Hakol July/August 2017 Edition

Hakol

T L S E

JUL/AUG 2017 Tammuz/Av/Elul 5777

Meet the New Co-Chairs (Pg 3)

April Lunch Club (Pg 6)

Meet the Bensons (Pg 10-12)

IS LIBERAL JUDAISM POLITICAL JUDAISM?

Rabbi Pete Tobias

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have deliberately chosen to write this on the morning of the General Election, and three days before the Liberal Judaism Day of Celebration, focused on the above, a report on which you can read on page 16.

Whatever your political allegiance, I am sure you will agree with me that the campaign for this election was one of the most disgraceful this country has ever known. Rather than seeking to promote a vision of hope, our political leaders seem to have spent their time attacking each other, looking to exploit others’ weaknesses, rather than promote their own strengths. The level of vitriol and personal attack in the newspapers against those whose views are deemed to be at odds with those who own them has plumbed new depths.

Of course, this is nothing new. It happened during the EU Referendum, and in America last November. Facts are optional, truth has become, to use the cliché, a victim and no one knows what to believe any more.

So what is the role of religion, specifically of Liberal Judaism in this depressing quagmire of misinformation and deceit? First and foremost, religion should be a quest for truth. In order to fulfil that task, religion has to look at itself and remove all traces of the hypocrisy, partisanship and self-seeking that currently characterises our ‘democracy’. And it should be ready to call to account all those who promote misinformation in the name of truth. Liberal Judaism should also recognise and espouse the legacy of the biblical Prophets who spoke out against the ruthless exploitation of the poor and the rampant injustice in their society.

I do not know what the political landscape will look like by the time you read this, though I can guess. What I do know is that unless politics re-establishes an honest relationship with truth, the world faces a torrid time in months and years to come.

And therein lies what I believe to be religion’s other vital function: the obligation to offer a vision of hope and a place of comfort to those who look to it for support. To this end, I am pleased to announce the relaunch of a project I started almost three years ago: The Big TLSE Conversation. You can find details of how I believe that religion in general, and this synagogue in particular, can offer that in my article on page 17.

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A WORD FROM YOUR NEW CO-CHAIRS Richard Boulton and Lizzie Rabin

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t the AGM on 17th May Ginny Jaffe stepped down as chair and we were elected as co-chairs. You may ask – why do we need two co-chairs rather than a single chairman? We have two answers to that question 1) Ginny has done such a great job that it will take two of us of step into her shoes and 2) whilst we both wanted to support TLSE, we would struggle to do so on our own due to other commitments. Thus, the brave new shared world of co-chairs. Luckily, we have known each other for many years and share many of the same values and ways of doing things and we hope for a seamless transition, at least to the outside world!

What would we like to achieve during our tenure? Certainly, to continue to build on all the great work Ginny has done over the last two years – particularly to encourage as many of our community as possible to volunteer to support TLSE in whatever way they can – whether it’s helping with our children’s events, supporting our security arrangements, helping with social events, joining our various rotas for Shabbat services or however else you think you are able to help.

We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas – nothing is off the table at this point.

However, we would also like to address that age-old question – what do our members really want from TLSE? We have approximately 740 members ranging in age from 0 to 95 – and therefore we must have multiple opportunities to make our community one which is thriving, supportive and friendly. At a recent Council meeting we discussed a strap line for TLSE – and one proposal was ‘The Friendly Shul on the Hill’. We think this summarises our vision for TLSE perfectly – but we really need your support to truly deliver this.

We both look forward to working with you all – our contact details are at the back of Hakol – so please pick up the phone or drop us an email – we look forward to hearing from you!

ALL CHANGE FOR TLSE COUNCIL!

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n addition to the new co-chairs, Lizzie and Richard, we welcome four others onto the Council: Jacqueline Bernard, Jo Jones, Peter Rabin and David Swarc.

You can read their bios overleaf.

We are always ready to welcome new people on to the Council, so anyone interested, please do get in touch! Mark Kram, Sarah Smullen and Nick Belkin stepped down from the Council in May and Sue Woolf’s term as Vice President came to an end. Many thanks to them all for their hard work during their time in office. Mark Kram will continue to participate in planning for the Religion School.

