On the weekend of 15/16 November 2025, our community was privileged to once again hold an excellent Shabbat morning service to celebrate the fantastic work of AJEX and to commemorate and honour those Jewish soldiers who lost their lives in battle. Stanmore Shul has hosted an AJEX Shabbat every year since 1973, when the branch was formed.
We were honoured to host so many dignitaries at our Shabbat morning service including Mayor Of Harrow, Cllr Anjana Patel; Bob Blackman C.B.E. MP; Deputy Lord Lieutenant Of Harrow Simon Ovens D.L.; Alderman Richard Romain, Mike Bluestone, Hon. President AJEX; Ron Shelley M.B.E. Vice-President AJEX; Saul Taylor, President United Synagogue; Rabbi Major Simon Taylor, Chaplain to the Forces, Krupesh Harani Am Member Of London Assembly for Harrow and Brent; and many Harrow Councillors.
Ron Shelley MBE spoke superbly to the community about the impact that Jewish servicemen and women have had on the freedoms we in the UK are able to hold dear, and the whole service was dignified, moving and impactful.
Many thanks to Jonathan and Barbara Kober and the committee at AJEX for the immense efforts of they put into making this an annual event of which we are so proud.
On Sunday 16th November, a contingent of Stanmore members marched in the Annual AJEX parade, laid wreaths, escorted veterans and also attended as spectators, coming together with thousands of others to mark 80 years since the end of WWII.
The Parade was well attended by both marchers and spectators, and our very own cockapoo member, Amber Schwarzmann (accompanied by Nimi). How proud we were when the announcer pointed her out for being “such a well behaved little dog”.
As with AJEX Shabbat, the parade is a powerful reminder of the enormous contribution of Jewish servicemen and women throughout our country’s history. Our community in honoured to play a part in that commemoration.
With thanks to Bernard Redhouse and others for their photography (featured in the gallery below).
Jacqui Rudolph