July-August 2016
Shofar
שופר
the magazine of finchley progressive synagogue
Summer is here!
From the Editor pat lehner We were in the process of finalizing the summer issue of Shofar when the terrible news of the death of Jo Cox MP came in. There are some events that demand a reaction that goes beyond a momentary pause of reflection. When a hardworking and talented Member of Parliament is murdered while doing the very thing she was elected to do, it serves as a judgment on our entire society. There is a viciousness and lack of humanity in the current political atmosphere – in our entire public discourse – that should shame us all. Jo Cox represented the best version of what a politician can be, and our society is poorer without her. I’d like to share Rabbi Rebecca’s reaction in place of the regular editorial:
For me it was the unintentional footage of her handbag lying on the street. A bag that, one can only imagine, contained parliamentary papers, constituents notes and probably calamine lotion for her children’s chicken pox. (They currently have it.) Jo Cox was an ordinary mother, bright MP, proud Yorkshire lass as she described herself. Shofar was on its way to print when we heard the sad, sad news of the murder of Jo Cox, MP for just a year. But in that short time she had already made her mark: with her work on Human Rights, and her focus on the positive benefits of immigration, to name just two issues that benefitted from her passion. She was murdered while she was serving her constituency. She was the first MP to be murdered since Ian Gow 1990. It is a dark day for Britain, for democracy, and for the existence of a political landscape in which the presence of diverse views is not just tolerated but celebrated. Her family have lost her but so has our parliament, a bright clear voice who had only just begun. Shofar is always interested in including photos of FPS members, either at synagogue events, with their families or on their travels near and far. Please remember to send them to us: pat@ericlehner.com
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Cover: Noah SusgaardVigon takes part in Musical Shabbatots. Photographed by Rabbi Rebecca Birk
Copy deadline is the 10th of each month. Please email all content to shofar@fps.org
From the Rabbi rabbi rebecca birk
T
he world has felt unpredictable and unnerving at times these past few months. And we will, reading July’s Shofar, know the outcome of our future in or outside of the European Union. Last month saw the worst U.S gun massacre in history in Orlando, Florida. Last month we had Shavuot in the Woods when 40 folk from FPS gathered to celebrate the festival in rainy rural Hertfordshire and our children searched for, translated and commented on the 10 Commandments (hidden by me amongst the overgrown nettles and woodland). Thou Shalt Not Murder lay next to our bonfire and we listened on our way home to the reports of another murderous attack of innocent citizens. Our children are familiar with such reports. And yet life goes on. The Euro 2016 championships, school shows, plans for Summer, and preparations to send young people on Kadimah. Life continues and we hold on to all the strands. The 50 Syrian refugees our community asked Barnet to welcome, the most vulnerable fleeing from a very particular danger are now arriving. We can do things to alleviate some of the unpredictable suffering. Now our synagogue is leading on Barnet Council’s Welcome Lunch for the first 5 Syrian families on 11 July, planned and hosted by some of our
members. These photos are of our new Torah binder. It is quite beautiful and moving, a tribute to the Czech Scroll it holds and a hope for its future in our community with the names of babies born into it. Lovingly designed and made by Linda Gevertz and Ruth Breibart, it is a testament to what being a Jew is, a witness and an engaged participant all at once. Wishing you a peaceful and rejuvenating summer.
Photos by Eric Lehner
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From the Chair alex kinchin-smith
As I write this, I have just returned from a rather wet, but thoroughly enjoyable ‘Shavuot in the Woods’ which 40 or so of us spent in the great outdoors near Kings Langley in Hertfordshire. I must give a really big thanks to Katherine Klinger for hosting us there. They were the perfect surroundings to engage in some study of Midrash and contemplate the meaning of Torah while the kids scavenged for and translated the 10 commandments. The food and zip-wire were pretty good too although the weather was not quite the beautiful June day we had hoped for!
