Shofar June 2017

June 2017

Shofar

‫שופר‬

the magazine of finchley progressive synagogue

Resouled!

Spotlight on...

dora hirsh

So delighted are we that Dora Hirsh, our very own FPS member, has been listed in the Jewish News’s prestigious ‘18 under 18’ annual feature, a list of 18 individuals aged 18 and under who are set to shape the community’s future. The Jewish News reports “We received hundreds of nominations from across the country, making this a truly nationwide initiative, with the top places selected by a panel of Jewish leaders in the worlds of politics, art, education and culture. We are hugely proud of Dora for the outstanding qualities and activities that have led to this recognition. Dora is in Year 11 and her love of Judaism has led to her being the youngest person to date to participate in the Liberal movement’s Ba’alei Tefillah programme.

She has also been accepted to study at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, despite being two years below the age limit. A true shaliach tzibbur (prayer leader), she creates an inclusive atmosphere during services at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, and has been praised for understanding and enhancing the mood of the community.

Mr Moriarty, her headteacher at JCoSS, also commended her talent for teaching: her Year 2 Hebrew class having gained such high Hebrew proficiency. He says “Dora recognises the importance of action as well as text in Judaism, a belief that has seen her volunteering at food banks, for refugee projects as well as mentoring Special Educational Needs students at JCoSS. She is recognised as a great leader and is on her 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

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way to becoming a great rabbi in the future.”

Rabbi Rebecca has this to add: I have the added pleasure of knowning Dora since she was a tiny girl at Simon Marks Primary School.* Dora has always been a courageous and independent thinker. Of course, she has good role modelling from her parents, Alexandra Simenon and David Hirsch, both Jewishly engaged with strong commitment to the community. But Dora has forged her own path. It’s extraordinary that Dora is beginning Ba’alei Tefillah already (at just 16) to bring her thoughtful enthusiasm to the wider Liberal Jewish community. We are fortunate to be able to count her now as one of our own and I so hope we get to benefit from her service leading, strong teaching, and inspired social justice work within FPS. May she go from strength to strength…!

For more information about this award, go to http://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/ eighteen-under-18-we-reveal-the-youngjewish-leaders-on-the-rise/ * in the same class as another prestigious FPS member, and now published JC writer, Leah Penissi-Glaser.

Simone Lee

Cover: Stanley Volk. From top left: Beverley Aarons, David Hoffman, Judith Stanton, Michelle Facey, Malcolm Star, Dean Staker, Zac Hurst, Howard Sarna, Sam Levy, Rabbi Rebecca, Rabbi Neil Janes, Gabi Highman.

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

From the Rabbi

rabbi rebecca birk

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years ago this month my parents were courting. They boarded separate planes to Tel Aviv—not for a holiday—but to register as volunteers in kibbutzim during the Six Day War. My mother found herself vaccinating hundreds of poultry chicks at Kfar Hanassi, and my father found himself perplexed by the practices and ritual he encountered on his religious kibbutz, Tirat Zvi. They arrived at an iconic moment that would transform the history of the Middle East and the Jewish people. My parents left a very different Israel, returning to London to marry, raising three daughters and living out the diaspora Jewish reality. Those days in June 1967 imprinted on our family and my identity a fierce love for Israel.

Israel’s seemingly miraculous victory in defence of its homeland was a transformative experience for Israelis and Jews worldwide, filling them with pride and confidence. The David to the Goliath of the Arab world, it confirmed and authenticated Israel’s right to exist: a moment of hope and self-defence. But the war left much unresolved. Many of the issues featured in today’s news trace their beginnings to the Six Day War – the ‘two state solution’, Jewish communities or settlements in the West Bank, and the future of Jerusalem. And it is possible that the Six Day War, just 20 years after the Shoah, confronted the Jewish state with a challenge they weren’t ready for: how to control another people.

