CTJC Bulletin Rosh Hashana 2015

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Communal Information

Shul services Friday evening In term:

Winter, Ma’ariv at 6pm Summer, Minchah and Ma’ariv at 7:30pm In vacations: Winter, Minchah and Ma’ariv just before Shabbat June-August, Minchah and Ma’ariv at 7:30pm September, Minchah and Ma’ariv just before Shabbat Shabbat morning 9:30am.

Sunday morning 8:00am (most weeks).

You can also consult our online calendar at www.ctjc.org.uk/calendar Learning The Cambridge Lehrhaus: Centre for Jewish Thought opened in 2013 and offers a full and diverse range of courses and lectures on many Jewish topics.

The Lehrhaus is located on Trinity Street, in the centre of town, and is open daily for classes and personal study.

For more details visit www.thelehrhaus.org or contact Rabbi Leigh by email at rl324@cam.ac.uk or tel: 07830 160994.

Mikvah To book an appointment at the Cambridge Mikvah, please call Mrs. Rochel Leigh on 07825 126724 at least 48 hours in advance. For more information about the Mikvah please call Rochel or email at rochel@cuchabad.org.

Hospital Visiting Contact Sarah Schechter, Tirzah Bleehen or Barry Landy if you need to organise visits, or would like to volunteer to help.

Rabbi Reuven Leigh (354603) and Barry Landy can attend hospitals to read prayers.

Due to concerns for personal privacy the hospital no longer informs us when Jewish patients are admitted, so if you or someone you know would like to be visited, please contact us.

Chevra Kadisha Contact Barry Landy, Brendel Lang or Trevor Marcuson in the first instance.

Bar Mitzvahs, Weddings, Brit Milah and other religious services Contact Rabbi Reuven Leigh or Barry Landy to organise.

Children’s activities For information about Cambridge Hebrew School, the After School Club, or Ganeinu Child Care Service, contact Rochel Leigh at rochel@cuchabad.org CTJC email list CTJC has an email list. To join and receive regular updates about services, events, Shabbat times etc, please email Barry Landy at bl10@cam.ac.uk or Jonathan Allin at jonathan@jonathanallin.com CTJC Officers Rabbi Reuven Leigh Committee 2015/2016 Chairman Helen Goldrein Treasurer Jonathan Allin Secretary Barry Landy Synagogue officer Barry Landy Kiddush officer Jonathan Harris Bulletin/website officer Helen Goldrein Board of Deputies Robert Marks Anyone wishing to volunteer for the vacant posts of Education and Welfare officers, or just wanting to find out more about the roles, should contact Helen Goldrein by emailing chairman@ctjc.org.uk

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In this Issue…

2 – Communal information 3 – Community news 4 – Welcome to the CTJC Rosh Hashana bulletin 6 – A thought on Teshuva, by Rabbi Reuven Leigh 7 – Thoughts on meat & milk, by Eviatar Natan 9 – Summer excavations “open day” in Thompsons Lane, by Mark Harris 11 – Crossing the Channel, by Helen Goldrein 12 – Letter to an Angel, by Vivy Sadan 14 – School visits 15 – A half year in Cambridge, by the Greenberg family 16 – Minutes of the CTJC AGM 18 – Message from the President of the Board of Deputies 19 – CST protecting our Jewish communities 20 – Apple & honey cookies recipe by Helen Goldrein 22 – Rosh Hashanah word search 23 – Forthcoming events 24 – Religious calendar

Community news Mazeltov to…

Rochel and Reuven Leigh on the birth of a daughter, Rosa.

Welcome to…

Rabbi Shlomie and Rivkah Shagalow Neta and Michael Amior Farewell to…

Rachel and David Greenberg and their daughters, who are returning to Israel Vivy Sadan and her daughters, who are returning to Jerusalem Refuah shelema to…

Jonathan Goldman

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Welcome to the CTJC Rosh Hashana Bulletin Bulletin Number 114.

The summer got underway in fine style this year, as we enjoyed the first annual CTJC garden party on a sunny Shavuot afternoon in King’s College Fellows’ Garden. Cheesecake, gelato, and other delicious treats were devoured by a large crowd, who relaxed on the grass and carried the party on well into the evening.

We have been delighted to welcome plenty of visitors to the shul over the summer, and now that autumn is approaching we begin once again to prepare for the High Holydays. I hope this issue of the bulletin will assist in your preparations, as it offers a range of articles on different topics, plus a delicious recipe, a children’s activity, and the minutes of the CTJC AGM. We are always looking for new bulletin contributors, and would be delighted to hear from you with your articles or ideas. For instance, if you’ve recently visited somewhere of Jewish interest (or just of interest generally!) then why not write about it for the Chanukah issue? To submit material, please email bulletin@ctjc.org.uk The bulletin, like all aspects of CTJC, is produced entirely by volunteers. If you would like to get involved, please contact our Chairman Helen by emailing chairman@ctjc.org.uk You can read the bulletin online in full colour at http://issuu.com/ctjc/docs/roshhashana2015 Wishing you and yours a Shana Tova and chag sameach, from all at the Bulletin.

Small print…

Views expressed in the bulletin are the views of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the editors or of the committee of the CTJC.

