Olympic goals of community
21/01/11 11:14 Filed in: Olympics | JC Articles
By Robyn Rosen
The Jewish Committee for the London Games wants to be the first recipient of an Inspire mark, making it an official London 2012 brand.
Guests at the committee’s first seminar on Tuesday were told that it had applied to the programme as a project inspired by the Games.
The committee was founded by the London Jewish Forum, Maccabi GB, UJIA and Lord Janner to promote communal involvement in London 2012 activities.
Among the 50-plus people at the seminar were Ephraim Zinger, director of the Israeli Olympic Committee, and representatives of volunteering charities.
London Jewish Forum chief executive Alex Goldberg said the Inspire mark would add “kudos” when attempting to attract funding for projects.
UJIA chief executive Douglas Krikler discussed educational ideas and there were suggestions for programmes in Jewish schools, a Limmud-style conference where visitors could learn more about Jewish culture and tours of Jewish London.
BBYO director Phil Peters said British pupils visiting Israel would have the opportunity to meet some of the nation’s Olympic hopefuls.
“Young people are very passionate Zionists in this country,” he said. “We have a great opportunity to engage young people who don’t find such a connection in some of the other more educational things we do.
“Over the build up to the Games, we want to engage with the athletes in Israel and are looking at ways the groups of tours going to Israel can meet the athletes, as well as when they come here.”
Source URL: http://www.thejc.com/community/community-life/26255/olympic-goals-community
Mayor to attend Menorah lighting event in Trafalgar Square
07/12/10 11:56 Filed in: GLA Press Release
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson will join representatives of London's Jewish community on Wednesday (December 8) when the final light is lit on the giant Menorah in Trafalgar Square as part of the capital's celebrations to mark the festival of Chanukah.
Organised by the London Menorah Council in association with the London Jewish Forum and Chabad House Hendon with support from the Mayor, business leader Gerald Ronson, who is sponsoring the event, will symbolically "flick the switch".
The Mayor said: 'Chanukah is a wonderful occasion. It embodies the universal message of the power of light over darkness, of freedom over oppression, of tolerance over tyranny. Recalling how over 2,000 years ago the Maccabees secured the freedom of the Jewish people and the re-dedication of the Temple, it is the story of hope and faith in the future.
'In a difficult year for many people, the illuminated Menorah shines a light of optimism as we look forward and beyond the downturn.'
Other attendees will include Rabbi Gershon Overlander, Director, Chabad House Hendon and Adrian Cohen, Chair, London Jewish Forum; Rabbi Dovid Katz, Congregation Beth Abraham, Baltimore; Lord Janner, Patron of the London Menorah Council; and Rabbi Bentzi Sudak, Executive Director Chabad Lubavitch UK.
Fear over Islamist Tower Hamlets mayor
28/10/10 12:05 Filed in: News | JC Articles
By Martin Bright and Simon Rocker
Senior Jewish figures have raised concerns over the election of a controversial Muslim politician as mayor of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Lutfur Rahman was dropped as the Labour Party's official candidate after evidence was produced of irregularities in the nomination process and links to the radical Muslim group Islamic Forum Europe.
He then stood as an independent and last week trounced Labour rival Helal Abbas, although only a quarter of the electorate turned out to vote. He will now preside over the Olympic borough's £1 billion budget.
Islamic Forum Europe, which actively supported Mr Rahman's election, has been accused of promoting a Muslim supremacist agenda. Its official blog, Between the Lines, is virulently hostile to Israel, which it describes in one post as the "Zionist terrorist state". Regular contributor Azad Ali, a prominent IFE figure, wrote earlier this year: "We are working our socks off, in different ways, for the resurgence of the Khilafah [the Islamic state]". He added that his vote for head of state would go to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Another, Bint Khan, suggested there was a "hidden war" of Jewish propaganda in the British media after the release of the film The Reader and the TV dramatisation of the Anne Frank Diary.
However, in a statement issued after the election, IFE denied charges of extremism: "IFE believes that British Muslims must be model and active citizens, and has been promoting a balanced message of Islam, often finding itself at loggerheads with fringe and extreme groups."
Board of Deputies chief executive Jon Benjamin said: "Serious allegations have been made against Mr Rahman concerning his links with the fundamentalist IFE and he has been expelled from the Labour Party. One can only regard last week's electoral victory with grave concern. The result shows how a tiny but vocal caucus has set the agenda against a backdrop of complacency and resignation."
Mark Gardner, director of communications of the Community Security Trust, added: "The actual impact of the Mayor's election remains to be seen, but we share the concerns of many who fear that this may well prove to be an important moment in the advancement of divisive Islamist agendas within local Government."
Mr Rahman will be presiding over an area of London traditionally associated with the Jewish community and a small number of historic synagogues remain. Jack Gilbert, of Sandys Row Synagogue, said: "We are disappointed that Mr Rahman did not visit the synagogue during this time as council leader. We hope it was an oversight."
Adrian Cohen, chairman of the London Jewish Forum, said: "While we won't rush to judgment, we would be extremely concerned if the Office of the Mayor were to become used to promote a sectarian agenda. We will be looking to engage with the mayor to ensure the community's interests are properly respected."