The writer Yossi Klein Halevi, a child during this war, captured something for me about the cultural shift in Israel’s history when he described the Jew before and after May 1967. In May, Israel was afraid. Those who’d lived through 1940s Europe, convinced that hatred had passed, were alarmed to see ‘Death to Israel’ protests in

Damascus and Cairo on their TVs. Some interpret that particular May as Israel at her most alone.

Eisenhower had promised Ben–Gurion assistance should Israel face aggression. Lyndon Johnson, too, caught up with the Vietnam War, failed to make good on that promise, despite prompts from Abba Eban. Those early days were to transform Israel by producing an invincible sabra identity, and the strongest army of the Middle East. Here was a state with newly reclaimed sites of religious significance; one of pride and hope.

And that was the identity that formed in June 1967. Both identities are true and both have existed entwined in Jewish and Israel expression since.

This anniversary is an opportunity for joy but should be tempered with cautious realism.

I have mentioned Beveridge’s The March of the Flag elsewhere as an expedition of white pride that incites hatred and fear. Let us hope that this year’s significant anniversary is met with welldeserved joy tempered with sensitivity towards Israel’s neighbours, along with the political responsibility she holds and the future she hopes to build.

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From the Chair T

his month, on 24 June, it is my elder son Jacob’s Bar Mitzvah. As with many families this is a significant event not only for Jacob but for the rest of the family too. I believe that the way we shape and develop B’nei Mitzvah in our community is particularly special. Rabbi Rebecca has introduced a programme of family involvement for the two years running up to the main event. So we, along with all the other families with children coming up to 13, have been learning together each month and have taken on responsibility for helping to organise synagogue events. This has brought Jacob’s class closer as friends and enabled us to get to know better other families planning their special day.

I would like to thank Rabbi Rebecca, who has not only led but been part of the group, as her daughter, Dora, has her Bat Mitzvah later this year. Jacob has friends from other Liberal Synagogues made during his participation in LJY-Netzer and Kadimah. As such, we have also seen the experience of B’nei Mitzvah in other communities. Without wishing to criticise others, our young people seem to lead more of the proceedings and are truly honoured on the day by being put at the heart of the service.

alex kinchin-smith

Whilst participating in the services in other communities, this has really struck me and I believe it is part of making our community so special. Another element that makes our services special is the participation of the community. The week before Jacob’s Bar Mitzvah is the Bat Mitzvah of Elana Luxon.

We have been encouraging members to come on these Saturdays to support our young people and be part of their day along with invited guests. So come and celebrate with the rest of the community on both occasions.

If you cannot come on Saturday, then perhaps consider coming on the preceding Friday night, when the B’nei Mitzvah also give their D’var Torah. It seems quite timely that I am ending my three years as Chair just as Jacob comes to this particular milestone. I will reflect in July’s Shofar on my time in the post. But I would like to say that I have felt really supported by so many over the past three years and although it is Jacob’s day it will be lovely to celebrate together with the community this month.

P.S. Come early on the 24th to get a car park space and a good spot!

agm notice

The Annual General Meeting of the Synagogue this year will take place on Wednesday 12 July at 7.30pm (refreshments from 7.00pm) Alex Kinchin-Smith (Chair) has completed his three-year term of office and nominations are sought for the position of Chair together with nominations for Council Members.

The nomination form was sent with last

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month’s Shofar and a further copy can be obtained from the office, pauline@fps.org Consent from proposed Nominee must be obtained in advance. Nominations are to be received no later than 9 June 2017 to pauline@fps.org.

The formal notice will be sent out closer to the date of the meeting.

Walk in the Woods

O

ur fabulous and magical day in the Woods was hosted by FPS member Katherine Klinger.