To order a set of Arba Minim please contact Rabbi Leigh by email rl324@cam.ac.uk or phone 07830160994 before 22 September.

Left: Im Gebet beim Laubhüttenfest (In prayer during the feast of Tabernacles),

by Paula Gans, 1920.

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From the Chairman…

It is a somewhat daunting task to write my first ‘From the Chairman…’

Having been elected to the role at this summer’s AGM, I find my feet are slowing growing to fill the big shoes I have stepped into! I would like to give a huge thank you to Ros Landy who has stepped down after three years of sterling service. She has certainly earned a rest! CTJC is a terrific organisation and I hope I can help it continue to thrive and succeed in the future.

The committee has some exciting plans going forward. We are hoping to expand CTJC’s programme of events, and you may already have attended our end-of-summer barbecue. The Rosh Hashanah dinner should be another wonderful opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate, and I look forward to seeing many of you there. If you haven’t already booked your place, what are you waiting for? Visit www.ctjc.org.uk for details and online booking.

Once again Rabbi Reuven Leigh will be leading us in Tashlich in Magdalene College gardens, following services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. If you came along last year you will remember what a meaningful experience this was. I hope the weather will favour us again, as this wonderful outdoor service is already becoming a highlight of the High Holydays in Cambridge.

CTJC is fortunate to have such a large proportion of its members engaged and active in communal life – there can be few congregations which regularly see at least half of the membership on a Shabbat morning, and where members are so quick to step up to lay out the Kiddush, make a minyan for a Yahrzeit, fix a broken gate, or offer hospitality or assistance to unexpected visitors. It is a privilege to be surrounded by people with such skills, energy and dedication.

However, I wonder if there are more people who are watching from the sidelines, wondering how they can participate, what contribution they can make, or what role they might adopt? It may seem like there is a ‘CTJC clique’, or that all the jobs are already taken. However, there are many niches to be filled – some we know about, and others we haven’t begun to imagine! If there’s something you’d like to do for CTJC, step up and take part. CTJC should be a place of relevance to all our members, where we can experience the joy of a community inspired by enduring Jewish values, and built on deep Jewish connections.

This Rosh Hashanah I pray that in the coming year we will realise how much more we can achieve as a community than any one of us can as an individual. I pray that all of the uplifting moments we experience together this Rosh Hashanah will sustain us and help us to grow together in the year ahead.

If you would like to volunteer, have ideas for things you think CTJC should be doing, or would like to help with existing activities, please email me – chairman@ctjc.org.uk Wishing you a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.

Shanah Tova, Helen Goldrein

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A Thought on Teshuvah

By Rabbi Reuven Leigh Throughout the weeks leading up to the High Holidays and then Rosh Hashana, the Ten days of Teshuvah and the crescendo of it all on Yom Kippur the dominant theme is that of Teshuvah. In the past I have reflected how the translation of repentance distorts the idea of Teshuvah and infuses it with Christian notions that are alien to the original concept.

This time around I want to present a short adapted excerpt from the writings of Rabbi Avraham Yehudah Chen on the subject of Teshuvah that I have found thoughtful and demanding.

--The entire essence and point of Teshuvah is summed up in its name – Teshuvah.

To return. Just return and no more. All the lengthy treatises and laws and customs associated with Teshuvah are merely pathways to reach yourself.

The whole concept of Teshuvah depends on a perception that our origin is pure and holy and our salvation is achieved only by returning to that origin. Were we to think our origin was corrupt the logical approach would be to distance oneself and become detached.

As we say in the morning prayers, “The soul, that you placed in me is pure.” It just needs to be cleaned and polished from accumulated dirt and returned to its original splendour.

“And you should return to your heart…” says the verse. You should only return to your heart. To your heart and not someone else’s heart. This is the subtle meaning of Avodah Zarah. Other Gods. A foreign service. Even a foreign holy service is Avodah Zarah for you.

"I am the L-rd your G-d" addressed to each and every one of us in the second person – your G-d!

Everyone has a different aspect of the One G-d, an aspect that relates exclusively to him or her. We are each “a part of G-d above” – a distinct part.

Everyone has their part, yet all those other parts are not yours, for you they are an ‘Avodah Zarah.’

--The challenge of Teshuvah in Rabbi Chen’s view is to accept our unique individuality. To resist the ‘Avodah Zarah’ of living up to someone else’s standards and discover the niche part of G-d that we can call our own.

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Thoughts on meat & milk

By Eviatar Natan

(Exodus 23, 19 | Exodus 34, 26 | Deuteronomy 14, 21) “Thou shalt not seethe young goat in his mother's milk.”

A truly significant Halacha in the Jewish day-to-day life is obeying the commandment to separate meat and milk; an important commandment that appears no less than three times in the Torah. In almost every Jewish house cutlery and dishes are separate (I even met an Israeli family that uses different sets despite eating non-kosher meat). Some Ashkenazi families will even separate sinks, and at times kitchens. The Halacha, in fact, is so strong that it will not only separate our dishes but also the Minhagim of Sephardi versus Ashkenazi and may determine the guests we can invite for dinner.

