If you have always dreamed of being a twin, you now have the opportunity — at least for one day — thanks to an innovative scheme being launched by Jewish Care.
The charity is inviting its supporters to “twin” their birthday with a Jewish Care client, whose birthday falls on or around the same day as theirs. The “twinning” can be in the form of a visit, a phone-call, a card or even a day out.
Claire Bogard, Jewish Care’s fundraising operations manager, told the JC: “It’s a great opportunity for younger supporters to find a way to connect with clients. There are lots of benefits for different generations.”
She added that sharing a birthday with a Jewish Care “twin” could lead to becoming a “befriender” for the charity, adding that “some of the connections made from befriending last a long time”.
To launch the project, Henny Franks, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, was “twinned” with three people whose combined ages totalled 100.
Henny, together with Rachel Miller, 30, Debra Binder, 35, and Nicole Gibert, also 35, spent the afternoon being chauffeured around London, making stop-offs at Buckingham Palace and Regent’s Park, before going to a birthday tea at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre in Golders Green, where Henny is a regular visitor.
Afterwards, Henny described it as “one of the best days of my life”, adding: “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this. People were so nice, and I always say that if you’re nice, that’s how people will be to you.”
Miller said afterwards: “I am super-passionate about the younger and older generations being connected, so it was very special to be able to celebrate with a 100-year-old.”
She said that when they had been sitting in the café at Regent’s Park, “so many people stopped to shake Henny’s hand”, before breaking into an impromptu rendition of Happy Birthday.
Henny with Debra Nicole and Rachel celebrating 100 with Henny at Jewish Care Holocaust Survivors- Centre credit Claire Jonas Photography
Henny with Debra, Nicole and Rachel celebrating 100 with Henny at Jewish Care Holocaust Survivors Centre (Photo: Claire Jonas Photography)
Miller said: “Henny is the most inspirational person. There is a lot our generation could learn in terms of resilience. It makes you realise that it’s about your attitude, not your age.”
Henny came to England in 1939, aged 15, on the Kindertransport from Germany. Her father was murdered in Sobibor death camp, and her mother survived.
At 19, Henny joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s branch of the British Army, where she became a driver.
During the twinning celebration, the group drove through important places in Henny’s life, including Great Portland Street, where she had worked as a dressmaker, and the site of the Old Astoria dance hall on Charing Cross Road where Henny met her late husband, Maurice.
“We had a lot of fun, singing Happy Birthday to each other and doing carpool karaoke to Dancing Queen, one of Henny’s favourite Abba songs.”
One of the other celebrants, Debra Binder, 35 said: “It’s about doing something really small, which makes such a big difference to someone else.”
Binder said she had experienced “the most amazing day with Henny. I couldn’t stop asking questions. She was telling us all about her whole history and when she got back to the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, she couldn’t stop talking about it.”
“Twins” are encouraged to invite family and friends to make a donation to Jewish Care instead of giving a present, said Bogard, adding that the charity could help them set up a fundraising page.
