Rosh Hashanah 2015 / 5775

Transcription

rosh hashana 5776 | 2015
Rosh Hashana 5776 | 2015
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mosaic | the magazine of the new west end synagogue
CONTACTS
& CONTENTS
CONTACTS
chairman
Henry Magrill
vice chairman
Felicity Miller
financial
representative
Elise Horowitz
warden
Jonathan Skry
board of management
Natalie Cutler
Tony Dinkin
Stephanie Featherman
Penny Levinson
Gavin Lief
Rachel Magrill
Toni Nagel
Jonathan Paisner
Michael Sharron
Angela Skry
David Slovick
Debbie Talalay
Michael Talalay
Trevor Toube
CONTENTS
1
Message from the Editor
2
Message from the Chief Rabbi
4
Message from Rabbi Freedman
8
Message from the Chairman
9
US President: Working together to build our future
10
Imaginary Travels: Take iv
12
Recipe: Honey, coffee & walnut cake
14
Social & Personal
16
Happy New Year
17
US Women: A change would do you good…
18
Desert Island Discs: Maureen Lipman
20
Parallel Thinking
21
Writing the Story of Your Life
24
The Board of Deputies of British Jews
26
Connect
30
The New West End 1929-45
36
Yom Tov Guide
2. the aravah
minister
Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman
MESSAGE FROM
THE EDITOR
IN
I once heard from Rabbi Mordechai Pearlman that Rav
1907, Rabbi Avraham Kook (first Ashkenazi
chief rabbi of the British Mandatory Palestine, Kook taught that it was these particular four species that
were taken together at Succot to show that all four types
1865–1935) wrote a Halachic treatise entitled Eitz
of Jew were needed to build Israel – just one type of Jew alone
Hadar, discussing the etrogim grown in Eretz
would not have been enough.
Yisrael and the importance of avoiding
grafted etrogim. He advocated the ‘In the land of Israel it is
Here at the New West End, we have
use of etrogim from Eretz Yisrael as a
easy to fulfil this mitzvah all sorts of congregants with all sorts
way for world Jewry to strengthen its
of qualities – I wouldn’t dream of
connection to the land of Israel and
with joy and beauty.’
suggesting which one has which
support its fledgling communities.
quality – but we need every one of you.
And every single person can do something to help the shul
In this essay, he explains that the holiday of Succot as a whole
grow. There are those who can read a Haftarah (or would
is integrally connected to the sanctity of the land of Israel and
like to learn how to do so – if so, please contact me), there
our joy in its fruit. The Sages ruled that an extra month may
are those who help on security or tidy up after the Kiddush,
be added to the year to ensure that Succot will fall out during
there are those who plan and execute events, there are those
the harvest season.
with creative or technical skills, there are those who are great
The connection of the Succot holiday to Eretz Yisrael is
with kids, and some who are great with adults, and there
especially strong in the etrog fruit. In the land of Israel it is
are also those wonderful few who help us attempt to get a
easy to fulfil this mitzvah with joy and beauty. Maimonides
weekday minyan…we appreciate each and every one of you.
suggested that one reason that the Torah chose this particular
Together we can make the shul stronger. We need all of you
fruit was its wide availability in Eretz Yisrael.
to make us the community we are and the community we
should be, and we’re always happy if anyone feels like doing
Our Sages teach us that the four species of the Lulav represent
a little something more.
four different types of Jews:
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The Etrog has a good taste and a good fragrance.
It represents a person with both wisdom (Torah
learning) and good deeds.
2
The Hadas (myrtle) has a good fragrance, but
is inedible. It represents a person who has good
deeds, but lacks wisdom.
representative at
the board of deputies
Dori Schmetterling
office hours
contact us
3
The Lulav (date palm) is edible, but has no smell.
This represents the person with wisdom, but
without good deeds.
administrator
Michael Wahnon
Friday
8.00am-12.00 noon
e [email protected]
wwww.newwestend.org.uk
4 Th
e Aravah (willow) has neither taste nor smell.
It represents a person with neither good deeds
nor Torah learning.
beadle
Eli Ballon
Monday to Thursday
8.00am-4.00pm
Sunday
10.00am-12.00 noon
designed & produced by Creative Interpartners, London – www.creativeinterpartners.co.uk
t 020 7229 2631
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@NWESynagogue
New West End Synagogue
Eli Ballon
editor
Together with my wife Shana, I wish Rabbi Freedman,
Chazan Jonathan Garcia, the Executive, the Board of
Management, and the entire community a happy and healthy
New Year.
1. the etrog
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MESSAGE FROM
THE CHIEF RABBI
Ephraim Mirvis
chief rabbi
‘None of us can change the world overnight,
but we can change ourselves, which, in turn,
does indeed transform the world we live in.’
AT
the height of our High Holyday services we will
declare: ‘Penitence, Prayer and Charity can avert
the evil decree’. We will recognise that prayer
is a central, fundamental and transformative
ingredient of our Jewish experience. According to the
Talmud, prayer is ‘worship of the heart’ and one of the pillars
upon which the world stands.
During the past year I have enjoyed wonderful prayer services
in numerous communities across Great Britain and the
Commonwealth. In recent months I have begun engaging
with our Rabbis and other community leaders to explore
ways in which we can stimulate added enthusiasm for tefilla,
including, for example, seeking to encourage Batmitzvah
and Barmitzvah celebrants to have greater knowledge of and
proficiency in our tefillot.
The Hebrew term tefilla, is, however, significantly different
from the English ‘prayer’, which is derived from the Latin
precari, meaning to beg or entreat. The root of tefilla is the
Hebrew word ‘pileil’, meaning to judge. It is found in the
Torah in situations in which action has been taken or an
intervention has been made. For example, in recounting
the famous Biblical story of Pinchas’ intervention when he
encountered a couple engaging in an adulterous relationship,
the Book of Psalms states ‘Vaya’amod Pinchas Vayefalel’ –
‘Pinchas stood up and intervened’.
meaning in what they are saying. Conversely, those with less
grasp of the liturgy sometimes find that a catchy melody or
special atmosphere provides them with great inspiration. It is
revealing that as we finish the ‘Amidah’ we say, ‘Let the words
of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable
before You.’ Neither the words nor the sentiment alone are
sufficient – both are required together to be truly impactful.
This is something that everyone of us can achieve. 5775 has
been a challenging year for Jewish communities at home and
abroad. Murderous attacks on Jewish communities in Europe
have left many feeling vulnerable and concerned. None of us
can change the world overnight, but we can change ourselves,
which, in turn, does indeed transform the world we live in.
Tefilla provides us with the key to unlocking that potential
if we can approach it with the requisite humility and vigour.
May we all merit to discover the great beauty and value of
tefilla, so that we begin 5776 with renewed positivity and
sense of determination. Valerie and I extend to you all our
very best wishes for a happy, healthy, peaceful and fulfilling
New Year. Shana tova.
From here we learn that tefilla is far more than words
spoken in supplication to or in praise of God. The reflexive
‘lehitpaleil’, means to judge or to analyse oneself. Through
self-evaluation we engage in a constructive and healthy
activity that can re-fashion our lives. Tefilla affords us the
opportunity to take a long, hard and honest look at ourselves
in the Divine shadow of God’s presence, where nothing can
be denied or hidden; to differentiate between what we want
and what we need; and to give voice to our deepest hopes and
aspirations, resolving to work passionately to achieve them.
Sometimes, those for whom tefilla is second nature can
pray as a matter of routine and can struggle to find genuine
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MESSAGE FROM
RABBI FREEDMAN:
MY EMAIL TO GOD
rabbi
Dr Moshe
Freedman
Dear Friends,
Please see my email correspondence below.
Begin forwarded message:
From:Rabbi Freedman <[email protected]>
Date:August 16, 2015 20:18:27 BST
To: God <[email protected]>
cc: Moshiach <[email protected]>, Heavenly Court
<[email protected]>
Subject: Requests for the coming year
Dear God,
I trust you are keeping well. I am writing on behalf of the
Jewish people to make a few requests for the coming year. I
realise that it’s probably a busy time with the Yom Tovim
coming up very soon and all that, but we are told that this is
an especially good time to talk to you and make our requests,
so here it goes.
1. Please could you make sure we live through the year? We
all have so much we want to achieve and while I’m sure that
Heaven is a nice place to be, we can do so much more in this
world. Not only that, but we can enjoy so much of life here.
For instance, the latest Hunger Games movie is coming out in
November (Mockingjay Part 2). I don’t know if it’s your cup of
tea, but I can’t wait to find out what happens! There’s also a
sequel to Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger coming out next year
and I’m sure I speak for most people when I say that I would
really hate to miss it.
Also, could you make sure that our families are all safe?
We want to watch our children and grandchildren grow up and
enjoy them for many years to come. They mean so much to us –
more than we can express.
2. Please could you help keep us fit and healthy during the
coming year? After all, what’s the point of life if one spends
it in suffering? Pain is so debilitating and no one likes to
see a loved one endure it or have to go through any type of
illness. The odd cold would be fine and we will obviously try
to stay out of trouble by eating healthy foods and exercising,
but the rest really is up to you.
3. Please could you ensure that we all have enough money to
live comfortably, after all, the more we have the more we can
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give to tzedakah, right? I realise that the economy is not
what it once was, but a bit more cash would really help to
pay the bills.
4. I know this is a biggie, but could you please make our
politicians and journalists have a little bit more sense.
I know it would involve some type of open miracle, which
strictly speaking are no longer allowed, but you are the
Almighty, right? If I have to listen to the news when they’re
talking about Israel one more time, I might just blow a
gasket!
Seriously though, it’s really painful to watch Israel being
slandered, vilified and defamed. We love our little country,
even with all its imperfections. We don’t need the rest of
the world to love Israel, but if they could just be a bit
more balanced, that would be really appreciated. If that’s
too much, could you at least make the UN stop being so biased
and prejudiced towards Israel? At least that would be a start.
5. While we are on the subject of Israel, could you help to
stop Hamas and all of the other terrorist movements who are
threatening both Israel and the rest of the world? It’s in all
of our interests and I don’t see how we can find a solution
by ourselves. They are responsible for so much suffering and
hurt, it is almost too much to bear. We all hope that we will
live to see an end to human suffering and pain and I hope
you’ll agree that it would help us serve you better in the
future.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. Please do let
me know if any of this is possible. Shanah Tovah u’metukah –
have a good and sweet New Year.
Kind regards,
Moshe
Begin forwarded message:
From:God <[email protected]>
Date:August 16, 2015 20:18:28 BST
To: Rabbi Freedman <[email protected]>
cc:
Moshiach <[email protected]>, Heavenly Court
<[email protected]>
Subject:Re: Requests for the coming year
Dear Moshe,
Thank you so much for your email. It was so great to hear from
you, after all, it’s been such a long time. I cannot tell you
how every day I long to hear from you and all of your friends.
Please do pass on my regards to them and tell them that I
think about them all the time – literally! If they ever, ever
want to be in touch with me, tell them I’m available any
time, any place in whatever language they like (after all, I
created them all so it should be obvious that I understand
them)! They don’t have to worry about feeling “religious” and
all that malarkey. I just want them to be in touch.