We chose 14 May because it was Lag B’Omer, a pause in the counting of the Omer and a day associated with bonfires and general joy due to the fire of learning unleashed by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his mystical Torah teaching. We chose well because the sun shone until we were safely home, and then it poured with torrential rain at 6pm.

josie kinchin

Says Josie: “What a delightful day – thank you so much for the reminder of how good it is to spend time in woods. Yes, I walk every day with Charlie, occasionally in our local woods, but today was very different and it transported me back to my much loved days under canvas as a Guide Leader. I enjoyed every minute of it, so did Charlie and we both thank you so very, very much for your kind hospitality.”

THE FINCHLEY PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE Gates of Peace

‫קהלת שערי שלום‬

Rabbi Rebecca Birk, Honorary Officers and Council are pleased to invite you to Our Shabbat Morning Service combined with the graduation of the Kabbalat Torah class On Saturday July 1st, 2017 RSVP by 9th June to honsec@fps.org or telephone 020 8446 4063 Please be seated by 10.45 am 5

10 Years of Re-Souling at FPS Simchas

are always welcome! There was a real party atmosphere as around two hundred participated in this celebratory musical Kabbalat Shabbat service to mark the 10th anniversary of Shabbat Resouled. And in case you were wondering, the name Resouled has been coined from the Hebrew ‘uva-yom hash’vi’i vayinafash’, found in Exodus, meaning ‘to get a new soul’ on Shabbat. Fittingly, three of the original line-up— Leah Katz, Jo Israel, and (now Student Rabbi) Hannah Kingston—lit the Shabbat candles.

While Beverley Aarons and Dean Staker are the only founding members still in the band, Michelle Facey comes a close second with 9 years’ standing. Most of the band have more than 5 years’ service.

Rabbi Neil Janes told us how he and Dean founded this musical delight. Martin Borish had seen Craig Taubman’s ‘Friday Night Live’ at a synagogue in the USA and thought it would boost FPS’s Friday night attendance: he was right! After the service, many stayed for a Chavurah supper whose delights included 150 standout-gorgeous, super-delicious, personalised Shabbat Resouled cupcakes made by Jo Dowling.

The second musical phrase of our evening welcomed Judith Silver and David Hoffman (not to be confused with our own FPS David Hoffman) who, along with Dean, played their original music. Judith is probably the best-

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simone lee

known composer of contemporary Jewish music in the UK (and in the States). David is based at Manchester Reform Synagogue where he runs a band called ‘Shir Chadash’ (inspired by Shabbat Resouled). Judith, David and Dean are part of a collective called ‘Shira Britannia’, which is made up of Anglo-Jewish composers, dedicated to raising the profile of home-grown music.

As a token of appreciation from the band, Dean was presented with an inscribed silver (solid silver, I think) trophy (with a right to left treble clef!). And Dean smiled his characteristic Dean smile, which is one of the many joys of Shabbat Resouled music-making. Dean shared the credit: “Shabbat Resouled reached this landmark through the extraordinary dedication of the band members (past and present) and the continued support of the FPS community and our loyal ‘Resouled-nik’ groupies, some of whom attend every month, and many of whom have followed us from Day One. Here’s to the next ten years!” Hear, hear! (But, can we say here’s to the next twenty years?)

As the first dedicated ‘prayer band’ in the UK community, Shabbat Resouled has played at venues including the Limmud Conference, the Liberal Judaism Biennial and Or Chadasch Synagogue in Switzerland and their music has spread across the UK and is sung in communities in Australia, Sweden and the USA. Their album, ‘Shabbat Resouled’, was released in 2010, and is available for download on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play etc. and for streaming on Spotify.

Don’t forget all are welcome to our Shabbat Resouled services on the third Friday of every month at 6.30pm. Bring your friends and your souls. Follow Shabbat Resouled on FB facebook. com/finchleyprog and on www.fps.org

LJ Day of Celebration 2017 Our weekend of Liberal Jewish Celebration is coming up, 9-11 June. Here is some updated information for the weekend, with the full programme available in LJ May/June.

from outside London. Cost includes buffet lunch and refreshments. For tickets go to: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/day-of-celebratingliberal-jewish-music-tickets-31597451829

Friday 9 June – Special Friday Night Service We are running a service together at one of our wonderfully welcoming London-based LJ communities. Details to be confirmed; check updates at www.fps.org and the weekly ebulletin.

