HAKOL Nov/Dec 2019 Cheshvan/Kislev 5780

1969 2019

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Hakol

T he L iberal Synagogue E lstree is 50 years old

Nov/Dec 2019 Cheshvan/Kislev 5780

Est.

1969 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF TLSE

2019

05 05 yyekkah, was the basis for

RABBI’S WORD – NOVEMBER 2019

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Rabbi Pete Tobias

my High Holyday sermons.

It’s the word that God used when looking for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they had eaten the forbidden fruit and were hiding from their Creator.

It’s a word rich with the power of the Divine to reach into our souls, into our everyday lives and remind us that the possibility of encountering God is all around us, available if only we stop for a moment to listen out for it. It’s a call for us to take responsibility for what is happening in our world, to ! respond ‘Hinneini, here am I’ to that call. It’s also the cry we direct to our loved ones who have departed from us, when we seek to encounter them in the blessing of memory every part of our Yom For Kippur those service of us who we during the Yizkor service. I hope that could comfortably have taken place those who were present at the High at TLSE – capacity doesn’t 160. And feel I shallas though 5 you’re having fun and th Holyday services found some simply bypass the question of where comfort, some vision and some were the children whose Jewish Fifty years ago the th hope from the word ayyekkah. schools were closed that day… area and so R Stanmore But there is another use of that ! lifereading setting word. I am turning it in a direction Sitting in a large hall andup and organ that I rarely face, using it in a way Members from other Lib singing, standing and sitting is perhaps In the beginning that makes me uncomfortable. But I not the most edifying or entertaining involved, Ronnie Davis genuinely believe that for the future way to pass the time. Hearing or Betty organised our se of The Liberal Synagogue Elstree, for of making improbable pronouncements For those us who were involved at the very sta semi permanent venue the future of Liberal Judaism, it’s a feel about God rarely inspires us to passed. doesn’t as though 50 years have But question that has to be asked – and become believers or make us Davis better was the Geoffrey you’re having funBut and there have been amany hap answered. people. that’s what hugeattending encouragement an Fifty yearsreligious ago the then ULPS service is meant torealised do. Our the ne needed to fund raise. W ‘Where were you?’ superstitious ancestors used to do Stanmore area and so Rosita Rosenberg spent a At no point over the High Holydays that with animal sacrifice; you have to do it yours for almost life setting up and organising “The Stanmore Libe was more than fifty per cent of the 2,000 years, we’velearning done it with prayer new skills to en Members from other Liberal Synagogues who had congregation in services at Clore and song.

That is clearly losing its Shalom. We decamp to Cloreinvolved, Ronnie appeal toDavis our twenty-first century taught us the tunes from To celebrate our 50th ye Shalom every year because we do organised selves. This apparent not student only from Betty ourisseders.Our Rabbi w not consider our building to be large the High Holydays that but also ourof our ori as from many semi venue was thetheGlebe hall in Stan enough for those who attend.

Hadpermanent it regular services, where come to show that we a not been for the issue of parking, Geoffrey Davis was the chairman of ULPS and h counterproductive effect of insisting 2

huge encouragement and support particularly whe SATURDAY 23rd NOVE needed to fund raise. When you buy a derelict b

on the attendance of young people and their parents is clearly on show whenever there is a bar-/bat-mitzvah class on a Shabbat morning.

Ayyekkah? Where are you? And where will you be when the next generation looks to take its place in the Jewish community? Will there still be a TLSE hosting regular services and offering education to give your descendants an opportunity to learn and celebrate our heritage? Because unless we learn to find value and meaning in the reading and the singing that is currently our form of worship, or find something more

0 50 5 satisfying with which to replace it, there will be no Shabbat morning services to enable our children to celebrate bar- and bat-mitzvah ceremonies.

