OPINION: Six months in, a bright start for JW3
By Raymond Simonson, Chief Executive, JW3
“Our vision is for JW3 to be at the heart of a vibrant, unified, diverse community, inspired by and engaged in Jewish arts, culture, learning and life.”
It’s hard to believe that it has been just six months since we opened our doors to the public, motivated by our vision and inspired by the stunning new centre into which we had just moved.
We launched with a promise that JW3 would be a welcoming community centre in which people of every age, background, and persuasion would feel comfortable and at home. A place where anyone interested in Jewish life could walk through the doors and discover multiple entry points to connect and participate – through film, education, food, music, fitness, recreation, dance, drama, debate or discussion.
We proudly declared we would deliver a vibrant arts and cultural venue showcasing a rich, diverse range of events and activities, featuring the very best of Jewish and mainstream programming that London has to offer.
And I personally repeated to all who would listen – whether in the Jewish News and mainstream British and international press, or on the TV screens in the homes of millions who followed our Launch Days on the BBC, ITV and Sky News – that the combined efforts of everything we do at JW3 would increase the quality, variety and volume of Jewish conversation in London and beyond.
While we made these bold statements and promises with confidence, we really could not have anticipated how enthusiastically the community would respond, and how quickly JW3 would establish itself as a critical part of London’s Jewish and cultural landscape.
After hearing for the previous 18 months how “no one will come”, “it’s in the wrong location”, “Jews don’t use public transport!” and the like, in just six months, more than 120,000 visitors have crossed the bridge and entered our contemporary community centre and arts venue to enjoy the state-of-the-art facilities and dynamic programming.
You’ve enjoyed our first piece of newly commissioned theatre that received four star reviews across the mainstream press; joined more than 8,000 other skaters on our outdoor winter ice rink; expanded your mind, your culinary repertoire and your skill set with a wide range of renowned educators, instructors, artists, chefs and writers; got fit and healthy with Krav Maga, pilates, yoga and street-dance; been entertained and enlightened by Oscar-winning actors and award-winning television stars, historians, producers, directors, and comedians; enjoyed live gigs with celebrated jazz musicians, acclaimed Israeli bands and prize-winning singers; celebrated Jewish festivals with hundreds of other families; or simply met old friends, made new ones, or ate some of the exquisite food from our restaurant Zest, that has critics from The Times, Observer, Time Out and more raving about – whatever the reason for coming, you have continued to enjoy JW3 in your thousands, and we could not be happier.
With more than 10 times the anticipated number of phone calls and four times the number of visitors in our first few months, we know we weren’t able to keep pace with demand and our service levels were not always as good as we wanted them to be. We were disappointed by this, and so were some of you.
So we worked as hard and fast as we could to respond to the feedback, by upgrading our telephone systems and our web server, increasing the number of box office staff, evaluating and improving our internal systems and processes and training – all to provide a better service, to match the high quality of the programme.
We’ve made some mistakes, and we’ve held our hands up, apologised, and worked out how to fix them. All important aspects of running a start-up – or, in our case, half a dozen start-ups under one roof.
Beyond the sheer number of people making use of the centre, what has delighted me even more is the diversity of the people I see on a daily basis. From babes in Bugaboos through to seniors; religious to secular; across the denominations and no denomination at all; straight and gay; male and female; non-Jewish locals and Jews from Hampstead, Hendon, Hackney, Harrow and beyond; Jews with non-Jewish partners, families, Israelis, tourists, rabbis, celebrities, and coming-out-as-Jewish types.
I’ve seen Charedi families ice-skating and local Japanese 30-somethings sipping Goldstar beer while watching an Israeli film. I’ve seen Muslim community leaders embracing the Jewish value of hachnasat orchim (hospitality/welcoming guests) that JW3 embodies; Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis share a laugh with Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger; and Education Secretary Michael Gove get a public grilling from a JFS student.
And the thing that makes me happiest when I reflect on the first six months? The thing of which I am most proud?
That in six short months I can already see that we’re delivering on the promise I made in these pages last September – to increase the quality, variety and importantly, the volume of Jewish conversation.
The dial has been turned up – and it’s staying up!
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