Sunday 11 June - Liberal Judaism’s Day of Celebration 2017 – ‘Is Liberal Judaism Political Judaism?’

Two fantastic keynote speakers, Lord (Alf) Dubs and the Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, will feature in the upcoming ‘LJ Today’. Our full and varied programme will also be featured, alongside commentary from Rabbis Aaron Goldstein and Danny Rich. Find logistical information and tickets at: www.doc2017.eventbrite.co.uk. And see an online version of Rabbi Aaron’s article at: www.liberaljudaism.org/read-the-full-day-ofcelebration-programme/

Saturday 10 June – Day of Liberal Jewish Music A day to explore and share our Liberal Jewish Music, open to all LJ community members whether you are a singer, music leader, instrumentalist, or just interested in learning songs. The Day includes a variety of workshops, such as traditional LJ choral music; composition workshop; showcase of LJY–Netzer’s songs and chants; accompanying shul music with keyboard and other instruments and much more.

This is a great chance to work with a range of home-grown LJ Music Leaders, including Dean Staker, and to bring new ideas to the table to celebrate our Liberal Jewish Music tradition. We will prepare music to be presented at the Day of Celebration on Sunday 11 June – along with the winning entries of the LJ Music Composition Competition. Home stays can be arranged, through music@npls.org.uk if you are travelling

Art Exhibition We are still accepting submissions for our LJ Day of Celebration Art Exhibition. They will be displayed in the NPLS Etz Chayim Gallery throughout the day. Contact Tom at montagu@liberaljudaism.org Home Stays Home stays can be arranged for the Friday or Saturday night for anyone travelling from afar.

Contact Tom (on behalf of the DoC 2017 committee) at montagu@liberaljudaism.org

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Beit Tefillah

services at fps

services - june Friday 2 June @ 6.30pm

Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 3 June @ 11.00am

Shacharit 11.00am, Shabbat B’Yachad

Friday 9 June @ 6.30pm

Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 10 June @ 11.00am

Shabbat Service

Friday 16 June @ 6.30pm

Shabbat Resouled

Saturday 17 June @ 11.00am

Shabbat Service Elana Luxon Bat Mitzvah

Friday 23 June @ 6.30pm

Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 24 June @ 11.00am

Shabbat Service Jacob Kinchin-Smith Bar Mitzvah @ 6.00pm Musical Havdalah

Friday 30 June @ 6.30pm

Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 1 July @ 11.00am

FPS Civic Service (including the graduation of Kabbalat Torah class; see page 5 for details)

people a warm welcome to our new members

Marc & Diana Goldstein, Isaac & Raphael Ruth & Michael Hudson Deborah, Mark & Noah Laikin congratulations & mazal tov to

Linda & Leon Gevertz on the birth of a grandson Sebastian Daniel, to their daughter Petra, and son-in-law Craig Hill, in Adelaide, Australia; The Luder-Rosefield family on the baby naming of Illya Geoffrey Hyman LuderRosefield at FPS on 10 June; Elana Luxon who celebrates her Bat Mitzvah at FPS on 17 June Jacob Kinchin-Smith who celebrates his Bar Mitzvah at FPS on 24 June;

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Milcie Mendel who celebrates her 101st birthday, Monty Bixer his 91st, Sheila Levy and David Kahan their 90th birthdays, Phil Stickland his 70th, Lesley Trenner her 60th, Philippa Carr-Woolf and Robert Lobatto their 50th in June; Ruth & David Hoffmann who celebrate their 15th and Robert Lobatto & Dalia Lyons who celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in June stone setting

The stone setting for the late Ruth Shapiro will take place at Edgwarebury Lane Cemetery at 10.00am on Sunday 18 June and will be officiated by Rabbi Rebecca Birk.

