A meeting of the newly launched task force Members of Hackney’s Charedi community have slammed Hackney’s traffic policies for “upending the lives” of residents by turning five-minute journeys into “half-hour ordeals” The Jewish Community Council (JCC) last week announced the launch of the Stamford Hill Traffic Action Plan (SHTAP) task force set up to tackle the “ripple effect” of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) extra bus lanes and school street restrictions The group claims these changes have brought diminished footfall for local businesses delayed school runs and made it harder for voluntary emergency groups to navigate the area “efficiently” JCC representative Levi Schapiro said: “For the majority of families in our community owning a car is not a luxury – it’s an essential “Given the size of our families and the traditional way of life in a busy Charedi household cars are vital for transporting children to and from school “It’s not realistic to suggest parents take seven children to school on a bike seven-seater vehicles to accommodate large families.” Hackney Council points to census data that shows the majority of households in south west and north Stamford Hill report not owning a car or van A spokesperson also said the Town Hall had introduced school street exemptions for the community’s private medical emergency (Hatzola) and neighbourhood watch (Shomrim) vehicles “While many Charedi families do use cars to get around there is also significant walking and cycling to school among the Charedi community in the area,” they added “Traffic levels in Hackney remain lower than before the pandemic journeys made by car within the borough are decreasing and the majority of households in the Stamford Hill area do not own a car “We want to support people who need to drive while improving road safety for those who don’t we are continuing to work on how to improve traffic flow on main roads.” Hackney’s Charedi community – concentrated in the wards Stamford Hill West Cazenove and Woodberry Down – is one of the largest in Europe the largest LTN sits in Springfield around Mount Pleasant Lane while Stamford Hill West and Cazenove have precious few of these restricted zones This part of the borough is largely represented by Conservative councillors is believed to have defected from the Liberal Democrats in part because of his opposition to these low traffic schemes which Sharer won with ​53.6 per cent of the vote was dubbed a “referendum on LTNs” by Cllr Simche Steinberger (Conservative Though the core aim of the SHTAP is to alleviate the traffic “crisis” it insists it also wants to balance the needs of its “vibrant” community with sustainability “While we appreciate and respect the council’s green policy initiatives these measures cannot come at the expense of damaging the local economy and upending the daily lives of residents,” Mr Schapiro said will take place from the evening of Thursday That means the streets around Stamford Hill will be busier than normal as people celebrate one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar.  Purim commemorates a story from the Book of Esther where the Jewish people were saved from a threatened massacre in the ancient Persian Empire The celebrations include extravagant costumes I extend our well wishes to everyone celebrating Purim in Hackney and beyond Purim is one of the most colourful events in the calendar and I also hope that this year’s celebrations bring joy to the rest of the borough and hope that everyone celebrating has a safe and joyful time during the festival there will be additional Police and Council Community Safety Officers in the Stamford Hill area as we know that the streets will be busy We encourage everyone to take care when planning their transport this weekend and to be considerate of others while enjoying the celebrations Purim is an appropriate and auspicious time to encourage unity and to bring joy and happiness to oneself and to others.  I wish everyone in Hackney and beyond a happy and meaningful Purim and trust that those celebrating will mark the occasion in this spirit I would also encourage our neighbours in Hackney who don't know about Purim to learn more about what is a joyous occasion in the Jewish calendar; when people dress up send gifts of immediately edible food and drink go to the Synagogue to say special prayers and  listen to the reading of the scroll of Esther which recounts the story of Purim and informs us how the day should be remembered and celebrated encourage everyone to think about their safety and be considerate of others.  the London correspondent for Israel’s Channel 12 News described the incidents as “anti-Jewish hatred and harassment” two local residents quoted by Behadrei Haredim said they believed the culprit may be Jewish though they did not provide evidence to support the claim A similar act was reported outside the home of Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman pitas were used to spell out the phrase “one pita a day” referencing the food rations reportedly given to Israeli hostages held by Hamas Silman condemned the action as the work of “vile people devoid of basic human values” observant Jews do not consume or keep leavened products Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5 £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with 100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline removing any financial barriers to connecting people The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large We hope you agree all this is worth preserving Jane Prinsley is the Investigations Correspondent at the Jewish Chronicle Jane Prinsley a nurse and a police SWAT officer stroll down the street but a scene straight from Stamford Hill on Purim The Charedi answer to Notting Hill Carnival Purim in this pocket of north-east London is an explosion of Yiddish songs raucous dancing and toddlers dressed as fruit and children dart through the throngs in increasingly surreal costumes What is his favourite thing about the festival swigging from a plastic cup of wine as he ambles through Clapton Common The costumes ranged from sweet to eccentric Some families committed to themes – a loveliness of ladybirds a band of pirates chased three tiny bears into a house From lifeguards to pilots and horse riders to zookeepers A trio of little girls in Indian saris and a boy in a Mexican sombrero and poncho might make some liberally minded people wince with cries of cultural appropriation but when a group of small children in tartan kilts marched past Oddly popular trends included barista outfits – from Starbucks to Costa – and a surge in postal workers One group of sisters were dressed as immaculate cleaners bright lipstick perfectly applied and gleaming dusters in hand Some boys – of whom I saw precisely none in cleaning costumes – were in military gear wielding plastic machine guns and decked out in army camouflage Others wore Israeli flags or vests emblazoned with their respective yeshivas’ logos And then there were the political statements dressed as Sir Keir Starmer – or Benjamin Netanyahu for that matter – but Donald Trump was everywhere “Make America great again” (Maga) caps dotted the streets including on the heads of Yanky Kahan’s two sons who were dressed in inflatable red suits and a paper Trump mask But when I asked the boys what they liked about the US president “I know he was shot,” one finally offered before they disappeared into the crowd fully committed to the look in a Maga T-shirt told me her brother was dressed as Trump too as a boy leapt onto a nearby party bus dressed as a pint-sized Donald in a black suit and red tie A TfL double-decker red bus and makeshift open-top floats took centre stage alongside people-carrier cars decked out with balloons Boys danced wildly on open top decks and white vans wheeled past with the doors swung open and revellers leaning out the windows Local non-Jewish people stopped and stared asking: “Is it Halloween chaos and celebration – as security officers watch over every street corner the party wrapped up when Shabbat rolled in the music faded and the costumes were packed away for another year; the frenzied ritual was over and Clapton Common faded back into its mass of black coats Purim Stamford Hill East London Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has invited Chelsea to start talks over a potential new stadium as Stamford Bridge is now "too small" for the Blues Rabbi Levi Schapiro of the Jewish Community Council The Jewish Community Council (JCC) of Stamford Hill has become the first Jewish organisation to call on the government to remove to the two-child benefit cap along with rabbis and representatives from Hackney synagogues co-signed a letter addressed to the secretary of state for work and pensions The letter calls on the