Shofar May 2017

May 2017

Shofar

‫שופר‬

the magazine of finchley progressive synagogue

Wiki Dorosz and Nisreen Kakhia with Syrian dish ‘madlokah’

From the Editor: Pesach ca. cranston Our Shofar cover shows FPS member Wika Dorosz sampling Nisreen Kakhia’s Syrian dish ‘madlokah’ in a contemporary celebration of the ‘first fruits’ of community and difference.

Stanley Volk’s classic image of Pesach (left) shows the historic importance of food in our daily, social, and ritual lives. Behind Stanley’s image of food and drink lie Pesach’s storied layers of infanticide and emancipation: matzah, unleavened bread (usually wheat), evokes additional images of Exodus on a tight schedule. It’s also a picture of what isn’t there: the forsaken bagels, pizzas, biscuits, bread – seven long days filled with tiny acts of deprivation. No wheat, no barley (and that means no malt), no oats, spelt or rye. Chametz. A list of finger-wagging ‘no no’ foods.

Many foods that are no-no’s on Pesach are no-no’s all year round for coeliacs and other gluten-intolerant people. Apart from the matzah, it’s a diet that makes Pesach week a gustatory delight – especially since coeliacs can now participate in the communal sharing of food. This year the end of Pesach was followed by the start of Coeliac Awareness month, and because of this coincidence of dates and diet, I began to wonder how common this autoimmune disorder was in the Jewish community.

I know at least three FPS members with coeliac disease, and my husband’s niece also has it. I found The Biggest Jewish Genetic Myths of All Time (2012), by Joseph Murray, who writes that lactose intolerance and other gastro-intestinal disorders including coeliac disease (which is genetic) ARE common among Jews. In addition, Miryam Wahman’s Brave New Judaism: When Science and Scripture Collide (2002), notes that, in particular, “Jews from Yemen have an increased rate [of the disease]”.

All of which means that some who are undiagnosed in the Jewish community might have experienced better ‘gut feelings’ during Pesach because they’ve cut out gluten (barring the matzah). Pesach also, in accordance with the writings of Leviticus, delivers a ‘how to’ in the presentation of burnt offerings. Notorious for its ableist assumptions, physical deviance is associated with spiritual deviance and, therefore, with impurity. Taking our cue from the title of Wahman’s Science and Scripture Collide, today we know that most of us are heterozygotes for “three to eight defective genes, and each of us is almost certain to carry at least one” (MA Santos, Continued on page 5 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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Cover: Nisreen Kakhia and her dish of madlokah.

Photo by Alison Rees Above photo: ‘Pesach’ by Stanley Volk

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

From the Rabbi rabbi rebecca birk

T

his month I have been talking a great deal about FPS, where we stand religiously, socially and even politically. We are the 21st Liberal synagogue – rather critical geographically as the only liberal outpost between St Johns Wood and Enfield. We are important for those who want to engage and identify liberal in this large area, or as a fellow Jewish Finchley resident referred to it, within this ‘fertile Jewish crescent of N12’. What has always defined us since the 1980’s is a welcoming attitude to mixed faith families, a firm and official commitment to patrilineality and a reverence for the tradition we inherit with a good amount of Hebrew in our services and a prophetic inclination for social justice and business in the wider community.

Re-affirming who we are is a good exercise every

‘(FPS) has kept in tune with Liberal Judaism but beat its own drum as well.’ so often; perhaps the period of Omer between Pesach and Shavuot is encouraging me.

To be all these things to so many people is not an oxymoronic juxtaposition, but a good challenge. We want to reach the needs of all our congregants.

FPS has evolved and developed through the years. It has kept in tune with Liberal Judaism but beat its own drum as well. LJ prides itself on being at the vanguard of many political and social issues – it is also a theologically progressive movement. We are proud of that.

FPS is a proud constituent but has always interpreted Liberal Judaism’s tradition in its own way.

We are doing that now. At our Beit Tefillah, our religious services committee, and our Council. We are considering our minhagim (customs) in our services. How do we honour non Jewish guests and visiting clergy? What is the appropriate way to celebrate difference in our families at meaningful life cycle events?