In what seems as a contradiction, our Forefathers may have mixed meat and milk. For example:

“And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.” (Genesis 18, 8). Or,

“And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said: The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.” (Samuel 2, 17, 29).

With time the Halacha became stricter, for example to include poultry, despite the fact it does not produce milk for its offspring. But what is the reasoning of this commandment?

The explanations that the commenters suggest vary. The Rashbam and other commenters claim that the act of cooking of a young animal with the milk that was designated for his survival can be seen as gluttony and cruelty. The Rambam, and other medieval commenters, speculate that this way of cooking was a polytheistic tradition. Another, spiritual Kabbalistic approach suggests that milk and meat represents opposite life forces, of ‘giving’ and ‘taking’ respectively, forces that should be kept separate.

But, could the explanation be much simpler? Is it possible that the issue is not with the milk as substance but as a period in the young goat’s life? Adding a single word to the Pasok may clear this point: (when he is)

“Thou shalt not seethe young goat (when he is, ‫ )שהוא‬in his mother's milk”, meaning do not consume a young goat before it weaned, regardless to the milk as substance.

We know that the suckling period is important both physiological and emotionally to the newborn, but not less so for the mother. Suckling is mentioned several times in the Talmud, emphasising its significance. For example, one of the discussed issues is the suckling period; 24months is considered as the reasonable choice, yet some argue that it can last for up to five years.

Apart of suckling, the Torah mentions also the end of this period as a cause for celebration being a sensitive period for the survival of the child. The first example is the celebration of Abraham and Sarah for Yitzhak’s weaning (Genesis 21, 8). More relevant to current hypothesis is the case of

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Samuel’s mother, Hannah. The story tells us that Hannah prayed to G-d for a child, swearing that if her prayer will be answered she will give the child to G-d. Hannah keeps her promise and hands the child to Eli, the High Priest of Shiloh, but not before the child has weaned. Separation of a mother from its young one is a biological act that engraves in all mammals, and breaking this secret bond can be considered as an immoral act.

Above: A female Banteng (Bos javanicus) nurses her calf. Photo by Jar0d. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bos_javanicus,_Diergaarde_Blijdorp.jpg

A similar idea to this hypothesis is the Halacha concerning Deuteronomy 22, 6. “If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young.”

Meaning it is not allowed to separate eggs from the mother by either taking the eggs from the mother or the mother from the eggs. Another source to support this idea is the discussion of Korbanot (sacrifices). One of the reasons to disqualify an animal from being sacrificed is if that animal’s offspring, or parent was sacrificed that same day, meaning a young animal cannot be sacrificed the same day as its mother (Leviticus 22, 28 and Mishnah Zevachim 14, 2). The Torah was given us as a guideline, a moral compass to ensure the highest moral standards. It is therefore not a far-fetched interpretation for the discussed commandment.

Either way, moral or practical, and as no one can truly know the thoughts of the Creator, I humbly hope that I leave reasonable foundations for a discussion. And despite the temptation to thinking that milk and meat might not be strangers to each other in our kitchen, this hypothesis does not suggest changing the Halacha, but to give one more, somehow moral and practical interpretation.

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Summer excavations “Open Day” in Thompson’s Lane

By Mark Harris

Students, CTJC members and other visitors to the Cambridge Synagogue building in Thompson’s Lane could hardly have failed to observe the extensive construction site that begins, at its southern end, a very short distance away along the narrow thoroughfare. The row of terraced houses, built a few years before the First World War, have been demolished to make way for a three-storey (from the architectural drawings contextually sympathetic) development providing modern accommodation for students. Balfour Beatty is carrying out the structural work on behalf of Trinity Hall, one of the oldest Cambridge colleges (founded in 1350), which owns the land.

On 6th July this year, a team from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) began a 10-week excavation of the “St Clement’s Gardens Development” site, prior to the start of construction of the expansive basement of the substantial new building. On arriving outside shul one Shabbat morning in mid-July, I happened to spot a notice displayed on the protective fencing surrounding the site. It invited members of the public to attend a three-hour “Open Day” on 24th July to view the excavations and some of the artefacts discovered during the dig to that date.

Unfortunately, the appointed day was probably one of the rainiest this summer, and I was joined by just a bedraggled, brolly wielding handful or so of nonetheless clearly enthused if not intrepid individuals. On a wide, safety-railed ledge overlooking the site we were made welcome by the project leader and some other members of the CAU team sporting yellow hard hats, who pointed downwards to a few of their (equally helmeted) colleagues sensitively scraping away soil in the water-logged alluvial. They answered questions about the dig and its finds (some of which were vaguely exhibited in a rain-splattered glass case) and the relevant site history.

The elongated development site follows the now barely noticeable incline of what, in ancient times, was a significant gravel ridge rising from north to south. In July, at the southern (synagogue) end of the site, CAU archaeologists had been excavating in a sub-medieval section that had constituted, with surrounding ditches, part of the Roman settlement that had spread across the River Cam from the legionary occupier’s principal (26 to 28 acre) encampment on the hill-dominated west bank and straddling what today is Castle Street.

