Brady Girls was a parallel to the older Brady Boys’ Club (founded 1896 by Lady Rothschild), the first Jewish youth club in the country. However, it wasn’t until 1960 that the Brady Boys and Brady Girls Club amalgamated. (They say marriages are made in heaven, but readers of a certain age may know of many who came into being at Brady.)

For eight decades in the 20^th century, the Clubs became a beacon of hope and support for underprivileged youth, provided social opportunities, skill development and even holidays for the youth of the Jewish East End.

Now The Bradians Trust present a new exhibition; ‘We are the Brady Girls part 2’,(Part 1 was held in London Metropolitan University in 2023) opens 6^th September. On show will be previously unseen images, objects from the Brady Archives and personal narratives from young women whose lives were shaped by the pivotal role the Club played in their lives and the lives of thousands of young women across the East End.

Furthermore, stories of the Brady Girls and Boys come to life in the new Brady Memory Map (www.bradymemorymap.co.uk)  where former members discuss formative experiences. There you can listen to fascinating personal stories connected to Brady by digitally pinpointing significant Jewish areas in the East End.  Such as:

Barbara; born 1942,

“We lived in; one bedroom flat – a short walk to Brady – 2 days a week; and God forbid you didn’t have your sub.

I did Hebrew a couple of hours a week and there was PT and there were other classes.  My best memory of Brady was it was just there; as were my friends and the community and there was a lot going on.”

Eric born 1944 ;

“I went to Brady when 12 or 13; I was a bit of a late starter.  We lived in a bit of a flea pit of a flat in Hessel Street market. 

My grandfather was a Kosher butcher; I worked out there were 17 Kosher butchers in the market that was 200 yards long; 20 yards wide; how any of them made a living I have no idea.”

Milly born1926:

“It was a hard life for my parents and I was the baby; one brother no money; We lived in a block of flats Hughes Mansions, Vallance Road.

‘134 people got killed in our flats [after V2 rocket attack in 1934]; my mother was sitting up in bed having a cup of tea and the girder fell the back of her neck; so then I was motherless, homeless and penniless.”

June born 1939:“Our parents loved us going to Brady because it gave us an interest; they knew where we were and there was always someone to come home with.  I was very interested in dramatics and we put on lots of different productions; I also played netball for the club and we did keep fit displays for the parents; and of course we enjoyed the socials.  Eventually I was on the committee and used to buy records for our dances and that’s when the boys used to come. “

‘We Are The Brady Girls’ will be held from 6 September to 28^th September; Mondays to Fridays 9am-7pm and Saturdays 10am – 4pm. at the original home of the Brady Girls Club in Hanbury Street, London E1; now known as the Brady Arts & Community Centre.

For more information please visit www.bradyarchive.co.uk

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The group is named MeshuganOs.

It has been formed by longstanding Leyton Orient fans and season ticket holders Jonathan Glass and Eddie Gershon, together with Daniel Gold and Steven Phillips.

MeshuganOs is a way to celebrate the longstanding relationship between the Jewish community and Leyton Orient and for people to make new friends at the club.

Leyton Orient kit man Ada Martin ( a former JFS pupil)  and former players Mark Lazarus and Bobby Fisher have agreed to be patrons of the group.

Ada said: “ I am proud to be named as a patron of MeshuganOs.

“Like my fellow Jewish supporters, I love Leyton Orient and am proud of its connections with the Jewish community.

“I look forward to the success of the group.”

Eddie Gershon added: “ If you ask football fans which club is most associated with its Jewish supporters, the answer will likely be Spurs.

“While it is true that Spurs has always been the favoured club for a large number of Jewish fans, we believe  that Leyton Orient runs it pretty close, and as a percentage of its overall support, the O’s might well be one of the, if not the best-supported club amongst the Jewish community in England.

“The club’s association with the Jewish community goes back decades.

“When Orient were Clapton Orient and played at Millfields, large swathes of the Jewish community resided in Hackney, Stamford Hill and Stoke Newington as well as the East End.

“These locations were a couple of miles (in the case of Hackney, Stamford Hill and Stoke Newington) away from the ground, with the East End (places like Whitechapel) less than four miles away.

