Community news roundup: 1st – 6th April

This week’s community news roundup. Got a story to share? Email your news and photos to community@thejngroup.com

Maccabi GB marks Chairman’s 50th

The chairman of the Maccabi GB Sunday Football League, David Wolff, was thrown a surprise 50th anniversary dinner to recognise his half-century of service to Jewish football. Redbridge Jewish Care’s Sinclair House hosted the event, during which Wolff received awards from the MGBSFL, Masters, Wingate & Finchley, Maccabi GB and London FA. He told the 100-strong audience: “The past 50 years have been a great pleasure. I’ve done something right to see so many people here tonight.”

News in Brief:

• Come to the Cabaret

The first of a series of evening cabarets will be launched on 27 April at Fellowship House, in Hampstead Garden Suburb. The opening event will allow north-west Londoners to enjoy a programme of songs by Edith Piaf entitled Mademoiselle de Paris, performed by singer Francoise Pierre-Geller, narrator Gordon Griffin and pianist Gloria Moss. Tickets include a three-course meal and a glass of French wine. Contact: gloria-moss@hotmail.co.uk for more details.

• Pupils dance their way to victory

Students from a dancing school in Borehamwood competed at The Watford Festival, and won 10 medals across all three disciplines – two gold, four silver and four bronze, including one in the Group Acting class. Open for three years, the Shoshana Burns School of Dance has just over 100 students, aged from two to adult, teaching everything from ballet, tap, modern and street dance to drama, singing and musical theatre stage school.

• Saracens hosts pupils

Saracens’ Allianz Park stadium played host to Maccabi GB’s tag rugby session for Jewish primary school children. Fifty-five children from Sinai School, Independent Jewish Day School and Morasha attended the event, during which pupils took part in a 90-minute training session. MGB’s head of sport Matt Travers said: “These sorts of opportunities are so rare and we are thankful to Saracens for allowing us to use their fantastic facility.”

• Ethical spending

The Jewish Volunteering Network (JVN) held a breakfast, entitled Turning Rubbish into Gold – Using and Spending Money Ethically. The event was attended by more than 40 high-flying Jewish and non-Jewish businessmen. Susan Winton, JVN trustee and co-founder, said: “It was good to hear such prestigious speakers mention the importance of corporate social responsibility and the commitment that businesses must make to secure the future of charities that provide essential services to society.”

• JFS Science Week
  A mobile zoo brought a 20 foot long python to JFS for Science Week

JFS got in the spirit of Science Week with a schedule packed full of experiments, explosions and electricity. Students in Years 9 to 11 enjoyed demonstrations ranging from kidney dissection to edible chemistry experiments producing fizzy ice cream, while Year 7 pupils were joined by a mobile zoo, which brought an array of interesting animals, such as a skunk, a meerkat and a 20 foot-long python called Monty.

• Sinai’s global friends

Sinai school has launched a modern day pen-pal project, which will allow its students to connect with Jewish children from around the world. Partnering with Jewish primary schools in Europe, Latin America and South Africa, pupils will gain an understanding of different cultures through virtual meetings. Headteacher Robert Leach said: “Using technology to talk to other pupils from across the world is helping Sinai pupils to gain more understanding of other Jewish cultures – broadening both their minds and horizons.”

• Teens raise £5k at 24 hour bake-off

Four teenagers, Tali Shear, Juliette Cosgrove, Josh Appleby and Jodie Goldthorpe, completed a 24-hour non-stop bake-off to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Jodie’s grandfather, Alan Levy, said: “They’re an inspiration to the youth of today. They took on an arduous challenge, enjoyed it and had fun doing it.” The 13-year-olds have so far raised more than £5,000.