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NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS

J

acqueline Bernard

I have been a member of TLSE since 2010 and an active participant in Liberal Judaism since childhood. I am married to David and we have three children Daniel, Robin and Amber, the younger two having been through bar/bat Mitzvah and Kabbalat Torah here at TLSE with Rabbi Pete. I joined the Synagogue council earlier this year to become a little more involved in the Shul community and as a teacher I am interested in education at TLSE including the Religion School, bar/ bat mitzvah and KT.

J

o Jones

My husband Colin and I joined TLSE when we were looking for someone to do a blessing for our wedding.

We've now been married for 10 years and have two children – Aaron and Talia, who come to Religion School each week and consider TLSE and all who come here as part of the family.

I've really enjoyed our 10 years with TLSE – which has been here for us throughout everything. I've recently joined the council to help give something back to the community – to help set a foundation for the future so our children have somewhere they feel comfortable to go that's part of their religion and identity and to say thank you to Rabbi Pete and to all who come here and give our kids that community feel I had growing up when I went to Shul and Cheder each week.

Outside of Shul and family, I work full time as a Training Manager and like to go for a run in any spare time.

L

izzie Rabin

I have been a member of TLSE for nearly 18 years – my husband Adam and I became members when we moved to the area and I was pregnant with our first child. I have been a member of the council here for the last four years. My reason for wanting to be part of council, and now ultimately co-chair, is to give something back to TLSE and in particular, to Rabbi Pete. Joshua and Chloe are now 17 and 15 respectively and have both grown up being part of TLSE, and under the watchful eye of Rabbi Pete they both became bar/bat-mitzvah as well as thoroughly enjoying their KT year.

Therefore, it’s definitely time to give something back. Adam and Joshua are both members of the singing group and who knows – they may even enlist Chloe this year! My aim is to try to support TLSE in providing a sufficient variety of opportunities for our members to really feel part of this friendly and caring 4 community!

NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS

P

eter Rabin

I am not a committee person. But when your daughter-in-law, who is now the co-chair of the TLSE council, asks you to join, what can you do? So here I am.

I’ve always been a willing “doer” for whatever community I’ve happened to be in but committees? No. However, I think this will be different. Not only am I keen to help in any way I can, but I feel the council is a team of “doers” as well as thinkers.

The three generations of the Rabin family are involved in different ways in the life of the shul and long may it continue. Barbara and I have been TLSE members for 7 years, having spent the previous 40 at Edgware Reform. I’ve regularly helped with shul maintenance projects and high holy-day set-up and I’m a keen member of our singing group (some say this is a mixed blessing).

I shared the leading of several Saturday services whilst Pete was on sabbatical and I also take Friday night services for Jewish residents at the Sunrise Seniors’ Home in Elstree on a rota with other volunteer members of the shul.

Although retired now, I’m hoping that my 30 plus years in retail management will be useful in helping organise, manage and participate in activities overseen by the Council.

R

ichard Boulton

Richard lives in Radlett with one wife, three children, three cats and one and a half dogs, and works for a London based consulting firm.He also helps to run three local businesses, so most of his spare time is taken up!

However, Richard is honoured to be co-chair of TLSE, and asks that members get in touch with any issues at all.

D

avid Swarc

My wife Georgina and I joined TLSE in 2007 – tempted

by Rabbi Pete's presence – shortly before our son was born. We have since been lucky enough to have a daughter too.

I grew up in Ealing and have memories of Liberal Judaism, Liberal Jewish youth activities & Pete Tobias dating back to the mid 80's.

Professionally, I am a Children’s Nurse in a Central London Private Hospital.

I have become involved in aspects of our synagogue security increasingly over the past year and that has now led to me taking up a role on council for that purpose.

The security & welfare of our Jewish Community remains paramount and I hope to enhance both our ability to look out for each other as well as feeling secure and free to continue living our Jewish lives in this current climate.

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APRIL LUNCH CLUB

MICHAEL SHAW

Lost rivers of London – The Fleet

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ondon is home to at least 12 rivers and several small creeks, all of them, with the exception of the Lea, are now underground, forming part of the sewer network of the City and Greater London.

After lunch on 26th April, Dr. Stephen Myers Busy in the kitchen introduced us to one of the most famous, the Fleet, well known of course through Fleet Street. Hampstead Heath is where several of these rivers have their source and Stephen explained the geology of the area and how that has led to the springs that start the rivers. Taking us through the history and development of the Fleet, he explained how it became canalised in 1666 after the great fire. This was not a success and it became culverted (covered over) and disappeared from public view entirely by 1862 – the river had been covered throughout its length.

