Shofar December 2018

December 2018 / January 2019

Shofar

‫שופר‬

the magazine of finchley progressive synagogue

“Yet will I turn their mourning into gladness"

Jeremiah 31:13

Spotlight On...

On

November 15, Rafael Qassim was invited to the 80th Commemoration of the Kindertransport.

Mia Barlow of Safe Passage wrote to tell him that he was one of three winners of the “Our Turn” schools’ letters competition.

His letter was recorded and played as people waited for the 80th commemoration event to begin, at Friends House, Euston. (See p.14).

MAZAL TOV! Rafael’s winning “Safe Passage” letter: Dear Friend Welcome to your new home. I am so pleased that our government made the decision to make sure you and your family can settle here. I am so pleased our local council decided to welcome 15 Syrian families into our country. I am now friends with several of them. I have watched my friends Muhammad and Safwan who are 6 and 4 learn good English and be able to be happy at school.

My sister Dora has spent time with another child my age, Yaara, they do homework together and Yaara wants to go to the school near our house.

Shofar is always interested in hearing your news and including photos of FPS members, and their families, near and far.

We welcome your articles on any relevant topic. Please send these to shofar@fps.org Remember, p.2 is open to FPS members.

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rafael qassim

I live in Barnet and my mum is a rabbi , a leader of a Jewish community. My previous generations have suffered but so far I’ve had no bad luck because I was born into a safe environment and am fortunate enough to be safe in my home. I can’t imagine what it’s like to feel to live in a war zone, where my parents can’t assure my safety. But I can guarantee you that you will be welcomed in and loved by your new diverse neighbourhood. In my school we get to share our cultural opinions and don’t get given a hard time depending on what we believe in or where our families have come from. I hope you have this experience. My family is Jewish from Russia, Poland and Lithuania many years ago, and on my Dad’s side from Iraq and Sweden. I have a vegetarian life in my mum’s house apart from the weekly chicken on Shabbat, a Jewish Friday Night Dinner, and the occasional beef and lamb. At my dad’s we have meat a lot. As he is Swedish and Iraqi my father makes cultural meals. I hope you get to try our Chicken soup as it’s a very Jewish food and quite delicious.

My family have become good friends with other families and I wish to become friends with yours.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy living in the United Kingdom.

Your Friend Rafael, aged 11

Cover: “Autumn Leaves” by Tessa Phillips, from the Nature photo exhibition, FPS. Correction: November’s Shofar cover was graced by Councillor Rabbi Danny Rich, Rabbi Rebecca, and Councillor Reuben Thompstone, Barnet Mayor, not as was listed, Brian Salinger.

Copy deadline is the 10th of each month. Please email all content to shofar@fps.org

From the Rabbi

rabbi rebecca birk

Chanukah

is a welcome moment of light in what has been an unremitting stream of violence and grief these past months. The story of Chanukah was originally also one of violence and nationalism, we think, with the small group of Hasidim (Maccabees) overcoming the ruling powers of the Seleucid Greeks under Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The name Chanukah refers of course to the rededication of the Temple, after apparently being used in profane and inappropriate ways. An image of a pig being cleared out is one told to every generation.

Chanukah comes from Chinuch (“education”) and also means dedication (we frequently have a Chanukat Habayit, a dedication of the home).

It was the rabbis in the Talmud (tractate Shabbat) that asked the question MAI CHANUKAH? What is Chanukah? So uncomfortable were they with this tale of military might that they introduced the miracle of one day’s ration of oil lasting eight days. They introduced light to the historical darkness of the story. They also amplified diligence, piety and purity as the mainstays of true Judaism.

Assimilation and fusion with Greek culture were not. The story is compelling. And the minor festival (thanks to Christmas, gifts and chocolate coins) has been promoted to a festival favourite.

Amidst the extreme views we witness all around us, Chanukah may now need different amplification. As contemporary Jews, proudly integrating Judaism into our lives, we see integration as a good thing. We have found, and continue to find, that being Jewish and British is far from mutually exclusive. Moderate and liberal, Chanukah may remind us that our Judaism can and should be passionate, principled and open. Our concern for others is deeply Jewish, our desire for Jewish time and

ritual to infuse our lives is deeply traditional and the integration of both very appropriate.

For three days last month I lived in the grounds of Windsor Castle. I stayed in a small annex house tucked behind the chapel. I woke early both days for morning prayers, held in the choir (where the royal family sit). It was special.

I took great pleasure in ducking under the tourist barriers from my private quarters. Or taking a stroll once the visitors had left with my official guest pass positioned prominently for the guards patrolling at night. I was there for a leadership course. But the wonder of the week was staying there and reflecting on the path of Jews here, in this country, these past generations.

There is much to appreciate since Jews were welcomed back into the British Commonwealth by the end of the 17th century under Oliver Cromwell. Nevertheless, my stay at Windsor Castle forced me to recognise the contradictions of that era, for the Royalty, the Irish, and the Roman Catholics. But with lifting of the Edict of Expulsion, Chanukah should illuminate the opportunity for us to continue to build a strong liberal British-Jewry, despite (and even because of) the light and dark of history, coloured by ambivalence.

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From the Chair As

previous reports from the Chair have highlighted, the Board is going from strength to strength. Our November meeting was positive and action focussed. We also reflected on the synagogue’s recent successes. As each Board member has a specific area of responsibility we are delighted and grateful to Phillip Raphael (Security) for arranging for the synagogue gates to be replaced. And they are working! And also to Maureen Lobatto, who has been responsible for supporting new members, helping them to integrate and to find roles within the Community.

As such, a breakfast meeting is scheduled for 8 December when Maureen is handing over her area of responsibility to others (yet to be identified). The Board is grateful for her hard work and innovation. Tamara Joseph (Honorary Secretary), Anjy Pavell (Vice Chair), and Alan Banes (Honorary President), have done a great

cathy burnstone

deal of work regarding our Governance and ensuring that we fully comply with requirements by the Charities Commission in adhering to its legislation. To this end we now have policy and procedures such as Safeguarding, Complaints, and Conflicts of Interest Policy, to name but a few.

Our Land Group met again with Jeremy Leaf, Estate Agent, to consider the potential purchase of land for sale adjacent to the synagogue. If anyone has questions or feedback please speak to me or another Board Member.

KT WEEKEND

London's Calling!

Kabbalat Torah from across the uk for a weekend of FUN at finchley progressive synagogue

Fri 18th - Sun 20th january ÂŁ25 per person

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It’s gifts in Wills that mean we can support thousands of people to celebrate the festivals they love Thanks to gifts in Wills we can make sure Abraham, Helen and many other people like them can stay in touch with their Jewish roots whenever they like.

We depend on gifts in Wills for £1 in every £4 we need to raise. For more information about leaving a gift in your Will and our free Will Writing Service call Alison Rubenstein on 020 8922 2833 or email legacyteam@jcare.org #PeopleOfJewishCare

Charity Reg No. 802559

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Notice Board marika henriques

will be delivering the sermon at Shabbat service on 8 December. challah chat & plait brigade

You might have received challah if you have been unwell, marking a yahrzeit or needing a pick up. Our Challah-making team is led by Deborah Laikin. We are also now having our own fresh challah at Shabbat here at FPS made by volunteers every week.

If you fancy joining the Chat and Plait Brigade on Sundays do come along or be in touch with Deborah via the office: 020 8446 4063

people a warm welcome to our new member

our deepest condolences to

Gordon Greenfield

David Lewis whose mother Trudie died in October

welcome home to

stone settings

Trish Banes after an extended stay in hospital

The stone setting of the late Alan Rose will take place at Edgwarebury Cemetery at 9.30am on Sunday 9 December and will be officiated by Rabbi Rebecca Birk The stone setting of the late Helen Ezra will take place at Edgwarebury Cemetery at 10.15am on Sunday 13 January and will be officiated by Rabbi Rebecca Birk

congratulations to

Carmel Smith celebrating her adult Bat Mitzvah at FPS in December; Hannah Edgar celebrating her Bat Mitzvah at FPS in January; David and Betti Lewis on their forthcoming marriage in January; Igal Samuel, Rita Ellman, Jeffrey de Paul, Robert Bruckner, Patricia Hinson, Anthony Zucker, Jeannette Duarte-Vergara and Jacqueline Joseph celebrating milestone birthdays in December and January

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Beit Tefillah

services at fps

services – december / kislev moving into tevet Friday 30 November

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 1 December

11.00am Shabbat B’Yachad

Friday 7 December

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 8 December

11.00am Shabbat Service Sermon with Marika Henriques

Friday 14 December

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 15 December

11.00am Shabbat Service celebrating Carmel Smith Adult Bat Mitzvah

Friday 21 December

6.30pm Shabbat Resouled

Saturday 22 December

11.00am Shabbat Service

Friday 28 December

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 29 December

11.00am Shabbat Service

services – january Friday 4 January

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 5 January

11.00am Shabbat B’Yachad

Friday 11 January

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 12 January

11.00am Shabbat Service celebrating Hannah Edgar Bat Mitzvah

Friday 18 January

6.30pm Shabbat Resouled

Saturday 19 January

11.00am Shabbat Service followed by Tu B’Shvat Seder

Friday 25 January

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 26 January

11.00am Shabbat Service

Friday 1 February

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 2 February

11.00am Shabbat B’Yachad

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Beit Knesset bridge group

Mondays @ 7.30pm, £4. There are even small prizes for winners! For details contact Paul SilverMyer via the synagogue office on 020 8446 4063 yoga

Tuesdays @ 7.30pm Contact Richard on 020 8349 9602 rosh chodesh

Celebration of the New Moon by women gathering for sharing, learning and spiritual exploration. Next meeting Tuesday 11 December (Tevet) @ 8.00pm FPS Library.

Talk & Swap Session: An evening of books and nibbles and wine and good company. Choose a book (fact or fiction) that you have read that has resonated with you and that you suspect others in the group might not have read. Bring it to the meeting. Talk for a few minutes about your choice, and hear about other people’s choices.

You may wish to lend your book to someone or do a swap. Bring two books if you like!

Monday 7 January (Sh’vat): “Who is Afraid of Disability?” with psychotherapist Shula Wilson.

She founded “Skylark: Psychotherapy service for people affected by disability” and has been running it for 15 years. She can tell us about her work with specialist nurses and present case material around the issue of choice in the context of disability. Contact Wika Dorosz on vdorosz@gmail.com book club

Wednesday 12 December @ 8.00pm, also 9 January The Book Club welcomes you to their meetings, held in people’s homes on the second Wednesday of each month. We choose a variety of books, many—but by no means all—of Jewish interest. The only condition is that the person

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community events, all welcome!

recommending a book must have read (and loved) it, and that it is available in paperback.

Contact Sheila King Lassman on skinglassman@gmail.com or Edgar Jacobsberg on e.jacobsberg@gmail.com learn

Tuesdays, December 4 & 18, 7.30pm start Delving into Judaism with Rabbi Rebecca 4th: “Chanukah and Taking the Moderate Path” 18th: “December Dilemma” Thursdays, 12.00-1.00pm An hour’s learning in the small hall, with Rabbi Rebecca, followed by lunch hosted by Nicola at Café Thursday for anyone who chooses to stay. cafe thursday

Thursdays @ 1.00pm £6 for a freshly-prepared 3-course lunch. For menus or more information contact Nicola Marzell via the synagogue office: 020 8446 4063 pilates

Thursdays @ 5.45-6.30pm led by Tali Swart. Beginners to intermediate; individually tailored instruction. Payment in blocks of six, roughly £8 per lesson. We are now in the large hall so we can accommodate more people. Contact taliswort@btconnect.com cafe ivriah

Saturdays (Term time), 9.45-10.45am All welcome to an informal, wide-ranging and topical discussion, with topics varying from the weekly Torah portion to current affairs. Over coffee and biscuits, between Ivriah drop-off and morning service.

Beit Midrash

learning at fps

continuing series: by the rivers of babylon

This series continues to explore the Jews of many lands – their history, traditions, and present status. The sessions are led by Lionel Lassman.

Thursdays at 7.30-9.00pm in the Small Hall.

Refreshments will be served and there is a discretionary £5 donation. january 2019 new series: human rights

Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration, Thursday 31 January 2019 7.00pm – Refreshments 7.30pm – Candle lighting and readings and contributions on this year’s theme, “Torn from their Homes”.

8.00pm – Presentation by Derek Niemann of his book A Nazi in the family.

A few years ago, Derek made the chilling discovery that his German grandfather Karl had been an SS officer. With the help of surviving relatives and hundreds of previously unknown family photographs, Derek uncovered a startling story.

We will be joined for this event by Rabbi Miriam Berger & members of Finchley Reform Synagogue

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Notice Board breakfast shiur with mauro manela 8.30am saturday 15 december – “an eye for an eye”

breakfast shiur with rabbi dr frank hellner, 8.45am saturday 26 january 2019 “what’s in a name?”

In this Shiur we consider morality from the perspective of two seemingly unrelated topics: lex talionis and the evolution of cooperation.

Lex talionis (an eye for an eye), played a significant role in the history of law and is one of the most famous passages in the Torah. A version of this law is described in the Codex of Hammurabi. The contrast between some of the commands in the Torah and the Codex of Hammurabi provides a fertile ground to highlight desirable attributes of an ideal moral system.

The second topic is approached through a well-known mathematical problem known as the Prisoner’s Dilemma, which embodies in an elegant way the problem of cooperating in challenging environments. Here, a version of the law of retaliation, “equivalent retaliation” (or tit-for-tat), has been shown to be one of the simplest and most effective strategies to promote cooperation.

To bridge the gap between the two topics we consider the notion of free will and the moral ability of an individual to distinguish what is right and wrong.

A delicious Tony Rose breakfast will be served before each Shiur

Long before the Bard of Stratford Upon-Avon asked the question, “What’s in a name?” the biblical author of the Book of Proverbs had already supplied a Jewish response: “A good name is to be chosen over great riches.”

Rabbi Frank Hellner will be exploring All About Names: Jewish traditions and customs of baby-naming, the meaning of names, unusual names, the origin of surnames, some anomalies of naming and a review of God’s many names.

Do join us for a wonderful breakfast and some interesting facts.

A delicious Tony Rose breakfast will be served before each Shiur

walk and talk @ cafe kenwood

FPS invites all members (and their dogs) to join them for a Walk Together in the Woods at Hampstead Heath NW3 Meet at Kenwood House @ 10.00am 2 December Led by Paul Silver-Myer 6 January Led by Paul Silver-Myer

Photo by Adrian Lister 10

fps office closure

The FPS office is closed 25 and 26 December, & 1 January 2019

trainee editor

If you’d like to learn how to be a guest editor of Shofar for a month in 2019, get in touch with CA. at shofar@fps.org

Our Woman on the Board: Janet Tresman Janet Tresman, born into a traditional Orthodox family, is proud of her family heritage so typical of the times, escaping from Russia in the 1880s, her father’s family landing in the East End and her mother’s in Manchester’s docks area.

Her paternal grandfather, number four of ten siblings, and the first born in the UK, gained his Chemistry degree at Kings College London just before being sent off to the trenches. He survived unlike his eldest brother, killed in France in May 1918. Janet’s father was a scholarship boy to Oxford at aged 16 until called up when he trained as a Spitfire pilot in Bomber Command. After the War, he returned to Oxford to read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

Janet’s family moved several times, starting in Yorkshire, then Manchester for her and her two younger brothers to attend King David school until Grammar Schools in Manchester and Leamington Spa, followed by Leeds University. After graduation, she came to London in 1973 to train as a solicitor.

On qualification she worked in Harrow, most nights spent at police stations as Duty solicitor, and most days in Courts and prisons.

In 1981 she moved to Finchley, to Ballards Lane. The yomtovim were generally spent with family in Manchester, parents in Bournemouth or Orthodox friends in North London. Although Janet read Hebrew fluently from the age of five, she had no interest in getting caught up again in the perfume and hats of a women’s gallery and droning of davening on the floor below.

Janet, a longstanding member of the Labour Party, met Roger Lyons at her first Finchley branch meeting; she became instant friends with his wife, Kitty. Dinners with the Lyons family led to Janet coming with them to FPS. She “happily

sarah rosen-webb

gate-crashed” until 1985, when Frank Hellner accepted her application for membership.

She maintains great respect for him and now, Rabbi Rebecca. She feels included, that FPS is her Jewish spiritual home. Janet’s professional career developed from undertaking criminal defence work as well as family law cases and expertise in human rights defence work. All very exciting, she recalls. In fact she says she misses the challenges of the Criminal Courts more than sitting as a Deputy District Judge in the ’9Os in the Civil Courts.

In 1992, she married; she was appointed a Deputy District Judge the following year; previously she was instrumental in saving the Phoenix Cinema and setting up its Charitable Trust. She was involved in many political campaigns frequently based on antiapartheid issues, and eventually built up a niche family law practice. She singlehandedly set up the family law Mediation service at Barnet Family Court, the most successful in England and Wales, receiving accolades from the Ministry of Justice.

Janet is one of FPS’s two deputies on the Board of Deputies. She says that it allows her to “focus on what’s important to me without getting more involved in politics”. Wishful thinking she reflects. In June she was elected for a third term by the Deputies to serve on the Defence Division, and was co-opted as soon as she became a Deputy to the Board’s Family Law Group. Her current project is a re-write of “Jewish Family Life and Customs.” She continuously appeals for under 35s to join the Board. “The Board needs new life blood to continue to develop, so we can all practice our Judaism in freedom without abuse”.

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Stories from Last Month at FPS... remember baghdad

“Stories are a communal currency of humanity.”

The above quote, from Tahir Shah’s Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams, has never been a more apt description for the commemorative events held over the past few weeks. On 8 November new FPS members, Lionel & Sarah Derriey, hosted the FPS Beit Midrash showing of a documentary film, Remember Baghdad.

The film depicted the growing instability of Iraq where, after centuries of peaceful coexistence with Iraqi Muslims, the Iraqi Jews suffered mistreatment, murder, and eventual expulsion only a generation ago.

Edwin Shuker, a dynamic speaker who attended the event, was filmed purchasing a house in modern Iraq in order to politicise the treatment of the Iraqi Jews, and also to say “the Jews have not all gone”. Shuker was born in Baghdad, is an international activist and public speaker on the subject of Jews from Arab countries, and is promoting human rights in the Middle East. kristallnacht commemoration - 80 years on

“Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it.” Hannah Arendt November 10: A moving, poignant and wellorchestrated commemoration of the November Pogroms (Kristallnacht) was a shared event with Finchley Reform and Finchley Progressive Synagogue. Both FPS’s Rabbi Rebecca and FRS’s Rabbi Miriam Berger led the evening. The hall was packed as the 80th anniversary of those 12

terrible events which signalled the move away from the so-called legal methods to destroy the Jewish communities in Germany, Austria and Sudetenland, to the use of violence, mass arrests of men, and murder. It lead to the extermination of approximately 6 million Jews and the horrific suffering of those who somehow managed to survive the horrors.

The evening opened with Havdallah and consisted of music from the choir, the audience, and from a young girl, Francesca Weiner, with an exquisite voice. There was an address from the German Ambassador, Peter Wittig. He wove together the events that happened prior to and during the Second World War and commented on the increasing racism and antisemitism happening today. He emphasised the need to be vigilant, as did Holocaust historian, Trudi Gold from JW3 who spoke about events leading to that night, eighty years ago.

Kindertransportee, Elsa Karplus Shamash, was just a little girl when she witnessed Kristallnacht. She spoke of the need to keep memory alive. Gordon Greenfield read out the memories and thoughts of Rabbi Harry Jacobi who unfortunately couldn’t be there in person. I showed a short video about my mother’s and aunt’s memories, and there were contributions from Frank Kanter who spoke about how the Nazis used the town of Kirchcain as a Kristallnacht “trial run”. Anita Wegner spoke about her parents’ experience and Paul Israel spoke about the experiences of his great aunt and other members of the family. The evening ended with the memorial prayer, Kaddish and a final song.

As Peggy Sherwood wrote on our Facebook page: “And what an amazing evening it was. So inspirational and moving.”

Lesley Urbach

Chanukah at FPS Join us as different groups in our community light the chanukiah each night of Chanukah. On the first night we are inviting everyone to light the chanukiah at home and share the photos either on the FPS facebook page or by sending them to Zoe at zoe@fps.org. We will make a display of all the photos! On the 3rd night we will be lighting the chanukiah at the Bridge Club; on the

4th night at “Delving into Judaism” and so on.

Until the 8th night – When there’s a bringa-chanukiah-and-a-doughnut party to celebrate the full chanukiah and the final night of the festival.

Check the calendar or the website for timings of each night – and happy Chanukah!

New(ish) to the synagogue?

Join us for coffee before the service to meet other new members.

Saturday 8 December at 9:30am

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Eco Synagogue Month what have we achieved?

Wash, Not Waste: “Don’t wait to be a Mensch” (cf. Rabbi Rebecca!)

In January 2018, FPS signed up as one of four foundational Eco Synagogues in the UK. November was set aside as the month to reflect on achievements and future actions. One of FPS’s green achievements is the saving of nearly 6000 plastic cups from the landfill! How? Too easy.

By not buying plastic (and therefore chalking up savings for the shul) and instead replacing plastic for sustainable and upmarket glass at Kiddush on Shabbat and also for B’nai and B’not Mitzvahs. FPS made the move by choosing to wash rather than waste, its aim being that by setting an example at shul, its members will make similar changes at home. An article on the topic of plastic appeared in Shofar (October 2017). Here’s how we did it: 80 Kiddush cups per Shabbat x 52 = 4160; 150 at Bar and Bat mitzvahs x 12 = 1800. Total 5960 plastic cups not bought, and not dumped.

Policy Development: Consider the Ocean...

On the issue of what to wash with, the Green Team presented a policy document to the FPS Board whereby, at the local level, FPS seeks “to cease contributing to the chemical pollution of the oceans.” We asked the Board to endorse the use of eco-friendly cleaning agents (those not harmful to aquatic life) in the kitchen and washrooms. It is hoped that members will introduce similar changes at home. An article on this topic appeared in November’s Shofar.

And on the Land . . .

During the year Shofar published many of the Eco Synagogue guidelines. One was titled “Our Land”. If you’ve been around the back of the synagogue you’ll see the transformation that Sasha Conroy (here with Sam), along with her

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ca. cranston

volunteer team, have wrestled out of the jungle. What still needs to be done?

Given the size of the land two guidelines need addressing, that (1) the land be managed for the encouragement of native wildlife and plants (e.g. provision of bird boxes and feeders etc.); and (2) the land include areas set aside for growing fruits and vegetables.

And for the Soul . . .

Michael Lassman organised an exhibition of nature photography with a rolling photographic display of pictures supplied by FPS members of places, animals, birds and flowers. There was also a small exhibition with fabulous, mainly ornithological pictures, taken by Samuel Levy.

Shofar’s cover image of oak leaves by Tessa Phillips came from the exhibition.

Green Tip: Give Single-Use Plastic Bags the Heave Ho! Avoiding the purchase of pre-packaged fruit and veg still leaves the problem of putting loose produce into single-use plastic bags (on the left in the picture). There are now feather-weight, fine mesh drawstring bags on the market that can be used over and over (on the right).

Smarter, sustainable.

Greening & Gleaning greening the torah

For his Bar Mitzvah, Oscar Levy read Parashat Noach, from Genesis 7:24 to 8:20.

We asked Oscar to share this on the occasion of Green Shabbat as a young voice concerned with the ethos of caring – for the family, and for the environment. Oscar also used his Parasha to introduce his Liberal Judaism to his Orthodox family. The following is an abridged version.

The mountain that Noach landed on was called Ararat which is now a district in Armenia.

The ark has been searched for, for millennia, but has never been found. The story has been an important part of our scripture (and there is a similar version of this in the Babylonian creation foodshare: feeding people, backing the planet.

Here’s a statistic that will knock your socks off: around a third of all food produced worldwide is wasted. This year, FPS member, Melvyn Newman, signed up Newmafruit to participate in the Foodshare programme, a registered charity that distributes rescued surplus produce to organisations feeding people affected by food poverty across the UK. Volunteers were recruited by Foodshare’s Gleaning network and they gleaned three tonnes of fruit, despite the miserable weather. Environmentally, food production is the single greatest impact humans have on the environment: wasteful, high impact practices used to produce meals are driving deforestation, draining freshwater reserves and exhausting the soil – and account for over quarter of the global greenhouse gas bill. Food seen as “waste” actually has value. If food is still

myths). It may be myth, it may be history, but either way it’s important to all of us.

To give you some background or context: soon after the world was created it seemed human beings behaved badly. God didn’t like this so God decided to wipe out all humans by making a flood. Noach was chosen to build an Ark and fill it with his family – his wife, his three sons and their three wives. And most importantly, for the animal kingdom, he was told to take seven pairs of every pure beast (presumably this means kosher), two of every impure beast, and seven pairs of the birds of the sky. The flood was excessively strong and lasted 40 days and 40 nights. The floodwaters remained high for 150 days. The piece I am reading begins with God remembering Noach and all the animals and Continued on Page 17

fit for human consumption, it feeds people.

If not, it feeds livestock and fish, and finally, it feeds the soil through compost and manure. All three levels of the food system—humans, animals and soils—need to be fed and replenished to create a sustainable future, and help the planet to regenerate. If you are part of a food producer or a supplier organisation, visit the Foodshare website, and see how to feed people and prevent waste: www.fareshare.org.uk Photo: Gleaning for Foodshare: volunteers – the lifeblood behind a Tikkun Olam ethos.

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Commemorations kindertransport commemoration

On 15 November, FPS members joined 1,000 people, including 400 of the Kindertransport children and their descendants. They gathered at Friends House in Euston at a by-invitationonly event hosted by Lord Alf Dubs and Barbara Winton. Rabbi Rebecca was there with her son, Rafael. An extra chair was set aside for Rafael as the winner of the Safe Passage Letter writing competition, which involved writing a letter of welcome to a child refugee (see p.2). Also present was Liberal Judaism vice president Rabbi Harry Jacobi, who arrived in Britain as a child after twice fleeing the Nazis.

tamara joseph

Barbara Winton interviewed Professor Leslie Brent, a Kindertransportee, and also 16-year-old child refugee, Ridwan who, after fleeing Eritrea, travelled for two years via Yemen, Egypt and Italy before finding safety in the UK. His mother and brother drowned while attempting the journey.

Young refugees from the Hummingbird Project announced that as a result of the campaign to resettle 30 child refugees in Barnet over 700 places have now been committed by local authorities around the country.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said of the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme to admit 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020, “You cannot take a role of global leadership and then simply stop,” and that “it must be” that the VPRS continues. kindertransport commemorative walk

Michael Newman, CEO of The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), recalled how “words were transformed into actions” to save the lives of 10,000 children and invoked the words of Armistice Day, “Lest we forget.” In an electrifying opening to her remarks, Rabbi Laura JannerKlausner, the Senior Rabbi of Reform Judaism, began by singing “L’Dor Va-Dor” before saying, “From one generation to the next. Now in our generation it’s our responsibility, obligation and duty to pass on that blessing to child refugees . . . We cannot, we must not, be the generation to break that commitment. Now is the time to answer that call.” Speakers included Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Esther Rantzen.

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80th Anniversary of the Kindertransport A special walk will take place on Sunday 2 December to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport. The walk is 10,000 steps (approximately five miles) from The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) in St John’s Wood to Liverpool Street station. The distance is in honour of the 10,000 children who were brought to the UK on the Kindertransport.

All are invited to join in. Participants must register and will be given a choice of routes to follow. You are advised to walk in small groups of three or four people.

The day starts at 11.00am at the LJS with refreshments. Walkers depart between 11.30am and midday. There is a coach option for nonwalkers, leaving the LJS at 2.30pm. Arrival is at Liverpool Street station by 3.30pm, where a ceremony will mark the 80th Anniversary of the Continued on Page 17

Commemorations commemorative walk / cont. from p.16

first arrival of the Kindertransport children and the first night of Chanukah.

The ceremony is being organised by World Jewish Relief and will take place next to Frank Meisler’s Kindertransport memorial statue outside the station (pictured). Those wishing to take part—whether walking or by coach— should register with Felicia Beder by emailing rabbispa@ljs.org or calling 0207 432 1283. The Kindertransport was an organised rescue effort that brought 10,000 predominantly Jewish children to the UK from Germany and Nazioccupied countries, helping them to escape the Holocaust.

(Photo and text source: LJ Oct 2018)

greening the torah / cont. from p.15

then bringing a wind to finally evaporate the water. Noach and the Ark land on Mount Ararat and rest there for three days waiting to get out.

Noach sends out the raven and the dove to try to find dry land. They keep returning with no evidence of dry land. Finally, the dove returns with an olive branch. When Noach sends the dove again, the dove doesn’t return. After that, Noach gets off the Ark. The first thing he does is build an altar and make a sacrifice of gratitude.

I chose this portion because it’s an exciting story. I also chose this story because it is as if God was trying to eradicate evil with the flood.

And yet evil still returned and exists today.

Let’s hope there is not another flood. I admire Noach’s patience to build the ark and gather

all the creatures before the flood. I would not last a month without Wi-Fi. I am not the most patient when it comes to waiting for something to happen. . . .

In conclusion Noach’s portion tells the story of God’s attempt to eradicate all evil. After the flood the world was refreshed. But evil persists. Human beings now have their part to play to overcome evil and care for the earth.

They must use the world and nature with care and restraint. It is for us to conserve the world and treat it as a precious gift. I think caring for the environment is as great a mitzvah as any other and one that I pledge to carry out.

My Tzedakah project is raising money for Water Aid to help people all over the world to have access to clean drinking water.

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hannah edgar’s bat mitzvah, 12 january

My name is Hannah and I have lived in East Finchley all my life. I have a brother Josh, who is 16, and the household also includes a dog and cat. I am in Year 8 at the Archer school, where my favourite subjects are English, Music and History, and I previously went to Coldfall Primary in Muswell Hill. Outside school I enjoy netball, piano, singing and bullet-journaling, as well as watching series such as “Stranger Things”, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”, “Riverdale” and “The Good Place”.

The plan for my Tzedakah project is to give homework help to children of the Syrian refugee families who recently arrived in Barnet and have been welcomed warmly by our shul. This ties in with my portion, which is about the Israelites attempting to flee Egypt, where they had been amsterdam trip

Kabbalat Torah groups from FPS and LJS (Liberal Jewish Synagogue) visited Amsterdam for a long weekend, 26-28 October. We wanted to learn how Judaism was woven into the city’s story. We wanted the KT group to relax, learn, and to see their Judaism in a different way. We explored three museums, two synagogues, and a pancake house – amongst many other things!

When asked what was good about the trip, the response was they loved everything: “It was nice to spend time with friends and meet new people while learning about the Jewish history in Amsterdam and how it relates to us as Liberal Jews in 21st century London”.

Zoe Jacobs

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suffering. I would like to say a huge thank you to my Hebrew teacher Elliott, who has guided me in the task of learning my portion. Also thank you to Rabbi Rebecca for helping me to write my Dvar Torah and generally preparing me for my Bat Mitzvah.

The Chanukah Story chanukah means the rededication of our Temple which the maccabees reclaimed from

the Greeks around 2000 years ago. Do you know the background to our own festival of lights?

