Embracing tikkun olam

Judi Herman shares the moment that kickstarted her litter-collecting crusade

It’s November 2020. I’m done wringing my hands and raging at the appalling volume of litter ‘decorating’ our streets, grass verges and hedgerows that offends me daily on our lockdown walks. My husband Steve has bought me a litter-picker for our wedding anniversary (!) and I take on the role of joint leader with him of the new ‘litterati’. Steve begins by finding some wonderfully official-looking “No litter" notices online, printing and fixing them to the fence at the entrance to an alleyway that is often ankle deep in rubbish; meanwhile, I deftly clear the alley with my new weapon. Now our daily walks have a new purpose. We still look at the stars, but we cast our eyes downwards to the gutters too, to clear them from bottles and cans, baby wipes and takeaway boxes – and facemasks – this last a new addition to the detritus that folk seem to have lost the will to bin or take home.

On a walk round suburbia we pick up everything we spot – and I’m gratified to say that, though there’s still plenty to fill a bag, the volume has dropped substantially, especially down our alley, and we are often greeted by local residents who want to thank us.

There are folk litter-picking countrywide of course, but now we are reaching out to JR readers and asking anyone who wants to join us to get in touch and let’s try to coordinate our efforts. Just think, if everyone took responsibility for the pavement, verge or road outside their home, it would be pretty well job done! The beautiful Jewish precept of tikkun olam (repairing the world) surely encompasses keeping our own local area free of polluting debris.

Our grandchildren (pictured) Alys, 8, and Dylan, 5, are now really into competitive – and cooperative – litter-picking. So now, ahead of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign’s Great Spring Clean (28 May-13 Jun), join us as the kids grab the litter-pickers (and microphone) at a local beauty spot; plus Steve and me on a sunset walk.

By Judi Herman

Considering getting your own littler-picker? Visit keepbritaintidy.org to find ways of getting involved, and check with your local council, as you may be able to apply for a picker, bags and even a high-viz jacket.

In conversation: Maisie & Thamar Barnett

“We decided to actually go and try and find every footstep of Mary’s”

Maisie outside Mary’s home on Boterdiepstraat

When Maisie Barnett signed up for the Yad Vashem Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning Programme, she and her mother Thamar went more than the extra mile to find out all they could about Maisie’s ‘twin’ Mary, a Dutch youngster murdered by the Nazis long before she could celebrate her bat mitzvah. They found Mary’s best friend Renate, who guided them around Amsterdam to where she and Mary had lived and played all those years ago. They made a moving short film of their journey and Renate was present as guest of honour as Maisie read from the Torah at her bat mitzvah at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue in July 2019. Here Maisie and Thamar talk to JR’s arts editor Judi Herman about their extraordinarily meaningful and memorable experiences and expand upon making their beautiful film.

Watch Maisie and Thamar’s film on Vimeo and read more about Maisie’s experience with the Twinning Programme in the July 2020 issue of JR.

In conversation: Zigi Shipper

“Whatever you do, do not hate. I don’t hate. Hate will ruin your life”

Zigi Shipper BEM (left) and Frank Bright at the AJR Holocaust Memorial Day event, 23 Jan 2020 © Adam Soller Photography

Survivor of the death camps Zigi Shipper BEM (British Empire Medal) was one of the key speakers at the Association of Jewish Refugees’ (AJR) Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration at Belsize Square Synagogue last Thursday, with the theme ‘Stand Together’. He is passionate about the vital Holocaust education work for which he was awarded the BEM and proud of his children and grandchildren, who are continuing the work. Judi Herman was privileged to be invited to Zigi's Hertfordshire home to speak to him and his wife Jeanette, and to hear more of his story and some of Jeanette’s too. As well as sharing the horror of his experiences, there was laughter from the life affirming Zigi, who has just celebrated his 90th birthday.

The Windermere Children, which Zigi mentions, airs tonight (27 Jan) on BBC2 at 9pm and will then be available on BBC iPlayer. Find out more about what the BBC have programmed to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on the JR blog.

Behind the scenes: First Encounters – Merchant of Venice

"Would Shylock have gone through with the court, had Jessica returned? Absolutely not!"

In an exciting production from Director Robin Belfield, theatregoers as young as primary school age are being introduced to the Bard in an engaging, thought-provoking and funny new way. The Royal Shakespeare Company is currently touring Belfield's 90-minute adaptation of the Merchant of Venice, which involves audience participation, student actors playing Jessica and Lorenzo and a woman in the role of Shylock. Judi Herman captures the essence of the show in her latest podcast, which features music from the production, verdicts from young members of the audience, and an interview with Israeli actor Shani Erez, who plays Shylock as a dignified businesswoman and single mother.

Photo by Sam Allard

First Encounters: Merchant of Venice tours until Saturday 16 November, visiting Cornwall (29-30 Oct), Devon (31 Oct), Kent (2 Nov), Yorkshire (5-8 Nov) and Nottingham (15-16 Nov). See the JR listings for info or visit www.rsc.org.uk; and read our five-star review of the show on the JR blog.