Hakol July to August 2018

T he L iberal Synagogue E lstree

Hakol

July/August 2018 Tammuz/Av/Elul 5778

Do you know who this man is?

Turn to page 10 Other features including Stephen Monk Does it Again! Page 6 Teaching the KT Class – Part Three Page 7 Shavu’ot at TLSE Page 8 Hyh iPro Live Life Project Page 12 The Together Plan Page 14

RABBI’S WORD – JUNE 2018

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Rabbi Pete Tobias

n December 1982 I went to my first ever Limmud Conference. It was a significant step on my journey to the Liberal Rabbinate.

I returned from that conference wearing a badge that simultaneously amused and alarmed my (Jewish) friends. It said ‘JEWISH EDUCATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE’. As a primary school teacher already tiring of the lack of value in the subjects I was teaching to my pupils (and that was three years before the advent of the National Curriculum!), it offered me a slogan that offered something intangible and seemingly precious.

Three and a half decades later, that precious and intangible quality that underpins my Liberal Jewish view of the world still motivates and inspires me.

Indeed, more than half a lifetime after I first embraced Liberal Judaism, the world seems to have moved further away from that vision.

So it feels important to me that my vision of what Liberal Judaism is finds an audience here at TLSE. My suspicion is that we are perceived as a place where anything goes: where services are short and mostly in English, where Judaism is a kind of part-time hobby rather than a lifetime commitment.

Indeed in a recent Facebook debate about Progressive Judaism in a group calling itself ‘Jewish Britain’, one contributor declared: ‘I know of a well known liberal rabbi near barnet / borehamwood who eats trief goes to football on a saturday and is outspoken condemning on Israeli settlements.’ Thankfully I don’t belong to this Facebook group, but I asked someone who does to respond on my behalf, saying that if this person would like a sensible (and grammatically correct) conversation about God and religion, I would be delighted to meet with him.

I doubt if I’ll hear from him. But I do want to equip TLSE members with responses to such lazy prejudice. My guess is that many members of this synagogue feel some sympathy with the views of this Facebook post. Surely a rabbi should keep kosher and not eat ‘trief’? Should a rabbi go to football on a Saturday? I’m not even going to talk about having to support Israeli settlements…

So after the High Holydays, a new education programme will be rolled out. It will be aimed at everyone in the shul: from the Yavneh students who have to deal with such accusations on a daily basis, to the parents of children at Clore Shalom, or the Sunday morning Borehamwood bagel eaters.

It really is time that I reminded you all what Liberal Judaism is and why it is so important to me – and, I believe, for all of Judaism and, indeed, the whole world.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Rabbi’s Word Co-Chairs’ Word Lunch Club Information Stephen Monk Does it Again!

Teaching the KT Class – Part Three Shavu’ot at TLSE TLSE Afternoon Tea Lunch Club May Alan Gordenfelt: Senior Aircraftman Hyh iPro Live Life Project An Inspirational Visit to Blind Veterans UK Answers to Quiz Questions Welcome to New Members The Together Plan TLSE Burial Officer David Blake, Obituary Mazel Tov to Care and Welfare TLSE Contact Details

Rabbi Pete Tobias Lizzie Rabin; Richard Boulton Tina Shaw Mike Walton Michelle Davis Deborah Gabbay Tina Shaw Alan Gordenfelt Kathryn Salmon Carole Pomerance

Deborah Gabbay Peter Merton Rosita Rosenberg

Page 2 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 9 Page 10 Page 12 Page 13 Page 13 Page 13 Page 14 Page 16 Page 17 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19

Upcoming Walks Date: Saturday 21st July

Led by: Sue Woolf

Time: 2:00 for 2:15pm

Meet: Outside the ruined St Lawrence church in Ayot St Lawrence for a walk of about 2.5 miles.

Mobile on the day: 07749 726650 Date: Saturday 11th August

Led by: Nancy Shavick Time: 2:00pm for 2:15pm

Meet: Riverside Way car park in Drop Lane, Colney Street AL2 3TX. Coming north out of Radlett, just before the 25, turn left down Smug Oak Lane then left again down Drop Lane. Follow Drop Lane till you come to the car park on the lefthand side of the road. The walk is about 6k and is part of the Ver Valley Walk.