Do share your thoughts and experiences around this. It’s so important we know how our folk feel.

I am reminded of the words of Rabbi John D Rayner in his sermon on the inauguration of Finchley Liberal Synagogue (that was) in March 1963: ‘I have always found the Finchley Congregation extremely friendly and warm hearted and have been delighted by their enthusiastic participation in services.’

This continues to be a strength and as we continually refine, renew and reassess where we are, your thoughts are vital. We plan to have sessions in the Café Ivriah slot on Shabbat mornings, the first being on Saturday 6 May. We will remind you nearer the time…

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From the Chair alex kinchin-smith

I was speaking over the holidays with a friend who is a regular church goer. She was describing how she spends much of the period attending church and that Easter is a peaceful and reflective time for her. Paula remarked that Pesach was not necessarily a similarly peaceful time for us, explaining we had 17 for dinner at home for first night Seder and then were part of the team hosting our community Seder for around eighty people the next evening!

(See page 6 for a write-up of the communal Seder). However, although certainly busy, I did find Pesach this year was a time with plenty of relevant contemporary issues to consider alongside the biblical narrative.

It seemed for me the themes of migration and freedom were particularly appropriate given recent events. There are, of course, the large scale political events that are shaping the current global situation – our exit from the EU, the war in Syria, and the actions of the recently elected US President. But I have been more struck by events closer to home, in particular the horrific attack in Croydon on a young Kurdish Iranian seeking asylum in the UK. I don’t always find myself agreeing with the Labour MP Diane Abbot, but in this instance her words in condemnation of the attack linking

global events may be worthy of consideration: ‘With right-wing politicians across the world scapegoating migrants, refugees and others for their economic problems, we are seeing a deeply worrying rise in the politics of hate. We must make clear that there is no place for antiforeigner myths, racism and hate in our society.’

As one member of FPS commented in a discussion recently, the Seder is not just about going through the rituals and the story of the Exodus from Egypt but learning the relevant lessons for us today. I am sure many of our members also contemplated events in our society around the Seder table this year. We are rightly proud of our work to support refugees from Syria in settling in our borough as direct action to support those in need. Liberal Judaism and we as liberal Jews should continue to strive to be a force for good in our community and wider society. I hope you will consider joining us at the LJ Day of Celebration on the 11 June to consider the question ‘Is Liberal Judaism Political Judaism?’.

And those of us using LJ’s Haggadah B’chol dor v’dor will have concluded our Seder with the words ‘Next Year in Jerusalem, next year in a world where all are free’.

report from the beautification group

The Beautification Group met on three occasions to discuss and plan how to improve the building, an initiative which is part of the Maurice Needleman legacy. They also discussed the planning of necessary repairs that are a part of the ongoing building maintenance.

An architect who had a retainer with the Sephardi Shuls in London kindly attended FPS last week and as a result will be submitting a report outlining a range of options and quotes.

We are also obtaining quotes for the downstairs flooring, as well as quotes for much needed Continued on page 15

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An Evening of Syrian Cooking & Friendship an evening of syrian cooking & friendship

April 5. A large group of FPS women learned how to make Syrian fattoush, felafel and madlokah (recipe below). Nisreen Kakhia demonstrated how to do it properly – everything from scratch, including the ricottalike cheese required for the dessert (the recipe comes from her grandmother). It was delicious and a lot of fun! If you fancy a Syrian feast, Nisreen would be available to cook for a party in your home (contact the FPS office). madlokah recipe 1 Put the stove on

low. Combine 2 cups sugar with 2 cups water and two tablespoons lemon juice to make sugared water. Leave for about half an hour.

2 Put two cups of plain milk and a cup and a half sugar with two bags mozzarella cheese without salt (half a kilo or less). Leave them until the cheese melts, then add two cups of soft semolina and continue stirring and stirring until melted or dissolved slightly.

3 Put a little of the sugar mixture into a large oven tray and spread the semolina paste that you made in step 2. Leave until cool.

4 For the upper layer of madlokah, heat 2 litres of milk, add two tablespoons white vinegar with a teaspoon of lemon juice, and stir a little to separate the milk from the water. The mixture will curdle and you will get fresh ricotta.

