Shofar March 2017

March 2017

Shofar

‫שופר‬

the magazine of finchley progressive synagogue

Purim!

From the Editor pat lehner My last editorial It’s still early but already there are days when it looks like spring may be just around the corner, promising longer, milder days. We’re spending more time in the garden again, so full of magic and adventure at this time of year, where every day we get to discover something new. First the snowdrops peeked out in the cold, bright February sun. Now we already welcome back the yellow, purple and lilac of the crocuses.

Meanwhile in our family - and only after a period of extended debate - it has been decided that our Purim baking this year will be limited to just three (!) varieties of Hamantaschen, and our resident taste testers have approved the new, slightly healthier variety that I’m trying out this year...

And here at FPS we hope you will come and help us celebrate Purim on 11 March and join in our Purim celebrations and stay for the feast. You’ll find all the details on page 5.

It is a bitter sweet experience to write this editorial, as it is my last one and my last Shofar. When Sheila - our wonderful previous editor - first asked me to come on board in 2011, I could not have foreseen what an enriching journey this would be, how rewarding, frustrating and joyful the work would be, and how much I would fall in love with it. I have loved sharing our stories, and I hope you have come to love Shofar as much as I do. While a sudden change can sometimes feel disorienting, there is also a sense of new possibilities and so I’m looking forward to the next adventure.

My never-ending thanks go to my fantastic team behind the scenes, above all Lea Jagendorf, our wonderful designer and artist, and fabulous Pauline Gusack in the office; and to all my wonderful regular and occasional contributors and writers, near and far. And last but not least my thanks to our small team here who make sure everything is in the right envelope and on time and Rabbi Rebecca for her kind words.

And of course, it goes without saying that I will miss Shofar and all of you, so please stay in touch!

With all my love, Pat Lehner Shofar is always interested in including photos of FPS members, either at synagogue events, with their families or on their travels near and far. Please remember to send them to us: pat@ericlehner.com

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Cover: Taste-testing the new Hamantaschen, Photo by Eric Lehner.

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

From the Rabbi rabbi rebecca birk

I visited Marrakech last month: a moment of sunshine and a chance to walk in the low Atlas Mountains and of course visit the synagogue in the El Mellah neighbourhood. I always make that pilgrimage to the Jewish community wherever I visit. I see it as an opportunity to empathise with Diaspora Judaism however ancient or beleaguered, or maybe to feel my connection on a grander scale.

The Jews of Morocco today have their largest community in Casablanca, home to 5,000 Jews. There are small Jewish communities in Rabat (400), Marrakech (250), Meknes (250), Tangier (150), Fez (150), and Tetuan (100). The Jews are generally descended from three different groups: Sephardim, Berber and Ashkenazim. The children and I saw photos of Jewish Berber girls in the photography museum last year.

Jews have probably been there 2000 years.

Maimonides’ family moved from Cordoba to Fez briefly en route to Palestine and then onto Egypt. Thirteenth century Morocco was not safe for long. By 1391 I was told a wave of Jewish refugees expelled from Spain brought new life to the community, and then again from Spain and Portugal in 1492 and 1497. Jews lived in mellahs, a name derived from the Arabic word for salt because the Jews in Morocco were forced to carry out the job of salting the heads of executed prisoners prior to their public display.

Things got better with the establishment

of the French Protectorate in 1912, when they got equality and religious autonomy. And during World War II, when France was ruled by the anti-Semitic Vichy government, King Muhammed V prevented the deportation of Jews from Morocco. But it was never easy.

And I was told just last December King Mohammed VI was at the inauguration of the Ettedgui Synagogue and the adjacent El Mellah Museum in Casablanca and the Mellah historical rehabilitation in Marrakech.

Our relationship as diaspora Jews with our host cultures matters deeply, whether in Marrakech or Manchester. Whether our story takes place in ancient Shushan or contemporary London. I am hoping we will welcome Israeli Ambassador Mark Regev and our local MPs and Councillors at a special service in July. It matters to be seen by and host such signatories. dignitaries. Likewise I am hoping that Mayor Khan might choose to visit our refugee project, one of the many interfaith initiatives in London.

The themes of Purim still resonate and I am glad we continue to talk about them through the Board of Deputies, Liberal Judaism and our own synagogue.