2000 years ago, antiochus iii, the King of Syria, took over Israel as part of the Syrian-Greek Empire. At first he liked the Jews, but after the Romans beat him in battle and forced him to pay heavy taxes he made the Jews and others pay heavily.Then his son, seleucus iv, became King.

He needed even more money for the Romans, and so he was even worse to the Jews. So he sent heliodoros, his minister, to the Holy Temple to steal money. The Holy Temple contained the half a shekel that all adult Jews paid annually as well as money in the orphans’ fund. The good Jewish High Priest, yochanan, begged heliodoros not to enter. But heliodoros did enter. And at the sight of God’s power he and his men fainted. Not only that, they were attacked by a divine white horse ridden by a gold-clad warrior and two super-strong helpers. heliodoros was carried away on a stretcher.

And as if seleucus wasn’t bad enough, when he died, his vicious and cruel brother antiochus iv, nicknamed the “Madman”, became ruler. This time yochanan, the High Priest, opposed antiochus iv. The king wanted to unify his kingdom under one religion, so he encouraged idol worship. Yochanan refused to obey anti-Jewish laws. Of course, this just made antiochus ‘mad’, and he sacked yochanan (who was then assassinated). He replaced him with a corrupt man named menelaus. But while antiochus the Madman was away at war, the Jews heard a rumour that he had died.

So, they rose up against the greedy menelaus,

who ran away from the Temple. antiochus (who wasn’t dead after all) was even madder.

He sent out an army to murder Jews and totally banned Jewish worship. He burnt Torah scrolls and put any practising Jews to death.

Some Jews escaped to the hills of Judea. One of these was a brave and faithful man named mattityahu. He created an army, led by his son, judah (called Maccabee). From Judah’s name came the “maccabees” who stood up against 40,000 troops and finally defeated antiochus. The maccabees returned to the Temple at Jerusalem and cleared away the idols.

They made a Menorah, but discovered that there was only enough olive oil to keep it lit for one day. By a miracle, the Menorah burned for eight days. And Torah was again the supreme law in the land.

And that is why we celebrate eight days of thanksgiving and the lighting of candles.

•

Did you know that “maccabee” is a word made of the initials of four Hebrew words?

Mi Kamocha Ba’eilim Hashem “Who is like you, O God”

•

Can you remember the name of the High Priest in the Chanukah story?

•

Did you know that Hindus have a Festival of Lights called Diwali? (But with a different story).

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Contacts

fps website: www.fps.org

finchley progressive synagogue

Life President: Sheila King Lassman

54 Hutton Grove N12 8DR 020 8446 4063 www.fps.org facebook.com/finchleyprog Rabbi Rebecca Birk – rabbi@fps.org

Vice Presidents: Renzo Fantoni, Josie Kinchin, Laura Lassman, Lionel King Lassman, John Lewis, David Pelham, Paul Silver-Myer, Andrea Rappoport, Joan Shopper

Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner

contacts

Community Development Manager: Zoe Jacobs – zoe@fps.org

Board of Deputies Reps: Janet Tresman, Stanley Volk

Musicians in residence: Franklyn Gellnick, Dean Staker

Beit Midrash (Adult Education): Adrian Lister adulteducation@fps.org

Synagogue Manager: Pauline Gusack pauline@fps.org

Beit Tefillah (Rites & Practices): Valerie Joseph

executive

Care in the Community: Jacquie Fawcett jacquie@fps.org

Chair: Cathy Burnstone – chair@fps.org

Café Thursday: Nicky Marzell

Vice-Chairs: Paul Silver-Myer vicechair@fps.org, Louise Gellman vicechairlg@fps.org

Website Editor: Philip Karstadt fpswebsite@fps.org

Treasurer: Melvyn Newman – treasurer@fps.org

Shofar Team: Sarah Rosen-Webb, Wika Dorosz

Honorary Secretary: Josie Kinchin honsec@fps.org

FPS Office: administrator@fps.org

board members

Phillip Raphael, Samantha King, Maureen Lobatto, Louise Gellman, Katy Jackson

Shofar Editor: CA. Cranston – shofar@fps.org

The Finchley Progressive Synagogue is a company limited by guarantee (Company No 9365956) and a registered charity (Charity No 1167285) whose registered office is 54 Hutton Grove, Finchley, London N12 8DR

President: Alan Banes

ashley page

janet tresman

insurance brokers

mediator & collaborative family law solicitor

Commerce House 2a Litchfield Grove London N3 2TN

Altermans Solicitors 239 Regents Park Road, London N3 3LF

Tel. 020 8349 5100

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Direct dial: 0203 1820121 Email: janet@altermans.co.uk