This traditional rabbinic moan is a genuine question: what will it take to get young and not so young families to come to, and find meaning in, our religious services? Ayyekkah? Where are you in this conversation? If you don’t take part in the conversation, you cannot expect to like or approve of the solution. And there’s no doubt in my mind that we need a solution.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Rabbi’s Word Founders From our own (Young) Correspondents Friday Night Rock Service Jewish Connections on holiday A Word from the Editor Building a Sukkah Sweets Fabulous Sunday @TLSE Today Links Our Hakol Archive The Almost Legendary Berlin Trip Verion 15.0 A Work from the Manager Care and Welfare A Spontaneous Simchat Torah My Story: Amanda and Jeremy’s Story Dates For Your Diary Daniel’s Achievements Opera Comes to Elstree The Lunch Club General Information Letter to the Editor

Page 2/3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10/11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 3

To celebrate our 50th year we are holding a Found Hope to see you there that as many of our original members as well as come to show that we are still a thriving and welc

0 05 or 5those of us who wereSATURDAYand23rdhaveNOVEMBER. no FOUNDERS

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involved at the very start of money you have this community it really to do it yourself doesn’t feel as though 50 years exactly Thehave serviceand willthat’s be led

by Rabbi Alan Mann and passed. But as they say, time flies what the Founder when you’re having fun and Kiddush. there members did have been many happy moments learning new along the way.

Hope to seeskills youtothere enable a successful Fifty years ago the then ULPS project. realised the need for a synagogue in the Stanmore area and so Rosita To celebrate our Rosenberg spent a good portion of 50th year we are her working life setting up and holding a organising “The Stanmore Liberal Founders Service Jewish Community”. when it is hoped Members from other Liberal that as many of Synagogues who had moved to the our original ! area became involved, Ronnie Davis members as well taught us the tunes from North as the whole London and his wife Betty organised congregation will our seders.Our student Rabbi was come to show Alan Mann and our first semi that we are still a permanent venue was the Glebe hall thriving and welcoming community on !"#$%#&"%#'(%)*#&(+,%-#""./0#(1.(2/% in Stanmore.

3##45(+%6#"%27.%8.'%9.:"% SATURDAY 23rd NOVEMBER. ;75/%$#"(5(+%<;=>?%'.%6#&(1%#&2%:@#&2%A#/7%B:/7:(:%:/%'.%'.C-#$.

Geoffrey Davis was the chairman of :00C.%:(1%7#(.*%-:4./%:(1%:2.%:00C./%1500.1%5(%7#(.*%6#"%:%/'..2%(.'

B:/7:(:%-:"1/J%7.:"1%27.%/7#6:"%:(1%$:1.%4511&/7%'527%A:@@5%K.2.H%>7 ULPS and he and his wife Betty gave The service will be led by Rabbi Alan :2%>&(1:*%$#"(5(+/<%;=>?MM%B:L.%:%'#(1."6&C%DEFGH% us huge encouragement and! support Mann and will be followed by a particularly when we found our special Kiddush. building and needed to fund raise.

When you buy a derelict building Hope to see you there

FROM OUR OWN (YOUNG) CORRESPONDENTS

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COOKING FOR THE NEW YEAR

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his morning @TLSE we found out about Rosh Hashana as we welcome 5780. We baked delicious apple and honey cakes and ate apples dipped in honey for a sweet new year. We also made Rosh Hashana cards, heard the shofar and made kiddush with Rabbi Pete. Shana Tovah everyone from all at Sunday mornings@ TLSE!! Have a wonderful 5780.

;75/%$#"(5(+%<;=>?%'.%6#&(1%#&2%:@#&2%A#/7%B:/7:(:%:/%'.%'.C-#$.%DEFGH%I.%@:4.1%1.C5-5 :00C.%:(1%7#(.*%-:4./%:(1%:2.%:00C./%1500.1%5(%7#(.*%6#"%:%/'..2%(.'%*.:"H%I.%:C/#%$:1.%A# B:/7:(:%-:"1/J%7.:"1%27.%/7#6:"%:(1%$:1.%4511&/7%'527%A:@@5%K.2.H%>7:(:%;#L:7%.L."*#(.%6" % :2%>&(1:*%$#"(5(+/<%;=>?MM%B:L.%:%'#(1."6&C%DEFGH% %% % !!!!!!!!!!

