I cannot believe that it is 14 months since the day I was elected Chair of YLJC was one of immense pride and a li<le trepida=on.  There was also a li<le sadness that neither of my parents were alive to have witnessed my love and commitment to YLJC.  Both my parents spent many years as Chair persons, my dad of the Windhoek Hebrew Congrega=on and my mum the local and na=onal chair for the Union of Jewish Woman both in Windhoek and then in Cape Town, I suppose in some way this is me carrying on that same tradi=on. 

Being one of the first Chairs to be in situ with our first Rabbi in almost 800 years is beyond comprehension in many ways and together with the exis=ng commi<ee I am so grateful to be part of it all.  Proud seems an understatement. 

We have achieved an amazing amount in the past year, a lot would not have been possible without Rabbi Elisheva and her outreach work and engagement across York and many communi=es has been immense. 

Finally before my list of achievements below, we cannot forget that none of this would have been possible without the dedica=on, =me and engagement of Ben Rich, one of our founders and figurehead of YLJC and those members like Lilian, Katrina, Shannon, Lee and others who helped create this from nothing 10 years ago. 

## **Achievements & YLJC in a year:** 

- Celebra=on of 10 years of YLJC – with special thanks to Lilian Coulson for her Organisa=on.  We were almost 70 people, with 25 guests including Interfaith 

   - Leaders, Rabbi Charley Baginsky and many more. 

- 4 Shabbat Services a month. 

- 2 family services a month (the wee ones are growing, we have a regular cohort of 5 “li<lies” a<ending our family services 

   - Relaunch of the YLJC website & Membership database 

- Relaunch of the amazing Jews in the Ouse Newsle<er Pesach Seder this year saw YLJC friends and family joined by new friends for an amazing 68 strong Seder. 

- Our very own engagement officer, Lilian Coulson who in her professional capacity as a Town planner con=nues to fly the flag for YLJC with the ongoing Jewbury Project and The development of the Eye of York together with the support of Rabbi Elisheva and Howard Duckworth. 

- Interfaith & Social Ac=on – these func=ons would not be possible without Jay Prosser and Sarah Hubbard, allowing our interac=on and celebra=on of Faith Week, Mizvah day and the ongoing growth of Tikun Olam.  We have had the amazing input and support of Stuart Diamond, CEO of Mitzvah Day spend the day in York and partake in our Shabbat Services as well as the Interfaith Service hosted by Rabbi Elisheva in November 2024. 

- HHD where quite something this year:  The most successful first night, YLJC tradi=onal Rosh Hashanah Seder, we had another wonderful evening of new friends, a li<le tradi=on and learning and wonderful meal a<ended by 70 people, we look to 2025 to only make these bigger & be<er.  Services where well a<ended for Kol Nidre as well as the full day of Yom Kippur, with a li<le something for everyone including 



the family service, community services, Jonah and Yiskor.  We celebrated Havdalah and broke the fast together as a community which again was truly special.   Our HHD fundraising was literally record breaking with 3 chari=es receiving over £1200 each from YLJC. (quite something) 

- Rabbi Elisheva and myself were invited this year to a<end the York Armis=ce Day Parade and for the first =me in our history, we were part of the group of Faith Leaders, VIPs and York City Councillors who walked together behind the various veterans and service men and woman and then laid a wreath on behalf of YLJC.  It was one of the greatest privileges I have experienced personally and as part of YLJC. 

- • In the past year we have welcome 5 Jews by Choice into our Congrega=on and Community and I am delighted and proud.  Rabbi Elisheva con=nues her engagement and growth of the Conversion class and we have a current class of approximately 20 conversion students. 

- Our Cheder classes have begun, and we have a cohort of 3, possibly 4, Bnei Mitzvah students who have begun their studies with Rabbi Elisheva, this to me is one of the most exci=ng =mes not just for our families (and the stresses that go with it) but that it shows and celebrates the importance of adulthood in our community. 

- A commi<ee of dedicated friends of YLJC who have all gone above and beyond to bring Rabbi Elisheva on board, to help support and grow our community and make us who we are.  Thank you to Ben, Howard, Lilian, Lucy, Jay, John, Owen, Ruth and Sarah and to Lauren, Mim and Rosie for their help and support in the early months of my tenure. 

We con=nue to pray for the safe return of the hostages in Israel, for peace and cessa=on of war.  The news tonight as I write this (18/01/2025) brings a glimmer of hope for the return of the hostages back to their loved ones and we pray for all those who are not returning. 

I look very forward to 2025, to building our community with the founda=on of old members and of new members. I look, together with the commi<ee, to keeping those tradi=ons going, bringing in new families, new tradi=ons and growth for today, tomorrow and many many more years of a growing, Jewish community in York. 



York Liberal Jewish Community
Receipts and payments account
Year ended 4 April 2024
Unr•strlcted
fund•
Bursary Tot*1
fund
fund8
Irestnthedl
2023
Recelpts
General donations
High holy day appeal
Donations for Rabbi'$ salary & expense5
Inlety51
Mernber8hp fees
3,161
3.161
3.487
38.500
1,166
18,751
38,500
1.166
18.751
242
13.108
Total recelpts
Paym•nts
A￿ountancY fees
Bank ¢harges
Chartsbb contribution$
In8uron¢e- other
Servrce expenses
Rabbinic salary
Rabbinic experfses
Flabbinic ￿nSIOn
Room booking
Cheder teachers
82.518
62.518
17,317
1.092
95
250
479
993
41.458
7.108
1,092
95
250
479
474
78
401
282
41,458
7.108
9,559
11,553
45
148
2r
369
5,797
4,317
11.553
45
148
206
369
5.797
4.317
2.994
355
Postage, 5t81ionery etc
Social auion
Subscriptions
Sundry expenses
Telephon8
Total payments
3.034
245
72
73.976
n,976
17.584
Net rocglpts
111.4581
111,4581
12671
Cash funds last yoar •nd
61,208
65.208
65.475
Ca$h funds thls ygar end
49.750
4.000
53.750
65,208
statsment of assets and Ilabllltlgs at 4 Aprll 2024
Cash assets
Current account
Savings accounts
45.146
53.750
Funds
Gener81 fund
Bursary fund-reslricted
Total funds
Llablllties
49.750
4,000
53.750
Pension contribLrtion$ to be paid
1,340
Signed by a Iruslee on beharf of all
e Iruslees
B RICH
Signed
y an independent
xaminer Paul Silve¢-Myer FCCA on
8th July 2024, who has rèviewed 11)e above account and confimis
that il accurately represents the financial transactions of the York
Liberal Jewish Community for the year ended 4 Apnl 2024