With respect to your requests, of course I want you to all
live through the year. However, while I cannot reveal the
reason that some people will live the year out and others
will not, it might be a good idea to focus a bit more on the
mission I set your forefathers over 3,300 years ago.
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There’s probably nothing wrong with going to a see couple of
movies although I’m not giving you psak (a halachic decision);
best to ask your local orthodox rabbi for that! But there
is a purpose to life beyond the physical pleasures of movies
and popcorn.
Try to think about what your lasting legacy will be: Did
you devote time to helping others or did you focus mainly
on yourself? Did you use your time wisely or did you waste
it? Just imagine what a dying person would do for a little
more life. Did you try to build relationships with other
people? It’s one thing with the people you love, but what
about those who may have wronged you during that past year?
No one is perfect, but I promise measure for measure, if you
can forgive others for their shortcomings, it will help me
forgive you for yours.
I realise that the whole thing about health is difficult for
you to comprehend. I can’t tell you why some people suffer
with illnesses and other tragic and terrible things. Please
trust me when I tell you that with your finite minds and
therefore finite understanding of the world, you would simply
not be able to grasp it. If you could, you would be just like
me, and there can only be one God. Just rest assured that I
love you all and when you cry, I cry with you. However, I saw
that you copied in the Moshiach (Messiah). I can guarantee
that when he arrives, everything will make perfect sense.
With respect to money, I guess that one is really up to you.
I decide on Rosh HaShanah how much you will get based on
how much I think you need for the coming year. All I can do
is remind you of the laws of tzedakah and that I promise to
repay those who spend money on Shabbat food and the needs
of others. People who misuse their money or keep it for
themselves when there are others in need have squandered a
tremendous opportunity to help.
You may be wondering why I created politicians and journalists
at all. I do understand. Put it this way, they give the Satan
a lot to do. Only joking! The truth is, most of them are great
people and simply want to do their job. Some of them actually
do a lot of good. But they are also human and subject to the
frailties that all of you have.
I know that there are some who are very antagonistic to our
cause, whether they are anti-Zionist or just atheist. By the
way, I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when those
atheist guys meet me for the first time! Sorry, I digress.
Please try to understand that they too serve a purpose. If
you want them to recognise and accept your connection with
the Land of Israel, bear in mind that I promised you that
land in the same Torah that contains all of the methods by
which you can connect with me – the Mitzvot. I’m not asking
you to be perfect, but if you want to get non-Jews to respect
you, the best thing to do is to respect your Judaism. If they
see that you are not really serious about me or engaging
with our rich heritage such as celebrating Shabbat and our
festivals, they will question the rest of Torah too.
of these requests, but it may sting a little too, so hold on
to your hats.
I want to help, but as your heavenly parent I would be
spoiling you if I handed everything to you on a silver
platter. You have to make a bit of effort. You can’t just keep
on blaming me for all of the world’s problems or pretend that
I’m not there when I gave all of mankind free will to do what
they want. The truth is I am really careful not to punish you
straight away for your indiscretions, you know, that whole
“slow to anger” thing. But one thing’s for sure, all of your
actions in the physical world have a knock on effect up here
in Heaven.
I realise you can’t be an angel and never do any wrong –
besides I have enough Angels (and if I didn’t I would just
create a few more). But here is my advice: you have asked me
for all this stuff, which is fine. In fact it’s great. It shows
you recognise me as the ultimate source for all of this. But
I can’t just say yes to everything. Just as a parent can’t
promise they will buy their 7 year old the latest iPad or a
pony for their birthday, I will tell you this:
If you decide to do one extra thing this year – and really
mean it – it will go a long long way to helping. Don’t think I
won’t notice – I’m omniscient, remember? But we have to start
somewhere. Every parent knows that if you spoil a child, you
rob them of the opportunity to learn how to work for things
themselves. Parents may think they are showing love, but in
fact, those parents prevent their children from developing
positive character traits because the kids think they are
entitled to whatever they want, without putting any effort
in. It actually weakens the relationship between parent and
child. The same is true with me and you.
Oh, and one other thing. Don’t feel you have to wait until
next Rosh HaShanah to ask me again. Like I said at the
beginning, I can’t wait to hear from you. I love it when you
talk to me and ask for things. You can ask me for whatever
you want, any time. Looking forward to seeing how things
progress. Shanah Tovah.
With infinite love beyond anything you could imagine,
God
Wishing you all a year filled with blessing and success.
Rabbi Freedman, together with Shaya, Yossi, Akiva and Motti
As for the UN: forget it! I have basically given up. As you
rightly point out, open miracles are off limits and that’s
one storm you’ll just have to ride. The terrorists are also a
tough nut to crack. Once again, I have my reasons but there
is one piece of advice I can give you which will cover all
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MESSAGE FROM
THE CHAIRMAN
Henry Magrill
chairman
WORKING TOGETHER
TO BUILD OUR FUTURE
Steve Pack
president
the us
‘The success of Connect will, we hope, form the basis
of many future co-operative ventures between the three
Central London United Synagogues’
ABOUT
a year ago I received a phone call
out of the blue from Rabbi Sam
Taylor who is the Community
Rabbi at the Western Marble
Arch (WMA) Synagogue. He was floating the idea of a joint project
between the WMA, Central and New West End communities for
a series of educational events. He had already been in touch with
Steven Leas, his counterpart at Central, and wanted to know if
NWE would ‘join the party’.
His initial suggestion was for a series of shiurim running in each of
the three shuls in rotation – for example, on the siddur, gemarah,
Jewish history etc. – with supper provided during the evening. I have
to say that I was not over-enthused at the idea but we had a long chat
in which I suggested that we would be more likely to attract NWES
members if the subject matter was more broadly based and secular
and if a major ‘name’ could be found for each event. Sam took all of
this on board and said he would be in touch.
Yom Tov came and went and I had all but forgotten about the project
when I had another phone call, this time from the Chief Rabbi’s
Office inviting me to a meeting a few days later at his home to
discuss the project.
Although Rabbi Freedman had not yet taken up his post with
us his appointment had been confirmed, so he and I represented
the NWES at the meeting. Somewhat to my surprise, Rabbi
Mirvis expounded much the same philosophy as I had regarding
the likely attractiveness of major secular speakers as opposed to
purely Halachic topics. He also had much to say on the general
approach to organising a joint project, not least of which was that
it is important to hold the events on ‘neutral’ territory i.e. not in the
shuls themselves, as otherwise they will be largely attended only by
members of the host shul.
A few weeks later Rabbi Freedman and I attended a follow-up
meeting at Central when the principal order of business was to
form a Steering Committee for the project, made up of delegates
from each of the three participating communities. They ideally
wanted people with specific skills to offer. I subsequently asked
Felicity Miller and Caryl Harris to represent us, which they both
agreed to do. Felicity is an organiser par excellence and Caryl runs
Creative Interpartners, a top class design agency responsible inter
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alia for the design of the Mosaic you are now reading and for the
NWES website.
At this point I bowed out of active involvement but the results of
those first few discussions are there for all to see. The first event of
the newly created ‘Connect’ project was on the subject of Fashion,
with John Galliano as the principal guest speaker, and the second
was about Terrorism with Professor Peter Neumann. Both events
followed a similar pattern, with three smaller sessions to start with,
followed by refreshments and then the plenary session with the
keynote speakers. Our own Rabbi Freedman presented one of the
sessions at the Terrorism event.
The events were held at the magnificent offices of BDO Stoy
Hayward in Baker Street who not only donated the premises
but also made a substantial contribution to the costs of food etc.
Funding was also received from the Chief Rabbi’s Office. Huge
numbers attended, especially at the Fashion event when some 200
people were present and there was a waiting list of over 100 more!
Photos from the two events can be found elsewhere in this edition
of Mosaic.
The success of Connect will, we hope, form the basis of many future
co-operative ventures between the three Central London United
Synagogues but we must not forget that we have our own educational
programmes too. Rabbi Freedman has started two already.
First, we have enjoyed ‘Parallel Thinking’ in which he draws on his
scientific background to compare and contrast science and religion.
So far we have heard the first three of a six part series covering
Creation, Evolution and Chaos Theory, all of which were very well
attended and enthralled the audience.
‘Spirits and Spirituality’ is held every Shabbat after the Kiddush
in the Rabbi’s home, at which aspects of our prayers are discussed,
accompanied by various beverages. The enthusiastic discussions are
lubricated by, amongst other things, caramel vodka which the Rabbi
has introduced to an appreciative audience at the NWES.
So it has been a busy and successful few months since the arrival
of Rabbi Freedman and we look forward with confidence to many
more innovative projects and programmes.
Rachel and I wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous
New Year.
AS
we approach Rosh Hashanah it is a good time to
take stock of what has been happening in the US.
Our wonderful Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis,
has now been in this role for two years and he
continues to inspire and support our communities and as
an ambassador to the wider world. It is a great privilege to
work with him and also with the highly respected Dayanim
of the London Beth Din. Our new Chief Executive, Dr
Steven Wilson, has been with us almost a year. He is already
making a massive contribution to the professional team and
together with many other staff and lay leaders, he is driving
the implementation of the actions in our Strategic Review.
Our Trustee Board has completed their first year and I am in
my fifth year of six as your President. The months and years fly
by and we are impatient to implement the recommendations
aimed at ‘building vibrant, engaged communities at the
forefront of British Jewry.’ Once again I would like to thank
everyone who played a part in the Strategic Review, led by the
indefatigable Marc Meyer.
‘The passion and enthusiasm
in US shuls is so important
in building the vitality of the
wider Jewish community.’
We have also benefited from several new Rabbinic
appointments both at Senior and Assistant levels. Our
Rabbonim are the key agents of change for our Shuls and
we see many examples of communities being transformed
under their leadership. We already have some great examples
of strengthening of our local shul communities. Thanks to
two forward-looking mergers this year we have welcomed
Redbridge US (previously Clayhall and Newbury Park) and
Woodford Forest US (previously Wanstead & Woodford and
Waltham Forest Hebrew Congregation) into our family of
communities. They are now going from strength to strength
helping their members to lead fuller Jewish lives. Meanwhile,
major milestones have been marked this year with Golders
Green celebrating its centenary and with Borehamwood &
Elstree and Alei Tzion their 60 year and 10 year anniversaries
respectively. These amazing communities are jewels in the
crown of our organisation and I wish them a hearty Mazel
Tov and continued success for the future. Membership of
all these communities and many others is increasing and we
welcome our new families warmly.
The passion and enthusiasm in US shuls is so important in
building the vitality of the wider Jewish community. When
only a couple of months ago, a group of neo-Nazis tried to
organise an antisemitic rally in Golders Green, the Jewish
communal response was united and robust. I believe that the
vibrancy of our local communities played a crucial part in this.
We continue to be challenged by a small number of extremists
who are intent on disrupting our lives. Together with our
partners in the CST and the police, we are responding to
these challenges as vigorously as we can, whilst recognising
that the vast majority of British society are peace-loving
people who are equally concerned about these extremists.
