31 minute read
Community
from Issue 227
US Chesed funds Mishloach Manot boxes
Over 2,000 households of vulnerable and older individuals have received Mishloach Manot boxes funded by the United Synagogue’s Chesed for Purim.
The US Chesed department offered the festive boxes through shuls.
Over 1,000 of the US’ most senior members were presented with the box of goodies supported by Jewish charities including JAMI, Norwood, Chai Cancer Care, Jewish Women’s Aid, Jewish Dead Association, Langdon, and Jewish Blind and Disabled.
Families who receive essential parcels on a weekly basis also got Purim boxes that include homemade hamantaschen, snacks and a ‘Happy Purim’ card.
Michelle Minsky, Head of US Chesed, said, “This is a great project as it offers lots of opportunities to get involved, regardless of your age, and we know that the recipients really appreciate the food and the thought that goes with it. Thank you to all our wonderful charity partners for their support and to everyone who volunteered their time to bake hamantaschen and pack the boxes to bring joy to many people this Purim.”
Volunteers of all ages participated in the project.
Adults from Edgware, Radlett, Finchley, Bushey, Woodford Forest and Borehamwood together with young people from Project Impact, JFS, Woodside Park, Hendon and South Hampstead made over 3,800 hamantaschen for the boxes.
Youngsters from Bnei Akiva, JFS, Morasha and Jewish communities packed boxes.
Brondesbury Park Sefer Torah dedication
Brondesbury Park street celebrations
Brondesbury Park Synagogue held a street parade and grand opening party to celebrate the opening of its new building and dedication of its new Sefer Torah last Sunday.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Councillor Abdi Aden, deputy mayor of Brent, and close to 500 congregants, attended.
Congregation leaders Rabbi Baruch and Rebbetzen Kezi Levin led the event.
Following the street parade, the crowd enjoyed speeches, dancing and refreshments with special activities arranged for the children and youth.
The afternoon began with prayers for the people of Ukraine, led by Rabbi Levin.
Addressing the congregation, Chief Rabbi Mirvis praised Brondesbury Park’s community spirit, “wonderful kehillah” and rebirth of Jewish life in Willesden.
Emotional speeches were given by Ingrid Sellman, a member for the past 57 years and wife of former chairman the late David Sellman, Rabbi Levin and Victoria Portnoi, chair of Brondesbury Park shul.
Ingrid said, “This is a momentous time in our community. David and Harold (Fleisher, former financial officer of the shul) would be so proud.”
Victoria Portnoi added, “What we have here is unique and very special. This home allows us to fully inhabit our Jewish identity and pass it on to the next generation.”
She added, “We can look ahead to our future as a community, implement our vision, embrace our identities and give our children the precious gift of inhabiting their own Judaism.”
Reflecting on the event, Rabbi Levin described the Sefer Torah dedication as an “epic moment” in the life of the community and a springboard for a bright future.
“That there were so many children and young people in attendance speaks volumes about the regeneration of Jewish life in the area,” he said.
Side by Side gets ready for Purim
Side by Side School in Stamford Hill has provided pupils with a range of activities in the lead up to Purim.
To mark Rosh Chodesh Adar 2, the nursery and special needs school welcomed back pupils from Beis Chinnuch Secondary School to help Side by Side youngsters get into the Purim spirit. Pupils heard the Purim story through interactive shows, singing and arts and crafts. They were also reminded of the significance of sharing and receiving Mishloach Monos.
A clown entertained in a session for younger classes as older classes continued preparations.
Skver Cheder also dressed up and joined the school’s after-school club to deliver Purim-inspired activities.
Nursery children particularly enjoyed the opportunity to visit a model of Acheshveros’ Palace in the role play area. Each class was invited to participate in the annual fancy dress show.
Side by Side headteacher Gerald Lebrett said, “The pure joy and excitement that preparing for Purim has brought to each of our pupils has been a delight to see.” Lebrett thanked a dedicated team for ensuring the festival was experienced across the school.
A happy Purim at Side By Side
War in Ukraine talk addresses childrens’ fears
PaJeS continues to deliver topical online sessions. As an urgent response to the war in the Ukraine an online event addressed parents’ heightened anxieties. The talk, hosted by Dr Anna Colton, focussed on children’s fears about the war and parental anxiety about the escalating situation.
