No.51 June 2005 Sivan 5765

Reminiscence WORLD WAR 2 REMEMBERED Ian Shein and friends Community ABERDEEN JEWRY Nathan Abrams Israel POLITICS AND LAW Avi Lehrer - Rabbi Danny Sinclair Commandments BELIEF AND SCEPTICISM Rabbi David Rose Views & Reviews

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE EDINBURGH JEWISH COMMUNITY Contents From the Editor

The dust has finally settled after the highly successful dinner in celebration of publishing the 50th edition of our community magazine. A complete gallery of The Edinburgh Star Editorial 1 participants will be found within these folds to consolidate that event, and to mark the Synagogue Chambers Sixty years ago – Ian Shein 2 end of Peter Bennett’s highly commendable editorship and the beginning of my own. 4 Salisbury Road A Military, Medical Experience – Phillip Harris 6 Edinburgh EH16 5AB Beginnings and ends feature strongly in this Shavuot edition, which in itself is a Cover Picture Sidney Caplan Recalls 6 festival of renewal and consideration of what is happening in the world today. Rabbi 60 Years Ago Ida’s Story – Lindsay Levy 7 Rose will be reflecting on the relevance of the Ten Commandments as given to Moses, in a world that has changed beyond all his recognition. Editor Holocaust Memorial Day – Hana Hornung 9 Judy Gilbert Auschwitz, and Ever After – Rebecca Dreisinger 10 While I was reflecting on all that has happened between this concentration camps, by calling to mind the war contributions and the last publication, clearly one of the more disturbing made by some of our own community members during that Editorial Board Saint Jane (Haining) – Elaine Pomeransky 11 items that stands out, is the issue of the outrageous boycott troubled period and Ian Shein has created a pastiche of their Peter Bennett North Eastern Exposure – Nathan Abrams 12 by the AUT on two Israeli Universities. The matter has recollections. Lindsay Levy writes a fascinating and heart Sidney Caplan (Treasurer) The Danger of Disengagement – Avi Lehrer 15 seesawed back and forth over a period of weeks and is many stopping account of how Ida Skubiesjska spent her war, and Philip Harris facetted. A supposedly apolitical and secular organisation is Hana Hornung finally closes the book in her account of her Lindsay Levy Highlight of our 50th Edition Celebration Dinner - Julia Merrick 16 targeting Jews on the one hand, but has the support of a presence at the Holocaust Memorial in London. Janet Mundy Around & About 18 particularly misguided Jew on the other. We then read about Eve Oppenheim American Jews trying to counter attack by boycotting any The past cannot be separated from the present and concern Society Report 19 Rabbi David Rose British Universities who uphold the AUT proposal. But many for the situation in Israel has become a part of the Jewish Ian Shein Edinburgh Jewish Literary Society Report – Avery Meiksin 19 AUT members, Jews and non-Jews alike, are just as outraged psyche since it developed into our place of refuge after the by this policy of censorship. Perhaps it is worth considering Second World War. Council of Christians & Jews – Micheline Brannan 20 Design that there are those in the AUT who are actually exercising Debbie Bennett The Role of Halakha – Rabbi Prof. Daniel Sinclair 22 their right to oppose the Union from within; surely a position Avi Lehrer discusses ‘The Dangers of Disengagement’ and from where they would have greater influence. This is clearly offers his own thought-provoking solution to the problem. Star Trek into the Past 24 Artwork demonstrated by Jon Pike who has managed to delay any While still in the province of Israeli concerns, our past friend Helen McFeely The Flick Collection of Contemporary Art – SR Spark 25 imminent and possibly irreparable damage, by bringing about and community leader Rabbi Daniel Sinclair writes a highly The Ten Commandments – Rabbi David Rose 27 a forum for further discussion. By the time this publication academic but accessible article about women’s issues within Printing goes out it is hoped that the final outcome will have been orthodox law. Meigle Printers Ltd The Commandments as a Human Creation – Anthony Gilbert 27 favourable. Tweedbank Galashiels TD1 3RS Reviews 29 There are many other interesting and more local items, Election Euphoria, or lack of it, has also died down but has left including a contribution from young Melia whose writing, it is The Genizah at the House of Shepher – Judy Gilbert 29 a bad taste in the mouth, in the rather worrying guise of hoped, will be the inspiration for further youthful involvement The Editorial Board wish to thank the A Review of Outwitting History – Janet Mundy 30 George Galloway. This is a politician whose party appears to in future publications. advertisers and the following for their be ‘Respectful’ in name only. He has risen in Muslim support since the last edition: The Shabbaton – Melia Rosen 31 estimation and potentially unearthed a pocket of anti-Semitism I would like to end by wishing you all a happy Shavuot and a Dr & Mrs M Rosenberg, Obituaries 32 in a location once occupied almost entirely by Jews. All this request for your contributions towards a magazine towards Mr & Mrs L Berger, has been at the cost of deeply humiliating one of our own, which I hope I will continue to do justice. Prof A & Dr J Kaufman, Announcements Oona King. Miss A Pass, Mr & Mrs B Levy, Forthcoming Events Judy Gilbert Mrs B Guyer, But it isn’t all doom and gloom. There are still official Mrs I. King, authorities and millions of people that acknowledge the Lady Hazel & Mr J Cosgrove, dangers of persecution, even 60 years after the reason for that Prof & Mrs M Adler, remembrance. The world has been acknowledging how The Edinburgh Star apologises for the omission of the introductory paragraph to Mrs I Skubiejska, ignoring discriminatory policies redolent in the thirties, could the CCJ report by Micheline Brannan which should have read… Mrs C Levinson-Withall, so easily escalate into tragedy once again. But that part of our Mrs S Morris, tragic history has not been ignored. The ending of the war, Mrs A Myles, We began our 2004-5 session on 11 November with an innovative joint bible study together with the liberation of the concentration camps, in Mrs N. Marks, on Genesis Chapter 27. Chairing the meeting, Rabbi David Rose divided the 15 particular Bergen Belsen in May 1945, have been remembered Support The Edinburgh Star Mrs R & Mr B Landy, participants into 3 study groups to read the passage, identify the main issues and over and over by the media and by those who would not really Zena Eunson report back. Send us your letters and articles. Mr & Mrs N Cram know the meaning of the ‘final solution’ if it were not for on Next Copy date: 3rd October 2005 Sarah Dreisinger going education in schools. Clare Singerman’s passionate talk about how best to enable the younger generation to The Editior, The Edinburgh Star, 4 Salisbury The Board would also like to thank Mr & Mrs Harold Mendelssohn for kindly defraying the cost of sending The Edinburgh Star overseas. understand the Holocaust, is reported in this edition. Road, Edinburgh EH16 5AB All pieces are accepted for publication at the absolute discretion of the Editor. The Editor has the right to make such amendments to any piece chosen for publication as may in his absolute discretion be required in the editorial interests of this publication and to avoid exposing this publication or its staff to any criminal or civil liability or otherwise to avoid bringing this publication or its staff into disrepute. Copyright subsists in this publication and in its typeset. No part of the publication may be reproduced by any means, including electronic, without the express written consent of The Edinburgh Star and We too commemorate, 60 years after the liberation of the without an acknowledgment of such consent, when given, being clearly printed together with an identification of The Edinburgh Star as being the source of such material. 1 The views expressed in The Edinburgh Star are those of the contributors and are not necessarily those of The Edinburgh Star, its staff or publishers. Air Forces over that country. Norman took advantage of this ALEC ABRAHAMS NORMAN DORFMAN worked as an assistant and described it as “an experience never to be forgotten”. The worked as an apprentice tailor's cutter in an outfitters shop at the outbreak of the war but lost this damage to cities such as Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg, to in a Jewish firm in Glasgow when he position when the owner was called up forcing him name just a few, had to be seen to be believed. By decided, along with four close friends to close his business. Due to his age and his own that time, towards the end of the war, the horrors of in the Jewish community, to volunteer impending call up, he found it difficult to secure the concentration camps had been revealed and Sixty years ago for the Armed Forces at the outbreak alternative employment. He contacted the Air inevitably “had a resounding effect on my thoughts Ian Shein of the war. His recruitment in the Ministry, in which he had previously given a and emotions”. Royal Army Ordnance Corps resulted preference, and this resulted in enlistment in the in his being posted to Egypt several Royal Air Force in 1941. As a leading aircraftsman, At the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the war, On one occasion, he did "what no one in their right weeks later. Due to his peacetime he served as an airframe fitter with the ground mind ever did in the Forces, volunteered for an articles in the "Edinburgh Star" highlighted experience in tailoring, his army trade crew of a Mosquito Fighter Squadron in Norfolk as assignment". This meant being transferred to Weston- was defined as a “textile refitter” and well as other operation stations in England. He members of Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation Super-Mare to attend a training course. The fact that he participated in the early desert recalls his round-the-clock duties attending RAF his girl friend Lilian Levy was stationed in the WAAF at who had served in the armed forces during the campaigns of 1940/41. His unit was bombers, many badly damaged, after their return from raids nearby Cirencester perhaps played some part in his heroic involved in the repair of covers for over Germany. voluntary venture. Although she slightly outranked him, this war years. Now ten years later, at its sixtieth army lorries and Bren gun carriers. In proved to be no handicap in their future engagement and May 1941, he was promoted to At one station, the commander of an American squadron of anniversary, it is perhaps opportune to again subsequent marriage. On his demobilisation in1946, Norman sergeant and was given the task of Flying Fortresses, huge four-engine bombers, invited RAF initially worked in an outfitters shop before opening up his own highlight the remaining members who served setting up a military depot textile shop personnel who wished to do so to fly with the crew over business in Leith Walk. during these fateful years 1939/1945. with special responsibility for the Germany to witness the destruction caused by massed Allied manufacture and maintenance of camouflage nets, bush nets and to report to the office with a sub- the warrant Officer for assembling mosquito veils. He ultimately had a SAM LATTER, in between machine gun, he found his defaulters for inspection. Service DAVID GOLDBERG staff of 300 machinists, the majority various occupations, signed commanding officer busily occupied regulations, often seen to be quite was born in Kiel, Germany, and at the age of 16 came to native peasant women who brought professional forms in 1928 to become having a haircut by the station petty, and discipline still ruled even in Britain on one of the last Kindertransport operations prior to their own sewing machines with them. a part-time player with Third Lanark hairdresser, another Edinburgh man, wartime. Towards the end of the war war breaking out in 1939. He joined his brother in a hostel in He recruited an Egyptian Jewish man football team, playing for them for four Corporal Henry Mann. His pleasure at Sam was attached to 201 Squadron of Leeds securing work as an apprentice tailor’s presser. as foreman. On one occasion, a years during which he won a second seeing "a well kent face" was added to Sunderland flying boats before being Thereafter he moved to London and for two years worked as reporter from the Glasgow Evening division championship medal. He and his relief in discovering that no such demobilised in 1945. a waiter in one of the world famous Lyons Corner house News came out to see the unit to his late wife eventually opened gown enemy landing had taken place. restaurants. When 18, he volunteered for the army and was write an shops in the city. In 1941 he enlisted in Returning to Edinburgh, he and his placed in the Pioneer Corps, "the pick and shovel brigade" article for the the RAF and after training as an In 1943 he was posted wife bought a sweet and cigarette as he vividly recalled it. A posting near Penicuik gave him the paper and armourer, was promoted to corporal to Kirkham where many shop in the West End. 21 years later opportunity of making frequent visits to Edinburgh. During classified when he became an instructor training Allied airmen were when the lease expired, he purchased Pesach in 1943 he was invited to the home of Percy and Alec as air gunners. His duties included stationed. His main duty car batteries, tyres and radio business Minnie Myerthall for Seder. There he met daughter Ray whom "commander- operational flights and he logged up was instructing in Lauriston. Mr. Tom Farmer, later to he married later that year. in-chief 300 flying hours with the crews. Initially personnel in the become the world-wide Mr. Kwik-Fit, machinists", stationed at Drem in East Lothian, he handling of guns, sold Sam tyres and spent a great deal His unit was shipped to Normandy immediately after D-Day, their main duties to a rapid paper met local Jewish boys Morris Brown, bombs, rockets and of time in the Latter's shop. Sam now collect boulders for building roads for the supply of equipment for the invading Allied promotion to Hymie Abrams and Morris Levy. Sam depth charges. As senior resides in a home where at the army. This was in the region of Arromanches where heavy fighting took place. On high general likes to recall the time when rumour non-commissioned officer in age as beginning of this year he celebrated his return to England, David heard that Jewish soldiers of the Palestinian Regiment were staff with no swept the camp that German well as ability, Sam also became 101st birthday. stationed in Bolton. Believing that his proficient Yiddish would help communications, noticeable paratroops had landed nearby. Ordered orderly corporal with responsibility to he volunteered to act as interpreter. He was immediately promoted to sergeant and rise in sergeant’s pay. duly arrived at the camp. "One of the quickest demotions in the British army took astonishment he found himself under the care of Dr. Manuel place when I had to tell the CO that the soldiers spoke Hebrew not Yiddish". Sergeant Whenever possible he visited the ALEC KLEINBERG Mendick, an Edinburgh man who not only was Medical Goldberg returned to his base as Private Goldberg where he became a telephone wartime bustling city of Alexandria worked as a cinema operator in Officer but also happened to be married to Alec's cousin. operator in English. and attended the Synagogue where Edinburgh’s Haymarket cinema prior His fond memories included being treated to a "first class he found a very cosmopolitan to his volunteering for the RAE in lunch at a local Indian restaurant, courtesy of the good However his knowledge of German won him congregation. Later in the war, a 1941. Initial training took him to doctor who, being an officer, could well afford it". Another “One of the quickest a posting to the Nuremberg War Trials where posting to Germany saw him in Arbroath and thence to Wiltshire gastronomic experience, also outwith the field of conflict, demotions in the British army his duty was to translate documents into Hanover where he mixed with where he joined Bomber Command as was one Passover night when he and several Jewish took place when I had to tell English. He sat at a table near the Chief refugees, mainly German, to make a an instrument mechanic before being colleagues were invited to an Indian Sephardi family in Prosecutor Sir Hartley Shawcross. In the Minyan in a small room and posted to Doncaster. His duties kept the CO that the soldiers spoke Karachi to be present at "a most interesting and pleasant dock nearby sat Nazi leaders including participate in a service. Still later he him in various air bases in this country Hebrew not Yiddish” Seder where the children enacted the story of the Hagadah Goering, Hess and Speer. Promoted to served in Belgium from where he was until August 1944 when his unit with great enthusiasm". corporal, he was posted to York to work in returned home or demobilisation. His embarked on a troopship for Bombay. the demobilisation stores. Prior to his own discharge he was offered the opportunity recollections of service life evoked the Serving for a short period in Poona, he A few months after the end of the war in Europe, the Japanese surrendered in August of a commission. He advised the interviewing officer "I served for four years and was phrase "obedience and discipline" but spent most of his overseas tour of 1945. Later he was shipped home and amongst the service passengers encountered bossed about. I won’t let that happen again! "David returned to Edinburgh and set up not with any discernible distaste. duty in Karachi. In that city he RAF Corporal Tom Levey, a well-known Edinburgh man. Alec was demobilised the a cleaning/valet business on the South Side near the old Empire Theatre. Returning to Glasgow, he secured experienced the miseries of dysentery following year and joined the Army Kinema Corporation as an operator. Belying its employment as a hand presser in a and was taken to the local military name, this was a civilian unit which used mobile cinemas to tour the north of Scotland Jewish tailoring firm specialising in hostpital where the welcoming words to bring much sought-after entertainment to Polish and other troops stationed in ladies' mantles. Moving to Edinburgh, of the Medical Officer were “what on remote regions. He thereafter opened a hardware shop in Gorgie with another branch he opened his own business of earth are you doing here?” To his 2 following in Dalry. 3 clothing alterations. ARTHUR KLEINBERG RONNIE ALEC RUBENSTEIN furniture business in Edinburgh. They US naval units at Pearl Harbour invited him to their home and to bringing that country into the war. His was one of five brothers who served in the Armed Forces was serving as an apprentice GOODMAN preside over the Friday evening embarkation was cancelled and his during the 1939/1945 war. Due to his experience in the family upholsterer when he received his call worked in the services in the small Synagogue in the special duties continued with the bakery business, it perhaps came as no great surprise to him up papers in 1940. After initial primary display section of a city. Interestingly enough, there still training of British and Allied troops. to find himself in the Army Catering Corps when he enlisted training with the Royal Engineers, he large Leeds exists a small Jewish community in These were extended to include in 1941. Initially he was attached to the Loyal Regiment in was posted to a unit specialising in department store Aberdeen, which periodically receives a American forces when they arrived in Preston and thereafter to a section of the Royal Corps of bridge building before being selected until he volunteered visit from Edinburgh's Rabbi Rose. Britain the following year. His army Signals and the Royal Engineers in Aldershot. A posting to for bomb disposal training at Scottish for the Royal Air Whilst there, Alec was awarded the service, with continual instruction in Gibraltar followed and he remained in that Mediterranean Command Headquarters. He also Force in 1940. He trained as a Radar Royal Humane Society Testimonial bomb disposal, lasted almost six fortress for a year cooking and baking for the garrison. The undertook a driver’s course after operator with the Air Ministry Parchment for diving fully clothed into years. On his return to Edinburgh after gateway to the dangerous wartime waters of the which, on promotion to lance corporal, Experimental Station in Dorset where a river and saving a young boy from the war, he continued working in the Mediterranean, Gibraltar was one of the most strategic he became personal driver to his other specialised duties involved drowning. upholstery centres of operation in the Near East. This however did not commanding officer. Stationed in the knowledge of plastic explosive, trade before prevent Arthur crossing into neutral Spain by ferryboat to the West of Scotland, he witnessed the detonators and safety fuses. Late in opening his Spanish town of Algeciras where his attendance at the local devasting German air raids on His unit was continually on 1942, his company embarked on “ own business Synagogue was rewarded by being given an Aliyah. Towards Clydebank in 1941. His unit was duty and was actively involved troopships to join a convoy at as a the end of 1942 his unit was shipped across the Straits of continually on duty and was actively Gourock. The fleet sailed across the in excavating over 600 manufacturer Gibraltar to North Africa where they were based in Algiers. involved in excavating over 600 turbulent North Atlantic until warmer unexploded bombs and re- Although that region saw considerable heavy fighting unexploded bombs in that area. ” weather brought the shores of North coverer in between German and British/American troops, he mentioned Promoted to full corporal, Alec Africa into view. The British 8th Army that field, that his unit was non-combatant and that "the only targets received further training in more had recently won a resounding victory In 1941 his unit was chosen for duties continuing as his comrades aimed for at that time were the regimental specialised equipment which saw his over General Rommel's Panzer Corps overseas and preparations were made such until he cooks and luckily their aim was poor". transfer to various units around the at Alamein and the capture of the to embark for the United States for the retired. country. During one posting in whole of the North African continent purpose of training American troops on A posting to Taranto and Ban in South Italy followed, giving Aberdeen, he encountered the Gold was the target when American troops bomb dismantling and disposal. In him the opportunity of spending some leave in what had family who previously had owned a landed at Algiers and Oran early in December of that year, Japan attacked been the open and capital city of Rome. Towards the end of 1943. Ronnie's unit disembarked at hostilities, he landed in Saltzburg in Austria, which had been Algiers to set up a radar station, their taken by American forces. Arthur received his demobilisation duty to detect enemy air and land after five years service believing that these years “had at Ian and friend Ian, second row on left forces before they could attack or least taught me to more easily accept a bit more infiltrate Allied lines. They themselves responsibility”. He returned to civilian life to resume his were subjected to concentrated interrupted career in his father's bakery business in East Crosscauseway. When his strafing from German Messerschmidt father died, he took over until his own retirement a number of years ago and leased fighters and Stuka dive-bombers. the premises to what is now The Old Fashioned Bakery but is still fondly remembered Their radar vehicles were wired up for by so many as Kleinberg's Bakery. instant self-destruction should they be over-run.

