Kehila is brought to you by our ROSH HASHANA 2018/5779 Shana Tova Memories of an Meeting Nelson Kirking in the Council East End Girl Mandela p40 p10 p34 Jews and the Tower Jewish Life Art and A Bike Ride to remember of London Design the Kindertransport p41 p14 p30 About Our Members Since our last issue From the Editor’s Desk CONDOLENCES TO: MOSAIC LIBERAL MOSAIC REFORM Robert Goodman on the death of his MAZAL TOV TO: MAZAL TOV TO: sister, Marion Goodman Dear Reader Mazal tov to Zoe Freedman and Gary Miller & Michelle Miller on their Angela Green on the death of her Daniel Henig on their forthcoming birth of their grand-daughter. mother, Lilian Finniston On behalf of the two Kehila editorial teams, may I wedding. Mazal tov also to Steve and Philippa Freedman WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS: NEW HOME wish the community a peaceful and happy new year. Sandie & Val Myers Rachel Solomon NEW HOME We look forward to receiving another year of great Lydia Tichauer Mary & George Vulkan stories and news features. Phyllis Michie BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: Norman Cripps, 75 Shana Tova! SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES TO: HEMS Daniel Ingram, 85 BIRTHDAY WISHES TO Dena Cohen Dita Lewis, 70 Nir Goldenberg, 50 Victor Golding Shirley Mendel-Lion, 85 Selwyn Langley, 75 Gertrude Goodman Lawrie Nerva, 96 Derek Levene Thelma Rose, 106 GET WELL Harold Levene Sheila Solomons, 92 John Levy Evelyn Roos Myra Wand, 70 CONDOLENCES TO: Leonard Silverman Lionel Sinclair, 70 Robert Pinkus Bernard Solomons Henry Kesel, 85 Michele Flatto on the death of her mother, Lilian Flatto GET WELL WISHES TO: ANNIVERSARY WISHES TO: Elaine Glass on the death of her mother, Sylvia Jeffreys Rhoda Kohn Judith & Basil Bara on their 45th Mimi Lubelle wedding anniversary Mildred Morrison Angela & Warren Green on their 50th Jeanette Shindler wedding anniversary Alan Solomon Jane & Michael Harrison on their 35th Sheila Struminger wedding anniversary CONDOLENCES TO: GET WELL WISHES TO Condolences to Leila Silverman on Erica Grossman the death of her husband Leonard What is Mosaic? Mosaic is a vibrant Jewish community which comprises There is an excellent religion school for younger the members of three partner synagogues. The three members with innovative opportunities to extend Jewish synagogues represent the Masorti, Reform and Liberal learning beyond bar/bat mitzvah. strands of Judaism respectively providing Mosaic Most important, we look out as well as in and offer members with a choice of emphasis and ritual across the exciting opportunities to get involved with influential Progressive spectrum. Indeed, the providing of choice social action and inter-faith programmes, whether locally, is a key Mosaic principle which extends beyond ritual. nationally or internationally. Mosaic is living proof of what Mosaic provides its members with a wide range of social, can be achieved with goodwill, mutual respect and a educational, cultural and recreational activities designed willingness to work together. to appeal to diverse interests and age groups. Find out more at www.choosemosaic.org or contact Membership Officer Mark Phillips on 07500 118 796 2 3 WILL YOU HELP US CARE FOR MORE PEOPLE LIKE PAUL, THIS ROSH HASHANAH? From the Chairs of Mosaic by Mark Phillips Co-Chairs Jeff Highfield and Mark Phillips eff and I became Co-Chairs of Mosaic in the Spring, outside. There isn’t space here to go into detail about what and have been working with the Mosaic Board and I observed and learnt at their conference; watch out for Synagogue Councils to set targets and priorities for events, activities and some bigger developments at Mosaic the year. as we bring that learning and some of those ideas to our These objectives span finding ways for existing Community (or why not contact us to find out more?). Jmembers to deepen their involvement with the community; So all of that got me thinking: what makes Mosaic developing the community to benefit the next generation special? I think maybe “trust” and “respect”: of members; and supporting the work of the Property We do not get everything right, we are far from perfect Working Group to find and deliver a new home for Mosaic. (and as we approach the Chagim many of us will be By the time you read this we will have held the open reflecting on that) – but I think we have managed to meeting to consider the decision about a new home for develop relationships where we trust each other’s aims Charity Reg No. 802559 our Mosaic Community. This is an incredibly exciting and motivation. So while we may argue (we are definitely opportunity that we intend to take full advantage of. We Jews) about anything