Chief rabbi Lord Sacks opens new LJCC youth centre in memory of trustee’s daughter

Chief rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks joined more than 120 children to celebrate the opening of new youth facilities at the London Jewish Cultural Centre (LJCC) today.

Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sachs, with sponsor David Lewis and children from Mathilda Marks School who were taking part in an animation workshop at the opening of the Catherine Lewis Centre at the London Jewish Cultural Centre. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Polly Hancock

The Catherine Lewis Centre has been built in the piazza at the centre’s base in Ivy House, North End Road, Golders Green, in memory of the daughter of LJCC trustee David Lewis, who died of leukaemia.

Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sachs, with Hannah and David Lewis, parents of Catherine Lewis, at the opening of the Catherine Lewis Centre at the London Jewish Cultural Centre. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Polly Hancock

It will be used to host the LJCC’s FUSION youth programme, which attracts nearly 1,000 children a year aged eight to 18.

Lord Sacks marked the centre’s opening alongside children from four schools with a morning of activities, including graffiti, animation, cookery, photography, film and singing.

Louise Jacobs, LJCC chief executive, said: “We saw very quickly that FUSION could fulfil a need in the community for dynamic youth programming in a safe space and that we must provide dedicated facilities for our youngsters to explore their creativity.”

* For more coverage of the opening, see next week’s Ham&High.