The clinical psychologist answered questions around anxiety over the war in Ukraine on television and suggested limiting the time spent watching news and ‘doom scrolling’ social media.
Dr Colton explained how pictures in the press and video footage are feeding into a fear of ‘how do we protect our children.’
There was reference to 1940s Europe and a heightened anxiety in the Jewish community from haunting images of people packed on trains, hiding in underground shelters and a psychopathic dictator.
A common narrative was that children were showing fear that the war would be coming to the UK. Dr Colton explained the importance of reassuring children. She noted that the more attention we give worries the more they grow. And we should distract ourselves and children from discussing the war in detail.
Rabbi David Meyer commented, “It is important to recognise that on some level we are all victims of the war.” He added, that Dr Colton’s guidance was helpful in understanding how to address our fears and how to support children during challenging times. One hundred and fifty parents attended.
A Siyum for Lechu Bonim boys was held Sunday morning in the Apirion Suite with the boys having completed Mishnayos Meseches Sukka. Yossi Goldschmidt welcomed everyone to the Siyum.
Chabad mourn death of Potsdam rabbi
BY LILLY JOSEPH
Chabad-Lubavitch are mourning the death of Rabbi Nachum Ber Presman of Potsdam, Germany.
Regional rabbi of the Brandenburg state, the much-respected rabbi, 50, suffered a stroke three months ago.
Rabbi Presman was born in Tashkent, then part of the USSR, where his family were members of the Chassidic community.
Three months after his birth the Presman family immigrated to Israel and settled in Nachlat Har Chabad in Kiryat Malachi, home to Jews then leaving the Soviet Union.
In 1996, after his marriage to Michal Bostomski, the couple travelled to Potsdam where they opened a Chabad centre serving local Jews and those immigrating from the former Soviet Union.
Jewish institutions from preschool to Torah classes folllowed for the community.
Childhood friend Rabbi Eli Woolf said, “Nachum breathed Jewish joy and enthusiasm into whatever he did. Nachum was a soldier in the Rebbe’s army, devoted to building Jewish life in Potsdam, where he so recently celebrated the groundbreaking for a new Jewish centre.”
He added, “Building Jewish life in Germany was not easy. Nachum and his wife overcame many hardships, or perhaps
Rabbi Nachum Ber Presman z”l “challenges” is a better world. But they persevered, never breaking and never retreating. They knew what was needed, and they were ready to serve with joy. Nachum and his family devoted their lives for their community, and now it’s our turn to be there for them.”
Chabad emissaries will hold a Zoom Torah class in Benny’s memory.
Rabbi Presman is survived by his wife, children Menachem Mendel Presman, Miriam Sudak, Avraham Presman and Chaya Muskha Presman, and a grandchild.
Siblings Avraham Presman, Yitzchak Presman, Yaffa Lipsker, Batya Raskin, Esther Raskin and Yehudit Feldman also survive him. Arranged by Chabad Community Care , ‘The Garden Singers’ entertained residents at ‘Gan Eden’, Stanley Road, for Purim this week. The residents enjoyed the selection of music and clapped along. Gan Eden is Sheltered Housing run by Manchester Jewish Housing Association.
‘The Garden Singers’ entertaining at Gan Eden
PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL
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New campaign tackles community response to mental health challenge
Mental health charity, Project Lily, today announced its campaign to train the Jewish community to respond to mental health issues – for free.
Jonathan Dove, Clinical Director of Project Lily explains; “We know that mental health challenges for the Jewish community have never been greater. It is now more urgent than ever to teach people how to care for our own and others’ wellbeing.”
Project Lily’s training has in the past just been offered to communal organisations’ professionals and volunteers. Now the charity says it wants to make their courses available to the wider Jewish public – at no cost.
Jonathan Dove continues: “People are beset by mental health stresses ranging from the effects of Covid to fears about the war in Ukraine resulting in a huge increase in the need for support. Our belief is that people must be equipped to recognise and respond appropriately to the mental health issues they encounter, and in doing so stop unaddressed problems from escalating.”
With the NHS under enormous pressure to deal with a huge backlog of patient needs, the waiting time to support those with mental health conditions can leave those in need waiting for months, by which time their situation may have deteriorated significantly.
Project Lily’s’ courses are delivered over Zoom and range from 90 minutes to 3 hours in length, with participants learning how to identify and respond to issues that they themselves, or people they encounter, may need help with. Topics covered include: What is mental health, Vulnerability and protective factors, Stress, Anxiety and Depression, and Self-care.
