Shofar May 2020

May 2020

the magazine of finchley progressive synagogue

Overcoming

From the Editor...

I

think it’s fair to say that we’re all facing a challenging time at the moment. As I write, I’m seven weeks into working remotely as my workplace is out of bounds, my parents and their contemporaries are quarantined in their homes, and our supermarket shelves are recovering after being stripped by panic buyers.

People of all ages and backgrounds in our community and around us are facing levels of uncertainty that makes Brexit seem like a walk in the park in comparison.

All the more pertinent really, that the theme of this month’s Shofar is overcoming troubles, finding redemption and managing to thrive. FPS members have shown time and again the value of their efforts to help vulnerable people such

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 2

darren beach

as refugees, those affected by homelessness and poverty, and cross-faith assistance in times of need. Indeed I myself have first-hand experience of the power of positive thought in successfully overcoming serious illness.

Stephen Fry’s General Melchett in Blackadder IV once memorably said:“If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.” It’s a funny line, delivered perfectly, but I prefer not to look at things that way. For me, looking at facts directly and doing whatever has to be done to get over that hurdle is the right way forward. I wish everyone at FPS good health and safe passage through the coronavirus weeks to come and look forward to a brighter future where hopefully even the loo-roll hoarders come to realise the value of working with each other, not against each other, to find the answers.

Above: (from left): Rainbow over East Finchley; some Bob Marley wisdom These and cover photos: Zoe Jacobs

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

From the Rabbi

rabbi rebecca birk

I

love Darren’s idea of Overcoming for this month’s Shofar. It’s such an epic human experience: the individual facing challenges and moving through them to emerge the other side, if a little bruised.

I must tell you that as rabbi here my daily work is made up of endlessly observing people doing just that. From illness to devastating loss to difficult changes. I’m blown away by your resilience and the human spirit’s ability to push through. I’ve sat by many a bedside, attended many a funeral too soon and unjust, and just been with you through uninvited change and stress.

I have also witnessed when things start to ease and you miraculously (or not so miraculously ) feel a little better.

Edna St Vincent Millay wrote: Time does not bring relief; you all have lied… I disagree. I see

the act of overcoming takes time but it happens.

When we’re talking at your kitchen table and you laugh, and it surprises you, because you thought you might not laugh again. When things feel more manageable and you have energy you once didn’t, physical and mental.

Like Ecclesiastes reminds us; there is a time for everything under heaven; a time for being born and a time for dying..a time for breaking and a time for healing.

For me, I certainly felt we’d overcome when Ruben was discharged from the NHS last September. We were so lucky to get the skilled care and support we did. We certainly overcame.

But it’s not just the big moments that we can feel relief and pride in.

Judaism is all about getting over difficulty; moving from narrow places to wide expanses.

Whether you attribute success and safety to divine presence or your own amazing resilience.

Ruben discharged from the NHS last September, with his grandma

3

From the Chair W

e were invited to send photos of our walks during lockdown. One is of the sea in Aldeburgh and another is of a moment during my dawn walk in Alexandra Palace Park.

We were in Aldeburgh on holiday a few days before the lockdown was announced and returned shortly after the regulations came into place. Like many of us, our next door neighbour in Aldeburgh was feeling lost and upset. Pat was dismayed at the prospect of not seeing and visiting her friends. We spent plenty of time talking and learning about each other’s lives. Once again, the lockdown has shown me the importance of reaching out to people by whatever means possible to support each other through the ups and downs. We are also overjoyed to see our neighbours during the Thursday clap each week.

For many of us, the Synagogue is a place of refuge and joy offering us meaningful connections and stimulating activities. Even

4

cathy burnstone

more so in these difficult times. I am so grateful for the astonishing speed with which our Synagogue has become virtual and to Zoe as well as Josie and John for their commitment to making this happen. I also want to thank Rabbi Rebecca for continuing to offer us regular services as well as sharing her wisdom, learning and insight and reaching out to all of us with kindness. Personally the morning meditations are challenging yet they transform my day. We are also fortunate to enjoy the music that Dean and Franklyn offer us. As Zoe said in a recent email to the congregation we have the opportunity to sing to our hearts content, and we do so especially on mute!

Peace of Mind

sarah derriey

Jonathan and Tzacky, two Israelis we’d never met before, stayed a week with us. We had an enriching, life-affirming experience by hosting them.

