a painting demonstration and step-by-step guidance while you paint with complimentary tea

Mumma Mia Mother’s Day Live Sing-Along Lunch | The Village Hotel Bury | 19th March

For the mums who feel more comfortable on the dance floor than in a dining room, The Village Hotel Bury has the solution. This Mumma Mia Sing-Along features an ABBA tribute band and cocktails so you can make your mum feel like the Dancing Queen she really is. Enjoy a three-course meal and bar at The Village Hotel. Drinks packages can be included in your ticket, or you can pay as you go. Prices for tickets start at £30pp and under two’s go free.

VillageHotels.com/Party

Sometimes you can’t beat a traditional Sunday roast, so lay back as Browns does it all for you with its roast dinners and A La Carte menu with all your Brasserie favourites. The menu also includes Browns’ recommended wine pairings and some special Mother’s Day cocktails such as the Champagne Cosmopolitan so you can get the celebration started. Little Roasts are available for children up to the age of 10, making this a perfect family spot.

Browns-restaurants.co.uk

Mixology class | Blind Tyger

The creative alternative to an alcohol-fuelled night on the town, taking part in a mixology class together will still guarantee some highspirited fun. A tailored two-hour session at Blind Tyger grants plenty of time to enjoy a crash course into the world of mixology and master your favourite tipples. After learning secrets behind each drink, guests will also be given their own gin infusion kits and takeaway cocktails to continue the celebrations at home.

Blindtyger.co.uk

MOTHER’S DAY - Sunday 19th March

Chocolate library | £14.99

Every sweet-toothed mum will appreciate a unique chocolate collection to savour and satisfy the taste buds this Mother’s Day. Montezuma's eclectic chocolate library is an extra treat for book lovers, with quirky bars including Hot Pickle, Black Forest, and Happy Hippy making an exciting tasting range. Montezumas.co.uk

AND TREAT HER WELL!

Oil Diffuser | £45

Whether its for a new bath time or bedtime routine, an oil diffuser has quickly become a self-care essential to instil calming vibes all around. The latest tech from Oliver Bonas comes in a neutral, understated design with pre-set time and light settings to achieve your ambience of choice.

Oliverbonas.com

Wellbeing box set | £113

Boosting health and relaxation, a luxury wellbeing box set can cater towards every mum’s individual needs. The latest Be Well Box For Her from Anatomé boasts botanical formulas designed to help practice self-care every day, including an illuminating avocado face oil and Anatomé's popular sleep bath salts. Anatome.co

Floral robe | £245

Having something cosy to lounge around the house in is a true Mother's Day treat. Blooming with sunflowers, tulips, roses, pansies, lilacs, daffodils, and lilies, Liberty’s spring-friendly print helps to welcome in a new season with an ultra-smooth and cool feel.

Libertylondon.com/uk

Wellbeing smartwatch | £44.99

Whether she's a morning park run regular or starting a health kick, a simple smartwatch provides all the help needed to build new goals this year. With extra features for both mental and physical health, The Fitbit Inspire 2 is an easy-to-use entryway gadget to the growing health data landscape.

Johnlewis.com

Keep young minds active during the Easter half term holiday with our exciting pick of family friendly attractions across town.

Join the Circus

The Trafford Centre | 31st March

Gandeys Circus Glitterati Tour is a spectacle of all things glitz and glamour. Bigger than ever with 30 new circus performers and special effects, join this circus spectacular under the Big Top for a night of amazement. Witness the award winning Garcias, with their sensational Aerial Rocket, High Wire stars the Gerlings from Colombia, and the motorcycles in the Thunderdome, for an unforgettable performance.

Gandeyscircus.com

Commotion on the Ocean EUREKA! Science and Discovery

1st- 16th April

Eureka! aims to change how we see the world around us with its highly interactive, user orientated exhibitions. Explore a range of amazing things above and below the ocean. Catch performances and science demos suitable for all the family at regular intervals during the day. Eureka! invites you to bring your sea legs and set sail for an aquatic adventure.

Eurekadiscovery.org.uk

revisit of games and skits where no audience member is safe from Creamy Muck Muck. This show is bound to be a hit with kids and adults alike.

Thelowry.com

Turn It Up: The Power of Music Science and Industry Museum

21st October 2022 - 21st May 2023

Get hands on with this interactive exhibition on the science of music. Play musical instruments and musical gadgets to create your own unique sound and performance. Test whether you can tell the difference between a song written by a human or a robot and discover the Pyrophone, an instrument powered by flames.

Scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk

Dick and Dom in the Bungalow 20th Anniversary Tour

The Lowry | 2nd April 20 years since their hit CBBC show, Dick and Dom in the Bungalow is returning to a new generation of children. Watch the bungalow come back to life in this nostalgic

Banner Bingo | Peoples History Museum

18th February - 7th January 2024

Uncover the hidden images featured in banners across the museum’s two main galleries and the 2023 Banner Exhibition to fill your bingo card. It may be easy to find each banner but only the eagle-eyed will be able to find the Banner Bingo images you need. Complete a line or a full house in this game designed with two versions for younger and older audiences.

Phm.org.uk

Community Heart of the

DIFFICULT MEMORIES

The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) welcomed Icek Alterman as part of the annual commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Icek – known as Ike – shared some harrowing experiences with Year 9 pupils and even showed the tattoo which was branded onto his arm at Auschwitz.

Ike was only 13-years-old when he watched his mother, sister, and younger brother being marched away at gunpoint.

This was the age of many MGS pupils who listened to his talk and who were able to participate in a Q&A session with Ike in relation to his time spent in four concentration camps. Ike has only recently been able to start talking about the atrocities which he witnessed during the Second World War but is determined to ensure that his story helps to prevent any such future barbarity.

Ike was only of only 700 Jewish children who were sent from Auschwitz to Great Britain after the camps were liberated. He became one of the “Windermere Children” who were taken to a

place in the Lake District, which allowed them to integrate into life in England.

Ike married, had two daughters and eventually was able to set himself up as a jeweller in Manchester. He continued to work until his late 70s and remains an inspiring example of a Holocaust survivor who continues to embrace life, despite his terrifying childhood.

Ike was joined by Radio 5 presenter, Nihal Arthanayake, host of Radio 5 Live’s Afternoon Arthanayake and presenter of the hugely successful Penguin Podcast to host the Q&A.

Nihal won Interview of the Year at the 2019 BBC Radio and Music Awards.

TO LIFE

St Annes Hebrew Congregation was able to host this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day Service in person after years of virtual services.

The guest speaker was Leah Burman, the daughter of Polish survivor Ziggy Landschaft, and who set up the Northern Holocaust Education Trust. Leah spoke in depth about her father's harrowing time throughout the holocaust, surviving three concentration camps and forced marches and is the only survivor of his immediate family. Today, aged 98, he lives in Israel and is happily enjoying his life “l'chaim” being his survival motto.

Other speakers included Lorraine Frank from the Anne Frank Trust and students from local schools Hodgson Academy and St Mary’s Catholic School also took part. Fylde Councillor Ed Nash read out a

poem he had written specially for the event entitled Let there be Light and Michael Frankel sang a short Yiddish song from the Vilna Ghetto.

Rabbi Bergson recited the memorial prayer Av Harachamin and President Robert Pinkus led the congregation in Kaddish followed by a minute's silence.

Dignitaries included the High Sheriff of Lancashire Martin Ainscough DL, Mrs Penny DL representing the Lord Lieutenant. Local MPs Cat Smith MP for Fleetwood and Scott Benton MP for Blackpool South together with the Mayors and Mayoresses of Fylde, Blackpool and Wyre and Fylde and Blackpool councillors.

Michelle Morris, Vice President, said:

“It was such a moving service and all the more poignant that we could come together once again in person. Leah's emotional presentation which she backed up with visuals and her father talking, had everyone in the room totally engrossed.”

Chief Rabbi visits Manchester

Chief Rabbi Mirvis visits the Nicky for the first time and inaugurates Rabbi Ephraim Guttentag.

ALL PHOTOS BY LAWRENCE PURCELL

‘ELVIS’ SERENADES SHARON OSBOURNE AND HER 100-YEAR-OLD AUNT AT HER BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE NICKY.

THE TWO ENJOY THE PARTY TOGETHER SURROUNDED BY THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

RABBI EPHRAIM GUTTENTAG RECENTLY COMPLETED HIS INDUCTION BY CHIEF RABBI MIRVIS.

THE TWO WERE PICTURED TOGETHER AFTER THE SERVICE.

CHIEF RABBI MIRVIS IS GIVEN A WARM WELCOME AT THE NICKY WHICH HE VISITED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

CHIEF RABBI MIRVIS WISHED EILEEN SOMMERS MAZAL TOV ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY BEFORE THEIR DINNER TOGETHER.

Watch Out

Our recommendations of best new films, books and tv to keep an eye on.

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati Penguin Random House | 2nd March

Clytemnestra is the book for fans of Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles and Circe. Clytemnestra, wife of Agamenon, leader of the Greek army in the Trojan War, is famous for the betrayal of her husband and her murderous revenge. But what if that wasn’t the whole story. Casati beckons us to hear Clytemnestra’s side: “You are born to a king but marry a tyrant. You stand helplessly as he sacrifices your child to placate the gods. You watch him wage war on a foreign shore and comfort yourself with violent thoughts of your own. You play the part, fooling enemies who deny you justice. Slowly, you plot. You are Clytemnestra.”

Daisy Jones & The Six Amazon Prime| 3rd March

From the author of New York Times bestseller, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo comes the tv adaptation of her second bestselling novel. Daisy Jones & The Six is a mockumentary series about the formation of the fictionalised band The Six and their collaboration with ‘80s it-girl, Daisy Jones. Told through a series of flashbacks and interviews with the pop-stars, Daisy Jones & The Six is a story teeming with salacious gossip which leaves no stone unturned.

A

Town Called Malice| Sky Drama

16th March

This intoxicating cocktail of crime thriller and family saga in the early ’80s follows the Lords – a family of former South London gangsters who’ve fallen to the bottom of the criminal food chain – and they’re not happy about it. When they flee to the Costa del Sol in Spain following a gangland battle, the Lords realise this is a golden opportunity to re-invent themselves and re-capture their former glory. However, they spend as much time battling each other as they do their rivals.

The Magician’s Elephant | Netflix

17th March

Based on the award winning novel of the same name, the Magician’s Elephant is a fantasy animated film about Peter’s search for his long-lost sister, Adele. When Peter crosses paths with a fortune teller in the market square, there is only one question on his mind: is his sister still alive? The answer, that he must find a mysterious elephant and the magician who will conjure it, sets Peter off on a harrowing journey to complete three seemingly impossible tasks that will change the face of his town forever and take him on the adventure of a lifetime. Featuring characters voiced by Dawn French (Vicar of Dibley), Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), and Natasia Demetriou (What We Do in the Shadows), the story is also set to be developed into a stage play by the RSC later this year.

New Faces

Check out the new bars, hotels, restaurants and experiences which are hitting Manchester’s streets this year.

Co-op Live Arena | Manchester City Centre

King Pins | Trafford Palazzo

The crown jewels of bowling, King Pins, is designed for fans of all ages with a variety of activities on offer including 15 lanes of Ten Pin bowling, six lanes of Duck Pin bowling (a shorter-laned, faster game of bowling, new to the UK), shuffleboard, a mini RoboKeeper (a robotic football goalie who deflects your attempts at goal), ice free curling, air hockey, karaoke booths and arcade games galore. Traffordpalazzo.co.uk

Disorder | Northern Quarter

Disorder is an Asian fusion restaurant which takes its inspiration from the city, a theme which runs through the décor, drinks, and food. From its industrial past to its vast music scene, Disorder embodies the spirit of Mancunians. The lower floor will transform the restaurant into a speakeasy and host live music by DJs and select artists and a mural by Manchester Street Artist, Akse P19, will feature Joy Division Lead Singer, Ian Curtis, in a nod to the name of the bar. Disordermcr.com

Set to open this year near to the Etihad Stadium, Co-op Live arena will hold over 23,000 people. Music icons Bruce Springsteen and Harry Styles have helped to design and invest in the new venue which will have the largest floor space of any UK concert hall. Co-op members will gain exclusive access to presale tickets when artists have been announced and before they go on general sale. Coop.co.uk

Manchester Museum | Oxford Road

After three years and a £15 million transformation, Manchester Museum will open its doors to the public on 18th February. New galleries are to be displayed at the museum, including a South Asia section in partnership with the British Museum, London. The first exhibition of Manchester Museum’s return is to be Golden Mummies of Egypt featuring over 100 Ancient Egyptian objects and eight mummies. The refurbishment also included new accessibility facilities and wheelchair access. Museum.manchester. ac.uk

The Reach | Piccadilly

Manchester is set to welcome a new upscale hotel, as The Reach at Piccadilly, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, announces plans to open in 2023. Named for its location – at the meeting point of the Rochdale and Ashton Canals – the décor of the 215-room property has been inspired by the heritage of its location. Travellers will be able to enjoy the chic interiors alongside a fully equipped fitness centre and restaurant. Where locally sourced, seasonal produce will be served with the backdrop of stretching canal views.

