ISRAEL, FESTIVALS AND SINAI'S PLACE IN HISTORY Shalom Chaverim, Early good wishes for a Yom of “occupation”, Jews in Israel and UN for calling for the destruction of Ha'atzma'ut Same'ach on Israel’s 69th outside are as divided as ever about another nation. But...silence. anniversary and Chag Shavuot how Israel should proceed without a Same'ach for God’s revelation at Sinai, negotiating partner for peace. Liberal We have moved from Passover, the giving the Torah to Israel. Jews point to the seemingly irreversible story of our liberation from oppression poison of occupation that destroys and bondage, fully aware of the threats First, Israel's Independence Day. This is Israel's values and erodes each day the that have historically hovered over the also the 50th anniversary of the 1967 promise of peace. Jewish people and of the ongoing Six Day War from 5-10 June and of the madness and evil that has taken so liberation of Jerusalem. As a young The other side say: "Don't be naive”. In many innocent lives, especially in Syria. teenager, I remember the tense days every generation, as the Haggadah The Haggadah reminds us not to be before that war, our fears when Egypt's warns us, there are those out to destroy naive. Evil exists. President Gamal Abdel Nasser expelled us. Look at Israel’s neighbours: the United Nations peacekeeping troops Hezbollah and Assad to the north, Yet, despite so many battles for survival, and mobilised his forces in Sinai, cutting Hamas to the south, ISIS to the we will celebrate Shavuot, the giving of off Israel's access to the Red Sea. As northeast, Islamic extremism and terror the Torah. Sinai represents our spiritual Nasser threatened to end the Jewish threats everywhere. To the east a inheritance, the laws, mitzvot, that State, war seemed imminent. moribund Palestine Authority rewards remind us not to forget the environment terrorism and “martyrdom”, using its we shed when accepting the new values And then the miracle of Israel’s military media, educational system and of our ancestors: compassion coupled victory, seemingly invincible and with the international apparatus to promote the with love of justice and the sanctity of apparent promise that this would be the demise of Israel, as it calls for boycotts life. That is our calling which we affirm final war, that peace would at last and delegitimising of Israel at the UN. each year as, with Sefer Torah in hand, descend on Israel and the entire region. we travel towards a better tomorrow. Two sides of the coin, both with much It did not happen that way. Jordan, truth. At Passover we are reminded Let us use this sacred time to though warned against attacking, did so there are enemies b’chol dor vador, in strengthen our purpose in our Jewish under pressure from Nasser. Israel every generation, attempting to destroy existence and destiny as we march turned King Hussein’s blunder into the us – a clear reference to anti-Semitism. through the timeless messages of our liberation of Jerusalem and Jewish holy Since the creation of the UN in 1945 holy days and historic days between sites, with control of the “West Bank” – only one nation, Iran, has uniquely and Passover and Shavuot, celebrating the or Judea and Samaria – in the hope of consistently called for the utter gift of the Torah at Mount Sinai. exchanging territory for peace (UN annihilation of another UN member Resolution 242). state, which it terms the “Zionist entity”. May you all have a joyous Shavuot and join us for our annual night of study, our Well, Israel is still there and, as a result No other nation has been so threatened Tikkun Leyl Shavuot, on Tuesday or consistently found so little evening 30 May, 6 Sivan 5777. support from other nations. SHAVUOT OFFICE CLOSING Iran should have been Shalom always, The Synagogue Office will close at 12 noon on immediately expelled from the Rabbi Altshuler Tuesday 31 May. It will re-open at 9.00am on Friday 2 June. IN THIS ISSUE TIKKUN LEIL SHAVUOT Page 2: Choral Concert Review Tuesday 30th May Page 3: Berlin Youth Choir Visit Page 4: Paris Exhibition From Deborah to Buber Page 5: Six Point Foundation's Work Jewish Prophets and Sages from Bible Times to Today and Computer Project Experiencing the beatng heart of Judaism through their writngs MP's Letter to our Chairman Page 6: George Summerfield's File Jeremiah Hillel Page 7: The WJR Archive Deborah Amos Lilian Levy on Archive Queries Page 8: Hugo Gerschel Obituary Heschel Buber Page 9: Klopstick Maimonides Rosenzweig Page 11: Purim Round-Up Page 12: AGM Notice Service: 6.45pm, Tikkun Leil: 7.30pm untl 11.00pm Bring a milky pot luck dinner No 689 - Iyar/Sivan/Tammuz 5777 - May/June 2017 Our Congregation - Page 2 BERLIN CHILDREN'S CHOIR JOINS OUR SINGERS Return visit from young choristers