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Jewish Care celebrating 100 young people

Participants celebrate graduation at Jewish Care’s MIKE youth leadership awards

“It’s given me so much,” said Rebecca Lloyd, winner of the prestigious The Saul Keene Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership at Jewish Care’s MIKE youth leadership programme awards. The awards evening recognised the dedication of almost 100 inspiring young leaders who are participants in the MIKE programme, which stands for Motivation, Inspiration, Knowledge and Education.

Rebecca Lloyd was presented with the Award by the inspiring Nettie Keene, who has dedicated herself to volunteering at Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre and recently celebrated 50 years of volunteering. Nettie gave the award in memory of her son, Saul, with her son Danny who spoke about his brother, a dedicated leader in the community who sadly passed away at the age of 41 in 2008.

Gayle Klein, Vice Chair of Jewish Care, herself a former MIKE graduate and a friend of Saul, addressed the audience, saying, “Rebecca has been a passionate and dedicated leader for several years. Even during a difficult year, she has shown up with a big smile on her face and brought as much happiness and laughter to the sessions as possible.” Attending the evening with her proud mum, Debbie and grandma Rita, who has volunteered for 15 years at Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, Rebecca said, “I feel very lucky to receive The Saul Keene Award of Excellence and I want to thank Nettie and Danny, my family and everyone who is part of the MIKE youth leadership programme.

“I’m grateful for every opportunity I have and I look forward to being part of this community every day. My confidence has grown so much over the years since I started my leadership journey. I was so introverted when I started the programme and now I’ve won this award.”

Jessica Villiers, Grants Officer at the Jack Petchey Foundation, presented the Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards, supporting young people to have the opportunity to develop their potential and to be recognised for the positive things they achieve. Four outstanding young leaders were also presented with Outstanding Achievement by the Jack Petchey Foundation celebrating their accomplishments over the past year at the evening which was held at Woodford Forest United Synagogue.

Jamie Shone, Jewish Care’s MIKE youth leadership coordinator, who has been through the MIKE programme as a participant, volunteer and leader, talked about the achievements of the award winners. He said, “Abi Saltman has been volunteering in the community for a number of years. She helps with multiple different charities and has helped start multiple initiatives to help the homeless within her school. She has shown true leadership skills and has made a huge impact on the young people we support.”

The keynote speaker, Lisa Wimborne, CEO of Jewish Blind and Disabled is a former graduate of the programme and encouraged the current participants to make the most of the programme and all it offers; “This programme helped me develop skills that would set me up for my future. Skills that you can’t learn in a classroom. The programme has become a breeding ground for future leaders working in both professional and lay leadership roles. You are on the best leadership training programme I have ever come across. Throw yourselves into everything if offers and I hope one day you will be back here, on this stage talking about your journey, to the next generation”.

For more information contact jamie. shone@jcare.org or 07795 952 076.

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Manchester mum’s gap year guide for kids with hidden disabilities

A Manchester mother whose son has Ulcerative Colitis has created a comprehensive guide for young people with IBD, who want to take a gap year in Israel.

Chava Erlanger, from Prestwich, runs therapeutic art sessions for the charity Camp Simcha which also supported her son, along with the Crohn’s and Colitis charity, Jewish Digest.

The two charities have collaborated to produce the 14-page guide after Ms Erlanger had researched it for her 19-year-old son’s year in Israel.

It contains everything travellers with IBD or other chronic conditions might need to know, from accessing help at the airport to how to get blood tests or infusions administered to organisations which can get emergency medication or care.

“For someone with a chronic condition requiring medication and at risk of flareups at any time, there is a lot to consider when you travel,” explains Ms Erlanger. “As a parent of a child in this position, I want him to have every opportunity that his peers have, but the logistics can be stressful and worrying.

“While most kids going to Israel on a gap year are just worrying about how many pairs of trainers to take, we were looking into how he could access medications from the UK when he needed to regularly renew prescriptions; how to get insurance and what to do if he has a flare–up.

“A lot of people don’t know this but all UK airports have a sunflower lanyard system, which is a globally recognised scheme for non-visible disabilities. This is a discreet way to let staff know that you may need additional support.”

Chava and JDigest guide

Deborah Eckstein, co-founder of Jewish Digest, said: “Chava has drawn on her own experiences to compile this useful guide for students with IBD travelling to Israel.”

Daniel Gillis, Camp Simcha Head of Services, added: “It was great to collaborate with Jewish Digest on this fantastic and comprehensive guide which Chava created. We hope it makes life that bit easier for students and anyone with hidden disabilities looking to travel to Israel.”

To request a copy of the guide email office@campsimcha.org.uk or you can download it at https://www.jewishdigest. org

Sacks Morasha fundraising success

Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School raised over £328,000 in its ‘Match for Morasha’ campaign.

The school exceeded its aim with 1,140 individual donations. Money raised will fund the final stage of a building project that will offer additional space to pupils and staff.

Funds will be used as part of a £1.2m building project for extra classrooms, a breakout space, enhanced playground and new well-being and SEND facility to ensure pupils flourish.

Families supported the fundraiser led by new Headteacher Rachel Barbanel who planned assemblies and lessons to drive the campaign in school. Pupils held fundraising activities including a fundraising poster, sweet sale and pocket money being donated.

She said, “Our school community of staff, parents and governors have given an overwhelming amount of support to this campaign. We are so grateful. I am looking forward to providing our children with additional resources to assist in taking the school into the future.”

