K–news

Marathon

runners raise

a magnificent

£30,000

page 3

RUNNING FOR FUNDS TOP VISITOR AT TUFFKIDSKILLS FOR WORK

Early years

education

expert talks

to staff

page 6

Course helps

Kisharon men

on the path to

find jobs

page 2

Kisharon

welcomes

the Chief

Rabbi

STAR-SPANGLED SHOW

Kisharon

men and boys

join US singer

on stage

page 6

Parashas Emor

April 26 2013

16 Iyar 5773

Bev’s BUlleTin

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2

quick to document that a significantproportion of his needs are being met bythe family and therefore they do notrequire support. The parents areexpected to shoulder an unfair burden ofthe care. Even in the light of this, thefunding that has been allocated isinsufficient to cover support for theindividual for the hours during the weekso his parents can maintain their jobs.This case has set alarm bells ringingbecause if it has been so difficult to get

appropriate support for an individual withan unequivocal high level of need, howmuch more are others going to struggle?

Bev explained: “Saying you don’t acceptthe local authority’s assessment is notgood enough. Parents must follow thelocal authority’s complaints’ procedure tomake sure their dissent is heard, and ifthat gets nowhere we can steer themthrough their borough’s advocacy serviceand to specialist legal firms if necessary.”

For more information call Aviva Braunoldon 020 3393 0164 or email Aviva.Braunold@kisharon.org.uk

� Our cover shows the Chief Rabbi with Boruch Gordon, 18. Photo: John Rifkin. For the fullstory on Lord Jonathan Sacks’ visit, go to page 4.

A wArM welcOMe AT THe Drive

Kisharon Head Office: 54 Parson Street, London, NW4 1TP � T: 020 8203 2233 � Helpline: 0844 496 4636

My week...The highlight of my week was attending our centre inStamford Hill to present five young men –Yehoshua Tesler,Gavriel Kohn, Avrom Schwartz, Dovid Schlesinger andChaim Baruch Sharer – with certificates for completing a15-hour ‘Skills for Work’ course. The pride on their faces isevident, but more impressive was the way in which themen were able to recount all their learning.

They told me how they had made CVs on video, and talkedabout all the things they do well. They said they had learntabout “being on time, dressing, being safe and talking to

by Dr Beverley JacobsonKisharon Chief Executive

customers, and, don’t forget COSH!’’ Gavrielli interjected.They are looking forward to trying out these new skills inwork placements, and we hope that these will turn intopaid work in the future.

The ‘Skills for Work’ course is a project that Kisharon hasundertaken with Norwood. Our two organisations areworking together, making the most of our differentstrengths to enable the people we support to access work.As we forage further into this area, more opportunitiespresent themselves and we aspire for more too. So eventhough funding is tighter than ever, in a curious way, thefuture has never looked brighter!

Parents of adults with learning disabilitiesneed to be on their toes and prepared tofight hard to ensure that their children getappropriate support packages from theirlocal authority in the face of budgetaryconstraints, Kisharon’s Chief ExecutiveDr Bev Jacobson says.

“It is essential that during the assessmentphase the individual’s needs are clearlyidentified, and the extent to which notmeeting these needs poses a threat tothe individual or others is clearlyhighlighted. Our experience is that socialworkers are avoiding meeting theseneeds. They are attempting to minimisedocumentation of the impact of theindividual’s disability, which then resultsin less funded support.” Bev advisesparents to oppose this every step of theway and seek legal help where possible.

Her guidance comes after Kisharonstepped in recently to assist with afamily’s negotiations with one localauthority, when better support becameessential for their child.