Between Tunis and Bizerta a German counter-attack forced back Allied troops and his unit was cut off. The German were hunting for the radar station and to prevent their being surrounded, they destroyed their IAN SHEIN specialised equipment. Ronnie, a was called up in 1943 and reported to establish radio contact with partisans and Allied agents who had dropped by corporal by now, joined his colleagues infantry training barracks at Fort parachute behind the German lines in Yugoslavia. The contact, to receive and transmit to trek by foot to the nearest Allied George in Inverness-shire. There he Morse code messages, required being as swift as possible to prevent German lines. The German victory was short volunteered for the Scots Guards, an detector-finders from homing in the agents’ radios. As much as he wished, Ian never lived and May 1943 saw the surrender inexplicable decision other than "I discovered who were at the other end of the Morse key. Transferred to Siena in of all Axis forces in that part of the liked their peaked cap but they didn't Northern Italy he remained there during the latter days of the war in Europe. Due world. He was then posted to Taranto like my flat feet". He found himself leave, he opted for Rome and attending one of the Synagogues there, met a fellow and Ban in South Italy. Having served posted to a Royal Corps of Signals soldier from a well-known Edinburgh family in the person of Dave Bullon. A posting for over three years abroad, Ronnie unit to be trained as a radio operator. followed to the Far East. Whilst on a troopship in the Suez Canal, Japan surrendered was granted home leave and travelled Later he was transferred to Special but it was only much later that “I came to the somewhat reluctant conclusion that to England via Naples. Shortly Operations Executive. Further training Japan’s decision was in no way related to my posting to that part of the world”. afterwards he was demobbed and in Shropshire preceded a posting to Landing in Bombay heralded a long cross-country train journey to Calcutta signals returned to Middlesborough. It was Monopoli near Ban on the Adriatic office where he remained for several months before a transfer to Mhow in the Central while attending the wedding of his coast of Italy. Here, at Headquarters of Provinces. A family bereavement resulted in compassionate discharge from the army Rabbi's daughter that he met his Special Operations, duties were to after three years service. He returned to Dundee, where he had resided for many future wife Anne. Ronnie went into his years, to take over the family tailoring business. Finding this completely unfulfilling, Ian father-in-law's furniture business until applied for training in the Probation Service. After a spell at Glasgow University he he opened up his own furniture store. “I liked their peaked cap but secured a position as probation officer in his hometown of Edinburgh. Several years He and his wife came to live in they didn't like my flat feet later, he was appointed Divisional Reporter to the Childrens' Panel in the Lothians. Edinburgh in 2000. ” 4 5 Ida Subiejska was born in Bedzin in Lower Silesia in 1914. It was an affluent area of Poland with an 80% Jewish population. Her parents were both university A Military, Medical Experience graduates, and her father, a member of the Silesian Chamber of Commerce, was Ida’s the director of a factory exporting zinc, which employed 6000 people. Ida and Phillip Harris her two sisters went to private school and she went on to Yagellon University in During World War 2 Bangour Hospital, and most of whom would later train and become senior, Kracov to read Geography and Zoology where she was the only Jewish girl in near Edinburgh, became an Emergency indeed quite distinguished hospital Consultants. I may the science faculty. Her intention was to pursue an academic career, and she Medical Services Hospital, for the mention just one such officer, Major James Baird, a good Story particularly wanted to make a study of the native tribes people of Colombia, one duration of the War. It included a Brain friend, who indeed became Lt General Sir James Baird, in of the countries to which her father's factory exported zinc, but as the extraordinary story of her life Injuries Unit (BIU), headed by Professor command of the RAMC; He was a fine physician, and soldier. Lindsay Levy turned out, South America is one of the few regions of the world that she has never visited. Norman Dolt, for the admission and We had a full complement of staff including anaesthetists, treatment of casualties from European radiologists, Officer Nurses, and the necessary laboratory theatres of War, being flown in to personnel. Pathology was carried out in the laboratories in the In early 1939, when it was obvious to all that Hitler was about to invade Poland, Yagellon University passed regulations making Edinburgh airport, indeed some within a Radcliffe Infirmary, in Oxford. In overall command were two graduation conditional on boys becoming cadets and girls being trained at the University medical school. For this reason in June of day from Dunkirk. very distinguished, outstanding doctors: - Brigadier Sir Hugh that year Ida became not only a graduate but also an officer of the International Red Cross. Cairns, Neurosurgeon and Air-Vice Marshall Sir Charles These service people had sustained major, and sometimes Symonds. Medical Neurologist In September of the same year the reached their destination, Ida jumped medical centre in Uzbekistan, and not horrendous, injuries; Head, brain, facial and spinal injuries. Nazis occupied central Poland. Ida had off the train, but as soon as she did so long after that, to the main centre at One of the wards was solely for German prisoners of war (POW). I was the Resident Neurosurgical Medical Officer. After been active in the student protest it started up again and, unable to catch Guzar, south of Samarkand, on the being called up, and trained in Army routines, I became an “However dreadful, ugly and often disgusting wars movement against Hitler and a friend up with it, she was left standing on the Afghan border. officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). An early are, there are sometimes ‘spin-off benefits” warned her that one of her fellow platform in total blackout as her sister, posting of fellow officers and myself was to Southampton students had joined the Gestapo and all the people she knew, and her Thousands of newly released Polish Common, near the Netley Military Hospital. Why there? It soon was about to denounce her. She possessions disappeared into the prisoners of war had been sent to became obvious, as a large number of British women, and decided to leave immediately for night. All she had was her identity Guzar and there were terrible some children arrived. They had been POWs in a camp not The work was interesting and demanding. The morale was Rumania. Her father was ill and unable papers tied around her neck on a epidemics of typhus, typhoid and very far from Hiroshima They had not realised that the huge high in the hospital. However dreadful, ugly and often to travel and her mother and middle ribbon. She knew that her sister would dysentery that lasted for several flash was from the dropping of the first atomic bomb. Our job disgusting wars are, there are sometimes ‘spin-off benefits.’ I sister decided to stay with him, but her be looked after because another Polish months. With hardly any drugs to was to medically examine and record our findings, including would instance the remarkable discovery of Penicillin by studies of blood and urine, for possible radiation effects, Fleming in 1929 and its development by Florey; then the first mother asked her to take her youngest ex-prisoner on the train had befriended counter the diseases Ida and her malnutrition, etc. Our reports went to the authorities. Some of clinical use of this ‘magic, wonder drug’ was by the British sister. They were never to reach her and in fact he later became her colleagues continued to fight to contain my fellow medical officers and I were being kitted out and Army in the Middle East and in the African battle zones. I can Rumania, and it was the last time either husband. It was 4 years before the two the epidemic until ordered once again trained to help form a Mobile Neurosurgical Unit for the certainly vouch for the rapid effect on many infections, from of them would see their family again. sisters met again. to move on, this time to the shore of Burmese theatre of war. However, the conflict there stopped. gunshot wounds, shrapnel, etc. Another benefit was the When the two girls reached Lvov (now the Caspian Sea, where they oversaw proper organisation and use of blood transfusions. A third was in the Ukraine) they were captured by the evacuation of Polish troops to Most of my time in the Army took place in Oxford, in the the formation of excellent Mobile Neurosurgical Units during the occupying Russian army and Ida began to cry and a Pahlevi in Persia (now Iran) on rusty Military Hospital for Head Injuries, initially in Wheatley, but WWII. “ deported to a prison camp in the Taiga Russian ships. It was at this time that then mainly in the Churchill Military Hospital. The patients, passing Polish officer told her. forest region of sub-Arctic northern she recalls seeing many chasidic Jews male and female, and from all three services, had serious, and My time for demobilisation neared, and one day I was Don't cry, we're taking them to some major, head, brain, maxillo-facial and spinal injuries. The approached and invited to consider taking up a short term Russia. There they worked for a year as Palestine” crouched despairingly by the Caspian pathological-clinical effects included brain abscess, epilepsy, Commission, and be promoted to Major, from Captain. But prisoners of war in temperatures that Sea. Ida began to cry and a passing paralysis, paraplegia and some with gross disfiguring facio- although I enjoyed my time in the Army, even including military could reach -40 Celsius, logging for Polish officer told her. `Don't cry, we're cranial damage. discipline, I declined. I was young, and I strongly wished to twelve hours a day, and supplementing Alone on the station platform Ida taking them to Palestine' begin to study and train, hopefully to become a hospital their meagre diet with berries and thought she could just make out a The staffing was superb and included several young medical Consultant, and a University teacher. mushrooms from the forest. chink of light coming from a building. Whilst working in Persia Ida developed officers, some having returned from various theatres of war, She made her way towards it and an ulcer, which required an operation, In 1940, when the Nazis invaded knocked on the door. A man's voice and she was taken over the Elburth Russia, and Stalin joined the allied interrogated her, asking who she was, Mountains to Teheran by army Sidney Caplan Recalls forces, he signed a treaty with Churchill and where she came from. When she ambulance. When she recovered she With Compliments and Roosevelt, which included said she was Polish the voice asked stayed on and worked in the Polish provision for the release of all Polish `And are you a Jew?' Ida said she was. section of the British army hospital, “My uncle Maurice Caplan (Copland) joined the from prisoners and the creation of a Polish `So am I,' said the man `Come in!" He using her spare time to perfect her 57th Gordon Highlanders at the outbreak of war. Jessie Franklin Army. The sisters were given identity brought her into the stationmaster's English. Here she was befriended by a papers and together with other former office, made her up a bed of chairs, British officer who one day told her he He fought across North Africa, Italy and landed Polish prisoners of war were sent on a and even found her a piece of bread had sustained an injury to his leg which in Normandy on D-Day plus 1. On 11th April mammoth train journey from the which, she says, was an untold luxury was not responding to treatment and it 1945 his battalion entered Belsen to a scene he extreme north of Russia to Buzuluk in in Russia at that time. was likely that the leg would have to be later likened to hell. He said that we did not the southern Urals, where the Polish Ida resumed her journey on the next amputated. Ida arranged for him to be know what to do and we gave these poor souls Army headquarters were located, a available train and finally reached the privately treated by Jewish doctors she the usual British Tommy's answer in time of crisis With Compliments journey of several weeks. Polish Army Headquarters in Buzuluk. knew who had escaped Russia after hot sweet tea. This was the wrong thing to do. from She enrolled in the medical service, the revolution. She thought that their At some point on this long journey the being once again the only female familiarity with the region might give The mortality rate was three hundred a day. For Mark & Judith train drew into a station in the middle Jewish member, and worked there until them more knowledge of the diseases years after my uncle had nightmares about this Sischy of the night. Believing they had finally she was ordered to travel to the acquired there. She was correct and horror that he saw at age twenty.”

