Kol Kehillat Kernow

Voice of the Jewish Community in Cornwall Issue 52 kehillatkernow.com April 2019, Nisan 5779 Holocaust Memorial Day: We will not forget

Pat Lipert people from his community, along with representatives Communities across Cornwall observed from the Inter-Faith Forum and Holocaust Memorial Day on the 27th of January others from the greater through exhibits, prayers, ceremonies and community. pledge to wipe out Anti-Semitism, support the On Sunday, Reflections on HMD Jewish people and to honour the memories of at the Peace Pole at the Dor six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and Kemmyn Field outside other sympathisers during the time of the Third Penmount Cremetorium were Reich. Almost 75 years have passed since that held. Prayers for peace from time of evil, and still we remember, determined the various faith communities to educate each new generation which has were held, including Jeremy followed. Jacobson’s reading of Eliezer At Truro Cathedral on Friday and Saturday, the Berkovits’ moving passage in 25th and 26th of January, an exhibition ‘the memory of the K’doshim.’ organised by the Cornwall Police Diversity Team Also on Sunday, many members along with the Inter-Faith Forum to highlight of the Jewish Community the inhumane effects of hatred and bigotry, joined with members of the ethnic cleansing and systematic annihilation Redruth Baptist Church and Reflective readings-Elder Andrew Chapple of the Redruth of innocent people based on their religion, other visitors from 2:30-5:00pm Baptist Church, Patricia Lipert and Adam Feldman of Kehillat Kernow lead prayers and reflections about the six million tribal or ethnic affiliations, was displayed. On to view an Anne Frank exhibit Jews murdered in the Holocaust at the Redruth Baptist each day, at 1pm, candle lighting ceremonies, mounted by Rev. Tristan Church’s Anne Frank exhibition on HMD. prayers and commentaries from the Inter-faith MacDonald. This was followed Communities and in particular, the Cornwall by prayers led by Elder Andrew Chapple, a In neighbouring county, Devon, at Mast House Jewish Community, Kehillat Kernow, were held commentary by Patricia Lipert of KK, an in Plymouth, a free holocaust memorial lunch to remember the six million Jews murdered in explanation by Rev. Tristan MacDonald of the was held on Monday, 28th January. An afternoon the Holocaust. Chairman Jeremy Jacobson exhibit, and Kaddish led by KK vice-chair, Adam programme included opening commentary by delivered readings from Siddur on the six Feldman. After candles were lit in memory of Andrew Grace, University Equality and Diversity million and the ‘Ma-aley’ before a group of the six million Jews who were killed during the Advisor; Survivor’s Testimony; readings by Liz Nazi regime. This is the third year that the Berg of KK; Remembering the Rwandan Redruth Baptist Church has held special Genocide by Jabo Butera, Diversity Business LotsLots moremore observances in honour of Jews everywhere and Incubator and a talk on her visit to Auschwitz for the Jewish Community of Cornwall, a by Tilda Fraser, VP University of Plymouth inside,inside, project spearhead by Elder Chapple based on Students Union. Lots more his commitment to atone for past actions of Note: More on these events can be found on including...including... Christian organisations against Jews and his the picture page, chair’s remarks and the inside, pledge to eradicate Anti-Semitism. editorial. including... Pesach’s coming...... 2 Ushpizin film night...... 3 East meets west ...... 4 We remember...... 6 Lemon Hart...... 7

NEWSLETTER BY: DESIGN EXTREME Website hosting 1zGB space with FREE _ HTTPS for Newsletter design Interfaith peace plea-Members of Cornwall’s Interfaith Community gather around the Dor £50/year Website development Kemmyn peace pole in Truro on HMD to remember victims of the Shoah and to pray for peace Website hosting designextreme.com and international understanding and tolerance.

Do you want to share your Kol Kehillat Kernow? Visit: kehillatkernow.com/newsletter for an online version of the newsletter! 2 April 2019 Kol Kehillat Kernow Chairman’s First Night Communal Seder: remarks Pesach 5779

