Pesach 1997

HAM AOR

Journal of the Federation of Synagogues Pesach 5 7 5 7 - 1 9 9 7

£1.50

Vol. 30. No. 2

THE SHOMREI HADATH CELEBRATES ITS

Hamaor Reviews “ Erez” Restaurant The Secret Jewish Community of Ibiza Reviews of Latest Jewish Music Releases

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NOTTING HILL SYNAGOGUE 206-208 KENSINGTON PARK ROAD LONDON W II CELEBRATING ONE HUNDRED YEARS n 1897 the Notting Hill community began holding regular services in private homes in the area. With the help of the Almighty, this kehilla continues to attract supporters with its warm and friendly atmosphere.

The community of the Notting Hill Synagogue is celebrating its centenary this year and would welcome anyone who has had a connection or association with the synagogue to join with us on this unique occasion.

We express gratitude and thanks to all those who have over the years supported the shul. We have produced distinguished Rabbonim and educators and for that we are proud. We hope and pray that with the help of the Almighty our shul may continue to provide a haven for the love of Torah and Judaism to all in our community.

We will be holding a Service of Commemoration at the synagogue on Sunday 8 June 1997. For more information on this and other events, please contact the Chairman, Paul Fogelman, on 0181-969 8416.

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MESSAGE FROM 4

THE EDITOR elcome to what is probably the best ever edition of Hamaor so far!!!

Along with all our regular features in­ cluding our cover story on the Jubilee Celebrations at the Shomrei Hadass Shul; Federation News; Kid’s Spot; Interviews and Book Reviews etc., we are introduc­ ing several new items including a Kosher Restaurant Review, which we hope will become a regular feature. The first res­ taurant to be reviewed is “ Erez” in Golders Green and you can read all about it on page 20, as well as receiving a dis­ count voucher giving you an added incentive to try it for yourself.

We constantly aim to improve Hamaor and always welcome your comments and suggestions. If you have any thoughts on Hamaor or ideas of what you would like to see included in your magazine, please write in and let us know.

Until next time, have a

" T ix o n

Founded 1962 ISSN 0966-0291

Vol. 30 No. 2 Pesach 5757- 1997

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and an enjoyable summer!

Shomrei Hadath Celebrates its Jubilee.......................................4 News.................................................................................................9 Obituary........................................................................................13 When the Davening Finished Too L ate..................................... 14 An Outstretched A rm .................................................................. 16 A Remembrance of the 30s and 40s Part 2 ............................... 17 The Hamaor Restaurant Review: “Erez” .................................20 Letter from Hadassah.................................................................. 22 The Secret Jewish Community of Ibiza.................................... 23 The Drive of a Lifetim e............................................................... 24

SA R A H M SCHLEIM ER Editor

Imperial War Museum Holocaust Exhibition..........................28 Kids’ S p ot...................................................................................... 29 Travel............................................................................................. 30

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Music.............................................................................................. 32

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Books.............................................................................................. 34

FOR HAMAOR

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COVER: Painting of the old Shomrei Hadath building by Joan Clayton.

Inset Picture: Miss Selina Goldberg unveiling the plaque.

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JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS THE SHOMREI HADATH SYNAGOGUE b y M ich ael G oldm an - P h o to s b y Sarah M S ch le im e r he Shomrei Hadath Federation Shul in Hampstead, which was established in 1946, originally occupied a large, somewhat dismal edifice (erected some fifty years earlier) at the junction of Burrards Road with Finchley Road NW3. Eight years ago the kehi 11a moved into a modern but ‘heimish’, beautifully-designed building on the same site.

At ‘an ordinary Sunday mincha’, in the words of the S h u l’s President, Master Jonathan Winegarten, on Rosh Chodesh Adar Sheni, past and present members gathered there to celebrate the Congregation's fiftieth anniversary. It was, however, said the President, an “extraordinary occasion” - because it marked a joint celebration, since Shomrei Hadath was the Federation’s first Cons ituent Synagogue (previous shuls being merely ‘affiliated’).

Welcoming the guests, who included Av Beth Din, Dayan M. Fisher, Rosh Beth Din, Dayan Y. Y. Lichtenstein, and his col­ leagues Dayan B. Berkovits and Dayan M. Elzas, as well as the President and Honorary Officers of the Federation, Mr. Winegarten recalled that it was his father, Mr. Moshe Winegarten z.l who had first recognised the potential fora new ortho­ dox shul on the site. Paying tribute to the other founding “baalei-batim" and the many long-standing members present, Mr. Winegarten noted that their kehilla had been blessed with Rabbonim of the highest calibre, commencing with Rabbi Kopul Rosen zt’l, the Federation’s first Rav Rashi and subsequent founder of Carmel College. His successor, Rabbi D. Berkovits zt'l, a ‘wise, dignified and warm’ teacher, had served the shul for twenty-two years until 1972, when he went to Eretz Israel and now their present Rov is the revered Dayan C.D. Kaplin, who Mr. Winegarten stated, “has been a true and loyal friend to the kehilla”.

Amongst others deserving apprecia­ tion, Mr. Winegarten singled out Mr. Martin Horovitz, their marvellous Bal Koreh, who was possessed of a meticu­ lous memory for minhag and the Jewish calendar.

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Dayan Kaplin

Mr. Arnold Cohen

Addressing the gathering, Dayan Kaplin observed that the establishment of the new shul so soon after the destruc­ tion of the great European Torah centres during the Holocaust was an expression of faith in the revival of Torah learning.

The shul had always been a Beis Hamedrash and he delighted in having been afforded the opportunity of completing several massechtos of Gemoro together with members at their regular, well-attended shiurim.

Dayan B. Berkovits, a son of the late Rov, reminisced movingly abut his child­ hood in the homely surroundings of Shomrei Hadath, recalling, too, aspects of his distinguished father’s individual approach towards the responsibilities of a Rabbi. Referring to current controver­ sies in Anglo-Jewry in relation to the Jubilee, Dayan Berkovits explained how Shemitta and Yovel - and likewise Shabbos and Yom Tov - represent respec­ tively the two essentials of Torah living: faith and action.

The Federation’s President, Mr. Arnold Cohen, expressed pride in the growth and potential of congregations such as Shomrei Hadath, which augured well for the future of the Federation Kehilla. In particular, he confidently ex­ pected that the shul would serve as a focal poi nt for the Federation’s adult education projects.

Following a Reception in the Shul Hall, a Plaque outlining the history of Shomrei Hadath was unveiled in the vestry by Miss Selina Goldberg, a greatgranddaughter of the Shul’s first President, Mr. H. Lunzer, accompanied

by Master Moshe Winegarten, a grand­ son of the Founder. These two youngsters had celebrated their Bat Mitzvah and Bar Mitzvah respectively in the Shul during its Jubilee year.

An interesting feature of the occasion was the special Brochure issued for the celebration, which contained in addition to the usual Order of Proceedings and sundry Greetings, the Minutes of early meetings of the original Committee, which provide a fascinating insight into the principles, ethos and religious aspirations of the Shul’s founders and the Federation’s leaders of fifty years ago.

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ADDRESS AT THE SHOMREI HADATH JUBILEE SERVICE B y Dayan B e re l B e rk o v its

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On March 9th 1997, the Shomrei Hadath shul held a jubilee service, to commemorate 50 years since its establishment as the first constituent synagogue o f the Federation. I was invited to address the audience in a dual capacity - as a Dayan o f the Federation, and as the son o f the former Rav o f Shomrei Hadath.

In my address, l tried to do a number o f things. Firstly, an exercise in nostalgia - to describe the Shomrei Hadath as I remembered it from my childhood. Secondly, a message - to leave the local kehilah with some thoughts for the future, based on the teachings and work o f myfather And thirdly, a communal challenge - an attempt to broaden the message, so that it would speak to the whole o f the Federation community.

My address was also, in a sense, a tribute and eulogy to myfather olov hasholom, whose twentieth Yahrzeitfalls on the 7th ofNisan this year. It is in his memory - and in the hope that it will “speak " to all o f you - that I am putting it into writing fo r the benefit o f the readers ofHamaor. I have transcribed it almost verbatim, so as to retain the immediacy o f the spoken word. ((

'orai ve Rabosai my dear friends”

I commence my few words this afternoon in the presence of this distinguished com­ pany - the Emeritus Rav Rashi Dayan Fisher, the Rav of the shul Dayan Kaplin, the Rosh Beth Din Dayan Lichtenstein, Dayan Elzas, Rabbi Harris, the President of the Federation of Synagogues, Honor­ ary Officers of the Federation, the President of the Shomrei Hadath, Honor­ ary Officers of the shul, and members past and present - I commence my words in the phrase which my late father, olov hasholom, always used with which to start his droshos, because it is in his zechus, his merit, in more senses than one, that 1 am standing here today.

When Jonathan asked me to address you today, I said to him that 1have spoken on many occasions in the cycles of life, from birth to death, indeed from “prebirth" to “post-death”, but I do not recall ever having spoken at a Jubilee occasion.

And I asked myself: do we find anywhere an allusion in the Torah, a remez, to the concept of speaking at a Jubilee, and cel­ ebrating a Jubilee? And I found an answer and an allusion. The Torah says that we are to count “sheva shabsos shonirn”, we have to count seven cycles of seven years, and then, in the fiftieth year: “ve ’kidashtem es shnas ha chamishim shonoh - you shall sanctify the fiftieth year”.

With a bit of poetic licence, one can perhaps render this as “v e ’kidashtem”, you shall make a kiddush, “es shnas ha 'chamishim shonoh” - in your jubilee year.

We are celebrating this historic event in a beautiful building - one which has rightly been described as one of the gems in the crown of the Federation. But 1must

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tell you, beautiful though it is, that my memory takes me back to the old build­ ing which was a little bit further away.

It was a large building, a dignified building, perhaps a cavernous building, but whatever attractions it might have had, and whatever adjectives or epithets one might choose with which to describe it, I do not think I would say that it was a beautiful building. Despite this, however, to me it was the shul, the Shomrei Hadas - a place full of memories, emotions and nostalgia - the place where I grew up, where I first davenned, where I became Bar Mitzvah, where I was the son of the Rav. My memories and my words to you, therefore, are inevitably going to reflect a subjective perception, a perception of personal recollections of my childhood, and perhaps of my childish memories.

As the President of thcshul said in his address, it would be invidious to mention individuals. There are so many names which come to mind, names of charac­ ters who peopled my childhood. And they were all, without exception, individuals and characters.

There were Hungarians and Litx'aks, Polish Jews and Yekkes, and there were Englishmen. And as Mr Silverberg, olov hasholom, the late shamash, used to say: “As individuals, they are all wonderful and fine people”. The wonder is that this motley collection of people got one with one another, and became a cohesive kehilah.