government to consider the unique needs of larger families and the disproportionate impact the two-child cap has on them It urged the government to remove the two-child cap on benefits at the earliest possible opportunity “There’s approximately an average of seven people per family but I know families with 12 or 13 people too so you can imagine the financial pressure on these families,” he continued Stamford Hill is home to over 6,500 Orthodox Jewish families making it the largest Haredi community in the UK Rabbi Schapiro has said that the benefit cap has exacerbated poverty levels in the community “Kosher food is expensive – a small chicken alone can be twice the price of what you could buy at Tesco or Sainsbury’s” “These families are not buying luxury products; they have no alternative if they are to live a Kosher life” Rabbi Schapiro said there has been “serious positive and constructive engagement with the government” “We’ve got an indication that they have heard us loud and clear” “We don’t expect the government to make an overnight decision but this issue must be a priority in the next budget in September.” of the Hackney Independent Socialist Group told the Citizen: “I can safely say that we stand 100 per cent with all and any calls to scrap the two-child benefit cap which would instantly lift a million children in the UK above the poverty line “We simply can’t understand why the Labour government hasn’t prioritised this when child poverty action groups have repeatedly said this is the fastest and most effective way to have an instant impact on so many children’s lives “We applaud the actions of the JCC in Stamford Hill in taking this action” co-leader of Hackney Green party said: “Labour spoke against the Tories’ two-child benefit cap when it was introduced but now they won’t take necessary steps to lift the cap “Greens proposed a wealth tax so that those with the broadest shoulders contribute a little bit more to address the cost-of-living crisis that still disproportionately punishes people struggling to make ends meet “The government should be on the side of ordinary people and lift the cap” Hackney Labour party and Hackney Conservatives were also approached for comment but did not respond 1 min readA teenage girl has been rushed to hospital with serious but non-life changing head injuries following a suspected antisemitic attack in Stamford Hill on Monday evening The “abhorrent hate crime” occurred when a group of Jewish girls were walking to a rehearsal in east London The group were “pelted with glass bottles” by a man on a balcony at Woodberry Down Estate according to neighbourhood watch group Shomrim “This attack on innocent young Jewish girls has shocked the community,” Shomrim said in a tweet on Tuesday One 16-year-old girl suffered head and facial injuries during the attack and was rushed to Royal London Hospital by Hatzola Ambulance volunteers The group posted on X: “Shomrim are supporting the victims and their families whilst @MPSHackney investigate this abhorrent hate crime.” The Metropolitan Police were called to the Woodberry Down Estate in Hackney following reports of an assault on Monday evening at 7.44pm A spokesperson for the force said a group of schoolgirls had been walking through the estate when a bottle was thrown from the upper floor of a building “A group of schoolgirls had been walking through the estate when a bottle was thrown from the upper floor of a building “A 16-year-old girl was struck on the head and was taken to hospital Her injuries have since been assessed as non-life changing “Officers attended the scene to carry out initial enquiries but were unable to locate the suspect The Met said the incident is being treated as a “potential antisemitic hate crime” They appealed to anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information about that could assist officers to call 101 Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers shomrim Metropolitan Police Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor Despite making attempts to meet with those running the Yeshivas and with leaders of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (UOHC) with a “safeguarding support offer” the Commission has been snubbed Writing to the Education Secretary after its most recent review in December CYPSC co-chairs councillor Sophie Conway and cllr Margaret Gordon concluded that “even with a clear strategy sound intelligence and strong inter-agency collaboration local efforts to address the safeguarding risks within unregistered education settings (UES) are limited particularly when the operators of such establishments refuse to engage” A further report delivered to Hackney Council at the end of last year  by the Commission noted:”Efforts have been ongoing to engage with Orthodox Jewish representative bodies regarding safeguarding practice in UES and ensure we have assurance as to those arrangements these have not been successful at bringing about satisfactory engagement with  themselves to provide the necessary assurance we seek.” The damning report said that as a result of inadequate legislative provisions over 1,500 children aged 12 and over were “at risk” as the settings in which they were being taught are out of “line of sight” of safeguarding both in terms of the narrow religious curriculum they offered and also by health and safety factors as a result of poor conditions along with those from the police and fire bridges had been involved in investigations into the unregistered settings with at least two new Yeshivas emerging in the borough during the year 2023-24 The Commission confirmed that in December 2024 a total of 1,586 children and young people predominantly from the strictly-Orthodox community were known to be at unregistered settings in the borough This is an 8.65 percent increase on the 1,456 figure recorded for last April the vast majority of children we believe to attend UES are teenage boys within the Orthodox Jewish community who are withdrawn from a school where they receive a wider curriculum at aged 12 and placed in a Yeshiva where they receive only religious instruction.” They have also confirmed that those running unregistered Yeshivas have in the past deliberately tried to evade detection by quickly moving the UES somewhere else after being identified The report also noted how community specific sessions set up to deliver safeguarding training for yeshivas and Orthodox Jewish settings “were not attended” This was in stark contrast to similar sessions set up “to deliver attendance training for our Charedi independent schools which were very well attended.” Confirming there was evidence of children disappearing from the schools register the Commission reported: “The typical pattern in the number of children believed to be attending UESs in Hackney the number increases in the autumn term when independent schools report large numbers of children electively home educating and then decreases at the end of the summer term when the Y11 cohort are removed from the register,” added the report It also said known families of those at unregistered settings  “receive a wellbeing visit an offer of support to ensure they are providing a suitable efficient and full time education for their child (which is typically refused) and an annual safeguarding home visit with follow up written contact to those families officers are unable to see or meet with.” The report stressed it is “important to be clear on the distinction between UES and illegal/unregistered schools.” The latter deliver a full time education to children of compulsory school age and a curriculum that is broad enough for the setting to constitute a school They have been widespread claims of teenagers at Yeshivas being left unable to speak fluent English by the age of 16  as they are taught exclusively in Yiddish and only study scripture They are not entered for GCSEs or for other qualifications either these fall within the regulatory powers of Ofsted and so there is a statutory response available to local authorities on identifying them And while UES provide a ‘full-time’ education to children of compulsory school age they “teach a curriculum that is too narrow for the setting to constitute a ‘school'” The consequence is that they cannot be registered in the same way that schools are “This was and remains a significant issue of concern for the safeguarding partners of the CHSCP,” added the report With the government’s Schools Bill working its way through parliament the Education Secretary is urged by the commission to make sure legislation is updated to ensure that “UES fall within the established definition of a school” which will give “local authorities (and other regulatory partners) the powers to act where and when they are identified.” says such a move will “ensure children in attendance at UES