L’Chayim 1st March - 30th April 2019 24th Adar - 25th Nissan 5779
Date Parasha /Event Service Leader Reading About 2nd March Shabbat Rabbi Robert Ash Va-yakhel The Shabbat and gifts for Saturday Exodus 35:1-20 the tabernacle
9th March Shabbat Matt Suher P'kudei Tabernacle inventory Saturday Exodus 38:21-39:1
16th March Shabbat Susan Fox Va-yikra The burnt offering and Saturday Leviticus 1:1-2:6 the meal offering
Wednesday Erev Purim Shelley Yavetz Megillat Esther -The Purim Party [jacket 20th March Book of Esther potato supper, fancy 6pm start dress]. There is no morning service for Purim 21st March. 22nd March Erev Shabbat Student Rabbi Service and chavurah Friday, 7pm. Gabriel Webber at Dr & Mrs Goldthorpe’s 23rd March Shabbat Student Rabbi Tzav Sacrificial offerings. Saturday Gabriel Webber Leviticus 6:1-23 There will be a chavurah lunch and informal study session 30th March Shabbat Mina Abram- Sh'mini Aaron and his sons Saturday Hebblethwaite Leviticus 9:1-15 officiate in the tabernacle New Moon of Nissan 6th April Shabbat Fortune Tazria Purification after Saturday Chamberlain Leviticus 12:1-8 childbirth 13th April Shabbat MattSuher Saturday 19th April Erev Pesach (1st To be announced Community Seder Friday , 6pm Seder night) and meal.
20th April Pesach To be announced Exodus 12:37-51 Exodus from Egypt Saturday
27th April Shabbat Young People/ Acharei Mot High Priest atonement Saturday Fortune Leviticus 16:1-17 Service followed by Chamberlain Pizza lunch in Southport
For those receiving L’Chayim by e-mail, you can print off your own calendar for display at home. Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
Refreshments are available from 10.30am., on Saturdays. Please ensure these are not taken into services. Services start punctually 11am on Saturdays, 7pm Friday nights. Please ensure mobile phones are switched to silent or off so as to not disturb the ser- vice. Please mention to the wardens prior to commencement of the service any special prayers or inclusions you wish for in the service.
Chavurah meals are always vegetarian or fish.- please bring something suitable for this community meal and also so that your kindness can be shared by all. Thank you for your contribution
Member of the Movement Registered Charity 227576 for Reform Judaism
Synagogue Office: e mail : [email protected] Lisa Sachs (Administrator Wed & Fri 10am-3pm), website: www.southportreform.org.uk Princes Street, Southport, PR8 1EG Tel.& Fax. 01704 535950 Southport Reform Shul
EMERGENCIES: contact the office: if it is closed, there is a directive answer machine.
The Sternberg Centre General Enquires: home to the Movement 02083495724 for Reform Judaism www.reformjudaism.org.uk
Rabbinic Support Although the synagogue does not have a full time Rabbi, we do have Rabbinic support and of course the co-operation of other nearby communities. Rabbi Norman Zalud now offers the synagogue pastoral support for personal issues. Rabbi Robert Ash offers support to our services and for Jewish learning. Rabbi Elf supports our services on request. Student Rabbis will continue to support our synagogue for services and education, thanks to Reform Judaism.
PAGE 2 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
Editorial This newsletter serves the Synagogue to not only let the community know what is going on, and has been going on, in our Synagogue, but also how enthusiastic we are about Reform Judaism is Southport. This newsletter is placed on our web site a couple of weeks after you all receive your L’Chayim. Selwyn and Gillian Goldthorpe, editors of L’Chayim It gave me great pleasure, whilst we were at the Auckland Progressive Synagogue, to be able to show their administrator our web site, and news letter, as she was preparing their own synagogue’s news letter in the office for publication.
Please keep the dates for your diary for Purim and Pesach. Don’t forget to book early for the Community Seder ( details within).