Jeremy Jacobson

It was Sunday 27th January, Holocaust Memorial Day, and I was sitting at home, drinking coffee and beginning to read chapter 10 of The Wandering Jew has Arrived by Albert Londres. Written in the 1930s, this book sympathetically explores Jewish life in Eastern Europe. Chapter 10 is entitled 'The Ghost' and, as I discovered with horror, describes a number of pogroms occurring in Romania and Ukraine between 1919 and 1927. The description of the pogroms in Proskourov, Felchtine, Chargorod and Pestchanka made my blood run cold, such Cemetery visit-Members of Friends of Penzance Jewish Cemetery, caretaker and local historian, Keith Pearce, Mandy Pearce and new director of the Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Anna was the vicious, sadistic cruelty demonstrated Renton, long with staff member of the museum, tour the restored Penzance Jewish Cemetery. by the Cossack soldiers who murdered, maimed and tortured their way through Pat Lipert Seder is especially important for our children these towns. and they are most welcome. Please provide I already had a reading lined up for the It’s time again to dust off your seder plate, get books and items of amusement and comfort to afternoon event organised by the Cornwall out your Haggadah and come to Trelissick occupy the little ones during the service. If Faith Forum at Penmount, where members Gardens Barn Restaurant in Feock for Kehillat possible, children should wear soft shoes or of different faiths were to gather to read Kernow’s special celebration of the first night slippers. A small area will be set aside within and reflect together. My text would be about of Passover. the room for the children so that we can be how the Holocaust meant that it was essential This year’s communal seder is Friday, 19th of inclusive while accommodating all our for people everywhere to join in remembrance April and will begin at 6:30pm. members and special guests. and friendship so as to fight the kind of You will have received your form in the post, For those of you who have particular dietary hatred which leads to persecution and mass returned it, hopefully no later than the 3rd of requirements, do know that the charoset and murder. So shaken was I, however, by what March, to Ann Hearle, organiser of this event, other foods to be served during the service and I had just read that I changed my mind and, along with your cheque to cover members of at the dinner afterwards will contain nuts. that afternoon, read the reflection of Eliezer your family and friends. Anne’s address is Feel free to bring candlesticks, candle holders, Berkovits, to be found in our Reform Siddur: Turnstone Cottage, 3 Vivian Terrace, matches and Kiddush cups if you can. Seder "I stand in awe before the memory of the Mousehole, TR19 6QZ and her phone number plates complete and Kiddush Kosher wine will K'doshim (the holy ones) who walked into is 01736-731686. Your form also contains be supplied for the service. You also can bring the gas chamber with the Ani Ma'am - I directions to Trelissick Gardens. your own table wine for the meal. believe - on their lips..." This passage turns Trelissick Gardens is part of the National Trust This year the seder begins on Erev Shabbat, so faith and certainty on their heads. It talks and Garden entrance is permitted up to 5:30pm we will have both the Shabbat and Yom Tov of the holy disbelief of those whose faith at no extra charge. As Pesach is later this year, candles to light: two mitzvot for the price of was "crushed, shattered and pulverized," it might be the perfect time to enjoy the early one! We look forward to seeing you on this most which is to be respected just as much as Spring flowers in these luxurious grounds. There special of all Jewish holidays, celebrated by the holy belief of those who somehow clung is a large car park immediately adjacent to the Jews throughout the world, our festival of onto faith. As witnesses from a distance we restaurant. freedom. Hag Sameach! have no right to question either, nor to pass judgment. It is a disturbing passage, but such reflections are necessary. Otherwise, Meanwhile, other members of our community we risk, over time, softening the meaning were at Redruth Baptist Church, viewing the of the Holocaust. That is not to say that exhibitions mounted there by our Christian Jewishly moving, sometimes poetic prayers for the friends. On Friday and Saturday, some of dead and for understanding among our members also attended the candle lighting speaking individuals, groups and nations today are and readings at Truro Cathedral and on not important. They are, and at the Peace Monday, Liz Berg, attended an event at Cornish Oxford Don, A. L. Rowse, best known Pole on Sunday afternoon, members Plymouth University. for his work on the Elizabethan Age and for representing Bahai, Christian, Hindu, Muslim In an article in the latest issue of Jewish his theory about the ‘dark lady’ of and Pagan faiths joined with Mai and me to Renaissance, Richard Rampton, the QC who Shakespeare’s sonnets. At the end of his last pray for peace and to remember those who defended Deborah Lipstadt against the book, Historians I Have Known, he wrote, “If died and suffered because others chose to Holocaust denier David Irving, discusses the there is any honour in the world that I should hate. My passage came first though and rise of ‘denialism,’ a cynical movement have liked it would be to be an honorary perhaps added to our shivers. A cold wind which denies history precisely so that the Jewish citizen.” Contributed by Jeremy swirled the smoke and flames of a bonfire same history can happen again. As Jews and Jacobson. among us as we struggled to keep warm. as members of the human race we must Do you have a favourite quote on the subject For a time, it hailed, but we remained in argue with our minds and act with our hearts of Jews? Send in your selection for the next our circle, doggedly determined to stay. so that history does not repeat itself. newsletter to: editorwkehillatkernow.com Kol Kehillat Kernow April 2019 3 KK AGM: A year of achievement