Although, as I’ve said, many of us take our holidays over this time, I am told that God does not, so everyone remains welcome each and every weekend. Looking ahead to warmer times this summer, on 12 July we have our Annual General Meeting. I feel that this is not only an essential part of governance of the synagogue, but a genuine opportunity for members to reflect on the past year and ask questions (constructively I hope) of the Officers and Council who volunteer in positions of leadership. In addition, we also invite a speaker each year to say a few words after our formal business has been concluded and I am delighted that Paul Anticoni, Chief Executive of World Jewish Relief (and one of 4
our own members) has agreed to speak. I am sure that hearing from Paul about how WJR has become the leading humanitarian and development agency amongst UK Jewry will be fascinating. I urge you to join us for the meeting whether it be to hear from Paul or simply to find out what your subscriptions are spent on. This issue of Shofar covers the months of July and August, a time when many of us take our holidays. This year for the first time both our boys will be going to Kadimah Summer Camp, run by LJY-Netzer. If you are considering this for your children but are not yet sure then I’ll relate the conversation I had with Jacob (age 11 turning 12) last week: Me: How was your week at PGL? (A week’s climbing, surfing, high wires with 80 school mates) Jacob: Pretty awesome. Me: Better than the Isle of Wight? (A week of theme parks, surfing, beach with 30 school mates) Jacob: About the same. Me: Better than Kadimah? Jacob: Dad, nothing is better than Kadimah! Seriously parents, if you want your kids to grow up with a strong sense of Jewish identity I cannot recommend anything more strongly. Plus, for us at least, two weeks with no kids! Lastly, just to make sure you are aware that during the summer the synagogue is indeed open. Although, as I’ve said, many of us take our holidays over this time, I am told that God does not, so everyone remains welcome each and every weekend.
Say Cheese(cake)! simone lee 3300 years ago – picture this: Hey, there goes Moses zip-wiring down Mount Sinai and, look, he’s setting up a treasure hunt for the Children of Israel to find the 10 commandments somewhere in the wilderness! Hang on, what’s happening now? There’s a ritual sacrifice with some quorn sausages and soya burgers. Gevalt, would you Adam and Eve it? – there’s no signal, so I can’t post the photo on Facebook. Last Week: What would Moses have made of our earthy and glorious celebration of Shavuot in a wild, two-acre wood somewhere in the depths of Hertfordshire? Not exactly desert and beating sun, but a wilderness nevertheless. About forty FPS celebrants defied the weather warnings, withstood the trauma of no network signal and muddied themselves along the Chiltern Way (first left over a gate, mind the slugs and
nettles) into an impossibly wonderful ancient woodland of which our own Katherine Klinger is “custodian” – you can’t own a wood, she says, it belongs to nature. Yells and squeals rang out from among the trees as the children played and raced on the zip-wires. Our shelter, or ‘tent’, was an enormous weathered Russian parachute, suspended from a huge tree, at whose heart was placed barbecue fire bowl) over which we made offerings of S’Mores (marshmallows and chocolate melted in biscuits) and veggie fare. While some may think that the traditional structure of Jewish Law is anachronistic, Rabbi Rebecca adapts it and makes it relevant to us, integrating that which is meaningful, spiritual and nourishing. She also understands well that our young people are custodians of our Jewish heritage. This is in harmony with the ancient pledge made by the Children of Israel all those centuries ago: Then the Israelites said: ‘Our children will be our guarantors.’ To which God replied: ‘In truth these are good guarantors. For their sake I will give it to you.’” (Song of Songs Rabbah, 1:4) So, what better way to engage children in accessible and fun learning than by having a treasure hunt of the 10 commandments in the woods? And, of course, we must give a nod to the harvest festival and festival of first fruits who share this anniversary and whose evocative names stimulate images of bounty and nature. Katherine was the last to leave, staying to put out the embers and lock up, hopefully gratified that her generosity had inspired so much pleasure and provided so many photo opportunities: Say Cheese (cake)! 5
Miriam’s Stolpersteine miriam bixer
“Why don’t you ask for a Stolpersteine?” someone asked me on a trip to Germany. The Stolpersteine are memorials to individual victims of the Nazis. So I set about putting in a request to commemorate my aunt and uncle, who had lived in Berlin and been deported to Auschwitz. With all the necessary details sent, finalised and approved, my daughter Gabriella and I set off to Berlin to attend the installation. The idea of the Stolpersteine (literally ‘stumble stones’) is the brainchild of artist Gunter Demnig: inscribed brass-coated cobblestones placed in front of victims’ houses to cause passers-by to stop, read and wonder. The inscription packs no punches: “Here lived Frieda Seidler, born Koeniger 1902, deported 04.03.1943, murdered in Auschwitz.” This, and already 50,000 like it, will remain in place for many generations and be a constant memorial, not to an inconceivably massive number but to the individual human beings murdered, then denied the decency of a funeral and gravestone.
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Gabriella and I arrived outside the Seidlers’ building for the 9am ceremony and found members of the organisation already there with flowers. We were joined not only by young volunteers but also passers-by and current occupants of the building – exactly as the Stolperstein concept intends. The (notably) young volunteers had the task of embedding the stones into the pavement in front of the house. A lively discussion ensued as to the best position and eventually the pavement was dug up and the stones installed. A very moving speech by one of the representatives followed and flowers were placed on the stones. I spoke of my memories of my aunt and uncle and finally Gabriella and I said Kaddish. It was extremely moving and I’m very happy that we went and did the least we could in their memory. I encourage others who have lost loved ones to the Holocaust to do the same.