6 7 the officer's leg was saved. She now Atlantic in convoy, arriving at Greenock Liberal Synagogue. In 1989 she and The introduction by Lord Winston was believes that her act of kindness was on July 4th 1944. her husband moved back to Scotland, Holocaust Memorial Day followed by the music ‘Scenes from reciprocated, when in the months to but sadly ten years later she was Jewish Life’ composed by Ernest Hana Hornung come she was faced with the problem In Scotland Ida worked at the Polish widowed. She has now settled in Bloch. There were films – ‘The of arranging transport to Palestine for a section of the large military hospital at Edinburgh and is the senior member of It all started with a telephone call from Susan Green, our Northern representative of Departure’, and ‘The Return’ followed group of Jewish refugees, young Bridge of Earn, and for a further year at the Sukkat Shalom Liberal Jewish the AJR, asking me, if I would accept an invitation for the Holocaust Memorial Day. by music using words from the Diary mothers and children who had arrived Carnoustie where she worked with congregation here. She is extremely After hesitation, I agreed, feeling that it was my moral duty to attend, in memory of all of Anne Frank. One of the speakers from Russia as army dependents. limbless servicemen. It was there, after active in the congregation here those who had not survived. who impressed me most was Stephen There was a branch of the Jewish attending both services and committee Fry, mentioning not only the perished agency in Teheran trying to help, but meetings, and last year, along with From then on, it started to be serious. I received an official invitation from the Home Jews, but also the gypsies, the Ida arranged for him to be the Iraqis would not allow Jews to “ Daniel Naftalin, the youngest member Office informing me that I could nominate a member of family or friend to accompany disabled, the homosexuals, all having enter their land, so the only route to privately treated by Jewish of the congregation, she performed the me to Westminster Hall. The day was divided into two essential parts. The morning been victims of the Nazi philosophy Palestine was by sea. Miraculously doctors she knew who had ceremony of Siyyum by writing one of was designated for survivors and liberators only, at St. James’s Palace. The afternoon and persecution. after yet more train journeys from escaped Russia after the the two final letters on our torah scroll. was to be at Westminster Hall. I got two admittance cards, one for St. James’s State Teheran to Keramsha on the Persian revolution.” Apartments, the other for Westminster Hall. As it so happens, it was the picture room Reading of names by grandchildren of Gulf, a ship materialised and they were It was one of Ida's contributions to our to which I was allocated. They most likely knew that I am fond of pictures! For Holocaust survivors was powerful and escorted to Suez by a Royal Navy community debate that fired me to practical reasons, we were distributed to different rooms, which meant that it was emotional. convoy. This group of 1,230 refugees, the war, when the postal service from write this article. We were having a nearly impossible to find people whom you may have known. known as the Teheran children, entered Poland was restored, that she learned workshop with our visiting Rabbi on the The connection with the ‘forgotten’ Jewish Palestine in 1943 and was from an old school friend that her subject of prayer, - what it meant to us, St. James’s Palace was largely built between 1531 and 1538 and used as a Royal Holocaust was meaningfully cheered along the route to Haifa. There mother, father, middle sister, and all her and why and how we pray - something Residence after the destruction of the Palace of Whitehall. It was only since the expressed by the Boros Gypsy were 861 children in the party, the remaining extended family members that many of us find hard to articulate. I accession of Queen Victoria that the Sovereign lived at Buckingham Palace. The State Ensemble. majority of them orphaned by the war. had been murdered at Auschwitz. remember noticing that Ida's eyes were apartments contain interesting Royal portraits and battle pieces. There are Mortlake closed and wondering if she had fallen tapestries in one of the chambers and arms and armour in the Armoury. There were many more speakers; After a short break in Tel Aviv Ida At the end of the war Ida married a asleep. Then she suddenly spoke up. Sven-Goran Erikson, remembering his rejoined the army, working at the Royal Polish officer who, like her, had fought The beginning was very depressing, seeing all these old people queuing to enter, visit to Auschwitz, and an excellent Commonwealth Military hospital at in many locations throughout the "Prayer saved my life once. I was some of whom had mobility problems - the weather was grey, cold and it was raining, speech by Dr. Jonathan Sacks. Rehovot, which had a small Polish conflict. They settled in London where standing in a river, up to my neck in which underlined the sad occasion. Once in, there was help in the form of section. Although she loved Israel and she resumed her academic career as a water. The Nazis were on one side and wheelchairs, nurses, stewards, etc. All around the room were chairs to sit down, small The arrival of the flame from Bergen- was reluctant to leave, she was teacher, teaching for a spell in Italy and the Russian troops were on the other, tables with open sandwiches and similar, a table where hot and cold drinks were Belsen was followed by the prayer El determined to return to find her family in Sydney, Australia, which was now and I said the Shema ..." Nobody offered. There was an atmosphere created to recover from the hostile initial Malei Rachamim sung by Cantor after the war. In 1944 she went by train the home of the younger sister who spoke for a while after that. As so often environment and to get acquainted with those sharing the same room and similar fate. Stephen Leas and accompanied by to Cairo, and then to Suez. She was had escaped with her. in listening to what Ida has to say we Their background was rather varied, Hungarian, Polish, Czech, German etc. Most the Central Synagogue Choir. The travelling on a converted P0 mail ship realised how very few of us have have been in Britain more or less since the end of World War II. There was one lady, Prime Minister gave a very forceful towards Gibraltar when D-Day was While she was in London Ida was an experienced even a fraction of the whose family was taken to concentration camps, and she came over to Britain as a speech, after which followed candle announced, and her ship crossed the active member of St John's Wood things she has seen. baby. She obviously could not remember anything and was adopted and brought up lighting and music. in Britain. There were also soldiers who liberated Auschwitz. It was a big mix of very different people, with very different life stories. The film “Pictures from Auschwitz Today’ was shown and followed by Most were assigned to groups with a leader, who then would introduce some of them ‘Hear my prayer, O Lord’. to the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh. And then the big moment arrived. The Queen and the Duke began walking through the different rooms. We were advised to The Queen then departed, we all continue talking together, if we so wanted, stay seated, and treat this as an informal stood up afterwards there was music. occasion, although in the letter from the Home Office, we were advised not to offer or to shake hands, but if the royal hand was preferred, to take it lightly and briefly! There were big screens placed all over the Hall, since it is a very large area, At the end of the Reception coaches were provided to take us to the Westminster Hall and thus all the events – films, candle location where we joined our guest. Obviously, there were quite a few policemen, both lighting, speakers could be followed at St. James’s and Westminster Hall, and security checks, before being admitted. by everyone present. In contrast to St. James’s, it was very cold, but we had Westminster Hall erected in 1097 by William Rufus, was later destroyed by Richard II, been warned about this. It became a ceremonial centre of the country. It has a magnificent hammer beam roof, holding the heavy roof without pillars and dominating the interior space. Many famous The Rt. Hon Tony Blair was standing state trials took place there, such as Sir Thomas More’s. Now it is used for great near the exit, to give people the functions and lying in state. opportunity to speak to him.

The Holocaust Memorial service in the Westminster Hall under the auspices of Her My daughter and I made our way to Majesty the Queen and the Government, was a most memorable occasion. There was the National Gallery, to have a hot music, starting with Elgar ‘O hearken Thou’ and a reading from Primo Levi’s ‘If this is drink and something to eat and to a man’ read by Christopher Eccleston, which was most moving. recover after a very long and trying day. And then back by train to Harpenden. 8 9 "But.. .there aren't any Nazis left, are Auschwitz, and Ever After there? They're all dead, right?" Rebecca Dreisinger "No. A lot of them are dead," my Saint Jane (Haining) father answered honestly, "but some Elaine Pomeransky To honour the sixtieth anniversary of more than a little of the sense of are still alive, hiding." the liberation of Auschwitz, museums displacement, more than a little of the Flat out of comforting clauses, I Jane Haining was a local hero of a certificate reads: `Miss Haining, who Now her supporters in Scotland are and institutes in America, Israel and immigrant's soul, though I was the dropped my affectation of maturity. different kind. Dunscore-born, she was arrested on account of justified remembering her words as they try to Europe held memorials and PBS aired daughter of two New York-born parents "Do you think they're going to come became a missionary to the Jewish suspicion of espionage against have her honoured for eternity in the a new series: Auschwitz: Inside the and had grown up ensconced in the back?" mission in Hungary and died for her Germany, died in hospital, July 17, of Avenue of Righteous Gentiles in Nazi Death Camps. Though I've seen safety of a very Catholic American beliefs in the Nazi death camp at cachexia brought on by intestinal Jerusalem. For her name to be countless Holocaust films and TV Bronx neighbourhood. I could not Finally, my father caught on that I Auschwitz. Jane was educated at catarrh.' admitted, much first-hand information specials, read tens of Holocaust make sense of the transformation that wasn't looking for the truth, but for Dumfries Academy is needed - an almost memoirs and recorded one of my own was supposed to take place - to have some reassurance that I would only where she became impossible task. – that of the only surviving member of taken place – somewhere along this ever visit the bunker and the gas Dux of the Modern my paternal grandfather's sprawling generational line, to magically render Saint Jane (Haining) chamber in my dreams. He patted me School during the First The most moving tribute Hungarian family - I watch the new my parents, or at the least, myself and Elaine writes a poem inspired by the history of St Jane on the back. "No, I don't think they World War, the year to the Dumfriesshire PBS special rapt, right through to Linda my siblings, Americans. If my will." after the actor John martyr was written by Ellerbee's interviews after the showing. ancestors had been branded too tribal Auschwitz, the kiss you didn't have to take, lips eagerly pursed, Laurie had come one of her former wards: I know virtually all that PBS reports to be welcomed into European society, Inviting the Nazi tongue to lick As I got older, I grew more able to runner-up. I still feel the tears in my about the death camp where my family how now were we meant to suddenly You with gas. differentiate between Europe and eyes and hear in my perished; I am reviewing a familiar switch tacks and melt into the very Amongst the mass of strangers you died, America, to understand that what had Jane worked for ten ears the siren of the script, reciting the lines. Still, I devour normalcy of mainstream America? If Sacrificed. happened in Europe could not happen years in a thread Gestapo motorcar. I see each new detail as though tens of generations have played the Name almost forgotten, because of your gender. in this country in the way that it had maker’s in Paisley, but the smile on her face incorporating it, knowing that it will eternal outsider, can their descendents Left Right happened in Europe. But knowing that at a meeting in while she bade me somehow conquer this massive suddenly become insiders once Left Dumfries to end up on your knees for a race forgotten still did not help me feel particularly Glasgow about the farewell. I never saw monster, make it comprehensible, suddenly someone calls "game over!" ‘I have found my life's work’ your tune, but the world didn't dance. American. Jewish Mission she Miss Haining again, and digestible. and welcomes them in? No rest in Budapest as you sewed stars of yellow turned to a friend and Onto your chosen children. when I went to the I consider myself a third-generation said, prophetically `I Scottish Mission to ask As a child, I had a personal vendetta Light of Scotland, rejected the Church offering of safe return Holocaust survivor, but is there such a have found my life- the minister about her, I with Hitler before I had a historical one. Held tightly the hands of those who yearned Always, I woke sweaty and thing? I've never met anyone else who work.' After a crash was told she had died. I It was his fault, my child's mind “ Your protection, grateful, so grateful to be has taken on the mantle. Not many of course in Hungarian, did not want to believe reasoned, that I had grown up with no Affection enough to lay down your life. awake, to be here – American the third generation speak out on the she took charge of the it, nor to understand, paternal family tree, only a denuded ” ‘Even here on the road to Heaven there is a mountain range to climb’ subject, and I question whether any Girls' Home of the but a long time later I family shrub, chopped off above my You whispered, feel as I do. Perhaps instead, rather mission in Budapest. realised that she had father's generation. In a recurring As you were gassed than feeling themselves the The Nazis jackbooted died for me, and for dream, I hid in a bunker underground How, too, was I supposed to reap the With a mass of Hungarian women continuation of a European line not their way into Hungary others. The body of with my family and several other benefits of the shelter and protection of Such a German chore. European enough, not ~`White" during the last March Miss Haining is dead, families. Invariably, we would huddle a country that refused to open its Left Right enough, not Aryan enough, they prefer of her life, and she but she is not alone, crouched, listening to the ominous clip- doors to refugees fleeing a burning Left the world on August 16th, 1944. to experience themselves as the first wept as she had to because her smile, clop of the S.S. men's boots overhead Europe? To bomb the train tracks that The only Scot to be slain…martyred Jane, truly free Jews, the first welcomed sew Stars of David on voice and face are still as they turned the house upside down, carried my ancestors to their death? Remembered only by a sliver of Glasgow glass and plaque, with open arms into the vastness. the youngsters. in my heart.' looking for us. And invariably, one of PBS shows a memo sent to one of Yad Vashem, men declared you ‘Righteous’ 55 years America gives you that freedom, after Gestapo men raided the other families had a baby that Roosevelt's higher-ups requesting such After you'd died. all. the place. Among the memorials to would start to cry. Sometimes the action, and the reply: "Kill it." That No libraries, films, memorials, tutorials Jane Haining are two mother would succeed in calming the memo might have saved my entire Lest we forget St. Jane Rebecca Dreisinger is a writer and Jane had ignored the stained glass windows child, but seven out of ten times, the family, I think to myself. And the day you were crucified. counselor in Manhattan. She is warnings of the Church in Queen's Park crying would lead a Nazi to our hiding completing a memoir ‘Olive Girl’, of Scotland to come church, Glasgow, where place. Most often, the dream ended, as Once, at the height of my bunker about becoming Israeli. home to safety, and she worshipped, and a dreams do, in the middle of things, the dreams, I told my father how scared of she was thrown in jail. She refused to plaque in the little Kirk of Dunscore, baby still crying and the Nazi's boots the Holocaust I was, how afraid of reject her children, and it cost her her Two days before her (official) death, which stands on the site of the one, still clomping toward us. Sometimes Hitler - afraid even of the odious life. Jane had written obsessively to a where Robert Burns prayed most we would be discovered, and once or malediction that was his name. In an friend Margit about apples, fresh fruit Sundays during his stay at Ellisland. twice, gassed. Always, I woke sweaty attempt to soothe myself and to prove According to Elizabeth Walker in her and bread: she was obviously starving. (Infomation supplied by Dumfries and and grateful, so grateful to be awake, my eight-year-old maturity, I then With Compliments from husband’s book ‘Legacy of Scots’, You can read between the censored Galloway site visitors.) to be here – American. laughed shortly and said, "but it can't Jane Haining was the only Scot to be lines. She wrote pathetically: `Even Jane Haining was declared “Righteous happen again, right? It can't happen Green & Frederick slain in the Nazi concentration camps, here on the road to Heaven there is a among the nations” by Yad Vashem at And yet, there has always been here, in America. Right Dad?" My Jewellery and was probably gassed along with a mountain range to climb.' a meeting held in the Museum of uneasiness to my Americanness. As a father surprised me. 0131 226 7000 batch of Hungarian women on 16 Religion in Glasgow in December 1999. third generation American, a third "Well.. .it could. Probably it won't, but it August 1944. However, her death generation Holocaust refugee, I shared could. Even here."

