swxc PesachThe 5780/2020 1

Norrice 020 8455 8126 www.hgss.org.uk News & Views from Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue Leader Pesach 5780/2020

Rising to the challenge Rabbanit Batya Friedman writes e are living in unprecedented Wtimes with the news and regulations changing by the day. However, we are blessed – all the pastoral resources of the community, the Rabbinic Team, and Rabbi Bentzi Sudak of Chabad have Rabbi Bentzi Sudak and Vice Chair Dana Brass prepare packs of challah come together, co-ordinated by the and grape juice, together with a really comforting and helpful booklet, incredible Nefesh Network, with to be delivered to the housebound in time for Shabbat Naomi and Shar at the helm. They recognised that the community’s flourishing all over the Suburb. The number of people who have needs would change and were ready Even those who were isolated, reached out to the shul has been to take on the challenge. and those who were unfortunately unbelievable. In a time of uncertainty, Even before the request was circul- not well themselves, could not wait we know for certain that we are part ated, members were offering to help to get out to assist those in need. of a very blessed community. in any way they could. The warmth For example, although ill herself, a If you are self-isolating, need and care was truly inspirational. As member phoned an elderly woman help or want to offer help, please people began isolating themselves, whom she knew to be anxious in email [email protected] or call offers of help came pouring in. Street order to to calm her down. People 8455 0040. One of the team will by street round the area, leaflets have sitting shiva were anxious to get up be in touch. been dropped through letterboxes, to volunteer. Although in darkness, They will also continue to enquiring if any assistance was they were able to find the light call round over the course of the needed. Streets have created their within themselves to be able to coming weeks to check up on our own Whatsapp groups and these are spread it on to others. most vulnerable members.

Our Virtual Synagogue jna jxp dj Even if we cannot be together in l HGSS WhatsApp Minyan Group: Rabbi & Rabbanit Friedman, person, there are many https://chat.whatsapp.com/ Rabbi & Rebbetzen Guttentag, opportunities to be part of Shul 3zU50k0vtLx9KYmKKRdvdM activities. Here’s how: Chazan Avromi & Rochelle Freilich, l Norrice Lea Nashim: with the Professional Staff and Honorary Officers l If you would like to start receiving https://chat.whatsapp.com/ WhatsApp Broadcast Updates from B6UO9og9BpuHLm2Kwr5n7O wish all members and their families HGSS, please add +442084577044 l Shiurim: A HAPPY AND KOSHER PESACH to your mobile contacts and send us a https://chat.whatsapp.com/ May we all be celebrating together message on WhatsApp with your full BZ8wbGTqweRJ4mauv0vh03 name. again very soon 2 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 3 A message from The Chief Rabbi INDEPENDENCE. DIGNITY. CHOICE. Pesach 5780/2020 “ Raymond’s stroke had a devastating effect on his and recent BBC News item reported that more than Egyptian taskmaster whom Moses had Pamela’s life until they moved in a quarter of people engage in monthly domestic killed in order to save a Hebrew disputes about which types of plastic can be slave. to their Jewish Blind & Disabled A recycled. Research carried out in London last year found This anthropomorphism is apartment. Now they enjoy that nearly 90% of drivers were still grappling with what surpris-ing. Can one really feel a sense of respect or the best of both worlds – the new Ultra Low Emissions Zone would mean for them. deference for a river or the earth? independence with a social A report issued in January by a cross-party Parliamentary I believe that there is a powerful message here about life on their doorstep” group suggested that, in efforts to reduce plastic waste, our attitude to the environment. We tend to measure Raymond & Pamela moved into their many are using materials which can actually cause the impact of climate change by sea level, temperature state-of-the-art mobility apartment in 2019. greater damage to the environment. When it comes to increase or the amount of carbon in the air. These are responding to climate change, I fear that too many of us of course all crucial in their own right but what if we are failing to see the wood for the trees. measured the impact of climate change by the number It is told of the apocryphal ‘wise elders of Chelm’ of human lives it has already destroyed? Might that help

that they were becoming increasingly concerned about focus our minds? the town’s only bridge. A small cavity in the bridge Accurate figures would be difficult to produce, but quickly became a dangerous gap. Every day brought there is no question that millions of lives are lost every more incidents of people falling into the valley below year to air pollution, natural disasters, pandemics and and injuring themselves. An emergency meeting of the extreme water or food shortages related to climate change. elders was called. After a full day of intense discussion More than anything, Pesach is about responsibility. and debate, the unanimous solution was finally Slaves are merely an instrument, acting purely upon announced: they would urgently build a hospital in instruction. As we celebrate our freedom from Egypt the valley below! and its accompanying responsibility – to Torah, to I wonder what the reaction of the elders of Chelm Hashem and to living in His service – we must not would be to the problem of climate change and, forget our responsibility to protect the fragile world indeed, whether it would be different at all to the way that He created for us. many people actually view the issue today. Consequently, our response to climate change should On Pesach, we recall how Aaron, not Moses, was not only be about this type of plastic or that; this type of instructed to instigate the first three of the ten plagues – car or that. It should be a far more fundamental shift in blood and frogs, which emerged from water, and lice, the way that we think about the natural environment. which emerged from the earth. Rashi explains that Planet earth has sustained humanity for millennia just Moses owed both water and the earth a personal debt as it sustained Moses in Egypt. In return, we are failing of gratitude. The waters of the Nile had protected his to offer it the respect that it deserves. life when, as a baby, he was set afloat in a basket, while Valerie and I wish you a Chag Kasher Vesameach. ENABLED the earth provided the hiding place for the body of the In this issue. . . From the Chief Rabbi...... Page 3 What we can learn from 12 Thai boys in a cave We must go that extra mile Rabbi & Rabbanit Friedman...... 5 Zoe Sinclair...... 22 Editorial...... 6 We bid farewell to Judy...... 23 From the Chair Neil Levinson...... 7 MoD Holocaust Memorial Day Event Rabbi Livingstone...24 A message from Mike Freer MP...... 8 Organ Donation – a modern Jewish challenge To make a Young HGSS...... 9 Anthony Warrens...... 26 donation or to apply Torah and Wrap – two inspirational evenings...... 11 The Board of Deputies Marie van der Zyl...... 28 Daf Yomi Celebrations...... 12 for an apartment visit Venice Beach – a new type of Shul experience David Lew...30 From the President of the United Synagogue...... 13 Another outint for 5th Tribe Dr Steve Miller...... 31 www.jbd.org or call Matzah – a paradox Rebbetzen Ilana Epstein...... 14 UK Jewish community celebrated at Buckingham Palace 020 8371 6611 Kerem School celebrates...... 16 Vicki Harris...... 32 Registered Charity No. 259480 A Lifetime Achievement Award for Lira ...... 17 The Real Samaritans Vivian Wineman...... 33 The Polish Ambassador calls...... 18 Book Review: Bounce Back by Susan Kahn...... 34 Covid 19 (a poem by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen)...... 19 IKarina Kaufmann wins Silver in Punta Umbria...... 3 Purim Celebrations...... 20-21 Simcha Pages...... 36-39 4 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 5 We must go that extra mile say Rabbi & Rabbanit Friedman

he opening scene of the grand Exodus story during these dark days. begins with two no-name Hebrew midwives We have seniors who Tcalled Shifra and Puah who have received have been instructed Pharaoh’s injunction to kill the male babies and have to self-isolate who need chosen to defy the royal decree. The scene seems shopping assistance. Some almost irrelevant. The story could have begun with of them could simply do with a daily phone call to Pharaoh’s subsequent decree that all boys must be cast see how they’re doing. Also, given our numbers of into the Nile, and the birth of Moshe, the saviour of members who cannot come to minyan now, we need Israel. What is the significance of the opening scene? some of the younger members to help fill the gap. In times of crisis, there are two types of people. We need technical assistance with keeping our shul Some will think only about themselves and their services and classes online and available for those who immediate families. When major calamity strikes, they are staying home. If you are able to help out, please go into survival-of-the-fittest mode and worry about don’t hesitate to be in touch with us. EVERYONE IS WELCOME how they will ride the storm. But then there are others And of course, on a spiritual level, now more who put their own needs to the side and look for ways than ever, we need to make sure that we are drawing AT OUR SEDER TABLES. in the midst of the tornado to help others. They open down positive spiritual energy into the world. Our their eyes even wider than usual to see who might be interactions with our fellow human beings should suffering the most. And they go the extra mile to help aim to bring a smile to their faces and warmth to their those in need. hearts. Our words should be only positive and joyous. Shifra and Puah symbolized the average Joe We must aim for the great traits of ayin tov (a good Israelites who shone through the storm around them. eye), lev tov (a good heart), and chaver tov (a good BUT IT’S ONLY POSSIBLE THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU. Not concerned for their own livelihood or security, friend) in all that we say and do. The more light and they demonstrated how to be beacons of light in the joy we bring into the world, the speedier this terrible This Pesach, Jewish Care will touch the lives of 10,000 people across our darkest days. And our Sages tell us that it was in the plague will be removed from our midst. community. Just like every other week, we will give them the very best merit of righteous women such as these that our people When our ancestors were deep in the throes of professional care and support they need and deserve. We need to raise was redeemed from Egypt. slavery, they could not imagine how the pain and £300,000 every single week to provide that care. We are in the midst of a crisis the likes of which anguish would disappear. But the Almighty wrought humanity has not experienced in a generation. During wonders and miracles and we marched forth from So please make a gift today. Thank you. such dark days, each of us will be tested. Will we be Egypt. May this Pesach celebrate our freedom from self-centred, thinking only about our own survival the current crisis that has engulfed the world and may and that of our immediate family? Or we will we be we celebrate with a complete and utter joy for all TO MAKE YOUR GIFT, PLEASE CALL 020 8922 2600, focused on creating light within the darkness? humanity! OR VISIT JEWISHCARE.ORG/DONATE Will people turn to us for help and support, knowing that we may be counted upon as fountains of positive energy? Will they pick up the phone to us during times of crisis knowing that they will come away from the For all up-to-date information on conversation feeling inspired and uplifted? And will Charity Reg No. 802559 online davening and events, please we pick up the phone first, already sensing who most needs our help and support? see our website: www.hgss.org.uk There are so many ways to be a beacon of light 6 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 7 From the Editor From the Chair Carrying on A message from Neil Levinson ho would have believed that this Wwould be the scene in Shul this Pesach? Let us look forward to the great reunion when esach is a time when We still don’t know how the pandemic will play all this confusion is a thing of the past. out, how great any future disruptions will be nor how In the meantime, our hearts go out to those who we celebrate our find themselves isolated and to those who were Pjourney from slavery long they will last. However, we will continue to do looking forward to a family simcha – those about to get to freedom. With our freedom all we can in the circumstances to keep members married, and the B’nei Mitzvah who having studied so this – we must take advantage of them. comes a responsibility for safe and support our community. We know that hard towards celebrating that great milestone in their Having said all that, The Norrice Leader goes on and, ourselves, our families and this year’s sedarim will be ‘different from all other lives must feel so let down. hopefully, will have reached you in time for Pesach. our community. This has been no more evident than sederim’ and that many of us won’t be celebrating As one of the many finding myself on the receiving We hope you will enjoy reading about the many over the last few weeks. Whether phoning round with our families and friends. However, we should end of so much kindness and support, it has really events which have taken place during the past months all find strength and comfort that as a community brought home to me how precious it is to be part of a as well as the interesting and informative articles which our most vulnerable members, delivering challot for community like this. people have sent us. Shabbat or offering help to those is self-isolation, we are here to support one another. There is so much going on that is positive. Last I must say a word of apology for an omission in we are all so very fortunate to be part of a dynamic On behalf of the community, I would like to thank Friday morning, I attended the Ladies’ Tehillim Group. the last edition. The report on the wonderfufl concert and caring community. It has been amazing to see Rabbi and Rabbanit Friedman, Rabbi and Rebbetzen We met up on the internet for a beautiful Dvar Torah with Chazan Avromi and Chazan Shulem Lemmer was how, as a community, we are able support one Guttentag, Chazan Avromi and Rochelle and Yael by Rochelle Freilich. We then prayed for the recovery written up by Simone Halfin. Due to an oversight, the another in this time of need. and Ethan who have all ensured we continue to of those among us who are unwell and, in our own attribution was omitted. I apologise for this. In temple times, a key aspect of this celebration maintain activities through this time. Huge thanks time, read from the Psalms. Even though we could not In spite of all, have a lovely Pesach and may we was the Pesach offering which, unlike other also to our office and facilities team who have be together in person, we felt each other’s presence. all be celebrating together again by the time we meet worked tirelessly to ensure everything continues to It was beautiful. There are so many opportunities like again. sacrifices, was not to be cut into small pieces, could not have any broken bones and was to be run smoothly. I would also like to thank the many eaten by family groups. By eating the Pesach volunteers for working to ensure the wellbeing of offering according to these laws, the Jewish people our members. demonstrated their unity. Over the course of the last Wishing a refuah sheleimah to everyone affected Bournemouth remembered few weeks, despite being physically separated, we by the virus and pray it is brought under control have come together. Through online shiurim, acts of soon. kindness or livestreaming of services, we maintain our unity and keep our community going through Wishing you all a Chag Kasher VeSameach these difficult times.