Beit Knesset

community events, all welcome!

susie orbach visit to fps

book club

Sunday 4 June @ 11.00am – 1.00pm.

Ticketed event. Full details on page 8.

Wednesday 14 June @ 8.00pm The Book Club meetings are held in people’s homes @ 8.00pm on the second Wednesday of each month. We choose a wide variety of books, many–but by no means all–of Jewish interest. The only condition is that the person who recommends a book has read it (and loved it!) and that it is available in paperback. For more information: Sheila King Lassman sheila@waitrose.com or Edgar Jacobsberg e.jacobsberg@gmail.com

walk & talk at cafe kenwood

Sunday 4 June @ 9.00am.

Note change of date and time for this month only. Paul Silver-Myer 07855 632871 bridge group

Mondays 5, 12, 19, 26 June @ 7.30pm, £4. There are even small prizes for winners! For details contact Gunter Lawson via the synagogue office on 020 8446 4063 adult b’nei mitzvah class

Tuesdays 6, 13, 20 and 27 June @ 11.00am replacing Delving Into Judaism for this term only yoga

Tuesdays 6, 13, 20, 27 June @ 7.30pm. Very popular. Contact Richard on 020 8349 9602 rosh chodesh

Tuesdays @ 6.00pm.

Rosh Chodesh Sivan Tuesday 6 June @ 6.00pm: ‘East End Walks: Activists, Militants & Pioneers: Women of the Radical Jewish East End’. Instead of meeting indoors, we are going for an East End Walk led by tour guide and author, David Rosenberg. We will learn about the crucial role of women in the struggles of the poorest communities of the East End for better lives and equality. We will meet at 6.00pm outside the Whitechapel Art Gallery next to Aldgate East tube – gallery exit. (Aldgate East is on the District line and Hammersmith & City line). If it is raining the walk will go ahead, but bring umbrellas.

Cost: £8.50- £10 per person. Important: the walk is open to all, men very welcome! Booking essential at vdorosz@gmail.com

learn

Thursdays, 12.00-1.00pm Rabbi Rebecca leads an hour’s learning in the small hall which is followed by lunch hosted by Nicola for anyone who chooses to stay.

Followed by... cafe thursday

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

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Beit Midrash

learning at fps

Caring for Mind, Body and Soul – a Jewish Perspective / Thursdays 7.30-9.00pm June 8 June 15 June 22

June 29

July 6 July 13

Dr Howard Cohen (GP, and Mohel to the Progressive Jewish Community) Lara Smallman (Director, Jewish Vegetarian Society) Dr Robert Luder (Consultant in Geriatric Medicine, N Middlesex University Hospital) Panel discussion on Mental Health with Dr Katy Jackson (psychologist, counsellor and hypnotherapist), Laurie Rackind (CEO of JAMIE) and Sheila King Lassman (Counsellor) Rabbi Rebecca Birk (Rabbi, FPS) Dr Jonathan Koffman (Senior Lecturer in palliative care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London)

£5 donation on the door or £25 in advance for the series. Refreshments will be served.

cafe ivriah

walk in their shoes

Saturdays 9.45-10.45am Informal discussion over coffee and biscuits, between Ivriah dropoff and morning service

‘Together in Barnet’ invites you to Walk in their Shoes, Sunday 11 June ‘Walk in their Shoes’ is an event that will raise funds, raise awareness, and celebrate the churches and synagogues that are so important to the night shelter. The 12.3 mile (19.7 km) route will take us past nine of our venues.

‘Together in Barnet’ tackles homelessness in the Borough of Barnet. By networking with churches and synagogues, we run a night shelter for up to 17 homeless adults during the coldest months of the year.

To register,email holly@togetherinbarnet.org for your information pack and to pay your registration fee by bank transfer or by cheque.

