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EDITORIAL
Contents Shanah Tovah
Welcome to the new year of 5770, I Diary 2 hope you enjoy this latest edition of An insight into “Chalak Beit Yosef” 6 Hamaor, which is packed with a wide range of articles that offers CST - Speak up 9 something of interest to everyone. Do not cast us out in the time of our old age 10 From in-depth Halachic analysis provided by the Rosh Beth Din, Dayan YY Lichtenstein to a report by Sarah Rosh Hashana - Anticoni about the future developments for women Yom Teruah or Yom Zikhron Teruah? 12 within the Federation of Synagogues. Nine 14 We also have some reflections about Rosh Hashanah The Role of Women in the Federation 16 from the Chief Executive, Dr Eli Kienwald and the Family Hamoar Yeshurun’s Rabbi Alan Lewis, as well as an inspiring account about Recha and Isaac Sternbuch efforts to The Rosh Hashana Duet 18 save their fellow Jews during the time of the Book Review - A Time to Speak 20 Holocaust. Return to der Heim 22 Mark Harris updates us as to the regeneration of Hoping to help stillbirth parents 26 communities in Poland and you’ll find delicious new twists to traditional recipes in Family Hamaor. If you’re Recha and Isaac Sternbuch 28 looking for a new book for the New Year then don’t Recipes 30 miss the review of Martin Stern’s latest publication. Personal 34 My thanks go to all the contributors for this edition, Kashrus Directory 41 submissions are always welcome, keep sending us your news, views and interesting stories that make this your Federation of Synagogues essential Federation magazine. Contact Details 42 Burial Society 43 A special note of thanks to Roberta Rubenstein for all her hard work over the years on Hamaor, we wish her List of Synagogues 44 all the best for the future.
Wishing you all kesivah vechasima tova.
Published by The Federation of Synagogues Eva 65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ Tel: 020 8202 2263 Fax: 020 8203 0610 Email: [email protected] www.federationofsynagogues.com Editor: Eva Chapper Advertising: Eva Chapper
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NEWS & EVENTS Croydon Finchley We were very fortunate to have Edwina Currie come to On Lag Ba’Omer a grand bonfire and barbeque was Croydon to talk to us about her experiences as a held at the home of Rabbi and Rebbetzin Hamer. In Member of Parliament and as a Minister in the addition to the normal fare, hot marshmallows were Conservative Government. Her life after leaving enjoyed by all. Parliament was just as interesting and it was a great pleasure to listen to her. She told us that she now runs We were pleased to welcome Rabbi Joseph Freilich as a book club at Nightingale House, amongst her other the speaker at our annual Dovid Ha-Melech Seudoh at numerous activities, which include broadcasting and the end of Shavuos. He gave an entertaining and writing novels. Approximately 60 people attended the humorous address. event and some people bought some of her books. We On Tisha B’Av, the moving film “Genocide”, narrated by then had a lovely tea of sandwiches and cakes. A Orson Welles, was shown before Mincha. donation was made to Nightingale House. In order to make the Eruv available to our members Croydon community celebrated the Aufruf of Danny and visitors, Finchley Central Synagogue has been Butler whose parents have been members of our davening on Shabbos for the past year at Pardes House Synagogue for many years. Danny himself had School. This has been a very successful move, attended cheder classes and he was remembered by attracting enough children for two children’s services, many of the people as a young boy. We all wished him but it is only a temporary solution and we look forward and his bride to be all the best for their future together. to finding a more permanent building. We are pleased to be able to offer our members services for Rosh The Friday night dinners are still very popular and 19 HaShanah and Yom Kippur at both Redbourne Avenue people were present at the last dinner organised by our and Pardes House this year. Revd. Mark Daniels.
JAMI still uses our beautiful building and their annual BBQ held in June was extremely successful with about 15 people present.
Our community celebrated the 95th birthday of Sam Berman on the 15th August with a wonderful kiddush Services at Head Office: in his honour. Sam is a Shabbat regular and we all love him dearly. Friday: Mincha followed by Kabbalat Shabbat Mark Daniels will become a Rabbi this summer but unfortunately will be leaving Croydon in August to go Shabbat: Mincha Followed by a to Israel with his wife Sonya. He will be leaving the Shiur by Dayan Lichtenstein Croydon community and everyone here will miss him Weekday Mincha Monday: Thursday and the wonderful work he has done for us all. We 1.40pm. Except on Bank Holidays. would like to wish them all the best for the future. Dayan Lichtenstein’s Shiur Mondays 8.30pm
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NEWS & EVENTS
After a tour of Krakow and its sights and shuls, the Ilford group made its way to Auschwitz. Sala movingly retold On Sunday 31st May, a unique event was held for 19 of her experiences in the places that they occurred. ladies of the community, who had never previously celebrated their Bat Chayil. At the ceremony, attended Sombrely, we stood at the spot where she was handled by 400 guests, each woman gave a presentation giving and selected for life by Mengele and subsequently sent a personal account entitled, ‘What brought me here to the shower rooms together with her mother. It was today’ and marked the completion of a year of study at this time, that she was cruelly torn away from her with teacher Rebbetzen Eva Chapper. The Bat Chayil mother, sadly never to see her again. graduates were presented with a certificate, the book “From Sarah to Sarah”, generously donated by Michael A Sefer Torah was brought with on the trip and taken into the camp. As Sala’s Auschwitz story drew to a Rogers in the memory of his late wife Ilona Rogers, and close in the women’s barracks, Rabbi Garson led the a booklet containing all the speeches compiled by group in a deeply moving and emotional dance to the Rabbi Chapper. famed “Am Yisrael Chai”. The group danced with the Sefer Torah in the barracks, as tears of hope for the future of the Jewish People flowed freely.
The graduates are listed in alphabetical order: Shirley Appleby, Estelle Bashton, Frances Bookatz, Linda Conroy, Dancing with the Sefer Torah in the barracks Marion Grant, Deborah Hiller, Felicia Lawrence, Maxine (Photograph by Lisa Shaffer) Leckerman, Beatrice Lesser, Estelle Luton, Debra Montlake, Fay Montlake, Helen Myers, Rita Newmark, Gloria Rones, Gill Once outside the sun was beginning to set and the Saunders, Raya Simons, Sandra Wajchendler and Jessica Wesil. men davened mincha. The question “who would have thought such a thing would ever be possible?” rang clear in the silence. As the sun made its descent over the trees, a picture taken by participant Brian Conn – Ohr Yisrael eerily shows a clear “magen david” in the sun – over A unique trip - Ohr Yisrael’s the Auschwitz crematoria – displaying the message of Second Poland Trip in 6 months the eternality of the Jewish People. Following their initial successful trip last September, The group then made its way to the ruins of the Rabbi & Rebbetzen Garson led a second group of about crematoria and the gas chambers. Rabbi Garson 40 participants to Poland. This time they were delivered a powerful message of hope, explaining that accompanied by a special survivor, Mrs. Sala Newton once we walked out of Auschwitz, we would never be the mother of Dr Ros Landau (wife of Martin Landau, the same. He explained however that depression is not President of Ohr Yisrael). a word that should appear in the lexicon of Judaism.
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NEWS & EVENTS NEWS & EVENTS
Rather, we all needed to commit to improving our After a whirlwind tour of Warsaw, we davened Maariv connection with the Almighty, which is something all in the The Nozyk Synagogue, where Mr. Norman Black those who perished were denied off so viciously. read the “Kel Malei Rachamim” prayer for relatives of his that were killed in Treblinka.
This was concluded by some final thoughts by Rabbi Garson, whereupon the group broke out into dance and song, with “Ashreinu Ma Tov Chelkenu” – How special and praised are the Jewish People. The dancing continued into the streets till we boarded the bus.
All of us arrived home emotionally drained, but with a deep appreciation for the importance of Jewish continuity and commitment in our service to Hashem.
The trip was guided by the expert guide “Tzvi Sperber”, By the ruins of the crematoria and the gas chambers (Photograph by Brian Conn) the director of J-Roots tours. As we walked the long walk to freedom, we all sang the famous R’Shlomo Carlebach “Krakow” niggun and the “Kabbalat Hatorah” - Shavuot words of “Ani Maamin” echoed in the dark. Shabbaton The following morning, the group re-traced Sala’s In honour of our yearly receiving of the Torah, Ohr Yisrael childhood to the city of Lodz. We located the building hosted a sell out Shabbaton on the second day of she lived in as a child. A 4 storey building which was Shavuot. The day was aptly marked with a siyum on once occupied by Jewish families, now houses Poles Tractate Bava Kamma – the 2nd tractate to be completed who “legitimately” own the properties. by the committed group of Daf Yomi Learners – who attend Rabbi Garson’s shiur every day at 5:50am! The current tenants allowed her to re-visit her family home. We then stood in the courtyard as she reminisced about her fond childhood memories and the horrific HLX – BES Summer Program eviction of her family into the infamous Lodz Ghetto. A 3 week Summer term with a huge array of shiurim, programs & lectures took place in June. Hertfordshire After visiting the site of the Ghetto, the group made its Learning Experience was set up in memory of the late way to the old Lodz Cemetery. Sala’s father had died 6 Rabbi Shmuli Kass z”l, by Rabbi Garson and to date months before the outbreak of the war, and due to the 100s of people have participated in their programs. stresses of the time, was denied a proper tombstone setting. Recently her grandson Samuel, whilst on a Speakers included: Rabbis: Leo Dee, Raphy Garson, Natan Poland trip with his Yeshiva, used the cemetery’s Levy, Yehuda Silver, Avi Sharf and Dovid Tugendhaft. records to locate the grave-site. Rebbetzens: Dina Brawer & Deborah Garson. Representatives of the LSJS faculty and Richard Carr. Incorporated into the itinerary, was the closing of a circle for Sala, as Rabbi Garson officiated at a moving Most of HLX’s programs are now jointly run together “Hakamat Matzevah” in the old Lodz Cemetery. Her with Shenley United and Borehamwood & Elstree grandson who joined us in the trip, emotionally United Synagogue – which is a true testament to Rabbi delivered an inspiring talk about the continuity of the Kass’s vision of having a centre of learning Torah for Jewish People. the whole Hertfordshire community.
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NEWS & EVENTS
and Paul Westbrook, together with their wives and Head Office members from Ilford Federation Synagogue and other Federation Synagogues who were visiting Israel at the time. Refreshments were served.
This is the second ambulance that the Federation of Synagogues has presented to Magen David Adom Israel on behalf of its members. The first ambulance, presented to them in 2005, is stationed in Hadera and is extensively used. The second ambulance is to be based at another location in Israel where this service is needed.
Photograph taken of the Executive of the Rabbinic Centre of Europe held at Shomrei Hadath Synagogue on Monday May 4th hosted by the Federation of Synagogues. New MDS ambulance The Federation of Synagogues presented an ambulance to Magen David Adom Israel on behalf of its members on Tuesday 25th August 2009 in Netanya. The money for the ambulance was raised through the Federation’s Kol Nidre Appeal. The Ceremony was attended by two Honorary Officers of the Federation of
Synagogues from the United Kingdom, Leon Newmark (Photograph by Michael Mandel)
Don’t forget to look out for Shabbat Spice
Out now, and in your local Shul
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HALACHIC THOUGHTS
An insight into “Chalak Beit Yosef ” By Dayan Y. Y. Lichtenstein, Rosh Beth Din, Federation of Synagogues
Approximately 18 years ago the Hadas came under the London Board for Shechita, London Board for Shechita albeit as a separate entity with designated butchers introduced a new, and higher, and selected Shochtim running their operation, while level of Kashrut for some of nominally under the supervision of the Chief Rabbi. their butcher shops, called Chalak Beit Yosef. Primarily this For thirty five years this situation continued, with the was done on the more particular Yidden buying the Machzikei Hadas encouragement of Shechita, and it was only at the beginning of WWII the then Sefardic when Dr Schonfeld zt”l persuaded his father-in-law, Chief Rabbi of the Chief Rabbi H Hertz zt”l, to allow him to open up a Israel, the Rishon new Shechita for the Union called Kedassia. Eventually Lezion Hagaon the complete London Board for Shechita raised its Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Shlita, and with the standard, to that of the Machzikei Hadas, and so in enthusiastic support of the former Ab Beth Din of the early 1990’s the Machzikei Hadas brand was Sefardi Beth Din, Dayan P Toledano, one of the discontinued and replaced by a new standard called ecclesiastical authorities of the London Board of Chalak Beit Yosef. Shechita. Although the original intent had been to satisfy those Sefardic customers, who were particular for But what is Chalak Beit Yosef and how does it differ this superior level of Kashrut, it has become very popular from the term “Glatt”, which is more familiar to with Ashkenazim too. Ashkenazi consumers worldwide?
Today the London Board certifies five outlets with To begin with it is necessary to define the term Chalak Chalak Beit Yosef meat and the demand is growing. Beit Yosef. Beit Yosef is the name of the commentary that the author of the Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Yosef Lately, however, there have been questions from Karo zt”l, wrote in the 16th century, on the Tur, which various quarters about this practice and the purpose of was the precursor of the Shulchan Aruch written by this article is to explain what is meant by Chalak Beit Rabeinu Yaakov ben Asher in the 14th century. Yosef and why others find it necessary. Interestingly, since 1905, the London Board for Rabbi Yosef Karo wrote his commentary on the Tur to Shechita always provided for two levels of Kashrut. In provide the sources from the Talmud and to augment 1991 the higher level was referred to as Machzikei the decisions of the Tur with the then current rulings Hadas, but this was a totally different type of operation of other Poskim. Eventually Rabbi Karo condensed his than the Chalak Beit Yosef. commentary into a more concise Halachic digest, which he called the Shulchan Aruch, and which to this The Machzikei Hadas story began in 1890 when several day remains the standard Halachic text on which frum immigrants were dismayed by the standard of Judaism relies. Kashrut prevalent in the London Board for Shechita. They proceeded to set up a different Shechita and The term Chalak means smooth, and so the complete subsequently a community with a much higher term Chalak Beit Yosef means smooth according to standard of religious observance. They brought in their the opinion of the Beit Yosef. What this is referring to own Rav, Horav Abba Werner zt”l and a 15 year battle is the stringency of the Shulchan Aruch (the Beit began with the London Board for Shechita. Eventually Yosef) that the lungs of a slaughtered animal be a compromise was reached and in 1905 the Machzikei perfectly smooth.