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FRIDAY NIGHT ROCK SERVICE

50 0 5 The service goes back to 2013 and has been enjoyed by every age group from baby to senior citizen. It was originally the brain child of the late musician Simon Cooper.

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erhaps the best thing for friends and family to leave behind them is a joyful memory.

At the recent Friday Night Rock Service Rabbi Pete put this succinctly as he told the congregation “Even when those that we knew and loved have left us, they always leave something to remember them by. I can’t think of a better legacy for Simon than this band being here right now. To have a legacy as moving, thoughtful and joyful as the one we have just experienced is truly special.”

On the night, the synagogue rocked as worshippers listened to the special service with all the regular service psalms, backed by an 8-piece rock band as well as a full lights and sound production – exactly the way that composer and founding member Simon Cooper wanted!

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Rabbi Pete Tobias told Simon’s story.

He was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis shortly after birth and was born with a blocked bowel. Whilst recovering from a liver transplant he was inspired to produce a rocked up version of “Oseh Shalom”, a traditional Jewish prayer just for fun.

Simon eventually lost his life to lung cancer in 2016, aged 33. The Friday Night Rock Service will never be the same without him. However his spirit lives on in the Rock Services held in his name. In September congregants at Elstree experienced a Friday Night Service the way that Simon felt it should be. So TLSE joined the ever growing list of Liberal and Reform ‘Shuls that rocked!’ A satisfying £200 was donated to the ‘Simon Cooper Foundation’ on the night.

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0 05 5any of the holidays that Tina and I take are

JEWISH CONNECTIONS ON HOLIDAY

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abroad and involve walking. Usually there is a day off and we will tend to see if where we are staying has a Jewish connection of any kind. In the past we have found synagogues, attended a Friday night service in Italy, looked at old ghetto sites and even given up trying to find one building despite detailed instructions as to its whereabouts. We never expected to find a farm called “Succoth Farm” along Loch Tay in Scotland on a recent walking holiday. The farm is highly recommended as bed and breakfast accommodation and seems to specialise in outdoor activities but I can find no Jewish connection. The nearest I can find is Succoth from the Gaelic An Sucoch and the village of Succoth one of the three villages commune specialising in outdoor activities and a wide range of events including a local beer festival. I suspect that there is no Jewish connection just a coincidence but nevertheless and intriguing one.

Michael Shaw

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

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ere we are onto the second issue of my editorship. I hope you enjoyed the first one. I had several compliments and that is a good sign.

I am also very sure that we can improve on it so if you have any suggestions that you would like me to think about do send them into me.

I really want this to be a community effort. I said in my first revamped issue that I was looking forward to contributions from the readers.

Although I can always wish for more I have been quietly pleased that I have received several pieces which add a breadth of interest to the content. This issue is about memories and you will see !"#$%&$'()$*+",(-(./)0(1&+",2(( that some of our members give insight into our very beginnings.

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But memories are only today’s stories told tomorrow. So I have introduced <"'(164(<4++9*:(&@(A9*"("*+(B"5C(<6&("=4("(#91(&%+4=(16"*($'2(D$1(E"##9(F414(%41($'(64%;(;$1 56$;"6("*+(<4(+45&="14+(91(<916(@%&<4='(1&(7"C4(91(;=411,2((.64*(<4(7"+4(+4%959&$'(<4++9* “Sweets” which are 280 character contributions from you. That gives you 56 five letter words (or a few more @&=(164(5&$;%42((E"##9(F414("%'&(1&%+($'("%%("#&$1(164(B4<9'6(<4++9*:(1="+919&*'2((.64*(<4(<4= if you need them). For those of you who follow our @&=1$*"14(4*&$:6(1&(<"156(164(#=9+4("*+(:=&&7($*+4=(164(56$;"6(G16"1(<4(;$1($;H(@&=(1649=( Facebook page you will already have seen this innovation. For everyone else <4++9*:2(E"##9(F414(6"+(69'(:$91"=2((.64,(%&&C4+('&(6";;,2(A"84%1&>(1&(B"5C("*+(A9*"(&*(164 here is what I said: “As we are celebrating 50 years I thought it might be ';459"%(+",2(( interesting to have some brief comments from members, new or old with some interesting or entertaining things that have happened over the past 50 years. We can keep the anecdotes to 125 words or less (we could call them Sweets rather than tweets) that means I can get more in and I will try to use them all if I can. As usual please email them to hakoleditor0@gmail.com. Looking forward to seeing !"#$%&$'()$*+",(-(./)0(1&+",2(( some good memories”. Since then I’ve increased the word limit. Over to you.

