Community

Israel Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely, pictured with Leeds Jewish Representative president Laurence Saffer, visited the Leeds Jewish community last week where she met community leaders, business leaders, and school students.

Israel Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely with Laurence Saffer

Birnhacks take up seaside post

Rabbi Tzvi and Mushki Birnhack have taken up a Shlichus post at Southend-on-Sea.

They are the seventh Shluchim family in the Essex area sponsored by Rabbi Aryeh and Devorah Sufrin.

This is the fourth Chabad House alongside branches in Gants Hill, Buckhurst Hill and Epping.

Initially, the Birnhacks will engage with the community by bringing the spirit of Chabad through Shabbat and Yom Tov hospitality, festival programming, home visits and communal learning.

They will get to know the community by supporting existing infrastructure and strengthening Jewish life.

The Birnhacks trained in the Chabad higher education system in Moscow,

Rabbi & Mrs Birnhack

Ukraine, Germany and Kfar Chabad, Israel.

Rabbi Tzvi has taught high school students, Mushki was curriculum development coordinator in Kiryat Malachi, Nachalas Har Chabad.

Seaside Shiur

Rebbetzen Anna Bergson of the Glendower Hotel, St Anne’s, organised by shul Vice-Chair Michelle Morris.

Anna spoke about living a spiritually authentic and meaningful life replete with insights on the Parsha.

The atmosphere was warm and lively and one attendee commented she was ‘enthralled by Anna’s feelings and interpretations’.

The shiur is part of a monthly series of educational events, open to shul members and also non-members. For more information please see shulbythesea.co.uk Cockfosters and N Southgate Synagogue welcomed 250 guests to celebrate the induction of Rabbi Meir Shindler.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis led the ceremony also watched by 40 people on Zoom.

The Chief Rabbi described the union of a synagogue and its rabbinic family as a ‘shidduch’ and celebrated the match of the Shindler family with CNSS.

Rabbi Shindler spoke about humility and service, and commented how welcomed he and his family had felt during their first year in Southgate.

Paying tribute to her late grandmother, Rebbetzen Rina Shindler urged the community, “Partner with us, bring your best selves and we will accomplish great things for CNSS.”

CNSS chair Lauren Wolman welcomed the Chief Rabbi and guests including the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Alison Moore, Deputy Mayor of Enfield, Councillor Suna Herman, and members of Rabbi and Rebbetzen Shindler’s family from London and the USA.

Lauren said: “With our new Rabbinic couple, the recent investment in the building, and our excellent programme of events, as it approaches its 75th year CNSS is going through a resurgence and the next chapter in CNSS’s history has begun.”

Chazan Dov Speier, together with the CNSS choir and soloist Akiva Shindler, gave a moving performance. Children of the community narrated a poem to the

Chief Rabbi Mirvis with Rabbi Meir Shindler Rabbinic couple then guests enjoyed a reception in the newly refurbished Maurice Tillkoff Hall.

Rabbi and Rebbetzen Shindler have been in post at CNSS for almost a year. They have made a positive impact with innovative ideas and programmes.

The shul has seen an increase in engagement from young families, children and youth.

King’s ‘gift’ to Michelle

King Charles awarded GIFT’s founding director Michelle Barnett with an MBE at Windsor Castle.

Michelle received the accolade in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for extraordinary efforts made by individuals and charities during the pandemic.

Shocked by wasted food in supermarkets and restaurants, and inspired by Rabbi Naftali Schiff’s vision, GIFT started from Michelle’s kitchen table back in 2004.

Michelle gathered excess bread from bakeries each week and redistributed it to struggling families whilst continuing her work as a probation officer. Soon Michelle became GIFT’s very first employee.

Almost 20 years later, GIFT has left an indelible mark on the Jewish community.

Michelle said: “This is a real acknowledgment of the vital work we are privileged to do in the community. I dedicate this award to GIFT’s fantastic team, volunteers and my family who have given of themselves so selflessly, especially these past few years.” She added: “This was an awesome experience. To have a personal audience with the King was very powerful.”

Michelle shared GIFT’s achievements with the King, who was attentive to the charity’s vision. With his permission, Michelle recited the “blessing upon seeing royalty”.

Rabbi Sandor Milun, GIFT managing director, says: “Working with Michelle has been a life-changing and career defining time for me. It is a privilege to work alongside someone who is so selfless, cares so much for

HM King Charles presenting Michelle with her MBE

everyone, and gets things done regardless the time of day.”

GIFT’s mission is to develop a giving mindset and lifestyle through education and volunteering.

The organisation has become the go-to for giving, whilst supporting those in need.

In March 2020, when the pandemic hit, GIFT created a number of lock-down ‘giving’ initiatives including gratitude packages for the NHS and Hatzola, telephone befriending, isolation packs for the elderly and virtual tutoring for students.

In addition to GIFT’s engaging educational programmes, the organisation offers volunteering opportunities such as the DofE/Yoni Jesner Awards, Bnei Mitzvah programmes, food parcel packing, Giving Kitchen cooking and delivering, befriending and tutoring. Details: jgift.org/volunteering