Shofar November 2018 by Finchley Progressive

November 2018

Shofar

‫שופר‬

the magazine of finchley progressive synagogue

Sanctuary Sukkot

From the Editor... a green spiel from an eco-worrier

It’s

been a while since my last rant (on plastics). Change of topic, unintentionally initiated by Michael Lassman’s visit to my kitchen. We all like clean dishes. We spend more than £310 million a year on dishwashing detergents. Fairy Liquid is Britain’s favourite. And 13 million-plus British households buy 150 million bottles of Fairy Liquid each year (Ecologist 2009). Sixty-five years after being launched and marketed as soft to the skin, the EU’s CLP Regulation declared that Fairy, along with a range of household brands, was corrosive and must carry chemical signs warning consumers. (Knapton, Telegraph 2015). Check the back of your Fairy Liquid for the red square and exclamation mark and read on: “Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.” My first response on reading this was to switch to a plant-based brand. But then I saw it had the same EU warning and the same ingredients as Fairy. Should I worry? Not really, says Refinery29, stating that the warning is there “to inform how to handle the product should a large quantity enter water.” They cite the saving grace of the liquid’s dilution—in the sink, the waste water system, the water treatment plant—before its discharge into rivers and the sea “where it is diluted further still.” Hmm. 150 million bottles of corrosive liquid disposed of down Britain’s sinks annually,

Shofar is always interested in hearing your news and including photos of FPS members, and their families, near and far. We welcome your articles on any relevant topic. Please send these to shofar@fps.org 2

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undergoing systematic dilution before its discharge into the ocean “where it is diluted further still”? The implication is that chemicals are still present when discharged into the sea. Since the Ecologist article, that’s an accumulative 1,350 million bottles of liquid (individually bought) disposed of down the sink. And that’s only one brand, one product, in Britain, in a multi-brand, multi-product, global industry. Again, should I worry? I searched for articles evaluating dishwashing liquids: Morrisons Own beat out Tesco’s, Sainsbury’s, Aldi’s and Fairy’s brand. But comparisons were based on cost and effectiveness, not environmental sustainability. (Thistlethwaite, Express March 2017). Such was my frame of reference when I compared the UK Fairy label with that of my daughter’s in Australia (as you do). Surprisingly, there is no warning concerning harm “to aquatic life with long lasting effects” and yet the Australian Fairy contains the same ingredients as in the UK. I contacted Stephen at P&G Consumer Care to ask why, if the product is harmful to aquatic life in Europe, wouldn’t it also be, in Australia? His reply was “As Australia is not within the EU the requirements for displaying these warning symbols is not the same for Fairy products produced there.” So, I questioned P&G’s duty of care, its ethical responsibility to consumers regarding the impact of their choices, and whether P&G disclosed the possible

Cover: Sanctuary Sukkot–tucking into Syrian nosh: Rabbi Councillor Danny Rich, Rabbi Rebecca Birk, Councillor Brian Salinger, Mayor of Barnet. Photo credit: Charlotte Fischer

Continued on page 14

Copy deadline is the 10th of each month. Please email all content to shofar@fps.org

From the Rabbi

rabbi rebecca birk

“don’t wait to be a mensch”

he first Shabbat of November is designated to be the collective moment for all eco-synagogues to pledge, commit further and be proud of doing so. At FPS we manage to use and wash our glass Kiddush cups rather than use plastic; we do have recycling bins. We use biodegradable veggie ware for any large gathering as at Sukkot. We collect our food waste. We use unbleached recycled paper for printing. We have tried hard to be a paperless Council. We pledge to use eco cleaning materials wherever possible. But we clearly have much work to do. Just a few weeks ago was Noach, the obvious portion which speaks to environmental concerns. Oscar Levy chanted it beautifully and spoke to its message – we are custodians of the earth. I shared, on that Shabbat, a little-known midrash about Noach leaving the ark. The story of the ark is our archetypal myth of destruction and new growth. The olive branch signifying new growth and the rainbow as the promise that there will not be another flood. We have seen many natural disasters throughout the generations. Today, we do not have a Noach. Nobody is building an ark. But we know of the science institutions worldwide, filled with climate experts, and the peer-reviewed articles that warn us of climate change threats. Unlike for Noach, there have been many wake-up calls: three consecutive years of record temperatures worldwide; three category 4 or 5 hurricanes within a month; unprecedented wildfires destroying whole towns in California; an iceberg the size of the state of Wales breaking off in Antarctica; severe droughts in Israel where the Sea of Galilee is near record lows, so low that water can’t be safely pumped out of it. And much