Although no longer a river that can be seen and enjoyed, there is evidence of its existence and Stephen explained how some office blocks are built over the river and its rushing water can be heard. He spoke briefly about its being revitalised but in truth the chance of this is unlikely. I found this subject fascinating and Stephen was informative with well-presented illustrative materials. His collaborative book is available – a copy is on my shelf as I write!

Enjoying Lunch

An interesting presentation

Old friends and new

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JUNE WALK

MICHAEL SHAW

The River Tyburn – Baker Street to the Thames

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n Saturday 10th June, I led a walk following the route of another underground London river, the Tyburn which also rises on Hampstead Heath, making its way through Baker Street, Marylebone, Mayfair and Pimlico to the The Tyburn Thames at Vauxhall. We met at Baker Street which was the first station built underground without using the “cut and cover” method – the air vents can still be seen on the Metropolitan line exits. These were needed as early underground trains ran on steam and were lit by gas contained in bags on the roof. The river then passes under the small gem of Paddington Green park, often missed by tourists but well worth a visit, if only to admire the paintings of the park in the toilets! We followed the original path of the river, along Marylebone lane connecting what was Mary le Bone village to London. Here in the 13th century a man-made channel was dug to provide fresh water to the city of London.

Can we really be seeing this!

A well earned drink

In Oxford Street, WW2 bomb damage revealed the river flowing just beneath the road as it does today. At Gray’ s Antique Emporium, we saw what is described as the river, but I doubt it, as goldfish can be seen swimming happily in the clear water. We passed the studio of famous 1960’s photographer Donovan, and statues showing him in action easily missed by passersby. In Berkley Square, we noted the oldest Plane trees in London, planted in 1760. We could have purchased the latest Roll Royce or Bentley but no one took advantage. We stopped at Shepherds Market for a well-earned coffee break, after which we passed Down Street abandoned underground station. Closed in 1932, it was one of the secret bunkers used by Churchill and the headquarters of the team responsible for organising and controlling all train movements in the UK during WW2. At Green Park and Buckingham Palace we were surprised to see nude cyclists holding a rally and cycling to Trafalgar Square. We quickly crossed through them to get over the road with eyes carefully averted.

From there we headed to Victoria and the scholars pond, named after the fishponds that provided fish for Westminster School. From here the river passes through Pimlico and then on to the Thames. The Tyburn is synonymous with public executions and at Marble Arch there is a plaque to show where the gibbet was placed. In days gone by, the elm trees along the banks were used for that purpose. Sadly, the river became a sewer and by the 16th century was covered over. Today it forms part of the London sewer system and has a branch that runs beneath Buckingham Palace. The group enjoyed an interesting and amusing day although there is no guarantee that the cycling entertainment could be repeated. We finished at the Grosvenor Public house where some enjoyed a half pint and a meal, and the majority headed home for a well earned rest.

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MAZEL TOV TO:

Harry Courts, who will be having his Bar Mitzvah ceremony on 8th July HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

Alice Elman who will be having her Bat Mitzvah ceremony on 15th July

Ella Blythe, Jimmy Curshen, Todd Davis, Alice Elman, Isabella Gran, Aden Hekster Paige Holman,Jack Wingate Benjamin Hochenberg Samuel Nathan, Oli Ram Freddie Skinner, Raphael Weston

Simon & Christine Fisher on the marriage of their son Adrian to Katie

CONDOLENCES TO:

Val Dickson on the loss of her sister Ros The family and friends of Jimmy Wilson who has died Sarah Pollock on the loss of her mother

DON’T GIVE BURGLARS AN OPEN INVITATION MAKE YOUR HOME AND PROPERTY A “NO-GO” AREA FOR BURGLARS Lock all doors and keep windows closed, preferably locked, when you are out Fix heavy duty locks with back plates to sheds and garages – master locksmiths can advise Consider installing alarms and security lighting Secure your rear garden – shut and lock any gates, keep fences maintained and don’t leave ladders and tools outside.

Before you leave home.

1. Have you closed all the windows?

2. Have you locked any rear and side doors?

3. Is your shed or garage properly secure?

For crime prevention advice contact a crime prevention officer via your local police station

CARE & WELFARE COMMITTEE

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A-B

BARBARA

020 8953 1369

N-Q

PETER

020 8953 1369

C-F

LEONE

07702 349350

R-S

RITA

020 8953 4439

G-I

CAROL

020 8950 1862

T-Z

JUDY

01582 468100

J-M

ESTELLE

020 8954 9569

NICKY

07788 751275

LUNCH

CLUB

Enjoy a great lunch! Make new friends! Be entertained!