Every day throughout the United Synagogue our staff, lay
leaders and countless volunteers work together to produce
outstanding activities that touch the whole of UK Jewry. One
fine example of this is ShabbatUK, which we are all gearing
up for on 23rd and 24th October 2015. Last year it was wonderful
to see thousands of people embrace Shabbat UK with their
friends and families. This year ShabbatUK is set to be even
bigger with the opening event, the Great Challah Bake on
22nd October, set to break all records.
Finally, as always, we look to our future; our youth. Through
the work of Tribe and Young US we are investing in inspiring
and engaging the next generations of our community. The
Tribe activities are more popular than ever and are including
more of our youth. They are supported by US Futures whose
fundraising efforts this year included the wonderful ‘Run
Rabbi Run’ team at the Maccabi Community Fun Run.
Cheryl and I wish you and your family a Shana Tova Umetuka
– a happy, healthy and sweet new year.
9
Imaginary
Travels
take iv | chronicles of the new west end book club
by mike talalay
Who am I? Who are we?
Identity is one of the key issues of the
modern world. The problem manifests
itself in a myriad of ways. To begin
with, it is the result of freedom. If your
place in the social order is pre-defined
then what choices do you have? In
Europe of the middle ages, you were
peasant, noble, or churchman. Your
identity was set by where and when
you were born. Only the Jew was
outside this social order. In another
sense, your identity is a function of
your backstory – back to the founding
history, or legend, of creation. Not the
creation of the universe, but rather the
origins of your ‘tribe’. Be it Romulus
and Remus suckled by a she-wolf, or
Jesus on the cross, or Gabriel dictating
to the Prophet, or Moses leading the
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Hebrews out of Egypt, our founding
stories provide both a communal and an
individual identity. On a more personal
level, our identity emerges out of our
interaction with the people around
us. Who we think we are influences
how we deal with our fellows; and the
reciprocal is equally potent: how we
deal, or fail to deal, with the people we
meet profoundly influences our identity.
And we have multiple identities, not
always compatible. So what happens
to identity and meaning when our
social structures dissolve, when our
legends evaporate, when our existence
is overturned, or when our minds are
confused?
all say about our past and hence our
identity as Jews? Horn also has her
heroine create a computer programme
called Genizah, which can record and
play back all the minutiae of our daily
existence. Does this actual record
reflect our past in a more or a less
meaningful way than our selective
and edited memories? Is our identity
a function of what we did or what we
remember we did? Your decision, reader.
Either way, identity cannot be removed
from memory, as Meir Shalev points
out in My Russian Grandmother and
her American Vacuum Cleaner. The
book is a memoir about growing up in
Israel in the early days of that country.
As Shalev writes towards the end, ‘I
am still the son of farmers from the
Nahalal, just as my mother would
remind me and repeat often.’ Wherever
he goes as a person and as a writer,
his identity cannot be removed from
his background, from his mother’s
drumming that background into his
consciousness, and from his memory
of both.
Identity can also come from dislocation.
In this sense it can be a journey, both
geographical and psychological. This
is the theme of Gary Shteyngart’s
self-loathing, often bitter, but very
funny and ultimately redemptive
tale of growing up as a Little Failure.
Born in the Soviet Union, coming
to America as a young boy, starting
Jewish school as a Russian immigrant,
almost drowning in the melting pot
of a secular and selective New York
high school, surfacing somewhere in
the mid-West at a small liberal arts
college with a ‘down-home Alabama’
Last year’s book club ended – indeed
climaxed – with Irvin Yalom’s The
Spinoza Problem. Existential philosophy
derives directly from the writings of
Spinoza. Who are we? Who am I?
Where do I fit into the grand scheme
of things? Is there such a grand scheme?
Does the universe have any meaning?
exists and why has it been included in
Genesis? What meaning does it have
for the question of identity?
These are the questions that almost
all of this year’s readings address, some
tangentially, some explicitly. On a tribal
level, Irving Finkel sails us through the
story of The Ark Before Noah. Who could
ever have imagined that deciphering
cuneiform could be so much fun! Why
does the book of Genesis recount the
story of the flood? It’s certainly not
original. It comes from the Epic of
Gilgamesh, which itself ‘borrowed’
the story from even earlier writings
of the Sumerians and Akkadians.
The historical ‘truthfulness’ of the flood
is not what is relevant for our journey;
what does matter is why this story
Confused? Then try reading A Guide
for the Perplexed: A Novel. No, this isn’t
a retelling of Maimonides. This book,
by the American writer Dara Horn,
directly addresses the issue of identity
through memory. Are we a product
of our memories? And are these
memories selective? To answer – or at
least to discuss these questions – Horn
gives us the Genizah. Twice. On the
one hand, there is the Cairo Genizah,
that collection of manuscripts, letters,
shopping lists, and random jottings
all dumped unceremoniously in the
storeroom of a synagogue somewhere
in the Egyptian capital. What do these
girlfriend, and finally emerging from
a semi-permanent drunken stupor
into the light of publishing success,
Shteyngart chronicles his own crises
of identity – as a Jew, as a writer,
as a Russian immigrant, and as a
human being.
Shteyngart addresses identity and
dislocation. Giorgio Bassani, on the
other hand, writes about identity as
a function of location. In The Garden
of the Finzi-Continis as well as in two
novellas leading up to that cloistered
garden, Behind the Door and The
Gold-Rimmed Spectacles, he chronicles
the life of the Jewish community in
the Italian city of Ferrara in the years
between the wars and particularly
during the late 1930s, when Mussolini’s
dictatorship promulgated the racial
laws against the Jews. Bassani writes
in the first person, without ever
giving his narrator a name. It may be
Bassani himself; it may not. In this
sense, we are immediately confronted
with an identity problem: is the work
autobiographical, which would give
it one meaning, or is it the product of
the author’s imagination, which would
give it a significantly different meaning?
Like Shteyngart, Bassani places a great
deal of importance on physical location.
Every page is heavy with street names
and descriptive detail. For Shteyngart,
however, the locations challenge and
threaten and disorient him. For Bassani,
on the other hand, these locations are
comforting; they give meaning and
often solace to his characters. Bassani’s
hero is strongly rooted in time and
place. Then along come the Fascist
race laws, and everyone’s identity is
overturned. It is, or at least will be, a
long slow descent away from freedom
into darkness – as we know and as
the author writing long after the war
foreshadows. His identity as an Italian
is questioned and his identity as a Jew
becomes a threat to his very existence.
Bassani is a writer of gloom and
claustrophobia. His characters, to
slightly paraphrase T.S.Eliot, poet
and anti-Semite, ‘measure out their
lives in coffee spoons’. Very different
are the larger-than-life individuals in
Ayelet Gundar-Goshen’s One Night,
Markovitch. Writing in the style of
magic realism, Gundar-Goshen takes
a leaf out of the Salman Rushdie
stylebook and weaves her fantastic
images into the true story of young
Israelis sent to post-war Europe to
marry Jewish girls and thus bring them
back legally into Palestine. One of
her heroes, Zeev Feinberg is defined
by his magnificent moustache and
his enormous appetite for love and
lust, first for Rachel the wife of the
village butcher and then for Sonya, his
own wife to be. Sonya herself smells
of oranges; her identity mimics the
orange groves of Israel. Zeev’s best
friend is Yaacov Markovitch, who
marries and then won’t grant a divorce
to the beautiful Bella. His identity is
defined by Bella’s refusal to sleep with
him. Only towards the very end of
the novel does she tell him, ‘one night,
Markovitch’. There are no coffee spoons
in this novel. Where Bassani’s hero
wouldn’t dare to eat a peach or roll his
trousers up and walk along the beach,
Zeev and Sonya wouldn’t hesitate to
take their clothes off and do more along
the beach than walk. Their identity
comes much more from what they do
and where they are going rather than
from where they’ve been.
Gundar-Goshen is saying that your
identity can be what you create for
yourself. And this idea brings us full
circle to Finkel and his ark. Zeev’s
moustache created his identity. The
morality tale of the flood helped create
an identity for the Jewish people.
The book club is flourishing. Our
numbers are increasing. Do join us
next year for what promises to be
another interesting journey. Our next
book is The Leonard Bernstein Letters,
but where we go after that is still
unknown. All we can promise is that
our literary travels will undoubtedly
be full of interest.
11
LA CUCINA DI SILVIA
COOKING FOR THE SOUL
time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
serves: 6-8 as dessert
ingredients
cooking directions
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
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1 Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2 free range eggs
200g white caster sugar
200ml clear/acacia honey
120ml sunflower oil
120ml strong black coffee/espresso
2 tbsp rum/cognac
1 orange, grated zest
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
Pinch of salt
300g white flour – ideally ‘00’ grade
1 tbsp baking powder
300g walnuts, roughly chopped
2Beat the eggs with the sugar, then add the honey, oil,
coffee, rum/cognac, orange zest, cinnamon and a pinch
of salt. Mix well by hand or with an electric mixer.
3Add the flour and baking powder and mix gently
to amalgamate the ingredients.
4 Finally add the walnuts and gently fold them in.
5TIP: Keep a handful of walnuts to spread on top
of the cake just before putting it in the oven for
decoration.
6Take a 24 cm (9 inches) round spring form baking
tin and cover the base with greaseproof paper. Pour
the cake mixture into it and spread on top the
remaining walnuts.
7Bake in the oven for 50-60 min until dry when a
skewer goes in. Leave on a cooling rack for 20 minutes
before removing from the baking tin and plating it
into a round cake platter.
8Serve either warm or at room temperature, on its own
or with a scoop of ice cream or sorbet.
la cucina di silvia
cooking for the soul
t 07867 802 169
[email protected]
wwww.cookingforthesoul.com
12
image:
jennifer balcombe
13
SOCIAL &
PERSONAL
NEW MEMBERS
We offer a very warm welcome to the following new
Members of the Synagogue:
Mr Michael Etherton
Miss Sharon Frank
The Board of Management along with the members,
as well as visitors to the NWE, wish to thank all those
who have sponsored Kiddushim over recent months. The
Kiddushim provide a time to make new friends and catch
up with old ones. We would like to thank you all!