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HALACHIC THOUGHTS
To explain this in a more comprehensive manner, The answer to this is that there are different types of although an animal can be shechted perfectly by the adhesion and the Beit Yosef himself distinguishes most G-d fearing Shochet it must also be free of between different types and different areas of the various blemishes that can render an animal Treifa. lung, some of which make the animal Treifa and others One of these blemishes is a perforation in the lung – which do not. Short of reprinting the Shulchan Aruch the smallest hole renders the animal Treifa and into Hamaor, the minutiae of these differences are too immediately after Shechita the animal must be complex to deal with in an article. But there is one rule opened and inspected to see that there is no which is important to mention and which defines the perforation. But, beside the possibility of perforation, bulk of cases which are relevant to this topic. the lung must be inspected to see if there are no adhesions, either from the lung to the cavity or from The Remo, the 16th century Ashkenazic commentator one lobe to another. These adhesions, called a Sircha, on the Shulchan Aruch, refers to a practice which was render the animal Treifa. There is a dispute among the introduced in the time of Geonim to see if a Sircha could early commentators as to why. Some authorities come off the lung without making a hole. If one could maintain that these adhesions are a sign that the do so the animal would be considered Kosher because membrane covering the lung was perforated, and that would not be considered a proper Sircha but only a that they are a type of scar tissue which has formed “Rir” – a mucous adhesion unconnected to the lung. subsequently, but they do not protect the lung sufficiently and therefore the animal has become Much Halachic literature has developed on this topic. Treifa. Others maintain that these adhesions are not First of all the (Beit Yosef) Shulchan Aruch himself indicative of a hole having been there but that a hole accepted that there was a condition knows as a “Rir” will form on the lung. And if a condition has arisen but limited it to specific cases: that will definitely make a hole the animal is considered Treifa immediately. a) If it came off with the slightest touch it would be a “Rir”, but if it required any rubbing or rolling between No matter what the reason is, all authorities agree that fingers to snap it would be considered Treifa (Sircha). an animal that contains a Sircha is Treifa. And it is incumbent on the Shochet to examine the animal b) Only if the animal belonged to a Jew and the immediately after Shechita to see if there are any Sirchas inspector was known publicly to be a G-d fearing and to determine if the animal is Kosher or Treifa. individual. And the Beit Yosef refers to this as a “leniency”. Up until now this appears to be a simple and straight forward procedure. Shecht the animal, open up the Nevertheless the Remo did allow a Sircha to be rubbed lung cavity – no Sirchas – Kosher, any Sircha – Treifa. or rolled between the fingers and if it snapped would be considered a “Rir” not a Sircha. The Remo concludes However, it is not as simple as that. Although the that although this is a great leniency there is “upon Talmud rules that the majority of animals are kosher, whom to rely on” and this has become the current (and it is a good thing too! Otherwise we could not practice among Ashkenazim, this is called Kosher. drink any milk because the milk of a Treifa animal is forbidden but we rely on the majority), in practice the In the last two hundred years a newer modified type of vast majority of animals we Shecht do have some removing Sirchos has developed which is called “Kiluf”, type of adhesion and so how are we able to consume i.e. peeling the Sircha gently, and if it comes off without the meat? leaving a hole in the membrane the animal is considered
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HALACHIC THOUGHTS
kosher. Whether this is a modified form of “Miuch would be considered Glatt but not Chalak Beit Yosef. and Mishmush”, rubbing and rolling the Sircha, or is a newer type of removal is a dispute among the This leniency – that if the “Rir” came off with only authorities. One thing is certain: in all of the above minimal effort it would still be considered Glatt, is practices the lung must be subsequently checked (by brought in the Sefer “Daas Zevach”, Chapter 22, from water - to see if it bubbles, similar to checking a tyre) a famous Ashkenazi Shochet R’ Michel Meradomsk to ensure that there is no hole after the “Rir” has been and is conclusively ruled on by the Sefer Beis Dovid, removed. the authoritative decision maker in Ashkenazi circles. However, he also refers to a ruling of the Shlah This above leniency, which was challenged by the Hakodosh, that with up to three “Rir” one can rely on Rashba, was condemned by the Shulchan Aruch as this Hetter, and in many Ashkenazi circles this is the Treifa and a Shochet who relies on it says the custom. Shulchan Aruch has fed Treifos to Jews! Those who are particular for Chalak Beit Yosef insist And so the practice developed that Sefardim who that the lung be completely smooth and do not rely relied on the Beit Yosef insisted that they would not on this Hetter. As mentioned before, even today, avail themselves of this Hetter while Ashkenazim, many Ashkenazim insist that they want only Chalak who followed the Remo, did. Beit Yosef and the London Board for Shechita is to be commended on providing this service so that they Actually even among Ashkenazim there were those can provide meat at the highest standard for the who were careful not to rely on this leniency and complete London community. insisted that the lung be smooth which they call Glatt. However, if the “Rir was very small and would Wishing all Hamaor readers a Ksiva Vechasima Tova, a come off without any significant effort the lung Healthy and Happy New Year for all of Klal Yisroel.
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Page 8 Hamaor / September 2009 Speak up September 2009 / Tishrei 5770
Jewish communal life across the UK hate crimes of any kind have no place entirely free of charge, but protecting continues to be as vibrant and varied in our society. the community is very costly. as ever, and thankfully, most of us It is likely that, in common with other CST’s work continues to take place are seldom the direct victims of forms of hate crime, some people in at hundreds of communal buildings antisemitism. Sadly, antisemitic inci- our community who suffer antisemitic throughout the UK: including schools, dents continue to occur. incidents do not report them to either synagogues and community centres. CST or to the Police. By reporting CST has taken responsibility with January to June 2009 antisemitic incidents, you can help to its Protective Windows Project initia- Antisemitic Incidents Report tive, which ensures the fitting of In the first six months of 2009 CST shatterproof film on the windows recorded 609 antisemitic incidents. This of every Jewish communal building is more than the 544 incidents reported in Britain. Recent terrorist attacks at to CST throughout the whole of 2008: both Jewish and non-Jewish sites and more than we have ever recorded demonstrates that flying glass is the in a single year since our records single greatest cause of death and began in 1984. The beginning of 2009 injury. In January 2009, arsonists coincided with the fighting between failed to set fire to the inside of a Israel and Hamas, with CST recording synagogue in London due to the a total of 286 antisemitic incidents in shatterproof film on the windows, January alone. saving it from serious damage. Antisemitism is not the fault of Jews In addition to the Protective Windows or Israel, it is the fault of antisemites. Project, we work in partnership with British Jews should be able to air local communities and organisations on their views on Israel. These are racist The Security Enhancement Project. attacks, in which nobody asks the This ensures that security measures victim for their political opinions. Britain Above: Antisemitic graffiti, such as CCTV, access gates, lighting Nottinghamshire, November 2008. is a democracy and Jews, like any and alarms help to deter possible other citizen, are entitled to express ensure that these crimes have no place threats against our community. their opinions without being physically in our community. attacked or racially abused for it. CST is the only national organisation Thank you to record and analyse antisemitic CST would like to thank our network of Report incidents incidents in the UK. over three thousand trained volunteers Antisemitic incidents can take several across the UK who give their precious forms, from the more serious physical Taking responsibility time to protect our community in assaults to desecrations, graffiti or ver- CST is a registered charity. We receive all circumstances. CST’s work would bal abuse. If you suffer or witness such no statutory funding or any official simply not be possible without the an incident, we urge you to report it to grants and we rely entirely on dona- support of our volunteers’ families and the police and to CST without delay. tions to support and develop our work; the partnership of our community. We This is the best way to ensure that the and trained volunteers to help do the wish you all Shana Tova. incident is properly investigated, and work. CST prides itself in providing all reduces the chance of the perpetrators of its services to the Jewish community Can you help? repeating their crime and someone else Ever increasing demands are being falling victim. CST urges the Jewish community placed on CST to protect our commu- It is important that we do not allow to remain vigilant and ensure that nity and we urge you to take responsi- antisemitism to define our community security continues to be a priority. bility and play your part in this vital work. and there is no reason for it to inhibit CST asks the community to report If you are interested in becoming a our Jewish way of life. We are all free to all antisemitic incidents, and any volunteer or would simply like to make express our Jewishness however we suspicious activity, to both the a donation please call 020 8457 9999 see fit. Antisemitism, racist abuse or Police and to CST without delay. or visit www.thecst.org.uk
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THOUGHTS FROM THE PRESIDENT Do not cast us out in the time of our old age By Alan Finlay, President of the Federation of Synagogues
I recently attended an Even shuls that had closed. The sale proceeds from those Hapina (brick laying) ceremony shul buildings were helping to fund the construction of our newest constituent of this building. I felt it important that such synagogue, Or Yerushalayim, contribution be acknowledged. in Manchester. Attended by some three hundred people, it Since becoming Federation Treasurer in 1995, I have was a highly successful organised the sale of eight synagogual buildings. I event which drew the always made it clear to the local honorary officers that Manchester the decision to close would be up to the local members community to come and should not be taken solely for financial reasons and see the progress but, equally importantly, whether the community of the new building. Local distinguished rabbonim could remain spiritually viable. In Manchester, I were invited to lay down a brick, followed by the remembered the words spoken by the then Vice members. A special programme was arranged for the President, Jonathan Winegarten, at the closing children, when they were 'issued' with hardhats, ceremony for Ahavat Shalom in Neasden. Quoting received pekelach and laid their own bricks. Each child from Parshat Korach, Jonathan said that we read that received a special certificate with a photo of them Aaron and the leaders of the other tribes had laid down laying a brick as a lasting momento of the event. their rods and it was found that Aaron’s rod had sprouted blossom and almonds. Mr Winegarten said Known locally as OJ, the congregation has been that Aaron was known as a lover of peace, ahavat established for 11 years and currently holds services shalom, the name of the Shul and he was sure that, for its 100 members in a local hall. The Honorary just as Aaron’s rod had brought forth blossom so to, Officers of OJ approached the Federation over three would the good name of the shul flourish in other years ago for funding to establish its own premises communities. Laying that second brick was and a presentation to the Federation Council was transplanting a bit of Neasden to Manchester. enthusiastically received and approved. An area of land in Bury New Road was successfully purchased in As I stood there, I remembered the other shuls that auction, planning permission was obtained and had been sold. Great Garden Street, sold to an inner construction work started for a two storey building city quango to fund a training centre for young comprising a shul downstairs and a functions hall people. Ainsworth Road which we sold to a housing upstairs which can be used as a Ladies Gallery over association. I had stood on the bimah of the empty the High Holydays. This is a very exciting project and shul and had had a strong feeling of how it must the first time that the Federation has ventured have looked in its heyday on Rosh Hashanah/Yom outside Greater London. Kippur with all the pews full and the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. One strange thing was that At the bricklaying ceremony, I was asked to lay a brick there was a tree growing out of the foundations as Federation President and then, a little while later, which had reached the height of the building. I asked to lay a second brick on behalf of the Federation. presumed that this was originally a weed that had not been pulled out and I thought that it might make I took the opportunity of saying that such a project an interesting dvar Torah about how, even a could only have been possible because of the sales of neglected weed can become strongly attached to a
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THOUGHTS FROM THE PRESIDENT
shul and flourish in a religious setting. I thought of had done so much to make each shul so special. Shuls Woolwich Shul with its beautiful downstairs simcha are not just where communities come to pray but hall, Clapton, at one stage the “jewel in the where life cycle events are celebrated such as the Federation crown”, Jubilee Street, Greenford and West birth of a child or grandchild, barmitzvahs and Hackney. The monies have been well used. Machzikei batmitzvahs, engagements and weddings. The Hadath and Netzach Israel, both in Golders Green, emotional attachment that one can feel to a shul is have been acquired, Ohr Yisrael was started from immense and with every closure, we needed to scratch in Elstree and Shomrei Hadath off Finchley appreciate and acknowledge the sensitivities Road extended. And now, Manchester. involved. I am pleased that every shul closure was by agreement and without any feeling that it was being What happened to the members? Many were imposed by Head Office. transferred to local shuls and where that was not convenient, membership was transferred to Head Nowadays, maintenance work to a Shul building is Office so that burial rights could be maintained. carried out by contractors. I was dealing with men who had themselves put up every light, fixed the pew seats I learnt from the distressing experience when squatters and repaired the roof. Ladies Guild members had spent broke into Great Garden Street after exchange of hours each week organising the catering and laundry contracts, thereby preventing us from removing the for kiddushim and functions. Everyone had carried out religious artefacts. Thereafter, no building was put on important welfare work caring for the needs of the less to the market until services had ceased, there had been fortunate members. It is not, therefore, surprising that a closing ceremony if that is what members wanted, all families were emotional at the closing ceremonies, members had been provided with the opportunity of remembering the rabbis and rebbetsins who had retrieving family donations such as plaques and shaped their spiritual lives, the events that had memorial boards and the sifrei torah, prayer books, ark occurred during their formative years and the and bima had been taken away, either to Head Office characters who they had either loved or argued with. or to be buried in Rainham. During the Shema Koleinu prayer, we say “Al There are strict halachic rules regarding to whom shul Tashlichainu Le’ais Ziknoh” – “do not cast us out in buildings can be sold. Every prospective purchaser the time of our old age” and we continue “forsake us had to be vetted by Dayan Lichtenstein before the not when our strength fails.” I hope that those sale could proceed to ensure that the proposed use of members and their families reading this article are the building fell within halacha. The subject is reassured that their shuls may no longer exist discussed in Gemorah Megilah, which Dayan Lopian physically but are still playing an important role in of my shul was teaching us at the time that I was the growth of the Federation. Their memories have negotiating the sale of four shul buildings, which I not been forgotten. The buildings may have gone but thought must be quite unique in the history of the we have not forsaken them. At every opportunity, we Jewish people. acknowledge the debt that we owe. They have not been cast off in their old age. All these memories and more came flooding back to me as I put down that second brick. Not only the My colleagues join with me in wishing you all a kesiva buildings but, more importantly, the individuals who v’chasima tovah.
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ROSH HASHANA MESSAGE Rosh Hashana – Yom Teruah or Yom Zikhron Teruah? by Dr Eli Kienwald, Chief Executive, Federation of Synagogues Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan z”l in his Living Torah Chumash translates Zikhron Teruah as “remembrance [and] sounding”. The Chizkuni translates it as “commemorative sounding”.
