Kehila is brought to you by: | Monthly June 2014 Shavuot: Cheesecake vs Blintzes In this Issue A Rabbi’s Word (by Rabbi Holocaust Remembrance ULPS Bienniel Door project 3 Paul Arberman) 7 Kehila Quiz 11 Mosaic Chairman’s Yom HaShoah at Wembley Letters to the Editor 4 message (by Harry Grant) 8 12 Friends of the Earth Mosaic Lunch Club and Mosaic Events 5 Middle East 9 Food for Fun 14 Get in Touch! Mosaic at the EUPJ Mosaic Moments (from What’s On 6 conference in Dresden 10 Seder thru Lag B’Omer) 16 . Notable events HEMS CONDOLENCES TO: Mosaic Reform Paulette Sachon on the death of her CONDOLENCES TO: mother, Rita Shaffer The family of Des Rayner A Rabbi’s The family of Rosalind Avadis HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR MAY AND JUNE TO: Lew Leaderman on the death of his wife, Stella Harrison Rutstein (7) The family of Esther Silverman Connor Buchalter (11) Bill Fishman on the death of his Lily Rafalin (13) Word brother, Albert Kezia Rosenberg (15) Maureen Daniels on the death of her Each month, one of the Mosaic community rabbis will provide Erez Goldenberg (16) Welcome husband, Philip. Also to their sons – to this first edition of the Kehila- a message for us. We start-off with some words from Rabbi Amanda Kersen (50) Andrew and Jonathan Monthly Newsletter, the slightly Irene Berkovitch (75) smaller, but equally pretty sister Paul Arberman of Hatch End Masorti Synagogue Harold Curry (93) MAZEL TOV TO: of the Kehila Magazine, which Gerry Amias on the birth of his grandson, you received just before Pesach. Alfie Different production team, but similar look-and-feel. HWPS Lorette & Geoff Collett on the engagement We trust you all understand the CONDOLENCES TO: of their daughter, Joanne, to Lee Shavuot reference in the front-cover ’m happy to be part of the launch of the best of those who have picked up the Jeffrey Phillips on the recent death of his Greenfield cheese-cake picture. The Shavuot Kehila-Monthly – the Mosaic monthly Every movement shovel to dig into our tradition. mother Renee Val & Tony Fineberg on the birth of their Letters and Cheesecake event is on newsletter. The rabbi’s column is a How? It turns out that there were grandson, Asher Nathan I Hana Schlesinger on the death of her June 3rd (so hurry!) – see page 14 great space for each rabbi to lay out some in Judaism is of six examples in the Talmud and a few mother-in-law Anna Schlesinger Carla Levy on her engagement to Andrew for details. of the principles of their own Movement. examples in the middle ages of rabbis Morrow. Also to Stephen & Georgina Levy The family and friends of Shirley Stein The focus for Kehila-Monthly is In my first piece, I want to talk about how course entitled to who allowed a “hafka’at kiddushin” – an The family of Sylvia Honey to keep the community informed of the Masorti Movement looks for solutions their own approach annulment of the marriage. Of course, Max Birne on the death of his brother GOOD LUCK IN HER NEW HOME: Mosaic events that are occurring in in Jewish law – to help people. most Orthodox authorities do not accept Stanley Eve Jager the next couple of months and to I’ll give you an example. A woman once to tradition and this – they would say that even if it was include reviews of recent happenings came to my office and explained that used in the past – current Jewish law GET WELL WISHES TO: SPECIAL BIRTHDAYS AND (inside or outside the community) she had divorced in Argentina, civilly, 15 does not allow for this. that are topical, of general interest Jewish law Archie Shapiro ANNIVERSARIES: years ago. But she still felt trapped – she For Masorti and liberal minded Jews, and have involved Mosaic members. Ryan Specterman (2) couldn’t move on in life and find a new and these seven wells symbolized the the many different books of Jewish Kehila-Monthly is edited by Martin partner because she never got a “get” – seven Noahide laws which Abraham law over our history – the Talmud, and WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS: Richard Sclare (70) Simonis and Judy Silverton – we Jewish divorce papers – that according to had promoted to the Canaanites. When Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, and the Tur Leanne Baker Peter Rotter (70) would be more than happy for others Russell Snipper Jeanette Leibling (70) to join us. how our tradition developed, are served the Philistines abandoned these basic – are all “living waters” from which we may draw insight and wisdom. We have Sara Rose Philip Goodman (70) Kehila-Monthly will be published by the man. laws and teachings of humanity, they Every movement in Judaism is of “stopped-up” the wells – these symbolic a deep well to provide for new solutions Timothy Freedman Barry Caplan (70) at the start of each calendar month, course entitled to their own approach sources of wisdom and law. and creative thinking in Jewish law – to Stephen Dorff (70) except around Pesach, Rosh to tradition and Jewish law. That being Rabbi Yaakov Tzi Mecklenberg make sure that we