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From the Chair alex kinchin-smith

T

his month I want to cover a subject which sadly comes up ever too regularly both in my conversations with members and at Council meetings – security. There are always a range of views expressed from those who feel we are far too lax to those who do not believe we require any security at all. Until recent years I personally have not been overly concerned about this issue feeling, rightly or wrongly, that our synagogue is not particularly at risk considering its secluded location and relatively low profile. However, as incidents seem to have increased both at home and abroad attacking both Jewish and other religious or minority communities I have been influenced to take a different view that we need to tighten up our practices in this area.

I am therefore really pleased that Phillip Raphael and Chris Nash have taken on this brief enthusiastically and are currently reviewing our whole approach to security. They are looking at our processes and procedures, timings of when we undertake security, our rotas, training for volunteers and aspects of the building that may need attention such as the entry system on our gates and the possible need for CCTV. It will take a little time to work all this through and as we

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do so we will be instigating the changes that are deemed appropriate.

One change I wanted to tell all members about now is to the timings of security on Shabbat. We have identified that the current timings mean that we are somewhat vulnerable at the times when most people are coming in or leaving the synagogue. These times are the start of Ivriah, just before the start and just after the end of the service. Therefore, from our new set of rotas the timings will change and we will ask people to start security a little earlier, change over a little later and stay until the majority of people have left. This will mean slightly longer shifts but this will provide us with the security we need when we need it most.

I would like to thank everyone who currently volunteers for security and ask that those of you who feel able but are not currently on rotas please let us know as your time will be appreciated. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Naomi Gould for the important job she does in organising our rotas.

Please look out for communications by email about the new rota timings and also for details of some short training sessions which will be coming up soon.

5.30 pm The Gantza Megillahspiel 6.15 pm We eat 7.00 pm We clear up and go home

***** WANTED ***** v Hamantaschen & other food co-­‐ordinators

v Security team

v Adults cross-­‐dressed & kids dressed a s animals

v All to bring sense of humour

Contact: honsec@fps.org

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Member Profile paul silver-myer Paul Silver-Myer will be celebrating his Bar Mitzvah as well as his 60th birthday on 11 March. In his own words:

“Through no great design, I am born and bred in Finchley, having attended Moss Hall and Woodhouse Grammar schools, and lived in the area all of my life. My parents moved to Woodberry Way N12 in the mid-fifties, and Sharon & I bought our first home together in Eversleigh Road N3, before moving to Mayfield Avenue N12 and now we live in St James Avenue N20, with Eden & Jake. Instead of going to University I spent two years working in Germany & Italy before starting work in the West End as an accountant.

I have always loved sport [I have a season ticket at Chelsea FC] and have stewarded there as well as volunteered at the Olympics [in London & Rio] and at the Tour de France.

I have also developed a more recent interest in psychology and gained accreditation as an existential psychotherapist in 2013. My next project is to try and understand the emotions behind the financial decisions we do, or do not, make.

My parents, Vera & Henry, joined the fledgling Finchley Liberal Congregation soon after they married in 1953. Woodberry Way is perhaps a quarter of a mile from Hutton Grove as the crow flies, and within 100 yards of our house lived Olive & Jimmy Pelham, and 6

their young son David, Rose & Jeffrey Segal, and Sheila & Jack Levy and their children Ruth & Robert. My parents shared schlepping duties to Ivriah with the Levys, and co-incidentally, Ruth and her family now live in our old house.

I have therefore always felt comfortable in the community, and see my Bar Mitzvah, if this is not too presumptuous, in part at least as a communal celebration.

I am always aware of being Jewish, which consciously or otherwise, seems to find expression in my daily life at work and at home. Professional integrity is very important to me though, like life, it involves a continual process of new experiences, reflection, and then rebuilding. At home, Jewish ritual observances are rather selective and often noted by their absence, but Judaism is never far away when it comes to relationships and I always try and keep in mind, hopefully more successfully than not, Jewish ethical teachings.

I was fortunate in being involved as ULPSNYC [the Liberal Jewish youth movement, now LJ Netzer] was being established. I found: a passion for the purpose and meaning of Judaism; Jewish friends whom I remain close to; an involvement in communal affairs. I was also part of a pilot Aliya tour to Israel, so things would have turned out rather differently if I had committed myself to it fully.�

I asked Paul if he could have three wishes,

what would they be?