There was a warm and friendly atmos­ phere. The shul attracted many people. It attracted local people and tourists, and it attracted Israeli diplomats and correspond­ ents - such as the Parans and the Bitzurs with whom my father used to discuss Israeli politics. It also attractedshnorrers.

I remember there was one particular man who used to play the fiddle - 1 think his

name was Mr Goldberg - and he used to come in to the shul, and my father gave him two shillings, and said to him: “Mr Goldberg, one shilling is for you to have a cup of tea, and one shilling is for you to go and have a bath”. There were all kinds of people. There was at least one person in the shul, a simple Jew, whom I (in my childish imagination) thought must have been one of the “Lamed-vovniks ”, one of the thirty-six hidden tzadikim of the gen­ eration - and who knows, perhaps he was.

So I am addressing everybody here to­ day, those who are Banich Hashem with us: tt Es asheryeshno poh”, and those - includ­ ing my father olov hasholom - who are not with us today: “Es asher eynenu poh ”.

I remember many occasions. I remem­ ber Rosh Hashonoh and Yom Kippur in the big shul, when it used to be full, and I re­ member that my father used to be anxious before Rosh Hashonoh and Yom Kippur. One day he told us why. He said: This is my opportunity to reach out once a year to people who have no other contact with Yiddishkeit", with the sort of people who only come three times a year, or even once a year, the sort of people who com­ plain when they come to shul that the Chazan is always singing the samewgz//?, it is always Kol Nidrei.

I remember that I did not like the at­ mosphere - I was “firum” - and on one occasion I decided that I was going to davven in the front, in the corner. And so I went and davenned in the comer. And my father called me over- this was one of my first lessons - and he said: “Berel”, he said, “You are part of a community, you are part of a kehilah. You do not single yourself out and go to a corner, you remain with the community”.

1 remember very clearly Simchas To­ rah. I remember the long line of children led by Edmund Freudman, we used to

dance around the shul, and I remember my father, who was always Choson To­ rah, with a big sack full of “peckelech”, full of sweets. And here I learned my second lesson. We were told that as chil­ dren of the Rav we stood at the back of the queue, and we were told that we only got one “peckele” just like everybody else, we did not get any leftovers.

I remember Tisha be 'Av, somehow, as having a special atmosphere, and I remember the delight when we came to the long kinos, and my father said “these ones we can leave out”. I even remem­ ber the special nigun for “b e t’zeisi mi ’M itzra yim '\ which I still sing nowadays.

1 remember Erev Pesach. Mechiras chometz was a lively event, and I think the going rate was 2/6d, round about 1960. 1 remember one occasion when a man came up to my father - I think he was not a member of the shul - and he said “Rabbi”, he said, “I want to sell my chometz, and here is £5”. And here was another lesson. My father said: “the rate is 2/6d for everybody, rich or poor, I make no differentiation. If you want to give more, bevakashah, give it to tzedokoh”.

Because my father was very concerned about the dignity of Rabonus.

I could go on for a long time with my reminiscences, but I shall not keep you with them. I only have one regret, and one unresolved issue.

The regret is this. Those of you who remember the old shul, will remember that in the ladies gallery, in the comer, there was a vertical iron ladder, going up to the attic, and many times I wondered what was in the attic. And in my childish imagina­ tion, I was sure that there were all kinds of secrets, probably a golem, just like the one in Prague, and I tried many times to get into the attic. But I was small. I climbed up the ladder, and the top rung did not quite reach the attic. You had to haul yourself up, and I never had the courage to do so.

And so I missed that opportunity, and that is my regret.

The unresolved issue is also a Simchas Torah memory. I think I was about ten or eleven, and I was looking forward to my ctliyah, my first aliyah. I went into the of­ fice, the boys always went into the office to lein, and I stood waiting patiently for my go.

Somehow, I do not know how it hap­ pened, they forgot all about me.

Everybody was called up except for Berel Berkovits. I went back into the main shul, *

and I was absolutely incandescent. I re­ fused to allow the service to continue. I remember that Reb Moshe (Winegarten) olov hasholom - and I believe Mr Hofbauer as well - they came up to me and said “Berel, Berel - calm down, you can sit in the wardens’ pew”. And I said: “I don’t want to sit in the wardens’ pew; I want an aliyah”. And that episode caused me psychological trauma for many years. I think, Baruch Hashem, that I have just about overcome it now!

But in general they were happy days.

I was proud to be the son of the Rav, and all of us - even as children - realised that our father was an unusual and a remark­ able man, and together with all those who appreciated him, we looked up to, and respected him.

What are we celebrating today? As Dayan Kaplin said in his address: “What is a jubilee celebration?” The souvenir brochure highlights the constitutional implications of the establishment of this shul as the first constituent synagogue of the Federation, and the foresight of the founding fathers in acquiring the build­ ing. It is all true, and it is entirely proper and correct that these matters be high­ lighted and due credit be given.

However - and once again I am speak­ ing in a personal capacity, as the son of the late Rav - if we confine ourselves merely to constitutional aspects, or to the building, we would be painting but a par­ tial picture, and a very impoverished one at that.

A shul is much more than a building, and much more than a constitution. It is, or it should be, a kehilah, a centre of learning, a place of Torah, of spiritual growth and progress, and not merely of complacency.

Fifty years ago, as we heard, the world was a very different world. The situation of world Jewry was almost desperate.

Apart from the Holocaust, which had only just ended, there was no State of Israel, Communism had imposed a stran­ glehold on Eastern Europe and Yiddishkeit in Eastern Europe, the young intelligentsia were moving away from Judaism, and Torah and Yeshivos were very depleted, and almost non-existent.

But now, Baruch Hashem, it is a com­ pletely different world. Apart from the miracle of our survival - the fact that we survived the Holocaust - we now have a State of Israel, Communism has col­ lapsed, people are flocking back to Yiddishkeit, there are many ba ’alei

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teshuvah, and we have large numbers of yeshivos.

All these are miracles. Perhaps one of the miracles is that the Federation of Synagogues, and this shul, have survived and are now reborn, and indeed, perhaps one of the miracles is that I am standing here talking to you today.

But survival is not enough. I do not want to get involved in contemporary politics, but you are all aware of the fact that the Chief Rabbi recently eulogised Hugo Gryn as a Holocaust survivor.

He said that this man saw death and yet affirmed life; he affirmed the dignity of the human being. He said that the first eleven chapters of the Torah refer to man, and not to the Jewish people.

All very true, and all very correct. But there is more to it than that. There is more than the first eleven chapters of Torah.

For a Jew, survival is not enough; we have to survive as Jews.

It seems to me - and I believe that this was the message that my father, olov hasholom, tried all his life to impart in words, and more so in deed, and by his example - that to survive as a Jew re­ quires two fundamental things.

The first is emunah, faith, the ability to stand firm, with faith in Hashem and in His Torah, in the face of all the diffi­ culties and all the trials and tribulations of life.

My parents married in 1939 in Eastern Europe. The day they married, there was general mobilisation. My father often said: people came to him and said “How can you get married at a time like this, how can you bring Jewish children into this world - children who are destined (choliloh) for destruction?” And he re­ plied: “My father married before the First World War, in a time of peace, and

he brought up his children to these terri­ ble conditions, to these terrible times. I am marrying in these terrible times, and I hope, im yirtzeh ha 's hem, to bring up my children in a time of peace.

When 1 used to oversleep for davenning in the morning, my father never told me off. It was my mother, lehavdil bein chain1 le ’chaim, who told me off. She said to me: “ I want to tell you something. We lived under German occupation'’, she said, “For three years, and during all that time, whenever your father went out of the door - he was the Rav of the shul, the Rav of the town, and the first person to be picked up was al­ ways the Rav - whenever he went out, I was terrified that I would never see him again. And in all those three years, he never once missed tefilah be’tzibur I will not go into great detail, but there was an episode once - it was before Rosh Hashonoh, when the deportation trains arrived in my parents'town. The Gabo 'im of the shul came to my father and said to him: “Rebbe, we know we are going to be taken away on Rosh Hashonoh” (that is the way the Germans always did it on a Yomtov, when everybody was in snul). “ But we do not know precisely when they will come: at 8.00 o'clock in the morning, at 10.00 o ’clock, or at 12.00 o'clock". And so they had a sh e’eilah, a heart-rending she ’eilah - and this is what it was: “ Perhaps we should blow the shofar straightaway when we come to shul, at 8.00 o ’clock in the morning, so that when we are deported, we will at least have fulfilled for the last time the mitzvah of tek ias shofar ”.

Those were the conditions under which people lived. It took some cour­ age, it took some emunah to keep firm.

And the second message which I learned from my father is this. Emunah is fine, faith and belief is fine, but it is not enough. There has to be action, there has to be effort, even a struggle, there has to be movement.

My father came to this country fifty years ago - just about the time that Shomrei Hadath was established - in early 1947. He escaped illegally from Ro­ mania, which was then under Stalinist Russian control. How we escaped is a story in its own right. He left with little children already, he left with a wife in her ninth month of pregnancy. He came to a country where he had no family - they had all been wiped out in the Holocaust - he knew nobody, he had no

job, he had no home, he had no money: he did not even know a word of the lan­ guage, a man nearing forty. Why did he leave?

He told us why many times. He said: “ I realised straight away when the Com­ munists took over, that there was no future for Yiddishkeitm this country. Here you cannot bring up Jewish children; you cannot teach children Torah; you cannot davven. And therefore we had to escape, and we had to run away”. And within a very short space of time after having ar­ rived here, he had mastered the language, he obtained a job, first as Principal of the Yesodei Hatorah school, and then as Rav of Shomrei Hadath. And he began to build up a kehilah, in conditions which were often far from easy - whether because of circumstances, or whether because of personalities - it was not always exactly easy. He built up the kehilah, and he be­ came a friend to all.

Just last week I came across, by chance, some papers from the early years.

Within a year or so of his arrival he es­ tablished a youth group called Prochim, he established a Ladies’ Guild, he estab­ lished a Talmud Torah with four classes, and he established the First nursery in North West London.

And from a monthly salary of £41.3s.4d (this sum 1 found on a salary slip), from which he supported a family with eight children, he paid personally, out of his own pocket, £1 every week to the nursery teacher, because he thought that she was not paid enough, and he said chinuch is paramount. In short, he showed by his actions and by his endeavours that a Jew has to act. We have to believe, we have to face all difficulties,, and survive as Jews, and we also have to act, to work, and to grow spiritually in Torah and mitzvos.

I would like to conclude with the words with which I commenced: “Ve'kidashtem es shnas hatchamishim shonoh The Meshech Chochmah says a beautiful idea. There are two ways, he says, of relating to H a ’Kadosh Baruch Hu. One is symbolised by Shabbos, and one by Yomtov. On shabbos everybody is in his own home, you cannot carry from one home to another, you cannot cook and invite people (unless you cook be­ forehand). This may be compared to the spokes of a wheel, which connect to the centre. The centre is G-d, and each indi­ vidual is connected to Ha 'Kadosh Baruch Hu through his or her individual “spoke”.

