Programme It Is the Custom on Shavuot to Read the As the Primary Matriarch Over Rachel
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SPRING/SUMMER 2015 Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation Programme It is the custom on Shavuot to read the as the primary matriarch over Rachel. Book of Ruth. Ruth, a Moabite woman This caused strife and discrimination returns with her Jewish mother-in-law, between the tribes. Yet, at the wedding Naomi, to the city of Bethlehem and they something remarkable occurs. The are destitute. During years of famine, citizens of Bethlehem in Judah shout the people of Bethlehem have grown a blessing to the new couple: callous and insensitive to the needs of the poor and downtrodden, and no one ‘May the Lord make the woman who Alison Rosen - Edward Howard - offers to help them. Ruth sets out to is coming into your house like Rachel Executive Director Programme Director glean the scraps of grain that fall in the and Leah, both of whom built up the fields after the harvesters have reaped House of !’ As Executive Director of the Spanish On behalf of the Spanish and Israel and bundled the sheaves. The owner and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation Portuguese Jews’ Congregation, of the field that she chooses, Boaz, Inspired by the wonderful love and I am so pleased that we now have I would like to offer the second sees Ruth at work and encourages her commitment of the two people in place a much expanded and edition of our upcoming to remain and to take what she needs before them, they too were moved engaging educational and social Programme for May to August from his field. to acknowledge the valuable programme and I am sure that one 2015. We hope that you will enjoy contributions of those who were Boaz warmly welcomes Ruth, a stranger, different than themselves. Rachel is of these programmes will capture reading through this booklet. We into the Jewish community because surprisingly placed before Leah by the your interest. Please remember have included both the dates also that we would be delighted to he knows of her desire not only to live tribe of Judah and recognised as co- for your diary as well as words among them, but also to contribute constructing the House of Israel. Ruth help with any forthcoming life-cycle of thought and wisdom from our to their growth. Boaz is so sure of went on to become a matriarch herself events and our beautiful Listed Rabbis as well as a guest thought this, that he marries her. His emphatic — the mother of the royal family of Synagogues, at Lauderdale Road from Rabbi Meir Soloveichik of welcome and insistence on making Israel. and Bevis Marks, are available when Ruth part of the people is contagious Rabbi Joseph S&P New York. It is our hope that you are considering your future and it encourages an entire city to learn In reading through this spring Dweck, semahot. We are also pleased to be the programming we provide to love again. programme planned for our ELCOME welcoming many new members and will be exciting and relevant to community, let us remember the Senior Rabbi anyone interested in joining can all members of our community. A beautiful example of this is expressed lesson we learn on Shavuot from the Photo credits: Cover, 3-4, 9-10, Back Cover © Blake Ezra Photography © Blake 3-4, 9-10, Back Cover Photo credits: Cover, find details on the website at Our latest programme launches at the wedding of Ruth and Boaz. The Book of Ruth. Each of us is unique, during the Jewish month of Iyar. people of Bethlehem are from the tribe no two alike, yet with our collective www.sandp.org/membership. of Judah, who was the son of Leah. The cooperation we create a beautiful members of the tribe always held her and strong community. W 2 3 R’ DWECK ON JEWISHEDUCATION LAW THOUGHTS ON THE RAMBAM WITH R’ DWECK Laws of Shabbat based on the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt’l. After Shahrit at Bevis Marks. Tuesday Evenings at Porat Yosef in Hendon - 8:00pm Tuesday and Friday Mornings R’ DWECK ON JEWISH PHILOSOPHY R’ DWECK & R’ ELIA’S WEEKLY INSIGHTS ON PARASHA Tuesday Evenings at Porat Yosef in Hendon - 9:00pm During Seuda Shlishit Shabbat weekly at Lauderdale Road Understanding the Pillars of Judaism. Wednesday Evenings at Lauderdale Road - 8:00pm SHAARE TIKVAH SUNDAY CLASSES R’ Moshe Hayim Luzatto’s Derekh Hashem Weekly Sunday morning classes for children four to post GCSE. R’ KADA’S MONTHLY SHIUR SUNDAY MORNINGS WITH R’ DWECK FOR Monthly lecture on contemporary issues. BAR/BAT-MITSVAH-AGED YOUTH Rosh Hodesh at Wembley Rabbi Dweck meets with bar and bat-mitsvah-aged students at his home every other Sunday morning to discuss the principles of Judaism. R’ KADA’S MONTHLY Q&A Breakfast is served. Please check the calendar for specific dates. R’ Kada takes questions from the Wembley Congregation once a month instead of a sermon. For the most up to date information please consult our MADE IN HEAVEN WITH R’ ELIA website and weekly emails. Please forward your questions to [email protected] A five-week series of workshops for young engaged couples. 