28 Kehillatkernow.Com April 2011, Adar II/Nisan 5771 Anatevya Revisited by Kehillat Kernow
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KolKol KehillatKehillat KernowKernow Voice of the Jewish Community in Cornwall Issue 28 kehillatkernow.com April 2011, Adar II/Nisan 5771 Anatevya revisited by Kehillat Kernow Pat Lipert A sing-along par excellence with plenty of food Sceptics might call Fiddler sentimental, and drink, and of course, the ubiquitous romanticised mush, and it is. Life in the Shetls Thirty-five members of Kehillat Kernow were popcorn, a prerequisite for watching any film wasnt nearly as rosy, even on Shabbat, and transported back to the Shetl of Anatevya at en masse, made this one of the nicest ways to the individuals not as glorious to look at or as the beginning of the 20th century on the fritter away a cold, wintry Sunday afternoon. inspiring or entertaining as depicted in the film, 23rd of January. A private viewing (complete The climate in Fiddler, the long, hard Russian but there is a reality which comes through all with sub-titles for both human and animal winter, seemed to complement the that which seems to work for most people who characters) of Fiddler on the Roof at the atmosphere. have seen it. We connect to Tevya, and Golde Phoenix Theatre in Falmouth took place. The difference was that we were warm and and their charming daughters, and we can cosy in our cushy seats connect to the difficulties and contradictions and surrounded by of trying to live and love both inside and outside kindred spirits, whilst the the Jewish experience. Surviving in a world characters in the much- disintegrating into chaos with integrity in tact loved film were freezing is no easy feat. Rising above it to begin again to death and struggling is downright miraculous. But so the characters against the uncertainty in Fiddler do, and we believe it. We believe it and violent intolerance because we have lived and do live it in our times of life under the Tzar. as well. The much-touted What an uplifting way to spend an afternoon, blessing to keep the Tzar with friends, community, and good cheer all far away from us, clearly round. Many thanks to Rachel Brown for coming demonstrates one of the up with the idea and especially to Jacquie reasons for Jewish Rickett for making all the arrangements. survival. Despite all odds and persecution, Jewish populations have always survived because of their sense of humour when Stepping back in time-In keeping with the film, some of our times were at their worst, members thought it appropriate to dress for the occasion. It was. and have clung to their From left to right are; Andy Kristoff, a friend of the community; Iain, Murray and Rachel Brown. traditions when threatened. No matter how many times most of the LotsLots moremore community had seen the film before (we could have sung the lyrics without the sub-titles), inside,inside, there are moments in this classic story compiled Lots more from various writings of Shalom Alecheim, when including...including... all of us were moved. inside, Fiddler is that perfect balance of joy and sadness, pain and hope, comedy and tragedy, including... human nature at its worst, best, most foolish or most wise. Up and down the emotional Chairmans remarks............2 spectrum it goes to form a perfect balance that is life itself. It such a perennially popular film December Limmud .................3 because it cant help but touch the human heart. Festival of Lights...................4 Seder at Trelissick Gardens Sephardim Pesach.................5 Kehillat Kernows annual first night seder will cups if you can. Seder plates (complete) and Why we survive .....................6 be held at Trelissick Gardens Barn Restaurant Kiddush kosher wine will be supplied for the on Monday, 18th April at 6:30pm.You will service but bring your own table wine for the receive a mailing in early March with details, meal. There is ample parking immediately and you need to return your forms no later adjacent to the restaurant. This is such a Newsletter designed by Noah Hearle than the 1st of April to Anne Hearle, popular event that you will need to book early designextreme.com Turnstone Cottage, 3 Vivian Terrace, if you want seating for you and your guests. Mousehole, TR19 6QZ. Please bring your own If you have any questions, do telephone Anne Website design and Sudoku puzzles candlesticks, candles, matches and Kiddush on 01736 731686. Do you want to share your Kol Kehillat Kernow? Visit: kehillatkernow.com/newsletter for an online version of the newsletter! 