Pat Lipert Jacobson said. This happened not only at the Community were lauded by Jacobson for their Fact-Fact-Fiction-and-Food Club events, but intense involvement in these various projects: The annual AGM meeting of Kehillat Kernow also at narratives shared with the Islamic Leslie Lipert, Sharim Atilano, Pat Lipert, David highlighted how much a small Jewish Community: “Folk tales, personal journeys, and Anne Hearle, Adam and Melanie Feldman, community can achieve in one year’s time. stories of faith were told by members of all Anthony Fagin, Rachel Brown, Roger Chatfield, From movie nights to restoration projects, from ages. A large gathering attended, drawn from Bonnie Rockley and Harvey Kurzfield. inter-faith events to memorial and festival our two communities but also from the “Despite rising anti-Semitism, we rain services, from simchas to education, from Cornwall Faith Forum.” Not only does this positive,” Jacobson concluded, “We do not hospitality to visiting the sick, members of the increase understanding, but “it establishes need to stick banners up on every street community continued to manifest the best of bonds between us all. Such bonds can help advertising our comings and goings, but Judaism and why a synagogue such as ours guard us from anti-Semitism and Islamophobia continue our activities, build relationships with continues to thrive. and more general racism.” like minded communities and disseminate our This couldn’t have been made more clear than Our historical Jewish roots in Cornwall also values and culture more widely through from the eloquent remarks of KK Chairman, were exemplified by a trip to the Royal Cornwall activities mediated by organisations such as Jeremy Jacobson, in his opening statements Museum in Truro to see their collection of the Faith Forum [to] enable us to do our bit in about what has happened in the past year in Judaica as well as attending an exhibition of being a light to the nations and in mending the our community. The importance of “needing our Jewish history at the Penlee House Gallery world.” to engage with the world,” was well illustrated and Museum in Penzance. In addition, proposals for a trip to Bournemouth when he reviewed the many ways in which he More lessons in humanity and liturgy were Reform Synagogue in the Spring, more and other members of the KK community enhanced by visits from Hannah and David youngster involvement at Sukkot and Purim via achieved this: interaction with the Faith Forum, Jacobs, visits from leaders of the Cambridge our Film-Fact-Fiction-and-Food Club, attending workshops in schools and colleges, Jewish Community and MRJ student Rabbi Lev celebratory activities for our 20th anniversary involvement with local history through the Taylor. of KK’s establishment, Sedra volunteers, and Ponsharden and Penzance Jewish Cemeteries, “The majority of our members do not see what on-line Conversion involvement were visiting patients of various faiths at the Duchy goes on behind the scenes, but without a great addressed. Hospital, participating in UN Peace Day and on deal of administrative and organisational work, All current Council members were re-elected Remembrance Day or joining the initiative to we would have no activities and would risk with the addition of Carolyn Shapiro. A light build a Cornwall Faith Response Team. falling foul of the law,” Jacobson said. The later buffet followed. “Indeed, if last year the theme seemed to be refers to having to comply with the new Data The next AGM is scheduled for the 17th of cemeteries, this year we could say it is stories,” Protection Act. Particular members of the KK November 2019 at The Liperts. Be there! Miracles do happen

Pat Lipert upcoming holiday of Sukkot in their modest home. Their prospects are grim for when the If you have any doubts about this, you did not film opens, elders of the community are attend the fabulous Food and Film Night at discussing the value of an etrog (1,000 sheckels Malpas Village Hall on Saturday, the 3rd of already yet), something beyond imagination November. You did not see or eat the wondrous in their eyes for there was only a cooked array of Israeli food laid out before you nor did cabbage for dinner that night, and then there you watch the uplifting Ushpizin, which focuses was nothing. But pray they did, and, hineini, on the festival of Sukkot. And yes, in the film, money is slipped under their door, the means “nes gadol hayyat sham,” and in Malpas Village for a Succah and a way to celebrate the festival Hall, the sun shone despite the rain outside. of Sukkot is now possible. The only thing missing While we were only 11 strong at the event, this are the ushpizin and hopefully they will be allowed us to gather around one communal righteous visitors to grace their Succah. Let the show begin-Gloria Jacobson and table, catch up with the latest news and tuck Righteous they are not, but things work out in Harvey Kurzfield enjoy a warm cuddle before watching the film, Ushpizin, along with other in. Satiation and gratitude go hand in hand. the end for fables like this always have a happy members of the KK community. Ishpizin, which means “visitors” in Hebrew, is ending with a strong message: If you look a charming Israeli film about a poor but pious towards the light, if you have faith, if you love and all your might,’ blessings and miracles do couple who pray for a means to celebrate the Adonai with ‘all your heart and all your soul, happen.