On Yomtov, by contrast, you can cook, you can carry, you can have friends round. How do we relate to Ha ’Kadosh Baruch Hu on Yomtov? We relate by es­ tablishing a community with our fellow Jews. We are joined not through indi­ vidual spokes to the centre, but we join with one another, we create a circumfer­ ence linking us all together, a circle around Ha 'Kadosh Baruch Hu, as it were.

These are the two concepts o f the Meshech Chochmah.

Although he does not say so in this context, we all know that the kedushah of Shabbos is Min H a ’s hamayim, it is G-d given, and does not depend upon man. Shabbos is designed to strengthen our emunah, our belief in G-d as the Crea­ tor of the world. The kedushah of Yomtov, however, is created by man. Yomtov be­ comes holy only when the Sanhedrin establishes the proper date of the new moon. The kedushah of Yomtov is created by the Sanhedrin, by man, by our own actions.

These are the two messages which I referred to before. The importance of emunah, and the importance of acting on one’s emunah. We need to have faith, and we need to act on our faith, to pick our­ selves up and do things, in order to achieve growth in our Yiddishkeit.

And those two same concepts we also find in Shemitah and Yovel. Shemitah, every seventh year, is the “Shabbos la 'Hashem". It is the annual equivalent of the weekly Shabbos. Yovel, however, is the time when everybody becomes equal, when fields go back to their origi­ nal owners, w'hen slaves are freed, when a community is established, a Klal Y isra’el is established. And that community, that Klal Yisra ’el, is an affir­ mation of Yiddishkeit just as much.

“Ve'kidashtem es shnas ha'chamishim shonoh " - we have to sanctify the fifti­ eth year. How do we do this? By our ow n actions, our own endeavours.

Banich Ha ’shem as we have heard, the shul has survived for fifty years. We now' have a rejuvenated Federation, we have a new President, new Honorary Officers, we have a rejuvenated Shomrei Hadath, and we have a rejuvenated Beth Din. The whole Federation is rejuvenated, and the whole organisation is looking forward to the next fifty years. And if anybody would be kind enough to invite me to address you again in fifty years' time, I will be delighted, im Yirtzeh Hashem, to accept the invitation!

CHEVRA KADDISHA SEUDA he annual Service and Seudah in honour of the men and women of the Chevra Kaddisha took place on Sunday 16 March 1997.

The service was held at Finchley Central Shul and Maariv was proceeded by an address by Rabbi Z H Telsner.

This was followed by the Seudah at the Regent Banqueting Suite.

Rabbi Avrohom Katz the renowned edu­ cational specialist from Gateshead was the guest speaker. The evening was chaired by Henry Dony, Joint Honorary treasurer of the Burial Society, who gave particular praise to the efforts of the Chevra, all of whom are voluntary. He paid tribute to the late Rev Yisroel Moshe Braier (obituary on page 13) who’s pass­ ing during the year was greatly lamented.

CLAPTON SYNAGOGUE (Incorporating Yavneh Synagogue) The Honorary Officers wish its Hon. Minister Rev. H. Daviest, its Members and Klal Yisroel a Kosher and Happy Pesach

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GREAT GARDEN STREET SYNAGOGUE CLOSES

b y Leo n G ayer n August 1996, the Great Garden Street Synagogue celebrated its one hundredth anniversary with a grand Kiddush following the Shabbat Morning Service - just six months later it was obliged to close its doors for the last time, and on Shabbat morning 25th January 1997 its final Service was held with the usual congregation swelled by a number of visitors all with nostalgic memories of what was once one of the premier Synagogues in the East End of London.

Before Musaph Mr Basil Stone the Synagogue’s Financial Representative addressed the congregation and referred to the Synagogue’s glorious past, and to­ wards the end of the Service the Ark remained open as Mr Stone recited Kaddish for all members of the Syna­ gogue who had passed away during the passage of time.

After the Service a Kiddush was pre­ pared by Miss Edith Levy who was a regular attender at the Synagogue, and who recently received an award from the Chief Rabbi, as an accolade for her won­ derful work on behalf of the Stepney community in general.

In its heyday the Synagogue had a

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47 Lea Bridge Road, Clapton, London E5 membership of around seventeen hun­ dred families, and during World War Two and the immediate post war years many marriages were solemnised in the Synagogue with many of the bridegrooms in uniform - and many of the brides too.

During Sabbaths and Festivals the Synagogue was filled to capacity, and now - yet another Jewish landmark has been lost to the East End as the Great Garden Street Synagogue becomes merged with the East London Central Synagogue, in nearby Nelson Street.

GROWTH AND REVIVAL AT EAST LONDON CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE

b y Leo n G ayer uring the Service on Shabbat Morning 1st February 1997 the East London Central Synagogue extended a warm and sincere welcome to members of the Great Garden Street Synagogue following the closure of that Synagogue. Mr. Hymie Singer, President of East London extended a courtesy to Mr. Basil Stone, Great Garden Street’s Financial Representative, by inviting him to sit in the Warden’s Box, and a Kiddush followed the Service which had been con­ ducted by Mr Yitzchak Austin, East London’s spiritual leader.

Among the large congregation were a number of students both male and female of the local Hillel, they are frequent attenders at the Synagogue’s Services and on the following Shabbat they in fact pro­ vided a Kiddush for the congregation.

Chanukah was again celebrated in the splendid manner that has now become an annual event, as was Purim, which too has been revived in the Synagogue, and has become a well attended annual occasion.

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Events at LEYTONSTONE & WANSTEAD SYNAGOGUE

A successful Chanukah Dance was held by the Ladies Guild.

A communal Seder will be held in the synagogue on the 2nd Seder Night April 22nd

In your last edition Rabbi Livingstone said that ‘the issue of Democracy as a specific system of governance should not be confused either with the notion of gender equality or universal sufferage’.

Do wot, guv? Doesn’t democracy mean an equal say for everyone?

Yours faithfully Jon Mulberg Lecturer in Government University of Ulster at Jordanstown

Please send your letters to: The Editor, Hamaor, 65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ or fax: 0181-203 0610

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This form should be completed and handed to your local Rabbi or delivered to the Beth Din before Thursday 17 April 1977

PO W ER OF A T T O R N E Y FO R TH E SALE OF C H O M E T Z I, the undersigned, fully em pow er and authorise Dayan M D Elzas to act in my place and stead, and on my behalf to sell any Chometz possessed by me (knowingly or unknowingly) up to and including M onday 21 April 1997 at 11.29am including any food in respect of which there is a doubt or possibility that it might contain Chometz, and all kinds of C hom etz mixtures, and to lease all places wherein the Chometz owned by me is stored and found, especially in the premises specified below, or elsewhere.

Dayan M D Elzas has full authority to sell or lease all Chometz and all places wherein the Chometz owned by me is found, by any transaction in any manner which he deems fit and proper, and for such time as he believes necessary, in accordance with the detailed terms and conditions set out in the agreed Contract of Sale which will be signed on his instructions. This authorisation is made a part of that Contract.

I also give Dayan M D Elzas power and authority to appoint any proxy he deems fit in his place, with full power to sell or lease as provided herein.

The above-given powers are to be exercised in conformity with all Torah and Rabbinical regulations and laws, and also in accordance with the laws of the country.

PERSONAL MAZAL TOVI Henry and Jane Dony of the birth of their first grandchild, a girl, bom to their daughter in Israel.

Allan Finlay on his sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar Mitzva in December.

Sarah Schleimer{Hamaor s editor) on her engagement to Shmuel Ansbacher.

Moshe Leih and Ruth Stewart on the birth of their first grandchild, a boy, bom on Shushan Purim.

Rabbi Telsner (Finchley Central Shul) on the marriage of his son in January.

LEYTONSTONE & WANSTEAD SYNAGOGUE

Congratulations A lf & Hilda Hurst on their Golden Wedding Anniversary November 1996.

N a m e .........................................................................................................................

Mr & Mrs. Lou Dunn (President) on the Barmitzvah in the Synagogue of their grandson, David, from Canada.

A d d r e s s ....................................................................................................................

Deaths

And to this I hereby affix my signature on th is ........ day o f ........ 1997.

Signature...............................................W itn e s s ................

Exact location of Chometz within the above premises Sale price of Chometz (a p p ro x .).....................................

Keys available a t ................................................................

TYPES OF CHOMETZ: (please delete items that are not applicable) Bread products, biscuits, flour, cereals, beverages, alcoholic spirits, beer, pasta products, semolina, farfel, canned foods, soft drinks, confectionery, all other foods containing Chometz, medicaments, perfumes, cosmetics, aerosols, cleaning materials, any Chometz in or adhering to ovens, food mixers or food processors, and any other Chometz on any other utensils, shares in companies or businesses producing, trading or owning Chometz.

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Mr. M. Kent, member of the Board of Management for many years and former Chairman of the Parents Association, died in Israel.

Rev. M. Braier, former Minister of the Synagogue, and a regular attender at the Sabbath services.

Will be greatly missed.

Please send in all your personal announcements for the next edition o f Hamaor by

Monday 1 September 1997.

AN INSIGHT INTO THE SINAI SHUL hen we walk into Shul on Shavuos, we immediately no­ tice something different-sud­ denly it has sprouted greenery, branches and flowers, commemorating the flora which flourished on Har Sinai at the time of the giving of the Torah (Riavatz). This impresses on our minds the unbreakable connection between Torah and healthy new growth.

Walk into Sinai Shul on Shavuos - or any Shabbos for that matter - and one notices similar new growth. Here is a vi­ brant young congregation raising their families in an atmosphere of joyful commitment to Torah. Members of the Federation since 1982 the community had first davened together in private homes, before moving to temporary accommo­ dation on Golders Green Road, which it quickly outgrew. It was Mr Gerald Palmer, then the President of Sinai, who had the vision of harnessing this energy within the Federation. It was he who first mooted the idea of inviting the members

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of the minyan to join Sinai Shul, under the leadership of their Rov, Rabbi Berel Knopfler. The ensuing years have seen his foresight validated. As the congrega­ tion continues to grow, the reception hall behind the Shul has been permanently incorporated as part of the Beis Hamedrash and space is still short on Yomtov or when there is a simcha.

The Sinai congregation certainly makes its mark on Jewish life in Golders Green and further afield. First and fore­ most is Rabbi Knopfler, who is widely respected as a talmid chacham andposeik of international stature. After many years of Rabbinical study and despite being an expert on Halocho, Rabbi Knopfler declined offers of Dayanus, preferring instead to remain at the head of the minyan of yeshiva graduates who turned to him for guidance. In 1992, with a hand­ ful of students, Rabbi Knopfler started a Yeshiva within the Shul itself Serving youngsters from across the country, the Yeshiva quickly outgrew its facilities and

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has now merged with Yeshivas Chai Olom, to the advantage of both institu­ tions.

