Shofar April 2013 by Finchley Progressive

April 2013

Shofar

‫שופר‬

the magazine of finchley progressive synagogue

Memories & Visions FPS at 60

From the Editor pat lehner As I write, the snow is falling and it’s hard to believe Spring is around the corner. Hopefully, by the time you’re reading this it will be nice and warm, and we’ll have fresh memories from lovely seders and our popular outdoor Pesach service – ‘Crossing the Brook’- which takes place on Pesach day 7 (Monday 1 April). This Shofar is brimming with memories we hold close, and hopes and plans for the future. We look forward to our Civic service, when we celebrate our 60th anniversary with our many guests. We’ll have memories from six decades to share, with a planned exhibition of photos and articles. Yom HaShoah and our Czech scroll service will remind us that memory is not an optional luxury but core central to survival; the precious seed from which the future grows. Join us also for our Yom Ha’atzmaut services on April 12/13. Shofar also celebrates more recent memories from another successful Purim Spiel and a fabulous Weekend Away. Shofar is taking a break in May, so wishing you all a blooming Spring full of memories and visions!

Civic Service

saturday 20 april at 11.00am Join the Council to welcome our local MPs, the Mayor of Barnet and Councillors to a formal – yet musical – service where we will mark our anniversary and dedicate ourselves to the future. Please let the office know if you are attending as a Kiddush lunch will be provided. The Car Park will be reserved for guests and Blue badge holders. Please come on foot or by public transport. We are trying to get the CPZ restrictions changed to enable our congregants to park in the nearby streets on a Saturday morning.

From the Rabbi rabbi rebecca qassim birk

ne might expect a rabbi to be open to sociable activities. Being part of community is in my blood and I’ve been known to shepherd our children, as if they were a small congregation. But communal living? Weekends away with communities can be fine, enjoyable even, but our FPS weekend away planned and led by Alex Kinchin Smith and Josie Kinchin and their team was superb. If there was an option for us to move in together as a community I might take it. One evaluation form suggested; ‘Why stop at a weekend? Why not a week away?’ Even I, who was looking forward to it, was pleasantly surprised by the warmth, energy and openness at the weekend and it’s a tribute to our community that we foster it inside our building and even when we are away from it. In the Book of Exodus as the Mishkan, the tabernacle, is being built God promises, If the Israelites build me a mishkan I will dwell amongst them. Not within it, but amongst them. This has always struck me. It’s not the building that is the sacred space. It’s the people inside it. Ultimately a community is just that; a group of people who pledge to work, live (sometimes), eat, pray and learn together for a shared purpose. One of our Vice Presidents Sheila King Lassman once told me, “that is what community is; people seeking connection to each other. And that is what is most meaningful to me”. That does not come with no effort. We give of our time, energy and interest to interact in that way , and the fruits can be impressive. So I echo Laura’s appreciation of all who work so hard in this synagogue. Those of you who channel the pleasure you receive right back

into the initiatives we offer. At a Membership meeting at my home this week I was struck by relatively new members enthusing about their experience at FPS and wanting to share that with others. I hope we continue to look after each other, to see our role as a force for good in the wider local community and be a place for happy and positive memories for all of us involved. May the door of this synagogue be wide enough to receive all who hunger for love, all who are lonely for fellowship. May the door of this synagogue be narrow enough to shut out pettiness and pride, envy and enmity. May its threshold be no stumbling block to young or straying feet. May it be too high to admit complacency, selfishness, and harshness. May this synagogue be, for all who enter, the doorway to a richer and more meaningful life. The New Mahzor, Prayer Book Press, 1998.

