Decision time for Brighton

CAMPAIGNERS for opening a Jewish school in Brighton say it is time for the community to decide whether to go ahead with the idea.

They have called a public meeting next month, to be addressed by Shirley Lee, one of the founding governors of Mosaic, the cross-communal primary Jewish free school which launched in South London five years ago.

Mosaic’s success has been offered as an example to Brighton by the group exploring the feasibility of opening a school there. They believe it could be a catalyst to encourage families to move to the city and ensure “a sustainable future for our Jewish community”.

In the year since they first floated the idea, they said they have received “positive indications of interest”, including enquiries from people outside who might consider moving to the city.

Local education authority officials they met even expressed surprise that Brighton had no Jewish school.

According to the last Census, there were nearly 2,700 Jews living in the city.

Although the community is seen as ageing, there remains a “substantial core” of younger Jewish families, some of whom have welcomed the prospect of a Jewish school for their children.

David Shinegold, one of the Brighton school team, said, “We believe that we are now ready for the communities here to make a decision on whether to proceed with the project and to gauge the level of commitment in the community to undertaking the considerable amount of work that will be involved in submitting a successful application to the Department for

New school could help ensure a future for community’

Education.”

The community is already embarking on one scheme which, it is hoped, could attract young families to the city — the planned redevelopment of the Hove Synagogue to house a kosher café and other facilities. That project is supported by the charity foundation of Tony Bloom, chairman of Brighton Football Club.