enjoy the same health and safety and safeguarding protections as any other child attending any other school taught by staff who have been fully DBS checked that buildings fully comply with all planning fire and health and safety regulations and the curriculum conforms to independent school regulations.” Allegations that Charedi leaders have failed to engage with local authorities emerged as they attempt to launch a public relations effort aimed at persuading the wider mainstream Jewish community a consultant for the Yeshiva Liaison Committee (YLC) which operates under the auspices of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (UOHC) said: “Yeshivas have been the heartbeat of Jewish learning shaping generations with values of lifelong religious engagement “These institutions foster fluency in multiple languages He said those behind Yeshivas were now the victims of “a deeply misguided campaign has been waged in Westminster and in the media to undermine yeshivas through misinformation.” is being led in part by Jewish groups.” also claimed: “We recognise the need for government action to support vulnerable children “However our children are neither vulnerable nor at risk and we share our concerns with other groups regarding this bill.” Jewish News has contacted a spokesperson for the Yeshivas and the UOHC over claims they are refusing to engage with authorities in Hackney We have also contacted the Department for Education for comment  who founded the Nahamu  thinktank examining extremism in the Jewish community said:”Hackney Council have been aware of this issue for some years “Other boroughs with significant Charedi populations would do well to gather accurate data on the extent of educational neglect and should identify safeguarding risks faced by children in their areas willfully and blatantly mischacterised the nature of Yeshivah education “Scrutiny of the claims about educational provision should be verified by consistent data collection Such an approach would represent an essential step towards ensuring equality of education for every Charedi child in the UK connects Stamford Hill’s Hasidic community with Golders Green aiming to reduce interactions between Orthodox Jews and other communities amid rising antisemitism to undermine yeshivas through misinformation The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill was meant to address real concerns about children missing from education it has targeted Charedi communities without justification The Government’s own Human Rights Memorandum concedes that “those institutions which are likely to be predominantly affected are yeshivas” and that the Bill “might be said to have particularly prejudicial effects on Orthodox Jewish parents and young men educated at yeshivas.” No other religious community or any other faith or out-of-school setting has been singled out in this way As long as you are not too Jewish.” The campaign against yeshivas is built on a wider hostility towards religious life and seeks to impose educational uniformity It is profoundly disappointing that Jewish groups are among those spreading false and damaging claims to policymakers they have briefed Parliament with agenda-led and ideologically -driven accusations far more concerned with “religious power” and “secular reforms” than child welfare Rather than engaging with the reality of yeshivas they have fed the narrative that they are “illegal schools” disregarding the fact that they do not replace formal schooling but operate alongside home education and supervision in all settings which fully adhere to safeguarding and health & safety standards a holistic framework which other home schooled children solely lack The hostility towards yeshivas has nothing to do with protecting children and everything to do with an ideological discomfort towards Charedi life The fact that this is being led by Jewish groups makes it all the more shameful Britain is strongest when it respects different ways of life Yeshivas do not ask for funding or outside approval or for you to enrol your children for that matter The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill should focus on real welfare and educational concerns Those spreading misinformation about yeshivas are harming their own community in pursuit of an ideological agenda It is time to challenge the bias and tell the truth We want and need to be “too Jewish” in Britain in 2025 A group of young Jewish girls were on their way to a rehearsal when the bottles were allegedly thrown at them by a man on a balcony News | London A 14-year-old girl has been rushed to hospital after being pelted with glass bottles in “an abhorrent hate crime” in Stamford Hill A group of young Jewish girls were on their way to a rehearsal on Monday evening when “around a dozen glass bottles and plates” were allegedly thrown at them by a man on a balcony at Woodberry Down Estate Neighbourhood watch group Shomrim which protects the Jewish population in Stamford Hill said the attack had “deeply shocked the community” It explained one of the bottles struck a teenage girl on her head and face causing a significant haematoma and facial grazes from the shattered glass She was badly injured and rushed to Royal London Hospital by Hatzola Ambulance volunteers The group added in a post on X: “Shomrim are supporting the victims & their families whilst @MPSHackney investigate this abhorrent Hate Crime.” Shomrim spokesperson Chaim Hochhauser told the Standard: “This premeditated attack has deeply shocked the community “The perpetrator appeared to have prepared the bottles and dishes in advance targeting the girls due to their visibly Jewish appearance with shattered glass reaching the school’s front gate underscoring the deliberate nature of the assault and the other girls affected by this traumatic event The community hopes the police will swiftly apprehend the perpetrator and ensure justice is served for this abhorrent act of antisemitic violence.” The Met Police said it was called at 7.44pm on Monday to Woodberry Down Estate in Hackney following reports of an assault LAS 'getting same number of calls as New Year's Eve' as demand surges this winter Balaclava-clad thugs hurl woman to the ground for her bike near station Man ‘stabbed’ on Westminster Bridge actually suffered cardiac arrest – police Best Apple deals in the Black Friday 2024 sales The force said a group of schoolgirls had been walking through the estate when a bottle was thrown from the upper floor of a building It explained that a “girl was struck on the head and was taken to hospital Her injuries have since been assessed as non-life changing” A Met Police spokesperson continued: “Officers attended the scene to carry out initial enquiries but were unable to locate the suspect “The incident is being treated as a potential antisemitic hate crime.” The London Ambulance Service confirmed that the Jewish ambulance service Hatzola had attended the scene Anyone who witnessed the incident can call 101 providing the reference 6966/26NOV or by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications from nationalities most likely to overstay New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications Rihanna shows off baby bump at star-studded Met Gala 2025 as singer's third pregnancy with A$AP Rocky announced Rihanna debuts baby bump on star-studded Met Gala blue carpet has been at the forefront of advocating against the Bill thereby subjecting them to Ofsted inspections and government oversight that would completely dismantle them director of the Yeshiva Liaison Committee (YLC) explained: “Yeshivas are not schools in the conventional sense; they are spaces dedicated to the spiritual and intellectual development of Jewish youth and operate alongside home schooling The government’s proposed legislation threatens to dismantle this centuries-old tradition and community replacing parental and religious rights with secular state-imposed uniformity.” a public relations and public affairs expert He said: “It is extremely important to fight this battling the huge amount of misinformation being spread about the Charedi community yeshivas are being unfairly targeted based on narratives that do not reflect their reality or the families they serve “The message to Parliament is a clear one: faith communities must not be unfairly singled out and Jewish parents must retain the right to bring up their children in accordance with Torah values” Rabbi Benjamin Stern of the UOHC expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support at the event stating: “The turnout was a resounding declaration of our community’s commitment to Torah chinuch We will not stand idly by while our way of life is threatened Our unity in tefillah (prayer) and fasting reflects our deep resolve to protect our sacred heritage for generations to come.” Supporters