Youth celebrate Purim Youth Leaders, Yael and Ethan, report: Our Purim Megillah Reading and Pizza Party was a massive hit! The megillah was read by Rabbi Guttentag, Sam On 10 February, a large turn-out of members of a certain age gathered at 8 Raeburn Close to reminisce about Woolfson and Joshua the heyday of the Bournemouth hotels. The speaker was Geoffrey Feld, then owner of the Cumberland Hotel, Graham. This was followed such a familiar sight on the sea front. Virtually everyone present had personal memories to recount – this was by Pizza, music and fun! a wonderful event, thoroughly enjoyed by all. Lots more Purim fun pp20-21 8 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 9 A message from Young HGSS Mike Freer MP would like to begin by thanking members of Norrice Lea, and the wider Jewish community here in Finchley and Golders Green for their amazing support during the election. In an election that Iwas of such importance to Jewish communities right across the country, it was great to see such levels of support throughout the campaign here in London. Serving as the MP for the area has been the greatest honour of my lifetime, and I am glad to be able to con- tinue to represent you in Parliament, with the largest majority I have achieved in the four times I have been Fun on the ice BAT & ALC Glow-in-the-Dark elected. I would also like to make the humble promise Years 7 and 8 took to the ice at JW3 during the Havdallah Party to everyone, whether you supported me or not, that I is an ancient position with the Royal Household. As Winter/Chanukah break BAT and ALC came together for a fun will work tirelessly to represent all communities within a member of the Royal Household, I am required to Motzei shabbat Glow-in-the-Dark the constituency. I look forward to working on a range escort Her Majesty The Queen through Parliament Havdallah party, fun shabbat arts and of issues on behalf of constituents right across the and into the House of Lords for the State Opening crafts and loads of pizza! Rabbi Guttentag constituency on the issues that matter to them. and Queens Speech that officially opens the new was joined by the Kedma band for a The period following any election is always an Parliament and sets out the Government’s agenda for vibrant and musical Havdallah ceremony. extremely busy time. Following this election, it was the upcoming Parliamentary Session. even busier as I was promoted within the Government Youth Holocaust Whips Office to Comptroller of the Household, which I wish you all a Joyful and Kosher Passover. Memorial Dinner This year our Youth Annual Holocaust Memorial Friday night dinner saw 160 We go to Chai for Project Impact youth come together to Our year 9 volunteering programme “Project Impact” has been honour and memorialize the big * an amazing success! 35 Hampstead Garden Suburb Youth get the 75 years since the Liberation of together bi-monthly to spend 1.5 hours of their weekend giving Auschwitz. We heard personal accounts of their time to causes and charities in the community. Our youth from two of our youth (Sam Woolfson have volunteered with JBD (Jewish Blind and Disabled), Chai and Ruby Young) who attended a year 12 Cancer Care, Jewish Child’s Day, Spring Grove Care Home, JW3 Poland trip this year. Purim Carnival fair and more! The highlight of our evening was hearing from a real life hero and Auschwitz survivor Leslie Kleinman. Leslie shared accounts of his story and explained his lifes’ purpose *Care is at the heart of everything Lighthouse is to spread the message of love and that Chai does. Our Year 10 Lighthouse humanity throughout the world. Leslie We care for just over 3,800 clients Leadership programme culminated his talk by giving a blessing to through our 59 specialised services has been a great success! our youth! delivered from 11 centres across the UK, Our youth come together including our Home Support Service for bi-monthly to learn a new those who cannot access a Chai centre. skill, volunteer, hear from For more information on our full range of an interesting speaker and broaden their minds around services please call 020 8202 2211 or our Israel, Judaism and life! Our Youth have had sessions Freephone Helpline on 0808 808 4567 or visit www.chaicancercare.org. on: the Israeli Palestinian conflict, drug and alcohol awareness, social media and internet safety, mental

Registered Charity No. 1078956 health, a basic first aid and rescue course and more! 10 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 11

Torah and Wrap Rabbanit Batya, we heard the inspirat- Two inspirational evenings ional stories of two Vice-Chair Dana Brass reports ‘modern day Esthers’ – Rebbetzen Esti t’s been a busy few months for Hamilton, and Jew- women at HGSS with lots of ish Care resident shiurim and events. Over 100 Susan Shlaen. women participated in our two Esti, the daughter Torah and Wrap events, one for of Rabbi Kimche Get all your had a near death ex- IChanukah and one for Purim. The idea was to combine some Torah inspiration perience caused by an with doing something for charity – auto-immune disease mobile phone Quote code receiving wisdom and then giving earlier this year. She HGSS10 for 10% off something back. At our first event at Chanukah we spoke about the power requirements listened to Rebbetzen Ruthie Halberstadt (above left) of prayer and healing. everything including give an ‘illuminating’ talk. We then wrapped over 300 Susan has written a book contracts and hardware gifts that were later taken to elderly patients at the about her experiences from one local Royal Free and Barnet Hospitals, helped along by our in prison, through expert wrappers from the Kisharon Equal shop, who abuse and how she also had a pop-up shop at the event. turned her life round. store At our Purim event, following an introduction by We then packed over 200 Mishloach Manot which went to One Heart, a Jewish Child’s Day project which supports families where a child or a parent is suffering with cancer. Jewish Child’s Day is one of HGSS’s partnered RCUK Golders Green provides charities. Thank you to everyone who came and helped, and to the wonderful committee for Rental for making both events such a success. We hope to run a travel options The Torah & Wrap Committee (l to r): Claudia Salem, third Torah and Wrap, so look Mobile including Alyson Martin, Hannah Summers, Michele Yamin Joseph and Products out for details. contracts for Israel Dana Brass who have since been joined by Danielle Lipton business and and personal accessories The history of Cholent

Early in January, we enjoyed an evening devoted to 2 Highfield Ave, cholent. The history was told London by Rebbetzen Dalia Epstein NW11 9ET and, following her talk, we The Results: 020 8731 7171 were confronted with a large www.rcuk.com 4th (joint): Menachem’s Deli / Reich Refer a Friend selection of cholents, both Earn up to £50 for every friend 3rd Kosher Deli you refer to RCUK

To find out more: Go to www.rcuk.com/refer Email [email protected] Tel: 020 3907 6757 Visit one of our stores fleishic and vegetarian, to 2nd (joint): Amor’s Takeaway / sample, after which we voted Rabbi Daniel Friedman for our favourite. Here are the 1st: Shefa Mehadrin (both fleishic and vegetarian) results * 12 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 13 Daf Yomi Celebrations A Pesach message n Motzei Shabbat, 11 January, 200 people from Michael Goldstein came together in the Max Weinbaum Hall President of The United Synagogue Ofor the ‘Siyum Hashas’, a dinner to mark hat is freedom? Rwanda and the Chief Rabbi’s Ben Azai the completion of the ‘Daf Yomi’ cycle, a daily study In February I programme, there is a role for us to play in programme where Jews all around the world learn the Wwas invited to volunteering. same page of the Talmud. Rwanda to participate in a I have been extremely proud of the growing areas After Rabbi Friedman gave the welcoming address, study trip run by OLAM, a in which the United Synagogue has been involved in the keynote speaker, The Chief Rabbi, received a shared platform to promote supporting asylum seekers, feeding and sheltering the resounding welcome. Dayan Gelley, of the London Beth global Jewish international homeless and making wishes come true for terminally Din spoke and began teaching the new cycle of Talmud. development. The trip was ill people, both Jewish and non-Jewish. We will designed to inspire Jewish continue to support vulnerable United Synagogue community conversations about families who are struggling, particularly at Pesach. Other speakers included Rebbetzen Lauren Levin of shared responsibility towards vulnerable populations in We should be unashamed that this work is not a South Hampstead Synagogue, Rabbi Yoni Birnbaum of the developing world. one-way street. These acts help us all grow but they Hadley Wood Jewish Community, Rabbi Barry Lerer of This was the first time that I had spent meaningful also give us another avenue for the unaffiliated to find The Central Synagogue London and Rabbi Nicky Liss, time in a developing country. I saw the enormous a way to engage. of Highgate Synagogue, Chair of the Rabbinic Council personal challenges that confront people every day. This year, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of of the United Synagogue, Rwanda experienced genocide just 25 years ago and is our wonderful organisation, this is another way that There was a special mazal tov for everyone at Barnet coming to terms with the reality that a million people we can ensure the United Synagogue remains proudly United Synagogue and Kinloss (Finchley United) who were slaughtered by their neighbours. orthodox, modern and welcoming to all. were celebrating finishing the cycle of Daf Yomi after In our globalised world, development is relevant to 7.5 years. An extraordinary achievement. all of us. I believe it is the fundamental issue facing Have a wonderful Pesach. Chag kasher v’sameach Photos by Marc Morris Photography the human race in the 21st century. There is much to celebrate about the world’s development in the last 40 years. Poverty has been radically reduced. Illiteracy rates are falling as is infant mortality. Fewer people are With Best Wishes dying from malnutrition and more have access to clean drinking water and sanitation. But the United Nations still estimates that 21% of the world’s population lives in poverty with just