5 Put two cups of milk with 8 tablespoons of corn starch and continue stirring until it becomes creamy and stiff and put two

tablespoons of water and a spoon of rose water.

Turn off the heat and mix the cheese with the mixture and spread over the layer of semolina and add the crushed rose petals and grated pistachios, an essential ingredient in Syrian cooking. On Shofar’s cover, Wika Dorosz can be seen sampling a possible Kiddush changer, with Nisreen. havdalah concert

Following the end of Shabbat and the beginning of Pesach, Rabbi Rebecca led members through a joyful Havdalah ceremony, imparting the four blessings over the wine, candle, spices, and the separation between the holy and the profane.

from the editor, cont. from page 2

1981). Sometimes our differences are visible; sometimes they are hidden. But the human genome has delivered a level playing field when it comes to the hubris of assessing human bodies for their perfection and their differences.

What it comes down to, as we munch on our matzahs, is the comforting fact that none of us is perfect.

Do you have something to say? Please note that page 2 is open to FPS members to offer their own comments and opinions.

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Seder 2017 simone lee

W

e were seventy-four in total at our bumper Seder Night on 11 April at FPS. What an inspired and family-friendly service conceived and led by Rabbi Rebecca.

Her inventiveness is unsurpassed when it comes to a dramatic production of ‘Chad Gadya’*; her own son, Rafael testifies, ‘It felt like a “house Seder” and I loved the animal noises my grandpa and grandma made.’ (Thanks grandma and grandpa, your Equity cards are in the post.) Some of you might have noticed that Christopher Nash played the Eternal One, both this year and last? – infer from that what you will.

And if the performances of swishing water and hissing fire and mewling cats etc. were not enough (‘Dayenu’), Marian Fixler led us through the movements for ‘Who Knows One?’ (‘Echad Mi Yodea?’), which would not have discredited a gentle workout DVD. Our guests were also treated to ‘Just a Minute,’ a display of quick-wittedness and nerve, where a range of people, from the young to the mature and wise, stood up and each spoke for a minute on topics ranging from Moses, Pharaoh managing Whining People, Matzah, Boils, Slavery, Eggs, and The Sea. These elicited laughs (and moans) from the audience. And, in case you weren’t there, be assured, we fulfilled the mitzvot of the Seder service too.

We are glad that new friends joined us on this evening. For Eva, aged nine, it was her very first Seder; she exuded enthusiasm: ‘It was fun, especially meeting Maya [Milner] and singing. I learnt a lot about my religion. I didn’t know what happened in Egypt a long time ago has got something to do with me. Interesting.’

[Above: Eva Cohen & Maya Milner] 6

Miracles and thanksgiving are two of the themes of Passover.

We celebrate the miracles of our escape from Egypt and we are thankful that we are free to celebrate the continuity of our people and our Jewish life, wherever we are. These themes resounded all the more strongly for those conscious that Reem was among us. Reem, a British-born Syrian, collaborates with Rabbi Rebecca and the team at the Coffee Club, and Women and Toddler Group for Syrian Refugees, on Fridays at FPS. She was joined by her husband Mo, their delightful daughter, Maya, along with Mo’s sister and her husband. As we followed the service, marking our marvellous story of redemption, we were chillingly reminded of those who have not been freed, in particular, the Syrians who suffered such atrocities only the week before under Assad (4 April); of those child refugees, so vulnerable and traumatised, who are not being restored to their families here in England under the Dublin Regulation; of those refugees who are still clinging to hope that a new life might await them where they will have dignity and safety. Our Passover tale has universal themes.

And our story continued on a theme of solidarity at our Seder. One of our guests, Ray Dwek (above, opposite page), who is the father of Debbie and grandfather of Tom and James Hyde, is a frequent visitor to FPS. Ray

Seder 2017 Many thanks to all who provided for us including Dean Staker for his music, and the organisers and providers: Paula and Alex Kinchin-Smith, David and Sasha Conroy, Paul Angel, and Alan Milner. And for everyone who helped and participated. So appreciated. It was a wonderful evening. And the food was delicious.

