21 minute read
Community
GIFT promotes the values of health, kindness and community
Year 9 DofE Immanuel College Students packaging up the hundreds of bottles of freshly squeezed orange juice squeezed by Hasmonean Girls’ School in honor of Tu B’Shevat
In celebration of the new year for trees, GIFT hosted a range of exciting, meaningful events for people of all ages in London and Manchester on Sunday 16 January 2022. GIFT was thrilled to involve hundreds of volunteers in making a positive difference to others and to the environment. 60 volunteers gathered in Hendon Park to pick up litter, and demonstrate the importance of caring for the world around them. Dozens of bags were filled, ensuring that this special space can be enjoyed safely. All participants were rewarded with a warming hot chocolate, courtesy of the Hendon Park Cafe.
Josh Boyden, who together with his friend Yoav won the prize for the most litter collected, said: ‘I really enjoyed taking part in this litter-pick - we all have to do our bit for the environment.’
Councillor Alex Prager, representing the West Hendon Ward, said: ‘It was wonderful to see GIFT volunteers out in force in Hendon Park this weekend, working hard to clean up our local green spaces and celebrating Tu B’Shevat. After the hugely successful litterpick in Brent Park & Brookside Walk in November 2020, GIFT have once again shown how their unique blend of volunteering and education produces a highly impactful contribution to the community whilst providing invaluable lessons to the younger generation. Hendon Park is an amazing asset to all local residents and it’s lovely to see the volunteers showing such care for the park. Thank you once again to all the GIFT volunteers for their hard work!’
Over 200 students from Hasmonean High School for Girls sliced and juiced thousands of oranges to make 400 bottles of orange juice for GIFT’s recipient families. To add a competitive twist, the year groups battled to see who could make the most bottles; Year 7 was crowned the winner.
Josh Boyden with his friend Yoav, who together won the competition for the most amount of rubbish collected
Students at Menorah Grammar School collated beautiful, healthy fruit baskets, which brought much pleasure to the receiving families.
The youth of Shrubberies Shul in Manchester came together to create baskets of fruit for GIFT families.
Rabbi Sandor Milun, Managing Director of GIFT, says: ‘Tu Bshvat is the Rosh Hashanah of the trees. Just like a tree produces fruit to nourish those around it, so too do people produce fruit: good deeds and acts of kindness. GIFT was proud to engage with many hundreds of volunteers to mark this special festival with meaningful acts and opportunities to give.’
Rabbi Dr Zarum
Almost 500 people joined Rabbi Dr Zarum to hear his inaugral lecture on Monday night, entitled “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom: Towards a Judaism for the 21st Century”. The event was held in-person and online and saw an international audience which included the Zandan family from the USA. who generously established the Chair.
Joanne Greenaway, LSJS Chief Executive said “this new Chair is one of the key ways that we will honour the legacy of Rabbi Sacks zt’l at LSJS. I’m so delighted that Rabbi Dr Zarum will have this platform to continue to build his thought leadership at LSJS and to address the challenges of our age through teaching Torah in his own unique way and furthering the vision of Rabbi Sacks of ‘a Judaism engaged with the world’.
Rabbi Dr Zarum said, “I tried to lay out my thinking of a meaningful Judaism for the 21st century, based on Rabbi Sacks’s ideas of the interplay between Torah and worldly wisdom.”
LSJS has had a deep connection with Rabbi Sacks zt”l spanning over 40 years, as he progressed from student to lecturer and then Principal and President. Following his term as Chief Rabbi he became the Honorary President of LSJS. This long-standing association made the creation of the Rabbi Sacks Chair of Modern Jewish Thought a natural step for LSJS to continue to recognise Rabbi Sacks zt”l contribution to contemporary Jewish thought and further his teachings.
The inaugral lecture kicks off an exciting first year for the Rabbi Sacks Chair of Modern Jewish Thought which will see Rabbi Dr Zarum conduct speaking tours in the US, Israel and across the UK. He will also be mentoring future Jewish leaders, in a similar way to how Rabbi Sacks zt”l mentored him. Rabbi Dr Zarum is also completing his first book which is due to be published in 2023.