$1.25 or less to spend a day. That’s 1.6 billion people. Poverty enslaves. It denies freedom. Why am I telling you this? It is clear from my conversations with our younger members that more and more of them feel a responsibility to the developing world. In many places the Torah teaches us not to wrong

a stranger, not to mistreat a widow or orphan. We are commanded to support financially both Jews and non- Jews in need. The Talmud (Bava Metzia 71a) debates how to prioritise giving, ruling that the poor of your city

take precedence. But the Rabbis note that if the poor of your city have at least the basics to live, we must

www.celiaclyne.com support the poor of another city as the neediest take

[email protected] precedence. Today, this might mean helping people in need anywhere on the planet. Manchester: 0161 705 1223 We can all play a part. We all have a voice. We should make ours heard. The Chief Rabbi has led the London: 0207 1111 223 Under the supervision of the London, Manchester & Leeds Beth Din way on issues including the plight of refugees and the environment. As we have seen with Tribe’s visit to

14 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 15 last accusation of blood libel was made in 2014. The demand for matzahs was so high that they outgrew their Rebbetzen Ilana Epstein tells the story of injustice is incredible on so many levels. The mere basement and moved to a massive factory by 1900. The thought of an observant Jew eating blood – let alone demand was coming from an unexpected corner. Sure, human blood – is sacrilege, and then, adding it to Jews needed matzah for Pesach, but the factory was Matzah – a paradox? matzah is unbelievable. And yet its existence as a myth producing, at its height, 75,000 pounds of matzah daily, Ilana has collected many experiences over the last few decades, from interior designer is a reality and an accusation that exists to this day. with most of it going to American pioneers heading to international educator, qualifying as a pastry chef and working as a journalist for When Issac Singer, a French Jew, introduced the West, as it was a food staple that would stay fresh over an a number of publications. Ilana, who has lived in New York, Caracas, Rio de Janeiro first matzah rolling machine in 1838, it was instantly extended period of time. Is it too lofty to say that Matzah and Israel, settled in London five years ago with her husband Rabbi Daniel Epstein accepted by most Western European Jews – its benefits was the making of the American frontier? Or rather that and their four children. Ilana is the Rebbetzen of Cockfosters and North Southgate automatically appreciated. This was not the case in these pioneers, just like the Jewish slaves, set out into the United Synagogue, the Jewish Futures Director of Projects and the founder and Eastern Europe. One of the rabbis went as far as to unknown, with faith in God to show them the way and director of Ta’am. say that someone eating a machine-made matzah was just some unleavened bread to feed their dreams? eating chametz on Pesach! Yet the need for the machine The paradox of Matzah is that it ties us to our past, he bread of paradox. How can this very basic communally as a free people. soon outweighed the stringency. A machine-made never allowing us to forget where we came from. Rashi bread mean so much to so many? Even the From that point forward, matzah matzah cut down on labour costs and ensured that even explains that “lechem oni” – the bread of our poverty Torah can’t seem to keep it straight – is it remains pretty much the same. It is the poorest of Jews could have matzah on Pesach. can be translated as the bread of our “answers” (as “oni” the bread of our poverty (lechem oni) or is a bread made daily during Pesach, primarily by the In 1888, a Jew called Abramson from Salant in means both “poor” and “response”). In recounting who Tit the bread of our freedom (lechem cherut). Is it our women on every day of Pesach apart from Shabbat. Lithuania, trying to escape Russian conscription, took we were and where we came from, can we answer birthright or the last vestige of our slavery? Should we It is round and small and, most surprisingly for our the passport of a dead man, Dov Baer Manischewitz. where we are going and who we will be? Matzah is the cry embittered tears or should we dance for joy over modern sensibilities, soft. If we look to Ethiopian Jews When the newly minted Manischewitz reached America tangible link in the chain of Judaism. It is how we hand everything that this bread represents? Is it our death or who have made matzah uninterrupted by modernity, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, he found matzahs hard down our legacy. A legacy that is complex and difficult our rebirth we are commemorating or celebrating? they still prepare their matzah in the same way, daily, to come by in his new hometown. He and his wife yet simple and straightforward all at the same time. Like If we just take a moment to think about it, everything communally and soft. In many Sephardi households, Nesah started making matzahs in their basement. The Jews and Judaism, matzah is a paradox concerning matzah is complicated. From the days on soft matzah is still eaten over Pesach. which it is served, to the preparations required from us Some of the Pesach customs that we are used to make before the matzah ever reaches the table. Even the seder more sense if we consider that the original matzah was Matzo Kloese itself required a complicated story, a full-on introduction soft. For example, the ‘Hillel sandwich’ that we make before we even have one bit of the matzah. Everything towards the end of the seder works much better as a ou may wonder at the different spelling about matzah is complicated: that is, aside from the wrap than squished between two cracker-like matzahs. Yhere. My usual is Matzah, but as I’m ingredients. There are only two: flour and water. That’s it. The kabbalistic custom of resting a seder plate over the sharing my husband’s grandmother’s recipe, The bread of paradox has remained unchanged for matzahs works better over a soft matzah that can absorb it seems fitting. thousands of years and to understand the paradox, the weight of the seder plate, rather than over brittle Lottie Mailich came to England during the rather than to explain it away, let us start from the very matzahs that are sure to break. The drawback of a soft very last days of August 1939. Through her beginning. matzah is that they get stale very fast and do need to be ingenuity and perseverance, she managed to Let‘s discuss bread making in ancient Egypt: Bread made daily. find her own way to escape from one of the in ancient times was leavened. In fact, the leavening It was only in late 16th century Europe that matzahs most dangerous of situations, only days before 2 sheets matzo Pepper to taste as a process was most probably discovered in ancient turned into the cracker-like bread we know today. In World War Two, and the Shoah. From her home Egypt. We hear, already in the time of Joseph, of the order to adhere even more stringently to the law of 2 tbsps vegetable oil ½ teasp ground in Berlin, she escaped to the Scottish Highlands ½ a small onion, finely chopped ginger baker who is imprisoned with him. Without the aid matzah and to avoid chametz, the matzah makers and worked as a cleaner in a Vicarage. of chemical leavening agents, yeast would have been removed as much water as possible from the matzah 4 eggs 1 tbsp ground Having lost many family members during of the wild variety, allowed to ferment over time. The dough. Thus, the matzah making also moves out of the 1 teasp finely chopped parsley almond the Shoah, she rebuilt her life in Brighton with bread would have been much slower to rise than our home and the women’s domain. The dough becomes 1 teasp salt ½ cup matzo meal her husband Joseph Heimann, and her parents modern variety. Thus, unsurprisingly, when told to dash hard to work with and unwieldy; working with such a in the middle of the night, they would have had to bake tough dough in the prescribed 18 minutes becomes a who survived by escaping to Shanghai. oak the two sheets of matzo in cold water for a few the bread that hadn’t fully risen and they would have gauntlet run. We had been married only a month, when Sminutes. Drain and squeeze dry. baked it far faster because . . . well they had to run! As matzah is such a huge part of our collective I spent my first Pesach ever away from my Heat the oil in a large frying pan, fry the onions over The bread would have been as flat as a pancake! And, practice, it is unsurprising that antisemites prescribe a parents. My husband’s family sang different medium heat until very soft and golden. Add the matzo seeing that they were venturing out into the desert, negative aspect to the most basic of our foods. tunes and ate different foods and I was feeling and break up as you stir the matzo into the onions. Remove they needed some kind of food to take with them, and . In chapter 472 of the Shulchan Aruch, we read that totally out of place. But Grandma Lottie was the mixture from pan into a bowl, and add the remaining bread would have been their main source of nutrition. it is customary to use raisin wine on Pesach. Why is kind and insisted that I try her Matzo Kloese, ingredients, mixing well to form a soft dough. Place mixture Thus far I haven’t told you anything you didn’t already this? Raisin wine is golden, as opposed to red wine. prepared just once a year for the Seder meal. in the fridge for at least an hour if not longer. know, nor have I introduced you to the paradox. There were so many cases of blood libel around Thinking they were similar to the very light and Bring a large pot of salted water to boil, shape the mixture The paradox, this mad dash to bake the unleavened Pesach that this law had to be put in place in a number airy Matzah balls I had grown up with, I spent with damp hands into 1 inch balls, drop into boiling water bread, is the last thing they do communally as enslaved of communities. The accusation that Jews used the the better part of the meal chasing them around and cook for about 15 minutes until the matzo kloese are people in Egypt. On the other hand, when they eat blood of Christian children, mainly boys, to make my dish, but once captured, I was hooked! cooked though. the bread out in the desert, it is the first thing they do their matzah first surfaces in Norwich in 1144. The 16 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 17 Kerem School celebrates A Lifetime EXCELLENT school inspection Achievement and appointment of new Headteacher Award for Lira

Marc Morris Photography

s far as Lira Winston was concerned, Tuesday, grandparents even moved from Chalton Drive to 10 11 February, was the regular PaJeS annual Norrice Lea when her grandfather was unable to walk ASchools Awards evening. She has worked in that short distance to be in shul regularly. Both Lira the Jewish education sector and Robert’s sons, Joel and Ben, for some 29 years, since 2012 celebrated their barmitzvahs at as Assistant Director of PaJeS HGSS and, with their daughter (Partnerships for Jewish Schools). Tanya, were involved in Bnei The event was proceeding Akiva and the youth service. as normal with nominations Lira was amazed when she being announced and judges heard her name announced. introduced. However, as the Closely involved in the judges withdrew to decide planning of the annual event, the award winners, Natasha she was incredulous that the erem School has been rated Excellent in all The results of the inspection are coupled with Kaplinky, the host of the PaJeS team had organised this evening, announced that without her finding out. “It was categories in a recent ISI Inspection. The the exciting announcement of the appointment, in there was to be a very special truly unexpected and a huge inspection, which took place over three December, of Ms Naomi Simon as the Headteacher award and she called upon honour. I am very grateful to days in December 2019, was a Focused of Kerem. Ms Simon has been a Deputy Head at the Emeritus Chief Rabbi, Lord everyone involved and to the KCompliance and Educational Quality Inspection. ISI, school for three years. Sacks, to speak. This he did as many wonderful people I have which is similar to Ofsted, inspects Independent Schools. Ms Simon said: “We are delighted that the hard only Lord Sacks can – talking worked with and been inspired