In order to understand the subtle but very important difference between the two expressions we need to examine what our Sages say about the reasons for the command to blow the shofar on this day. Rabbi Saadiah Gaon gives ten reasons:
In two places in the Scriptures we are commanded to blow the shofar on the first of Tishri. 1. To proclaim the sovereignty of the Almighty since it was the custom to sound the shofar at In Bamidbar (29:1) we are told: “In the seventh month, a coronation. on the first day of the month, there shall be a holy 2. To herald the beginning of the ten days of convocation for you; you shall do no work of labour, it repentance. shall be a day of shofar-sounding (Yom Teruah) for you”. 3. As a reminder to be faithful to the teachings of the Torah, since the shofar was In Vayikra (23:24) we are reminded that “In the seventh heard at mount Sinai. month, on the first of the month, there shall be a rest day for you, a day of remembering the sounding of the 4. As a reminder of the prophets, the teachers shofar (Yom Zikhron Teruah), a calling of holiness”. of righteousness, who raised their voices like the shofar to touch our consciences. The different nuances in the Hebrew language between 5. To the sound of trumpets the Temple fell, and to the two pesukim are all worthy of further investigation. the sound of trumpets it will be restored. However, I would like to focus on the different names 6. As a reminder of the Akeidah, since the ram given to the first day of Tishri – Yom Teruah and Yom which was substituted for Isaac was caught Zikhron Teruah – and the fact that the verse in Vayikra in the thicket by its horns. omits to say that the sounding is “for you”. 7. To inspire awe (“Shall the shofar be blown in the The expression Zikhron Teruah itself is open to city and the people not be afraid?”). interpretation. The Artscroll Chumash follows Rashi’s 8. As a summons to the Heavenly Court on the exegesis that Zikhron Teruah is an asmachta (a biblical Day of Judgement to be judged. allusion) to the rabbinic law that on Rosh Hashana, as 9. As a reminder that the shofar will call well as blowing the shofar, one should recite verses together Israel’s scattered remnants to referring to “remembrances” and to “shofar blowing” return to the Holy Land. (zichronoth and shofaroth in the Musaf Amida), and translates it as “a mention of shofar blasts”. Similarly, 10. As a reminder of the day of resurrection, the Rashi sees an allusion to the third group of verses return to life. (malchuyoth) in his commentary to Bamidbar (10:10).
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ROSH HASHANA MESSAGE
It is interesting to note that five of these reasons are At the sound of the shofar on the forthcoming 2nd for “practical” purposes (to call, to proclaim, to herald, Tishri (1st Tishri 5770 is a Shabbat), may He remember etc) and the other five (shown in bold) are “to remind us for a year of Peace, Health and Success. us” of our history, our heritage and our future destiny. As it happens, the first group fits nicely into the On behalf of my colleagues at Head Office and myself, concept of Yom Teruah and the second group into Yom I would like to wish a Kesiva v’Chasima Tovah to the Zikhron Teruah. whole of the Federation family.
This dichotomy between the practical and spiritual (*) Rabbi Elijah ben Avraham Benamozegh (1822-1900) reasons for blowing the shofar has been the subject of was an Italian Rabbi and philosopher, born in Leghorn of some challenging and animated debates among our Moroccan parents and served as a rabbi and professor of theology in the rabbinical school of that city. He was the Sages over the centuries. A relatively recent exchange author of a commentary on Chumash (Em la-Mikra) and of fiery letters on this issue took place between Rabbi various other important works including a refutation of Shmuel David Luzzatto (the Shadal) and Rabbi Elijah the Shadal’s Vikku’ah al ha-Kabbalah, in which R’ Benamozegh (*) of Leghorn. According to the Shadal Luzzatto had disputed the antiquity of the Zohar. the sound of the shofar had no other purpose but to announce the beginning of a new year at a time when there were no printed calendars (along the lines of R’ Saadia Gaon’s reason 2), in the same way as on the 10th of Tishri the shofar was blown to herald the beginning of the Jubilee Year.
R’ Benamozegh thought that this was a “nice but rather childish” explanation and, taking a diametrically opposite position, claimed that the sound of the shofar had the purpose of attracting the Almighty’s attention onto us men, particularly at a time when war or other natural or spiritual calamities endangered the well being of the country: the first day of Tishri, being the Day of Judgement was one such occasion, because of the danger of being subjected to heavenly punishment.
In R’ Benamozegh’s opinion, Yom Zikhron Teruah is a day of remembrance but not only for us. It is also a day when we ask the Almighty to remember that we are humble human beings and that we need His help and support.
Perhaps this is the reason why the pasuk in Vayikra omits to mention “for you”. The commandment to remember on Rosh Hashana applies to men and the Almighty alike.
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ROSH HASHANA INSIGHTS Nine By Rabbi Alan Lewis, Rav of Edgware Yeshurun Every Amidah for every Shabbos On the first of Tishri, 5770 years ago, man was created and Yom Tov consists of seven with the sole purpose of revealing the truth of Hashem’s Berochos. The exception glory to the whole of creation. A child is born after 9 to the rule is Musaf months of gestation inside its mother’s womb learning Rosh Hashonoh which the whole of the Torah. The angel who is teaching that contains nine blessings. foetus all that is true, then smacks the top part of its The obvious question is why is mouth and the child egresses from a world of total this so? Or maybe we should clarity into a place of confusion. The Emess is seemingly really ask what is the hidden because he has now forgotten all that he had significant and symbolism of learnt. His challenge in the time that has been allotted the number 9? to him in this unclear world, is to bring back that truth of the 9 months of gestation into his life. A number of years ago an Odom Godol The number that symbolises the truth is obviously the (a great man) pointed out something extremely number 9. It is no coincidence but rather a reflection of enlightening to me about this number which, to be the divinely inspired wisdom of Chazal (our Sages of honest, I had never noticed before. If you take any Blessed Memory) that on Rosh Hashonoh, the multiple of 9 and add the digits you will find birthday of man, the Anshai Knesses Hagadolah that they will either add up to 9 or a multiple (the men of the Great Assembly) composed a of it. So for instance 9x3=27. Add the Musaf service comprising of 9 blessings. This digits 2 and 7 and you get 9. Similarly was to teach us that on the birthday of 9x49=441. Add the digits 4+4+1 and mankind the goal of man is to bring the once again we arrive again at the truth of the Omnipotent into our own number 9. personal lives and the lives of others.
It is interesting to note that the Gematria If there was ever a time when the Jewish (the numerical value) of the word Emess human individual seeks desperately for (truth) is 441; Aleph(1) + Mem(40) + inner peace and true meaning to his or her life, it is now. Soff(400) = 441. This word Emess comprises of the first and last letters as well If there was ever a time when there is such a as the middle letter of the Alef Bais. This is to sustained onslaught from certain sections of teach us that the truth can always reach to the the human community to demean us and curse extremes as long there is a connection to the us into non existence, it is now. If there was ever a middle / centre point. time when our frustration in not being able to convince others of the injustice that comes our way as a people is The uniqueness of the number 9 is the fact that no so painful to bear, it is now. matter how great its multiples, by adding the digits there will always be a connection to its origin, 9. In sets of 9 sounds, the ram’s horn the Shofar is blown at Something is always indivisibly true as long as it can be the beginning of the year to remind us and reawaken us traced back to its everlasting foundations. This is why to the truths of why we are here in this world and this is the Jewish people are still around today. For it is the powerfully reflected in the 9 benedictions of the Musaf result of actions of unshakable truth from our service on Rosh Hashonoh. forefathers Avrohom, Yitzchok and Ya’akov and the great revelation of truth at the giving of the Torah at May the year ahead be a time where the truth of Hashem Har Sinai that made us into an everlasting nation. Yisborach will be openly revealed to all His creation.
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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS “The Role of Women in the Federation” By Sarah Anticoni I recall as a child being told by my of a woman holding a position or appointment teachers that there were two key (‘masimos’). Forbidden appointments are further defined institutions in Jewish life; the as being limited to “sroro”, a position of authority. It is home and the shul. I was and also necessary to explore any issue of tzniyus. remained perplexed as to why women had to play a Once the working group of women, who had always limited role in the shul actively participated in communal shul life, understood when they appeared to this concept, we began to explore a variety of possible dominate the home! As I options. We were looking for clear working solutions grew older, I came to which could operate within the halachic context. It appreciate that I was not certainly helped to have mothers and grandmas as well the only one who felt as working professionals and homemakers to explore troubled by the disparity between what appeared to be solutions. socially acceptable roles within schools and the workplace and yet the shul remained a male domain. We wanted to see how women (and we looked at Surely Israel’s democracy should act as a beacon and single women; divorcees; widows and married women) example? Would the shattering of glass ceilings in the could vote; sit on a board of management and commercial world not change the dynamic of shul participate in Council business. We addressed the usual meetings, where men spoke and women catered? business of shul boards and identified quickly that women could not hold the positions of President or Many had probed this issue but in September 2007 our Honorary Officers. However, if the role of treasurer was President, Mr Alan Finlay, agreed to take the first step an administrative function, there was no reason why in hearing the views of the women of the Federation the post could not be held by a woman. and a small working group of those who volunteered for the role was formed. Not all shuls chose to The Dayan also suggested the use of referenda on participate. We were fortunate to have halachic input specific issues (e.g. appointment of a rabbi or moving and guidance from our Rosh Beth Din Dayan shul premises). It became clear that women voting for Lichtenstein and a constructive dialogue began. women whilst halachically acceptable did not necessarily go far enough for some. One particularly It was clear that whatever hopes and views might have inventive concept was to ask the rabbi or Dayan to been expressed for immediate and long overdue identify in advance, agenda items which might have overhaul of the position, we all first had to understand halachic issues and upon which women could not vote, and appreciate the halachic context which curtails thus allowing the vast majority of shul business to be women carrying out certain roles. conducted with women on the board.
I cannot underestimate the huge amount of time and The ideas we had were discussed with the Dayan and effort that was expended by the Dayan in listening to further honed and then aired within individual shuls. the range of views and then researching the position and finally producing his psak din dated 4th December It was important to know what other members (not 2008. If you have not yet read it, I commend it to you to. necessarily just women) felt about some of the I would not be presumptious enough to summarise the proposed changes before seeking to implement them content as fully as might be necessary to fully and so two consultation meetings, the first at Ilford appreciate the complex area but in essence, the Federation on 13 May 2009 and the second at the difficulty lies within the interpretation of the prohibition Yeshurun Synagogue on 3 June were arranged and
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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
well attended. We had an opportunity on both be brought to Council as well as financial occasions to hear the Rosh Beth Din’s clear views on arrangements of the Fed as a whole. It was quite a tall what steps could now be taken by shuls and the order to cover in an evening. President’s views too. The meetings gave useful feedback on a number of ideas for change as well as raising a fair few new dilemmas to address (for example, is it halachically acceptable for a wife to hold her husband’s vote as a proxy and what are the tznyiut issues that arise from exercising such a vote?).
The momentum has gathered steam to find and implement a range of practical solutions without any The Panel at the Ilford meeting further delay to ensure that all women who hold (Photograph by Brian Ash) membership in their own right can participate at shul The meetings were not limited to discussion on the role board and council level. The Honorary Officers have made of women. The Federation constitution (which is the it clear that the constitution should be redrafted (by the document which sets out within any organisation the lawyers) and that they intend for it to be approved by roles and function of its members) was drafted in 1935 council and in place no later than Spring 2010. and has never been amended! The President wanted to discuss the governance of the Fed in all its guises. This Thanks to all women (and men) who have given their included defining who were members and what their time so generously to date. I salute your tenacity, role as trustees might be; what the objects of the patience, dedication, imagination and humour. The Federation are to be; the internal management journey has been long, the route far too convoluted for structure as well as that of the Council; how elections some and the destination may not be clear for all to office should be conducted; how resolutions could constituent shuls. Perhaps we should have used sat nav?
LOOKING AFTER YOUR LOVED ONE’S GRAVE The Federation Burial Society offer a wash down service for members who wish to ensure that their loved ones’ memorial stones are kept in good order. The washing is carried out once a year in the summer, in time for Rosh Hashana. Please note, this service is offered only for new stones or ones that were erected in the last 2 years. For any older stones, please contact one of our approved stone masons.
For more information about our service, please contact Head Office on 020-8202 3903
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FAMILY HAMAOR The Rosh Hashana Duet Maureen Kendler is Head of Educational Programming at the London School of Jewish Studies The cathartic Avinu Malkeinu strengthen us today”, with six verses repeating that prayer which we recite on message in different ways, to which we all say Amen. Rosh Hashana asking “Our Father Our King” for Rabbi Simhah Bunim of Przysucha (1765–1827) wrote: forgiveness ends on a note of “A person should have two pieces of paper, one in each despair, saying “we are empty pocket, to be used as necessary. On one of them is of good deeds.” It is a written, ‘The world was created for me,’ and on the moment of supreme humility, other, ‘I am dust and ashes.’ The Kotzker Rebbe (1787- where our self-esteem 1859) added that the trick is to know which piece of momentarily shrivels. If the paper to take out and when. last line of the Avinu A friend once told me when he was in high school, the Malkeinu was a sound it would be the cry of the shofar, a painful, pleading wail. head teacher called him and a classmate into his office. They were threatened with a good hiding. My friend Why is the shofar the key iconic sound of Rosh was silent. His classmate talked and talked. When they Hashana? The two source texts in the Torah for Rosh left the office the classmate challenged my friend: Hashana (Vayikra 23:24 and Bamidbar 29:1) refer to “Why were you so quiet?” He replied: “Look, we got this day as Yom Teruah, a day of “blasting” or a day to caught, didn’t we?” His classmate said, “Yes, we got “commemorate a blast.” But it does not specify which caught, but you’ve got to talk back, keep talking, give “blaster” of the Jewish orchestra should make this yourself a chance to influence the outcome.” noise: the shofar is not mentioned. And there are two Surely that should be us on Rosh Hashana – our Biblical instrumental candidates for the job. In the prayers give us that chance to keep talking, keep trying Torah and the Temple, a silver trumpet - a chatzotzrah to do all we can to “influence the outcome.” Maybe we - makes the teruah and tekiah sounds just as loudly as need to fold up the “dust and ashes” paper a little and a shofar. smooth out the other one that reminds each of us After a debate in the Mishnah (Rosh Hashana 3:3) the “that the world was created for me.” We must have the shofar won over the trumpet for being blown on the belief and self confidence that we can be an agent for New Year. The link with the Akeida, the sacrifice of good, to stand up straight as well as bow in humility. Isaac, and the sounding of the shofar on Mount Sinai We have to create and orchestrate for ourselves a surely contributed to that decision. Also, the shofar is shofar-chatzotzrah duet in which we are both proud associated with a submissive demeanour, whereas the and humble at the same time. May we all be given the trumpet has more triumphant, military connotations. guidance to know how and when to blow our own The Rabbis of the Talmud (Rosh Hashana 26b) chose a trumpet, and to cry with compassion at the sound of twisted ram’s horn over the long, straight horn of the the ram’s horn. wild goat because the lowly, contorted ram’s horn suits our Avinu Malkeinu mood.