more. At his Bar Mitzvah, Oscar told us we will either bring the next flood, or we will save ourselves from it. But the water is rising, and we must act before it is too late. We must be the custodians of the world that God has charged us to be. I found an obscure and little-known midrash taught by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Known as Buber’s Tanhuma (Midrash Tanchuma), it was published in 1885 by Martin Buber’s grandfather, Shlomo, from manuscripts probably from the fifth century. It responds to the verse “Then God said to Noah, ‘Come out of the ark’” (Gen. 8:16). The midrash says: “Noah said to himself, Since I only entered the ark with permission (from God), shall I leave without permission? The Holy One to be blessed said, to him: Are you looking for permission? In that case I give you permission, as it says, ‘Then God said to Noah, Come out of the ark.’” The midrash then adds: “Said Rabbi Judah bar Ilai, ‘If I had been there I would have smashed down [the doors of] the ark and taken myself out of it.’” The message is clear. Why wait to build a new world. Don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait for anyone to tell you when to act. Don’t wait to be a mensch.

From the Chair As

Rabbi Rebecca mentioned in a recent weekly email bulletin, the Vice Presidents met with Paul Silver-Myer to talk about their ideas for supporting the Synagogue. Unfortunately, neither Rabbi Rebecca nor I could attend but I’ve since been advised that the VPs recommended formulating a manual of regular and occasional tasks, thereby saving time and helping with the running of the synagogue. I hope to hear more about the VPs other views and ideas when I return from Italy in November. Since Sergei left his job, the caretaker functions have been carried out by a couple of cleaners, sometimes by one of our security CST officers, as well as by members Angela and Paul to whom we are very grateful. The Executive decided to separate the cleaning and caretaker functions and to this end they have interviewed a number of candidates. Other items up for discussion included the poor lighting in the

cathy burnstone

driveway; this was due to the timer not being activated due to the caretaker vacancy. Also, the consolidation of legacy information for members. This concerns the donation of 10% of one’s estate to charity, which thereby reduces the Inheritance Tax rate from 40% to 36% on the taxable part of one’s estate – a reduction in the tax rate of 10%. In other words, one can choose to donate 10% to charity, or see it go as part of the Inheritance Tax. A potentially exciting development is the possibility of purchasing some land adjacent to the synagogue and this is being considered by the Board currently.

the syrian kitchen -

A new Initiative from the Women’s Collective The wonderful food at Sukkot Sanctuary was cooked for us by the Syrian families, some of whom have set up a catering business called Syrian Kitchen. The Syrian Kitchen is a collective of women from different parts of Syria. Their food reflects their history and heritage. All learned to cook from their mothers and grandmothers, and they proudly share their culture and food, bringing the flavours of Syria to their new home. Their successful entrepreneurial spirit means they can now cater for private events, office lunches, weddings, gala dinners and parties. They are well-accustomed to accommodating our dietary needs with lots of vegetarian options! If you are

planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah or another Simcha, then please consider using the Syrian Kitchen as your caterer. Not only will you experience unusual and delicious food, but you will also achieve the highest level of the eight levels of tzedakah defined by Maimonides – supporting someone to become self-sufficient through their own work so that they are no longer dependent on others. If you want to meet them and sample their food, they are hosting a monthly supper club at Café Buzz in North Finchley, on 10 November, and 1 December. To book them, go to eatwith.com and search for “Syrian Kitchen” or go to their website: https://www.bsyriankitchen.com/