of the event claim that “the law would require all educational institutions to include secular studies with content that in some cases contradicts sacred Torah teachings The new law carries criminal sanctions that would be imposed personally on yeshiva students The law may also intervene in Orthodox frameworks that until now operated under ‘home education’ definitions posing a real threat to the existence of holy yeshivas in the United Kingdom” which counters extremism within the Jewish community told Jewish News: “The UOHC’s Yeshiva Liaison Committee is spreading panic and disinformation would be required to follow the independent school standards The assertion that all boys should receive an exclusively yeshivah based education is at best a post-Holocaust innovation It is ahistorical to characterise this system of recent vintage as a ‘centuries-old tradition” She added: “It is vital that the assertion that students who are in fact in full-time yeshiva education are also working under a ‘homeschooling framework’ should be closely scrutinised does a yeshiva student have time to be educated at home “This legislation is part of the long overdue implementation of the IICSA recommendations which made it clear that unregistered yeshivot present a credible safeguarding risk to Charedi children I recall Rabbi Yehuda Baumgarten’s evidence to IICSA in which he suggested that ‘modesty and chastity’ contributed to keeping children safe He was also questioned about internal UOHC correspondence that said a child safeguarding policy would “please God silence the critics” Baumgarten admitted that such a policy still did not exist – ‘not in written form’ “A day of fasting and prayer can never be said to be a bad thing But it will not silence the critics” The 5th annual Giant Menorah Lighting in Stamford Hill took place on the 6th night of Chanukah and set a new record with over 1,200 attendees of all ages The Menorah was designed by artist Yitzchok Moully who also led an interactive art piece called “An Overflowing Dreidel.” and set a new record with over 1,200 attendees of all ages—from infants to seniors organized by Lubavitch Stamford Hill and the Lubavitch Children’s Centre was a spectacular celebration of Jewish tradition The evening began with joyous singing and a welcoming address by the shliach to Stamford Hill Rabbi Sholem Ber Sudak who guided the crowd through the night’s festivities reflecting on the significance of Chanukah and the strength of the local Jewish community One of the special highlights of the night was when children were called up to recite the 12 Pesukim This beautiful display of unity was followed by a recitation of Tehilim by Dayan Levi Y who also delivered an inspiring address before leading the crowd in song A special video presentation of the Rebbe was shown live on a large screen offering the audience a deeply moving connection to the Rebbe’s message helping to further elevate the spiritual experience of the evening Thanks to the use of a boom camera and a drone ensuring that all attendees had a clear view of the proceedings with live footage streamed on the large screen This technology provided an immersive experience allowing everyone to feel involved in the communal celebration The centerpiece of the evening was the lighting of the Giant Menorah long-time educator Rabbi Dovid Karnovsky was honored with the privilege of lighting the menorah on the 6th night marking his decades of dedication to the Stamford Hill community The Menorah was  designed by renowned artist Yitzchok Moully together with Yehudah Potash led the community in the song of Haneros Halalu Moully led the crowd in creating an interactive art piece called “An Overflowing Dreidel,” where attendees contributed to the artwork which will soon be displayed outside Lubavitch House project manager and organizer of the Giant Menorah ensured the smooth execution of the event and oversaw the lighting of the menorah each night of Chanukah with Meir leading the nightly lighting using a cherry picker “This is what Stamford Hill is all about—coming together as one,” said Miriam a local mother who attended with her children “It was truly beautiful to see so many people from all different backgrounds and ages This is what Chanukah is meant to be—unity “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Daniel “The number of people who came out tonight It’s amazing to witness such a huge gathering especially in such a tight-knit area like Stamford Hill It really felt like one big family.” “It was a breathtaking experience,” said Rachel and the way everyone was so connected in the moment—it was like the whole community was one big celebration of light The live streaming of the event on the big screen made it feel like no one was left out no matter where they were standing.” This year’s Giant Menorah Lighting was a resounding success not only for its record-breaking attendance but for its strong sense of unity The event has firmly established itself as one of Stamford Hill’s most anticipated annual celebrations Lubavitch House and the Lubavitch Children’s Centre extend their thanks to all who attended and contributed to the success of this unforgettable evening A Special thank you will go to the police department for securing our event and we were honoured by the attendance of superintendent Mr Jai Singh Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Rosa Doherty is social affairs correspondent for the Jewish Chronicle Rosa Doherty 2 min readA long-awaited bus route operating between Golders Green and Stamford Hill will launch at the end of August Transport for London have announced the 310 bus route will start on August 31 and promises to give the Jewish community a direct connection between the busy hubs of Golders Green and Stamford Hill The Mayor of London first pledged to extend a bus route from Golders Green to Stamford Hill amid heightened safety concerns among the Jewish population as part of his election campaign in April Speaking at a Jewish community hustings event earlier this year Sadiq Khan said that if he was re-elected to the role Transport for London would extend the current 210 route to provide a single decker bus that travels directly between Stamford Hill and Golders Green Welcoming the launch of the new route Andrew Gilbert vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews said: “The Jewish community want to thank Commissioner Andy Lord and Mayor of London He said: “The Jews of Golders Green and Stamford Hill will now have a direct transport connection that is part of the standard transport network We want to thank all of those who have worked on this for more than 15 years said: “I made the pledge to introduce this route between Golders Green and Stamford Hill The brand-new bus route will connect Golders Green and Stamford Hill with direct service for the first time supporting many people in the Jewish community with their daily commutes “I know there have been concerns about safety given the terrible rise in antisemitism and this route will provide a safe sustainable and affordable route for local residents as we continue to build a safer It will be the first time that passengers who wish to travel by bus from one location to the other can do so without having to change At the moment passengers must take the 210 to Finsbury Park and then change to the 253 or 254 bus toward Stamford Hill The calls for the new route have been part of an ongoing campaign run by the London Jewish Forum Route 310 will make stops between Golders Green and Stamford Hill including stops at Highgate Village Barnet Council’s cabinet member for Environment and Climate Change said: “It’s great to see TfL continuing to improve public transport links in outer boroughs.” said: “We’ve long supported a new link between Stamford Hill and Golders Green which was an aspiration in the Council’s transport strategy and will help to forge better public transport links between the two communities.” Golders Green Transport Community The 14- and 15-year-olds targeted members of Stamford Hill’s Jewish community in four separate incidents Two teenage girls have been sentenced for a series of antisemitic attacks in London including one that left a woman unconscious targeted members of the Jewish community in Stamford Hill in four separate incidents over half an hour in December 2023 The CPS said the pair appeared at Stratford magistrates court on Wednesday where they were handed a youth rehabilitation order for 18 months They were also ordered to undertake a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 and 45 hours and placed under curfew with an electronic tag for three months The CPS said it successfully applied for a tougher sentence to be handed down to reflect that most of the attacks were “motivated by hate” the teenagers demanded money from a