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AMERICAN PHARAOH | CONCERT AT MIDDLE STREET | THE GLASGOW TO GALILEE TRILOGY | SIR NICHOLAS WINTON | WHAT’S ON | AND MORE Whats

august 2015 • AV / ELLUL 5775 • ISSUE 255 2 Pause for thought 3

What are we to think of the further instability. The Greek world weaponry. As Iran has refused Euro negotiations between the is going to Hades in a handcart. to recognise Israel and openly European Union and Greece and declares that it should be wiped the negotiations between the from the map, the fate of the United Nations and Iran’s nuclear Populations hang in the world’s population hangs in the ambitions? balance. The road to balance. There is little doubt of what Iran’s first target will be. That Quite frankly, not much although Hell is paved with good the deal was reached during the there are some similarities. intentions. Three Weeks is ironic and gives us The future of the Euro in pause for thought. Greece has been a game of The result a little farther east To the negotiators: it is often said brinksmanship whilst the fate of its makes us wonder what the that the road to Hell is paved with population hangs in the balance. world has wrought. A terrorist- good intentions. It is only a matter of time before sponsoring regime has been Greeks take out their frustration Now, prove us wrong. given leave to develop nuclear on their government to bring

EDITORIAL BOARD Doris Levinson / Stephanie Megitt SJN brings local news, events, articles, reviews, David Seidel/ Michael Rich announcements, people, congregations, TECHNICAL ADVISOR Brian Megitt communities, contacts and more. Delivered at the start of each month, SJN is run entirely by ADMINISTRATOR Bernard Swithern volunteers for reporting, editing and circulating Administrative Assistants Ivor Sorokin, Lydia Swithern each edition. It has become the cornerstone of Communal Diary [email protected] the Jewish community across the region. COVER IMAGE Brian Megitt PRODUCTION/LAYOUT Anand Day

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issue 255 | august 2015 2 Contents 3 Sussex Jewish News PO Box 2178 • Hove BN3 3SZ Telephone: 07906 955 404

FEATURES 1 WILD MEADOW GARDEN, ALFRISTON Wild meadow garden at Follers Manor, Alfriston, looking towards Littlington. Photo by Brian Megitt 8 AMERICAN PHARAOH Jeremy Rosen on horse racing 9 SIR NICHOLAS WINTON Remembering his 2003 visit to Brighton

REGULARS 4 COMMUNITY LIFE Stories from across the county 4 YOUR VIEWS Your personal announcements 10 CULTURE Book reviews, Middle Street Shabbaton 16 WHAT’S ON Regular and special events in your community

YOUR COMMUNITY 12 Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue 13 Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation 14 Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue 15 Hove Hebrew Congregation

Full page (A4 size) £170 Sussex Jewish News (‘SJN’), its Editor and Editorial Board: • are not allied to any synagogue or group and the views expressed by writers Half page (A5 size) £100 are not necessarily those of SJN; Quarter page (A6 size) £65 • accept advertisements in good faith but do not endorse any products or services and do not accept liability for any aspect of any advertisements; 1/9 page (credit card size) £40 and Personal Announcements in a box (up to 6 lines): £25 • welcome readers’ contributions but reserve the right to edit, cut, decline or submit the content to others for comment. To ensure that we receive your Flyers: Price on application submissions by email, please send them ONLY to sjneditor@sussexjewishnews. Local Jewish charities will not be charged, subject to com, otherwise we cannot guarantee their consideration for publication. To assist the Editorial Board, submissions should be in Word format using Times editorial decision. New Roman font, size 12. Receipt of submissions may not be acknowledged, unless specifically requested. As the Editorial Board is made up entirely of BOOK NOW! 07906 955 404 GUIDELINES volunteers, any response may be subject to delay. ADVERTISING ADVERTISING IN SJN

issue 255 | august 2015 4 Community life 5

Your News Weddings Mazel tov to Helen Epstein and family on the wedding Births of her granddaughter Danielle, daughter of Amanda Mazel tov to and Gary, to Gideon Sher at Middle Street Synagogue. • Bryan and Malka Wood on the birth of a baby girl, New Home another grandchild for Margaret and Robin. Mazel tov and all good wishes to Harry and Maureen • David and Gemma Gilmore on the birth of their baby Atkins in their new home. daughter Martha, and the proud grandparents Geraldine and Morton Gilmore. Sports Success • Rabbi Andrea and Sara on the birth of their baby Mazel tov to Joshua and Adam Firsht of Shoreham daughter Hila Hadar Chaya. College on winning gold medals at the ISA National Athletics Championships in Birmingham in June. • Mushki and Dovid Kaye on the birth of a daughter, Atara Chana, another grandchild for Rabbi Pesach Get Well and Penina Efune. We wish a refuah sheleimah to Alan Besbrode, Martin Boyask, Alan Burke, Muriel Elkin Rose, Neil Gavin, Special Birthdays Nicholas Godfrey, Claudia Gould, Cyril Jacobs, Ruth Mazel tov to Steven Faull, Ivor Jaffe, Hilary Miller, Jossman, Peter Kauffman, Merle Kessler, Carole Lever, Simon Seligman, Ivor Jaffe and all who have special Julie Marks, Zoe May, Lee Panto, Ivor Sorokin, Norman birthdays this month. Zaft and all who are unwell or in hospital at the present Bar mitzvah time. Mazel tov to David Turton on his barmitzvah. Deaths We wish Long Life to the families of Henry Aidelberry Engagements z’l, Reva Flaster z’l, Elyane Glickman z’l, Stella Mazel tov to: Hartsilver z’l, Martha Lyons z’l, Shirley Rubin z’l, • Gemma Blass and James Wright on their Anthony Sklar z’l, Sir Nicholas Winton z’l. engagement. Mazel tov to Corinne and Robert Blass. • Chani Efune and Shaul Yachad on their engagement. Stonesetting - Message from Rabbi Mazel tov to Rabbi Pesach and Penina. Jeremy Collick • Susan and Richard Graham Gordon on the Dear family and friends engagement of their son Adam Joel to Emma Dorman. We will be consecrating the memorial stone for our father Lionel at 4.15 pm on Sunday 20th September at the Western Cemetery, Bulls Cross Ride, Cheshunt. We Voluntary Support Agencies hope you will be able to join us to remember our dear parents. • Ralli Hall Lunch & Social Club (Day Centre) 01273 739999 [email protected] • Norwood/Tikvah, Rachel Mazzier House 01273 564021 BRIGHTON & HOVE JEWISH • Hyman Fine House 01273 688226 HOUSING ASSOCIATION • Helping Hands 01273 747722 provides one-bedded unfurnished flats in [email protected] sheltered accommodation. • Brighton & Hove Jewish Welfare Board 07952 479111 or If you wish to be considered for a future vacancy [email protected]; website: www.bhjwb.org please contact Georgie Phillips on 01903 524582 • Brighton & Hove Jewish Housing Association for an application form. [email protected] • Welfare at Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue/ L’chaim project 01273 737223 Important message • Welfare Officer at Brighton & Hove Reform HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY VISITS (Sue Rosenfield) 01273 735343 If you are in hospital or know anyone being admitted • Jewish Community Centre at Ralli Hall. into hospital, please get in touch with info@ Various communal activities. 01273 202254 sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org or telephone 07789 or [email protected] 491279 so that a Jewish chaplain can be contacted to visit.

