It’s tricky to find the perfect gift for friends and family who are celebrating decades of marriage or big birthdays. That’s why Toba and Michael Brown opted for the Celebrate with Jewish Care programme on their golden wedding anniversary in September. “After 50 years of marriage, there’s not much we need, so we decided to share our simchah with charity and invite our family and friends to donate to Jewish Care in lieu of giving gifts,” they say. “It was so easy to set up and easy for people to donate.”

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Michael and Toba (above) 1974 and at their 50th wedding anniversary.

Toba and Michael married in 1972 at Leabridge Road Synagogue in Clapton, East London. Toba says: “Our family connections with the charity go back to my parents, when they came to England in 1951 from India, with three young children and nowhere to stay. Thankfully, they were welcomed at the Jewish Shelter in Mansfield Street in the East End. This later became part of Jewish Care.”

The couple are proud of their children, Daniel, Darren and David, and their five grandchildren. Two of their children went to what is now Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, attending the Mike youth leadership programme. Daniel is now chief executive of Jewish Care, having worked for the organisation for 25 years. Darren is a UEFA football coach and technical consultant and David is chief executive of the New Israel Fund. Michael says: “We know what an amazing job the staff at Jewish Care do. Both of our mothers and Toba’s father were also cared for and loved by the staff and volunteers when they were residents of Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House care home. Toba’s mum, and our family, were also supported by the incredible staff at The Dennis Centre for people living with dementia.”

Michael, who works for Citizens Advice Bureau, ran the Jewish Care football team in Redbridge and Toba was part of Jewish Care’s social work and community support team for 18 years before retiring. Both are now members of Redbridge Jewish Community Centre and enjoy the activities there.

Adam Overlander-Kaye, Jewish Care’s director of fundraising and community engagement, says: “We wish Toba and Michael a big mazeltov on their milestone anniversary and many more years of happiness. We thank them for their generosity in including Jewish Care in their simchah. Celebrate with Jewish Care really is a wonderful way to mark a celebration and will help us support older people in our community.”

You can download invitations, place cards and thank you cards from the Jewish Care website.

Camp Simcha’s Share Your Simcha initiative enables people to mark a special occasion by raising funds for its work supporting families with seriously ill children. Each celebration is featured on the donation section of the charity’s website, making it easy for friends and family to give in their honour. Every donor is thanked individually and celebrants receive a commemorative certificate.

Supporting Camp Simcha (Camp Simcha)

Camp Simcha b’nei mitzvah celebrants Sarah and Adam

Camp Simcha also offers a bnei mitzvah programme, with opportunities to be part of an organised fundraising walk and volunteering events together with other young people who are celebrating their bnei mitzvah. Activities include toy packing, in November/December. Camp Simcha’s annual toy drive sees the charity sending in more than 10,000 toys and gifts to children in hospital. Participants sort and pack toys to deliver to 120 hospital wards and hospices.

There is also a Purim packing activity — putting together care packages for families Camp Simcha supports — and a spring/summer sponsored walk, visiting two North London hospitals en route, delivering toys to seriously ill children.

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Camp Simcha hospital delivery participants

All children who take part in Camp Simcha’s bnei mitzvah programme can join its Young Ambassadors initiative, where they receive updates about the charity’s work and ideas on how to continue their support. Each child receives a goodie bag and a certificate of participation. The charity also helps children organise their own bnei mitzvah fund-raising challenge.

Sarah Meister took part with her cousin Adam. Together they raised £850 on the sponsored walk and were involved in both packing events. “I have really enjoyed being part of the Camp Simcha programme to mark my batmitzvah and meeting up with the same kids for the different activities,” says Sarah. “It was great making mishloach manot for children who are having a hard time.”

JNF offers several options for simchah celebrants. You can donate to one of JNF UK’s life-changing projects in Israel and JNF will engrave your name on a permanent plaque alongside the project. From renovating kindergartens and building youth centres to supporting young leadership programmes and music schools, you can choose an enterprise that inspires you.
For families visiting Israel for their bar/batmitzvah, JNF UK offers an adventure-filled, educational day trip , tailored to suit your family’s interests and designed to “connect you to the land and the people of Israel”. You will tour cultural sites, visit JNF UK projects and take part in activities with some of Israel’s most inspiring 21st century pioneers.

And of course, there are the tree certificates. JNF UK has planted more than 250 million trees over the past century, turning barren regions into thriving forests. Its focus nowadays is more on urban forests — planting trees to beautify cities and provide shade and fresh air. JNF tree dedications come with a complimentary certificate. Grace After Meals booklets are available from JNF UK; you not only gain a ten per cent discount for online purchases but all proceeds go towards securing a future for Israel.

Jewish Care: jewishcare.org/celebrate 020 8922 2600

Camp Simcha: www.campsimcha.org.uk or email: laura@campsimcha.org.uk

JNF: jnf.co.uk/celebrate 020 8732 6100