Thereachmcr.com

Masa Bakery | Prestwich

Hoping to open early February, Masa Bakery began as a COVID project, fast becoming known for its ground-breaking freshly baked bread and sold-out pop-up shops around Manchester. Its new Prestwich location will be the second location after Masa’s first Macclesfield shop. The bakery specialises in breads such as sourdough and focaccia, and sweet baked goods such as brownies, cookies, and cinnamon rolls.

Facebook.com/masabakery1

GAIL’s Bakery | Wilmslow

GAIL’s announced it will open its first bakery in Wilmslow on 16th February, with further locations in Altrincham and Manchester City Centre to open later in the year. Formerly an exclusively southern chain, the new bakery will serve its famed artisan sourdough breads, pastries, sandwiches, and cakes alongside its specialty House Blend coffee. The opening of GAIL’s bakeries in the North West joins The Bread Factory, GAIL’s sister brand and wholesale bakery, which opened in Openshaw in 2017.

Gailsbread.co.uk

Lucky Cat | Northern Quarter

Breakout Manchester | Northern Quarter

Opened late last year on Newton Street, Breakout Manchester has expanded to a second location with new escape rooms and puzzles. The new Frankenstein breakout room features a life-size model of Frankenstein’s monster which you must solve puzzles to bring to life before your 60 minutes run out. Most recently opened has been a Bank Heist puzzle wherein your team will split in two and compete to see who can flee the scene first and escape with the most money.

Breakoutmanchester.com

Three Little Words | Deansgate

Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsey is replicating his London-based, Asian-inspired restaurant in Manchester this spring. Lucky Cat will serve a sharing menu of small plates including classic Japanese dishes such as bao buns, sushi, and tempura. With a bar showcasing an extensive menu of sake, the latenight lounge is inspired by the 1930s drinking dens of Tokyo, and the restaurant reflecting an authentic Asian eating house.

Gordonramsayrestaurants.com

Located just seconds from Deansgate, Three Little Words is one of Manchester’s most unique, independent cocktail bars. Nestled in the historic Grade-II listed railway arches in the heart of the city and brought to you by Manchester Gin, Three Little Words adjoins The Spirit of Manchester Distillery – providing guests with a view of the distilling process while sipping perfectly made cocktails. Choose from over 16 speciality cocktails including novelty drinks such as Paddington’s Breakfast, made with an orange marmalade & liquorice gin, rich ginger syrup, apple and butterscotch Aperol.

Threelittlewordsmcr.co.uk

Lending a Hand

Eemacare provides support for single mothers in the Jewish community.

They listen. They understand. They help. But have you heard of them?

In these current recessionary times, the Jewish communities of North and South Manchester have experienced as much need of support as society in general, and mothers whose needs outweigh their resources may not know where to turn.

Eemacare, as yet a lesser-known social care provider, exists to give additional support to single mums and families in need and two of its representatives met me recently to explain their charity’s mission.

Lucy Feingold and Joanne Freedman, both Manchester women, been involved with Eemacare since its inception almost two years ago Lucy, the clinical lead and a working psychotherapist who has sadly experienced coping with three young children after a divorce, outlined what they offer a client who may approach them.

“We are a specialist care organisation who aim to support Jewish single mums and their children across Manchester. That includes a variety of women who don’t know where to get help, those who are in crisis, or who have fallen into financial difficulties through divorce or marital problems as well as others who may need advice on childcare or about problems their children are encountering in school. This obviously includes a wide spectrum of need.

“When we understand their requirements, we can use our own resources or signpost them to some of the remarkable charities, such as Paperweight, The Fed, or JSense who all do such a great job

within the community, or help them to find a social worker, debt counsellor, or someone in the wider community who may be able to help. We have a handle on the other organisations along with a good understanding of how local councils are able to support and where they need Jewish charities to understand their specific needs.

“I appreciate that when women approach us they may be in a very emotional state and in need of close support or counselling in order to separate emotion from actual need. We have more than a hundred women on our books, and I have learnt that this particular service is often vital for the family’s survival. Once they have that emotional support, they may be able to refocus and concentrate on more practical issues, like the possibility of repairing the marriage, care of the children, or financial planning. The amount of support varies each time, and we do operate a monitored emergency fund for immediate distress.”

With increasing workloads, Lucy and Joanne can look to strong support from within the organisation: “We have the voluntary assistance of four mature, dedicated case workers who have a broad understanding of the field, and of Jewish life itself. They will, where necessary, match the clients to a volunteer case worker who will check in with them regularly and provide one-to-one support.”

We get many offers of volunteer help and choose the case workers very carefully to meet the clients as accurately as possible.”

While these aims are laudable, when dealing with families who may need physical support on many levels as well as diversion for the children requires a regular income stream of donations. Other income is needed for essentials, Yomim Tovim, and the occasional outing.

“Last Chanukah we were given a great many board games which were truly invaluable, providing families with something to engage in together, and even allowing them to relax in the home for a while.

“Others may choose to sponsor an event or outing or give a bigger financial gift which could provide some with an opportunity to go on an outing for the day. We try also not to forget the mothers involved too, but our biggest financial commitments are to the provision of the basics such as housing, clothing, and food.”

As a relatively small organisation, few people in the community currently realise that they can go to Eemacare for help: “Our service is highly confidential, and as a consequence few people realise that we exist, which makes fundraising harder. We are a small team but have many contacts and a great deal of good will from people who will offer help. All of this counts towards achieving our goals of support, understanding and answering need.

“We do not look for clients. They approach us and we do our best to work with on every level and with all available agencies to alleviate what may, at first sight, seem an impossible situation.”

The current campaign can be access through the QR code, from the site, by email or phone.

0161 710 3310

Or email joanne@eemacare.co.uk

CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

Helping Children, Adolescents, and Young People

adjustment problems, reactions to a trauma or difficulties associated with gender, sexuality, and identity.

Dr Daniel Weisberg, Managing Director of CAYP Psychology

Children’s emotional wellbeing is just as important as their physical health. Good mental health helps them develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and grow into well-rounded, healthy adults.

Sometimes, things can get a little more difficult for children and young people, and experiences can become overwhelming or too challenging to face. Here, a clinical psychologist may be able to help.

Instead of our normal column, in this edition I’d like to tell you what we can offer at CAYP Psychology from our Whitefield base.

Therapeutic work

Face-to-face or online with a clinical psychologist, we spend time together to help understand and overcome mood challenges, behavioural concerns, health concerns, social difficulties, eating differences,

Specialist assessments for autism Autism is characterised by persistent difficulties with making and keeping friends, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviours, and managing the demands of the world. We can offer a thorough assessment, involving discussions together, observations, structured assessments, questionnaires (psychologists love questionnaires), and conversations with school. At the end, a detailed report will be yours, including a diagnosis of Autism where appropriate.

Specialist assessments for ADHD

Whilst forgetfulness, attention lapses and hyperactivity are common in children, they can also cause substantial interference with day-to-day life and progress in school. It may be that a formal ADHD assessment is needed, and we can complete the necessary steps to get to a diagnosis. This assessment involves questionnaires (obviously), discussions with teachers at school, structured interviews, and observations, as well as a computerised programme to assess impulsivity, inattention and hyperactivity.

Specialist assessments for learning and development

We offer a comprehensive understanding of

difficulties experienced in school. We can assess children’s intellectual functioning (thinking, reasoning, memory and processing information), as well as academic abilities (reading, writing and maths). We can identify dyslexia, learning disabilities or giftedness, and our findings are written up into a report to evidence your child’s needs.

What next?

An autism diagnosis can be a difficult time for everyone involved. “What Next?” is a four-week course with other parents, providing an opportunity to explore various topics to help increase your understanding of your child’s autism, develop your appreciation of the positives of neurodiversity, and develop strategies to respond to difficulties.

Video Interaction Guidance (VIG)

VIG uses video clips from your real life to help see what is working well for you in your interactions with your child. It’s an opportunity build on the moments where your child feels connected. We can see huge improvements in the relationships at home, the communication at home, and the approaches we take as parents.

So, please do be in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.

Cayp-psychology.com

0333 242 0824

With clinical psychologist

We specialise in working with children, adolescents & young people experiencing difficulties with

• Their mood or worries

• Social media & cyberbullying

• Behavioural problems

• Reactions to a trauma

We aim to fully understand the challenges that your child may be facing, offering tailored and effective support to help manage or overcome their difficulties.

This is My Chai in Manchester

Chai’s specialised services include Individual, Couples and Family Counselling and a range of Complementary Therapies locally in Manchester.

Our support and care can be accessed in person, over the phone, and on Zoom, without any charge and in complete confidentiality.

With care at the heart of everything we do, together we can cope. Together we will care.

Wishing you a happy and ko�her Pesach

For more information please call 0161 772 4760 or visit chaicancercare.org

Picture of Health

Win a high-tech beauty treatment from Your Health Bank, the area’s newest wellness centre.

Based in Rawtenstall, the newly opened clinic Your Health Bank specialises in high-tech treatments to supplement your health and beauty regime. Far from your average spa or beauty clinic, while Your Health Bank’s treatments may seem like they belong in a sci-fi movie, the results that they produce in self-preservation and wellness are very real.

One of the more popular treatments is the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, which is a simple way to increase the amount of oxygen being absorbed into your blood stream. The treatment involves breathing in pure oxygen in a pressurised environment. This allows more of the oxygen to be dissolved into the plasma in your blood. The extra oxygen comes with a variety of benefits, including shortening injury recovery, increasing blood flow and circulation, and reducing pain, among many more.

Owner Laura Clancy also offers an infrared sauna treatment. Unlike a more traditional sauna, this treatment doesn’t require a warm and moist environment. Instead, infrared light will raise your body’s core temperature by three degrees, causing a false fever-like effect which stimulates your immune system and makes your body inhospitable to harmful pathogens. The infrared treatment is also far more effective at removing toxins from the body, removing around 20% of toxins, compared to a traditional

sauna’s three per cent. The raised temperature will help your body to eliminate heavy metals, toxins, and stagnant hormones, allowing your cells to operate more efficiently. As a result of this, a trip into the infrared sauna can improve the appearance of cellulite, lower blood pressure, and reduce fatigue.

Your Health Bank is also able to provide IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatment. During the treatment, IPL is released in short bursts to the skin targeting the melanin in the hair follicle. The light energy heats the pigment which disables the follicle at the root. While IPL is most often associated with hair removal, it is also often used to revive a dull complexion. The skin rejuvenation treatment stimulates the fibroblasts cells responsible for secreting collagen and elastin, which in turn improves the texture of the skin and reduces the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and scars.

Laura is offering three of our readers the chance to win a hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment, an infrared sauna treatment, or an IPL session.

Yourhealthbank.co.uk

COMPETITION

To be in with a chance of winning one of three fabulous treatments, simply answer the following question…

How many degrees will an infrared sauna raise your body’s core temperature by?

Enter online at Jlifemagazine. co.uk/competitions-manchester or by post to JLife Ltd, Unit 7, Gemini Business Park, Sheepscar Way, Leeds, LS7 3JB. Please ensure your entry includes your name, address, daytime telephone number, and email address. The winners will be randomly selected on the closing date: 21st April 2023

Terms and conditions apply: One entry per person. Prize must be claimed by 21st July 2023. When entering the competition online you have the option to not be entered in JLife Magazine and Your Health Bank’s databases to be contacted about news, promotions, and special offers. Postal entry data will not be saved. Publisher’s decision is final.

