looking into different English communities

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  • #613151

    Were looking to move to england but don’t really know anything about the different English communities…. Does anyone know anything about Gateshead…Manchester etc. And could tell me about them? Any leads would be great!

    #1039317
    zahavasdad
    Participant

    Gateshead is very yeshivish Charedi Lakewood types and its very far away from everything , its like 300 miles from London

    I think Hampstead is where the Chassidim Like

    Golders Green is where the more Modern Orthodox live , but there are Chassidim in Golders Green too (Golders Green is next to Hampstead)

    Ive never been to Manchester only London (Golders Green and Hampstead are in London)_

    #1039318
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    Manchester has a much better football team.

    Wayne Rooney!

    #1039319
    notasheep
    Member

    As someone who lives in England (grew up in Manchester and lives in Gateshead) let me correct zahavasdad, who uses his one-time visit to London to give the impression that he knows England.

    London is NOT the be-all of England and therefore Gateshead being 300 miles away from it does not mean that it is out in the sticks. Gateshead is very near to a lot of things, like Scotland, which is only an hour away and is some of the most beautiful British countryside, and also right next to the Lake District, which is also stunning. We are only a two-hour drive from Manchester.

    As for being compared to Lakewood – no comparison except that it is a major yeshiva centre. The schools, shuls, shops and other amenities are all very close by and it is a warm community where most people know each other (I saw most because the community is rapidly growing).

    Manchester is a very large community with very diverse kehillas; secular, modern, chareidi and yeshivish. The two main frum areas are Broughton Park (Salford) and Prestwich, and they are walkable distance from each other. There are kosher shops in both areas, plus schools and shuls, of which there are many!

    London has a few areas, so you will need to look into them yourself but I would like to correct the assertion that Golders Green is mainly MO. (Actually, many of the London girls who come to Gateshead Sem are from GG). There is a more modern community in Golders Green, but there is an equally large charedi and some chassidish area there as well. I could say the same about Hendon, and also about Edgeware. Stamford Hill is mostly chassidish but it also has a large sefardi community. If you are ok with driving a lot in order to get to places such as work and school, then that’s ok, since many of the schools and businesses will not necessarily be close to where you live, if you choose London.

    If you have specific questions, I would be happy to answer them but this post is going to get rather long!

    #1039320
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    Bump

    #1039321
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    Hi everyone,

    We’re thinking of moving from Eretz Yisroel to either Manchester or Gateshead, not yet decided which.

    We have a lot of family in Manchester, but worried hard to get into schools there. We have quite a few kids (more than 10 bli ayin hora), so finding a suitable mossod for each one (who will take them) seems challenging.

    I can’t ask family or friends for too much info because meanwhile we’re not telling anyone about our plans, so as to keep pressure off us till we’re 100% sure that we’re really going.

    I’d be very interested to hear any information that anyone can tell me about both Manchester & Gateshead, comparing them in different ways.

    We (husband & myself) are English, but we lived there as teens, not parents, & also a lot has changed since we left.

    (At some point we’re planning to go for da’as torah, but we’re not yet up to there).

    Thanks in advance.

    #1039322
    seventh
    Member

    As far as I know gateshead has one girls high skl at the moment and one boys grammar theyve got one girls primary skl and 2 boys primary. Apparently one needs permission from the gateshead rov to live there. I could give more info on london if you would like!

    #1039323
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    Thanks seventh. For now, London is not on our list of options, so no need for info on that. Nice of you to offer.

    I’m interested in info on all topics that could be relevant, not only about schools. Maybe ‘notasheep’ has more to add? (If you’re around & have time)

    Apart from general info on Manchester & Gatehead, what can people tell me about the transition (from E. Yisroel to chutz la’aretz) in general, tips, experience etc.

    The earliest we’d think of going is a couple of months after next Pesach.

    #1039324
    notasheep
    Member

    Here to help! Manchester depends on what type of school you would like to send your kids to. There is one which will only accept all the kids from the same family, so if your kids are very different you might find that hard.

    Never heard that the Rov’s permission is needed to move to gateshead. As long as the family is frum and conforms to halacha. Judging by the number of families that have moved here recently, I would guess it’s not too difficult to move. Transistion is fairly easy.

    Gateshead is a very warm community and most families seem to settle down well here. Manchester is much bigger but still warm, you just need to find the right area and shul to settle down in.

    #1039325
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    Thanks so much notasheep, & for your starter of ‘here to help’!!

    Because we have more family (including my parents) in Manchester, we’d much prefer to go there. But prospect of getting kids into schools seems very daunting to us. My husband is very very unassuming & mild mannered type, so any pushing/begging would automatically land on me, & I don’t relish that job. I’ve heard a few stories of extreme difficulty in this area, eg. needing to keep kids home for months, needing to send to much less heimish school for lack of alternative etc. Are these stories the exception?

    When you say ‘one which will only accept all the kids from the same family’, which did you mean? Boys? Girls? Primary (junior) school? High (Grammar) School? We wouldn’t want yiddish, they’ll have enough to cope with between ivrit & English, & we, the parents aren’t that fluent in yiddish.

    My kids are about as similar/different to each other as kids in all families. Right now, all my boys are in one cheder (in Eretz Yisroel) & they’ve B”H all been fine.

    I’m not worried about the Rov’s permission issue. I also never heard of it before now. But even if it is true, I’m sure we’d have no problem on that count, a normal heimishe kollel family.

    One more thing. Many years ago, I used to teach in Manchester, & I don’t think I’d have a problem finding a job there if necessary. What’s the story in Gateshead? Easy to find employment?

    Sorry if this has gone on too long.

    Once again, thanks to anyone who can help & to notasheep.

    Choref bari / Gezinter Vinter to everyone.