Mr & Mrs Boris Gofman
Miss Frances Graham
Miss Angela Williams
MARRIAGES
Mazeltov to all who were married at the New West End
over the last few months:
Miss Cassie Grundman and Mr Daniel Krendel
Miss Phillipa Bloom and Mr Alexander Ross
Miss Juliette Collins and Mr Nicholas Steele
Miss Dani Degen and Mr Ben Snowman
Miss Stephanie Kluk and Mr Howard Stern
Miss Marina Ehrlich and Mr Simon Cohen
Dr Monica Samra and Dr Oliver Ziff
Miss Candice Palmer and Mr Joshua Ross-Field
MAZEL TOV TO
Pauline and Haydon Noble on the birth of a grandson
Chloe Mount and Ben Brown on the occasion of their
wedding and to Ben’s parents Lynn and Charlie
Lily Paisner on her Bat Mitzvah and to her parents, Susannah
and Jonathan and grandparents Judith and Harold Paisner
Lord Harry Woolf on being made a member of the Order
of the Companion of Honour
Louise Mirwitch on being awarded a CBE for services to
Midwifery and Maternal and Child Health
Annie and Tom Cohen on their son Simon’s wedding to
Maria Ehrlich
Sharon Frank on the birth of twins, Suzie and Ben
Martin Lewin on his 80 birthday
th
Alex Miller on his Bar Mitzvah and to his parents Felicity
and Frank
Neva and Arnold Temple on their 68 wedding anniversary
th
Richard Graham on his 70th birthday
Isabella Weinstein on her Bat Mitzvah and to her parents
Maria and Bruce
Natalie and Michael Cutler on the engagement of their
son Leon to Katie Lipton
14
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
We regret to announce the following deaths:
Mrs Freda Herman
Mr Maurice Kovler
Mrs Poppy Potel
Mr Leonard Waldman
We extend our condolences to:
Mrs Natalie Cutler on the loss of her brother
Mrs Rebecca Djanogly on the loss of her brother
Mrs Talia Lief on the loss of her mother
Mrs Sandra Kovler on the loss of her husband
Mr Joseph Potel on the loss of his wife
Mr Simon Rose on the loss of his mother
Mrs Annette Waldman on the loss of her husband
‫המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך‬
‫שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים‬
May the Almighty comfort you among the other mourners
of Zion and Jerusalem.
We have introduced the practice of reciting Memorial
Prayers to recognise the generosity of those who have left
legacies to the Synagogue in their Wills, and who will be
permanently acknowledged in our Yizkor Book.
We are extremely grateful to those congregants who have
made bequests, which enable us to maintain and preserve
our beautiful Synagogue together with its activities.
If you would like to make provision in your Will for the
future benefit of the Synagogue please contact the office.
15
HAPPY
NEW YEAR!
RABBI FREEDMAN together with SHAYA, YOSSI,
AKIVA AND MOTTI would like to wish the community
a happy and healthy New Year and a well and meaningful fast.
We hope and pray that the year ahead will bring ‫ברכה והצלחה‬,
blessing and success in everything we do.
A happy New Year to you all
– HAYDON NOBLE
MRS PHYLLIS SHAPRO
AND STUART wish the
community a peaceful and
contented New Year
Wishing the Rabbi and
the community a wonderful
New Year – ALEX AND
ADIE BEARE
MAXINE & MICHAEL MARGOLIS
and Family wish Rabbi Freedman, the Honorary
Officers and the entire Community a happy
and peaceful New Year
We wish the community a healthy and happy
New Year – COLLETTE, DAVID AND
JORDANA AND KEELY PRICE
Wishing Rabbi Freedman and all friends at
NWE a happy and healthy New Year –
VALERIE RICHMAN
Wishing the Rabbi and the community a peaceful
and happy New Year – ZARA BRICKMAN
Happy New Year from GAVIN, TALIA,
JONTY AND DYLAN LIEF
16
A CHANGE WOULD
DO YOU GOOD…
Lauren Hamburger
sits on the us women’s executive
The Elections and TGM will take
place on Tuesday 24th November.
Email [email protected]
to tell us about your ideas
VALERIE GREEN wishes
all the community and Rabbi
Freedman a happy and healthy
New Year
Wishing friends and family a
healthy New Year and well over
the Fast – DENISE AND
MELV YN LUX
SANDY AND DAVID MONTAGUE wish
everyone at the New West End peace, health and
happiness
Wishing all my friends a happy and prosperous
New Year – BOBBY JAYSON
With our best wishes for a healthy, happy and
peaceful New Year to all our community –
LINDA AND MARTIN LEWIN
MARCELLA SPELMAN wishes her friends
a very happy New Year
Happy New Year to all from THE STEINFELD
FAMILY
HILDE AND JONATHAN MATHESON
and LINDY PER of Melbourne wish Rabbi
Freedman and all their friends at NWES a happy,
peaceful and healthy New Year
IT’S
not often I find myself quoting Sheryl Crow
but it is at this time of year, when we find
ourselves embracing familiar routines, such
as food, family, shofar and food again I
daresay, that we take a moment during the prayer services to
think back and reflect.
There is a huge emphasis placed in Judaism on continuity and
tradition. Our calendar is filled with chagim, festivals, we
celebrate year-on-year with a commitment to the rituals and
the details. Whether it’s the Pesach Seder and its ceremonial
procedures, hearing the Megillah on Purim or the sweet taste
and crunch combination of the first bite of apple dipped in
honey over Rosh Hashanah.
We need those traditions. Their familiarity gives us comfort
taking us back to our own childhoods where things were so
different. No internet, no mobile phones, no iPad! Yet these
rituals were the same as they were 30 years ago or even 300
years ago. The Jewish people have always been a wandering
tribe, true we settle in some places longer than others, but our
traditions and our Torah have kept us together. And it’s not just
the chagim. Shabbat, our weekly gift of a mini-break, begins
the same way for millions of families all over the world: candles,
kiddush, challah (and chicken soup - the fourth unofficial
mitzvah!). As Ahad Ha’am said: ‘More than the Jewish People
have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jewish People.’ This
weekly pause helps us retain our collective Jewish identity,
allowing us to reflect and connect.
The Hebrew month of Tishrei is filled with festivals, traditions
and repetition – in the tunes we enjoy in the davening or
the meal we break our Yom Kippur fast with. Crucially and
perhaps seemingly contrary, this time for traditions is also a
time for change. Rosh Hashanah, meaning the head of the
year, has the same root as the verb ‘to change, Lishnot’. Now
is the start of a new year, an opportunity to change something
about ourselves for the better.
At US Women we are gearing up for some significant change
as our elections take place in November. Once every three
years, they provide a chance to change the make-up of the
Executive with familiar faces stepping down and new women,
bringing new ideas and energy, joining. Two people who will
be saying goodbye are our co-chairs Dalia Cramer and Leonie
Lewis. Chairs for six and three years respectively, they have
overseen significant change for good, working tirelessly to
ensure women can now stand as chairs of their Synagogues and
Trustees of the United Synagogue. They have encouraged the
creation of the ‘Female Jew’ educational roadshow, attended by
hundreds of men and women, giving members of the United
Synagogue a chance to learn more about Halacha and women’s
participation in the community.
Above all, Dalia and Leonie have been role models for girls
and women about how they can get involved in the community
to make a change for good, and I doubt they will rest on their
laurels. Dalia has already committed to hosting this October’s
Great Challah Make for Shabbat UK, following on from the
success of last year; and Leonie carries on as Director of JVN
(the Jewish Volunteering Network). While they will both be
missed, by stepping down they allow for change and for new
women to step up with fresh ideas on how we can ensure more
women across the United Synagogue feel a connection with
their local and national community.
The US Women elections are in November and, as everyone
knows, a group of people offering different skills and experiences
will make the organisation stronger and more successful for us all.
What can you bring to US Women to help the next generation
of United Synagogue girls feel passionate about their Judaism?
Are you a creative mind that can help initiate new campaigns
and programmes to ensure more women connect? Perhaps your
planning skills are renowned – we need them for our events! Or
maybe your leadership skills at work are second to none – now is
the time to use them in the community and inspire more women
to find their place and role within Judaism.
If this year, the Jewish year 5776, is a time you would like to
change something for the better and help our community grow
stronger, contact us about the forthcoming elections and how
you could get involved. Sheryl Crow gave us a good song, and
the shofar is giving us a good wake up call. A change would
do you good…
17
recognised as such wherever she
went. She commented on the fact that
much Jewish music is in a minor key –
bringing with it a sense of sadness even
on joyful occasions. And her passionate
defence of Israel and her political
involvement with the State struck a
strong chord with the audience.
Desert
Island Discs
After being enthralled for some 90
minutes, I think the audience would
all have been prepared to listen to
her for another hour – even though
the food was waiting! Just as in
their previous event, the Committee
provided an excellent meal. We had
been greeted on arrival with Pimm’s
and popcorn, which had kept us
going until the end, when there was
salad and large hot dogs [‘vegetarian
alternative available’], followed by
fruit salad and ice cream.
An excellent evening’s entertainment.
with Maureen Lipman
by trevor toube
Sunday evening, 28th June 2015, saw
another triumphant event for the
Fundraising Committee.
No-one who knows anything of the
Desert Island Discs castaway, Maureen
Lipman, would have expected anything
less than an entertaining evening. The
fact that NWES had secured her
services for the evening as a result of
a chance encounter between her and
a member of the committee in a local
shop was an extraordinary coup.
The expert interviewer, Richard Suchet
(of Sky News, among his many other
roles), elicited from her not only the
expected amusing anecdotes about her
life and career, but also moments of real
pathos, for example when talking about
her parents or her late husband.
maureen lipman with derry dinkin
and richard suchet
What stood out most for me, though,
was her zest for life and commitment
to her art. Or ‘arts’: she described
herself as ‘an actress who writes’. She
explained that, for her, comedy is
always fuelled by anger, and that we
are here to create.
She talked about her career, about how
she had landed one of her first jobs
by pretending that she was about to
take part in some filming – and that
the man who hired her later confessed
that he had known she had lied, and
cast her in the role because of her
chutzpah! Her breakthrough had come
with the series in which she played an
agony aunt; she had wanted to play a
part in which she could be a different
person each week, but what the public
wanted was for one to remain the
same, with the same catch-phrases.
‘Oklahoma!’, from which we heard
‘Oh, What a Beautiful Morning’, had
been another high point; being in a
‘hit’ had been a different experience
from anything in her previous career.
She talked about being Jewish. She
claimed that she was not ‘religious’,
but was adamant that Friday nights,
when ‘the children come home’, was
important to her, as was Shabbat, a
‘stopping time’. Her role as Beattie
in the BT television advertisements
had turned her into a ‘Jewish actress’,
‘what stood out most for me,
though, was her zest for life
and commitment to her art.’
18
above: peter featherman and
michael sharron on pimms duty
right:
richard suchet and
maureen lipman on the night
Keep your
valuables safe
THIS Rosh Hashanah
Happy new year from balthorne
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Edgware
Hampstead
Hatton Garden
114B High Street, HA8 7HF
(Entrance in Manor Park Crescent)
575 Finchley Road, NW3 7BN
(Corner Fortune Green Road)
100 Hatton Garden, EC1N 8NX
(Next to Barclays Bank)
19
WRITING THE STORY
OF YOUR LIFE
BeRosh Hashanah
yechatevu, uv’Yom tzom
Kippur yechateimun
Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum
dean of the london school
of jewish studies (lsjs)
with rabbi freedman
by alex miller
The Rabbi’s Parallel thinking series,
in a nutshell, aims to understand both
science and Torah, and then reconcile
them (under the understanding
that the science is right). As a rabbi
with a PhD in Medical Physics and
Engineering, he does rather seem
perfectly qualified to do both halves
of this.
The talk that I attended was entitled
‘Evolution and Design’. No Intelligent
Design for this rabbi. Instead he set
out to explain why there is no need to
ignore science in order to be a Torah
observant Jew.
