October 2018
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Members of the Social Centre enjoying their exercises with Andreas before sitting down to lunch at the Summer Party on 29 August Rabbi Chava Koster making motsi after taking the morning service during her visit Bromley Three Faiths Forum on the weekend of Shabbat Shuvah to see Autumn Discussion Programme if she would like to fill the vacancy left by the departure of Rabbi Jason Holtz Following the format of past discussions, we In This Month’s Highlight have drawn up the next three events: View from the Chair ..........................2 Monday, 15 October, starting at 7.30 pm, Leo Baeck College ordinations .........2 Knit and Natter ..................................2 at St John’s Church, Park Road, Bromley, Cheder News .....................................3 looking at verses from the Torah Social Centre News ...........................3 Chanukah Fair ...................................3 Monday, 19 November, starting at 7.15 pm, Religions must modernise ..................4 at Keston Mosque, looking at verses from Jewish Museum - Roman Vishniac ...4 Christian scripture Reform Beit Din .................................5 BoD Open Meeting ............................5 Wednesday, 19 December, starting at 7.30 CCJ talk on the Septuagint .................5 pm, at Bromley Reform Synagogue, with Social and Personal ............................6 Chanukah Fair Auction ......................6 verses from the Qu’ran 999 Club Appeal ................................6 Refreshments will be served SE10 and Beyond ...............................6 CST article .........................................7 Further details from Music Matters ....................................7 Stephen Varney, Vicar, St. Mark’s Church AJEX lecture ......................................7 [email protected] Leo Baeck College job vacancy .........8 Services ..............................................8 Barbara Kurtz at Bromley Our Chatanim, 5779 ...........................8 Reform Synagogue, Dates for Your Diary .........................9 Lehrhaus - Autumn Courses ............10 020 8460 5460 October 2018 - Tishri-Cheshvan 5779 A New Year of Renewal - View from the Chair Leo Baeck College makes osh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and how history as seven new rabbis Rhave already come and gone important it are ordained and, by the time you read this, so will is to them. even new European Progressive have the chagim Sukkot and Simchat As one of Srabbis have been ordained by Leo Torah. There has been so much to do the older Baeck College, including the first and, without a permanent rabbi, the members ever Spanish-born Progressive rabbi. responsibility for ensuring that our present at Six of the rabbis will serve Reform services have run to their usual high the session, I communities. standard has been even greater than found it very Rabbi Haim Casas will make in past years. Of course, our visiting moving to hear just how much the shul history when he returns home to begin rabbis made a tremendous contribution means to the next generation. It also work in communities in Spain, as well as to our services with sermons, study emphasised to me how important it is France and Switzerland. He was one of sessions, Torah reading, as well as that we make the right decisions and the class of seven new rabbis ordained leading prayers but I can tell you take the appropriate actions now to in front of 500 guests at West London that they were full of admiration ensure that the shul will continue to Synagogue after studying for five years and respect for our community. Our thrive long into the future. That doesn’t on Leo Baeck College’s acclaimed rabbinic programme. excellent lay readers, wardens and mean more of the same; rather that we choir contributed so much to the high have to try new approaches to meet the Leo Baeck College Principal Rabbi quality of our services, making them demands of an evolving community, Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris said: “In our meaningful and striking the right to be imaginative, courageous and be 60th anniversary year, we could not be mood. Our children’s services were prepared to do many things differently. prouder to be carrying on the heritage of this transformational institution through also ably led and I’m pleased to say So, may the new year 5779 be one of these seven inspirational rabbis.” that all services were well attended. renewal for BRS with involvement The ordination of Haim, who An enormous amount of essential and contribution of members with new ideas and fresh approaches – chazak was born and raised in Córdoba, was work goes on that is far less visible especially poignant, as the Jewish ve’ematz – be strong and of good too. I refer to those who pack community in Spain has only re-emerged courage. envelopes with tickets, look after our very recently. Jewish people were security, clean