Key findings of the report include: work of so many people has been recognised. I am about the recipient’s enormous Marc Morris Photography by over so many years.” “Pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding are proud to be the new Headteacher at Kerem and excited contribution to the great success highly developed, due to the high expectations and to work with such a dedicated team of staff working in the growth of Jewish education over recent years, challenge provided by staff”. alongside the parents and families of Kerem.” their dedication and modesty. The person concerned was, of course, Lira herself. Not only that, there were “The overall achievement and attainment in the Samantha Leek QC, who took over the position as contributions from her family, not just in this country Early Years Unit (EYU) is outstanding across all areas Chair of the Governors in September, said: “We are but also from Los Angeles, with a video message from of learning. This outcome is a consequence of strong incredibly proud of the outcome of the inspection her younger son, Ben, together with comedian James individualised support and highly focused approach but will not rest on our laurels. We are committed Cordon and singer/songwriter Harry Styles who spoke from an early age with reading and writing in both to building upon the successes that we have enjoyed of the hours of warm hospitality he had enjoyed at the English and Ivrit which engages the interests of children”. to date and to improving still further all aspects of Winston home. “Pupils’ spiritual awareness is excellent. They have provision at the school.” Lira and her husband, Robert, were married at HGSS a strong appreciation for their own culture and that of in 1973 and have lived in the Suburb since 1979. others and they show considerable sensitivity towards The full report is available to view online at Lira’s father’s family, the Feigenbaums, were early those less fortunate than themselves”. www.keremschool.co.uk/isi/ members of the shul and involved in the Board of Management and numerous other ways. Her 18 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 19 The Polish Ambassador calls Covid-19: Who do you think you are? By Jeffrey M Cohen fter the Main Service families who hid Jews at enormous personal risk. There on Shabbat, 8 February, were, of course, many Polish pilots who took part in Dedicated to the memory of all who have died as a result Awe welcomed Arkady fending off the Luftwaffe during The Battle of Britain. of the Corona virus and to all who are suffering its effects Józef Rzegocki, Ambassador Rabbi Marcus raised a number of contentious issues Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary including the question of the restitution of Jewish property, don’t want you, Covid! An eternal pariah; It means seeing, in of the Republic of Poland (pictured now inhabited by non-Jews, for which no compensation I didn’t invite you in! Following God’s law, fellow man, left), who is making every effort to has been paid. He also questioned the need to legislate I don’t know who sent you, And awaiting the Messiah – God’s image, bright reach out to as many synagogues as possible while in on matters regarding the Holocaust and Radio Maryja You just get under my skin! While others devoured and sharp; office. He was in conversation with Rabbi Barry Marcus which has been criticised for promoting anti-Semitism. I Anything that moved, Each deed of kindness, MBE (right) who was knighted by the Polish President The Rabbi suggested the way forward is to educate in And who named you, ‘Covid,’ They only ate A new chord on His harp; in 2015 for, among other things, fostering dialogue order to promote a better understanding between the When that’s just the thing What was strictly approved, It means singing a medley between the Jewish and Polish communities. Jewish and Polish people – a sentiment with which the you lack; And prepared under rabbinic Of praise to His creation; Rabbi Marcus, of course, is well known for having Ambassador was in agreement. For you show no Covid* to Specification, Each one a floral gift— led some 50,000 people, both Jewish and non-Jewish Given the time available, there anyone Calculated to avoid A rose or a carnation. on some 220 educational visits to Poland. Until recently, was not really the opportunity he was Rav of the Central Synagogue in Great Portland to go into any great depth on In your murderous attack? Cross contamination. Street where a near neighbour was the Polish Embassy these topics. Mainly, one was So, what lesson shall we take with which he was able to forge a relationship. left with the feeling that this Worse still, it’s the aged But the Jew-haters saw a chance, From this fearful episode? The Ambassador began by enumerating Poland’s is an ambassador who would Whom you put at greatest risk, Not to be ignored, Perhaps it’s from the ‘look at me!’ positive contributions to the fight against Nazi Germany. like to reach out to the Jewish And whose suffering appears Of ensuring that surviving Jews Our youngsters’ favourite ode; Poland has the most individuals listed as Righteous community in a way that has not to be Were put to the sword— ‘See how much more beautiful Amongst the Nations at Yad Vashem – there were been attempted in the past. The most acute and brisk. It wasn’t our dietary laws, I am than my peers! They asserted, Acclaim what I’ve got to say— And don’t think you’re so clever, That ensured contagion, Let me hear your cheers; Or the new kid on the block; Among us, was averted, Look at my selfie, . ‘Cos there’ve been some But the sorcery that Forward it all around; . antecedents, Our adherents embrace, Let your adulation .. Dangerous as hemlock. Which was the very reason Be my seductive sound.’ the most experienced and For our ancient fall from grace! diverse band in the business Since the plagues of Pharaoh’s Over the months of isolation, Egypt, Now, I told you what covid Being imposed on our nation, from a small ensemble Whose firstborn sons were felled, means, On our values, to a big band, we have With life wholly disrupted At the outset of this rhyme, Let’s all ponder; all your music needs covered Wherever families dwelled, And why, within Judaism, This chance, world class music There’ve been many more It will always be prime; I beg you, provided by outbreaks – Now let me expand on it, Do not squander! Pandemics to boot – For, in my vocabulary, Jonny Shine, one of our very own . Leaving millions of fatalities, It denotes a demonstration .. And countless destitute. Of care and empathy * Yiddish pronunciation of the because we know . None of those contagions To those who are housebound, Hebrew kavod, meaning how much the spirit And those fearful ills Confined to isolation; (among other nuances) of your simcha Could be in any way contained And support for the needy, ‘respect.’ means to you! . With man-made pills, With no selfish calculation. . Or herbal remedies, www.rabbijeffrey.co.uk [email protected] . . Purging or bleeding; It connotes self-respect, Jeffrey M Cohen/Poetry/ 07961 116 732 (call or WhatsApp) Nor even fervent prayer – And human dignity; www.wipfandstock.com neshama-music.co.uk For God simply wasn’t heeding! A call to serve the cause Let’s turn to the Jew – Of all humanity. © Jeffrey M Cohen 20 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 21

Project ImpACT

Our volunteers spent their Purim at afternoon making Hamentashen and packing mishloach HGSS manot boxes for the The Jewish Blind and Aleph Disabled charity. Centre hosts a Sunday Funday Purim Party with a Hamentashen Bake for all children, including a gladiator dual for Mordechai and Haman Shushan Sumo Wrestling.

Purimspiel Dramatis Personae Adam Bass : Various Claire Rosen : Narrator Rabbi Guttentag : Ahasverus Jonny Shine : Haman Simon Durkin : Esther David Mass : Mordechai David Galaun : Tech & Backing Vocals Sam Alberga : Drums Simon Maurice : Lead Guitar Aaron Maurice : Bass Guitar

The audience enjoyed songs such as the Shushan Town Just some of the exciting Rock (Crocodile Rock), The 14th of Adar (Don’t go breaking costumes seen at my heart), The Kvetcher’s Back (The Bitch is Back) and I’m still fasting (I’m still standing). Not forgetting, of course, Pink toutous, maniacal laughter, rubber chickens and an Kerem Ahashvaurus suffering from wind (Rabbi Guttentag). Join us next year for a Magical Megillah Tour, inspired by School the Beatles. Adam Bass Photos by Bernard Fromson 22 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 23 he showed an What we can learn from We bid farewell unrivalled talent to amuse, poking to Judy fun at sacred 12 Thai boys in a cave ur feelings are tinged with sadness as we cows both inside Zoe Sinclair reflects say goodbye and hatzlacha rabba to Judy and outside the OBermant who is going on Aliyah. She moved community.“ n 1 February, the United Synagogue marked “A big mistake,” to the Suburb with her husband, Chaim, 54 years ago Judy herself is Jami’s Mental Health Shabbat. says Dr Tee, "is when we look at a goldfish and see and their family grew up here. an accomplished O At HGSS we were privileged to host a talk a whale”. Both noted the damage of helicopter Chaim, a prolific author and journalist, is, of course, artist – she was given by Dr Teerkat Jareonsettasin “Dr Tee”, psychiatrist, parenting. Our over-protective adults, so determined particularly remembered for his weekly column in elected a member The Jewish Chronicle, appearing originally under the former Minister of Education and a former Senator in that our children should always triumph, deny them of the Contemporary Portrait Society. Her exhibition at Thailand, and Dr Mark Berelowitz, Consultant Child by-line Ben Azai and the Ben Uri Gallery of her portraits of Chaim was a the practice and experience of addressing hardship, Psychiatrist at the Royal Free Hospital, London. subsequently under his tour de force and her work has been exhibited widely adversity and failure. Dr Berelowitz commented that he Dr Tee had unique access to the 12 teen football own name. On the 10th throughout the UK. wondered if a group of British boys would have acted in players who were trapped in a cave for 18 days in June anniversary of his death, Judy says that she is sad to be leaving us. She has 2018. How did they survive in good health, good the same way and emphasised the point that in everyday Vivian Wineman wrote: seen huge change at HGSS and it is change for the humour and without falling to pieces, both in the cave life we must not confuse inconvenience with disaster. “Chaim Bermant, good. She describes the Shul as being more ‘user- and in the aftermath of rescue? Would the coach now be facing a lawsuit rather than be was one of the Shul’s friendly’ and welcomes the fact that women play so The psychiatrists explained that at the heart of their hailed as a hero as he is in Thailand? most distinguished and much more of a significant role. She calls it her home- resilience, was the strength of community; they stood It was a truly insightful session. As I sit here and colourful characters. from-home and will miss it terribly – there is, she says, by each other, were hopeful and did not descend into write this article, many people in the HGS community Chaim gained renown nothing quite like it in Israel. However, she feels that a culture of blame. Dr Tee quoted the boys saying they are isolated due to Coronavirus. One such person said as a witty and icon- the time is right for her to make the move as most of used to ‘…think of good things when feeling down,’ to me, “I remember the talk about the boys in the cave oclastic writer. In her family are in Israel. think that ‘we will get through this together,’ and ‘we . . . maybe people need reminding of them. Resilience both his journalism We extend every good wish for her health and have to concentrate our efforts to solve the problem’ and and in his books is what is needed at this time.” happiness in her new home. possiblyNathan Gluck most 190importantlyx 130 2020:2020 and sensibly 4/2/20 ‘…it 11:11 will pass.’ Page 1

