A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Leeds Chabad Centre marking the beginning of construction of a Jewish Heritage Centre for Children.
Rabbi Yirmiyah Angyalfi, head emissary of Lubavitch in Leeds, together with Mrs. Fiona Spiers, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund, laid the first stone for the new building. The Jewish Heritage Centre will be the second extension to the Chabad centre funded by the National heritage Lottery Fund.
"It is a great pleasure to be working with the Chabad centre again and we hope that the Jewish Heritage Centre for Children will be successful," said Mrs. Spiers in her speech.
"We have to thank G-d and the many people who worked hard to make this 
project happen. It came through with our tremendous teamwork and dedication," said Rabbi Angyalfi.
Regular synagogue attendee, Mr. Yair Tamam, who is leading the project, gave a tour of the building site.
Allison Riach and David Burton from the Heritage Lottery Fund who have been working on the project committee were also present at the ceremony, in addition to supporters Sydney and Angela Cohen, John Woolmer of the Leeds City Council, and Rabbi Gafni of Kfar Chabad, Israel.
"This is a very exciting new project... children from all walks of life will be able to learn about Jewish tradition and heritage in a hands on way," said Mrs. Ruth Bell, project coordinator.
"We hope to make it a national project someday," said Rabbi Reuven Cohen, director of Lubavitch youth organisation in Leeds.
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[Adapted from collive.com]