Ilford Federation Synagogue Officially Wel- Comed Rabbi David Singer As the Congregation’S New Minis- Ter in a Rousing Induction Service and Ceremony
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Inside your 28-page Community Newspaper Sue's home Josh's half Marie's Board ESSEX concert marathon plans JEWISH NEWS CHANUKAH ISSUE 5779/2018 --- === Page 4 --- === Page 5 --- ===Page 19 THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN ESSEX & EAST ANGLIA Synagogues vote ‘Yes’ to merger some refurbishments at Bee- both be candidates. planning a major revamp but, BY MANNY hive Lane, including updating Membership subscription to date, planning permission ROBINSON the kitchen and the toilets, rates for the two communities has been rejected by Red- MEMBERS of Ilford United will be undertaken to provide are not identical; and the pro- bridge Council. The uncer- and Redbridge United Syna- the new community with bet- posal is to reduce the rates of tainty surrounding the future gogues have voted over- ter facilities. those in Ilford at the top rate of RJCC, has led to this whelmingly to merge into one The honorary officers will to match the top subscription merger. community next May. The also be recruiting a senior rab- rate to Redbridge, from April Mr Nathan said: “The vast new synagogue will have a binic couple or rabbi, as well as 2020. Other membership majority of members of Red- membership of more than retaining the services of Rev- rates, which are fairly similar, bridge United originated from 2,000 adults. erend Gary Newman as the will be adjusted over the next Ilford Synagogue when Red- community welfare officer. one or two years following the bridge United was then known NEW BOARD Rev Newman is currently merger, with a general mem- as Clayhall Synagogue.” community welfare officer at bership subscription rate in- Ilford Synagogue chair Redbridge United, having crease of 2% in line with DIFFICULT Rev Gary Newman will stay with the merged Malcolm Nathan and Red- served previously as the min- general rising, living costs synagogue as community welfare officer bridge United chair Mike ister at Newbury Park Syna- from 2019. He conceded that some Callaghan said that the gogue for 15 years. He has As both communities have members of Redbridge United merged community will have also held roles at Southport voted in favour, the United would find it difficult to get to a new name, with the current Jewish Community, Higher Synagogue Council will vote Beehive Lane, just as they The synagogue building in Beehive Lane as Prestwich Synagogue in Man- to ratify the proposed merger found it difficult when New- its place of worship. chester and Westcliff & and creation of the new bury Park United Synagogue, The two chairs said that, Southend Hebrew Congrega- United Synagogue on Monday which was in Wessex Close, merry-go-round after merging, both executives tion, as well as working as the 17 December. merged with Clayhall and the would join together as a new the chaplain to King George Addressing a special name changed to Redbridge There have been several syn- Woodford Forest Synagogue. board of management; the ex- and Queen’s hospitals and as meeting at Beehive Lane, United. agogue mergers in the area In January 2015, Newbury isting board being dissolved the area AJEX chaplain. Malcolm Nathan said that Mr Nathan confirmed that over the last few years. In Park Synagogue merged with and reformed as an advisory The position of rabbi of talks had been going on for Ilford Synagogue members November 2014, the inde- Clayhall Synagogue; and committee. This would be, for the newly merged synagogue nearly two years. Redbridge would still retain their own pendent Waltham Forest He- most recently, in 2017, Bet the first year, to ensure a will be decided by an eight- United members held a simi- seats. brew Congregation, in Tikvah Synagogue merged smooth merger and continuity strong panel. It is understood lar meeting the same evening. A competition has been Boundary Road, merged with with Woodford Liberal Syn- of representation. Elections that Ilford’s minister, Rabbi The Redbridge Jewish launched among members of Wanstead and Woodford agogue to become East Lon- would then be held at the Geoffrey Hyman, and Red- Community Centre, where both communities to find a United Synagogue, in don & Essex Liberal 2020 annual general meeting. bridge United’s minister, Redbridge United Synagogue new name for the merged syn- Churchfields, to become Synagogue. As part of this merger, Rabbi Steven Dansky, will has been holding services, is agogue. A mitzvah as community helps asylum seekers kindness – inspired by Jewish deeds globally. BY SIMON values – are undertaken to help A special 10th birthday party ROTHSTEIN both members of local Jewish was held at Jewish Care’s Vi & WOODFORD Forest United communities and the wider soci- John Rubens House, where resi- Synagogue has become the first ety in which they