Mobile on the day: 07872 9837250 3

CO-CHAIRS’ WORD

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Richard Boulton / Lizzie Rabin

he summer is now definitely upon us and it’s really great to be writing this when there have been so many lovely community events at TLSE recently, all of which you will be hearing more about in this issue of Hakol.

In May, there was the annual supper quiz, which as always, was hugely well attended. There have been many great comments about the evening and numerous photos showing the Shul full of members together with their friends and families – all enjoying a lovely evening. Thanks as always must go to Stephen Monk for his time preparing and running the event. It certainly would not be the same without him! Stephen is planning an even bigger, better quiz to mark our 50th anniversary next year, if you can believe that! I am sure he would welcome others’ support, so do contact the office if you would be interested in getting involved.

Shavu’ot was celebrated with a special session at our Sunday morning Religion School. There was much fun enjoyed by kids and parents alike and of course loads of cheesecake rounded off by lunch!

On 2nd June, Penny and Mike Beral hosted a wonderful Saturday afternoon tea at their house to welcome new members as well as those who have been here rather longer! The sun shone and provided the perfect opportunity for sitting outside enjoying the warmth, good food and of course great company.

Tots and Scholars Nursery has been using our building during the week for the last year and we are delighted to report that they received a well-deserved ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted recently. The photo here says it all, including how much they appreciate our support in running a thriving nursery environment.

We are currently considering the refurbishment of our building to mark the 50th anniversary of our community in 2019 and have held a number of meetings to discuss potential options. Nothing has been decided as yet – but we are hopeful that we will be able to make some significant improvements.

Demi, Vanda and Ruth from Tots and Scholars celebrate Ofsted result

Finally – our lovely Rabbi has become a Grandpa for the first time – and has already made a whistle stop trip to the US to meet little Jaxon. We love the photo of Pete and Jaxon! Massive Mazeltov to both Rabbi Pete and his son Adam – and we look forward to getting regular Jaxon updates.

That’s all for now – we hope you all enjoy the summer months and, as always, if you have any thoughts or ideas for community events – please do let us know.

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LUNCH

CLUB

Enjoy a great lunch! Make new friends! Be entertained!

Venue: The Synagogue Time: 1pm TLSE members: £5 Non-Members: £6

Tuesday 31 July

Tuesday 28 August

ADORATION TO AMBIVALENCE WITH PROFESSOR TONY SHAW If you are coming, please contact Shirley Tel: 020 8953 0416 or email: shirleybatley@gmail.com

TLSE QUIZ 2018-STEPHEN MONK DOES IT AGAIN! Tina Shaw Or perhaps it should be Mike Rebak’s table does it again!

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ast year my table of guests from the St Albans Women’s Forum had the pleasure of taking the quiz crown and receiving the winners’ shields (proudly placed on my mantelpiece, as I have never won a shield before). This year we could only come a modest second. What is the secret of Mike’s success?

Brains obviously help, but a mixed age group of people with a mixed range of interests may be the other key factor. Frequent attendance at quizzes is probably also an advantage, as there are certain types of questions beloved of the organisers of these events. My group of enthusiasts all do the rounds of local synagogue quizzes but are very complimentary about the The winning team originality of Stephen’s approach. Rounds about history, geography, films etc. are all given a particular twist to make them more challenging, and the inclusion of visual and audio material adds variety and keeps the competitors on their toes.

Here is a sample of some of the questions Stephen came up with this year: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Who is the current First Lord of the Treasury?

Who was the last Viceroy of India?

What honorary position does Carol Anne Duffy hold?

Which children’s cartoon character has been recently banned in China for being ‘ A subversive symbol of the counterculture’ 5. First appearing in a comic back in 1908 and featuring in books and a TV series of the 1950s &1960s starring Gerald Campion, which schoolboy’s nickname was ‘The owl of the remove’?

Managing a packed hall, keeping to time, and making sure the questions can be heard are all part of the challenge, along with sorting out disputes and keeping control of the results.