Venue: The Synagogue Time: 1pm TLSE members: £5 Non-Members: £6

Tuesday 25 July

The Jewish Community of

Golders Green by Pam Fox Tuesday 29 August

If you are coming, please contact Deborah The Synagogue office: 020 8953 8889, email: office@tlse.org.uk

GETTING TO KNOW YOU – SHEILA AND TERRY BENSON Family

Shelia 1939

Terry 1939

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y father was born in England of Polish immigrants, and my mother’s family were from Germany, arriving in Stepney just before WW1. Sheila’s parents came from Poland as babies. Our parents were nominally orthodox but neither family were very observant. We were both born in the East End, me in 1937, Sheila in 1938. Neither of us have siblings as our parents were hesitant about bringing more children into what was then a very troubled world. In 1940 my father went into the army and I moved with my mother to her parents’ home in Stepney. Aged four, I went to Stepney Jewish School where in the one class, everyone else was ten, most children having been evacuated. But I attended many schools, as my mother and I moved to be wherever my father was posted, or to avoid the bombing in London. Sheila lived in Tottenham, apart from the latter part of the war, when she lived with her aunt and uncle in a small mining village near Wolverhampton.

Both of us attended our local grammar school: me Hackney Downs and Sheila Tottenham. Hackney was particularly Jewish and over half the boys at my school were Jewish. We are still close to friends I made there, together with their wives. Surprisingly, we have all been married for more than fifty years!

In London during the fifties we lived in a very Jewish secular environment, where there were many types of local Jewish youth clubs catering for different needs and aspirations.

Each week we scoured the Jewish Chronicle columns, selecting which of the many listed events we would visit.

Sheila often went to the West Central club in Holborn, founded by Liberal Judaism’s Montagu sisters, whilst I usually went to the Clapton Jewish Youth Club.

I won a State Scholarship to study Applied Mathematics at Imperial College. After graduating in 1958, I joined De Havilland’s at Hatfield, developing early computer simulation studies of guided missile control systems.

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Terry 1958

1959 Engagement

Sheila studied commercial languages, which proved very useful in her frequent overseas trips working in trade fairs for a commercial furrier. We met at the Tavistock Rooms in Charing Cross Road and were married in January 1960 at Willesden Green United Synagogue. We bought a 2003 Table Mountain 3-bedroom semi in Chingford for £3,500. I moved into computer simulations studies for the Central Electricity Generating Board, which was building the first generation of nuclear power stations. Sheila gave up work in 1965 when our first child, Craig was born. To increase our income, I moved into the commercial sector at the computer consultancy division of Arthur Andersen, where I designed and developed computer applications for firms such as BOAC (forerunner of British Airways), Unilever and various other organisations.

By the mid 1960’s we wanted to join a synagogue and became founder members of Woodford Liberal synagogue. By 1968 several of our friends had moved to NW London and, as much of my work was based there, we bought our current house in Borehamwood that December and moved in ten days before our second son Gary’s birth. Shortly after, we became founder members of the new Liberal congregation that ultimately became TLSE, swiftly making new friends.

The recession of 1971 led to a move to Canada, where I joined a large computer consultancy group just outside Toronto. We moved to a predominantly Jewish suburb and were astonished to see Hebrew signage on many shops and adverts for local synagogues on lampposts and elsewhere. We lived near the YMHA, a large Jewish community and sports centre. A communal facility that we hoped would become common in the UK, but which sadly has not!

Although we loved Canada, we returned after a couple of years due to parental illnesses. Fortunately we had not sold our house in Borehamwood since prices had escalated during our overseas foray. I became P&O’s Group Data Processing Manager, and we benefitted from staff rates, leading to a life-long love of cruising.

In the past forty odd years we have visited virtually all parts of the world accessible by cruise ship and river boats!

1979 At Sea

1979 Oriana

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On our return, we became involved in the Functions Committee of the congregation, which organised something virtually every month, with major fundraising Dinner Dances held annually for many years, attended by numbers far greater than the small membership. Sheila became Membership Secretary and I Building Committee Chairman, responsible for the search for a new home for the congregation. After several disappointments we bought our current building for £23,000 in 1977.

