1 wHaT’S InSIDe.... PurIM SPIeLS | JewISH LIFe In KraKOw | JewS OF SPeyer JewISH TeXaS | erIC MOOnMan Z’L | wHaT’S On | anD MOre February 2018 • SHVaT – aDar 5778 • ISSue 282 2 Our Featured Community Organisation 3 About 35 people gathered at Ralli Hall on the evening Ella Grey, who has been leader of the group for 20 out of Tuesday 12 December to celebrate the 21st birthday of its 21 years, was presented with a bouquet of flowers of the Hove Israeli Dance Group (HIDG). Attendees as a thank you for her dedicated service over such a included some who had been members of the HIDG long period. She had compiled a playlist for the evening right at the beginning in its first and second years, as of some of the ‘golden oldies’ that former dancers were well as more recent and current dancers. likely to remember and everyone was invited to join in while it was played. Many did but The evening started with drinks also enjoyed sitting out and watching, followed by the lighting of the Ralli Hall has nurtured listening to the music, and chatting to first Chanukah candle by Nicola and supported the group old friends as well as meeting some Hyman, the longest serving people for the first time. Everyone current member of the group. throughout its 21 years. said they had enjoyed the evening. Guests gathered round to sing Maoz Tsur, with transliterations How lucky we are to have The HIDG was very pleased that the provided for those who didn’t Chairman, Manager and Assistant know the words. After that most such a home. Manager of Ralli Hall were able to people joined in with a special be present at the party to share in Chanukah dance – Sevivon Sof Sof Sof. the celebration. Ralli Hall has nurtured and supported the group throughout its 21 years and is just the kind A delicious buffet of finger food, both savoury and of activity that could not have survived without having sweet, had been organised by a few of the current a home at Ralli Hall. How lucky we are to have such a dancers. It was plentiful and ensured that no-one went home. hungry during the evening. Front cover: Inside the First Station, Jerusalem by EDITORIAL BOARD Hazel Coppins, Doris Levinson, Stephanie Megitt, Brian Megitt. Michael Rich, David Seidel. TECHNICAL ADVISOR Brian Megitt ADMINISTRATOR Bernard Swithern SJN brings local news, events, articles, reviews, announcements, people, congregations, Administrative Assistants Ivor Sorokin, Lydia Swithern communities, contacts and more. Delivered at COMMUNAL DIARY [email protected] the start of each month, SJN is run entirely by COVER IMAGE Brian Megitt volunteers for reporting, editing and circulating each edition. 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ISSUE 282 | FEBRUARY 2018 Sussex Jewish News Contents PO Box 2178 • Hove BN3 3SZ 2 Telephone: 07906 955 404 3 FEATURES 1 THE FIRST STATION Our cover by Brian Megitt 8 ERIC MOONMAN Z’L Ray Bloom remembers his friend 9 THE JEWS OF SPEYER Stanley Gelbier on his visit to the Rhineland 10 JEWISH USA - TEXAS Gillian Rich on the Lone Star State’s Jewish communities 12 JEWISH LIFE IN KRAKOW A report from the chairman of World Jewish Relief 13 DOMESTIC ABUSE By David Shinegold REGULARS 4 SUSSEX AND THE CITY Your news, views and stories from across the county 14 CULTURE Books, lectures, film and more 20 WHAT’S ON – february Regular and special events in your community YOUR COMMUNITY 16 BRIGHTON & HOVE REFORM SYNAGOGUE 17 BRIGHTON & HOVE HEBREW Congregation 18 HOVE HEBREW Congregation 19 BRIGHTON & HOVE PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE Full page (A4 size) £170 Sussex Jewish News (‘SJN’), its Editor and Editorial Board: Half page (A5 size) £100 • are not allied to any synagogue or group and the views expressed by writers are not necessarily those of SJN; Quarter page (A6 size) £65 • accept advertisements in good faith but do not endorse any products 1/9 page (credit card size) £40 or services and do not accept liability for any aspect of any advertisements; and Personal Announcements in a box (up to 6 lines): £25 • welcome readers’ contributions but reserve the right to edit, cut, decline Announcements up to 3 lines £10 or submit the content to others for comment. To ensure that we receive your submissions by email, please send them ONLY to sjneditor@sussexjewishnews. Flyers: Price on application com, otherwise we