10 11 and gave a sermon in the synagogue. live). The population stood at fifty were largely refugees from the In 1910, The Scotsman reported, ‘In Jews, and four years later in 1949, a Portuguese Inquisition and Aberdeen Aberdeen it was ascertained that the Jewish Literary and Social Society was represented their best hope of attaining North-Eastern Exposure: Hebrew community at present consists established. In 1956, Rabbi Dr. Gustav a British medical qualification. The first of 23 heads of families and three single Pfingst, a German refugee who had Jew to graduate from Aberdeen was men, the total number of individuals escaped with his family in 1939, was Jacob de Castro Sarmento who The Life of Aberdeen’s Jewish Community being under 100. These are, with very appointed rabbi but he died the received his M.D. in July 1739. A Nathan Abrams few exceptions, of the poorest class, following year. In 1960, the synagogue significant influx of American students but they have a synagogue in acquired a two-hundred-year-old came in 1930 when there were 203 when a numerus clausus in operation Marischal Street, and maintain a pastor Czech Sefer Torah from the Czech applicants for places in medicine. at American medical schools brought of their own. During the herring season Memorial Scrolls Centre. The Virtually all of those who applied were an influx of students from there. Jewish salesman from Russia, who do community numbered about 85 in graduates of either New York University business at Aberdeen, Peterhead, and 1966. In the 1980s, the synagogue was or the City College of New York (the In line with the general history of Fraserburgh, augment the resident refurbished and in 1987, the bar ‘Jewish’ university). Other students Scottish Jewry, whereby, according to Jewish community.’ The Jews of mitzvah of Steven Shrago attracted a came from South Africa, Germany and Kenneth Collins, ‘There were almost no Dundee, by contrast, were determined record number of seventy attending the more recently Israel. Aberdeen’s Jews resident in Scotland in the to be ‘more of the better-off class.’ By shul and attracted a great deal of universities have also attracted Jews eighteenth century and communities 1929, according to Rabbi Salis publicity. Today the number of Jews in as staff. My example is perhaps were not officially established until the Daiches, ‘An even smaller number of Aberdeen, at least according to the typical. I arrived in September 2004 as first decades of the nineteenth Jews reside in Aberdeen – less than a most recent census, is approximately a result of a job offer from the century’, it was not until 7th dozen families, but they form a two hundred and approximately 50-60 University of Aberdeen as a Lecturer in September 1893 that a formal congregation, have a place of worship participate in some form of the History. Many Jews that are here now community was established in and a minister, who is also the teacher community’s activities. and came in the past were Aberdeen when its first synagogue was of the Hebrew classes, as well as a undoubtedly attracted by the city’s two consecrated by Russian and Polish small cemetery. This means that each How closely I wonder does my universities – Aberdeen and Robert

34 Marischal Street Account of the Proceedings of the Jews on the first floor of a house at 34 family, even the poorest, has to situation sum up that of those other Gordon. Other notable scholars include Marischal Street. Jews must have been contribute a considerable amount, in Jews, past and present, who came to David Daube who, in 1951, was A question often asked of me is, ‘why Jews Than hath been hitherto here for a while beforehand, though, some cases as much as ten shillings a Aberdeen? How many of them chose appointed Professor of Jurisprudence did you choose Aberdeen?’ When I Published’ reported that a ship with probably ten to fifteen years, as they week, towards the maintenance of the to move here down the ages, or arrived at the University of Aberdeen. eventually stop laughing, I reply that I white silk ropes and white-branched would have needed to find the money religious organisation and spiritual life as a consequence of the usual push didn’t choose Aberdeen at all but that satin sails emblazoned in red letters to finance the synagogue. It was also of the congregation. And yet people and pull factors that bring Jews to any Many of those who came as either staff it chose me. Does this sum up the with the words ‘THESE ARE THE TEN reported that, ‘A feeling was said to persist in speaking of the miserly part of the world? What exactly or students were refugees from position of Aberdeen’s Jews through TRIBES OF ISRAEL’, put in at the port have existed for a considerable time Aberdonian and especially of the attracted Jews to such a remote and Nazism. Possibly the most famous the ages, I wonder? How many of them of Aberdeen. Aboard was a large party among the Jews resident in Aberdeen avaricious Aberdeen Jew!’ isolated community? For a long time (although not at the time) was the chose to move here down the ages, or of Jews, dressed in black and blue and that a synagogue should be The character of the community Aberdeen ‘enjoyed the reputation, world-renowned philosopher Emil arrived as a consequence of the usual with stores of rice and honey, from established in the city; but it was only remained largely Eastern European rightly or wrongly, of being the only Fackenheim. In 1939-40 he pursued push and pull factors that bring Jews where it was unknown. The Professor in 1893 that anything was done to town in Scotland where Jews could not doctoral studies at the University of to any part of the world? The occasion of the Tongues and Languages was translate the feeling into action.’ eke out a livelihood.’ Nevertheless, the Aberdeen. While Fackenheim was in of the sixtieth anniversary of the sent for and he determined that they Furthermore, The Scotsman stated, There were almost no Jews main reasons why Jews came can be Aberdeen he was contracted by the consecration of the Aberdeen Hebrew spoke broken Hebrew and that they “ ‘Attempts have been made previously resident in Scotland in the listed here: Aberdeen’s universities, synagogue to provide Hebrew lessons Congregation’s synagogue in Dee held a letter in High Dutch which said to form a congregation there, but eighteenth century refuge from Nazi Germany, military for the children. It was here that he Street, Aberdeen – the most northern that they were bound for Amsterdam to ” without success.’ The Jewish service, business and work picked up his recognisable brogueish, place of Jewish worship in the British correspond with their brethren there. population at that time was 24 families opportunities, the Royal Aberdeen Scottish English. But his status as an Isles – in June 1945, gives us an Nothing more is known about this and 26 seat holders. In that same until German Jews, fleeing Nazism, Infirmary, the energy industries and the enemy alien of military age in wartime opportunity to look back briefly at the letter, its author (signed simply as year, however, the Minister and began to arrive in Aberdeen. If the oil rigs, all of which account for the led to his internment in 1941 and then history of the Jews of the Granite City. ‘R.R.’), the ship or its occupants, or even if they were indeed Jews. It is Shochet of the new community, Rev. Glasgow model is anything to go by, migration of Jews to this city. deportation to Canada where he spent James Littman, together with its such Jews ‘were initially received with the next 20 months in a prison camp Accurate statistics of Jews in Aberdeen presumed that they were most President, Alexander Zamek, were sympathy, but as the Second World The standard of Aberdeen’s two near Sherbrooke, Que. Fellow are hard to come by but there were no probably on their way to join the prosecuted by the local branch of the War approached, and Germans were medical schools – King’s College and Holocaust survivor Eric Koch recalled reports of Jews moving to Aberdeen pseudo-Messiah Shabbetai Tsvi in the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to increasingly seen as the enemy, even Marischal College – was considered to how Fackenheim was arrested by a before the nineteenth century, although Levant and did not stay in Aberdeen. Animals for ‘the slaughter of a bullock German Jews were treated with be on a par with the best international polite English bobby, who was invited there might have been a trickle after the Hebrew manner, in connection suspicion.’ institutions of higher learning. Yet, in for tea, despite his mission. Years northwards, particularly after the Thereafter, there is no mention of Jews with recent celebrations in the opening unlike Oxbridge, there was open entry, expulsion of the Jews from England. in connection with Aberdeen until the of [the] synagogue.’ The case, As befitting a growing and wealthier religious toleration and the fees and No Jews moved to Aberdeen, though, eighteenth century. Between 1739 and fortunately, was dismissed and the community, in 1945, a new and larger living expenses were relatively low. The because they felt that there was no 1829 sixteen Jews graduated in judgement given that the Shechita had synagogue, incorporating a Shul as first Jews in the English-speaking livelihood to be made there. The first medicine from Aberdeen’s two been expertly carried out. By 1894, well as communal areas, was world to graduate with degrees did so record of any Jews in Aberdeen universities but all of them took their fourteen Jewish businesses were listed consecrated in Dee Street. The from Aberdeen. Between 1739 and occurred in 1665. ‘A New Letter from degrees in absentia. The first Jewish in Aberdeen. In 1907, the then Chief synagogue itself is not purpose-built 1829 there were sixteen Jewish Aberdeen in Scotland, Sent to Person medical students to move to Aberdeen Rabbi, Adler, visited the community but a converted terraced house (it still medical graduates although all but two of Quality Wherein is a more full seem to be in the twentieth century contains an upstairs attic flat in which I of them were based in England. They

Letter from Aberdeen 12 13 later, during the 1970s, another German-Jewish philosopher, Christmas Day). This is particularly true of Good Friday and Hannah Arendt, visited Aberdeen to deliver a series of lectures Easter Monday (observed throughout the rest of the UK.) Such The Danger of Disengagement at the university. high holydays are not public holidays in the City of Aberdeen.’ Another who came was Peter Landsberg who obtained his Even the Jewish Mission Committee of the Church of Avi Lehrer first academic post at Aberdeen. There he met his future wife, Scotland, bluntly known as the Committee for the Conversion the daughter of the Parliamentary correspondent of the Daily of the Jews, didn’t bother to carry out mission work in "Out, damn'd spot!" Lady Macbeth cries, "out, I say!" and state this is what we require to be our Express, through which connection they received a wedding Aberdeen because it was ‘understood that their poor are well (V: i: 35). The specific spots in the setting of Macbeth borders. Before a Knesset vote, there present from Lord Beaverbrook. She studied botany, and, after cared for by their own rabbis and the better-off people.’ Twice, should be a referendum in Israel of all its bringing up three children became a published authority on no less, however, in 1896 and 1923, the mention of a are Scotland and England, but the Israeli government citizens entitled to vote as to the medieval gardens. In 1934, Kurt Hahn, a teacher and educator synagogue in Aberdeen prompted laughter at the Church is now switching the geography of the "out" to Gaza acceptability of such borders. If the idea forced out of Germany after 1933 as a result of his Jewish Assembly, with no explanation given, perhaps explaining why and parts of the West Bank. is accepted the Knesset should then vote. ancestry, founded Gordonstoun, near Aberdeen, on the model no mission work was undertaken. If the Knesset approves the proposal then What is the feeling in Israel about the always been held prior to a parliamentary of his Schloss Salem School, embodying his educational it should be implemented unilaterally in proposed disengagement? With a decision on the issue. Not afterwards as philosophy of self-realization and social responsibility through Today in 2004, the community might be small and overlooked the absence of Palestinian co-operation. population of nearly seven million people, is now proposed in Israel. community service. Hahn founded a further Preparatory by its larger counterparts but it’s still vibrant. Jews from all The international community should be Israel has nearly seven million differing School, Aberlour House, in 1947. Both schools survive today over the world including Israel, America, Uzbekistan, Germany, asked to help the Palestinians with views. In spite of broad categories of Peace after Disengagement and are highly regarded British institutions even if it is often England, Scotland, South Africa, the Caribbean and Spain, regards to government and identifiable groupings, e.g. religious, If there is disengagement will there be forgotten that Gordonstoun started as a school for refugee attend. A full-range of holy day services, including Purim, administration. All Israel government and secular, left, right, settlers, Sephardim, peace and security? Unlikely. children and teachers from Germany. Chanukah and most recently Passover, are held, as well as army personnel and equipment should be Ashkenazim, Anglos, etc there is much Disengagement of Gaza will still mean Aberdeen has proved to be a tolerant place for Jews. Anti- regular services and meals on Friday night and on Shabbat. I, brought back to within Israel's new overlap. Take an Anglo left-wing religious that the sea and air access to Gaza is Semitism, by and large, has not proved to be a problem here for one, look forward to the next sixty years. borders. male who has lived in Israel for just a few controlled by Israel. In a short time, the (although there have been definite anti-Jewish prejudices at years. His opinions on the disengagement Palestinians will be crying to the world times). This is because, in the words of historian Nicholas J. Nathan Abrams is a lecturer at the University of Aberdeen. At The Palestinians should be able to have are not necessarily those of the religious that they are still living in a giant prison Evans, ‘In the North East of Scotland, Aberdeen in particular, times, he feels like Dr. Joel Fleischman in an episode of total control of land air and sea routes parties or of the left-wing movements. camp. If no real progress is made towards religion has been seen as a strictly personal thing. Whether Northern Exposure. His forthcoming book, Commentary adjoining their borders. The fear of course a final agreement with the Palestinians Jew, Christian, Mormon or Muslim, it has been possible to Magazine 1945-1959: ‘A journal of significant thought and is that heavy weaponry will be brought So knowing the difficulties of putting about borders and a general peace observe one’s own religious holydays as local holidays are opinion’, will be published by Vallentine Mitchell in the autumn. into such areas. That I think is a risk forward specific views, let me now do just settlement, it is likely that within a year or rarely linked to Christian festivals (the notable exception being worth taking. Any Israeli who wants to live that. two, the Palestinians will be calling out in a Palestinian area can do so with loudly for a Federation of Israel, Gaza and Palestinian permission, but would not The settlers do not want to leave Gaza or the West Bank to be called Palestine receive Israeli protection. Any Palestinian any part of the West Bank because they Israel. They will say that each entity will who wants to live within Israel, can do so believe that these areas are G-d given be able to control its own local matters with Israeli permission, but would not land to the Jews. but international and federal matters will receive Palestinian protection. Workers be decided by one Parliament (which will will not be able to travel between the The left want to leave because they have a slight Palestinian majority). Israel countries until there was a formal peace believe the occupation is wrong. will have a devolved parliament just like agreement. The world's politicians could Scotland. It already has a parliamentary not travel between Israel and Palestine Many people want to disengage but only building, so there will be no need to pour without an agreement from both sides. want to do that with an agreement with millions of pounds in that direction. That Any citizen of a country that requires a the Palestinians. is the only saving grace. The Palestinians visa from Israelis, will have to also obtain will muster 150 votes in the UN to an Israeli visa to travel to Israel. Many people want to stay and at the support the Federation idea and Israel will This idea is not "isolationist" but is more same time reach a peace agreement with be struggling against overwhelming likely to be acceptable to the international the Palestinians. international pressure. Then the term community than the outcome of a "partial "Palestine Israel" as the name for the disengagement" and more importantly, it Some want a referendum on the issue. federation will quietly be changed to just is likely to provide Israel with greater Others say that Israel is a parliamentary "Palestine". security and peace in the long term. democracy and referendums are Perhaps then our sons will no longer have undesirable. Some, who want a This is not quite a doomsday prediction, to spend their precious youth in the referendum, want to exclude all non-Jews but pretty horrific for those of us who military. Perhaps then, we need not fear from voting in it. want an independent Jewish state called terrorist attacks in our towns. Perhaps Israel. Perhaps it is about time that a then we can concentrate on improving What a mess!! think tank calculates the reward/risk ratios the quality of life for all Israel's citizens, of a partial "disengagement". and provide increased education and It gets worse. The Knesset has already welfare. voted in favour of the disengagement and What about "Total Disengagement" the people who are now calling for a In the absence of an agreement with the Avi Lehrer is an English lawyer who went referendum are doing so because they Palestinian Authority, I support the idea of on aliyah six years ago, and has since want to overturn the Knesset's decision. a "total disengagement". The Government then been making films and is involved in In Europe and other places where of Israel should choose a line (whether the media, including British media-watch referendums have been held, it has along the security barrier or elsewhere) coverage of Israel. 15 Highlights of our 50th Edition Celebration Dinner Juila Merrick (picture compliation by Malcolm Merrick)