Course places can be booked at Project Lily’s website: www.projectlily.org.uk
Charedi Kids Build Robots
Rav Noach Lifshitz with members of the Netzach Yisrael Robotics team
Students from the Talmud Torah Netzach Yisrael school in Bet Shemesh are through to the Israel national finals in the 2022 FIRST Lego League Robotics Challenge. Their team of 9 boys, aged 12 and 13, were among 84 teams selected from 400 competitors in the first round of the competition, winning 2nd place for Robot Design and 4th place for Robot Performance. Netzach Yisrael is the first Charedi school in Israel to compete in this international competition, and one of very few that teaches STEM subjects.
Talmud Torah Netzach Yisrael is one of 10 schools that comprise the Netzach Educational Network, led by the dynamic Charedi educational leader Rabbi Menachem Bombach. Bombach started the Netzach Educational Network in 2017, with the goal of revamping Israel’s Charedi educational system. Its schools prepare both boys and girls to attain Bagrut (matriculation) certificates, equipping them to compete for quality employment opportunities and pursue higher education, while also receiving an outstanding Charedi education.
US communities support Ukraine refugees
United Synagogue communities have helped the people of Ukraine through projects and donation campaigns.
Northwood sent four vans filled with donations from members. One van was sent to Krakow accompanied by members, two were sent to Ukraine, a fourth to Ukraine providing relief to soldiers.
In Edgware, hundreds of people donated clothing, bedding and toiletries for the Jews of Ukraine, dozens volunteered to collect at Edgware United Synagogue.
Pinner members and neighbours helped collect over 140 boxes of humanitarian aid. This was organised by supporters of the charity Goods for Good.
Hampstead Garden Suburb put out a call for help and item donations for emergency aid for refugees. Members and friends packed over 800 boxes of emergency aid. With help and logistics of Goods for Good, these were sent to Chelm in Poland situated 25km from the Ukrainian border.
Over 200 people visited St John’s Wood Synagogue to donate supplies to Ukrainian refugees, in response to an urgent call from the GIFT who were sending supplies via Poland to Lviv.
The community donated thousands of items to the front-line of the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Steven Wilson, US CEO, said: “Thousands
Northwood United Synagogue of people will be supported and we are looking at what more we can do to support people fleeing the conflict.”
St. John’s Wood’s Georgia Aaron, age 11, said, “It made me feel great seeing how generous people can be and how a community can join together to do something to make an impact.”
Allegra Crystal, age 13, added, “It was incredible to see the huge outpour of donations from the extended community. It made me realise how important it is to be in a position to help.”
Many communities have raised money for World Jewish Relief and other charities helping the crisis.
Chigwell & Hainault appoints rabbinic couple
Rabbi and Rebbetzen Goodwin
Chigwell & Hainault United Synagogue have appointmed Rabbi Rafi and Rebbetzen Chaya Goodwin as the community’s new senior Rabbinic couple.
The membership voted by an overwhelming majority to appoint the Goodwins who are the community Rabbi and Rebbetzen.
The Goodwins will take up their new position in the summer once Rabbi Baruch and Rebbetzen Nechama Davis retire from the post in July.
Rabbi Rafi, who hails from Leeds, said: “We are thrilled to have been appointed as the next senior rabbinic couple. In June, we will have been in the community for six years. We are so pleased we can continue to build on what we have started. All the messages of support and congratulations from within the community and beyond have been overwhelming.”
He added, “We are very grateful to Rabbi and Rebbetzen Davis for all the guidance and advice along the way which has proven to be invaluable. With an exciting major refurbishment underway coupled with a growing vibrant community we are looking forward to a bright future together.”
Chigwell & Hainault Chair, Lindsay Shure, commented, “Rabbi and Rebbetzen Goodwin have endeared themselves to the community. I’m absolutely delighted, for them and for us. We look forward to many fruitful years together in the community.”
Rabbi Davis, added, “Nechama and I are truly delighted that the community has overwhelmingly endorsed Rabbi Rafi and Rebbetzen Chaya to succeed us. They are warm, easy-going, caring and very capable. We have really enjoyed their friendship and working closely with them since their arrival. We are also very happy that so many of our young families are so actively supportive. This decision, together with the shul redevelopment project portends a great future.”
The community are recruiting for a new community couple to replace the Goodwins.