We have reports from the Tu B’Shevat Seder, taken by Student Rabbi Gabriel Webber, who very kindly has written to us a little of his background. We will see him again in Southport, I am pleased to say, in the near future ( details within this newsletter). Our previous Student Rabbi, Kath Vardi, now Rabbi Vardi, is close to our hearts and we have a report as to her progress in her new role as a Community Leader.
We have no regrets about devoting a little of this publication to the present state of anti- semitism, given that one of our Members has been subjected to such abuse, we have had a visit from our local MP (see within), and that we have recently had Members of Parlia- ment resigning from their Party’s Whip over such issues.
All in all we hope you enjoy this issue, and do contribute yourself to the newsletter. Thank you for taking the time to read L’Chayim.
Follow the synagogue on Facebook. What better way to stay in contact with your friends?
Become a Facebook friend of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue. Circulate your photographs of our events and get togethers. Make new friends. Keep in contact.
Facebook : Southport Reform Shul
PAGE 3 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PURIM 20th March 6pm
Fancy Purim?
Fancy Dress?
Fancy Hamentaschan- be there or be square! Your chance to hear the Megillat -The Book of Esther being read by Shelley Yavetz (see photo right) and enjoy the celebration of our escape from the wicked Haman (“ Boo!”) . Bring your whistles and clappers, best come in fancy dress, though some say your ordinary clothes might do!
There is a FREE supper provided, and lest we forget, those hamentaschan.
There can be no end to the characters that turn up for Purim ….
(Photo Fortune and Neil Chamberlain, Purim, 2017)
You really would not want to be doing any- thing else on Wednesday 20th March, would you?
PAGE 4 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
In an age of change, some things remind us of the past, and our thanks for our future.
Come to your Synagogue’s Seder Night, 6pm, Friday 19th April 2019
Catering by the Synagogue Guild:
Vegetarian Matzoh Ball Soup Hot Fresh Salmon, New Potatoes and Vegetables (Vegetarian alternative available on request) Mixed Berry Pavlova and Fruit Salad Tea and Coffee
Tickets available from the Synagogue office Members - £20 Non-members - £25 6-12 year olds - £5 0-5 year olds - no charge Tickets must be purchased in advance (no later than 12th April, close of office) for catering purposes.
If you require transport please contact the synagogue
For further information/queries please contact the office on tel: 01704 535950 PAGE 5 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
News from and about the community Please note that on shabbat 27th April our Cheder members, past and present, will lead the shabbat service.
If you are not a regular attender why not come along and offer your support?
There will be an after service Pizza lunch at a Southport eatery. All are welcome.
Selwyn, Just a short email to thank you for the assemblies today which were informative and enjoyable. Wishing you both well and looking forward to seeing you again soon.
Yo u rs,
Adrian Antell (Headteacher) Farnborough Road Junior School Farnborough Road Birkdale Southport PR8 3DF
We were pleased to attend for the morning at Farnborough Road Junior School to take, not just one, but two school assemblies, where we had the opportunity to teach the very well behaved children of Farnbor- ough Road Junior School about Judaism. It was great to see their enthusiasm. At a time when there is an increase in antisemitism, it is nice to influence young minds in a positive direction.
`We are very grateful to the school for their donation to our synagogue. ( Gillian and Selwyn Goldthorpe)
We were pleased that the Tu B’Shevat seder collection raised sufficient funds for a tree to be planted in our Synagogue’s name in the Negev desert helping to bring fertility to the land.
Thank you to all those that made a contribution. An account of the event follows:
PAGE 6 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
Tu B’Shevat Seder 20th January
There was a lovely seder lunch on 20th January in our Synagogue.
We had a number of guests, not least was our local Conservative MP, Damian Moore. I had the pleasure of his company over lunch.
We were pleased to welcome Student Rabbi Gabriel Webber to our Synagogue. Gabriel was having a busy weekend, having lead a shabbat service in York the day before, and returning to London later on that Sunday ready to start his course studies on Monday at Leo Beck College.
Gabriel had come prepare with mini booklets for Seder shel Tu Bi-Sh’vat ( yet another spelling!) - The New Year of Trees.