As the guests assembled there was a Eitan Abraham tells the story of the community. This day was the eleventh repeated murmur of ‘is he here yet? founding of the Star in the 50th edition. anniversary of Ruth’s passing and he Are they all coming? Has he arrived?’ Eitan spoke of his instant rapport with paid homage to her role as editor. and then joyful greetings. In a packed Rabbi Shapira who had ‘a refreshing ‘Ruth had agreed to become editor hall we found our tables. John outlook on the art of the possible’. The providing that she had complete Cosgrove, veteran, and sometime Rabbi suggested that the Star could be editorial control and that she should be chair, of the editorial board, introduced used more for education. He answerable to the editorial board.’ the speakers: Rabbi Shalom Shapira suggested we looked again at page 26, and Eitan Abraham, the first editor, issue 19 where ‘a girl’s batmitzvah Ned Temko, discussing the rival Mike Adler who edited 15 issues after project was published; it was no less religious and the cultural definitions of his late wife Ruth had made a brilliant important than the haftarah read out by Judaism, advised us ‘Maybe what has job of several editions. Then the a boy at his barmitzvah.’ kept Jewish life vibrant and vital, what celebrity guest Ned Temko spoke and has sustained it over several thousand finally Peter Bennett who was now Mike Adler spoke of the uncertain years is not your view or my view it is handing the editorship to Judith finances and the dilemmas over the argument. And the role of the Gilbert. Between speeches we ate, editorial policy. He had wanted to Jewish Chronicle or The Edinburgh talked and drank a toast to The Star. balance community news with a more Star is not to gratuitously offend or national outlook and contributors who upset everyone but it is partly to make Judy Sischy had organised the whole would speak their mind. He admitted sure that you spell the barmitzvah event with the help of Mike Adler, Eve there ‘had appeared to have been boy’s name right, is partly to make sure Oppenheim, John Cosgrove, Sidney some rumblings of dissent’. He we hold up an image that people enjoy Caplan, and with the advice and highlighted interviews with ‘two scions Jewish life, but ultimately the thing catering experience of Anita of the community Abe Rabstaff and without which an excellent Jewish Mendelssohn and hard work of Joe Lurie’ that he had made. As a busy publication like The Edinburgh Star or Christine Burns. Judy Sischy asked the academic he was not always able to the Jewish Chronicle cannot survive, editorial board to toast ‘a rainbow of give as much time as he would have and I would argue Jewish communal readers’. liked to The Star and there was life in the 21st century is the argument laughter when he admitted he had to and if you lose the argument you’re Ned Temko was presented with a copy leave some things to the last minute. lost.’ of Two Worlds by David Daiches and a He thanked Ian Shein for his gentle bottle of 15 year old single malt, the chivalry and wise council and for Peter Bennett has brought the same age as The Star. keeping him in touch with the magazine into the twenty first century, most apparent in the new design. Here daughter Debbie who runs an Some facts and figures advertising firm in Glasgow helped him. 1st five editions by Eitan Abraham He changed production methods so Copyright of the name ‘the Edinburgh Star’ belongs to Eitan Abraham that a print ready disk can be delivered 1st edition cost £450.74 and was 28 pages long to Meigle Printers in the borders. His The most expensive edition (3rd edition, 48 pages and a glossy cover, art by Robin third change has been to focus the Spark) cost £4000 magazine more locally. Contributions Longest serving editor 15 editions by Michael Adler are sought about the local community Awards received from the Board of Deputies or should be written by someone with Special commendation for Issue 33, for Esti Sheinberg’s article in particular. a local connection. He thanked John Runner up for ‘best communal magazine’ in the year 2000. Cosgrove for being “a tower of The readers strength, for the voluntary help at all 160 copies to The Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation levels and the Editorial Board who all 200 by request from Jews and non-Jews contribute to where we are today. 200 in the UK 36 to Israel distributed by Howard Stern He was pleased to hand the editor’s International a few job to Judy Gilbert described by All thanks to Ian Shein, Norman Dorfman and Norman Berger Shalom Shapira as ‘ever blossoming’. The editors Eitan Abraham, Ruth Adler, Michael Adler, Peter Bennett Judy and Anthony cut and pasted Guest editors Julia Merrick, Esti Sheinberg many of the layouts of earlier issues The Star is funded by donations, advertisements and from Rosh Hashanah greetings. and Anthony has provided countless line drawings. 16 17 followed Tom's own ginger cake Thereafter the group made their way to Histadrut, had expressed a desire to supplemented by home made biscuits the community centre where they meet members of the Edinburgh baked by wife Vicky. A most satisfying enjoyed a buffet supper. Joining them community They expressed their Around and About afternoon resulted in the WIZO coffers were two members of Histadrut, Israeli pleasure at the invitation to attend the jingling to the tune of £200. Trade Union, who were en route to function and thanked co-chairmen Kate stage during which a first class supper tale was delivered was truly impressive attend the TUC annual conference in Goodwin and Sylvia Donne for their was served, a presentation was made and kept the whole community on the The Shein Scene WIZO's innovative diary included a visit Dundee. The two, Jaacov Shamay, hospitality. to popular Christine Burns to mark her edge of its seat. to the small cinema within the acting chairmen of Histadrut and 21 ladies of WIZO attended a lunch at 60th birthday and also her 25 years as Scotsman Hotel on April when an former member of the Knesset, and Avi the home of Irene Mason on 26th caretaker of the Synagogue and The prize for the best costume in the audience saw the film ‘Keeping the Bitchur, chairman of the link January where they heard a talk and community centre. Dr. Philip Mason, parade went to Edan Naor who went Faith’, a comedy with Jewish interest. organisation between the latter and the witnessed a demonstration on make up president, spoke of Christine's loyal, as Esther. Second prize went to Sarah by Angela Bryden, head of Helena conscientious and ever willing attitude Levy whose half and half costume Rubenstein’s team at Jenners to tackle all her many varied duties in (pyjamas and school uniform) department store. The ladies acquired her ever cheerful manner. Mrs. Anita represented day and night. The older knowledge on remaining young and Mendelssohn, co-chair of the children enacted the story in an beautiful, which no one would ever community centre, added her innovative way having been entirely Society Reports suggest that they require. A most committee’s thanks and wished responsible for the production satisfying meal was served by Kate, Christine and her husband Dave, themselves. Hamen taschen were Sylvia and Irene and raised over £200 whose birthday also was close, many enjoyed followed by a satisfying meal Edinburgh Jewish Literary Society Report for funds. happy returns. This was echoed by organised by Hillary Rifkind. Avery Meiksin enthusiastic rendering of ‘happy From Judas to Murder Inc., Jews have oft been depicted by their detractors as unrestrained and well-argued point of On Shabbat 26th February a Youth birthday’ by the gathering. A Friday night dinner under the criminals. Michael Berkowitz, Professor in Modern Jewish History at University view regarding Jewish issues in Service took place in the Synagogue in auspices of the Shul events committee College London, addressed the “Facts, Myths and Lies about Criminality and the schools today. She was particularly which several members of the Cheder A special thanks to Hilary Rifkind and took place on 18 March in which 65 Jewish Question.” When the Nazis found that direct anti-Semitism failed to meet their concerned over the introduction of participated. Duncan Brannan and her helpers for excellent catering and people participated. After the service, expectations for wide-spread rejection of Jews from the professions in Germany, they Holocaust studies. She pointed out Daniel Gilroy acted as wardens with congratulations to the winning team of the efficient catering team led by Hilary reverted to the more successful, and time-tested, ploy of depicting Jews as criminals. that the official web page of the Isaac Forsyth as Shammas. James Hazel and John Cosgrove, Hilary and Rifkind served a dinner, which could Dickens portrayed Fagin as a Jew because he believed it more authentic as a recently instituted Holocaust Memorial Hyams and William Gilroy undertook Arnold Rifkind, Myrna and Morris only be described as superb. Rabbi representation of a dominant figure in the underworld. From where does the view of Day makes scant reference to Jews or Torah readings while synopses of the Kaplan, Clarice and Berl Osborne, Rose welcomed everyone and the Jew as criminal derive? All lies? Not completely. In the sixteenth to eighteenth century Nazis in its principal aims. Rather Torah came from the ladies’ gallery in Freda Riffkin and Eve Oppenheim for president, Philip Mason, thanked all for Europe, the exclusion of Jews from professions forced them into becoming traders than focussing on key questions like the persons of Melia Rosen, Isobel proving to be worthy winners if only by coming to make the evening so and pedlars, who sometimes, if only for the sake of survival, dealt in stolen goods. how Nazism could rise in a culturally Kelpie, Sarah Levy, Jessica Spencer, a margin of half a point. Quiz Master pleasant and enjoyable. Also present Jewish robber bands and smugglers roamed parts of Europe in the sixteenth century. advanced state, how the Nazis could Amanda Hyams, Sonya Rosen, Erica was Ian Shein. from Manchester were Mr. and Mrs. Moses Mendelssohn and G. E. Lessing would later rally to the defence of the come to achieve as much as they had, Budd, Jacqueline Kahn and Sarah-Beth Charles Gaffin with their son Joseph, impoverished Jew as a victim of society, forced into businesses that were more and what implications this has for Neville. Michael Taylor read the prayer On 13 March another coffee morning recently engaged to Jacqueline, tainted by criminality than the well-to-do professions. As Mendelssohn promised, after Germany today, the day focuses for the Queen. Lawrence Taylor, took place in which members met in daughter of Doreen and Lawrence the Jewish emancipation, the prevalence of Jews in the underworld dramatically instead on the unrealistic promotion of Maurice Griffin and Duncan Brannan cosy surroundings to discuss the latest Bowman. The president wished both declined. But the reputation stuck like mud for several more decades, surviving into a perfect world. She was equally read Musaf, Kiddush and Benching gossip, news, recipes and fashions. families and the young couple a hearty the twentieth century in the form of Jew as Bolshevik, which became a basis for critical of some of the Jewish respectively. Katherine Neville gave the The ever-popular book and cake stalls Mazeltov. curbing the immigration of Jews into Britain and America. approaches to the teaching of the sermon. The youngest children of the were in evidence. Cheder parents Holocaust, such as declaring its community were also in attendance to augmented the attendance and further If today “asylum seeker” is a code-word for Muslim, so a victims 'martyrs,' when in fact many give support to their friends. After the coffee mornings are planned. hundred years ago “alien” was a code-word for Jew. Brian identified little with being Jewish, service, lunch was served in the Klug, senior research fellow in philosophy at Oxford especially as anyone with just one community centre. A short talk by Mr. University, told us of “The Other Balfour: Recalling the 1905 Jewish grandparent, even if raised as Adam Mallerman of Tribe followed, Aliens Act.” In the two decades preceding the Aliens Act, a Christian, was fated for the death accompanied by Dalya Blitz. This 100,000 East European Jews settled in England, including camps. It is false to glorify the victims, concluded a most pleasant Shabbat thousands who came on foot from Romania in the `March of and turns the Holocaust into schmaltz. morning to which all credit must go to Despair.' The poor among the immigrants were viewed as a Rather, as I.B. Singer emphasized in the willing and competent youth. liability, and pressure was brought to stem the flow of Jewish `Enemies: A Love Story,' suffering immigrants. Balfour himself backed the Act, arguing that doesn't ennoble the victim: the most Britain had the right to keep out everyone who doesn't `add ordinary people suffered, and they to the strength of the community.' This hardly seems the stayed ordinary. same Balfour beloved by many Jews for the Balfour Declaration only twelve years A gastronomic feast, better known as later. But in fact one of Balfour's central purposes in the Declaration was to provide a At the final session of the Lit for the the Lowrie Lunch, delighted 24 homeland for the Jews, who he viewed as a separate nation that would never 2004-05 season, the speaker was the members of WIZO on 30 March when integrate in Britain. This would seem to suggest Balfour held Jews in low esteem. But distinguished journalist and that distinguished connoisseur of good the opposite was the case. Shaped by the reverence for the Old Testament of his broadcaster Jonathan Freedland, eating, Tom Lowrie gave a Evangelical upbringing, Balfour regarded Jews almost as bigger than life. He declared familiar to many Lit members through On Thursday 24th March The Megillah demonstration of how food should be them to be the most `gifted race' since the ancient Greeks. In a show of support of his column in the Guardian and his was read as never before. Rabbi David prepared and cooked. Using the the developing Jewish community in Palestine, he accepted the invitation to lay the contributions to the Jewish Chronicle. Rose equipped himself with hats to suit kitchen of Kate Goodwin’s home he cornerstone of the Hebrew University in 1925. Most poignantly for the future State of His talk, which was one of a series of The annual community quiz took place all the characters and a voice to match. cooked and presented the humble Israel, Weizmann reported that when nationwide events supported by on 6th March in which 75 contestants, Mordechai appeared in a bowler hat, haddock in his own inimitable style he informed Balfour of the sufferings of European Jewry, Balfour wept. Jewish Book Week, elaborated on the testing their brainpower on a variety of Esther with a glittery crown and magic culminating in a most tasty and themes of his recently-published subjects, exhibited an admirable range wand, and of course Haman as the appetising dish. High praise came from Claire Singerman, a Senior Teacher in Hutcheson's Grammar School in Glasgow, second book, ‘Jacob’s Gift: A Journey of knowledge interspersed occasionally devil himself, cracking a big black the ladies who had the pleasure of spoke on ``Which Way Now? Reflections of a Jewish Teacher.'' She gave her into the Heart of Belonging.’ Inspired by ingenious guesswork. At a half-way whip. The energy with which the epic savouring the end result. There

18 19 by the birth of his son Jacob, he explored the lives of three very different members of his own family tree, each one personifying the longings, dilemmas, and identity-crises of 20th-century Jews: Nat, the upwardly mobile Edwardian immigrant who was both a passionately-assimilated Englishman and a passionate Zionist—yet who found himself serving as one of the British Empire’s gatekeepers in Palestine; Mick, the militant East End radical fighting homegrown fascism in the 1930s; Sara, brought up in a pious but emotionally and physically impoverished household in the ultra- orthodox stronghold of Petach-Tikva. Extraordinary and fascinating as these life- stories were in their own right, they also provided the basis for Freedland’s illuminating and passionately-argued consideration of the moral and political issues around Jewish identity here and now.

