‘A place simultaneously heimishe and heroic’: Simon Schama headlines JW3 gala dinner
Annual event raises £400k for Jewish community centre and debuts 'Cinderella and The Matzo Ball' panto
JW3 welcomed 155 guests to its annual gala dinner last week, raising more than £400,000 to support the Jewish community centre’s year-round cultural, educational and community programmes.
The evening featured conversations with historian Sir Simon Schama, author Alice Sherwood and a quiz from comedian Ivor Baddiel, followed by the debut performance of JW3’s new winter pantomime, Cinderella and The Matzo Ball.
The centre’s Chair, Marc Nohr, said: “JW3 has become the beating heart of Jewish life in London – the safe, vibrant and welcoming home of Jewish culture and conversation.”
He added that it “represents our refusal to retreat and our determination to live Jewishly with confidence and openness. But that visibility and openness come at a cost. Security now costs JW3 almost £600,000 a year, and alongside rising energy and staffing costs, keeping our doors open and our community safe has never been more expensive.”
Chief executive Raymond Simonson said: “JW3 is the safe home for Jewish culture and conversation in the UK – a proud beacon that lights up the sky during these dark days”, whilst Sir Simon Schama called the centre “a place that is simultaneously heimishe and heroic – and that responds to monstrous lies and intimidation not by running away, but by doubling down on the exuberance and vitality of Jewish culture.”
As part of the evening, JW3 presented an ‘Outstanding Contribution Award’ to philanthropists Tony and Linda Bloom, recognising their generous and long-standing support of JW3 and the wider Jewish community through The Bloom Foundation.
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