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GIFT help for families over Rosh Hashanah
29 SEPTEMBER 2022
Rabbi Moshe Feldman was invited to talk about Rosh Hashanah and blow the Shofar at St. Phillips RC School Broughton, in the heart of the Kehillah. Over 300 children and teachers listened intently.
Rabbi Moshe Feldman blowing the Shofar
GIFT volunteers Viviane & Jeremy Goldsmith with children Zac, Daniel, Victoria and twins James and Harry, packing hundreds of Rosh Hashana support parcels for the community
GIFT has been helping individuals and families in need across London, Manchester and Israel with a food packing initiative for Rosh Hashanah. For almost two decades over 30,000 volunteers have distributed over 500,000 essential food parcels. GIFT has seen a significant surge in warehouse volunteers these past three years. With a 40% increase in food referrals since March 2020, acts of giving to those in need are intensifying. As GIFT is supporting over 400 households it continues to make the joy of giving and receiving possible throughout the community’s most predominant time of the year, the month of Tishri. Families and individuals packed over 1,000 food support parcels for Rosh Hashanah including honey cakes, grape juice, jars of honey and boxes of Yom Tov candles together with dry bags, fresh fruit, vegetables and challah packages to ensure a sweet start to the year. Viviane Goldsmith and with her family came to pack support parcels on Sunday. They have been volunteering for four years in various capacities. Husband Jeremy collects food weekly from the local Sainsbury’s GIFT collection box and her five children enjoy packing at the Giving Hub. “Each time our kids are left feeling inspired and wanting to do more to help the community,” she said. “What is so special about GIFT is that kids are able to instantly
make the connection between packing the food and it reaching those in need.” A service user thanked GIFT for constant support. They said, “My condition means I’m unable to get out, even to the shops. Your food parcels are always varied, thoughtful and help me get through the week and the Rosh Hashanah bag is such a treat! I also really look forward to the volunteer’s visit as it’s often my only contact with another person.” Food parcel packing remains an enjoyable family activity and popular initiative at GIFT. In the same spirit, GIFT’s education team joined Finchley Federation Synagogue in making up Rosh Hashanah packages, designed cards together with Connect Borehamwood, and decorated honey jars with Bushey Shul. Yavneh students provided 100 GIFT families with honey cake recipes for the New Year. Families and students noted this was the highlight of their day and inspired them to do even more. GIFT’s Manchester branch organised a Rosh Hashana parcel wrapping session alongside King David High School students. GIFT’s Israel branch initiated thousands of Rosh Hashanah cards designed by children in schools across Jerusalem to be given to soldiers and their families. GIFT’s volunteering initiatives: email volunteer@jgift.org
PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL
A Memorial Service for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll was held Sunday evening in the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation. Attending were; His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Mrs Diane Hawkins, The Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Donna Ludford, Mr Mark Adlestone Chair of Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region, Metro Mayor of Greater Manchester Combined Authority Mr Andy Burnham and Mr Christian Wakeford MP for Bury South.
Lord Lt of Gtr Manchester Mrs Diane Hawkins, Lord Mayor of Manchester Donna Ludford, Mark Adlestone, Andy Burnham and Christian Wakeford MP
THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL