HaGesher The Bridge, January 2022

HaGesher The Bridge East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue January 2022 | 5782

HaGesher | January 2022 | 01

Connect with and support ELELS by following/ subscribing to us on Social Media Are you fully up to date and connected with ELELS? We have a public and community group Facebook page as well as a YouTube page and Twitter feed.

If you use any of these social media platforms and you haven't already connected to us then doing so would be a great way to support us, and to tune into and interact with the community. Click on the links below to access our social media pages.

ELELS Members Only Facebook Group:

https://bit.ly/ELELScommunity

ELELS Public Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/ELELSynagogue

ELELS YouTube:

https://bit.ly/ELELSYouTube

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/ELELSynagogue

Raise money for ELELS when you shop online Everybody shops, and we know that some enjoy it more than others.

However, when you shop, there are two ways that you can raise money for ELELS at the same time; and this is by shopping with either Amazon Smile or Give as you Live.

Amazon Smile All you need to do is sign up to Amazon Smile through your Amazon account. If the option to do so isn’t in your toolbar, then go to https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ and follow the instructions. Select ‘East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue’ as your charity, and then whenever you buy from Amazon, they will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to ELELS.

Give as you Live This works in a very similar way to Amazon Smile. It’s basically a website that has links with lots of high street shops. Register for an account with Give As You Live, select ‘East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue’ as your charity, and then whenever you want to buy something, go to the website, select either the shop or the type of item you wish to buy, and you will then be able to access the store and its wares.

When you buy, Give as you Live donates a varying percentage (typically 0.75-1.5%) of what you spend to ELELS. To sign up for Give as you Live, click here: https://www.giveasyoulive.com/

02 ||HaGesher HaGesher||January January2022 2022

Welcome to our January edition of HaGesher Welcome to the first edition of 2022; the digital world continues to help our community grow, and build connections far and wide. This digital world continues to give us opportunities to combine our celebrations with communities in Israel and France. This year we celebrated Chanukkah with the Educators kibbutz in the Galilee, Israel and the Keren Or Liberal Synagoge of Lyon France. Read about this in our article on pages 14 and 15 ‘Eight nights of Chanukkah’.

I’d also like to mention the Chanukkah party which was cancelled due to the COVID restrictions, but the New Generation committee managed to organise last minute plans for the Chedar children to enjoy activities, doughnuts and crafts, which you can read about on page 15. Thank you to all involved in continuing to keep our online community in touch.

Please don’t forget, we invite and would like to encourage all of our readers to respond to any of the articles we feature in HaGesher magazine, which will be reviewed by our Editorial team and if, approved, may be published. Best wishes, Claire Bone.

Contents Life Cycle

page 4

Events from 2021

page 5

Message from Rabbi Richard Jacobi

page 6

Building update from our Chairman

page 7

Mini Cobra update

page 8

Security update from David Gold

page 9

Membership policy

page 10

Community development

page 11

El2 for the New Generation

page 12

Eight nights of Chanukkah

page 14

Remembering Ashley Marks

page 16

LJ trip to Israel

page 18

Ulpan course

page 19

LGBTQ+ Pride shabbat

page 20

A conversation about assisted dying

page 21

ELELS directory and contact list

page 22

HaGesher | January 2022 | 03

ELELS Lifecycle

A warm welcome to: Tim Jones Ruta Tiller Craig Tiller Mazel tov to our Cheder Headteacher, Jonathan, and Jennie D’Young, on the birth of their baby boy, Orien Bert D’Young.

Our youngest Cheder member! Orien was born at 2.33pm on 7 November 2021, weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces.

Joshua Garfield Stephanie Hemans Sabrina Geva Arpad Szakal Maddy Preedy Irit Garty Ezequiel Sena

Mazal tov to Zach Duck and Tobey Barnett who were B’nei Mitzvah this school term and did their families and the community proud.

Condolences to the families and friends of: Derek Rickler - 14 October 2021 Ashley Marks - 15 October 2021 Harvey Bensusan - 01 November 2021 Helen White - 08 November 2021

Tobey Barnett

Zach Duck and family

Anne Peterson celebrated her 90th birthday on 12 October 2021 and David Peterson celebrated his 94th birthday on 17 October 2021.

04 | HaGesher | January 2021

Memorable events from 2021 talks to numerous schools and community groups as a survivor of the Holocaust and in January 2021 she shared her story with us at ELELS.

In our January 2021 edition we featured ELELS member Susie Barnett, who received the British Empire Medal in January 2020 for ‘Services to Holocaust Education and Awareness’. For many years, Susie has given

Susie has spoken in colleges and schools, public libraries, town halls, churches and synagogues, and has also been a keynote speaker at various Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations around London. You can read the full article at: https:// elels.org.uk/eventpage/

In January 2021, our Chesed team was formed.

The Chesed team is a collaborative effort of our Rabbis, staff and volunteers to reach out to members who are alone, convalescing, bereaved, have mental/physical

health issues, or are responding to lifechanging events. The goal of the Chesed Team is to ensure that all members of our community have an opportunity to have regular, friendly and personal support and contact with fellow congregants. The resulting relationships enrich the entire community. Contact Sonia Mucovitch for more information: chesed@elels.org.uk

In February the whole community came together to enjoy an exclusive live theatrical WorldPremière, “CinderEsther”, Cheder Head Teacher Jonathan Young’s re-working of panto favourite Cinderella. Jonathan expertly transformed the traditional fairytale into a slickly produced Zoom Purim Spiel. With puns aplenty, references to Shakespeare’s “Othello” and “Some Like It Hot”, and a generous dose of earthy humour, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Read more about this in our May 2021 edition: https://elels.org.uk/eventpage/hagesher-magazine/

March 2021. The ELELS Communal Seder is one of the highlights of the ELELS calendar and for the last few years has been enjoyed in a pleasant hall with much audience participation. We changed our venue to the then new-technology of Zoom. Being the stoics that our Rabbis and congregants are, and with over 70 screens/households online there must have been over 100 of us gathered around an imaginary, virtual Seder - it was a great success.

Read more about this in our May 2021 edition: https://elels.org.uk/eventpage/hagesher-magazine/

Our new website went live in April. Our aim was to make the new website easily accessible and straightforward to navigate around, and a big part of this is our menu at the top of the screen which operates under the following headings; About Us, Jewish Life, Families, Learning, Community, Care, News and Belong.

A big thanks to the wider Communications team, and others for their involvement, please do go and take a look https://elels.org.uk/

HaGesher | January 2022 | 05

Ad Meah v’Esrim – To One Hundred and Twenty’

In the final chapter of the Torah, we read that Moses died at the age of 120. His eyes were undimmed and his vigour was unabated, so we are told. Ever since, the aspirational age for a Jew to reach is 120, but with the caveat that one should reach it in the same manner as Moses. For all the considerable progress in medicine, public health and other fields, this is still wishful thinking for individuals.

06 | HaGesher | January 2022

However, on 18 October 2022, the

movement of which our synagogue is part will celebrate its 120th birthday. This day in 1902 saw the first ever service of what was then called the Jewish Religious Union.

The service was led by Rev. Simeon Singer (the translator of the United Synagogue’s core prayer book of the twentieth century) and the sermon was delivered by Claude Montefiore, the founding President.

From an individual perspective, 120 years is a very long time – around one and a half lives. Yet, in the arc of around 4,000 years of history of the Israelites, who later became known as Jews, it is only 3%. Our task as individuals and as a synagogue community is to increase this percentage – by ensuring that we pass Liberal Judaism on to our children and to, as the Torah would put it, the third and fourth generations.

So, as we welcome in the new year, we can look forward to an array of varied activities to celebrate this significant anniversary of our movement. There will be educational offerings, starting in January, with some of the social history, before exploring aspects of Liberal Judaism later in the year.

There will be celebrations and opportunities for us to ‘showcase’ some of the best of ELELS, as well as visit (in person or virtually) other communities. In addition, there is a planned trip to Israel in June that might be of interest to some of you.

We will keep you informed of all of I hope we will strengthen our commitment to Judaism as the set these. of guiding principles that help us to Such an anniversary prompts live good lives, in a world that reflection, I think. In his opening needs all those with a robust moral prayer on Shabbat afternoon 18 compass to be among the vocal October 1902, Rev. Singer said: ‘Not and active shapers of society. Our a spirit of rebellion, but of love and Liberal Judaism is, as Rabbi Pete reverence for the faith of Israel Tobias’s book title stated, “A brings us here.’ I wonder if, at times, Judaism for the Twenty-First our movement has slipped towards Century” – let’s help each other to the ‘spirit of rebellion’, and live it proudly during this special worshipping radicalism rather than birthday year! ‘the faith of Israel’. I wonder if we Rabbi Richard Jacobi have also, at times during these twelve decades, allowed a cautious or complacent conservatism to pervade the practices of our communities. I also wonder if, perhaps, both of these phases are inevitable in the longer arc of history that Judaism – ‘the faith of Israel’ – has encompassed.

What happens with the building is the central question for our community: At the end of November we held a General Meeting.

About 40 member households joined us online and 18 members had already voted beforehand.

40 households joined online

95% of the participants agreed a target of £70,000 will be allocated for audiovisual technology With the help of our Property Action Group, we plan to make a recommendation to the community by the summer of 2022 on how to proceed.

After an hour of respectful discussion and questions the vote passed overwhelmingly (approximately 55 votes to 4) and it was agreed that we allocate up to £70,000 of our reserves towards buying audiovisual technology to enable us to share our services online in high quality, and to invest in community development. £70,000 is a limit, not a target, but the motion will ensure we have sufficient funds for all of our development needs until at least the end of 2022. The question I want to focus on now though is what happens after that. Certainly I don’t plan to ask the community to spend anything further from our savings until we have a way forward on the building.

What happens with the building is the central question for our community: many plans have been on hold until we know where we will be and how much it will cost us. As with all aspects of life, the answer has been complicated by Covid: •

Has what we’re looking for changed as we think anew about social distancing, ventilation and people watching services remotely?

•

Will the property market shift as companies reassess whether they need a large communal building in the area any more?

Saying “we should wait and see” would be the easy answer – but after many years of waiting, and being mindful of depreciation of savings, a decision is overdue and Council, with the help of our Property Action Group, plan to make a recommendation to the community by the summer of 2022 on how to proceed.

This will mean that, by this time next year, our plans should be well underway. We’re still speaking with estate agents and builders to decide on the best way forward but I will be back in touch soon to update you.

In the meantime, as ever, if you have any knowledge of buildings in your local area that are coming up for sale that might make a suitable venue for the shul do let me know: this is likely to be the final opportunity for us to consider any new suggestions.

It’s going to be a busy 2022 and you’ll be hearing more from me again soon – but for now, I wish you a Happy New Year.

All best wishes, Ben Glassman, Chairman

HaGesher | January 2022 | 07

An update from Bob Kamall, head of ELELS’s Covid-19 ‘Mini Cobra’ Group

ELELS Council met on 6th December and that meeting included a discussion on changing the way we manage hybrid services.

However, at that time we were aware of the new variant that was emerging and which was causing some concerns. Therefore, it was agreed not to make any changes to current procedures at ELELS. You will all know by now that the new variant was named Omicron and in response the government announced their ‘Plan B’ restrictions. Fortunately, ELELS did not have any hybrid or in-person events planned at that time so we did not have to cancel or postpone any events. We continue to monitor advice and Plan B requirements from government agencies or other trusted but relevant sources.

The next scheduled ELELS Council meeting is on Monday 24th January when we review the situation and the expected update from the government on changes to Plan B restrictions.

We will, of course, undertake a risk assessment before restarting any hybrid or in-person services and events. The risk assessment will take into account any restrictions or best practice advice in place at that time.

In the meantime, in line with current advice, everyone is encouraged to have their vaccination and booster jabs as well as wearing a mask or face covering (unless they have a legitimate exemption) so that we all do what we can to help protect each other.

Bob Kamall

08 | HaGesher | January 2022

Get vaccinated

Wear a face covering in enclosed settings

Wash your hands

Let fresh air in if you meet indoors

Get tested, and self isolate if required

Download and use the NHS COVID-19 app

An update from David Gold.

Security lead at ELELS

We have ongoing contact with the Police and Community Security Trust, which is a Jewish Charity that provides security advice and training for Jewish establishments, including schools and synagogues.

We have a good relationship with both and they continually provide us with physical assistance as well as intelligence, should there be any potential problems concerning our community.

When we are having services and events at the synagogue, it is very important to have a security rota, made up from members who are willing to help by being a presence when members and guests arrive and during proceedings. None of the volunteers need to be formally trained but all security volunteers will receive the necessary training from me, so they are aware of what is needed from them and how to react, in the unlikely event of an emergency or incident. When we have High Holy Days and other Festivals, I also organise a security rota for these services.

Covid Pandemic, I have had online meetings with both of these organisations and through them, have been able to keep Synagogue Council up to date with any potential security issues, for both in person and online matters. I’m pleased to say that there has not been anything major to report, but it’s good to know that they are there, should we need them.

I am always looking for volunteers from our congregation to join the security team, even if it’s just once a year to be at the synagogue during a Friday night or Shabbat morning service. If you are willing to help, please contact the synagogue office and I will be in touch to welcome you on board and explain what’s needed. It doesn’t have to be a regular commitment but we really could do with more help. The more people we have helping, the less any one person needs to be called upon.

I have ongoing contact with the Police and Community Security Trust, which is a Jewish Charity that provides security advice and training for Jewish establishments, including schools and synagogues. We have a good relationship with both and they continually provide us with physical Wishing you a happy and healthy 2022. assistance as well as intelligence, should there be any potential problems David Gold concerning our community. During the

East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue is committed to the safeguarding and wellbeing of all of our members In our welcoming and inclusive ELELS community, we wish to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable, supported and safe. However, if you are concerned about a member or if a child or adult discloses information to you that makes you feel concerned about their safety or welfare, or the safety or welfare of another, please inform one of the named Safeguarding Team below by phoning the office on 020 8989 7619 and leaving a message for them to call you, or by emailing safeguarding@elels.org.uk.

Alternatively you can call Redbridge Social Services directly: Childrens’ Social Services: 020 8708 3885 (Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm) or 020 8708 5897 outside of these hours Adult Social Services: 020 8708 7333 (Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm) or 0208 553 5825 outside of these hours Remember that it is never wrong to feel concerned and it is better to inform one of the Safeguarding Team than do nothing at all. Please visit our website for our safeguarding policy and further information. In an emergency dial 999

HaGesher | January 2022 | 09

Who can be a member of our Synagogue?

Council thinks that the time has now come to review our membership policy

Our current membership policy dates back to 2017 when ELELS was formed. In practice, however, it goes back long before then: the rules for membership were similar at Bet Tikvah and Woodford Liberal Synagogues, and when they merged these policies were carried over to ELELS without much discussion.

Council thinks that the time has now come to review our membership policy more carefully:

The question of who can be a member of a synagogue might Our membership group is: seem straightforward but there is no simple answer. Progressive • Researching the membership movements such as Liberal or policies of Progressive shuls Reform Judaism in the UK, or their around the UK and the world equivalents in the USA, do not tell • Thinking about our vision for their member communities what ELELS in 2022 and beyond (you their policies should be - it’s up to can read about our principles each shul to decide. And that’s why, on our website) and the values although we can see trends within and spirit of Liberal Judaism (‘a movements, there are a wide range home for your Jewish story’); of policies in use. and Any Jewish person who agrees with • Holding a series of consultation the values and aims of our meetings with ELELS members community can join ELELS but to understand what our things get more complicated when community thinks we start to think about non-Jews who are involved with our This is important work. More and community. Often, but not always, more Jews are marrying or they are partners of our members. partnering with non-Jews and we Some Progressive synagogues expect this trend to continue. This allow non-Jewish partners to be is a decision that could therefore members of the shul, to have have a big effect on our voting rights, to sit on or chair community. This consultation will committees, and (although take place over the next two unusual) to be Chair of the months and we really hope community. Other Progressive everyone takes part has their say. synagogues have a separate The views the group collects at membership category for nonthese meetings will help us to write Jewish partners that does not a policy that members can feel is include voting rights and restricts their own. the committees that those For more information about the members can sit on or chair. group, to find out how to join one of the consultation meetings, or simply to talk about possible changes, please email Nick Young community.development@elels.org .uk.

Ben Glassman

10 | HaGesher | January 2022

Community development 2022 looks to be another year of exciting development and growth at ELELS.

We hope that you’ll take some of the many opportunities to grow together with the community.

Why not make 2022 a year of Jewish learning? Our weekly Hebrew Ulpan classes return for the third year under the leadership of Hagi Cohen; could 2022 be the year that you learn to speak Hebrew?

LGBTQ+ Pride Shabbat Welcome to the first of our Aliz events.

LGBTQ+ and allies Shabbat Service followed by a meal with Rabbi Richard Jacobi Friday 11th February 2022 at 18:30* at ELELS/Marlborough Road.

Free of charge but a donation will be appreciated, please contact the office for details.

*Subject to change to virtual following government guidelines on Covid-19”

Lunch and learn sessions, fortnightly on Thursdays have always attracted a broad group of members and guests who have been illuminated, stirred and amused by Rabbi David’s teachings (usually from the Talmud).

Our monthly Rosh Chodesh group led by Student Rabbi Eleanor Davis provide the opportunity to learn from women of the bible and relate their lessons to our modern lives.

We also continue to hold monthly Torah study services and if you would like to know more about Judaism, then our Access to Judaism classes run all year round covering Jewish customs, rituals, liturgy, history, Israel and more.

We also offer regular social activities; Elevensies meet on weekday mornings for coffee and a chat. If it’s football you’re into, then our More than a Game group gathers monthly to debate the current hot topic. We also have a group who play word games each week on a Monday afternoon.

Among our new initiatives for 2022 will be Aliz, a Shabbat space for LGBTQ+ and allies which begins in February. This was the idea of Efraim Hazzan, one of our more recent members who we are delighted to say has become very involved with the community too.

We’ll also be unveiling our new community Instagram pageanother way to interact with ELELS, and launching a set of consultations on our membership policy as our Chair, Ben Glassman writes in these pages.

On the cultural side, we have a programme of illuminating speakers including, in January, Nicola Shindler, producer of Ridley Road, and in February, Pam Fox speaking about her book on golden Although we have a small years of the Jewish hotels of professional team, none of our Bournemouth. programmes and activities could run without the involvement of our members who make it all happen.

What could you do to help?

Click on our Volunteers webpage at https://elels.org.uk/community/volunteering/ to see where we could use a hand and let us know if something grabs you. Or if you have any suggestions for activities that we’re running please get in touch. I’m always delighted to hear from you. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2022.

Nick Young community.development@elels.org.uk HaGesher | January 2022 | 11

What an eventful first term it has been for the Cheder and for my wife Jennie and me, with the birth of our baby boy, Orien Bert D’Young!

Much like the Cheder, Oriens’ doing very well and continues to grow.

We returned to the classroom from more than a year of Zoom cheder in September, and although we’ve had to adapt certain practices in light of Covid, the Cheder atmosphere has not been dimmed. The teachers have reacclimatised themselves brilliantly, and with the addition of Jennie joining the staff to teach Bereishit, whilst guiding our madrichim, we hit the ground running. This also meant that the Cheder was in capable hands when we went on leave for the birth of Orien.

Thanks to the Cheder staff and Sharon Pinhas, Jo Twyman and Nick Young, who covered me during that period.

On that note, I would also like to say a massive thank you to all the parents and Council for the very kind gifts of an Italian hamper for us and clothes for Orien, they are very much appreciated (particularly the Man United vest!).

We began the year with the Rosh Hashanah Fete (which you can read

12 | HaGesher | January 2022

about on our website: https:// elels.org.uk/the-perfect-start-to-thecheder-year/), which was a great pre-cursor to returning to Cheder in person. Areas of study for Bereishit (4-6) and Shmot (7-10) this term have included exploring the biblical stories of Noah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Joseph through drama, discussion, arts and craft, as well as creating prayers, along with Vayikra (11+), which have been filtered into a revised Family Service Liturgy. The oldest class also delved into Tikkun Olam, the art of the D’var Torah, and created a video presentation about the Right to Food which was shared by the group with the community on Human Rights Shabbat.

On Mitzvah Day the children made very thoughtful cards for the refugee children of families based in Seven Kings and donated to collections for Jason Lee House and refugees.

Thanks to Merle Muswell for coordinating our Mitzvah Day efforts.

On top of this we had two hybrid family services which were an absolute pleasure and the Cheder Chanukkah party featuring doughnuts, dreidels, Maccabee training and The Chanukkah Gelt Challenge. Athough we couldn’t do the larger family party that was planned, our Cheder parents provided Chanukkah goodie bags for the children and the wonder of the festival was suitably celebrated!

Lastly, a massive mazaltov to Zach Duck and Tobey Barnett who were B’nei Mitzvah this term and did their families and the community proud.

In the meantime, keep safe and well Best wishes, Jonathan Young, Head Teacher

The Rosh Hashanah Fete After nearly a year and a half of meeting for Cheder online, Saturday 4 September saw the children and families from Cheder gather once more in person

The occasion was a Rosh Hashanah Fete designed to be a curtain-raiser to the Cheder year, a celebration of the Jewish New Year, and above all, a festive reunion!

The event itself didn’t disappoint.

Despite darker skies earlier in the day, the grey had cleared by the time that people began to gather in the beautiful setting that was the garden of our members Steph and Juls Dawson. By the time that Rabbi Richard Jacobi arrived to lead singing and a Shechechyanu prayer with Cheder Headteacher Jonathan Young, there were around 70 Cheder students, parents and siblings all enjoying a wonderful Shabbat morning in the open air next to Epping Forest.

The Cheder staff led age and class specific activities that ranged from face painting, making apple and honey decorations, New Year’s bracelets, to New Year inspired improvised artwork and games. There was an ice cream van that provided treats for younger and older alike, and a bouncy castle that had been sponsored by the Jack Petchey Awards.

Cheder Head Jonathan Young said, “After being online for the whole of the previous year it was great that the kids could all reforge bonds with their peers and for the parents to meet in a safe environment.”

Our thanks go to the New Generations Committee for organising the event, to Jonathan and the teachers for leading the activities and to Steph and Juls, our exceptionally gracious hosts. It was a timely, joyous and invigorating event and a wonderful way to reconvene.

We’re all hoping that it can become an annual event!

Nick Young

A surefire highlight for many however was the chance to throw wet sponges at the adults. Rabbi Richard was the first to step into the frame to get drenched by the children, followed by Jonathan Young (pictured). By the end of the morning very few of the adults present had managed to escape that same fate!

HaGesher | January 2022 | 13

Eight nights of Chanukkah at ELELS After the success of our eight nights of light in 2020 when we held eight communal candle lightings on Zoom, there was great enthusiasm for doing the same in 2021. It all worked out beautifully, with another eight communal gatherings led by different groups from our congregation, and partnering with communities around the world.

The first night:

The third night:

The fifth night

On Sunday 28 November Mich Sampson and our Tots families provided the perfect start to Chanukkah. We sang songs, said the blessings, lit candles and had a lot of fun led by Mich and the youngest in our community.

This was another international evening as we lit our candles with the Keren Or Liberal Synagogue of Lyon, France. We have close connections to Keren Or, as Rabbi Daniele Touati, their Rabbi, completed her final year Rabbinic training placement at ELELS and set up our thriving Rosh Chodesh Group, which leads us on to……

For the 5th night, on Thursday 2 December, we joined our colleagues at the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) who lit candles at the Egalitarian Kotel in Jerusalem. It was a very powerful event at the most symbolic site. Progressive Jews gathered from around the world to join IMPJ leadership, guests from the Government of Israel and Jerusalem area Reform rabbis. The photograph shows the Nigunum Ensemble, who gave uplifting renditions of a number of songs including Mi Yimaleil.

The second night: We joined with the teachers and some of the students at Dror Eshbal, the educator’s Kibbutz in the Galilee, Israel.

Eshbal works on co-existence projects as well as supporting some of the most economically deprived areas of the country. Eshbal is also one of the charities chosen to benefit from our High Holy Day Appeal this year. After introductions, candle lighting and singing, Gilad Perry, International Director of Eshbal, updated us on its inspiring work and thanked ELELS members for their support.

14 | HaGesher | January 2022

The fourth night: The 4th night of candle lighting was led

by Rabbi Eleanor Davis and the Rosh Chodesh Group themselves! The lighting included beautiful singing (and harmonising) by Mich Sampson and was followed by a study session that was enjoyed and appreciated by all.

The sixth night Our Erev Shabbat 6th night of candle lighting was led by Emeritus Rabbi David with Fiona Hulbert, before the service, led by Simon Benscher.

The seventh night On Shabbat morning, we held a very moving Chanukkah Shelanu inclusive Shabbat service (pictured) which included candle lighting. The service was led by Mich Sampson and Tommy Precious alongside Rabbi Richard Jacobi.

On Saturday evening, we gathered at 5.30pm for Havdalah and candle lighting led by our Elevensies group.

The Elevensies group was set up during Covid and continue, to meet

daily on weekdays for coffee and a chat at 11am. The group has been a lifeline for its members through the pandemic and it was wonderful that they could share their light with us for Chanukkah.

Our final, and eighth night.

Our 8th night’s lighting was improvised at short notice when it became apparent that the planned in-person Chanukah party couldn’t go ahead.

Rabbi Richard and Jonathan Young (Cheder Headteacher) took the lead.

Among the highlights, Jonathan and his wife Jennie read us the story of the Maccabees in rhyme, Rabbi Richard led us through some classic Chanukkah tunes including Puff the Kosher Dragon, and we announced the winners of our childrens’ virtual Chanukkah competitions. Despite our final evening not being as we’d imagined, this was a truly festive and inter-generational way to round off Chanukkah. Thanks to everybody involved!

It was with great delight that I was approached and asked if the Elevenses group would like to lead Havdalah and the Chanukkah candle lighting on the 7th day. The Group were very much “up for it”, and thoroughly enjoyed the delivering of it.

On behalf of the group, I would like to thank Nick for asking us to participate, and besides my grandson Casper tilting the Havdalah candle a little bit too far and dripping wax over the chair he was sitting on, my trousers and the carpet, I've not heard of any other incidents!

We’re on Zoom every day, Monday to Friday, from 11am for about 30 minutes, why not come along and join us.

Gary Freedman

The New Generations Committee had long been planning an inperson Chanukkah party on the last night of Chanukkah and 120 people had signed up.

Unfortunately, the emergence of the Omicron variant and sharply rising case numbers meant that the event had to be cancelled. However, the Committee and the Cheder staff were determined that the children would get a Chanukkah party and so new plans were hatched!

Instead of a big family event, the Cheder teachers recreated the party at the Cheder on Saturday 4th December!

There were Chanukkah arts and crafts,

doughnut eating competitions, dreidel spinning and lots of other fun activitiesas you can see from the pictures.

Also on that morning, members of the New Generations Committee came into the Synagogue and created party bags filled with goodies including dreidels, gelt and Chanukkah colouring sheets.

The bags were given to the Cheder children to take home, but were also delivered to children who had registered to come to the party. Our thanks go to the parents of the Committee and also to the Cheder parents who helped out with the deliveries which went locally (Waltham Forest and Redbridge) and beyond the M25! Thanks also to Jonathan Young and the teaching team at the Cheder for their flexibility and making sure that our children got a Chanukkah party to remember!

A big thanks to all involved, especially to Mich Sampson, who played a lead role in several, and Rabbi Richard Jacobi who led some lightings and oversaw the programme HaGesher | January 2022 | 15

Remembering my Dad, Ashley Marks, by Louise

Dad was known as a diligent, quiet and dedicated man, who worked extremely hard to get things done. He wasn’t ostentatious or showy, his tastes were modest and he was happy to be the one in the background doing the work and shied away from public acclaim or recognition. He didn’t do anything to be ‘seen’ to do it, he just did the right thing and his actions always spoke louder than his words.

He was the most dependable, kind, and supportive Dad that anyone could ask for. He was always available to help in any way he could, no questions asked, and he never judged me, or Daniel, for any choices we made, he was just there for us. He worked hard all his life to make sure that Daniel and I had the best start in life and we had a wonderful upbringing, in a home that always felt warm and loving.

Dad suffered three major illnesses in his life but I don’t remember him complaining at any point. He had an incredible positive mental attitude and he was determined to live a full and happy life.

He got a great deal of pleasure out of the simple things in life, like his stamp collection, tending his garden, listening to music, and spending time with his family and friends. The fact that Dad was unable to overcome his last illness was not for want of trying, but he had done so well and fought against the odds for so long. It was time for him to finally find some peace.

Dad was a loving husband to our Mum for 33 years. I am comforted by the belief that they are now together again and watching over us, and hopefully proud of what they see. He was a devoted carer for Mum after she became ill, as she had cared for and supported him through his illnesses; between them they showed me the true meaning of love and marriage, ‘in sickness and in health’. As Mum didn’t get to meet her Grandchildren, I am incredibly grateful to have experienced the joy of seeing Dad with my children, Shoshana and Eli, to whom he was a wonderful, proud and doting Grandpa.

As I write this, it is the day before what would have been Dad’s 70th birthday. Of course it would have been wonderful to have celebrated this with him, and to have had him in our lives for longer than we did.

We have suffered a great loss and I know he will be sadly missed by the community, along with Daniel, me, and his family and friends.

Tomorrow and always, I will focus on the love and gratitude I feel for my wonderful Dad, and on remembering the many happy times we shared.

Louise Marks

16 | HaGesher | January 2022

Ashley Marks - A colleague and a friend I first met Ashley when were attending meetings prior to our two synagogues merging, to talk through how that would work. Mel Millenbach and I were the co-Treasurers of WLS and we joined Ashley to become the three coTreasurers of the newlyformed ELELS.

At first we met weekly as there was so much to do and sort out. We all became great colleagues, working through the finances and learning more about each other.

Ruth and I had the pleasure of meeting Ashley, his lovely wife Michelle, and their children Louise and Daniel way back in the 1990s when we joined what was then Barkingside Progressive Synagogue, later to be renamed Bet Tikvah, and then to come together with Woodford Liberal to form ELELS.

He now wished to dedicate time to his garden. I had other ideas and asked him if he would like to become Treasurer and a member of Council.

(Well, I really more begged, pleaded and nagged!!).

accounts and our office. He was responsible for opening the new bank accounts in our new name which, as anyone who was involved at the time, would acknowledge what a difficult and frustrating job that was.

Thankfully for us all, he agreed and joined Council and became an Officer of the synagogue. He set to the task with amazing energy and dedication.

He reformed many of the systems of accounting and office procedures and made everything more efficient. He was also very good at making better use of our funds, such a quality for a Treasurer of a charitable organisation.

Ashley always looked for savings wherever possible. More economical ways of purchasing supplies, better contracts for energy supplies or phone lines, or with any other of the many items that a synagogue needs. To say Ashley was dedicated is an underestimation of his efforts. He worked tirelessly for us all and in the interests of ELELS. When he became ill, he still tried to carry on and be involved until sadly, he had to step down due to various stays in hospital and weakness.

At first, Ashley was not seen too much at the synagogue. Michelle was involved as a Council member, sat on the Religious Practices group, sang in the choir and of course, was a fantastic House Manager also providing wonderful Kiddushim for various events over the years. That is when we saw Ashley as the whole family got involved in catering for us all, including our second Seder night gatherings.

When I became Chair of Bet Tikvah, Ashley had recently retired from a very successful career in the Civil Service where he worked with distinction in the Home Office and other departments.

Ashley gave his all to anything he took on and he never stopped looking for better ways to tackle all aspects of the accounts. He would spend endless hours researching banks and suppliers, always looking for the best return for the synagogue. He dealt with the payroll and staff pension requirements.

Over the years I got to know Ashley and some of the interesting things he had done. He was a gentleman and a truly good friend, always offering to help and enquiring if there was anything he could do.

When the idea of the two synagogues coming together was suggested, he engaged with all discussions looking at the practicality and the economics of it all. Michelle and Ashley were great supporters of this project and began to work towards it.