From the Chair laura lassman

There is so much happening at FPS and so many people involved in making things happen that I wanted to use my Shofar piece to say a huge thank you to all volunteers. There have been two major community events which were incorporated into the sixtieth celebrations and which you can see in this edition of Shofar. Coming up we have the Civic Service, the Founders Tea and the Concert for a Summer Evening. Each one is organised and supported by a team of volunteers as is so much that we offer here. Alongside the special events, volunteers enable regular activities to take place and new task groups are evolving all the time. It is an ideal way to become part of the community, making connections with others, laying the foundations for new friendships, supporting those in need such as the Homeless Shelter, providing role models for our young people and sharing the fruits of ones labours. We are currently reviewing our

communications: how to keep all our members informed, share what’s happening and enable you to get the information you need when you want it. We also want our publications and website to reach out to potential new members and people who want to know about Liberal Judaism in this neck of the woods. We need to make the most of the communication channels that are available to us and ensure effort is evenly spread for print and online delivery. Over the coming months a team will be considering how to integrate Shofar, the website, the calendar, the Shabbat flyer and the weekly email. This has been on the to-do list for a while but we are finally getting to grips with it. If you would like to participate in this review and are able to help in one of the areas please let me know. We do not have unlimited funds and, as a charity, it is important that we use them to greatest effect. In May, you will receive a newsletter for the month rather than Shofar by email or in the post if you are not online. The communications team will be pleased to receive any views on what how you would like to see us proceed.

Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israel is 60! To celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut there will be an Israeli themed Kiddush/party immediately following the Erev Shabbat Service on Friday 12 April. Rikud will be dancing and all are welcome and invited to contribute food with an Israeli theme. Why not come dressed in blue and white to add to the celebration.

60th Anniversary building on strong foundations

These are just some of the enormous amount of photos of the FPS archive. The newspaper clipping is from the Finchley Press, April 19th 1962 and shows the laying of the foundation stone of our synagogue by Monty Levy, then synagogue president. At that time FPS is still called the Finchley Jewish Liberal Congregation, and the paper notes that the community will

have had to raise £60,000 for their new home! The next photo shows Monty Levy’s son Dick Levy laying the stone for the extension that houses most of the Ivriah classrooms. I can’t think of a better way to illustrate the ‘foundations’ of our synagogue – the relationships of families and friends who come together here over many years – and often spanning generations.

founders tea sunday 12 may 2013 We will be welcoming old friends, relatives of founder members and celebrating our origins with an exhibition of memories If you would like an invitation, please email lionel.lassman@gmail.com or call Angela on 020 8446 4063

FRANKLYN GELLNICK DEAN STAKER CANTOR GERSHON SILINS melodies from Jewish prayer, life cycle and entertainment Tickets £15 each; Concessions: £7.50 Group booking: 10 tickets: £100 Includes refreshments

Finchley Progressive Synagogue 54 Hutton Grove, London N12 8DR email: administrator@fps.org

Beit Tefillah services at fps

services - april Monday 1 April

Crossing the Brook Outdoor Pesach service

Friday 5 April

Kabbalat Shabbat service

Saturday 6 April

10.00am Reflective breakfast 11.00am Yom HaShoah & Czech Scroll service

Friday 12 April

Yom Ha’atzmaut Kabbalat Shabbat

Saturday 13 April

Breakfast Shiur & Shabbat morning service

Friday 19 April

Shabbat Resouled

Saturday 20 April Friday 26 April

Shabbat Civic service

Saturday 27 April

Shabbat morning service

Kabbalat Shabbat service

saturday 6 april

fps breakfast shiur

10.00am Reflective Breakfast with Rabbi Rebecca and guests, “Memories of Survival” followed by 11.00am Yom HaShoah and Czech Scroll service Our guest speaker will be Neil Pike from Nottingham Progressive Synagogue and we will honour our scrolls and our loved ones. This year Sofer Rabbi Ron Berry has been attending to our Czech Scrolls and will continue to work on them over the coming months. Our own Diana King will share her story of Kindertransport with the congregation as well.

Please note change of date: Saturday 13 April – 8.45am Swimming in St Paul’s Cathedral / Alan Ereira The top of St Paul’s Cathedral stands 67m above sea level. It has been calculated that when the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets finish melting, that is exactly where the sea will be. What else is going to happen? How will this affect the Northern Line? And are we really meant to take this seriously?