live. The drop- dents were entertained by Susan shul in East London and Essex to in will now run on the first Kaye, aka DJ Susie, and her fel- offer a drop-in for asylum seeker Sunday of every month at Wood- low members of East London & families. ford Forest. Essex Liberal Synagogue. Mike A special launch event was Iain Duncan Smith, Conser- Gapes, Labour MP for Ilford held as part of Mitzvah Day and vative MP for Chingford and South, and Councillor Taifur attended by Iain Duncan Smith Woodford Green, said: “Events Rashid helped cut a celebratory MP and Redbridge Deputy like this show how brilliant the cake. Mayor, Councillor Taifur Rashid Jewish community are at reach- Elsewhere in Essex, children MBE. ing out to all other members of from Wohl Ilford Jewish and Volunteers came to help from society – supporting them and Clore Tikva Primary Schools all over the region to sort clothes, helping them. I was enormously took part in collections and care shoes, toiletries and children’s proud to come here and see the home visits; while the editors of toys that had been donated by the marvellous work that is happen- the Ilford Recorder and Essex Above: Mike Gapes MP local Jewish community, as well ing for asylum seekers, both at Jewish News united to play walk- helps cut a cake at Vi as the charity Goods For Good. this event for Mitzvah Day and ing football with members of the and John Rubens They also served a hot lunch, dis- then every month going for- Redbridge Jewish Community House. Right: Young tributed food vouchers and spent ward.” Centre. volunteers set up a time befriending the 30 asylum This year marked a decade of Turn to the back page of this play area for child seeker families in attendance. Mitzvah Day – the UK’s biggest issue to see the full set of Mitz- asylum seekers at the The drop-in is part of the faith-based day of social action – vah Day pictures from syna- Woodford Forest United Synagogue Chesed with volunteers in Essex among gogues, schools and organisations drop-in scheme, in which acts of loving the 40,000 performing good from all around the region. PHOTOS BY YAKIR ZUR. 2 ESSEX JEWISH NEWS CHANUKAH 5779/DECEMBER 2018 ESSEX Leopards can’t change JEWISH NEWS their spots ... The Essex Jewish News is the newspaper of the Jewish community in Essex and is S we approached the end of 2018, frequently, there’s a reactive element of published by Essex Jewish News Ltd. your EJN Comment writer was shock – at least amazement – at what’s A moved to pen what follows after happening; especially expressed in spe - attending, quite by chance, a cello and COMMENT cific light of the Shoah within existing CIRCULATION AREA piano recital which included the Swiss torted and distorted by antisemites to sug - memory and lifetimes, including those of Barking, Barkingside, Cambridge, Chigwell, Jewish composer (1880-1959) Ernest gest an arrogant superiority over other survivors. But this expression, in itself, is Chingford, Chelmsford, Epping, Gants Hill, Bloch’s (three-part) composition, ‘From peoples, leading to warped feelings of re - somewhat surprising. A long story of anti - Gidea Park, Harold Hill, Harlow, Hainault, Jewish Life’. Afterwards, your writer hap - sentment. The sorrowful outcome of semitism – in whatever form it has taken, Highams Park, llford, Leyton, Leytonstone, pened to read some notes (written by cel - which potential motivation (and others) or might take – sadly but indubitably tells Loughton, Newbury Park, Redbridge, list Brant Taylor some years ago) on this has been continual discrimination, mutat - us that this scourge is likely to be with us Romford, Southend and Westcliff, Wanstead musically meditative piece, and which in - ing tropes, scapegoat treatment, verbal and for all prospective time. and Woodford. cluded the sentence: “The mood in this physical persecution, the ultimate cata - A recent poll, reported in the JC, indi - cycle is generally contemplative and clysmic disaster of the Holocaust – itself cated that a substantial proportion of UK plaintive in character, with an overwhelm - the unbelievable subject of continuing de - Jews would consider making aliyah if Chairman Philip Leigh ing feeling of melancholy ...” nial by some – and the subsequent, persist - push came to shove, context-wise. But to Managing Director Melvyn Weinberg When born, a baby leopard is a nonde - ent and unwarranted concentration on consider doing so isn’t quite the same as script grey in colour and possesses no demonising the State of Israel (when an actually doing so, which could be highly Directors Manny Robinson, Clive Bayard spots. Apparently, the notable distinguish - authentic line of moral criticism could be, speculative if not doubtful; although some Editor Simon Rothstein ing marks begin to develop when a leop - but isn’t, focused on states that actually may point to the French Jewish experience Editorial Consultant Manny Robinson ard cub is around 10 days old.