Camp Simcha B’nei Mitzvah group join Purim packathon
Camp Simcha volunteer packers
Teens and tweens on Camp Simcha’s B’nei Mitzvah programme packed over 500 mishloach manot for seriously ill children and siblings the charity supports.
The Purim packing night was attended by 19 children, as part of several activities in their B’nei Mitzvah year to support Camp Simcha.
Cousins Sarah Meister and Adam Porter, from North London, who are celebrating their bat and bar mitzvahs a week apart in October enrolled on the programme together.
Both participated in Camp Simcha’s Toy Drive packing event in December and will be doing a sponsored walk in May, as well the Purim packing activity.
Sarah said: “I have really enjoyed being part of the Camp Simcha programme to mark my bat mitzvah and meeting up with the same kids for the different activities.”
Adam added: “It was great making mishloach manot for children who are having a hard time.”
Camp Simcha Director of Fundraising Shoshana Copeland said the charity has been thrilled with the uptake of the programme, which was launched at the end of last year.
“Children and parents taking part in the B’nei Mitzvah programme have been so enthusiastic and really seem to enjoy the opportunity it has given them to volunteer in a meaningful way, as well as raise some funds for the families Camp Simcha supports. We are so grateful for their time and commitment; the mishloach manot have been really well received and we look forward to seeing everyone on the sponsored walk in May.”
Sofer Ben Tsion Dansky with his 100 year old Middle Eastern Megillah at his Salford home workshop jLiving staff achieve record number of leadership accreditations
A number of jLiving staff have recently completed a range of high-profile qualifications and technical accreditations in external leadership training, in a bid to extend their existing skills and abilities and bring extra value to their roles at the housing association.
Between April and October 2021, Lori Gardner, Senior Housing Manager at jLiving, remotely attended a leadership course in conjunction with WISH (Women in Social Housing). This course involved attending two 2-hour sessions per month covering all aspects of leadership and confidence building in relation to social housing. One of Lori’s jLiving colleagues, Tracey Brennan, was also on the course together 13 other women from different housing related organisations. The monthly sessions included lectures as well as practical problem-solving work-related challenges.
Lori found the course hugely beneficial and says: “Attending this course empowered me to feel more confident about my abilities and also made me feel invested in by jLiving. During this time, I also completed a Level 2 Mental Health First Aid in the workplace qualification, which will also be an invaluable extra skill to have”. jLiving Repairs Manager, Claire Deverell, completed her Part P Certificate and 18th Edition wiring regulations Certificate in 2021. Both certificates are related to electrical installations/ building regs and competency, which give her a better understanding of the work being carried out by others for tenants at jLiving. She also completed a residential course with the Fire Safety College in Fire Safety/Fire Risk Assessment, which enables her to perform Fire Risk Assessments and to spot potential problems before they arise, as well as being more conversant with the language and regs used during the FRA process.
Claire has been keeping herself extremely busy since, in addition, she has just finished a Level 6 NVQ in Construction – Contracting Operations Management, which is hugely useful and relevant to her role in both the day-to-day repairs service and void management at jLiving.
Not only that but currently, she is
studying for a Level 6 Diploma in Applied Health and Safety and hopes to finish this shortly. She says: “Health and Safety is obviously important in all walks of life, but I feel that it is of particular relevance in the world of repairs and maintenance, particularly for tenants at jLiving. I have also just been accepted to study an MSc in Building Lori Gardner Surveying at Northumbria University (online!) which will take two years if all goes to plan.” Donna-Marie Durham, Director of Property has just completed and passed her application for chartered status with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and can now officially use the letters MCIOB after her name! She is also privately funding her Masters via distance Claire Deverell learning (MSc Management in Sustainability). Donna-Marie says: “jLiving have kindly agreed to my flexible working request to facilitate the 12-15 hours of study per week required to complete the course. The course is something I am very interested in, both in terms of professional development and personal interest to develop skills further in Sustainability and StrateDonna-Marie Durham gic Management.” Electrician Mitchell Taylor-Brooks was offered the opportunity by jLiving to do his part P electrical qualification, as he can use this on certain aspects of his job such as installing or fixing electric showers or changing sockets. It gives him a greater understanding of electrics to ensure that he can work on them safely and to a very high standard. Jane Goodman, CEO of jLiving said: “At jLiving, we Mitchell Taylor-Brooks strongly believe in giving staff as much time and support if they are keen to expand their skillset. It is not only beneficial to them by helping to build their confidence and abilities, but it adds value to their role at jLiving and ultimately our tenants, who are at the heart of everything we do, will benefit too. Our commitment to staff development and training drives up standards of professionalism in the sector. I am very proud that we have some very highly skilled staff with various academic achievements under their belts. Congratulations to Lori, Tracey, Claire, Mitch and Donna-Marie!”