Torah learning is the first priority and love of members of the Shul. Time is found for regular learning in even the busiest schedule. Rabbi Knopfler gives a daily shiur, which is very well attended.

In the early hours of the morning and in the evenings education, law, medicine and business make way for Torah: Con­ sistent with this commitment, all of the children of the community attend Jewish schools. The Shul is also the venue of popular ladies’ shiurim, notably during the summer months, when open shiurim are organised on Shabbos, greatly en­ joyed by all who attend.

Members of the Shul are actively in­ volved in furthering Jewish education.

Amongst their number, one finds the Headteachers of three large Jewish schools, Heads of Chadorim and the Heads of School Departments, together with many other teachers. Others work tirelessly as School Governors. One community member organises Yeshivas Hamasmidim, a Sunday afternoon volun­ tary learning session for two hundred local children.

The needs of students and the wider community are at the forefront of the community’s focus. Students are wel­ comed warmly into members’ homes, as well as joining services. No one remains a stranger for long and youngsters soon feel themselves amongst accepting friends. The Jewish Chaplain to London University and the Head of Ohr Someach, a major outreach organisation, are also loyal members of the minyan, as are many tutors within project Seed. Members are very conscious of their responsibilities to the Jewish community as a whole and are actively involved in many communal con­ cerns, including the Federation itself.

Also well represented are Hatzola, a Jew­ ish first-aid service, and the Chevra Kadisha.

In return for assistance received from the Federation, Sinai has shown itself to be a powerhouse of Jewish learning and tradition, generating enthusiasm and sup­ port for the wider Jewish community. It is committed to the aims of the Federa­ tion and is proud to take its part within the organisation’s ranks, true to the ide­ als for which the Federation stands.

CENTENARY AT NOTTING HILL 1897-1997

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"otting Hill Synagogue is proud this year to be celebrating the centenary of its congregation.

The community began conducting services in 1897 from private homes in the area, but the need for a synagogue in the heart of Notting Hill became essential as a focal point of community growth.

With the help of Moses Davis and Lord Swathling, an old church hall on Kensington Park Road, W1 1 was acquired and the Notting Hill Synagogue was consecrated on 27 May 1900.

A special centenary committee has been set up and is busy planning com­ memorative events for throughout the year.

A Centenary Concert by the Shalom Ensemble took place on Sunday 6 April 1997. A large crowd was present for this special afternoon. Music to suit all tastes was on offer, with short classical items, gypsy music and palm court. Refreshments were served by the Ladies Guild an(j a delightful afternoon was had by all.

It is to be noted that the Chairman of the Ladies Guild, Mrs Madeleine Whiteson js a member of the Shalom Ensemble.

A Service of Commemoration will

take place on Sunday 8 June 1997 and it is hoped to be able to produce a commemorative brochure for the occa­ sion. For more information on this event, please contact the synagogue. If anyone has had a connection with Notting Hill and would like to share memories of what the shul was like in the old days, please contact: Samantha Fogelman, 51 Barlby Road, North Kensington, London W 10 6AW Tel: 0181-969 8416.

We would like to include these memories in the brochure,

The Dayanim of the Federation Beth Din extend their warm est w ish es for a r tm

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ev. Yisroel Moshe Braier, who died suddenly on Isru Chag, HaSuccoth (Oct 7 1996), was born in December 1918 in the East End of London.

A great-grandson of the famed Yanover Rav, R. Yosef Yitzchok Katz, the young Yisroel Moshe joined that elite band of English bochurim who deserted the bustling attractions of big city life for the physical deprivations of the newly founded GatesheadYeshiva where he was counted amongst the brightest and most talented talmidim. However, his parents could barely afford the minimal fee of five shillings (25p) a week, and in 1934 he decided to return to London and con­ tinue his learning at Etz Chaim Yeshiva.

As was general amongst Yeshiva leit in those times, he adopted a ministerial career and, blessed with a fine baritone voice and an excellent command of nusach, he was appointed Bal Tefillah and Melamed at Rav Zvi Hirsh Ferber’s kehilla, the important and independent West End Great Synagogue, in Dean Street.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, he became Minister to the largely evacuee congregation of Cheltenham. In 1944 he married Miss Elka Goldberg, later returning to London where he served the Leytonstone & Wanstead Federation Synagogue as its Minister from 1947 until 1974. He also taught at local chedorim and at the Lon­ don Board of Jewish Religious Education’s “Withdrawal” Classes in state schools.

In the late 1950s he joined the admin­ istrative staff of the Federation of Synagogues in a part-time capacity, sub­ sequently to be appointed Assistant Secretary and as Clerk to the Federation’s Beis Din. but these official titles belie the fact that he was involved in the work of, arid on many occasions managed, every department at the Federation’s Head Of­ fices, with outstanding competence, gaining such expertise that he became virtually indispensable to the organisa­ tion.

For over thirty years, the Niftar was my highly esteemed colleague, my scn-

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ior in years and in communal experience, and our association was always one of mutual friendship, respect and loyalty (not to mention the much needed sense of humour).

The 1960s and ’70s were for London Orthodox Jewry an era of turbulence and development, not least within the Federa­ tion of Synagogues itself, and in its relationship with sister kehillos. At such a time, Rev. Braier’s intimate knowledge of the community, its rabbonim, clerics and lay personalities, as well as his phe­ nomenal memory, were of tremendous value.

At a Hesped in memory of Rev. Braier held on 23 February at the Federation of Synagogues Beth Hamedrash in Hendon, Dayan Michoel Fisher, Rav Rashi Emeritus, declared before a capacity con­ gregation of Dayanim, Rabbonim, communal askonim, friends and family of the niftar, that Rev. Braier had served the Federation’s Beth Din since its estab­ lishment, and the kehilla itself in every aspect of its activity, with selfless devo­ tion. As befitted one who was a Kohen, and therefore a Levi and Yisroel too, he

had dedicated his natural gifts and abili­ ties for the benefit of the klal, as preacher teacher, chazan and trusted administra­ tor.

Dayan Y.Y. Lichtenstein, Rosh Beth Din, described the niftar as a multi­ talented bal kishron, with an amazing grasp of people and situations. The Rosh Beth Din focused particularly upon Rev. Braier’s attribute of ne’emonus; there was not the slightest ‘machsheves pigul’, no thought of self-interest, in his avodas hakodesh. Indeed, he fulfilled those basic duties of an eved ne’emon, as enu­ merated by Michoh haNovi, to do justice, to love chessed and to go in humility with Hashem. On Dayan Lichtenstein’s arrival in this country to assume the post of Rosh Beth Din, he had found in Rev Braier a wise consellor, in whom the Beth Din could place their complete confidence.

To Rev. Braier’s widow, who sup­ ported him with courage through his latter years of debilitating illness, and to his son Mark, a stalwart of Yiddishkeit in North West London, as well as to his daughterin-law and grandchildren, we extend our sincere sympathies.

WHEN THE DAVENING FINISHED TOO LATE b y M a rtin D. S te rn n an article in the Jewish Tribune, “When the davening took too long” (31 Aug.’95), Rabbi Avrohom Katz discussed in his inimitable way the two types of shul, comparing the davening to the two types of train that travel through the Swiss countryside. The first, the inter­ continental express, races along in a blur of mechanised efficiency whereas the second, meant for tourists, takes the most scenic route and travels at a leisurely pace to allow the passengers the opportunity to admire the breathtaking scenery and soaring Alpine heights.

The comparison to the two types of minyan is clear and his obvious prefer­ ence for the latter quite understandable; I most wholeheartedly agree with his judgement. It is most disturbing to feel that one has to daven ever faster in order to keep up with the tzibbur and that every meshullach who comes makes one fall yet further behind. Such minyonim feel like being on a treadmill where one is afraid to sneeze lest one falls two pages behind, and are hardly conducive to tefilloh in the true meaning of the word. This is particu­ larly true where the texts are unfamiliar, such as the selichos, which are full of obscure references requiring a slower pace, yet are often recited, if anything, even faster than the regular tefillos.

However, there is one aspect of the problem which he failed to tackle. For those gentlemen who do not have to be at work at a fixed time, the leisurely davening is ideal, they may even have time to learn a bit after the end of shacharis before returning home for a leisurely breakfast. Unfortunately there are still many who have a tight schedule in the mornings, perhaps having to drop children off at school before going to open their businesses. While in a small town like Gateshead this might not be a problem, in larger cities travelling times can be considerable.

A yeshiva or kollel can arrange its tefillos as part of its daily seder and no baalabos can complain if it finishes too late for him; if he doesn’t like it he can go elsewhere. However, a shul has to ac­ commodate the not unreasonable requirements of its members. The prob­ lem then is how to allow sufficient time for the davening and still finish early enough for those who have to seek a

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parnossoh. Unfortunately I have not yet found a minyan that has solved the prob­ lem.

With great trepidation I present a few thoughts about how these objectives could possibly be reconciled. First the minyan must decide how long each part of shacharis should take. This will ne­ cessitate some compromise since what is leisurely for one is impossibly fast for another. However, it should be possible to satisfy most of the latter provided that the former are assured that they will be able to leave for work in time. On the other hand these times should not allow for latecomers to catch up; there aredinim which they should know, for deciding which sections should be missed out in such circumstances. Once this timetable is established, at least everyone knows what to expect. A friend told me that when he was an ovel he once davened before thoomud in Zurich and thqgabbai pointed out to him such a list of times that was on the omud next to a watch and how this made him feel that he knew what the tzibbur expected and could avoid causing them any problems.

Having established this framework it is simple to calculate back from the de­ sired finishing time to establish when shacharis must begin. Unfortunately it will become almost immediately appar­ ent that this will be rather earlier than most members are used to but there is no alternative that will satisfy both require­ ments.

Of course, it will be essential that davening start on time but that is the re­ sponsibility of the gabbai who should make sure that someone is ready. If the person designated to say Brochos does not wish to continue, the gabbai should make sure that a replacement is ready to take over without delay. If no one else is willing he should do so himself; of course this will necessitate his being ready, with his tallis and tejillin on, well before the official time of commencement. Where there is an ovel r" l, or someone with vahrzeit, who wishes to have the omud, the gabbai should ensure that someone else is ready to start should the latter be late in arriving; to be sheliach tzibbur is a privilege and not a right.

On the other hand, should there not be a rninvan in time for the kaddeishim

14

before pesukei dezimra, the ovel should carry on and be satisfied with saying only those at the end of davening. To delay at that stage means either speeding through the remainder or finishing late which is an unfair impost on those who may have to leave for work.

Another source of tircha detzibbura arises where some person has taken on to say kaddish for someone for whom he is not a chiyuv and he insists on saying one at every possible opportunity even in the absence of those with a genuine chiyuv, instead of restricting himself to the one after olenu. Such multiplication of kaddeishim is no honour to the niftar since it might be thought to imply that every effort has to be made to drag him out of Gehinnom.