But the spirit of the assertive, confident chatzotzrah is also part of the Musaf service which closes by Learn more at proclaiming to God: Hayom Te’amtzainu, “You will www.lsjs.ac.uk
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Wishing your community a Happy & Healthy New Year 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:10 Page 20
BOOK REVIEW A Time to Speak – Controversial Essays that can change your life by Martin Stern (Devora Publishing, 2009)
Reviewed by Dr Yaakov Wise, University of Manchester
The longest essay, on some ideas that can be found in TORAH MIN HASHAMAYIM •THE PROBLEM FOR MODERNS • THE PARADOX OF PRAYER • ARESPONSE TO THE MISSIONARMISSIONARY MENACE • ADDITIONAL STANZASANZAS FOR MAMAOZ TZUR •SHUL BEHAVBEHAVIOR •A KING A TIME the Shema, is particularly interesting and it will be EXTOLLEDWITH PRAISES•A TIME TOREQUEST • WHEN THE DAVENINGFINISHED TOO LATE • THEKIDDUSH WIDOW • DEAR TO SPEAK CHAIM LETTERS•BERATTERS•BERA MEZAKEHABBA • SOME TIPS ON BEING impossible for anyone who has read it ever again to SHELIACHTZIBUR • SHUL ETIQUETTE • HOW TO RUN A MINYAN • Controversial Essays MAKING YOUROUR SIMCHAH A SIMCHAH FOR EVERYONE • FOR EVERYTHINGNG THERE IS A TIME • AMAN DOES NOT EVEN KNOW HIS That Can Change Your Life TIME•GIVEE HONOR TO THE TORAH! • DON’T BE OOVER-PIOUS – AT By Martin Stern rush off its recitation without deeper thought. In OTHER PEOPLE’SOPLE’S EXPENSE! • E’AL TITOSH TORAT IMEIMECHA • BOOK REVIEWSOR PURIM TORAH? • THEY HAVE REASON TTO DECEIVE • The author is well known for his SHORSHEIKEREM ROSH NEVALIM • MATHEMATICAL CCURIOSITIES• sometimes-controversial writings in defense of another essay on the collections of verses like Uva A REMARKABLEABLE APPROXIMATION TO Pi • CALCULATICALCULATIONS BEFORE Torah Judaism. His words elucidate an CALCULATORSORS • SOME PROBLEMS WITH CALCULATINCALCULATING THE TIME authentic Jewish view on an array of OF SUNRISE•IT’S A LONG, LONG TIME FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER • LANGUAGEAND THOUGHT PATTERNS TTERNS • MENSTRMENSTRUAL CYCLE provocative subjects, and he doesn’t mince Letsion, the author shows how our Sages used the ANALYSIS: A PROBLEM IN PATTERN RECOGNITION • THE JEWISH words with those who seek to dilute the CALENDAR • RULES FOR VESATOT • TORAH MIN HASHAMAYIM • beauty that Judaism has to offer. THE PROBLEM FOR MODERNS NAL STANZAS FOR MAOZ TZUR • You’ll discover: siddur to arm the ordinary Jew against the SHUL BEHAVIOR • A KING EXTOLLED WITH PRAISES • A TIME TO ATIME • A new level of understanding of the REQUEST • WHEN THE DAVENING FINISHED TOO LATE •THE Shema, tefillin, mezuzah, tzitzit; KIDDUSH WIDOW • DEAR CHAIM LETTERS • BERA MEZAKEH ABBA blandishments of the early Christian missionaries by • The terrible repercussions that have • SOME TIPS ON BEING SHELIACH TZIBUR • SHUL ETIQUETTE • occurred because of a lack of decorum HOW TOTO RUN A MINYAN SPEAK• MAKING YOUR SIMCHAH A SIMCHAH in the synagogue; FOR EVERYONE • FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A TIME•AMANDOES • The correct response to the missionary making them familiar with Biblical verses that NOT EVEN KNOW HIS TIME • GIVE HONOR TO THE TORAH! • DON’T menace; BE OVER-PIOUS –A ATT OTHER PEOPLE’SEXPENSE! • E’AL TITOSH TORAT IMECHAHA • BOOK REVIEWS OR PURIM TORAH? • THEY HAVE •What it means to be a “Kiddush Widow”; REASON TODECEIVE • SHORSHEI KEREM ROSH NEVALIM • • How to avoid being overly pious at contradicted some of their arguments, something that MATHEMATICALCAL CURIOSITIES • A REMARKABLE APPROAPPROXIMATION other people’s expense; TO Pi • CALCULATIONSCULATIONS BEFORE CALCULATORS ALCULATORS • SOME PROBLEMS • The importance and use of the major WITH CALCULATINGULATING THE TIME OF SUNRISE • IT’S A LOLONG, LONG Gemmatria systems; is needed even in our times. TIME FROMJUNE TO SEPTEMBER • LANGUAGE AND THOUGHT ...and much, much more. PATTERNS THEDAVENING FINISHED TOO LATE • THE KIDDUSH WIDOW • DEAR CHAIMLETTERS • BERA MEZAKEH ABBABBA • SOME The author’s dynamic “Dear Chaim” TIPS ON BEING SHELIACHCH TZIBUR • SHUL ETIQUETTE • HOW TO letters allow him to present some of the RUN A MINYAN • SHORSHEI KEREM ROSH NEVALIMNE • pressing issues that confront synagogues the MATHEMATICALCURIOSITIES • A REMARKABLEABLE APPROAPPROXIMATION world over. Included is a novel way to “make His research into the Maoz Tsur has revealed the TO Pi • CALCULATIONSTIONS BEFORE CALCULATORSTORS • SOME PROBLEMS your simcha a simcha for everyone.” WITH CALCULATINGTING THE TIME OFSUNRISE • IT’S A LONG, LONG A Time to Speak speaks to everyone. TIME FROMJUNE TO SEPTEMBER •LANGUA LANGUAGE AND THOUGHT Thought-provoking and controversial, it existence of several extra stanzas that had been PATTERNSTHE DDAVENINGFINISHED TOO LATE • RULES FOR reveals why Judaism continues to be such a VESATOT • TORAH MIN HASHAMAYIM • THE PROBLEM FOR vibrant, dynamic way of life. Controversial Essays That Can Change Your Life DE VORA suppressed in order to avoid the problem of falling foul PUBLISHING Martin Stern NEW YORK JERUSALEM LONDON of Christian censors. They shed a fascinating light on the way Ashkenazi Jews in Central Europe in the early Martin Stern will be familiar to most readers from his modern period reacted to the pressures of the many letters in defence of Orthodox Judaism that have surrounding culture. appeared in the Jewish press over the years and his articles on liturgical and social problems affecting the In the section on shul behaviour, he decries the lax Anglo-Jewish community. In this book, he has expanded attitude that gives a semblance of validity to the critics on some of these issues together with authoring other of Orthodoxy and describes the traditional attitude to essays on a wide range of Jewish subjects. talking in shul and its repercussions throughout the ages. Following in the tradition of Rabbi Yisroel To name but a few there is a detailed analysis of the Salanter, he decries the super-piety assumed by some concept of Torah min Hashamayim that clarifies the who ignore the problems they may cause their fellows definition of the doctrine and shows how non-Orthodox and the excesses in simchah celebrations that put groups so distort it as to render them as separate pressure on others to exceed their budgets to “keep up religions. His tongue in cheek parody book review of the with the Cohens”. so-called Higher Biblical Criticism exposes the absurdity of its purported reconstruction of Jewish history on the The author’s dynamic ‘Dear Chaim’ letters allow him to basis of supposed early sources underlying the Torah present some of the pressing issues that confront text. It is regrettable that more of his many writings synagogues the world over such as the problem of against the deformers of Judaism were not included but meshullachim collecting at inappropriate times. This the author promises a second volume in due course. format is also used to give some extremely
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BOOK REVIEW
sympathetic advice to those who are confronted with
leading services on becoming an aveil. About the Author “CONTROVERSIAL” “THOUGHT PROVOKING” His empathetic approach is highlighted in his essay “PROVOCATIVE” These are some of the words used to describe “The Kiddush Widow” that discusses the problems Martin Stern’s A Time to Speak. You may agree or disagree vehemently with the author about any number of topics he discusses. But faced by mothers of small children who are “one thing is certain: You won’t be bored by the insights of this eclectic housebound on Shabbat in the absence of an eiruv. MARTIN STERN studied mathematics defense of Judaism. at Cambridge University, where he received a bachelor of arts degree and continued his One reader even commented that it was so true to life research in Oxford, receiving his master of arts degree. He took up a post as Lecturer in “Martin Stern has long been a forceful and intelligent defender Mathematics at the John Dalton College of of Orthodoxy, and in this collection of his writings he offers us a rich Technology, later named Manchester feast of insights into Jewish prayer, Jewish life, and Jewish faith. His is Metropolitan University. that she could not believe it was written by a man! a fine mind, a caring heart, and an infectious spirit.” Beginning in 1985, the author became Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks involved in defending Torah Judaism in the more secular Anglo-Jewish press, and developed an interest in liturgical and social “Martin Stern has produced an innovative work – part original problems affecting the Jewish community. He scholarship, part provocative polemic – that will entertain, inform, In addition he has included a few of his less technical was particularly active in the largely successful and challenge both the academic scholar of Judaism and the campaign to combat the attempts of the observant and engaged member of the Orthodox community. His Masorti (Conservative) movement to establish breadth of interests is impressive, perhaps indicative of his origins in mathematical publications that shed light on Jewish itself in Manchester. In more recent years he the Torah im Derech Eretz School of German Orthodoxy. A book to has used his epistolary skills to defend Israel be studied and contemplated as it reveals much of the ancient against its detractors, both in the more secular wisdom of Israel for the contemporary, skeptical age.” Anglo-Jewish and general non-Jewish press. Dr. Z. Yaakov Wise, Centre for Jewish Studies, School of themes, an analysis of the nature of language and an He is well known for his forthright Arts Histories & Cultures, University of Manchester approach, and refusal to bow, to political correctness of any kind – something that has insightful discussion of women’s issues. led, on occasion, to abuse by those who cannot tolerate independent thought. ISBN 978-1-934440-41-4 U.S. $24.95 52495 DE VORA DE VORA PUBLISHING NEW YORK JERUSALEM LONDON PUBLISHING As the Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks writes, “Martin Stern has NEW YORK JERUSALEM LONDON 9 781934 440414 long been a forceful and intelligent defender of Orthodoxy and in this collection of his writings he offers Dr Z Yaakov Wise, MA, PGCE, Ph.D, MIfL, MCIM, MCIPR a rich feast of insights into Jewish prayer, Jewish life and Freelance Historian, Lecturer, Journalist and Broadcaster, Hon. Research Fellow, Centre for Jewish Jewish faith.” The reader may agree or vehemently Studies, School of Arts Histories & Cultures, University disagree with him about any number of topics but one of Manchester. Associate Lecturer in Public Relations, thing is clear he won’t be bored by this controversial, Department of Communication, Media & Journalism, thought provoking and provocative defence of Judaism. Sheffield Hallam University. Feature writer: Jewish Tribune & Jewish Chronicle London & Jewish Telegraph Group, Manchester. Reviewer: Journal of Jewish Culture Available from Borders and most Jewish booksellers & History. Consultant to BBC Radio and TV and the and, on line, from Amazon.com Anglican Diocese of Manchester on Orthodox Judaism.
The Dayanim, Chief Executive and Head Office Staff extend their warmest wishes for A Ksiva Vachasima Tova
to all Members of the Federation of Synagogues and their Families
The President and Honorary Officers extend their warmest wishes for A Ksiva Vachasima Tova
to all Members of the Federation of Synagogues and their Families
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TRAVEL Return to der Heim Mark Harris has made several trips to Poland, the homeland of his ancestors IN June 1999, as my aircraft roots lie deeper, and my Jewish heritage extends further landed at Warsaw’s Okecie back, in Poland than in Britain. (Indeed, my birth Airport, I’d shed more than certificate reveals my Polish surname as “Lezefsky”.) a tear or two. This was a first pilgrimage for me to the Even though the Jewish presence in Poland is now land of my forebears, who’d statistically diminutive, there has been a gradual possessed the remarkable revival of communal life in some of the major cities, prescience, and courage, especially since the demise of communism (20 years to leave the gritty ago last June) inspired primarily by Lech Walesa’s⁄ industrial city of Solidarity movement. In April 2008, I was in Lód´⁄ z for an alien England as long ago as the 1870s. I’d picturesque though touristy Cracow when the Prince of reflected that my emotional response related as much to Wales opened a Jewish Community Centre in Kazimierz, the Nazi Holocaust of millions of European Jews on the town’s old Jewish Quarter. At the dedication Polish soil between 1939 and 1945 as it did to the timely ceremony, the prince, who’d contributed financially to salvation of at least some of my relatives, moving me to the project through World Jewish Relief, said: “You have make a personal statement about Jewish continuity. borne witness to some of the darkest clouds of human history right up to today, when a new and important In more recent times, since Poland joined the European chapter is opening”. Thadeus Jakubowitz, president of Community, I’ve been back to the country often, the community since 1997, observed that the new concentrating to date on Warsaw, Lód´⁄ z, Poznan, building was “a dream come true”. Cracow and Lublin. In September 1939, when Germany’s jackbooted armies invaded, between three Surprisingly, many enthusiastic Gentiles are responsible and four million Jews lived in these cities, and in towns for the renewal, preservation and continuation of and villages across the nation. By the end of Hitler’s Poland’s Jewish cultural heritage. One example of this is war, a ghostly remnant of death camp survivors the organisation of the month-long, summer Jewish attempted to return to the areas from which they’d Festival in Cracow, where several ancient shuls, mostly been driven. Only to be met with local pogroms, museums now, are open to visitors. Also, the Jewish notoriously in Kielce, and an utterly unsympathetic, Cultural Centre in Kazimierz has a number of non-Jewish Soviet-sponsored regime that hardly encouraged the staff; its April 2008, 65th anniversary screening of early restoration of Jewish communal life. archive film about the ill-fated Warsaw Ghetto Uprising had a 30-strong audience that included just a couple of Today, an estimated 8,000 (largely elderly) Jews live in local Jewish people (and me). Another illustration is the Poland, mainly residing in Warsaw, Cracow and Lód´z,⁄ capital’s 390-seat Yiddish Theatre, where a vast majority out of a total population of 38 million. In the museum of the repertory company as well as any audience are not of Lublin castle, which from its hilltop location once Jews. I’ve enjoyed some excellent productions there, commanded the town’s Jewish ghetto, I viewed a including a musical about the artist Marc Chagall. remarkable painting. “The Reception of Jews in Poland” Unfortunately, on my last visit to Warsaw this year I by Jan Matejko depicts the admission of Jewish narrowly missed a new staging of “Fiddler on the Roof”. refugees by Prince Wladyslaw⁄ Herman in 1096. As I contemplated the large canvas (and, undeniably, on my I’ve davened on Shabbat in several synagogues in journeys through this new EC member state) I felt a Poland. These have ranged from the first city’s beautiful compelling sense of national affinity, despite the long 19th century No´zyk Synagogue, which singularly survived history of Polish anti-Semitism. This somewhat (as a fodder warehouse and stabling facility) the German incongruous sentiment could stem from a belief that my wartime occupation and the destruction of the Warsaw
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inspirational efforts at the community’s Purim festivities. The Megillah Esther recitation was actually filmed by Polish National Television for broadcast the following weekend. Luckily, I was able to view an early edit, which included footage of Rabbi Keller in his streiml and long black coat dancing around the little shul with me grasping his arm. Several young families enhance the kehilla, which boasts a Sunday cheder for a dozen children. On Purim night, dressed in colourful costumes, they delighted everyone.