issue 255 | august 2015 4 Community life 5 Hyman Fine House by Natasha Carson and Mark Pady Firstly a big thank you to our wonderful fundraisers for concentrating on screen-printing and have made some rather organising the very successful Shabbaton Choir performance fabulous cushions, which will certainly brighten up the chairs. at Middle Street Synagogue. It was a highly enjoyable I think you’ll agree they are quite professional. evening, the proceeds of which will go towards enhancing our Our next Barbeque is on the 19th of August and we are entertainment and activities programme. inviting our friends from Ralli Hall to join us once again in our One of the lovely garden. activities Did you know that there is an open invitation to the funded by community to join our synagogue service on any Shabbat? events like Our services start at 10.15 am and the residents really this is our appreciate visitors, so why not pop by if you’re able. We Art Club, particularly would like guests to join us for the service on which meets the 5th of September, which will be followed by a special weekly. Kiddush. Recently the club As always if you feel you could spare us some time to help members volunteer as a regular or for a one off event please contact have been Natasha or Mark on 01273 688226.

BHPS Chairman Michael Reese, z’l - 3 August 1942 – 16 May 2015 Obituary by Sandria Reese

Michael was born in Worthing but brought up in Eastcote, In 1975, now with three children, Michael was offered a post North London, where his parents set up a successful drama at the University of Warwick Arts Centre. Our family joined school. His father, Harold, an actor, also taught Speech and a local synagogue group, mostly members at Birmingham, Drama at Guildhall. meeting for Shabbat services in each others’ houses and at the Friends Meeting House in Warwick. Michael’s enterprise showed early as he and two teenage friends started a business called Q5, in his parents’ garden Without a degree, Michael could not get promoted to work shed, providing lighting, scenery and stage management for the academic drama department but, inspired by the services to the many amateur drama companies around experience of putting on Shakespeare in Orlando, he took Harrow. me and the children, to try for an American MA in South Carolina. Through superhuman diligence and total neglect of At London University Michael worked so hard in student the family, both Michael’s and my degrees were completed theatre that he failed to complete his BA in maths and in two semesters. So to finish the summer, the children got statistics. Consequently, he was without a qualification, but themselves a formative experience at Blue Star Camps in perfectly set up and experienced for back stage work. So North Carolina with 10 weeks of camping whilst we, their when the Century Theatre came to Harrow, Michael was parents, ran the ‘Imagination Station’ Drama Specialty for 700 taken on as Assistant Stage Manager. The Century comprised Jewish kids. five ex-army semi-trailers that unfolded and battened together to become a charming little theatre. When it left to Michael returned to Warwick Arts Centre as M. A. Reese tour the country, he went with it - a perfect adventure for a MA and still didn’t get his promotion, but in 1994 I joined young man. the wig-making team for the opening season of the new Glyndebourne Opera House and we were re-acquainted with Michael developed a passion for making new theatres; he Sussex. oversaw the opening of the ‘Adeline Genee’ in East Grinstead and ‘The Place’ for London Contemporary Dance among Michael’s last important project was to work as the technical many others, but he had most fun in Florida, turning a advisor to the committee setting up the “Our Brighton bandstand in the park into the venue for a major Shakespeare Hippodrome” campaign. We have hopes now that this festival, still thriving today. remarkable theatre will be saved. Our marriage was another first. Michael’s father Harold, and Back in Sussex, for the first time, Michael was living some local members of Wembley Liberal Synagogue, had near enough to a Jewish community to join and attend a recently acquired a vacated Methodist Chapel for their new synagogue. BHPS turned out to be a very happy choice. I place of worship. It was to be the Liberal Jewish synagogue would like to thank the community for all the love and support of Northwood and Pinner. Michael and I were delighted to I have had after Michael’s sad and untimely death and the celebrate our Ruby Wedding with the Northwood community appreciation expressed for the contribution Michael was able just a few years ago. to make to the planning of the synagogue refurbishment.

issue 255 | august 2015 6 Community life 7

AJEX – Lest we forget by Norman Grant The Branch has had a busy year, so the visit to Japanese (FEPOW) during WWII. It will be held Middle Farm near Firle for a Cream Tea was a at Easthill Park, Portslade: assemble at 2.30 pm. good chance for members, their families and Members please wear usual uniform and medals. friends to socialise in a lovely setting. A good time Our National Chairman, Brian Bloom, has asked to was had by all who attended. attend with us, so will all members please make a On Sunday 16th August, the Branch will be special effort to be there, of course, our Standard represented at a Service to commemorate VJ Day will be paraded with all the other ex-service + 70, to honour those who were prisoners of the Standards. Please contact me for further details.