Sadly, Michelle was to pass away just as ELELS was coming in to being. It was, of course, a hard time for Ashley and the family, but he continued with his dedication to working to bring the accounts of both synagogues together.

Ashley was on the first Board of Directors of ELELS and became one of three Treasurers with Tina Gold and Mel Millenbach. He worked hard setting up new systems to run our

Ashley and I spent many hours working on various finance requirements and I’ll miss our chats and the great support he gave. Even after he stepped down as co-Treasurer, he continued to deal with many aspects of the treasury work for as long as he could before handing over the last few tasks as they became too much for him.

We all owe so much to him for the dedication and hard work he put into firstly BT and then ELELS. For me, I will miss a wonderful colleague and a great friend.

Tina Gold

Ashley was also a very good friend, helping friends and family when he could. I will never forget that, when he was in the last weeks of his life and very weak, he still would call me to asked how my wife, Ruth, was getting on in hospital.

Michelle and Ashley were such a part of our lives over so many years, we were proud to call them friends, and our synagogue owe them a great deal for so much dedicated work for our community over so many years.

Stewart Spivack

HaGesher | January 2022 | 17

LJ trip to Israel, coinciding with the Israel Movement’s Biennial Shabbat on 17 - 18 June 2022. This is a very exciting opportunity to engage with Israel and all its wonders.

Whilst we’re still in the early stages of planning, we would like to know if anyone is interested in joining us?

The current plan but still to be confirmed, is currently for participants to: •

Fly out on (or before, if they wish) Sunday 12 June, ready to join the first day of four programmed days on the Monday;

•

Join four days of tours to: Haifa and the north; Jerusalem; Communities near Gaza; Tel Aviv / Yafo;

•

If they wish, spend Shabbat and the weekend with IMPJ and others. We might be able to ‘piggy-back’ on other delegations and gain high-profile access e.g. to Knesset, the egalitarian section of the Kotel etc and,

•

If they wish, join optional extensions, as yet undefined.

Please do contact Sam Ly our administrator on administrator@elels.org.uk to register your interest, once we have an idea of numbers we will be able to plan accordingly.

A Hawthorn tree for Warran Rolnis On Monday 24th January I was in Valentines Park, with some of Warran’s very old friends from their Air Cadets days, to plant and dedicate a Hawthorn tree in Warran's memory. Warran was a keen birdwatcher and lover of nature conservation, so we know he would've been delighted to have this tree planted for him. Hawthorn is a native species, with flowers that attract pollinating insects in spring, and a crop of berries that birds depend on in winter.

It will be lovely to visit the park periodically to watch the tree thrive in years to come.

Jan Martin-Ellis 18 | HaGesher | January 2022

Our Ulpan courses are back for 2022!

Want to Speak Hebrew like an Israeli in 2022?

New subsidised online Hebrew Ulpan evening classes for Beginners, Lower and Upper Intermediate students starting in January 2022 at East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue taught by a qualified, native speaker teacher.

Sessions will be online with the possibility of special in-person sessions for festivals/special events during the year.

Classes will be on Tuesday/Wednesday evenings 3 terms of 90 minute lessons across 2022 from January - Autumn Cost £180 for ELELS/LG/MRJ members, £210 for other guests.

Classes will go ahead subject to minimum numbers registering.

Contact Nick Young for more information at community.development@elels.org.uk or 0208 989 7619

At ELELS, after two years of running successful Ulpan classes taught by Hagi Cohen, our qualified native speaker teacher, we are opening up new subsidised online classes for January 2022. We are hoping to open a brand new class for complete beginners, as well as a new Lower Intermediate class for last year’s starters, and an Upper Intermediate Group for our more advanced learners.

Sessions will be online with the possibility of special in-person sessions for festivals/special events during the year.

•

Classes to take place on Tuesdays/Wednesday evenings: Beginners - Wednesdays 6.15-7.45pm Lower Intermediates - Tuesdays 8-9.30pm Upper Intermediates - Wednesdays 8-9.30pm • A year-long Ulpan with 90 minute classes across 3 terms • Taught by Hagi Cohen and Yael Breuer, qualified, experienced native speaker teachers • Classes are lively and interactive and focus on practical conversation skills, but also include listening, reading, writing and Israeli culture.

• Classes are generously sponsored by the WZO. • Classes are online with occasional in-person/ hybrid get togethers on festivals and special occasions where possible.

Course Fees: • ELELS/LJ/MRJ members- £180 • Other guests- £210 • Textbook not included in course price Please note that the classes will only begin subject to minimum numbers registering.

Contact Nick Young at community.development@elels.org.uk to register your interest or for more information.

HaGesher | January 2022 | 19

LGBTQ+ Pride Shabbat Welcome to the first of our Aliz events.

LGBTQ+ and allies Shabbat Service followed by a meal with Rabbi Richard Jacobi Friday 11th February 2022 at 18:30* at ELELS/Marlborough Road.

Free of charge but a donation will be appreciated, please contact the office for details.

*Subject to change to virtual following government guidelines on Covid-19”

20 | HaGesher | January 2022

Bravely and Openly: A conversation about Assisted Dying

On Tuesday 14 December, Rabbi Richard Jacobi hosted a thoughtprovoking and powerful panel discussion on the subject of Assisted Dying for our local ECAMPS communities. It’s a topical matter, especially as the island of Jersey very recently became the first place in the British Isles to allow it.