woman on St Ann’s Road One of them tried to hit the victim but missed Ten minutes later the pair demanded money from a 12-year-old girl near Holmdale Terrace but let her go after they realised she had none they started to harass a group of four 11-year-old girls using antisemitic language and asking them for money The defendants followed one of the girls after they ran away grabbing hold of her arm and taking her lunch bag from her which happened half an hour after the first the girls attacked a woman on Rostrevor Avenue The defendants approached the victim and asked if she had money in her pocket When the woman tried to walk away from them The CPS said they grabbed the victim’s phone before slapping her throwing her to the ground and kicking her The woman briefly lost consciousness and sustained “significant bruising” The girls were both found guilty of attempted robbery religiously aggravated harassment and actual bodily harm after trial with one of the defendants also being found guilty of attempted theft said: “The evidence in this case proved that the two teenagers targeted most of the victims because they were Jewish “Key witness testimony proved that the defendants were mocking them making it plainly obvious that these attacks were hate crimes we have successfully applied to the court to increase the sentence passed down on the defendants today we used a community impact statement from a Jewish community leader to further demonstrate the wider impact this display of hatred can have on the local community “There is no place for such intolerance and hatred and the Crown Prosecution Service will continue to work closely with the police to ensure those who spread hate Simon Rocker 1 min readThe president of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations — the main umbrella group for London’s Charedi communities — has denounced measures to regulate yeshivot in the government’s new education Bill as “alarming” In an op-ed in the JC Rabbi Binyomin Stern disputed the need for new regulations that would enable inspections of religious institutions which are currently exempt from them The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill would require local authorities to keep registers of children who are being home-schooled or otherwise taught in out-of-school settings An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 boys from the age of 13 to 16 are taught in unregistered yeshivot where they receive an exclusively religious education But the education of yeshivot is considered too narrow to classify them as schools under the current law so they are exempt from registration and inspection by Ofsted The new Bill would force yeshivot to register and make them subject to the same requirements as independent schools They would then be expected to teach secular subjects and also LGBT awareness The government is also proposing to give Ofsted new powers to inspect unregistered institutions as well as enabling the Education Secretary to suspend those found not to be complying with the regulations “Our yeshivahs are distinct and different and foster a lifelong love of learning Yeshivahs are not schools and are not intended to replace them “Yeshivah attendees are home-educated in secular studies as are tens of thousands of others across the United Kingdom.” While the UOHC recognised the need for government action to support vulnerable children he said that yeshivot “maintain robust safeguarding measures and provide safe and supportive environments where students thrive through mentorship Decrying some of the proposals in the Bill “The inherent data protection risks in a compulsory register for children-not-in-school and the expanded enforcement powers proposed for Ofsted are alarming.” yeshivot had been “the cornerstone of our community,” he said “We simply ask to be allowed to peacefully continue our way of life.” However, other figures in the Jewish community have backed the government’s move. In a recent, JC op-ed Lord Finkelstein argued “This country has the right to keep some sort of record of [children’s] education and ensure that their schooling meets basic secular standards.” Hackney Council has recently voiced concern about safeguarding checks on yeshivot yeshivot Schools bill Charedi Ofsted The 310 bus will link Golders Green and Stamford Hill after Jewish organisations campaigned for at least 15 years Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A bus that offers a direct link between two of London’s biggest Jewish communities has been launched in a bid to address safety fears in the wake of last year’s Hamas terror attacks on Israel The 310 bus links Golders Green and Stamford Hill. It has been introduced by Sadiq Khan at a cost of £3.2million to honour a pledge he made during this year’s mayoral elections Jewish organisations have campaigned for the direct link for at least 15 years The service – which will use single deck diesel buses - will run for a trial period of “at least 12-months” to assess demand and to allow Transport for London to establish whether it is “viable” in the long term Unusually it will only operate between 7am and 7pm The service will be operated by Stagecoach East London TfL chose not to accept the lowest bid – of £2.4million – because Stagecoach was able to launch the route sooner than the rival bidder The 310 will follow the same routes as the 210 bus that links Brent Cross and Finsbury Park via Golders Green and the 253 between Finsbury Park and Stamford Hill Broadway When confirmation of the route was first announced in the summer Mr Khan said: “I know there have been concerns about safety given the terrible rise in antisemitism and this route will provide a safe sustainable and affordable route for local residents.”  Mr Khan told the Standard he was aware that Jewish Londoners had experienced an increase in anti-Semitic attacks and “felt scared” in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks on Israel on October 7 last year Mr Khan said: “They feel scared because they worry they could be on the receiving end of anti-Semitic abuse The mayor added: “When I hear families in Stamford Hill say they are scared to visit families in Golders Green I was told that if there was a direct bus link between these two significant communities that will give them more confidence to use public transport “Families were scared about that change [of buses] at Finsbury Park not because they had suffered necessarily criminality Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour calls Roger Waters a ‘crank’ Motorcyclist suffers head injury in crash as A10 Stamford Hill closed - LIVE HS2 station could be redesigned for level boarding on Elizabeth line Meet the triathlete breaking new ground for Deaf athletes “We have got to recognise that sometimes perception can be as important to somebody said: “In a period where our community is encountering unprecedented antisemitism any measure that bolsters the confidence of Jewish individuals in using public transport is immensely valued “This is something we have been campaigning for over 15 years. Stamford Hill and Golders Green have always been centres of Jewish communal life in North London A direct bus service connecting these hubs will provide substantial benefits to the community.” Mr Cohen told the Standard he expected the service to be well used He said many Jewish people travelled between the two areas for schools “The bus will be running between two very big communities in north London Jewish communities in Golders Green and Stamford Hill,” he said “There is already a lot of traffic between those communities.” He said he expected the new bus to make travel safer particularly for Jews who are very visible as such and that has increased since October 7 last year “Members of the community do feel vulnerable The fact you have a direct bus route between the two will certainly ease those concerns There is a tendency to prefer buses to the Underground because one feels a lot safer above ground.” TfL’s director of public transport service planning said: “We welcome all customers on board the new 310 bus and encourage people to use the service as much as possible and provide feedback during the consultation period “We hope the new route will help to increase the use of buses and reduce car use by improving travel options for people living in the area.” the 310 is not able to serve the bus station in Wells Terrace with stops on Seven Sisters Road and westbound on Rock Street The early-morning frequency of the 210 bus will be improved from September 21 there will be a bus every 12 minutes before 7am the route will start to operate 90 minutes earlier than at present Over the past two decades the Strictly Orthodox community has grown significantly but at the moment to travel between the two locations you have to take the 210 bus