Bev explained: “This individual has a veryhigh level of need, but because he stilllives at home, the social worker was very

‘Be ready to fight for support’

A fascinating shiur was delivered last week by Rabbi Mordechai Ginsbury of Hendon United Synagogue at TheDrive, one of Kisharon’s supported living houses in Golders Green. The shiur was the fifth in the series held atthe home of Eli Cohen, Meir Halpern and Chaim Dovid Rotenberg. Rabbi David Lister of Edgware UnitedSynagogue will give the next shiur on Tuesday 21 May at 8.00pm. For more information contact RobertSpeker on 020 3393 0173 or robert.speker@kisharon.org.uk

K–news

3Kisharon Head Office: 54 Parson Street, London, NW4 1TP � T: 020 8203 2233 � Helpline: 0844 496 4636

Moishe helps JFs pupils

Our marathonmarvels raise

Birdsong is a tweet for pupils Two newcomers to Kisharon Day

School talk too much in class – but

forgive them, they are also very cute.

Reo and Marlo are budgies belonging

to Gabriel Golshan, the son of

administrator Naemma, who has asked

the school to care for them.

“This is a great learning experience for

the students, teaching pupils how to

take responsibility and to treat pets with

care. They’ve really enjoyed having

them in class; when the birds sing, its

lovely,” said Adele Braun, Behaviour

and Pastoral Care Co-ordinator.

Going back to school has never been so appealing.

Moishe Goldblatt has a new job at JFS in Kenton,

working in the library, where he covers books with

protective plastic film, and the sports department,

doing jobs like pumping the balls (pictured). As

well as the self-esteem of having a job, Moishe’s

earnings are his to spend or save. “I really enjoying

working at JFS,” says Moishe.

NaftoliKahan coolsthe birdswith arefreshingwater spray

Clockwise from above: Kisharon runnersLana Shaw, Deon Gouws, Danielle andMiranda Donne, Shimon Lev and RolandaHyams

Kisharon’s six runners in the Virgin

London Marathon 2013 raised a

record £30,000.

First across the finishing line, in 4 hours

21 minutes, was 48-year-old Deon

Gouws, a friend of Kisharon’s Chief

Executive Dr Bev Jacobson. He raised

nearly £4,500 for Kisharon with the

London Marathon and Paris Marathon

earlier this month. Deon ran because

of the ‘wonderful help’ Kisharon gives

to Bev’s daughter, Talya.

First time runner Shimon Lev, 39,

finished in an impressive 4:35 and

raised more than £8,000. “It was an

incredible atmosphere from the start,”

he said.

Danielle Donne ran with her daughter

Miranda Donne, 20, finishing one

second apart at 4:51. They previously

ran the New York Marathon

together. Their efforts

generated £4,000.

Rolanda Hyams, 58,

from Elstree raised over £8,000 for

Kisharon, finishing in 5:43. Rolanda

said: “What drives me on is the

wonderful help Kisharon gives to my

relative Elias Castleton, who is nine. In

these times of austerity, the charity

needs all our support.”

First time runner Lana Shaw, 34,

crossed the finishing line in 5:21and

raised £6,000. She said: “The work

Kisharon does in the community is

unbelievable.”

£30,000

y

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4

Lord Jonathan Sacks dedicates a new classroomChief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

visited Kisharon Day School and

dedicated a new classroom funded by

The Tree of Life Foundation. He had

lunch with older boys, aged between

17 and 19, and learned about their

work experience in the community.

Chairman Philip Goldberg and Chief

Executive Dr Bev Jacobson

accompanied Lord Sacks on a tour of

the building, led by head teacher Sora

Kopfstein. Guests included trustees,

Leo Noe, Daniel Klein, Yitzy Lerner and

Kisharon’s own rabbi, Harvey Belovski.

Bev said: “It was almost 37 years to the

day that Kisharon was created through

the work and vision of Chava Lehman.

She noticed that children with special

needs were being marginalised in

mainstream schools and approached

Lady Jakobovits. Kisharon started with

a cheque for a few hundred pounds

from the Office of the Chief Rabbi – so

we are grateful for your continued and

personal support.”

Lord Sacks said: “What an enormous

privilege to visit the school – I’ve been a

big fan of Kisharon since the early days

of Chava Lehman. There is something

about a Jewish ruach (spirit) that sees

opportunities where others see

problems. May Kisharon continue to

grow.”