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www.nathangluckhearingcare.co.uk *Terms and conditions apply 24 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 25 MoD Holocaust Memorial Day Event 2020 Saluting Survivors and The British Armed Forces: 75th Anniversary Are you prepared for the Future? of the Liberation of Bergen Belsen You enjoy a full and successful life, your Rabbi Reuben Livingstone LLM CF career has flourished, your children and grandchildren are thriving. The future is he Ministry of Defence marked this year’s Holocaust history to just history bright as you head into well-earned Memorial day with an event in MOD Main we need to work retirement in Israel. But there may come a TBuilding’s Memorial Courtyard, Whitehall on 22nd harder to ensure the time when difficult decisions have to be of January. This is the fourth year that the Armed Forces horrors of the past taken, when you are unable to manage your Jewish Community and AJEX have partnered with the are not forgotten… own affairs. MOD, the Holocaust Educational Trust and the Holocaust “Thanks to Under Israeli law (the Law of Legal Capacity Memorial Day Trust to support Shoah remembrance. This recent Government and Guardianship of 1962) a court may partnership continues with ambitious plans for Holocaust support thousands appoint a legal guardian to act on your education and anti-Semitism training to be rolled out in of young people this behalf, if you ever become unable to take 2020 in the Armed Forces. year will also get the opportunity to visit Bergen-Belsen care of your own matters; whether financial, Seventy-five years on from the liberation of Bergen- concentration camp. In fact in less than two weeks the personal or medical. This court-appointed Belsen, Departmental staff and serving Armed Forces first of a number of visits that we are running will be able guardian would be entrusted with the members were joined by colleagues across Whitehall in to see the site themselves. They’ll see the mass graves that responsibility of making important decisions a large gathering to hear Mala Tribich, a Belsen survivor, British soldiers, many of them young men, battle-hardened on your behalf. describe her poignant experiences as a child in the had to dig to stop the spread of disease. They’ll hear concentration camp. testimonies of liberators who saw unimaginable horror. A few years ago, Israel’s law was amended to bring She said: “We were taken into the camp and what I They’ll visit the British Army garrison and understand the it more in line with similar laws in other western saw defied description....It was like something out of hell. legacy of the camps liberation for the British army. It’s countries that offer alternatives to guardianship. I still have the scene ingrained on me, I can’t forget it…. really important that the next generation understand the These amendments create new legal options such there were people there but they were skeletons…and history of the Holocaust.” as entering into a continuing power of attorney, they were shuffling along in this smog aimlessly just shuf- Minister for the Armed Forces, Anne-Marie Trevelyan leaving guardianship as a last resort. fling and then [they] just collapse and die. said: “Holocaust Memorial Day reminds us about the It is far better to avoid the legal and emotional “It’s very difficult to describe what it feels like where importance of standing together. Just as it once took a pitfalls that a guardianship may cause, by arranging you are stripped of your identity. You just become like mighty alliance of many nations to overthrow Nazism so a continuing power of attorney today. You probably objects. You don’t look human anymore. It does a lot of it will ultimately take, not a combination of many armies, want to be able to decide now, how your crucial things to you. But the important thing is that it makes you but the coming together of many communities to tackle financial, personal and medical affairs will be lose hope and without hope there is no survival.” the divisions that lead to misunderstanding, conspiracy handled, should they have to be and who by. You Kirsty Parsons, a curator from the National Army and hate. So each of us whether we are in the Armed probably want to prevent the legal default Museum, gave a unique insight into the role of the British Forces, the civil service, Parliament, has a role to play in provisions. Armed Forces during the liberation of the camps, drawing providing not just the education but the understanding attention to the exhibition in the courtyard that featured that will make the oldest of hatreds ancient history. For example, you may want to decide now at what extracts from the war diaries of several British soldiers, Because only then we’ll be able to say with absolute point in the future you would give a loan to a Major MA Staniforth and Lt Col Taylor, who both took confidence never again.” relative, determine who can use your property, or part in the operation. The Senior Jewish Chaplain to the Armed Forces and even how to deal with options suggested by health She said: “The British Army’s 11th Armoured Division AJEX Chaplain, Rabbi Reuben Livingstone, chaired and professionals. The current Israeli Law allows you to were the first unit to occupy Belsen. They were completely concluded proceedings. tailor the continuing power of attorney to your Real Estate unprepared for what confronted them there. Over 60,000 In his closing remarks he said: “In Judaism there is specific needs and wishes. prisoners were in need of serious medical attention and a long tradition of memory. But memory means nothing Wills and Inheritance Advice over 13,000 had already died and were visible all around if it isn’t coupled and linked to action. How then to Yitzchak Shittrit | Advocate, Notary & Mediator the camp….It took a month for the daily death rate to remember the Holocaust? In fact, the Holocaust is Tel: +972-3-6914775 Creating and Managing Trusts drop from 300 to 400 deaths a day to under 100. Almost an object lesson for all of humanity. Whilst there is no Cell: +972-52-6818637 14,000 people died in the first months after liberation.” single victimhood which is superordinate, the Holocaust [email protected] Power of Attorney Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust in scale and systematisation is surely utterly unique and Family Law Education Trust, spoke about the HET’s campaign new therefore teaches us to remember the horrors that can (The above is provided for general informatory purposes only and should not be construed as specific legal advice. educational project ‘Belsen 75’ that is being delivered in and do happen when good people don’t raise a voice Individual professional advice is always recommended.) the spring. and don’t do what they need to do. So we constantly She said: “The role of our Armed Forces in defending need some action attached to memory. If I can ask our freedoms underpin us as a nation. Their role in the each and everyone of you to be an ambassador for liberation of the camps of Europe is something that even Holocaust memory, an ambassador for humanity and an today Holocaust survivors speak of with such gratitude… ambassador for the august words that we’ve heard today remembering the kindness and humanity that the soldiers then I think action will indeed attach to poignant memory showed them….As the Holocaust moves from living and become indelible.” 26 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 27 Organ donation HGSS boys tour Golders Green

– a modern Jewish challenge s part of the Bar Mitzvah programme, a party of HGSS boys, Anthony Warrens In the Gemara (Yoma 83a), led by Rabbi Guttentag, toured Golders Green. They counted Professor of Renal and Transplantation the situation is described all the restaurants, working out which are kosher and which are Barts and the London School of Medicine and of a building collapsing A not. At Carmelli’s they discussed the difference between a supermarket Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London on Shabbat. It would not normally be permitted bread kosher bread. They took a break at the Chabad Family Centre (right) he relationship between Jewish law and modern to clear up the rubble on where there was time for some refreshments. organ transplantation got off to a difficult start in Shabbat. However, if there may be people alive in the Tthe context of the work on heart transplantation ruins, we are obliged to remove the rubble until we of Christiaan Barnard in the late 1960s in South Africa. have either extricated them or determined if they are Serious anxieties about the ethics of removing organs dead (at which point it is no longer permissible to clear from the donors and the very poor initial results led the rubble further on Shabbat). There is debate in the Rabbi Moshe Feinstein to condemn it as “double text about how death is defined: some say you clear murder”. Thankfully, this relationship has improved the rubble to the nose to see if the person is breathing; enormously as issues on both donor and recipient side others require you to clear the rubble to the heart have been dealt with. to check if it continues to beat. If the decision is the The 10-year graft survival following kidney former, then using brain-stem death criteria to define transplant is currently 76%, heart transplantation, death is adequate; if the latter, it is not. This remains a 64%, and liver transplantation also 64%. Without sticking point for some. transplantation, the vast majority of those patients However, we have now determined that, for some would have died well within 10 years, so there is no organs, it is possible to wait until the heart has stopped doubt now that transplantation saves people’s lives. It is before removing them for transplantation. This is now clear therefore that transplantation meets the criterion done in approximately 40% of deceased kidney donation At Jerusalem the Golden they discovered some of pikuach nefesh, the saving of life, which supersedes in the UK. It often occurs after a decision is taken to interesting and valuable artefacts, including all-in- almost all other obligations and prohibitions in Jewish withdraw life-sustaining therapy, itself is the subject of one . law. It certainly allows us to set aside concerns about an enormous amount of halachic literature. However, delaying burial, “desecrating” a dead body or deriving the act of organ donation is entirely independent and, At Menachem’s butchers and deli they learnt benefits from a cadaver, actions all otherwise forbidden in this context, clearly follows cardiac death. something about what is involved in running a glatt in Jewish law. Other factors sometimes raised, such as One does not have to be dead to be a donor, though. kosher establishment. invoking the evil eye (never a concern when people Of recent years, living kidney donation has risen to buy life insurance policies!) or a requirement for almost half of all donations in the UK. The risks are bodies being intact for the time of resurrection of the tiny and it is clear that this is acceptable in Jewish law. dead, have no base in Jewish tradition and therefore Whatever one’s views, it is important to consider should not even be considered. your attitude to organ donation in the cold light of day. Corneal transplantation is also allowed since Too often, the first time the issue is confronted is in the blindness is regarded as a risk to life. highly emotional period when somebody is coming to How Jewish law defines death does need further the end of his or her life. Consider, and discuss your discussion. Clearly, it is only ethical to remove a life- decision with your family. We have an obligation to sustaining organ for donation after it is beyond doubt do at least this: every day three people die needlessly that someone has died. The break-through in the waiting for an organ. If only more people had actively development of modern deceased-donor donation was engaged in making this decision in life, their loved the definition of “brain-stem death criteria”. The brain ones could have allowed those three people many At Soferstam they learned what goes into creating stem is that part of the brain between the spinal cord more years of healthy life. and the cerebral hemispheres; it is responsible for a This follows Professor Warren’s talk at Coffee & Conversation Sifrei Torah and Tefillin. number of very basic functions, the most relevant being The opinions here are those of the author and do not reflect the And where else would one end a tour of Golders spontaneous breathing. If your brain stem is destroyed, position of United Synagogue and the London Beth Din. For Green except at the Kosher Kingdom Pick ‘n Mix this function is permanently lost. The question is whether halachic and pastoral guidance regarding the government’s new or not this is sufficient to define death in Judaism. opt-out plan for organ donation, please contact Rabbi Friedman. 28 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 29 Ensuring our safety Member Profile: Jo Sadie and happiness A day in the life of a Work Avenue Business Adviser A Pesach message from Marie van der Zyl, President of The Board of Deputies o Sadie heads up the Business Team at Work Avenue, Business Awards. We are looking esach is a poignant time of year for Labour needs to sign up to in order to begin healing its the community’s leading organisation supporting for as many businesses as possible all of us. It is the moment when we relationship with the Jewish community. people to earn a living. An experienced mentor, to enter, to win one of the prestigious awards which reflect both on the suffering of our This relationship, once rock solid, has been all but J P coach and trainer, she works with entrepreneurs, could lead to valuable investment. ancestors in Egypt and also celebrate destroyed. It will take leadership, commitment and, providing information, advice and guidance to them 3.00 The monthly Cookie Bell, where WE Hub their freedom from Pharaoh. most importantly, action. We expect that those seeking to help facilitate sustainable and thriving businesses. members gather over tea and cookies, and one pitches For many years, we have lived to move the party forward will openly and unequivocally Jo and her husband, Simon, have lived in the Suburb their business to everyone else: a real networking free and safe lives as Jews in the UK. endorse these Ten Pledges in full, making it clear that for over 20 years. Their twins, Joshua and Nathalie, opportunity. Today’s business dealt in external property However, the anti-Semitism crisis in Labour has given if elected as leader, or deputy leader, they will commit now 20 years old, celebrated a joint Bar/Bat Mitzvah at maintenance. Pesach an extra level of significance. For the first time I themselves to their full implementation. HGSS in December 2012. Joshua is now at Bristol Uni 4.00 I catch up on emails. We work with over 500 can remember, anti-Jewish racism has been at the front We have been encouraged that all the leadership studying physics while Nathalie is studying Biomedical small businesses; it is a huge responsibility and I love and centre of British politics. Heading into a General candidates have signed up to the pledges (although, Science at Birmingham. Nathalie undertook a year- it. Every time I see a client gain self-esteem, expertise Election last December, it is not overstating matters disgracefully, deputy leadership candidates Richard long FZY year course last year. Jo is a regular volunteer and confidence to develop their business further, I see to say that many in our community were feeling real Burgon and Dawn Butler refused to accept them). on the Shul Security Rota. Simon has been a Shammas another person who can now provide for themselves anxiety, and, in some cases, even fear, over our future. We are also hugely encouraged by the massive media in the Max Weinbaum Hall for a number of years. and their family. I am reminded of this objective each The Labour leadership election will be decided coverage the pledges have received and the way shortly before the start of Pesach. We are hoping that this they have compelled candidates to confront the anti- Jo has had her own sales training and consultancy and every day that I come to work. moment will be a turning point for the party. This is the Semitism in their party. business, Leapfrog, for nearly 20 years, although now reason that, in January, we produced our Ten Pledges for Of course, anti-Semitism is not just a problem for her work for Work Avenue – four days per week – means We can make the Labour Leadership and Deputy Leadership candidates. Labour. We engaged with all the major parties during that running her own business is more limited. She The pledges identify the ten key points we believe the election campaign when candidates made anti- volunteers on a monthly basis for the Asylum Seekers impossible possible Semitic statements or posts. We will continue to call Drop-in Centre. She also runs twice a week with friends out racism, wherever it comes from and whenever it and their dog Otto, on Hampstead Heath. In addition, happens, in a completely even-handed way. she belongs to a book club where a number of the other Those who know the Board of Deputies will under- members are also Norrice Lea members. stand we are not a single-issue organisation. We exist to I asked Jo about her work with Work Avenue, a ensure that the UK’s Jewish community can live freely, charity that aims to provide people in the community happily and continue to practise our traditions. with essential lifelong skills, enabling them to support We are working to ensure that the Jewish com- themselves and their families by: munity’s interests are protected after Brexit, whether that l Providing advice and guidance to support people is safeguarding UK-Israel trade, carrying over to UK law into or back into work EU sanctions on groups like Hamas, or guaranteeing the l Placing people into suitable employment same or better access to Kosher meat. l Training people with contemporary and We are passionate about protecting our religious freedoms, commercial skills whether the right to circumcise our baby boys in accordance l Increasing the success rate and long-term with our tradition or to ensure that employees are able to take sustainability of new and existing businesses Work avenue helps people earn a living time off for Jewish festivals and follow their Jewish traditions l Providing a supportive shared workspace for within the law. entrepreneurs employment services Through Pikuach, we supervise religious education Business support in Jewish schools, and we travel the country with the 08.45 When I arrive at Work Avenue’s contemporary Jewish Living Experience exhibition, educating non- offices, the Wohl Enterprise Hub, many of our member shared Workspace Jewish children and adults about our way of life. entrepreneurs are already hard at work. We engage with Government ministers, MPs, local 10.00 I meet a client who has just started a small councillors, diplomats, faith leaders and with a huge business making cakes. I guide her on the nuts chag sameach variety of public bodies on behalf of the community and bolts of running a business, focusing today on we represent. marketing and business development. She leaves our To find out how we can help you, please call This festival of freedom reminds us how our ancestors meeting with some specific actions lined up and I will 020 8371 3280 or visit theworkavenue.org.uk suffered. It is our aim to ensure that our generation of meet her again to review. 12.00 I join Debbie Sheldon, our CEO, for a planning Registered with Charity Jews continues to live safely and happily. Commission 1164762 Wishing you all a Chag Kasher ve-Sameach meeting as we are deep into preparations for our 2020