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50 0 5 hildren were at the heart of the Sukkot activities run by Jacob at LJY and

BUILDING A SUKKAH

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decorated the Sukkah with leaves and fruits and vegetables (with help from the adults).

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SWEETS*

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e would really like a collection of small pieces just like the one below which Kate Nathan kindly supplied. And if there is a lovely little picture to go with it so much the better. They should be entertaining and contain something engaging like Kate’s.

She writes: “My son Maxwell aged 5 at the time wasn’t sitting near us when the scrolled was rolled out. I held my breath worrying he would want to escape. But he made us proud and sat patiently while the service continued enjoying every minute”. *These little pieces are called “sweets” because they are Shul-tweets and of limited length, nominally 240 characters.

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BURIAL

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)B:%'%!-2&&-%!82%4%'!0/%!40--%.!"'$%%&'(!;%4 Michael with the winningon trophy In cases of bereavement, please contact our Burial Officer, Joan Shopper 5+7250--1!LMN!4:0/04&%/'>!

01582 792959 7

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FABULOUS SUNDAY @ TLSE

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e do such amazing things on a Sunday.

We helped with a wedding recently and it was lovely. It was the wedding of Mina and Jack who are a bit older than us. But Rabbi Pete ,'&!-23%!&:%!+5%!;%-+$!$:24:!<0&%!=0&:05!325.-1! let us help put up the +!$2&:!2&!'+!7,4:!&:%!;%&&%/>!B:%1!':+,-.!;%! chuppah and we !<0&%C'>!decorated it with flowers to make it pretty. Then ( $0'5C&!'2&&25A!5%0/!,'!$:%5!&:%!'4/+--%.!$0'!/+--%.! we made delicious wedding cakes for the couple. Rabbi Pete also told us all about !%'408%>!!I,&!:%!70.%!,'!8/+,.!05.!'0&!80&2%5&-1! the Jewish wedding traditions. Then we were all fortunate enough to watch the bride and groom under the chuppah (that we put up) for their wedding. Rabbi %(>!

Pete had his guitar. They looked so happy. Mazal Tov to Jack and Mina on their special day.

Aaron Jones Gale and Phillipson .co.uk

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LINKS

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re you a new Member or been a member for years but don’t know anyone? So, I have come up with the idea of Links, a small group of members who will mentor new members and put on events to welcome new members and older members to the Synagogue. I am open to suggestions and the opportunity to grow this group.

It can be very daunting as a new member to arrive on a Shabbat morning and not knowing anyone, it can be awkward to break into a conversation. I know people who have said to me over the years that they are really interested in helping with running an event but not sure how to go about it; or even whether it’s allowed!

Links will hopefully link new and old members to TLSE and make us all feel part of our community Contact Penny Beral penny@pennyberal.co.uk for more information

OUR HAKOL ARCHIVE

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n 1999, the shul (then Hertsmere Progressive Synagogue) was approaching its 30th Anniversary.

As the then editor of Hakol, I compiled a review of articles from Hakol over the past thirty years which was distributed as a souvenir brochure to guests at our 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner.

As a prerequisite I asked several other founder members if they could donate old copies for my research, which I still have. Having stored all these copies at home, together with many others from the subsequent years, I recently suggested to the trustees that they should be properly filed and incorporated into an archive within the synagogue. They then naturally suggested that I become the shul archivist. Consequently I have now filled around forty magazine binders & files of various formats and sizes accommodating virtually every copy from Issue 1 of January 1970 to the present.

I am planning to store these in a

suitable location in the building very shortly and will issue further details once a suitable procedure for accessing and maintaining them is agreed with the trustees.