Rabbi Freedman began by explaining
evolution, touching on Darwinism,
genetic theory and even some heredity
in his own inimitable style. (He is
a particularly good PowerPoint user,
which isn't the easiest thing to do.)
Having thus explained the science,
he then went on to see if it was
reconcilable with the Torah.
I’m not going to provide for you a
blow-by-blow account, partly because
we don’t have the space, partly because
I don’t want to spoiler you, and partly
because you should have come to hear
it yourselves... maybe we can get the
video of it up on the website?
I also am not going to give you what
he terms ‘a crash course in evolutionary
biology’, although it was easy to follow
those hereditary traits, as well as
understanding the reasons for mutations.
(This is a subject close to my heart, as
my deafness is caused by a hereditary
mutation – thanks Mom and Dad for
that one.)
Rabbi Freedman’s question was – if the
Torah states that the Earth is 5775 years
old – but obviously man has existed
for far longer than that, particularly in
his earlier forms of Homo erectus and
Neanderthals! How are we to resolve
this with the science? The Rabbi states
that the 5775 years is measured only
from the creation of Adam. But until
then, ‘humans’ were just animals. They
had no soul, nothing to rein in their
baser instincts. Adam changed that,
and he was the first true human, one
who had a soul. The earlier humans
i.e. before the year ‘0’ were no better
than animals. (It sounded much more
convincing when he said it!)
This succeeds well, in my opinion, in
reconciling science and Torah (at least
over this particular conflict) without
compromising either.
It was an excellent evening, and I
would recommend it to anyone who
has even a passing interest in science
or religion. Come along to the next
talks in the series. You won't regret it!
The next session will take place
on Tuesday 13th October when
Rabbi Freedman will be discussing
Neuroscience and Free Will. For further
details, please see the shul website.
‫בראשית ברא אלהים את השמים ואת הארץ‬
‫ויהי ערב ויהי בקר יום הששי‬
20
‘On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on the fast of Yom Kippur
it is sealed’ – This is the central refrain to Unetaneh Tokef,
probably the most famous prayer in our Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur services. The haunting melody that accompanies
these words entices us to reflect on our actions and attitudes
of the previous year.
But why use the metaphor of writing and sealing to describe
our judgment? The simple answer is that we are comparing
the proceedings of the Heavenly Court with that of an earthbound human one. Though a judgment may have been written
by human judge, it is only sealed and acted upon if there has
been no successful attempt to appeal. Similarly, on Rosh
Hashanah our judgment is only written, but if we commit to
improve our ways before the end of Yom Kippur then there is a
chance it might be changed before finally being sealed.
To bring these words up to date we might, I suppose, say, ‘On
Rosh Hashanah it is typed, and on the fast of Yom Kippur it is
uploaded.’ Nevertheless, I think there is something important
about the actual metaphor of writing. It says in Ethics of the
Fathers (Pirkei Avot 4:25):
‘Elisha ben Abuya said: When you learn as a child, what it
is like? Like ink written on clean paper. When you learn as
an adult, what is it like? Like ink written on blotted paper.’
The message of this little aphorism is clear, children learn more
easily as there is less cluttering their minds. Blotted paper is
paper that has been written on a number of times with ink and
then erased. Thus the paper is dilapidated and it will be harder
for new ink to adhere to it when written upon again. Similarly,
we find it harder to learn and recall as adults than when we
were young.
I would like to suggest that this might also apply to the books
that God, metaphorically, writes us in on the High Holy
Days. If every year we regret our mistakes, aim to improve
come Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and then just fall back
into those same mistakes again right after, then our names are
constantly been written and erased in God’s books. And that
means that every year it becomes harder for our names to stick.
They become fainter and more difficult to identify.
For me, this is a profound image. The inability to commit
to a consistent and growing religious path undermines the
strength of your name – that is, who you are, your very identity.
Only commitment to a path, a derech, allows you to really have
a name. And the pace of progression is much less important
than the fact you are actually on a path at all. I think this
might be why Maimonides placed the following verse on the
top of the introduction to his Guide for the Perplexed, probably
the most profound book for Jewish philosophy ever written:
‘To the person who sacrifices a thanks offering to Me [God],
and sets a path for themselves, I will show them My salvation’
(Psalms 50:23)
In other words, God will respond to a person who is willing,
(a) to recognise and appreciate God, and (b) to commit to a
sustained plan of action and growth.
With this in mind, Rosh Hashanah cannot just be a repeat
exercise of the previous year. It must become a reinforcement
and gradual development of a consistent path. i.e. we should be
going somewhere rather than just coasting.
The final irony is the personal life of the author of the Mishnah
from Pirkei Avot mentioned above. Elisha ben Avuya, left
the Jewish path, rejecting God and Torah. Though he was
learned and insightful, religious patterns of behaviour and
commitment never sealed in him. He was constantly rewriting
himself until his very name was lost. Eventually he was just
known as acher, literally, ‘other’.
Rosh Hashanah is the day of Jewish identity: when we admit
what we truly value, when we reveal our real commitments,
when we live up to our names.
May we all be inscribed for Life.
LSJS run a range of courses for people of all ages and levels of
knowledge. You can also train as a teacher or study for a BA
(Hons) or MA in Jewish Education. For more information
visit www.lsjs.ac.uk
21
NEW YEAR MESSAGE
NEW YEAR MESSAGE
AT
DERRY &
TONY DINKIN
wish the Rabbi and
the community a
healthy and peaceful
New Year
Best New Year wishes
to all for peace, health
and happiness from
HILARY & DAVID
SLOVICK
Shabbat is a central part of Jewish identity, with powerful,
uplifting and transformative qualities. Shabbat UK is a
nationwide initiative which harnesses the goodness and
uniqueness of a traditional, authentic Shabbat and invites
Jews around the country to celebrate it in a way they never
have before, regardless of their level of observance.
Following the success of last year’s Shabbat UK initiative,
join us for another amazing and transformative Shabbat.
We will be led by our rabbi, Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman in
a fantastic 25 hours (or longer if you join us on the Thursday
to make challah together, and stay for the after-party).
Take a look at our programme of communal events and
come and be part of it by joining in with any, or all, of the
options below!
Thursday 22 October
THE GREAT LONDON CHALLAH MAKE
This evening will be an exciting
opportunity for you to make challahs
to enjoy on Shabbat, together with
1,000s of other Jews!
NEW YEAR MESSAGE
venue: Brent Cross
time: Doors open 6pm. Challah making
from 7pm to 9pm.
cost: £10 – People will need to be able to
stand for 2 hours (chairs limited).
book online at:
www.shabbatuk.org/challah-make
contact:
[email protected] if you have
booked and would like to join up with
others for transportation there and back.
FRANK, FELICITY, ALEX,
BEN & JOSH MILLER
wish Rabbi Freedman,
Jonathan Garcia and the whole
community a sweet, happy,
Friday 23 October
4.30PM CUDDLE-UP SHABBAT
led by rabbi moshe freedman
A family friendly service to welcome
the younger community to Shabbat
UK. Followed by snacks and songs.
5.30PM KABBALAT SHABBAT
led by jonathan garcia
A Carlebach style, musical Friday
night service for the whole community
(preceded by mincha at 5pm for all
those who can get there early).
All ages welcome.
6PM FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER
hosted by rabbi moshe freedman
Friday night dinner for all.
Pre-booking essential.
members: £10 per adult, £25 per family
non-members: £15 per adult, £35 per family
22
Saturday 24 October
9.15AM TRADITIONAL CHORAL
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICE
led by jonathan garcia
3-4.30PM GAMES & SUSHI MAKING
Followed by a Sushi Seudah
All members and visitors welcome.
Will end at about noon.
Come and see how Shabbat afternoons
are fun: Join us for games for adults
and kids (or for thoughtful discussion)
at the home of a local congregant.
We will also be making sushi for our
Seudah, amongst other things.
10.45AM CLUB SAMEACH
Pre-booking requested for catering purposes.
Special Shabbat entertainment with
games and songs
This Shabbat will be extra very special,
as we’ll also be celebrating the bar
mitzvahs of Piers and Liam Lee!
We will be running two groups: one for
all kids from 0-5; the second for 6-13
year olds.
12PM KIDDUSH
The whole community is invited to
kiddush. Lots of food for all.
Pre-booking requested for catering
purposes. Free.
1PM ‘CHOMP & CHALLENGE’ LUNCH
hosted by rabbi moshe freedman
Communal Shabbat lunch in the
Herbert Samuel Hall featuring Rabbi
Freedman’s ‘Chomp and Challenge’
- a chance to think while we eat!
6PM-6.45PM SHABBAT SEND OFF
Come back to New West End
Synagogue and enjoy the beauty of a
traditional Havdalah ceremony as we
bring Shabbat to a close together.
Pre-booking requested for catering
purposes. Free.
6.45PM-9PM SHAVUA TOV
MOVIE NIGHT!
Enjoy the start of the new week by
joining us to watch a family friendly
movie and eat some popcorn!
Pre-booking requested. Free.
Pre-booking essential for catering purposes.
23
THE BOARD OF DEPUTIES
OF BRITISH JEWS
Jonathan Arkush
president
THIS
is my first Rosh Hashanah as President
of the Board following my election in
May and I have much to do in order
to continue the fine work we have been
doing over the past 12 months.
It is a year which we can look back to with some pride in
our accomplishments. We have worked closely with the
Government to ensure that our community is protected
against the evil of antisemitism. The good relations we
have fostered led to Home Secretary Theresa May and
Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles
attending our monthly Board meeting to reassure our
community in the wake of the terrorist attacks against Jews
in Paris in January.
This trustful relationship proved its worth in July when
a small antisemitic group on the far right threatened to
rally in Golders Green. We felt that the whole community
should demonstrate its united resolve against bigotry and the
Board, in partnership with the London Jewish Forum and
anti-fascist organisation HOPE not Hate, together with the
support of the Community Security Trust, formed Golders
Green Together to turn a hateful occasion into a positive
outcome for our community. The result was that all races
and faiths in Golders Green came together to celebrate both
their unity and diversity while behind-the-scenes work with
the Government and police led to the rally being moved to
central London – well away from the Jewish community that
the racists were hoping to intimidate. The long-term work of
the Board in building alliances and deepening mutual respect
and understanding often goes unsung, but this episode
demonstrates the benefits that it brings to our community.
We also acted against attempts to boycott Israel and
antisemitism masquerading as anti-Zionism and have won
some important battles – including against Rev Stephen Sizer,
who has now been effectively disciplined by the Church of
England after one rant too many. We also took prompt action
24
against an anti-Israel conference at Southampton University
and the conference was cancelled following representations
led by the Board. We have been very active against those
calling for boycotts, divestment & sanctions.