Bev said: “We are very ambitious for

people with learning difficulties. Every

individual deserves a life filled with the

same opportunities and expectations as

mainstream peers.”

The Tree of Life, chaired by Rebecca

Masri raised significant funds for

Kisharon and two other charities with a

fundraising ball at the end of last year .

Kisharon welcomesthe Chief Rabbi

Kisharon Head Office: 54 Parson Street, London, NW4 1TP � T: 020 8203 2233 � Helpline: 0844 496 4636

Raise moneyon the runYou can have a great day out

with the family and raise

money for Kisharon at the

Maccabi GB Community

Fun Run on 26 May. This

event, the community’s

biggest sporting fundraiser, has brought in more than

£750,000 for Jewish charities since its launch in 2007.

Everyone is encouraged and welcome to take part.

There are 1km, 5km and 10km challenges and no

minimum sponsorship,

The event will take place at the Maccabi London

Brady Sports Ground in Rowley Lane, Barnet, EN5

3HW. There will be plenty of activities to keep the

whole family entertained, so put it in your diary now.

For more information about running for Kisharon,

contact Laura.Kaplan@kisharon.org.uk

Rebecca Masri of the Tree of Life Foundation, second right, with hermother, grandparents, brother and members of her committee

Bev and Sora Kopfstein with Kisharon Chairman Philip Goldberg andLord Sacks. All photos: John Rifkin

THe JewisH PersPecTiveK–news

5

In this week’s sedra, Emor, we are told to countthe 49 days, seven weeks, known as the countingof the Omer. It starts on Pesach, when weremember the Exodus, and ends on Shevuos, thefestival on which the receiving of the Torah iscelebrated. This Shabbos is the 32nd day of theOmer. The counting of time is common in theTorah, but there is only one birthday recordedand that is of King Paroah in Egypt.

Birthdays are generally not celebrated or made afuss of by our rabbis. It is atime for reflection, rethinkingpriorities, strengtheningcommitment to Torah and itsvalues and commitment toothers. The rabbis seem to beof the opinion that if thecelebration will consist of anopportunity to give DivrieTorah, discourses of Jewishinterest, then that is a valid excuse to have a gettogether. The sending of birthday cards may wellfall into the category of veohavto leraiechokomocho, loving your neighbour like yourself, asit shows you care for and consider yourself afriend of the celebrant.

In Pirke Avos, the Ethics of our Fathers, which isread on Shabbos afternoons between Pesach andShevuos, there is a paragraph that highlightswhat happens at different stages of developmentand personal growth in one’s life. As an example,at the age of 30, one has gained strength – in

the physical sense and also in the ability tolearn. A 40 year old attains understanding. Andat the age of 50 it says Le-aitzo, one is able togive advice.

What is the source of being able to give adviceat the age of 50? The Torah says that the Levites,who were commanded to work in the HolyTemple, were no longer fit for heavy work andwere retired at the age of 50. However, duringtheir retirement they had to be guides and

counsellors to the youngerLevites. At this age one candraw on life experience andintellect to advise others.

Giving advice sounds easy.To give effective advicetakes time. One needs theability to enter into anotherperson’s world emotionally

and intellectually. It is not good enough tothink how you would deal with an issue, oneneeds to think through the situation takinginto account the person’s feelings andpersonality together with their needs and skills.It is only with age and experience that onereduces the impulsive emotions of youth and isable to temper those responses with maturerational logic.

May Hashem instil knowledge and understandinginto our elders so that we may be able to counton them for good, solid and objective advice.

The Kisharon Bike Shop is to launch a bike course for young people aged 18-24. After learning bike maintenance, mechanics and other work skills,participants will be supported to find paid employment in the biking sector.The course, open to young people with or without learning difficulties, will befunded by Work Choice, a Jobcentre Plus scheme to help disabled people intoemployment. Classes for 3-7 participants will run once a week for six months.Participants will be taught by Bike Shop Manager Eytan Bordoley.