Festival fare-Members of Kehillat Kernow gather around the Good food, good talk-What better way to enjoy a Saturday night than to gather sumptuous buffet created by shul members to celebrate the round the table for a good meal with friends and one’s extended family Sukkot-based film, Ushpizin. members! 4 April 2019 Kol Kehillat Kernow East meets West: Ant’s memories of China

transport (the Chinese people then could not that city along with other Jewish families. It own a motor vehicle nor could they take their was nice to find that out. I know there were bikes on public transport), which when folded Jewish communities in the Far East. looked like ordinary luggage, that would allow When writing the book and sorting all the me to use the assortment of trains, planes, photos, how did you remember all the details buses, ferries to cover the longer distances. I of your journey? contacted the original maker, Harry Bickerton, Along with my camera and two simple lenses, and bought the standard model from him with I also had a little pocket Dictaphone to record a strengthened seat tube to take with me to my thoughts as I was cycling along and also the land of the bicycle. pieces of conversation I had along the way. did you need to make this journey, especially Each night I would write out my notes. Some I when you were cycling on your own through reconstructed later when I got home and a lot China? of the research came after the event. I wanted I had to get official approval from the the text and the pictures to complement each government in Beijing, submit my complete other, to make the photographs as seamless itinerary, and upon my arrival at various and as harmonious with the text as possible. destinations, my presence was recorded by an When I went back to the text after 35 years, I official of the Chinese International Tourist wanted to keep the writing faithful to what I Service. Once I had done that, I was completely had written at age 42 and so I only made small Memories-Anthony Fagin stands outside his free to travel anywhere I wanted. I was told editorial changes. To work out the layout of house overlooking Falmouth Harbour while by SACU that I was their first independent the book, I had to expand some of the text to remembering other harbours in China during his trip taken in 1982-83. And, he has the traveller to China since the Cultural Revolution. go with the pictures. In doing this, I was able book to prove it, A Cycle of Cathay, Had I been in Russia, for example, I would have to relive the experience I had and make the Freewheeling in China 1982-1983. been followed everywhere. Not in China. same journey all over again. I would not want You say in your book, Pat Lipert very few pictures were ‘staged.’ Why? When our own Anthony Fagin cycled around I wanted to take as the People’s Republic of China for a month in natural a shot as 1982-83, it was an experience of a lifetime. possible. Almost all the Recently he got to relive the magical journey photographs were when he prepared to publish his ‘A Cycle of spontaneous which is Cathay, Freewheeling in China 1982-1983.’ why you may notice During the process of self-producing the book that pictures of people and going through all the sublime photographs do not have them again, he realised how unique that particular looking into the time was in a country newly recovering from camera. In many cases, Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution. had people known I was “It was a time before intense industrialisation taking a picture, they You did what!- Anthony Fagin discusses extraordinary details from his book, A Cycle of Cathay, with Pat Lipert over a cup of very good and the immense infrastructure had been put would either have coffee. in place,” Fagin said, and so it was an posed stiffly or run opportunity to see “how ordinary life in China away. to go back to China now for it would dilute that was lived.” What differences and similarities did you experience. And see it and experience it he did through the discover between you and these wonderful What was your feeling about the people you use of his fold-up Bickerton bike, his camera, Chinese people? met on this amazing journey? rudimentary dictaphone, a sympathetic ear It’s easy to enumerate the differences but deep I felt an affinity with people who paid such and discerning eye, to envelop all the Chinese down, the similarities were greater. Civilisation attention to detail, with the humble people and their astounding landscape had to is just a veneer. Differences were stimulating, administrators who built their houses upon offer. The following is an interview of that time: thrilling and welcomed. Human beings are just retirement in Suzhou and Hamgzshou. They While you had done several cycling trips in that-human, and so the differences only add would go up the mountain and choose a other countries before, why did you decide to one’s understanding and life. particular rock, return with it and place it in to go to China at that time? How did your wife and young children nearby water for it to acquire just the right I’ve always had an interest in the East, its long respond to your journey? amount of patina and aging. Then three history of civilization, its magnificent They were completely supportive. My wife said, generations later, their great, great grandson topography, landscape depicted by its classical ‘You must do this!’ and my children were would retrieve that rock and place it in the painters, its reverence for nature. I saw an excited. My youngest who was five years old position in his garden where his great, great advert in the papers that SACU (Society for at the time, still remembers the trip I took. grandfather had imagined it should go. Anglo-Chinese Understanding), was organising Although I was totally isolated from them and People were sensitive in noticing the natural a two-week stint for a group of bikers to explore they couldn’t contact me, I could send wonder around them both in single plants and the Pearl River Delta at a time when China was postcards. the landscape, or in what they were making. beginning to allow individual visitors into the Did you notice a Jewish presence when In Guilin, the Karst (limestone geological country. I also wanted to travel on my own after there? mountain formation), with their lines and that period up the East coast to Beijing and I didn’t when I was there but I stayed in cracks, and shapes, were exactly like all the into the mountainous area of Guilin and the Shanghai at the Peace Hotel, originally called wonderful Chinese landscapes I had seen in beautiful cities of Suzhou and Hangzshou. the Cathay. Later, when researching some of pictures. How could one not feel an affinity Why did you decide to travel by bicycle, and this material, I discovered it was built by Sir with all this? in particular, a Bickerton bike? Victor Sassoon in 1929. An Iraqi Jew, he moved [Note: Copies of Anthony Fagin’s book can I was going to travel enormous distances. If I his wealth from Bombay to Shanghai and be purchased for £25.00 via the website: could find a folding bike to take on public contributed to the economic development of www.cycleofcathay.co.uk] Kol Kehillat Kernow April 2019 5 Conversion: The joyful path to Judaism