It had been empty for several years and heavily vandalised and I led the team of volunteers who worked diligently to convert a ruin into a synagogue, and to run our first services in September 1978 when we became Hertsmere Progressive Synagogue. Renovations continued and in 1980, I became chairman, and from 1986 -1994, I was Treasurer of the ULPS (forerunner of Liberal Judaism), a position I occupied for eight years, followed by two years as ULPS Vice-chairman. I was also concurrently the ULPS representative on the Edgwarebury Burial Board for some twelve years.

In 1982 I setup my own Computer Software business which I ran for the next 25 years and in 1983 Sheila and Craig set up a property management company in which the whole family is still involved.

Throughout, we have been involved in the synagogue, Sheila serving two terms as Chairman, and I as Hakol editor for five years.

Between us, we were on Council for over sixty years and served our time as President and Vice President. As we are still working full time and are both well past retirement age we genuinely feel justified in foregoing our former With Craig and Gary commitment to voluntary work in recent years, but still look forward to meeting the many friends we have made at the synagogue.

YOUR FAMILY HISTORY Would you be here without World Jewish Relief?

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ould you be here without World Jewish Relief? World Jewish Relief formerly the Central British Fund (CBF) - rescued 65,000 people from Europe in the 1930s and 40s, including 10,000 through the Kindertransport.

Their archives, containing the records of 35,000 people, have now been digitised.

These files are a set of individual stories – including birth certificates, immigration papers, school records, etc - of people brought to the UK by World Jewish Relief.

WJR are very keen to get these records to the families of those who were rescued.

There is no cost involved in obtaining these records and it’s as easy as filling in a form on the WJR website. You can contact WJR to find out if they have your family’s story. For further information, use the link below.

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https://www.worldjewishrelief.org/about-us/your-family-history

TLSE SUPPER QUIZ

T

KAREN DRUCE

he supper quiz on May 20th was great fun and clearly a sell out as there was absolutely no room to squeeze even one more person in.

A happy croud enjoying themselves

The evening started with a very delicious meal of fish goujons with chips and mushy peas, or vegetarian lasagne, salad and a roll, followed by a very calorific but luscious chocolate brioche and butter pudding along with fruit skewers.

The quizmaster is central to the success and enjoyment of the evening and quizmaster Stephen Monk had devised an excellent quiz with a good mix of easy, more A proud Moment challenging and some downright hard questions. He was very comfortable with clearly and confidently reading out the questions and answers.

The guests on my table all love quizzing and we very much enjoyed some different rounds from the usual quiz fare. There was an advertising round with questions such as ‘Which company’s advertising slogan was The Appliance of Science?’, a Real Names round (do you know what Donald Trump or Bill Clinton have on their birth certificates?), a round where we had to identify photographs of UK annual events and a challenging picture marathon, one section of which was trying to work out who was depicted in the World’s Worst Statues – and they really were bad!

The Pound Round was fun, where everyone put in £1 and stood up. A series of questions was read out with two possible answers, with those answering incorrectly sitting down, ultimately leaving the winner standing.

Karen with her haul of raffle prizes

Rabbi Pete thanks Stephen Monk

Our table didn’t do too well, but I certainly made up for it in the raffle, winning no less than five prizes! Not usually being a prize winner, I was amazed and somewhat embarrassed to keep going back to choose another prize each time Rabbi Pete picked another ticket and I ended up with three gift sets of toiletries, a microwaveable heated toy frog and a glass decanter - all of which I shared amongst our table.

Well done to everyone (but especially to Stephen Monk who actually organised the entire thing, as he does every year) for a wonderful social event which, after all costs were paid, raised an amazing £1361.98 for the shul building fund and where it was evident that people thoroughly enjoyed the delicious food and each other’s company as well as the quiz itself.

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LETTERS OF THANKS FROM OUR HHD APPEAL RECIPIENTS

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n the next edition of Hakol, we will be profiling this year’s High Holyday Appeal.

We know that your donation, however small, is much appreciated. Below are the heartfelt thanks we received from last year’s appeal. The full texts and some other information can be seen on the notice board in the foyer of the shul.

The Disability Foundation was thrilled to receive

the very generous donation from your High Holyday Appeal. We offer a large range of treatments to anyone with any disability and/or complex medical condition. We also offer all our services to carers and close family members and work a lot in the community. We recently joined forces with the Peace Hospice in Watford and now help deliver therapies to some of their patients, help parents of autistic children with a relaxation programme and support inpatients at the Royal Orthodpaedic hospital in Stanmore.