“One wish would be to re-engineer how we view and what we teach at school. We are good at teaching about numbers, and words, and other intelligent facts and concepts, but rather weak in bringing our kids up with ‘life’ skills, such as how to be emotionally intelligent.

Relationships are the bedrock of [Jewish] life, and too often it feels we do not handle them as well as we would like. Another wish is to help more Jews feel comfortable within their kind of Judaism. Being Jewish should not be a straightjacket, but something we can wear and feel with pride, confidence, and hope.”

About his upcoming Bar Mitzvah: “They say life is like a journey, a series of

experiences at various staging posts along the way.

I have long tarried with Judaism, a relationship that fills me with pride and hope, a way of life that I find both holding yet unfolding. My FPS confirmation [Kabbalat Torah] with a group of eight others was important and special for I grew as a person through it. But only a couple of us read from the Torah, and I was not ready to be one of them. I’ve long felt a strong connection with the People of the Book but not felt a direct link as someone who has read from the Book. That is a staging post I would like to revisit in my life, and so that is what I am hoping to experience on my 60th birthday in March.”

Syrian Cooking Evening Tuesday 4 April 7.30-9.30pm Nisreen Aljinde, a fabulous cook and one of our newly arrived Syrian friends will be offering a class and dinner for us to share. Nisreen has led other delicious and fascinating classes.

Highly recommended! £12 to cover class & food, booking with pauline@fps.org on first come basis.

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Beit Tefillah services at fps

services - march Friday 3 March Saturday 4 March

Kabbalat Shabbat service

Shabbat B’Yachad

Friday 10 March

Kabbalat Shabbat service

Saturday 11 March

Shabbat service inc Bar Mitzvah of Paul Silver-Myer 4.30pm Tots Purim Tea 5.00pm The Gantza Megillahspiel 5.45pm The Purim Feast

Friday 17 March

Shabbat Resouled

Saturday 18 March

10.15am Musical Shabbatots service for 0-4s Shabbat service inc Bar Mitzvah of Benjy Levey

Friday 24 March

Kabbalat Shabbat service

Saturday 25 March

Shabbat service 5.30pm Musical Havdalah

Friday 31 March

Kabbalat Shabbat

Saturday 1 April

Shabbat B’Yachad

breakfast shiurim, march 2017

Saturday 4 March 8.45am Creation, Creature, Creativity Part 2: ‘In the Shadow of Thought Itself’ Poetry Study with Peter Brennan Spring and All by William Carlos Williams Wrong? By R S Thomas The Poems of our Climate by Wallace Stevens Saturday 22 April 8.45am The Nine Lives of John Ogilby Presented by Alan Ereira The Nine Lives of John Ogilby is the story of the creator of the first road atlas, when maps did not show any roads at all. It was 8

published in 1675. His first job, in 1610, was apprentice to a dancing master at Grays Inn, when it was compulsory for lawyers to dance.

When they refused, they could be fined or disbarred. Dancing was understood to mirror the movement of the planets, and so to engage with the natural laws that ruled all creation, including human society.

By 1675 that idea was dead. There had been political, scientific and philosophical revolutions. The planets no longer made a stately dance around the earth. Ogilby had Continued on page 11

Beit Knesset people a warm welcome to our new members

Sheila Conroy; Simon Cooper; Dalma LoewyAranibar; Roger Nathan & Rachel Graham with Neville & Rebecca congratulations & mazal tov to

Penny and Ray Telfer on the arrival of their grandson Ethan, a son for Sarah

Bloomfield his 80th and Paul Silver-Myer and David Lewis their 60th Shirley and Joseph Luder who celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary our deepest condolences to

Joyce Barc and family on the death of her husband Michael

Paul Silver-Myer and Benjy Levey who celebrate their B’nei Mitzvah in March

Annabel Balint-Kurti and Duncan Loyd and family on the death of their father Eddie Loyd

Lorna Roberts and Devorah Barnett who celebrate their 95th birthdays, Gabby Essinger and Penny Hulton their 90th, Norman

Sue Freeman and David Phillips on the death of their mother Mary Phillips

message from pauline

I should like to thank everyone at FPS most sincerely for the kindness shown to me since my accident on 2 January. Whilst at home I have been the recipient of lovely cards, messages and phone calls and I am very grateful indeed to all who have been in touch. At the time of writing, I am beginning to recover the use of my right hand although I am far from being able to use it fully and still have regular

hospital appointments (despite all headlines to the contrary, I have had wonderful treatment from the NHS). I am looking forward to getting back to my regular work schedule, hopefully in March. I should also like to thank FPS Council and Rabbi Rebecca for their understanding and Angela who has been ‘holding the fort’ so ably and cheerfully on my behalf.

a letter to our editor

Pat Lehner took over the reins of Shofar some 5½ years ago. And then briefly as a formal job while a new team of volunteers were gathered.