Our document, ‘A Better Way than Boycotts’ highlighted
a more constructive path to peace in the Middle East and
has been very well received by major non-Jewish bodies in
Britain and abroad.
threatened in the UK and that is the way we want to keep
Of course, my election was not the only one in May. There
things – we must retain our ability to continue to practise brit
was also the small matter of a General Election. Ahead of
milah and shechitah and there should be an understanding
this the Board produced its Jewish Manifesto – the most
of the importance of these traditions. Our relationship with
comprehensive ever produced which covered 14 areas of
interest including religious freedom, antisemitism, Israel, the Muslim communities of the UK will be a priority. Jews
have an important role to play in showing to them and other
education, social care and social action – all produced
faiths that it is not only possible but
after consultation with more than
admirable to combine British values
300 organisations and individuals. ‘The Jewish Manifesto and
with
adherence to religious tradition,
The Jewish Manifesto and its 10
its 10 Commitments which
and that these two things are not
Commitments which encapsulated the
encapsulated the key aims mutually exclusive.
key aims of the document was sent out
to every parliamentary candidate. We
of the document was sent We will be working with the
received videos of support from all
out to every parliamentary Government to safeguard the security
three main party leaders supporting
of our community and the continuation
candidate.’
the Manifesto and its pledges.
of that productive relationship is
a priority, particularly in light of the shocking rise in
In education, we have been working hard to maintain GCSE
antisemitism. The fact that the Government has pledged
Ivrit and Biblical Hebrew and we are promoting Judaism
through our Jewish Living Experience exhibitions and tours, millions of pounds to enable effective security to be provided
outside schools, synagogues and other institutions is welcome
in which thousands of non-Jewish children learn about our
but cannot hide the grotesque fact that such vigilance is still
faith every year.
required because hatred of our community remains in some,
We have also been reaching out through Jewish Connection,
albeit very limited, corners in our society.
which is supporting small communities all over the UK
I hope that 5776 is a peaceful one for members of our
needing pastoral and social care, networking and advocacy
community. We will continue to represent your interests as
support from the mainstream of the community.
only a democratically elected body can.
In 5776 we will be pushing ahead with our new, dynamic team
May this New Year bring you and your families health and
of Honorary Officers, dedicated Deputies and professional
strength, and may it be peaceful for Am Yisrael.
staff. Jewish core beliefs and practices are not currently
NEW YEAR MESSAGE
ANN & HOWARD
RICHENBERG
wish Rabbi Freedman, the
Honorary Officers and the
entire Community a happy
25
For more information about our
upcoming events, visit our website:
www.connectuslondon.co.uk
SERIES 2 AUTUMN 2015
The first Connect Series with Fashion and
Terrorism themed events was a huge success.
Connect Fashion consisted of a choice of Breakout
Groups with talks offered by Danielle Bernadout,
Maureen Kendler and Rabbi Sam Taylor, followed
by the key note event, a panel including John
Galliano and Ronit Zilkha. Connect Terroism
offered a choice of talks by Rabbi Freedman,
Rabbi Herman and Dr Yehoshua followed by the
key note event, a panel discussion chaired by
Henry Grunewald OBE QC with panellists Mark
Gardener, Prof Peter Neumann and a foreign
correspondent/documentary film maker.
Event 1
20/10/2015
Event 2
30/11/2015
With over half of the world’s nuclear weapons
at his fingertips – just what does Vladamir Putin
have in mind for world peace/domination?
Exhilarating Experiences: on stage, the football
field, in the board room, the bedroom, in New
York… in the firing line.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind and friends discuss Putin’s
Russia.
Harvey Goldsmith, Richard Desmond & friends
tell us how it is to be Self-Made.
image credits
† Blake Ezra Photography
†
†
†
26
†
27
†
†
mosaic | the magazine
of the new
west end synagogue
NEW YEAR
MESSAGE
PAUL & GILA ROSE
wish Rabbi Freedman,
the Honorary Officers
and the entire Community
a happy, healthy and
peaceful New Year
NEW YEAR MESSAGE
CAROL &
LAURENCE
LANDO together
with JESSICA wish
our family, friends and
the entire community
of the NWES a
healthy, happy and
peaceful New Year and
well over the Fast
NEW YEAR MESSAGE
Shanah Tova to all
our family and friends
VICTOR, ESTHER,
RUDI, THEO & NATALIE
FIELDGRASS
28
NEW YEAR MESSAGE
Wishing the Rabbi, his
family and the community
a year of peace and good
health and well over the Fast
EMILIE, DAVID &
BEATRICE FRANK
NEW YEAR MESSAGE
A warm and sweet
Shanah Tovah to
our many friends at
the New West End
Synagogue
MIKE OZER &
PAT KALMANS
NEW YEAR MESSAGE
THE
FELLOWES
FAMILY
wishes the entire
congregation
Shanah Tovah
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The New
West End
1929-45
‘In 1930, the New West
End still had, as in all
the years up to 1914, the
highest average seat rental
per male seatholder in the
United Synagogue: 365
of the 369 seats for men
were let and there was
a waiting list.’
ephraim levine
excerpts from the new west end synagogue
from the golden jubilee to the centenary
by dr vivian lipman cvo
The years between the World Wars,
and more especially the 1930's, were
for the New West End Synagogue,
years of transition. The area itself was
beginning to change its character,
as blocks of flats replaced mansions,
and the maintenance of domestic
establishments on the pre-1914 scale
was no longer widespread or practicable.
Hotels, offices, shops and nonresidential uses increased. Compared
with pre-1914, families who already had
a place in the country spent more time
there; others, with ease of transport
provided by the motor car, acquired
weekend homes. Thus the general
environment was bound to work
against the concept of a neighbourhood
synagogue, attended by the upper
middle class weekly or even daily,
which inspired the founders of 1879.
If for an orthodox synagogue the
natural catchment area is a 1-2 mile
radius of that synagogue (in the case of
the New West End, the W2, W11, W8
and SW7 postal districts), then 90% of
the original applicants for seats - 141
out of 158 in a manuscript list in the
synagogue archives lived within it. Of
the remaining 10%, several lived only
just outside this arbitrarily defined
area or were listed under business
addresses and probably lived in the
area. In other words, the synagogue
was founded as a neighbourhood
30
synagogue and it is legitimate to
presume that the founders felt a social
and economic as well as a geographical
division between themselves and the
remainder of the members of the
original Bayswater Synagogue. The
latter became increasingly a Maida
Vale neighbourhood synagogue, the
epitome of the middle class, ‘suburban’
orthodox Jewish community of the
1880s and 1890s. By 1913, out of 275 male
members of the New West End, about
two- thirds lived in the catchment
area, predominantly north of the Park
(one-third in Bayswater); but with
others living at addresses just inside
adjacent postal areas within walking
distance, the ‘neighbourhood’ element
was probably around 70%. By 1939,
however, even allowing for these fringe
addresses, the neighbourhood element
was 50%, with only 100 of the 315 nonbusiness addresses in W2 or W11.
Within the Anglo-Jewish community
two other developments affected the
congregation in the inter-war years.
First, decline in religious observance
- a phenomenon common to English
society and even assimilation were
bound to lessen the intensity of
identification with the synagogue of
some members of the older families,
even when they did not remove it
altogether. Second, the growth of
London's middle class, swelled by the
rise in economic status of the first or
second generation immigrants of the
1881-1914 period, and coupled with an
ever-increasing outward movement
to the suburbs, meant that the New
West End no longer held the same
undisputed primacy in wealth and
prestige as from 1879 to 1914.
The type of people who might well have
moved to Bayswater and Kensington
in that period now preferred Golders
Green or the Hampstead Garden
Suburb. The New West End might
still be primus, but with the growth
of larger and some almost as wealthy
congregations in the continually
expanding United Synagogue, it
was now so inter pares.
In 1930, the New West End still had,
as in all the years up to 1914, the highest
average seat rental per male seatholder
in the United Synagogue: 365 of the 369
seats for men were let and there was a
waiting list.
The economic depression of the early
1930s, which affected the United
Synagogue generally and was met by
stringent cutting of expenditure, had a
brief and marginal impact even on the
New West End - a reduction in annual
surpluses between 1931-2 and 1934-5.
There were complaints in the annual
report for 1932-33 about the ‘small
proportion of the congregation’ who
were regular attendants, although
festival services continued to be wellattended; and on High Holydays, the
synagogue was packed, and overflow
services, previously held in the Board
Room, were replaced by larger ones in
the Century Theatre in Westbourne
Grove.
The decade saw the deaths of prominent
figures who were among the founders'
generation or associated with its
administration in the first half century.
Sir Isidore Spielman, the pioneer of art
exhibitions, who had done so much to
perfect the aesthetic side of synagogue
life, had died in 1925; his brother, Sir
Meyer, the elocutionist and Inspector
of Home Office schools, who attended
‘Sabbath by Sabbath' (as his memorial
eulogy by Ephraim Levine recorded),
died in 1936. Jacob Schwarzschild,
descendant of a Frankfurt family,
in 1929, the year in which Mr
Percy Schwarzschild was financial
representative; James Rossdale, a former
warden and a devoted member of the
board of management for 20 years, in
1934; Frank D. Benjamin, another active
communal worker and regular Shabbat
attender, in 1937. Finally, Arthur K.
Franklin, eldest son of the founder Ellis
Abraham Franklin, and an antiquary
and family genealogist, as well an active
communal worker, died in 1938.
Family continuity in the membership
and leadership was maintained in the
1930s. The honorary officers included
such names as Montagu (Swaythling),
Franklin, Schwarzschild and Rossdale;
and, to take a single example from the
younger generation as an illustration,
Donald E.L. Samuel, son of a founder
and nephew of Viscount Samuel, who
was to play so prominent a part in
communal leadership in the New West
End as well as elsewhere - first became
an honorary officer.
The 1935 membership list, taken
at random from the middle of the
decade, contains many distinguished
names, although the intensity of their
participation in synagogal life no
doubt ranged from full involvement
to nominal association. Yet it is
significant in Anglo-Jewish history,
in contrast with the United States, that
identification with Jewry was displayed
by a membership of synagogue, and
a synagogue bound by statute to the
orthodox German-Polish rite. This was
possible because the United Synagogue,
like its New West End constituent, was
an upper middle class ‘establishment’
organisation from its inception until
the post-1945 period. Changes in its
practice, personnel and philosophy
came only when it was ‘taken over’
by middle class business men and
professionals in the 1950s and 1960s.
But in the 1930s, titled members of
the New West End alone included
Lord Swaythling, the (second) Lord
Rothschild, Lord Duveen, Sir Percy
Harris MP, Sir Philip Carlebach,
Sir Cecil Kisch and Sir Leonard
Franklin. Sir Mathew Nathan, the
first Jew to become a colonial governor
and permanent head of the Post Office,
Inland Revenue and Irish Offices - he
was in charge of Dublin Castle at the
time of the 1916 Rising - had left for
retirement in Somerset but he had
previously represented the synagogue
on the Council of the United
Synagogue. Indeed, the communal
pre-eminence of the New West End
is exemplified by the fact that, of
the nine honorary officers of the
United Synagogue, three, including
the President Lionel de Rothschild,
were members of the New West End.
A curious phenomenon is the
synagogue's relation to Zionism.