Registration cost is £25, and we hope each volunteer will raise an additional £25 (or more) in sponsorship. Bank transfer: Together in Barnet; Sort code 40-52-40; Account no: 00025332 CAF Bank ref WALK-YOUR LAST NAME; Cheques (to ‘Together in Barnet’) to: Together in Barnet, 31 Orchard Avenue, N3 3NL. Donations are welcome! Online go to Continued on next page

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Notice Board fps bagel bonanza!

Sunday 25 June. Help needed!

FPS has a stall at this year’s East Finchley Community Festival, at Cherry Tree Wood. We are looking to raise money for the synagogue by selling smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels!

It’s a great opportunity to raise funds so we can continue with the activities and projects that FPS runs, and also to showcase our wonderful Equipment • • • • •

Large car to transport: Gazebo/Open sided tent Long table 2 x folding chairs 3 x cool boxes Then on the day... Set up

• Set up of FPS bagel stall is at 9.00am • Pick up and stuff bagels between 9.00am and 12.00pm

and friendly synagogue. We might even get some new members! To that end I am looking for volunteers who can help with supplies or their time. Please check the list below to see what is required. Let me know – we would love you to get involved in this fun endeavour. All help appreciated. Phillip Raphael, Organiser raphael@yahoo.com / 0788 246 3378

Supplies • Bagels approx. 200–300 (dependent on weather forecast) • Smoked salmon, cream cheese, butter, lemon juice Stall Shifts • Shift 1 12.00–2.00pm 2 x people • Shift 2 2.00–4.00pm 2 x people • Shift 3 4.00–6.00pm 2 x people

Bagel Stall Promotion • Come support the synagogue’s stall. Kids very welcome!

• Banners & Signs • Posters with bagel pricing • Leaflets promoting FPS Pack up • 6.00-7.00pm 2 x people. We can leave earlier if we are sold out or the crowds have thinned

walk in their shoes / cont.

www.togetherinbarnet.org /donate OR you can text message: ‘TIBS11 £5’ to 70070 to donate £5. The service we provide costs £5.04 per guest per night for dinner, bed and breakfast.

Charity registration number 1157192 11

‘Take Two’ aims to join up people in the FPS community of all ages, from the very young, to the mature and wise. If you want to take part contact Simone Lee simoneleeukcp@aol.com

Simon Cooper & Lesley Urbach meet up at Genoise Café in North Finchley lesley by simon

Lesley comes across as a very interesting and unconventional lady, involved in many good causes. She still belongs to a liberal synagogue in West London called Beit Klal Yisrael and started coming to FPS as it is closer to her home.

What she loves about FPS, which she has not found in many other synagogues, is the friendly welcoming atmosphere. She is also impressed that Rabbi Rebecca meets all new members personally.

Although Lesley is an atheist she attends FPS, not for religious reasons, but to keep in contact with the Jewish community, and because she likes the music and Rebecca’s Shabbat services.

She loves getting involved in all aspects of FPS life, for she believes this the best way to get to know people in the synagogue and to help the synagogue thrive. Consistent with that belief, she has thrown herself into the Syrian refugee Welcome Programme and is instrumental in organising the Holocaust memorial/Yom Hashoah event – this year FPS hosted Fred Weil as a speaker. Lesley also has helped organise speakers of the highest quality, representing a wide range of aspects of Jewish interest, for 12

FPS’s adult education group, Beit Midrash. She has helped out in the Homeless shelter, and is part of the Kiddush rota.

She is involved in many causes outside of the FPS. One such is ‘Remembering Eleanor Rathbone’. This was set up by Lesley and a colleague, Susan Cohen. Rathbone was an amazing woman, an independent British MP who, in the early 20th century, among other things, campaigned on behalf of women, the poor, children and refugees fleeing Nazi and Fascist Europe. Lesley is interested in ensuring that people who did good things are not forgotten.