The collection of these old Hakols make fascinating reading, and made it possible for me to develop the four display boards which recent visitors to the building will have noticed pinned to the walls. These collectively form a brief history of the shul, from its formation in November 1969 as the Stanmore Liberal Jewish Congregation, through its search, purchase and refurbishment by members of the building in Elstree, as well as key events throughout the subsequent years including notes on its various student, part-time and full time rabbis.

Now as we reach our 50th Anniversary as TLSE, it may well be appropriate to update our 30th year compilation of Hakol and to issue it to every member as a souvenir issue of Hakol, the First Fifty Years.

Terry Benson 9

05 05 herearranged kick off for the KT Group’s fixture against

THE ALMOST LEGENDARY BERLIN TRIP VERSION 15.0

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Almost Legendary Berlin was 4 in the morning on Monday 14th October. A strong was side lined up in the car park at TLSE, the manager picking a classic 2 2 formation; Eva and Izzy, lining up alongside Adam and Josh. It’s not often a manager’s long term injury hits the headlines but Rabbi Pete’s accident pre-season on tour forced the postponement of the original game in May. Supported by a leg brace, a walking stick and two coaches (Jackie and Mike) they set off for Luton showing no signs of sluggishness normally associated with such an early start.

The early play at the airport was assured and confident and once the team landed in Germany they hit the ground running (but thankfully not literally). Manager Pete did not allow any physical difficulties to get stop him guiding the team through an excellent first half, striking early with a monument outside Friedrichstraße station, accompanied by similar hits in the Jewish district with Fallen Chair and the New Synagogue, stumble blocks, assembly point, bullet holes.

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Platform 17 at Grunewald station rounded off a spirited display. Berlin could only reply once, the Hostel and Hotels.com combining well to get the booking wrong but this made little impact on KT as they left the pitch at the interval for a well deserved pizza and sleep.

Returning after the break, no substitutions, the KT group were straight back in their stride. The early morning breakfast period was seen off without incident although Eva’s handling of the cue during a game of pool resembled a routine from Kendo.

A slight change of tactics was required at the Berlin Wall Museum where the Germans pulled a surprise by swamping the area with school students and delayed the screening time for the English film by half an hour. Pete may not be nimble on his feet but showed great mental agility by diverting to the viewing tower just down the road. No one fell asleep in the film and an interesting discussion on the Cold War followed. The opposition were now fading and the

Group scored again at the Brandenburg Gate. The adjacent Holocaust Memorial and Information Centre followed quickly. As was asked the previous day, how do you best memorialise the darkest event of the 20th Century and how do you comprehend the scale of the genocide?

With the planned schedule complete and an earlier than usual return flight, full time was called and a resounding success recorded. A celebration meal was held at lunch at the Food Court in the Berlin Mall which contained every imaginable style of food for lunch (including a Vegan stall which, apparently, served very nice vegans).

When it came to dessert, Izzy was unsuccessful in her search for a Dunkin Donut shop, but she was rewarded back at base at a Friedrichstraße Station kiosk (where she declared that an alarmingly blue donut was ‘the best thing she had ever eaten’. One feels her mother might disagree…) The Group warmed down with a stroll around a temporary outdoor exhibition on The History of Europe 1918-1923, which ingeniously supplemented the discussion that had begun earlier that day.

The KT Group finally left the field of play at Schoenefeld airport. Adopting a just in time approach the manager

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skilfully ensured the squad didn’t have to endure the squalor of this relic from the times of the Iron Curtain and saved everyone a fortune by not allowing anyone the time to buy any of the exorbitantly high priced food or drink. The flight was without incident and arrival at the home ground was less than 39 hours after the departure.

The team will be reporting back for training in week or two, preparing for the Kristallnacht service on Saturday 9th November.

The KT 2019 group graduate at the Holocaust Memorial Service on Saturday 25th January 2020. Please put the date in the diary and be part of what is always a very moving service and show your support to four

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5 05 0teenagers who are showing great

injury, I was especially grateful to my Head Coach for shouldering so much commitment to the KT programme of the responsibility for leading parts and are fine role models for their of the tour that were too much for me peers.