cannot guarantee their consideration for publication. To Local Jewish charities will not be charged, subject to assist the Editorial Board, submissions should be in Word format using Times New Roman font, size 12. Receipt of submissions may not be acknowledged, editorial decision. unless specifically requested. As the Editorial Board is made up entirely of GUIDELINES ADVERTISING ADVERTISING IN SJN BOOK NOW! 07906 955 404 volunteers, any response may be subject to delay. ISSUE 282 | FEBRUARY 2018 4 Community Life 5 Your News Diamond Couple Mazel tov to Linda and Ronnie Taylor, on the celebration of Special Birthdays their 60th Wedding Anniversary on 23rd February. Mazel tov to Susan Conway, Yossi Sasson, David Schaverien and Dennis Schulster and all who have special birthdays this Achievements month. Mazel tov to Jake Myers on being voted Student of the Year at Collyer’s College, Horsham and to the Myers, Sharpe and Bar Mitzvah Cobbs families. Mazel tov to Ron and Sarah Amram on the bar mitzvah of their son Ittai. Get Well We wish a refuah sheleimah to all who are unwell or in Weddings hospital at the present time. Mazel tov to Rabbi Hershel and Perla Rader on the marriage of their daughter Tzipporah to Yosef Aron. Deaths We wish Long Life to the families of Millie Gordon z’l and Eric Moonman z’l. Daniel Sacks Memorial Award Two brothers (from Hove) are among the 2017 winners of the Daniel Sacks Awards for Outstanding Young Athletic achievement. Brother Adam, 14, an 800m runner Joshua and Adam Firsht join Emma Taylor and Idan Gan- was second in the Sussex Schools Shohet as recipients of the prestigious award, now in its championships, then one week eighth year. Its purpose is to encourage wider participation in later he achieved his season’s athletics and to keep alive the memory of Daniel Sacks, who ambition as he recorded an loved the sport. England Schools qualification time A 400m specialist, Joshua Firsht, of 2:04.92 at the South Eastern now aged 17, struck gold at the Schools championships. “That Independent Schools Association performance was my proudest national championships. But his achievement. At the start of the season I did not think it was most pleasing performance was possible,” said Adam. when he came second in the His second fastest run came in hot and humid conditions Sussex Schools championships. at the England Schools championships themselves. “It was He explained, “My GCSEs were amazing to compete in front of a big crowd in one of the about to start and I was in two largest schools competitions in the world,” he said. minds about whether or not to race. But I came close to winning The above is an extract from an article by Brian Sacks that and set a new PB (personal best) appeared in the Jewish Chronicle and is reprinted with of 51.91”. permission. Jewish Family Life and Customs: A Practical Guide by Eleanor Platt QC The launch of the booklet Jewish Family Life and Customs: A Practical Guide took place at the Supreme Court on Tuesday 28th November. An article was published in the Jewish Chronicle. The people are from left to right: Marie van der Zyl, solicitor and Vice President of the Board who gave the vote of thanks Then me, Eleanor Platt QC, who introduced Baroness Hale, first woman member of the Supreme Court and first woman President of the Court. (There is now a second woman member, Dame Jill Black). On the right is Barrister Jonathan Arkush, President of the Board who thanked everyone for coming and introduced me! The Booklet is available on the Board of Deputies’ website as a free download from the resources section. ISSUE 282 | FEBRUARY 2018 4 Community Life 5 Your Views From Barbara Gordon Godfrey R Gould’s excellent article Deeper and Deeper I remember telling one Rabbi that his sermons were not regarding the London Underground brought back memories interesting. He textually answered me, “I give them what to me. they deserve”. He obviously did not think much of his congregation. And that begs the question: should a Rabbi From 1949 I travelled from my home in Edgware on the train have to lower the intellectual level of his sermons or should to my school near Golders Green and I well recall the ‘dotted he aim higher? It is a problem I had when I was The Hebrew lines’ from Edgware to Mill Hill East and also North to Bushey Master at Whittingeham College.