The Romans, and those inhabitants who settled in the site’s location after them and until the 16th century, had serious problems resulting from river flooding, and evidence could be identified, from the CAU investigative excavations, of their desperate efforts at defensive works and land drainage. (As “Open Day” visitors peering into the watery site beneath persistent heavy rainfall we could certainly empathise, at least relatively, with these earlier residents.) By around the 1500s, however, the land level in the area had been elevated above the flood plain of the river.

Amongst the CAU discoveries were several Roman coins, including one of copper alloy from the time of Emperor Lucius Verus and dated between 161 and 169CE. In my Rosh Hashanah 2014 CTJC Bulletin article (“3 Thompson’s Lane: The site history of the Cambridge Synagogue”), I had written that, “it is a matter of extreme conjecture whether there had been any Jews living in Durolipons [thought to be the Roman name for the town] and, if so, whether they might have lived in the vicinity of what is now the Cambridge Synagogue” (Jewish merchants and traders sometimes followed the victorious legions). In that connection, I referred to the (pre-development) archaeological investigation report on what became The Varsity Hotel (24 Thompson’s Lane). The report noted that shards of Roman-era pottery had been discovered at the dig site, and that there was also some evidence of contemporary cereal processing. In addition, it mentioned a 1992 excavation at nearby 5 Thompson’s Lane, which also had turned up some 4th century Roman pottery.

In my CTJC magazine article I alluded to the fact that “the Romans had built a causeway from the riverfront (opposite what is now “Castle Hill”) across marshland (around today’s Bridge Street) to approximately where St Sepulchre’s (the 12th century Round Church) stands”. And that “by the time the Romans left, an extensive area to the east of the river had been settled”. CAU’s 2015 summer excavation finds in Thompson’s Lane serve usefully to further confirm the presence of Roman settlement on the east side of the River Cam.

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As I also noted in my feature, St John’s College had acquired the land (on which the development is taking place) in the first half of the 16th century. Most of the land bounded by the Cam, Bridge Street and the west side of Thompson’s Lane had fallen into the ownership of Magdalene College. The terraced houses, built in the 1820s and still flanking the west side of the Lane, together benefited from an extensive formal garden that was established after St John’s College disposed of its property on the eastern part of the Lane, and where the proposed new student accommodation is being built.

At the lower, northern section of the construction site, the CAU team were beginning to examine stratified alluvial deposits in an old channel of the river. The upper segments contained links to the 14th/15th centuries, the deep lower levels are considered to date possibly from the Roman, or even a much earlier period. A huge mountain of soil had been removed from the site by the “Open Day”, and still more (maybe about a quarter of the total amount required to be taken away) remained to be shifted.

Other finds on the site included a beautifully shaped jug with an attractively curved handle, a number of 15th to 16th century ovens (sadly with no accompanying evidence of challah or cholent baking!), a late 15th/early 16th century copper alloy French Jetton, three 16th century stone-lined pits, a 16th to 17th century cesspit and 17th century well, cellar and drain.

After around an hour on the rain-pummelled site, I decided to depart. As I made my way along the ledge to the exit, a family of four – mum, dad and two small boys – entered the site area. At precisely the same time, one of the CAU team, beaming widely, climbed the temporary stairway to the path from his dig area.

Clutched in his hand, and which he then revealed to the family and me, were two shards he had just found – from what he stated to have come from medieval pots. One of them, he considered, was Swabian (from a region now part of Germany), the other he expressed himself presently unsure about. The family’s mother asked excitedly whether a photo could be taken of him holding the coins, and with the two little boys at his side.

When the posed picture was snapped, the youngish bearded archaeologist began to descend to his former search position. As he did so, watched by the family and me, I called out to him: “Pots of luck with further discoveries!” As I withdrew hurriedly with my open umbrella back onto Thompson’s Lane, I thought I could still hear the dull groans of both family and digger!

Have a happy New Year.

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Crossing the Channel

By Helen Goldrein

I was recently talking to my father about the situation facing migrants in Europe. It was not long after David Cameron’s vile comments about “swarms”, and the unfortunate people at Calais were all over the news.

Dad began to tell me about his grandfather, who had fled persecution in Russia and travelled on foot, across Europe to France. He was there for some time, and apparently learned to speak French, before finally travelling on to England, where he settled.

He found lodgings with a Jewish family in Manchester, and ended up marrying their daughter. The rest, as they say, is history.

But 100 or more years later and what has changed? Still we see migrants, repeating the suffering of my great-grandfather, spending months travelling, risking their lives seeking to put as much distance as possible between themselves and their war-torn homelands or those who seek to persecute them.

The people that are stuck at Calais are just like my great-grandfather. They have uprooted themselves and fled danger and persecution. They have spent their life savings, and have walked for months on end. Many have left behind their families, or worse, seen them drown in the Mediterranean or perish at the hands of unscrupulous human traffickers who promised them help.

They are desperate.

In August 1938, the Daily Mail proclaimed that “the way stateless Jews from Germany are pouring into this country is becoming an outrage”.

Change ‘stateless Jews from Germany’ to ‘asylum seekers’ or ‘would-be immigrants’ and it sounds chillingly familiar.

I believe we have a duty as Jews, as human beings, and as the children and grandchildren of refugees & immigrants, to stand up for the people who need our help, and to challenge those – including our leaders – who seek to demonise the most vulnerable and destitute, rather than offer them a chance to build a better future.

