19 November 2016

Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Janet Darley, Simon Cooper and Rebecca Woolfe have all been nominated as Community Heroes by The Jewish News and Mitzvah Day.

Siblings Simon Cooper and Rebecca Woolfe have been nominated for the tireless charitable work. Before his death from lung cancer in July this year, they acted as a campaigners and fundraisers for numerous charities. Their Simon says Lets Party campaign raised over £20,000. Simon was born with Cystic Fibrosis and a blocked bowel, he underwent a liver transplant at 16 and a double lung transplant at 29. Their father,Paul, described them as the “team of the year”.

Rabbi Janet Darley, who recently retired from South London Liberal Synagogue, has been nominated for her unwavering work with unaccompanied refugee children – lobbying both the UK and French governments to speed up processes to allow safe passage to the UK and reunite families.

Rabbi Darley’s nominator Alice Alphandary – chair of South London Liberal Synagogue – said: “Her advocacy work on behalf of refugees – fulfilling the obligations of the Torah – makes Janet very special.”

The winner of the award will be announced at a ceremony on Mitzvah Day, Sunday November 27. The judging panel consists of Richard Ferrer for the Jewish News; Laura Marks for Mitzvah Day, MP Matthew Offord; and Helen Simmons, Chief Executive of Nightingale Care Homes.
 
 
Simon Cooper & Rebecca Woolfe
 
 
Click here to read the full shortlist