liberal masorti reform PESACH 2017/5777 IN THIS ISSUE: p25 The Queen of Scots Nicola Sturgeon attends a p7 More than a pair of shoes Jewish Burns night A poignant exhibit depicting the Holocaust p31 Reflections of a Sephardi Seder Remembering the rituals p18 With the Forgotten Army Memories of WWII p36 By Appointment to the Queen Fashion advice for the Queen About Our Members From the Editor’s Desk Since our last issue ANNIVERSARY WISHES TO: MOSAIC REFORM HEMS WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS Dele and Philip Goodman, MAZAL TOV TO: 50th anniversary Fran Ryan Traci Spivack and Richard Buchalter, Marie and Woolf Heymann, th Dear Reader Vivien Addinall 65th anniversary 20 anniversary Lilian and Nat Levene, 65th anniversary MAZAL TOV TO: BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: Bertha and Harry Levy, e have always tried to ensure that Kehila makes Norma and Sam Brier on the birth of 60th anniversary Linda Lucas an easy read. Articles are generally no longer their grandson, Saul Henry. Cynthia and Martin Shaw, Andrea Hardy then a page or two – however for this edition Judith and Basil Bara on the birth of 60th anniversary we have broken our rule! We felt it important to their granddaughter, Talia. CONDOLENCES: Lily and Jack Sheldon, include in its entirety the very interesting personal account Susan and Richard Freedman on the 65th anniversary Mark Sachon on the death of his Wof the late Gerald Shindler who ‘signed up’ for the British birth of their grandson, Alexander Doreen and Sam Walport, grandmother, Esther Sachon Eames. 65th anniversary Army at the age of fourteen. As he said, ‘I felt it my duty as Barbara Merrick on the birth of her a Jew to join the army to fight the Germans’. Sadly, Gerald grandson, William Julius. CHILDREN’S passed away last year at the age of 91, but his recollection of fighting the enemy Caroline Reik on her engagement to BIRTHDAYS IN APRIL David Gemal Sassoon. Mazal tov also pays tribute to his personal contribution to winning the Second World War. to Gill and Michael Reik. MOSAIC LIBERAL Of course with Pesach around the corner we felt it important to include MAZAL TOV TO: Abigail Luffman (8) Freya Luffman (8) some personal reflections on the meaning of this festival. So, in addition to the Jeanette Shindler on the birth of a great grand daughter, Chaya Archie Hipgrave (8) contributions by our Rabbis, and recollections of a Sephardi Seder, we also have BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: a view of Pesach from an inmate inside one of Her Majesty’s Prisons. Speaking of Sandra Fisherman, 75 BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: Her Majesty we have also included a fascinating interview with Maria Driffill, who Doris Fishman, 95 Jean Coleman Denis Hart, 90 talks about her meetings with the Queen (and the Corgis) as her fashion adviser. Edith Horton Woolf Heymann, 92 I guess no-one can fail to miss the vibrant painting of Moses on the cover of Mimi Rotbart Howard Sanford, 75 this edition. We are delighted that Gary Italiaander’s father, Michael, has given his Hazel Richman, 99 GET WELL WISHES TO: permission for Kehila to use his painting. Ann Kent, 80 Susan Saunders Once again I would like to thank all the contributors and everyone in the Kehila Sonia Gerlis, 60 Helena Stone editorial team for their effort and support. Kehila really is a team effort. Roger Feldman, 70 Mary Vulkan As I head off into the wilderness in search of features for the next Kehila issue, may I wish all our readers Pesach Sameach. What is Mosaic? Mosaic is a vibrant new Jewish community which There is an excellent religion school for younger comprises the members of three partner synagogues. members with innovative opportunities to extend Jewish The three synagogues represent the Masorti, Reform and learning beyond bar/bat mitzvah. Liberal strands of Judaism respectively providing Mosaic Most important, we look out as well as in and offer members with a choice of emphasis and ritual across the exciting opportunities to get involved with influential Progressive spectrum. Indeed, the providing of choice social action and inter-faith programmes, whether locally, Robert Pinkus is a key Mosaic principle which extends beyond ritual. nationally or internationally. Mosaic is living proof of what Editor Mosaic provides its members with a wide range of social, can be achieved with goodwill, mutual respect and a [email protected] educational, cultural and recreational activities designed to willingness to work together. appeal to diverse interests and age groups. Find out more at www.choosemosaic.org or contact Membership Officer Lindsey Cohen on 020 8420 7498 © Cover oil painting by Michael Italiaander 2 3 Message ADVERTORIAL from Phil Austin Mosaic Chairman “Can it really be three years since the members of our constituent synagogues