Jeremy Newman, Chair of Trustees, added, “We are more than a school, it is part

Sacks Morasha pupils celebrate fundraising success

of a larger community. The success of our campaign reflects, so many in the community supported us. Under Mrs Barbanel and chair of governors, Zoe Silverman, I am confident we will repay this support and continue to be an outstanding school for our community.”

Sacks Morasha in Finchley was founded in 2008 and is one of the most popular Jewish primary schools in north London. The school achieves high standards in secular and Jewish studies. It encourages engagement with Torah values, Ivrit, a love of Zionism and Israel.

Ukrainian refugees attend Kingston Shul’s drop-in centre

The Drop In Centre in Kingston United Synagogue

Fifty Ukrainian refugees attended Kingston & Surbiton Synagogue’s third drop-in centre.

Refugees attended from as far afield as Hounslow, Teddington and Twickenham.

The drop-in centre had 10 volunteers and provided refugees the opportunity to connect and make friends whilst enjoying crafts, table tennis and football. Donated clothes were available. Guests were served refreshments, including ice cream and strawberries.

There were a number of older people in attendance who had escaped the war to come and live with their children who had previously settled in the local area.

Jill Prager, from Kingston & Surbiton, said, “By providing a warm environment, the refugees were perhaps able to forget worries about husbands and elderly parents in Ukraine for a short time. They were also able to meet others and share some problems.”

Seed appoints youth directors

Seed are delighted to announce the appointment of Netanel and Tzivya Kiselstein as Seed’s first youth directors.

For several years, Seed has run hugely successful bar and bat mitzvah programmes, and the Kiselsteins will ensure that this success is followed up through a dedicated programme of engaging events aimed at teenagers. In addition, the Seed Shul has seen rapid growth in the last five years, with a membership of almost 100 families. This means that there is an increasing need for excellent provision for teens, including weekday activities and trips as well as Shabbos and Yom Tov programming.

The Kiselsteins are a dynamic and creative couple and were previously youth directors at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue. Netanel learned in Beis Yisroel and Mir Yeshivos. He holds a Masters degree in real estate and has extensive experience volunteering for Jewish organisations. Tzivya learned in Gateshead Sem and is a PE Teacher as well as Dance, Aerobic and Zumba instructor. She was also Managing Director at Heritage House in the Old City of Jerusalem.

They will spearhead Seed’s new initiative for teens including a weekly hub that will provide a fun and warm Jewish environment.

Rabbi Dov Birnbaum, Rabbi of the Seed Shul said “I am really looking forward to this new chapter for our community and for Seed. The Kiselsteins understand and

Netanel and Tzivya Kiselstein

can relate to today’s teenagers and I am sure our teens will love them.”

The Kiselsteins commented: “We are both incredibly excited to be joining the Seed team and to be working along such an accomplished and supportive team. We are so looking forward to meeting the wonderful Seed community and giving our all to the teens!”

Pupils raise £1,000 for Kisharon

Morasha bake to raise money for Kisharon

Kisharon visited Sacks Morasha to speak to KS2 pupils about the charity.

Community Inclusion Coordinator Rachel Ucko led the disability awareness talk and explained how Kisharon’s services enable people to feel valued in the community.

Year three pupil Asher was inspired by the talk and invited classmates to raise money with a bake sale. Pupils each made something that raised £1,000 for Kisharon.

Asher said, “Rachel told us about the different things Kisharon do. I am so happy people came to our bake sale and I look forward to raising more money for the charity in the future.”

Rachel commented, “It is so important to hold talks to teach children the importance that every individual is given the tools to grow and become the very best version of themselves. Disability awareness programmes in schools inspire children and teach them the world should be an equal place. People with disability should have the same opportunities”.

Kisharon run programmes for primary and secondary schools, youth groups and University JCOSS groups.

Details: Rachel Ucko at Kisharon: Telephone 0203 2091160 or Rachel.ukco@ kisharon.org.uk/

LSJS 2022 graduation

A hundred and fifty guests gathered on Thursday evening to celebrate the 2022 LSJS Graduation which saw 50 students graduating from LSJS teacher training and degree programmes. Over 30 students were able to attend in person and were awarded their certificates from S&P Sephardi Senior Rabbi Dweck and the Deputy President of LSJS. International students and guests were able to join in the celebration via Zoom to hear from the LSJS team as well as Spencer Lewis, Executive Head Teacher of Yavneh College, deliver the keynote speech. Joanne Greenaway, LSJS Chief Executive said, “it was an extremely special opportunity to celebrate with an inspiring group of graduates who are working right across our community and its schools from Chassidim in Stamford Hill to those working in cross-communal schools, learning from each other and from our expert teaching team and hearing from them about the impact their studies have had on their teaching journeys and future careers.” Dr Helena Miller, Director of Degrees and Teacher Training Programmes, Senior Research Fellow, said “our graduates should be proud for their achievements. They have each worked so hard for the benefit of Jewish education in the UK and beyond”. The graduates were delighted to come together and share the special occasion with their friends and family, as well as have the opportunity to thank their teachers. Simcha Kirschenbaum, who graduated from the BA (Hons) in Jewish Education said “Each of the fantastic lecturers, gave me the feeling that they truly wanted me to succeed and would do anything for it to happen. I am forever grateful to all of you for all you have taught me over the years.” For more information on teacher training or degrees at LSJS please visit ww.lsjs.ac.uk or call 020 8203 6427.