Similarly, should a bochur who does not wear a tallis be given an aliyah, the gabbai should make sure one is available so that no tircha detzibbura is caused while the oleh searches for one. Another cause o f tircha detzibbura is when a visi­ tor is given apesichoh but is not told how to open the paroches or which sefer to take out; this also embarrasses the visi­ tor which is, of course, even worse.

It will also be necessary to have fairly strict controls on who can act as sheliach tzibbur, and ban anyone who fancies him­ self as a chazan, especially on days when the davening is longer than usual. While a melodious rendition ofhallel may be very pleasant, it should be strictly reserved for yom tov. Similarly, since nowadays we are not yozei with chazoros hashatz, there is no reason for saying it with excessively great deliberation, so long as every word is enunciated clearly. Conversely those who have difficulty in davening aloud flu­ ently should have the decency to decline the omud even when they are aveilim. It is a greater honour to the departed in such cases not to insist on one’s “rights".

The custom in most shuls is to wait for the rov of the shul to finish shema and shemonei esrei before continuing the davening. In some places this is extended to visiting rabbonim and roshei yeshiva.

Since the latter are usually not aware of the honour shown them they daven at their customary speed which, though appropri­ ate in their usual mokom tejilloh, causes delays in the shul in which they find them­ selves. On the other hand the local rov

knows his congregation and would not impose on them in this way. If he wanted to spend longer over his tefilloh than he realises they can allow, he would waive this honour, as for example did the late Manchester Rosh Yeshiva ztz”l.

Though the various suggestions above may individually save only a minute or so each, the cumulative effect could be considerable.

In order to meet the objectives of rea­ sonable pace and a sufficiently early finish without starting too early, the davening will inevitably be too fast for a few individuals. For them I can only sug­ gest that they start before the tzibbur and arrange their timing so that they reach some crucial point, such as borechu or shemonei esrei, at the same time. This is clearly not ideal but it would, hopefully, avoid the unseemly spectacle of people rushing out before the end of davening, or what is much worse, that some mem­ bers feel constrained not to come to shul at all and daven at home instead. After all, it is hardly correct to be frum at other people’s expense, a thought that we should perhaps take to heart at all times.

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We supply seven meat menus and seven fish menus together with four varieties o f soups and seven different desserts. Not every hospital orders the complete range. All items are marked “Kosher for Passover”.

New cutlery packs are supplied with each meal.

Please send us a donation if you are able.

AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM b y H e n ry D on y tact with the outside world. Most of us cried when I heard about Mrs (Baruch Hashem) are able-bodied, get out *Goldstein. How could something and about and have daily contact with any like this happen today? As joint hon­ orary treasurer of the Federation Burial number of people through business, so­ cially, with neighbours or through the Society I come across many sad situa­ Shul. And it is all too easy to forget that tions, and some tragic ones. But nothing there is a Mrs Goldstein living in our compares with the plight o f Mrs neighbourhood.

Goldstein.

Whilst the Shul secretary, Rabbi or Mrs Goldstein had been a member of one of our Shuls in the East End and she even the chairman of the Ladies Guild are probably best placed to identify these was in her eighties. She lived alone and had no family, or at least none that cared people it must not be left to them to keep about her enough to visit or even to keep track of those people who are in need of in touch. In common with many Shul regular human contact. It is not somebody members Mrs Goldstein paid her Shul else’s problem - it is yours. subscriptions quarterly - in cash. Every But to formalise the exercise each Shul three months she would come to the Shul should appoint someone to co-ordinate office, and pay the secretary her quarterly the process of contact making and con­ due. tact keeping. The co-ordinator should in In January 1996, uncharacteristically, turn recruit people who take it upon them­ she did not show up at the Shul office. selves to regularly keep in touch with She had no telephone. The secretary tried members who have no family, or who, to contact her by mail but without suc­ for whatever reason are in danger of be­ cess. Nothing further was done at that coming a Mrs Goldstein. point. Three months later, another There are several levels at which peo­ quarter’s subscriptions were due and ple might need help: again, no Mrs Goldstein. Once again the 1. Day to day tasks within the home. secretary wrote to her, but as before, there Maybe someone needs a light bulb to be was no response. changed. A simple job if you are ableIn July when, for the third successive bodied, but if you are not, that task can quarter Mrs Goldstein failed to respond be both very difficult and extremely dan­ either to the initial request for subscrip­ gerous. Elderly people don’t always tion or the reminder, the Shul secretary realise how unstable a chair can be when alerted the Local Authority. At the begin­ you try and stand on it. ning of September they sent someone 2. Shopping. To those of us who have a round to the flat and, not being able to car, shopping may be a chore. If you gain admission they broke down the door. don't have a car, and perhaps have the They found the body of Mrs Goldstein added difficulty of arthritic hips, shop­ in an advanced state of decay. The un­ ping can be a nightmare. opened mail on the doormat indicated 3. Companionship. Particularly in the that she had died early in January - some early days after bereavement, having to nine months before its discovery. face each day without one’s partner may The post-mortem concluded that Mrs seem an impossible task. Just to have Goldstein had died as a result of compli­ someone to talk to may ease the burden cations following a fall in the flat. Prior immeasurably. to her burial, the ladies from our Chevra 4. Hospitality. As we sit at our Shabbos Kaddisha did what little they could by table surrounded by our families and per­ way of tahara - the ritual preparation for haps some friends who are good interment. company, let us share a thought for those Why do I now write about Mrs of our fellow Shul members - fellow Goldstein? Because this should never Jews, who are eating by themselves. Peo­ have happened, and I want to ensure that ple who live by themselves and who may it never happens again. I am sure that each be elderly don’t always make wonderful o f our shuls has its share of Mrs company. Their table manners may not be great. Their appearance may not be Goldsteins - and indeed Mr Goldsteins. terribly savoury - but they are our breth­ People who live alone and who, ren and we must not ignore that. We must through age or infirmity have little con­

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make allowances.

And having guests at your table can be an enriching experience. There is much to be learnt from people who have stories to tell of a bygone era, or of places which are only names on an atlas to you and your children. And what a wonder­ ful example you set your children when they see friendly strangers at their Shabbos or Yomtov table as a matter of course.

I urge the President of each Shul to make it his personal responsibility to es­ tablish the sort of support structure that I have outlined. Help and advice may well be available from existing agencies, both Jewish and those operated by the Local Authorities. Mrs Goldstein’s plight may have been extraordinary in its outcome, but her circumstances are far from unique. Let us ensure that there are no more Mrs Goldstein situations. * Not her real name FEDERATION OF SYNAGOGUES

FINCHLEY CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE Redbourne Avenue, Finchley, N3

The President, Honorary Officers and Board o f Management, on behalf o f the Synagogue, wish Rabbi Z. Telsner, all members and their families a

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All news items, articles and features for the ROSH HASHANA ISSUE of HAM AOR must be submitted by the deadline of Monday I September 1997

A REMEMBRANCE OF THE 30S AND 40S. (PART 2) b y W illy U n g a r A fter the traumatic happenings of f \ the “Kristallnacht”, when SynaA. ^ g o g u es were burned and Jewish shops were smashed and looted, hundreds of prominent Jews of Vienna were rounded up and sent to concentration camps. The brown-shirted “S.A.” and the blackshirted “S.S.” were given orders to make systematic searches to find and make lists of all Jews, half Jews, Communists, vagrants and Gypsies. Most Viennese lived in blocks of flats and it was the caretakers of those buildings who suddenly held the fate of thousands of Jews in their hands.

Overnight, these uneducated (and usually drunk) garbage-removers and cleaners of staircases who had to rely on tips of a few “Groschen” to augment their meagre in­ come became the masters of the block.

They knew the lifestyle of each tenant, they knew who visited them, who dressed differently on a Saturday or Holiday, and they had long memories regarding who had been generous in the past, or who had rubbed them up the wrong way, or had lodged a complaint against them to the landlord. People who were raised in Eng­ land and probably lived all their lives in houses would never have experienced the fear of ‘what will the caretaker or the neighbours say?’ In Vienna this worry was always present as long as I can remember, because the phrase ‘to mind one’s own business’could never be found in the Aus­ trian vocabulary. At the end of the year 1938, this fear had multiplied a hundred times. For a young man to be seen on the street without a swastika armband or a uni­ form of the ‘Hitler Youth’ was dangerous.

To stay at home and wait quietly and won­ der whether a knock on the door meant imprisonment or just the postman was nerve-wrecking. My parents decided that I had to get away to the “Agudah Hachshara” in a small village, Voeslau, which was approved by the authorities as it would further Jewish emigration to Pal­ estine; at least there I would be safe and free from fear of being arrested. On the train I was joined by a friend of mine named Yossi, and we speculated about life on the farm. Would there be a chance to ride a horse, perhaps cows to be herded to and from the meadows, ploughing to be learned or fruit to be picked in an orchard?

We had not felt so free and euphoric for months!

Finally, we arrived at our destination: A cluster of run-down houses and a col­ lection of dilapidated barns housing hundreds of chickens. About a dozen young men worked either in the vegeta­ ble gardens or saw to the rearing of the poultry. Being the last arrivals and the youngest, Yossi and I were immediately given the worst job: looking after the newly born chicks; feeding them with a smelly mixture of boiled fishbones and grain, keeping their cages clean and worst of all - washing the jute sacks on which they fed, hopped about, pecked at each other, slept and executed their bod­ ily functions. The washing of these sacks was definitely not a job for a nice, pam­ pered, Jewish boy. The stench was unbearable, the water ice cold and the cycle of feeding and excreting by these tiny but vicious creatures was continu­ ous. There was only one item on the menu: Boiled chicken. We had to take turns in riding on bicycles to the nearest town where a Shochet lived and who was willing to kill the birds in the cellar of his house, hoping no one would notice what went on. In the evenings there were Shiurim but most of us were too tired to keep our eyes open.

My parents wrote to me that my uncle in England had been able to get my name on Dr. Rabbi Shonfield’s list of students and was hoping for an early answer from the Home Office. So my two options were still open - Israel or England. Within two or three weeks, just as I was getting used to the routine of a farm labourer I was summoned back home because the Eng­ lish visa had come through and I had to present myself at the British Embassy after which I would have to leave Austria within a few days. My mother, worrying that I might be found at home just when emigration was so close, packed me off each day with some sandwiches and made me cycle around Vienna till evening. Just two days before the day of my departure I happened to be near one of the main thoroughfares of Vienna, the Mariahilferstrasse when I was practically swept along by a large crowd of people who came to see Hitler drive through.