Pat Lipert • You should convert if you understand and personal place in our hearts, but being a Phylo- accept that Judaism is a religion which Israelite is not reason enough. Of course, it So, you think you want to be Jewish? Think requires individual responsibility and a helps to like Jewish food; of course, you are again. It is the most life-changing, ever- reciprocal contract with God and your Jewish compassionate about the life partner you have evolving, serious decision you will make in your community. chosen and his/her family; of course ,you life. That doesn’t mean that you admire Jewish accomplishments and are in awe Among other things, it should blindly follow your faith; of Jewish history (and literature, philosophy, will affect the way you Judaism is it means you were born with scholarship, music and art ), but conversion think, how you look at believing through reason, free will and must and involves a bit more commitment than that. current events, your should make choices about what Being a good Jew isn’t merely about how much attitude towards your actions and you will believe and do as a Jew. learning and scholarship you can master or how humanity and social the ethics of Judaism is not a religion of dogma well you can master Hebrew or recite the problems, what you eat, and ‘must believes,’ but rather liturgy or adhere to ritual (as admirable as that how you interact with Torah, you can a thinking, feeling, and doing is); it also is about Mitzvot, good deeds, sharing, people within your make the world a religion. It is, inherently, an giving and receiving and Tikkun Olam (repairing community and with the inclusive, morally upright religion the world). greater non-Jewish better place but there is space also for It is about life, not death; joy not wallowing in community, what you do individual differences, and sorrow; hope not despair; charity not and say in your daily life and a hands-on because we adhere to ‘the dignity of meanness; peace not war, not doing to others involvement with your Jewish community, difference,’ as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks put it, what you would not have done to yourself, and locally and world-wide. other paths to God also are meritorious and believing through your actions and the ethics It is not just for Passover or Rosh HaShannah, deserve your respect and compassion. of Torah, you can make the world a better as wonderful as both these holy festivals are. You should not convert to place. In short, you don’t mess with God. Judaism... The rest, as Hillel said, It also is one of the most rewarding, meaningful • Merely because your partner is Judaism is “is commentary.” and spiritually gratifying choices you can make. Jewish. the most life- This is why, when a It is a joyful journey of self-discovery and • If you like Jewish food (who person goes through endless reward. doesn’t?) changing, ever- the Jewish Conversion There are many reasons why you should convert • Admire many characteristics of evolving, serious process, it takes and many reasons why you shouldn’t. the Jewish people and their decision you will between one-two • You should convert from no religion or accomplishments. years, for change does another religion to Judaism because the • Wish to combine your beliefs in make in your not come overnight and ethics and values in Torah are compatible another religion (i.e. the life one needs time to with your own already developed moral and Christian concept of Jesus), in evolve, to slowly spiritual code. order to proselytise. ensure that this is the • You should convert if you are wiling to take • Have compassion for events in Jewish history. right path to take. a life-long road to learning and discovery of • Have an admiration for Israel. If you decide to take this wonderful journey, all things Jewish, culturally, socially, Of course you should love Israel; it is our you will be welcomed into the Family of Israel ritualistically, communally, and secularly. spiritual homeland and holds a very special and with open arms. Our English and Irish panto artists