Ralli Hall by Roger Abrahams Maxine Gordon and Jacquie Tichauer have been in now be complete, and after that the upgrade to the the hot seats for a short time and have been busy re- lower ground floor toilets, and new flooring in the organising the office to their liking, whilst coping with Maccabi lobby, is booked to commence. the beginning of our busy summer season. It would The work to the rooms and loft at the rear of the seem that their feet are hardly touching the ground stage should start soon and I will keep you informed and I wish them both well in their new posts. as to progress. After many delays I can, at long last, state that the I know that it is sometimes a nuisance, but, as three new pyramid-shaped roof lights have now pointed out, not just by our local Community been glazed and the difference in the natural light, Security Trust, but also by our Prime Minister, one particularly in the servery and vegetarian kitchen, is cannot be too careful, so please stay alert whenever quite amazing. What was previously quite a dingy you are in the building or indeed in any Jewish facility, needing artificial light nearly all of the time, Community building, particularly in this time of has been transformed into a light and airy room heightened security. during the day. Come and have a look for yourselves. The upgrade to the outside toilets should I look forward to seeing you at Ralli Hall.

Hastings and District Jewish Society by Stella Harris It has been a mixed month for us, full of joy and We also had two celebrations and wish mazel sadness. tov to Nichole and Peter Lennard on their golden wedding and to Shirley Dodson on her 80th Friday 3rd July saw our usual first Friday of the birthday. month’s service. In the afternoon several of us joined members of the Eastbourne Hebrew There was a most interesting talk from the night Congregation and relatives and friends of our dear pastors who told us about the wonderful work friend Reva Flaster z’l for her funeral at Langley done by the volunteers, who help youngsters to Cemetery. This lovely Scottish lady (at 93) had reach home when in difficult situations in Bexhill. recently moved to Liverpool to be close to her In many areas this helps the police. family. Her nephew Philip gave a most moving Next month we are looking forward to Ruth and tribute to his aunt, who was the twin sister of his Robin, who are going to entertain us with their mother. music. We mourned the loss of Reva and also of Lilly Crabtree, who were both devoted members of our society and of Eastbourne Hebrew Congregation.

issue 255 | august 2015 6 Community life 7

Ralli Hall Lunch & Social Club by Jacquie Tischauer I hope everyone is well and enjoying the summer gem in our community and we all look forward to (even though it can be a little hot). the Tuesdays and Thursdays. We can even have transport if needed. Try it! It is great! Our Tuesday Lunch and Social Club is very busy with around 50 people attending (which is great) and Anne Conn: Every Tuesday and Thursday we can everyone enjoying the programmes and the amazing meet to enjoy a wonderful lunch, good company food. Our Thursday Lunch and Social Club is busy, and entertainment for one and all. I personally enjoy but we still have a few places left, so if you would a game of kalooki, others play bridge, then for like to join us for exercise, discussions, crosswords, others there are musicals or bingo. Transport can bridge, kalooki, rummikub and entertainment, you be arranged. We have tea and cake or biscuits at 3 would be most welcome. o’clock. What more can we ask, all for £8.00 pounds and £2.00 for transport? Instead of my always telling you how wonderful our lunch club is I will let some of our members tell you. Alan Lever: Carole and I enjoy coming to The Lunch and Social Club on a Thursday enormously. The Jeannette Norton-Mazzier: I want to say that I have food is excellent and the value for a first class three- been coming to the Lunch and Social Club for 14 course meal is unsurpassable. Socially the company years with my late husband Jack Mazzier. Here he is invigorating and stimulating. Finally, no washing or used to enjoy playing chess, while I had a game of cooking - what a pleasure! bridge. The day would start with coffee, then you have a choice of wonderful exercise class or a talk Alan Bass: Service and care are fantastic, food from the Rabbi or communal crossword and then a unbeatable and the company very enjoyable. Long wonderful lunch and afternoon tea. This is a may it carry on!

Are you a Holocaust Survivor? by Anna Scanlon The Board of Deputies of British Jews has partnered with the Six Point Foundation to help locate UK- resident Holocaust survivors and refugees who can benefit from their life changing and enhancing If interested, contact one of the partner agencies grants. here: Six Point provides grants for individuals - Jewish • The Association of Jewish Refugees 020 8385 survivors and refugees - with an income of less 3070 than £10,000 per year (excluding pensions or social security) and have assets less than £32,000, • Agudas Israel Housing Association 020 8802 3819 excluding a primary residence and a car. These • Bikur Cholim 020 8800 7575 grants have covered everything from home adaption, such as making a bathroom accessible; to travel • Holocaust Survivors Centre (Jewish Care) 020 costs, for example, to visit family or travel for an 8203 9033 operation; to temporary care. Grants may be made • North London Bikur Cholim 020 8802 5032 more than once. Although not an agent of Six Point or qualified Six Point does not assess individuals, but rather to carry out assessments, further questions can works with five partner agencies to help identify also be fielded to Anna Scanlon, researcher at the individual needs and eligibility. These agencies Board of Deputies. She can be contacted at Anna. confidentially assess people who have requested [email protected] or 020 7543 5440 Tuesdays assistance and help make requests on their behalf. and Wednesdays. Survivors need not be practising, a part of any For more information, please visit www. denomination or even consider themselves Jewish; sixpointfoundation.org.uk the only requirement is beyond survivor or refugee status is that the individual is a survivor or refugee Anna Scanlon is a Researcher at Jewish Connection. because of their Jewish origin.