Beit Knesset what’s happening at fps cafe thursday

book club

Thursdays @12.45pm April 4 | Lunch, poetry & prose reading April 11 | Lunch & musical interlude April 18 | Café Thursday marks Israel Independence Day April 25 | Café Thursday goes Spanish – bring your castanets! £6, for details contact Nicky Marzell via the synagogue office

Wednesday 10 April @8.00pm. For details please see page 11.

yoga

Mondays @7.oopm Tuesdays @7.30pm Contact Richard on 020 8349 9602 film club

Sunday 7 April @7.30pm, ‘Mr Hulot’s Holiday’. For details please see page 11.

bridge group

Mondays @7.45 / £3, contact Gunter Lawson on 020 8346 5208 rosh chodesh group

Celebration of the new moon by women gathering for learning and spiritual exploration (Over a glass of wine) Rosh Chodesh Iyyar: Thursday 11 April ‘Jewish women writers’ (two short stories will be scanned and emailed to you in good time) Rosh Chodesh Sivan: Thursday 9 May - ‘Can we have it all?’ Rosh Chodesh Tamuz: Monday 10 June ‘Women and power’

people congratulations & mazal tov

Melanie Coleby & family on her Bat Mitzvah Many members are celebrating important life milestones by hosting and accepting a mitzvah at a Shabbat service. If you have a celebration you would like to share with the community please contact the office. our sincerest condolences

To the family of Tina Glass, long-time FPS member. And to Dan Luxon and family on the death of his mother We wish the families long life. a warm welcome to new members

Melvyn Newman & CA Cranston David & Janey Ching Lan Wayne

yahrzeit list

There is an FPS Yahrzeit list from which we remind those who would like a Yahrzeit to be announced, that the date is coming up. If you do want to be reminded please provide the office with: Name of the Honoree, Date of Yahrzeit (Hebrew or secular depending which date is to be observed), Name of Observer/s winners of 50/50 february draw were:

1st 2nd 3rd

Wika Dorosz £30 Corinne Openheimer £20 Joseph Hydes £15

winners of 50/50 march draw were:

1st 2nd 3rd

Ann Pellham Asher Jacobsberg Jessica Lichtenstern

£30 £20 £15

Beit Midrash learning at fps adult study

pilates at fps

Thursday evenings from 7:30pm – Adult study April 18 & 25 “Germany in the Thirties Through the words of Rabbi Israel Mattuck” Report of one who left Germany (April 1933); What a Year of Hitlerism has taught the Jews and the World (April 1934); The moral crisis in Europe (January 1936) presented by Rabbi Danny Rich and others £5 donation/session

We have re-started a weekly Pilates class with professional Pilates trainer Tali Swart. Tali is a specialist of the lower back but covers all aspects of Pilates and will tailor exercises to suit each individual. The classes take place on Thursday evening 6.30-7.15pm, before the Beit Midrash discussion. The cost is £10 per session, payable half-termly in advance, but this will go down if more members join. If you would like to join the class or have any queries, contact Adrian Lister adrianlister@blueyonder.co.uk or 07966 222953 (evenings preferred).

coming in may

“The Moral Maze”, starting May 2 Hebrew / Delving into Judaism: A Course to Refresh and Illuminate Judaism

cafe ivriah

Shabbat mornings, from 9.30am An informal lively discussion over coffee for Ivriah parents & others

a museum visit: kitaj Join us for an outing to the Jewish Museum to the exhibition of paintings by Jewish artist R.B. Kitaj. Arranged under the auspices of Rabbi Rebecca’s Wednesday Lunch and Learn sessions, all are welcome to come along as together we search out the artist’s personal expression of ethnic Judaism. Many will remember the enormously enjoyable session with Sara Dibb at the National Gallery—see the cover of the February issue of Shofar—to study portraits of Jewish women by famous artists. It is hoped that Sara Dibb will again be able to lead this group and enhance understanding and appreciation of the works in the exhibition. The event will take place on Wednesday, 8 May, at 10.30 am. The group will meet in the

lobby of the Jewish Museum (Camden Town). Please let the office know if you are coming so that we can make arrangements for a group discounted entry of £6 for an adult or £5 for concession. Otherwise the admission ticket is £7.50 for adults or £6.50 for concessions. Admission is free with Art Pass. Don’t miss this exciting event!

