KolKol KehillatKehillat KernowKernow Voice of the Jewish Community in Cornwall Issue 26 kehillatkernow.com August 2010, Av 5770 Community blessed by the Jacobs visit Pat Lipert were led by David Jacobs in the At the beginning of last month, July 2-4, summery setting of Hannah and David Jacobs from the RSGB Glorias conservatory. helped the KK community celebrate the David explained the weekend of Shabbat Pinchas in three special background of some observances. of the Shabbat songs The Shabbos Bride was ushered in in fine style and prayers as the at the home of Gloria Jacobson who hosted service progressed. the event. The services, which began at 6:30, About fifteen members of the community were on hand to participate in the moving and informative service. The Friday night dinner couldnt have been more convivial nor the fare offered more tasty, thanks to the many In the beginning -Harvey Kurzfield and David Jacobs discuss the contributions of all details of the model of the first Reformed Synagoue, Jacobson Schule those who attended. in Seesen, Germany which was established in 1810. Fish, vegetarian dishes, salads and an array of desserts made If that werent enough, Jacqueline and Harvey Shabbos Blessings - Hannah Jacobs, Jacqueline this precious time of the week even more Kurzfield opened their home for a Sunday Rickett, David Jacobs enjoying the Kiddush wine as they anticipate the wonderful Friday special. There is nothing like a shared Friday morning limmud session with the Jacobs. night diner arranged and hosted by Gloria night among the family of Israel. David and Hannah offered a well-informed Jacobson. On Saturday, services were held in the seminar on the 200-year history of Reform Rashleigh Suite of the Brookdale hotel in Truro. Judaism. David began the lecture by showing LotsLots moremore A good turnout and a wonderful Shabbat us a model of the first Reform synagogue Pinchas were observed. Again, David led the established by Israel Jacobson in 1810 in inside,inside, service and discussed the reasoning behind Seesen, Germany. He and Hannah attended Lots more many of the prayers. At the conclusion, Harvey the 200-year anniversary of Reform Judaism Kurzfield, chairman, presented David and in Seesen later in the month. Once again, many including...including... Hannah with a book to thank them for their good noshes concluded the happy event with inside, contribution to our Shabbos. He also thanked the additional joy of the Klezmer band, Azoy, Jacqueline Rickett for organising this rounding out the atmosphere. including... weekends social events. Following the service Many thanks to Gloria, David and Hannah, Chairmans Remarks............2 and Kiddush, a sumptuous vegetarian buffet Harvey and Jacqueline, and especially to was offered. The setting couldnt have been Jacquie Rickett who oversaw all the social Russian connection...............3 better. arrangements. Lessons from Auschwitz......4 High Holy Days: schedule for Days Dream of a lifetime ..............5 of Awe Four special services for the High Holy days The Kol Nidre service (erev Yom Kippur), will Kindness of Strangers..........6 will be held at Trelissick Gardens for members begin at 6:30pm on the 17th of September of Kehillat Kernow. and the all day Yom Kippur service on the On the 8th of September, the Erev service 18th of September starts at 10:30am. for Rosh Hashanah will begin at 7:00pm. The Breaking of the fast will follow the last service Designed and printed by Noah Hearle. first day service for the New Year will be on after sundown. A buffet supper will be Phone: 08709 770088; the 9th of September at 10:30am. Members provided. Non-members who attend the web: www.designextreme.com. are asked to bring something festive for the services are asked to make a £15 donation Need: newsletter/website/sudoku? Contact me. Kiddush to follow. to help allay the costs. Do you want to share your Kol Kehillat Kernow? Visit: kehillatkernow.com/newsletter for an online version of the newsletter! 2 August 2010 Kol Kehillat Kernow Chairmans A warm and wonderful Pesach Remarks 2010 Harvey Kurzfield Our community is made up of the beginnings of an international family. In addition to our home-grown elements we also have members and friends from Israel, America, France, South Africa, Germany and recently we have had services conducted by a trainee rabbi born in Italy. Many of our ancestors came from Poland, Austria, Hungary and other European areas devastated by war. And do you know what? We all seem to get on really well. Within all such communities there are always a few grumbles, but, even so, in the ten or more years of Kehillat Kernows Seder Joy-Morris and Babs Coleman and their kids, Bonnie and Wilf Rockley, making fine existence we have work of the traditional Pesach meal. managed to keep together as a