Sanctuary Sukkot C

ouncillor Cornelius says “Yes” again to refugee resettlement in Barnet! This is Liberal Judaism’s fourth year of its “Sanctuary Sukkot” event to raise awareness of the plight of Syrian refugees. Our festive and high-energy event brought over 200 people from different groups across Barnet for songs, stories and Syrian food to celebrate, to remember, and to act! Among the institutions represented were Middlesex University Students Union, Finchley Reform Synagogue, the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association, New North London Synagogue, and the local Quakers and Vincentians.

Ayah Benberna, President of Middlesex University Students Union, and children from the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association.

A Time to Celebrate Dean Staker led us in singing “Mah Tovu,” followed by children of the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association describing how their parents had come to Barnet from refugee camps and why they loved Barnet. Alaa Alibrahim introduced his film about the journeys those families made, incorporating images of Rabbi Harry Jacobi and a young Syrian refugee recounting their own stories together. Asmaa arrived straight from the airport to a

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welcome party at Hendon school! Bahar noted that although his Syrian accounting qualification is not recognised here, after completing a foundation course at MDXU he is now able to embark on an accountancy qualification so that he can work, support his family and be part of the community. A Time to Remember: the Kindertransport The Syrian refugee event was linked to the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport, as part of a national Kindertransport Legacy Campaign calling on the government to admit 1,000 refugee children a year to the UK for 10 years by fully-funded, safe and legal routes, thus matching the numbers who arrived on the Kindertransport. Children from FPS spoke about the meaning of the Kindertransport today. Rebekah Treganna thanked Rabbi Harry Jacobi for the extraordinary contribution he has made to Liberal Judaism. A Time to Act Although not in attendance, Councillor Cornelius sent a video message thanking Rabbi Rebecca, and adding that “Barnet can hardly fail to fulfil its part of this ambitious plan.” Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, agreed to meeting with other Conservative MPs to discuss the resettlement of child refugees. Rabbi Jacobi had the last word: “Today we proved true what we said at the beginning of the service – truly it is good to be together as brothers and sisters.” We then broke challah, and enjoyed a Syrian feast prepared by the Syrian families. More photos from the event on page 14

Breakfast Shiurim breakfast shiur with peter brennan

8.30am Saturday 10 November “Disillusioned words like bullets bark” Peter Brennan will present a short sequence of poems representing the work of four important and distinctive Jewish Nobel Literature Laureates: Russian dissidents Boris Pasternak and Joseph Brodsky; Nelly Sachs, who offered moving testimony to the consequences of the Holocaust, and Bob Dylan, who was are you worried about anti-semitism?”

Breakfast Shiur Report (22 Sept.) Thank you, Tony Rose and Paul SilverMyer, for organising this insightful and empowering breakfast shiur. I felt so enriched by the energy of the insights, reflections and thoughts that the 30 or so participants shared. Paul began by distributing pages of anti-Semitic quotes followed by discussion. Some of the topics, in the order raised, were: “Fearmongering”; “Jeremy Corbyn’s perceived antisemitism stems from anti-colonialism”; “Difference between anti-Semitism and criticising Israel’s policies”; “Yom Kippur a time for internal reflection of where have I gone wrong”?; “Anti-Israel is not anti-Jewish”; “The difference between pre-war Germany and UK antisemitism, we need to be careful in our comparisons”; “Would like to ask Labour Party members (at the shiur) how has this come to pass?”; “Islam a religion of peace ¬– but the Koran is not”; “Neither is the Torah”; “Israeli Jews increase antisemitism because we are all blamed”.

controversially awarded the prize in 2016. Each provokes profound consideration of the human condition and its context, and is bound to stimulate vigorous discussion. Peter will be visiting FPS for the third time. He was for many years Head of English at The Latymer School, Edmonton, and has since taught over 60 literature courses at City Lit College, Holborn.