Peace of Mind is a charity that brings former combat units of veterans of the Israeli Army – the IDF - to London to undergo intensive psychotherapy, to enable them to confront the stresses, burdens and scars of their combat encounters. Everyone in Israel serves in the IDF; many confront horrific episodes of violence that they remember throughout their lives. As Israel is a small place, they are often continually reminded of the horrors they faced, caused by memory triggers.

By travelling to London and other locations, these twenty or so veterans can focus on the burdens they carry, guided by specialist psychotherapists. Each day, for a week, they undergo eight hours of often wrenching group therapy. By the end of the week of over 40 hours of sessions, they are better equipped to come to terms with their experiences.

Fifteen London synagogues across the religious spectrum have hosted forty teams of veterans over mainly the last five years, West London Shul four times. Units apply to Peace of Mind to be accepted on this 9-month programme. The backlog is increasing, with over 120 teams currently waiting. FPS can help by hosting a unit. Ten families each take in two veterans, providing them accommodation, breakfasts and one or two dinners. Group dinners and other activities take up the other evenings, some including the hosts. FPS would host a communal dinner.

These combat units are comprised of Israelis from all walks of life. The group that we participated in included an architect, a medical equipment start-up entrepreneur, an eye surgeon, a tennis pro and a shopping mall manager. They expressed to us how heartening it is to discover that Jewish communities outside Israel support them, not as soldiers, not as veterans but as fellow Jews. Emotions were high at the wrap-up session before their flight back.

Each participant and host briefly described what the week had meant. A disagreement persisted: participants thanked hosts for their openness; Hosts demurred, and - without exception thanked the veterans and Peace of Mind for enriching their lives and enabling them to take part.

These are men (and a few women combat units) who struggle – usually unconsciously – to adapt to a normal existence. Peace of Mind facilitates that process. For veterans, hosts and the hosting synagogue, it’s a profound, highly valuable experience. Peace of Mind is a programme run by Metiv, Israel Psychotrauma Centre. Metiv is an affiliate of the Herzog Memorial Hospital, Jerusalem. www.metiv.org/peace-of-mind

5

Notice Board: How You Can Help

6

Beit Tefillah

services at fps

services – may / iyar leading into sivan At the time of writing, FPS services are being held via Zoom video conferencing, links to access them and LJ Biennial services will be included in FPS emails.

Friday 1 May

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 2 May

11.00am Shabbat B’Yachad and Czech Scroll Service

Friday 8 May

6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 9 May

11.00am Shabbat Service led by Rabbis Rebecca Birk & Danny Rich

Friday 15 May

6.30pm Shabbat Resouled

Saturday 16 May

11.00am Shabbat Service

Friday 22 May

6.30pm LJ Biennial Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 23 May

11.00am LJ Biennial Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Rebecca Birk and others

Thursday 28 May

Erev Shavuot & Tikkun Leyl (details to follow)

Friday 29 May

Shavuot Service (details to follow) 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 30 May

11.00am Shabbat Service

did you know?

did you know?

Until the early 1900s, the area we now know as Hampstead Garden Suburb thanks to Henrietta Barnett’s housing development was called simply South Finchley.

In the 18th century, the corpses of hanged highwaymen were exhibited on a ‘gibbet’ on the corner of Bedford Road and Finchley High Road, approximately where (ironically enough) Robertson Memorials is now.

did you know?

According to the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), there are communities in more than 50 countries serving 1,200 congregations and 1.8 million members.

7

Beit Knesset At the time of writing, all FPS activities are being held via Zoom video conferencing, links to access will be included in FPS emails bridge group

Closed during lock down rosh chodesh (tevet & sh’vat)

Monthly celebration of the New Moon by women who enjoy meeting, sharing and learning.

Tuesday 26 May @ 8.00pm The Sivan meeting will be presented by Hannah Altorf and is entitled ‘Saving the Earth Jewishly? With Greta Thunberg and Iris Murdoch’. If you would like to join the group, please Contact Wika Dorosz on vdorosz@gmail.com She will email a Zoom link on 26 May book club

Wednesday 13 May @ 8:00pm Book Club meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. Contact Sheila King Lassman skinglassman@gmail.com or Edgar Jacobsberg e.jacobsberg@gmail.com

community events, all welcome!

learn

Thursdays @ 1.00pm An hour’s learning with Rabbi Rebecca – with or without your own lunch. No class on 28 May pilates

Thursdays @ 5.30-6.30pm. Led by Tali Swart.

