Due to the coronavirus outbreak, JW3 London – the UK's largest Jewish Arts, Culture and Community Centre - had to close its doors temporarily.

Feeling that it is more important than ever to keep offering high-quality Jewish arts and culture to keep the community engaged, inspired and entertained during these difficult times, we decided to form two new online platforms: the first, JW3-TV, was ready to launch within 48 hours from closing our doors, with daily videos uploaded from our performances archive available to stream for free; the second, JewishOnline, was launched within a week as a brand new website, built to promote online events and content from all around the Jewish community, and has attracted over 10,000 unique visitors during the first month of lockdown.

Both platforms received praise from Jewish publications and leading figures in the community. The UK Jewish Board of Deputies made JewishOnline their recommended platform for Jewish content during the pandemic, and JW3-TV still exists today as part of JW3's brand.

JW3's Covid-19 response also included the creation of a foodbank to support low-income families in NW London; transforming all our adult education programmes to an online platform; and holding our first 'Big Night In' – an online event that featured the likes of Mark Ronson, Boy George, Tracy Ann Oberman, Stephen Fry and many more – to support our charitable activities.