To find out more about the Rabbi Sacks Chair of Modern Jewish Thought or about LSJS courses and events please call 0208 203 6427 or email lsjsadmin@lsjs.ac.uk
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Celebrating Tu B’Shevat across Jewish Care
Jewish Care welcome young volunteers at Project Impact Bar and Batmitzvah session
On Sunday, Jewish Care hosted young volunteers from Project ImpACT’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah Programme at Jewish Care’s Michael Sobell Community Centre.
The volunteering sessions challenge young people and encourage an outward and active approach to helping others. The group met the challenge and created decorative flower centrepieces to take pride of place on the tables at Jewish Care’s Michael Sobell Community Centre and at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre.
Jewish Care’s Community Events Coordinator, Jo Leigh explained, “The Project ImpACT participants decorated pots with inspirational messages and flower stickers before putting coloured gravel into the pots along with synthetic sunflowers and Gypsophila to create beautiful, sustainable centrepieces for the tables, to celebrate to Tu B’Shevat and to bring joy to older people attending the centres.”
Meanwhile, tenants at Pears Court Retirement Living at Jewish Care’s Sandringham also enjoyed planting a fruit tree to celebrate on Tu B’Shevat as did residents at the organisation’s care homes, Sidney Corob House in West Hampstead, Hyman Fine House in Brighton and at Vi & John Ruben’s House residents in Redbridge made indoor tree decorations and enjoyed fruit tasting.
Volunteers from PwC UK joined tenants at Pears Court who have been embracing the outdoors as part of the allotment group project in the walled Piaf’s Garden at Jewish Care’s Sandringham in Hertfordshire, the charity’s newest care and community hub. The volunteers helped to prepare the raised beds and troughs ready for planting trees, flowers, vegetables and herbs this year with the allotment group which is part of the vision for the growing community at Sandringham coming together for shared activities and have the opportunity to enjoy celebrating events in the Jewish calendar together.
Chana hits a record and reach its target in less than 12 hours Jami ‘See Me’ Campaign
Mental health problems may be unseen but can be devastating for individuals and their loved ones. Demand for our services has significantly increased since the pandemic began, with requests for help more than doubling in key areas. We need to ensure support is available to everyone who needs it. • launch a pilot programme delivering early intervention services for young people of secondary school age; • expand Head Room Café – Jami’s community café that provides mental health support on the high street; and • expand suicide prevention, education and campaigning.
36 hours to raise £1m
Launching at 10am on Sunday 23rd January, Jami has 36 hours to raise £1m. We need to raise £1m through this campaign to: • maintain support for the 1400+ existing users of Jami’s services; • grow services to meet the one third increase in people being supported since the start of the pandemic; Every donation by the community is being matched by key donors, allowing all donations on the day to be doubled.
Receiving no statutory or government funding, Jami is almost entirely funded by the generosity of the community. The ‘See Me’ campaign this weekend is to ensure that Jami can see, hear and help everyone needing support with their mental health. www.charityextra.com/jami
Shabbat Walk holds trivia night
Shabbat Walk hosted its first ever Trivia Night for all their male volunteers on Motzei Shabbos. Boys attended in teams and were tested on their knowledge including questions relating to Shabbat Walk. Questions ranged from ‘who are the Shabbat Walk trustees?’ to ‘how many times did families receive volunteers from Shabbat walk all together last month?’ Well, the correct answer was 629 times. Dovid Rose and Yaakov Levine scored highest with their answers and won a £25 cash prize each.
Enjoying the quiz night We had a full house and the boys were very enthusiastic, which contributed to a great atmosphere. A buffet Melava Malka was served and the evening was a tremendous success. At Shabbat Walk we value the time and effort teens put into volunteering and as part of the mindset of growth, we aim to provide them with healthy outlets and entertainment, both to thank them and to keep them motivated. We look forward to hosting more events in the coming months.
Chana charity raised over £1 Million in their 36-hour appeal. They reached their target of £700,000 within less than 12 hours! Last night the trustees, staff and supporters celebrated their huge accomplishment with Rabbi SF Zimmerman א”טילש who said: Everybody from the trustees, staff and volunteers no one had any personal interest they all worked together as one big team.
Chana’s goal is to help couples in our community to fulfil their dream so that they’ll be able to have their own precious moments. The amount raised will allow Chana to reduce the waiting list allowing couples in distress to not have to wait for Chana’s services and can get the support they urgently need.
CFI’s Christian Wakeford defects to Labour
In a dramatic move, Bury South MP Christian Wakeford defected to Labour yesterday, causing shockwaves around the country.
