Jewish housing associations celebrate their merger

Leading Jewish housing associations jLiving and Brighton & Hove Jewish Housing Association (B&HJHA) celebrated their recently announced merger at the new Brighton & Hove Jewish Community hub, the very first event to be held there since it opened earlier this year.

As reported by Jewish News, the two organisations agreed to join forces in March of this year.

More than 100 guests attended the event, including Rabbi Hershel Rader and Rebbetzen Rader of the Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation and local dignitaries, including the chairman and life president of Hove Hebrew Congregation, Michele and Stanley Cohen.

Representatives from the two housing associations included jLiving CEO Jane Goodman and Chairman Adam Gamsu and B&HJHA Chairman Michael Davids, all of whom spoke at the event.

Most of the former B&HJHA board were in attendance, along with many of the jLiving board. Existing Brighton tenants attended as well as the former B&HJHA housing manager Jo Willis, who will now be working for jLiving.

CEO of jLiving, Jane Goodman said: “After months of hard work on behalf of both organisations, the merger is now complete. We look forward to building an ongoing relationship working closely with the local Jewish communities in Brighton and Hove.”

Michael Davids, Chairman of B&HJHA added: “This merger represents a resounding vote of confidence in the future of the Brighton, Hove and Sussex Jewish community.

Fiona Sharpe of Brighton & Hove Jewish Welfare Board said: “We are happy that jLiving will take over the management of our two houses. We offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to the previous management of our community housing.”

Leon Smith, Vice Chairman of jLiving added: “Today’s event was excellent and it was wonderful to see so many people in attendance.”