HAMAOR MAGAZINE PESACH 5775

LETTER FROM THE FEDERATION PRESIDENT >>
Andrew Cohen
Dear Reader
I’m delighted to welcome you to the Pesach edition of HaMaor 5775. You will see as you peruse the magazine, HaMaor
is a publication in transition – we have made some changes to both the style and content of the magazine in this edition. We
are keen to gain feedback from you, our members, as to what you would like to see in the magazine in future editions, and
the format the magazine should take. To this end, you will find details of how to submit your feedback on page 43.
Recently, I visited Manchester where I met with representatives of the Ohel Torah kehilla in Salford, which has joined the
Federation family as our fifteenth Constituent member. Ohel Torah was established some 70 years ago towards the end of
World War II and some of the founder members are still playing an active role in communal life today. Over the past few years,
membership of the kehilla has risen considerably and the small shul building is veritably bursting at the seams, with many
of its programmes and tefillos needing to be held off-site. As a result of their move to the Federation, Ohel Torah will be able
to start their ambitious new building project, having recently purchased land on the site of the former Central Synagogue.
The new site is across the road from their shul and will include a Beis Hamedrash and Simcha Hall. This will bring all their
services under one roof and enable them to develop and expand further.
While the overall size of the Manchester Jewish community has not changed significantly since the 1950s, it is evident that
the frum kehilla is undergoing a period of tremendous growth. According to a 2013 study, 91% of Salford Jews identify as
strictly Orthodox, with local frum schools reporting increases in enrolment of up to 25%. The same study found that 47% of
all Jewish marriages taking place in the city were under strictly Orthodox auspices and three quarters of all Jewish births
were to frum families. According to anecdotal evidence, approximately 200 frum families moved to Prestwich since last
Pesach and the community is thriving.
Looking at Greater London, there are areas, such as Edgware, Borehamwood and Elstree that have indicated significant
Orthodox growth in the past decade. As ever, this growth is reflected in local Federation activity. Crucially, our new 11-acre
cemetery in Edgwarebury Lane will provide a vital amenity for these communities. The land, close not only to the Edgware
community but within easy reach of Ohr Yisrael in Elstree as well, will accommodate up to 8,000 plots and is projected to
be ready for use in the next 12 months. Significantly, Borehamwood and Elstree have shown a 40-50% increase in the size
of the community over the last decade and it has become a vibrant centre of Jewish life.
When the Federation was established in the East End of London nearly 130 years ago, it was in response to a rapid increase
in the number of Jewish immigrants to that area of the city. The Federation understood their needs and was able to provide
them with a communal model that enabled them to maintain and nurture their minhogim and way of life, while fully integrating
as active members of British Jewish society. Indeed, once again, the Federation is positioned to identify and respond to
the needs of the current Orthodox Jewish community, tracking its growth and establishing itself as a strong presence across
London and nationally. To this end, we are currently in talks with several new and established shuls with regards to joining
the Federation both in London and Manchester.. We look forward to welcoming them on board in due course.
Wishing you all a chag kosher vesomeach.
Andrew
Pesach 5775 / April 2015 HAMAOR 5