A calm exterior over an ageing

IF SUBSCRIBING to the adage that age is relative, Bournemouth is your poster community. Jewish leaders talk of 75 as “not old” and the local representative council chairman describes himself as “just a baby” at 51. But when the town’s main synagogogue cannot sustain a cheder and bar- and batmitzvahs are a rarity, the future seems less attractive than the sea views that entice many retirees to the resort.

Not that the peaceful surrounds have always bred harmony. Ten years ago, Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation was acrimoniously split over the potential elevation to senior rabbi of assistant minister Yossie Alperowitz, a Lubavitch rabbi. Rabbi Alperowitz eventually quit the congregation and now heads the thriving local Chabad.

More recently, ructions in the Reformcommunityledtobreakaway factions establishing Masorti and Liberal groups.

Rep council chair Greg Rubins says things are now “generally friendly” and that it is easy for newcomers to fit in. It is something he can personally attest to after moving t o the town from Pinner in 2004 for work Greg Rubins reasons. “It is a lovely place to live, by the sea, very healthy. The minuses are obviously that it is a more elderly community with fewer Jewish facilities such as kosher restaurants.” There is also a dearth of kosher shops, although the Orthodox shul and Chabad run not-for-profit delis.

Based on the 2011 Census, the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) reports 1,343 people in the town who identified themselves as Jewish, less than one per cent of the total population. Tellingly, 13 per cent of the identifying Jews were aged 85 or above — the figure within the general population was three per cent — and there were just 119 under-18s. The overall figure represents a fall of almost one-fifth from the 2001 Census total of 1,667.

Given that the shuls draw members from a wide area — and those with holiday homes — Mr Rubins estimates that well over 1,000 people are involvedinBournemouthcongregations with many more unaffiliated. Of the latter, “we know there are Israelis who have moved to Bournemouth who don’t belong to a synagogue — that’s just the way they are. There are also possibly people who are unaware of all the facilities available. We are doing events as a rep council to improve the profile. For example, we recently had Tobias Ellwood, who is our local MP but also Minister of State for the Middle East. He gave a talk which was very well attended.”

In membership terms, the biggest shul is Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation, with just over 600 adults. Its new president Brian Lassman — who once ran the local New Ambassador and Normandie hotels and still takes over the Queens Hotel for Pesach trade — says that those lost through death are replaced by retirees moving to the area. A year ago, the shul held a meeting to discuss the sale of its town centre premises and relocating to a more suitable location.

Mr Lassman declines to discuss the current state of play, other than to acknowledge that its “beautiful” Wootton Gardens building requires modernisation and that to vacate it would be sad.

Although others suggest that both its size — the shul can seat 900 — location and proximity to local nightlife make it unsuitable for current needs, Mr Lassman concedes only that “in summer [its surrounds] might be a little bit rowdy” for those walking home after services.

“We hold 21 services a week and get a minyan for every one. And it’s not the samepeople.Wegetbetween120and140 onShabbat.”MrLassman—whoremembers the days when BHC ran a cheder for 120 children — does not view the congregation’spredominantlyelderlymake-up as a problem. He cites the commitment of those in their 70s, 80s and beyond, as well as a social and cultural programme ranging from bridge and opera to table tennis and flower arranging. “We have a 104-year-old who walks to shul on Shabbat. It would be a very nice situation to have young families moving in but we are financially sound.”

Over at Reform, its “Bournemouth through and through” chair Deborah Tendler says she has found evidence of unaffiliated young families in her work as a speech and drama teacher. “At one of my schools there are three Jewish children from different families that we didn’t know about. I say to members: ‘When you meet Jews through work, through being neighbours or through friends, see if they are interested in getting involved.’”

Mrs Tendler enthuses about a “stimulating, exciting time” at the 320-member congregation. “We have a great new rabbi, Maurice Michaels. He’s part-time but it feels as though he’s fulltime.”

Although the shul’s cheder has 18 chidren, Mrs Tendler says there will not be a bar- or batmitzvah this year. And in an ageing population, members who were active in the congregation in their 70s and 80s 15 years ago are now in their 90s.

She is conscious of the need to cater for the older population and the shul has been holding forums on issues such as bereavement.

The problems of senior citizens from across the community occupy Pat Cravitz on a daily basis. A livewire personality to whom the “not old at 75” tag certainly applies, Mrs Cravitz is team leader of Bournemouth Jewish Social Services, which she established four

Wehavea 104-yearoldwho walkstoshul onShabbat

Studying at Chabad, whose activities bring in a cross-section of locals