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Letter to an Angel

By Vivy Sadan

I thought this was apt especially at a time like this when there is so much uncertainty in so many people’s lives around the world.

This letter was written and forwarded to me by my mother on 14 September 2008.

Letter to an Angel in Disguise.

You are no longer alive – in fact you must have died many years ago.

I don't even remember your name. But in the disguise of an ordinary housewife you engraved yourself in the memory of a small child, until the present day.

As anyone who has ever been a refugee knows, the condition of refugeedom is pretty nasty, especially for a 9 year old.

It was 1939, a year in which hundreds of thousands, especially Jews, acquired that status.

In my case it was ''Operation Kindertransport'' which had torn me from my parents, my home and language, into the saving arms of England; to a city named Coventry, where my sister Bertha, aged 16 and my brother Theo, aged 12 had already found refuge.

I had arrived in Coventry on a Friday, and my new guardians sent me to school on Monday.

It was certainly not easy. But the children and teachers were kind, and I was soon busy with pleasant activities like making pompoms, and sports, as well as other studies which didn't need linguistic skills.

As anyone who has ever learned English knows, it is a totally illogical language which has to be learned without reasoning. I managed it eventually, and in six months had conquered it.

Within a week or so of starting school, I was called to the head teacher's study, where you were sitting, with a list in front of you.

You both asked me, in sign language, why I was not drinking the little bottle of milk that the other children drank during break, and which cost half a penny.

My guardian, ''Auntie'', did not think it necessary to spend the half penny on me, so I did without this nourishment.

You informed me, in fact insisted, that I must go to your house every morning on my way to school and pick up the money for the milk.

I knew that ''Auntie'' must never find out, as she would punish me for shaming her.

The first morning I ran like the wind, knocked on your door, and you gave me a penny and an apple.

I told you that the milk only cost half a penny, and you answered that I should spend the other half a penny on ice cream or chocolate.

What absolute bliss, what treasure, to be like the other, ordinary English children.

Never since then, has anything provided so much pleasure as that kindness from a complete stranger.

This situation lasted for about a year, into the first year of the war, until Coventry was almost totally destroyed by the German bombs.

School stopped and so did my half daily penny.

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I met you a few times in the street, and you always asked if I had any news from my parents, who were still in Germany.

Till now, nearly 70 years later, I remember you with gratitude for bringing comfort and hope into a little refugee's life.

The Kindertransport memorial, by Frank Meisler, which stands outside Liverpool Street Station. Photo

by StoneColdCrazy (Paul Dean) Image licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kindertransp ort-Meisler.jpg

Inge Sadan (nee Englehard) was re-united with her parents in 1944, they were some of the lucky ones who survived and eventually managed to get to the UK. For the war years my mother lived with her non-Jewish foster guardians, who were highly abusive.

However, she did manage to get over those years and lead a normal, positive and happy life.

My mother was the best mother any one could wish for.

We had the most beautiful and pure relationship.

She was my best friend.

Every moment we shared together was 'quality time'.

My love for her was beyond measure.

Sadly she passed away in July 2013.

- Vivy Sadan

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School visits to 3 Thompson’s Lane The shul at 3 Thompson’s Lane regularly hosts visits from schools, as part of their studies in Religious Education and similar topics. CTJC members, most notably Lauren Allin and Ros Landy, as well as members of CUJS, generously give their time to show the children around, explain about Jewish rituals and practice, and answer questions.

The children are usually extremely interested. East Anglia is not Golders Green, so many of them have probably never met a Jewish person before! However, as one student put it, “[they] are … extremely interested. Their questions are the questions that all of us should be asking about our own faith.”

Here are some excerpts from thank you letters that have been received from children who have visited the shul.

I am writing to thank you because I enjoyed your talk to us about Jewish religion and culture.

I particularly enjoyed when you talked about Shabbat and other Jewish festivals and you taught me about Rosh Hashanah and how it was one of the most important festivals of the Jewish year.

I was interested by the Jewish food rules and how you could not eat pork or any animal with a non cloven hoof and you could not eat meat and milk together.

Overall I really enjoyed this trip to the synagogue and learnt lots.

Thank you for letting us be in your synagogue. We learnt a lot about the Jewish religion.

We all thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a great experience.

I can’t thank you enough for letting us look at the Scrolls.

I especially love the Tallit and the gold patterns on it.

It was very interesting at the end when we looked at the Chumash.

Thank you very much for taking us to the Synagogue! I very much enjoyed hearing abut all of the Jewish festivals. The sacred Torah was the best part. I felt the urge to touch it, but I would not let myself. All of the food looked very tasty. 5F thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything looked beautiful.

I am writing to you to say thank you so much for showing us round the Synagogue I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved looking around the synagogue and searching for all the interesting things in it.

It was really fun talking about all the food you can and can’t eat, it must be hard not to break the rules!

Thank you for showing us your precious Torahs (how do you learn to read the writing!)

Thank you again for inviting us to your Synagogue.