Norwood Purim fun
There has been plenty of Purim festivities at Norwood this week. Norwood’s Rabbi Stanley Coten read the Megillah while Intensive Interaction and Sensory Support Specialist Wendy Yeomans created an interactive sensory film. People in residential and supported living services enjoyed a virtual Purim party and disco. There was also a ‘Build a Clown’ colouring craft activity. Daniel’s, Kosher Kingdom in Golders Green and Just Kosher in Borehamwood supplied hamantaschen for staff and residents.
Jewish Care Purim Zumba at Yavneh Primary School Hundreds of children from seven primary schools are dancing their way through Purim whilst raising funds for Jewish Care to support older people in the community. They are taking part in Jewish Care’s seventh Purim Zumba this week in sponsored Zumba sessions led by Dancing with Louise. The schools taking part are Yavneh Primary School, Nancy Reuben Primary School, Akiva School, Kerem School, Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School, Naima Jewish Preparatory School.
Meanwhile, students at Kantor King Solomon High School are connecting with older people locally and have made and sent Mishloach Manot to residents at Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House in Redbridge.
Older people across Jewish Care homes and Retirement Living apartments will receive Mishloach Manot and will celebrate Purim with parties and plays. Members across Jewish Care’s community centres and centres for people living with dementia are also enjoying hamantaschen, entertainment and live Megillah readings again too. Last year, the Purim Zumba, parties, entertainment and Megillah readings all took place virtually.
Adam Overlander-Kaye, Jewish Care’s Director of Fundraising and Community Engagement said, “ “We are so pleased that we are able to celebrate Purim together in-person again as a community for the first time in two years and so I’d like to thank all the young people who’ve had fun participating in the Purim Zumba whilst also fulfilling the mitzvah of giving to those in need and learning about what it means to be an active member of our community”.
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Work Avenue celebrates International Women’s Day
Over 50 women attended an online careers conference held by Work Avenue in celebration of International Women’s Day.
The Women in the Workplace event featured a range of successful Jewish female business leaders, managers and entrepreneurs offering advice on a variety of topics from learning new skills and achieving success in the jobs market to changing careers and starting a small business.
The keynote speaker was Victoria White, Head of Customer Audiences for ASOS, who spoke about how to progress your career as a woman and use time out of the workplace to your advantage.
Victoria, a member of Golders Green United Synagogue, told delegates: “It’s OK to be ambitious and set your sights very high. Don’t hold yourself back, if you don’t need to, and don’t worry about the future… focus on the now.
“Many women have taken time out of the workplace, especially new parents. Don’t write that time off. Be proud of the skills you have gained in your time at home. There are many experiences from parenting that are transferable – organisational skills, influencing skills and budgeting to name but a few.”
Work Avenue is the Jewish community’s leading employment and business charity. Other speakers at the event included best-selling author of The Success Code,
Victoria White, Head of Customer Audiences for ASOS
Amanda Dewinter, Leah Klyne and Hannah Mindel – founders of new businesses GetWeb Traffic and The Club – and Joanna Walker, HR, OD and EDI Manager at NHS England.
Work Avenue’s Director of Operations and Employment Emma May said: “It was fantastic to celebrate International Women’s Day with so many amazing women in our network.
“We were inspired by women who have achieved great success, women who have overcome big challenges and women who are following their dreams. There really was something for everyone.”
Purim Funday Sunday at the Aleph Centre
The children at the Aleph Centre cheder at HGSS celebrated Purim with an exciting, fun-packed morning on Sunday. Children and teachers in fancy dress learnt plate spinning and diablo in a circus skills workshop, showed off their costumes on the cheder “Purim Catwalk and Disco”, decorated and shared mishloach manot and enjoyed a Purim play performed by the older children.
A trio of Purim smiles from Jessie Radivan, Max Britstone and Lulu Clyne, three King David Primary School year 6 pupils.