Beginners to intermediate; individually tailored instruction. Payment in blocks of six, about £8 per lesson. Contact taliswort@btconnect.com cafe ivriah

Sunday @ 10-11 am (Ivriah term only) is running on Zoom. All welcome to join for a friendly chat and topical discussion (bring your own coffee!)

Suggestions for topics of discussion are welcome to Adrian on adulteducation@fps.org During lock down, Beit Midrash presents an occasional series of talks via Zoom on Thursday evenings. Please contact Adrian on adulteducation@fps.org if you have a talk, of Jewish or general interest, that you would be able to present.

delving into judaism

Wednesday 7.00-9.00pm. Weekly adult class with Rabbi Rebecca exploring the building blocks of Judaism plus Hebrew classes. Not on 27 May as Delving will be part of our Shavuot and Tikkun Leyl on 28 May beit midrash presents

Thursday 21 May @ 7.30-8.30pm via Zoom, Lionel Lassman on “Giants of Progressive Judaism” Thursdays @ 7.30 pm from 4 June, Danny Rich presents three weekly sessions on “Resilience and Recovery: Exploring Jewish texts for comfort and inspiration in our current circumstances.”

8

22-23 May, for details see Beit Tefillah, page 7.

Beit Midrash

coming up at fps

9

Notice Board polenta chips- cathy’s favourite carbs!

I came up with this particular way of making polenta chips years ago as Cathy doesn’t like fried foods but loves grilled polenta.

Cook polenta according to pack instructions (it will vary according to whether you’re cooking ‘real’ polenta or precooked polenta). When cooking add a handful of chopped rosemary. Put it in a dish to cool completely.

When ready to cook cut thin slices and then strips (chips) put in a metal dish and do NOT add oil. It will take about 30-35 minutes. They are wonderful as replacement of potato chips i.e. fish and chips, burger and chips etc. They are fat free and bring a change to the usual chips.

My family in Italy were astonished when I made that and are now making them too!!

Buon appetito!

Carmen Menegazzi

people welcome to new members Jessica Morris and David Edward; Beverly Sokel mazeltov to Danny Posilkyn who celebrated his Bar Mitzvah on 25 April; Wika Dorosz on the birth of her first granddaughter, Nina, daughter of Jan and Hellie. condolences to Alison Pilpel on the death

of her father Leon in March; Paul Lakra on the death of his wife Vivianne in March; Gabi Highman on the death of her mother Wilma in April; The Robinson family on the death of Nevile in April and Betty in May; Simon Smith on the death of his father Russell and mother Brenda in April thank you to Nina Stubbings for masterminding

the Purim Spiel and to Josie Kinchin and Sheila King-Lassman for leading the Megillah reading;

10

Simon Majaro for the donation to FPS in memory of Wilma Highman; Josie Kinchin and John Rubinstein for their technical help as FPS moved to remote working; Ivriah teachers for enabling Ivriah to return for Shavuot term online happy birthday to the following members who celebrated milestone birthdays in April followed by those who will be celebrating in May: Barby Slater, Ian Narin, Martin Orkin, Rikke Susgaard-Vigo, Shirley Gerson, Brian Hershon, Richard Colbey, Wendy Lobatto, Gillian Stern, Deborah Laikin 50/50 club draws winners, march

1st 2nd 3rd

Barbara Shulman Kate Lassman Long Lionel King-Lassman

£20 £10 £5

10

Notice Board a point of language

It’s a curious thing why English lacks the inflections so richly seen in other Indo-European languages, notably the Romance, Germanic and Slovak tongues we lovingly encounter in our frequent peregrinations abroad. We have hardly any case demarcations in our nouns and even fewer verb endings to denote persons, tenses, etc, instead relying much more on pronouns and modal/auxiliary verbs to convey precise meanings.

The reason is that, in the centuries following the departure of the Romans, we were invaded by droves of Angles, Saxons and Jutes all emanating from Low Germanic regions of northwest Europe, but all with differing intricate and complex inflections attaching to a pretty uniform basic vocabulary. So, in the interests of mutual understanding, while preserving a minimal rapidity of speech, English began progressively to discard its inflections, leading to today’s situation, where even the use of ‘whom’ is practically extinct. What price the survival this century of ‘-s’ in the third person present of verbs?

I blame it all on the bloody Jutes...