Thank you very much for showing us your synagogue. I thoroughly enjoyed your talk and the Torahs looked massive! I liked hearing about all the festivals Jewish people have. It must be very hard to know if food is kosha or not. Matzot bread looks really nice but I'm not old enough to drink wine.

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A half year in Cambridge By the Greenberg family

We have had the pleasure of spending a half year sabbatical here in Cambridge with a few of our children. It was a bit of a déjà vu for Rachel and me as we had lived here many, many years ago when we were graduate students. One of the most gratifying parts of coming back was the chance to reacquaint ourselves with the community which we have been out of touch with for too many years. Some things have certainly changed (two Rabbis in the Shul as opposed to none) and some things haven’t (struggling to get a minyan on Sunday morning) but it was so nice to immediately feel part of the community who were so friendly and welcoming. I do think that a benefit of being in a small Jewish community is exactly that, people are much more welcoming and friendly than in a larger Jewish community where a guest can easily be ignored.

We really enjoyed the time spent with the community both at the shul events and at the all the meals the residents kindly invited us to. The Megilla reading in an Archaeological Museum and Shavuot garden party in Kings Fellows garden are experiences neither we nor our children will quickly forget.

So we would just like to thank all the CTJC members who were so open and hospitable and again say how much we enjoyed our stay. We will not wait so long this time before coming back (we hope to be here next summer).

Rachel, David, Eliana, Tamar, Keren with guest appearances by Shlomo, Rivka and Sara and Jeremie.

Image: Old Botanic Garden by Ben Harris.

Long, long ago, the New Museums Site was the home of the University of Cambridge's first botanic garden.

Eventually, the University built the Cavendish Laboratory on the site, and the garden moved out to its current site, but this small patch of garden has been planted by the garden's staff with plants representative of the stock of the original botanic garden.

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons AttributionShare Alike 2.0 Generic license. https://commons.wikim edia.org/wiki/File:Old_ botanic_garden__geograph.org.uk__919603.jpg

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Minutes of the AGM of the CTJC Sunday 12 July 2015 3 Thompson's lane at 20:00 Present: Ros Landy, Barry Landy, Jonathan Allin, Joe Blaukopf, Jonathan Harris, [As the meeting was inquorate it was agreed that the items marked *** would be emailed to the membership for online approval.]

1) Apologies: Mark Harris, Helen Goldrein, Sarah Schechter. Jonathan Goldman. Stefan Reif, Jo and Julian Landy 2)

Minutes

These were accepted as correct and signed.

Matter arising: Barry commented on the £750 loss on the Ickworth weekend, which is not allowed by charity law. Properly this amount should have been refunded to the account either by a special collection of by members of the committee personally as it is their responsibility. Barry said he raised this to ensure that this problem does not arise in future.

3)

Chairman's report

Ros Landy reported on a steady year.

She expressed thanks to those who help to conduct the services and organise the kiddushim with especial thanks to Jonathan Harris for organising the rota and collecting food.

There are regular school visits and we are grateful to Lauren Allin for being so willing to conduct a large percentage of them (and the meeting added thanks to Ros as well).

She expressed concern at the general practice of allowing children to play outside the shul in the proximity of the road; there was a lot of discussion on this point and it was generally agreed that there should always be one adult present and responsible. It was noted that one child sprained a wrist two weeks ago.

Lauren also emphasised that children are not allowed in the kitchen.

4)

Treasurer's report

See report attached to the minutes. Membership units at 25 same as last year. Subscription income is slightly up on last year. The cost of Kiddushim is well controlled.

Synagogue costs are very large and we have capped the amount we pay. This year we paid £3750.

Meeting to discuss the Three Way Agreement. Barry reported on the current state; a new agreement has been agreed and will be signed at to start of new academic year (October). The primary differences are that at the annual treasurers meeting both CTJC and CJRA will state what they can afford to pay. It also envisages the establishment of a google calendar for the use of the building.

Barry Landy presented accounts for the Trust for 2014-2015 5)

Approval of Auditors***

It was agreed to appoint Trevor Marcuson to examine the accounts.

6)

Membership fees***

Full family Associate family Full single

£194.00 (up from £192.00) £130.00 (up from £128.00) £134.00 (up from £132.00)

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Associate single

£85.00 (up from £84.00)

An increase of approximately 1% was agreed 7)

Other reports

a)

Education

b)

Synagogue

It remains very hard to get a minyan for Friday evening and Sunday morning services but Shabbat morning minyan is still viable and we almost always succeed with occasional minyanim for Yahrzeit. c)

Bulletin

Bulletins are very good and much appreciated.

8)

Elections***

The meeting approved the following list.

Chairman Treasurer Secretary Bulletin Synagogue Education Welfare

H Goldrein J Allin B Landy H Goldrein B Landy

It was noted the it is expected that the incoming committee will co-opt a Kiddush Officer and an Education Officer 9)

Board of Deputies Election

There are two nominations and it was agreed to ask the membership to vote online.

10)

AOB

a)

The meeting liked the revised menu for kiddushim and thanked Jonathan Harris

b)

There was a lot of discussion of the poor state of cleanliness of the kitchen and of the unhygienic nature of some of the term time food preparation.