Mike Walton Head coach. to manage. And my thanks as well to recently appointed assistant coach Jacqueline Bernard who suffered bravely in silence when the buffet A WORD FROM THE breakfast was laid out on the same surface where drinks had been served MANAGER the previous evening. It was clear that t’s been a long journey since the for our plucky Administrator, the first Almost Legendary KT Trip to breakfast bar had, quite literally, been Berlin in 2005. For that visit, I was set too high… recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture; 14 years later, another ripped Many miles were walked, much was tendon in the same leg (and being 14 seen, even more was discussed, a fair years older). But this annual fixture amount was learned, many pommes comes closer to achieving full frites were consumed by the KTers, legendary status every year; when, I and much Currywurst by the manager. wonder, will the ‘Almost’ finally be That, in essence, is what makes the KT dropped?

Trip to Berlin almost legendary, and it has now been experienced by almost This year’s 15th visit included two 90 young people. Watch out for next participants who have been right year’s and the possibility of a through the TLSE education grown-ups’ trip in the spring of 2020… programme from their earliest years – Rabbi Pete one even has two older brothers who also experienced Berlin.

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From each member of the group came comments of varying insight and import. For Adam it was mostly a desperate search for WiFi as his Sky mobile service did not seem to function on foreign soil. Isabella offered a spirited but ultimately futile hypothesis about the difference between Pizza Margherita and Margherita Pizza. Eva was delighted to discover that there were more Vegan options than just McDonalds’ chips.

And Josh awoke after a fine night’s sleep at the end of day 1 of a 2-day trip and declared ‘I can’t believe it’s our last day already!’

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As team manager still carrying an

Eva Zur, Izzy Sinclair, Josh McCombe, Adam Jacobs, Jacqueline Bernard, Mike Walton

CONDOLENCES TO:

MAZAL TOV TO:

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Condolences to Allan Newman whose mother has passed away.

We are sorry to announce that Lynne Zartz has passed away.

Condolences to Tim Cook on the death of his mother Condolences to the family of Jeffrey Rosen, who has sadly passed away.

Mazal Tov to Mina and Jack Kossoff on their wedding.

Mazal Tov to Elaine & Russell Greenberg on becoming Grandparents to Lyla.

Mazal Tov to Harrison Golding who celebrates becoming bat-mitzvah.

Mazal Tov to Gayle McCombe who also celebrates becoming adult bat-mitzvah.

USEFUL TIPS Worry and stress can make you feel unwell, so take the first step towards getting back on track by calling HertsHelp

HERTSHELP CAN HELP YOU Become more active and healthy Feel safe and confident when leaving hospital Get through a crisis or a difficult time Find out what is on in your community Get advice on care planning and paying for care Support if you are caring for someone Getting help to manage at home Make sure you have your say HertsHelp can talk things through on the phone or face to face and come up 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 organisations Contact HertsHelp on: Tel: 0300 123 4044, Email: info@hertshelp.net: Web: www.hertshelp.net

GET WELL SOON To Karen Davidson, Rosita Rosenberg, Jack Pampel, Maureen Possener and Rabbi Pete.

We wish Alan Gordenfelt a speedy recovery following his recent operation If you wish to contact the Care Group on a welfare matter please contact Jacqueline in the TLSE Office on 020 8953 8889 and one of the Care Group Team will get in touch with you.

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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 November

Tuesday 17 December

If you are coming, please contact Ann Tel: 01923 857740 or email: ann_7747@hotmail.com 14

A SPONTANEOUS SIMCHAT TORAH

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ometimes the best parties are the most spontaneous and the party marking the end of the High Holy Days was an excellent example. A few days before the festival of Simchat Torah Penny and Mike Beral thought it would be a great idea to celebrate the occasion with a pop up party. They provided the food and helped organise the evening.

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It was a party for all ages from very senior citizens to tiny toddlers. The toddlers enjoyed the atmosphere and became very excited and enjoyed waving their flags. The tradition is to dance with the Torah and anyone able to get up on the floor to celebrate took their place. The teenagers in particular enjoyed an energetic and infectious version of line dancing which attracted lots of enthusiastic participation from older guests.