and everything, we do so from a will keep you informed as this project progresses and trust perspective of trusting that we are all seeking to do the that whatever decisions we make together will be made best for our community and when we fall short it is not for thoughtfully and in the best interests of our Community. lack of effort or intent. That allows us to make changes, try Paul is living with dementia. He’s been alone since he lost his beloved wife five I (Mark) have had the opportunity over the past year to things out and move on when they both do and don’t work. attend two rather different events in America (OK I also Mosaic is founded on respecting and celebrating the years ago. He started coming to the dementia day centre a year ago. He’s made wanted to visit my daughter while she was in New York!). diversity of our approaches to Judaism – across our At the Union of Reform Judaism biannual I joined 4,000+ community and as individuals. We do not impose on or new friends and loves to play games. “The singing’s Paul’s favourite,” explains American Reform Jews and found a network of over 200 judge each other, and again that is worth reflecting on at communities who have joined together on journeys similar this time of year. his niece Susan, “it always makes him smile.” (ish!) to ours - some for over 20 years - and yet we at Mosaic Of course we need to do better on these, and other, have achieved more in five years than any of them, which matters, and if this article is helping you to think then It takes £3,000 every day to keep our dementia day centres open for people certainly made me think about what makes our community maybe it has been worth reading? Maybe contact any of special (more on that in a bit). the team to discuss further? like Paul. Please continue your support this Rosh Hashanah. Mosaic was then invited to join an organisation called We wish you all a happy and healthy New Year, and well the Collaboratory – a network of new and innovative over the fast. Jewish organisations and communities. Mosaic is the only To donate please call 020 8922 2600 or visit jewishcare.org/donate “traditional” Synagogue community invited to that network, Jeff and Mark which again says something about how we are seen from [email protected] 4 #PeopleOfJewishCare 5 A5 RH Advert 2018 v1.indd 1 06/06/2018 11:08 Rabbi Dr Frank Rabbi Kathleen Dabba Smith Middleton Rabbi’s thoughts Mitzvah goreret mitzvah © Portrait by Italiaander – www.italiaander.co.uk © Portrait s the summer progresses and the New Year with meditation – it was after all his responsibility, being the approaches, we inevitably reflect on the year that only adult in the group to have led them into this situation. © Portrait by Italiaander – www.italiaander.co.uk © Portrait has passed. And as we do so, we can only hope that And yet, the parents did not press charges or accuse the the New Year will be a better year, for the state of the coach, but readily forgave him. f the High Holydays are to be of real meaning and his demonstrating against the forced separation of migrant world in general is really rather depressing. However, as we So many terrifying, yet inspiring moments in history relevance, there are two central questions that each of us children and infants from their parents in America. He was Alook back, we realise that this summer we witnessed a story depend on small human responses to unimaginable should be asking ourselves. First, in terms of our personal quoted in the Israeli Haaretz newspaper (1st July 2018), as unfolding in the media which really inspired us and captivated situations; in this case, it was the outpouring of goodness behaviours and close relationships, how will we each comparing the news concerning these harshly repressive and the entire world. It was the plight of the Boys in the Cave; above vindictiveness that makes this story inspirational. address the traditional seasonal demand for increased self- damaging procedures as a ‘flash of lightening’, a sudden light the story of a Thai youth football team that had planned to As people, we can choose to act from goodwill or Iawareness? Second, with respect to our relationships with that for a moment forces us all to bear witness and realize celebrate the birthday of one of their team by exploring a local suspicion. Some of this is dependent on how we are others in the wider world, regardless of whether we know or what is really happening. cave and became trapped inside, when they were caught out conditioned by society or how we see the world and our don’t know them personally, how will each of us increase our Waskow added, ‘The thing about lightning flashes is they by heavy rain which flooded the cave system.