The communities of Central Synagogue and the New West End came together for a shared event to say Farewell to Shabbat in the South African tradition. It was held in the Golda Cohen Room at the New West End and was a sell-out.

Who realised there were so many South Africans among us? Steven Leas led us in singing many South African favourites and even the Brits joined in for a rousing ‘Wimoweh’. Malcolm Miller accompanied Stephen on the piano.

The supper featured several South African dishes with boerewors, pap, several flavours of biltong and koeksisters.

It was a very lively and successful evening and given the numbers on the waiting lists –it would be good to repeat this next year in a bigger hall.

Thank you to Gavin Lief who organised the evening, to Steven Leas who engaged us and entertained us by singing his way through old South African favourites, to Malcolm Miller for accompanying him and to and all those who arranged the dinner.

by Eli Ballon, Administrator and Beadle at NWES