Mill Hill East Jewish Community Purim Carnival
Purim fun at Mill Hill East community event
On Sunday 13 March, Mill Hill East Jewish Community (United Synagogue) hosted a Purim Carnival. 220 people attended the event at Copthall School which was a fun-filled bonanza aimed at children from 2-12 years.
Participants enjoyed a choice of inflatables, traditional fun-fair games, arts and crafts and food stalls. The community has continued to grow since its establishment in 2016 and now boasts 290 adult members.
Co-chair Chloe Prager says: “We were delighted to be able to put on such an exciting event for the youngest members of our community. Our shul has become a destination for young couples and families looking to join a dynamic and vibrant congregation – and it was truly wonderful to see everyone celebrating together in this way. Thanks must go to the event organisers and also to the Office of the Chief Rabbi for their support for this event.”
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Use it or lose it?
Effective Tax year end planning Vol 2
With the tax year end (TYE) approaching, you should be making the most of the tax reliefs and allowances currently available. This can lead to a reduced tax bill and boost your savings.
Below is the second checklist of 5 of the top 10 TYE planning opportunities to take advantage of together with the key information you need to make these opportunities a reality.
6. USE ISA ALLOWANCES
ISAs offer savers valuable protection from income tax and CGT and, for those who hold all their savings in this wrapper or a pension, it's possible to avoid the chore of completing self-assessment returns.
The ISA allowance is given on a use it or lose it basis, and the period leading to the tax year end, often referred to as ‘ISA season’, is the last chance to top up. Over 18s can put £20000 p.a. into an ISA and Under 18s can put £9000 p.a. into a JISA. ISAs come in various forms – cash, stocks and shares, innovative finance and lifetime.
7. RECOVER PERSONAL ALLOWANCES AND CHILD BENEFIT
Personal pension contributions can reduce a individual’s taxable income. In turn, this can have a positive effect on both the personal allowance and child benefit for higher earners, resulting in a lower tax bill. An individual pension contribution that reduces income to below £100,000 will restore your individual’s full tax free personal allowance. The effective rate of tax relief on the contribution could be as much as 60%.
Child Benefit is clawed back by a tax charge if the highest earning individual in the household has income of more than £50,000, and is cancelled altogether once their income exceeds £60,000. A pension contribution will reduce income and reverse the tax charge, wiping it out altogether once income falls below £50,000
8. INVESTMENTS: TAKE PROFITS USING CAPITAL GAINS TAX (CGT) ANNUAL ALLOWANCES
If you sell an asset or an investment, the first £12,300 of profit is free of CGT. However the CGT allowance will be lost if not used. Individuals looking to supplement their income tax-efficiently could withdraw funds from an investment portfolio and keep the gains within the annual exemption. Even if cash isn’t needed, taking profits within the £12,300 CGT allowance and re-investing the proceeds means there will be less tax to pay when individuals ultimately need to access these funds to meet spending plans.
Proceeds cannot be re-invested in the same fund for at least 30 days, otherwise the expected ‘gain’ will not materialise. But they could be re-invested in a similar fund or through their pension or ISA. Alternatively the proceeds could be immediately re-invested in the same investments, but in the name of the individual’s partner.
If there is tax to pay on gains at the higher 20 or 28% rate, a pension contribution could be enough to reduce this rate to the basic rate of 10 or 18%.
9. BONDS: CASH IN BONDS TO USE UP PERSONAL ALLOWANCE (PA) / STARTING RATE BAND / PERSONAL SAVINGS ALLOWANCE AND BASIC RATE BAND
Interest income from your savings or bond investments can be used against either your personal allowance, starting rate band or the personal savings allowance. Now could be an ideal opportunity to cash in offshore bonds, as gains can be offset against all of these.
Sale proceeds can be re-invested into another investment, effectively re-basing the ‘cost’ and reducing future taxable gains.
For those that have no other income at all in a tax year, gains of up to £18,500 can be taken tax free. This is made up of personal allowance £12,500 plus starting rate band for savings £5,000 plus personal savings allowance £1,000. Remember that non-savings income is taxed before savings income and if the exceeds £17,500 the PA and starting rate band will not be available.
If you do not have any of these allowances available, but your partner (or even an adult child) does, then bonds or bond segments can be assigned to them so that they can benefit from tax free gains. Remember, the assignment of a bond in this way is not a taxable event.