Visiting historical houses is another interest she has; while enjoying the culture and beauty, the tearooms hold particular appeal as she enjoys taking refreshment in beautiful surroundings before and after the visit to the house! So glad to have had this opportunity to meet Lesley; she is clearly a person who doesn’t just talk, but rolls up her sleeves and gets on with it! simon by lesley

It was very enjoyable to meet Simon and to find out about someone I didn’t know.

Simon joined FPS six months ago after coming along for two years to the Friday night services. He finds it the friendliest synagogue he has been to in London and he has been to quite a few over the years, including United and Reform. He was introduced to the synagogue

by Michael Lassman whom he met at a small business network.

Simon really enjoys both Shabbat Resouled and the quieter more reflective Friday night services. He referred to the wonderful Continued on next page

Where Are They Now? And this month Andrea Narcin responds with an update on her Fabulous Foursome About 8 years ago, all four Narcin children taught Ivriah at the same time. Their mother (me, Andrea) could be found on a Sunday morning, plaintively asking, “Has anyone seen any of my children? They didn’t come home last night!”

simone lee

There are four Narcin children: Rebecca (28), Miranda (27), and the twins Yasemin and Yusuf (24). They all grew up within the FPS family.

Growing up as half Muslim, the Narcin children alternated between Koran class and Ivriah. Yaz says they preferred synagogue for two reasons – better food and the sense of community.

They all taught at Ivriah until they left for University. Indeed, Yasemin took the Teachers’ course at Leo Baeck, continued teaching, and also ran Youth Club in her twenties. Rebecca is now an Events organiser. And although not obviously involved in synagogue life, she turns up on Mitzvah Day to help out, has volunteered for the Christmas homeless shelter, and will be walking to raise money for ‘Together in Barnet’ Continued on page 15

take two / cont.

atmosphere and the lovely music played by Dean.

He expressed a lot of respect for Rabbis Rebecca and Danny, both of whom are very open-minded, a value he holds dear. Simon does believe in God or a supreme being; he says he wouldn’t go to synagogue if he didn’t. Having said that, he likes the fact that the progressive movement allows people to express their Judaism in the way they want.

Running takes up some of Simon’s time at weekends, and he belongs to a local running club. He has taken part in at least 6 half– marathons, raising money for a deaf children’s society. He has three adult sons, one of whom is a drummer in an Indie-Rock band. (Ever the networker, I hope to put Simon in contact with one of the young Syrian men who comes to Coffee Club and who enjoys running and wants to get involved in a band!)

Simon is a solicitor specialising in family

law and wills and his practice has been based in North Finchley for 20 years. His spare time is taken up with his involvement in Toastmasters International. He is now an active member of three groups and is about to become Chair of the North London group for the second time. Two years ago, he attended a Stand Up Comedy course, which ended with him giving a performance. He loved it, but isn’t planning to take it up as a career. When he has more time, Simon would like to set up a public speaking club for the Jewish Community – but this will be sometime in the future.

Simon is concerned about the issue of dementia as his mother, unfortunately, is affected by it. He hopes to get involved with the homeless shelter next year and perhaps the welfare group at some time. I tried to interest him in the Kiddush rota but it doesn’t (as he said) tickle his fancy!

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b’not & b’nei mitzvah

elana luxon’s bat mitzvah, 17 june

Hi, my name is Elana. I have just turned 13 and have been part of FPS all my life. I am very excited to be celebrating my Bat Mitzvah and hope that you will be able to join me for this occasion. My Parasha tells what happens when the twelve spies report back from scouting out the land of Ca’naan and the reaction of God to their story. I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you all.

As some of you will know I am very keen on singing (it runs in the family) and I am part of the Shabbat B’Yachad musicians as well as singing and playing the guitar (taught by FPS’s own Dean Staker) for youth Havdalah events. I am also a member of Rikud, the Israeli Dance group that rehearses at FPS every Saturday. With Rikud, I am raising money for Parkinson’s UK which is very close to my heart. We are putting on a charity dance show on 1 July, which I hope FPS members will come to and share our joy of Israeli dancing while supporting this wonderful charity.