and get off at Finsbury Park change to the 253 or 254 bus and head towards Stamford Hill Campaigners have raised concerns about antisemitic incidents at the existing interchanges at Finsbury Park and have pushed for the direct route said: “The Jewish community want to thank Commissioner Andy Lord and Mayor of London “The Jews of Golders Green and Stamford Hill will now have a direct transport connection that is part of the standard transport network a lightbulb solution has broken through.” The brand-new bus route will connect Golders Green and Stamford Hill with a direct service for the first time “I know there have been concerns about safety given the terrible rise in antisemitism and this route will provide a safe fairer and greener London for everyone.” This will be the first time that the two areas have been connected by a direct bus service sustainable and affordable form of public transport connecting residents in North London with the new route playing an important role in enabling more people in the area to switch from car use to public transport reducing congestion and improving air quality across the area and beyond TfL will run a consultation to assess the response to the service which will be open for 12 months to allow Londoners to provide feedback on how the service is running and to inform TfL’s longer-term service plans They will be working closely with local communities during the period to promote use of the route and to encourage communities across the route to share their feedback Route 310 will connect communities between Golders Green and Stamford Hill The trial of a bus route is part of TfL’s wider vision to improve public transport in London TfL’s Director of Public Transport Service Planning said: “As bus ridership continues to grow across the network from last year it is important that we continue to work to improve and adapt our bus network according to customer demand We have listened to local communities and hope that the new route 310 can increase bus usage and reduce car usage by improving the travel options for people living in the area.” Barnet Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change said: “It’s great to see TfL continuing to improve public transport links in outer boroughs with the new route between Golders Green and Stamford Hill This route will help communities and individuals in both parts of the city and in between easily travel to see each other and access key services It will also help to reduce journeys made by car and provide a welcome boost for local businesses in the areas served by the new connections.” and will help to forge better public transport links between the two communities.” “I was struck by the conversations I had recently with the Jewish community Frightened of the massive increase in antisemitism since October 7 I was also told stories by families who when they changed buses travelling between Golders Green and Stamford Hill at Finsbury Park they were frightened at the abuse they received “This direct route also connects congregations and connects families But it also reassures the Jewish community that they are going to be safe when they travel.” the mayor was joined by representatives from the London Jewish Forum and by politicians including Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman and London Assembly member councillor Anne Clarke The mayor said communal groups had lobbied him for 16 years calling for a bus route to link the two parts of London which are home to thousands of Jewish families He recalled a lively mayoral election hustings at JW3 earlier this year noting that the biggest cheer came when he made a pledge to introduce the 310 if he elected for a record third time in the capital The Mayor admitted Transport for London bosses had told him there was “no business case” for launching the route a cost of £3.2million but that “public transport is a public service” and therefore there was a case for subsidising the 310 route “This is a subsidised bus route and I would urge Jewish News readers to try to use it to feed into the consultation,” he added “This is a good example of public transport responding to the concerns of Londoners especially around safety concerns and rising antisemitism “We have heard the stories of Jewish Londoners receiving abuse and also we’ve heard reports of Jewish Londoners not wanting to leave their homes to visit loved ones because they are worried about their safety “There’s a combination of rising antisemitism and I don’t want anyone to be scared to leave their homes “I recognise crime is a serious issue all our staff are trained in how to respond to people who report a crime “All our drivers are trained in recognising antisemitic abuse and have received diversity training as well “Whether that’s a verbal crime or physical abuse our bus stops are safer than they ever have been before.” The 310 will run for a trial period of “at least 12-months” to assess demand and to allow TFL to establish whether it is “viable” in the long term Khan also said it was important for those who were not Jewish to show “allyship” with the community noting how antisemitism had escalated in the capital following the October 7 Hamas terror atrocity in Israel “You have got to recognise the anxiety that is felt by some in the Jewish community,” he said “You have got to show allyship to people in these circumstances “This bus route is a recognition of this.” He added the route was part of wider plans to try to make all Londoners safer as they used public transport Khan urged any London to raise concerns they had over safety with police who would look into all reports thoroughly The mayor also offered his thoughts on the continued war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza including confirmation that six more hostages had been killed by Hamas at the weekend The mayor said he had made his opposition to the politics of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu quite clear and had heard from Jewish Londoners offering similar views tell me they are unhappy with what the Israeli Prime Minister is doing “That’s no excuse though for taking hostages “What happened on October 7th is unacceptable “You can’t have this equivalence  The photographs of those six hostages at the weekend that were made available to the media “I know there are Jewish Londoners who are directly impacted by what happened on October 7th “The remaining hostages must be released and the bodies of those who have lost their lives must be returned to their familes “There has got to be an immediate ceasefire It’s really important we recognise the bloodshed whether it’s the hostages taken or those killed in Gaza.” Khan said it was now important that the new UK government attempted to use any influence it had in relation to the Middle East conflict He said he had been “so impressed” by the way both Keir Starmer and foreign secretary David Lammy had attempted to press for negotiations and change on the ground despite concerns about rising antisemitism Islamophobia and other forms of racism across the country London had not been impacted by the far-right led riots that took place elsewhere last month former co-chairs of the London Jewish Forum and now vice presidents of the Board of Deputies welcomed the launch of the 310 bus and said: “In a period where our community is encountering unprecedented antisemitism we immensely value any measure that bolsters the confidence of Jewish individuals in using public transport.” “This is something we have been campaigning for over 15 years Stamford Hill and Golders Green have always been centres of Jewish communal life in north London A direct bus service connecting these hubs will provide substantial benefits to the community.” A MAJOR UK supermarket has confirmed it is shutting down a popular store in a matter of months Devastated shoppers say it will be "sad to see" the branch disappear after a number of other closures in the area in recent months The Sainsbury's at Stamford Hill, London is one of the most popular stores in the UK Sainsbury's confirmed it is closing down the store due to the landlord looking to redevelop the site after the lease expires A Sainsbury’s spokesperson told The Sun: "Earlier this year we shared the difficult news with colleagues at our Stamford Hill supermarket that the landlord intends to redevelop the site "We appreciate this will be an unsettling time for everyone this affects and we are doing everything we can to support them including exploring opportunities for our colleagues to redeploy to alternative roles within Sainsbury’s.” Dozens of local shoppers were left saddened by the news as they took to social media to speak on the closure Many said the decision is a confusing one as a nearby Asda had only closed down recently "But times and neighbourhoods do change