Kinloss Art Fair in aid of Chai raised £4,000

Over 100 members of Shenley United Jewish Community attended a farewell event for Rabbi Alan Garber on Sunday.

Jo Grose, United Synagogue CEO, Phil Diamond, SUJC life president, Darren Spevick, SUJC vice chair and Rev Sarah Marshall, vicar of Shenley’s St Martins Church offered words of reflection.

Rabbi Garber, whose family is moving to Edgware, said that the event was about reflecting and celebrating the journey that SUJC had made over the past 10 years.

The community has grown to over 210 families and the building of a permanent shul premises took place in 2019. The growth of services includes a regular Sunday morning minyan. There has also been growth in community engagement including the wider Shenley community with a series of interfaith programs,

Rabbi Garber and Rebbitzen Tanya Garber had seen celebrations of 100s of life cycle events.

Rabbi Garber, after 16 years in the Rabbinate, reflected how the Shenley community supported each other through the pandemic. He is handing over a community in a stage of growth, peace and harmony to the next rabbinical family. His highlights included an engaging Q&A on Yom Kippur and annual Chanukah program going to a different family in the community each night.

Speakers praised the work of Rebbitzen Garber organising festival events, Shabbat hospitality and ladies shiurim.

Rabbi Garber is focusing on his therapeutic work as a CBT therapist at the Priory Southgate, Rebbitzen Tanya will contine her radiography work at the Royal Free NHS Trust.

Earlier this month, the Kinloss Banqueting Suite was buzzing with vibrant art as more than 500 people attended the first Kinloss Art Fair since before Covid.

The event, hosted by Art Committee members, Yvette Kamlish, Cordia Ezekiel, May Sinclair, Susana Ross Cohen, Fortunee Maltz, Lisa Harrison, Nicole Greenwold and Keith Graham and Jonny

Deal, raised more than £4,000 for Chai’s vital services.

Following the event, the Art Committee said: “Every year we select a different charity and we chose to support Chai this year as so many of us have had close family and friends affected by cancer. We are very proud of all the support and services that Chai provides to the community.”

Children at Bnos Beis Yakov school visited tenants at Jewish Care’s Wohl Court Retirement Living fourth birthday party.