[Left: Mo, Reem & Maya at the Seder.]

has an interesting history—a Jewish man born in Egypt of Syrian parents— the loss of homeland and escape has always had immediacy for him.

At the Seder, he was introduced to Mo, Reem’s husband, a Muslim, who was born in Syria. When they met, Ray’s face lit up and they engaged, speaking warmly in Arabic, connected by all they share and all they have lost. That touching encounter encapsulates the essence of something that is precious in our FPS community, that we are there in friendship and openness to all our fellow humans and foster that true community spirit.

* Chad Gadya means ‘one kid’ and is a playful cumulative song in Aramaic and Hebrew sung at the end of the Passover Seder

“Ruth the convert, Ruth the Migrant” -­‐ Tikkun Leil Shavuot

Tuesday 30th May 2017

At Finchley Progressive Synagogue ● 54 HuAon Grove, London N12 8DR

Come and join us for a night of spiritual, cultural, educaNonal and culinary nourishment!

There will be something for everyone ● Inclusive Shavuot Service ● Chavurah Supper ● Tikkun study sessions ● Cheesecake Break Timings: 18:30-­‐19:30 Service ● 19:30-­‐20:15 Chavurah Supper 20:15-­‐21:15 Session 1 Panel Discussion -­‐ ‘Responding to the Book of Ruth’ 21:15-­‐21:30 Cheesecakes & coffee 21:30-­‐22:15 Session 2 ● 22:15-­‐ 23:00 Session 3 ● 23:00 Midnight Spirituality

Bring & share non-­‐meat dish, cheesecake or a dessert.

Please contact Lynda Cannon (office@sps.uk.com, 020 8886 0977), Valerie Joseph at FPS (vjoseph18@gmail.com) or Janet Renton at Sha’arei Tsedek (janet.renton@shaarei-­‐tsedek.org.uk) to coordinate the feast!

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Beit Tefillah services at fps

services - may Friday 5 May

Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 6 May

Shabbat B’Yachad

Friday 12 May

Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 13 May

Kabbalat Shabbat Service Torah read by Richard Greene

Friday 19 May

Shabbat Resouled followed by Kitah Vav Friday Dinner

Saturday 20 May

Shabbat Service

Friday 26 May

Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday 27 May

Shabbat Service celebrating Lesley Urbach’s birthday

people sincerest thanks

our deepest condolences to

Corinne would like to sincerely thank everyone who so kindly visited, sent cards and gifts and best wishes, on her recent sojourn in hospital and on her return home. Recovery is going very well.

Devorah Barnett whose son David Hughes died last month.

congratulations & mazal tov to

Gabriel Webber who has been accepted as a rabbinic student at Leo Baeck College starting in the autumn.

Naomi Gould who celebrates her 70th birthday, Ann Goldstein who celebrates her 65th, and Lesley Urbach who celebrates her 60th in May. David & Janey Wayne who celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, Robyn & Derick Bass their 35th, and Barbara & Nigel Reese their 45th.

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stone setting

The stone setting for the late Alec Velleman will take place at Edgwarebury Lane Cemetery at 10.00am on Sunday 7 May. It will be followed by an open house at the home of Henry Velleman and family, 5 Temple Ave, London, N20 9EJ, to which Henry invites anyone from FPS who can’t make the ceremony at Edgwarebury.

50/50 club draws, april winners:

1st 2nd 3rd

Paul Lichtenstern Mary Hotter Helene Dane

£20 £15 £10

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

bridge group

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. Contact Renzo on 020 8883 3011 for more details.

Mondays @ 7.30pm £4, for details contact Gunter Lawson on 020 8346 5208

book club

The Book Club meetings are held in people’s homes. We meet at 8.00pm on the second Wednesday of each month (10 May).

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 learn followed by lunch

on Thursdays, 12.00-1.00pm Rabbi Rebecca leads an hour’s learning in the small hall. Sessions on 4, 11, 18 and 25 May will be entitled ‘Torah and Tanach Bites’.