Stephen and his team of helpers, as usual, achieved their aim and made the magnificent sum of more than £1,200.00 towards the refurbishment of shul.

Busy contemplating answers.

Answers on page 13 66

Next year in Jerusalem? Well, perhaps not, but to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the shul, Stephen is planning a quiz par excellence, possibly in a local hotel - details yet to be decided. Watch this space!

TEACHING THE KT CLASS

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Mike Walton

n the March/April edition of Hakol, I showed three images of this object and invited you to speculate about its origins. In the May/June edition, I provided you with some additional information to clarify the story. This is the way that I teach the KT class, based on the training programme which I attended last year run by the organisation Facing History and Ourselves. I will now reveal to you that the story was that of Leon Greenman’s experience of the Holocaust and the impact it had on his life. Those of you who have visited the Jewish Museum may be familiar with it, but I hope all will find it inspirational that someone who suffered such tragedy as Leon did, nevertheless made it his mission to fight hatred to stop such things happening again. Over the next few editions of Hakol, I will tell the story of Leon’s experience which demonstrates why learning about the Holocaust, and the KT course is so important.

LEON GREENMAN, CAMPAIGNER AND WITNESS TO THE HOLOCAUST Part One: Leon’s Early Life Leon as small child

Leon was born in Whitechapel December 18th 1910, one of six children. His family background was Dutch-Jewish; his mother died when he was two. His paternal grandparents were Dutch and when his father remarried he took his children to live with them in Rotterdam. Leon's stepmother beat him, as did his Dutch teachers. By the 1920s he had returned to London and was apprenticed to a barber in Forest Gate.

He was keen on boxing and on singing. In the 1930s he joined an amateur operatic society where he met Esther "Else" van Dam. In 1935 they married at Stepney Green synagogue, and spent their honeymoon in Rotterdam, staying with Else's grandmother. This was to be a decisive moment in Leon's life. Else decided to stay, to look after her grandmother. He commuted between Britain and Holland, working in his father-in-law's book business.

Leon and Esther on In 1938, fearing that war was approaching, Leon their wedding day decided to bring Else home to Britain. The night he arrived in the Netherlands to collect her, the young couple heard Neville Chamberlain on the radio - following the British prime minister's meeting with Hitler in Munich - in which Chamberlain had spoken of withconsul the winning trophy "peace for our time". Reassured, Leon decided to stay. TheMichael British told him that if war came, as a British national he would be evacuated.

To be continued ...

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SHAVU’OT AT TLSE

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n Sunday morning, 20th May, my husband Rob, daughters Jessica and Ariella, and I attended the Shavuot activity morning at TLSE and we all had such a good time. It was billed as a mandatory session for the B’nei Mitzvah Class parents (as well as being the Shavu’ot festival service) and although I had been expecting it to be very formal, classroom-style learning, I had not expected it to be as enjoyable as it turned out to be. As well as the yummy cheesecakes and tea, the session was both informative and fun. The children enjoyed the challenge of competing in teams for which team had the best knowledge on a subject.

We were all racing to answer the questions as quickly as we could so that we could move onto the next category. The atmosphere in the synagogue was fantastic and it was wonderful to see the session so well attended, which gave us the opportunity to meet new members that we hadn't seen before. The Torah was brought down onto a table and all the children crowded around with fascination as Rabbi Pete read from the scroll. It was so engaging because it was interactive and gave everyone the opportunity to get involved.

Thank you TLSE! We look forward to attending more activites like this in the future.

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More pictures of this event on the back cover.

Michelle Davis

TLSE AFTERNOON TEA

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Deborah Gabbay

he Membership Committee of TLSE held another event to welcome new and potential members to our shul, on Saturday afternoon, 2nd June, at the home of Mike and Penny Beral. We were blessed with fabulous weather and Penny, as usual, put on a great spread of goodies. Jill Kendix, who has recently joined, wrote to Mike and Penny as follows: ‘I just wanted to send you both a very big thank you for your wonderful hospitality yesterday. It was so nice to meet some members of TLSE and everyone was so friendly – and as for that sublime apple cake……I’m still drooling at the thought of it!’

