The Jewish Home for the Aged Twenty-Third Annual Garden Party, promotional booklet, Cardiff, 12 July 1970

Description

A booklet publicising the twenty-third annual garden party of the Jewish Home for the Aged (run by their Welfare Committee), which was to be held at Penylan House, Penylan Road, Cardiff on Sunday 12 July, 1970.

The cover page features the quote "Cast us not off in our old age; forsake us not when our strength faileth", an illustration of the Home's exterior and a list of the management team. At the time of the party, the President was Mr S. Cohen, the Vice-President was Mr J. Bernstein, the Life President was Mr Henry Silver and the Vice-Life Presidents were Sir Barnett Janner, M.P. and Israel Brodie, The Emeritus Chief Rabbi.

Sir Barnett Janner was born in Lithuania then moved to Barry, South Wales when he was 6 months old. He was a Labour Member of Parliament for Leicester from 1945-1970 and was known in parliament for being the spokesman of Zionist views, becoming the secretary for a pro-Zionist parliamentary group he formed. Between 1955 and 1964, Janner was the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Janner was present at the 21 birthday celebrations of The Jewish Home for the Aged. Israel Brodie was made Chief Rabbi in 1948 and founded the European Conference of Rabbis, using this to help rebuild the religious life of the European Jewry in the years following the Holocaust. He was heavily involved in the Freemasons and in 1969 (the year of this garden party) was also the first Rabbi to be given a Knighthood.

The garden party was to be officially opened at 3pm by the Rt Hon. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff Ald. T. E. Merrells, who is also listed as a guest of honour along with Mrs Merrells. The M. C. is named as Mr Harry Poloway, who had been present at numerous other celebrations involving the Home, including the 1969 garden party. Harry Poloway had been a Warrant Officer in the Second World War and was well-known, especially in the Newport area, being the official toastmaster at many events involving the Royal Family.

On the inside of the booklet is a list of the members of the Welfare Committee and an address from the Chairman, Leah Jessel. The address welcomes "My dear friends" to the event, drawing attention to the fact that this would be the first Garden Party since the extension of the home. Jessel states that "you now have the pleasure of seeing our splendid new Home, of which we are justly proud". The party of the previous year had been difficult to organise as construction of this had been on-going. Jessel thanks the Mayor and Mayoress Alderman Cecil Rapport, J. P. and Mrs Rapport for their attendance, the United Synagogue Ladies' Guild for organising the catering, the brownies and the management team of the Home. Finally, Jessel asks for particular attention to be payed to the Occupational Therapy Stall, which sold gifts made by the residents under the supervision of Mrs Aukland.

The next page lists the stalls, amusements and refreshments available at the party and who provided them, such as the raffle stall by Newport Ladies' Guild and Cakes from the Llandaff W.I.Z.O. Group. On the back of the booklet, the games and entertainment in 'Children's Corner' is detailed such as hoopla, darts and shove-halfpenny as well as a thanks to various individuals and companies who have donated or loaned items and services. For example, the South Wales Electricity Board had loaned electric boilers and Mr A. Schiller had provided transport. There is also some writing in blue pen on the back page which reads '36'.

An article in the September 1970 Cajex magazine states that the garden party was a success "despite many administrative difficulties brought about by rebuilding work within the grounds". Most of the stalls had sold all of their produce and around £1,300 was raised for the home.

There have been numerous locations of the Home for Aged Jews: Mr Henry Silver and other members of the community had originally founded a Home for the Aged in 1946 in Canton, which then moved to Penarth, its official opening being 5 December 1948. Despite the beautiful surroundings, the Home in Penarth was quite isolated so the difficult decision was later taken to move the Home to Penylan Road in Cardiff, meaning many residents were now closer to their friends and relatives. Residents moved to Penylan House in 1959.

Pencare (formerly known as 'The Trustees of Penylan House') is a charity, which offers care for elderly people of the Jewish faith and is currently based in Cardiff, although the catchment area for the home covers South Wales and the West of England. Pencare has been working with Linc Cymru to redevelop their care home, Penylan House, to ensure high quality care to Cardiff's elderly Jewish community and extending the care to elderly people not of the Jewish faith.

Sources:
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/lord-barnett-janner;
https://freemasonrymatters.co.uk/videos-about-freemasonry/the-career-of-the-former-chief-rabbie-very-reverend-sir-israel-brodie-a-energetic-freemason/;
https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/14154389.Salute_to_Harry_Poloway__Newport___s_red_coated_ambassador/;
Cajex, Magazine of the Association of Jewish Ex-service Men and Women (Cardiff), Vol. XX, No. 3, Twentieth Year - September, 1970, pp. 35-36;
Cajex, Magazine of the Association of Jewish Ex-service Men and Women (Cardiff), Vol. IX, No. 1, Ninth Year - March, 1959, pp. 60- 65;
http://opencharities.org/charities/243968 http://www.housingcare.org/downloads/facilities/generated-brochures/134508-penylan-house-nursing-home-cardiff-wales.pdf.

Depository: Glamorgan Archives.