Adam in Wonderland-Adam Feldman as the wonderful Tweedle Dee, one of the Queen of Hearts’ henchmen, seen at his debut in a speaking part in the Malpas Village Hall production of ‘Alice Woof, woof!-Our own Louise Garcia in Ireland is enjoying playing a giant French poodle in Wonderland.’ called Felix in her panto and has all the children shouting: “Poodle Power!” 6 April 2019 Kol Kehillat Kernow Gathering together to remember

During the weekend of January 25th-27th, members of Kehlliat Kernow met with people from the greater community of Cornwall at churches, memorial site in schools and municipal halls to remember and honour the six million Jewish lives annihilated in the Holocaust. Prayers for peace, tolerance, education and loving kindness for all people reverberated throughout these events. These are some of the highlights...

Interfaith service-Members of the Cornwall Jewish community stand before the altar of Truro Cathedral after candle-lightings and a service of remembrance were held. From left to right are: (back row) Liz and John Adelson, Roger Chatfield, Rachel Brown, (front row) Helen Stanton, Jewish resident of Truro, Alexandra Stuart-Brinkley, Jeremy and Mai Jacobson.

Six candles, six million-The lit candles in the hall of Redruth Baptist Church, representing those precious lives lost in the Shoah, were one of many candle lighting ceremonies which took place throughout Cornwall during the weekend of HMD.

Family portraits-Photos of Anne Frank’s family and early life before all were taken to We are commanded to remember-KK concentration camps, was one of the many Chairman Jeremy Jacobson speaks before an artefacts mounted by Rev. Tristan McDonald, interfaith congregation in Truro Cathedral whose comprehensive exhibit at the Redruth during a service of remembrance in honour Baptist Church, brought many people from of HMD while Rev. Roger looks on. all faiths together to see it.

All too familiar memories of the past-KK members, Nicola Willis and Karen Myers examine some of the artefacts available for viewing at the large Anne Frank exhibit at Truro Baptist Church on HMD.

Simcha time-Mazel Tov to Rachel Brown and Roger Chatfield as they receive a special Listen and remember-Members from various faiths attended the Anne Frank exhibit and blessing after the service on Saturday, 16th ceremony of remembrance with Elder Andrew Chapple, Pat Lipert and Adam Feldman, leading March, after just having announced their prayers, along with historic commentary on Anne Frank by Rev. Tristan McDonald who mounted engagement. May their lives be filled with the exhibition. much love and joy. Kol Kehillat Kernow April 2019 7 Editorial Review: Lemon Hart of

