Pesach meals for patients
THOSE IN hospital over Pesach have enjoyed a flavour of the festival courtesy of the Bedside Kosher meals service.
Executive director Anthony Shaw said that the service — now delivering to all London and Manchester hospitals, including mental health facilities — offered those requesting meals a full Seder night kit. This featured a Seder plate, Haggadah, a fresh hot meal and grape juice.
Patients are also receiving kosher for Passover meals during the festival.
The opening of a new hub in Golders Green has led to increased support for the service, as well as improving efficiency, Mr Shaw added.
Bedside Kosher could now call on a pool of 370 volunteers and it had partnered with the Jewish Volunteering Network to promote its activities.
“Our free meals have reached patients in every London hospital but this new hub will allow our food parcels to reach patients in NorthWest London at a much faster rate. It’s extraordinary to see so many volunteers step forward during the pandemic. It highlights the best of our community.”
In the year since the first lockdown, more than 40,000 meals were delivered throughout London.
The charity relies on fundraising to supply the fresh meals through a production arrangement with Hermolis.
Bedside Kosher chairman Ari Feferkorn welcomed the opportunity to expand services. “We will continue to advocate for fresh kosher meals and wider choices within hospitals and provide our volunteerled service in the interim.”
It has also been providing NHS staff with practical training on kashrut.
At the end of 2020, Bedside Kosher signed a contract with the Royal Free in Hampstead, where a full kosher menu is now offered.
We will continue to advocate for wider choices in hospitals’