issue 255 | august 2015 8 Features 9

Berkshire overlooking the Newbury Only the elite could get in there, and American Pharoah racecourse. I would sneak down the you had to be wearing morning suits by Jeremy Rosen hill, through the fields, and climb up and toppers or elegant dresses and onto a haystack to watch the races. outrageous hats. The Lubavitcher Rebbe won the Triple On television you get no sense of Crown at Belmont last Saturday when the thunderous pounding of the The ordinary wealthy or the middle American Pharoah romped home in hooves, the snorting of the horses, classes could make use of the Grand the Belmont Stakes at Belmont, New the shouting and whipping of the Stand enclosure, where companies York, by five lengths, becoming the jockeys as the peloton of sweating and families had their private boxes first horse to win the Triple Crown in horse meat, the rolling of white and entertained lavishly. Dress was 37 years. The owner is one Ahmed horse eyes swishing past you in a “cocktail”. Or you could stand on the Zayat, once known in Cairo as an second, and then heading towards grass mounds to the side. Egyptian Muslim, but now in the USA the grandstands, where the crowd is he is an Orthodox Jew. He and his Ascot dates back to Queen Anne. roaring and cheering and screaming family spent Shabbat in a mobile It was an essential part of the great and stamping their feet until the post- home nearby so as not to have to annual summer Royal social calendar climactic sigh that means the bookies travel to the event. that divides Brits into those who have made a lot of money and the aspire to be close to the monarchy He made his fortune in beer, quickly punters have lost again. and those who despise it. To me it realizing that in the Muslim world In the Britain of my youth, the was more about the setting than the it makes sense to market the non- poor would bet on greyhounds, betting. No, I did not win anything. alcoholic kind! He himself is a good the middle classes and the rich on Sephardi Jew, not a Chasid. But Beyond Royal Ascot it is a lot less horses. But in truth horses attracted the jockey of his winning horse was glamorous and horse racing is a all classes. There were stands and taken to the grave of the Lubavitcher tough, expensive hobby, although boxes where the rich could go and Rebbe by some enterprising young it has its business side. Unless you plain open, unprotected mounds for Chabad Rabbis (as ever, with a nose have more cash than you need, the peasants. The rich would bet in for publicity), where he dropped in a it is not to be recommended. But secluded areas, while the poor stood piece of paper asking for a blessing then neither is betting in general. amongst the shouting gesticulating before the race. That, of course, Just study the odds. And of course bookmakers in garish clothes and is why his horse won. I would not the rabbis of the Talmud had no hats screaming to get attention and recommend doing this if you are sympathy for betting and banned pick up the small, the leftovers, and a serious gambler, but then most gamblers from giving evidence in the last-minute hunch bets. gamblers, like those who put pieces courts or standing for positions of of paper in walls and suchlike, are There was an art to deciding the honesty and responsibility. To the best very superstitious. odds, and usually the bookmakers of my knowledge, no Chasidic rebbes knew they had to cover their bets or are in the business, unless of course In the United Kingdom, where I was they might lose everything. Then off- you include the Lubavitcher Rebbe of born, horse racing was and is “the course betting and now the internet sainted memory but then he no longer sport of kings”. The Queen is its most have changed all that. Aficionados has a say in it. fervent patron and horse breeder. studied form, looked at statistics, Her horses have won at Ascot 22 For all my cynicism, I am delighted knew the jockeys, examined the times. The fabulously rich royal that a Shomer Shabbat Jew has mounts, asked all kinds of shady family of Dubai, the Maktoums, are won this great prize. There is such insiders which horse would get the dominant force nowadays. Here a constant flow of news about Jews nobbled, which jockey told to rein in America horse racing is the sport being attacked, boycotted, and in his mount or let a favoured stable of whoever wants to have a go. It reviled and rejected (often, sadly, mate win. As with all gambling, it was is under a lot of pressure, but it still because they deserve it), that to see often gangster-controlled and rigged attracts attention and money. a happy, smiling, victorious religious against the ordinary sucker. But the face is a real tonic. I hope we don’t And the unthinkable, a nice Jewish atmosphere, the excitement, and vain have to wait another 37 years for a boy, has just won its Triple Crown. Its hopes of winning a fortune always repeat. But then we did have to wait true in England there were wealthy won out. 2000 years to come home! and successful Jewish breeders (the I remember going to Royal Ascot 40 Rothschilds, the Sassoons and the PS—The horse racing business is years ago. It was something special Tabors come to mind) but not one hardly the preserve of the educated. (but not so special that I ever wanted of them was Sabbath- or kosher- Those who registered the name of to go back). The Queen and members observant. And you had to be or the horse couldn’t spell Pharaoh of the Royal Family would be driven hobnob with the aristocrats to get properly!!! in horse-drawn carriages from nearby anywhere. In the USA, any Tom Dick Windsor Castle, accompanied by red- Reprinted with the author’s and or Ahmed can make it. jacketed riders, down the straight to permission from his blog of 7 June As a child I spent several years the cheering crowds and the military 2015. living at Greenham Common in band, and into the Royal Enclosure.

