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Hakol
Mar/Apr 2019 Adar/Nisan 5779
1969 2019
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RABBI’S WORD – MARCH 2019 FIFTY FOR THE FIFTIETH
s you may have noticed, 2019 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of The Liberal Synagogue Elstree. TLSE began life as Stanmore Liberal Jewish Community in November 1969 and here we are, fifty years later, the fourth largest synagogue in Liberal Judaism. How shall we celebrate this moment? My challenge to the two dozen people who came to a special meeting last month was to lay on 50 events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the synagogue. Everyone looked horrified until I pointed out to them that we’ve already had four 50th anniversary b’nei mitzvah ceremonies, a 50th anniversary KT service and so on… But we’re not just going to prefix everything with ‘50th anniversary’! There are several events specifically designed to celebrate this milestone in the history of TLSE. Details of some of these are in this special edition of Hakol—I hope that every member of our synagogue will try to take part in at least one of these 50th anniversary events during the 50th anniversary year of The Liberal Synagogue Elstree! Rabbi Pete Tobias
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Lily’s Legacy/Book of Journeys
page 3
Civic Service & Supper Quiz
page 4
The A.G.M. & Car Rally
page 5
Party Time
page 6
Friday Night Rock Service
page 7
Have you got an idea?
page 8
Kabbalat Torah review
pages 9-11
Tea and Performance
page 12
Bake-Off
page 13
Leket Israel
page 14
Shabbat walks
page 15
Lunch Club
page 16
Care & Welfare
page 17
TLSE Communal Seder
page 18
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LILY’S LEGACY PROJECT—MARCH 16TH Lily's Legacy Project -
fter the Shabbat morning service on Saturday 16th March 2019, Shaan Knan, heritage project Exploring our TLSE Heritage led by manager at Liberal Judaism, and Mike Beral will be joining us to lead a heritage mapping Shaan Knan & workshop. In this workshop we will talk about oral Mike Beral history recording and the importance of mapping and preserving our diverse heritage. We'll explore ideas how we can work together on a new, groundbreaking initiative: Liberal Judaism's latest Heritage Lottery Fund supported project Lily's Legacy' that will examine the revolutionary heritage of our movement, from its inception in the early 1900s to the present day. The workshop is open to all. Please bring stories, photos, and ephemera to share. There may be audio and video recording as well as photography activities happening during this session; we will always ask you for your permission.
'Telling stories, sharing photos and personal ephemera is a great opportunity to reflect on our community heritage and Elstree's place within the Liberal Jewish community. I urge you to join this activity' Rabbi Pete Tobias The material produced in this workshop could be included in another 50th anniversary project:
‘THE BOOK OF JOURNEYS’ Joan Shopper, co-ordinator of the ‘Book of Journeys’ project, writes: ‘The BOOK OF JOURNEYS’ would include photographs of TLSE members together with whatever details they wish to share with the community. It will contain an article - written by the contributor - telling how they arrived at their present synagogue. Our version would tell of marrying in an Orthodox synagogue, starting to attend (or not!) that synagogue but our daughter (who will remain anonymous!) refusing to attend cheder because they "taught rubbish." As a result of this, we had to go on the 'shul schlap', looking for a different synagogue and that’s how we discovered Liberal Judaism.’ Start thinking about your journey to TLSE - the Book of Journeys is waiting for you! 3
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CIVIC SERVICE—APRIL 13TH SAVE THE DATE AND BOOK YOUR PLACE!
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t seems fitting that The Liberal Synagogue Elstree commences its 50th anniversary celebrations with a civic service.
