Author: Glen Berd

How Golda Meir, Israel’s ‘Iron Lady’, helped establish an independent Jewish state Golda Meir was the fourth prime minister of Israel and the first woman to hold that position. She was hugely influential in the building of a Jewish and Zionist Israel, and a significant – and also controversial – figure in world politics. Born Golda Mabovitch in Kiev, Ukraine, in 1898, Meir grew up in the United States and died in Jerusalem in 1978. This was a common Jewish migration pattern in that era, as people escaped the persecutions of the Pale of Settlement – the areas of the Russian empire in which Jews were allowed to settle – for a new life in the West. Having served as Israeli ambassador to the Soviet Union, minister of foreign affairs, minister of labour and minister of internal affairs, Meir became prime minister in 1969. She held this role until 1974, resigning after the end of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Her political philosophy One of her biographers, Meron Medzini, has...

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Dear all,  Great news ! The digital version of the Connecting Small Histories project book is ready for you to view! “Connecting Small Histories” takes the first steps of drawing the footprint of Jewish life in what are now small or former communities across the United Kingdom. Through stories and memories we identify the Jewish legacy in the local culture and economy, beginning with six very different locations, Eastbourne, St Anne's, Bradford, Sunderland, Cumbria and Somerset. This book showcases the rich tapestry of research produced by our incredible team of volunteers and participants! The project team would like to thank the National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting this valuable work, and special thanks to all of the participants and volunteers for making this project possible. Simply click on the link below and you will be able to flick through the pages using your mouse or touch screen. If you would like the option to download the book, please email your request back to this address. Happy reading! https://issuu.com/jscnuk/docs/connectingsmallhistories Best...

New seaside Jewish cultural hub aims to keep Sussex community afloat A Brighton development, inspired by JW3, will breathe new Jewish life into the seafront city Artist’s impression of the BNJC development on New Church Road, Hove When Marc Sugarman found out that the Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation was in financial difficulty in 2015, he was concerned. Brighton-born, he had been barmitzvahed at that synagogue and believed that if it was under threat, so were the remnants of British-Jewish life in the seafront city. Determined to do something to save the synagogue from selling up, he sought financial donations to turn the site into a hub that would celebrate Jewish life in area. He succeeded. Inspired by the JW3 Jewish community centre in north-west London, he encouraged donors to invest in a multi-million-pound project that would restore the Orthodox synagogue and expand the site to include a kosher restaurant, deli, mikveh and 45 homes, ranging from one bedroom flats to houses. Some of the...

Manchester Jewish Museum reopens after two years of closure and £6 million revamp & expansion   Design of Manchester Jewish Museum extension. Photo: Manchester Jewish Museum The Manchester Jewish Museum reopened July 2 after being closed for two years for a large-scale expansion and redevelopment that saw the construction of a modern new wing and full restoration of the Grade II listed Victorian synagogue where it has been housed. One of the new galleries.Photo: Joel Chester Fildes/Manchester Jewish Museum The only Jewish Museum in the UK outside of London, the Manchester museum opened in the synagogue in 1984. The  £6 million revamp  doubled the  museum’s size with a modern new wing with a distinctive Corten Steel facade designed by Citizens Design Bureau. It added new galleries and a new core exhibit as well as a kosher-style vegetarian café, shop, and collection storage. There are also a new learning studio and learning kitchen, where groups and visitors can learn about Jewish heritage though kashrut and culinary traditions. The project received a £2.89 million...

How it started :         Work in Progress :               Tada !!!   Where it's Ended :     Bringing Jerusalem in :   ...