were that international agencies should Council of Christians and Jews seek as far as possible to use local Micheline Brannan expertise to carry out aid and On 3 February we began our 2005 Professor Fergusson confirmed that rebuilding projects. To do so means programme with a discussion on The there was also pluralism in the that the rebuilding will be self- Theology of the Land, led by Rabbi Christian response to the Land. There sustaining and empowering of the local Rose and Professor David Fergusson were few references to the Land as people. Otherwise there is a risk that of New College, and chaired by such in the New Testament but it was the short term enthusiasm of Micheline Brannan. The Rabbi not clear whether that was because the international aid will actually make explained how the Lord made a 2 part right of the Jews to the Land was things worse in the long term. And covenant with Abraham: the covenant taken for granted or it was simply not also in rebuilding, there is the dilemma with the people of Israel was on the agenda as Christianity was of how much to modernise the way of consummated in the giving of the increasingly seen as reaching out to life of the dispossessed people. Is it Torah on Mt Sinai. It is eternal. The the gentile world. The Hebrew better to restore as much as possible covenant of the Land was conditional scriptures were not clear about the of the traditional way of life even if it is nationalism – the Jews can never lose borders. In the present day, Christian fragile and vulnerable to further the right to the Land of Israel but can theologians are fearful to address the disasters? The Moderator gave us a be exiled on account of their issue because the discourse of human vivid picture of the problems and disobedience. The Rabbis debated the rights may be trumped by theological dilemmas that have arisen as a result Jewish right to the Land throughout the claims. Human rights considerations of the Tsunami as well as some 1900 years of exile but political lead contemporary Christian intensely moving stories of loss and Zionism only started in the 19th ecumenical circles to be reticent about survival against the odds. Century. Different groups dealt in the Land. However the different ways to the issue of how to Dispensationalism movement sees On 14 April, we met in the Community respond to the majority population of Jewish return to Israel as Centre for a demonstration Seder or the Land. Some were dismissive of foreshadowing the final era. While Passover meal. A party from Zionism as a secular movement. some modern Christian theologians Craigbank Parish Church were in the Some thought it would not succeed. fear the taint of Dispensationalism, synagogue for a visit and Rabbi Rose Others, such as the Neturei Karta, were there is also the fact that invited them to stay, swelling our opposed to the idea of a State of Israel Supersessionism, which claims that the numbers to over 20. We read the to the point of heresy. Rav Kook, a new covenant supersedes the Haggadah, listened to the traditional Zionist, explained that even though we promises of the Old Testament, has songs on a tape, and benefited from believe the Land is ours, we still had to now been rejected by mainstream explanations by Rabbi Rose. The ritual pay for it by purchasing it from the Christianity. Therefore the Jews can foods of parsley, salt water, Charoset former landowners. The modern still now be regarded as the People of (symbolic mortar that slaves in Egypt dilemma is how, theologically, to see God. The fluid boundaries makes it used to make bricks) and bitter herbs the State of Israel. The 6 day war in possible for Zionist claims to the Land were blessed and tasted and we also 1967 convinced many that the hand of and human rights to be reconciled, in had our share of unleavened bread or God was at work, but the Yom Kippur Christian thought, provided that the Matzah. This was a wonderful War in 1973 came as a terrible shock rights of others to live in the same area introduction to the Seder for our to Israelis and gave rise to the opposite are also respected. These speeches Christian visitors and also a helpful extremes of Peace Now and Gush were followed by a lively debate reminder to Jewish members of the Emunim. The issue of how to achieve among the mixed audience. It was a meaning of the Seder in the run up to peace continues to exercise the very stimulating and enjoyable evening. Passover. Rabbis, with some believing that no part of the Land may be given up but On 1 March 2005 a group of about 10 Our final meeting of the year, with others, such as Rabbi Melchior, travelled to Glasgow for a joint meeting Cardinal O’Brien, on Tuesday 17 May, accepting that although the Land was with the Glasgow branch of the CCJ will be reported in the next edition. promised to the Jews it is not addressed by the Moderator, Dr Alison necessary for Jews to possess the Elliot. Dr Elliot had recently visited Sri The CCJ needs a new secretary and if whole of it in the present day, and that Lanka in the aftermath of the Tsunami anyone wants to volunteer please ring Pikuach Nefesh can justify giving up and spoke vividly and movingly about Micheline on 0131 667 3409. parts such as Gaza. all her experiences. The main lessons 20 citizenship so that no Jews would ever identity in Israeli law, and in its wake, legal basis for this assumption lay in a The Role of Halakhah (Jewish Law) again be forced to wander the world as the Law of Return was amended, and a Mandatory Ordinance dating from 1925 stateless persons. In the leading case Jew for the purposes of this law was which required the authorization of any of Rufeisen v Minister of the Interior, defined as someone "born to a Jewish conversion by the head of the religious in the Legal System of the State of Israel H.C. 72/62, P.D. 16, 2442, the Supreme mother, or converted to Judaism, and community which the convert was Rabbi Prof. Daniel Sinclair LL.B (Hons.), LL.M, LL.D Court ruled that the petitioner, although who is not the member of another seeking to join. Since the legal heads 1. The State of Israel is not a theocracy, and the ethos regarding his death, is referred to as an born to a Jewish mother, and hence, faith" (Sec. 4B). The amendment to the of the Jewish community are the Chief agunah, and the failure of the halakhic halakhically Jewish, would not be law also provided that the right of a Rabbis of Israel, it was evident that of its legal system is primarily secular and liberal in authorities to provide an effective granted citizenship under the Law of Jew, as defined under section 4B, to non-Orthodox conversions inside Israel nature. There are, however, certain areas in which solution for these women is, Return, on the grounds that he had automatic citizenship "was to be would not possess any legal validity. halakhah does play an official role in Israeli law. The undoubtedly, a major problem in converted to Catholicism during the vested in a child and grandchild of a This changed, however, with the contemporary Israeli family law. Second World War, and now stood Jew, the spouse of a Jew, the spouse decision of the Supreme Court in foremost example is the provision that all marriages before the court in the garb of a of a child of a Jew, and the spouse of Pessaro (Goldstein) v Minister of the and divorces of Jewish citizens of Israel fall within the Other problematic areas of Jewish Carmelite monk with the name of a grandchild of a Jew, except for a Interior H.C. 103 1/93, P.D. 49 (4) 661. sole jurisdiction of the Rabbinical Courts. Another well family law, from the perspective of the Brother Daniel. The Court held that the person who has been a Jew, and has In this case, the majority held that the secular community at any rate, are the Law of Return is a secular law, and voluntarily changed his religion" (Sec. 1925 Ordinance only applied to known example is the determination of Jewish identity, prohibition on marriages between Jews hence, the definition of term "Jew" is 4A). This legislation incorporated both matters of family law, it did not affect which is an important factor in Israel's secular of priestly descent (kohanim) and not a halakhic one. It is, in fact, to be the halakhic definition of Jewish citizenship; hence, the validity of a citizenship law. These examples are discussed in divorcees (or converts), and the ban on defined by non-halakhic criteria i.e. identity, and the precedent established Reform conversion carried out inside marriages between the progeny of empathy with the history of the Jewish in the Brother Daniel case into the Israel did not turn on the 1925 sections two and three below. incest or maternal adultery - known as people, and affinity with its religion. On enacted law. It also gave expression to Ordinance. The Court justified its ruling in the Israeli legal system, and the mamzerim - and other Jews. Secular this basis, Brother Daniel could not be the secular belief that the right to in terms of statutory interpretation, and 2. Family Law in Israel Women’s Equal Rights Law, Israeli couples who are unable to marry recognized as a Jew for purposes of automatic citizenship should not be the argument that the democratic Judicial autonomy in matters of 5711-1951, specifically excludes as a result of these prohibitions often automatic citizenship. The outcome of withheld from close family members rights of non-Orthodox Jews would be personal status i.e. marriage, divorce matters of marriage and divorce from marry abroad, and upon their return to the case, which occurred not long after who are not halakhically Jewish for at adversely affected by any other and related matters, was granted under the principle of equality between the Israel their married status is the end of World War II, was least three generations. interpretation of the Ordinance, both in Ottoman law to the different religious sexes enshrined in this law. recognized, for all non-religious undoubtedly influenced by the negative relation to their freedom of religion, and communities living in what is today the purposes, by secular Israeli law. Their view of Israeli society at the time The issue of non-orthodoxy conversion in the light of the principle of equal State of Israel, and this arrangement Rabbinical Court decisions are, children, however, suffer from the same towards both Holocaust apostates and to Judaism has been considered by protection before the law. It is was also adopted by the British however, subject to judicial review by impediment as far as Jewish marriage the Catholic Church. The Catholic the Supreme Court on a number of worthwhile emphasizing, however, that Mandatory government. Jurisdiction in secular Israeli courts in relation to inside Israel is concerned, and need a Church was particularly resented occasions. In Association of Torah the Court limited its decision to the matters other than personal status was jurisdictional disputes, and breaches of foreign marriage certificate in order to because of its attitude towards the Observant Sefardim-Tenuat Shas v scope of the 1925 Ordinance; it did not in the hands of the secular courts natural justice. obtain the practical advantages of Jews during the Holocaust period. Director of the Population Registry provide a direct answer to the question system, and was not linked to marital status under Israeli law. H.C. 264/87, P.D. 40(4) 436, the Court of whether a Reform conversion would religious-communal affiliation. The Under Jewish law, the only way a A few years after the Brother Daniel held that a declaration on the part of be recognized by Israeli law in relation Rabbinical Courts charged with woman may be divorced from her Both the agunah issue and the episode, the Court applied its secular an immigrant that he or she had been to citizenship and registration. This administering family law for Jews in husband is by receiving a get (bill of impediments to marriage arising from approach to Jewish identity in a case converted to Judaism in the Diaspora, point was made repeatedly and both the Ottoman and the Mandatory divorce) from him. Rabbinical Courts the laws applying to priests and involving an Israeli naval officer who together with an official certificate forcefully by the President of the periods were staffed by traditional may bring certain forms of pressure to mamzerim are important items in the had married a non-Jew, and wished to attesting to that fact, would be Supreme Court, Barak J., more than rabbinical scholars, and applied pure bear upon the husband, and recent ongoing discussions in contemporary register his children in the Population sufficient for the purposes of once in the course of the decision: halakhah. legislation permits the withholding of Israel between religious and secular Registry as "Israelis without any citizenship under the Law of Return, licenses, passports, and credit from Jews. Amongst the solutions religious affiliation" (Shalit v Minister of and registration in the Population "We have decided that in order to The legal system which came into recalcitrant husbands, in addition to suggested for the solving of the the Interior, H.C. 58/68, P.D. 23, 477). Registry. Once again, the Court recognise a conversion pursuant to the existence at the time of the the option of imprisonment referred to agunah problem is the Talmudic Since the children were not born to a followed the secular approach to Law of Return and the Population establishment of the State of Israel in above. At the end of the day, however, principle that in certain cases, the Jewish mother, they were not Jewish identity for citizenship purposes Registry Law, it need not comply with 1948 was that of the British Mandate, if the husband refuses to grant his wife rabbis are empowered to annul halakhikally Jewish. The Court, established in its earlier decisions. It the requirements of the 1925 and, as a result, matters of personal a get, she remains legally married to marriages (hafka `at kiddushin). The however, following the Brother Daniel also followed the principle of Ordinance. We are not taking this status affecting Jewish citizens of him. Since the wife is ultimately introduction of a form of civil marriage precedent, held that in principle, there international law according to which matter any further. We are not deciding Israel remained in the hands of the dependent upon her husband for the is the preferred solution for the other would be no legal bar to this type of certificates in matters of personal which conversion is valid under these Rabbinical Courts. Under the divorce, it is not difficult for him to use problems. secular registration. Nevertheless, it status issued by other countries must two laws. We are also not deciding Rabbinical Courts Jurisdiction his superior legal position in order to was unable to order the Minister to be accepted at their face value unless whether a Reform conversion is valid (Marriage and Divorce) Act, 5713-1953, gain a more favourable settlement than 3. Jewish Identity register the Shalit children as secular they are patently false. This principle pursuant to the Law of Return. Hence "matters relating to the marriage and he deserves. In some cases, husbands Under the Law of Return, 5710-1950, Israelis, since there was no such also applies to certificates of we have not ordered that the petitioner divorce of Jewish citizens or residents resist all types of pressure to divorce, "every Jew has the right to come into category in the Population Registry conversion to Judaism. be recognised as Jewish under the of the State of Israel shall be within the and cause their wives years of anguish Israel as an immigrant". This law was Law, and any change in the law would Law of Return, and we have not sole jurisdiction of the Rabbinical before the get is finally granted. A passed shortly after the establishment have to come about as a result of Until recently, the underlying ordered that she should be registered Courts", and the law to be applied in woman who is unable to re-marry of the State of Israel and in the legislation by the Knesset. This assumption in Israeli law was that as Jewish in the Population Registry." these matters is "the law of the Torah". because of a halakhic impediment aftermath of the European Holocaust. decision sparked off a heated public conversions carried out inside Israel The sole jurisdiction of the Rabbinical generated by her husband's refusal to The intention was to provide every Jew debate between religious and secular would only be valid if they were The strength of this caveat and its Courts in this area is well-entrenched give her a get, or lack of certainty in the world with automatic Israeli Israelis over the issue of Jewish approved by the Chief Rabbinate. The repetition attest to the tension

22 23 generated by the debate over the The Supreme Court's decision was However, the Ne'eman Committee's definition of Jewish identity for the strongly criticized, and the Ne'eman proposals were not accepted by the The Flick Collection of Contemporary Art purposes of Israeli citizenship and Committee was set up by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, and as a result, the registration. The issue of Jewish government in 1990 in order to find a national initiative collapsed. One such Samuel Robin Spark identity is fraught with symbolism, and way to resolve the conversion issue in conversion institute was established on million (US) dollars and used the can maintain as a private collector. The is one of the main flashpoints in the relation to citizenship and registration. a private basis in Jerusalem. The money to finance his art collection. collection's sheer size and quality ongoing conflict between the religious In its report, the Committee struggle for a formula which will After the war, Friedrich Flick refused to inevitably gave rise to aspirations to and secular populations in the State of recommended the establishment of an accommodate both liberal democracy compensate the slave labourers who share my passion with as many people Israel. The Supreme Court has often educational institution for the training and fidelity to the halakhah in the area had worked in his factories. His as possible, and to find a home for my been required to act as an arbiter with of candidates for conversion from all of conversion to Judaism, is one of the grandson has also refused to works of art, one where they really regard to the determination of Jewish the streams of contemporary Judaism. focal issues in the contemporary contribute to a compensation fund set belonged: namely in the public realm." identity in Israel, and it has never been The actual conversion ritual, however, dialogue between Orthodox and non- up by Chancellor Schroeder but has very comfortable in this role. Clearly, would be performed by a Rabbinical Orthodox Jews in Israel. set up in Potsdam with his own money So much controversy has surrounded the Court in the Pessaro case did not Court consisting of Orthodox rabbis Wartsaal Wildegg, 1989, Gean Frederick Schnyder a foundation to combat worldwide the exhibition that the art itself has want to make a definitive only, and the conversions would be Rabbi Daniel Sinclair will be continuing On Sunday 28 November the Literary xenophobia, intolerance and racism. been somewhat neglected in the pronouncement to the effect that recognized as valid by the Chief his theme on Halakhah in the next Society heard a talk from Mr Richard His view of the matter is that his media. The Flick Collection is a Jewish identity for citizenship purposes Rabbinate. There is halakhic precedent edition where he will discuss its Calvocoressi, Director of the Scottish grandfather was tried, convicted and collection of contemporary works is a totally secular matter, and chose, for setting up such special Rabbinical application in areas other than family Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean punished, and he cannot be expected including, as well as paintings and therefore, to limit its decision to the Courts for the purpose of converting law and Jewish identity. Gallery, on the Flick Collection. The to share his grandfather's guilt. photographs, some extremely large clarification of the scope of the 1925 candidates of dubious motivation in title of his talk, "The Flick Collection of It is this refusal to acknowledge that installations. Artists represented Ordinance. order to maintain Jewish unity, and to Contemporary Art: Whitewashing of reparation should be made for wrong- include Bruce Nauman, Paul McCarthy, stem the tide of assimilation. Blood Money or the Jewel in Berlin's doing that is at the heart of the fierce Marlene Dumas, Larry Clark, Cindy Crown?", reflects the intense opposition to the exhibition is being Sherman and Duane Hanson. Mr controversy engendered in Germany shown in Berlin in a publicly funded Calvocoressi felt that insufficient time and elsewhere by the recent exhibition gallery and the acceptance by the had elapsed to be able to say which of Star Trek into the past in the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum in gallery of F C Flick's renovation at his the works have a lasting future as Berlin of about four hundred of the two own expense of a disused warehouse opposed to purely contemporary Answers in the next issue thousand five hundred pieces in the in which to display the largest works. significance. One of his favourite Flick Collection of modern art. The The underlying question of why his collection is on loan to the Museum for grandfather and his fellow Nazis were seven years and selections of works allowed to rebuild their industrial from it will be shown intermittently empires after the war is one that the during that time. German nation has not yet dealt with. Part of the reason, of course, is that, Why the controversy? The collection when the Cold War developed, it was belongs to Friedrich Christian Flick, necessary for West Germany to be grandson of Friedrich Flick, a wealthy built up quickly and Flick and his Nazi industrialist who employed some associates had the skills to do that. fifty thousand slave labourers in his Only now is it possible to look back munitions factories during the Second with some degree of objectivity and World War. After the war, Friedrich Flick examine the compromises made at the was tried for war crimes and time. sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, of which he served Of course many art lovers, including three. During this time he and his some Jews, applauded the holding of fellow-prisoners, also war criminals, the exhibition. Chancellor Schroeder, Ich kann beim besten willen mein Hakenkreutz were of course kept in conditions himself an art collector, attended the entdecken, 1984, Martin Keppenberger considerably more comfortable than opening. Modern art is inadequately those experienced by their free represented in German art galleries, a pieces was "Motorcycle Accident" by compatriots at the time. On his release legacy of the Nazi view of such art as Duane Hanson, an exhibition of whose he was able to rebuild his industrial "degenerate". Supporters of the work was recently shown at the Gallery empire and at the time of his death in exhibition, the Chancellor among them, of Modern Art here in Edinburgh. It was 1972 he was West Germany's wish to move on, to be open to all typical of Flick, however, he felt, to wealthiest citizen and fifth richest man modes of artistic expression and finally have chosen such a grim piece rather in the world. He left a ten per cent to lay the past to rest. Flick himself in a than a more humane or humorous one. With Compliments stake in his business empire (which no statement included in the exhibition His taste seems to tend towards the from longer exists as such, having been catalogue says, "I began collecting art aggressive, the confrontational and the John & Hazel Cosgrove bought over in the 1980's) to each of in the mid-1980's. It was not long alienating, the extreme and the his three grandchildren. Friedrich before my collection transcended the repulsive. There is, of course, a long Christian Flick sold his share for sixty kind of relationship that one tradition in German art of dwelling