The Noz˙yk Synagogue in Warsaw Ghetto in 1943, to the smallest, oldest, quaintest and most atmospherically active Orthodox shul in the country. This is the famous Remuh Synagogue in Kazimierz. The father of the legendary Rabbi Moses Isserles, who famously authored “The Tablecloth” (a combined religious and legal work relating to Ashkenazi customs), founded the house of worship in 1553. The Isserles family is buried in the centuries old, now painstakingly restored cemetery that arcs around the shul. Purim night 2009 in the Lód´z JCC shul; Rabbi Simcha Keller Possibly the warmest communal welcome I’ve received wears a streiml was in Lód´⁄ z, the city of my ancestors and once home to virtuoso pianist Arthur Rubenstein, where I enjoyed After the reading, some 50 congregants attended a an exhilarating Purim this year. In an enclave not far splendid sit-down supper in the Centre’s professionally south of what was the town’s infamous wartime ghetto run and truly superlative kosher Café Tuwim (I loved its of “Litzmannstadt”, where you can yet see many tasty jellied carp), named after the city’s once eminent decaying (and amazingly still lived-in) tenements Jewish poet, Julian Tuwim. As the vodka and slivovitz interspersed with rows of drab Stalinist housing blocks, was poured (commendably generously) by the Israeli stands the busy Jewish Community Centre. One owner, Rabbi Keller entertained us with heartfelt Purim Shabbat, I prayed in its white-walled prayer room zemirot followed later in the evening by some soulful alongside 16 men (with a handful of women in the and poignant old melodies which he played, amazingly adjoining, partitioned area). With no Levi present, I had expertly, on his tuneful flute. Sitting only a few hundred the honour of being given the second aliyah. On the metres from the boundary of what was the Nazis’ most bimah, I met the Polish-born, ultra-Orthodox Rabbi notorious ghetto, and relishing the community’s cosy Simcha Keller, who has accomplished so much in celebration of Purim, I pondered how incredibly the spirit, revitalising the town’s 500-strong community during faith and hope of Judaism were alive again in Lód´z.⁄ his 15 years as its spiritual leader. Sadly, but perhaps not unexpectedly, this wasn’t quite I witnessed some marvellous instances of this the situation in other Polish towns. When my eyes first charismatic minister’s wonderfully warm and beheld the pathetic, dismal and emasculated hulk,
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which is all that remains of Poznan’s magnificent I discovered a similar story playing out in Lublin, a small former Great Synagogue, I couldn’t stop the salt but lively university-city in South East Poland once droplets from welling in their corners. After the steeped in Jewish heritage and Torah learning. Jews German blitzkrieg into this main city of North Western had lived here through the vagaries of good times and Poland, the Nazis desecrated the beautiful, copper- persecutions for over 600 years. In the late 18th domed shul, dedicated in 1907 for 1,200 members, and century, the town became a vibrant receptor of converted it into a swimming pool and rehabilitation Hassidism. A plaque in what had been the old Jewish centre for Wehrmacht troops. The city’s 2,000 Jews, Quarter recalls the long-vanished Hassidic prayer house whose history goes back 900 years, were deported to where the renowned Rabbi Yaakov Yitshok ha-Levi ghettoes, concentration camps or slave labour sites. A Horowitz (“The Seer of Lublin”) resided. The equally few hundred trekked home after the war, but were famed Rabbi Shlomo Luria (d.1537) founded the thwarted from re-establishing a viable community. community’s main synagogue, named Maharshal-shul in his honour. Annexed to it was a smaller place of worship called the Maharam-shul in memory of Rabbi Meir ben Gedalia (d.1616). Below Lublin castle a stone monument marks the site of the two buildings completely destroyed by the Nazis.
By 1900, a thriving Jewish community made up 50 percent of Lublin’s population, its more successful members (as in other Polish cities) living in mansions beyond the ghetto areas after the granting of residence rights. In 1939 there were 38,000 Jews in the town; almost all of them perished in the gas chambers of Belzec and Majdanek. Miraculously, a few
The surviving hulk of the former Great Synagogue of Poznan Until only a few years ago, the building continued to serve as a municipal swimming pool. In 2002, ownership of the grim-looking and neglected structure was re-transferred to the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations in Poland. Apparently, there has been a heated controversy about future use of the building. This has probably stemmed from the fact that there are barely 60 Jews residing in Poznan, a leafy sophisticated metropolis of art, culture, international trade fairs and 200,000 people. As I understand it, a decision has now been made to develop this last substantive evidence of the city’s Jewish inheritance into a “Centre for Tolerance”, The building of the former Yeshiva Hakhmei in Lublin whatever that may mean. There’s an active Jewish important Jewish buildings survived, including the prayer room in a redbrick house not far from the orphanage (wartime HQ of the German-controlled degraded stump of the old shul; though I found the Jewish Council), and the hospital (now a tiny community, maybe justifiably, somewhat elusive. gynaecological clinic). But perhaps most notable is the
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impressive edifice of Yeshiva Hakhmei Lublin, founded of wealthy manufacturing tycoons and the by Rabbi Meir Shapiro in 1930 (a superb echo of the unpretentious headstones of more humble Jewish folk. original established by Rabbi Shalom Shakhna). While the SS burned the Torah academy’s 22,000 prayer and But millions of Polish Jews had no burial place, no final study books and 10,000 learned journals, the basic tribute and no monument to be visited. I’ve recited structure was unharmed. Only recently was it returned Kaddish in Auschwitz, Majdanek and other Nazi death to the Jewish community by the authorities. camps in Poland where Jewish men, women and children were slaughtered on an industrial scale. There’s another building in the one-time ghetto area, a prayer house set up by the guild of Jewish undertakers Invariably I leave behind the watchtowers and barbed and the sole post-war survivor of some 100 local shuls wire, wooden barracks and work shops, SS quarters, and shteibls. Sadly, with just a couple of dozen, mostly cells and execution walls, gas chambers and crematoria elderly Jews living in Lublin a regular minyan is physically chilled, even on a warm day, my mind a impracticable. Unfortunately, there was no Shabbat maelstrom of thoughts, emotions and prayers. Perhaps service during my stay; though special arrangements the modest but evolving resumption of Jewish life, may be made when large touring groups from the USA spiritual and traditional, in today’s new generational or Israel arrive in the city. From the opposite side of Poland represents a hopeful re-start for the community. the road, I could merely gaze forlornly at the tantalising Star of David in one of the first floor prayer room’s four arched windows.
HEBREW CLASSES AVAILABLE AT The mausoleum of Israel Poznanski, Poznan’s 19th century textile tycoon
I’ve wandered through many ancient and “new” Jewish Loughton, Chigwell & District Hebrew cemeteries across Poland. Long after the Nazi Classes, Borders Lane, Loughton violations (thousands of gravestones were smashed or Co-ordinators: Mrs D Shilton and Mrs S Shine removed for road, wall and camp construction), several have been renovated and maintained with funding Croydon & District Cheder, from various Jewish charitable foundations. Hundreds The Almonds, 5 Shirley Oaks Road, Croydon still visit the memorials of great rebbes from decades Co-ordinators: David and Ophra Gilinsky long past, the huge 19th century marble mausoleums
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FAMILY HAMAOR A Stillbirth is still a birth - Hoping to help stillbirth parents by Dan and Lisa Shaffer
Endorsed by Rabbi Shimon Weingarten, project made possible by Rabbi and Rebbetzen Garson as a cross community initiative conceived under the auspices of Ohr Yisrael Elstree Federation Synagogue. Please note some readers may find this distressing.
It’s 13 months since Lenni died and was born at full term stillborn baby, one must empathise with the just after an uneventful labour and due to an unimaginable pain of a life eagerly and excitedly unexpected and random placental infection. No medical anticipated and then, just as you are just about to meet intervention would have altered the outcome. Her you baby for the first time, disaster strikes. A life lost birthday and funeral took place on the same day. before it has truly begun.
05-06-2008 6:39 am It is just too painful to imagine isn’t it? Lenni Veronica Shaffer born this morning sadly never to take her first breath. If you think it is painful for you, how painful do you think it is for me? We are devastated and thank you in advance for your kind thoughts. I wonder if you will avoid talking to me because you simply do not know what to say... 05-06-2008 10:10am Funeral 3pm Bushey all welcome at graveside. I converse with a friend who has just plucked up the courage to pick up the phone after a year as he has It was only thirteen hours from the time when Lenni decided that he might not be able to upset me now. emerged until she was placed underground. From the warm, nurturing womb, to the cold, muddy grave. He should have picked up the phone and called a long time ago but I guess, he just didn’t know what to say! Thirteen hours is not long. We wish that parents who had been through a stillbirth would have been with us I don't look down on him though. I welcome his at the hospital within an hour or two to help us navigate contact and explain how talking to him about Lenni through the pressing and difficult, time dependant affirms that she existed despite the fact that I have no decisions that we had to make before our baby memories of her and I can't tell you anything about daughter, Lenni, was buried. her. This past year has been spent in endeavours markedly contrasted to ‘normal’ parents of live newborns. We live All I have is a recording of her heartbeat on my phone, day to day life, cradling nothing but a palpable some scan pictures and a black and white photo of her emptiness, being fed and nurtured on shattered after she had died and was subsequently born. Why fragments of mere hopes and dreams. black and white? In colour, her complexion would be deemed as too unnatural and upsetting for general The club that no one wants to join; the leprous affliction consumption. Babies should not be tinged with a of a taboo bereavement. delicate hue of blue. Her photo is on my mantelpiece beside those of my other two children, all in their In order to engage with parents who have had a places in my family story.
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So he says to me, I was really sorry to hear about your common issue of stillborn. Helpmelenni is a grass roots terrible tragedy last year, I think well why didn't you call project intended to support parents of stillborn last year? But I say thank you so much for phoning, I children from the moment their baby is born dead or lead the conversation as my friend feels awkward. I lead dies shortly after birth. The web based element is my friend through the specifics and let him know that intended to grow and evolve over time. With your help, even though this is a difficult conversation, it is a we hope that the website will mature into a valuable worthwhile one. and irreplaceable resource.
A stillbirth is still a birth, the same hopes and dreams, We have set up a stillbirth taskforce, initially to cover just a corpse instead of a scream to cradle all too briefly. NW London and The Home Counties to help people I realise and articulate that in order for my friend to within hours of their baby dying shortly before, during empathise with my situation and experience, he must or after, birth. We can help discuss your choices with you put himself in my position and by doing so must go into in a neutral and non- judgemental way. We have been a very painful place in his heart where babies die. This is in your situation and we know how difficult it can be to just too painful for most people to do and so the leprous lose your baby. affliction that could have been a conversation hangs in the balance for the next person that is picking up the We can advise and help you navigate through the phone and hesitating about whether to dial my number choices surrounding naming, burial, registration of birth or not. and death, shiva, kaddish, watching over your baby's body before the burial. We can help you wash and dress To all those who are having to experience the death of your baby. a stillborn baby, my heart goes out to you. Where do you find the strength to carry on? The answer is: From We can be with you every step of the way, or we can be wherever you can. invisible if you want us to be, but you will probably not know what you want, we didn’t. Be ambassadors for lives that need you to express themselves. But most of all, we can make suggestions based on our experience of losing our own baby at birth. We can share I remember the feeling of skydiving down a ravine your experiences as you live through them with without a parachute knowing that the only comfort understanding and compassion. We can also provide will be, that sooner or later, the ground is waiting to you with suitable contacts for confidential and come crashing up into me. I remember, today, double appropriate religious and emotional support. taking that I wish I was cradling Lenni, arms going up in reflex action. If you have been affected by this article or wish to be involved in this project, Dan and Lisa Shaffer can be Lenni lives on through our actions and her existence has contacted through the web pages at given us the opportunity to try and help other parents who find themselves in the horrific circumstance of www.helpmelenni.com expecting a first cry and instead, receiving a last breath. At present, Jewish communities in the UK have no www.jewishstillbithtrust.org centralised, organised and unified way of tackling the incredibly challenging but unfortunately all too Help us to help you Hamaor / September 2009 Page 27 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 28
HISTORY Recha and Isaac Sternbuch by Robyn Deutsch developed a vast array of contacts throughout Europe. In 1938, Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria poured over the Swiss border and the Sternbuchs provided food, clothing and lodgings for them.