voted to form Mosaic, our new community?” © Portrait by Italiaander – www.italiaander.co.uk © Portrait A visit to India ear Mosaic members, different opinions and sensitivities. Certainly this (unique) We are three years old. Can it really be three type of collaborative venture has to be well organised but “India has marked me deeply. It has been years since the members of our constituent perhaps, more importantly, it can only succeed with ample a sentimental, artistic and spiritual synagogues voted to form Mosaic, our new supplies of goodwill. To date the supplies have been more community. Is it just me or is time moving faster? than sufficient and we are also fortunate that our chemistry education” DAnyway, accepting that we really are 3 years old - how is good. I think most will agree that when we get together Octvio Paz, in the light of India 1995 are we doing? Are we on track, are we where we had hoped there is a warm and friendly atmosphere. This is very to be? encouraging. Jewish India- the historic and serene their empty synagogues. Based on discussions with members it seems to me that There are also some promising signs behind the scenes. city of Cochin, now called Kochi, is “I cannot The outstanding Jewish site on most feel we have made good progress in some areas with I recall numerous low key interactions, often conducted located in the southern state of Kerala Synagogue Lane is the whitewashed, perhaps more work to do in others. What follows is my quietly, which say a lot about the community we are on the Malabar Coast. More than 30 recommend this rectangular Paradesi Synagogue, personal take on progress to date strongly influenced by becoming and the way we care for each other. In fact, it million people live in this densely company enough. part of the ‘living heritage of India’. the views received in recent months: is in these cases, where specific needs are discussed and populated state, a third of which is Safe to say India has Hundreds of tourists crowd into Kochi In terms of the social and cultural events we offer I think resources are pooled, that we have made excellent progress covered by forests. each day to visit the synagogue. we’ve made a very good start. Our event programming in living our key values of working effectively together in a Kochi is an important spice center got under our skin Several Torahs occupy the ark. has blossomed since our inception in 2014. Thanks to the climate of mutual respect and goodwill. whose surroundings contain an and into our hearts. Each has a crown of solid gold committed support of a well organised group of volunteers It is of course disappointing – very disappointing - that ancient and still functioning fishing If you are thinking with precious stones, a gift of the we have delivered many excellent and varied events. we have not yet found the new building we will ultimately industry. Once, traders from Yemen Maharaja of Cochin, ‘the protector Members can also choose from a wide range of regular share. Please be assured that we continue to work tirelessly and Babylon exported dates and of going, book with of the Jews’. Combine this with the activities. to find our new home. The property team are determined to olive oil in exchange for peacocks Indus Experiences” lush landscapes, sandy beaches, Conversely, we have not yet made the desired progress make this dream a reality as soon as possible. It will be a and spices. Gillian and Ashley Iredale cool backwaters and palm gardens with our social action and adult education programming special day indeed when we hold our first Shabbat services Jews once lived in large numbers interfaced with rowboats, sailboats, due principally to the lack of volunteers. These are two in our new premises. However, until that special day when around Mumbai, Ali Baugh, cargo skiffs, steamers and naval areas we are keen to improve upon as we move forward. we cut the ribbon, the process of building Mosaic continues Cochin, and whilst just 50 Jews remain in Cochin, vessels cruising on a nearby vast system of waterways, What about the engagement process, the more subtle every day. Our diligent cohorts of community volunteers, they are doing everything in their power to restore all this makes Cochin a very attractive area to visit. process of developing a sense of belonging – in essence, administrators, teachers and Rabbis work hard to keep the a sense of identification with Mosaic? Of course this has wheels turning. Indus was established 21 years ago, initially to offer personal tailor-made holidays to India. Building on our success to happen naturally and cannot be manufactured. It is an As we continue to broaden our offerings we hope that we have over the years extended our range of destinations to include Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) as well as India including Nepal and Bhutan.