We heard of how the Kabbalistic “ Tree of Life” was symbolic of the flow of Di- vine energy, love, justice and goodness into the world.
The Tu B’shevat seder, like the Peach Seder follows a specific order ( There’s a surprise as seder means order!). The Seder is divided into four parts corre- sponding to the four worlds or levels of creation of the Kabbalists. As in the Pe- sach Seder we ask four questions and drink four cups of grape juice ( Staring with the wine and getting progressively redder). There is the ceremonial con- sumption of 15 types of fruits and nuts. In effect, we had our dessert before the meal!
Thanks to Fortune Chamberlain and Gillian Goldthorpe, for the catering, and for all those that helped with the meal and it’s aftermath. We all had more than enough to eat.
Our youngest guest ( if you exclude his baby brother of a few weeks), Joe, brought a home made challah- thank you , it really was delicious. Joe began the seder in the traditional way of asking the question, “ Why is day different from all other days?”
Gabriel fielded all our questions as the seder progressed. We were each asked to say something we had done for the very first time that was different this year - I could not help but chip in for Damian Moore that he had just last week, for the first and only time, voted against his Government in the Brexit debate! Oh dear, it did lower the tone of the seder just to mention that word, “Brexit”! Fruit for thought! We appreciated how wise our ancestors were in looking after the environment some 4000 years ago. Are we still as wise? (continued next page) PAGE 7 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
To end the seder we had a collection for a ‘Tree for Israel’ so that we may help the desert to flourish. With the money raised we should be able to plant a number of trees in lasting memory of a great Tu B’Shevat seder at our Synagogue. ( Article by Selwyn Goldthorpe) Shown left, Student Rabbi Gabriel Webber leading the Tu B’Shevat seder, and right, Gabriel with Mr Damian Moore, MP for Southport.
12th January Delilah Hoskin’s baby blessing - the service was led by Rabbi Robert Ash
It was nice to see so many visitors attend for this special shabbat service. A special day for the family and a special day for baby Delilah.
PAGE 8 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
Leaders from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim community attended the memorial service. Service is held to mark the Holocaust VICTIMS of the Holocaust have been honoured at a special Sefton service on Sunday, January 27 at Christ Church in Southport.
The service was the 19th annual tribute paid in Sefton to com- memorate Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the libera- tion of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concen- tration camp.
The event was attended by local MPs, members of the local Jewish community, the Mayor of Sefton, and local councillors and officers.
Members of the public also attended the ceremony organised by Sefton Council, the Association of Jewish Ex-Service Men & Women, Sefton Equalities Partnership, Sefton Unison, and students from local schools and colleges.
Holocaust Memorial Day is marked annually on January 27, the anniversary of the lib- eration of the former Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. In the lead up to and on Holocaust Memorial Day, thou- sands of commemorative events were arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the coun- try, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.
Sefton Central Labour MP Bill Esterson said: “As the Holocaust moves from living history, to ‘just’ history, it becomes ever more important that we take the time to re- member the victims and also pay tribute to the survivors.
“The Holocaust did not start in the gas chambers but with hate- filled words. We must stand against division and fear in society and remember that every person, no matter their race, religion or nationality, deserves care and respect.”
( Article Courtesy of The Champion Newspaper, 30th Jan. 2019)
I was delighted to have the support of Southport’s Conservative MP, Mr Damian Moore, at our recent events. He kindly made a donation towards our appeal for a Tree for Israel, and spent a few hours with us on an informal basis. (Chairman of Council, Dr Selwyn Goldthorpe)
PAGE 9 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
The Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre - Huddersfield University
The opening of this centre was the culmination of many years of planning, research and hard work by a dedicated team - and what an outcome!
The opening ceremony was held in September 2018. This centre is much more than an Exhibition and Learning Centre, for what visitors are presented with covers a wider spectrum. It is an important museum and archive thereby leading into/assisting the 'Learning' objective.