Our thanks to both Mike and Penny for their generous hosting. Look out for future events, which are purely social and designed to help members get to know each other, as shown in the photos below. Anyone is welcome, although new members particularly so. We hope to see you next time!

LUNCH CLUB - MAY

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Tina Shaw

miserable day weather-wise could only be brightened up by the talk from Brad Ashton entitled ‘The Job of a Lifetime.’ (Or as it was advertised beforehand, The Job of a Laughtime’!) A comedy scriptwriter who must have started work in the fifties, Brad entertained us with numerous anecdotes about every comedian we had ever heard of, without it seeming like pointless name dropping. There were a surprising number of the famous who had problems with drink and women, but an equal number whose personalities he spoke of with genuine affection. Even when the audience were invited to name actors he had not yet mentioned, he was able to seamlessly come up with a story about them. Adding a few jokes of his own, Brad provided about 30 of us with an enjoyable afternoon’s entertainment, to help us digest our satisfying three course lunch.

Editor’s Note: There are always interesting topics to hear about at our monthly Lunch Club – take a look at page 5 to see the ones planned for the next couple of months and book your place with Shirley Batley on 020 8953 0416 shirleybatley@gmail.com 9

ALAN GORDENFELT SENIOR AIRCRAFTMAN

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Alan Gordenfelt

i everyone – my name is Alan Gordenfelt and I am on the Council of TLSE. My wife Rita and I have been members for about eight years. We met when I came out of the RAF in 1961. I had been called up to do National Service in 1956 when I turned 18. The Suez War was taking place and my mother told me not to go into the army. I requested the Air Force, but as I had no qualifications, I could not do only two years, but had to sign up for five! They told me they would train me to be an Aerodrome Fireman Driver, so I signed on the dotted line. Rubbing my hands with glee, I went home and told mum. She was pleased until I told her it was for five years and then she went ape! I had to calm her down, telling her it was that or be sent to Suez!

Alan aged 18

Basic training as a Leading Aircraftman took place at RAF Hull for about six weeks. Then I was sent to RAF Kirkham just outside Blackpool for about seven weeks, to learn to drive fire engines, lorries, jeeps, etc at the RAF Driving School. In April 1957 when I was there, Kirkham was deemed to be the best place in the world for this training.

I was there a bit longer than usual due to their very stringent driving test which took me two attempts to pass! I took a bit of leave, then went to RAF Honnington in Suffolk, near Bury St Edmonds. I was a little shtip of a guy, nine stone wet through, driving massive big fire engines..

Ooh, it ain’t half hot mum! ‘Ave I made the right choice?

Too late, now I’m in the driving seat….!

In May 1958, I was posted out for a year to Christmas Island, North-West of Australia in the South Pacific. No jet planes in those days, so it was a twin engine propelled plane. What a journey – from England to Iceland, stop to refuel; on to Vancouver, refuel and a service on the engines; onto Omaha, Nebraska, refuel; on to Sacramento for an overnight stop on an American Airforce base; next day on to Honolulu, Hawaii, refuel, then finally to Christmas Island!

We were billeted in tents secured by ropes to the ground. The size of these was very much like marquees you see today. So you can imagine how many young men there were in each tent! Solid buildings were not erected until the end of my stay. Women from the local area came into the camp and cooked for us.

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Sleeping Quarters

There was not much to do for entertainment and there was quite a deal of spare time. As Christmas Island is part of the Coral Reef, the sand was very gritty, but it did not deter us from enjoying swimming. Eventually to pass the time, I took up painting and have been doing so ever since. Christmas Island was extremely hot. We had rain for one day only! We were only allowed to take our shirts off after a couple of weeks and then only between 10-11am and 2-4pm each day, to acclimatise us to the severe heat – some 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit.

I was witness to the H-Bomb test which was being dropped some 50 miles off the island. We heard the boom and parts of the island caught fire as a result of the blast. To combat exposure to radiation from the fallout of the bomb, each personnel wore a protective The Original Moon Men white boiler suit, together with a white cap and special sunglasses. We were also provided with a small plastic lapel badge which checked the amount of radiation.