4 5 SPECIAL EVENTS In 1851, Queen Victoria hosted an and oral—ancient teaching, unchanged SENIOR RABBI’S COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB AT LAUDERDALE ROAD international exhibition to celebrate the yet refreshed in every generation with contributions of over 40 nations. The judgements and responsa. We will be reading secular books of fiction and non-fiction and emphasis was on natural resources— examining them from a Torah perspective - for more details, see the India showed the magnificent Koh-i-Noor The Torah is often underestimated, and weekly S&P news. diamond—and on the latest machinery—a regarded as just a national code of laws, Jacquard loom, daguerreotype but the teaching goes far wider than laws. photography, the prototype Colt Navy Though laws may be eternal—“Thou shall GESHER COMMUNAL SEUDA SHLISHIT revolver, even a barometer that employed not kill”—many change as needs change, A communal Seuda Shlishit for communities in the Wood and leeches. much as the maximum speed limits on British roads change over time. Vale area, hosting delegates of Gesher from Israel. Some years ago, the Board of Deputies of Hosted by St Johns Wood Synagogue - Shabbat 1 - 2 May British Jews’ created an exhibition on the One story tells a great deal. It deals with life of Jews, to teach people—particularly the different traditions for celebrating young people in schools—about the nation Hanukkah of two great teachers, Shammai R’ DWECK’S LECTURES AT BEVIS MARKS dispersed among the nations. It was decided and Hillel. Shammai taught we should light Lectures at Bevis Marks with refreshments the emphasis should not be primarily on eight lights on the first day, then one less Jewish scientists, or the creation of modern each day. Hillel taught light one on the first 28 May - Why should I care about oral law? Israel since 1948. Instead the Board chose day, then increase by one light each day. 22 June - Moses and the Rock: Why we should learn to use our words. to chiefly celebrate the Jewish family and To prevent confusion and create unity, the Jewish community in the “Jewish Way Jewish law was decided in favour of Hillel. Monday evenings from 6:45pm of Life Exhibition.” But to show the decision was to some extent arbitrary, and to honour the views of SHAVUOT TEA & TORAH AT THE DWECKS’ Visiting children learn the cycle of the week, Shammai, it is taught that in the Messianic the cycle of the year, and the cycle of life. age to come, all will follow Shammai. This Rabbi Joseph and Margalit open their home to the Kahal to Rabbi Israel They roll a printed sepher, put on kippah one story tells that people really cared how join them from 4pm on the second day of Shavuot - There and tallit, learn about Shabbat and Pesah, the mitzvoth were performed, that they will be a discussion on Megilat Rut. Elia, shake rattles at Haman, and dress as realised that practical and firm decisions Lauderdale Jewish brides and grooms. are required, and that after such a decision Monday 25 May - 4:00pm the honourable winner must honour the Road On Shavuot, we celebrate the lavish coffee honourable loser. In granting such honour, EMBLEY AG MER ELEBRATION table book that comes with the “Jewish Way a brick is baked and set among the W AGM & L B’O C of Life Exhibition”, the Torah that Moses foundations of Jewish teaching, set among See Sonia for details - [email protected] received in the wilderness. And we celebrate the foundations of the home in which we Sunday 10 May Torah in its broadest sense, the entire strive to live the Jewish way of life. body of Jewish law and teaching, written For the most up to date information please consult our website and weekly emails. 6 7 If there’s one thing Jews are notorious for, Indeed, the halachic codifiers basing it’s not being able to agree. As the satirical themselves on this verse that implies that saying goes ‘two Jews and three opinions!’. Tishah B’ab is a special day, rule to omit Yet, if you were to take a group of 100 tahanun (supplicatory prayers recited after SOCIAL educated Jews and ask them the following the repetition of the amidah). How are we CULTURE IN THE CITY @ BEVIS MARKS question, I am confident that you would meant to make sense of this? A series of events held at Bevis Marks for working receive a unanimous answer.