Elisheva agreed to prepare a check sheet of instructions to give to those responsible every term. c)

Thanks were expressed to Ros for her handling of the community over the last three years.

Meeting ended 21:15 B Landy 13 July 2015 [An email poll of the members approved the *** items and elected Robert Marks as representative to the Board of Deputies]

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September 2015 / Tishrei 5776

Message from the President This is my first Rosh Hashanah as President of the Board following my election in May and I have much to do in order to continue the fine work we have been doing over the past 12 months.

It is a year which we can look back to with some pride in our accomplishments. We have worked closely with the Government to ensure that our community is protected against the evil of antisemitism. The good relations we have fostered led to Home Secretary Theresa May and Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles attending our monthly Board meeting to reassure our community in the wake of the terrorist attacks against Jews in Paris in January.

This trustful relationship proved its worth in July when a small antisemitic group on the far right threatened to rally in Golders Green. We felt that the whole community should demonstrate its united resolve against bigotry and the Board, in partnership with the London Jewish Forum and anti-fascist organisation HOPE not Hate, together with the support of the Community Security Trust, formed Golders Green Together to turn a hateful occasion into a positive outcome for our community. The result was that all races and faiths in Golders Green came together to celebrate both their unity and diversity while behind-the-scenes work with the Government and police led to the rally being moved to central London – well away from the Jewish community that the racists were hoping to intimidate. The long-term work of the Board in building alliances and deepening mutual respect and understanding often goes unsung, but this episode demonstrates the benefits that it brings to our community.

We also acted against attempts to boycott Israel and antisemitism masquerading as anti -Zionism and have won some important battles – including against Rev Stephen Sizer, who has now been effectively disciplined by the Church of England after one rant too many. We also took prompt action against an anti-Israel conference at Southampton University and the conference was cancelled following representations led by the Board. We have been very active against those calling for boycotts, divestment & sanctions.

Our document, ‘A Better Way than Boycotts’ highlighted a more constructive path to peace in the Middle East and has been very well received by major non-Jewish bodies in Britain and abroad.

Of course, my election was not the only one in May. There was also the small matter of a General Election. Ahead of this the Board produced its Jewish Manifesto – the most comprehensive ever produced which covered 14 areas of interest including religious freedom, antisemitism, Israel, education, social care and social Action – all produced after consultation with more than 300 organisations and individuals. The Jewish Manifesto and its 10 Commitments which encapsulated the key aims of the document was sent out to every parliamentary candidate. We received videos of support from all three main party leaders supporting the Manifesto and its pledges.

In education, we have been working hard to maintain GCSE Ivrit and Bib lical Hebrew and we are promoting Judaism through our Jewish Living Experience exhibitions and tours, in which thousands of non-Jewish children learn about our faith every year.

We have also been reaching out through Jewish Connection, which is supporting small communities all over the UK needing pastoral and social care, networking and advocacy support from the mainstream of the community.

In 5776 we will be pushing ahead with our new, dynamic team of Honorary Officers, dedicated Deputies and professional staff. Jewish core beliefs and practices are not currently threatened in the UK and that is the way we want to keep things – we must retain our ability to continue to practise brit milah and shechitah and there should be an understanding of the importance of these traditions. Our relationship with the Muslim communities of the UK will be a priority. Jews have an important role to play in showing to them and other faiths that it is not only possible but admirable to combine British values with adherence to religious tradition, and that these two things are not mutually exclusive.

We will be working with the Government to safeguard the security of our community and the continuation of that productive relationship is a priority, particularly in light of the s hocking rise in antisemitism. The fact that the Government has pledged millions of pounds to enable effective security to be provided outside schools, synagogues and other institutions is welcome but cannot hide the grotesque fact that such vigilance is still required because hatred of our community remains in some, albeit very limited, corners in our society.

I hope that 5776 is a peaceful one for members of our community. We will continue to represent your interests as only a democratically elected body can.

May this New Year bring you and your families health and strength, and may it be peaceful for Am Yisrael.

Jonathan Arkush

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CST Protecting our Jewish Communities

These additional guards are now largely paid for by government and are organised by CST and synagogues, as part of our joint security response to the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris and Copenhagen earlier this year. We regret that the additional security is necessary, but we sincerely hope that it provides a practical and reassuring response to the current situation.

CST, Community Security Trust, is here to help ensure that our Jewish communities throughout the UK are protected all year round and able to lead their Jewish lives with peace and dignity.

CST’s work at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur depends upon the cooperation and participation of all of our Jewish communities.

There is no other time when the partnership is more obvious, nor more necessary, and thousands of volunteers help to make that a reality.

Thank you once again for cooperating with our security teams at this busy time, and thank you for playing your part in our joint security efforts.

Shana Tovah and well over the fast to all of our community, and to all of our volunteers and their families, to whom we all owe a special thanks.

This year, CST will once again be working in close cooperation with Police, synagogues, security volunteers and security rotas at hundreds of synagogues over the chagim, but you may also see more commercial security guards working at synagogues than has previously been the case.

Yours, CST.