One would assume that many of the Swiss Jewish families would have done likewise, but sadly this wasn’t the case. Recha and Isaac were exceptional and Recha glared at the Gestapo officer’s bloated face, cold met with considerable opposition from their eyes, row of medals on his chest and a rottweiler at his community. Unfortunately, The Federation of Swiss side. ‘I am Swiss. These Jews came on my initiative. I Jewish Communities, concerned over increased anti- am responsible for them. I would ask you to turn them semitism as a result of this influx, had no compunction over to me. I am taking them into Switzerland’. The in denying assistance to refugees caught at the border. officer’s face reddened with fury at the impudence of In 1939, Recha was arrested for aiding and harbouring this woman who wanted the release of a dozen Jews refugees. She was imprisoned for a short time and at the Swiss border. He rose, stood threateningly in faced three years of legal proceedings before being front of her and hissed in her face: ‘How dare you! I’ll acquitted at a trial. Despite this, she continued her send you away with these dirty Jews! I’ll rip up your rescue operations throughout. Swiss passport if you don’t disappear from here this minute!’ The dog sniffed menacingly at her waiting HIJEFS (‘Hilfsverein fur Judische Fluchtlinge in for an order to attack. Recha stood her ground, her Shanghai’) was founded by the Sternbuchs to aid the heart quaking, and replied quietly, ‘I’ll voluntarily join yeshiva and Torah scholars who had escaped to them if you don’t turn them over to me. I am Shanghai. The organisation, which was run with the responsible for them’. To her surprise, the Gestapo assistance of five skilled and influential individuals, officer released them, probably knowing he would have operated between 1941 and 1951 and its sustained no peace if he didn’t. effort and accomplishments are beyond compare.
This is typical of Recha Sternbuch’s tenacity and desire HIJEFS expanded its horizons as the need arose and to save as many Jews as possible – thousands in fact. enlisted the aid of the Va’ad Hatzala, the rescue Recha & Isaac Sternbuch’s names should be mentioned committee of the American Union of Orthodox Rabbis in the same breath as Oscar Shindler and Raoul and became its Swiss representative. It was also greatly Wallenberg but they sought no praise and refused assisted by the Polish Ambassador in Berne, Alexander publicity. Lados and his aide Dr Julius Kuhl who permitted HIJEFS to use Embassy facilities to send hundreds of They were both born in 1905. Recha was a daughter encrypted cables. The Papal Emissary, Monsignor of the Chief Rabbi of Belgium, Rabbi Mordecai Philippe Bernadini granted Persona Grata status to Rottenberg, and Isaac was a son of a Russian Chasidic Recha to enable safe travel and helped them obtain rabbi who moved to Romania and then Switzerland. South American visas. They were renowned for their hospitality and the steady stream of distinguished visitors to their door This article gives a small taste of the Sternbuch’s proved invaluable in their future work having achievements.
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HISTORY
In 1940 the Sternbuch’s celebrated their only son’s Bar Sternbuchs pleaded for funding from the Va’ad Mitzvah. On that Shabbat, three refugees were Hatzala, who were obliged to route the request via the captured and were facing deportation to Germany. American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, which Even though they were strictly shomer shabbat, the refused to countenance the deal. Nonetheless, on 7 Sternbuchs, placing the highest priority to save a life, February 1945, 1,200 Jews were released from immediately went into action and by their efforts Theresienstadt, 2,000 Jews from the Ravensbruck obtained the refugees’ freedom. By the time their camp, and their efforts resulted directly in a further rescue mission was complete they had missed their 100,000 Jews being freed. son’s Bar Mitzvah. Within a few days of the allied liberation of each In 1942, they alerted the world to the mass country HIJEFS sent aid to survivors and were deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto and warned of swamped with letters seeking help to trace relatives. the destruction of European Jewry. Although not the They were the focal point of contact for all activists. first to raise the alarm, their cables, sent via the Polish consulate were easily verified. Initially, President In May 1945, shortly after the liberation of France, Roosevelt did little and the American Jewish leadership Recha went on a mission to rescue Jewish children remained silent. It took three months of mounting who had been hidden in non-Jewish homes. She set pressure from the Sternbuchs and Jewish communal up two children’s homes in Aix-Les-Bains near the leaders until the State Department allowed the Swiss border; obtained hundreds of entry visas to information to become public, by which time 1 million France for Jews across Europe and founded two Jews had been murdered. refugee centres near Paris. In July 1945 Recha visited Germany. Instead of staying In the spring of 1944, when the Germans were sending in hotels to which her UN documents entitled her she 12,000 Jews a day by train from Hungary to Auschwitz, insisted on sleeping in refugee barracks and made a the Sternbuchs were in the forefront of those who sent huge impression on everyone. She left her belongings pleas to the Allies to bomb the railway lines to with them, arranged for packages to be sent and Auschwitz. Their cries fell on deaf ears. brought out cases full of letters. Her appearances They were also involved with the “Kastner train”. In renewed their faith. She ensured the religious needs of April 1944, Adolf Eichmann offered to Joel Brand and the survivors were met in DP camps – establishing kosher kitchens and synagogues. Dr Rudolph Kastner, leaders of the Hungarian Jewish community, a deal to exchange Jews for trucks. The In 1946, Recha made several trips to Poland where she deal was highly controversial and fraught with battled with the authorities to procure exit visas and problems, but with Isaac Sternbuch’s financial backing, smuggled children out of the country. In the following a trainload of 1,684 people had safe passage from years she led many rescue operations across Europe, Bergen-Belsen to Switzerland. often putting herself in great danger. She was instrumental in the establishment of children’s homes In September that year, following the limited success in Belgium, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Austria. of the “Kastner train”, the Sternbuchs approached Dr Jean-Marie Musy, a former President of Switzerland Recha died in 1971 on her travels and is buried next to and personal friend of Himmler, to seek the release of Isaac who predeceased her. Jews from concentration camps. Musy and his son, Benoit, met with Himmler on several occasions and Information based on book ‘Heroine of Rescue’ by negotiated the release of the Jews for $1 million. The Joseph Friedenson & David Kranzler
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FAMILY HAMAOR
Recipes by Denise Phillips Preparation Time: 15 minutes Parev: Will Freeze Cooking Time: 30 minutes Serves: 6 people
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 7 raw beetroots – peeled and roughly chopped 900g carrots – peeled and sliced 2 onions 2 cloves garlic – peeled and sliced 2 sweet potatoes – peeled and roughly chopped Wholesome Beetroot and 2 litres vegetable stock Carrot Soup Salt and pepper – to taste Garnish: Sprigs of parsley 6 whole coriander seeds
Method: 1) Heat the olive oil in a deep saucepan. Fry the onions and garlic for about 5 minutes until soft. 2) Add the carrots, beetroot, sweet potatoes, and vegetable stock. 3) Bring to the boil and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the vegetables are soft. 4) Pour into a blender and whiz until smooth. Return Rosh Hashonah celebrations is a time for renewal and to the saucepan and reheat. Season to taste. repentantce – so why not continue this ideology with 5) Fry the whole coriander seeds in a dry frying pan for renewing one’s eating habits and start the year with a 2 minutes until slightly golden. Remove and crush with nutritious soup. Carrots and beetroot are also symbolic a rolling pin or pestle and mortar. at this time of year as the omens present us with the thoughts of prosperity and a life of good fortune. To serve the stylish way: Garnished with sprigs of parsley and crushed coriander This colourful nutritious soup is perfect for family style seeds. eating whether it is a Yom Tov or for a change a different soup for Friday night. Soup is easy to serve and can be made in advance which makes the cook’s task straightforward. I like to boost the intake of vegetables with a healthy content as much as possible at any opportunity.
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FAMILY HAMAOR
Sicilian Baby Aubergine Salad Garnish: Large bunch of fresh basil
Method: 1) Preheat the grill to its highest setting. 2) Place the aubergines, cut side up and brush with a little extra virgin olive oil. 3) Grill for 10 - 15 minutes until slightly blackened turning them over halfway through cooking. 4) To make the marinade, put the remaining oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, sugar, pine nuts, raisins and salt and pepper in a jug and mix. 5) Place the hot aubergines in a dish and pour over the marinade. Leave to cool, turning the aubergine once or twice before serving. This is just the perfect salad for Shabbat and Yom Tov as it needs to be made in advance for the flavours to To serve the stylish way: infuse and develop. Aubergines are particularly popular Garnish with sprigs of basil in Southern Italy and in this recipe the basil, extra virgin olive oil, lemon and garlic marinates the vegetable so that they are succulent and tender. Apple Pomegranate Cake
This is quick to prepare and can be served with meat, fish or a dairy meal. It is a tasty salad for a buffet table and does not spoil with time.
You can use regular sized aubergines if you cannot find the baby variety ~ just slice thickly.
Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Serves: 4-6 as a side salad
Ingredients: 12 baby aubergines – halved lengthways 200ml extra virgin olive oil Juice of 1 lemon 3 cloves garlic – peeled and finely chopped 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar Every Rosh Hashonah we repent for our sins and wish 25g pine nuts for a happy and healthy New Year. Pomegranates have 2 tablespoons raisins a symbolic connection as they are supposed to have 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 613 seeds which correspond to the number of mitzvot, Salt and freshly ground black pepper and they are also a cleansing healthy fruit.
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FAMILY HAMAOR
Pomegranates have beneficial effects on heart disease, 4) Add to the mixture, mixing thoroughly. haemorrhoids, fertility and blood pressure. A single Fold in the apples and pomegranate seeds so that the pomegranate provides 40 per cent of an adult's mixture is a soft dropping consistency. recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, and is a 5) Pour into the prepared cake tin. rich source of folic acid and vitamins A and E. One 6) Bake for 50 minutes until well risen and firm to the pomegranate also contains three times the antioxidant touch. properties of red wine or green tea. Turn out on to a wire rack to cool. This cake is perfect for Yom Tov dessert served with ice cream, cream or custard or use at tea time when extra To serve the stylish way: family / friends guests descend! Dust with icing sugar and ground cinnamon.
Preparation Time: 25 minutes Cooking Time: 50 minutes Serves: 8 people
Ingredients: 450g eating apples, peeled, cored and chopped 1 pomegranate – remove outer skin 1 tablespoon vegetable oil – to grease tin 225g Self –raising flour 150g dark soft brown sugar Get more pleasure from your cooking by 110g Unsalted butter or margarine coming on a Denise Phillips Cookery Class. 2 eggs, beaten And if you book one place you can get 100ml soya milk / single soya cream (Alpro)/ milk another at half price – that’s £30 off. 2 tablespoons clear honey, warmed slightly Yom Tov Favourites - 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice Wed 9th or Thurs 24th September 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons baking powder Credit Crunch dinner Parties - Sun 1st, Wed 4th or Thurs 5th Nov
Garnish: Puddings and Pies - Icing sugar and ground cinnamon Sun 22nd, Wed 25th or Thurs 26th Nov
Shabbat Lunch - Sun 26th Nov or Thurs 10th Dec Method: 1) Pre-heat oven to 180°C: 350°F: Gas 4. Friday Night Dinner - Sun 6th Dec or Wed 9th Dec Line and lightly oil a deep 18 cm (7 inch) round cake tin with non- stick baking parchment paper. 01923 836 456 or [email protected] 2) Cream together the butter, sugar, until light and See www.jewishcookery.com for more details fluffy. 3) Add the eggs, a little at a time, beating constantly. Stir in the flour, cinnamon, spice, milk /soya milk / Pleasure for less cream, baking powder and honey.
