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KThe Moesaic| communhiityl maagazine | Chanukah 2014/5775 In this Issue Vienna revisited Jewish journeys A journey into the past Visiting Gerona and Barcelona Don’t leave it too late Working Life Speaking to older relatives A life in the media WISHING EVERYONE Upstairs Downstairs Hannah’s Cakes A HAPPY A Jewish butler remembers A passion for cooking CHANUKAH . About our members From the editor’s desk HEMS Yvonne & Edmund Goldstein on the birth BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: of their granddaughter, Aerin Katherine Ilse Dokelman (94) Michael Morris (65) Jemma & Robert Vincent on the birth of Marion Ingram (80) their son, Casey Ian Joyce (75) CONDOLENCES TO: Caroline & Lawrence Chadwick on the Dear Reader Henry Altman on the death of his brother, birth of their granddaughter, Eva Mae Max Lifschitz (80) It only seems like a look through; you never know there might Monty Sue & David Pollock on the engagement Elaine Mushlin (75) 12 yesterday that I was be something you fancy! Younger folk should The family of Cecil Cherns, on his death of their daughter, Katie, to Lior David Paerse (70) Working Life signing off the last Kehila also have a look – universities and colleges are Gerenstein Ruth Webber (80) magazine. With a relatively often very interested to see that a prospective 19 Dennis Weinberg (80) HWPS Marilyn & Howard Sanford on the birth of quick turn-around for the student has had volunteering involvement. Vienna their granddaughter, Nicole Graham Zeitlin (85) BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: Chanukah edition, I was Moving on, I have news specifically for the revisited Liz & Richard Specterman on the birth of Gerald Webber (75) Geraldine Kaufman quite concerned that I collectors amongst you – the sequencing of the their daughter, Hannah wouldn’t have sufficient magazine and its sister publication is to change. 24 Joscelyne Kenton Joanne Collett & Lee Greenfield on BEST WISHES IN THEIR NEW material. However, I The magazine will in future be produced just at Volunteering Michelle Latchman HOMES TO: their recent marriage. Mazal tov also to needn’t have worried, Pesach, and around October time. The monthly George Vulkan 30 Loretta & Geoff Collett Loretta & Geoff Collett as within days of the last publication, articles edition will fill the gap to provide up-to-date Hannah’s and features have flooded in. I guess with a information for the Community. So this is the Pauline & Barry Pike on the engagement Sybil Kenton Cakes GET WELL WISHES TO: of their son, Adam, to Meryl Hoffman total membership of over 900 people in our first and last Chanukah magazine you will Jenny Golding Judy & Philip Silverton on the marriage GET WELL WISHES TO: communities I shouldn’t be surprised by the receive. Put it away carefully, and who knows, 35 of their son, Iain, to Rigel Humbert. Michelle Singer diversity of events and happenings, and the in years to come it might be worth something – Upstairs MOSAIC REFORM Mazal tov also to Hazel Richman on the need for folk to use this magazine to express or maybe not! Downstairs marriage of her grandson CONDOLENCES TO opinion. Of course, it is a ‘no-brainer’ that most Have a great Chanukah, and enjoy the WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS of the activities contained in these articles doughnuts and latkes! 36 Lydia & David Safir on the birth of their Marion Weihs on the death of her Jane Frenchman wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for the support of Best regards Don’t leave it grandson, Gabriel Eli husband, Ernest a large number of dedicated volunteers who too late Lynne & Stephen Dorff on their 45th Jackie Jacobs on the death of her MAZAL TOV TO give up their time for others. wedding anniversary husband, Albert (Alec) Veronica & Norman Noah on the This leads me nicely on to highlighting our 38 engagement of their son, Joshua, to new regular volunteer section which you will Jewish For children’s birthdays see page 49 Deon Mustafa find on pages 42 & 43. Here you will find a journeys variety of tasks which need filling. Some require Robert Pinkus Elaine & Bernard Sinclair on the birth of Copy Date for the February Issue of Kehila-Monthly is 18th January 2015. Views expressed in this Newsletter 48 just a short amount of time, whilst others Editor their grandson, Barney do not necessarily reflect those of the officers or council of Mosaic or its constituent synagogues. Whats on require a longer commitment. Please do have [email protected] What is Mosaic? Mosaic is a vibrant new Jewish community which comprises the members of three partner synagogues. The three synagogues represent the Masorti, Reform and Liberal strands of Judaism respectively providing Mosaic members with a choice of emphases and ritual across the Progressive spectrum. Indeed, the providing of choice is a key Mosaic principle which extends beyond ritual. Mosaic provides its members with a wide range of