16th May ‘15 / 27 Iyar 5775 Minister: Rabbi Lionel Rosenfeld Rabbi Sam Taylor Chazan Emeritus: Moshe Dubiner Parashat Behar-Bechukotai—Shabbat Mevarchin Announcements Hertz Cohen Stone Gutnick Shabbat begins 8.32pm Kiddush: Sedra 531 764 696 810 Shabbat ends 9.46pm The Honorary Officers & Board of Management invite the Haftarah 539 774 1177 1441 congregation to Kiddush in the Bloomstein Hall after the service. (We do not have a sponsor for this week’s Kiddush. If you would like to sponsor a week's Kiddush to celebrate an occasion or to commemorate a loved one please contact LOOKING TO SHAVUOT: THE NAME GAME: by Erica Brown the office.) “A Good Name is Better than Fine Perfume” (Ecclesiastes 7:1) Seuda Shlishit: A good name is easy to compare to perfume because perfume leaves its residue in the form of a smell. Many We thank Paul & Gila Rose for kindly sponsoring last people wear a signature perfume that identifies them even before they walk into a room. Sometimes it's a weeks Seuda in commemoration of VE DAY 70. May we great fragrance, and sometimes it's overbearing. Your reputation - your name - is a lot like perfume. It never forget the sacrifices made by that generation to announces your presence, introducing you, accompanying you and even leaving a little after-effect for allow us to enjoy the freedom we have today. impact. And just like perfume, you hope that the impact is positive and maybe even beautiful. Breakfasts: Next week on Shavuot we will be reading the story of Ruth, a book filled with names that invite interpretation. Beryl Davis and family invite you to the Yom Yerushalayim Some believe Ruth's name is related to the word for friendship- Re’ut” - a grammatical stretch but true to her festive breakfast Sunday morning following the service. character. Ruth was totally committed to her mother-in-law Naomi, and Naomi’s people, G-d, homeland and (We do not have a sponsor for breakfasts Monday through future. She had the opportunity to stay and rebuild her life at home but wanted instead the spiritual adventure to Friday. If you would like to help us, please contact the of a lifetime. Her devotion ends in the true redemption of her life and the life of the people she adopts through office.) the legacy of leadership that follows. Happy Birthday to: “Naomi” means “pleasant”, but she does not wish to be called such, because her life has been deeply Jessica Goldblatt Freddie Lipton Marks James embittered by loss. When the women of Bethlehem come to the city gate to greet her and ask, "Is this Joshua Adley Lisa Bobroff Bianca Ladow Ross Glyn Naomi?" she quickly corrects them of that notion. “I have suffered so much loss that I cannot be called by the Benjamin Kaye Sasha Brenner Yoram Allalouf same name. I am no longer that person.” As she says this, it is a chastisement to these women who dismiss Daniel Conway Paul Althasen Carolyn Goldhill her with their question. “G-d has punished me enough,” she reminds them. “I do not need you to punish me Naomi Levy Geoffrey Klass Renata Knobil Paula Leigh further. Perhaps if you call me a different name, you will treat me differently; you will find compassion that you Roger Wolfryd Gregory Phillips Yvonne Gill do not have now.” Happy Anniversary to: The other daughter-in-law is Orpah, whose name, says the Midrash means "neck", because in leaving Michael & Belinda Lyons Naomi, she turned her neck from the life she had. Then there is Ploni-Almoni, a name associated with anonymity because this redeemer failed to redeem Ruth and was not considered worthy. And at the We wish a Refuah Shlemah to: beginning of the narrative are Naomi's sons: Machlon and Chilyon, loosely translated as "sickness and Eliyahu ben Devorah destruction." (Lovely. Glad I wasn't at that baby naming.) Zelig ben Etta Rasha Avraham Mordechai ben Chaya Basha Sarah

Emily bat Sarah Scholars believe that all these names were transposed on the text to reflect the feelings that readers should Gita Chaya bat Chanah have upon reading this story. Maimonides helps fill in the gap by suggesting that Naomi's sons were leaders Eliyahu ben D’vorah of the generation who, during a time of famine and political unrest, turned away from those in need. They Habachur Yaakov Gavriel Yehudah ben Dina Chanah—Jacob Ziff moved to Moab to seek their fortunes and evade the cries of petitioners. We appreciate their predicament; it Zorach ben Sarah is hard to have and be surrounded by have-nots. But that is where the work of leadership must take place. Harav Pinchas Shmuel ben Pesya — Paul Laderman Those are the times when instead of moving away, we need leaders to lead. Dalia bat Patricia, Shulamit bat Tamar, Sultana bat Tamar, Evelyn bat Sarah Devorah Ethics of the Fathers identifies four crowns, three of which appear in the book of Ruth: "Rabbi Shimon would Devorah bat Avraham say: 'There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of kingship. But the crown of a good name transcends them all'" [4:13]. The book of Ruth contains the crown of kingship in WMA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING presenting the ancestry of King David. It contains the crown of Torah because, in addition to its special WILL TAKE PLACE ON narrative qualities, it demonstrates the Jewish values of charity and the importance of the levirate marriage in MONDAY 22ND JUNE AT 6:45PM protecting women and the family name. And it contains the crown of a good name because Naomi returned to her state of sweetness by the book's end and Ruth showed us the power of transformation through friendship.

If your name is your perfume, what fragrance do you bring into the lives of others and what beautiful aromas are associated with your reputation? Shabbat Shalom.