There was a serious side to the proceedings and Rabbi Pete led the service which celebrated the conclusion of the Torah reading cycle and the beginning of the new cycle.

The highlight of the religious section of the evening was the reading of the last few verses of Deuteronomy and the unrolling and re-rolling of the scroll.

The hand written scroll was revealed as it made its way round the room and

then when it had been rolled back to its beginning the first few verses of Genesis were read out. It is customary to honour two distinguished members of the community as “bride” and “groom” of the Torah. This year the honour fell to Sue and Gordon Woolf.

While the Torah scrolls were processed, the children and young people took care of the silverware and shook the bells to mark its journey. There were 3 scrolls doing the rounds. At the end of each circuit chocolates were handed out to young and old. This year there was a healthy option of grapes but the sweets were still extremely popular. So with the food and the dancing and the friendly atmosphere the evening was a !"#$%&'()"*+$%,%-%#.()/%*01#$(%2)".).+%)304(%()05)6"/&$"-%#.) great success and rounded off the holiday season beautifully.

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MY STORY IS HOW THE LOSS OF A BABY HAS MADE ME THE PERSON I AM TODAY. Amanda and Jeremy’s Story

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ometimes an editor receives a story which needs to be shared.

This one was generously submitted and it shows that resilience from within and support from others can get people through the saddest experiences.

Back in 2012 my daughter was stillborn at 36 weeks. It was the single most devastating moment of my life. It completely hit me like a steam train and I sunk into major anxiety and depression.

At the time I thought I would never get through it.

I already had a daughter who was 5 at the time.

After counselling and medication I went onto have a son - an incredible moment for me and my husband. He was perfect and completely changed our lives for better. Bringing light to a dark dark time.

Forward to 2019 and I have an 11 year old daughter and a 6 year old son. Not a day goes by I don’t thing of my precious angel. My family and friends have been my compete rocks and I wouldn’t be here today without all of them. Rabbi Pete has always been a great source of comfort and help and we thank him for all he has done for us as a family.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY FOUNDERS’ - 23rd November

The service will be led by Rabbi Alan Mann and will be followed by a special Kiddush.

FIRST NIGHT OF CHANUKKAH - 22nd December 16

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DANIEL'S ACHIEVEMENTS RECOGNISED AT THE HOUSES (0)(4**%((54&&:)0#).+%)A0/&2)(."1%K)"#2)K+$()/%-"/G"9&%)"*+$%,%-%#.)$()")./4%)$# OF PARLIAMENT :04#1)8%08&%)$#)04/)"/%"@)8"/.$*4&"/&:).+0(%)&$G%)+$-)A+0)+",%)")&%"/#$#1)2$("9$&$

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ccompanied by his family TLSE member Daniel Bernard, who has autism and learning difficulties, proudly accepted the Most Inspirational Young Person award at the Inspire the House awards at The Houses of Parliament recently. He won gold with team GB Men's Basketball team in the Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi. Daniel was nominated by Watford MP Richard Harrington who wrote that Daniel had "overcome adversity to represent his country so successfully on the world stage" and "his remarkable achievement is a true inspiration to young people in our area, particularly ) those like him who have a learning disability".

OPERA COMES TO ELSTREE - CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF TLSE

W

ith a welcoming glass of Prosecco, and tables with plates of sandwiches and tiers of mini-deserts, the audience recently settled down to a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment.

Our opera singer, Bronwen Hughes’s took us on a ‘Journey through Opera and Musical Theatre’ giving us songs ranging from the ‘Merry Widow Waltz’ to ‘Nesum Dorma’ and ‘Without You ‘(My Fair Lady) to Puccini’s ‘O mio babbino caro’. Bronwen, who is actually Australian had a corporate career but returned to intensive vocal studies in 2014. She now lives and performs in the UK and has sung with the London Philharmonic Choir and Voce Chamber Choir, performing in London and on tour. Since 2015 she has had many leading roles with opera companies in the UK She is a Director of the successful Rogue Opera brand, which provides private and corporate clients with recitals, cabaret-style shows and pop up ‘street performances’. She has performed at the Australian Embassy, around north London for the Jewish Association of

Cultural Societies (JACS) the V&A Museum. and of course, now at TLSE. Her beautiful mezzo soprano voice was a joy to hear and greatly appreciated by everyone present. With the proceeds of a raffle, this joyful event managed to raise over £600 for the WJR and TLSE. Thank you to the organisers/caterers (Harry and Carol, Peter and Barbara), for all their hard work.