Ready for a swim

I, as an Aerodrome Fireman, drove the fire engines and was responsible for putting out any fires that broke out. But the engines could not access the part of the island that caught fire as a result of the blast and I was hoisted there by helicopter. They were used to fly over the area to view the destruction that took place. We had no water to fight the fires and had to beat them out with sticks. In spite of the protective suits, as a result of my time on Christmas Island, over the last couple of years, I have developed some skin cancers, which I am receiving treatment for. The MOD of course, denies any responsibility.

In May 1959, some of us were told we were returning to Blighty. I managed a couple of weeks leave in Honolulu on my way home, where I had another couple of months leave before being posted to RAF Marham in Norfolk, where I finished my time in November 1961 and went home to Hayes, Middlesex and a civilian life. In December, as I mentioned, I met Rita, but that is another story.

To be continued!

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HYH IPRO LIVE LIFE PROJECT

Kathryn Salmon

Update on HHD Appeal 2017 – how the money you raised was spent! n the last edition of Hakol, I mentioned that the three 1959 Engagementwho received monies from our 2017 High organisations Holyday Appeal had sent us heartfelt letters of thanks, which are currently still displayed on the notice board in the lobby. Herts Young Homeless, the local non-Jewish charity that we supported, asked us for permission to use the money towards a specific project they were planning, which of course, they could. They have since sent us a description of that project, which is reproduced below. It is an extension of an existing project called iPro that has been running for some time, as you will see:

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Herts Young Homeless have been running iPro since 2009 as a way of helping young people have their voice heard within our organisation. To date, this has included them: sitting on interview panels to recruit new staff; consulting on hyh’s development; consulting on new funding applications and project development; participating in fundraising events; working as peer educators in our Education project, telling their stories to other young people in order to inspire them and prevent homelessness; sitting on our Board of Directors to guide, advise and ensure that hyh remains relevant to the community of homeless young people that we serve.

Participating in a National Youth Conference at Centre Point

NYCH Manchester

iPro will be launching their Live Life Project this summer. It will work at grassroots level to support young people across Hertfordshire, aged 16-24, who have experienced homelessness. It will involve a peer mentoring scheme to help these people in learning basic skills such as punctuality, attendance, respect, positive conflict resolution and team work. Members can discuss their experiences openly, without fear of stigma, allowing opportunities for positive reflection and new friendships.

The project will focus on the importance of a positive community. As a result, it will become a safe space where young people who have had a difficult start in life can recalibrate, rebuild and reinvest their energy and efforts into building a successful life for themselves. This project has been made possible partly through a generous donation received from The Liberal Synagogue Elstree, and we are truly appreciative to them. Thank you TLSE! Editor’s Note: Thanks to Kathryn Salmon of hyh for this article.

Kathryn also supplied the photographs, which demonstrate how much impact the work of hyh has.

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HeartsHero Award Ricky

AN INSPIRATIONAL VISIT TO BLIND VETERANS UK

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Carole Pomerance y husband Harold, who is registered blind, has recently been accepted as a member of “Blind Veterans UK”. This organisation, formerly known as “St. Dunstans” is a charity founded by Sir Arthur Pearson in 1914. Sir Arthur, himself blinded by glaucoma, was very disturbed by the fact that the sight-wounded soldiers coming home from the first world war, many of them completely blinded, had little or nothing done for them. The charity was re-named “Blind Veterans UK” in 2012. On April 29th, Harold and I had the privilege to be invited to an instruction week at their Brighton Centre.

I cannot begin to tell you what a fulfilling and inspirational week this was. On a very personal level, I found it very emotional and hard going seeing so many sight-impaired, blind and disabled veterans – many of whom were injured during various world conflicts – will we never learn?

However, having said all that, it was so very uplifting to see the love, care and dignity given to all, this was second to none. Of course, the emphasis is on all forms of sight loss and anyone who has been in the armed forces and is suffering from some form of sight loss qualifies if the necessary criteria are met.

The rehabilitation focuses on getting back to a good and confident way of life and instruction is given mainly on a one to one basis, with follow up support. There is every form of equipment and training including the lovely warm swimming pool, and IT section, craft, occupational therapy, wood work, kitchen, sports of EVERY kind and much, much more. All this as well as Carers’ Support, a shoulder to cry on, a laugh and a song!!!