If you are wondering what is so special it’s an opportunity to invite our local civic office holders and others active in our community to celebrate with us and to broadcast our part in the local community. We will be welcoming amongst others Robert Voss, Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, who is the queen’s representative and Councillor Brenda Batten, the Mayor of Hertsmere as well as representatives from Liberal Judaism and our local clergy and other dignitaries. It is our hope that you, our congregants, will support Rabbi Pete for this special day and it would be most helpful if you inform us if you intend to be there by emailing :office@tlse.org.uk. If you need to reserve an accessible parking space in the synagogue car park please include that in your e mail. There will a number of events taking place throughout the year and we are looking forward to a brilliant anniversary year starting with your attendance at and participation in this service. Let’s make it a full house and show the local community who we are! Val, Monique, Joan and Howard
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AGM SPECIAL—JUNE 9TH
THIS WILL BE AN A.G.M. WITH A DIFFERENCE! COME AND TAKE PART IN A SHAVU’OT SERVICE, LUNCH AND AN AFTERNOON OF ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES TO CONSIDER THE NEXT 50 YEARS IN THE LIFE OF T.L.S.E. 11:00
Shavu’ot morning service
12:15
Kiddush and lunch
13:00
The History of T.L.S.E.—an interactive quiz
13:45
The Future of T.L.S.E—a celebration of anticipation
14:30
Choose the best cheesecake
14:45
Tea
15:00
The A.G.M.—Making the future happen
15:45
End
CAR RALLY – JUNE 23RD Enjoy a fascinating and fun-filled adventure with family and friends this summer by joining us on our special 50th Anniversary Car Rally and Treasure Hunt. Assemble your team, then follow the clues and solve the puzzles to navigate your way across the highways and byways of Hertfordshire. Prizes will be awarded to the teams who solve the clues and follow the route successfully in the best time (obviously safely and within the speed limit). There will be child-friendly challenges with prizes for all junior treasure hunters. The rally starts at 2pm from the TLSE car park and should last approximately 1.5-2 hours. All treasure hunters will meet again at TLSE after the rally for the winners' ceremony and afternoon tea.
£10 per adult
Kids go free
To avoid disappointment please book your place in advance and ensure that you bring your entry fee on the day. 6
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CHILDREN AND WELL BEHAVED ADULTS INVITED
CHEERS TO 50 YEARS!
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PARTY TIME IN JUNE
1969
We're celebrating TLSE’s 50th anniversary with a childrens party! With interactive music and games for 0-5, a spectacular show and disco by Mr Stickman for 6-tweens, and nibbles for grown-ups, there’s fun for all the family! Sunday 30th June 2019 3-5pm at TLSE RSVP by 30th May 2019 to office@tlse.org.uk THIS EVENT COUNTS TOWARDS YOUR CRP POINTS 66
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FRIDAY NIGHT ROCK —SEPTEMBER 6TH
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THEY’RE COMING BACK! Make sure you’re at TLSE for
THE FRIDAY NIGHT ROCK SERVICE FRIDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 6.30PM Michael with the winning trophy 7
We’re still looking for a major event with which to close our 50th anniversary year!
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Have you got an idea for what we might do? It will be at the end of November or start of December.
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Bring your ideas to the special meeting on 10th April! 1969 2019
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THE KABBALAT TORAH SERVICE
Kit Boulton, A Rabbi, Katie McAree, Alice Elman, Maggie Belchev, Mike Walton
S
aturday 26th January 2019 was the occasion of the fifteenth consecutive Kabbalat Torah service to take place at T.L.S.E. The first one was in 2005, when the first young people to celebrate becoming bar-mitzvah on my watch celebrated the ceremony on the Shabbat in Chanukkah in December of that year. For the next 6 years the ceremony continued to be on that Shabbat at the end of the year, until 2013, when Chanukkah was so early, it actually started in November. Then the service was moved to the Shabbat closest to National Holocaust Memorial Day at the end of January. That also changed the focus of the
KT studies: instead of a particular aspect of Jewish history such as the prophets or the role of women in Judaism, the Holocaust became the focus. Care is always taken to ensure that the particular topic chosen within that framework seeks to emphasise a positive aspect of human behavior that emerged from the horror – the Kinder-transport, for example, is one of the topics.
This year the group looked at the history of ‘The Longest hatred’ - Anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism. It was an inspiring and thought-provoking service, excellently led by the 15th cohort of KT members. The KT 2019 had its first meeting at the end of February—another group of teens has a great year ahead! Kit, who slept all the way round Berlin
P.S. A special mention for Nathan Hekster, who was also part of the group, but who was sadly too unwell to take part in the Almost Legendary KT Trip to Berlin and the service.