Style yourself happy by choosing one of the Manchester hair salons who are placing sustainability and a holistic approach alongside excellence.

A Cut Above

Climate change is a growing concern, and as large contributors to waste, salon owners know that establishing more sustainable practices is vital for future-proofing their businesses. The hairdressing industry has always been a big polluter with a large carbon footprint due to the sheer volume of its imperishable waste products. Thankfully, as the demand for ethically sourced products and environmentally friendly salons continues to grow, a number of Manchester’s finest have joined the Green Salon Collective (GCS). Created by environmental experts, hairdressers, and eco campaigners, the GCS is the original authority on holistic sustainability throughout the UK and Ireland with a vision of raising the standard of the hair and beauty industry to become more ethical and sustainable.

Check out some of the GCD accredited Manchester salons who are balancing excellence with green initiatives.

Shade Hair MCR 85 Princess Street | Manchester

Shade is a conscious, contemporary hair and wellbeing studio led by Director Jay Bowen. A team of skilled and creative practitioners offer innovative hair work using vegan, sustainable and eco-friendly Oway products, the world’s first professional organic hair colour, care, and styling line with biodynamic, organic, and fair-trade ingredients. Shade are big believers that a holistic approach to wellbeing can play an important part in our health, so they also offer massage and essential oils, mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and progressive conversations.

Shademcr.com

Amy-Sha, Mother of Hairdressing 34 Manchester Road | Manchester

A gender-neutral, ethical, family salon, Amy-Sha screams green. The team care about the planet, animals, and the integrity of your hair, so they only use the highest quality, low toxic vegan-friendly hair colour and products Oway Organics and Kevin Murphy. All products are restorative and packed with natural ingredients. The salon environment is a bohemian, safe, and super professional environment where you feel as comfy as you do at home.

Amy-sha.com

Alchemy Hairdressing | 419 Bury Old Road

Prestwich

A bespoke colour salon which focuses on your specific needs, Alchemy are Joico Colour Genius and Olaplex Certified and winners of Best Salon Manchester 2020 at the English Hair and Beauty Awards.

Community Heart of the

ORDINARY PEOPLE

Belong Morris Feinman and Manchester Jewish Museum pulled together generations to honour ordinary people this Holocaust Memorial Day.

Members of Belong Morris Feinman nursing home in collaboration with Manchester Jewish Museum welcomed young adults to enjoy a special preview of their work exploring ways to commemorate the Holocaust, employing this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme: ordinary people.

The dementia specialist nursing home, caring primarily for the city’s older Jewish community, offered the visiting group of Creative Activists an insight into their creative outputs with the Didsbury care village’s customers. Which included writing poetry, plays, and textile manufacturing. Their creations are set to be showcased in a programme of events and workshops at the Manchester Jewish Museum, aiming to connect the untold stories with local people.

In return, the guests had the chance to meet and greet residents, some of whom

include Holocaust refugees and survivors, who shared an exhibition in their home’s on-site synagogue documenting their own stories, while honouring the millions of Jews who suffered persecution in the hands of the Nazis.

Aged 16 up to 30 and from a number of different faiths, the Creative Activists joined the project from King David High School and The Manchester College. They worked alongside Manchester artist, Becky Prestwich, putting together the public event, We Remember Them In Verbs, for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023.

Angela Luckett, Religious and Cultural Coordinator at Belong, said: “We’re especially pleased to host our new friends. Our care village foundations were borne out of the Jewish plight, and similar to Manchester Jewish Museum and the Creative Activists, we believe it's imperative

to preserve history for future generations.

“It means the world to our customers to see this work happening, as well as being afforded the opportunity to communicate their own experiences with young people. We've also been invited to the museum later this month and we’re looking forward to seeing the full exhibition up-close.”

Gemma Meek, Programmes Manager at Manchester Jewish Museum, added: “Our visit to Belong Morris Feinmann was a beautiful experience. Young Creative Activists, Sally and Izzy, shared their work and were met with such kindness and understanding from the residents.

“We feel incredibly honoured to have heard some of the residents’ own experiences, journeys, and memories and we look forward to welcoming the group to Manchester Jewish Museum as part of our newly created friendship with them.”

FOLLOW THE LEADER

programming skills, and a chance to hear about preventative mental health from leading professionals.

JAMH, Jewish Action for Mental Health, has designed a free leadership course to equip teens from 15 to 18 with valuable skills and knowledge needed to become effective leaders in their communities. The leadership course included a range of activities and workshops that promoted teamwork, communication, creative

JAMH’s new dedicated youth worker, Nadav Woolfson, lead the programme and offered mentorship and guidance to the participants. He was supported by experienced youth worker, and JAMH trustee, Jonny Wineberg.

Nadav said: “The course is an opportunity for young people to become effective youth leaders delivering high

quality, diverse and creative programmes to other teenagers. We want to see all young people having the chance to develop and be part of activities that they both enjoy as well as strengthen their resilience to the challenges of today’s world.”

Jonny said: “We are excited for what JAMH can achieve with Nadav and young people who get involved with our work. Support for young people is crucial for the future of our community and we are proud to be part of their journey.”

JAMH provides free leadership courses for young people to equip them for the modern world.

It would be an understatement to say that the Family Courts are overwhelmed and under-resourced – something that has a direct impact on how long it takes cases to progress through the court process until matters are resolved.

When financial remedy proceedings are issued, the judge sitting at the Financial Dispute Resolution hearing (FDR) will provide a non-binding indication of how they feel the case should be settled, in order to assist the parties’ negotiations in the hope an agreement can be reached and a Final Hearing can be avoided.

FAMILY LAW

Family Courts – Delays and Alternatives

While the benefits of an FDR indication are significant, the time it can take for the hearing to be scheduled is ever increasing, due to the significant court backlogs. It is therefore more important than ever for parties to consider alternative methods of dispute resolution.

Spouses who feel that a judge’s indication would significantly assist their settlement discussions may wish to mirror an in-court FDR by arranging a private version of the hearing. An increasingly popular option, private FDRs will see a private judge delivering an early neutral evaluation of the likely outcome of the case if it progressed to a Final Hearing.

As well as benefiting from the accelerated timetable under which a private FDR can be scheduled, parties can expect the assigned judge to have a comprehensive grasp of their case, and an entire day can be set aside to

ensure they are given the best chance of reaching a resolution.

While private FDRs are not inexpensive, if a settlement is secured parties will avoid the substantial costs that would be incurred if their matter continued through the court process. With a success rate of 80 to 90%, private FDRs are often a no-brainer and the perfect solution for parties who are committed to reaching a resolution as swiftly as possible.

With Judith Klyne, Associate and Mediator at Hall Brown Family Law

No Place Like

place to climb or pose for a picture. For a shopping fix, explore the island’s largest town, Portree. Here you’ll find pretty, colourful buildings and fishing boats. Outaboutscotland.com

Edinburgh

Four of the best in…SCOTLAND

Glencoe

Outlander producers choose this Highland gem for the series’ opening credits, and Glencoe’s grim history and breath-taking scenery lures visitors from all over the world. The site of the infamous Massacre of 1692 where the MacDonald clan was ruthlessly slaughtered, Glencoe is a 16-mile drive from Fort William, but well worth the trek. Pay a visit to the famed Clachaig Inn and soak up the Highland welcome with one of 400 malt whiskeys and some hearty Highland fayre. Drop into the Glencoe Museum or search out the locations used in blockbuster movies such as Braveheart, Rob Roy, Harry Potter and Skyfall.

Visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/ glencoe/

Isle of Skye

The tranquil Isle of Skye is part of the Hebridean islands off the northwest shore of Scotland. From here you can watch the Atlantic Sea crash against the rugged shores and long sweeping sandy beaches. Hike along or take a swim (weather permitting) in the beautiful Fairy Pools which boast water so clear and luminous that it’s said that fairies have bathed in it. The Old Inn on the shores of Loch Harport is perfect for a wee dram. Explore Kilt Rock where waterfalls plummet into the sea and check out the famous Old Man of Storr, a great

Scotland’s historic capital is a gorgeous mix of olde-worlde charm and architectural grandeur. The beautifully preserved Medieval cobbled streets make up the Old Town, Prince’s Street (Scotland’s most famous and upmarket shopping area) and the supposedly haunted series of underground chambers known as the ‘vaults’. A visit wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Edinburgh Castle, while a stroll down the Royal Mile which leads from the castle down to the Scottish Parliament is lined with quirky shops, buzzing pubs and restaurants.

Visitscotland.com/ destinations-maps/edinburgh/ see-do/

Loch Ness

A place of myth and mystery, the most famous loch in the world is also one of the most beautiful places to visit in Scotland. Extremely deep, Loch Ness is the largest body of freshwater in Britain – maybe that’s why ‘Nessie’ chose to make this home? Located 37 kilometres southwest of Inverness, whether you believe in the Loch Ness Monster or not, there’s no denying that this is a special place.

Visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/ loch-ness/see-do/

Four of the best in…IRELAND

Galway, Co. Galway

The second largest county in Ireland and one of the Emerald Isle’s most popular and vibrant destinations, Galway is on many people’s bucket lists thanks to the popularity of Ed Sheeran’s Galway Girl. This delightful

university city is brimming with activity; theatre, Irish music, pubs, restaurants …but it’s the people of Galway who really make this this atmospheric city one to visit.

Historic-ireland.com

Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry

The Dingle Peninsula is an incredible stretch of natural beauty: seaside cliffs, sheep-strewn fields, and rich green hills. The North Atlantic ocean boasts superb seafood, and Dingle is the best place to try it. From quaint eateries to elegant venues overlooking the harbour, every restaurant serves meals inspired by the catch of the day. Learn about Dingle's famous resident, Fungie, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin who was first spotted off the coast of Dingle in 1983. Fungie is one of the main tourist magnets for the area and several cruise companies offer a boat ride to see him.

Rabbies.com/en/blog/12-reasons-visitdingle-peninsula-ireland

With the cost-of-living crisis eating into holiday budgets, there’s never been a better time to forgo the all-inclusive and explore the beauty of the United Kingdom.

LOCH NESS

ROCK OF CASHEL

Home

Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary

One of Ireland's most popular tourist attractions is also one of the most beautiful – a group of Medieval buildings (some dating back to the 12th Century) situated on an outcrop of limestone. Don't miss the Romanesque Cormac's Chapel, or the Hall of the Vicars, which houses several Celtic relics like the original Cross of St. Patrick. Heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/rockof-cashel/

Dublin

Packed with culture, creativity and craic (fun), Dublin boasts busy pubs, live music, shops and friendly faces. But Ireland’s capital is also a place of natural beauty if you head beyond the city. Dublin Bay opens up with coastal walks, little villages, wide

sea views and rugged mountain backdrops. Take to the mountains for a hike, go rockclimbing in Dalkey Quarry, walk the cliff path at Howth or join the Dublin hardcore who sea-swim whatever the weather.

Visitdublin.com

Four of the best in…WALES

Tenby, Pembrokeshire

Tenby is probably the most iconic seaside town in Wales. Full of charm, it is home to three great beaches: North, South and Castle, each with its own character. For culture, head to Tenby Museum or the National Trust owned Tudor Merchant’s House. For something a little different you could try evening ghost walks!

Visitwales.com/destinations/west-wales/ pembrokeshire/things-do-tenby

Brecon Beacons

The Brecon Beacons National Park offers a spectacular landscape rich in natural beauty. Practically free from light and noise pollution, it is the perfect break from modern life, with wide open spaces and secluded waterfalls. To get the most

stunning views of the area, trek to the highest point in South Britain – Pen-y-Fan.

Nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/breconbeacons

Snowdonia National Park

Snowdonia in northwest Wales is concentrated around the mountains and glaciers of the expansive Snowdonia National Park. The park's historic Snowdon Mountain Railway climbs to the summit of Wales's highest mountain, Mount Snowdon, offering views across the sea to Ireland. The park is also home to an extensive network of trails, over 100 lakes and craggy peaks like Cedar Idris and Tryfan. Just a short drive away is Caernarfon with its glorious Castle and Segontium Roman Fort.

Snowdonia.gov.wales

Langland Bay, Gower Penninsular

Langland Bay on the Gower Peninsular in Wales is a surfers’ paradise! However, if surfing is not your thing you could chill on the sandy shore and take in the amazing views, have a cuppa in a pretty café or stroll along the promenade. A magical place for children.