I would strongly urge anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, and is suffering from some form of sight loss, to contact Blind Veterans UK to see if they qualify.

The process is a long and very thorough one, but should you be accepted, it is well worth the wait. This is a simply amazing charity that deserves all the sponsorship and support they can get and Harold and I cannot speak highly enough of them.

All in all, “Blind Veterans UK” is the most inspirational and supportive organisation we have ever encountered Answers to quiz: 1. Theresa May 2. Lord Mountbatten 3. Poet Laureate 4. Peppa Pig 5. Billy Bunter

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS Maryanne Rosenberg Also to Antonia Gray and Andrew Tovstein 13

THE TOGETHER PLAN

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Deborah Gabbay

hen I moved down here a couple of years ago, I needed to dispose of much of my furniture as it was either too large or otherwise unsuitable for our new house. Most things were eagerly taken by friends or their adult children, but there was one item that no one wanted – a pine entertainment unit. I can’t say I blamed them – I had never particularly liked it myself. I had acquired it from my husband’s furniture store when we went to live in Los Angeles in 1990 – we could have as much stuff as we needed for nothing, with the proviso that it was either inexpensive or no one wanted to buy it anyway! The store had made a bulk buy (they were popular in the ‘90’s). They retailed for around $600 and my husband told me that two or three identical units had been purchased by a film crew merely to be smashed up in a scene in which extraordinarily enough, for some reason, a car smashed into one – more than one was needed in case they needed to do more than a couple of takes! It was solid pine (not the cheap stuff sold over here!), well made, with compartments for the TV we didn’t have and the stereo we did. It sat in our living room for the next 12 years, and although I found it ugly, I appreciated its functionality and shipped it over here in 2002 when I, now single, returned.

Again, it was in my living room for the next 13 years, unloved but useful, now holding photograph albums and other bulky items in its lower half, and the CD-player and CDS in the upper. I had miscalculated its size when planning the room, and too large for the alcove, it ended up smack in the middle of the walkway between the front and rear hallways in my Edwardian villa, still too large for the space, and although one had to walk past it and avoid bumping into it many times each day, unseen and unnoticed much of the time. I was glad not to have room for it in the new house, but reluctant to just let it go to a charity shop as it was such a solid piece and unlikely to be needed by anyone in this digital age of large flat screen TVs and smart phones where thousands of songs are stored on a microchip. But to my surprise, Pete asked if he could bring it here to use as a mobile Ark for the Torah, for times when the service would be held in H3. I was delighted and of course, I said yes.

So it appeared at the back of the Shul. Pete fixed it up with a smart lining and a trolley was made to enable it to be easily moved. The problem was though that the trolley made it too high to easily shift between rooms and it was used only once, so the question arose a few weeks ago, what did I want to do with it? ‘Give it to a charity,’ I said, no longer able to worry about where it went next. After all, it had served a useful purpose for over 25 years already, perhaps its time had come.

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Sad unit ready to go

Ready for use as a mobile ark at TLSE.

Little did I know that its time HAD come, but not in the way I’d anticipated. I’d overheard someone mention The British Heart Foundation, and thought it would end up as one of those items at the back of one of their shops, with perhaps a £25 price tag on it, but Davina, our Operations Manager, contacted a charity she knew about called The Together Plan (https://thetogetherplan.com) which works to build relationships between communities in the UK and the former Soviet Union, currently focusing on Belarus. The Jewish community there, which constituted a quarter of the population prior to WWII, was largely destroyed and is only now beginning to slowly recover. But it depends largely on funds from large charities, limiting its autonomy and preventing it from becoming self-sufficient.

My son looking like a cross between Frank Zappa and Groucho Marx. Yes, that is a real moustache!

Debra Brunner, the UK Director of The Together Plan was delighted when Davina sent her a photograph of my unit and eagerly accepted the donation. She thought it would make a perfect Ark for a nascent Jewish community! The first I knew of it was a thank you email to the office, telling me it would be on the next lorry to Belarus and offering to come to speak to the congregation about their work. Ever on the lookout for interesting stories to fill these pages, I called the sender of the email to request an article from them. She put me through to Debra and I told her how delighted I was that it was going to a good home and a useful purpose, and we discussed how TLSE can participate in the great work that The Together Plan do.