24 25 Flick Collection highlights the problems Since the talk by Richard Calvocoressi which can arise when accepting gifts on the Flick Art Collection, it was The Ten Commandments or loans from private collectors. reported in Haaretz (27 April 2005) that Rabbi David Rose Museums cannot afford to ignore Flick recently donated $6.5 million into private collectors; they simply do not a fund for Nazi-era forced labourers. potential. Furthermore, our passions can also enslave us; so have the resources at their disposal to Quoting from Haaretz, "Friedrich G-d warns us against coveting what is our neighbour’s: be independent. But conditions Christian Flick had maintained that, as making us beholden to the dictates of fashion or the lure of imposed by private owners can lead to an individual, he was not obligated to advertising. Slavishly following the latest trends or seeking to a conflict of interest. We are fortunate pay into the fund set up by the keep up with others serve to delude us as to our actual in Scotland to have a very good record government and industry - character; robbing us of our true identity in a vain quest to be in the matter of collaboration between a stance that prompted intense who we are not. The result is a confused and lost society; museums and private collectors. criticism from Jewish groups and seeking fulfilment in drugs and hedonistic sexuality. In thanking Mr Calvocoressi for his others....However, a statement last The second ideal underlining the Ten Commandments very interesting and thought-provoking Friday from the foundation that runs concerns our relationship to the world around us and can be talk, Robin Spark expressed his dismay the fund said Flick had made a summed up in one word: respect. This is a word bandied and revulsion that the sufferings of so contribution that would allow it `to about a lot today in various contexts, but basically has a very provide extra simple meaning. Respect means understanding that the world humanitarian is not our exclusive domain and just as we have certain rights payments to so do others. We are to realise that there are boundaries to needy our unfettered behaviour; places we cannot go, things we surviving cannot have or do. The Ten Commandments see this concept slave as the underpinning of all our relationships; whether with laborers.'" As we approach Shavuot and our commemoration of the humans, nature or G-d. We are to respect our neighbour’s life, Michael Revelation at Sinai we again contemplate the basic content of property and personal relationships. We are to respect our Fuerst, the that revelation: the Ten Commandments. Many contemporary fellow human being’s privacy and refrain from invading his head of the commentators have questioned the relevance of these personal space: physically, sexually or economically. We are Jewish Robot K46 – Nam June Paik precepts for today’s world and indeed cast doubt on their to respect those who have contributed to our well being: our community moral validity. However, if we re-examine the philosophical parents and the elderly in general: learning from our past to upon the darker and uglier side of in the state human life. Certainly delight, joy and underpinnings of the world’s most famous dictates, we may build the future. We are to respect nature and the world Garten Skulpter 1968 – Dieter Rot of Lower around us by refraining from exploiting it for one day a week; humane feeling are largely missing many slave labourers had incurred so Saxony, told German online newspaper learning to care for the environment by respecting its Creator. here. unbelievably light a penalty as a short the Netzeitung, "This change of heart Respect means understanding that the world is not We are to respect other’s identity by not misrepresenting them prison sentence, a view in which many should have come much earlier." “ our exclusive domain and just as we have certain in court or elsewhere: observing the boundaries between truth So far as museums and galleries are of those present concurred. concerned, the controversy over the rights so do others” and falsehood, delusion and reality. We must respect our own and others’ spirituality by not taking G-d’s name in vain: using Reproduction of pictures by kind permission of Richard Calvacoressi, Director of the ‘Gallery of Modern Art’, Edinburgh. religion for our own ends. There is no more relevant message find that they are indeed relevant to today’s society and its for our world today. Respect is the underpinning of civilisation challenges. Many traditional commentators have seen the Ten and a society without it is on the road to the abyss. A world Commandments not so much as individual laws but as moral where everything is up for grabs from our neighbour’s car or MUSSELBURGH subject headings; underpinned by the commands in the rest of wife to the Amazon rain forest or the Alaskan wilderness, is the Torah. Indeed in Hebrew they are called the ‘Ten Words’. not a world in which many of us would wish to live; or that in This approach enables us to appreciate the moral grandeur the end can survive. contained within these words. I believe that the ideals OLD COURSE contained within the Ten Commandments can be summed up Identity and respect; these are the two vital necessities for a in two phrases: identity and respect. civilised society, a sustainable world and human happiness. These are also the ideals of the Ten Commandments. Thus The Ten Commandments seek to establish our place in the GOLF CLUB these ancient words are not only a moral message of the past world and inform us how we should relate to others. The but the necessary basis of our present as well as the vital statement that G-d redeemed us from slavery and the The Club at the World’s Oldest Golf Club underpinnings of our future. prohibition of idolatry seek to establish us as free independent human beings beholden to no one but G-d. In revealing Himself to us as a liberator and forbidding us worshipping The Commandments With Best Wishes Lionel Freedman, Honorary Secretary anything or anyone less than the Absolute, G-d determines that man should not be a slave to man or nature and that both as a Human Creation his body and intellect should be free to pursue his personal Anthony Gilbert destiny. Idolatry enslaves man’s spirit as much as slavery MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES WELCOME subdues his body. Worship of David Beckham, Brad Pitt or It was suggested that I write this article as one which is in even Karl Marx is just as degrading as subservience to Baal or some sense complementary to that written by the Rabbi. The 10 Balcarres Road, Musselburgh EH21 7SD Moloch. Man needs ideals to follow and role models to look Rabbi has expanded on the theme of the current relevance of the Ten Commandments; the idea was for me to put a view t. 0131 665 6981 up to. We can either follow transient human ideals that enslave us or eternal Divine ideals that serve to liberate our true counter to that of the Rabbi’s; put slightly flippantly, I was to e. [email protected] www.musselburgholdlinks.co.uk 27 command observance of the Sabbath; verses 12 - 14 regulate human relations.

