Reform shul marks diamond anniversary by planting tree

Members of Sha’arei Tsedek North London Reform Synagogue got the spade out this week to plant trees in their local area for the shul’s diamond anniversary.

Congregants partnered Barnet Council to plant a magnolia tree in the green opposite the synagogue while also donating plants to a local children’s hospice. As the weather warms, youngsters will be invited to plant under the magnolia.

With an eye on the upcoming festival of Tu B’Shevat, the community provided plants for a sensory walkway at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet, which supports around 350 seriously unwell babies and children every year.

Shul co-chair Richard Woolf said: “It reflects our commitment to our social responsibility, our legacy for future generations, and our responsibility to the environment.”

Sha’arei Tsedek recently embarked on an ambitious project to capture memories, stories and photos from its members, from elders to millennials, “to build a digital and printed archive of its journey”.