of Pestalozzistrasse Synagogue What a performance, as you might say. and compere for the All those kids on stage: 15 young evening, told us this visitors from Berlin plus our full piece is usually complement of 35 youth choristers, taken to be Verdi- vastly outnumbering the eight adult influenced but I think professionals who (no surprise) it more likely that effortlessly held their own, not to Naumbourg was mention our community choir (another matey with his fellow six voices). And then there were the countryman and outstanding soloists, the cantors of almost exact Belsize Square and Pestalozzistrasse contemporary, Synagogues. Jacques Offenbach, master of operetta. This was a fun night out. The Not that it really competition came from the different matters. This was just a Ben Wolf conducts our professional choir composers, nearly all long since catchy tune, to put a departed to more ethereal musical smile on your face. Thanking the host families and visitors, spheres, who each contributed their including Rabbi Jonah Sievers and two minims' worth, and more, to the A more sombre note was struck by our gabbai'im (wardens) Heinz Rotholtz Great Jewish Liturgical Songbook. cantor soloists, Paul Heller and Isaac and Hans Joachim Will, Rabbi Stuart Three versions of Mah Tovu and four of Sheffer in their offerings, Cantor Altshuler said he had dreamed of Adon Olam –and that's without the Sheffer with Avinu Malkeinu, in the making this happen. The result was standard "de Sola" Adon Olam in the familiar Janowski version widely even more memorable than he British military band repertoire. popularised by Barbra Streisand; expected, resulting in an impressive Cantor Heller with Avinu and emotional weekend. Shebashamiyim, written by a contemporary composer, Meir Finkelstein; and both cantors duetting in Lewandowski's Deutsche Kedushah as a finale. Cantor Heller was delighted with the inclusion of Mah Tovu composed by his predecessor at his previous post in Stockholm, Cantor Leo Rosenbluth. The younger children's repertoire focussed on familiar songs and prayers, with Alyson Denza Alyson Denza conducts conducting our children and Regina Belsize Square Youth Choir Mixed childrens' choirs: Yantian in charge of the Berlin Berlin visitors in red shirts children, then all the kids together. It's Chairman Jackie Alexander thanked Belsize Square kids in white shirts amazing what one afternoon's serious the "unseen army" who organised the rehearsal can achieve! operation. When flowers were There were two versions of Se'u presented to the two conductors, She'arim: the Lewandowski With Michael Cayton's masterful and Alyson Denza passed hers on to Leah composition, familiar to us from sympathetic organ accompaniment, as Hurst to thank her for her huge services, and a toe-tapping number well as his welcoming solo, and the administrative effort. We were all the from Samuel Naumbourg, German- finale's "pop" list developing more and beneficiaries. born and trained, who became Chief more into a sing-along, this was a truly Cantor of Paris. Ben Wolf, conductor enjoyable evening. Ruth Rothenberg The white-shirted Belsize Square Youth Choir and the Red-shirted Pestalozzistrasse Youth Choir PESTALOZZISTRASSE KIDS COME TO BELSIZE SQUARE Following the very successful and After the Shabbat service, where both performing a variety of music. enjoyable visit to Berlin by our youth youth choirs sang, and following a brief choir and assorted parents last detour to collect one last member of the The weekend also allowed the adults to December, it was agreed to try for a German choir who had originally create closer ties with our Berlin friends return visit in 2017. The Music at arrived at Berlin airport with the wrong and plans are afoot for further visits in Belsize concert scheduled for Sunday passport, it was time for the afternoon the future. Finally on Monday morning 26 March offered the ideal opportunity sightseeing activities. 27 March, after a slightly tense wait for to invite the Pestalozzistrasse the coach to reappear, we waved off Synagogue children’s choir to come to Simon Cutner and Zoe Cowan, ably our Berlin guests with promises to stay London. assisted by Adam Hurst and Sam in touch and visit again soon. It really Sanders, organised a bus trip round feels as though this is the start of many After much planning, email exchanges, London, including some games in Hyde firm friendships between our phone calls and organising, a group of Park. This was followed by pizza back communities. 15 children and 12 adults arrived by at Belsize and bowling, after which all coach at Belsize Square Synagogue in the kids (and most of the parents) Many people contributed to the time for lunch on the preceding Friday, returned home exhausted but happy.