Seen here at a recent CFI reception at the Tory Party conference, Wakeford cited the recent Boris ‘party’ pictures, and Dominic Cumming’s ridiculous drive to Barnard Castle to check his eyesite as part of the wide range of issues that led him to his decision.
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Jewish Care is delighted to announce that after a rigorous recruitment process, we have appointed Rachel Jones as Jewish Care’s Director of Care, Housing and Hospitality.
Rachel initially joined Jewish Care in May 2021 as our Interim Head of Housing and Domically Care.
Rachel has dedicated her entire career to social care, which began with her working as a Carer at Norwood, and later working as a Carer at Kisharon and several other care providers.
Rachel went on to run various housing associations and smaller charities before serving as the Executive Director at Sunridge Court for 8 years and was one of the lead professionals in overseeing the merger between Sunridge Court and Jewish Care, which she describes as an “absolute highlight in her career”.
Outside of Jewish Care, Rachel is a long serving and passionate volunteer for Norwood and has volunteered as a coordinator and planner of Mitzvah Day activities for a number of years in addition to carrying out voluntary work for Crisis, Sadaqa Day and voluntary work with refugees from Afghanistan.
Rachel Jones appointed Jewish Care’s Director of Care, Housing and Hospitality Rachel is very excited about her new role and looks forward to being part of the Directorate team and working alongside our already well-functioning care homes and Retirement Living schemes supported by our incredibly talented and strong team of staff and volunteers. Rachel will commence her role on the 1st April, where she will be taking over from Gaby Wills who has been a vital part of the organisation for the last 23 years and who we wish well. Rachel Jones, incoming Director of Care, Housing and Hospitality says: “I always knew social care was a career for life. My mum worked for Norwood for 28 years and I wanted to have that longevity in my career so that I could really make a positive difference to people’s lives. I have also always held a particularly place in my heart for Jewish Care who looked after both my grandmothers in what was then named, Princess Alexandra and Morton House.” Daniel Carmel-Brown, Chief Executive, Jewish Care, says: “We are excited for Rachel to step into this position and bring her wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. Her enthusiasm and passion for Jewish Care have already been keenly felt during her time with us and we look forward to the next phase of working together.”
Children enjoying the fruits of their Tu b’Shevat Seder
Sacks Morasha pupils had a fruity start to the week celebrating Tu B’Shevat. Every class took part in their own fruit Seder, each with a different fruity twist. Some classes created edible fruit bouquets, or fruit flowers, and one class modelled self portraits out of oranges. Even those children isolating got to take part via Google Classroom.
All fruit was supplied by the school’s kind PTA. The children were asked to wear green, brown, flowery or yellow items of clothing which added to the excitement of the day.
Kisharon fruit themed fun
Tu’Bishvat has been celebrated widely across Kisharon services.
Children at Tuffkid Nursery took part in fruitthemed activities including creating a fruit shop where children with toy money and credit cards had fun exchanging different fruits for Tu’Bishvat. They also learnt about juice by squeezing oranges and sang songs for the Chag.
At Kisharon Noe School, pupils took part in an array of activities including planting flowers and making fruit kebabs. Volunteers at Kisharon’s Childs Hill Library, people who attend Kisharon Adult Opportunities and those who live in Kisharon Supported Living marked Tu’Bishvat by planting fruit shrubs in the library garden.
Sarah Sharlott, Head of Social Enterprise and Community Development said, “All the people we support and volunteers were thrilled to be outdoors and celebrating Tu’Bishvat. We planted raspberry canes and strawberry plants and were shown by someone we support how to plant the
strawberries. It has been a wonderful day.” Totteridge Ward Councillor, Caroline Stock and Childs Hill Councillor, Anne Clarke who represents Barnet and Camden in the London Assembly were delighted to be invited and were given a plant to commemorate the occasion. The councillors Cllrs Caroline Stock and Anne Clarke at Kisharon Library Garden praised Kisharon’s commitment to developing the green space at the library with its gardening club. Both were delighted to hear Kisharon had secured funding to develop raised beds where people Kisharon support will be growing a variety of crops including horseradish to be used at Pesach. They were also impressed to see how Kisharon was making the connection between outdoor space and mental and physical wellbeing. It was extra special for those attending the garden to help a year after planting the Covid-19 memorial garden at the library which has been used by the community as a place of reflection for those who lost friends or relatives. Tu B’Shevat Tree planting with the Manchester Friendship Circle in conjunction with Manchester City of Trees and Bury Council in the ‘Orchard’, Prestwich. The idea was of Prestwich Great Grandmother Mrs Edwina Rosenberg.
