| JW3 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
 Interactive map of the JW3 area | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Location | Finchley Road London,NW3 |
| Completed | 2013 |
JW3, also known asJewish Community Centre London, is an arts, culture and entertainment venue, an educational facility and a social and community hub in north London. It is located at 341–351Finchley Road, London, and opened on 29 September 2013.[1] Describing itself as "a new postcode for Jewish life", the venue's name is awordplay on its postal address, situated in theNW3postcode area.[1][2]
JW3 was the brainchild ofVivien Duffield, who contributed £40m of the project's £50m cost – over the 10 years it took to bring it to reality – through theClore Duffield Foundation.[1][2] It was inspired by her 2003 visit to theJewish Community Centre inManhattan, New York.[1][2]
The 35,000 square foot building,[1] which includes a 270-seat auditorium, a 60-seat cinema, a restaurant and bar, a demonstration kitchen, dance studios, classrooms and medical consultation rooms, was designed byLifschutz Davidson Sandilands.[2] The JW3 campus sits on half an acre of land and includes the community centre/arts venue, an outdoorpiazza and a tower block of apartments and offices.
JW3 and theLondon Jewish Cultural Centre (LJCC) merged in March 2015, forming a single, enhanced organisation based at the JW3 site onFinchley Road.
JW3's Chief Executive Officer is Raymond Simonson, former Executive Director ofLimmud, who succeeded Nick Viner.[2]Marc Nohr is the Chairman of JW3.
The organisation runs a wide programme of events that it launched in 2005. These target all members of the community, irrespective of affiliation or level of observance. The programme aims to be inclusive and is not religious, instead using its events to provide a gateway into Jewish life and foster a cohesive community.[3]
JW3 runs a programme of social, cultural and educational events[4] that mix audiences, age groups and content, encouraging experimentation with ideas and attempting to engage people in new issues.
Previous arts and culture events have ranged from modern interpretations of art[5] and music gigs (e.g. anIdan Raichel Project concert)[6] to events such as Kvetch choir (the complaints choir) that encourages people to enjoy their own creativity[7][8] and a singalong with the pensioner pop group "The Zimmers".[9]
Books-based events have included discussions on books related to the community, with guest author appearances, and debates on topics such as "Has the Left Lost its Way?".[10]
Social action events have includedMitzvah Day,[11] and an initiative in 2007 to bring Jewish and Muslim communities together.[12]
In November 2014 JW3 launched the first ever UK Jewish Comedy Festival, an annual festival celebrating the best in Jewish comedy. Guests have includedRuby Wax,David Baddiel andStephen Tobolowsky.
In March 2017, JW3 ran a programme of LGBTQ+ related events, marking the 50th anniversary of theSexual Offences Act (which effectively decriminalised homosexuality in England and Wales). This "GAYW3" programme caused a backlash from a number of rabbis of the Orthodox Jewish community, led by Rabbi Bassous. In July 2017, Rabbi Bassous issued a notice, signed by six other rabbis, calling on their communities to distance themselves from JW3.[13] At the end of November 2017, Rabbi Bassous reissued the letter, this time signed by 25 Orthodox rabbis of north west London.[14]
The Alan Howard Foundation / JW3 Speaker Series features conversations, talks and entertainment delivered by leaders and experts in their respective fields who can provide a unique insight into their chosen topics. The lectures are designed to cover broad areas of intellectual thought, including economics, science, history, politics and the arts. The principal aims of the series are to educate and entertain through high level conversation and debate, whilst delivering a rich, diverse and inspiring range of speaking events.
JW3's monthlypodcast,Sounds Jewish, produced in partnership withThe Guardian, was a monthly magazine-style programme hosted byJason Solomons. Each "episode" was about 30 minutes in length, with many of them featured onThe Guardian's podcast homepage.[15]
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