We’re crowdfunding to launch the UK’s first Jewish vegetarian centre

We are thrilled to announce plans for a new community space at the JVS. Our restaurant quickly became a Golders Green landmark when it opened in the early 1980s before closing after a decade and a half. Now our charity, which turned 50 last year, is set to swap retro nut roasts and lentil lasagne for cutting-edge superfood smoothies and spiralised salads as we unveil plans for Britain’s first centre for Jewish vegetarianism. Last month we launched an online crowdfunding campaign to raise £25,000 towards the ambitious development. A philanthropist is generously match-funding every £1 donated. Since the launch we have raised £21,000 and need your help to reach our target. The community hub, which will open in 2017 in the same building on Finchley Road, will not just feature pop-up restaurants, but will: offer a shared growing space in its garden host vegetarian feasts on the chagim, including a seder in its open-plan hall, plus film screenings, meditation, discussion groups, gardening workshops and more and run children’s and adults’ cookery classes in its purpose-built demonstration kitchen It will also play host to: two Jewish human rights charities [Rene Cassin and one other TBA] the Golders Green Partnership Minyan and other community gatherings, including the Open Talmud project, a cross-denominational gathering for the study of Jewish texts. In return for your online contributions , donors can receive anything from an organic cotton fairtrade JVS tote bag to a top chef turning up in their own kitchen to cook up a three-course vegan meal. Donate here. Community spaces are in incredibly short supply in this area. Our new centre will be wheelchair-accessible and offer affordable hall hire rates, making it open to everyone. We are really excited to be creating a home for Jewish vegetarianism and environmentalism, which we hope will attract a whole new generation of ethically minded Jews. We would love to hear from anyone keen to organise innovative events in the heart of Jewish London [please email me: lara@jvs.org.uk].