Followed by... cafe thursday

rosh chodesh

Celebration of the new moon by women gathering for sharing, learning and spiritual exploration. 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 by end of May to vdorosz@gmail.com

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

Tuesdays @ 7.30pm Contact Richard on 020 8349 9602 delving into judaism

Monday 8 May @ 7.00pm with Rabbi Rebecca.

Classes also on 15 (with Gabriel Webber) & 22 May. The topic is ‘Jewish Texts & Jewish Conversations’.

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Beit Midrash FPS Beit Midrash: The Jewish Calendar – Grand Finale / Thursday 4 May Interplanetary Judaism – Adrian Lister & Mauro Manela 7.30-9.00pm in the Small Hall, FPS. £5 donation on the door. Refreshments will be served.

cafe ivriah

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

BE A PART OF OUR DAY OF CELEBRATION ART EXHIBITION Submit your work, based on the Day of Celebration theme or even just being part of the Liberal Judaism family, to be exhibited in the NPLS Etz Chayim Gallery throughout the Day of Celebration.

We are also collecting photos and videos from all LJ communities to highlight the range and depth of our activities and our tradition of inclusivity.

Contact Tom to take part: montagu@liberaljudaism.org

Sunday June 11, 2017 Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue

Liberal Judaism’s ‘Day of Celebration’, which will be upon us 11 June 2017, at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue. This is THE chance to study, connect, and to celebrate what it means to be a Liberal Jew now. The title ‘Is Liberal Judaism Political?’ will be discussed in the broadest of ways throughout the day and we should, at least to ourselves, answer the question by its close. It’s an interesting challenge and never more pertinent than now.

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BOOK TODAY doc2017.eventbrite.com We are currently organising transport, the Art Exhibition, LJY Netzer events, along with meals, and table tennis. This will be a fabulous coming together and an opportunity to hear from our Chairman, Chief Executive, and President on where we are now. This is important not only for our communities but for ourselves too. Visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ liberal-judaism-day-of-celebration-2017tickets-26419363026

Notice Board calling all fps photographers

alexander technique

An exciting Photo Exhibition planned for the Small Hall. We are looking for: • Eye-catching, pleasing photos, perhaps an unusual angle of an everyday subject or person • General Subjects – including People, Animals, Abstracts, Architecture, Landscapes.

• Jewish content - Torah, Havdalah, Seder etc.

• Colour or Black & White • Size 9”X 7” (25cm x 17.5cm) - ideally high Resolution

FPS member, Michal Hargil, is a Certified Alexander Technique teacher. She teaches mindfulness about the way we use our bodies, and about how our particular habits can interfere with the functioning of the whole organism. If you’re interested in knowing more about The Alexander Technique contact Michal at 07891061738 or chaimadam@hotmail.com. Or talk to FPS member, John Norman, who is happy to talk about the experience of undergoing AT treatment.

All pictures to be approved by Photographers before being displayed. Please send by email to Stanley Volk allsigns@tiscali.co.uk if you would like to be included.

message to all exam takers gcse, a levels & beyond from rabbi rebecca

Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a gazelle and strong as a lion...So said Judah Ben Teima in Pirkei Avot. He was talking about life but this seems sage advice for the exam season. Wishing you all presence of mind and memory. We look forward to seeing you on the other side. bagels!

FPS will selling bagels at East Finchley Festival at Cherry Tree Wood on Sunday 25 June 2017 Please join Phillip Raphael to help make the bagels, set up, look after the stall, promote FPS or any of the other tasks. For more details, contact phillip.raphael@yahoo.com 11

My Trip to Poland maeve silver Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) was celebrated in the UK on the 23rd April, and at FPS on the 24th April, with a talk by Fred Weil, titled ‘Keeping the Memory Alive’. Earlier in April, FPS member Maeve Silver, took part in a March of the Living educational tour to Poland. Here, she recounts her experience.