Tu B’Shevat tree planting in Prestwich
PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.
Broughton Jewish Reception children, Tu B’Shevat tree planting
PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.
Apple tree planting Monday morning on Tu B’Shevat by Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox primary school Reception children.
New responders for Hatzola Northwest
Hatzola Northwest graduation ceremony Hatzola Northwest have inaugurated eight new responders to its Emergency Response Team.
Members attended weekly assessments, scenarios and examination of pre-hospital emergency care skills.
The training program led by Kevin Cuddon was enhanced by external lecturers and practitioners.
New responders were presented with certificates and equipment. The group were the first to receive medical trauma and equipment bags designed to comply with latest legislation.
The new bag initiative was inspired by the family of Akiva Korc after Hatzola came to his rescue during a choking episode. Additional bags have been dedicated by members of the community.
Akiva’s parents, Sammy and Abi Kroc, attended the graduation evening.
Hatzola Northwest is a 24/7 community service, operating 365 days a year and one of the most effective units in the UK dealing with over 5,000 calls a year.
The service is provided free of charge. There are 54 active volunteer responders who have undergone intensive training, carry radios and respond in their own vehicles.
Volunteers carry trauma kits and BLS (Basic Life Support) bags, complete with resuscitation equipment, oxygen and defibrillators.
Hatzola Northwest presently has three active ambulances for serious calls and urgent patient transport.
Details: Rob Taub on rob@hatzolanw.org or 0772 585716
Apple tree planting for Tu B’Shevat Monday morning in the King David Primary School allotment. Tu B’Shevat in the Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Kindergarten with Ely Noe and Yedidya Silberman holding some of the fruit.
Ely Noe and Yedidya Silberman
PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.
Capt. Simmon Latutin GC – the hero of Mogadishu
The life of Capt. Simmon Latutin GC has been commemorated with a plaque outside his home in Camden Town, London.
AJEX Archivist Martin Sugarman is behind the initiative financed by Jerry Klinger of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
Latutin was born on July 25th 1916. The son of Capt Simmon Latutin GC plaque immigrant tailors Moses and Fradel Kraftcheck, Simmon showed musical talent from a young age on violin, and later viola, and attended the North London Polytechnic School (1931-33).
Aged 16, he won the Westmoreland scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music to study violin. And within four years he was playing for the London Symphony Orchestra.
At RAM, he met woodwind student Margaret Liebet Jacob, daughter of George and Phoebe Jacob.
Married 15th March 1940, Simmon was called up within four months and eventually posted to the Somerset Light Infantry at Donnington. In April 1943, Latutin was posted to former Italian Somaliland, in East Africa then Mogadishu to command an infantry training school for troops about to go to Burma. Promoted to Acting Major, then Captain in 1944, he entertained Jewish servicemen on a Friday night in his quarters.
In December 1944, he was hospitalised with a tropical ulcer in Nairobi before returning to Mogadishu.
Following a huge explosion, Latutin pulled two men out from a store, other soldiers pulled him away badly burnt. The two MP’s died on the day, Latutin succumbed on December 30th.
Records show that an order in 1942 instructed Italian rockets to be dumped at the site as unstable but the order had not carried out. It is believed hobnail boots of the men sparked the explosion. Tributes followed. Lt Col Richard E Thorne, Deputy Commandant of the Somalia Gendarmerie wrote to Margaret expressing his sympathy. In 1946, a letter was sent from Brigadier D H Wickham, Chief British Army Administrator in Somalia, to Civil Affairs Branch in Nairobi about the incident at Mogadishu.
The statement read, “On arrival at the store, the first person I saw was Captain Latutin, whose clothing was aflame, dragging the Military Police Sergeant Major though the doorway. Captain Latutin laid the Sergeant Major clear of the doorway and dashed back into the store to return in a very short time, dragging the Military Police Captain with him. I was the first person to arrive at the scene and feel sure Captain Latutin would not have died had he not gone into the blazing building. I saw Captain Latutin the first time, after he had dragged out the Sergeant Major, and he was not badly burnt.”