“As a result the O’s were the local club for tens of thousands of Jewish people and many of them chose to support the team.

“That support passed on through the families and it is fair to say that the movement of the Jewish community in the 1950s onwards to areas including Gants Hill, Redbridge, Barkingside and Newbury Park only buoyed that support.”

Jonathan Glass commented: “The O’s have also had a number of Jewish players including Mark Lazarus, Dave Metchick, Bobby Fisher, Barry Silkman and Scott Kashket, who between them played almost 650 games for the O’s.

“And two of the club’s most high profile chairmen,  Harry Zussman and Brian Winston were also Jewish.

“One thing I am very proud of (and I am sure it is the same for my fellow Jewish supporters) is that in all of the years of coming to Brisbane Road, I have never experienced any antisemitism.”

Leyton Orient chief executive Mark Devlin added : “ We are proud to have launched our official Jewish Supporters’ Group.

“We have great Jewish heritage at Leyton Orient, both as a football club and within our local area and that is something that we are keen to celebrate and are very proud of.

“Our Jewish supporters are very important to us and I would encourage all Leyton Orient fans to get in contact with the group as I know they have some exciting plans for the future.

“I am looking forward to the success of the MeshuganOs”

For more information on the group, please send an email tomeshuganOs@gmail.com.

There is also a Facebook page under the name of the group.

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The two organisations first came together 11 years ago to create a single mental health service for the Jewish community. Due to its success, The Board of Trustees of both organisations, felt that now was the right time to fully integrate their services.

Whilst the integration brings the two organisations together, Jewish Care’s CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown has stated that it would continue using the Jami brand which has “built up a fantastic reputation in the community over three decades.”

He added: “Keeping the Jami name is a strong part of who they are and what the community relates to. This is an exciting opportunity for both organisations and comes at a time when mental health and its prevalence continues to grow each year. Coming together means that we can ensure Jami’s services are sustainable for generations to come.”

Jewish Care are also committed to ensuring that Jami’s services remain unaffected by the integration and intends to transfer its 92 members of staff to the employment of Jewish Care, whilst also keeping every single one of its 280 volunteers. 

The statement also declared that Chief Executive of Jami, Laurie Rackind, will be stepping down from his role after 17 years of leading the charity, but would remain closely involved with the transition towards full integration of Jami services into Jewish Care over the coming months. In his time at the organisation, Laurie has transformed Jami into a leading mental health provider within the Jewish community and a recognised provider of pioneering service delivery models in the wider mental health and social care sectors.

He commented that it had been “an honour and a privilege to have led Jami for the last 17 years, and I feel proud of the progress that has been made during my time here. Jami has transformed the way mental health services are delivered”.

Laurie also praised initiatives such as Head Room café in Golders Green, for allowing Jami to “deliver support on the high street while tackling the issues of stigma, changing the way the Jewish and local community think about mental illness and distress”.

“The lone figure on the street that was once treated with disdain is now the person sitting in our café being supported with respect. None of this progress would have been possible without the support from the Jami Board of Trustees, my colleagues, Jewish Care, Jami’s supporters and volunteers, and the wider community”.

Jami Chairman, Adam Dawson, also paid tribute to Laurie’s work over the past 17 years in transforming the way mental health services are delivered, which have benefitted many thousands of lives, adding: “We owe a great debt of gratitude to Laurie; his contribution to Jami and our community has been enormous.”

Regarding the integration, Adam mentioned it was “a natural development given how closely Jami and Jewish Care have worked over the last decade. It will expand our knowledge, expertise, and resources to enable Jami to continue providing hope and help to everyone living with mental illness and distress in the community”.

Jonathan Zenios, Jewish Care Chair, commented that the merger was “an excellent and exciting development, a reflection of both organisations’ commitment to continue investing in mental health services, and a natural progression for both charities to offer the very best mental health resources for our community.”

He added that “we can now look forward to build on the services already provided and ensure the community’s needs are met in the most efficient and effective way.”

