Of attention
computer because I want to be able to Skype with my great-grandchildren who live in the USA and Israel.
“Vivienne Wohl was a great friend of mine. She was the most caring person — I know she would be so proud of what is happening at this centre in her name.”
Meanwhile, respite is on hand at the on-site cafeteria — one which turns into the campus shul on Shabbat — kosher food store, library and hairdresser’s salon.
It is often at these places where the hub is at its liveliest, bringing together day club and community members with residents from Jewish Care’s neighbouring Otto Schiff care home and independent living site Selig Court, as well as staff members from the upstairs head office.
Next door to the cafeteria, the KC Shasha Centre for Talking News and Books is busy producing audio books and newspapers for people around the country who suffer from sight problems, arthritis and Parkinson’s.
Volunteers read f r o m a b o o k o r newspaper, and the recording is then made into a CD or USB recording — making the centre’s reach far wider than Golders Green.
Fast f orward to 6pm and the activities remain in full swing for both members and non-members (at a subsidised entry price). These are run by outside organisations that use the complex as their base of operations.
On this particular day, young girls aged between seven and 11 are raising the roof at a Dancing with Louise “Frumba”, a Zumba dance class for Orthodox children.
Mother Yael Levy, whose two daughters attend the class, says: “It’s fantastic for the kids. I’m just starting to allow my daughter to walk home alone, so it’s very convenient having the classes at this centre.”
Downstairs, the 25-strong boys’ choir is in session for schoolboys aged between 11 and 13. “This gives the boys the opportunity to do something different,” says choir director Eli Flax.
“It is incredible to have it here, right in the nucleus of the community. One of the security guards, who isn’t Jewish, knows all the Hebrew songs — and we give back to Jewish Care by performing for them every few months.”
The services are countless — far too many to name, and do not end until the last person leaves the kosher internet services at 11pm ( p r o v i d e d f o r Chasidic community members who require rabbiapproved computer use). Only then will the hustle and bustle simmer—untilanother day rises for the
Wohl Campus.