At the end of the shiur I said “I campaigned for Jeremy Corbyn because of his Welfare State policy .... a safe society diminishes hate. Let’s invite Corbyn to meet with us and talk about it; how we feel and what he feels and means, let’s dialogue”. Someone asked “Are you saying there would be less antisemitism if we had a Welfare State?” I answered yes. The Welfare State, the 1972 Race Relations Act, and the European Union have all diminished racism. Bowlby and Winnicott, two British major psychotherapists, influenced Welfare State policy on housing, education, health, parenting and leisure for a secure safe society. The dismantling of our Welfare State sees increased poverty, homelessness, fear, crime and racism. Our congregation offers traditional inter-faith hospitality to UK homeless and refugees. We requested unanimously to continue the discussion, next time focussing on Zionism. I am very much looking forward to that. Irris Singer For the IHRA definition of Anti-Semitism, and Jeremy Corbyn’s definition, see Daniel Sugarman’s article “What is the IHRA definition of antisemitism? And why has Labour outraged Jews by rejecting it” in JC, 20 July 2018. Available online. Ed.

Beit Tefillah

services at fps

services – november / cheshvan moving into kislev Friday 2 November

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 3 November

11.00am Shabbat B’Yachad

Friday 9 November

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 10 November

11.00am Shabbat Service

Friday 16 November

6.30pm Shabbat Resouled

Saturday 23 November

11.00am Shabbat Service

Friday 30 November

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 1 December

11.00am Shabbat Service

people welcome to new members Vivianne & Paul Lakra Ben & Sarah Cyzer with Lola, Isaac & Renee Abi Wharton with Isadora, Poppy & Fred Robinson mazal tov to Hilda Hart, Beverly Young, Anthony Hill and Andrew Muir who celebrate significant birthdays in November and to Louise & Daniel Balint-Kurti celebrating a special wedding anniversary

condolences To the families of FPS members

Anne Berkson and Betty Cohen who died in October stone setting The stone setting of the late Sybil Binnes will take place at Edgwarebury Cemetery at 1.30pm on Sunday 25 November and will be officiated by Rabbi Rebecca Birk

locating sites at edgewarebury cemetery

There is now an on-line grave search facility at Edgwarebury Lane Cemetery. Log on to www.edgwareburycemetery.org.uk The same search facility is available at Hoop Lane Cemetery. Log on to www.hooplanecemetery.org.uk The link is clearly marked on the Home page.

Searches can be made by either forename or surname. There is no need to enter a year of burial. The results provide the deceased’s full name, community, plot indication, date of death and date of burial. Joan Shopper, LJ Burial Officer

Beit Knesset

community events, all welcome!

bridge group

Mondays @ 7.30pm, £4. There are even small prizes for winners! Contact Paul Silver-Myer via synagogue office on 020 8446 4063 yoga

Tuesdays @ 7.30pm Contact Richard on 020 8349 9602 rosh chodesh

Celebration of the New Moon by women gathering for sharing, learning and spiritual exploration. Next meeting Monday 12 November (Kislev) @ 8.00pm FPS Library. We will be exploring the concept of home. We talk of the Jewish home as mikdash me’at, a small sanctuary and all that it entails. Home, what we identify it as and what it means to us is our subject this month. KISLEV the month that contains Chanukah is the obvious time to think of HOME. “Chanukah” comes from “Chinuch”– dedication (and then education). What do we dedicate ourselves to? What and where means the most to us? The discussion will be led by Rabbi Rebecca. Contact Wika Dorosz on vdorosz@gmail.com book club

Wednesday 14 November @ 8.00pm The Book Club welcomes you to their meetings, held in people’s homes on the second Wednesday of each month. We choose a variety of books, many—but by no means all—of Jewish interest. The only condition is that the person ivriah taster session – Saturday 8 December

