HGS blessed with ‘ultimate dream team’

The Chief Rabbi and local dignitaries welcomed two senior rabbinical couples to a north London synagogue with a special Kabbalat Shabbat service.

Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue’s Rabbi Marc and Rebbetzen Lisa Levene, and community Rabbi Luis and Rebbetzen Jodie Herszaft, were initiated with a service led by Chazan Avromi Freilich, attended by more than 500 members. Also in attendance were Mike Freer, Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green, local rabbis and United Synagogue leaders.

The Chief Rabbi said he was “delighted to participate in the Shabbat of celebration” and that with the two rabbinic couples and Chazan Avromi and Rochelle Freilich, the HGSS community “is blessed with the ultimate dream team!”

New chief exec at Jewish Women’s Aid

Jewish Women’s Aid has appointed the former head of WIZO as its new chief executive. Alison Rosen will begin in March, taking over from Naomi Dickson, who is taking the helm at Norwood. Rosen, a former chief executive of the Griffin Institute, a surgical training and medical research charity, currently co-chairs NisaNashim Bushey, the Jewish Muslim Women’s Network, and is a founding trustee of Polly for Women CIO, a charity offering free telephone support.

Jewish Museum wins top education prize

The Jewish Museum in Camden has won the Sandford Award for Excellence in Museum Learning, given by the Heritage Education Trust. Past winners include the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace. Acting director Sue Shave said the museum was “extremely proud”. Dr Tracy Borman, from Heritage Education Trust, praised its“excellent learning team who explain all aspects of Jewish life to schools in a sympathetic and knowledgeable way”.