Pesach2020-ShulMag_A6 148x105.indd 1 19/02/2020 21:16:41 30 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 31 Venice Beach, California Another outing for 5th Tribe David Lew recalls a new type of Shul experience Dr Steve Miller reports

here are not many Jews, not live ones here was a further outing for the 5th Tribe on sources, and from teachers such as Rabbi Wilschanski anyway, on the Lido di Venezia, Italy, Tuesday 28 January with guest speaker Dr Tony Z”L, he argued that “indefinite occupation or denying Tother than in the Hotel Excelsior. There TKlug, Special Advisor on the Middle East to the another people their most basic rights” was not has been a cemetery on the Lido since the Oxford Research Group, who addressed the question sustainable and that it was causing Israel’s increasing late 1300s and that’s about all there is from a “Would the collapse of the two-state solution be bad isolation in the world, which reflects on Jews Jewish point of view. for the Jews?”. everywhere. Given the value Jews place on justice, In contrast, at Venice Beach, California, “This is a tale of two peoples”, said Dr Klug, two freedom and equality, he argued that “Jews do not there is a real live modern orthodox community, peoples with distinct histories and with different, but make natural occupiers. It goes against the grain.” And complete with a shul built right on the beach. compelling cases for self- he suggested that our slogan And I mean: right on the beach, nestling neatly determination and a state of should be, “Love Israel, hate but rather incongruously between the bucket their own. He reminded us of occupation”. and spade shops and fast food outlets. If it was the striking, though perhaps He spoke of the in Bournemouth, it would be about where the inadvertent, articulation of the problems faced by young beach huts are. You look out of the main doors Zionist case put by Lord Byron students on university and you see the boardwalk, the sand and the in the early 1800s – “The wild campuses. “My heart goes Pacific Ocean. Sunsets are awesome. Strangely dove hath her nest, the fox his out to them” he said, but he enough, it’s called ‘The Shul on the Beach’. cave, mankind their country, argued that no amount of The website says it is a place to enjoy Shabbat rabbis, he has no problem with sherry-based whiskies Israel but the grave!” – and expert pro-Israel hasbara will and it was certainly that. Kabbalat Shabbat was not – he’s my kind of rav. Lunch the following day was he argued that this captures prepare them for what they encouraging, starting with about fifteen of us, women a kiddush in the garden with cholent and, in time- the affirmative purpose of Zionism, that of “achieving face. The only plausible way forward was, of course, a and men, with one gentleman calling out page honoured fashion, the previous evening’s leftovers. safety and justice for a tormented people, not the two-state solution – something he had been advocating numbers – “one, two, seven”; “one, two, nine”; “one, Rabbi Rubanowitz has a day job running a law firm, negative one of doing damage to another people”. for more than fifty years. three, one” – Tourette’s-like and extremely irritating. It but the number of emails I still receive show that this However, as things have worked out, Dr Klug Adrian Cohen, who moderated what was probably later became evident why: his girlfriend was Russian is a small but vibrant community with an abundance argued that the achievement of the Jewish dream, the most challenging session to date, reminded the and learning how to follow the service. of weekday activities, many at the rabbi’s home. As an after centuries of oppression, had nonetheless entailed audience of the fate of previous offers of land for peace, By the end of ma’ariv we had been joined by another example, one of his midweek discussion groups was damage to another people. He did not dismiss the and the evidence that, despite Israel’s more hawkish fifty or so people and we sat down to a five-course based around the following two incidents: appalling treatment visited on the Palestinians by approach to the ceding of territory, her international Friday night dinner led by Rabbi Shalom Rubanowitz 1. A recent house guest refused to eat (or touch) the surrounding Arab States, nor the many remarkable reach seemed to be improving. who involved everyone and created a jolly atmosphere “Facon Kugel” (“fake” bacon) I offered him, which I achievements of the State of Israel, but he did see The debate was opened to the floor, provoking some with a fair amount of Torah thrown in from both him bought before Shabbos at Western Kosher and which the ‘occupation’ as morally indefensible and deeply strong responses including the argument from a few and various congregants. He and I had a chat and had an unquestionable Hashgacha-Kosher supervision. corrosive of Israel’s own interests. members that Israel had no moral or legal obligation to the conversation, inevitably, turned to the subject of 2. A non-Jewish client didn’t buy my reason for Drawing his ethical inspiration from Rabbinic cede any of the territory currently under its control. Scotch whisky. Unlike many contemporary American declining an invite to a treif (non kosher) restaurant. As she said: “I know you guys eat bacon nowadays — it’s on the menu at all the fancy kosher The Aleph restaurants my vendors take me to.” Centre We sometimes think that there is an inevitability about winding up at the local Chabad gets the blues centre if we want a Shabbat meal and, in truth, this is often the case. And we have often been n Sunday, grateful for Rabbi Schneerson’s extraordinary 2 February, the foresight and managerial skills in setting up the O worldwide network. What was so refreshing HGSS Aleph Centre about our Shabbat at Shul on the Beach was the supported the Jewish traditional service with the standard Ashkenaz Child’s Day Blue-ish nusach and without pictures of the Rebbe. A Jewish Fundraiser. warm welcome is not a Lubavitch monopoly. 32 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 33 The UK Jewish community celebrated at Buckingham Palace The Real Samaritans Vicki Harris receives a special invitation Just who are they? asks Vivian Wineman