This year, Holocaust Memorial Day on the 27th of January has taken on a new scope Penzance and been given more precedence than ever before with 11,000 events held across the Pat Lipert United Kingdom. Of particular poignancy leading up to the weekend of Who was the real Lemon Hart, one of commemoration and tribute to the six million Penzance’s best known Jews of the 19th Jews slaughtered in the Holocaust, was the century? To discover the truth based on burial of six unknown victims of the Shoah documentary evidence, one only has to read at a funeral service held at United the recently published booklet by local amateur Synagogue’s Bushey New Cemetery led by historian, Keith Pearce, to find out. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis. Over 1,200 meticulously researched publication, the people attended, over a 1,000 from Jewish intricate and complicated family histories and communities as well as eminent enigmatic business dealings of the Hart family representatives from government, the Royal and other relations who resided in Cornwall Family, historical and charitable and in London are explained. Much of the organisations, other religious faiths and confusion surrounding Lemon Hart’s enterprises remaining survivors. and reputation is a result of faulty assumptions, The remains of the six unknown victims, mistakes over similar family names, sometimes had been kept in the Imperial War Museum sloppy scholarship and sometimes accepting for over two decades. They, finally were popular folklore for actual documentation. given a proper Jewish burial, something Pearce painstakingly unravels who is whom, denied to so many other unknown victims who did what and how these various business of that terrible time. In some ways, this transactions and inter-marriages between ceremony has assuaged some of the largely Jewish but also Christian families both survivors in being able to give religious burial in the West Country and in London took place to these anonymous five adults and one and when. Leading citizen - Cover page from booklet about the life of Lemon Hart whose child. And that is all we know about them Even when Pearce separates the fact from contributions to Penzance and London life or will ever know, just as we will never know fiction surrounding Lemon Hart, one discovers were widely acclaimed. about all those not given the final dignity that Lemon Hart’s genuine accomplishments they deserved, but for some of the few and contributions to Cornish and London Jewish her recent book, ‘Merchants and Smugglers in Eighteenth Century Cornwall,’ Charlotte Mackenzie remaining survivors, at least, they can life were just as interesting and meritorious has identified several primary sources (of which I represent lost family, lost friends, lost as the more lurid fabrications with which he is was unaware), which confirm that Lemon Hart was community. connected. apprenticed in his youth to Charles Vibert, a Clock- The day of remembrance for victims of the For starters, Lemon Hart came from no mean Maker. He qualified as a watchmaker and his Holocaust also is particularly important this stock. The Penzance Hart family (‘ not occupation was recorded as such at the time of his year. A recent pole of 2,000 people in Britain ...directly related to other Hart families in marriage to Letitia Michael of Swansea. It seems that his principal and more remunerative trade in conducted by the Holocaust Memorial Day Plymouth, Portsmouth, London and Wine & Spirits represents a second phase in his Trust, indicted that 5% did not believe the elsewhere’), were probably some of the first career. Consequently, the 1781 Lemon Hart clock Shoah happened; one in 12 thought the scale Jewish settlers to arrive in Cornwall in the early (mentioned by Rabbi Susser), may well have been was exaggerated and two-thirds of those 1700s and were essential in establishing the made by Lemon Hart, perhaps as an apprentice 2,000 couldn’t say how many Jews were Jewish Community in Penzance, the leasing of piece.”] murdered or grossly underestimated the land for the Penzance Jewish Cemetery and number. the building of the first synagogue in 1768. Education, despite Herculean efforts by so Lemon Hart was the first “recorded Parnas, many credible organisations over the past President of the Hebrew Congregation), whilst fifty years, has not been as effective a tool his grandfather and father were probably towards more tolerance. In times of (records have been lost or not kept), the prior populism, burgeoning extreme right or left Presidents. political movements, racial, ethnic and The commercial history of Hart as an importer religious hatred increases. of rum and other goods, as co-owner of two As less and less survivors remain alive, those local ships, as a manufacturer-distiller, as a who bear witness and have the most victualler to the Royal Navy (along with many dramatic, convincing, eye-to-eye contact others), both in Penzance and later in London, with their audiences, and who can change made him a successful businessman both in attitudes towards the catastrophic results Penzance and in London. He did not introduce of intolerance and hatred becomes less the “tot” of rum to the Navy. effective. In the future, this vital information If you want to understand more about some of about our recent history becomes a passive our leading, founding Jewish families in and vehicle for information, subject to the around Penzance, and their involvements in dustbins of fake news, questionable data, the local and greater communities, this or inaccessible to those who need to know. booklet, which also contains colour portraits And that is why, days for remembrance, in and family trees, is for you. Published by Penlee particular, HMD, is so crucial. As Olivia Marks- House Gallery and Museum in Penzance, this Woldman, chief executive of HMDT said, booklet is available through Penlee House and Bat Mitzvah girl - Zahava Cohen celebrated “Without a basic understanding of this from Kehillat Kernow for £5.00. her Bat Mitzvah in Redruth on the 22nd of recent history, we are in danger of failing [Editor’s note: Keith Pearce writes, “On page 5, I December. Her Torah reading from Vaya-chi to learn where lack of respect for differences have said that there is no evidence that Lemon Hart and haftorah reading officially began her life as a full member of the Cornwall Jewish and hostility to others can ultimately lead.” ‘was skilled as, or traded as a clock-maker or watchmaker.’ I now know this to be incorrect. In Community. 8 April 2019 Kol Kehillat Kernow Notices and diary Leslie’s joke