Every Saturday, young members of FPS come together to learn, play and pray at Ivriah, our cheder. Our teachers offer informal learning spaces where they teach exciting and creative classes. Children explore Progressive Jewish

recommending a book must have read (and loved) it! and that it is available in paperback. Contact Sheila King Lassman sheila@waitrose.com or Edgar Jacobsberg on e.jacobsberg@gmail.com learn

Thursdays, 12.00-1.00pm An hour’s learning in the small hall, with Rabbi Rebecca, followed by lunch hosted by Nicola at Café Thursday for anyone who chooses to stay. cafe thursday

Thursdays @ 1.00pm £6 for a freshly-prepared 3-course lunch. For menus or more information contact Nicola Marzell via the synagogue office: 020 8446 4063 pilates

Thursdays @ 5.45-6.30pm led by Tali Swart. Beginners to intermediate; individually tailored instruction. Payment in blocks of six, roughly £8 per lesson. We are now in the large hall so we can accommodate more people. Contact taliswort@btconnect.com cafe ivriah

Saturdays (Term time), 9.45-10.45am All welcome to an informal, wide-ranging and topical discussion, with topics varying from the weekly Torah portion to current affairs. Over coffee and biscuits, between Ivriah drop-off and morning service.

values, learn modern and biblical Hebrew, and discover their own opinions on modern Jewish questions. Ivriah starts for children in Reception; our Bar and Bat Mitzvah programme begins in year 7. If you want to come for a taster, contact Zoe at zoe@fps.org

Beit Midrash

learning at fps

new series: by the rivers of babylon

Exploring the Jews of many lands – their history, traditions, and present status. The sessions are led by Lionel Lassman except where indicated: 8 Nov 15 Nov 22 Nov

The Jews of Iraq I: Screening of the film Remember Baghdad, followed by Q&A with Edwin Shuker, Iraqi Jew featuring in the film. Wine & nibbles. The Jews of Iraq II: “From Babylon to Basra” The Jews of Brazil: “Even Up the Amazon”

29 Nov 6 Dec 13 Dec 20 Dec 27 Dec

The Jews of Ethiopia. Led by Rabbi Sybil Sheridan The Jews of Egypt: “From Sinai to Suez” The Jews of Poland: “From Minsk to Malmo” The Jews of the Far East The Jews of India

Thursdays at 7.30-9.00pm in the Small Hall. Refreshments will be served and there is a discretionary £5 donation.

Beit Midrash presents a showing of the documentary film Remember Baghdad Thursday 8 November 2018, 7.30 for 8pm in the Main Hall The performance will be preceded by a reception with Middle Eastern canapés & wine We are honoured that Edwin Shuker will be joining us for this event. After the screening there will be a Q&A session with Edwin. Entrance £10 (concessions £5) – no need to book. Remember Baghdad is the untold story of Iraq, an unmissable insight through the eyes of the Jews who lived there until only a generation ago. With vivid home movies and archive news footage, eight characters tell their remarkable stories. Amid the country’s instability today we follow one Iraqi Jew on a journey home, back to Baghdad. That person is North Londoner Edwin Shuker, who wants to buy a house in Iraq so that he can say “the Jews have not all gone”, and to plant a seed of hope for the future.

Edwin Shuker is an Iraqi-Jewish business person and philanthropist. Born in Baghdad, he is Vice President of the European Jewish Congress and a member of the Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. He is an international activist and public speaker on the Middle East and especially the subject of Jews from Arab countries, and particularly his native Iraq. Edwin has engaged in and supported many projects promoting human rights and freedom in the Middle East. 9