issue 255 | august 2015 8 Features 9 Youth Aliyah Child Rescue by Nicola Noah Eight teenage boys from T.O.M. Youth the Hertfordshire countryside before for providing Village in Israel enjoyed their first trip pitching up tents and cooking on the opportunity to London thanks to Youth Aliyah Child camp stoves. Prior to the expedition to work Rescue. the boys were hosted by local families with “these and enjoyed a wide range of activities wonderful including bowling and a trip to the young theatre. One of the hosts quoted that people.... We the T.O.M. boys were ‘an absolute try to teach delight and to host them was a privilege them about and an honour. They are different boys leadership, since their arrival and have opened up a about teamwork and self-reliance, and tremendous amount’. build up their confidence. It has been a new experience for us, and most Youth Aliyah Child Rescue life president successful, as they have overcome Ella Latchman presented the boys barriers”. with certificates at a reception on 23rd June hosted by the charity: it The evening marked the establishment was attended by almost 200 people. of a new partnership between Youth They were chosen because of their Guests were welcomed by Youth Aliyah Aliyah Child Rescue, JLGB and participation Child Rescue trustee Tina Curtis and Hasmonean High School. in the chairman, Melvin Robinson, were International shown an impressive film of life within Nicola Noah is the PR & Youth Award the T.O.M. Youth Village, offering Communications Manager of Youth (Israel) and technology, sport and the chance Aliyah Child Rescue. the highlight of a bright future to young people of the trip from disadvantaged backgrounds. was a joint “These boys are a shining example two-day of what achievement really means”, JLGB Duke said Melvin Robinson. “The T.O.M. of Edinburgh youth village is a fantastic place Award and last year a number of our boys expedition were in the top five per cent of the with a larger Israeli education system, which is contingent staggering”. from local school Hasmonean High School for JLGB chairman Norman Terret, Boys. The trip involved navigating thanked Youth Aliyah Child Rescue Sir Nicholas Winton commemorates Yom Hashoa 2003

The following is an extract from an by courtesy of Judy Ironside of the article written by Clive Levinson z’l that Brighton Jewish Film Festival. appeared in the June 2003 edition of SJN. We reprint it here in memory of Sir Nicholas walked into the hall Sir Nicholas Winton who passed away accompanied by Vera Gissing and Uta recently at the age of 106. Klein, two of the children whom he had rescued and who owed their lives Sir Nicholas Winton was the guest of to him. The 93 year old Sir Nicholas honour at this year’s event. answered questions from the floor and seemed most surprised at all the fuss. One of the more memorable and Vera Gissing spoke movingly about moving evenings experienced by “Nicky” and what he meant to each and our community opened with Ivor every one of his “children” and their Richards, the Chairman of the Council, children and grandchildren who now welcoming the large audience to Ralli number over 5000. Hall. The extraordinary documentary film ‘The Power of Good’, the story of Sir Nicholas was one of the six people Nicholas Winton, who saved the lives specially honoured to light the six of 669 children (mainly Jewish), by candles in memory of the ‘6 Million’ smuggling them out of Nazi-occupied before ‘El Moleh Rachamim’ was Photograph showing Sir Nicholas Winton lighting Czechoslovakia in 1939, was shown recited. memorial candles with Irvyn Isaacs.

issue 255 | august 2015 10 Culture 11

childbirth, and female suffrage are covered, as The Glasgow to Galilee trilogy well as workers’ rights. The birth of Socialism and The Credit Draper the 1926 General Strike are well described. Celia The Liberation of Celia Kahn tries to keep to her Jewish faith in a changing climate, although she longs to escape from the The Land Agent claustrophobia of her background. Her mother is by J. David Simons German and is interned during the war, which is Books reviewed by Gillian Rich hard for the whole family. The book ends with the emergence of the new homeland for the Jews in These three books form the trilogy, ‘Glasgow Palestine and the possibility of a new life for Celia. to Galilee’, written by J. David Simons. He is a Scottish Jewish writer who lived in Israel, The third novel, The Australia, Japan and England before returning to Land Agent, can Scotland in 2006. be read as a stand- alone book. It begins The first novel, The with the story of Credit Draper, is Lev and his family the story of Avram, in Poland. Because a 12 year old child of circumstances sent from Russia by familiar to us all, his mother to old Lev ends up in friends, the Kahn Palestine at about family, living in the end of WW1. Glasgow. It is 1911 His stepmother and Avram’s mother had made sure that wants to prevent he learned to type him from being and this was his conscripted into saving, as he was the Russian Army. employed by a Land The author draws Agent in Haifa and a sympathetic taught the trade. Through his work, he visits a picture of Avram’s new settlement, where he meets Celia Kahn, a confusion. This character in the previous two books. She went to child has to deal Israel with Jonny, a doctor, but their relationship with a different country, language and family, did not survive the trip. The novel covers the in addition to the feeling of abandonment by 1920s in Palestine under the British Mandate. A his mother. He is a bright boy but, as soon as very interesting picture is drawn of the land grab possible, he is taken away from school and sent at the time, as well as the politics with the Great to the Highlands to live with the orthodox Uncle Powers, post World War 1, all wanting to dictate Mendel. He is taught how control of the borders. This led to so many to earn money as a credit of the Middle East problems today. draper. He questions his Jewishness in a very alien I would recommend this trilogy on a environment. The novel number of levels. It is a good read, covers the period from 1911 covering the genres of detective novel, to the end of World War 1. historical fiction and heartbreaking human It is a real page turner with stories. It is also a reminder that we must surprises and shocks along all be aware of growing antisemitism in the way. European society as shown by so many events this summer. The second novel, The Liberation of Celia Kahn, covers the same period but from the point of view of the Kahn’s daughter, Celia. It then progresses further into the inter-war period. Birth control, giving women freedom from constant

issue 255 | august 2015 10 Culture 11 Middle Street Synagogue Concert by Bernard Swithern. Photos by Brian Megitt