Under her inspired eye and with our designer Lea Jagendorf the pen and ink drawings blossomed, Eric’s photos of synagogue events, the easy order of the magazine and where to find things and Pat’s own editorial giving us pause to think and reflect. Under Pat’s

editorship we saw member profiles and a plethora of letters from abroad. During this time Pat completed her Open University Degree in Music with a First Class Honours, raised another musical prodigy in Lyra to join Dylan. I am immensely grateful to her for her dedicated editing of Shofar.

Rabbi Rebecca Birk

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FPS Beit Midrash Spring 2017 FPS Beit Midrash Spring 2017 presents For Every Thing there is a Season: Exploring the Jewish Calendar 16 March 23 March 30 March 6 April 13 & 20 April 27 April 4 May

The festivals and the seasons - Rabbi Rebecca Birk The Jewish Calendar - Michael Baxter Peculiarities of the Jewish Calendar - Michael Baxter Jewish skills of marking time - Rabbi Rebecca Birk & Zoe Jacobs Pesach break Spirituality of the festivals - Rabbi Rebecca Birk Interplanetary Judaism - Adrian Lister & Mauro Manela

In this series we are delighted to be joined by Michael Baxter, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society; Cantor Zoe Jacobs and Rabbi James Baaden as a discussant.

Thursdays 7.30-9.00pm in the Small Hall, FPS. £5 donation on the door, or £25 in advance for the whole series. Refreshments will be served.

cafe ivriah

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

FPS Thursday Pilates class at 6.30pm is oversubscribed and has a growing waiting list.

Our excellent teacher Tali Swart has agreed to teach an additional class at 5.30pm. Duration: 45 min. Cost around £10 per lesson, depending on number of participants. Each course consists of six sessions, with a rest on the seventh week! If you are interested, please contact Tali taliswort@btconnect.com or Pauline at the office pauline@fps.org as soon as possible.

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Beit Knesset learning & arts at fps new - parliamo italiano!

delving into judaism

You are invited to join a small group who would like to have conversations in Italian. We’re meeting at Renzo’s house in East Finchley, times and dates to be confirmed.

Mondays @ 7.00pm Learning for all with Rabbi Rebecca Birk and Gabriel Webber

For more details, please get in touch with Renzo, 020 88833011 book club

The Book Club meetings are held in people’s homes at 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 contact Sheila King Lassman on sheila@waitrose.com or Edgar Jacobsberg on e.jacobsberg@gmail.com learning followed by lunch

on Thursdays, 12.00-2.30pm At 12.00pm, Rabbi Rebecca leads an hour’s learning in the small hall which is followed at 1.00pm by Café Thursday’s lunch* hosted by Nicola for anyone who chooses to stay. This means that those of you who choose to learn can stay for lunch and those who come to lunch can come to learn beforehand, something for everyone. * £6, for a freshly-prepared 3-course lunch. For menus or more information, contact Nicola via the synagogue office.

bridge group

Mondays @ 7.30pm £4, for details contact Gunter Lawson on 020 8346 5208 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. We usually meet in the FPS Library.

Rosh Chodesh Nissan Wednesday 29 March Marije-Hannah Altorf introduces ‘Christine de Pizan and her City of Ladies (1405): Feminism avant la lettre’ 50/50 club draws, february winners:

1st 2nd 3rd

Mary Huttrer £20 Paul Lichtenstern £15 Alison Rees £10

breakfast shiurim, cont. from page 8

become Cosmographer Royal, a scientific measurer of this changed world, and there were no dance masters at the Inns of Court.

The story of his life, and how it led to the atlas, is a story that has been entirely buried in codes, cyphers and secret signs, to enable Ogilby to operate in the deadly conspiracies of his frightening time. The tale is now unravelled.