friendly, welcoming and Pat Lipert missed. Yet, in the finest tradition of Jewish hospitable group. continuity, KK members made a special effort Its such a shame that elsewhere in the world This years communal Pesach Seder at Trelssick to create something beautiful and meaningful. there seems to be nothing but conflict. Striking Gardens was one of the warmest and most Much of that also has to do with the thoughtful workers seem intent on ruining their own felicitous weve ever had. Thanks to a large and innovative preparation by Louise Garcia employers businesses or even governments; group of people who work hard to make the who prepared and led the service. With so many militants are able to access weapons which personal touches, they then use against their own citizens or additional text, special against neighbouring countries; and a massive attention to the needs of oil company hasnt got the technological know- the community and plenty how to plug a serious oil leak. Armed conflicts for the youngsters to enjoy in and around Israel almost inevitably rebound and to do, Louise made each against that country in such a way as to always member feel they were lead to a universal condemnation of Israels truly part of a very special tactics. People who precipitate these events family. seem to achieve a hero status which is largely contributed song, prayers undeserved. and gusto to each part of As a science fiction fan I used to read about a the service with a rousing future which benefited from a World finale from our Israeli Government. I suspect that by the time such contingent. The food, of an event takes place it will already be too late. course, was probably the I hope that members of Kehillat Kernow will best that any community always respond fairly towards one another and could have offered with towards other groups, from wherever they have each cook preparing his/her journeyed. speciality. What a feast it Lchaim! - Hannah, Melanie, Iain Brown (in background), Julie was. More importantly, the Still on this international feel, I never cease Stone (looking on), Isaac and Adam Feldman clearly enjoying to be amazed that Noah manages to put the festive Seder. message of Pesach seemed together everything that our editor sends all to touch everyones heart. the way (digitally or electronically) to Australia traditional Seder meal and to all the which is then distributed to all our members preparations by Anne Hearle who has organised here in Cornwall and the wider community. this event for the past several years, it keeps My continued congratulations to all those who getting better and better. work so hard to keep us so well-informed With Harvey Kurzfield unable to attend, informed. Passover, it seemed, wouldnt be the same. Shalom! Well, it wasnt the same for he was sorely New product for Kehillat Kernow KK Committee members has designed a Kiddush Cup in pewter, which decided at their last is now being made up. Orders for the £60 meeting that it would be first edition are now being taken after nice to add to our original members of the congregation saw the sample Cornish-Jewish collection design at Shabbat services the beginning of after the success of our June. Contact Leslie if you want your very personally designed own Kehillat Kernow Kiddush Cup or perhaps Hag Sameach Anne Hearle, the organiser of mezzuzot. Leslie Lipert are thinking in terms of a wonderful gift our annual event, blesses the candles before has complied again and idea. the Pesach service begins Kol Kehillat Kernow August 2010 3 The Russian connection Gloria Jacobson and Pat Lipert The Gloria we know and the Milton we knew, bore a son, Adam Jacobson, a member of the Russia has always been a good place to leave, 5th generation. You may be relieved to know especially if you are Jewish. The great that Adams lady, Amanda, is in no way related grandparents of Milton and Gloria Jacobson, to any of the Schneiders, Levines or Jacobsons. The Schneiders (Yiddish for tailors) found I remember my grandfather, Wolfe Jacobson, themselves in particularly hard straits living talking about how the Cossacks would storm as they did in the Shtetl of Sheval, a small Jewish into the Shtetl, take all the grain, and leave village outside Kovno (Kowno) in the 1860s. the people of the village to starve during the The restrictions placed on Jews at that time long, cold winters. Many did. said Gloria. under Czarist rule, made life unimaginably dif­ Wolfe, who was a horse dealer in Kovno, ficult. Considered became a tailor in Leeds. Did he use his an alien race, wifes sewing machine? A throwback to Jews were allowed his wifes namesake, Schneider, perhaps. to suffer the hard­ If you think that life was magical, and ships but few of the people were happy most of the time benefits enjoyed living under the Czar, think again.