Visitwales.com

BRECON BEACONS

Community Heart of the

SPEAK UP

The Fed collaborates with Foundation 92 and The Imperial War Museum to give voice to traditional and modern concerns.

The Fed has two large projects on the go giving much needed airtime to issues both old and new. The organisation used its fundraising collaboration with Foundation 92 as an opportunity to speak on a public platform about the future of Manchester’s business and communities. The other project on the go is a Holocaust Memorial Day exhibit put together with The Imperial War Museum to give voice to Holocaust survivors to share their life stories.

The Fed has been working with the Imperial War Museum to chronical the stories of Holocaust survivors in their own words. Working with survivors and refugees, The Fed aims to focus on the life stories of survivors – before, during and after the war years – to show the tragedy in the context of their lives.

A new exhibition, Generations: Portrait of Survivors opened at The Imperial War Museum North on Holocaust Memorial Day. The exhibition features six of The Fed’s My Voice storytellers – Ike Alterman, Anne Super, Tomi Komoly, Ruth & Werner Lachs and Marianne Phillips. The portraits of the exhibition subjects are expertly taken by photographer Simon Hill.

Survivors and their family members alongside members of Fed staff and selected guests were given a private viewing of the exhibition before it opened to the public in a heartfelt evening of solidarity.

The exhibition, which is open until summer 2023, acts as a tribute to the indomitable survivors who bring hope and encouragement to people of all backgrounds who now face the challenge of rebuilding their lives after similar trauma. They settled in and around Manchester building successful, positive lives despite the horrors they had experienced. That such a project sits within a social care organisation and offers ongoing support to the storytellers is even more special.

Meanwhile, The Fed has also hosted a fundraising event with Foundation 92 to great success. Over 190 guests met at Hotel Football to support the work generating over £63,000 of essential funds to support both organisations. Since the start of the pandemic Foundation 92 and The Fed have been working closely together, across communities and faiths to ensure those most in need and vulnerable receive the support they need and deserve. Both charities support thousands of people of all ages every year who suffer with mental health issues, poverty, isolation and loneliness.

The event included a panel discussion recorded for radio hosted by Radio 5 Live’s Nihal Arthanayake about

business in Manchester. The panellists included big names from Manchester: Nicky Butt – CEO of Salford City FC, Cllr Bev Craig – Leader of Manchester City Council, Mark Adlestone OBE DL– the Chairman of Beaverbrooks the Jewellers, Charlie Norman – CEO of Mosscare St Vincent's Housing Group and Lisa Morton –Founder and Owner of Roland Dransfield.

The panellists discussed challenges facing Manchester’s communities, the future of Manchester, why philanthropy is so important for businesses to engage with, and how businesses can give back to create a stronger future. A diverse Q&A session, a raffle, and an auction took place, with all funds generated support the organisations’ programmes across Greater Manchester.

Whitefield House Residential Care Home promises to add a touch of luxury to your loved ones’ through its top-quality facilities and engaging community activities. The family-run house is a beautiful Victorian build located between quiet green spaces Whitefield Park and Stand Church. Its interior boasts a tasteful blend of modern and traditional décor with large, gardenoverlooking windows which fill the space with natural light.

Home From Home

walks provide an opportunity to get out in nature, while some prefer a visit to Slattery’s Chocolatier to enjoy the handmade luxury chocolates, cakes, and ice cream.

In-house entertainment is also provided daily. Activities such as flower arranging, dominoes, wine and cheese tasting evenings, and cinema and quiz nights are very popular among the residents. The house has also been known to celebrate international holidays and celebration days by decorating the house and having a themed menu in honour of the holiday.

at home to ensure a sense of wellbeing that their room is their private sanctuary.

Communal areas include spacious lounges to socialise, quiet areas to read or rest, an elegant dining room, enclosed gardens and patios – especially beautiful in the summer months, and even an in-house salon for a pamper. The layout compliments Whitefield Houses’ person-centred approach to care, giving residents control over how and where they spend their time and live their day-to-day lives.

In addition to full-time residency Whitefield House also offers day-care and respite care, which can help to gradually ease loved ones into a care home environment.

Whitefieldhouse.co.uk

A social home, Whitefield House has 40 rooms all of which are luxuriously decorated single en-suites. Many rooms have garden views, and some have direct garden access. Residents are encouraged to bring items of furniture which would make them feel more

Whitefield House’s ambition to deliver a feeling of independence and happiness also extends to its home-cooked meal service. A menu using fresh produce is designed to each resident’s expressed preferences, dietary and nutritional needs including vegetarian options and kosher meals upon request. To ensure residents feel that Whitefield House is like home, family members and friends are welcome to dine at the house together upon request.

Local activities include regular trips in to Whitefield offering residents an opportunity to socialise with others and people-watch while enjoying a coffee and a pastry. Local

Whitefield House offers a homely and caring environment for all its residents making them feel part of the family.

We can accommodate 37 residents across 37 bedrooms which are single en-suite. All are beautifully furnished to a high standard, many with garden views, some with direct patio access.

We invite our residents to bring familiar pieces of furniture with them for their new rooms to make them feel at home.

The Victorian character of the property is evident in some of the communal rooms where we have a number of beautiful spacious lounges, some that give access to a secure patio area. We also have quiet areas and an elegant dining room.

The property has an enclosed garden which offers peace and tranquil surroundings all year round.

Should family and friends wish to join residents for a meal we will happily accommodate the request to ensure our residents feel that Whitefield House is their home.

Food

Respite Care

We understand that everyone needs a break from time to time and we can offer Respite care.

This service also allows the gradual introduction to a care home environment and helps put loved ones needing support at ease knowing their visits are for a limited period of time.

Mealtimes are an important social and enjoyable experience for our residents.

All meals are home-cooked by our catering staff using fresh produce. We design our menus to cater for our residents’ expressed preferences, dietary and nutritional needs.

Day Care

For the individual being cared for, it offers an opportunity to experience new surroundings and meet new friends within a safe environment.

Set within a beautiful Victorian property and idyllic grounds, Whitefield House is a family run residential care home which offers many aspects of care to support the independence of its residents in later life.

The atmosphere throughout the home is one of a welcoming family environment within a beautiful building, benefiting from a blend of modern and traditional furnishings.

New Beginnings

Spring has sprung, and you might be hearing the phrase “ISA season” an awful lot. This is because we’re almost at the end of the tax year (5th April), and time is running out to make use of the tax-free allowances offered by Individual Savings Accounts, also known as ISAs. We asked Vinodh Josh, a Client Director at Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management, to tell us more about ISAs, and why they have such widespread appeal.

“The main attraction of an ISA is that it allows you to reap the benefits of your savings and investments, free of UK income or capital gains tax,” Vinodh tells us. “If you have a sizeable savings pot, an ISA could potentially save you quite a lot in tax over time.”

For the tax year ending shortly, and for the one just about to begin, the maximum allowance that anyone can pay into an ISA is £20,000. There are lots of different types of ISAs on the market, and you can divide your allowance between them, provided you don’t pay in more than a total of £20,000

in a single tax year. In theory, you have until one minute to midnight on 5th April to add money to your ISA savings. Unfortunately, if you save less than the total allowance this tax year, you cannot carry over the unused part. It’s also a good idea to start thinking about next year’s ISA savings early.

Once invested, Vinodh notes that your ISA savings from previous years (along with any financial gains) can remain in your ISA alongside new savings, without incurring tax or counting towards your annual allowance: “In this way, it’s possible to build up a goodsized pot over time, keeping your savings safe from taxation until you’re ready to withdraw the money. You can also transfer your ISA savings to a new provider without losing out on these benefits but be sure to take advice first.”

With so many ISA products on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. We asked Vinodh about Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management’s Stocks and Shares ISA, for those considering using an ISA to invest in financial markets.

“A stocks and shares ISA can be a great way to ‘dip a toe’ into financial markets,” Vinodh says. “Our ISAs help our customers to invest in our multi asset funds, whilst

maintaining the tax-free wrapper that they love. The funds are made up of a mixture of assets, carefully selected to match the levels of risk our customers feel most comfortable with. We typically include investments in global stock markets and bond markets, as well as some positions in ‘alternative’ areas of the market, like specialist hedge funds and gold.”

Of course, financial markets offer no guarantees, and the value of your ISA investments could go down as well as up. Stocks and shares ISAs also usually involve a fee, so it’s important that you understand what your provider is trying to achieve on your behalf.

If you’d like to take a fresh look at ISAs or find out which type of ISA could be right for you, the staff at your local Handelsbanken branch, Manchester Trinity Way, would be happy to talk you through some options. You can call them on 0161 834 7166, or email manchestertrinityway@handelsbanken. co.uk.

At the start of the season of new beginnings, Vinodh Josh talks us through tax-free savings.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

UK Leads Business Delegation to Israel in Support of FTA

His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner, Chris Barton CMG, led a 30-strong business delegation from the UK financial services sector on a three-day intensive visit to meet with Israeli businesses, regulators and policy makers. The delegation brought together a leading group of associations including UKFinance, CityUK and CBI. Fintechs such as Revolut, and Wise, and major global players such as Citi and the London Stock Exchange Group.

The delegation showcased the groundswell of support among UK services firms for an upgraded FTA with Israel, one of the world’s fastest growing, most innovative and dynamic economies. In parallel to the delegation, UK and Israeli negotiators held technical discussions on Financial Services as part of the FTA negotiations. Both sides are working towards a second round of negotiations in due course.

Debbie Serota, Partner and Head of Israel desk at Irwin Mitchell said: “An advanced FTA between the UK & Israel will deliver significant new opportunities for Irwin Mitchell and our clients as a major legal firm and large exporter of services. Our clients (both business and personal) are showing increased interest in Israel and the delegation visit was a great opportunity to explore the opportunities which Israel presents as a market for trade and investment.”

Labradors Sniff Out Cancer

SpotitEarly are a group of multidisciplinary experts dedicated to making cancer diagnosis accurate, affordable and as easy as breathing. In a recent clinical trial, the Israel-based company have found Labradors can sniff early signs of cancer with a 93% success rate.

Co-Founder Udi Bobrovsky says: “If you discover cancer in its early stages, you can save nine out of 10 people. If you discover cancer in the fourth stage, you can only save one out of 10 people. If we can help discover cancer in the early stage, we can do a great thing for humanity.”

The trained dogs were able to identify the four most common cancers – prostate, lung, breast, and colon – by the way they responded to the patients’ breath samples.

If successful for public use, the user will purchase an at home sample kit which they

A round up of the latest local business and UK Israel Trade news.

will then post to a sniffing station where the specially trained dogs will sniff the sample. If the dog’s behavior alerts the AI algorithm that cancer is detected, further medical testing will be done on the patient.

Rishi Sunak to Visit Israel

Rishi Sunak has announced he will visit Israel this year to mark the Jewish state’s 75th birthday.

The Prime Minister revealed his plans during the Conservative Friends of Israel’s annual business lunch, addressing a packed crowd which included Chief Rabbi Mirvis and Israel’s UK Ambassador, Tzipi Hotovely.

Former Prime Ministers Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, and Theresa May also attended the event.

“Israel is an incredibly important ally of the UK, and our friendship has never been closer,” said Mr Sunak when discussing UK-Israel relations. “It’s a friendship which makes all our citizens healthier, prosperous, and safer.

“Israel’s 75th birthday will also be a landmark year after so many years of struggle but also success. The Conservative Party will continue to stand resolutely beside the homeland of the Jewish people.”

Pubs Homeless Appeal

The Red Lion on New Bury Road has launched a Helping the Homeless Appeal which calls for people to donate items of use and in good condition to Joseph Holt pubs. The appeal in collaboration with charities Lifeshare and Barnabus prioritse the need for warm clothing, coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and sleeping bags.

The appeal follows Joseph Holt’s Winter 2022 Charity Appeal which aims to reach a target of £50,000 to supply defibrillators for the local community. The collections began in September 2022 and are finishing at the end of March 2023, the aim is to have defibrillators positioned in communities around its entire pub estate.

Cows End the War on Antibiotics

The overuse of antibiotics is causing a decline in their efficiency from bacteria’s

ability to mutate and resist them. But new research has indicated the problem doesn’t lie in local GPs over-prescribing, it lies with farmers overdosing their cattle.

