Over 1,600 Orthodox families receive kosher food aid ahead of Passover
Volunteers and councillors joined Food Lifeline’s annual Passover drive, distributing kosher food to families across Hackney and Haringey
More than 1,600 Orthodox Jewish families in Hackney, Haringey and nearby boroughs received essential kosher food parcels last Sunday, as part of a large-scale Passover distribution effort by Food Lifeline / ZSV.
Held at the charity’s Hackney warehouse on 30 March, the annual operation aimed to support families struggling with the cost of living ahead of Pesach. Over 50 volunteers packed and delivered parcels containing chicken, matzos, grape juice, fresh produce and other staples, “ensuring sensitivity and care is maintained for those in need.”
The event was attended by councillors and senior officers from Hackney and Haringey, including Cllr Ajda Ovat, Cllr Sam Pallis, Cllr Christopher Kennedy, Cllr Michael Desmond, Cllr Sade Etti, Cllr Simche Steinberger and Cllr Mark Grosskopf. Trustees of the ZSV Trust were also present. Organisers said their involvement “highlighted the strong partnership between local authorities and grassroots Jewish organisations tackling poverty in culturally sensitive ways”.
Founded in 1980, Food Lifeline supports those unable to access mainstream foodbanks due to religious dietary restrictions. With ongoing support from Hackney Council and the Household Support Fund, the charity now helps over 2,800 households annually with food, clothing, utility support and welfare referrals.
“This year’s distribution not only highlighted the urgent needs exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis but also celebrated the power of community, partnership, and targeted support that meets cultural sensitivities,” the charity said.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