The evening of Sunday 28 June was significant to many. Pinafore and the da-da-da-da of Beethoven’s Fifth. Looking It was the evening when a large audience was thrilled, the around the audience one could see faces silently mouthing evening when two charities profited and the evening when the the words of familiar prayers, singing when instructed to join smile was brought back to the façade of an old building. in, but always grinning with delight. Feet were tapping and hands clapping in accompaniment. Those of you who were not fortunate to have witnessed the event will be able to read this, but sadly, no words can Not all of the stars were on stage. Behind the scenes, adequately describe the thrill of having been there. Not the Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation’s organising since the Kol Nidre nights of the nineteen-seventies has the committee had put in many months of work. The community synagogue had such a large congregation. owes them a debt of gratitude. Furthermore, it has a question for them. When is the next concert? Sunday 28 June was not a religious festival, but it was an occasion when everyone was inspired. The musical In addition to providing enjoyment, the function raised funds resonance for two reached contrasting every soul. All and worthy present were causes. re-connected Hyman with who Fine House they were. ensures Their Jewish a secure identities present day were re- environment kindled. The for its heart of the residents. The old building Middle Street throbbed. Its Restoration people had Fund is returned. essential to Its lifeblood preserving had been our history. restored. As the The evening Shabbaton progressed Choir was and the under the beautiful direction of windows its Musical of the Director, synagogue Stephen darkened, Levey my thoughts and was turned to accompanied the past Kol by the Nidre nights classically when the trained pianist service was Stuart Izon. reaching its It featured conclusion Rabbi Danny and to the Bergson and Chazan Jonny Turgel. The repertoire was varied beautiful people who had formed its congregation. and exciting; sometimes soulful, sometimes light-hearted, but Similarly, at the end of the concert, people were reluctant always poignant. Some of the melodies were familiar, others to cast off the pleasant aura that had cloaked them for two were new compositions and arrangements by Stephen Levey, hours. Only slowly did they spill out on to the Middle Street Danny Bergson and Stuart Izon. paving stones and gradually return to reality. Surely though, Then there were the surprises, such as the Adon Olam the wonderful memories will live on. medley including the melodies of Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS

issue 255 | august 2015 BHPS Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue, 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF Tel: 01273 737223 Email: [email protected] www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk

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Remembering Another People’s Suffering by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah This year is the 70th anniversary of the end of World on July 16, 1945, Oppenheimer later revealed that it War II. For Europeans, the conclusion of the war prompted him to recall words from the Hindu sacred focuses on the defeat of Hitler; for Jews on the way text Bhagavad Gita: ‘Now I am become death, the in which that defeat stopped the killing of our people. destroyer of worlds’ (www.amphilsoc.org/sites/default/ But of course, the conflict continued to rage in the Far files/proceedings/Hijiya.pdf) . East beyond VE day on May 8. It was not until August In Chaim Potok’s powerful novel, The Book of Lights, 15 1945, following the Americans’ atomic bombing of the main protagonist, a rabbinic student, who is Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 respectively studying the Zohar, becomes a military chaplain that Japan surrendered, and world war was finally over. in Korea, and then goes to Japan on a journey of The war in the Far East has a particular resonance for repentance with a fellow rabbinic student, traumatised British soldiers, who were captured by the Japanese by his father’s part in the creation of the atomic army and subjected to hideous ill-treatment. So, how bomb. Potok draws connections between Jewish do we relate to that particular arena of the Second life and thought and the wider world beyond, and World War as Jews? On one level, it has very little to do challenges us to do the same. In the case of the atomic with us and our experience as a people. And yet, there bombings, the connection is even more immediate is a Jewish link that should give pause for thought: than the involvement of a Jew. The 50th anniversary The principal scientist involved in the Manhattan of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, August 6, 1995, Project that produced the bomb was Jewish theoretical coincided with the 9th of Av. I led a Tishah B’Av service physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer. Of course, we in Tavistock Square, London, that encompassed could say that the fact Oppenheimer was Jewish was remembrance of the Jewish experience of churban, incidental. Indeed, in 1911, at the age of seven, his ‘destruction’, and commemoration of that particular Jewish parents sent him to the Ethical Culture Society anniversary. The two dates don’t always coincide, but School that had been founded by Felix Adler (another they frequently do. In any event, this year, on the 70th Jew), and followed the Ethical Society motto, ‘Deed anniversaries of the atomic bombings, let us pause to before Creed’. One could also argue that this ethical remember another people’s suffering. training was very Jewish. Interestingly, as chief adviser For books about Oppenheimer, see American to the newly created United States Atomic Energy Prometheus: the Triumph and tragedy of J. Robert Commission after the war, Oppenheimer lobbied for Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, (Alfred international control of nuclear power and counselled A. Knopf, New York, 2005) and J. Robert Oppenheimer against an ‘arms race’ with the Soviet Union. But even and the American Century by David Cassidy (Pi Press, before the first bomb was dropped on Japan, after New York, 2005). the test atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico

High Events@BHPS Holiday Siyyum Tickets On Sunday High 21 June we Holyday celebrated Tickets the return of for non- our repaired members Sefer Torah are which had available to have the from the last section synagogue replaced office due to a at a cost of £50. This will be refunded if joining the tear. A large synagogue as a member in the three months following number of congregants participated in filling in the the festivals. last verses with Sofer Marc Michaels. There were also calligraphy and creative workshops for the children. There will be no charge for students, but please We remembered our late President, Derek Jay, who contact the office for tickets for security purposes. donated the Torah in 1997 and also commemorated the The services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will 80th Anniversary of the founding of Brighton and Hove be conducted at the Ralli Hall. Please contact the office Progressive Synagogue. for other service venues.

issue 255 | august 2015 BHHC Rabbi Hershel Rader Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation, 31 New Church Road, Hove BN3 3AD 12 Tel: 01273 888855 Email: [email protected] www.bhhc-shul.org 13

