Caring on the cheap
Published in: Jewish Chronicle
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the Jews look after their own. For the government, this is a cause of unbridled admiration. Ministers such as Gordon Brown extol the way the Jewish community funds an infrastructure of care homes and other social services.
And indeed, it should be viewed with great pride. Many generous figures dig deep into their pockets to provide high standards of care for those who require it. As a result, the community tends to imagine that its aged, chronically sick or handicapped and other needy folk are well provided for and there's no need to worry.
But there is. For Jewish care homes are in desperate straits. They are simply running out of money. Some may go to the wall, causing untold distress to frail residents. Others face an invidious choice between reducing their standards and closing down.
From the beginning of this year Jewish Care, which is now running a deficit of more than