Both organisations agree the merger will bring many opportunities for both Jami, Jewish Care, and the whole community, including better use of community resources. Above all, according to the trustees, the merger will ensure “that the needs of the community continue to be met effectively, and the future of Jami’s vital mental health services are sustainable and secured for the future.”

For the Essex community, all services will continue as before including the Jami hub in Redbridge which provides in-person and online activities and support to increase social connection.  

To find out more about any of Jami’s vital services, please call 020 8458 2223, email info@jamiuk.org or visit jamiuk.org

The post When Two Become One appeared first on Essex Jewish News.

On Erev Rosh Hashanah, South West Essex & Settlement Reform Synagogue (SWESRS) officially became Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue.

This follows an overwhelming vote in favour of the name change by members at the community’s AGM in July.

The synagogue’s Senior Rabbi Jordan Helfman said: “In the past number of years, the Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue has begun a real transformation, becoming a more welcoming home for Jews seeking an inclusive community.

“There has been a meaningful surge in LGBTQI+ membership, as well as individuals who have felt marginalised in other communities because of their skin colour.

“This is an ongoing journey that the Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue will continue to evolve into, and the change in name and logo are part of that commitment to growing a vibrant place of learning and Jewish action.”

The community partly began life in 1919 as the St George’s Settlement Synagogue in the East End, the only jointly affiliated Reform and Liberal Judaism congregation.

In 1997, with the population having shifted towards Essex, the Settlement Synagogue (as it was then known) merged with South West Essex Reform Synagogue, which itself was founded in 1956. Jointly the two became SWESRS and solely a Reform congregation.

Now, 67 years later, the working name will change to Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue. Although, at the suggestion of the Charity Commission, the registered name of the synagogue will remain the same. The community has also introduced the new tagline of  “honouring our past, building our future”. A logo (pictured) was designed by Gemma Shinebroom, with its oak tree drawn by Rebecca Roher, to reflect this.

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The 25-year-old who grew up in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, but now lives in Hampstead, will be scaling Snowdon in Wales with her friend, Jenny Harrold for charity. The pair are hoping to raise at least £2,740 for Brain Tumour Research, the amount needed to sponsor a day of research into a cure at one of the four Centres of Excellence located at universities around the country.

Liorah was inspired to climb the 1,085m-high mountain by her father’s love of nature and walking and Michael had even talked about relocating to Llandudno, which is close to Snowdon, before he became ill. Michael was diagnosed with aggressive glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumour in the summer of 2021 after he started forgetting words and his mouth began to droop. Despite undergoing surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, he died seven months later at the age of 68.

According to statistics from Brain Tumour Research, 16,000 people a year are diagnosed with a brain tumour in the UK and just 12 per cent of those survive beyond five years, compared with an average of 54 per cent across all cancers.

Losing her father was very difficult for Liorah as they were extremely close. Michael single-handedly raised her after her mother left when she was one and according to Liorah, they did  ‘absolutely everything together. The love we had for each other was unmatched.’

She added: “My dad was such a healthy man, but it still happened to him. I would love to help the charity find a cure.”

To donate to Liorah and Jenny’s fundraising target for their climb on July 29, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/liorah-and-jenny-snowdon-trek-2023.

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Dr Ed Kessler MBE – founder president of the Woolf Institute, which is based in Cambridge – will play a key role in the creation of one Progressive Judaism for the UK.

A member of Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue in Cambridge, and a vice president of Liberal Judaism, he said: “I am delighted to take up this role and help to deliver a new era for Progressive Judaism.

“I am passionate about the value of partnership and the need for a vibrant, sustainable Progressive Judaism that can amplify our voices in the UK and beyond.”

Referred to as “probably the most prolific interfaith figure in British academia” by The Times, Dr Ed Kessler was awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to interfaith relations.

In 1998 he founded the Woolf Institute with Revd Professor Martin Forward, with the goal to foster understanding and positive relations between communities in a world marked by increasing division and instability. It now has a permanent new home in the grounds of Westminster College, Cambridge.

The role of the Progressive Judaism Advisory Board is to support the two CEOs – Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy – as they work with sub groups, synagogues and clergy to form the vision of the new Progressive Movement and shape its implementation. It will exist for the length of the project.