Arts at FPS the screen on the grove The Film Club celebrates the 60th anniversary of the founding of FPS with five outstanding five star films from the year 1953---everyone a masterpiece of cinema history and each one different from the others. After ‘Roman Holiday’in March we continue our season with 7 April | Mr Hulot’s Holiday with Jacque Tati. Last year everyone was raving about the French silent film, The Artist. It seems that all had forgotten about the previous French silent film of equal brilliance from 1953. Without saying a word, Tati will have you going from one laugh

to another. And you don’t even need subtitles. 5 May | Lili with Leslie Caron and Mel Ferrer. This charming film stars Leslie Caron as a touchingly naïve French girl, whose emotional relationship with a carnival puppeteer is conducted through the medium of his puppets. Caron was nominated for an Academy Award for her brilliant performance and the film is listed as one of the NY Times’ all-time greats. book club

The Book Club Meetings are held in people’s homes, 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month. Contact sheilakl@waitrose.com if you’d like to join.

letter from america Dear FPS. I was actually in town in late December (as an avid Limmudnik), and while at conference, I was so pleased to see Stanley Volk; we crossed paths often at the late night kumsitz (singalongs). I did get to enjoy the home hospitality of Beverley and David Aarons, and went to Friday night services at FPS, following Limmud. It was a lovely service led by Student Rabbi Rene, and I did manage to see a few familiar FPS faces at the service. Unfortunately, I had to race out after services, as I was expected in Muswell Hill for dinner so I couldn’t socialize and shmooze as much as I’d have liked. What I did get to see and experience though, was the vibrancy of the community, enjoying the music of Dean and Beverley, and the general camaraderie. I also was able to see some of the classrooms (proudly shared by Josh Hamerton!) and am so pleased

to see such creativity continue. As much as I miss London and the communities in which I worked, I do have to admit that I’m glad I’m back in the States. I returned so that I could be closer to my family, and the timing was good: my mom was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in early March. I live 3.5 hours away, so I was spending weekends with her, whilst one of my sisters (who lives an hour away from her) came in several times a week to take her to doctor’s appointments, etc. My youngest sister lives 8 hours away and comes up once a month for a week. It’s been a unique (not recommended!) bonding experience for us and I know it would have been impossible for me to deal with it all if continued on page 14

Hothorpe Hall Weekend sharon michael

On the weekend of 1st March 2013, members and friends of FPS retreated to Hothorpe Hall, Leicestershire. Attendees covered young and the less young. Children ranging from babes with fresh memories of the Brit Milah to teenagers who were glad to shake off their parents and entertain each other. For me personally, the weekend was an excellent opportunity to reconnect with my Judaism, and to get to know and spend time with members of FPS. We started the weekend at Hothorpe with a warm welcome from Josie, followed by a Family Service, dinner and group activities. On Shabbat, service was followed by various workshops which were educational, enlightening and fun. I even got the

opportunity to make a Challah Cover. The broad range of activities, seminars and communal events ensured everyone was catered for. From book groups to introspective male and female only events, all had the opportunity to explore their beliefs and express their views on a range of subjects from favourite meals to Jewish literature. There was no pressure to attend and the weekend catered for those who wished to share, those who wanted to pray, and those who just wanted to be. The setting was perfect, the organisation without fault and the effort from those who organised all the activities was admirable and appreciated. Photos by David Pelham

Purim Spiel maureen lobatto disappointing purim spiel?

o way!, anything but! - just a line from one of the adapted songs in the show!. Imaginatively written and directed by Philippa and James, it was enormously enjoyed by the packed shul, and by the players who ranged from 7 to 70 years old. Time was bent between the biblical period of the story of Purim and the founding of FPS in 1953. To bridge the time divide, a very realistic and full sized ‘Dr. Who’ type Tardis was on stage, allowing Esther, and Mordechai, to land at Hutton Grove in the 20th century and get the better of Haman and Ahazuarus, who had followed them. Apart from the humourous dialogue and subtle Dickens references, the Spiel was enhanced by some lovely singing by the cast of

songs influenced by the musicals of “Joseph and His Many-coloured Coat”, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Annie”, such as The Time Warp, and Sara’s solo Tomorrow. It had taken several weeks of rehearsal to prime us all up for the day, but a good time was had by one and all. Photos by Tom Horna, see TomHorna.com