Livestock account for 70% of all antibiotics used globally as farmers find it cheaper to prevent udder infections in cows than to treat them when they occur. As cows and humans have some overlap in the bacteria they carry, cows becoming resistant to antibiotics can transfer to humans through the meat and dairy we consume.

Miletutis, an Israeli bio-pharmaceutical start up, has developed a natural alternative to keep animals healthy without antibiotics. It’s solution, Imilac, uses peptides – small proteins – extracted from milk which are then lab processed into a medicine which boosts the cow’s immune system. David Javier Iscovich CEO of Miletutis says: “We have spoken to farmers in the UK, in South America, North America, China and India. And for them, it’s a game changer.”

Partnership Launched to Bolster Manchester’s Businesses

City centre events venue, Manchester Central, has struck up a significant partnership with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce to bolster the region’s business opportunities. The two organisations have aligned in a bid to connect businesses right across the city region, helping to build networks and add value to firms of all sizes.

Throughout the partnership, there will be joint promotion of events and ongoing collaborations to ensure as many businesses in the city as possible have the opportunity to connect with each other. Shaun Hinds, CEO at Manchester Central, said: “Businesses of all sizes are the lifeblood of our regional economy and mutually benefit from connecting with others to grow and develop.”

The partnership also helps to underpin the resurgence of major events returning to the city. Just last week, Manchester Central revealed that visitor numbers between October and December 2022 reached 92,000, a 77% increase on the previous quarter.

Heathlands Introduces Travelling Library

Langdon College students are now visiting Heathlands Village every other week with a travelling library. The college provides a varied programme of study for Jewish students with learning difficulties, disabilities, social anxiety or autistic spectrum disorders.

Teacher and personal tutor, Holly Henderson, told us: “We just thought it’s a nice opportunity to go into the community and share out books at places like Heathlands and to socialise with others to help build on student’s communication skills. It’s been going really nicely so far and great to work with Heathlands who have been so supportive of us.”

One resident who immediately took advantage was Aubrey Noyek who describes himself as an avid reader: “It’s really good and you can keep the book as long as you like.”

The college will visit the Village biweekly.

Hair Growth for Charity

Young Ben Sarak has been growing his hair for charity since lockdown. For three years Ben has been doing this to make a wig for a child with cancer and to raise money for The Fed in the process. He finally got his haircut at the end of January having raised £2,500 for the charity – who looked after his late Great Grandpa, Gerry Golombeck.

It wasn’t easy for 12-year-old Ben, he’s had a lot of stick for it – including bullying and even being punched by a total stranger in the street – but he’s stuck to his task regardless.

In the run up to the big day, Ben and Natasha appeared on Granada Reports, BBC Radio Manchester and a host of national newspapers.

Max Heads Bar-Ilan’s British Friends

Former Chief Executive of Manchester Jewish Museum, Max Dunbar, has been appointed Executive Director of the British Friends of Bar-Ilan University.

Dunbar had spent the past 11 years transforming Manchester Jewish Museum, raising £6 million to build a major extension and restore the museum’s historic Sephardi synagogue. Having spearheaded the museum’s fundraising efforts, he will now be responsible for gathering support and raising the profile of Bar-Ilan University in the UK.

With over 20,000 students, 29 libraries and the largest Jewish Studies Faculty in the world, Bar-Ilan University is one of Israel’s leading universities. Located in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, the university has nine faculties, uniquely combining

cutting-edge scientific and medical research with education steeped in Jewish values and social responsibility.

Commenting on his new position, Max said: “I’m thrilled to be representing Bar-Ilan University here in the UK. On my recent visit, I saw first-hand the remarkable work Bar-Ilan is doing with Israeli communities and in the fields of health, medicine and renewable energy. I’m looking forward to sharing this work with communities across the UK, helping the university make a positive impact in Israel and around the world.”

King David Pupils Do Lunch

Year 5 pupils from King David have been visiting Heathlands Village every Tuesday to eat their lunch and chat with residents and tenants.

As an intergenerational activity it is proving a great success and brings much joy and laughter. The pupils arrive, grab their lunch from our onsite café and head to the activity hub where they sit happily passing the time of day with Villagers for half an hour.

Resident, Pauline Goodman, spoke about how much she enjoyed yesterday’s visit. One particular boy spent the whole session chatting to Pauline: “He left me a fabulous little origami model he’d made earlier; I’ve got it in my room, it’s so lovely.” Pauline was also impressed about how erudite the young man was: “He spoke so clearly and fluently; he was marvellous and so mature.”

Busy Months at North Manchester Reform Synagogue

North Manchester Reform has been busy with internal and external events. It is continuing to support Prestwich Street kitchen and in December two of its members assisted at the organisation’s Christmas meal.

In January, the shul hosted a joint service with Jackson Row when one of Jackson Row’s members celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. It was a wonderful joyous occasion, with more Bar Mitzvahs in the coming months.

Coming up, the Megillah reading will be on 6th March at 5.45pm, after holding a children’s tea and games party. Nonmembers and their children are welcome to attend. Another date for the diary is 6th

April at 6.30pm when the synagogue will again be holding its communal Seder, and “Little Music Stars“ music and movement sessions for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers continues each Mondays.

Synagogue Scratch

This spring Manchester Jewish Museum will be holding its inaugural ‘Synagogue Scratch’ season, which celebrates exciting, fresh, Jewish, Mancunian work, ranging from first ever live performances and script in hand developmental pieces, to fully formed theatrical work.

The museum is supporting the work of local, up-and-coming artists at all stages of their work-in-progress. Whether you’re into TV sitcoms, theatrical productions, or thought-provoking historical pieces, come and support brave and bold new work this spring.

Manchesterjewishmuseum.com/season/ synagogue-scratch-2023

J-Hub Hosts Event

J-Hub is a brand new organisation, with the aim of bringing together Jewish people across Greater Manchester and beyond, regardless of background, to connect with each other through a shared heritage.

The organisation will host an event on 21st March at Fairway Lodge, Prestwich. entitled “Preacher’s Daughter to Proud Jew”, and will feature Sara and Yosef Hollingsworth who will discuss how they left behind their previous devout Christian lives and embraced authentic Judaism. Attendees can hear how they overcame a myriad or obstacles to achieve their dream, all while taking advantage of the events dessert bar, and being entertained by live music. See the advert on page xx for more details.

Mindel Celebrates 100th Birthday

Mindel Rose, celebrated her centenary in style with a Scottish-themed party at her home, Belong Morris Feinmann, the care village primarily catering for the Jewish community, in Didsbury, South Manchester.

Angela Luckett, religious and cultural coordinator, said: “Our Mindel, a fabulously funny, glorious Glaswegian, and much loved wee Scottish lassie. We gave her the best day; this is what 100 looks like!”

THE ACCOUNTANTS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

We

Murray Patt, Founder

Westgate

hello@alexanderknightaccountants.co.uk

Alexander Knight & Co.

ACCOUNTANCY

Artificial Intelligence

Small businesses often operate with limited resources, which can make it challenging to compete with larger, more established companies.

However, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), small businesses can now leverage advanced technology to increase their efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction – to make them more competitive.

ChatGPT is one such AI technology that can help small businesses and has gained worldwide attention since a free version of it was recently released. Some of our clients are already seeing its benefits. It can be integrated into a website, social media account, or messaging platform, allowing customers to interact with a business in a personalised, conversational manner.

This technology can help small businesses in several ways, including:

1. Improving customer service: One of the biggest benefits of ChatGPT is that it can provide immediate, personalized responses to customer inquiries. By using natural language processing (NLP), it can understand and respond to customer queries in real-time, which can help businesses provide better customer service.

2. Reducing response time: ChatGPT can handle a large volume of customer inquiries simultaneously, which means that customers don’t have to wait in long queues to get their questions answered. This can help businesses reduce their response time and improve customer satisfaction.

3. Providing 24/7 customer support: ChatGPT is available 24/7, which means that businesses can offer support to their customers at any time, even when their physical location is closed.

4. Saving costs: By automating customer service, small businesses can save costs on hiring and training customer support staff. ChatGPT can handle most customer inquiries, which means that businesses can use their resources more efficiently.

5. Increasing sales: It can also be used to generate leads and drive sales. By engaging customers in personalised conversations, businesses can build a relationship with their customers and increase their chances of making a sale.

6. Enhancing marketing efforts: ChatGPT can be used to enhance marketing efforts by providing personalised recommendations, content, and targeted messaging.

Overall, as AI technology continues to advance, it’s likely that more SMEs will turn to tools like ChatGPT to improve their operations and stay competitive in their industries. This article, for example was written using it!

Contact me to discuss your accountancy requirements on (0161) 980 8788 or email murray@alexanderknightaccountants.co.uk

With Murray Patt, founder of Hale-based accountants

ALL PHOTOS: LAWRENCE PURCELL

YEAR TWO KING DAVID PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS SHOW OFF THEIR HANDMADE MENORAHS BACK AT CHANUKAH.

BURY AND WHITEFIELD JEWISH PRIMARY PUPIL, SOPHIE RUBEN, AGE 5, HOLDS HER CERTIFICATE FOR WINNING THE JNF DREIDEL DESIGN COMPETITION.

KING DAVID PRIMARY PUPILS DRESS IN BLUE TO TAKE PART IN NATIONAL FUNDRAISING DAY, BLUE-ISH JEWISH, FOR JEWISH CHILDREN’S CHARITY.

LORD MAYOR OF MANCHESTER, COUNCILLOR DONNA LUDFORD VISITED THE TU B'SHVAT TREE PLANTING AT THE NICKY ALLIANCE CENTRE.

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, IKE ALTERMAN, POINTS HIMSELF OUT IN A

PICTURE FROM 1940S PRAGUE ON HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY.

Community Heart of the

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Elaine Bermitz reports back from Tony Mason and Susan Joseph’s popular 60s evening, which raised £1,000 for Hatzolah.

When Tony Mason and Susan Joseph announced the return of their popular 60s Nights after the long break due to COVID, it sold out in a couple of hours. The evening was in aid of Hatzolah, the Jewish run rescue and ambulance service which serves both the Jewish and wider community. The ticket sales and raffle raised more than £1,000 for the service.

Tony and the group enjoy the music of that golden era when pop was introducing itself the world, so their work carries a certain authenticity, which is derived from firsthand exposure. More than that, the keen and constant rehearsals over nearly ten years which have made the biggest difference to their performance. Susan Joseph, the organiser of the event, is an experienced impresario whose outstanding chairmanship of the Jewish Theatre Company is well known. She worked hard with Tony Mason to make this an excellent evening and her choice of guest artist as Diana Ross was well-

received.

The committee dressed Bury Shul as a 60s theme venue for the event, which added to the atmosphere, and the audience, both before and after a full meal, lost no time in getting to their feet and responding to the music.

The first set by the band got everyone dancing to songs by The Beatles, Cliff Richard and other 60s staples, so that by the time the food arrived at the tables everyone was hungry enough to do justice to the lavish hospitality. Diana Ross, an extraordinarily authentic look-alike came on to her signature song I'm Comin' Out and continued with some of Miss Ross's solo tunes. However, when she went back to the Supremes songs: Ain't no Mountain High

Enough and Touch Me in the Morning, these enthused the audience most. The 60s band closed the evening, leaving most of us wondering how twist seemed easy or whether we shouldn't have all worn trainers for the evening, but all recalling the sheer fun that 60s music produced in their time.

In the words of Jon Bon Jovi, who wasn't there: “I'm not old, I'm just older” was the motto of the night. Older, yes, slower, yes, but oh so much more appreciative.

NEW DEAL

Minister for Faith praises JAMH’s boost for mental health and food support.

Jewish Action for Mental Health (JAMH) and Greater Manchester Neshomo met with the Minister for Faith, Baroness Scott of Bybrook, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The meeting –joined by partners from the £93,900 Faith New Deal Pilot Fund project – looked at its results, and discussed implications.

The project partners also include L’Chaim Foodbank, Rainbow Surprise, Manchester Sikh Foundation (also known as Feed My City), Salford Community & Voluntary Services, and Salford Foodshare Network.