In Birmingham my Debra knows a great deal about these struggling Jewish daughter-in-law being silly. communities in Eastern Europe, and we hope to become involved very soon.

Meanwhile, I told Debra that I would tell the story of my unloved unit, how it has travelled from the East of the USA where it was manufactured, to the West of the USA where I acquired it, from there to the UK, from Birmingham to London, and now to Eastern Europe. As you know, I like to illustrate Hakol stories with photographs, but was surprised to find only these three in amongst the more than 12,000 I trawled through!

There was no picture of it in its entirety. It was always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Never the focus, usually behind me when taking photographs of other parts of the room it stood in. But now it is to have a new lease of life, perhaps its most important yet. Perhaps now it will finally be loved and appreciated and I hope to be able to continue its story in the future when Debra lets me know it, or even comes to speak to us about the community it travels to.

I am looking forward to its next chapter and I hope you are too.

My then husband celebrates his birthday in the US

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BURIAL OFFICER

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Peter Merton

took on the role of Burial Officer for TLSE when, in 1974, Liberal Judaism brought Edgwarebury Cemetery into use and requested that all congregations 1959 Engagement appoint one. Previously, members had been buried at Pound Lane. As I am giving up this post in December, the Council is looking for someone willing to take it on. It entails the following: Taking the call when a member dies and initiating and monitoring the funeral arrangements via the Liberal Judaism funeral directors; when Rabbi Pete Tobias is not available, finding a Rabbi to take the funeral service and lay readers to take shivas as required; keeping accurate records of funerals, special requirements of individual members and details of Friends who are included in the TLSE funeral scheme; monitoring and updating, the TLSE funeral scheme; putting in place the retention of funeral/burial rights for members who leave/join TLSE to/from another Liberal Judaism congregation; answering funeral/burial queries from potential, new and existing members, attending TLSE new members’ socials and representing TLSE at the annual LJ Burial Officers meeting in London.

Editor’s Note: We are sincerely grateful for all that Peter has done in this important role over the last 44 years, which must be one of the longest periods one person has held a position of responsibility in the shul! Peter was ably supported by his wife Barbara, who often took calls from the bereaved in Peter’s absence and we thank you both. You will be a hard act to follow, but we are confident that there is someone out there who will pick up the baton and if you are interested, please contact the office.

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DAVID BLAKE OBITUARY

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Rosita Rosenberg

s announced in the May/June issue of Hakol, we were saddened to record the death in April of foundermember of the synagogue, David Blake, and offer sincere condolences to our President, Monique, and all the family. The respect and affection in which David was held was reflected in the vast numbers at his funeral and shivah evenings.

When David and Monique came to the UK in 1961, after their marriage in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), they were introduced by David’s cousin, the late Victor Amswych, to “Huganu” a group for people in their twenties, at what was then Wembley Liberal Synagogue. There, they formed life-lasting friendships, including many current TLSE members.

Although initially members of Middlesex Reform Synagogue, David and Monique soon became involved in the plans by the national Movement (then ULPS, now Liberal Judaism) to establish a Liberal congregation in the Stanmore/Bushey area.

Preliminary meetings in 1969 were held in the Blake home, as was the first service at Chanukah.

David was the kind of member every congregation needs. During his five decades of membership, he was involved in virtually every aspect of activity, giving willingly of his time and expertise. At various times, he served on Council, he was Vice Chairman, he was co-Treasurer, ran the youth club, served on the Functions Committee, assisted at the Religion School Sports Day and, in more recent times, led several of the Shabbat afternoon walks.

The controversial monument

We need more members like David. Hopefully, he will inspire others to give their time and knowledge in the way he did. In the meantime, we can only mourn him and say thank you for what he did.