Page 32 Hamaor / September 2009 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 33
Youressential Federation Magazine
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Your Your Your community personal interesting news announcements stories
Contact:
0208 202 2263 (ask for Monica) 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 34
PERSONAL Mazal Tov wishes are extended to the following people: Gaby and Miriam Goldstein on the birth of a Grandson BIRTHS George and Ruth Blachman on the birth of a Great Mazal Tov to the following on the birth of Grandson in Lakewood George and Ruth Blachman on the birth of a Great a child: Granddaughter Dayan and Mrs Lichtenstein on the birth of their Grandsons Michael and Rachel Friedmann on the birth of a Dayan and Mrs Elzas on the birth of a Granddaughter Granddaughter Rebbetzin Zelda Berkovits on the birth of a Grandson Rabbi and Mrs Zeiden on the birth of a Grandson Rabbi and Mrs Doron on the birth of a Grandson Rachel and Reuven Megnaghi on the birth of a Daughter Rabbi and Mrs Zaiden on the birth of a Grandson Ohr Yisrael Finchley Central Rabbi and Mrs Garson on the birth of a Nephew Mr and Mrs J Edel on the birth of their Son Danny and Erika Conciero on the birth of a Son Mr and Mrs H Dony on the birth of their Granddaughter Cyril and Margaret Blake on the birth of Twin Grandsons Mr and Mrs H Greenberg on the birth of their Grandson Richard and Louise Shama on the birth of a Daughter Mr and Mrs J Silberman on the birth of their Eric and Brenda Brett on the birth of twin Grandchildren Granddaughter in Israel in Israel Mr and Mrs C Solomons on the birth of their Grandson Eric and Glenda Deacon on the birth of a Granddaughter Mrs I Pollard on the birth of her third Great Grandson Geoffrey and Jo Kay on the birth of a Granddaughter in Israel Ed and Eva Perchick on the birth of a Son Mrs L Sacks on the birth of a Great Grandson Nitzan and Joanne Yaniv on the birth of a Daughter Ilford Shomrei Hadath Frances Bookatz on the birth of a Grandson Andy and Aviva Kaufman and Alfred and Louise Goldschmidt Elaine and Alan Rubenstein on the birth of two Grandsons on the birth of a Daughter and Granddaughter respectively Ruth Best on the birth of a Granddaughter Moshe and Ruth Winegarten on the birth of twins, a Natalie and Freddie Jacobs on the birth of a Great Grandson Granddaughter and Grandson for Shlomo and Susan Marion and David Levy on the birth of a Grandson Winegarten Sandra and Leslie Wajchendler on the birth of a Grandson Aryeh and Judy Schleider and Shlomo and Susan Winegarten on the birth of a Daughter and Granddaughter respectively Loughton Arieh and Alyssa Gilbert on the birth of a Son Leonard and Rosalind Conway on the birth of a Daniel and Felicia Lightman-Epstein and Sir Gavin and Lady Granddaughter Lightman on the birth of a Son and Grandson respectively Michael and Loretta Goldstone on the birth of a Grandson Sinai Machzikei Hadath Rabbi and Mrs B Knopfler on the birth of their Rabbi and Mrs Pearlman on the birth of a Grandson and a Granddaughter Granddaughter Mr and Mrs Moishe Knopfler on the birth of their Mr and Mrs Eliezer Pearlman on the birth of a Son in Israel Granddaughter Mrs Pearlman Snr on the birth of a Great Grandson Mr and Mrs Gerald Halibard on the birth of a Grandson
Page 34 Hamaor / September 2009 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 35
PERSONAL
Dr and Mrs Yossi Spitzer on the birth of their Grandson Yeshurun Mr and Mrs David Grant on the birth of their Granddaughter Ray and Rochelle Antian on the birth of a Granddaughter Mr and Mrs Yitzchok Kruskal on the birth of their Ahron and Marlene Hadjizade on the birth of a Great Granddaughters Granddaughter Dr and Mrs Yossi Adler on the birth of a Granddaughter Lawrence and Ruth Simberg on the birth of a Great Granddaughter Rabbi and Mrs Dovid Silkin on the birth of their Grandson Julian and Rina Greenaway on the birth of a Grandson Rabbi and Mrs Zvi Marmorstein on the birth of their Grandson Stuart and Carol Niman on the birth of a Granddaughter Mr and Mrs Y Y Adler on the birth of their Son Robert and Jennifer Zeffman on the birth of a Grandson Mr and Mrs Y D Fagil on the birth of their Great Grandson Howard and Dalia Panas on the birth of a Son Victor and Kathy Panas on the birth of a Grandson Mr and Mrs John Simmonds on the birth of a Granddaughter Steven and Estelle Brown on the birth of a Granddaughter Mr and Mrs Lezer Bloch on the birth of a Granddaughter David and Louise Frost on the birth of a Grandchild Mr and Mrs Shimshon Bloch on the birth of a Grandson Laurence and Ruth Taylor on the birth of a Grandchild Rabbi and Mrs C Hoffman on the birth of a Grandson Hilary and Jonathan Raymond on the birth of a Grandson in Mr and Mrs Yaakov Greenberg on the birth of their Daughter Israel Mr and Mrs Marc Nerden on the birth of their Son Hilary and Laurence Corney on the birth of a Granddaughter Mr S Dzialowski on the birth of their Great Grandsons Carole and Stuart Niman on the Birth of a Grandson Mr and Mrs Benny Dzialowski on the birth of a Grandson Stacey and Richard Taylor on the birth of a Grandson Mr and Mrs Yossi Englard, on the birth of a Granddaughter Mr. S. Dzialowski on the birth of a Great Granddaughter ENGAGEMENTS Rabbi and Mrs C Z Cohen on the birth of a Granddaughter Mr and Mrs Avi Levison on the birth of their Daughter Mazal Tov to the following: Mr and Mrs Richard Kaufman of the birth of a Great Rabbi and Mrs B Knopfler on their daughter Esther’s Granddaughter engagement Mr and Mrs Dovid Ryness on the birth of their Great Finchley Central Grandsons Rabbi and Rebbetzin Telsner on their son Chaim’s Mr and Mrs Doni Kaufman on the birth of a Granddaughter engagement Mr and Mrs Dovid Ryness on the birth of a Grandson Mrs Devorah Steinberg on the birth of a Great Grandson Machzikei Hadath Mr and Mrs Boruch Silverman on the birth of their Daughter Brian and Channa Resnick on their daughter Yirat’s engagement to Roni Weiss Mr and Mrs Boruch Silverman on the birth of their Grandson Efim and Marina Rabinovitch on their daughter Natalia’s Mr and Mrs S Z Hoff on the birth of a Granddaughter engagement to Shawn Cooper Mr and Mrs Moshe Grun on the birth of their Grandson Mr and Mrs Sidney Bradpiece on the birth of their Grandson Sinai Mr and Mrs Richard Steinhart on the birth of their Rabbi and Mrs B Knopfler on the engagement of their Granddaughters daughter Esther to Mr Avrohom Hoffman Rabbi and Mrs Efriam Klyne on the birth of their Grandson Mr and Mrs Alan Lewis on the engagement of their daughter Mr and Mrs Allen Cohen on the birth of their Granddaughter Katya to Mr Akiva Gardner Mr and Mrs Y D Fagil on the engagement of their grandson Mrs Devorah Roth on the birth of her Grandson Eli Apter to Michal Abudraham Rabbi and Mrs D Kirsch on the birth of their Granddaughter Mr and Mrs Lezer Bloch on the engagement of their Mr and Mrs Julian Cohen on the birth of a Grandughter daughter Shifra to Mr Naftoli Wolinsky
Hamaor / September 2009 Page 35 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 36
PERSONAL
Mr and Mrs Boruch Silverman on the engagement of their Shomrei Hadath son Aaron to Miss Esti Gould Rachel Harris on the marriage of her daughter Yeshurun Sinai Peter and Linda Hamilton on Ilana’s engagement to Dean Harris Rabbi and Mrs B Knopfler on the marriage of their daughter Gitty to Mr Naftoli Hamburger Richard and Sheryl Sandground on the engagement of their daughter Rishelle to Alain Cohen To Rabbi and Mrs Knopfler on the marriage of their daughter Miri Mr and Mrs Dean Kaye on the marriage of their son Joseph to Miss Shoshana Bak WEDDINGS Mr and Mrs Danny Rotenberg on the marriage of their daughter Michal to Mr Avi Moher Mazal Tov to the following: Mr and Mrs Binyomin Bokor on the marriage of their Dayan and Mrs Lichtenstein on their daughter Hadassa’s daughter Chaviva to Mr Jonathan Milner marriage to Moshe Rubenstein of Manchester Rabbi and Mrs C Hoffman on the marriage of their son Dayan and Mrs Elzas on their son Eli’s marriage to Ruchama Elchonon to Miss Chava Leah Litke Gelley Mrs R Rotenberg on the marriage of her granddaughter Rabbi and Mrs Godlewsky on their son Yechiel Yehuda’s Rochel Soroh Rotenberg to Mr Akiva Moshe Dominitz marriage to Leah Hersh Mr S Dzialowski on the marriage of his granddaughter Miss Rabbi and Mrs B Knopfler on their daughter Gittel’s marriage Dinah Zucker to Mr Simcha Fried Mr and Mrs Yehoshua Steinhaus on the marriage their Finchley Central daughter Elisheva to Mr Doniel Sharman Mr M Davis on his marriage to Mrs N Moser Mr and Mrs S Z Hoff on the marriage of their son Avrohom to Miss Esther Shenk Mr Sam Rosengard on his marriage to Amy Mr and Mrs Ralph Klajn on the marriage of their daughter Mr and Mrs P Westbrook on their son Rabbi Daniel Nechama to Mr Elimelech Goldberg Westbrook’s marriage to Dalia Wieder Mr and Mrs Chaim Lubin on the marriage of their son David to Miss Miriam Chabsa Ilford Mr and Mrs Nososn Iwanier on the marriage of their Brian and Linda Shane on their son’s marriage daughter to Mr. Avi Leiner Ashley and Hilary Kissin on the marriage of their son Elliot to Suzanne Bright Waltham Forest Melvyn and Adele Elliott on the marriage of their daughter Rev Myers on his daughter Shulamit’s marriage Gemma to Benjamin
Machzikei Hadath Yeshurun Rabbi and Mrs Alan Lewis on the marriage of their daughter David and Flora Wieder on their daughter Dalia’s marriage Batsheva to Mr Shimon Brodie to Daniel Westbrook Rabbi and Mrs Alan Lewis on the marriage of their daughter Lawrence and Cynthia Kleerekoper on the marriage of their Shalva to Mr Joshua Zneimer son Anthony to Miss Naomi Rosenhead of Manchester Alex and Anne Fleischman on their daughter Gabriella’s Mrs Sylvia Fishman on the marriage of her grandson marriage to Robin Landy Anthony Kleerekoper to Miss Naomi Rosenhead David and Margery Cohen on their daughter Gail’s marriage to Yochanan Carroll Ohr Yisrael Susan and Stuart Lustigman on the marriage of their son Martyn and Debbie Slyper on their daughter Gemma’s Jamie to Madeleine Collier marriage to Jez Roskin
Page 36 Hamaor / September 2009 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 37
PERSONAL
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Finchley Central Mr and Mrs N Balkany on their son’s Barmitzvah Mazal Tov to the following: Mr and Mrs S Barnard on their son’s Barmitzvah Mr and Mrs Laurence Ross on their 30th Wedding Mr and Mrs B Bernstein on their grandson’s Barmitzvah in Anniversary Israel Mr and Mrs A Fisher son’s Barmitzvah Finchley Central Drs E and N Lever on their third son’s Barmitzvah Mr and Mrs E Amron on their 55th Wedding Anniversary Mrs S Langdon on her grandson’s Barmitzvah Mr and Mrs H Greenberg on their 25th Wedding Anniversary Ilford Ilford Ronnie and Felicia Lawrence and Mark and Gill Saunders on their grandson and son David’s Barmitzvah Maxim and Barbara Segal on their 35th Wedding Anniversary Frances Oldstein on her grandson’s Barmitzvah Norma and Melvyn Weinberg on their 48th Wedding Howard and Claire Oldstein on their son Scott’s Barmitzvah Anniversary Rita and Leon Newmark on their 45th Wedding Anniversary Loughton Simon and Andy Vellerman on their son Jamie’s Barmitzvah Ohr Yisrael Aaron Bermange’s Barmitzvah Gideon and Joanne Krotosky on their 1st Wedding Adam and Kane Orgel’s Barmitzvah Anniversary Adam and Joelle Shenker on their 10th wedding anniversary Ohr Yisrael Albert, Naomi and Talya Samuelson on the occasion of Joseph's Bar Mitzvah Shomrei Hadath Alfred and Louise Goldschmidt on their 50th Wedding Sinai Anniversary Mr and Mrs Dean Kaye on the Barmitzvah of their son Osher Yeshurun Mr and Mrs Danny Rotenberg on the Barmitzvah of their sons Shammai and Yoel Ian and Cheryl Colletts on their 20th Wedding Anniversary Rabbi and Mrs Gavin Broder on the Barmitzvah of their son John and Diane Sheer on their 25th Wedding Anniversary Yechezkel Naomi and Julian Green on their China Wedding Mr and Mrs David Wilner on the Barmitzvah of their son Susie and Joe Holder on their China Wedding Shloime Miriam and Leonard Spectman on their Coral Wedding Rabbi and Mrs Howard Hirsch on the Barmitzvah of their son Yehudah Ze’ev Richelle and Ray Antian on their Pearl Wedding Mr and Mrs Ralph Klajn on the Barmitzvah of their son Sruli Rabbi and Mrs Efraim Klyne on the Barmitzvah of their son Yehudah Ze’ev BAR MITZVAH Mazal Tov to the following: BAT MITZVAH Mrs Zelda Berkovits on her son Noson Menachem’s Barmitzvah Mazal Tov to the following: Croydon Ilford Doreen and Barry Bond on their grandson's Barmitzvah in The 19 ladies on their Communal Bat Chayil: Israel Shirley Appleby
Hamaor / September 2009 Page 37 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 38
PERSONAL
Estelle Bashton Ephraim Chapper on his 3rd birthday and Upsher Frances Bookatz Linda Conroy Loughton Marion Grant Lennie Lieberman on his 70th Birthday Deborah Hiller Ohr Yisrael Felicia Lawrence Len Cohen on his 65th birthday Maxine Leckerman Stephen Gilmore on his 70th birthday Beatrice Lesser Estelle Luton Yeshurun Debra Montlake Amanda Nesbitt on her Special Birthday Fay Montlake Mrs Helen Olivestone, wife of one of Yeshurun’s founders Helen Myers Bernard Olivestone o”h, on her 101st birthday Rita Newmark Gloria Rones Gill Saunders SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS Raya Simons Sandra Wajchendler Mazal Tov to the following: Jessica Wesil Mazeltov to the Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks on his appointment to the House of Lords Loughton Emma Pearlman’s Batmitzvah Croydon Reverend Mark Daniels on receiving Semicha Yeshurun Laurence and Amanda Nesbitt on their daughter Jessica’s Finchley Central Batmitzvah Mrs L Sacks eldest son, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks being Rabbi and Mrs Lewis on their daughter Hadassah’s made a Peer of the Realm Batmitzvah Ayelet Besso-Cowan on her Batmitzvah Ohr Yisrael Frankie and Tony Branston on the Bat Mitzvah of their Alf Shultz on his second Barmitzvah Granddaughter Abigail Ohr Yisrael wishes Mark, Sarah and Talia Pitch success on Hayley and Michael Simon on Yaeli’s Bat Mitzvah their recent “Aliyah” Congratulations to Eden Biton on being granted 1st place Nigel and Liz Walfisz on Sara’s Bat Mitzvah with the special "Achievement Award" in Yavne College, Borehamwood. Congratulations to his sister Arielle who came close second