The Comfort Zone by Rabbi Hershel Rader Three weeks of mourning for the destruction of our play tennis, 500 thousand learnt to play professional homeland and exile of our people concluded on tennis, 50 thousand came to circuit, 5 thousand Tisha B’Av. Three weeks in which we read Shlosha reached grand slams, 50 reached Wimbledon, 4 D’paranuta - three Haftarot dealing with tragedy and reached the Semifinals, 2 reached the Finals and affliction. For the next seven weeks, commencing when I was holding the cup in my hand, I never this Shabbat, we will read ‘Shiva D’nechemta’ - asked God ‘Why Me?’ So now that I’m in pain how seven Haftarot of comfort. can I ask God ‘Why Me?’ I’m not sure about the figures but his attitude is clear and worth thinking Comfort is a challenging concept. Is it possible about because we often do not appreciate the good to truly comfort someone who has suffered? Is it things in our lives but take them for granted while possible to comfort someone who has endured a applying a different standard when things are not tragic loss or bereavement? I recall reading an article going well. by a woman in my community who had lost a son, a young man in his twenties, who had died in an Returning to our seven Haftarot, how does G-d accident while on holiday. She wrote that people comfort the Jewish people after the destruction should not say they understand of their Temple and exile from their her grief, for it is impossible for homeland? What is the theme of them to understand unless they We often do not appreciate the the seven Haftarot of comfort? have suffered the same loss. Can good things in our lives but take Essentially, He tells them that it will we ever be comforted for such a them for granted while applying a get better. They have incurred His loss? Or is the most we can hope different standard when things are wrath because of their sins but there for that over the passage of time not going well. will come a time when Jerusalem will we will learn to live with the pain? be rebuilt and we will return. There will be a Messianic Age when things This is a subject impossible will be even better than before. This is another mode to cover in these few lines or, for that matter, a of comfort. It is not a rationalisation which enables few volumes but I would like to share with you the one to live with the pain; it is a removal of that pain following thoughts. Interestingly, the first thing that by taking away its cause. Imagine how comforted woman said to me at the time of her tragic and the bereaved would be if someone could tell them traumatic loss was ‘Rabbi, help me make sense that after a period of time their lost loved one would of this’. As human beings we tend to be more return. But we can’t do that; it is not in our gift - only comfortable with that which we can understand. G-d’s. Animals are different, they move through life instinctively without giving thought to its meaning There is a rationalisation for our exile, beyond and the reasons for its vicissitudes. A human has the fact that it is a punishment. The Kabbalistic the need to rationalise and understand; to ask approach is that we have been spread thoughout ‘why?’ Understanding the reason for a tragedy does the globe to bring G-d’s message even to distant not necessarily console us. Knowing that a fatal isles and to spiritually elevate and refine every part of accident occurred because a car’s brakes failed may the world, however remote, through our observance be informative but it is in no way comforting. But of His Torah. This is the ultimate fulfilment of our that wasn’t the mother’s question; she asked me responsibility to be a ‘light to the nations’. Only to help make sense of this. Hers was not a desire for through this preparation can we proceed to the information but a quest for meaning; meaning can be Messianic Age foretold by our prophets. comforting although the pain may still remain. As a nation we can be comforted in two ways: An Some seem not to require comfort or, perhaps, do assurance that things will one day be better and a not question. I have read that Arthur Ashe, the great meaningful understanding of the most difficult times Afro-American tennis player, was dying of AIDS in Jewish history. What we must remember though, which he contracted from infected blood given to is that entering the Comfort Zone depends on our him during a heart operation. He received a letter actions and how we impact the world around us from one of his fans asking ‘why did G-d choose you through a practical reflection of G-d’s will. for this terrible disease?’ To this he replied: 50 million children started playing tennis, 5 million learnt to

issue 255 | august 2015 BHRS Rabbi Dr Andrea Zanardo Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue, Palmeira Avenue, Hove BN3 3GE Tel: 01273 735343 Email: [email protected] www.bh-rs.org https://www.facebook.com/BrightonReform

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Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue wish Rabbi Andrea and Sara a big Mazel Tov on the birth of their daughter, Hila Hadar Chaya on Tuesday 30th June 2015. Photos taken at the baby blessing courtesy of Sophie Sheinwald

BULLETIN BOARD – AUGUST 2015 Saturday 1 Bar Mitzvah of David Turton, 10.30 am

Saturday 8 Shabbaton 10yrs+, 10.30 am

Friday 21 Shabbat Kolot, 6.30 pm

Saturday 22 Havdalah, 9.00 pm

Saturday 29 Shoot the Rabbi (Q&A), 10.30 am

issue 255 | august 2015 HHC Rabbi Vivian Silverman Hove Hebrew Congregation, 79 Holland Road, Hove BN3 1JN Tel: 01273 732035 Email: [email protected] and [email protected] 14 Web: www.hollandroadshul.com 15

Rav Kook to Switzerland temporarily. In 1916, the Mahzikei by Rabbi Vivian Silverman Hadat shul in London gained Home Office approval for Avraham Yitzhak Kook to become their Rav and Avraham Yitzhak Hakohen Kook was born in Latvia for the next three years he became a well-known and in Ellul 1865, exactly 150 years ago. He studied in respected figure throughout the East End and beyond. Volozhin Yeshiva and became Rabbi to two Lithuanian communities. It was during those war years that Chief Rabbi Hertz organised the first conference of East European In 1904, he left for Palestine, part of the second wave rabbis ever to be held in England. They included of Aliya, there settling with his wife and children in Yisrael Hayyim Daiches (Leeds), Yisrael Yarkov Yoffey Jaffa. He became spiritual leader of the city and, (Manchester), Shmuel Yarkov Rabinowitz (Liverpool) when Tel Aviv was founded in 1909, Rav Kook literally and Avraham Yitzhak Kook (London). was the first Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. That same year, Shmuel Salant, the Venerable Chief Rabbi of When peace was declared, Rav Kook was invited to Jerusalem (who settled in Eretz Yisrael in 1840) died, return to Palestine (Mandate-granted to Britain) as and Rav Kook was looked up to as one of the Halakhic Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem and in 1921, he was elected authorities concerning daily life throughout the country, the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisrael, which appealing especially to the non-religious members of position he retained until he passed away in 1935. the earliest Kibbutzim. In 1924 he founded a Yeshiva in the centre of From the time the first wave of immigrants began Jerusalem, which he called the Central Universal arriving from Eastern Europe in 1881/2, three Shemitta Yeshiva. Since his death, it has been referred to as years had been kept: 1889, 1896 and 1903. The Merkaz Harav Kook – now situated in Jerusalem’s next would be 1910, and so Avraham Yitzhak Kook Kiryat Moshe neighbourhood. compiled a guide to “the observance of the year of rest His writings are many and varied. They include four for the land” (Shemitta), which he entitled “Shabbat volumes of response – answers to Halakhic questions Haaretz”, using the phrase found in the Torah. This year sent to him while he lived in Lithuania, England and 2015 is also a Shemitta year. Palestine; two volumes on Prayer; four volumes of When the Great War broke out in August 1914, Rav correspondence; together philosophical and mystical Kook was attending a rabbinic conference, but he writings. could not return to Palestine since it was part of the Rav Kook was buried on the Mount of Olives Ottoman Empire, and Turkey was fighting on the side overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem, and the third of of Germany. Fortunately, the Rabbi of Basle, Dr Cohn, Ellul will mark his eightieth Yahrzeit. secured a visa, which enabled Rav Kook to come