We cannot thank you enough for your support as it is only through the help and generosity of people like you that we are able to continue to provide our much needed services.

Julie at Crossroads

Learning at work day

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!”

From Leo Baeck College Thank you for your community’s High Holyday Appeal support for the work of Leo Baeck College for 2017. Your donation of £1,869.00 is gratefully received and will help the College to continue its ongoing work, training the very best rabbis and educators for our communities.

It is your continued and unstinting support of Leo Baeck College that has helped us to remain the premier seat of learning that we are and allow us to prepare the very best teachers and rabbis for not just a Jewish world but for the whole world.

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Youth Aliyah Child Rescue is grateful for your support and thrilled to be able to tell you a bit more about our work.

We provide a nurturing home for children at risk where they can live, learn and heal together. They are given everything they need to live happy, fulfilling and productive lives.

We also support our Mechina, a gap year pre-military leadership programme designed to enable young Israeli people from immigrant backgrounds with the skills necessary to thrive in the IDF and in their civilian lives that follow.

In 2006 Israel’s Ministry of Education recognised the astonishing results being seen in our Youth Villages’ graduates and the Village Way Educational Initiatives programme was launched. Currently we work with 31 communities of all faiths and we aim to work with thirty more by 2020 in order to reach the 400,000 vulnerable children in Israel.

Thank you to the community of Liberal Synagogue Elstree for your very generous support.

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LIBERAL JUDAISM DAY OF CELEBRATION

MIKE WALTON

Sunday 11th June.

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e don't religiously go to every Day of Celebration, (please excuse the pun), but look to see the content and theme and I for one also Lord Alf Dubs check to ensure there's no clash with my football. Abi and I were sold on the event when it was announced that Lord Dubs was one of the two Keynote speakers. With the football season over and the event being held so close to home in Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, there was nothing to hold us back.

Activities for kids

Simon Benscher, Chair of Liberal Judaism, informed us in his welcome that most UK LJ congregations were represented and even Copenhagen! Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the Queen and the Speaker of the House of Commons gave the first Keynote speech: "The role of faith in leading opinion and action". She is a warm, engaging and inclusive speaker who gave us an insight into her work at Parliament, and I took a message of hope from her talk. Lord Dubs, or Alf as he insisted on being addressed, spoke in the afternoon. He was given an enthusiastic welcome from the An opportunity for audience in recognition of his efforts to help child refugees, old friends to meet. which earned him the award of Humanitarian of the Year in 2016. With more such people as these, the world would certainly be a better place.

This is one of those events that gives you the opportunity discuss and learn about subjects from people with real insight and expertise although in my experience, the content does not always match up to the billing. I once attended a talk described as how spiritual awareness can be experienced when training to run a Marathon but in reality, the Marathon was simply used as an analogy to the task of studying Torah. To be fair this was at a Limmud conference, but it taught me a lesson. l like to choose sessions that may challenge me or cover a subject that is intriguing but probably unfamiliar and here were many, running on several themes. I checked the speakers’ bios and chose subjects that I was sure would appeal to me, attending sessions on recent political events in the UK and the Middle East. These were respectively given by the conservative Peer and Times political columnist Lord Danny Finklestein and James Sorene CEO of the think tank BICOM and previously a senior Civil Lunchtime Servant.

Both talks were highly informative and thought provoking although I will admit to fatigue for the last of these two sessions but this is no reflection on the quality of the session.

I'd like to blame the sun beating through the windows but it would be more accurate to blame the ageing process.

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Session2

THE BIG TLSE CONVERSATION

A

RABBI PETE TABIAS

lmost three years ago, I oversaw one of my more bizarre Rosh ha-Shanah sermons. As you may remember, I handed out ’menus’ with a series of questions designed to start a conversation to the more than two hundred people present and invited people to tell each other their responses to one or more of the questions. This came about because I had read the book ‘Relational Judaism’

by Dr Ron Wolfson, which offers a series of questions to evaluate our experience in synagogue and the experience of those who are there with us. And the most basic one is: Why do people want or need to be members of a synagogue in the 21st century?

In my experience the majority of people join a synagogue for a life cycle event, be it bar-/bat-mitzvah, a wedding or a funeral. I also like to think that there is a spiritual aspect and a feeling of connection to one’s Jewish roots. Referring back to my article on page two, I believe that a synagogue can provide us with a sense of community and vision, an opportunity to find comfort and shelter from an increasingly brutal and frightening world. A key part of that comfort is getting to know members of the congregation. Dr Wolfson tells a story about a member of a congregation who, after 20 years of active membership, sent a letter of resignation to the rabbi, who then called her to ask why she was resigning. ‘Rabbi,’ she said, ‘For 20 years I have attended services, talks and other social events organised by the synagogue. And in all that time, I never met anyone.’