Introducing Gabriel Webber Gabriel Webber will be starting work as Community Development Manager on 16 July. Here, he shares a few introductory thoughts:
I first visited FPS aged 16, battling my way down a snowy Hutton Grove in February 2009. I’ve been back a fair bit since, hosting LJY-Netzer youth events here, sleeping on your floor, unleashing children on your crockery. And on those brief visits I learned enough to know that this is a warm and welcoming
community, so I am very pleased to be joining you as Community Development Manager. Since finishing my movement work for LJYNetzer, running events and training volunteers to inspire the next generation of Liberal Jews, I’ve been working part-time at Kingston Liberal Synagogue, helping support the community through its interregnum between rabbis. For me, a synagogue is the most important unit of Jewish life. One can pray, one can read Jewish books, one can visit Israel – but the synagogue is about more than one. It’s what happens when Jewish people come together and create something wonderful. It’s where ages mix. It’s where members give and take. It’s where everybody finds an expression of their Judaism, whether they express it with head, heart or hands. And I’m excited to be working with the members of this community to continue FPS’ mission of inspiring and supporting everybody in it.
science of silence
FPS members are warmly invited to the synagogue’s 63rd Annual General Meeting To be held on Tuesday 12 July at 7.30pm Join the Council for refreshments from 7.00pm Guest speaker Paul Anticoni, Chief Executive of World Jewish Relief
Thanks to Richard Kravetz who, together with Rabbi Rebecca, ran the Science of Silence programme for 4 weeks in April and May and raised £300 for charity. If you would be interested in more sessions, please let Richard know by phoning him on 020 8349 9602 or emailing richard@yogaforall-uk.com
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Beit Tefillah services at fps
services - july - august Friday 1 July
Kabbalat Shabbat service
Saturday 2 July
Shabbat Service with Student Rabbi Naomi Goldman
Friday 8 July
Kabbalat Shabbat service
Saturday 9 July
Shabbat service celebrating Jess & Zac Neumann B’nei Mitzvah
Friday 15 July
Shabbat Resouled
Saturday 16 July
10.15 Musical Shabbatots service for 0-4’s with Emily 11.00 Shabbat Service
Friday 22 July
Kabbalat Shabbat service
Saturday 23 July
Shabbat service celebrating Oliver Bonneff Bar Mitzvah
Friday 29 July
Kabbalat Shabbat service
Saturday 30 July
Shabbat service
Friday 5 August
Kabbalat Shabbat service
Saturday 6 August
Shabbat B’Yachad
Friday 12 August
Kabbalat Shabbat and Tisha B’Av reflections
Saturday 13 August
Shabbat service
Friday 19 August
Shabbat Resouled
Saturday 20 August
Shabbat service
Friday 26 August
Kabbalat Shabbat service
Saturday 27 August
Shabbat service
August services are mostly led by lay members.
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Beit Knesset people congratulations & mazal tov to
Milcie Mendel who celebrated her 100th birthday in June Monty Bixer who celebrated his 90th birthday in June Jackie & Roger Marks who celebrated their golden wedding in June Jess & Zac Neumann who celebrate their B’nei Mitzvah on 9 July Oliver Bonneff who returns to FPS to celebrate his Barmitzvah on 23 July bon voyage to
and who have brought much to FPS life. We look forward to their Letters from America. condolences to
Ofra Rosenwasser on the death in June of her mother Trudi, also an FPS member Dorothy Hill on the death in June of her mother Eva Morrison 50/50 club draws, june winners:
1st 2nd 3rd
Corinne Oppenheimer £20 Andrew Hochhauser £15 Corinne Oppenheimer £10
Elaine and Martin Borish who are moving back to the USA after many years in England
Bradley Reback & Stuart Lawrence being married by Rabbi Rebecca
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Beit Midrash learning at fps Rabbi Rebecca returns to the Reflecting on Siddur Lev Chadah: Prayer Classes before Shabbat morning service at 10.00am on 16 & 23 July. With coffee and cake. Beit Midrash takes a break for the summer but returns on 10 October with a new series, Making a Difference, led by individuals who in their life and work have made a positive difference to the world around them. Speakers will include Ruth Barnett (Holocaust Education Trust), Lyn Julius (Harif, the Association of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa) and Hannah Weisfeld (Yachad).
for the series in advance. Contact Pauline in FPS office also at beit midrash... pilates
6.30 - 7.15pm Get fit in our small, friendly class, under the expert guidance of Tali Swart. Cost £60 for a series of six sessions. To arrange a trial session, contact Pauline in FPS office cafe ivriah
Saturdays 9.45 – 10.45am Informal discussion over coffee and biscuits, between Ivriah dropoff and morning service.