don’t leave people SPECIAL BIRTHDAY: Evelyn Sheldon (70) Hashana and Chanukah when you will have the big Kehila Magazine to said, in my estimation, the Orthodox too (1785-1865) comments that the wells high and dry. Mary Vulkan Bertha Levy (80) entertain and inform you. often turn to the Shulchan Aruch, the of Abraham and Isaac were a public Of course the solution is available Lea Sinclair (80) th With this in mind, please send 16 century collection of Jewish Laws. necessity. So Abraham cleverly gave to rabbis of other streams – who have MAZELTOV TO: Claude Landes (90) articles, pictures, letters and the like They believe it has the final say – that them God-related names such as the well the courage to use it – but it seems that Sandra and Stuart Rose on the occasion Hanne Freedman (90) for us to consider for publication in women must wait until their ex-husbands called, “The Well of Him that Lives and again and again it is the more liberal of the marriage of their daughter Sara to Andor Marer (90) the next Newsletter. Where we think are convinced/cajoled/intimidated into Sees Me” so that each time they wanted movements in Judaism that are taking on Timothy Freedman Michael Wallace (90) that an article is more appropriate giving them a Jewish divorce. Masorti water, they would have to say: ‘Let us go this responsibility. Carole & Michael Gumpel on their to the Magazine, we will pass it to Jews are more likely to plumb the depths and draw water from the (well called) Well The prophet Zechariah said (14:8): GOOD LUCK IN HER NEW HOME: 30th wedding anniversary Robert Pinkus and his merry team. of our tradition to meet the challenges of of the Eternal God!’ “On that day, living water will come out Michelle Latchman June & Michael Wallace on their Please enjoy, please keep us modern living. When Avraham died, these names were from Jerusalem.” I want to suggest th supplied with input and please let us Celia Hipgrave 60 wedding anniversary A nice analogy may be drawn from lost. But Isaac didn’t try to draw water that “That day” refers to the day when know what is good and what could the book of Genesis, where we read from shallow wells and he didn’t give knowledgeable, God-fearing liberal be improved. that “Isaac dug anew the wells which up. He followed in his father’s footsteps rabbis took a well “satum” – a well that Please note that the Mosaic Data Protection and Privacy org. Items received will also be considered for inclusion in had been dug in the days of his father by re-digging the wells and giving them was stopped up – and we dug it anew. Policy documents are in the course of preparation. the Mosaic Website and/or the next Kehila Magazine. The Abraham and which the Philistines had the same names in order to restore the And “That day” refers to the day when Guidance, if required, may be obtained from the Synagogue decision of the Editor to publish, or not, is final. Contributors Send your articles, pictures, Administrator. and advertisers should be aware that copies of the stopped up after Abraham’s death; and teachings of his father. this woman walked into my office as an Copy Date for July issue of Kehila Monthly is 16th June. Newsletter are distributed to our twinned communities in letters etc to he gave them the same names that his To relate this to the story of the agunah – asking to draw living water from Material received after this date will have to be held over until Moscow. [email protected] father had given them.” (Gen. 26:18). “agunah” – if the wells represent the the well of the eternal God. And just as it the next issue. Views expressed in this Newsletter do not necessarily reflect According to tradition – water is teachings of our ancestors – then Masorti should be – with the help of our tradition – Contributions and ‘Letter to the Editor’ are welcome and those of the officers or council of Mosaic or its constituent compared to our life sustaining Torah – and liberal minded Jews stand among she was set free and restored to life. should be sent by email to newsdesk@choosemosaic. synagogues. 2 3 Mosaic Chairman’s message Friends of the Earth Harry Grant – Chairman of Mosaic – gives a brief overview of some Middle East of the things going on within our 3 congregations and an insight into how we are moving forward as a unique Community comprising three Joanna Phillips reports on a recent multi-faith FoEME event on water sustainability autonomous Synagogues in the Middle East and its value in facilitating the peace process 2nd March – the day on which we recently the Jewish Chronicle reported formally started to exist as Mosaic on cooperation developing between Jewish Community, embracing Liberal, communities in Nottingham, reiterating important work in improving living still interact with people from the other Masorti and Reform Synagogues – is the fact that the best way forward is conditions and peaceful relations faiths and learn about their religion and not even 3 months ago, but much has pooling resources and working together.