From the airport we travelled straight to the Warsaw Cemetery where we had the opportunity to pay our respects at a mass grave containing the bodies of 15–20,000 people. We said the Kaddish and reflected. We also looked at the plaques commemorating the Warsaw Ghetto as we headed along the road on the way to the Warsaw Zoo. The next day we drove to Lublin, and were able to visit the Yeshiva, a beautiful big building with so much history. We were given the

at a monument that contained a huge pile of ashes. We said the Kaddish and were not the only group there. An Israeli group was there too, standing in a circle in silence, holding onto their flags. Suddenly, they sang Hatikvah, and we joined them. I can’t express how I felt as it is too difficult. I suppose I felt hope, yet my heart was aching. I felt extremely guilty, as I could leave and go back with my friends to the Yeshiva for dinner, and have freedom and rights and chances in this life.

The next day we were on the road, heading for Kraków. We stopped off at a town and also a forest where there was another mass grave.

10,000 people were murdered there, 8,000 of whom were Jewish. The Kaddish was said and

‘I can’t express how I felt as it is too difficult. I suppose I felt hope, yet my heart was aching.’ chance to spend a session discussing scenarios from the Bible. We then went to Majdanek, at Lublin. I shall never forget the silence on the coach as we approached the grounds of this place. Our tour guides were right when they said that with one flick of a button, the camp could be up and running as pretty much all of it is there. It felt dead and I really didn’t want to be there. And yet I did – as I knew it was right to be there. We walked into the gas chambers and were surrounded by a silence.

And that was all. We saw more at the camp that helped put things into perspective for me but it wasn’t until the end when it hit me. We stood

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Some of the Jewish graffiti in Kraków

we took time to pray and reflect and think. Yet again I felt uncomfortable because I was able to leave. We were fortunate enough to have

My Trip to Poland our dinner in the JCC of Kraków, an incredible community where many walk through its doors, having just found out that they are Jewish.

There, they build a new life as they meet new people and embrace Judaism. It was a privilege and so homely and an honour to meet the people who work hard to make things better for others.

On our final full day, we visited some of the synagogues of Kraków and explored the histories. It meant a lot to be in such beautiful buildings. We also visited Schindler’s Factory, which was incredible as we were able to learn about what happened, and we read a few stories about those who worked there and

Tribute to the victims of Auschwitz

her own great-grandfather’s suitcase behind the glass. We spent a few hours walking along the tracks and looking at the barracks and we even had a short service where we could read and pay tribute to those murdered in the Holocaust.

Our guide spoke of a story of a young boy in Auschwitz who knew that despite the fact that everything and everyone had been taken

‘The only way that we can move on is stop to remember, yet we must not lose our faith, our decency and love for other people. We must look after one another and know that we must live. Simply live.’ from him, he would not let his humanity be taken too, and our trip ended with that in mind.

The only way that we can move on is stop to remember, yet we must not lose our faith, our decency and love for other people. We must look after one another and know that we must live. Simply live.

survived. Our day concluded with a visit to Plaszów Concentration Camp, south of Kraków.

We stood by the memorial plaque, said the Kaddish, and wept. So many people come here, seeming not to know what it used to be; they bring their children and let them play over the mass grave, which angered and shocked us all.

Before we went to the airport we made a visit to Auschwitz. I cannot really describe what it feels like to be there. Perhaps I could say that I felt numb. We gazed at the mountains of hair, shoes and belongings stolen by the Nazis. I couldn’t keep it together when my friend saw 13

‘Take Two’ aims to join up people in the FPS community of all ages, from the very young, to the mature and wise. You will be introduced to an FPS member who you do not know and treated to a complimentary beverage and snack. In return, you will complete an informal questionnaire about your encounter that will be featured in Shofar, so we can all get to know you. If this appeals, don’t be shy, please get in touch with Simone Lee at simoneleeukcp@aol.com who will arrange the proceedings and make it all happen (and even write it up and take the picture if needed).

Transport can be arranged too.

This month, Dalia Lyons and Marian Fixler meet up at Flesh and Flour in Muswell Hill

dalia lyons & marian fixler

he was 13 and his mother, Maureen, is still an active member.

Marian joined FPS in 2013, a couple of years before Raphy’s Bar Mitzvah. By chance, Marian met FPS member Louise Gellman, at the school uniform shop (their children were trying on uniforms for the same school!) and when Marian mentioned she was looking for a synagogue, Louise suggested they try FPS! what do you most like about fps?