After motorcycle outriders and staff cars I could hear by the crescendo of voices that Hitler was about to pass by. The crowd shouted: “Ein Reich, ein Volk ein

Fuehrer! ” (One state, one people, one leader!) He stood in an open car, his arm outstretched in the usual Nazi salute and everyone went ecstatic. To me he seemed just an ordinary looking man in a brown uniform, nothing like the superman as depicted on every hoarding.

As soon as he had passed the slogans changed from adulation of the leader to: “Down with our enemies! Down with the Jews! The Jews are our misfortune!’’ and their favourite: “Juden verrecken! ” (Jews perish!). I slowly and quietly slunk away into a sidestreet, but the sound of the screaming crowd rang in my ears for many months to come.

There is a picture in my mind which is as clear and vivid today as it was over five and a half decades ago. The date: February 1939. The location: The mainline railway station in Vienna. My parents, my sister (Z ’L) and I forming a small group on the platform; standing amidst a teeming crowd of people hurrying to and fro. Many in soldier’s uniforms, others in black or brown Nazi outfits; all wearing armbands with the swastika emblem.

My father gave me a Brochoh and then handed me a large white crisp five pound note and told me to keep it for a rainy day. This bank note must have meant a small fortune to him and I treasured it for many, many years. Perhaps I should have made use of it earlier, before it had lost most of its value, because those follow­ ing years were the ‘rainiest’ years of my life. My mother tried bravely to keep a smiling face and told me to be happy to go to a new country and a new future, until all of us, G-D willing, would meet again. My sister just sobbed, with tears streaming down her face. Amidst the blowing of whistles, the hissing of steam and a final embrace I boarded the train and saw my beloved family slowly dis­ appear in the distance.

There were others, like myself, over the age of seventeen, and therefore too old for a “Kindertransport" in my car­ riage but all of us were too engrossed in our thoughts to engage in conversations.

I was torn between a feeling of joy for having finally escaped the terror of the past months and a sadness - bordering on guilt - for having selfishly deserted the ones I loved most.

After an uneventful crossing of the English Channel I set foot on British soil for the first time. Actually, I was not quite sure where or what I had set my foot on because a thick fog enveloped the whole of Harwich; the walkways were dimly lit by gaslamps whose diffused light could not penetrate the moist air. A kindly po­ liceman guided all newcomers to immigration; I was surprised by his height, his high helmet, his lack of weaponry and, above all, by his gentle manner. A far cry from the strutting, heel-clicking and com­ mandeering variety that I had been used to.

My uncle met me at Liverpool Street Station and took me to the Yeshiva/Hostel ("depending on whether one wanted to study orjust use it as a temporary shelter) at 67 Lordship Road N.16, which is now part of the grounds of the Avigdor Primary School. It was run by RavBabad who with one or two other Rabbonim gave the Shiurim. I learned a bit and made myself useful in the kitchen which was badly un­ derstaffed. There was not a lot of cohesion between us Bachurim, but we and boys in other similar hostels had one thing in com­ mon: we all owed our lives to Rav Schonfield.

Bit by bit I got accustomed to the English way of life. And I loved it! So many new sensations and experiences!

Cornflakes; grapefruit; fish and chips; tinned pineapples; double decker buses; the damp weather; small talk; the cock­ ney sense of humour; bicycles left leaning against the front garden wall without a chain; the newspaper vendor who went to have a cup of tea, leaving his stack of pa­ pers unattended while his customers helped themselves to a copy, leaving their pennies on the pile. But for me the most surprising thing of all was the concept of free speech. A short anecdote to explain: A refugee, having recently arrived from the continent was taken by an English rela­ tive to see the sights of London. When they arrived at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park they stopped near one of the speakers on his soapbox addressing a small crowd of people. They heard him denounce the gov­ ernment, abuse the Prime Minister, attack his cabinet and calling for an uprising. The newcomer could not believe his ears and expected the police to turn up and imprison the man; but nothing happened. After a while a policeman approached slowly, knocked on the window of the car and said to the driver: “Would you please move

your car, there are people here who can’t see nor hear the speaker!”

By the autumn of 1939 Hitler had re­ gained all the territories where a minority of Germans had lived since the end of World War I and the Peace Treaty of Ver­ sailles. First, the Polish corridor which had cut off East Prussia from the rest of Ger­ many; the world did not like it, but after all, it was only a narrow strip of Polish territory. Then, the Saarland, an industrial piece of land on the German/French border. The French did not like it, but was it worth it to risk a war? After that, the Sudentenland, which had become part of Czechoslovakia. The Czechs did not like it, but without the backing of the West they were powerless. At that point Prime Min­ ister Chamberlain went to Munich and came back with a piece of paper, signed

by Hitler, which he held up high, exclaim­ ing the famous words: “There will be peace in our time!” Germany has no more territorial aspirations!” But by September third, Hitler had forgotten his promises and invaded Poland. England and France had treaties with the Poles and had to declare war. The population sat near their radios, listening to the histone broadcast while, for the first time, airraid sirens were heard

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all over Britain. Only now, almost too late, did England prepare for war. The airforce had to rely on a few volunteers, the navy were ill-equipped and a small army was despatched to France; this small and in­ effective force ended up beaten and demoralised and had to be rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk.

On the home front everybody was asked to dig air-raid shelters which gave a certain protection from being buried alive under collapsing houses or flying debris but they were no guard against a direct hit. Even our hostel in Lordship Road was required to dig a trench at the bottom of the garden and with great en­ thusiasm we set about the job with pickaxes, shovels and spades. We wanted to prove our loyalty to Britain and do our “bit”.

Within a few days of working in shifts we succeeded in completing a shelter long enough to accommodate us thirty youngsters. Night after night a small number of planes came across the Chan­ nel and dropped their bombs haphazardly onto the civilian population. We watched the searchlights scan the skies, trying to pinpoint a bomber so the anti-aircraft guns had a clear view to fire, or fighters to engage them in a ‘dogfight’.

At that time a number of unexplained explosions occurred in military installa­ tions all over the country; the government realised that a number of German agents were at work carrying out acts of sabo­ tage. Those men were either dropped from the air, landed in rubber-dinghies, or gained entry into England by posing as Jewish refugees.

The authorities reacted by introduc­ ing tribunals which screened all “enemy aliens” and divided them into ‘A’ cases, Nazi supporters; ‘B’ cases, people with doubtful allegiances; and ‘C’ cases, the majority of immigrants, classed as ‘Refu­ gees from Nazi oppression.’

Of course I too, had to report to a tri­ bunal, held in a school, where a scholarly elderly gentleman asked me a lot about my background, my religious studies, (he was quite well versed in the ‘Old Testa­ ment’) and after a short while declared me a ‘C’ case and stamped my alien’s book accordingly.

The government first interned all German citizens, the ‘A’ cases, and sent them to the Isle of Man. When sabotage continued, the ‘B’ cases were also in­ terned; the men in Douglas and the women in Port Erin. However, in the sumr

Digging an air-raid shelter at the Yeshiva mer of 1940 ‘Scuppa Flow’, a Scottish naval base in the Orkneys, was blown up.

It had been the largest British shipyard and submarine repair dock and meant a severe blow to the Navy in its effort to protect the Atlantic convoys.

The nation was stunned, the press called for action and targeted the refu­ gees, calling for their internment. In fact, I had felt for some time a resentment by the public, when they saw us youngsters walking in the streets of London, for not being in the forces. Thus public opinion persuaded the government to change their policy towards the victims of Nazi op­ pression and ordered the interment of all ‘C’ cases.

There was no knock at the door in the middle of the night, no rounding up by uniformed men; just a polite letter ask­ ing us to report, with a small suitcase, to the nearest police station. And that is how two and a half years of my internment started. We were sent in buses to Huyton, a town outside Liverpool and put up by the army in tents, awaiting the ferry to take us across the Irish sea; destination Isle of Man. But things were not as simple as the Government had hoped: The ‘A’ cases were the first in these seaside towns and

occupied the best and largest hotels; the ‘B’ cases and some of the ‘C’ cases were billeted in small hotels and boarding houses.

By the time hundreds of us were un­ der canvas by courtesy of the Anny, there was not a room left on the Isle of Man in the districts designated and secure for in­ ternment.

So we waited day after day, in pour­ ing rain, which formed rivulets in our tent, under our mattresses; even the of­ ficers became concerned for our health.

Finally, we were asked to fill in fonns giving our permission to be sent to Canada, provided we were single and under the age of sixty.

I gladly consented and was happy to be shipped out of Britain where an inva­ sion by Hitler’s army had become a real threat. After a few more days we were lined up on the dockside and we beheld a large ship, with the letters H.M.S. Dunera painted on it’s hull ready to receive us.

Little did any of us imagine that this was the beginning of an unforgettable journey.

To he continued....

THE HAMAOR RESTAURANT REVIEW “ EREZ” RESTAURANT b y R o c h e I C o h en w ith Sarah Schleim er, A v i C o h e n a n d p h o to s b y Sh m u el A n s b a c h e r

ating at Erez is more than just a meal, it is an event. This is what we discovered when we went to sample and review Golders Green’s new­ est restaurant, under the supervision of the Federation Kashrus Board, on behalf of Ham nor.

The first thing that struck us about Erez was the decor which is smart and very tasteful. The chairs are mahogany with deep upholstery and are very comfortable; and the low voltage spotlights cast an at­ tractive glow over the restaurant.

The policy of the restaurant appears to be “ service with a smile”. From the moment we walked into the restaurant until we left we were warmly received. We found everyone most helpful and friendly and even the smallest request was taken care of promptly. The attentive staff all appear to work together rather than being assigned one table each and this appears to work very efficiently. Children and babies are also well accommodated for with both high chairs and changing facili­ ties readily available.

The air-conditioning appeared to be having some teething problems with smoke and aroma from the barbecue grill in the kitchen wafting into the restaurant, but this was soon resolved once some of the windows were opened.

The ordering of meals is a very hightech procedure going via a networked

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computer system directly to the kitchen.

The print-out is then used later for the bill­ ing.

Main courses take approximately thirty minutes from the time of ordering (of which we were advised in the menu). We therefore ordered our main course at the same time as our starter so that by the time we had finished eating that, our main course was almost ready. In the meantime we could listen to and enjoy the live music played by professional musician Yousef Halabi who played a variety of styles on the keyboard and guitar. We par­ ticularly enjoyed his Middle Eastern and Latin American music.

20

WHAT WE ORDERED:

Starter

Rochel: Bamia Bizeit Okra cooked with tomato, onions, garlic, served with oil Avi: Moussaka Fried aubergine cooked with tomato sauce, onion and chick peas Shmuel: Lahme Bit A gine A Lebanese meat pizza - pastry topped with minced lamb and tomato Sarah: Jawaneh Chicken wings grilled on charcoal served with garlic lemon sauce Main Course Lebanese cuisine is the basis of the menu and whilst some of the dishes are spicy, there are plenty of choices for everyone including fish and vegetarian options. There are approximately thirtytwo starters alone to select from! All the dishes are well presented with extremely generous portions. Delicious freshly baked pitta bread is available upon re­ quest and the washing facilities are easily accessible.