Available to investigate, research and learn from are stories, not figments of imagination or fiction, but the real history of murder, loss of families, belongings and livelihoods, of survival, courage and resilience of individuals and families thrown out of their homes and rejected by their neighbours and erstwhile friends. Shown is the strength, determ- ination, hard work and the will to rebuild lives and contribute to society in the country which gave sanctuary and hope for a new beginning, from the Second World War to the present day economy of the UK.
Especially at this time when anti-Semitism is on the increase it is important to demon- strate that the Jewish flame will not be extinguished as was hoped for between the early 1930s and 1945 by the NAZI regime and that we will continue to contribute and rebuild humanity to achieve a safer world for future generations.
My involvement with this project began in 2008 when I had a meeting with Tracy Craggs who at that time was Project Director for an HSFA initiative called 'Building Bridges'. Over the years we have had several meetings which have, for me, been a ter- rific exercise for it gave me the chance to revisit my 'life' and remind myself of what my parents, grandparents and relatives lost as a result of the rise of NAZI power and how lives were dramatically changed. Additionally I was reminded of how my parents and maternal grandparents sheltered my brothers and myself, the opportunities they gave us and how they shaped our futures. Together with my family in Leeds Tracy was and still is the driving force for me and I am sure she is for other members of the AJR and the HSFA in recording for posterity what happened to us and how we coped with, in many cases, dramatic life changing events.
There are so many family histories available to research and learn from that for Sinai members, many of whom are the children and grandchildren of survivors and refugees who probably were among the founder members of the Synagogue, the Huddersfield Centre is a very worthwhile place to visit. I would suggest such a visit should be built into the Bar/Bat Mitzvah curriculum so that the Shoah** and its consequences are nev- er forgotten.
For more information contact Centre Director Emma King on 01484 365302, mobile: 07928 669020 or [email protected]; or visit the website at www.holocaustlearn- ing.org.uk Article by Tom Kubie
PAGE 10 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
Where is Rabbi Kath Vardi ?
At the end of January 2019 Neil and Fortune Chamberlain had a delightful visit with Rabbi Kath Vardi and her family. Kath will always have a special place in our hearts at Southport and we are pleased to report that Kath is doing very well in her role as the new- ly appointed Rabbi to the North West Surrey Synagogue (NWSS).
Since her appointment Kath has infused NWSS with renewed enthusiasm and energy for torah study and community activities. We attended their synagogue Friday night service and saw their uniquely decorated ark. ( see photos).
After the service we enjoyed a lovely Kaballat Shabbat and Friday night meal with Kath, Meir and the children in their new home in Woking. The home-made challah was particularly delicious! Meir is busy teaching and studying and the children have settled in to their new schools and colleges and have made new friends. It was a real treat to catch up with them all and we thought the readers of L’Chayim would be interested to hear that Kath and her family are happy and well.
(Neil and Fortune)
Kath Vardi, once a Student Rabbi and now a community leader as the Rabbi of NWSS. Don’t forget to join us for a Friday Night Service and chavurah with Student Rabbi Gabriel Webber on 22nd March, at our house, 7pm. All are welcome to attend this social evening . ( Gillian & Selwyn)
PAGE 11 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
About Student Rabbi Gabriel Webber … he says,
“I grew up in south London as the only Jewish pupil in my school, but got involved with Liberal Judaism’s youth movement LJY-Netzer, and after graduating from Sussex University I spent a year as LJY’s national director. Since then, I’ve worked for Mitzvah Day (a Jewish interfaith volunteering charity) and Finchley Progressive Synagogue. I’m now a rabbinic student at Leo Baeck College, in my second year of five. I’ve been visiting minister to the York Liberal Jewish Community since 2017.”
Fancy FREE trip to Israel this summer? Aged 19-26? Read on ……
Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism are planning their fourth Birthright Is- rael Progressive trip this summer, on the 28th August – 6th September 2019 The trip is a gift from Taglit Birthright and it is free to all 19-26 year olds who have not been on an organised trip to Israel after the age of 18, including those who have been on Israel Tour at the age of 16.
bit.ly/BirthrightIsraelUK2019
This is a wonderful opportunity to inspire and ignite the participants Jewish Journey, bringing them closer to Progressive Judaism through an engaging, immersive and values-based trip.
