Community news-roundup: ‘Klez is more for Wally’s band’

Here are all the community-news stories from the past week!

If you have a story, email it to community@thejngroup.com

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Klez is more for Wally’s band

Band leader Wally Fields and his new Liverpool-based band TROIKA enthralled a near capacity audience at Le Quecumbar restaurant with a mixture of wild klezmer of Yiddish Odessa, flavoured with ecstatic music of the Great Russian Red Army Bands of yesteryear. They will be performing at the same venue on 17 July. To book tickets call 020 7787 2227.

Jewish Care home opens

Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State for Care and Support and the Chief Rabbi joined Jewish Care supporters to open the organisation’s latest redevelopment, the Betty and Asher Loftus Centre.

The three-year programme, costing £17 million, has resulted in the creation of one of, if not the, largest care communities in the UK, providing residential and day care to more than 250 people every day. It is dedicated to Betty and Asher Loftus for their ongoing support and the Loftus family’s generosity.

JFS students pack up for GIFT

Sixty JFS students helped out at the GIFT warehouse, packing food bags for those in need. The pupils had earlier heard from GIFT co-founder and director Michelle Barnett, as she told them how the charity developed from an idea into an international organisation. They were there as part of the Nxt programme, a joint JFS and Aish educational initiative which introduces Year 12 students to speakers and experiences in many fields.

Chai’s sugar debate

Three of the UK’s nutrition and food industry experts were guests at Young Chai’s live debate on Sugar Tax at Chai’s Flagship Centre in Hendon. Young Chai committee member Ginelle Kay said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the success of our first event of the year. It is amazing to see the young community getting involved and wanting to learn more about the invaluable work that the Chai team does.”

Sephardim enjoy a night of music

TAL (Torah Action Life) hosted an evening of Middle Eastern music, including Piyutim and Bakashot with top chazanim and a special band from Israel. TAL founder Rabbi Jonathan Tawil said: “This was an historic moment, building on the many successful TAL projects uniting the Sephardi community”.

Footie keep kids Keen

Arsenal Ladies stars, Natalia and Marta Corredera were on hand to help the Sam Keen Foundation raise more than £5,000 for research into malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer that affects more than 12,000 people every year. They were there as part of a fun day held at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue, where more than 150 children practiced their football skills and enjoyed arts and crafts, face painting, a bouncy castle, music and dancing.

Israel’s top orchestra turns 80!

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s supporters from the US, Europe and Israel came together at Kensington Palace to launch its 80th anniversary celebrations.

The festivities were co-chaired by Denise Esfandi and Marsha Lee, who both spoke about the orchestra’s role in standing for excellence and artistic freedom – and bringing the soul of Israel to the world through the orchestra’s music. Guests were treated to an exclusive musical performances on an evening, which raised more than £300,000.