MAZEL TOV TO : On becoming Bar Mitzvah: Who are getting married:

Rabbi Pete on becoming a Jason Shoffman Thomas Frost Jonathan Kaye grandfather to Adam Jacobs Sam Ornstein and Simone and Katie and Sophie Jaxon Matalan Webber Golumb 17

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Amy Alabaster, Ella Blythe, Jimmy Curshen, Todd Davis, Aden Hekster, Benjamin Hochenberg, Giselle Levene, Sonny Morgan, Samuel Nathan, Sam Ornstein, Oli Ram, Freddie Skinner, Raphael Weston, Max Willis, Jack Wingate

CARE & WELFARE NEWS

Carol Hurst

Nicky has resigned from the Care and Welfare Committee due to other commitments. We would like to thank her for her helpful and dedicated contribution over the past years and wish her well.

We are very happy to welcome Shirley Batley and Avril Leon to the Care and Welfare committee.

If you have a yahrzeit and would like to come to shul on the nearest shabbat but you need transport, contact care and welfare and we will arrange it for you.

DON’T BE A VICTIM: SAY NO TO DOORSTEP CALLERS Rogue doorstep sellers and bogus callers will often be smartly dressed and will usually have a story to get your attention. They may claim to be from or working with the council, police or utilities. They can be convincing and persuasive. Some may even use false identity cards or dress up for the part for example, wearing overalls with a false company logo. But if you are in any doubt don’t let them in.

Rogue builders or gardeners often trick people into paying very high prices for unnecessary or shoddy work. NEVER agree to have work done by somebody who is just passing or take their word that it needs to be done at all. NEVER pay for anything before any work is done. DO NOT accept an offer from them to drive you to the bank to withdraw money.

DO NOT buy goods or services at the door. ONLY deal with callers by appointment ALWAYS ask for ID and check it carefully. KEEP front doors locked. FIT a door bar/ chain and use it. DO NOT keep large sums of money in the home.

GET WELL SOON: We hope that Mike Beral makes a swift recovery after his recent hip replacement

CARE & WELFARE COMMITTEE

18

A-B

BARBARA

020 8953 1369

N-Q

PETER

020 8953 1369

C-F

SHIRLEY

020 8953 0416

R-S

RITA

020 8953 4439

G-I

CAROL

020 8950 1862

T-Z

JUDY

01582 468100

J-M

ESTELLE

020 8954 9569

AVRIL

020 8421 9355

GENERAL INFORMATION Elstree High Street, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3EY Phone: 020 8953 8889 Email: office@tlse.org.uk www.tlse.org.uk Edited by Deborah Gabbay

T L S E

Please note: Deborah is generally in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00am – 4:00pm.

Would all those involved in arranging functions, services or meetings please contact the office on 020 8953 8889 or office@tlse.org.uk so that they can be scheduled in the Synagogue diary. This ensures that any physical set-ups in the Synagogue are arranged and that meetings do not conflict.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure that details printed in Hakol are correct, no responsibility can be accepted for information misprinted or incorrectly given to the Editor. Please let the Editor know of any errors or corrections. The Editor reserves the right to edit material submitted for publication.

The deadline for submissions to the next edition of Hakol is Friday 7th August but submissions will be accepted at any time and early submission is appreciated.

COUNCIL MEMBERS’ CONTACT LIST CO-CHAIRMAN Lizzie Rabin 07974 229607 lizzie.rabin2702@gmail.com

CO-CHAIRMAN Richard Boulton 07801 921218 rboulton@gmail.com

HONORARY TREASURER HONORARY PRESIDENT HONORARY SECRETARY Harvey Adams Monique Blake Jo Jones 07760 666002 020 8953 4251 07958 300247 frinton43@outlook.com monique.david@ntlworld.com joanne.jones2304@gmail.com Penny Beral 07979 800616 penny@pennyberal.co.uk

Jacqueline Bernard 07885 176417 goonergirly@live.co.uk

Alan Gordonfelt 020 8950 6048 ritalan@hotmail.co.uk

Michael Reibscheid 01727 762846 michael@reibscheid.co.uk

Peter Rabin 020 8958 7783 peterrabin@talktalk.net

David Swarc 07767 788596 davidswarc@aol.com

In cases of bereavement, please contact our Burial Officer, Peter Merton on 020 8953 1369 Designed & Printed by

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