and such is life." Another said: "Damm that’s such a handy supermarket." A third voiced their concerns over what the closure may mean for people who used the Sainsbury's as their local shop They said: "Wow that's a needed supermarket.. why should people have to travel far away to get shopping!! "So very sad for a lot of people who will struggle." You can find your nearest Sainsbury's using its Store Locator tool on its website - just put in your postcode or nearest town Many other supermarkets offer a similar feature to help you always know where to shop EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline The Sun's business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed The problem is that when a big shop closes footfall falls across the local high street Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead Boss Stuart Machin recently said that when it relocated a tired store in Chesterfield to a new big store in a retail park half a mile away its sales in the area rose by 103 per cent stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust Dorothy Perkins and Paperchase to name a few What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places The news comes amid a challenging time for the whole of the UK’s retail sector High inflation coupled with a squeeze on consumers' finances has meant people have less money to spend in the shops Also the rising popularity in online shopping has meant people are favouring digital ordering over visiting a physical store Unseasonably wet weather has also deterred shoppers from hitting the high street This ongoing issue has seen brands such as Paperchase, and The Body Shop all lose dozens of stores this year Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed 8,543 stores closed and more than 130,000 retail jobs were lost in 2024 Supermarkets are also rapidly closing across the UK with Lidl confirming this week one of its city centre branches is shutting for good after trading for over two decades The discount supermarket said an outlet in Aberdeen will shut up shop around the time of its 25th anniversary But the bargain supermarket is also set to open up 10 more UK stores before Christmas as it targets festive shoppers The discounter currently has about 960 stores but previously said it wants to operate more than 1,100 across England The locations it wants to open branches before the end of the year includes: Berwick Green in Bristol, Bovey Tracy in Devon, Stirchley in Birmingham and Hoxton The iconic 90s toys retailer is to rapidly launch 23 new shops following the successful opening of dozens in the last year with the first welcoming customers at the end of last month See a full list of locations here The outdoor clothes retailer has revealed it will open 50 new stores in the UK The brand has already opened 20 new stores in the UK in the past six months - and now plans to expand to new locations The exact list of locations where Mountain Warehouse will be opening is yet to be revealed Lidl has said it wants to open 10 more UK stores before Christmas as it targets festive shoppers The locations it wants to open branches before the end of the year includes: Berwick Green in Bristol Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ This was followed by a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance where Lammy rekindled the eternal flame and laid a commemorative wreath on a slab under which ashes from the extermination camps are buried signed the Yad Vashem Guest Book and read his message aloud He said: “It’s one of the great honors of my life to visit the Yad Vashem as the UK foreign secretary particularly because in the UK Parliament I represent the historic area of Stamford Hill in North London one of the historic homes of the Jewish community in London- escaping a series of pogroms in the 19th century and We honor all that were murdered and we remember the evils of genocide in that period of history.” Reflecting on the significance of Lammy’s visit chairman Dayan stated,”One of the lessons of the Holocaust is the imperative to combat and defeat with all the strength the prevalent calls for the annihilation and elimination of the Jewish state that we hear lately in the halls of power in Tehran classrooms in Columbia University and unfortunately also in London.” Since arriving on Sunday, Lammy has held meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders as well as families of hostages being held in Gaza There has been brewing panic over the new bus between two Jewish enclaves Oliver Keens gets on board on to find out if the route is as controversial in reality as the internet would have us think Lifestyle Sign up for the best picks from our travel The 310 is a new bus route that begins in Stamford Hill and ends in Golders Green — two famously Jewish enclaves in London It will run from 7am to 7pm as part of a year-long trial New bus routes are burgeoning at the moment serving those slowly being weaned off cars by the Congestion Charge yet initiatives like Superloop rarely hit the headlines The 310 is different — largely due to its start and finish destinations Initial reporting on the new route placed anti-semitism as its primary reason for existing The BBC’s headline stated: “Bus service to help Jewish Londoners feel safe” while GB News’s headline began: “London forced to introduce bus route..” It’s easy to see why journalists went there: reactions to the war in Gaza have destabilised life for Jewish people in London for almost a year the Mayor was happy to make that link explicit: “I know there have been concerns about safety given the terrible rise in antisemitism and this route will provide a safe sustainable and affordable route for local residents,” he’s quoted as saying Yet as Rabbi David Mason tweeted in reply to a man decrying the 310 as an emblem of a divided city: “Safety was never the main reason” Buried in most reports was the fact that the 310’s route was first proposed 15 years ago to “connect families and friends in the Jewish community and enable them to get to community events going on in those areas” It’s not a new concept — nor a sticking plaster in a post October 7th world The reports made it sound like a religious shuttle or a strictly denominational Waterloo & City line ignoring the fact it’s still a regular bus — servicing residents of Highgate Village At the launch, Mayor Khan flagged Finsbury Park as part of the problem. “When I heard stories about those who live in Stamford Hill not being able to see their friends at Golders Green because they have to change buses at Finsbury Park…that broke my heart” he told reporters a man in his thirties was violently attacked close to the station by someone shouting “Kill the Jew” as he beat him What we’ve seen in the last week is both utterly sad and almost grimly comic: a brewing panic over something as innocuous as a new bus route Prominent Jewish thought-leaders online saw the headlines and expressed outrage — that a city was so unsafe it required a special bus for Jews Did they need to wear a yellow star to take this bus one user casually wondered: “I’m worried that either the bus will be attacked or that it will become de facto Jewish only.” It got to a point where I just wanted to see it all for myself I was expecting a small race war as I arrived at Golders Green bus station on Thursday morning identifiable by the big camera around his neck and the bigger grin on his face as he watched the bustling bus bonanza outside the station Richard has been photographing buses since 2012 but the only controversy for him was that it wasn’t badged under the Superloop scheme As Richard kindly showed me where the route begins our interaction perfectly set the tone for a day riding a bus that’s simultaneously controversial online The first passenger that arrived was a pregnant orthodox woman I made assumptions she’d be travelling end to end she was just on her way to Whittington Hospital There were a couple of passengers of Orthodox faith on each journey I took the drivers were of Asian descent on each journey (it’s only a guess — I didn’t want to hassle a working driver He wasn’t hosting a live segment on contentious buses for This Morning — I think he was just with his family They seemed to enjoy the new bus as much as everyone else an elderly woman who didn’t want to give her name got on She’s ecstatic: the 310 connects her almost door-to-door with her oldest friend of 62 years She tells me she’s not aware of the backstory behind the 310 she just says: “Great!” and walks off cheerily Nobody I spoke to knew anything about the religious roots of this service everyone had views — why does it have to end at 7pm wouldn’t it be better if it went through to Clapton why oh why do two busses always turn up at the same time — but they were so completely at odds with the online and