Anthony Kay human rights workshops

Rene Cassin is running a series of free interactive workshops entitled What has the Human Rights Act got to do with us? I am leading these and will be including my films in the workshops. The workshops provide the opportunity to discover how our human rights safety net can help ordinary people in their everyday lives. Using films, quizzes and case studies we discuss the importance of human rights and how human rights are intertwined with Jewish history and

values.

Each workshop focuses on a different topic: • Elderly people: How did the Human Rights Act stop an elderly couple being sent to separate care homes Young people: How did a 17-year-old boy • change the law?

• Disabled people: How did a father get his autistic son out of care?

Right to life: How are the police held to • account when someone dies?

The same workshop will be run twice in a week, on Tuesday evening and Thursday midday from 12 May to 4 June. This is a series of four workshops – they work best as a series but can also be stand-alone. Shortly before each workshop, you will be sent an invitation to join a Zoom meeting. You will be asked to watch a short film before each workshop for discussion.

Each workshop runs for 75 minutes; workshops are suitable for adults (16+).

More information and sign up here: www.renecassin.org/what-has-hra-got-to-dowith-us/ Deborah Singer finchley food bank

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, we have unfortunately not been able to visit the Food Bank with the FPS donations of food and toiletries. The first week of the Lockdown we received a couple of big monetary donations and Dalma very kindly did the shopping for us (we’re self-isolating) and delivered £160 worth of food! It was really gratefully received

by Finchley Food Bank but with the current restrictions it’s not been sustainable to keep doing this. However, Finchley Food Bank has set up a Virgin Money Giving page and should you Continued on page 1 11

Coronavirus Events

12

Torquay to Tel Aviv At 42 I was living a sheltered and secure life with my wife of 22 years but yearned for some adventure - mid-life crisis you might say. So in 1978 I sold my interest in the Devon family business and then told my wife (!). We decided to take a year to visit old friends across Europe and on to Israel to see if we might want to settle there.

We would go by caravan so that we could un-hitch and use the car separately. All a ‘bisle meshuge’ (a little crazy) but as I had never towed a caravan before, I practised by driving across Dartmoor and convinced myself that I could cope with anything! We rented our home and set off at the end of September to see parts of Europe we had never visited.

First stop was Budapest - then under Russian control. The campsite was atrocious, ripe for Coronavirus, and where Ladas (old Fiats) crammed (and I mean crammed) with visitors from Hungary and Poland. One day we asked the travel bureau how to visit the old Synagogue but were told that it didn’t exist! Luckily another woman there showed us her Magen David and gave us a map to get to the Synagogue. It was beautiful and well worth the hassle.

Next was the journey to Austria. When we reached the checkpoint - we had been stopped on the way by an old policeman for going 25 mph on a 20 mph deserted road (!) - we couldn’t cross until our caravan had been thoroughly searched with mirrors. Finally we drove to Arnfels, a pretty little village in the south to meet friends. On the peaceful hills above the village you could almost hear Julie Andrews singing ‘The Hills are Alive’.

Next was the pretty town of Salzburg and to a campsite at the top of a steep hill which was a hairy journey. Here everything was about Mozart and chocolate! Then to the beautiful city

/ part one

braham fredman

of Vienna with its magnificent architecture and museums as well as wonderful coffee houses serving calorie free (ha ha) tortes and coffee with lashings of cream.

In Germany we visited friends in Heidelberg, former home of Albert Speer, Hitler’s Armaments Minister and on to Hamburg to visit friends on the outskirts. Next it was a skiing adventure something I had only dabbled with before.

We rented an apartment for three months in Ortise, a village in the Dolomites, part of the Austrian Tyrol. Our Austrian friends who met us there were experienced skiers. One day we had lunch at a restaurant at the top of a mountain but after a few gluhweins missed the last cable car back. We had to be led down by the restaurant owner using flares as a blizzard had started. Well, I said I wanted adventure! I could ski almost anywhere by the end but chickened out with the ‘Black Runs’ as they were too steep for cowardly me!

After three months it was time to embark on our final journey all the way to Israel.

Part Two next month, as Braham and family reach Israel.

finchley food bank / cont. from p. 11

wish to make a donation they will buy what is needed.

We have kept in regular touch with Anna at the Food Bank and in her latest message she told us that the previous week they were very busy, helping 100 people across 57 households with lots of new clients every week.