social, educational, cultural and recreational activities designed to appeal to diverse interests and age groups. There is an excellent religion school for younger members with innovative opportunities to extend Jewish learning beyond bar/bat mitzvah. Most important, we look out as well as in and offer exciting opportunities to get involved with influential social action and inter-faith programmes, whether locally, nationally or internationally. Mosaic is living proof of what can be achieved with goodwill, mutual respect and a willingness to work together. Find out more at www.choosemosaic.org or contact Membership Officer Lindsey Cohen on 020 8420 7498 2 3 Rabbi Kathleen Middleton’s thoughts on Poppies and Chanukah Lights speak clearer and define more mentions an 8- day festival which precisely who we are and what we was called ‘Lights’, but he doesn’t are about, than words. Chanukah mention a miracle. Why did he leave is another example; though only a it out? Well, perhaps he didn’t. minor festival, it is to many a festival Perhaps it simply wasn’t there, and which defines our identity far more the Rabbis made it up, because than, for example, a Biblicall chag the tradition of lighting lights on like Shavuot. Chanukah was already so deeply ome things just take you by This is not only because engrained among the people that surprise. Take, for example, the Chanukah finds itself in a religious the Rabbis felt compelled to give Spopularity of the installation competition with Christmas. It it some religious and historical of 888,246 ceramic poppies in the would appear from the omission grounding. moat of the Tower of London by of Chanukah in the Mishnah, and The lighting of lights in midwinter Artists Paul Cummins and Tom a rather odd introduction in the was already practised in other Piper - ‘Blood-swept Lands and Sea Talmud, that Chanukah was an cultures; it is a powerful and of Red’. Although the installation interesting case from its earliest universal symbol which connects itself was not without its critics, times. with our need to dispel the darkness the simplicity of the symbolism - a The Rabbis’ introduction of of winter; it gives voice to our belief poppy for each life lost in the First Chanukah in the Talmud (Bavli that, no matter the circumstances, World War, clearly resonated with Shabbat 21b): ‘Mai Chanukah’ goodness will triumph over the public. (What is Chanukah?) seems odd if darkness; that Judaism will be you consider that Chanukah had victorious over its suppressors, just sometimes been around for quite some time. as the Maccabees, though fewer It is however not such a strange in number, were victorious over the symbols speak question, if we really contemplate more numerous and better trained what it is we celebrate at Chanukah. Seleucid armies. clearer and define Surely, what we celebrate is The Rabbis clearly weren’t keen more precisely who the rededication of the Second on Chanukah and the history Temple after its recapture from the it represented; perhaps they we are and what we Seleucids in 165 BC. (Yet another were weary of its revolutionary story of war, which we remember undertones; or of the military gist are about through symbols and rituals, just of the story and by implication, the like the poppies at the Tower!) It is elevation of violence, but the ritual The seemingly endless sea of not so clear what the rededication symbolism of Chanukah was strong poppies expressed the enormity of of the Temple has to do with lighting enough to inspire generations of the number of casualties in a way candles, though of course, it is Jews, and therefore worth some that a mere number on a piece of because of the miracle: the oil that radical reinterpretation. paper cannot express, whilst the miraculously kept the Menorah Perhaps we can learn from these aesthetic appeal of the installation burning for 8 days... examples that some symbols and confronted us with the darker side of The problem is that sources earlier rituals develop their own meaning: our fascination with the Great War; a than the Talmud, such as the first a meaning which might not be chapter in history which both repels and second book of Maccabees, or historically or theologically accurate, and continually fascinates. Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus’ but if it exerts a positive influence The poppies are an example of ‘Jewish Antiquities’ (XII) do not on those who hold on to it, we may the fact that sometimes symbols mention a miracle of oil. Josephus have to accept it as equally valid. 4 5 Mosaic board problem. In reality most people have a spiritual membership. Council too have been exploring side that is not being addressed. new ways for involving our congregants and this Reports from the So while continuing to run and offer traditional will hopefully be welcomed by existing, as well as services on a Friday/Saturday for our regular new members who are part of our Mosaic family.
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