The election of Mr Rahman has proved highly divisive within the Labour Party. London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone openly campaigned for Mr Rahman, while local Labour MP Rushanara Ali backed Mr Abbas. Ms Ali said: "This is an extremely disappointing result. We worry about the future of this borough. We need to make sure that people in Tower Hamlets can live without fear and intimidation."
A meeting of Tower Hamlets Labour councillors at the House of Commons on Monday decided not to take an openly hostile stance to the new mayor. However, Labour councillors would almost certainly have to leave the party in order to work in Mr Rahman's cabinet.
Cllr Abbas, who remains the leader of the Labour group, said: "I really hope that now he's been elected as mayor, he will be able to draw a line under the associations that have caused so much concern. He has a big job in reaching out and building trust in parts of the community where it is lacking.
"As the opposition in Tower Hamlets now, we will work with him and the other mainstream parties to serve one of the most diverse communities in the UK. But he should also know that he is being closely watched - and he will be held to account should he fail."
The JC asked Mr Rahman to reassure Jewish residents of Tower Hamlets. A council statement said: "The mayor said after the election 'Whatever part of the community you belong to, work with me for the people of Tower Hamlets. If we work together we can do so."
Source URL: http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/40315/fear-over-islamist-tower-hamlets-mayor
Faith helps for 2012 London Olympics
21/10/10 18:49 Filed in: JCLG | JC Articles
By Jessica Elgot
The capital's rabbis have been called up to volunteer as Jewish chaplains for Olympic athletes at the London 2012 Games.
Jewish chaplains will be recruited for the Games to support the religious needs of athletes and visitors to the Olympic site. Many rabbis in the Redbridge community, close to the Stratford site, have already expressed interest in the positions.
Rabbi Richard Jacobi of Woodford Liberal synagogue said: "I'm certainly discussing doing it. It's important to show our hospitality to everyone who visits for the Olympics and Paralympics
"My colleagues in Redbridge and I have been discussing ideas such as an Open Shabbat to welcome fellow Jews, and others, who are visiting for the Olympics, and I am keen to join a pluralist chaplaincy for anyone who might need spiritual support.
"The fortieth anniversary of the Munich Olympic tragedy will also provide many poignant moments, to which we need to be ready to respond."
Rabbi Geoffrey Hyman of Ilford Synagogue said he was considering volunteering. He said: "I will certainly investigate what options there are for me to help with. There will be a lot of Jewish people there, and many Israelis, and it is important that people from the local community can support them and make them feel welcome."
The London Jewish Forum, along with Maccabi GB, UJIA and Lord Janner formed the Jewish Committee for the London Games in 2008, encouraging Jewish schools and youth groups to be involved and developing Jewish welfare and cultural services for the games. Jewish Volunteering Network and the CST are also expected to play a role in the games.
Adrian Cohen, chair of JCLG, said: "The Jewish community contributes hugely to sporting excellence around the world and the JCLG is looking at launching a number of volunteer opportunities in and around the Games."
The United Synagogue is believed to have recommended rabbis Barry Marcus and David Mason for chaplaincies at the Games.
Source URL: http://www.thejc.com/community/community-life/38492/faith-helps-2012-london-olympics
Mayor's £50,000 to aid Jewish sports
10/10/10 11:44 Filed in: Olympics | JC Articles
by Reporter
London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced a £50,000 grant to the London Jewish Forum to be spent on promoting mainstream integrated sports in the Jewish community.
The grant is part of £2.4 million funding from his Olympic Sports Legacy programme, for 18 projects across the capital to help increase participation in sports.
The London Jewish Forum, on behalf of the Jewish Committee for the London Games (JCLG), will now raise another £50,000 to match the grant for its Enable programme, which aims to promote disabled and non-disabled integrated sports.
Adrian Cohen, chairman of the London Jewish Forum, said: "We are delighted that City Hall has offered £50,000 for a very exciting project, which offers the chance to make a real difference for the community against the backdrop of the London Games.
"The funding is contingent on an element of matched funding by the community and we are currently discussing the grant with potentially interested donors."
Alex Goldberg, from the JCLG, said: "This is part of our plan to ensure the legacy of the Paralympics and Sir Ludwig Guttmann, the German Jewish refugee who founded the Paralympic Games."
Working with 12 delivery partners, including Jewish Care, Norwood, Kisharon and Jewish Blind and Disabled, the JCLG plans to spend the money on three projects over two years, including three integrated sports events, one of which will be directed at the strictly Orthodox community.
Mr Goldberg said: "City Hall is interested in those who don't do much physical activity. There is a lack of facilities in religious communities."
The funds will also be used to train 50 community professionals and volunteers in disability sports at Stoke Mandeville and create a manual on integrated sports for Jewish schools and youth clubs.
"There is some level of disabled sports in the Jewish community, but there is very little in the way of integrated sports," Mr Goldberg said.
"We identified a lack of knowledge in the community and we hope by training people, they can use this in the years ahead and put on disabled sports activities, utilising equipment and events."