2 April 2011 Kol Kehillat Kernow Post Shavuot Chairmans celebration remarks Pat Lipert Harvey Kurzfield Shavuot is not all cheesecake and blinis for Is it better to be a giver or a receiver? members of Kehllat Kernow. It is the time of I was pleased to be able to send cheques year when we especially cherish the Torah we totalling more than 400 pounds to Magen David use for services on Shabbat and festivals. It Adom contributions from Kehillat Kernow and connects us especially with the Exeter Jewish its members and equally pleased to receive community. on behalf of our members the thanks of the Some members of Exeter Synagogue will be London based representatives of MDA. This led sharing a post-Shavuot Shabbat with KK on me to reflect on how much better Saturday, 25th June, at Three Bridges School the world is as a result of all for services at 10:30am. Any of our members these people of different who wish to attend the Shavuot Services at nationalities and religions Exeter Independent Synagogue on the evening who give in all manner of of the 8th of June are also welcome to travel ways in order to help those to the Devon site. Shavuot is a special holiday who are less well off or in dire not only because it commemorates the giving peril. Charities across the of the Torah on Mt. Sinai but also because it world exist to help people who was on Shavuot that members of the Exeter as a result of being born in a Synagogue formally loaned us a Torah which particular time or place, in circumstances Tu BShevat tree of wishes and dreams Results of students work to celebrate Tu we have been using for many years now. A which put them or their loved ones in danger, Bishvat at Cheder. special Kiddush is planned. need much help NOW. Not next week, not last year, but always NOW! In an ideal world everyone would co-exist happily and peace would reign all round our globe. Sadly, humanity has a gene somewhere in its DNA system, which means that conflict is a common occurrence. What we have learned from history should by now have been enough to eradicate that word from our vocabulary, but every day, every month, every year, every decade some group of people decides it has the right to kill, maim, exterminate, plunder or destroy either in the name of religion or through some misguided idea of sovereignty or even on politically motivated grounds. Add to that natural disasters such as those that have recently devastated Haiti, Queensland and Sri Lanka, then you can understand how insane it seems for human beings to add to all that misery. And yet in all these extreme situations there are still people who are anxious and wholeheartedly willing to give their time, their money, their expertise and even in some cases, their lives, in order to help ordinary citizens caught up and suffering as a result of one or more of the above. Even people who bring disaster down on themselves are helped to New year for trees Cheder students and teachers working on their Tu BShevat tree. From regain their lives and their dignity. left to right are: Rosie Brown, Hannah Feldman, Sam Waters, Jemima Feldman, Isaac Feldman, So, what am I getting at? Its simple. Karen Myers and Sophia Waters. To give is better than to receive. To give on behalf of strangers is even better and to help those who have suffered natural Kol HaNeshama Reform or man-made dangers is potentially life saving. As Jews who have suffered across the centuries, celebrates 25 years we should be particularly good at giving. In view of the state of the world today, There are six Reform communities in has large premises in the Baka neighbourhood particularly in regard to Israel, we may all be Jerusalem and about 40,000 Israelis identified offering a variety of programmes. It has faced with multiple calls for help. So in your as reform Jews in the polls. recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Over lifetime, if you have the opportunity to give While the oldest is Kehillat Har-El, established 300 people attend every Shabbat service and be it in terms of money or your time or in 1958, Kol HaNeshama is the largest non- over 1,000 people observe their HIgh Holy Day practical help, then grab that opportunity with Orthodox shul. The community began in the services. Mazel Tov! both hands and be a true and honoured living room of their founder and spiritual [Excerpt from The Jerusalem Post, 14 representative of our small community. leader, Rabbi Levi Weinman-Kelman, and now January, 2011] Shalom. Kol Kehillat Kernow April 2011 3 Something for everyone at December Limmud Louise Garcia friend lied about their ages to enlist together extraordinariness of this situation, to be in a to be with the horses pulling the tanks in the roomful of strangers but to be able to cry First things first. The kosher food is terrible. First World War. Lo and behold, from a choice more freely than I have ever done before.