So, if you would like to donate money for the Food Bank volunteers to do the shopping, please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ charities/StMaryFinchleyEast It’s really easy to donate. Thank you, be well and be safe.

Alison Rees & Peggy Sherwood 13

High Holy Days Fundraising Appeal help us decide who to give to this year!

Charitable giving has always been a significant feature of our religion both as private individuals and as a community. But recently we’ve been scratching our heads and thinking deeply in council, working party meetings and Café Ivriah about how to choose our High Holy Days charities. To help us we’d really like to hear from you - our members - about who you would like our synagogue community to donate to this year.

We have been looking at all the work that we do at FPS to make the world a better place by providing direct support to those in need, e.g. by hosting the night shelter (social action); by campaigning to win changes that will have a real impact on people’s lives, e.g. getting Barnet Council to welcome 50 Syrian refugees (social justice); and by supporting other organisations with time, money or other resources (charity).

We want to be sure that this work is as effective and meaningful as possible, that it is fully integrated into the life of the community and that we are focussing on what our members really care about.

This year we have decided on some criteria to help us to choose organisations to support through our High Holy Days Appeal. We are looking for charities: •

•

•

We can build a relationship with and make a longer-term commitment to over three years rather than as a one-off Members can experience or participate in personally and directly e.g. through volunteering, visits or learning events.

Where our involvement will have a meaningful impact both on the charity and on us.

•

• •

tamara joseph

With a community ambassador who will help us to build a relationship with the charity.

Connected to our Jewish values and that we can link to our festivals and services.

Linked to the issues we are working on in other areas already: homelessness, food poverty, refugees, environmental issues.

At Café Ivriah we discussed these ideas in relation to a number of charities and how we have built or could build relationships with them as a community: •

•

•

•

The Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust which has lent us three of our beautiful Torah scrolls. Our Bnei Mitzvah candidates often choose to read from these scrolls and we honour them and the communities they came from in an annual service.

Generation 2 Generation (G2G) established by FPS member Lesley Urbach which supports 2nd & 3rd generation descendants of Holocaust survivors to retell the experiences of their parents or grandparents. This year Lesley worked with our KT 2 class on a personalised curriculum which culminated in the class leading our Holocaust Memorial Day service with wide community participation.

The Leo Baeck Education Centre in Haifa which FPS members have visited. Charities don’t need to be local for us to build a strong relationship with them – especially now that we can easily talk to them thanks to our new zoom skills!

The New Israel Fund and Yachad, charities we have previously supported both of which delivered a full series of talks about their work for Beit Midrash.

Continued on page 15

14

lockdown for a 10 year old

Well this is not how I imagined summer term and my tenth birthday happening! I was disappointed to hear that schools were closing, and I was slightly apprehensive about what lockdown and home schooling (in particular) would mean. It has, however, been much better than I expected, partly because of all the fun learning materials that we’ve found: Maddie Moate & Greg Foot are doing a science show every weekday that has been great, and Greg from Horrible Histories is doing a weekly history podcast for kids. My school has set up a virtual classroom, so getting learning materials has been a lot easier and, to my surprise, I have

not really been bored.

I have also been having regular zoom calls with my friends and family and one good thing that has come out of this is that with all of the regular meetings, I have been seeing some people a lot more than usual.

I have also been playing with my brother a lot more, which is good. I have been missing school, but I can’t truthfully say I have been missing all lessons :-) Although some good things have come out of all this, I want things to come back to normal as soon as possible.

Sam Field

high holy days appeal / cont. from p. 14

•

Peace of Mind, which hosts 15 IDF veterans and their therapists with a host community abroad. We would partner with another synagogue, hosting soldiers in our homes and building a relationship with our partner host community.

Last year we gave about £3000 per charity and this year we want to be sure we choose at least one organisation that will enthuse our children and young people.

So please think about who you would like FPS to support this year (and ask your children to think about it too!). It could be one of the above or something completely new. We invite you to introduce your charity at a future Café Ivriah discussion. Please send your suggestions and nominations to me at honsec@fps.org. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing how we can make a real difference as a community.

15

my bar mitzvah online: daniel aradi-posylkin: 25 april

Hello, my name is Daniel, or Danny, as most people call me. I live in East Finchley with my parents, older brother and sister and our dog.

We have been members of this synagogue for about 10 years. I love going to LJY events, especially the summer camps. I also enjoy going to Ivriah on Saturdays.