Ruth Seager, chair of Liberal Judaism said: “I am looking forward to working with Ed in the creation of the new movement. He has been active within Progressive Judaism for a very long time and is a leading thinker in interfaith relations.”

Paul Langsford, chair of the Movement for Reform Judaism, added: “Ed, and his family, are passionate advocates for Progressive Judaism – believing in the unique offering of each movement and that is fulfilled to its best when working in partnership.”

More details about the work of the Advisory Board, and its other members, will follow.

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The report is a testament to the School as an outstanding Jewish school. It showcases the school’s commitment to an outstanding and inclusive Jewish education for all children. The observations conducted on the team over the inspection highlighted their remarkable dedication, while integrated Jewish lessons were commended for their exceptional quality. The report unequivocally acknowledges the outstanding Jewish education provided at Clore Tikva School.

Clore Tikva is commitment to nurturing the personal and spiritual development of all students, through the tireless efforts of the caring staff in collaboration with parents, which has resulted in the exceptional outcomes which were highlighted by the Pikuach inspectors. The report attests to the collective success in achieving outstanding Jewish Personal and Spiritual Development.

Head Teacher Margot Buller said on receiving the report,” As an experienced headteacher with a 24-year tenure across various schools, I can confidently state that Clore Tikva is unlike any other educational institution I have had the privilege of leading. The incredible spirit of collaboration and support within our team and community is truly remarkable. We firmly believe that a school’s strength lies in the collective efforts of its members, including parents, staff, and students. Throughout the Pikuach inspection process, we ensured that everyone’s voice was heard and valued.

What particularly warmed my heart while perusing the report was the inspectors’ recognition and celebration of the school we know and love. Their observations aligned perfectly with our own perceptions of Clore Tikva, reaffirming our dedication to inclusivity and acknowledging it as a core value. As a headteacher, I firmly believe that Pikuach holds greater significance than OFSTED, as it captures the heart and soul of our school and defines Clore Tikva’s purpose.

On behalf of Clore Tikva School, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have diligently worked amidst significant challenges over the past four years. This outstanding Pikuach report is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire school community, and we can all take immense pride in this remarkable achievement.”

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More than 55,000 volunteers in Essex and beyond will ‘repair the world’ this November, as the theme for the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action was announced. 

The details of Mitzvah Day 2023 were revealed at a launch event attended by faith and community leaders. 

Mitzvah Day Founder and Chair Laura Marks CBE (pictured above) told those gathered: “Tikkun olam, the Jewish value to repair the world, is integral to all faiths and belief systems. 

“That is why this year we aim to give our time, collectively, to address the human inflicted damage both on vulnerable people and on our precious fragile environment.” 

Mitzvah Day 2023 will take place on and around Sunday 19 November. It has become established as a key social action event in the faith calendar – with backing from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer and senior religious and civic leaders. 

Projects this year will be focussed on three key ways to repair the world: 

• Loneliness: Offering connection to people who are lonely through visits, calls and card-making. 

• Hunger: Collecting, cooking and sharing food to feed people who are hungry and vulnerable. 

• The Earth: Repairing the damage inflicted on our planet through planting and cleaning. 

The theme was warmly welcomed by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who said: “We cannot solve all of the world’s problems in one day, but every small step helps – and Mitzvah Day gives us all the chance to make the most of that opportunity. 

Rabbis Josh Levy and Charley Baginsky – the CEOs of Reform and Liberal Judaism – told how they were “delighted” to be supporting the launch. 

They added: “It is in the connections made on Mitzvah Day – connections within communities, between communities and between the Jewish world and other faiths – that we have a chance to make a real difference and repair our world.” 

Mitzvah Day CEO Stuart Diamond highlighted the many different charity partners teaming up with Mitzvah Day this year. 

He said: “I am delighted that so many charities and causes are supporting our theme including the Trussell Trust, Age UK, Jewish Care, Norwood, Felix and Eco Judaism. We look forward to many regular and brand new volunteers, co-ordinators and charity partners joining us this November in repairing the world.” 

The Mitzvah Day 2023 launch was held at the new BNJC – Brighton & Hove Jewish Community Centre. 