It would be unhistorical to claim
that the New West End was, as an
institution, associated with advancing
that cause. Samuel Montagu was
hostile. Simeon Singer, while originally
a supporter of Herzl, later modified
his views; and until well into the 1950s,
the attitude of the synagogue, like that
of the United Synagogue itself, could
be described as, at best, detached. Yet
it is an historical irony that not only
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was Herbert Samuel, the protagonist
of the Balfour Declaration within the
British Cabinet, a member of the New
West End, as was its leading opponent,
Edwin Montagu. So also, though at a
later date, was the 2nd Lord Rothschild,
to whom the Balfour Declaration was
addressed. Chaim Weizmann, while
resident at 16 Addison Crescent W14,
was a member from at least 1931 to 1939;
his seat was no.154, the seat previously
occupied by Sir Mathew Nathan, Mrs
Weizmann being allocated seat no.54
in the Ladies Gallery.
The group of prominent British
Zionists associated with Weizmann
also included several New West End
members: Simon Marks, Harry Sacher,
Israel Sieff, Edward I. Sieff, and the
President of the Jewish National Fund
during this period, Captain Robert
Solomon, whose wife Ethel was for
many years chairman of the Federation
of Women Zionists.
The decade was the middle (1931
being the actual mid-point) of the
Rev. Ephraim Levine's half century
association with the synagogue as
minister. During his ministry Mr
Levine preached 1000 sermons,
according to the first Viscount Samuel,
who added, ‘and we are all the better for
them.’ Born in Glasgow in 1885, the son
of a minister, he trained at University
College London, Jews’ College and
Jesus College, Cambridge (where he
was a contemporary of the Rev Dr
Abraham Cohen and Professor Selig
Brodetsky). In 1914 he became minister
of the St John's Wood Synagogue and
in 1916 of the New West End, where
his first task was to heal the upset
caused by the sudden resignation of his
predecessor the Rev Joseph Hochman
and the subsequent correspondence
and publicity in the Jewish and general
press which showed Hochman's
sympathies to be with Reform rather
than Orthodox Judaism. In his
inaugural sermon Ephraim Levine
referred in humility to the memory of
Simeon Singer, calling him ‘the ideal
Jewish minister.’ But Ephraim Levine
was in his own way probably the ideal
minister specifically for the New West
End congregation of his time. As
the Jewish Chronicle put it, it was a
‘fashionable’ congregation inasmuch as
its membership has always included a
large number of Anglo-Jewish families
whom fortune has called into the upper
Ephraim Levine felt able to join with
them in their relaxations and leisure
interests and his instant wit and gifts
as a raconteur were known throughout
the Anglo-Jewish community. Indeed
the fact that he was universally referred
to as ‘Ephie' testifies to his personality
and popularity. He was probably the
most eloquent occupant of the orthodox
Anglo-Jewish pulpit of his generation
as his volume of sermons The Faith of
a Jewish Preacher makes clear.
But he preached to his congregation
not at them and this rapport with his
community was enhanced by the grace
and serenity of his wife, Annie, with
whom he shared 52 years of married
life. Yet because Ephraim Levine
was not an author of scholarly works
it would be wrong to think of him
merely as a fashionable pastor to a
fashionable congregation and ignore
his considerable services to, and interest
in, Jewish scholarship. He was both
tutor in homiletics and honorary
secretary of Jews' College; he rendered
long service to the Jewish Historical
Society of England which included
a stint as honorary secretary. His
cultured interests were evidenced by his
close friendship with the bibliophile,
collector and author Elkan N. Adler
(1861-1946), whose famous Libra and
manuscript collection at his home
in nearby Porchester Terrace, was a
rendezvous for scholars in his lifetime,
and was tragically sold to the Jewish
Theological Seminary in New York after
his death.
In his latter years Adler was a devoted
member of the New West End for
whom, as Ephraim Levine put it, ‘the
service of synagogue was part of his
life’ and he was a lively participant in
communal meetings.
isaac goldston
32
‘Chaim Weizmann,
while resident at 16
Addison Crescent W14,
was a member from at
least 1931 to 1939; his
seat was no.154, the seat
previously occupied by
Sir Mathew Nathan,
Mrs Weizmann being
allocated seat no.54 in
the Ladies Gallery.’
strata of society and the professions and
their tastes and ways of life reflected the
current ways of English society.
Virtually contemporary with Ephraim
Levine was the Rev Isaac Goldston,
who came as secretary in 1918 and took
on the readership in 1924 on the death
of the Rev Lionel Geffen. He fully
maintained the liturgical traditions
of the congregation, as a melodious
and expressive reader; he served as
a highly successful headmaster of
the classes; and he was an effective
secretary, although his having to
combine this office with the ministry
was not perhaps felicitous for personal
relationships. Outside the synagogue
vera & chaim weizmann with herbert samuel, 1930s
he was a leader in Jewish religious
education, as honorary secretary of
the three bodies which later formed
the London Board of Jewish Religious
Education (the Talmud Torah Trust,
Jewish Religious Education Board and
Union of Hebrew and Religion Classes)
and later of the Board itself. He also
held high office in English freemasonry.
In spite of the prosperity and glamour
of the New West End in these years,
there were disturbing trends. First,
the golden jubilee of 1929 was marked
by the re-building of classrooms (and
residential accommodation for officials),
at the side and rear of synagogue
building, because with 120 children on
the roll in 1929-30, the accommodation
was clearly inadequate. The work was
completed and the premises formally
opened by the President of the United
Synagogue, Lionel de Rothschild,
on November 18 1930. Yet almost
immediately, the roll, and attendance,
began to drop until, by December 1938,
there were only 42 on the roll, and
the number of classes was reduced to
four. It was not that the congregation
was uninterested in Jewish education
although, with hours limited to
10-2.30 on Sundays, the standard of
achievement could not be high. The
Rev Isaac Goldston was an inspired
teacher and, as Sir Frederick Nathan
said at the prize distribution in 1931, the
number of pupils had increased fourfold
since he had taken on supervision of the
classes.
Further, the congregation gave
generously for the support of the classes
and fought for Jewish education to be
recognised as a primary responsibility
of the United Synagogue.
But the demographic facts were
unfavourable. In 1931, 40% of the pupils
were children of non-members; and
by 1939, Mr Goldston said that very
few children were living in the district.
The honorary officers and board of
management were very conscious in
the 1930s of the long-term danger of
these trends: the decline of the area as a
residential area for Jewish families and
the consequent need to promote interest
in the synagogue among young people
since this could no longer be taken for
granted. To this end, special Friday
evening services were instituted in 1936.
They were ‘non-statutory' and the Chief
Rabbi allowed men and women to sit
downstairs. Special orders of service
were issued, including two psalms sung
in English, as well as part of the normal
Friday evening service in Hebrew; and
there was a short address.
Children's services were held from time
to time but, except on Rosh Hashana
and Yom Kippur, parents were said not
to encourage their children to attend.
After one poorly attended service, one
of the children present was said to have
demanded the employment of Minyan
children!
The New West End Synagogue
Association was formed in 1934, with
Mr Donald Samuel as chairman,
to promote interest in synagogue
traditions and management by
providing opportunities for interchange
of visit, social meetings, dances,
lectures and excursions. Among the
lectures in 1936 was an address by Sir
Herbert Samuel on ‘Liberty’.
Members of the congregation continued
their generosity to charitable causes
and their practical social work, and
this was extended to meet the needs of
German and Austrian refugees. The
activities of the Synagogue's League
of Social Service were developed to
cover work nearer home in Notting
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Synagogue to reduce ministerial salaries
as an economy measure was also
resisted.
The first High Holyday services of the
war presented Mr Donald Samuel as
warden with special difficulties. The
normal hours for Yom Kippur services
could not be kept because of the
blackout restrictions; and the fear of a
bomb falling on a large congregation
required the appointment of stewards to
cope with any emergency (the basement
had already been taken over as a public
air raid shelter, with Mr Roth, the
beadle, as shelter marshal).
ewen montagu’s the man who never was
Hill. The congregation both supported
communal appeals for German Jewry
and co-operated locally with the North
Kensington Refugee Aid Council in
opening a hostel in St Mark's Road for
34 boys between the ages of 14 and 15.
By 1939 refugees ware noticeably
increasing the numbers at services
though decline in attendance of the
synagogue's own members was noted in
the Annual Report.
One strand which ran through the
history of the congregation in this
period was the prominence of women
in communal work and an associated
pressure for equal rights. In the 1931-2
Annual Report the attendance of
women at annual general meetings is
noted. The Ladies Committee (formed
earlier to take charge of synagogue
vestments, decoration of the Succah
and ‘other matters which come within
their province’) in 1937 suggested both
ritual changes, comprising reduction in
the Mussaph service, triennial readings
of the Law, and more English in the
services, and votes for women. They
achieved no success with the first but
in 1943 women members in their own
right became eligible for nomination as
34
synagogal representative on the Board
of Deputies, and Miss Nettie Adler
(1868-1950), daughter of Dr Hermann
Adler, and a noted social worker, was
one of the five candidates nominated.
This was, course, a battle for the rights
of women to represent synagogues (of
the United Synagogue) on the Board;
women had been members of the
Board, representing various communal
organisations, from 1919, and it is
perhaps not without significance that
Emily, Lady Spielmann, wife of Sir
Meyer, of the New West End, was the
first woman member.
The outbreak of war in 1939 brought to
the New West End the problems which
affected every London synagogue:
evacuation, damage from bombing,
difficulties over revenue, depletion of
active membership through service in
the Forces, strains upon a shrinking
and ageing staff of officials. Even
the New West End had its first year
without a financial surplus, though it
resisted the United Synagogue's orders
to economise by dismissing the paid
choir, some of whom had no other
means of support, and it retained a
nucleus to lead congregational singing
of services. Pressure from the United
Because of the absence of honorary
officers from London in wartime, Lord
Swaythling (who had served as warden
in 1928 and 1929, the third generation
of his family in succession to do so)
returned temporarily as financial
representative. The Rev Isaac Goldston,
who was 70 in 1943, remained at his post
throughout the war, as well as carrying
heavy responsibilities in promoting the
Jewish education of evacuated children.
Because the problems arising in the
reception areas generally called for the
wisdom and experience of a leading
minister, the United Synagogue asked
in September 1941 that, in the interests
of Anglo-Jewry as a whole, the Rev
Ephraim Levine should be released
to spend half of every month outside
London, to guide the officials working
locally. Although there was some
reluctance, the Board of Management
finally agreed to release Mr Levine for
wider communal service at alternate
weekends.
from bombing, though there were
several ‘near misses’; one, which could
have been catastrophic, was on Yom
Kippur night 1940 after the fast and
service were over. Much of the glass,
however, was lost and was replaced
(mainly to the original pattern) after
the war. Opportunity was then taken
to commemorate a number of members,
including Elkan Adler, who died in
1946.
About 20 members or their children
were killed or died on active service.
This compares with 26 in the 1914-18
war with its carnage of young officers
and others, and seems to show an
appreciably higher rate of casualties
in the Second World War than is
normally recorded on war memorials.