It is suggested anyone wishing to go on this trip contacts the organisers as soon as possible.
Further information : Maya Skaarbrevik at 0208349 5661, or email [email protected]. Applications via above link bit.ly/BirthrightIsraelUK2019
PAGE 12 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
What is happening ‘down under’? The shabbat service at Beth Shalom Progressive Synagogue, Auckland was very welcoming.
As visitors, we were not only announced to the congregation, but given the honour of carrying the scroll.
The congregation that day was about twice the size of our usual shabbat attendance, the synagogue serves a population of 200 families. The synagogue was founded in 1956 and occupies a modern building ( see photos, below) .
Beth Shalom is the biggest Progressive community in NZ, and the 3rd biggest Burial and Benevolent Society and numerous Beth Shalom specialist sub-committees facilitate a range of T’zedakah, Education, Care and other services for their community and beyond. in the region. Significantly, as New Zealand only has a population of 4 million people, and a land mass about the same as Great Britain, their services are transmitted in real time over the internet by the use of fixed cameras ( a bit like the Palace of Westminster).
Like ourselves, they boast a skilled group of lay leaders. Also, similar to ourselves, they do not have a rabbi. In fact, we were led to believe there is not a Progressive /Reform Rabbi for the whole of New Zealand - they would like one! Any offers? They do have support for a Hebrew school and an adult education programme, and Israeli dancing!
The service uses the siddur from the Southern Hemisphere, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Most of the service is sung, as my education improved with yet more varia- tions on our normal service. The format of the shabbat service was as ours. There seemed to be less formality, although the use of a guitar for music certainly helped both the singing and the formality without reducing the decorum to ‘happy clappy’.
The shabbat service was very inclusive, two readers taking the service, with others con- tributing throughout. I particularly liked the introduction given to the haftorah. This put the harftorah in context to the service, and why it was chosen for that particular reading. It made the whole reading much more meaningful. Maybe it is something we can adopt?
What’s not to like about New Zealand? Well, they do not have a rabbinic college. All the kosher food has to come from Australia. However, the challahs for the service were home baked and looked, and tasted very good.
Report from Selwyn
PAGE 13 Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE There will be a Council Meeting on Thursday 7th March. We Chairman’s News have quite a bit of organising to sort out for Purim and Pesach. We rely so much on the goodwill of those freely giving of their time and effort to keep the Synagogue running. We no longer use external help to clean the kitchen for Pe- sach- not only do I know that the job is done thoroughly to the correct standard, but I know that it is not costing- apart from the time and effort for those involved. Volunteers are always needed! Thank you . from Dr Selwyn Goldthorpe I am greatly indebted to the small band of enthusiasts that cater for the community seder. Once again, this year, the price remains the same. There is nowhere commercially you can get such a slap up meal as is provided at our Seder for the price- and it is a Seder Night! I trust you will all spread word to your friends and support this event- the more the merrier!
Talking about catering, one of the great things I learnt from Auckland Synagogue is that they call their chavurah, a community “Pot luck meal”. Perhaps, that is just so Kiwi-is? I know Council would like to have more community meals. Food for thought!
We continue to be busy with spreading the word of Judaism to schools. It is difficult for schools to arrange a visit to the Synagogue, and expensive. Far better to “let the mountain come to Mohammad” as it were. We are getting quite used to transporting our little Scroll ( that is in needed of serious repair) around. We have another school waiting for a visit- this time as an interfaith type of event.
I was appalled at the abuse our Honorary Secretary received over the telephone. It just shows that we should continue to be vigilant with regard to anti-semitism. Clear- ly, quite a few MPs also share my views! It is a sad world were you cannot respect differences in people. I continue to repre- sent the Synagogue at Interfaith meetings, where I find we have a lot in common with regards to respecting the individuality of people. Having just visited Japan (see pho- to) - when in Japan, do as the Japanese do! Thank you to all of you that have helped in my absence.