English history looks rather different as a result.

The learning topic for the term is Covenant and Being A Modern Jew. 11

Together in Barnet Night Shelter andrea narcin

W

e’ve done it- Provided evening meal, shelter and breakfast for up to 17 homeless people, once a week, from 13 December to 14 February! Thank you everyone involved; cooks, hosts, breakfast shift and bag schleppers. You did a marvellous job! Can I just say that Peggy has been incredible organising rotas and keeping on top of changes? Thank you so much! An amazing woman indeed!

I thought you might like to see this thank you from one of the guests to Amanda, our coordinator: “I just wanted to say thank you so so much.

This has been amazing. We don’t feel like we are homeless anymore. It feels like we are living with friends and family and we have been invited over for dinner every night. Then

we start the nice day with a good breakfast.

Please thank all of your volunteers who are giving up their time, till late in the evening and early in the morning. We could say these people are like angels.”

So now that the shelter has moved on, we can celebrate - Don’t forget the Volunteers Party on 3 March, after the Friday night service!

If anyone is unable to wait till next year to volunteer again, a third cycle starts this week, and I know that they are still in need of hands (particularly at Trinity, Nether Street, on Friday nights).

Contact me on andrea_narcin@yahoo.co.uk for further information.

living alone?

Taking Pills?

Have you ever walked into a room and wondered why you are there? You might be a candidate for ‘pill amnesia’. When you take pills on a regular basis, it is possible not to be mindful and, suddenly, to wonder whether you have taken them or not.

When I had concussion a few years ago, my lovely home help suggested I keep a pill record.

Now, I do it always. You might like to do the same.

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Use a notebook or sheet of paper.

1. Write the day of the week 2. The time 3. Pill name or description 4. Pop the pill and, immediately make a tick.

Rochelle Simmons

Coming up at FPS... pesach alert!

Please join us for our communal Seder at 6.00pm on Tuesday 11 April.

A booking form is enclosed with this edition of Shofar.

For more details, please see our Facebook page or contact the synagogue office.

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benjy levey bar mitzvah

I am Benjy. I love football and rugby and this half term, I’ve enjoyed a fantastic week skiing in France.

I’m really looking forward to my bar mitzvah.

My Torah portion tells the story of when the Israelites created a golden calf to worship whilst Moses was collecting the tablets from God on Mount Sinai. I think this story shows us that we should consider all sides of an argument before making a decision and it forces us to challenge our beliefs. I think is very relevant in today’s world because like the Israelites, many people today feel scared and vulnerable which

can influence their decisions.

We mustn’t jump to conclusions about them but should try to understand and empathise.

Youth Havdalah Concert – 25 March at 5.30pm Please join us for one of our popular Youth concerts with our young musicians.

Expect wonderful music and an engaging conversation on the relationship between musicians and their music. We will share our music and our thoughts on why we chose the pieces that we’re playing and what they mean to us.

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Contacts fps who’s who finchley progressive synagogue

54 Hutton Grove N12 8DR 020 8446 4063 www.fps.org facebook.com/finchleyprog Rabbi Rebecca Birk - rabbi@fps.org Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner Ivriah Principal: Gabriel Webber Musicians in residence: Franklyn Gellnick, Dean Staker Synagogue Manager: Pauline Gusack pauline@fps.org Premises Manager: Howard Hamerton executive & council

Chair: Alex Kinchin-Smith - chair@fps.org Treasurer: Martin Silk Honorary Secretary: Josie Kinchin honsec@fps.org Vice-Chair: Louise Gellman

ashley page

President: Alan Banes Life President: Sheila King Lassman Vice Presidents: Renzo Fantoni, Josie Kinchin, Lionel King Lassman, John Lewis, David Pelham, Paul Silver-Myer, Andrea Rappoport, Joan Shopper contacts

Board of Deputies Reps: Janet Tresman, Stanley Volk Beit Midrash (Education): Adrian Lister, Louise Gellman Beit Tefillah (Rites & Practices): Michael Lassman, Josie Kinchin CafĂŠ Thursday: Nicky Marzell Website Editor: Gabriel Webber Shofar Editor: Pat Lehner - shofar@fps.org

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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Council members: Jacquie Fawcett, Wika Dorosz, Samantha King, Simone Lee, Maureen Lobatto, Phillip Raphael

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