It would be invidious to single out
names on personal grounds but a few
must be mentioned because of their
wider historic interest. Among those
killed was Brigadier Frederic H. Kisch
CB, CBE, DSO (1888-1943), Chief
Engineer of the Eighth Army and
equally remembered for his part in the
development of the Yishuv as principal
representative in Palestine of the
Zionist Executive and Jewish Agency
from 1923 to 1931. Of those members
who served and survived, Brigadier E.F.
Benjamin (1900-69), for many years a
member, and son of Frank D. Benjamin,
commanded the Jewish Brigade from
1944 to 1946; and the Hon. Ewen E.S.
Montagu recorded some of his exploits
in Naval Intelligence in his best-selling
book The Man Who Never Was.
By 1943, the move back to London from
evacuation areas was under way and
continued despite the V-Bomb attacks
of 1944-5. By September 1943, there
were more applicants for seats than
seats available, and by April 1945, 70
new members were still awaiting seats.
The finances, which had returned to
surplus in 1941-2, showed a net surplus
£324 by 1945. The classes, which never
closed on Sundays, though reduced
to one pupil in the early days of the
war, had a roll of 22 in May 1942 and
33 in 1943-4, though it was down to 20
(including children of non-members) in
April 1945. The Ladies' Committee had
resumed their activities, and social work
was under way again. The campaign for
‘women's rights' was renewed by urging
the board of management to persuade
the United Synagogue to amend the
Act of 1870 to give the vote to women
seatholders.
Yet in spite of these perceptible signs
of revival, there was still a long way
to go. Attendances on Sabbath, as
distinct from High Holyday and
festival services, were low and it was
suggested that the way to renew
interest was to form classes for adults
in Hebrew and the prayer book,
organise lectures for young people,
hold regular children's services, found
a young people's association and
establish a ‘communal centre.’
The situation at the end of the war is
perhaps best summed up in a document
sent then to members, ‘Your Synagogue
- A Post-War Revival. Will you help?...
Never in its long history of 70 years has
membership been so large, and probably
never has regular synagogue attendance
been so meagre.’ This challenge, faced
in the late 1940s and the 1950s, was met
by the movement to found a communal
centre and provide it with appropriate
premises. Having survived the war, the
congregation was to take advantage of
the opportunities of peace to serve not
only itself but also the wider AngloJewish community.
Looking back at the war years, it is
remarkable how the New West End,
after the initial trauma, managed to
adjust to conditions of war. Weekday
services were held in the Board
Room; High Holyday services were
well attended; the choir and the
classes (albeit with much reduced
numbers) continued. Special services
of intercession were held and in
December 1942 a service in memory of
the victims of Nazi atrocities in Poland.
In 1943, Dutch Jews held a service in
the synagogue in honour of Queen
Wilhelmina's birthday. The Synagogue
was also one of those specially
designated for attendance by United
States Jewish servicemen. In 1944,
choral services for war workers were
instituted on Sunday mornings.
The synagogue was fortunate in not
suffering any major damage to its fabric
35
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Yom Tov Guide
rosh hashanah
sunday 13th september
Light the Yom Tov candles before
7.05pm and recite the following two
blessings:
‘Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech
ha’olam, asher kiddshanoo b’mitzvotav
v'tzivanu l' hadlik neir shel Yom Tov.’
ha'olam she’hecheyanoo, vekiyemanoo,
vehigianoo lazman hazeh.’
Prior to lighting the candles, it is
important to light a twenty-five hour
candle e.g. a Yahrzeit candle, so that
one can transfer the flame from the
twenty-five hour candle to a new candle
in order to light the Yom Tov candles
on the second night of Yom Tov
Services in the Synagogue commence
at 7.00pm.
Following services, and your return
home, make Yom Tov Kiddush, then
wash hands ritually and make the
blessing over the challah. The challot
for Rosh Hashanah are traditionally
round and represent continuity and
wholeness. After eating some challah,
dipped in honey, we take an apple
and dip a piece in honey and say the
following prior to eating it:
ha’olam, Borei Peri Haeitz’
After eating it recite the following:
‘Yehi ratzon milfanecha Adonye Eloheinoo
veilohei avoteinoo, she’techadesh aleinoo
Shana Tova oometooko’
‘May it be your will. O Lord our Gd
and Gd of our forefathers that this year
will be a happy and sweet year for us.’
36
monday 14th september
Shacharit services begin at 8.00am.
It is important for every man, woman
and child to hear the blowing of
the Shofar which commences at
approximately 10.00am It is important
to hear the blessings recited by the Ba'al
Tekiah (the one who actually blows),
and to answer ‘Amein’ to both blessings.
Then, during the course of the morning,
we are obliged to hear one hundred
blasts of the Shofar.
It is forbidden to talk from the time one
hears the first note of the 100, right up
until the last one.
In the afternoon of the first day of
Rosh Hashanah, we will return to
the Synagogue at 4.45pm to walk
together towards the Serpentine for
a ‘Tashlich and Tea’ at the Peter Pan
Statue at 5.15pm. This is performed
by reciting several prayers at a source
of water. Afterwards, the pockets are
symbolically emptied as if a person is
shaking off his sins and casting them
into the water. As a source for this
ceremony the verses in Michah are
often quoted:
‘He will again have compassion upon
us; He will subdue our iniquities; and
Thou will cast all our sins into the depth
of the sea ....’
We then return to the Synagogue
for Mincha and Ma’ariv at 6.30pm.
monday night
14th september
We usher in the second day of Rosh
Hashanah by lighting the Yom Tov
candles as soon as possible after 8.05pm.
We do this by transferring the flame
from the existing flame which was lit
before the first night Rosh Hashanah
began (see above) and then reciting the
two blessings. Since there is a doubt
about whether we should recite the
She’hecheyanu Beracha on the second
night, it is traditional to have on the
table a new fruit that one has not eaten
yet that year, while one makes the
blessings over the candles. Alternatively
one can wear a new item of clothing.
However, if one does not have a new
fruit or a new item of clothing, one
still makes both blessings including
‘She’hecheyanu’.
tuesday 15th september
Shacharit services begin at 8.00am.
Mincha and Ma’ariv will be read at
7.00pm. Yom Tov ends at 8.03pm.
the fast of gedaliah
wednesday
16th september
The day after Rosh Hashanah is
observed as a fast day, in memory
of Gedaliah ben Achikam. Gedaliah
had been appointed Governor of
Judea by Nebuchadnezzar, after the
destruction of the first Temple in
586 BCE. He had been charged with
the responsibility of rebuilding Jewish
life among the remnant of the Jews
still in the Holy Land.
As a result of internal strife among
the people, Gedaliah was assassinated
and, many of those Jews who had
remained in Judea, fled to Egypt. Since
this represented the final stage of the
destruction of Jerusalem, it is observed
as a fast day, when we recite special
Selichot prayers.
Shacharit will be at 6.45am Fast ends
at 7.54pm.
SHABBAT SHUVA
friday 18th september
Shabbat commences 6.54pm.
Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat will be
read at 6.45pm.
saturday 19th september
Shacharit will be at 9.15am. Mincha
followed by Seudah will be held at
6.45pm and Ma’ariv will be held when
Shabbat ends at 7.53pm.
yom kippur
tuesday 22nd september
Mincha
On Erev Yom Kippur, Tuesday
22nd September, at 1.30pm, we will
conduct the pre-Yom Kippur Mincha
(afternoon) service, in the Synagogue.
Included in this service is the first of
the ten times that we recite ‘Al-cheit’
prayer (confession) throughout Yom
Kippur.
A festival meal on Erev Yom Kippur
is a mitzvah (obligation) because one
thereby reveals joy over the approach of
his or her time of forgiveness. This meal
is called the ‘seudat hamafseket’ (meal
of cessation). There is no Kiddush prior
to this meal, but we do wash our hands
ritually, make the ‘Hamotzi’ (usually
over a Challah) and say Grace after
Meals. The meal should be concluded
well before 6.45pm, allowing enough
time to light candles and to get to the
Synagogue in time.
The following Berachot are said over
the candles:
v’tzivanu l’hadlik neir shel Yom
HaKippoorim.’
ha’olam she’hecheyanoo, vekiyemanoo,
Wearing Non-leather Shoes
It is forbidden for men, women and
children to wear leather shoes on
Yom Kippur.
kol nidrei
Kindling of the Lights
Services in the Synagogue commence
at 7.05pm.
Lights are kindled on the first Yom
Tov night in the Succah (if you have
one – or else indoors) and two Berachot
are said:
The Yom Kippur prayers begin with
the chanting of Kol Nidrei. We have
to commence before sunset since this
prayer is a form of the repealing of vows,
and we are not permitted to repeal vows
on Yom Tov.
wednesday 23rd september
Shacharit commences at 9.30am.
Yizkor on Yom Kippur Day will be at
approximately 1.15pm.
If one's parents are still alive, it is
permissible, but not essential, to leave
the Synagogue during Yizkor. However,
it is our custom that we commence
with a public Yizkor, which includes
Memorial Prayers for the victims of the
Holocaust and for Israel's fallen soldiers,
for which everyone should remain in
the Synagogue. There will then be a
short break to allow those who wish to
leave to go out before we commence the
private Yizkor.
During Mincha (approximately
5.00pm), there will be a special
‘Challenge the Rabbi’ session in the
Golda Cohen Room. Come prepared
with your questions on a Jewish topic.
The Fast ends at 7.44pm.
succot
The Building of the Succah
If you haven't built a Succah before
and intend to do so this year, the Rabbi
will be very happy to advise on the
requirements to ensure that it is Kasher.
It is a Mitzvah to decorate the Succah.
If you are able to assist with the Shul’s
Succah, please contact the Synagogue
office for details of when it will be done.
Also please let us know if you are able to
donate laurel branches, fruit, etc.
v’tzivanu l’hadlik neir shel Yom Tov.’
ha’olam she’hecheyanoo, vekiyemanoo,
Note that the same requirements
regarding the 25-hour candle apply as
they did for Rosh Hashanah.
Four Species - The Lulav
The four species are taken hold of
each of the seven festival days (except
Shabbat) and a Berachah is said over
them daily.
Anyone who wishes to have a set of lulav
and etrog, please contact our Shammash
Eli Ballon in the Shul Office. Even if
you do not have your own Lulav and
Etrog there will be several sets in the
Synagogue for your use.
simchat torah
Please note that our annual Simchat
Torah party will take place this year
on Monday 5th October following the
evening service which commences at
7.30pm. Please bring your children
both on the Monday night and Tuesday
morning for Hakafot – there will also
be a special Kiddush after the service
on the Tuesday morning.
This year’s Chatan Torah will be Mike
Jacobs, and the Chatan Bereshit will
be Gavin Lief. We wish them both a
hearty Mazal Tov.
Dwelling in the Succah
It is a great Mitzvah to eat in the
Succah. The congregation is invited to
join us for a festive dinner in our Shul
Succah following services on Sunday
evening 27 th September. Please make
reservations at the Synagogue Office
on 020 7229 2631.
37
38

Rosh Hashanah 2015 / 5775

Transcription

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