Building Community Through Brunch: A Recap of Our JVS Planning Event

What better way to plan the future than over a hearty vegan brunch? On Sunday 15th December 2024, 12 members of the JVS community—a mix of long-standing supporters and newcomers— gathered to connect, share ideas, and envision the events that will shape JVS over the coming year, in 2025 . Here’s a look at what unfolded during this inspiring and collaborative day. The day began with the smells of scrambled tofu (see recipe below), garlic parsley mushrooms, homemade beans, and vegan sausages wafting through the air. As we cooked together, the brunch was a lovely opportunity to connect on a personal level. Over coffee and kosher vegan pastries, informal chats flowed, setting the tone for a relaxed and welcoming event. After brunch, we divided into small groups to brainstorm the types of events the community would like to see. The discussions were lively and engaging, with ideas building on one another. Groups then presented their thoughts back to everyone, revealing common themes and exciting possibilities. One sentiment captured the spirit of the day beautifully: “To nourish our belly and our souls.” A recurring theme was the desire for JVS to be a space where members can connect over shared values in a safe and inclusive environment. Attendees also highlighted the importance of lighthearted, non-judgmental spaces to discuss topics like veganism and climate. Ideas for Future Events The suggestions were as diverse as our community itself, reflecting a vibrant mix of interests. Here are some of the standout ideas: Social Events Bi-weekly drinks or networking evenings Cooking and music nights Vegan food crawls Campfires Book nights and comedy nights A Shavuot-themed “Bake-Off” Education and Environment Family cooking days and cooking socials Workshops on making natural products or using sustainable energy Nature walks and vegetable-growing projects at JVS Monthly “TED Talk”-style events featuring expert speakers For Specific Groups Rosh Chodesh women’s mindfulness groups Coffee mornings for international expats University student safe spaces Events for Mizrahim and Parsim, such as celebrating Nowruz In addition to event ideas, attendees discussed how to reach more people and strengthen our connections. Suggestions included: Representing JVS at local and national festivals Collaborating with other Jewish organisations Marketing in Hebrew to connect with the Israeli community Conducting a wider community survey to gauge interest in various activities We’re excited to build on this event and are planning to develop an online community forum to continue to share ideas and plan events. If you’d like to be part of the event planning/steering committee, please email Zoe. Scrambled tofu recipe Ingredients 250 grams of firm tofu 1 tablespoon of oil 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast flakes Half a tsp of turmeric Half a teaspoon of paprika ½ teaspoon of garlic powder ½ a teaspoon of salt ¼ tsp of onion powder 60 mils of plant milk Method 1. Press the tofu dry with kitchen paper – you can put a plate on top for 20 minutes to take out extra moisture. 2. Crumble the tofu in a bowl with your hands. Add all the ingredients except the milk and oil and stir well. 3. Stir through the milk. 4. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the scrambled tofu and cook for around 5 minutes until heated through.