Notice Board

when: Liberal Judaism’s first ever Annual Fundraising Dinner will take place Tuesday 27 November 2018 at 6:00 pm. where: Goldsmith’s Hall (1835), a Grade I

venue, near St. Paul’s Cathedral. We will dine in The Livery Hall, a magnificent room with ornate columns and a richly decorated moulded ceiling in gold leaf, illuminated by four chandeliers of English glass each holding forty-eight candles to set the crystal facets sparkling – truly a splendid and impressive setting! why: The evening will celebrate the past and

brand-new education department. what: Featuring the announcement of Liberal

Judaism’s new Ambassadors, a keynote speaker, a delicious three-course meal and a chance to spend the evening with old friends and new. In advance of the dinner, we are invited to share our stories and memories of the Liberal Jewish youth movement, be it LJY-Netzer, ULPSNYCNetzer or FLPJYG. You can share your stories here: https://www.liberaljudaism.org/contact/thehome-for-your-jewish-story-submission/

the future of our movement and will take as its theme the history of the Liberal Jewish youth movement. It hopes to raise funds for the LJYNetzer Bursary Fund and for Liberal Judaism’s

cost: Tickets for the dinner are £75. Selling fast!

breakfast shiur with mauro manela

The second topic is approached through a well-known mathematical problem known as the Prisoner’s Dilemma, which embodies in an elegant way the problem of cooperating in challenging environments. Here, a version of the law of retaliation, “equivalent retaliation” (or tit-for-tat), has been shown to be one of the simplest and most effective strategies to promote cooperation. To bridge the gap between the two topics we will consider the notion of free will and the moral ability of an individual to distinguish what is right and wrong.

8.30am Saturday 15 December In this Shiur we consider morality from the perspective of two seemingly unrelated topics: lex talionis and the evolution of cooperation. Lex talionis (an eye for an eye), played a significant role in the history of law and is one of the most famous passages in the Torah. A version of this law is described in the Codex of Hammurabi. The contrast between some of the commands in the Torah and the Codex of Hammurabi provides a fertile ground to highlight desirable attributes of an ideal moral system.

contact: Tamara Joseph at honsec@fps.org or

Tom Rich at t.rich@liberaljudaism.org.

Rosh Chodesh Hosts Historian Helen Fry

ur Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan was memorable because there were several men among us in the crowded library, and because we were riveted to the subject—the Secret Listeners— and to Helen Fry, who has written extensively on the less visible aspects of World War II. We learned about Thomas Kendrick, a British diplomat in Vienna before the war, a decent man, who felt compelled to do something to help the embattled Jews living under the threat of growing Nazi persecution. At one period, Kendrick saved 200 Jews a day by faking passports so that children could leave with “parents”. Betrayed by a double agent, arrested and interrogated by the Gestapo, he was smuggled back to England, where his war work began in earnest. As Colonel at what was then M16, he set up a cohort of secret listeners comprising many German-Jewish refugees. Listening devices gave them access to conversations between high-ranking German prisoners-of-war, many of whom discussed among themselves critical information concerning German military strategy. Kendrick was an old-fashioned English gent. He chose men to be listeners because he felt that the conversations would be coarse. Ladies’ sensibilities were always to be respected! Trent Park in Cockfosters was requisitioned by the government after the death in 1939 of its owner, Sir Philip Sassoon (of the prominent Sassoon and Rothschild families). It came to house 59 German generals, not thrown together in Nissan huts as you might expect, but living in luxury in beautiful surroundings. All the rooms they occupied, and even the trees in the gardens, were bugged. There was a sense of entitlement among these men that by virtue of their status they deserved a luxurious lifestyle. Helen told us that when their suits became shabby, they

sheila king lassman

were fitted with another, made in Savile Row, probably by a Jewish tailor. Trent Park is soon to house a museum honouring those who worked, night and day, transcribing conversations which were a crucial element in the path to victory in 1945. We can be particularly proud of the many Jewish women in the team working as code-transcribers, and in one incident, as interrogator. This project is more pertinent now than ever, as Holocaust denial is very much alive. The Trent Park high-life strategy worked for the Allies. Invaluable information was picked up by the secret listeners as, for example, the development of V1 and V2 rockets at Peenemunde in North Germany. Winston Churchill ordered a bombing raid on the facility, delaying the production of the rockets. The damage, it seems, made possible the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944. No rockets fell on England until after D Day. Helen told us story after story. Although we laughed a lot, it was clear that Thomas Kendrick and his staff of 500, so many of them Jewish women refugees were, to a large extent, responsible for our freedom to learn about him, in Finchley, in 2018. Helen Fry, Spymaster: The Secret Life of Kentrick, Marronos Press, 2018