� Interested? Contact Rabbi Shlomo Weltman, AdultServices’ Employment and Opportunities Manager onrabbi.weltman@kisharon.org.uk

Kisharon Head Office: 54 Parson Street, London, NW4 1TP � T: 020 8203 2233 � Helpline: 0844 496 4636

Counting of the Omer – and more besides

A wheely great way to earn a living

byYaakov Kramer

Head of Limmudei Kodesh

Lord Sacks with Naftoli Walzer, left, and BoruchGordon drink a toast to Kisharon

Above: LeoNoe raises anissue withLord Sacks

Left: ShlomiLieberman, 7,has amemorablelesson

Below: LordSacks andYitzi Lerner inconversation

K–newS

6 Kisharon Head Office: 54 Parson Street, London, NW4 1TP � T: 020 8203 2233 � Helpline: 0844 496 4636

Laugh along with Matt and Ashley

Kisharon men and boys sang anddanced with Jewish American popsinger Avraham Fried on stage at hisconcert at The Decorium last month. Theaudience of several hundred cheered asEli Cohen and Meir Halpern (The Drive,Supported Living) along with men fromHanna Schwalbe Home and boys fromKisharon Day School went on stage.

Which doorways need a mezuzo and

which do not? This question has been on

the minds of the children at Kisharon

Day School as they focus on the Shema.

The children have discussed the

concepts of the Shema, the mitzvos

contained within it and the customs

associated with its reading. They

enjoyed looking at different doors

around the building and playground and

discussing which needed a mezuzo.

Eminent early years educationalist

Nancy Walker addressed staff – and

representatives of 50 Barnet nurseries –

when she came to Tuffkid.

She was invited to Kisharon by Tuffkid

Nursery Head Janice Marriott, but when

word spread of the visit, around 75 staff

from nurseries across Barnet came along.

Nancy was on the panel that drafted the

influential Early Years Foundation Stage

curriculum, the base for all nursery

teaching. It was updated in September

and Nancy discussed the revisions that

had been made.

“We were fascinated to hear how our

teaching and praise can affect a child’s

mindset for the future,” said Tuffkid

Nursery Assistant Shoshi Horesh.

Comedian and screenwriter Matt Lucas, right, comes face to face with

writer, producer and Kisharon parent Ashley Blaker at the next Young

Kisharon event on Tuesday 28 May. From Little Britain to Kisharonwill

feature the duo, who have collaborated on countless TV

shows, in conversation at the ME London Hotel in The Strand.

Tickets are £35 before 23 May or £40 after. To book visit

www.kisharon.org.uk/news/news-little-britain-2013.htm

For more information contact Laura Kaplan on

020 3393 0162 or laura.kaplan@kisharon.org.uk

Tuffkid’s own technique for observing

the children, the Learning Story,

impressed Nancy and she sought

permission from Janice to discuss and

share the method in other nurseries.

Janice said: “We were delighted that

Nancy will be talking about Tuffkid’s way

of working to other nurseries.”

Could you be a receptionist? Can you

answer calls, take parcels and ask

visitors to sign in? If so, and you have a

warm and welcoming personality, then

Kisharon has the perfect volunteering

post for you. Volunteers are needed

urgently for its new reception desk at

head office in Parson Street. Kisharon

also needs befrienders, gardeners,

charity box collectors, fundraising

administrators,drivers, recycling

helpers, volunteers to visit the Hanna

Schwalbe Home on Shabbos and

families to host Kisharon adults for

meals. To volunteer, or for more

information, call 020 3393 0159 or email

volunteers@kisharon.org.uk

Tuffkid’s namespreads

EminentearlyyearseducationspecialistNancyWalkeraddressesstaff atTuffkid

An interesting puzzle

Volunteers needed

Stars in their eyes

www

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