Jewish Care

Gala show at Redbridge JCC celebrates Israel's 60th birthday

There was a tremendous atmosphere at Jewish Care’s Redbridge Community Centre on Wednesday night (7 May) when more than 300 people attended a gala show to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day, known as Yom Ha’atzmaut.

The sell-out show’s opening sequence, Israel Folk Dance Institute’s Fiddler on the Roof, was greeted enthusiastically by the audience. There were lively performances from Ilford Jewish Primary School dancers, the Clore Tikva School Songbirds, and Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade. There was much excitement when members of a youth group from Givatayim in Israel appeared, singing and dancing, having come to Redbridge especially for the celebrations.

The show was organised by Revital Shloman, community shlicha (emissary) for the Redbridge Jewish community and is part of a programme of activities taking place in schools and synagogues across the borough. Miss Shloman is based at the centre in Woodford Bridge Road and her post is funded by Jewish Care, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the UJIA.

Local rabbis David Hulbert, Michael Pertz, Michael Foulds and Richard Jacobi (student rabbi) led a memorial service for Israel’s fallen soldiers and citizens prior to the entertainment. The evening was compèred by members of MAOF – a group of 12 teenagers who are attending programmes at the centre before going to Israel this summer to spend a gap year.

Guests were welcomed by Lee Scott MP, who brought greetings from Boris Johnson, the new Mayor of London and Conservative leader David Cameron. Sinclair House chairman Phillip Leigh welcomed everyone on behalf of Redbridge JCC and Jewish Care, noting that the audience included councillors Alan Weinberg and Ronnie Barden, and Neil Taylor, Jewish Care’s director of community services.

Phillip Leigh said: “I am very proud of the role the centre plays in facilitating communal activities of this type. We believe in the centrality of Israel for us Jews in the Diaspora and in doing so we help strengthen our own personal and community identity. The Redbridge Jewish community has a long standing tradition of placing Israel at its heart and the work of our shlicha Revital only serves to enhance this.”

Afterwards, Liam Stein, 18, said: “The show went really well and everyone enjoyed it. MAOF is preparing us for Israel and is helping us to learn things about the country and the language that will give us a head start. We are all looking forward to it.”

The show was proclaimed “a great success” by Miss Shloman, who thanked the committee and different organisations involved in the celebrations. She said: “I am very, very proud and happy with the Redbridge community for the way in which we are working together to respond to the needs of future generations so they feel part of Israel. It is a country that continues to inspire us with its determination and spirit.”

Miss Shloman also spoke of the continued partnership with the Jewish Film Festival, noting the Israeli Oscar nominated film “Beaufort” was being screened.

The event was sponsored by Yarden GB which donated Israeli-style refreshments served during the evening.