...Avid Listeners 11

Calling All Concerned Citizens! FPS and Barnet Citizens: FPS is a member of Citizens UK and this means also that we are members of our local chapter, Barnet Citizens, and of North London Citizens. Membership of Citizens helps us to take practical action on our core values as Liberal Jews and to win social justice through campaigns that make a real difference to real people locally and nationally. It is how we convinced Barnet Council to resettle 50 Syrian refugees in Barnet. Citizens UK works to build strong local alliances that cross boundaries of religion, race and class in order to act on shared values and issues. For example, the Living Wage campaign has meant that more than 3,000 employers are now certified Living Wage employers. In each chapter, the member institutions decide what issues they want to work on based on the issues most important to their members. Barnet Citizens is working on housing, the environment, misogyny and hate crime. I work as part of the housing team from Finchley Reform Synagogue, Middlesex University Students Union and the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association, where we have found examples of the difficulties faced by families in substandard rental accommodation. In March, before the Council elections, Barnet Citizens persuaded Councillors Cornelius and Barry Rawlings to agree that if their party won in Barnet, they would investigate introducing selective landlord licensing in Barnet, and they would use new powers under the 2016 Housing Act to fine rogue landlords. After the election, the

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housing team met with Councillor Rozenberg, chair of the Barnet Housing Committee, regarding the commitment to pursue selective landlord licensing, and this is now part of the Barnet Housing Plan! Members then met with Sadiq Khan’s policy team on housing to discuss rogue landlords and landlord licensing, giving us insight into how this fits into London-wide and national campaign work. Two important meetings in November: On 15 November, FPS members join 1,000 people, including 400 Kindertransport children and their descendants, at an event hosted by Lord Dubs and Barbara Winton at Friends House in Euston. It will be 80 years to the day after a meeting with then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain led to the Kindertransport. The meeting is an echo campaign in which government is asked to act and welcome 10,000 child refugees to the UK over 10 years. And on 29 November, London Citizens will hold another 1,000-person assembly with Sadiq Khan in Southwark Cathedral to celebrate the commitments the mayor has delivered and to hold him to account on outstanding business, while launching new work on youth violence. Involvement with Citizens UK offers an opportunity to bring about a better Barnet, a better London and a better Britain. We’d love more FPS members to be involved. If you’d like to play a role in the synagogue’s social justice work, please contact me, Tamara Joseph, at honsec@fps.org

Notice Board sanctuary sukkot / cont. from p.5

Hamotzi: Rabbi Rebecca Birk, Mike Freer MP, Angelo Crolla, Councillor Brian Salinger, Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Barry Rawlings, leader of the Barnet Labour group, and our Rabbi Councillor Danny Rich.

Bahar, Rabbi Rebecca Birk, and Maxine Klein.

from the editor / cont. from p.2

environmental impact of its product only when forced to do so by legislation? (If you are still reading, Bless You! For I am about to get to the point.) Stephen patiently reiterated that “during regular, normal use, effects on the environment are managed through dilution and waste water treatment so that there is no direct exposure to high levels of the ingredients of concern and consequently no risk or harm to the aquatic environment when used as intended.” If the UK is classified as an upper-middle income country, according to UN World Water Development Report 2017, 62% of waste water goes untreated. If considered a high-income country, untreated waste water falls to 30%. In other words, at best, 30% of untreated waste water escapes “dilution and waste water treatment.” Only last year, Southern Water accidentally released 17 million litres of sewage into the English Channel in an incident that was not a first for the company 14