Youth Aliyah Child Rescue Committee Cordially invite you to their Pre-Rosh Hashana Coffee Morning At 1, Park Avenue, Hove On Wednesday 9th September 2015 at 11.00 am (timed for free and easy parking). Donation £3.00

issue 255 | august 2015 What’s on: August 2015 Website: www.sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org Email: [email protected] or [email protected] COMMUNITY EVENTS – IMPORTANT REMINDER: Contact the Communal Diary before planning your events 16 [email protected] 16

Shabbat Shalom – BRIGHTON TIMES Regular Activities Sundays In Light Candles Out Havdalah „„ Carmel Tennis Club 10.00 am - 12.00 noon. Weekly. All levels welcome. Tel: Sat 1 9.47 pm Adam on 07720 598087 Fri 7 8.19 pm Sat 8 9.33 pm Mondays Fri 14 8.06 pm Sat 15 9.17 pm „„ Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Efune 12.30 - 1.30 pm at the Brighton Hillel Centre, Fri 21 7.52 pm Sat 22 9.01 pm 66/67 Middle Street, Brighton Tel: 01273 321919 Fri 28 7.37 pm Sat 29 8.45 pm „„ Afternoon Club with tea 1.30 pm. Ralli Hall Tel: Reba 01444 484839 „„ Rubber and Duplicate Bridge 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm £4.00 + £1.00 transport Special Dates Ralli Hall. Tel: Reba 01444 484839 Monday 31 - Bank Holiday „„ Contemporary Basic Talmud with Rabbi Efune - Men only 8.15 pm at Chabad House 01273 321919

„„ Torah & Tea with Penina Efune. Living with the times – an in depth look at the weekly parsha and its relevance to our times. All ladies welcome. 8.15 pm at Chabad House 01273 321919 Events in august „„ SARID (Association of Jewish Refugees) meets every 3rd Monday of the month at 10.45 am, Ralli Hall. £1.50 Tel: 0208 385 3070 or email esther@ajr. Wednesday 5 co.uk „„ JACS with guest speaker Graham Bowring on The Secret Life of the Hedgehog at AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. Tuesdays £2.00 members £2.50 non-members „„ Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club 10.30 am - 4.30 pm Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 Weekly at Ralli Hall Friday 7 „„ Painting with Rochelle (JAS) Studio at Ralli Hall, 2.00 – 4.00 pm. „„ Sussex Jewish News – Submission deadline for the September/ Tel: 01273 503708 (recommences 1 September) October issue. Send your articles, thoughts, photos, New Year Greetings and announcements to [email protected] „„ Israeli Dancing 7.45 pm - 9.45 pm Ralli Hall. Tel: Jacky 01273 688538 or [email protected] Wednesdays Wednesday 12 „„ JACS at the AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members / £2.50 non-members „„ JACS with guest speaker Dr Ruth Brown on Jane Austen at AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2.00 members „„ Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Congregation afternoon tea at the Cavendish £2.50 non-members Hotel, Grand Parade, Eastbourne at 3.00 pm – on the first Wednesday of every month Monday 17 Thursdays „„ SARID Tour of Brighton Library, 10.45 am, £1.50. Tel 0208 385 3070 or Email [email protected] „„ Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club 10.30 am - 4.30 pm Weekly Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 (RH) Wednesday 19 „„ Bridge at Ralli Hall 11.00 am „ JACS with guest speaker Rosie Wyer on The Dame Vera Lynn „ „„ Weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Efune - men and ladies welcome - 8.15 - Trust at AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2.00 9.15 pm at Chabad House. 01273 321919 members/£2.50 non-members Fridays Wednesday 26 „„ Kuddle Up Shabbat parent & child playgroup with Sara Zanardo and her guitar „„ JACS with with guest speaker Gary Mobsby on Hitchhiking 10.00 am – 11.30 am AJEX Centre Round the World at AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 „ service on the 4th Friday of each pm. £2.00 members/£2.50 non-members „ Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Congregation month, WRVS, 24 Hyde Road, Eastbourne, 6.00 pm

Saturdays

„„ Eastbourne Hebrew Congregation Shabbat services at 22 Susans Road, „„ WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING Eastbourne, 10.00 am. Contact 01323 484135 or 07739 082538

YOUR NEW YEAR GREETINGS ON „„ Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Congregation afternoon services 2.30-5.00 pm, THE ENCLOSED FLYER AS SOON AS CTK Church Hall, Langney Roundabout, Eastbourne POSSIBLE

URGENT MESSAGE Grodzinki’s challos, rolls and Kosher bread available weekly by courtesy of Lubavitch Brighton from Premier PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND IN Convenience Stores in Hove Street (tel. 01273 735131) YOUR EVENTS AND ITEMS FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNAL Please be sure to reserve your order so that we know how many to supply. Orders can be collected on Thursdays or DIARY FOR BOTH SEPTEMBER AND Fridays. OCTOBER BY 7 AUGUST

issue 255 | august 2015