It’s time the members of TLSE got to know each other and learn to find common purpose and mutual support in the security of a warm and caring community.

That’s the purpose of The Big TLSE Conversation: To ask ourselves why are we part of The Liberal Synagogue Elstree? To share our experiences and what Judaism means to us and what it can offer us and our families. To get to know each other and share our stories, so that we can genuinely meet other people who are members of this congregation.

Many of you will be receiving invitations to a coffee evening at a member’s house to consider such questions. If you’re interested in hosting such an event – or just in Knowing about one taking place near you, please contact me at the synagogue.

I look forward to having that conversation with you very soon!

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WALKS Date: Saturday 8th July

Time: 2:00 for 2:15

Meet: In the car park at Aldenham Golf Club, Church Lane, Aldenham WD25 8NN for a walk of about 5 miles.

Leader: Clive Jacobs

Mobile on the day: 07803 683688

Date: Saturday 26th August

Time: 2:15

Meet: Outside the church in Ayot St Peter for a walk of about 4 1/2 miles through varied scenery. 4 miles after Hatfield Tunnel, leave A1(M) at junction 6. A1000 exit towards Welwyn. After 200 yards take first exit B197 going south. After 1 mile right turn over bridge into Ayot Green. Immediately right fork and less than 1 mile to Ayot St Peter. Park close to church or outside.

For car sharing and driving instructions contact susanmwoolf@ hotmail.com.

Leader: Sue Woolf

Mobile on the day only: 07749 726650

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS Rachel Golding and her son Harrison

Colin & Brenda Slade

CATERING & EVENTS Fabulous food for every occasion and all tastes Fantastic events planned to perfection I specialise in peace of mind

Edward De Wolfe, his wife Alma and their son Leonardo And a special welcome to the newest member of all: Edward and Alma's baby boy who arrived in the world this month

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WWW.PENNYBERAL.CO.UK FIND ME ON FACEBOOK Catering by penny Beral

TEL: 01923 855367 MOB: 07979 800616 EMAIL: PENNY@PENNYBERAL.CO.UK

GENERAL INFORMATION Elstree High Street Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3EY Phone: 020 8953 8889 Email: office@tlse.org.uk www.tlse.org.uk Edited by Deborah Gabbay

T L S E

Please note: Deborah is generally in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00am – 4:00pm.

Would all those involved in arranging functions, services or meetings please contact the office on 020 8953 8889 or office@tlse.org.uk so that they can be scheduled in the Synagogue diary. This ensures that any physical set-ups in the Synagogue are arranged and that meetings do not conflict.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure that details printed in Hakol are correct, no responsibility can be accepted for information misprinted or incorrectly given to the Editor. Please let the Editor know of any errors or corrections. The Editor reserves the right to edit material submitted for publication.

The deadline for submissions to the next edition of Hakol is Friday 4th August but submissions will be accepted at any time and early submission is appreciated.

COUNCIL MEMBERS’ CONTACT LIST CO-CHAIRMAN Lizzie Rabin 07974 229607 lizzie.rabin2702@gmail.com

CO-CHAIRMAN Richard Boulton 07801 921218 rboulton@gmail.com

HONORARY SECRETARY Davina Bennett 07775 558005 davinabennett@gmail.com

HONORARY TREASURER Harvey Adams 07760 666002 frinton43@outlook.com

Penny Beral 07979 800616 penny@pennyberal.co.uk

Jacqueline Bernard 07885 176417 goonergirly@live.co.uk

Peter Rabin Joanne Jones 020 8958 7783 07958 300247 joanne.jones2304@gmail.com peterrabin@talktalk.net Designed & Printed by

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VICE-CHAIRMAN Virginia Jaffe 07870 234775 virginiajaffe@mac.com HONORARY PRESIDENT Monique Blake 020 8953 4251 monique.david@ntlworld.com Alan Gordonfelt 020 8950 6048 ritalan@hotmail.co.uk David Swarc 07767 788596 davidswarc@aol.com

020 8449 6688 www.brunswickpress.co.uk

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CELEBRATING PESACH AT TLSE