December ‘19 - January ‘20 Shofarthe magazine of finchley progressive synagogue FPS building outside & in From the Guest Editor... deb hermer I’m delighted to have added bits but to me it’s a welcoming space and been involved in the the heart of a community I craved. guest editing of Shofar You’ll see in this edition that thankfully this month as a new others have far more fully formed ideas than member to FPS. me. And I love that too. Jews have long held When I first arrived views and opinions on every subject and you’ll Rebecca asked me see inside some grand ideas and some more what I thought of down to earth schemes. Everyone’s views are the building and in honesty it’s part of what welcome, so please keep them coming and appealed to me about this community. Yes it’s hopefully together we can develop a space fit for a bit shambolic, yes it has a long, dark corridor all members of our fantastic community. Finally, and we have frozen through winter services and we introduce a monthly recipe slot, starting with could only hear muffled sounds through the PA Claudia Prieto-Piastro’s for bimuelos on page 14. system. It’s very obviously a 60s prefab with Shofar is always interested in hearing Cover photos: Zoe Jacobs Copy deadline is the 10th your news and including photos of FPS of each month. Please members, and their families, near and far. email all content to We welcome your articles on any relevant [email protected] topic. Please send these to [email protected] 2 From the Rabbi rabbi rebecca birk I love visiting synagogues wherever I go. There is something about witnessing the style and atmosphere of synagogues, so often true to their surroundings that makes the Jewish story that bit more real. See my recent photos of the Rome Synagogue and the tiny one in Stellenbosch outside Capetown on page 4. I loved the Reform synagogue in Greenpoint too where I went for Shabbat for its beauty and light with the South African sun shining through. The Roman synagogue was funded by plants growing over it like a 1970s health food members (in itself intriguing - with marble and restaurant. ornate tiling and gold balustrades). Built in the No-one can say our building lacks character early 20th century on the banks of the Tiber and charm. But I believe we could improve it overlooking the former ghetto, it’s pretty fancy without embarking on a million pound drive. and has a square dome - the only one in the city I am certain we could match-fund some of making it easy to identify. Maurice Needleman’s legacy to enhance what Intriguingly the Mishnah says it’s more we have. Let me share some of my ‘modest’ important to build a Mikveh than a synagogue, hopes. They do not include marble and gold the ritual bath used for life transforming balustrades; balconies and Persian carpets, moments such as conversion, Shabbat, Yom but they do involve improving the spiritual Kippur and Family Purity for orthodox women. possibilities of our building. I like to think Mikveh represented community 1. We need a second large space/sanctuary. life and so actually our synagogue buildings, We have grown out of the small hall when we whilst not containing ritual baths, do hold all gather for Family Services, Ivriah assemblies, community events. lectures and shiurim. Extending the small hall I love our synagogue home. I see it as a and that side of the building would take over beautified scout hut. I have called it our messy just 8 parking spaces. synagogue with a soul: the mosaic at the 2. Change the windows and fire door in the front door to mark our 60th anniversary; the sanctuary so it looks more like a room of prayer overflowing plant pots softening the external and less like a bathroom! walls; the rose garden nurtured by Lionel 3. Perhaps we can raise the hall roof and bring Lassman and others; the wooden doors of our more light flooding into our sanctuary. ark and the tribes etched delicately in the glass; 4. Develop the Sukkah area to have a year round my cosy nook of an office with the skylight being courtyard and garden of beauty that is then my access to the clouds. ready for Sukkot every year. There are parts of our FPS building I love. What do you think? Add your thoughts to Indeed even as a student visiting I used to admire those of members who have written in to this the wide Bimah and the multitude of green pot edition of Shofar. 