Jewish Care

Rita and Jack Shafron attended a tea in their honour to mark their retirement from the RAGS (Redbridge Aid Golf Society) committee.

Over their 39 years as two of the original founding committee members, Rita and Jack Shafron have helped to raise over two million pounds for the Redbridge Jewish Community Centre (RJCC), The Sidney Gold Community Trust, CST (Community Security Trust) and other good causes.

The committee was founded following the premature death of Jack’s brother Monty. Jack and Rita got together with some close friends to help raise money for the RJCC (formerly Sinclair House) in his memory. In the 1970s the committee raised money to pay for Sinclair House’s electricity bills, and has evolved today into the largest fundraising committee for RJCC.

Money raised over the years has helped over 2,000 people from the community use the centre’s services each week, from meals-on-wheels to childcare and activities for teenagers. It has also paid for repairs to the building and provided grants for students taking a gap year in Israel, as well as providing funds for other charities.

At the tea, Rita and Jack Shafron were presented with a certificate and flowers in recognition of all their hard work and dedication over the years. On receiving them, Mrs Shafron commented: “Thank you so much – this is all so unnecessary. We’ve always done it [working on the committee] because we loved doing it.Thank you again.”

RAGS Chairman Lloyd Green spoke of his admiration for Rita and Jack, and said: “Our thanks go to you for starting the whole process all those years ago, and for the outstanding service you have both provided during the 39 years you have been involved with RAGS. The dedication and commitment you have both shown has been greatly appreciated, and that is why we have arranged for this celebration to mark your retirement. We will miss you as valuable members of the committee that helps make the RAGS day so special.”

The tea also gave the committee the opportunity to remember with gratitude the hard work of former RAGS chairman Sidney Glassberg and Malcolm Eriera, who recently passed away and were popular volunteers.

Both Linda Simmons and Linda Eriera were presented with plaques in honour of their late partners by Lloyd Green, who said: “I am pleased that we are able to honour them both today by giving plaques to the families to mark their commitment over the 30 years they were involved with RAGS. We will place these for all to see on the volunteer board.”