50/50 club draws, may winners:

1st 2nd 3rd

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Barbara Shulman Helene Dane Corinne Oppenheimer

£20 £15 £10

jacob kinchin-smith’s bar mitzvah, 24 june

I am having my Bar Mitzvah on 24 June and I would love you to come. I am having a Bar Mitzvah because I feel that it will make me a fully-fledged member of our synagogue which is something that is important to me (and of course I am hoping for a few presents too!).

For my Bar Mitzvah I am raising money for the charity Get Kids Going which supports young disabled people to do sport as I love doing sport myself. I will be organising a charity hockey match at synagogue to help raise money and everyone is welcome to come along and help support this good cause.

My Bar Mitzvah portion is Korach. It is in the book of Numbers and it is about Korach and his followers rebelling against God and Moses in the wilderness. Before the piece I am reading, Korach challenges their authority and I am reading about the consequences that they suffer. It is full of vengeance and is fairly dramatic – come on the day to hear more.

Thank you John (my teacher and Grandpa), for helping me prepare so well for this special day.

Fun Page (Sort of...)

Oooops!!!! Silly me!! I have muddled up the letters of Jewish festivals and special days. I managed to unmuddle one. Can you help me sort out the others and put them in the grid?

MISTACH RHOTA BABAShT VAsThIB UT CHeaPS AvoUSHt NnuCkHAHA ShhaaAn SHOR

P

E

S

A A A A A A A

C

H

alef- bet jokes Q: What is a horse’s favourite letter in the alef-bet?

A: ‫ה‬ Q: How do we know the alef-bet has a cold?

A: It has a ‫כ‬ Q: What is a gambler’s favourite letter of the alef-bet?

A: ‫ב‬

where are they now / cont. from page 13

on 11 June. Miranda, after working for a number of years in the travel industry, is following a long held ambition and is training for the police. Her commitment to working for the wider community is a reflection of her Jewish background.

Yasemin’s first job, working for the Mist Bar in North Finchley, involved organising Open Mike nights, which turned into a rather wild ‘alternative’ club for the FPS youth. She only stopped teaching at Ivriah when her career as a music photographer took off. After a period as a video/photographer for Unilad (Ivriah proving excellent training for organising producers), she now has a busy freelance career. Yusuf is

now a professional trombonist. Teaching Ivriah has helped with his music teaching, and he has arranged concerts for Jewdas, exploring links between Muslim and Jewish music. He has been spotted blowing Shofar and, like his siblings, supporting the Homeless Shelter.

If you would like to write about someone you know who grew up at FPS, or would like to suggest someone for an interview and a write-up, please email sarah.rosenwebb@me.com to discuss your contribution.

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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

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

Rabbi Rebecca Birk - rabbi@fps.org

contacts

Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner Ivriah Principal: Gabriel Webber

Board of Deputies Reps: Janet Tresman, Stanley Volk

Musicians in residence: Franklyn Gellnick, Dean Staker

Beit Midrash (Education): Adrian Lister, Louise Gellman

Synagogue Manager: Pauline Gusack pauline@fps.org

Beit Tefillah (Rites & Practices): Valerie Joseph

Premises Manager: Howard Hamerton

CafĂŠ Thursday: Nicky Marzell

executive & council

Website Editor: Gabriel Webber

Chair: Alex Kinchin-Smith - chair@fps.org

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

Treasurer: Martin Silk

Shofar Team: Sarah Rosen-Webb, Simone Lee, Wika Dorosz

Honorary Secretary: Josie Kinchin honsec@fps.org Vice-Chair: Louise Gellman Council members: Wika Dorosz, Samantha King, Maureen Lobatto, Phillip Raphael

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 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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janet tresman

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