hortly after Succot last year, while we were in say, “In every Israel, my daughter phoned from London to say walk of life, ention Samaritans and people naturally serve as career soldiers in the IDF. The other half live Sthat there was a letter for me from Buckingham in every field think of the compassionate volunteers who in Kiryat Luza on Har Gerizim in the West Bank which, Palace which she thought was an invitation. She was of endeavour, answer the phone to callers in distress. When according to their version of the Torah, is the place correct. When we arrived home, I found an invitation our nation M Chad Varah founded the organisation in 1953 he did where the temple is to be built. to a reception, hosted by Prince Charles, on Thursday, 5 could have not originally name them after the group mentioned Traditional Judaism, following the story in II Kings December, to celebrate the UK Jewish Community. had no more in the New Testament, but they very soon acquired 17, sees them as descendants of foreign colonists I was not sure why I should have received this generous citizens, and no more faithful friends”. that title. Since then, the phrase ‘Good Samaritan’ has planted in Israel by the Assyrians after the destruction invitation. With my husband Alex, I had attended a Prince Charles explained that “ The connection entered the language. of the Northern Kingdom, but they see themselves as Buckingham Palace Garden Party. However, this was between the Crown and our Jewish Community is But what about the real Samaritans who inspired descendants of the tribes of Ephraim and Menasseh, clearly something different. I wondered who else was something special and precious……I have grown the story? At one time they were a significant force. the original Bet Yisrael, and the Jews as the ones who invited but I could not ask friends for fear of upsetting up being deeply touched by the fact that British In classical times there were possibly as many as one broke away at the time of Eli. them. synagogues have, for centuries, remembered my million of them based around Samaria from which they Looking at their customs is like looking back in time, The only clue came in an article in The Times on family in your weekly prayers.” He went on to speak acquired their name. They inhabited the area between like seeing distant galaxies many light years away. They the actual day of the event. Under the headline “Royal of the courage shown by members of his close family, the Jewish populations of Judea and the Galilee. Their have almost the same calendar and festivals as us. They event for Jewish life kept quiet” it stated: “A reception including Princess Alice of Greece who is counted as golden Age came after the Bar Kokhba revolt, in which know the festivals by their Biblical names so that ,for hosted by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace one of the Righteous among the Nations by hiding a it appears they did not participate, when they expanded instance, Rosh Hashanah for them is Yom Zikaron, the tonight to celebrate the role of the Jewish community Jewish family in her home in Nazi-occupied Athens. into the vacuum created by the resulting extermination first day of the seventh month. Inexplicably, they do in British life is so sensitive that it has been organised After Prince Charles had spoken, the guests were of the Jewish population of Judea. not have second day YomTov. Nor, as far as I am aware, without any publicity.” able to mingle. To my great delight I quickly discovered Jews do not have a monopoly on suicidal adventurism do their houses have two dishwashers – all because, to Although, to his chagrin, Alex was not invited that I knew many of the other guests and was pleased and, in the fifth and sixth centuries, the Samaritans paraphrase Flanders and Swann, they haven’t got Rabbis with me on this occasion, he kindly agreed to act as to find that I was not the only HGSS representative. I engaged in their own series of futile and bloody revolts to show them the way. ‘chauffeur’ and seemed rather chuffed that we had saw Adam Cannon, Vivian Wineman and Bentzi Sudak; against the Romans, in the last of which, it seems, They do not have the entire Bible – just the Chumash parking allocated within the palace precincts. As quite possibly there were other HGSS attendees, all they were joined by the Jews. The Christian Roman and a non-canonical very different book of Joshua. we arrived at the palace gates, the police checked milling around in the spacious Throne Room where the emperors turned out to be even more bloodthirsty than Their version is rather different from our own and my invitation and then directed my husband to drive reception was held. The reception was attended by many resembles the Septuagint. The six thousand differences me into the Palace courtyard. I was flabbergasted. well-known members of the Community from all walks their pagan predecessors and the resulting persecution are mainly trivial with the exception of the passage This is where you see Prime Ministers go when they of life, not just representatives of the main branches of brought the Samaritan numbers down significantly. have a meeting with the Queen. This was where I was UK Jewry. I spotted Simon Schama and I also met up Centuries of Islamic oppression, and then, in modern mentioning the holiness of Har Gerizim. Interestingly dropped off and Alex was directed to park with the with Santa Sebag Montefiore, a skiing friend of mine times, the forces of assimilation reduced their numbers it is written in the original Paleo Hebrew script the Ktav other chauffeurs whilst I attended the reception. from Klosters. Canapés and drinks were passed around still further. By the early 20th Century there were Ivri, in which our Torah itself was written, as opposed It turned out to be a wonderful evening. Price Charles by liveried palace staff and everything was under the barely one hundred and forty of them left. At best their to the Assyrian script Ktav Ashuri, the later script welcomed the guests by explaining that he had invited kosher supervision of the Federation Beth Din. future looked uncertain. At worst it looked as if they which we use and which was adopted only a couple us to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the contribution The reception went by very quickly and finished would be consigned to the dustbin of history like other of hundred years before the current era. of “our Jewish shortly after 8.00pm. As I exited down the grand schismatics in Jewish history. The internet and Social Media have given them community” staircase and through the doors by which I entered, One man can be credited with having saved them. world wide prominence, with their representatives as he put it, I was met by Alex, my ‘chauffeur’. He proudly Yitzchak Ben Tzvi, second President of the State of Israel, speaking to Jewish and non Jewish communities to the health, announced that whilst he and the other chauffeurs persuaded Samaritans to marry into the larger Jewish round the world – even to an audience in HGSS. wealth and were waiting for their passengers, a member of the community and to accept the resulting children. As a This can only be good because by deepening our happiness of palace staff had come out and asked if any of them result, their population, while still tiny, has exploded understanding of sister communities we improve our the United wished to “use the facilities”. Alex tells me that the so that they now number over eight hundred. Around grasp and appreciation of our own. Kingdom. He highlight of his evening was to jump at the chance to half live in Holon, a suburb of Tel Aviv, where they are went on to take advantage of a Royal flush! full Israeli citizens, serving in the army. Indeed, some 34 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 35 BOOK REVIEW and our weak- Scholar in Residence nesses, and to use these with a difference It’s Silver for Karina in Punta Umbria Bounce Back to plan for n Shabbat, 13/14 December, How to fail fast and be Rabbi Dr Natan Slifkin, Karina Kaufmann represents Great Britain at the our future O resilient at work founder/director of The Biblical European Duathlon Championships resilience, or Museum of Natural History in Beit by Susan Kahn bounce back. Shemesh, kept us all fascinated Vicki Harris tells the story Each chapter with stories of wild nature and how Pub: Kogan Page Ltd explores a dif- it relates to Judaism. His lifelong Paperback, 207 pp ferent aspect fascination with and enthusiasm for ast summer we made the journey to Transylvania, off first, followed by the the subject is infectious. This place of our make-up. The pages are the land of Vlad the Impaler and the legendary female athletes, the idea is well worth a visit. his book starts from a exciting to look at, the text is broken LDracula, to watch our elder daughter, Karina being to spread out the refreshing viewpoint – we are up with charts, diagrams and there Kaufmann (the other half of James, HGSS Vice Chair), field thereby reducing Tinclined to look upon failure are constructive exercises aimed at represent Great Britain in the European Duathlon the risk of accidents on from a purely negative standpoint – getting your ideas into action. Championships. Her success in the Sprint Duathlon, the cycling leg. we have gone wrong, success has This book is interesting, innov- in her age group, contributed to a substantial tally of It was a thrilling race medals for the British team. to watch. The first part eluded us. But does this have to ative and imaginative – just This Spring we comprised running be the case? If things go wrong, is witness the raft of glowing reviews followed her to Punta four laps through the this not an opportunity to explore from distinguished journalists and Umbria, a beach streets in the centre academics. . ourselves, to assess our strengths resort in Spain, not far of Punta Umbria and from Seville, where we were able to cheer she represented Great Karina on repeatedly It is easy to get to and easy to park when you Britain, in her age as she passed by. A blast from the past: arrive. In a frighteningly short time, I fill the boot group, in the Standard She got a reasonable start. At the end of the 9.7km of my car with all the detritus of my life – the items Distance Duathlon. run, she was in third position behind two Spanish I have been going through some back copies of The Norrice mentioned above plus that discarded rubbish bin, the Karina had qualified athletes. She was the fastest competitor in the transitions Leader and was surprised to find that, in 2008, I was the old chandelier, etc and off I go to do my bit. There are for both the Sprint and from running to biking and, in the 36.8Km bike ride, champion of recycling. This is what I found. massive skips devoted to the different types of rubbish. Standard Duathlons overtaking the two Spanish racers, she emerged just in Plastic bottles and hard plastic items can be recycled. but, as the Sprint race the lead for the final 5.3km run by 3 seconds. To see thousands of plastic bottles of all shapes and was held on Shabbat, Sadly, she could not hold on to the slim lead and Green Corner colours mounting up in a skip the size of my bedroom she was only able to compete in the more gruelling the Spanish Elite athlete pulled just 11 seconds ahead is quite a sight. Standard race. The Standard event is about twice the to finish first. Karina took second place and the silver A Load of Rubbish So far, they are unable to recycle soft plastics, such distance of the Sprint in which she competed last year. medal. This was slightly disappointing. However, she as vegetable trays, but these are chopped up so that Hilary Halter discovers the joys of recycling It started with a 9.7km run, followed by a 36.8 km made up for it by being placed fifth overall of the 69 they take up a fraction of the space and can be used as cycle ride, and finished with a 5.3Km run. international women in her race and second overall in am becoming greener by the day. It occurred ballast etc. Metal and cardboard can both be recycled, The Championships opened with the Parade of the British team. to me that even one person, living alone, can so this takes account of those old pots and pans and Nations. Athletes from the competing European Well done Karina! generate an enormous amount of rubbish. Much the box in which the new fridge or computer arrived. countries marched of the supermarked fruit and vegetables come in There are, of course, the usual containers for paper to the opening Iplastic or cardboard trays or sealed plastic bags. Many and cans (which includes foil wrappers). Any other ceremony at which foods come in cardboard boxes as do all the electronic household items, including the plastic wrappers from Karina was given gadgetry with which we surround ourselves. There are frozen vegetables, go into a skip labelled Household the honour of taking egg boxes, plastic bottles, cans and foil containers Waste. Should one be uncertain where to place any the athletes oath and much more. Even living on my own in a modest item, there are staff on hand to help. on behalf of all the flat, I generate an enormous amount of such stuff and I have come to enjoy my visits to the dump, and female athletes. there are no facilities for any recycling where I live. there is a pay-off for all this – you feel so smug and The Duathlon I was getting visions of my rubbish going into pits in self-satisfied when all is done. race started in several the countryside, which would eventually overflow and To find out more, visit the website of the London waves on Sunday engulf this green and pleasant land. Borough of Barnet –www.barnet.gov.uk – and look morning with the Then I discovered the local dump, in my case under Rubbish, Waste and Recycling (now amended male athletes setting Summers Lane in Finchley. to Amended to Recycling and Waste). 36 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 37 Simchas Simchas Just arrived Bar Mitzvah Bat Mitzvah Engagements Weddings