I would argue that many modern societies (particularly in the West) have Reviews little belief in the first of these categories and would reject the view The Genizah at the House of Shepher by Tamar Yellin that authority for the third category, Judy Gilbert which is nearly universally accepted, derives from a deity. Concerning the third category, most people would Before setting out on chances of any earlier romantic Shula meets the remaining survivors of connection. Shula recognises an agree that there have to be limits on the voyage of discovery, her strange and dysfunctional family intellectual empathy between Gideon human behaviour. We are all aware of which this tale and is told that her great grandfather, and herself and with this awakening, the consequences of allowing it to be Shalom Shepher, a scribe and scroll experiences growing uncertainty about unchecked. Examples ranging from the unquestionably is, we checker, felt that he had a mission to the choices she had previously made petty thuggery on city streets, currently find the ten lost tribes. He returned regarding her first love Daniel, whom bemoaned by the British Press, to the must understand what with a sacred handwritten text after she now meets in her maturity. enormity of the Holocaust all testify to a Genizah is. The word years of wandering in his search. His what one person is capable of doing to literally means ‘hiding truly fantastic accounts of his Yellin uses highly descriptive imagery another if behaviour is not subject to experiences during this period grow in and language, which moves rapidly eccentricity and leave you wondering if back and forth between ancient times, represent the views of those who either Rabbi’s article, I am in complete regulation. Societies have always been place’ and is where he were describing a dream or a distant past and present. Shula muses aware of this human characteristic, and do not ‘accept the Ten agreement with the broad thrust of his sacred, vulnerable and miracle. In much the same way as the ‘The present is sceptical, but the past Commandments’ or question their third paragraph, namely that we should have thus evolved codes of rules for often fragile documents Aram Soba Codex was lost to the for me is full of miracles’. relevance in today’s world. have respect for our fellow human the broad protection of their citizens; flames, with the few remaining pages beings, and more widely the whole the motivation is not deistic, but a are kept for safety. carefully distributed to secret The reader is drawn into the intimacy The first of these is, of course, an Universe that we inhabit, but I find it wholly enlightened and laudable protectors, so were the writings of of the Shepher family and its history impossible brief, and even the second difficult to accept much of his second communal self-interest. I would regard This highly imaginative story is based Shalom consigned to a Genizah, but because it has elements with which we would be a very hard corner to defend. paragraph. I do not believe the deistic the evolution of the third category of on very real concepts that have been not before residing in the Ben Or can identify. The little Yiddish The fact is that I am in agreement with Commandments help in the slightest in Commandments as coming directly woven into an evocative narrative. Institute library under the watchful eye references or Hebrew allusions, of Shloime Goldfarb. identifiably Jewish, are simple enough much of what the Rabbi has written. I setting our place in the Universe, either through such a process, and view it as Tamar Yellin came from a family closely linked to the professions of the not to have to translate every minutia, find a significant proportion of what is philosophically or physically. It seems something of a triumph of human characters she so vividly describes. In Shula’s family loyalties struggle with therefore we belong. The remarkably organisation over human nature. It is written in the Ten Commandments, not to me both possible and desirable to 1854 her great-great grandfather, her desire to make the right choice short chapters are vehicles of merely acceptable, but admirable; and create a model of the Universe which my view that human nature does not Shalom Shachne Yellin, a famous scroll about the destiny of the codex. The temptation as the carrot and stick to a I believe that the ideas contained there does not invoke the existence of a greatly change with the passage of checker, travelled from Lithuania to disturbingly unfathomable Gideon too, donkey. Adding to this pull and form a template from which one can deity. I have always found Einstein’s time, so the Commandments regulating Jerusalem inspecting scrolls in every justifies his access to the precious enhancing the enigma of the tale, Yellin build a philosophical framework with notion of seeking simple explanations behaviour are as relevant today as community along the way of his two Codex, not for his own ends, but for often employs a strategy of not which to regulate one’s whole way of for complicated phenomena when they were first framed. year journey. On arrival he was asked greater spiritual understanding, to be specifying who the ‘he’ or ‘she’ is until life. Furthermore, I suspect that this is intellectually satisfying: why create the to continue to Syria to examine the passed on to a wider audience. He has well down the page of the new chapter, great influence over Shula, but in a far mystifying as well as mysterious. true for the vast bulk of humanity: I idea of a deity with all its inherent Viewed slightly differently, a corollary to famous ‘Keter Aram Soba ‘Codex’ (a hand written version of the bible) subtler manner than the family. Should think there are few people who would difficulties, when one can manage so the rejection of the notion of a deity written in the 10th Century, and she rescue the codex from its Although I was a little confused by the imposing rules to be obeyed by disagree with the essential rightness of well without? believed to have been consulted by threatened life of obscurity in the use of same names, Dan in the past practically everything in the Ten mankind is that this then gives each Maimonides with respect to his Institute as claimed by Gideon? The and present for example, and thus Commandments that is concerned with individual an enormous freedom. My Mishneh Torah. Shalom Shachne, too curator Shloime declares in his chronologically challenging, it mirrored relations between humans and the “ I do not believe the deistic view is that with such freedom must old to carry out the task, schooled his arrogant and authoritarian way ‘Until true life. world they find themselves in (even if Commandments help in the come responsibility. One might ascribe son-in-law to take his place and ten the question of ownership is resolved, as a society, we are not all that good at slightest in setting our place in some of the ills of our present Society years later his own critical analysis of we can not release the book for further This is a book of colour and language. putting all of it into practice). the Universe, either to enjoyment of the freedom without an the codex was brought home and in study’. Will Shula’s final decisive action The past inextricably linked with be motivated by her professional present. The feel is autobiographical philosophically or physically acceptance of the responsibility which constant demand for consultation. ” interest or love? and yet we know that it is fiction. The So am I merely writing an article which I believe accompanies it. The human In Yellin’s Novel, Shula Shepher, a Genizah at the House of Shepher is a framing of rules for the guidance of endorses everything the Rabbi has biblical scholar in England, is on a The tale unfolds in its complexity, with drama that unfolds in bursts and can written? No; my difficulty lies with The Commandments are to be found in human behaviour is in my view an quest to discover more about herself. as much suspense and adventure as be read in just a few days or savoured those Commandments which impute Exodus Chapter xx, verses 2 - 14. In imperfect communal attempt to She returns to her grandparent’s home when we read about Indiana Jones in excerpts for bedtime reading. the existence of a deity and then verse 1, it is said that the delineate these responsibilities for each in Jerusalem where she spent her searching for the Holy Grail. Shula is impose consequential requirements on Commandments listed in the individual. As already said, I think the formative years, and uncovers more an unemotional rationalist, shaped by First edition published by The Toby human behaviour. I believe that the succeeding verses were stated by a framing of such rules is as relevant than just family intrigue and a her past relationship with her parents Press LLC 2005 Price £14.99 remaining Commandments stand deity, and verse 2 is more of a self- today as ever it was, perhaps more so, fascinating history of her ancestry. and career. Her search for the truth about her background and about the perfectly well without the deistic proclamation by the deity than a now that so many people have turned Shula is drawn into the wrangle over the long lost and rediscovered Shepher artefact is both analytical and commandments, and indeed serve as a Commandment. The remaining verses their backs on religious teachings, and codex, so coveted by different family academic. This dispassionate that we should celebrate it as a man- sensible model for human behaviour, may be divided into three broad factions. approach appears to have affected her one entirely acceptable to a humanist. categories: verses 3 - 7 command made creation for the orderly conduct In relation to what is written in the adherence to the deity; verses 8 - 11 of the societies in which we live. 28 29 A Review of Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky place were there's torture, fire, etc. I'm scared for judgment day, so I'm going to try my very hardest to live my life as a Janet Mundy The Shabbaton `mench'. When Judy Gilbert asked me to review Karl Marx. He then realised that there by Dor-Ber Slutski and published in Melia Rosen a book for the Star, I was happy to were forgotten collections of books in Kiev in 1929. It was previously thought At Shul the next morning, there was a youth service, which oblige. My willingness turned to synagogue libraries, attics and cellars, that all copies had been destroyed by I couldn't wait all week for the Shabbaton at the Rabbi's! In drew the best attendance, filling the seats with people of all delight when I discovered that the and that he might be able to access the secret police in the Soviet Union, maths (my last subject on a Friday), I was basically counting ages, including babies. The Cheder kids each played a role in book was by Aaron Lansky, founder of these for his own use. Some informal but one copy had been taken “hot off down the minutes until the class would finally end... then I running the service. We heard really well written synopses of the National Yiddish Book Centre, advertising elicited a torrent of calls the press” by an American visitor, little could go to the rabbi's! When I arrived, all of my friends whose promotional radio interviews I and collections of books that soon knowing that he had rescued the only the Parsha, Torah reading and a sermon. Everyone did a great greeted me at the door, with a nice warm welcome. They had heard the previous week. filled his apartment and his parents’ remaining copy. job and I felt proud to be part of it all. ‘Outwitting History’ is his story of how home. He then decided to take a introduced me to Dalia and Adam, ‘Tribe’ representatives who were to run our Shabbaton. he came to set up the centre, and his leave of absence from college “to save As well as the USA and Canada, books The families stayed together after the youth service to eat a progress from rescuing piles of Yiddish the world’s Yiddish books before it was have been collected worldwide from specially prepared lunch. Then Adam was asked to speak. He books for his own use to the worldwide too late”. places as diverse as Israel, Zimbabwe, After Friday night services, we had a delicious dinner cooked shared a really inspirational speech with the whole operation that the centre is today. Latin America (including Cuba) and the by the Rabbi! We had four courses! I guess it's a Jewish thing congregation saying that synagogues needed to change to His quest took him to many elderly USSR. The Book Centre is now based to have so much food. Then all of us sat in a circle and had an keep Judaism alive. I couldn't agree more. I personally think In 1973, Aaron Lansky was enrolled in people’s homes, where a welcome, a in a $7 million building on the campus amazing discussion that made us challenge our minds. We the Edinburgh Synagogue should be open to change. I a course called “Thinking about the substantial snack (such as gefilte fish, of Hampshire College, where Aaron talked about G-d and how he made us to make our own moral Unthinkable: An Encounter with the blintzes and lokshn kugl) and a wealth started his Jewish studies. thought the youth service turned out to be a big hit, and we and ethical decisions rather then creating us like robots, which Holocaust” in Hampshire College, of stories inevitably accompanied the should definitely do it more often. Massachusetts. He decided to learn book collection. He started with a The collected books are redistributed are programmed to make certain decisions. It was great to learn from each other, because everybody had their own Yiddish to help him with this course small team, but soon recruited to colleges and individuals throughout I think we should encourage the youth to have a role in the opinions. and found a tutor, Jules Piccus, to volunteer book collectors, or “zamlers”, the world. However, most of the books weekly services, because we could then become familiar teach a small group. He discovered who would collect books in their own were printed on pulp paper, which enough with the order of the service to follow along. This way that there was a dearth of Yiddish communities, including Sorell Skolnik, easily crumbles. Stephen Spielberg books available, as they had all been now nearly 100, Jacob Schaefer, helped fund the digitisation of the “ Basically every good deed you do, you get one of looking into the future will enable us to teach our own out of print for many years. For whose collection of 45,000 volumes in literature through his Righteous good angel, and every bad thing you do, you get a children with confidence and show us how to lead the service. example ‘The Complete Works of California is a record, and Mr and Mrs Persons Foundation and there is now horrible black gooey angel Sholem Aleichem’ was last published Field, who collected small bundles of an online catalogue, ” Later after our third meal and some more discussions, in the US in 1928. His search for books by bus throughout the Bronx. www.yiddishbooks.org, which Havdalah arrived. I love Havdalah because of all the wonderful Yiddish books took him to New York’s Books were also collected from William promises: “We will custom print a tunes we sang. I knew that Shabbat was ending and that we We had talked so long that it was already time to go to bed! Lower East Side, to a world that still Uris, father of Leon, and Aliza brand new copy of every title you had to get back to our regular schedule again. Adam said So we got into our pyjamas and prepared a mid-night feast...! held Guss’s pickle emporia and Greenblatt, the mother-in-law of Woody order”. Current projects include even though Shabbat was concluding for this week we could Shapiro’s House of Kosher Wines, Guthrie, who lived in Sea Gate, at the making the books available online, Dalia brought the yummiest foods like kosher popcorn, still try hard to bring a piece of Shabbat into our daily lives like “where dusty old men sold taleysim, tip of Coney Island, where writers such without the need to print, and pretzels, haribo and chocolates. Then she shared one of the reading a part of 60 Days for 60 Years or saying the Shema in mezuzahs, and other religious articles”. as Isaac Bashevis Singer once lived. translating the most popular works into most life changing stories I have ever heard! Here Aaron and his friends were Her neighbours, Sam and Leah Ostroff, English. The website records that the the morning. Just something little like that can get you one more good angel. referred to Gottleib’s where they found became dedicated zamlers and the first instalment of the Sami Rohr The story all had to do with judgment day after you die. thousands of Yiddish books. However, story of how they came from Eastern Library of Recorded Yiddish Books has Basically every good deed you do, you get one good angel, they discovered: Europe to America is one of the recently been released. These are CD We ended our Shabbaton with bowling! The rabbi was the and every bad thing you do, you get a horrible black gooey poignant highlights of the book. I also compilations including Tevye der best at it... so if anyone needs some bowling tips, he's the one angel. The good and bad angels hop on a scale and then if it “one of the great ironies of particularly warmed to Mrs Langert, milkhiger (Tevye the Milkman), by to ask. I have to say this was the best Shabbaton ever! contemporary Jewish life: Hasidic and who persuaded Aaron’s team to bring Sholem Aleichem, the book upon tips towards the good side your soul rests in the Garden of extreme orthodox Jews, the only their truck from Massachusetts to which Fiddler on the Roof is based; Eden... if it tips towards the bad side then you go to a horrible demographically significant segment of Manhattan on a Sunday at 11 am, so Gimpl Tam (Gimpel the Fool), by I.B. the Jewish population who continue to that she could have a lift to a banquet Singer and Roman fun a ferd ganev speak Yiddish and teach the language at the Roosevelt Hotel, and who later (Romance of a Horse Thief), by Joseph to their children, are completely hostile organised an emergency rescue of a Opatoshu. Answers to Star Trek Issue 50 to modern Yiddish literature. For them, library of books from a building at the most Yiddish books are treyf posl, point of demolition, with the help of a Aaron Lansky’s enthusiasm for his forbidden, unkosher.” group of black and Puerto Rican cause shines through on every page, LEFT TO RIGHT: children. making it a joy to read. My only mild 1.Jonathan Mason The bookshop owner never agreed to gripe is that, beyond brief mention of 2.Benjamin Bowman give or sell the books to the students Examples of authors whose works Ladino and other Jewish vernaculars 6 3.Tony Goldberg 4 (always promising that he would think were rescued are I. L. Peretz, Sholem on page 11 of the book, only 4.Michael Rifkind 12 13 about it after yontef), but they had Aleichem, Avrom Reisen and Mendele, Ashkenazi Jewish history is related, 5 7 5.Howard Nocolsby 8 9 better luck at Mr Levine’s bookstore, whose works included a parody of completely ignoring Sephardi culture, 1 3 15 6.Sally Cowen 2 who gave them his entire collection of ‘Don Quixote’ and a translation of as if it didn’t exist. That apart, I would 14 Yiddish books, inherited from his Jules Verne’s Around the World in highly recommend this book to anyone 7.Jenny Sischy 10 father. Eighty Days. Other translations into interested in the resurrection of Jewish 8.Wendy Goldberg 11 Yiddish cover a range from Bambi to culture, particularly of the 19th and 9.Jackie Bowman In 1976, studying Yiddish literature in The Bhagavad Gita, as well as Mark early 20th century. It is an excellent 10.Uri Wittenberg Montreal, Aaron was still on the hunt Twain, Emile Zola, Leo Tolstoy, stepping stone to rediscovering 11.Raffi Wittenberg for books for his personal use. He Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. One of Yiddish literature, even for those of us 12.Ian Caplan discovered his local rabbi burying the rarest editions to be discovered who no longer speak the language. 13.David Kaplan Yiddish books that he thought were no was ‘Leksikon fun politishe un 14Michelle Bowman longer of interest to anyone, including fremdverter’ (Dictionary of Political and 15.Paul Goldberg a Yiddish translation of Das Kapital by Foreign Terminology in Yiddish) edited 30 31 go on for ever, but the last year he she outlived them all. and spent as much time as she could said, had been hard and he wasn't too I think it was a combination of hard with them. She had many a lunch or Obituaries sure anymore. He was a remarkable work and determination that kept her day out with my wife Susie regaling her man, not only because of his age, but going. Widowed at an early age in with stories of the family going back to perhaps more so as a result of his 1959 when her husband Hyman her childhood, surviving two world Cecil Samuels 1901– 2005 continuing optimism & cheerfulness Berkengoff died all too suddenly, she wars and all manner of political My father was born in Glasgow in July 1901, six months after the death of Queen despite the obvious problems that old was left to bring up her two sons change. She met it all with good Victoria. He was the youngest of a large family whose parents had come from Grodny age brought. Martin 13 years and Leonard 7 years. humour and was never daunted by it. in Poland. His father was an interpreter, who used to travel to New York on the This did not faze her in the slightest In her later years unable to go out immigrant ships, he remembers being very impressed by his uniform, and it was only He was a devoted husband to and returning to work, she always much on her own because of failing much later that he realised that his mother didn't approve of her husband's frequent Grandma Ruby & literally did not leave ensured her family had a warm and eyesight she derived much pleasure absences from home. her side after she suffered her stroke. loving home filled with the smell of her from that wonderful institution the He did everything around the home wonderful cooking. Edinburgh Lunch Club and enjoyed He was brought up in the 1st World War world of the Gorbals where everyone helped everyone else. There might not have been much money but there was a love of and was a wonderful cook. My meeting her friends each Tuesday and learning, and helped by his much older eldest brother, he went to Hutcheson's childhood memories are of being She was completely non-materialistic. Thursday. Grammar School, and then to Dental College. However this wasn't easy, and when greeted by grandpa at the front door, Mary Berkengoff (Mashki ) Taking all her pleasure from watching money ran out, he had to do other things until he had earned enough to go back to stripy apron on, pots sizzling in the her family grow, nothing pleased her In my mother’s ninety-fifth year the College. Among other things, he worked in a shipyard, and as a clerk in a law firm. kitchen and the delicious smell of 2.11.1910 – 17.2.2005 more. She was delighted with her family had begun to consider nursing home cooking. When I was older, we grandchildren Barry, Peter and Lucy home care and enquiries were made How can you encapsulate nearly When he qualified, it would often swap culinary tips and for and her step grandchildren Corinna and a place reserved. Having looked was the Depression ninety-five years of a rich life into a few that reason we both wished that we and Tracy, loving them all equally and after herself and been independent all and he had to go to short paragraphs? Impossible, however possessed a pair of tongs to turn our never forgetting a birthday or special her life she was quite determined that England to find work. I shall try. Anyone who knew my sausages under the grill. event. Never tiring of talking about their she would never need to and this she After some years he mother will remember her fondly for had enough money to accomplishments and how well they never did. her sense of humour and her kindness. come back to He was always so delighted to see us were all doing. Her great grandchild The daughter of Joseph and Leah Glasgow and start up all and hear our news. Grandpa was Bruno was the latest addition to this She was a remarkable woman who will Caplan her parents came to Scotland a practice of his own. fiercely independent and remained so group to receive the same treatment. be sadly missed and much thought from Russia to make a new life for their In the meantime, one until the last. He was a great teller of about by her family and friends. family. My mother had six sisters and of his sisters had stories & his eyes would sparkle when My mother got on well with her married one of his two brothers and she was the last of recounting tales of his student days. I daughter in laws Sheana and Susie Leonard Berkingoff close friends, and in her family, although not the youngest, remember asking him why he had this way he met his wife and they soon chosen dentistry- the answer because married. A long and that was what all his friends had happy marriage chosen. Quite interesting I thought spoiled only by his that my Grandpa too, had succumbed wife's ill health in the to peer pressure in his youth. last years of their life together. He had an amazing memory for people, names and events that took They gave me, their place some 80 or 90 years ago. He only child, a happy loving childhood and remembered hearing Lloyd George. were delighted that when I married, it was to a young man whom they loved as a son, He remembered the layout of streets despite the fact that to my father's disappointment he liked cricket and rugby and not in Glasgow in the 1930's & he would football! often ask if such and such a shop still existed. He kept an interest in politics In time there were three granddaughters who gave him so much pleasure, and when even after he reached his 100 years. they in turn married, there were the great-grandchildren. One of the most special days Despite his sight and hearing failing in his life, when he was 99, was the birth of his only great-grandson, whom he held at him, he still asked about his football his Bris, a very proud moment. team, Glasgow Rangers (a small fault On his one hundredth birthday, he sat surrounded by family and said he didn't know in a good man, as my husband said) how he had managed to reach such a milestone, as it was not in his hands to have and I know mum had to keep up to done so. speed with the latest development in the league, so that she could try and He had a great capacity for loving and was loved by very many people, and he will be answer his questions. He touched the missed by all who knew him. hearts of so many over the years and was loved so very much, that perhaps June Glass we should be celebrating his life today rather than mourning his passing. I never thought that I would ever have to deliver a eulogy for Grandpa. I really thought that he would live forever. I know that it's a an odd thing to believe, but only a few Lisa Cohen weeks ago he told us that when he had reached a 102, he also thought that he could

32 33 wonderful gift on the occasion of my had his bakery in the Pleasance. Announcements 60th birthday and my 25 years as Anyone of my generation will tell you caretaker of the Synagogue and that Sunday mornings, the queue Congratulations Community Centre. I am extremely stretched from his shop well down the We are delighted to announce the touched by everyone’s generosity. Pleasance, all waiting patiently for engagement between Tony Goldberg Christine Burns Bialik’s Bagles. They bore no son of Leila Steel and the late Phillip resemblance to the large, tasteless Goldberg to Anat, daughter of Baruch ones sold in supermarkets today. and Balia Schreiber of Toronto. Dear Editor These were half the size but twice as You don't know me, but I was born in tasty, crisp shiny brown crust and soft Edinburgh, Miriam (Meechie) Betty Glass, who celebrated her 100th and luscious inside! birthday on 2nd June Pinkinsky, in 1916 that should give you an idea of my vintage. In my day we had three bakeries and Rabbi Cohen, who celebrates his 90th three butchers. The bakeries were Your article by Jenni Calder, Growing birthday in Jerusalem. He was Rabbi of Kleinberg’s, Sam Bialik and Sammy up with David Daiches, evoked so this Community in 1945, after Rabbi Cowan’s, where the late Betty Franklin much nostalgia in me. The Daiches Daiches and left to become Chief Rabbi presided over the grocery department. family was part of my youth in of Ireland. He later moved to Israel The butchers comprised, Gabriel’s, Edinburgh in fact Dr. Daiches was the where he has since lived for many Hoffinberg’s and Lurie’s, as Nick Rabbi who married my husband and years. observed, Joe was brilliant at me. marketing! Which butcher did mothers Thank you choose? The one where the children I recall acting in many of the skits Our thanks go to: Lady Hazel were presented with samples of Joe’s written by Lionel and David, and Cosgrove, Mr Ronald Goodwin, Mr pickled meat, which kept them happy, Sylvia was one of my best friends. The and Mrs Sam Skop, Mr and Mrs of course. In 1950 when meat was still community was very much larger then Norman Berger, Mr and Mrs Sidney rationed, extra rations were available - four or five hundred Jewish families, Caplan, Mr and Mrs David to expectant mothers, so your butcher quite a contrast to the 300 Jews in all Mendelssohn, for donating prizes for was the first to know who was now. My husband, Dr. Meier the raffle at the ‘Star’ dinner. expecting! Lichtenstein, was an honorary president of the Jewish Student I was also reminded of the comment Society. I could go on and on with my my 5-year-old grandson made on anecdotes of life in Edinburgh, but... seeing all those jars of Mrs Elswood products on Joe’s shelves ‘What a Thank you for the article by Jenni busy lady that Mrs Elswood must be’. Calder. Happy memories of days gone by. Yours sincerely, Philip Harris remembers Bullens, the Miriam Lichtenstein Norman and Joyce Cram wish to Jewish Fish & Chip Shop! thank our friends for their kind visits Best British Bagles and good wishes during Norman’s by Joyce Cram recent stay in hospital. He continues to Volunteers please Nick Cosgrove asks in his most make good progress and hopes to be The Luncheon Club needs people enjoyable article ‘Kosher Reekie’ Did home again soon. to cook for it on Tuesdays and Kleinberg bake bagles?’ The answer is Thursdays. Please spare one morning no; but the finest bagles ever tasted I wish to express my deep appreciation every eight weeks and phone Avril were baked in Edinburgh before his and thanks to all in the community who Berger on 664 2938 if you can help. time. The baker was Sam Bialik who contributed such an unexpected and

There are no meetings of Senior Maccabi meets on Forthcoming Events Lodge Solomon, Council of Sunday evenings in members’ Christians and Jews or homes. Literary Society during the For further information, June July summer months. These along 12 Sunday 24 Sunday contact Alice Kelpie with dates of future WIZO WIZO annual lunch at the Fast of Tammuz (337 1894) lunches to be confirmed in home of Kate and Ronnie next edition. The Luncheon Club meets Goodwin August every Tuesday and Thursday 14 Sunday Junior Maccabi meets on at 12.30pm. 13 Monday Fast of Av alternate Sundays from 1pm First day of Shavuoth All meetings take place in the to 3pm. 20 Saturday Community Centre, Salisbury 22 Wednesday Annual Civic Service Road, unless otherwise For further information, Synagogue AGM stated. All are subject to contact Jonathan Danzig alteration. (229 3054).