We both agreed on these. A strong sense of community that is friendly, warm and welcoming; strong inter-generational links; an inspiring Rabbi; strong commitment to social action going out to the wider community including refugees and the homeless; and we both really enjoy Shabbat Resouled. Marian also enjoyed going to Café Ivriah whilst Raphy was at Ivriah; it was a great way to meet and get to know people. what did you find out about each other?

history with fps

Dalia joined FPS in 1997 when she and Robert Lobatto married; their children, Kezia and Isaac, and their niece, Anna, became Bnei Mitzvah at FPS. Robert’s family had joined FPS when 14

Dalia is interested in the moon cycles and enjoys rituals to mark the new moon each month (also pertinent to the Jewish religion). It is seen as a time of new beginnings, so a lovely time to reflect on wishes and aspirations and also a time to let go of things that are no longer useful. Rituals include lighting candles, journaling, writing down wishes and burning the paper, to release it into the ether, or keeping it to be reminded of it. Her family sometimes participate (as long as it’s not too far out!).

Marian has a soft spot for Japan. She lived

there and practises Japanese acupuncture, which is a lovely gentle form of acupuncture.

Marian and her partner collect Netsuke, finely crafted miniature Japanese figurines, that traditionally hung from the Obi belt that held Kimonos together. She bought her first Netsuke in Spitalfields Market. Some of you might be familiar with them from the novel The Hare with the Amber Eyes (2010) by Edmund de Waal, which charts the journey over five generations of these little figurines, collected by de Waal’s wealthy Jewish family in Central Europe, and how they were hidden and survived the calamities of Nazism. did you have anything in common?

Yes. We share an interest in health and selfdevelopment (Dalia had just started a detox and was having lemon and ginger tea and a green salad, whereas Marian (a health practitioner) shamefully enjoyed a treat of a flat white, and sour dough toast with marmalade!). We both practice meditation and are interested in epigenetics and the potential to influence our genes and our health and well-being through the power of the mind.

what one wish would you have granted if possible?

Of course it goes without saying that we both wish the best for our children and for them to be fulfilled and happy in their lives. We also felt it was a bit contrived to say, but obviously, we both want peace for the world at this turbulent time of change. your aspirations?

Dalia’s creativity in Tallit-making aims to enable people to express themselves and to get in touch with their passions and what is at their core.

Through her acupuncture and tapping practice, Marian hopes to enable people to reach their potential and challenge their limitations. favourite aspect of jewishness?

We both have a love of food, festivals, community, Friday night dinners and family gatherings. final comments

We had a delightful time getting to know each other better and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

beautification, cont. from page 4

boiler repairs/replacements. Unfortunately, the roof also needs substantial work, and we are obtaining quotes for a new roof. It gets worse.

The chairs are also not fit for purpose anymore and we’re looking into quotes for the bulk purchase of new chairs. Wait, there’s more.

The crumbling wall abutting the rose garden is almost finished being repaired. But we are pleased to say that some work to the garden has been done and is ongoing, and the costs

were under budget.

If you have any questions, ideas (maybe even roofing or dry-stonewall experience (joke)) please speak to Gabriel Webber.

Cathy Burnstone

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Where Are They Now?

sarah rosen-webb clare cohen

You could say Clare Cohen, who is now 48, was brought up at FPS. Her parents, Julian and Hannah, her older brother, Peter, and her sister, Ruth, were active and lively members, in the hub of the community. Her

mother was great friends with Sheila Lassman and they spent a lot of family time together. Time has passed; it is several years since both her parents died, her sister now lives in Israel, and her brother in Australia. clare looks back:

“For me, FPS was about being part of a Jewish community. I attended the Sunday school and the youth club (where I met my first boyfriend), I worked at the playgroup in the summer holidays. I suppose FPS holds my early family history so that’s what it means to me now.”

When Clare became friends with Simone Lee, they discovered they had FPS in common and Clare was very keen (if not a little nervous) to revisit her old home territory. One evening, last year, they went together with her youngest daughter, Eva, to Clare’s first Shabbat Resouled.