In an emergency contact the Police on 999, then contact CST, London: 0800 032 3263 Manchester: 0800 980 0668 In a non-emergency, please call the Police on 101, then contact CST, London: 020 8457 9999 Manchester: 0161 792 6666

www.cst.org.uk

@CST_UK

Community Security Trust

Community Security Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (1042391) and Scotland (SC043612)

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Apple and Honey Cookies

By Helen Goldrein

I love Rosh Hashanah food traditions! In particular, apples and honey are a fabulous combination that can be remixed into any number of new recipes. In the past I’ve made apple and honey cake, sticky apple and honey muffins, apple & honey rice-crispy cakes, and an apple & honey lokshen kugel. Yum! Last year I created these wonderful apple and honey cookies. They are simple to make and absolutely delicious. Several people (myself included) could taste white chocolate in them, although there isn’t any there – it must be the combination of tangy apple, sweet honey and fragrant vanilla, which gives this flavour illusion.

I posted this recipe on my blog last year. If you would like more Rosh Hashanah inspired recipes, including both sweet and savoury dishes, please visit http://family-friends-food.com This makes 16 apple and honey cookies.

Ingredients 170g self-raising flour 1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda 85g butter (or margarine) 45g caster sugar 45g light muscovado sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 3 tbsp runny honey Half an apple Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 200C. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a non-stick liner.

2. Put the flour and bicarb into a bowl and rub in the butter. Stir in the sugars and the vanilla.

3. Warm the honey (I put it in the oven while I mix the other ingredients) then pour onto the dry ingredients and mix well to combine into a soft dough.

4. Cut the core out of the apple and cut into small dice. Mix into the dough.

5. Take walnut-sized pieces of dough and roll into balls. Space well apart on the prepared baking sheet, and bake for 8-12 minutes at 200C, until spread out and golden.

6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Allow to cool completely before eating.

Notes You can do steps 2 and 3 in a food processor, but be sure to transfer the dough to a bowl and add the apple pieces by hand if you do this.

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Apples Cake Carrots Fish head Gifts Honey Kaporos

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Kugel Mitzvot New Year Pomegranate Rosh Hashanah Shanah Tovah Shofar

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Sweet Tashlich Tefilah Teshuvah Tsimmes Tzedakah Yomtov

Forthcoming Events Rosh Hashanah dinner Come together with the community for a gourmet start to the High Holiday celebrations.

Join us on Sunday 13 September. Candle-lighting & evening services at 6:30pm, dinner at 7:00pm Enjoy three courses of delicious kosher food, convivial conversation, and a celebratory atmosphere. Share the Rosh Hashanah festivities with your community, and raise a glass to a joyous, peaceful and sweet New Year.

3 Thompson's Lane will be transformed! An event not to be missed!

Book now to guarantee your place.

Visit https://sites.google.com/site/ctjcweb/rosh-hashanah-dinner

Tashlich at Magdalene College Join CTJC members in the beautiful gardens of Magdalene College for the ritual of Tashlich, following morning services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah.

Sushi Kiddush for Succot Stuffed and rolled foods are traditional at Succot, so join us for a delicious sushi Kiddush following services on the first day of Succot, 28 September.

Image: Sweet potato sushi roll by Luca Powell. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sweet_Potato_S ushi.jpg

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High Holyday Calendar EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday 13 September Festival commences Evening Services

EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday 22 September Afternoon Service Fast commences Kol Nidrei

7:05 pm 6:30 pm

1:30 pm 6:42 pm 7:10 pm

ROSH HASHANAH 1st Day Monday 14 September Morning Service Afternoon and Evening Services Candles for 2nd day are lit

9:30 am 7:00 pm 8:00 pm

YOM KIPPUR Wednesday 23 September Morning Service Reading of the Law Yizkor (approx) Afternoon Service Neilah Fast terminates

9:30 am 11:30 am 12:00 pm 5:30 pm 6.35 pm 7:40 pm

ROSH HASHANAH 2nd Day Tuesday 15 September Morning Service Afternoon and Evening Services Festival ends

9:30 am 7:00 pm 8:01 pm

SHABBAT SHUVAH Saturday 19 September Morning Service Shabbat ends

9:30 am 7:52 pm

EREV SUCCOT Sunday 27 September Festival Commences Afternoon and Evening Services

6:32 pm no service in shul

SUCCOT 1st Day Monday 28 September Morning Service Afternoon and Evening Services Candles for 2nd day are lit

9:30 am no service in shul 7:25 pm

SHEMINI ATZERET Monday 5 October Morning Service (& Yizkor) Afternoon Services Evening Service Candles for 2nd day are lit

9:30 am 6:00 pm* 6:30 pm* 7:14 pm

SUCCOT 2nd Day Tuesday 29 September Morning Service Afternoon and Evening Services Festival ends

9:30 am no service in shul 7:27 pm

SHABBAT CHOL HAMOED Saturday 3 October Morning Service Shabbat ends

SIMCHAT TORAH Tuesday 6 October Morning Service Afternoon and Evening Service Shabbat Commences

9:30 am 6:00 pm 7:11 pm

9:30 am 7:18pm

* These services are organised by JSoc and times are not confirmed.

HOSHANAH RABBAH Sunday 4 October Morning Service Festival Commences Afternoon and Evening Services

8:00 am 6:16 pm 6.00 pm*

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