seed Gala Dinner – seed at 30: educating generations
This week seed, the Jewish educational organisation, began its celebration of thirty years of successful work by holding its biennial fundraising dinner.
seed provides adult and family Jewish education across the UK through formal study and informal experiences.
For thirty years, the charity has worked to strengthen Jewish family units, by sharing the richness of authentic Jewish life, learning and values.
Rabbi Grunfeld
Ivan Green
Funding challenges
Since the last seed dinner in June 2008, the world has changed. seed has been faced with a growth in demand for their work, while experiencing a very significant funding challenge. The Trustees and professional staff have managed a process of rationalisation which has meant that seed’s core programmes and areas of work have remained intact. By forging new partnerships with vibrant communities, including Edgware, Bushey, Borehamwood and the Shrubberies in Manchester, seed has been able to see its latest vision, of linking families back to communities, come to fruition.
A successful evening
Themed “seed at 30: educating generations”, the fundraising dinner took place at the Marriott Grosvenor Square. The evening was hosted by Mr & Mrs Ivan Green, along with their children, Mr & Mrs Martin Port, Mr & Mrs Andrew Harris & Mr & Mrs Daniel Green, who have all benefited from seed’s programmes in the past.
Relaxing atmosphere
The Dinner was masterminded by Mrs Sharon Rosenthal and Mrs Jemma Levene. The four hundred guests enjoyed an indoor garden at the back of the room, which spread a relaxing floral aroma throughout the room, complimenting the overall look. Guests were also treated to a roving whisky bar of 30-year old single malts. In keeping with the theme, the evening’s introductions were made by Ivan Green with the help of his grandson, 9-year old Sam. With charm and humour, Mr Green took guests right back to his East End childhood, before explaining the impact seed had made on his extended family, whom he first cajoled and coerced to attend a seminar some eleven years ago.
Daniel Green, Rabbi Joseph Grunfeld,
Moshe Morris & Andrew Harris
Daniel Green and Leo Noe
Consistent values, adaptable strategy - tapping into the source
Guests were privileged to hear from the National Director of seed, Rabbi Joseph Grunfeld.
Blending humour, Torah erudition and his own unique perspective on the contemporary Jewish world, Rabbi Grunfeld explained the six phases in seed’s strategic development, adapting to the changing face of British Jewry, while continuing to offer authentic, quality education to parents of young children, allowing individuals to pass on a Judaism of depth to their children.
Rabbi Grunfeld described the incident in Neviim, where Elisha instructs an almona to take a small jug of oil, and bring empty barrels to it, in order to miraculously fill them thereby securing her family’s future. He explained a Rashi on the importance of taking the barrels to the source of the oil, rather than the other way round. He expounded on his own experience of visiting Ein Gedi in Eretz Yisroel, when he chose to continue walking past the famous waterfall, and up to the source of the spring. Just as, at this famous tourist site, the vast majority of people never experience the source of the water they come to admire, so too he explained that the vast majority of British Jews do not experience the pure source of Torah learning and authentic Jewish life.
Sam Green
seed’s fundamental mission is to enable people to tap into that source and to make informed Jewish choices. In Rabbi Grunfeld’s words “We teach; they choose”.
Visualising seed
A stunning video before the appeal showcased some of the key areas of seed’s work, filmed in a beautiful outdoor setting. Guests heard personal accounts of the difference seed has made, and continues to make, to participants of the residential and non-residential seminars, schools programmes, Israel trips, parenting and relationship education, and babies and bagels groups amongst others. Moshe Morris, Chair of Trustees, expressed his confidence in the professionalism and financial prudence of the organisation. The overall message was of seed’s winning formula of core values presented by an exceptional professional team combining excellence in education with warmth, support and sensitivity to the individual. Andrew Harris, one of the hosts, explained on the video why his family prioritises donating to seed, describing the team as “the best of the best, the highest calibre educators … ambassadors for Judaism”, and listing outreach, family, children, education and continuity as areas where seed makes a tangible difference.
Wonderful feedback seed prides itself on running organised, professional events, so it was no surprise that the evening ran exactly to time. The seed team would like to thank all those who contributed to the appeal on the evening, or via the Dinner Brochure. As well as being close to reaching the appeal target, the team has been overwhelmed by all the messages of thanks and positive feedback received after the event.