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TLSE15TH HIGHALMOST HOLYDAYLEGENDARY APPEAL 5779KT TRIP TO THE BERLIN JANUARY 19-20 2019
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP - FROM SOME PARTICIPANTS HAUS AM WANNSEE - KATIE McAREE
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I found visiting the Haus am Wannsee intriguing and somewhat disturbing. Being the location in which the annihilation of an entire race was planned, it evokes a questioning sense of how events in history could have been different. It was notably sinister standing in the same place where such events occurred. With my perspective, it was additionally very hard to understand how respectable figures went to plan the mass murders of so many people and failed to perceive their wrongdoing. The art and information on the walls of the house was intriguing and moving, especially when combined with being in such a place.
AN ADULT’S PERSPECTIVE - DAVINA BENNETT Every time I meet new members at TLSE I explain to them how after Bar/Bat Mitzvah comes KT and the ‘Almost’ Legendary Trip to Berlin. So I asked Rabbi Pete if I was able to join the next trip to chaperone the young ladies of the group. My daughter went on this trip in the summer of 2013. Usually it takes place in the summer holidays but – my luck – the time I chose to go, we went in January. Those who know me had the opportunity to repeatedly wind me up about how cold it was going to be and the fact we were staying in a hostel (my first time ever!). After arriving in Berlin, we dropped off our bags and followed the footsteps of the previous KT groups. We walked around the Jewish Quarter, where the families lived and worked, where children played and went to school, where 55,000 Jewish men, women and children were taken from their homes and marched to site of a former cemetery where they were registered, put into trucks and taken to Grunewald station. From there they were sent to their fate of a working or death camp. A memorial has been set up in the middle of the Jewish quarter of a table and 2 chairs (one chair on its side) representing the haste with which the families were told to leave their homes. On the pavement, outside the former homes of the Jewish families, mini memorial stumbling stones, Stolpersteine, were placed in honour of the family members with the names, DOB and their fate, whether they survived or perished.
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Later that afternoon we went to Platform 17 of Grunewald station, where the families were forced onto trains to whatever and wherever they were destined to go. Unlike Berlin’s Jews 75 years ago, our children had the privilege to walk away from platform 17… The next day, we took in the sights of Berlin, visiting a section of the Berlin Wall that once divided the East and the West. A journey we made with ease would have meant death 40 years ago. Another privilege. And of course, Brandenberg Gate, the Reichstag and other memorial sites. The final part of our trip was visiting the Holocaust Memorial and the Jewish museum. In my opinion, a beautiful, extremely emotional and thought provoking visit. In an overnight trip that lasted 44 hours, the weather was beautiful - cold but blue skies - the hostel was clean, and with en-suite bathroom, although the towels could have been more fluffy and the hairdryer didn’t work… Would I recommend this trip now that I have been? Absolutely!!!
MEMORIAL TO THE MURDERED JEWS OF EUROPE - MAGGIE BELCHEV Alan’s If someone were to show you a memorial, you’d expect Art to see some sort of statue. In Berlin, however, you are allowed to actually experience the situation in which count-less Jews lost not only hope, but orientation and perspective of survival. “The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe” draws you in amongst grey blocks of stone, segregating you from life just like people were cut off from the connection with the rest of humanity. However, the association with death was very strangely mixed with a sense of serenity due to the smoothness and purity of each block. The fact that there were only straightforward and ‘tunnelled’ pathways created a feeling of claustrophobia, demonstrating how there was constantly fear of going astray as a result of not following the path set out for you. Underneath the memorial was an information centre with a tragic story beneath some of the stones. What was written on farewell letters and postcards was projected on the ground. This interpretation suggests that the entire structure may represent a cemetery, without any graves due to the Jews’ illogical end to life.
