Golders Green keeps the blood donations flowing

▶ THE PANDEMIC has meant synagogues across the country have sat mostly empty for over a year, unable to host members for services or celebrate life events.

However Golders Green synagogue came back to life last Sunday when it opened its doors not as a shul but as a blood donation centre – something it has managed to continue to do throughout the pandemic.

Rabbi Harvey Belovski explained “how wonderful” it has been to serve the community in a “meaningful way” during a time when contact has had to be limited.

With NHS support, the synagogue was able to continue to operate as blood donation centre as it has done for the last seven years. “We first took this on after the Hindu temple where it used to happen moved to new premises out of the area”, Rabbi Belovski explained. “I used to give blood there and I got talking to their organisers and they asked me if I would be interested in taking it over at the synagogue. I thought it would be a great opportunity for the community to get involved in something positive.”

The shul opens its doors to blood donors three times a year. Last Sunday it held its twentieth session and collected over 80 units of blood from over 90 people. The service is run with the help of shul volunteers like Diana Wolfin. She explained: “One unit of blood can save three lives so you can imagine how many lives have been saved. It is quite amazing.

“We especially encourage people to donate if they know they have a rare blood type and we have one member, Gillian Freiberger, who has donated over 51 units of blood over the years. She comes to every session.”

Mrs Freiberger told the JC: “I have been giving blood since I was 19. It is a really easy thing to do doesn’t take anytime and it helps people and makes me feel good knowing that I’ve done it.”

She especially loves the fact that nowadays “there is an app that tells you where and when your blood has been used. It happens quickly, sometimes within days of giving blood, and that gives you a great feeling when you see that.”

Pre-Covid, Mrs Wolfin was never short of members keen to help out, however they have had to “adapt procedures” in order to keep the service open. “Our kiddush room turns into a mini hospital room with beds set up all socially distanced and we do a deep clean before and after as well as wearing masks and everything you need.”

Despite the pandemic they have not been short of donors, she added. “It has been important to give blood during the pandemic as there were shortages at different points in last 18 months and it has brought a lot of life back into the building which has been lovely.

“The NHS staff that come to set it up are always so grateful to us and the community for being able to help” Rabbi Belovski said that as well as being a great “leveller”, it presents an opportunity to welcome outsiders who might have never been inside a synagogue before.

“It’s open to the wider community and the majority of people who come are not Jewish. It is a great way to introduce them to a synagogue in an informal setting.

Before Covid there were more opportunities to talk to people and answer questions and I hope that continues when things get back to normal.”

It presents an opportunity to welcome people who have not been to a synagogue