Eighteen months after his death. Margaret received a letter stating her late husband would receive a George Cross in recognition of his supreme courage.
The posthumous investiture took place at Buckingham Palace on December 2nd 1947.
The medal is on permanent loan to the SLI regimental museum in Taunton.
Latutin is remembered on various memorials including at Constitution Hill, the Royal Academy of Music War Memorial, at Golders Green synagogue, on a Roll of Honour at Pinner Synagogue, in Somerset Light Infantry and Jewish Military (Hendon) Museums.
Latutin’s grave was moved to Nairobi Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. Inscribed on the foot is Margaret’s tribute: “We can never forget your unselfish courage in true service to mankind”.
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Community leaders enjoy ‘BrewMonday’
Work Avenue CEO David Arden (left) and the WA team
Leaders from across the Jewish community came together with a cuppa as part of the Mitzvah Day communal campaign to turn Blue Monday into #BrewMonday.
The third Monday of January is often seen as the most difficult day of the year. So, following on from JAMI’s Mental Health Shabbat and in line with the Samaritans drive to change the narrative around Blue Monday, Mitzvah Day asked people to grab a hot drink and check in with colleagues, friends and family, either virtually or in person.
“We must continue to check in on one another and be honest about our own mental health.
Mitzvah Day CEO Georgina Bye said. “It’s so easy to brighten up someone’s day by picking up the phone and popping on the kettle, this small act of kindness can truly make a big difference and is a Mitzvah we can all do, all year round.”
Those taking part included the Board of Deputies, United Synagogue, World Jewish Relief, MDA UK, Work Avenue and JVN.
Mitzvah Day CEO Georgina Bye MDA UK CEO Daniel Burger
Norwood Tu B’Shevat fun Tu B’Shevat environmental initiative
Celebrating Tu B’Shevat with Norwood
Norwood’s Tu B’Shevat-related activities proved a hit with adult residential services.
Jewish cultural advisor Dov Richman led a virtual painting session in which, using a leaf template, participants decorate leaves and wrote on them something that makes them happy.
The activity was held as part of Norwood’s wider Connect Together programme of activities to help beat isolation for people with learning disabilities and promote volunteering opportunities for the wider community.
Other Tu B’Shevat events included fruit tree and bingo. The Office of the Chief Rabbi and United Synagogue launched a ground-breaking environmental initiative on Tu B’Shevat.
The organisations announced the launch of ‘Dorot’, a comprehensive strategy to reduce the organisations’ environmental impact.
Dorot comprises seven projects which will be rolled out during 2022.
The flagship project will see the US lead a campaign to have a tree planted for each of its 37,000 members to sequester carbon dioxide from the air.
This will be part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project for the Queen’s Jubilee Celebration.
Another headline project sees the phasing out of disposables from US nurseries, shuls and offices, reducing the plastic sent abroad by the UK to be burned.
Unused US land will be rewilded to encourage biodiversity and provide a home for wildlife.
The charity is investigating its investment portfolio from an environmental perspective to ensure it meets high environmental standards, using ESG and other relevant tools.
The organisation will make its travel greener, prioritising train travel over air wherever possible. It has also introduced an employee electric car leasing scheme alongside its existing cycling scheme.
Smart energy solutions will be introduced for synagogues, following an energy audit for each.
‘Smart’ devices will help measure, monitor and reduce energy consumption.
And the charity wants to begin a conversation about responsible food consumption.
US Head of Environmental Policy, Naomi Verber is leading the Dorot initiative.
The US will hold a series of educational sessions and debates for the community over the coming months.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: “The evidence could not be clearer that climate change is destroying our precious home. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events are already causing grave problems across the planet and are likely to pose far greater challenges for our children and grandchildren. The implementation of Dorot can serve as a watershed moment for the way that our communities respond to the climate crisis and threats to our biodiversity.”
Michael Goldstein, US President noted: “Just as organisations had to act in the face of a global pandemic, so too must we act to prevent further global warming and biodiversity loss. We are committed to ensure our organisation plays its part in the global effort to protect humanity and all life on earth.”
Ms Verber added: “We are in an environmental and ecological crisis. Many of our communities have already generated real change and we now have the opportunity to scale up the impact across the organisation in a strategic way. It’s clear there is a real desire to make tangible environmental change a core part of the organisation and I can’t wait to see the difference Dorot will make.”