Outcomes from the project so far include 100% satisfaction with mental health support received; 96% saying that support had met their specific faith/cultural needs; 100% believed that access to a culturally sensitive service was of added benefit compared to mainstream services; 86% of users thought that support helped reduced their social isolation; and 87% believed that support had reduced fear of addressing their mental health.

57.7% of respondents reported reduced need to seek help from the NHS, while only 5.1% reported increased need.

Jonny Wineberg, Trustee of JAMH and Project Officer, said: “We are immensely

proud of what we have achieved here, exceeding the targets we agreed, benefiting thousands of people facing both food poverty and mental health issues. We emphasised to Baroness Scott the fact that poverty is the single biggest driver of ill health, and that the relationship is bidirectional in that poverty causes ill health, and ill health causes poverty. Anxiety and depression are 50% more prevalent in the most deprived tenth of the country so, in Greater Manchester, that means 25% of households. Also, the fact that children living in low-income households are more than three times as likely to have a mental health condition than those in high-income households.”

Sleep Well

Pairing traditional elements with more contemporary accents, the modern take on the classic heritage style is the perfect blend of "old meets new.” Explore more of the full trend for some of old-world charm and grandeur inspiration for the bedroom.

1. French Armoire | £1,895

Adding elegance and practicality to an essential bedroom furniture piece, the French armoire is a classic wardrobe choice which easily blends with any existing furniture. Crafted from wood sourced from sustainably managed forests, this armoire is beautifully accented with a French fawn and antique white finish, with a clever removable clothes rail and hidden drawers providing some extra room inside.

Frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

2. Console Table | £600

Adding some extra storage using a pair of console tables on both sides of the bed can also achieve the classic and simple look in line with the heritage style. Built to order in bespoke sizes, this console range includes a variety of natural colours, oak finishes, and antique drawer handles to inject some extra personality to the bedroom.

Paintedfurnitureco.co.uk

3. Parlyte Green Paint | £20

Primarily based on natural hues, heritage colour palettes are an ideal way to add an essence of nature into the home. Touching up the bedroom doorframes, windowsills, or small furniture pieces with a soft light sage green paint and satin finish will do the trick to create a relaxed and inviting environment.

Thorndown.co.uk

4. Gingham Cushion | £45

Inspired by cosy country cottages and classic summer dresses, gingham cushions introduce a touch of rural house style to the bedroom. Handwoven with a high-quality cotton and tufted edges, throwing a few of these cushions anywhere on the bed or a feature sofa will add extra comfort and character to the room.

Grahamandgreen.co.uk

5. Patterned Wallpaper | £79

Still block printed in the same way as when they were first produced, traditional wallpapers are a timeless design staple with a huge range of historic colours and patterns to choose from. Inspired by nature, this floral duck egg wallpaper is a perfect way to delicately add a layer of luxury and sophistication to the bedroom.

Fionahoward.com

Get nostalgic in the bedroom with our modern heritage style tips, blending modern and classic aesthetics.

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Spot Check

Mr Chow and Mr Gulamhusein of Urology Clinics Manchester discuss what to do if you find a testicular lump.

I can feel a lump in my testicle, should I be worried?

Do not panic! Most lumps or swellings in the scrotum are not actually within the testicle. They either arise from structures close to the testicle or are just on the surface. These are mostly benign and not cancerous.

What could it be?

There are a variety of non-cancerous conditions that can cause a swelling. These include:

• Hydrocele: a collection of fluid in the sac around the testicle. This is often pain free but can grow and cause symptoms.

• Varicocele: a cluster of enlarged veins in the scrotum, which can feel like ‘a bag of worms. It can be associated with a dull ache.

• Epididymal cyst: fluid filled swelling found in a structure called the epididymis just next to the body of the testicle. The size can vary from a few mm to a few cm.

• Hernia: a swelling that comes from the groin. When it is large it can go into the scrotum. It may come and go.

• Epididymitis: infection within the epididymis can cause a painful swelling. It can spread to the testicle and scrotum called epididymo-orchitis.

• Testicular torsion: a sudden onset painful swelling caused by a twisted testicle. This will need immediate emergency surgery otherwise the testicle may die due to the blood supply being cut off.

A lump may also however, be a sign of testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is a rare but very treatable cancer typically found in younger men but not always. It commonly presents with a hard lump or increased firmness in the testicle. Pain is not typically a symptom, but it may be present in about one out of four men.

Do I need to see a doctor?

Although the majority of swellings are of a benign cause, you should always seek urgent advice from a medical professional, as you do not want to miss anything more serious. It is a common complaint, and you should not feel embarrassed about get it checked out. Your doctor will be very used to dealing with this.

What will the doctor do?

The doctor will ask you some questions about the lump such as how long it has been there, whether there has been a change in size and whether there is any pain or tenderness. They will ask you about your general health and any relevant information such as a history of an undescended testicle, infections, surgery, or trauma to the area. The doctor will want to examine the lump and testicle to determine what it is. Further tests may be required such as urine and blood tests on the day, and an ultrasound may be arranged usually for another day.

Will I need surgery?

Not everyone needs surgery, in fact most do not. Small, benign lumps which are not causing any symptoms do not require surgery. If there is a strong suspicion of cancer, then surgery to remove the testicle and cancer is the usual treatment. For benign lesions, the reasons for surgery include symptoms such as pain, a large size causing inconvenience, or for cosmetic reasons. Surgery or treatment may also be advised for large varicoceles when there is also infertility, as there is an association between a significant varicocele and poor semen quality which could improve with treatment.

I have a benign lump that does not need treatment, do I need to keep an eye on it? If you have a benign lump that does

not need any treatment you will usually be discharged. Patients who have had treatment for testicular cancer will be followed up closely in the hospital setting. It is recommended that all men carry out monthly testicular self-examination. If there is a change in the lump or new symptoms, then you should see the doctor again.

How do I carry out testicular selfexamination?

This is best done after a bath or shower when you are relaxed. It should be done in the standing position. Always compare one side to the other. You should try and feel the weight of the testicle. You should feel all around the entire surface of the testicle with both hands. You should note the smoothness and consistency of the testicle. Attached to the back and extending from the top to the bottom of the testicle, is a structure called the epididymis. It consists of tubes which may be slightly irregular in nature, but they are usually soft. Benign cysts are common in the epididymis but sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between a lump arising from the epididymis and one arising from the testicle so we would advise that this be determined by a professional.

By carrying out regular examinations you will get to know your own body, so when there is a change, it will be more noticeable, and you will know when to seek medical attention appropriately.

Urologyclinics.co.uk

Mr Aziz Gulamhusein Consultant Urological & Robotic Surgeon

Mr Karyee Chow Consultant Urological Surgeon

Box Office

Elaine Bermitz reviews Steven Spielberg’s new semi-autobiographical film, The Fablemans.

which would fill a film in themselves, but who are lightly drawn. Themes of insecurity anxiety, antisemitism, marital break-up, and even morality, all touched on but never allowed to distract from the central subject of the film – how do genius and life sit side by side?

Uncle Boris, Sammy's runaway uncle, who makes a short appearance in The Fablemans gets to the truth of the film when he tells the blossoming film director why his mother is so unhappy. "What she's got in her heart is what I got. Like you I think, we are junkies and art is our drug. Family we love. But art – we are meshuga for art."

And he leaves, rushing away from his grieving sister, who is mourning the loss of their mother to excess, back to the world of lion taming, where his particular art is "keeping the lion from biting your head off."

There are Oscar nominated performances in this long, tender film-by the mother Michelle Williams and especially by Gabriel LaBelle, the teenage Fableman, who can only make sense of himself and of life through the lens of a camera and who, along with his three sisters is caught up in an increasing tense family drama.

Their mother, father, and family friend Benny all have stories

Play Time

JLife’s Elaine Bermitz reports back from The Jewish Theatre Company’s new production California Suite.

The Jewish Theatre Company has chosen a great new venue for its latest production. Opening on the 20th March and running until 23rd the JTC presents Neil Simon's California Suite at The Empty Space Theatre, close to Media City and five-minutes-walk from Broadway Metro Station. There is also car parking space to the front and close by, which makes it very accessible for all.

Stacey Friedman is directing, and she says California Suite is a gentler version of the more well-known Plaza Suite, which was a huge hit in the seventies for Neil Simon. Taking place in an intimate space, the set is another character, listening along with the audience to four couples’ reactions to one another. Their mistakes, follies and wrong assumptions are there for everyone to see, and laugh at. Neil Simon, more than other British playwrights takes us right into the character's heads, often with outrageous outcomes.

The theatre holds 140 people and is ideal for this type of play. The Jewish Theatre Company will I am sure make a terrific job of this play by one of the 20th century's funniest and most perceptive writers. So, take a trip to The Empty Space and be assured of a great evening out.

Eventually Sammy understands that his parents’ marriage will break up, and that his mother, at least, cannot live without love, and he tries to be the model son, living with his father and studying to get a career, not the “hobby” that his father describes his filmmaking as. But we already know the choice he made and, by the end of the film, his future is clear.

Extremely well shot, accompanied by beautiful music, Sammy's mother is a concert pianist with a temperament to match, and unfolding in a meandering, sometimes hilarious, revelatory manner (Spielberg is approaching 80 after all) the film takes its time to unfold and needs patience to watch.

But if you want to understand how the young mind works of the man who gave you Jaws, Close Encounters, E.T, Raiders of The Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Munich, Tin Tin, and Schindler’s List and many more, it will be worth it.

As Pesach approaches, we find joy and comfort in celebrating with our community. Community is truly at the heart of this special festival, and it is at the heart of CST’s mission: everything we do, we do with our community in mind. Every Jewish person in the UK should be able to lead the Jewish life they choose for themselves, without fearing for their safety in doing so.

This is why our commitment to security is unwavering. We must stay vigilant to the reality that confronts us: antisemitism, extremism and terrorism pose a constant threat. The last few years have demonstrated that those who hold this prejudice not only look to attack the biggest, most established

communities, but also those that are relatively small. Every Jewish community needs security, and we are dedicated to protecting it in its entirety.

This protection can only happen together. You can trust CST to be there, working tirelessly to secure our community, as we have been for decades. This trust works both ways, and we trust that our community will support our efforts too; in fact, we rely on it.

Our volunteers are at the core of our operation. They are trained in the theoretical, technical and physical aspects of modern-day security. Our training courses are always open to new recruits who wish help protect their synagogue and fellow congregants from the dangers that face us.

We also trust that our community will

report antisemitism and suspicious activity to us when it happens. Every report provides us with a deeper understanding of how, why, and where anti-Jewish hate manifests in the UK and enables us to better represent our community to police, government and other partners committed to tackling this prejudice.

To fulfil our mission, we depend on the generosity of our community. Only through donations can we maintain our work and continue to safeguard Jewish schools, synagogues, communal organisations and events and – in turn – the flourishing of Jewish life in all its vibrancy.

However, you choose to give it, your help goes a long way in service of our community. From everyone at CST, we wish you a Chag Pesach Sameach.

Cst.org.uk

In Memory

The Manchester Jewish Museum in conjunction with The Imperial War Museum North West is hosting a multimedia exhibition called One Story, Many Voices, in which visitors are invited to share the many stories, testimonies, and experiences of survivors of the Second World War.

This exhibition, combined with the remarkable series of events and recitals which were attended by an invited audience on Holocaust Memorial Day and a second audience, including the Mayor of Manchester Donna Ludford on the following Sunday showcased the wide variety of contributions to this most important day. Young artists, from the Creative Activist group displayed their own journeys from persecution to freedom in one of the side galleries, while Laura Nathan's artwork "Weaving Narratives", telling of her grandparent’s departure from Germany was displayed on the wall above the beautifully restored synagogue.

The museum’s resident theatre group wrote, produced, and performed a thought-provoking two hander, voicing the reactions of modern day witnesses to the Holocaust story. Played by Marlon Solomon and Jennifer Hullman, it drew warm applause from the audience of more than two hundred. After a reception and a chance to look round the museum, and enjoy refreshments in its award winning cafe, which is open all week to all, and some words from the Mayor, the guests returned to the synagogue. Here a further production left the varied and receptive audience informed educated and reminded of the epoch changing effects of this dreadful event and others like it, so they were left with a balanced, if horrifying view of the worst mankind can do.