SPECIAL BIRTHDAYS Yeshurun Mazal Tov to the following: Jeremy Van den Bergh on gaining a first class degree BEng (Hons) from Birmingham City University Finchley Central Daniel Gordon, son of Jeff and Yaffit who has qualified as a Mrs L. Sacks on her 90th birthday medical doctor from UCL Tova Hersch who has gained a 2:1 BA Honours Degree in Ilford Counseling Hannah and Lauren Simon on their 21st Birthday Tanya Abizadeh who has gained a first in Sociology from Valerie Gilmore on her Special Birthday Birmingham University
Page 38 Hamaor / September 2009 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 39
PERSONAL
Len and Michael Summers and their family on the loss of a NEW MEMBERS wife and mother, Rose Summers We would like to welcome the following To the family of the late Lily Barry new members: To the family of the late Betty Burke To the family of the late Milly Rabin Finchley Central To the family of the late Beatrice Wilbey Naomi and Elliot Conway To the family of the late Martin Sacks Georgina and Harley Glass To the family of the late Helen Goodman Karen and Rafi Moss Mrs J Reback on the loss of her sister Ian Needleman Mrs A Shine and family on the loss of her brother Louise and Graham Silas The family of the late Jack Gayer Mark and Darren Muster on the loss of their mother Norma
CONDOLENCES Loughton We offer condolences to: The Family of the late Solomon Strauss Dayan and Mrs Ehrentreu on the loss of their son Machzikei Hadath Tom Zelmanovits on the loss of his Mother Dr Clive Coleman on the loss of his mother Mr Melvyn Goldberg and Mrs Rochelle Chevern on the passing of their mother Debby Goldberg, wife of the late The family of the late Mrs Marion Wieder Stanley Goldberg o”h, former Elder of the Federation The family of the late Mr Alec Cohen Family Weinberg on the petirah of Rabbi Noah Weinberg, The family of the late Mrs Lucy Wosner founder of Aish HaTorah The family of the late Mr David Lawrence
Clapton Ohr Yisrael The Family of the late Paul Rose We wish a long life to Dan and Lisa Shaffer over the tragic East London Central loss of their daughter Lenni Veronica Shaffer (Eliana Ronit bat Meir Daniel), born 5th of June 2008 (2nd Sivan 5768) The Family of the late Rebecca Krestin sadly to never take her first breath. May Hashem grant them Mrs Brill on the loss of her Husband the strength to get through this difficult time and may they Jonathan Beninson on the loss of his father know no more sorrow
Finchley Central Shomrei Hadath The Family of the late Basil Goldman Herve Javice on the loss of his Father The Family of the late Thelma Sable The Family of the past member Mrs Lucy Wosner in Israel Yeshurun Warren Singer on the loss of his Mother Fieldgate Street Rachel Turetsky on the loss of her Brother Mrs Beryl Gayer on the loss of her husband Jack Gayer The Family of the late Sandra Dorothea Russell Dov Reichmann on the loss of his Sister Ilford The Family of the late Carole Goldblatt Rita Newmark on the loss of her sister Stuart Lustigman on the loss of his Mother The family of Lily Magen The Family of the late Thelma Sable The family of Joseph Blumenthal The Family of the late Sadie Hinden
Hamaor / September 2009 Page 39 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 40
PERSONAL
Keith Malkinson on the loss of his Father To the family of the late Irene Saunders To the family of the late Bryna Richman, on her passing away at the age of 99 The Family of the late Nicola Rone The Family of the late Arthur Vertes Nina Duswick and family on the loss of her mother-in-law, Eva Slackman Karen Kropp and family on the loss of her mother, Blanche Helman Andy Harwood and family on the loss of his Father The Family of the late Don Finkel Please send in all your personal announcements to: Peter Hamilton and family on the loss of his Father Miss Monica Kohn, Hamaor, 65 Watford Way, London Keith Malkinson and family on the loss of his Father NW4 3AQ or email: David Nagioff on the loss of his Father [email protected]
We are delighted to print this edition of Hamaor Magazine
A HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL AT EXCO
CONTACT STEWART SINCLAIR 56A GLENGALL ROAD PHONE: 020 8958 7000 EDGWARE, MIDDLESEX HA8 8SX MOBILE: 07976 707 916 OPEN SUNDAY MORNINGS E-MAIL: [email protected] FREE PARKING
Page 40 Hamaor / September 2009 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 41
DIRECTORY
FEDERATION OF SYNAGOGUES KASHRUS BOARD Chairman: Mr A. Finlay Director of Kashrus: Dayan M. D. Elzas The following establishments are licensed by the Federation Kashrus Board and are under the Supervision of the Beth Din of the Federation of Synagogues:
CATERERS:
CRÉME de la CRÉME MET SU YAN RESTAURANT 5 Temple Fortune Parade, London NW11 020 8458 9090 134 Golders Green Road, London NW11 020 8458 8088 Fax: 020 8458 3339 MET SU YAN RESTAURANT PARK LANE HOTEL 1&2 The Promenade, Edgwarebury Lane, Piccadilly, London W1Y 8BX 020 7499 6321 Edgware HA8 7JZ 020 8958 6840 Fax: 020 7290 7566 Mobile: 079 4115 3575 NOVELLINO 103 Golders Green Road NW11 020 8458 7273 SILBERHORN CATERING 020 8458 7708 ORLI CAFE 96 Brent Street, NW4 020 8203 7555 DELICATESSENS AND SHOPS: ORLI CAFE 295 Hale Lane, Edgware 020 8958 1555 HENDON BAGEL BAKERY 57 Church Road, London NW4 020 8349 2676 ORLI CAFE 108 Regents Park Road, N3 020 8371 9222 LA BOUCHERIE EXPRESS LTD 78 The Broadway, Stanmore, Middx 020 8954 6020 ORLI CAFE 56 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Herts 020 8207 6203 MR BAKER 119-121 Brent Street, London NW4 2DX 020 8202 6845 PITA RESTAURANT 98 Golders Green Road, NW11 8HB 020 8381 4080 PELTER STORES 82 Edgware Way, Edgware, Middx 020 8958 6910 PITA RESTAURANT 339 West End Lane, NW6 1RS 020 7345 5554 THE KANTEEN BAKERY 23 High Road, Bushey, Herts WD23 1EE 020 8950 0400 PIZAZA 53 Brent Street, NW4 2EA 020 8202 9911 SAMI'S RESTAURANTS: 157 Brent Street, London NW4 020 8203 8088 AVIV RESTAURANT SLICE 87 High Street, Edgware 020 8952 2484 8 Princes Parade, Golders Green Road, NW11 020 8458 9483 BEIT HAMADRAS THE BURGER BAR 105 Brent Street NW4 2DX 020 8203 4567 110 Regents Park Road, N3 3JG 020 8371 1555 '86' RESTAURANT THE KANTEEN 86 Brent Street, Hendon NW4 020 8202 5575 25 High Road, Bushey, Herts WD23 1EE 020 8950 0747 K GRILL THE KANTEEN CAFE 60 Edgware Way, Edgware, Middx HA8 8JS 020 8958 7062 Brent Cross Shopping Centre, NW4 020 8203 7377 KYOTO SUSHI BAR TUTTI GUSTI ITALIAN RESTAURANT 51 Brent Street, London NW4 2EA 020 8203 6031 90-92 High Street, Edgware HA8 7HF 020 8951 0100
Hamaor / September 2009 Page 41 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 42
65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ Tel: 020 8202 2263 Fax: 020 8203 0610 Email: [email protected] www.federationofsynagogues.com
Federation of Synagogues
Honorary Officers Burial Society
President: Mr Alan Finlay Administrator: Mr Dovid Zelmanovits Vice-Presidents: Mr Henry Dony & Sexton: Mr Noson Kahler Mr Benjamin Mire Tel: 020 8202 3903 Fax: 020 8203 0610 Treasurers (Federation): Out of hours answerphone: 020 8202 3903 Mr Leon Newmark & Mr Paul Westbrook Treasurers (Burial Society): Cemeteries Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen & Montague Road, Edmonton N18 2NF Mr Michael Ezra Tel: 020 8807 2268 Upminster Road North, Rainham, Beth Din Essex RM13 9SB Tel: 01708 552825 Rosh Beth Din: Dayan Y Y Lichtenstein During the winter months both cemeteries Dayan M D Elzas are open daily, except Shabbos and Yom Registrar: Rabbi Z Unsdorfer Tov, from 9am until dusk. Enquires to the Registrar During British Summer Time gates are Tel: 020 8202 2263 open until 5pm and during the month of Chief Executive Ellul until 6pm.
Dr Eli Kienwald 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 43
65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ Tel: 020 8202 3903 Fax: 020 8203 0610 Email: [email protected]
Burial Society
RAINHAM & EDMONTON CEMETERIES CLOSING TIMES FOR ELUL 5769 & TISHRI 5770
The cemeteries will remain open each day from Sunday 23rd August to Friday 18th September 2009 until 6.00pm, Fridays until 3.30pm
THE CEMETERIES ARE CLOSED BOTH DAYS ROSH HASHONOH 19th & 20th September
From Monday 21st until Thursday 24th September until 5.30pm On Friday 25th September until 3.30pm
On Sunday 27th September Erev Yom Kippur at 3.00pm
THE CEMETERIES ARE CLOSED ON YOM KIPPUR - Monday 28th September From Tuesday 29th September to Thursday 1st October until 5.00pm On Friday 2nd October Erev Succos until 3.00pm
THE CEMETERIES ARE CLOSED ON THE FIRST DAYS OF SUCCOS 3rd & 4th October Chol Hamoed Succos the gates will remain open until 3.00pm
THE CEMETERIES ARE CLOSED ON SHMINI ATZERES & SIMCHAS TORAH – 10th & 11th OCTOBER
Rainham Edmonton 01708 552 825 020 8807 2268
PLEASE NOTE THE CEMETERIES ARE OPEN 9.00 AM DAILY BUT THEY ARE CLOSED ALL DAY ON SHABBOS AND YOM TOV
VISITORS ARE KINDLY REQUESTED TO ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE ABOVE TIMES AS THE ENTRANCE GATES WILL CLOSE AT THAT TIME 20903 Hamoar Sept 2009 3/9/09 12:11 Page 44
Constituent Synagogues Affiliated Synagogues
CLAPTON FEDERATION SYNAGOGUE. AISH HATORAH COMMUNITY. (Sha'are Shomayim). (Incorporating Yavneh Synagogue) 379 Hendon Way, NW4 3LP. Tel: 020 8457 4444. (in association with Springfield Synagogue) Rav: Rabbi J. Roodyn. 202 Upper Clapton Road, London E5 9DH. Secretary: W. Jacobs. Tel: 020 8989 5211. CONGREGATION OF JACOB SYNAGOGUE. 351/355 Commercial Road, London E1 2PS. Contact: Mr David Behr. CROYDON & DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE. Tel: 020 7790 2874. Website; www.congregationofjacob.org The Almonds, 5 Shiriey Oaks Road, Croydon, Surrey CRO 8YX. Tel: 020 8662 0011. Minister: Rev. David Gilinsky. FIELDGATE STREET GREAT SYNAGOGUE. All correspondence to The Secretaries: 41 Fieldgate Street, E1 1JU. Tel: 020 7247 2644. Mrs V Harris. Tel: 01883 348939. Mrs B Harris. Tel: 020 8726 0179. Secretaries: Mrs F. Treep & Mrs F. Singer.
EAST LONDON CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE. FINCHLEY ROAD SYNAGOGUE. 30/40 Nelson Street, E1 2DE. Tel: 020 7790 9809, (Sassover), 4 Helenslea Avenue, NW11. Secretary: Mr J. Beninson. Tel: 020 8529 8146. Rav: Rabbi Y. Austin. Contact: Mr S. Halpern. Tel: 020 8455 1814 Rav: Rabbi S, Freshwater' FINCHLEY CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE. 2 Redboume Avenue, N3 2BS. Tel: 020 8346 1892. LEYTONSTONE & WANSTEAD SYNAGOGUE. Rav: Rabbi Y. Hamer. Tel: 020 8346 1787 2 Fillebrook Road, E11. Secretary: Cllr. L. Braham Tel: 020 8539 0088. HENDON BEIS HAMEDRASH. 65 Watford Way, Hendon NW4 3AQ. LOUGHTON, CHIGWELL & DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE. Tel: 020 8202 2263. Rav: Dayan Y.Y. Lichtenstein. Borders Lane, Loughton, Essex, IG10 1TE. Tel: 020 8508 0303. Contact: Perry Burns. Tel: 020 8203 7757. Min: Rabbi. Y. Aronovitz. Secretary: Mrs M. Lewis.
ILFORD FEDERATION SYNAGOGUE. SPRINGFIELD SYNAGOGUE. 14/16 Coventry Road, llford, Essex, IG1 4QR. Tel: 020 8554 5289. 202 Upper Clapton Road, E5 9DH. Contact Tel: 020 8806 3167 Rav: Rabbi A. Chapper. Administrator: Mrs L. Klein Rav. Dayan I. Gukovitski. Chairman: L. Blackman. Website: www.ilfordfeds.org STAMFORD HILL BETH HAMEDRASH. MACHZIKEI HADATH SYNAGOGUE. 50 Clapton Common, E5 9AL. Rav: Dayan D. Grynhaus. 1-4 Highfield Road, NW11 9LU. Rav: Rabbi C. Pearlman. Secretary: M. Chontow. Tel: 020 8800 7369. Hon. Secretary: R. Shaw. Tel: 020 8958 0499. WALTHAM FOREST HEBREW CONGREGATION. NETZACH ISRAEL COMMUNITY CENTRE. (Queens Road) 140 Boundary Road, E17 Tel: 020 8509 0775. Minister: Rev. S. Myers. Secretary: Mrs B. Rose. 281 Golders Green Road, NW11 9JJ Rav: Rabbi Doron Ahiel. Tel: 020 8455 4312 WEST END GREAT SYNAGOGUE. OHR YISRAEL SYNAGOGUE. (Beth Hasepher & Soho), 32 Great Cumberland Place, W1H 7TN. Tel: 020 7724 8121. Fax: 020 7723 4413 31/33 Theobald Street, Borehamwood, Herts WD6 4RN Minister: Rev. Ari Cohen. Secretary: Mrs R. Koten. Rav: Rabbi R. Garson. Tel: 020 8953 8385 Website: www.ohr-yisrael.org.uk Email: [email protected] CONTACT DETAILS FOR THE SYNAGOGUES WHICH SHOMREI HADATH SYNAGOGUE. HAVE CLOSED ARE AS FOLLOWS:- 64 Burrard Road, Hampstead, London NW6 1DD. Rav: Rabbi Mordechai Fachler. Secretary: Mrs P. Schotten. NEW WIMBLEDON & PUTNEY DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE. Tel: 020 7435 6906. Secretary: Mrs R. Diamond. Tel 020 8778 6669. SINAI SYNAGOGUE. NOTTING HILL SYNAGOGUE. 54 Woodstock Avenue, NW11 9RJ. Tel: 020 8455 6876. Rav: Rabbi B. Knopfler. Secretary: Mr E. Cohen. Secretary: Mr H. Lamb. Tel: 020 8952 4354.
YESHURUN SYNAGOGUE. OHEL JACOB SYNAGOGUE. Fernhurst Gardens, Stonegrove, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 7PH. Secretary: Mrs R. Pressman. Tel: 020 8550 4596. Emeritus Rav: Dayan G. Lopian. Rav: Rabbi A. Lewis Secretary: Mrs E. Stellman. Tel: 020 8952 5167. TOTTENHAM HEBREW CONGREGATION. Website: www.yeshurun.org Secretary: Dr S. S. Cohen. Tel: 020 8482 3428.
WEST HACKNEY SYNAGOGUE AND MONTAGUE ROAD BETH HAMEDRASH. Chairman: Mr. I. Leigh. Tel: 020 8550 9543. 20903 Hamoar cover 4/9/09 07:05 Page 3
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