At first, I wasn’t at all sure that I wanted my Bar Mitzvah online. However, once I made the decision I really enjoyed the process and the support I got from my family and from everyone else, especially Rabbi Rebecca, John and Josie.

We had some meetings where we finalised the details and worked out how it would be done on the day. I really enjoyed this process: how everyone was listening to me and looking to find ways to accommodate me.

On Saturday morning we all dressed up for the occasion; I put on my tallit for the very first time and we all went into my bedroom. That is the best place in the house for light.

It was nerve-racking, yet great to see more

16

and more people popping up in the small boxes of the Zoom screen, some family members, some friends and the rest being members of FPS. Technology is a great thing!

I was nervous at first, but once I had nailed the Shema I knew I would do just fine. Lots of messages started popping up, reassuring me, and that really worked. Before I knew it I had already finished my Parasha and Haftarah. It would have been wrong to delay my very timely portion about leprosy.

At the end of the service, I loved all the messages of congratulations popping up in the corner of the screen. The breakout kiddish was another novelty. Some friends and family members were with us in our group.

Once the service was over my family had a very special lunch to celebrate the occasion.

Afterwards, we went for a long walk on Hampstead Heath and lots of family members called throughout the day.

I did miss having a party and a proper celebration in the evening, but hopefully, we can make up for that once the lockdown is over. Other than missing out on a party I really enjoyed having my Bar Mitzvah online and I think it certainly was a very memorable occasion.

Your Lockdown - Photos Special We asked you to send in pictures to show how you have been dealing with the lockdown, how you have been using your state-sanctioned exercise and what you have been occupying

your time with to stay safe, and stay sane!

Thank you very much, and keep going, we’ll get there in the end...shalom everyone.

Since March 2020 I have seen a few amazing acts of nature in my garden. A friend invited me to join a Facebook group called “The Self-isolating Bird Club” and I started to bird watch. Within a couple of days, I’d noticed many more different little birds in the garden and put bird seed out to attract them in. I have been able to work from home but this has been a great source of relaxation and diversion at the moment.

We have seen pheasants, sparrow hawks, and red kites!

Ruth Logue

(from left): Miriam enjoying the sun in her hammock; Ben enjoying a puzzle; A beautiful tree on Miriam’s walk

17

Your Lockdown - Photos Special

(from left, clockwise) Matza baking by Aaron, Alison, Asher & Peggy. Or you could opt for a reduced to clear 10p pack of Rakusen’s from Sainsbury’s!

Challa bakers (from left) Zoe and Tamara Joseph; Cake by Rabbi Rebecca. Flower photos by Beverly Kafka (top) & Stanly Volk

18

Your Lockdown - Photos Special

(from top left, clockwise): Dean Staker’s service prep; Miriam Dwek Shabbat; Shabbat Resouled first day Lockdown; Rafael & Ruben Qassim delivering yellow candles; Richard Greene’s lit yellow candle; Joe’s Bar Mitzvah on Facebook; Zoe Jacob’s Zoom seder; an FPS Zoom meeting

19

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, Alex Kinchin-Smith, Laura Lassman, Lionel King Lassman, John Lewis, Paul Silver-Myer, Andrea Rappoport, Joan Shopper

Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner

contacts

Community Development Manager: Zoe Jacobs – zoe@fps.org Musicians in Residence: Franklyn Gellnick, Dean Staker Synagogue Manager: Pauline Gusack pauline@fps.org executive 2020

Chair: Cathy Burnstone, chair@fps.org Vice-Chair: Anjanette Pavell, ViceChairAP@fps.org Treasurer: Chris Nash, treasurer@fps.org Honorary Secretary: Tamara Joseph, honsec@fps.org board members

Sam King, sam@fps.org Phillip Raphael, security@fps.org Ann Pelham, apelham@fps.org Roy Balint-Kurti, roybk@fps.org

Board of Deputies Reps: Janet Tresman, Stanley Volk Beit Midrash (Adult Education): Adrian Lister adulteducation@fps.org Beit Tefillah (Rites & Practices): Valerie Joseph Keep In Touch Team (contacting members): reached via Pauline in FPS office Website Editor: Philip Karstadt fpswebsite@fps.org Shofar Editor: Darren Beach shofar@fps.org Shofar Team: Sarah Rosen-Webb, Wika Dorosz FPS Office: administrator@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

20

Office phone: 0208 346 1777 Email: janet@altermans.co.uk