10. RECYCLE SAVINGS INTO A MORE EFFICIENT TAX WRAPPER
Using tax allowances is a great way to harvest profits tax free. By re-investing this ‘tax free’ growth, there will be less tax to pay on final encashment than might otherwise have been the case. There may be a better option to re-investing these interim capital withdrawals in the same tax wrapper. For example, they could be used to fund their pension where further tax relief can be claimed, investments can continue to grow tax free and funds can be protected from inheritance tax (IHT).
Similarly, capital taken could be used as part of this year’s ISA subscription. Although ISAs don’t attract the tax relief or IHT advantage a pension does, fund growth will still be protected from tax. This leads nicely on to one final consideration for individuals over (or approaching) 55 - should ISA savings be recycled into their pension to benefit from tax relief and IHT protection?
SUMMARY
In many cases, effective tax year planning can produce a higher level of savings than the investment return you generate from the amount you invest ! Having advised clients for almost a decade, I am yet to meet a prospect who has fully optimised their finances and taken advantage of all the available tax allowances and reliefs. Perhaps you could be the first ? If not, do yourself a favour and get in touch with a competent financial adviser so you can find out what you are missing out on. Expert advice could be of substantial benefit to YOU !
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Kollel Kinyan HaShas Manchester held a Celebratory L’Chaim late on Sunday evening on the occasion of the Kollel’s Siyum in the Ateres Rochel hall, with special musical accompaniment.
Paperweight Perspective What next?
BY BENJAMIN CONWAY CHAIR, THE PAPERWEIGHT TRUST
Rarely, if ever before, have events on the world stage impacted so quickly and so directly on the individual man in the street. We have become accustomed to shaking our head, letting the usual platitudes roll of our tongues, perhaps making a token charitable gesture, before turning the page to check the TV listings or the latest Apprentice casualty. We raise our eyebrows as another political scandal threatens to wreak havoc at Westminster only for it to be subsumed and become yesterday’s fish wrapping by yet further Royal revelations.
But we can turn a blind eye, we can to all intents and purposes ignore, because with few exceptions none of this really mattered, none of this was life changing. What happened in distant lands, remained there. If that’s what you thought, well you are so 2021. Our world and therefore our lives are changing so rapidly, I must encourage you to read this quickly to avoid being out of date.
When Prime minister Harold Macmillan famously said when asked what troubled him most, “events dear boy, events”, he could not possibly have imagined the events that are unfolding before our eyes, let alone their immediate and long-term impact. Whether you are concerned about ten utility price rises in the past 12 months, and a predicted 3 fold increase in costs in the next 6 months, whether you will soon be getting a lot more exercise because the very thought of filling up the tank makes you shudder, or whether you can no longer buy a ticket to watch Chelsea Football Club, make no mistake, world events have changed our lives.
Many across our community are only just putting back together the pieces of furlough, redundancy, unemployment, closed businesses, the impact on family life, mental health strains, credit card and rent or mortgage debt, and in too many cases the overwhelming fear that they simply can no longer cope.
Whilst the economic situation may be our first and uppermost thought, it is by no means the only dark shadow. Without exception, all of the above bring with them in one form or another the associated complexities, trials and tribulations of bureaucracy, paperwork and infuriating online IT compliance and access.
This week across the Jewish world we will gather and read in Megillat Esther, “There is a people that is dispersed and divided”. When we are divided others have the ability to cause us harm. That is the basis of Haman’s plot to destroy us. When we are divided, we represent only individuals, not a community. That is the symbolism of why we were instructed that each and every Jew was to give one half shekel. Each of us is but a fraction of the entity. However, once we combine with others we make a significant contribution, and realise our strength comes through unity and recognising our need for each other.
As an organisation we are planning and bracing ourselves as we face head on into the perfect storm. As the headlines scream at us, ‘How will we put food on the table?’, there is no quick or simple solution for the myriad of issues we face, but hand in hand with Paperweight we will guide, advise, advocate and mediate and be there for each other.
Debt-negotiating, courtattending, benefits-advising, law-guiding, tribunalaccompanying, hand-holding, rights-advocating, landlordchallenging and people-empowering.
Your situation may involve any of these tasks, and more. Whatever your administrative, legal or financial problems, our 200 caseworkers, based in London, Manchester and Gateshead, have the expertise to help. And it’s all free of charge. To access our services or to make a donation to support our work, call 0330 174 4300 or visit paperweight.org.uk