Thursdays, 7.30 - 9.30pm, with a break for refreshments. £5 donation on the door, or £25
edgwarebury cemetery
woodland burials
Because of the shortage of space at Jewish cemeteries, for the past five years it has been Liberal Judaism policy not to accept grave reservations but instead to offer the alternative to bury in depth. This means that on the death of the first spouse, burial is carried out in depth leaving the upper space for eventual use by the partner or another close member of the family. There is no longer the option to reserve graves. However, it is still possible to make grave reservations in the LJ section at Cheshunt Cemetery and this is an option you may wish to consider.
There is now a woodland burial area at Edgwarebury available to all members. The cost of a woodland plot is £1700 which is the cost charged to Liberal Judaism by West London who are making this area available to Progressive Jews. Woodland burials are also available at Cheshunt Cemetery for LJ members. Please remember that following a woodland burial no headstones are allowed. burial or cremation?
FPS records do not consistently show whether members wish to be buried or cremated. Because of the information above and the choices now available, please ensure that we have a record of your preference by contacting Pauline in FPS office. Joan Shopper, Burials Officer
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Beit Knesset arts at fps walk & talk @ cafe kenwood
cafe thursday
10.00am on the second Sunday of every month, for more information please contact Paul Silver-Myer 07855 632 871 or the synagogue office.
Thursdays @ 12.45pm, £6, for details contact Nicky Marzell via the synagogue office.
book club
The Book Club meetings are held in people’s homes at 8.00pm on the second Wednesday of each month. We choose a wide variety of books, many – but by no means all – of Jewish interest: the only condition is that the person who recommends a book has read it (and loved it!) and that it is available in paperback. For more information contact Sheila King Lassman on sheila@waitrose.com or Edgar Jacobsberg on e.jacobsberg@gmail.com yoga
bridge group
Mondays @ 7.30pm £4, for details contact Gunter Lawson on 020 8346 5208 rosh chodesh
Celebration of the new moon by women gathering for sharing, learning and spiritual exploration. We usually meet in the FPS Library. Following an interesting session led by a member of the London Ismaili Community earlier this year, Rosh Chodesh went on a visit to the Ismaili Centre in South Kensington - see photo below! Rosh Chodesh returns after the summer break.
Yoga Summer School at FPS 19 July - 23 August Richard Kravetz has organised a British Wheel of Yoga summer school at FPS from 19 July-23 August at a cost of £50 for 6 sessions or £10 each one. It will be taught by qualified yoga teachers who are donating their fees to Ourmala (www.ourmala.com) which provides yoga classes to refugees and asylum seekers. Emily Brett, founder and CEO of Ourmala will be teaching on 9 August. Book via BWY London website: www.bwylondon.co.uk/ events 11
London to Lima the bonneff family
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e’re coming home! After 18 months we can now write Lima to London! And not London to Lima! On 15 July, we will be taking the BA flight non stop to Gatwick. It has been about 20 years since there was a direct flight between these two cities and it couldn’t come at a better moment for us. Madrid or Amsterdam; this is momentous for us as we have a long history of travelling to Peru and missing connecting flights due to weather or technical issues. So what brings us home at this particular moment in time? Our son decided last year that he did not want to do his barmitzvah in Peru where he didn’t know anyone but wanted to do it with all of you at FPS. We have been spending a lot of time preparing for this as there is no barmitzvah programme, like the one we are fortunate to have at FPS, so Oli and I are making up the rules as we go along and hoping that it will all come right on his big day, 23 July. Over a year and half ago when we first knew that we were leaving for Peru we had to prepare our daughter Millie for her Batmitzvah in 3 months. This was because the Rabbi here in Lima said that girls do not do Batmitzvahs and if she wanted one it would be best to do it in the UK. As a result of our decision they will both
Shavuot in the Woods Panioramas. Photos: Jo Dowling
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have had slightly unusual preparations into their Jewish adulthood. We are so excited about coming home and are busy making lists of all our favourite foods that we have missed and want to bring back to Lima along with all the foods that we long to eat. I suspect that our return to London will find us gorging on our favourite crisps and biscuits and walking up and down the supermarket aisles. Of course, mostly I cannot wait to see all those people that have been so supportive of us since we have been away. It never ceases to amaze me how a WhatsApp or a phone call can change my whole day if it hasn’t been a great one. I know that it can be the same even if you are in the same city as your loved ones but I urge you to drop any overseas friends and family you have a quick line. If they are like me it will mean the world to them. So I’m taking a Shofar break for a couple of months and will be back with more news in the Jewish New Year. Love from the Bonneffs PS If you want to put a face to the letters from Lima, please come and join us for Oliver’s Barmitzvah. We would love to see you all.