april ivriah dates Friday 19

4.30-6.30

Friday Ivriah first of term followed by Shabbat Resouled

Shabbat 20

9.30-12.30 11.00

Shabbat Ivriah first of term Kids Kehillah

Friday 26

4.30-6.30

Friday Ivriah

Shabbat 27

9.30-12.30

Shabbat Ivriah

hebrew @ ivriah

Since September we have been using the Rosenwasser Method to learn Hebrew at Ivriah. We have great fun in our classes every week. Kita Alef and Bet children love to learn their letters and after the holidays they practiced writing their letters and words using playdough! Joshua Hamerton letter from america (cont. from page 11)

I’d been in London. So tho I have mixed feelings about leaving London, it was the right thing to do. My full-time work is interpreting for a 13 year old boy in school; he’s smart and witty, so it is fun to work with him. I’ve returned to my old shul (where I was Head Teacher 20 years ago!), and am teaching Hebrew and Judaica, as well as being one of the Trustees. I also run the monthly pre-school/nursery for 2-5 year olds, and I’m still telling stories with armadillos. The collection is growing...I now have over 3000!! I did bring a gift: it’s in the freezer and is labelled for next year’s Sukkot celebrations. (Please make sure it stands straight or it will 14

spill). I missed all of you at Sukkot, as nobody here does Sukkah smoothies the way FPS does!! I wish you all a good winter season; I see that we have similar weather, as it snowed quite a bit here yesterday, (enough to cancel school!). I hope to see you all next year, and my guest room is open to all and any of you. (I’m an hour north of Boston, Massachusetts) B’shalom, EJ

IVRIAH The students are learning about ‘Community’ and Ivriah proudly presents its first

and Are invited to be guests of Ivriah and to tell their story on 6th July 2013 from 9.30 a.m onwards and to include Shabbat B’Yachad No grandchildren in Ivriah? Some children have no grandparents either  So please come along as ‘step’ grandparents For further information, please email our Head Teacher - Daniela Rotbande on drotbande.fps@gmail.com 15

Contacts fps whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who finchley progressive synagogue

synagogue committees & groups:

54 Hutton Grove N12 8DR www.fps.org 020 8446 4063

Beit Midrash (Education): Co-ordinated by Laura Lassman. Working groups with responsibility for Ivriah; Young families; Adult Education; Youth Club Beit Tefillah (Rites & Practices): Co-ordinated by Joan Shopper. Working groups with responsibility for Shabbat; Life Cycle; Festivals; High Holydays Beit Knesset (Community): Co-ordinated by David Aarons. Working groups with responsibility for Contact; Membership; New members; Events Operations: Co-ordinated by David Pelham Working groups with responsibility for Premises; Finance; Security. If you would like to join any of these working groups, please contact the relevant co-ordinator

Charity Number: 1071040 Rabbi: Rebecca Qassim Birk rabbi@fps.org / 07939 227480 Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner Synagogue Manager: Pauline Gusack pauline@fps.org Community Manager: Angela Wharton angela@fps.org executive

Chair: Laura Lassman chair@fps.org / 07957 545 569 Vice-Chair: Joan Shopper & David Aarons 01582 792 959 Joint Treasurers: Richard Kravetz & Martin Silk 020 8349 9602

shofar editor

Pat Lehner / shofar@fps.org Editorial assistant Sarah Aldridge

Honorary Secretary: David Pelham 020 8445 8111 Board of Deputies Reps: Stanley Volk & Janet Tresman Life President: Clive Winston President: Sheila King Lassman

ashley page

janet tresman

insurance brokers

mediator & collaborative family law solicitor consultant now at hoffman-bokaei.co.uk

Commerce House 2a Litchfield Grove London N3 2TN Tel. 020 8349 5100

FPS is a constituent of Liberal Judaism 21 Maple Street W1T 4BE 020 7580 1663 LJY Netzer (youth dept) 020 7631 0584

Lithos House, 307 Finchley Road London NW3 6EH Tel. 020 7433 2380 / jlt@hoffman-bokaei.co.uk