journal ROSH HASHANA 2019/5780 P4 P20 P28 Welcome Rabbi Natasha Identifying the Dead Leading services overseas P6 P22 P31 Farewell Rabbi Frank Oakwood Prison Desert Island Discs P18 P23 P38 Meet the Kentons Bridge at Mosaic European Art Exit 1939 About Our Members Since our last issue From the Editor’s Desk Children and teen birthdays on page 25 GET WELL WISHES TO: Dear Reader MOSAIC REFORM Norman Cripps MOSAIC LIBERAL Welcome to the High Holy You will remember that my esteemed colleague, Robert MAZAL TOV TO SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: Gerry Amias Days issue of Kehila 2019! Pinkus, announced his retirement from the Kehila editorial Viv & Steve Levinson on the birth of Karen Gilbert We have some excellent and team last Pesach. Thankfully, he has been persuaded their grand-daughter, Sienna Lois. CONDOLENCES TO: Derek Levene poignant articles for you. Rabbi to continue to support the ‘seasonal’ editions of Kehila Ros Franks on the birth of her The family of Doris Lee Phyllis Michie Frank’s farewell piece (page 6) (Pesach and Rosh Hashana) by commissioning articles grandson, Itai. The family of Evelyn Becker Stanley Rosenthal will bring a lump to the throats of interest from around the community (and beyond). So, Natasha Cohen on her marriage to The family of Daphne Myers Sue Schindler of those who have known and Robert does most of the imaginative stuff and the chasing Zeng Jie. Mazal tov also to Hilda & Beryl Levy on the death of her Ivor Cohen. GET WELL WISHES TO: loved him as our Liberal rabbi and cajoling, while I sit back and wait for it all to flow in and, husband, Norman. these last twenty-two years. with some professional help (congratulations on the new Pauline & Barry Pike on the birth of Ruth Barnett And the Mosaic community extends a warm welcome to baby, Helen), bring it all together and try to make it look their grand-daughter, Ruby. NEW HOME: Mavis Carr Rabbi Natasha Mann, who takes on the role of rabbi to good. But I get my picture at the top of the page! Thank you Alexis Levy & Scott Buchan on their Betty Brand Trudie Goodman Mosaic Masorti – her first Kehila piece is on page 4. so much, Robert, for your continuing input. marriage. Mazal tov also to Georgie & Veronica & Michael Lansman Rosetta Muscatt There is a fascinating article on p20 on forensic pathology And, of course, thanks to all the unsung contributors and Stephen Levy. Jeanette Shindler following natural and man-made disasters by Dr. Peter Ellis proof-readers. We couldn’t do it without you. Frances Spiegel BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: (a long-time friend of Robert Pinkus). Shana Tova to all Sonia Barnett, 80 Lindsey Cohen And there are all your usual favourites – a poem on the evils Ivor Cohen, 70 MOSAIC MASORTI CONDOLENCES TO: of gossip by our poet-in-residence – Rosemary Wolfson, Angela Donn, 75 MAZAL TOV TO: The family and friends of Harold Levy. Meet the Family (the lovely Kentons), a (relatively) young Richard Joseph, 70 Sue & Neil Mendoza on the birth Alan & Janet Solomon and their person’s choice in Desert Island Discs, Elise Italiaander’s Dita Lewis, 70 of their grandsons, Jack Noah and family on the death of their son, Mike. insightful review of three books, Maria Landau’s excellent Lawrie Nerva, 97 Hugo Michael. look at European Art around WW2, as refugee artists made David Pollak, 70 Maureen & Emmanuel Aharoni on their way to England, and many more besides. Particular Sheila Solomons, 93 the birth of their grandson, Samuel thanks to Gary Italiaander for the striking front cover (as Linda Turner, 75 Benjamin. always) and for the various portraits, which make the Martin Simonis Geoff Watman, 80 Joel Rosenberg on his engagement articles so accessible. Doreen Wolff, 70 to Sarah Goldschmidt. Mazal tov also to Shelley Cooper. Eunice Carne, 85 Bev & Sass Ezekiel on the marriage Iris Cohen, 85 of their daughter, Kate, to Chris. Leslie Kopitko, 75 New Year Message Debbie & Dave Scott on the birth of Inge Norris, 92 their grand-daughter, Evie Elizabeth. From Mark Philips and Jeff Highfield, Co-chairs, Mosaic Jewish Community Michael Reik, 75 Mazal tov also to Debbie & Dave on Hilda Tichauer, 99 the engagement of their daughter, he messages from our fellow chairs of the Masorti, Liberal and Reform constituents of our Mosaic Community George Vickers, 70 Sarah, to Gary. in this edition of Kehila focus rightly on the significant changes and opportunities our community faces. Pam Henry, 75 Craig Ellison on his engagement to Some of these changes have happened already – welcome Rabbi Natasha! Some of them are being Marian Kingsley, 65 Danielle Brummell. Mazal tov also to actively planned for – we all wish Rabbi Frank a long and happy retirement. Some changes are being Fred Stern, 96 Helen & Marvyn Ellison. Cover photograph by Gary Italiaander www.italiaander.co.uk prepared for, and will