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TEA & ENTERTAINMENT - SEPTEMBER 22ND
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T he L iberal Synagogue E lstree is 50 years old
ollowing on from the amazing success of Tea and Opera event a couple of years ago, the Tea and Entertainment afternoon planned for September promises to be a highlight of our 50th Anniversary year! Watch our for more details in the weeks to come, but meanwhile, be sure to put the date in your diary!
SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER TEA & ENTERTAINMENT
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SUNDAY 10TH NOVEMBER PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE GREAT TLSE BAKE OFF On Mondays we refuse to budge Unless the cake is chocolate fudge On Tuesdays we will take the plunge With a slice of raspberry sponge Wednesdays when we have a break It’s feet up with some carrot cake On Thursdays if we start to fizzle We perk up with some lemon drizzle Fridays we insist we’re fed On brownies or banana bread On Saturdays we often languish For a nice victoria sandwich And on Sunday we will scoff All the yummies that you bring to the Great Synagogue Bake Off! Just bring your naked bakes from home to be decorated in shul. They can be any category e.g. biscuits, cakes, tarts or flans - whatever takes your fancy. You will need to provide the decorations and there will be a very willing panel of guest judges to crown the Great TLSE Bake Off winner (there will be some fantastic prizes!). Afterwards, we will have afternoon tea with all the yummy bakes (we’ll provide the tea!) so bring your friends and family for a fun afternoon. We look forward to seeing you all! Please register your interest by sending your name and category to office@tlse.org.uk
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SHABBAT WALKS
! he March Shabbat walk is on Saturday 16th March and will be led by Nancy Shavick. Meet at 2.00 for 2.15 at the Boulevard Shopping Centre in "#$%!&'(()*+,!$-.Borehamwood for a circular walk to Aldenham and back. Mobile on the day !!"#$%&'()*+,'$-'."/0 07872 983 720. Everyone is invited back to the Shavicks for a!0,12&034'56,+'782)9'56:;'<=> cup of tea. !
The April Shabbat walk is on Saturday 27th is another of Michael Shaw’s very 01!)1)+,2!"#$%!31!4',.3*5!+!6'(()*+,!$-.-/!'*!74-!1-6'*.! popular London walks. Meet at Blackfriars Station by the north bank barrier (when ;-+/2!/+74-/!74+*!37!<-3*5!6+7-/-.2!=+/7363=+*71!:3,,!<-!+1>you exit the train turn left) at 2.30 p.m. !
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The route follows the river Thames along the1)66-118),!8'/!74-!,+17!7:'!;-+/1?!"431!:3,,!<-!,-.!<;!B+<<3!9-7-?!C+> north bank to Lambeth Bridge passing Victoria Tower Gardens; the proposed site of the Holocaust Memorial and Centre. The route returns to Blackfriars along the South Bank again passing places of interest with 01!,+17!;-+/2!74-!14),!:3,,!=/'A3.-!74opportunities for refreshments if required. The distance is about 3.5 miles at a C+7F+42!173,,!+*.!1=+/>,3*5!:+7-/2!>'14-/!:3*-2!8/)37!G)36gentle pace.
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You will need a return ticket to Blackfriars costing £4.55 from Radlett with a senior rail "4-/-!:3,,!<-!*'!64+/5-!8'/!(-(<-/1!+,74')54!.'*+73'*1!+ card. Mobile number for the day is 07527525111. +,1'!:-,6'(-!+*.!+!1(+,,!.'*+73'*!3*!+..373'*!7'!74-3 !
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e mail shaw0@talk21.com or t_shaw@talk21.com
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Purim is coming! WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH A PURIM CELEBRATION FOR ALL AGES! 6:30 – 7:30pm !"#$#%&'((%)#*%+%,+-./01$#22%3+$+1#*%% 4"#%!"#$%%&'%$#+1'-5*%+-1%$#,$#2"6#-42%% 789%:;%<=::>%<=?@87%:8AB=C>A% ()!*+,-+./-(0+12*334+ + + + + !
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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 26 March 9-1+642!+*.!+1!:-!.3.!,+17! 5!+!.314!7'!14+/-?!!