We all chose different items on the menu to sample a variety of the dishes on offer and all of us found the food we chose to be delicious. Also worthy of note is the mixed fruit juice cocktail, the recipe of which is a guarded secret but is a re­ freshing, thick drink. We ended the meal by sharing a plate of Lebanese sweets for desert. This is a dish or small pastries, some syrupy, flavoured with rosewater or filled with pistachio nuts. A truly sticky and indulgent end to a wonderful meal!

Although prices are more to the higher end of the market, with an average meal costing approximately £20 - 25 per head; for the quality, quantity and service pro­ vided, it is well worth it.

A more reasonably priced menu with a small eating area both inside and out is available downstairs and a take-away facility is also available.

The whole ambiance combines to cre­ ate a Middle Eastern / Mediterranean atmosphere. We left the restaurant almost feeling that we had just been away on holiday! We thoroughly enjoyed the “Erez” experience and are sure you will too.

Rochel: Farrouge Mish wl Charcoal grilled chicken served with the chef’s sauce Avi: Chicken Sh warma Slices of chicken marinated and grilled Shmuel: Lahem Meshwi Tender cubes of meat grilled on charcoal Sarah: Shish Taouk Cubes of chicken marinated and grilled (All main courses are garnished with vegetables and a choice of rice or chips to accompany it) Dessert:

A selection of Lebanese Sweets

HAMA0R/ERE1 OFFER

This voucher entitles you to:

1 0 %

When you order a meal upstairs in “Erez Restaurant” Simply fill in your details below and hand it in when you pay your bill Name: Address:

Tel:

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LETTER FROM HADASSAH THE WINTER BLUES bet you would never have thought that someone would long to spend .winter in London, with all the rain and frost, dark and dismal days. Well, I do.

Here in Montreal we have been sur­ rounded by snow for what seems like forever, and even though there has to be an end to it sometime, the light cannot be seen at the end of this tunnel just yet.

Spending winter in Montreal is an experience as well as an education. This winter was my third and I am still not acclimatised. The first winter was not too bad, 1 had a job to go to every day, and a husband who drove me there. I was ex­ pecting my first child and nothing could dampen my spirits. (Or so I thought). One day after a check up at the doctor’s 1 had no patience to wait for the bus to take me home. It was only a twenty minute walk, and walking is healthy. Well, it was -25C with a wind-chill to make it feel more like -40C, and by the time 1arrived home 1 was frozen to the core. 1 could barely move my hands, my nose was frozen solid and my feet felt like they had disappeared. I telephoned my husband to complain about this but all he did was laugh. You see, Montrealers learn these

lessons as small children and never make such mistakes.

This winter I have been cooped up inside with two small children to keep me busy. When it comes to Motzei Shabbat, I beg Shmari to take me out just to look at something else. If you do not have the use of car in winter you leave the house very rarely. You cannot just pop the kids in the buggy and go for a walk. By the time they are all bundled up into snowsuits, scarves, boots, gloves, earmuffs etc., you are exhausted. The buggy does not pass easily over snow and ice, so you have to use the sled, but pulling two children in it is enough to break your back! If one does brave it, after two min­ utes outside the noses are running and the faces turning blue from cold - so you turn back and reverse the whole process.

Thank goodness for the telephone, it is our lifeline. Friends hardly see each other unless we manage to break ranks and leave the kids with a sitter one evening. Last year I had not seen my neighbour across the street for the whole winter. At the beginning of March we met whilst out walking and she told me that she was due to give birth that week. I had

not even realised that she was pregnant because we had not ventured outside for months! This type of scenario happens all the time!

One thing that is fascinating about this winter and snow business is the clean up operation. Usually within 24-48 hours of a snow fall, the streets are clear. First, they send around a van with a loud horn to warn everyone to move their cars. Then they send a little scooter/snow plough which clears the snow off the pavements.

Then a larger plough comes to push the snow into neat piles at the side of the road.

Next in line is a huge vacuum type truck which sucks up the snow and blows it into a dumptruck. A perfectly orchestrated op­ eration. I still sit at my window like a small child watching this in fascination with my nineteen month old son Leibel who finds it just as mesmerising. Perhaps we will grow out of it at the same time!

This was the first winter that Leibel could experience snow and he really is enjoy­ ing it. Next year our six month old Naftali will be inducted into the winter expenence, maybe then I will be able to start enjoying myself too!

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THE SECRET JEWISH COMMUNITY OF IBIZA - AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH GLORIA MOUND, FOUNDER OF “ CASA SHALOM”

by Sarah M Schleim er

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asa Shalom is an Institute for Marrano / Anusim studies both in Spain and other countries including the USA, the Carib bean, South America and Africa. Casa Shalom is a charity and is dedicated to the research o f the Marranos, meeting with people from hidden Jewish origins, recording Marranos at prayer and collecting important data on past and present communities which has been amassed into a unique library. Hamaor spoke to its founder, Gloria Mound (who formerly lived in Wembley’) and now lives in Gan Yavneh, Israel.

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find out more about the people - we ended up staying for three years.

When we arrived in Israel it was diffi­ cult financially but my research was not finished. I became an honorary research fellow of Glasgow University and little by little I continued to find out more in­ formation regarding the Marranos.

We called our house Casa Shalom be­ cause we liked the name but people did not just see us as a house, they took us seriously. Then two years ago we estab­ lished ourselves as a Charity.

How did you originally get involved in research on the Marranos!

It was Dayan Toledano who put me onto it. My husband Leslie and I had been on holiday a few times to Ibiza and he asked me to look into the history of the Jewish Community there. I did not think I would find much and that the history would be the same as everywhere else.

And what did you discover!

We had friends living in Ibiza who started to tell us that there were Jews in Ibiza who had never gone away. They were descendants of Jews who had been there since the time of the Inquisition.

Apart from research what else does your work in Casa Shalom involve and what plans do you have for the future!

Amongst other things, my work with Casa Shalom takes me all over the world on lecture tours. At present we are plan­ ning a Seder for the Marranos in Ibiza this Pesach. We made one whilst we were living there but they have not had one since. I feel that there are enough people there who are interested enough to want to learn how to do the Seder themselves, and therefore I sincerely hope we will be able to go back to Ibiza this year for Pesach.

It seems appropriate that Gloria will return to Ibizafor Pesach - over two thou­ sand years later, our people are still being brought from darkness into light.

What evidence did you discover to prove that they really were secret Jews!

Our friends gave us introductions to people because otherwise they would not tell us anything - they considered us as strangers. They slowly started to open up and tell us what they knew. They only married amongst themselves; some did not eat pork or ham; some had been cir­ cumcised; others did not work on Shabbat or kept Yom Kippur.

Later we discovered a Megilla from the fourteenth Century and a secret syna­ gogue. Up until the Spanish Civil War in 1936 there had been a viable Jewish Com­ munity there. However, since they did not have baptism certificates, they were un­ able to get food. Later, during the Second World War the Gestapo had a base in Palma, Majorca to look for Jews but the people never gave anyone away.

Why did you start Casa Shalom!

When we sold our business in Wem­ bley we planned to make Aliya but wanted to spend a year in Ibiza first to

An Extract from the 14th Century Megill ah

Further inform ation about Casa Shalom can be obtained from Gloria Mound at: Casa Shalom, Institute for Marrano Anusim Studies, PO 66 Gan Yavneh, 70800, Israel.

Tel/Fax: 00 972 8 8573

THE DRIVE OF A LIFETIME! b y M a rtin L ip c z e r

ichard Branson refused to sponsor our car. Some of you reading this did.

Richard’s attempt at glory ended with a plummet into the Algerian desert.

Ours on the other hand ended with a story that would be almost unbelievable but for the fact that Judith and Martin completed the First J.N.F. London to Jerusalem (via Jordan) Eagle Eye car Rally.

Tough Luck Dicky.

I work at the Federation Head Office in Watford Way as the assistant to Gerald Kushner where I generally help to keep the Federation running smoothly.

After several years walking across Israel to raise funds for J.N.F., last year I decided on the easy option and drove there instead, taking my wife, Judith with me.

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Day I On a bright October day - Thursday 17th to be precise - we left at 7.30 in the morning. Our car had been cleaned and serviced for what was billed as the “Jour­ ney of a Lifetime”. Whoever did the “billing” was to be proved absolutely correct.

Our Vauxhall Carlton was so over­ loaded that I could not see out of the back.

Nevertheless, Israeli flags flying, we ar­ rived at the start, just off'Pall Mall soon after 9a.m.

While we enjoyed a wonderful kosher smoked salmon breakfast, the 24 cars were being prepared with dozens of stick­ ers from the various sponsors. When we returned to our car we both felt a mix­ ture of pride and anguish. Pride at the thought that our Carlton, which was now numbered “ 10” would soon begin a drive across Europe to the Middle East, and anguish, would all those stickers ever come off?

It was a magnificent scene. Israeli and Jordanian flags fluttering in the breeze, dignitaries mingling with drivers, the Mayor of Westminster resplendent in his C hains of Office, Rabbi Plancy giving us all prayers for the journey, Israeli and Jordanian Ambassadors, MPs, TV and Radio. 10.30 and we had to stand by our cars to be greeted by HRH the Duke of Kent. 11.13 we all started our engines and

Martin Lipczer with HRH The Duke o f Kent at exactly 11.1 $ we were off. Driving in tight convoy down Pall Mall, to our amazement we were directed through the rarely opened gates of Clarence House into St James Park. Even the Royal Horse Guards stopped for us. There were po­ lice outriders in front and at the rear, guiding us through the busy streets of Westminster out onto the Old Kent Road.

Then we were on our own to get to the channel tunnel.

France seemed pleasant enough, ex­ cept for the pouring rain, the fact that nobody spoke English and they all drove on the wrong side of the road.

Early evening and we drove past the magnificent cathedral city of Rheims, got stuck in its traffic jams and somehow managed to miss seeing the cathedral.

We were soon at Epernay, the cham­ pagne centre of France, for the first night’s stay. Here we were hosted by the French kosher champagne growers and all slept very well indeed.

Day 2 Friday and we had to be in Basel for Shabbat. Driving southeast, most of the cars went to Dijon to stock up on mus­ tard, while we went toTroyes and visited the Rashi Centre and saw his old Shul.

After a day’s driving through some wonderful scenery, we passed through the Swiss border and arrived in Basel two minutes before Shabbat. Friday evening was spent at the restaurant attached to the shul, where we enjoyed a traditional Shabbat meal.

Day 3 Shabbat morning and it poured during the walk to shul.

After the service, we again ate at the centre and enjoyed a lovely shabbat atmos­ phere. At least the rain had stopped for the walk back through the old part of the city to the hotel where we had a well deserved “shluf’.