Mazel Tov: Jul 6th Chukkat (Pat), 3 Tammuz, 10:30am, The Planters • Anthony Fagin on publication of his book, TBS Solly is serving time in prison for securities ‘A Cycle of Cathay’ in December Jul 20th Pinchas (Harvey), 17 Tammuz, fraud. One day Maurice, his father who still • Adam Feldman on his dramatic debut with 10:30am, TBS loves him writes: a speaking part in pantomime this year Aug 3rd Masei (Sharim), 2 Av, 10:30am, TBS Dear Solly, I won’t be able to • Mai Jacobson and Roger Chatfield on their Aug 17th Va’ethannan (Adam), 16 Av, plant anything in the garden official welcome into the family of Israel 10:30am, TB as I am too old to do it • Murray Brown on his acceptance into the Aug 31st Re-eh (Pat), 30 Av, 10:30am, TBS without your help. Looking teaching programme in Manchester Sep 14th Ki Tetze (Harvey), 14 Elul, 10:30am, forward to your early • To Bao Jacobson, Jemima Feldman and Keith TBS release. Love, Dad Pearce on their special birthdays. Sep 29th Erev Rosh HaShannah, 29 Elul, Solly replies: • Congratulations to Rachel Brown and Roger Sun., Roselidden Farm, Helston, Please don’t dig up the Chatfield on their recent engagement. May 6:30pm garden—that’s where I hid the they have a life together filled with much Sep 30th First day Rosh HaShannah 1 Tishri, money. Wait until I get out. Love, Solly love and happiness. Mon., Roselidden Farm, Helston, At 4am, the police come to Maurice’s house 10:30am and dig up the entire garden. Two days later, Get Well Soon: Oct 8th Eve of Yom Kippur, Kol Nidrei, 9 Maurice receives another letter from Solly. • Vera Collins Tishri, Tues, Roselidde Farm, 7pm. Dear Dad, Now that the garden has been dug • Mandy Pearce Oct 9th Yom Kippur, 10 Tishri, Wed., up, you can plant your garden. It’s the best I Roselidden Farm, 10:30am could do from here. Love, Solly Diary: Oct 13th Eve of Sukkot, 14 Tishri, Sun. No Apr 13th Metzora (Sharim), 8 Nisan, Service 10:30am, TBS Oct 26th Bereshit (Sharim)|, 27 Tishri, Return Hertz Chumashim Apr 19th Erev Pesach, 1st night of Seder, 10:30am, TBS We notice several copies of our ‘Pentateuch Fri., Trelissick Gardens, The Barn, & Haftorahs’ edited by Hertz which we use 6:30pm in our weekly services are missing. Apr 27th Acharei Mot (Adam), 22 Nisan, 10:30am, TBS If you have a KK copy, would you please May 11th Emor (Pat), 6 Iyyar, 10:30am, TBS bring it back to shul. May 25th B’chukkotai (Harvey), 20 Iyyar, 10:30am, TBS Jun 8th Naso (Sharim), 5 Sivan, 10:30am, TBS Jun 22nd Sh’lach L’cha (Adam), 19 Sivan, Passionate about print 10:30am, TBS Tel: 01872 278688 Email: [email protected] Pass the cheese brûlée please! midcornwallprinting.co.uk Unit 5, Higher Newham Lane, Newham Ind. Est., Truro TR1 2ST

Melanie Feldman bottom of a roasting tin or big lasagne dish and stand the ramekins on it. Put it almost in the This is an adapted Maria Elias recipe. Her oven and carefully, pour boiling water around version is a little too salty for me. them to make a water bath. Bake for 40-50 SUDOKU It is an unusual savoury brulee minutes (depending upon the size), until they and works beautifully as a are set and their tops are browning. How to play: Complete the grid so the numbers 1 to cheese course. Once the brulees are cold, scatter over the 9 appear only once in each row, each column and demerara sugar and either blast it with a cook 100g Roquefort cheese 3×3 box. Don’t worry; no maths is involved. Only 100g gruyere cheese blow torch or under a hot grill. Scatter a few small bunch of seedless chopped pecans on top. Serve with breadsticks logic is required to solve the puzzle. Have fun! grapes or crackers. IT’S MODERATELY HARD ½ tsp salt large pinch of white pepper 9 2 6 7 25g caster sugar 4 12 9 5 egg yolks 2 cloves garlic 76 3 1 500ml double cream 4 tbsp demerara sugar 857 handful of pecan nuts, chopped Heat oven to 150 degree C. Heat cream in a pan with the garlic cloves. Whisk egg yolks, caster sugar, salt and pepper 432 together until the yolks go pale. When the 6 2 93 cream is nearly boiling, pour it onto the egg mix, whisking. Crumble up the Roquefort an 4 81 7 add that. Chop the gruyere into little blocks, half the Unique cheese course-This inventive 5 7 8 4 grapes and put them in the bottom of ramekins concoction of cheese and cream make for a (will do 6 small ones or 4 larger ones). Pour over delicate third course worthy of any fine dinner For the solution and more free puzzles, have a the cream mix. Put an old tea towel in the party or as a main at a fancy lunch. look at the Sudoku website: sudokusolver.com.