From 0ur Members living alone?
...even if you don’t live alone Years ago, my neighbour Rosie woke up in the middle of the night and needed to take a short walk to the bathroom. She quickly got out of bed, leaving her assist button on her bedside table. As she arrived at her destination, she blacked out briefly and landed, feet upwards, in her empty, and very cold, bath. In the morning, hearing her shouts, I was able to rescue her.
2. Sit up slowly, and briefly pause. 3. Swing legs round and sit on side of bedpause. 4. Move legs around a few times - pause. 5. Slowly stand up-pause. 6. Then slowly walk to the bathroom. For Rosie, there was no recurrence of her drama.
After a hot cuppa and some breakfast, she was ready for us, together, to plan, a ‘nocturnal routine’ that would beat a sudden drop in blood pressure:
Two years ago, I am ashamed to say, I awoke from a deep sleep, and charged out of bed. I passed out very briefly, fell, and cracked a rib. I paid the price by experiencing a very painful three weeks. Nobody’s perfect!
1. Place assist button round neck.
Rochelle Simmons
Dean returns from Hava Nashira conference USA Ready to Inspire
FPS New Singing Group for Shabbat Morning
Join for Singing Thursday 7.30pm July 7, 14 and 21 Saturday
Th
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KT1 relax after their exhausting Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award expedition near Amersham. From left: Hannah Gellman, Ruben Qassim, Ella Balint-Kurti and Raphy Klinger-Fixler
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zac & jess neumann b’nei mitzvah
Hi, we are Zac and Jess Neumann and have been coming to FPS since we were born. We are celebrating our B’nei Mitzvah on the 9 July and would like to invite the whole community to come on Saturday morning and celebrate with us (Mum is doing the Kiddush so it should be good!). We were asked to say a few words about ourselves for Shofar so we thought the best thing would be to to answer some questions about each other: Zac on Jess: Best thing about Jess: I always have someone to share things with so thanks to him I have only had to learn half of the Torah portion. Worst thing about Jess: He likes to think he is better than me. Interesting fact about Jess: I am 5 minutes older than him.
Jess on Zac: Best thing about Zac: He is my partner in crime. Worst thing about Zac: He argues about everything and thinks he is always right. Interesting fact about Zac: He might be older but I am taller than him. Photo: Zac & Jess Neumann. Jess is wearing the Manchester United top.
Ivriah Last day of term 16 July Have a great Summer and see you on the first day of term 10 September or at Kadimah!
Time for Shabbatots! From left: Gabriel & Jeremy Kahn, Carla, Noah & Marc Susgaard-Vigon, Hugo & Jasmine Horna 15
Contacts fps who’s who finchley progressive synagogue
Wika Dorosz, Braham Fredman, Phillip Raphael
54 Hutton Grove N12 8DR 020 8446 4063 www.finchleyprogressivesynagogue.org
President: Alan Banes
Rabbi Rebecca Birk - rabbi@fps.org Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner Ivriah Principal: Rabbi Rebecca Birk Musicians in residence: Franklyn Gellnick, Dean Staker Synagogue Manager: Pauline Gusack pauline@fps.org Premises Manager: Howard Hamerton executive & council
Life Presidents: Clive Winston and Sheila King Lassman Vice Presidents: Renzo Fantoni, Josie Kinchin, Lionel King Lassman, John Lewis, David Pelham, Paul Silver-Myer, Andrea Rappoport, Joan Shopper contacts
Board of Deputies Reps: Janet Tresman, Stanley Volk Beit Midrash (Education): Adrian Lister, Louise Gellman
Chair: Alex Kinchin-Smith - chair@fps.org
Beit Tefillah (Rites & Practices): Michael Lassman, Josie Kinchin
Treasurer: Martin Silk
CafĂŠ Thursday: Nicky Marzell
Honorary Secretary: Josie Kinchin honsec@fps.org
Shofar Editor: Pat Lehner - shofar@fps.org
Vice-Chairs: Louise Gellman, Adrian Lister
Website editor: Viktoria Dorosz
Council members: Jacquie Fawcett,
ashley page insurance brokers Commerce House 2a Litchfield Grove London N3 2TN Tel. 020 8349 5100
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janet tresman mediator & collaborative family law solicitor now back in finchley! Altermans Solicitors 239 Regents Park Road, London N3 3LF Direct dial: 0203 1820121 Email: janet@altermans.co.uk