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2)B6) 4#./:) 0#).0) TLSE LUNCH CLUB

0 05 he5TLSE Lunch Club is usually

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held at the synagogue on the last Tuesday of every month from 1pm to 3pm. We provide a three course hot lunch prepared by a team of volunteers, and there is always a speaker or musical performance afterwards. Topics are very varied – recently these have covered the film business, tales from a caterer, Jewish genealogy, the NSPCC / ChildLine Schools Service, travel photography, Yiddish songs, and many other subjects suggested by members or by speakers recommended to us. It is a good opportunity for our retired or older members to come together to meet, chat, enjoy a tasty lunch and listen to the chosen speaker.

This successful Club has been running for 13 years and was started by Carol Hurst who used to do all the cooking and organisation herself every month!

When she finally handed it over to others a couple of years ago, we needed to form a group of several different people who now share the duties of cooking, serving and organising the running of the Club each month. We arrange for a notice to be published in the HaKol magazine each month to give a reminder of the date and speaker for the forthcoming session.

All are welcome, but for catering purposes we ask members and friends wishing to attend to contact us in advance each time to book their place.

The group size varies from 20 to 35, and we are sometimes able to offer lifts if members have transport difficulties. There is a small charge of £5 per session to cover food costs.

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For more information, to book a place, or to offer to be one of our volunteer drivers or cooks, please contact Ann at ann_7747@hotmail.com or phone 01923 857740.

Note from the editor: One of the team at the Lunch Club found some notes on what might be thought of as traditional Jewish fare and its effect on longevity. It turns out in this less than scientific survey that Salt Beef is acceptable if you remove both the salt and the beef. Lutkes and fried fish are perfect as long as they are not fried.

No fat is permissible in the chicken soup. The author of the report suggests leaving out the chicken to avoid the offending ingredient. Bagels, made from white flour should be avoided and other favourites such as cheese cake and lokshen pudding are full of sugar and calories so they come off the list. The author of the tongue in cheek article suggests that he would rather eat well than worry about the input into his body. It’s the eater’s decision but perhaps the rule should be not too much of what you fancy doesn’t you too much harm (unless you are allergic to it and your doctor tells you to steer clear of it)

DO YOU HAVE AN ARTICLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? CONTACT THE EDITOR ON 020 8953 8889 Hakoleditor0@gmail.com

0 50 5 Elstree High Street, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3EY

GENERALINFORMATION INFORMATION GENERAL

T Phone: 020 8953 8889 Email: office@tlse.org.uk L www.tlse.org.uk S Edited

by Ruth Herman E Please Note: The office is usually occupied every day except Saturday but the hours are varied. Every effort will be made to respond to you within 2 hours.

Would all those involved in arranging functions services or meetings please contact the office on 0208 953 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 1st December but submissions will be accepted at any time and early submission is appreciated.

Hakoleditor0@gmail.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR My fellow co-founder and I think the remark printed in the High Holy days 5780 pink sheet to be insensitive and off-putting in encouraging members to attend services.

To quote: “There really is no point in coming to our services without a book to follow” Some people may have poor vision, cannot read Hebrew be hard of hearing and many other reasons for not having a book, but to say they shouldn’t attend services is very uncalled for. They may like to hear their roots, listening to the service and hearing the shofor blown a very relaxing experience and uplifting.

Shirley G. Piazza Rabbi’s response: I apologise if members were upset by any comment. It was clearly not intended to put people off attending services (though perhaps that’s why over 60% of the congregation didn’t show up at all on Yom Kippur, in which case I am mortified).

There are so many meaningful readings in the book and I have often seen worshippers with no apparent disability staring aimlessly into space as they do not have a book.

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