and load our furniture, John Posner, Chairman expelled from the country or forced to prayer books etc for transport to the P.S.: It’s not too late to contribute convert to Christianity in 1492 and it has Crofton Halls and pack it away back in to the Kol Nidre Appeal, so if you taken five centuries for Judaism to return the shul afterwards, those who make haven’t yet done so, please make your in a meaningful way – either through all the arrangements for lay readers contribution online or by cheque and Spanish people discovering their Jewish and who will have mitzvot, prepare the be in touch with Janet in the office. roots or Jews from other countries Yizkor booklets, set the scrolls, erect Thanks. moving there. the sukkah and so on. The number of Source: Reform Judaism website people involved is considerable and The High Holyday services Knit and Natter their commitment to ensure that all A message from Zena Goodman goes well is absolute. On behalf of all The October date for Knit and Natter is would like to thank everyone involved Thursday, 11 October from 10.00 am to of us, I thank them so much for all they I this year for the High Holy Days 12 midday, at Pauline’s home. have done and continue to do. I believe organisation on behalf of Bromley our community is truly outstanding. All are welcome and we are very busy Reform Synagogue. It was a huge job because King’s College Hospital has There is something else that made and a mitzvah that was undertaken so purchased new incubators, which involves a very great impression on me which I willingly. Everything ran very smoothly, changes in the sewing of incubator covers. would like to mention. Rabbi Chava thanks to the shleppers and the choir and We are also making stockings and Koster who, as a candidate for our each participant. carrier holders to hang at the end of cots rabbinical appointment, was visiting Zena Goodman and incubators. We are, of course, filling from New York on the weekend Elka Carr writes: the stockings and carrier holders with tiny between Rosh Hashanah and Yom cardigans, blankets small and large, hats, A big thank you to Sally, the choir Kippur. She led a very stimulating and toys, including teddy bears, play mats. study session, in which many of the and Peter for their very professional If you would like to help we can provide large number of members present contribution to the High Holyday services. The services would be you with all the materials and help you. actively participated. At the end she We stop for coffee, tea, cake and biscuits! asked us to say something about enormously diminished without all Thank you and we look forward to ourselves and several of our younger their hard work and each year they get better and better! I look forward to seeing you. Cheder parents expressed how warm Pauline Jeffree and welcoming our community is next year. Copy date for November Highlight: Monday 15 October 2 Cheder News Social Centre News Hello, parents and there again to entertain us, along with Zelda writes: friends of Cheder, doughnuts and latkes galore. Again, we nce again we held our Summer Party, here’s our Cheder need your help with the simple things which seems to come round quicker News: like shlepping and washing, so if you eachO year. We had a good attendance and it 1. First, a huge can help please let us know. was nice to see old friends and get up-to- mazal tov Last but not least, please check the Security date with their news. to our new Rota below to see if we are expecting you After exercises conducted by Andreas Cheder to show up for security. Any problems, we were ready for our wonderful lunch. Deputy please contact Katia Pisetzky on: The cheesecake for dessert was delicious Head, Lili [email protected] and was made by Barbara’s granddaughter Evans! Lili will not only continue L’Shalom, Grace. to teach Kittah Aleph/Bet this Vicki, Cheder Head Teacher After lunch we had a return visit by year but her new role will include the violinist Adrian Garrett in memory Cheder Parents’ Security Rota, being Youth Coordinator for of the late Ruth Young, arranged by her our shul, looking after kids post Chanukah Term daughters. Adrian played music by Vivaldi B’nei Mitzvah. Well done on the Sundays and songs from various musicals on request. promotion Lili! 7 October Judy Taylor It was a very enjoyable afternoon. We had a 2. Our Cheder children baked mini wonderful lunch, exercises to make us feel 14 October Danielle Woodward round challot and honey cakes for fit, pleasant conversation and, to top it all, Rosh Hashanah! A massive thank 21 October Benjamin Kraft music played by a professional violinist. you to Amanda Penn, who not only 28 October and Half Term I believe most of us went home feeling organised the Welcome Back Coffee 4 November content, having spent a happy few hours. Morning for our parents but also made 11 November Amelia and Kanatta sure nothing burned in the oven for the Kyazze rest of the morning.