More of Laura Nathan's work to do with the Holocaust can be seen at the Lowry Theatre in Salford in their Special Exhibitions Gallery, and the Imperial War Museum North West is home to an inspiring exhibition of photographs called "Generations: Photographs of Holocaust Survivors" until this summer.

All of these exhibitions pay tribute to those who were involved and those who were responsible for its commemoration have done so with respect and the desire to draw parallels will more recent events. Long must their essential work continue.

Elaine Bermitz reports back from the Manchester Jewish Museum’s Holocaust Memorial Day exhibition.

Comfort and Style

Get that fitness look without any of the work with our top picks of the latest athleisure wear.

Shok hoodie | TK Maxx | £19.99

This hoodie proves that fitness can still be fashionable. Made from soft lilac 100% cotton, it’s perfect for the gym or a lazy day at home. The peace sign decal is reminiscent of the 70s and perfectly captures the 70s nostalgia trend popular at the moment. The kangaroo pocket is perfect for storage and despite being 100% cotton, it is machine washable.

Tkmaxx.com

Pocket plein air sports bra | John Lewis | £45

While sports bras started out as something to wear under your workout clothes, they’ve now become a fashion statement in their own right. This one from John Lewis is hugely supportive, featuring an adjustable strap and a classic bra clasp, it's designed to make you feel comfortable and stylish. Made for any workout you like, or for cooking up a 3-course brunch for friends, this top can do it all.

Johnlewis.com

Navy Bodie pintuck jogger F&F | £17.50

The sleek design of this jogger means that you won’t look out of place walking the street. In fact, with the traveller’s crease down the front, at first glance they might be mistaken for slacks. With the metal tipped drawstring waist, these joggers combine comfort and style. And the elastic ankles are perfect if you want to get active. Tesco.com

Gola atomics trainers | Gola | £70

These are a must-have for your fitness-inspired wardrobe this season. Incredibly lightweight, this Gola ladies’ black trainer incorporates a moulded heel counter and facing, promoting a secure fit. The upper is made of ripstop superlight nylon for enhanced wearability and a lightweight phylon sole unit with two piece rubber outsole. The blossom pink heel counter against the black upper creates a sleek style.

Gola.co.uk

V by Very leggings

Very | £22

Leggings are the perfect choice when you want to wear something comfy that allows you to move easily. These ones from Very come in a chic style that takes you from morning walks to brunch and running errands to cardio classes. The flattering wrap waistband adds detail and is perfect teamed with a sports bra or crop top to show it off. High-stretch fabric flexes with you and smooth seam construction reduces chafing and irritation. Very.co.uk

SADIE COHEN RECENTLY CELEBRATED HER BAT MITZVAH.

PHOTO: JOE MILES PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: JOE MILES PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: JOE MILES PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: JOE MILES PHOTOGRAPHY

PERSONALISED FAVOURS WERE MADE BY SADIE’S MUM NATALIE.

THE AFTERPARTY TOOK PLACE AT THE MANCHESTER MARRIOTT V&A.

THE PARTY KICKED OFF WITH SOME LIMBO…

SADIE WAS THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION ON THE DANCEFLOOR.

PHOTO: JOE MILES PHOTOGRAPHY

MEMBERS OF MENORAH SYNAGOGUE CAME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE TU B’SHVAT.

Dispensing Optician Hayley Smith shares some optical trends to spice up your spring wardrobe.

Glasses have evolved from being just a necessity for poor eyesight to a fashionable accessory. As the spring season approaches, the fashion industry is showcasing new and trendy styles in glasses that are both functional and stylish. With the right pair of glasses, you can add a touch of elegance to your overall look, making them an essential item in your wardrobe.

The colour palette for this spring season is all about pastels, so expect to see a lot of rose gold, light blue, and soft pink glasses.

OPTICAL

Spring Fling

These colours are perfect for adding a pop of colour to your look, especially if you’re wearing neutral colours like black, white, and grey. Additionally, brighter colours like yellow, green, and red are also making a statement this season, so don’t be afraid to experiment with these bold hues.

If you’re looking for a gift for your mother this Mother’s Day, a pair of stylish glasses can make for a perfect present. With a wide range of styles and designs available, you can choose a pair of glasses that suit your mother’s personal style and taste. From cat-eye to round frames, there’s a perfect pair for every face shape. You can also consider buying prescription or nonprescription glasses with special features like polarized lenses, anti-glare lenses, or transition lenses. These special features not

only make the glasses functional but also protect your mother’s eyes from harmful UV rays.

With a range of colours, styles, and designs to choose from, you can add a touch of elegance and style to your look, making you stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or for someone special, you’re sure to find the perfect pair of glasses to suit your needs with MODS.

Get in touch with me, Hayley, on 07863 544 088 and book in for a free personal eyewear styling consultation for you, your parents, your children, or your neighbour! Or let’s have a party... you bring the eyes; I’ll bring the eyewear.

Remember: life is too short for boring glasses! Don’t just see…be seen!

With Hayley Smith, dispensing Optician of MODS Manchester.

Liberation with Henry

Sephy Stern talks preparing for Passover.

For any homemaker Pesach comes with a whole host of well, housework. Whether it be making sure the house is Pesadikke (a word that I learnt when in Leeds) or cooking up a feast – no, eight feasts using only nuts, eggs, and potatoes, Pesach can be quite a challenge. The hoover takes centre stage and the servitude begins.

Perhaps it is meant to be like this.

The name Pesach is our name for the festival. It means Passover and is called so after G-d's symbolic passing over of Jewish houses at the time of the Plague of the firstborns. It is a festival born in the home of every Jewish family.

We are told that the name Pesach is representative of our great love for G-d, we remember what He did for us in saving each of us in each of our homes.

G-d has a different name – Chag Hamatzot. Perhaps this is because no self-respecting Jewish woman would name a festival after that crumb inducing food having just scrubbed the house top to bottom. Or perhaps it is because G-d named the festival after what we did for Him; we left the comfort of our little homes with almost no provisions – and dough that hadn't even had time to rise.

Any Jewish trip requires a copious amount of food. We went against our very essence in walking out of Egypt with only this dough semi-baked in the warm spring sun to make the matza we know and love (when eaten over a plate).

Pesach is a time when we celebrate the individual homes that make up our people. We celebrate G-d's love, care, and notice of each home unit – He passed over each one. And He in return celebrates our connection to Him – we

were prepared to leave our homes with nothing and cleave to Him.

These two factors together create the Pesach festival as we know it.

So why all the cleaning?!

The Torah is very strict in its command to rid ourselves of any Chametz over Pesach. This reconnects us to the very start of our religion. A place of total reciprocated love between G-d and His People.

Love has to be more than pink hearts and Cupid's arrow. Love comes from serious commitment, where one gives of oneself to such an extent that we see ourselves in the other. Love takes investment.

When we physically invest in the festival that marks the beginning of our relationship with G-d, the cleaning takes on new meaning. With every piece of cracker we remove from between the car seats (disclaimer – no food is officially allowed to be consumed in my automobile) we remove a little of the parts of ourselves that are egoistic. Those parts are too self-centred for the level of love we are aiming for. The cleaning and cooking prepares us for the dinner party to top all dinner parties. The Seder night when we will meet our beloved and relive our joint love story, in each Jewish, precious home.

When focusing on this, the process to get there, with Henry vacuum in all his glory, should feel somewhat less daunting. Pesach then becomes the beginning of our own journey into freedom. Freedom from servitude of the self to the liberation of living in the warm embrace of our loving Creator.

Ready to Ramble

Fletcher Moss Park | Didsbury

In the centre of Didsbury, Fletcher Moss Park has it all, large open space, a river to walk beside or let your dog swim, a café, and a botanical garden. With scenic views and wide-open space there are several beautiful spots to get lunch laid out and multiple short to long routes around the park just choose between manicured gardens or natural track paths. Close to Didsbury’s many shops and cafés to extend your day out.

Drinkwater Park| Prestwich

A more forest-like and wild setting than a traditional park, Drinkwater Park is a vast open space enclosed by tall trees. A quiet and serene alcove for the regular walkers, Drinkwater Park is dog friendly and has one car park on either side, one near Philips Park and another at the park’s main entrance, a great option for a long walk to build up a taste for a Matzah picnic.

the park beside which are plenty of picnic benches to sit at to enjoy your lunch. There are multiple medium length walks you could find your way around, and on-site parking available.

Dunham Massey | Altrincham

This National Trust Park is the perfect place for a day-out. Walk across the parkland well known for its ancient trees, rose garden, 17th century house, and roaming heard of fallow deer. Great for families and young children, Dunham Massey has a café and baby changing areas. Dogs are also allowed on-lead and off-lead in selected areas with multiple routes for you to find your ideal ramble stop point.

Chorlton Water Park | Chorlton

A great option for families, Chorlton Water Park has a large outdoor play area and plenty of picnic spots. A large lake frequented by geese, ducks, and swans sits in the middle of

Platt Fields Park | Fallowfield

Providing an open green space closer to central Manchester, Platt Fields Park features a lake populated with swans and ducks, providing a great walk around its edge with plenty of benches to relax and overlook the lake while tucking in to the Pesach picnic. For the kids there’s an outdoor play area, a bmx skateboard area, and plenty of open grassland.

Beautiful walks in the park to provide the perfect backdrop for your Matzah ramble.

CREDIT: DAVID DIXON

CREDIT: MIKE PEEL

CREDIT: DAVID DIXON

CREDIT: DAVID DIXON

CREDIT: WIKIDWITCH

Lesters Nurseryworld was established in 1984 by Marion and David Bowers. The store is now owned and managed by their sons Liran & Michael and for nearly 40 years, this Cheetham Hill-based business has provided quality baby products across generations.

At Lesters Nurseryworld you can find everything a young family could need, including prams, car seats, highchairs, cots, and nursery furniture. Lesters Nurseryworld stock all the most renowned childcare global brands; while online shopping is convenient, and the business has a thriving online store, you’ll want to visit in-person to ensure the best prices and advice.

There’s even a selection of toys and gifts perfect for congratulating new parents, and

Safe & Sound

WIN WIN WIN!

A fabulous Owlet 2 Cam baby monitor, worth £159, could be yours courtesy of Lesters Nurseryworld.

friendly and knowledgeable staff are onhand to help you pick the right product for your needs.

Lesters Nurseryworld is offering one of our readers the chance to win an Owlet 2 Cam baby monitor. This all-in-one monitor allows you to rest easy while your baby sleeps, ensuring that you can check on them without ever having to leave the sofa. The camera streams HD 1080p video to your smartphone over a secure, encrypted Wi-Fi connection and the free Owlet App will keep you informed of your baby’s needs through regular motion and sound notifications, as well as the room temperature sensor and background audio. This monitor has high quality night vision to give you peace of mind, as well as 130°

COMPETITION

wide-angle view and four times digital zoom to ensure you always have the best view. You can even soothe your baby from afar with the two-way audio and keep the audio active in the background while you access other apps.

To be in with a chance of winning the superb Owlet 2 Cam, simply answer the following question…

In which year did Lesters Nurseryworld open?

Enter online at Jlifemagazine.co.uk/competitions-manchester or by post to JLife Ltd, Unit 7, Gemini Business Park, Sheepscar Way, Leeds, LS7 3JB. Please ensure your entry includes your name, address, daytime telephone number, and email address. The winners will be randomly selected on the closing date: 21st April 2023

Terms and conditions apply: One entry per person. When entering the competition online you have the option to not be entered in JLife Magazine and Lesters Nurseryworld’s databases to be contacted about news, promotions, and special offers. Postal entry data will not be saved. Publisher’s decision is final.

OF THE HEIGHT

Museum of London Docklands has unveiled plans for its major exhibition, Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style, taking place between 13th October 2023 and 14th April 2024. For the first time, the exhibition will uncover the major contribution of Jewish designers in making London an iconic fashion city.

From East End tailors to the couture salons of the West End, the exhibition tells the story of Jewish designers, makers, and retailers responsible for some of the most recognisable looks of the 20th century. Those who fought against the odds to become leading figures in their industries, founded retail chains still present on the high street today, and whose businesses boosted the British post-war economy.