take time to implemented, for example the development of new models of belonging to the ANNIVERSARY WISHES TO: BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: Tcommunity, new ways for people to choose their Jewish life and become active in the community. And of course, Janet & Colin Clifton on their 60th Edward Kafka, 75 at the time of writing, the status of a huge change – moving to Stanmore Hill – is still very uncertain. wedding anniversary. Sheldon Grossmith, 75 Next issue Change brings excitement of course, but uncertainty can bring concern and anxiety. Honest talking is usually the Mim & Neil Goodman on their 50th Paulette Sachon, 55 The next issue of Kehila Monthly best way to deal with these anxieties, so if you have concerns, please call one of us, so we can seek to understand wedding anniversary. Linda Langley, 75 will be that for November – Copy and work with you to address them. Veronica & Michael Lansman on their Nicholas Young, 18 Date 20th October, distributing One thing won’t change, however, and that is our faith in the Mosaic project. That bringing together progressive 55th wedding anniversary. 31st October. strands of Judaism under one roof (literally and metaphorically) gives the best chance for current and future Paula & Jeffrey Rogers on their 45th community members to have the opportunity to choose their Jewish life. It is worth remembering that we are wedding anniversary Send your articles, pictures, recognised as trailblazers, both in the UK and across the world, in shaping future ways of belonging to the Jewish Barbara & Harry Grant on their 45th letters, etc to newsdesk@ community. wedding anniversary. choosemosaic.org We wish you all a happy and healthy new Year and well over the fast. Joan & Steve Noble on their 50th wedding anniversary. 2 3 Rabbi Natasha Mann at Mosaic Masorti By Gill Ross (co-chairman of Mosaic Masorti) e are delighted to welcome Rabbi Natasha to her Oakland (CA); she also worked for two years as the Mashgiḥah first Yomim Noraim with us at Mosaic Masorti/ (supervisor of kashrut) at the American Jewish University. HEMS. In addition to her words of wisdom to the Alongside many roles in Jewish leadership and education, community, we are pleased to let everyone know Natasha has worked in the non-profit world, promoting better a little bit more about her. Her next Shabbat visit following the education and legislation on human trafficking issues. She has WHigh Holy Days is October 18th/19th October, during Succot. written for the Times of Israel, the Jewish Journal of Greater Rabbi Natasha Mann hails from the grassy hills of Los Angeles, and the 929 Tanakh Project, alongside regularly Hertfordshire, England, and moved to Jerusalem to study in providing commentaries for Kol Masorti and its predecessor, the Conservative Yeshiva after completing her undergraduate Reflections. degree in Theology at Heythrop College, University of Rabbi Natasha is seconded to Mosaic Masorti (HEMS) London. Rabbi Natasha was ordained at the Ziegler School of through Masorti Judaism, where she specialises in Youth Rabbinic Studies (American Jewish University, Los Angeles) in Provision and Programming, by deepening her long 2019, where she also received a Masters in Rabbinic Studies association with Noam Masorti Youth. Rabbi Natasha also and a Certificate in Jewish Education. Rabbi Natasha was serves as a rabbi at New London Synagogue, alongside her honoured upon her ordination at Ziegler to receive the Henry long-term mentor and friend Rabbi Jeremy Gordon. Rabbi Fisher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Jewish Studies. Natasha will be leading services at Mosaic Masorti on average During her time in Los Angeles, Rabbi Natasha worked once a month, including the High Holy Days, and has regular as a Rabbinic Intern at Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative contact with members for educational and pastoral duties. Congregation, Mercer Island (WA), and Temple Beth Abraham, Navigating the High Holy Days – A Chasidic Story By Rabbi Natasha Mann – newly-appointed rabbi of Mosaic Masorti here is a Chasidic story I terribly excited; he’s never met another Jew aside from his love about a man, a Rebbe, late parents, and this man is a rabbi nonetheless. And so, and a siddur. The story while he serves his customer, the man explains about his goes something like this: siddur, his lack of Hebrew comprehension, and the fact that There is a Jewish man who owns he reads the siddur from cover to cover every day. The rebbe, Ta tavern in the middle of nowhere, quite astonished, offers to help the man. The rebbe asks for who was taught to read Hebrew as paper and a pen, and carefully labels each prayer and when it a child, and who inherited a single should be said. He tears off each explanation and slips it into Hebrew book from his father: a the correct section of the siddur.