Those of us of a certain age will remember with affection the annual art competition run by Jewish Child’s Day every Chanukah. It was a chance for children to harness their artistic talents and raise funds for the charity at the same time, with the winners going on show at the Ben Uri Art Gallery.
Alas, today the competition is no longer running, but the charity is very much alive and well and on Tuesday celebrates its 70th anniversary with a gala dinner in central London.
For chairman Joy Moss MBE, the anniversary is a chance to reflect on over 35 years’ involvement with the charity. Although it is what she calls a “touchy-feely small charity,” Jewish Child’s Day has, like many larger charities in the community, evolved over the years.
“We began in 1947, to raise money for the orphaned children coming to England on their own after the Second World War,” she says. “It was set up as one day a year, historically the first day of Chanukah. People used to go out with collecting boxes.”
Perhaps Jewish Child’s Day was always a misnomer, as it soon became apparent as demand for the charity’s support grew, that one day was not enough. Now Jewish Child’s Day works, not just on one day during Chanukah, but throughout the year to aid thousands of children around the world. Whether they have physical or emotional difficulties, are suffering abuse or their lives are blighted by poverty, the charity steps in to help with funds.
According to Moss the need to help children has never been greater than it is today. “We look after Jewish children worldwide. About 75 per cent of what we raise [annually around £1million], we give to children in Israel because there is a greater need there. Wherever we’re asked for money or help, we try to give it. We probably help about 120-130 organisations every year, with small amounts that will tangibly help a child; it might be an orphanage needing new summer clothes or air conditioners, or wheelchairs. There are new applications all the time.”
Money is only allocated after a vigorous vetting procedure to ensure that each application is bona fide and the need is real. In recent years the charity has seen an increase in applications from the Charedi community here. “They have a lot of children, sadly there can be several disabilities in a family and the young mothers are not coping and need help in some way. That’s the biggest change we’ve seen overall.”
Recognising this, one of this year’s special anniversary projects aims to raise £35,000 for Step by Step, an organisation working to improve the lives of Orthodox disabled children in Hackney and Haringey. JCD is looking to cover the cost of renovating and equipping a building which supports children and give parents some much-needed respite.
Another £35,000 is needed for a project in Israel: the renovation of a playground at a rehabilitation centre for children with cerebral palsy.
Red tape often limits today’s fundraising activities. “It is more difficult to raise money because in the old days we used to have pantomimes or Chanukah parties where we would take some disabled kids and give them ticket — now you can’t do that.
“It’s very hard to involve the children that you are trying to help without there being a whole load of health and safety stuff which I think is a shame. It was all so easy and a lot of fun…it still is a lot of fun, but it has changed,” says Moss.
On thing that has not changed is the strong emphasis on children playing an active role in fundraising. “Part of our ethos when we were set up was that we have to educate children into giving to other children.”
One of the ways children participated was the art competition, sponsored by this newspaper. “The JC was very involved and when I first started going to meetings, we used to have our AGM at The JC’s offices.” Today there is still a file of photographs of winning entries in The JC’s archives.
There was an attempt to revive the competition in recent years, but take up was low. Moss believes it is because children are too busy with their phones and screens nowadays. Now JCD utilises other methods to engage youngsters in its cause, with speakers visiting schools to talk to pupils about the work of the charity. There is a Blue-ish Jewish Day, in which children pay a small amount to wear a blue outfit to school, as well as a bar- and batmitzvah twinning service, linking children here with partners in Israel or Eastern Europe.
Ultimately, it is still all about the children. And when Moss visits those who have received support and sees what has been achieved, it never fails to inspire her. “It’s very moving to help children. You just want to weep.”