    #1039326
    notasheep
    Member

    The primary school in Manchester that I mentioned is Jewish Day.

    In Gateshead it is quite easy to find a job. Where do you want to work? The kindergarten always needs new staff, if that’s your area.

    #1039327
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    We’re more the Tashbar (or similar) type than Jewish Day. Our kids simply wouldn’t fit in to Jewish day crowd (even though I’m sure they’re all very nice families). Places like Tashbar, I think are always full up/hard to get into (although we didn’t yet try).

    What about job as high-school teacher (in Gateshead)?

    And what’s the going rate for teachers in either Manchester or Gateshead nowadays?

    Thanks.

    #1039328
    ED IT OR
    Participant

    the going rate is about 9 months in a jewish moisod.

    #1039329
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    Crazybrit, ha ha!

    No, seriously, can anyone answer what I asked?

    #1039330
    notasheep
    Member

    As far as wages every school is different and every teacher is different depending on experience and qualifications. I don’t know how easy it is to get a job in the high school- I’m in the kindergarten (just went on maternity leave now actually).

    There are a few schools in Manchester more tashbar type. For the girls, similar schools seem to be tiferes and bais chinuch or bnos. Don’t really know much about boys primary along those lines apart from my nephew being in tashbar. I actually went to Broughton Jewish but I’m guessing you don’t want that if you’re more the cheder type.

    In Gateshead the newer boys primary school is also more cheder style.

    #1039331
    but…
    Participant

    DON’T LEAVE E.Y.!!!….

    #1039332
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    In answer to ‘but…’, I hear you.

    We’re really very torn, because we’re actually very very settled & happy in Eretz Yisroel, & kids are fully integrated here. Ironically enough, unlike most people, b/c of our specific circumstances (which are too complicated to go into detail about here) we’re more nervous about finances in England than if we’d stay here. We even live in a nice spacious apartment (after a series of nissim) which we own.

    But we feel very strongly that we’re 1)meant to be there for our parents as they age, & give them nachas. 2) the drafting chareidim matzav is getting us very nervous (we made aliya years ago). Loads of people are in the same boat, & probably things will work out in the end without bochurim in army or prison, but I can’t handle that tension. I have almost a phobia of army police showing up at door (We’ve had them banging on looking for other boys, not our sons yet) & 3)Although E.Yisroel is the most special place, I’m a very very very hot person, & spend half the year virtually not going out, which affects loads of other things. A/C isn’t enough of a solution. I’m always covered in heat rash & feel very lethargic from it. As soon as the weather cools off, I’m a new person. (I never get cold)…Seems quite a few of my kids share my hot genes…

    Also, we both feel the best place for husband to shteig would be England for a variety of reasons.

    So things are not black & white, & we need da’as torah urgently. We’ll be getting to that IY”H when husband is ready, probably in few weeks.

    These are only some of our considerations, but this megilla has been long enough for now.

    More tips, comments welcome. Thanks.

    #1039333
    but…
    Participant

    Warmest wishes… all the best…

    I hope we we’ll be able to last as long as you here…

    (been here just 2 years so far)

    #1039334
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    but…, all the best to you too. Thanks for your warm wishes. Inspiring to see your ahavas ha’aretz.

    Crazybrit, nothing more to add? Any helpful comments about Manchester or Gateshead?

    No other Brits out there?

    notasheep, thanks for all info. Even though going rates vary greatly as you said, do you know what the range is, lowest to highest, whether for ‘kinder’ or anything else.

    What’s the story with housing (buying) in Gateshead? I once heard years ago about some rules there (waiting list?), but don’t remember what exactly?

    Thanks e/o.

    #1039335
    notasheep
    Member

    If a house owned by a non-jew goes on the public market then Jewish families who are interested have to put their name down on the list. It’s supposed to prevent undercutting.

    #1039336
    ED IT OR
    Participant

    From what i hear about gateshead the parents of the children in the moisdos are not allowed internet so i would imagine the teachers are definitely not.

    #1039337
    notasheep
    Member

    Welcome to the wage of a kindergarten teacher.

    And it’s not that we’re not allowed to have Internet at home, it’s more like if a family needs Internet access from home it has to have a kosher filter.

    #1039338
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    Thanks notasheep.

    What you wrote about mossdos Internet policy, is as I’d assumed.

    Thanks for housing info too.

    Thanks crazybrit. Yes, the numbers don’t sound exciting. But those mentioned were the starting rates. I guess many get quite abit more.

    A gutt shabbos to all.

    #1039339
    notasheep
    Member

    Primary and high school teachers starting wage is more.

    #1039340
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    Are there any other employment opportunities for ladies in Gateshead other than to teach in school/kinder etc?

    Yikes, we’re meant to be going for da’as torah & making a final decision today. Didn’t realize how nervous I was about the idea of moving until now that it might be really happening…

    Anyone can make me less nervous about moving to England? What is there to look forward to as compared to here (Eretz Yisroel)?

    Thanks e/o.

    #1039341
    nfgo3
    Member

    Bywater Street in London is spooky.

    #1039342
    bp yidd
    Participant

    Come here to America instead there’s a lot more to do

    #1039343
    SpiceofLife
    Member

    Considering for now neither Bywater Street nor America, but thanks anyway.

    What’s special about that street that’s so spooky? Excuse my ignorance…..

    I’m not bored as in ‘lot more to do’… We just want to be part of a warm kehilla where chinuch isn’t too challenging & not too much emphasis on gashmiyus… and and and…

    Maybe da’as torah will tell us to stay put.. then we’ll have to find somewhere cooler in the HolyLand… any suggestions?

    #1039344
    notasheep
    Member

    There are some office jobs as well. A friend of mine works in a travel agency and someone else I know works for a property company. Both jewish businesses. Or you can work as a cashier in any of the shops.

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