Guests included Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman – who made history by becoming Brighton & Hove’s first Muslim Deputy Mayor – and Councillor Julie Cattell, Rabbi Hershel and Rebetzen Perler Rader of Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation, Titular Archbishop of Selsey Jerome Lloyd, Revd Godfrey Kesari, Board of Deputies Vice President Amanda Bowman, BNJC CEO Mark Sugarman and Peter Wells from The Brighton and Hove Interfaith Contact Group. 

They were joined by representatives of the Church of England, Diocese of Suffolk, Archbishop of York’s Office, Sussex Jewish Representative Council, Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue, Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue and the local Bahá’í community. 

To fit in with the theme, all those attending the launch brought toiletries for the Brighton Housing Trust, a local charity dedicated to combating homelessness, poverty and marginalisation. 

• To find out more about Mitzvah Day, please visit www.mitzvahday.org.uk.

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Jewish Care’s new Redbridge development has been given a huge boost thanks to generous donations from Lord Alan Sugar and his family, together with the Ronson family via The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation.

Described as ‘game-changing’ by the charity, the pledges will help to fund the exciting new Jewish Care Redbridge Care and Community Campus development.

Due to open in the summer of 2025, subject to planning permission, the campus will be situated on the current Redbridge Jewish Community Centre (RJCC) site, previously known as Sinclair House. It will be comprised of a community centre space, which will house a centre for people living with dementia along with a 66-bed care home, replacing Vi & John Rubens House in Gants Hill. Additionally, Jewish Care’s local social work and meals on wheels teams will be based on site. 

Despite these new commitments from the Sugar and Ronson families, plus funds already raised by the Redbridge Aid Golf Society, Jewish Care still needs to find the remaining £5million needed to complete the project. The charity has launched a campaign to raise the money from the local community.

Welcoming the donations, Phillip Leigh – life president of the RJCC and chair of the Essex Jewish News said:

“I am delighted to see these wonderful donations towards the new Redbridge Campus. As you can see from the photograph, this is the not the first time that the Sugar and Ronson families have dug deep to help us.

“This photo brought back special memories of my good friends Frank Cass and Ellis Birk, both regrettably of blessed memory, who along with myself were instrumental in negotiating the amalgamation of Sinclair House with Jewish Care way back in 1985.

“It is exciting to see that, at long last, we are now reaching the actual beginning of the project that we kicked into play some 20 years ago“Let’s hope that our passionate Essex Jewish community now support us in making up the shortfall required to complete this long awaited landmark for our local community.”

The Sugar family have been long standing supporters of Jewish Care, showing unwavering commitment to the organisation over many decades.

Lord Sugar said: “We are proud to be supporting the exciting development of a new care and community campus in Redbridge. Our family have had a long and deep association with Jewish Care’s services in Redbridge, where my late mother was a resident at Vi & John Rubens House. We are absolutely delighted to be helping our older community live with dignity and compassion in facilities that deliver high quality care on a state-of-the-art campus.

“We hope our commitment will be a catalyst for other local supporters to join us and the Ronson family in making this project a reality, which the Essex and East London community truly deserves and can rightfully feel proud of.”

Gerald Ronson CBE and Dame Gail Ronson DBE too have been avid and generous supporters of Jewish Care, including funding the thriving Ronson Family Community Centre in Harrow.

Dame Ronson said: ““I have had the privilege of being involved with Jewish Care for over 30 years as a trustee and now as an honorary president and our family are delighted to be involved with this vital project to support the community in Essex and East London.

“Our connection with the Redbridge community goes back many decades now from when I first became involved in the organisation in 1983 where the Sinclair House site was then an independent community centre that was on the brink of closure.

“Gerald and I wanted to do all we could to help save it and hosted a fundraising event, which we were delighted stopped it from closing, and have had the privilege of seeing it thrive. We are delighted to play our role in establishing a new facility for the next generation in a community which we know is so very special.”

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The shul’s community are so very proud of Rita and we all wish her a huge Mazeltov and congratulate her on being recognised for all her hard and dedicated voluntary work over many years.

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