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Jewish Leadership Council chair announces initiatives in education, care and mental health

Jonathan Goldstein spoke about his organisation's plan to help secure the future of the UK Jewish community

December 23, 2018 22:07
Jonathan Goldstein.JPG
3 min read

The Chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council has set out the organisation’s plans to strengthen the UK’s Jewish community, including the first ever national conference of Jewish care homes, as well as key initiatives in the areas of education and mental health.

Speaking at the Limmud Festival on Sunday, Jonathan Goldstein described four key areas - Education, Elderly Care, Young People’s Mental Health and Financial Sustainability - which the umbrella organisation had identified as “the biggest issues we have to address to ensure the continuing vibrancy of the Anglo-Jewish community”.

Citing an Elderly Care Commission report produced by McKinsey, Mr Goldstein pointed out that in 2016, 14 out of 21 Jewish elderly care homes around the country were in financial deficit, with the aggregate deficit being approximately £3 million. By 2022, he went on to highlight, 17 out of those 21 are projected to be in deficit, with a potential aggregate annual deficit as high as £14 million – and that the “impact will be seen most quickly in small communities because of the declining demand for care.”

In response, Mr Goldstein said that “the first ever national care conference of Jewish homes” would take place on January 22, in Birmingham, and that most Jewish homes from around the country would be represented.