On the panel were Rabbi Danny Rich, Dr Farrel Igielman and Rabbi Dr Tali Artman. Each panellist presented a set of perspectives on the topic before answering questions from the audience.

Rabbi Rich, the former Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism, offered a very personal view, as one of the first advocates of the idea that being a committed Jew was not morally incompatible with deciding to end one's life and to asking medical practitioners to assist. He stressed human dignity, talking about how he loved living but would like to die at a time of his own choosing.

Dr Igielman, a member of SWESRS and Consultant in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine, spoke about the shifting position of the British Medical Association (BMA). That position is now neutral as more than 50% of their its members in a recent survey are now in favour of legalising assisted dying.

Rabbi Dr Artman, minister of Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue and lecturer at the Cambridge University Faculty of Divinity, spoke about the ethical and Jewish process and took a different angle, which opened out the discussion further.

Presenting the traditional Jewish view that “Life belongs to God”, she told the moving story of visiting her father-inlaw in hospital years ago where he had shared a ward with a Holocaust survivor who was re-experiencing the trauma of a concentration camp. She had witnessed the moment at which the survivor, who had been ready to die, had realised that the nurse who was treating him was not a concentration camp guard but a medical professional who was there to help. It was a moment that had given the man peace and release which he wouldn’t have known had he passed away sooner.

Through the presentations and the questions and answers that followed, the discussions focused on the issue of who makes the decision that a life has value or not; whether the individual, the medical professional who is asked to assist the ending of life, or society as a whole. The panellists also addressed the argument of the “slippery slope”; that legalising it within a narrow set of circumstances i.e. for the terminally ill

of sound mind, may lead down a very “dangerous” path as the circumstances in which it is permissible become broader over time.

In conclusion, all panellists agreed that the most important thing which the evening’s discussion had highlighted, is that death (“the Big D”) remains a taboo subject that we should all think about and talk about a lot more, especially with our loved ones. In that way, if anything were to happen, people would be better prepared to respond to and respect the wishes of the person who passes away.

Rabbi Jacobi, in his closing comments, thanked the panel for tremendous food for thought. He added that when he meets with newlyweds and new members prior to them joining the shul, burial arrangements are one of first things to be discussed although they are often the last thing that people normally wish to speak about. He reflected that we shouldn’t say “Sadly” before talking about these things, but instead, “Bravely and openly…..”.

This event was recorded and is available to watch online for a limited period. If you would like to watch the discussion please email Nick Young at community.development@elels.org.uk.

Nick Young

HaGesher | January 2022 | 21

Directory - organisations offering support The directory below is our Charity directory, providing non profit making support services to those in need. If you need any support contact details are below. If you know of anyone who could benefit from talking to someone, please do pass on the details.

CHARITY DIRECTORY

CHAI CANCER CARE:

Www.Chaicancercare.Org.Uk

0208202 2211 / 0800 808 4567

JAMI- JEWISH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE

Www.Jamiuk.Org

0208 4582223

JEWISH BLIND & DISABLED

Www.Jbd.Org

0208 371 6611

JEWISH CARE

Www.Jewishcare.Org

0208 922 2222

KESHET FOR LGBTQ EQUALITY IN JEWISH LIFE

Www.Keshetuk

LEAGUE OF JEWISH WOMEN

Www.Lgw.Org

0207 242 8300

AHADA BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

Www.Ahada.Org.Uk

07758 727328

LONDON BOROUGH OF REDBRIDGE

Www.Redbridge.Gov.Uk

0208 554 5000

EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNTY

Www.Eppingforest.Gov.Uk

01992 564000

LONDON BOROUGH OF WALTHAM FOREST

Www.Walthamforest.Gov.Uk

JEWISH WOMENS AID, DOMESTIC ABUSE LINE

Www.Jwa.Org.Uk

0808 801 0500

DINA SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT LINE

Dana@jwa.Org.Uk

0808 8010656

SAMARITANS.

Www.Samaritans.Org

Free phone 116 123

22 | HaGesher | January 2022

ELELS contact list The directory below is our ELELS contact list Please do get in touch with us!

PROFESSIONAL / ELELS OFFICE Office administrator Rabbis

Samantha Ly

administrator@elels.org.uk

Richard Jacobi

rabbi@elels.org.uk

Emeritus Rabbi Hulbert

Contact through the office

Community development Nick Young manger Address

020 8989 7619

Community.development@elels.org.uk

ELELS, Marlborough Road, South Woodford, London, E18 1AR

COUNCIL Chairman

Ben Glassman

chair@elels.org.uk

Vice-chair

Stewart Spivack

vice.chair@elels.org.uk

Hon.Secretary

Sonia Muscovitch

hon.secretary@elels.org.uk

Treasurer

Tina Gold

treasurer@elels.org.uk

Rites and Practices

Elliot Porte

Contact through the office

GDPR / communications

Bob Kamall

data.protection@elels.org.uk

Chesed/Care

Sonia Muscovitch

chesed@elels.org.uk

IT

Bob Kamall

Contact through the office

Safeguarding

Josh Newman

safeguarding@elels.org.uk

Development

Phil Aston

Contact through the office

Property Action Group

Darren Green

Contact through the office

OTHER COMMITTEES

Burial Officers

Sue Nathanson Jane Porte Judith Konzon

07922 904643 07922 904643 Contact through the office

Friendship club

Di Kamall

Contact through the office

Cheder Membership

cheder@elels.org.uk Membership@elels.org.uk

HaGesher | January 2022 | 23

24 ||HaGesher HaGesher||May January 20212022