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A Caterer’s Tale
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1959 Engagement
Penny Beral
Tuesday 30 April
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If you are coming, please contact Ann Tel: 01923 857740 email: ann_7747@hotmail.com 16
MAZEL TOV TO : 1959 Engagement
Zoe Marcus who celebrates becoming bat-mitzvah on March 2nd
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Molly Berger, Jake Caras, Talia Jones, Leon Leighton, Jasper Morton, levi Spevock, Zakary Levy, Olivia Ornstein
NEED HELP AND DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN? Herts Help will find the support, advice and information you need to get the most out of life. HertsHelp can help you with the following: Become more active and healthy: Make sure you have your say. Feel safe and confident when leaving hospital: Get through a crisis or a difficult time Find out what is on in your community: Support if you are caring for someone Get advice on care planning and paying for care: Getting help to manage at home. HertsHelp can talk things through on the phone or face to face with a plan by: Discussing your situation Finding out what is important to you Exploring the local services Connecting you with the right people and organisation. Worry and stress can make you feel unwell, so take the first step towards getting back on track by calling HertsHelp on: Tel 0300 123 4044, Email: info@hertshelp.net
CONDOLENCES TO: Jan Nomberg on the loss of his wife Estelle and Ann Etkind on the loss of her father David Kahan and also to Thelma Israel on the loss of her husband Godfrey.
GET WELL SOON: Rita Golding and Mike Beral after their operations and Maureen Possener after her accident. Also to Rosita Rosenberg, Ray Appleby and Roger Frost who are all currently in Watford General Hospital. If you or a family member would like a visit from the Rabbi or contact with the Care & Welfare Group, please call the synagogue office or notify the relevant person below (based on your surname)
CARE & WELFARE COMMITTEE A-B
BARBARA
020 8953 1369
J-M
ESTELLE
020 8954 9569
C-D
SHIRLEY
020 8953 0416
N-Q
PETER
020 8953 1369
E-F
AVRIL
020 8421 9355
R-S
RITA
020 8953 4439
G-I
CAROL
020 8950 1862
T-Z
JUDY
01582 468100
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Purim is coming! WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH A PURIM CELEBRATION FOR ALL AGES! 6:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:30pm !"#$#%&'((%)#*%+%,+-./01$#22%3+$+1#*%% 4"#%!"#$%%&'%$#+1'-5*%+-1%$#,$#2"6#-42%% 789%:;%<=::>%<=?@87%:8AB=C>A% ()!*+,-+./-(0+12*334+ + + + + !
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GENERAL INFORMATION T L S E
Elstree High Street, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3EY Phone: 020 8953 8889 Email: office@tlse.org.uk www.tlse.org.uk Administrator: Jacqueline Bernard
Please note: The office is usually occupied every day (except Shabbat) but the hours are varied. Every effort will be made to respond to you within 24 hours. 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 Monday 8th April but submissions will be accepted at any time and early submission is appreciated.
COUNCIL MEMBERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CONTACT LIST CO-CHAIRMAN Lizzie Rabin 07974 229607 lizzie.rabin2702@gmail.com
CO-CHAIRMAN Richard Boulton 07801 921218 rboulton@gmail.com
HONORARY PRESIDENT Monique Blake 020 8953 4251 monique.david@ntlworld.com Penny Beral 07979 800616 penny@pennyberal.co.uk Peter Rabin 020 8958 7783 peterrabin@talktalk.net
HONORARY TREASURER Harvey Adams 07760 666002 frinton43@outlook.com
HONORARY SECRETARY Jo Jones 07958 300247 joanne.jones2304@gmail.com Alan Gordenfelt 020 8950 6048 ritalan@hotmail.co.uk
Michael Reibscheid michael@reibscheid.co.uk 07710 178603
David Swarc 07767 788596 davidswarc@aol.com
In cases of bereavement, please contact our Burial Officer, Joan Shopper on 01582 792959 Designed & Printed by
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020 8449 6688 www.brunswickpress.co.uk 19
THE ALMOST LEGENDARY KT TRIP TO BERLIN: VERSION 15