Dr Bethan Bide, Lecturer in Design and Cultural Theory at the University of Leeds, is the Academic Advisor to the exhibition. While Bethan is extremely excited and passionate about the subject now, the Jewish influence on British fashion was a

narrative she stumbled onto by accident while conducting other research: “I have been working with Dr Lucie Whitmore, the Fashion Curator at the Museum of London, for about three years. I was doing some other research about the rise of British ready-to-wear and how Britain really led the way in democratising fashion in the 20th century through creating that. I realised as we were doing this research, how many of the people that were important in this story were Jewish. It seemed fascinating that this wasn’t something that really was told.”

Further research revealed the tragic and all too familiar reason that this aspect of British fashion history remains a littleknown secret: “The more digging we did, the more we realised that there were perhaps a couple of reasons that that story wasn’t told. Many of the people who were really important in the industry arrived as migrants in the late 19th and early 20th century, fleeing the pogroms in Russia or leaving difficult circumstances in Poland

and other areas of Eastern Europe. And there were all sorts of prejudices facing them when they got here. They were discussed as though they were dirty and bringing these alien ways of life. Lots of those migrants chose to anglicise their identity and distance themselves publicly from being Jewish.

“Even more tragically, we also have some amazing stories of people who fled the Nazis in the 1930s arriving in the UK and changing their name because they sounded too German. There was a lot of antiGerman prejudice in spite of the fact that they’d had to flee for their lives.”

Bethan felt that it was important to shine a light on this little-known part of history: “We wanted to celebrate these stories that have never been celebrated because of antisemitism at the time. It feels important.

A book will also be released about this fascinating subject, made to accompany the exhibition, and also titled Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style: “The book is authored by myself and

Dr Bethan Bide, Lecturer in Design and Cultural Theory at the University of Leeds, gives us a preview of the influence that the Jewish community has had on British fashion.

PHOTO: TRINITY MIRROR DAVID BOWIE WEARING A DRESS DESIGNED BY MR FISH.

Dr Whitmore. There are many stories and they can’t all go in the exhibition, so the book will allow us to share those stories. The exhibition is fairly focused on London, by nature of its location, but the more research that we’ve done the more we’ve realised that London fashion stories are rarely confined to London. Because of the nature of the British fashion industry those stories are really strongly connected to Manchester and Leeds, because they were such important centres of fashion.”

The book will feature both well-known and more obscure stories from the Jewish fashion world: “There are people like Michael Marks of Marks & Spencer, who came from Belarus and first set up his stall in Leeds’ Kirkgate Market. His story is reasonably well-known. But there are other ones, like Hans Schneider, who was the Head of Design for M&S from 1949 to 1970, and he was a refugee from Nazi Germany. Because he had this slight outside perspective on the British public, he had an incredible ability to know what they wanted. He was responsible for turning M&S into a fashionable brand.”

Naturally Bethan has some parts of the exhibition which particularly stand out for her: “There are so many incredible, personal stories, and that is something that is really important about this exhibition for me. Its not just about the big famous designers, but also a couple of much smaller dressmakers,

designed for Mick Jagger. We’re also looking for some pieces designed by Cecil Gee, who designed men’s fashion in the 50s which for the first time, didn’t look like what your dad wore. He dressed the Beatles and we would love to find some of those pieces. We’re also on the hunt for pieces from a couturier called Isobel. We know she was really active in the 1920s and 30s and there’s press coverage about her pieces, but as far as we know there are only three that still exist.”

Pieces the museum is still searching for:

• Menswear pieces made by Mr Fish and worn by famous names such as Sean Connery, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Caine.

• Menswear pieces made by Cecil Gee and worn by famous names such The Beatles.

• 1930s or 1940s womenswear pieces made by Rahvis and worn by famous names, including Hollywood film stars.

• Hats made by Otto Lucas and worn by famous names such as Greta Garbo or Wallis Simpson.

• Theatre costumes made by Neymar for Cecil Landau’s production of Sauce Tartare (1949).

• 1930s gowns made by dressmaker Madame Isobel (Isobel Spevak Harris).

FASHION

because their families have helped us out and told us their stories. We’ll feature a dressmaker called Nettie Spiegel, who designed under the name Neymar, who arrived in the UK on the Kindertransport, and became incredibly important as a dress designer in the Jewish community. She made enormous numbers of wedding dresses and she’d knock you up an outfit for your son’s Bar Mitzvah. Her pieces are incredible, they’re really beautiful, and to be able to combine these beautiful pieces with this incredible, personal story about how somebody rebuilt a life through fashion is really moving and important to me.”

While there are already plenty of exciting pieces making up the exhibition, the museum is still on the search for some more famous pieces: “There are a couple of people we know designed for some amazing celebs. We are trying to track down some of those pieces of clothing, because we think that they might still exist somewhere. For example, an amazing dress worn by David Bowie that Mr Fish designed, and also for any pieces that he

While Bethan is excited about the whole exhibition, she has one favourite item: “There is one piece that I would love to wear, and it isn’t necessarily the most spectacular piece. It’s a beautiful red coat that was made in the 1940s. It was made according to the war-time restrictions. During the war, the government said you can’t do fancy, elaborate designs because we need to conserve material and focus on the war effort. Lots of people often think that that means that fashion got quite boring. This coat absolutely proves it didn’t. It was made by a brand called Koupy, which was run by a guy called Charles Kuperstein. It is so simple and elegant but so well designed. It has absolutely beautiful pocket details, it doesn’t waste any fabric, nothing on it is superfluous. For me, it really highlights the brilliance of Jewish fashion design and what that brought to the British fashion industry.”

Museumoflondon.org.uk

PHOTO: MUSEUM OF LONDON DR BETHAN BIDE IN ACTION.

PHOTO: MUSEUM OF LONDON A RAHVIS EVENING GOWN.

PHOTO: HARRY MYERS SEAN CONNERY AT A MEN’S OUTFITTERS HAVING CLOTHES MADE TO MEASURE FOR A JAMES BOND FILM.

Community Heart of the

REAL CHAMPIONS

Members, staff, and volunteers of The Friendship Circle tell us how they travelled to Lisbon play football in a special tournament.

The Friendship Circle’s team, The Maccabi Thunders, flew to Lisbon for two nights to play for a European Football for Development Network (EFDN) Special Champions League Tournament. With teams from Germany, Portugal, Spain and the UK the seven matches were played over the course of a day. Six teams of men and women attended this unique event at the SL Beneficia training ground, promoting greater social inclusion within European football for people with disabilities.

Ed Shalom, one of the players, said about his experience: “I enjoyed the whole thing, I met people from all different countries. The best part was playing the tournament and having the opportunity to visit Lisbon.”

After a long day the team went to enjoy a delicious kosher meal at the characterful

beer factory. The following day they made time for sight-seeing and took a novel Tuk-Tuk tour of the historic city, before returning to Manchester that evening.

Volunteer for The Friendship Circle Steven Maskill said: “It wasn’t easy for everybody, you know, some of them had never travelled alone and some were afraid of flying but when they got there and started playing you could see them gel together. They’ve all developed so much as people over the year and a half I have known them but during this trip you could really see their confidence improve as they interacted with each other, they weren’t the same people when they landed back home.”

EFDN have fundraised and distributed

over £6 million to its members to engage in football programmes to keep the community active and connected. Its reach extends over 32 countries and over 350 people have participated in its youth and staff exchanges which allow people like Ed to travel across Europe to take part.

Programme Director Esty Bruck who accompanied the team said: “We are so thankful to everyone who made this trip possible, especially our amazing manager James Leinhardt, Foundation 92’s Coach Jordan Kay, and our generous sponsors. It was a true privilege to witness such a wonderful celebration of ability and the joy that came along with it.”

Friendshipcircle.org.uk

PERFECT PITCH

Manchester Maccabi Community and Sports Club are rewarded approval for long awaited renovations.

Manchester Maccabi Community and Sports Club have been successful in its grant application to fully refurbish its 3G pitches and floodlights for which work is scheduled to begin in Spring. The pitches, which have been used for nearly 17 years without being resurfaced, are used by all the teams of Manchester Maccabi FC and also the walking football section, The Friendship Circle, Langdon College and numerous members of the wider community.

The grant was awarded by The Premier League, The FA, and the government via the Football Foundation and was made in

the sum of £124,239 against a total project cost of £159,239. The club had put on two 24-hour football events in 2021 and 2022 which helped raise the extra funds needed to complete the project.

The process for the application took the time, energy, diligence, and a huge amount of attention and detail of many committed workers and volunteers.

The Executive Committee, The Board, and the Maccabi staff are all very grateful that its hard work resulted in Manchester Maccabi being here for future generations to enjoy. It is an exciting time for Manchester

Maccabi as UJIA will be moving into the new Maccabi Mamlock House and it will be announcing more exciting initiatives in the very near future.

Chair Kathryn Levy says: “We are a unique entity within the community, and the current executive are focusing on strategic long/short term plans and financial sustainability to ensure that Maccabi goes from strength to strength. This award and the refurbishment of the all-weather facility is a key part of the club strategy going forward.”

Manchestermaccabi.org.uk

Sometimes I wish I could rewind to my childhood. The equations were simple. Playground slides equalled fun. Chocolate equalled “yum”. A smile was synonymous with a friendly figure and the texture of slimy goo was exciting and original.

The passing of years corrodes our innocence. We gain experience, maturity, and knowledge. We think more broadly, and this causes us to view the world with far more scepticism.

The equations are now more complex. Is a playground fun if our kids can get hurt? Is another chocolate worth the extra calories? Does an innocent smile mask a dubious character and perhaps slimy goo forecasts images of soiled clothes and stained sofas?

The critical eye of the adult has its advantages. It allows us to foresee danger and prevent tragedy. It makes us capable and competent to navigate our children through a world filled with boobytraps and surprises. After all, are we not meant to be responsible adults?

On the other hand, the same critical eye stiffens. We become aloof to purity and the conspiracy- theories of our imagination spray truth with a false reality. Only a child, with his or her innocent spirit, can see beyond the mist that hides simplicity. Our complex adult world prevents us from seeing things in their purest light.

Jewish law understood this. A letter that is not decipherable in a Torah scroll renders that scroll invalid. If the legibility of a letter is in

A LOVE OF COMMUNITY UJIA Shaliach, Sahar Sazgar Shlichut, fostering a love of

question and cannot be clearly read we bring a child forward to tell us what letter they see and proceed based on their answer. A child! Why bring a child to render a ruling on the sanctity of a Torah scroll? Surely, they lack the comprehensive knowledge needed to clarify the law or the maturity required to be the source of a community ruling?

“For the Lord your G-d is bringing you to a good land, a land with brooks of water, fountains and depths, that emerge in valleys and mountains”

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shaped my growing up process.

And yet it is a child that determines the validity of a Torah scroll. Children have clarity. Their simplicity may make them naive but it none-the-less moulds them with an untainted sense of truth and objectivity. While we adults get lost in detail and specifics, the child can simply look at the Torah and tell us what letter they see.

(Devarim 7:7)

Children are the litmus test to truth. Sometimes this makes us uncomfortable. We cringe at our host’s dinner-table when one of our kids verbally give the food a negative rating. Children may comment on a white elephant in a room or sporadically voice their boredom at a family gathering.

As a Shaliach that spends most of his time with the young generation of the Jewish community, my primary responsibility is to educate. The real challenge of my Shlichut is the understanding that my role is not just to educate towards a certain formal behaviour, but also to enhance and promote a particular feeling – ‘ahavat ha’aretz’, love of country.

During trips throughout know every mountain and and stories and traditions, an integral part of my life. that Israel is my home always enhance my knowledge that formed my identity. and knowledge advances, follows.

As embarrassing as this may be, most people understand that kids are kids. We need not worry about what a kid might say but rather we should appreciate the indispensable tool they possess. They are the key to truth and innocence.

But how does one educate those feelings and more specifically, a love of Israel? As a young Israeli, a ‘chanich’ in a youth movement and a high school student who was extremely motivated before and during his army service, ‘ahavat ha’aretz’ had been an instrumental value that

Let’s strive for child-like purity and see the world without cynicism. Go down a slide, eat a chocolate, take out slimy goo and get messy! There is complexity in childlike simplicity and too much simplicity in adult complexity.

Still, the challenge remains: educate young people who to love Israel and have these towards the Jewish state? unconditional love is achieved accept the occasional negativities. I have the privilege to Jewish generation to love explaining the facts. The perfect country, it’s young learning. At the same time, accomplished so many achievements last 71 years, a fact that granted.