What began as a simple idea in the autumn of 2018 has grown into one of the most valued social events at Cockfosters & N Southgate Synagogue (CNSS).
Coffee&Company was officially launched in February 2019 by Danny Hockman, with the support of the Chair at the time, Marilyn Doff. The aim was to create an informal, welcoming space where people could come together. Held every Thursday, anyone can simply turn up to enjoy a hot drink, meet new people and listen to an interesting conversation with an invited guest.
Weekly guests quickly became an important feature of Coffee&Company. The first to sit in the hot seat was the CNSS Rabbi, followed by the Rebbetzen, then friends of the community, before gradually expanding further afield. The idea was to create a natural conversation, with Danny chatting with each guest rather than listening to a prepared speech.
When the Covid pandemic put in-person gatherings on hold, Coffee&Company moved over to Zoom. These virtual meetings ensured the community remained connected during an isolating period. As soon as restrictions allowed, the sessions returned to the synagogue, while still offering Zoom access for those unable to attend in person.
Today, Coffee&Company is still a thriving weekly event. A small group of dedicated volunteers give their time to make sure the room is set up and that everything runs smoothly. They serve tea coffee and biscuits as well as a light lunch once a month. There is always a lift available to anyone who needs one and a new lift to take them to the first floor hall.
Over the years, Coffee&Company has welcomed over 300 guests from every walk of life, including the Chief Rabbi, the Chief Executive of Jewish Care, the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, authors, leading politicians, celebrities and members of local Jewish communities.
“I love seeing how much everyone enjoys Coffee&Company. The big ideas are for us to enjoy each other’s company (Covid taught us how important meeting up really is), learn something new and to make our guests shine. All of our wonderful volunteers and all the amazing staff at the synagogue office have worked really hard to make Coffee&Company a warm, welcoming place that brings people together,” Danny says.