(The Argus July 2017). Of course, none of this is the fault of companies producing dishwashing liquid, but it does suggest vigilance on the part of the tikkun olam consumer when choosing detergents, because detergent companies have the fall-back position, “When used as intended.” And part of what is “intended” is that waste water facilities are utilised 100% of the time. And that they never fail. And that Beluga whales never enter the Thames estuary. As Rabbi Rebecca says “Don’t Wait to be a Mensch.” Alternatives exist. Sales of soap have risen by almost 3% since last year (Elliott, Mail 2018). A bar of soap (check ingredients) has an advantage over detergents in having “greater biodegradability and less toxicity” (FTP Directory Listing, Chapter 24, 3.1) – and there’s no plastic to dispose of.

Fun Page Jewish Populations across the world

This map shows where Jewish people live in the world. The darker the blue, the greater the number of Jewish people. Often Jewish people live in big cities Below you can see the names of countries and the number of Jewish people who live there.

• • •

Can you find the countries on the map? Can you see areas on the map where very few Jewish people live? What do you think the world population of Jewish people is? Is it 14.5 million people, 25 million people or 10 million people? You will need to Google it to find the answer.

Israel United States France Canada United Kingdom Russia Argentina Australia

6,589,000 5,700,000 465,000 385,0009 269,568 186,000 181,300 112,500

Germany Brazil South Africa Ukraine Hungary Mexico Belgium

99,695 95,000 70,000 63,000 47,900 40,000 - 67,476 30,000

Contacts

fps website: www.fps.org

finchley progressive synagogue

President: Alan Banes

54 Hutton Grove N12 8DR 020 8446 4063 www.fps.org facebook.com/finchleyprog

Life President: Sheila King Lassman

Rabbi Rebecca Birk – rabbi@fps.org Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner Community Development Manager: Zoe Jacobs – zoe@fps.org Musicians in residence: Franklyn Gellnick, Dean Staker Synagogue Manager: Pauline Gusack pauline@fps.org

Vice Presidents: Renzo Fantoni, Josie Kinchin, Alex Kinchin-Smith, Laura Lassman, Lionel King Lassman, John Lewis, Paul Silver-Myer, Andrea Rappoport, Joan Shopper contacts

Board of Deputies Reps: Janet Tresman, Stanley Volk Beit Midrash (Adult Education): Adrian Lister adulteducation@fps.org Beit Tefillah (Rites & Practices): Valerie Joseph

Premises Manager:

Café Thursday: Nicky Marzell

executive 2018

Chair: Cathy Burnstone, chair@fps.org

Care in the Community: Jacquie Fawcett jacquie@fps.org

Vice-Chair: Anjanette Pavell, ViceChairAP@fps.org

Website Editor: Philip Karstadt fpswebsite@fps.org

Treasurer: Melvyn Newman, treasurer@fps.org

Shofar Editor: CA. Cranston – shofar@fps.org

Honorary Secretary: Tamara Joseph, honsec@fps.org

Shofar Team: Sarah Rosen-Webb, Wika Dorosz

board members

Sam King, sam@fps.org Phillip Raphael, security@fps.org Ann Pelham, annp@fps.org Simon Cooper, scooper@fps.org Chris Nash, chrisn@fps.org Maureen Lobatto maureenlobatto@gmail.com

The Finchley Progressive Synagogue is a company limited by guarantee (Company No 9365956) and a registered charity (Charity No 1167285) whose registered office is 54 Hutton Grove, Finchley, London N12 8DR

ashley page

janet tresman

insurance brokers

mediator & collaborative family law solicitor

Commerce House 2a Litchfield Grove London N3 2TN

Altermans Solicitors 239 Regents Park Road, London N3 3LF

Tel. 0208 349 5100 16

FPS Office: administrator@fps.org

Office phone: 0208 346 1777 Email: janet@altermans.co.uk