It had been about thirty years since Clare’s last visit (and Shabbat Resouled came into being only 10 years ago). For Clare the evening was overwhelming, song and music were part of community life then, as they are now, and a rush of history overtook her: “I had been reflecting only recently with a friend on how hard it was to remember my mother. Yet, being back at FPS, at a service, with the music, brought her right back to me. My mother was so full of life and loved 16

singing. Returning all those years later to this very same space evoked her presence. I was very emotional – it was a moving experience, reconnecting with that memory. Very happy memories and so good to be in touch with them in such a real way.

Serendipitously, Rabbi Frank Hellner was also at the same Shabbat Resouled. Not surprisingly, Clare recognised him immediately as—not only did she know him as the Rabbi— for some years he was the family’s next door neighbour in Walmington Fold!” so is fps the same then as it is now?

“Yes, apart from the chairs – they’re different.

And Frank’s no longer the Rabbi. But other than that, yes, and still the same warm and inviting atmosphere.” what happened in those intervening years?

Clare left London to go to Art College and became an artist. She met Robin, her husband, also an artist, at an exhibition at the Tate Britain, and they have been together since then. They moved from Vauxhall to Brixton where they still live and have three children.

There’s Ruby who lives in Bristol; Billy, who is studying engineering; and Eva, the youngest, who is still at primary school. Clare went on to train at the Minster Centre, Kilburn, to be a psychotherapist and has a private practice near her home, whilst also running a training group at the Minster Centre. She has not given up her art. She goes weekly to the Mary Ward Centre where she makes sculptures. Recently, she and

Robin had an art exhibition in a trendy space in Peckham. Here are photos of some of Clare’s work. The heads are made in clay and cast in cement, the figures are made in polymer clay.

To find out more about her work, her email is rubirocl.jeans@hotmail.co.uk.

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Fun Page (Sort of...)

At Shavuot, many, many hundreds of years ago, in Israel, seven items grown on the land were traditionally taken to the holy Temple in Jerusalem as thanks.

This May, on the Hebrew calendar dates of Sivan 6-7, we usher in Shavuot on which Wheat.

Barley.

Grapes (made into wine!)

Figs.

Pomegranates.

Olives into oil).and Dates. we celebrate both the(made first harvest the receiving of the Torah. CHAG SAMEACH Can you see which is which in the picture below?

At Shavuot, many, many hundreds of years ago, in Israel, seven items grown on the land were traditionally taken to the holy Temple in Jerusalem as thanks.

Wheat. Barley. Grapes (made into wine!)

Dates.

Figs.

Pomegranates. Olives (made into oil).

Can you see which is which in the picture?

FPS DAY IN THE WOODS

Sunday, 14 May 2017 12.00 – 4.30pm Lag B’Omer – outdoor adventure ALL ARE WELCOME For details about this Herts woodland day contact Gabriel 020 8446 4063 Gabrielwebber@fps.org

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Fun Page (Sort of...)

PRIZE CROSSWORD 1.One of the “first fruits” taken to the Temple at Shavuot (11) 6. The 4th Commandment tells us Shabbat is a day for this (4) 7. This grain was a “first fruit“ taken to the Temple at Shavuot (6) 10. Unpleasant or unkind (5) 11. Thou shalt - - - murder is the 6th Commandment (3) 13. Give time to learning. You do this at school (5) 15. The name of the Mount where G-d gave the Torah (5) Down 1. The 5th Commandment tells us to honour them (7) 2. This man was given the Torah (5) 3. Moses said to Pharaoh, “Let my people - -“ (2) 4. Noah’s ark came to rest on this Mount (6) 5. G-d brought the Jewish people us out of this country (5) 8. Eretz Yisrael means - - - - of Israel (4) 9. Yiddish word often followed by the word VEY! (2) 12. Yiddish word can be followed by GEVALT ! (2) 14. The city where Abraham was born (2)

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Competition for under 13s. Email answers to simoneleeukcp@aol.com by 13 May. All winners receive a prize

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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, Valerie Joseph Café Thursday: Nicky Marzell Website Editor: Gabriel Webber Shofar Editor: CA. Cranston – shofar@fps.org Shofar Team: Sarah Rosen-Webb, Simone Lee, Wika Dorosz

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