Dr. Erica Brown, author and educator is Scholar-in-Residence for The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and consultant with the Jewish Agency. Her latest books are “Happier Endings: A Meditation on Life and Death” and “Leadership in the Wilderness: Authority and Anxiety in the Book of Numbers.” Erica writes a monthly column for ‘The New York Jewish Week’ and the website ‘Psychology Today,’ and a weekly column on Jewish leadership. SERVICES ON FRIDAY EVENING, SHABBAT MINCHA AND WEEKDAYS TAKE PLACE IN THE MINTZ BETH HAMIDRASH Forthcoming Events

Friday 15th May This Sunday Morning 17th May, 7.30am Shacharit followed by breakfast and Haftarah Yom Yerushalayim: Shiur by Ervin Landau Shacharit at 8.00am followed by a 7.00pm Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat followed by D’var Torah festive breakfast with Guest Speaker: by Rabbi Sam Taylor Dayan Yonason Abraham Dayan Abraham is one of the Dayanim of the 8.32pm Candle lighting London Beth Din. He is well known for being

not only a Torah Scholar but also a very Shabbat 16th May dynamic and charismatic communicator. 8:45am Shiur by Bernard Silver Dayan Abraham joined the London Beth Din in 2001 and has since 9.15am Shacharit become involved in numerous communal organisations including 8.45pm Mincha, followed by Seudah Shlishit & D’var Torah by Tribe and JABE. He is also a regular lecturer at the Kinloss Learning Meryl Cohen in memory of her sister Centre. All are welcome. Suggested donation £5. Malka Devorah bat Binyomin Hakohen - Mandy Benstock z”l KRAV MAGA @ WMA ON MONDAY NIGHTS 9.46pm Ma’ariv & Havdalah Krav Maga educates people in the subjects of self defence, self protection, fighting and combat skills, as Sunday 17th May—Yom Yerushalayim—Jerusalem Day well as the skills to defend others. £91 for 8 sessions. For more information Contact Rabbi 8.00am Shacharit including special prayers and Taylor—07557 780 658. readings followed by a festive breakfast kindly The next KM date will be this Monday, 18th May. sponsored by Beryl Davis & Family. Guest Speaker following breakfast: Shabbat Morning Dayan Abraham 23rd May: Join us for our “Informal Shabbat”. Starting at 9.45am. All are welcome. Monday 18th May 7.00am Mishna Shiur by Rabbi Sam Taylor Shavuot—Join us: 7.30am Shacharit followed by breakfast and Saturday Night 23rd May: D’var Torah From 9.00pm for a Seudah Shlishit 10.30am Rabbi Rosenfeld’s Shiur for Ladies with Divrei Torah by 8.00pm Krav Maga @ WMA Guest Speakers & our members. There will be no Shiur for Ladies this week. This year at Western Marble Arch's annual Tikkun Lel Shavuot we will be studying the Book of Genesis/ There will be no “Cheder for Grown-Ups” this week. Bereishit following dinner, throughout the evening. There are twelve Classes will recommence on June 15th parashiot in Bereishit so twelve members of the community will speak about a different parasha. This is a fantastic opportunity for one to Tuesday 19th May—Rosh Chodesh Sivan study our treasured Torah and share insightful ideas with others on the 7.15am Shacharit followed by breakfast and D’var very Festival which celebrates the Revelation at Sinai 3326 years ago. Torah by Rabbi Yosef Vogel Each talk should last for approximately 15 minutes. If anyone is 8.00pm Rabbi Taylor’s Gemara Shiur interested in delivering one of the sessions please be in touch with Rabbi Sam Taylor. He is available over the coming weeks to help you prepare your talk. Wednesday 20th May 7.00am Mishna Shiur by Rabbi Taylor Sunday May 24th 7.30am Shacharit followed by breakfast and D’var Women @ WMA presents an afternoon of 'Chatter & Cheesecake' Torah by Ervin Landau at the Taylor's home. Sunday May 24th, Thursday 21th May First Day Shavuot, 7.30am Shacharit followed by breakfast and D’var Torah from 4.00pm—5.30pm. 1.00pm Rabbi Tali Lowenthal’s lunchtime learning Come and hear members of the session for Men community respond to the question, 'Which 3 Jewish Friday 22nd May personalities would you invite to your dinner party and why?' 7.30am Shacharit followed by breakfast and Haftarah Shiur All ladies and girls most welcome. by Ervin Landau Please speak to Emma Taylor if you interested in giving one of the presentations.

SUNDAY 17H—THURSDAY 21ST MAY Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May: WEEKDAY MINCHA & MA’ARIV 7.00PM The Shavuot Yom Tov Next Shabbat: Baby Blessing. Bemidbar—Erev Shavuot—Tikun Leil Shavuot We are pleased to announce that the 23rd May 2015 annual Shavuot Communal Baby Blessing Commences—8.42pm Ceremony, for babies born in the past 36 Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat - 7.30pm months will take place on the Second Day of the Festival. The short ceremony Please see our Website: For full details of times of services and events by month go to will be held at the end of service, at www.marblearch.org.uk approximately 11.30am (after Yizkor and You can contact Rabbi Lionel & Natalie Rosenfeld at: Musaf). Babies, their parents, grandparents and siblings are [email protected] - Tel: 020 7535 0458 mobile: 07811 202244 Contact Rabbi Sam and Rebbetzen Emma Taylor at: invited to join Rabbi Rosenfeld on the Bimah. The ceremony will [email protected] / [email protected] be followed by an Ice-Cream Kiddush in the Bloomstein Hall. Tel: 020 7723 9333

Western Marble Arch Synagogue, 1 Wallenberg Place, London W1H 7TN Tel: 020 7723 9333 Email: [email protected] Website: www.marblearch.org.uk — Registered Charity No: 1154188