media rhetoric that the bus began to feel almost like a haven Which isn’t to sideline anti-semitism for a second but more a reminder that there’s sometimes as much value in talking to a stranger on a bus as there is in social media An orthodox passenger named Freedman made this explicitly clear is both the Masjid Quba mosque and the Hackney and East London Synagogue and that he’s never been exposed to any animosity caused by this coexistence He too didn’t know the origin story of the 310 that respecting other people is the only way for us to live that he shuns extremist communities that do otherwise I boarded the 310 expecting it to be a form of segregated What I saw were regular bus things: a child in a pushchair almost managing to ring the “stop” button A man with a big rucksack on the seat next to him huffily agreeing to move it after a small glare I’d never want to downplay anti-semitism for a moment Yet when people evoke it in an almost unthinking way — to get clicks or to get votes — there’s a danger that it has real-world effects It has the potential to cause serious bumps in the road on an otherwise extremely smooth and pleasant journey Bus linking two of London's biggest Jewish communities launches in bid to improve safety I had to open a food bank in my primary school — this is why all of England should have free school meals Sadiq Khan warns 'tragedy like Grenfell' could still 'happen again' following inquiry's report how many more?': Inside London's shameful cladding crisis Stamford Hill residents have launched a campaign to clean up their streets – which are “regularly strewn with litter” Members of Stamford Hill Unites spoke of their “shame and disgust” caused by the “increasing problem” at a recent meeting Former councillor Rosemary Sales is one of those leading the charge She told the Citizen: “It’s not just us old people banging on about litter – people of all ages are fed up with the rubbish on the streets “Street corners have become targets for fly-tipping which is often followed by dumping of household rubbish “It’s about having pride in where you live University professor Angela Phillips said waste services are organised around single-family homes but that houses on many local streets are divided into flats with no bin storage She also claims misinformation is widespread with many people apparently of the belief that street corners are official waste sites Another attendee at the meeting said: “It makes the area look so scruffy and uncared for It can be really smelly and unsanitary when there is meat and fish waste.” One woman complained that her partially-sighted son frequently gets hurt bumping into piles of rubbish on the pavements Hackney Council’s behaviour change and enforcement manager has pledged to work with them to find solutions The Citizen asked Hackney Council for further details of its plan to tackle street waste in Stamford Hill Stamford Hill West councillors Benzion Papier and Hershy Lisser did not respond to an invitation to attend the residents’ meeting The Citizen contacted both councillors to ask why they did not attend Woodberry Down councillor Caroline Selman (Labour) has given her backing to the campaign A Hackney Council spokesperson said: “We provide a broad range of waste and recycling services to keep our streets clean and safe and there are lots of easily accessible and environmentally friendly ways for residents to dispose of their waste “We all have a responsibility to keep the borough clean and pleasant there is a minority of people who still litter and carry out flytipping which has a significant impact on our shared environment “We’re tackling this by identifying and taking enforcement action against offenders as well as running awareness and engagement campaigns including doorstep education drives and commercial waste action days to educate people and businesses about waste disposal and positively change behaviours.” the council carried out over 1,800 fly-tipping investigations leading to 474 fixed penalty notices being issued It also handed out 825 formal notices and 505 warning letters across the borough Update: this article was amended on 24 May 2024 to include a comment and additional information from Hackney Council 1 min readA Chasidic independent girls’ school in Stamford Hill which has been rated good in its previous five inspections since 2007 has been downgraded by Ofsted because it does not teach pupils about LGBT awareness which mainly serves the Belz community and has more than 580 pupils aged from two to 16 has been marked down to “requires improvement” despite its quality of education being rated as good and the behaviour of its pupils outstanding While the school taught “the importance of treating everyone equally and with respect” it did not ensure that secondary-age pupils received “all the required information about respectful relationships.” Pupils were not taught about “the legal rights of all people” protected under equality law pupils are not prepared fully for adulthood.” Schools are required to teach about gender assignment and same-sex orientation as part of relationships and sex education and also in order to comply with independent school standards But Charedi schools typically argue that these are matters for parents to discuss Ofsted was mostly complimentary about Beis Malka parents and carers” and care deeply about pupil wellbeing “The school provides a wide range of help and support to pupils and families if they struggle,” inspectors reported “The school treats pupils with a great deal of compassion and respect This is echoed in the way pupils treat each other Pupils generally achieved well academically meeting the expectations of the national curriculum Girls who spoke English as an additional language “become confident Beis Malka provided “many opportunities for pupils to explore their talents and interests dancing and set design through regular school performances.” It also drew on its “strong expertise and recognises the additional needs of pupils with SEND [special educational needs and disabilities] quickly and accurately” subject knowledge in the primary phase was “not sequenced clearly” at the school Ofsted reported that the school’s leaders “prohibit teaching about for example sexual orientation or preference The school’s justification for this is that acknowledgement of these characteristics contravenes the school’s ethos ‘If we had to teach that we would have to close as an orthodox school’.” READ MORE: We’re being victimised by education watchdog, say Charedim Charedi schools LGBT A motorcyclist has been rushed to hospital with a head injury following a serious crash in Stamford Hill causing the A10 to close in both directions was taken to an east London hospital following the collision shortly after 7am on Friday Footage from the scene shows a motorcycle and car remain inside a large police cordon The road is closed both ways between Ravensdale Road and Clapton Common Congestion built up from Tottenham High Road past Seven Sisters to Tottenham Hale after the incident about 7am on Friday Several London bus routes are reportedly affected by the road closure The A1010 Hertford Road is currently blocked off due to a police incident The road is blocked both ways between A1055 Bullsmoor Lane and Broadoak Avenue Elizabeth line trains between Heathrow Terminal 4 and Paddington may be cancelled or delayed by 10 minutes A speed restriction has been in place over defective track between Acton Main Line and London Paddington The Met Police have confirmed a motorcyclist was taken to hospital following a collision in Stamford Hill A spokesperson for the force told the Standard: “Police were called by London Ambulance Service [LAS] at 07:09hrs on Friday 6 September to reports of a collision at Stamford Hill / Egerton Road At the scene a car had been in collision with a motorcycle was taken to an east London hospital with a head injury “Officers remain on scene and closures are in place A motorbike and a car appear to have been involved in the collision in Stamford Hill Footage of the scene shows the two vehicles cordoned off in the centre of the road Sand has also been put down over a large section of the road A man was taken to hospital following a serious collision in Stamford Hill A LAS spokesperson told the Standard said: “We were called at 7.06am today (Friday 6 September) to reports of a road traffic collision at the junction of Stamford Hill and Egerton Road before he was taken to hospital by a third party.” Commuters are facing minor delays on the Elizabeth Line between Abbey Wood and Whitechapel TfL has said it is fixing a faulty track at Paddington The A10 has been shut due to a “serious crash” in Stamford Hill Long delays have built up past Seven Sisters and traffic is being diverted via Amhurst Park and Seven Sisters Road