3 From the Chair cathy burnstone Writing the monthly Chair’s article for Shofar mention the state of provides me with another opportunity to reflect our world. I’ve found on our Synagogue. I had been a member of two that doing something synagogues before joining FPS and although for our community and each had much to offer, FPS for me is in a Synagogue helps me different league. What has engaged me the to feel that I’m doing most is the Social Action and Social Justice something, albeit small activities that are central to our Synagogue. to improve things. It’s Some members of FPS recently attended the also very enjoyable and London Citizens Delegates Assembly. Our work making new connections with Syrian refugees really stands out as does counts for a lot too. our winter night shelter. As a Synagogue we always welcome ideas It’s so easy to feel despondent and powerless for social or other activities that engage and also when we see and read about the state of our encourage people to participate in the many country riven with the endless discourse about interesting activities that are already on offer. Brexit and our politics of polarisation, not to Left: Rome Synagogue right: Stellenbosch Synagogue, both taken by Rabbi Rebecca Birk 4 Chanukah Notice Board Put your Chanukah photos on our Facebook page, or send them to us to upload! Prizes will be awarded for the photo with the most chanukiot, for the photo taken furthest afield, and for the photo with the most delicious- looking food! 5 Notice Board ajex parade We were delighted to attend the AJEX Parade today where over 2000 people turned out to march to remember the brave men and women who served in our armed forces. Rabbis Margaret and Richard laid a wreath in memory of Rabbi Harry Jacobi. It was a very moving occasion enhanced by marching to the Bands of the JLGB and Scots Guards. Many young people were also present - a worthy tribute to our parents & grandparents who served in the war. Stanley, Maureen, Melvyn, CA and Brenda ‘cleaner and greener’ - mitzvah day 2019 and snowglobes from reused jam jars! With Our Mitzvah Day events this year were on the thanks to Ollie and Ann Pelham, Ruth Logue theme ‘Cleaner and Greener’, as we helped and Michael Hudson and Barry and Beverly clear Highgate Cemetery, and made dog toys Kafka. from recycled T-shirts for Battersea Dogs We also joined the Somali Bravanese at Home, ecobricks from plastic bottles and non- their new home in Tarling Road to plant bulbs - recyclable plastic for Highgate Primary School, alongside many locals! From left: Rabbi Danny Rich, Ruth Logue, Rabbi Rebecca Birk, Michael Hudson planting bulbs at Highgate Cemetery. Photo taken by Yakir Zur for Mitzvah Day 6 Beit Tefillah services at fps services – december / kislev leading into tevet Friday 6 December 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday 7 December 11.00am Musical Shabbat B’yachad Friday 13 December 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday 14 December 11.00am Shabbat Service Friday 20 December 6.30pm Shabbat Resouled Saturday 21 December 11.00am Shabbat Service Friday 27 December 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday 28 December 11.00am Shabbat Service services – january / tevet leading into sh’vat Friday 3 January 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday 4 January 11.00am Shabbat Service Friday 10 January 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday 11 January 11.00am Shabbat B’yachad Friday 17 January 6.30 pm Shabbat Resouled Saturday 18 January 11.00am Shabbat Service Friday 24 January 6.30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday 25 January 11.00am Shabbat Service Friday 31 January 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service people welcome to Anna Simons & Patrick Cook Rosalind Miller, Louise Gellman, Jonathan Fowler Karstadt, Rabbi Frank Hellner, Barry Kail, Alison mazeltov to Abi Wharton & Al Cooper whose Pilpel, Alison Rees baby Evie will be blessed at FPS on 7 December congratulations to Gabriel & Manuela condolences to Michael Hart on the death of Kanter-Webber on their marriage in November; his mother Hilda, long-standing member of FPS, Four couples celebrating significant wedding in October anniversaries: Gabi Highman & Dan Luxon their 20th, Doreen & Hugh Isaacs their 53rd, Myra & happy birthday to the following members Gunter Lawson their 58th and Katalin Aradi & celebrating milestone birthdays in December Michael Posylkin their 25th and January: Betty Gould, Lionel King-Lassman, Ruth Hoffmann, John Olbrich, Barbara Vigon, Continued on page 8 7 Beit Knesset community events, all welcome! bridge group such as sandwiches, soup and cake. Not on Mondays @ 7.30pm, £4. There are even small 26 December or 2 January prizes for winners! For details: Paul Silver-Myer pilates via the synagogue office020 8446 4063 Thursdays @ 5.30-6.30pm. Led by Tali Swart. art with eden Beginners to intermediate; individually tailored 5 December @ 6.00pm, 16 December @ instruction. Payment in blocks of six, about £8 7.30pm, Monday 20 January @ 7.30pm per lesson.