Mazal tov to Mazal tov to Mazal tov to Mazal tov to Mazal tov to Mazal tov to

Mrs Sheila Aarons on the birth of Helen & John Simon on the birth Michael Aronson, son of Brenda & Sophie, daughter of Claire & Rafi Arkin, Sybil Benn on the engagement, in Israel, of Ollie, son of Janine a great grandson of a granddaughter Stephen Rosenberg granddaughter of Shimon & Lesley Arkin her grandson Mendy Garfunkel to and the late Jonathan and Susan & Israel Weinstock Chani Latuchi Collins, to Dvorit, Victor & Lucienne Amar on the birth of a Mati & Frances Sinai on the birth of a Yakov, son of Stella & Vladimir Ashurov, daughter of Rafi & grandson, a son to Reut & Shimon Lyons grandson, a son to their daughter grandson of Nataliya & Valeriy Ashurov Chloe, daughter of Adam & Danielle Black, Ann & Jerry Goldstein on the engagement Cindy Faust. Also to Mandy & Amir Kreisberg and Roza Abramov granddaughter of Lilian & George Green of their granddaughter Hannah Goldstein Ruth & Stanley Black on the birth of a grandparents Sylivia and Phyllis Mendelson to Charles Braunstein grandson, a son to Shari & Simon Black Stella & Geoffrey Sternberg on the birth Sheff and Melvin Miller Sabrina, daughter of Gina & Colin Davis Rochelle & Anthony Selby on the and Hanna & Joseph Faust Anita & Raymond Dinkin, on the birth of a granddaughter, Thea Marcella. A Tyler, son of Sarah engagement of their granddaughter, Dalia of a grandson, Jonah, a son to daughter for Eddie & Ashley Sternberg & David Bennett, Isaacson to Shimmie Blum Ben, son of Tina & Anton Curtis Curtis, Natasha & Simon Buchler grandson of Maurice & Amalya, daughter of grandson of the late Rica Afek (Gaventa), Dalia & Adam Taylor on the Sara & Robbie Kastner, on his marriage to Jordanna Zetter, Rebecca & Daniel Ellis on the birth of Jackie Bennett, Judith & Ben Tobin on daughter of Michelle Zetter and Paul birth of a daughter, Alana Linda Cooke and granddaughter of Irene a son Noah Oliver, Mazal Tov also to the engagement of Zetter, granddaughter of Sophia Zetter grandparents Michele Ellis and David Ellis Miri. lan & Jennifer Cooke Stanton, Anthony Stanton their daughter Rose and Anita Lister and Barbara & Jeffrey Stone and great Also to grandparents and Liselotte Kastner to Zach Belmont, grandmother Fay Levy son of Gina and Alex Edward Malnick Helen & JulianTaylor and Belmont and Amy Taylor on Hadassa & Clive Freedman, on the birth of Tania & Simon Nelson Zak, son of Beverley Annabelle, daughter of Danielle & their marriage and a grandson, Lavi Romy, a son to & Sam Lipton, granddaughter Simona and David Wise on the birth of a to parents Lesley & Fleur & Joshua Barth of Malcolm Dagul A Double Celebration granddaughter, a daughter for Joanna and Martin Boyle Mazal tov to Julia and Daniel Cesman John Malnick Linda & Robert Glancy on the birth of a Avraham Cohen Rochelle & Anthony Selby on the Bat and their parents Natalie & Alan on a and Laura & Michael Taylor granddaughter, Mia Hannah, a daughter Mitzvah of their granddaughter Maya Orli, for Laura & Sam Howard. Also to great Joanna & Peter Wulwik on the birth of a joint celebration of their Bat and Bat Paloma Sackman on her marriage to daughter of Phillip and Sara Selby Mitzvah. Also to grandparents Carol & grandmother Hettie Simons granddaughter, Charlotte Rose. A daughter Raymond Davis, on the Bar Mitzvah of his Jonathon Marks-Bluth to Benjamin & Lara Wulwik grandson, Sam Balcombe, son of Maya, daughter of Amanda Shelley and Wolf Cesman and Beverley Hilary Halter on the birth of a great & Sylvain Mouw Juliet & David Jason Shelley, granddaughter of Naomi & Bernard Taub granddaughter, a daughter for Pamela & Adrian Berg and Sybil Frankfurt on the Bar Mitzvah of on the marriage, in Israel, Devorah Brocha & Avi Birnbaum. Janet & Ian Shelley her great grandson Matan, son of Special Birthday of their granddaughter, Tony & Hannah Loftus on the birth Bar Mitzvah (cont’d) Lee and Michael Zucker Ava, daughter of Sima & Damia Silverbeck, Very best wishes to Shirley Prevezer on Maayan, of a granddaughter granddaughter of Marilyn & Mair Setti Mazal tov to Rosemary & Robert Goldstein on the the occasion of her 90th birthday to Shachar Amrusi Sarah & Paul Persky on the birth of a recent Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Deni, daughter of Samantha & David daughter. Also to grandparents Matthew, son of Joshua Goldstein Witkin, granddaughter of Nikki & Mel Vivien & Philip Eder Stephanie & Robert Shaw, grandson of Corin and Joshua, son of Alison & Ady Hanouka Wedding Anniversaries Gail Miller and Jill Shaw Roni & Arnie Witkin, great granddaughter Mervyn Mandell and Ruth Schiavo Mazal tov to Gail & Michael Seal who Mazal tov to on the birth of a grandson, a son to Ryan, son of Debbi & Grant Kurland Leo, son of Yael & have celebrated their Golden Wedding. Beth & Jonathan Lisa & Nicholas Payman Jonathan Shine, Oliver, son of Caroline & Simon Maurice, Michael writes: We were married by Lauffer who celebrate their Lior & Sassie Rajwan on the birth of grandson of grandson of Monica Levinson, Barry Moss Wedding Anniversaries Dayan Lew and Rabbi Maurice Lew and Viv Maurice at the Cockfosters & North Southgate Ruby Wedding. a granddaughter Musa & Lydia Albukrek Synagogue on 24 March 1970. They were married at and Jacob, son of Lindy & Sean Melnick, Mazal tov to Naomi & Stuart Russell on the birth of a Gail and I moved to the Suburb in HGSS on 16 December grandson of Bryan Melnick and Yvonne & Malcolm Brummer on the granddaughter, Noa Annie. A daughter to David & Irene Shine 1979 by Reverend Leslie Jeanette & Harold Gilchrist occasion of their Ruby Wedding. 1977 making our membership of HGSS 43 years this Gabriella & JosephRussell. Hardman of Raleigh Close Although Yvonne is from Gibraltar, she year! We moved from Southgate with our three young Joe, son of Emma & Graham Spitz, (Beth’s shul), HGSS then Guy, son of had been living in London for a number of sons, all of whom were Bar Mitzvah at HGSS. Our first Jane & David Sagal on the grandson of Madeleine & David Cope- being in between rabbis. Orit & Stephen Rosen, years. Yvonne & Malcolm were married house was in Kingsley Way which birth of a grandson, a son Thompson and Toni & David Spitz They have lived in the grandson of at Raleigh Close Synagogue. They moved we bought from Reverend Freilich Suburb all their married to Katie & Joshua Sagal. Rosemary & Peter Rosen to the Suburb in 1988 and have been (Avromi’s great uncle) where HIS Toby, son of Mala & Jeremy Ungelson, life. They Also to great grandmother, and active members of HGSS since then. three sons grew up. grandson of Roslyn & Mike Ungelson, We have both been dedicated have three Valerie Halpern Judith & Rami Berger and Avril Hoppen. and to supporters of JNF as young marrieds children and * Sasha & Marcus Sperber who have and beyond. Gail served as President six grand- celebrated their Silver Wedding for 13 years before retiring in 2008. children. 38 Pesach 5780/2020 Pesach 5780/2020 39 Some Special Birthdays Aubrey celebrates his Second Bar Mitzvah e were happy to celebrate with the Kaufmann family on the occasion of Aubrey’s Second Bar Sybil Frankfurt WMitzvah. He and Flo came to live in the Suburb in has celebrated her 100th birthday 1974 since when he Kaufmann family have contributed enormously to both ybil is pictured here celebrating with her great grandchildren, the HGSS and wider communities. Aubrey served both in the Max Weinbaum Hall. tas Warden and FR. Flo has, of course, done enormous communal work over the years – the Board of Deputies, She has been a member of Norrice Lea Synagogue since S Emunah and much more. Their sons, with their families, 1941 and was an ARP Warden locally during the war. continue the family involvement in HGSS, James as Vice- Over many years, Sybil was communally active, both locally Chairman. We all enjoy Andy’s leining and we thank his wife, and in the wider community. She held every office in HGS Emunah Aviva, not least for organising the popular By-Women, For- and worked as a volunteer at Jewish Care for more than 30 years. Women Megillah Readings at Purim. And we have heard, as She was a great support to her husband, Stanley, in his work as the we go to press, that James’ wife, Karina, has won Silver in the founder and Life President of the Kerem Schools, Jewish Child’s Day – what does it do? ewish Child’s Day, one of our chosen charities, from projects supported by Jewish Child’s Day. Jwas founded in 1947 as a once-a-year collection These small projects and organisations rely on day to give Jewish children and their families in the Jewish Child’s Day for items as basic as clothes, toys Rabbi Dr Jeffrey Cohen at 80 UK the opportunity to help children in Europe whose and books, as well as essential life-saving medical lives had been devastated by the Second World War. equipment. feel honoured to have been invited by our editor, on to become the Today, Jewish Child’s Day operates 365 days per Jewish Child’s Day funding provides wheelchairs year, working to protect Jewish children in the UK, and walking aids, educational and developmental Hilary, to express a few thoughts regarding Gloria backbone of our Israel and smaller communities in Eastern Europe equipment, therapy, support and rehabilitation and my past 14 years at HGSS since our retirement community. from deprivation, disadvantage, abuse and neglect; programmes, hearing stimulus and communication Gloria and I from Stanmore. Throughout the decades of my to nurture them and offer them a better future. equipment, respite holi- IRabbinate Gloria has always worked with me, side-by- very much enjoy These are children who are suffering from physical, days and outings, after side, for the benefit of the community; and if I had any the vibrant spirit of the Hashkamah service, and the learning or emotional difficulties; children caught in school facilities, hot success, it was largely due to her sensitivity, wisdom high standard of the weekly speakers. the poverty trap and children battling against severe meals, home teaching for and sociability. We also appreciate the learning, hard work, illness or trauma. housebound children and In the words of the Eishet Chayyil, lo yichbeh balayla dedication and friendliness, of our Rabbi Friedman, Over 20,000 of these children benefit each year much, much more. neirah, ‘Her lamp was never extinguished by night’. ably supported by Rabbanit Batya, of Rabbi Guttentag She worked around the clock, balancing the running and Rebbetzen Malki, and, of course, the inimitable of a home and the rearing of four children with daily Chazan Avromi and Rochelle – not forgetting their The Editorial Team The Synagogue Office Useful Contacts synagogue activities, the setting up and running of the lovely families. Editor...... Hilary Halter Norrice Lea, London N2 0RE Rabbi Daniel Friedman prototype Community Care, the co-ordinating of the A rabbi will never be bored in retirement. Swimming Tel 8455 8126 Fax 8201 9247 [email protected] Editorial Board...... Louise Felder US Chevra Kadisha, and a host of wider communal in ‘the sea of the Talmud’ one never reaches any Email [email protected] Rabbanit Batya Friedman Renée Green [email protected] Website www.hgss.org.uk activities. In retirement she has been content to leave destination. There is always so much more to study, Simone Halfin Rabbi Ephraim Guttentag things to the younger generation, and is gratified to see research and write about. To date, I have continued David Lew Community Director...... Edward Howard [email protected] how many shuls have developed their communal care churning out articles, books, and, of course, poetry, Office Manager...... Sharon Drucker Rebbetzen Malki Guttentag Artwork & Typesetting...... Hilary Halter Accounts...... Harris Turgel [email protected] facility – with HGS a clear leader in the field. year on year. Chazan Avromi Freilich Proof Reading...... Cynthia Delieb Facilities Manager...... Mark Gould In the early years, friends would ask how I had Above all, we have enjoyed being enveloped by our Events...... Gayle Kravitz [email protected] Louise Felder Rabbi Jonathan Tawil caring and loving family here and in Manchester, with PA to the Rabbis...... Abigail Bloom acclimatised to retirement, and my ready answer was Abigail Bloom [email protected] that I was thoroughly enjoying taking a back seat in retirement having given us the opportunity to spend Office Hours: Editorial Office...... 24 Fairacres Aleph Centre...... 8457 7048 the pews. Nothing has changed, especially being quality time with our grandchildren in their formative Monday – Thursday 9.30 am – 4.00 pm 164 East End Road Nefesh Network...... 8455 0040 surrounded by family and good friends that we have years. We have also enjoyed spending about three Friday (Telephone queries only) London N2 0RR Beth Din...... 8343 6280 9.30 am – 1.00 pm made here, as well as a number of old friends from our months each year at our home in Netanya. We thank Telephone 8365 2187 Burial Society...... 8950 7767 Sunday 9.30 am – 1.00 pm Kerem EYU...... 8455 7524 Assistant Ministry years here (1963-8) who were the Hashem for our many blessings, and we send ours to [email protected] (1st & 3rd Sunday of the month) Kerem School...... 8455 0909 mainstays of the Youth Service then, and who have gone all the members of our wonderful community. 40 Pesach 5780/2020 Celebrate your Simcha at HGSS

The Max Weinbaum Hall offers: l Up to 180 Seated with a dance floor 220 Seated without a dance floor l Contemporary design with modern lighting and AV equipment l Two wall mounted 60” screens l Fully air conditioned l Separate reception area

For all enquiries contact Sharon in the Synagogue Office

8455 8126 [email protected]

@hgssynagogue www.hgss.org.uk