In the evening during a Mclava Malka, we were entertained firstly with a demon-

stration of alpine horn blowing, followed by a wonderful children’s choir from the local Bnei Akiva. The evening ended with gifts and tree certificates being exchanged.

Day 4 Early Sunday morning the Swiss po­ lice prepared our convoy for the drive through Basel. Over the bridge made fa­ mous by Theodore Herzl during the first Zionist Congress 99 years earlier, along the Rhine, through the city centre and then to the Casino were the Zionist Congress actually took place. Amazing to think that nearly a century later, a convoy of 24 cars would be passing Basel on its way to the “New Zionist” state of Israel. Finally we saw the “Israel” park which was planted with JNF trees.

Soon the police escorted us onto the motorway and we were leaving Basel and driving south towards Italy. Passing through some breathtaking scenery, we went to Lucerne, skirted the lakes and then through one of the longest tunnels in the world, the St. Gothard. Leaving the Swiss snowcapped mountains behind us, we emerged, seventeen kilometres later, into bright sunshine - welcome to Italy.

A brief visit to Lake Como and then onto Milan for the night.

After a shower and change we were taken to a Kosher restaurant, and had a relaxing evening with the Israeli Consul and members of the Italian Jewish com­ munity.

Day 5/6 9.am and it’s rush hour in Europe’s busiest city. Monday in Milan, red traffic lights, one-way systems and bustling streets full of Italians. A nightmare unless you are on the JNF Rally. Our police es­ cort stopped the traffic, ignored one-way streets and arrested their citizens if they

even thought about crossing the roads. The thrill of driving through red lights down Milan’s main streets with everybody look­ ing at us and wondering who ...Michael Jackson, the Queen or maybe the Pope?

No just Judith and Martin raising more funds for Israel.

After a procession around the streets of Milan and El Duomo, the famous white cathedral, we were led onto the autostrada for the journey south to Ancona, the port where we would get the first ferry to Greece. On the way to Ancona, we stopped for lunch at Rimini and then visited the Republic of San Marino - consisting, it seemed, of a winding road going up and an even windier road coming down. Just before dark, we reached the port and waited for the “Superfast” ferry that would take almost 24 hours to reach Patras in Greece.

Here we drove in procession through the town and onto the “motorway” in Athens. Single track for most of the jour­ ney, no white lines, and hardly any lights and large articulated lorries that only seemed to overtake on a bend. It also rained and to top it all, we had to pay toll fees for the privilege of spending nearly 5 hours on that “motorway” - come back North Circular, all is forgiven!

We arrived in Athens at midnight and after parking the cars in the city square, under police protection, we enjoyed a welcome meal, although we were really too tired to enjoy moussaka, hoummos and wine that the Athens Rabbinate had su­ pervised for us.

Day 7 Morning tour of the Acropolis and then to the Jewish museum, found by a chance meeting with some Israelis. Lunch in the hotel hosted by the Greek shipping asso­

25

ciation and yes, more certificate exchanges and gifts. Members of the local Jewish com­ munity and the Israeli Ambassador together with the Mayor of Athens also participated in the sumptuous meal, the last we were to have for three days. A few hours of free time before we were mustered into convoy order and the now familiar “city Centre” police chase - how can you describe driv­ ing through a capital city with eight lanes of rush hour traffic held up in your hon­ our? After a police escorted dash to Piraeus, we arrived at the docks in late afternoon only to experience the painstakingly slow bureaucracy of the customs officials. Queue for this document only to find when you reach the front that you should have queued somewhere else. Finally, we loaded ourcars and boarded the S.S. Nikos Kypros.

Day 8/9/10 at sea Of all the lousy boats in all the world we had to spend three days (and unbear­ able nights) on board the ...I just cannot bring myself to write about it or even men­ tion its name as memories keep flooding back. Memories of the meals, of the cabin, of the facilities, of the smell, of the thought of spending three days aboard and then, when we finally arrived at Haifa, we have to spend Shabbat on board. The less said about that ship, the better, although there were two high points when we spent a few hours on the Greek island of Rhodes and bumped into some friends from Ilford.

They showed us the old and interesting shul with the cobbled stone floor.

We also spent a day in Cyprus where we had lunch with the Israeli Ambassador and a most interesting gentleman. Most people have never heard of him, but to the people of Israel, he is a hero. He helped to rescue over one thousand seven hundred Jews from the British detention campson^

Cyprus during the mandate period. He is a Righteous Gentile and has a special tree planted in his honour at Yad Vashem.

Shabbat lunch was a most memorable occasion. Ten of the party who had de­ cided not to disembark, all contributed to the meal.

We had managed to produce a bottle of kiddush wine, some whisky, avocados, someone found a packet of Rakusens chocolate digestives, there was a tin of tuna and some crackers. Together with the airline meals, matzos, and the delicious salad that the chief steward had specially made for us, using plastic cutlery on pa­ per plates, really made an emotional finale to this part of the journey. After benchingwc all went on deck and looked out at Haifa, so near and yet so far, think­ ing how it must have been fifty years earlier when the boats arrived from war ravaged Europe and were refused entry.

Shabbat went out at 5.20 and the docks closed at 5.30. In order not to spend yet another day on this floating hell hole we had a mad dash to get off the boat and finally walk on hretz Yisrocl. We uere soon driving through Haifa, on our way to Tiberius. Here we were to be briefed, receive our mobile phones and more importantly, meet our daughter Ruthie, who is at Sem for the year.

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Outside the Knesset Day I 3 The now obligatory city centre procession ended at the Knesset, our cars were paraded and we were met by the speaker. We then had to drive back to the JNF headquarters where our cars would

be on show. For the rest of the day we were taken on a coach tour of the City.

During the evening we attended a gala dinner in our honour and more certificates and gifts changed hands,

Day I I The rally drove to the Golan to visit the sites. The Lipczers, having seen it all on last year’s walk, climbed Mount Arbel to visit its ancient clifftop shul, and pay a visit to Ruthie’s kibbutz. Lavi certainly prepared a tasty lunch. That evening, the hotel entertained us with a really authen­ tic “Bedouin" night. Our arrival in Israel caused quite a stir, and we appeared on the various news bulletins and in the newspapers.

Day 12 Journeying out of Tiberius we passed Bet She’an and arrived at Gesher. Here we were proud to see the completed JNF water reservoir, built with funds raised on our previous walks. After a few hours driving along the Jordan valley road, we passed Jericho and headed for Ein Gedi and then to the top of Masada. Looking out across the Dead Sea, the mountains of Jordan rose up out of the mist. In a few days we would be there, looking across at Israel. In a few hours the rally was climbing up to Jerusalem and, as it got dark, we arrived in the Holy city. We had made it!

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The city o f Tetra, Jordan

Day 14 We planted trees in the new British park, and the rally then headed south, visiting the various projects in the Negev, including one of the largest water reser­ voirs being built at Besor. Here, previously lost water will be collected, helping to make the desert bloom. Re­ turning to Jerusalem for an early night, our cars were cleaned in preparation for the next day.

Day 15 Leaving Jerusalem, we drove down, past Jericho towards the river Jordan. We made history as the first private vehicles to cross the Allenby bridge, and entered the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

After the border formalities, we were given an armed guard that would escort us throughout our stay in Jordan, and drove up into the mountains to Mount Nebo. It is from here that Moses saw the Promised Land. The views were spec­ tacular. The drive then took us to Amman, and we arrived in the palatial grounds of the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan.

After the reception, we were ushered into lunch with His Majesty, King Hussein.

Later, we were introduced to the King and had quite a nice chat.

We still had four hours drive to our overnight stay in Petra, and some of the cars began to feel frustrated at the slow pace the army was making us keep. This is how the “Amman to Petra” race was conceived. Racing on the motorway was fun. The excitement really began when after two hours, we turned off onto the dirt track, without lights or white lines.

Nearly two hours of thrills lay ahead.

BMW and hot rod Rover quickly took the lead. I was next, closely followed by the Rolls-Royce and the Bentley Continen­ tal. Suddenly the roar of the 1934 Bentley Blower racing against the Jaguar 140 shattered the quiet of the desert. At speeds of 70 m.p.h., on the dark, narrow roads, Judith gave up, closed her eyes, and thought of our children. The lead changed many times, and for me the highlight was when I overtook the Bentley and the Jaguar on a double hairpin bend, to take the lead. The Continental eventually won the race with a daring manoeuvre wor­ thy of a James Bond film. The following morning we were taken by coach to Petra and, in the daylight, realised how lucky

we all were, not to have driven over the sheer cliffs during the previous night.

Day 16 Two thousand years ago, the Nabateans carved whole cities out of rock.

Petra was one of their cities and seeing it was a most memorable experience. It was now Friday afternoon, and we had to drive to Aqaba before the border crossing into Eilat closed for Shabbat. The race was on again, and with half an hour to go we ar­ rived back in Israel. So did thousands of Ravenswood bikers. Chaos at the Arava crossing, but we all got through and spent Shabbat relaxing in Eilat. The outward leg was over.

Day 18 The final day It was “Goodbye” time. 23 cars drove to Ashdod to be shipped home in three weeks. The Vauxhall Carlton spent the evening in Eilat while we flew home. The next day, I am back at work in Hendon while our friend, Eddie, from Ilford flies to Israel to collect and drive our car back.

In less than a week they are home.

The 1991 grey Vauxhall Carlton CDXi H388 BMH drove nearly five thousand miles and raised over £1 per mile.

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IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM HOLOCAUST EXHIBITION Work on the building to house Britain's first major permanent exhibition on the Nazi Holocaust will start before the middle o f 1997 at the Imperial War Museum thanks to a grant o f £ 12.6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. he money will go towards the £16m expansion of the Imperial War Museum’s main site at South­ wark, where space will also be created for new study, education and conference facilities, special temporary exhibitions and a permanent exhibition entitled The Age o f Total Wat: Offers of private funds include gener­ ous contributions of £lm each from the Wolfson Foundation and the Rubin Foundation and £250,000 from Marks and Spencer pic. This means that, sub­ ject to raising approximately £lm of further private funds, construction can begin by the early summer of 1997.

The Heritage Lottery Fund grant, an­ nounced on 5th December, was “superb news", said Suzanne Bardgett, director of the exhibition project. “It means that our plans - which are now considerably ad­ vanced - can go ahead and that we shall have this vital new exhibition open to the public by the Millennium Year.’’

The Holocaust Exhibition will be the Museum’s principal contribution to the commemorative events marking the Millennium in Britain. Drawing on a wealth of material in the Museum and other archives, it will record the Nazis’ persecution and destruction of the Jews of Europe and other groups and fulfil an important educational role.

The display will include sections on the rise of Hitler, Nazi racial theories and the euthanasia programme, the outbreak of the Second World War and the nature of occupied Europe, the establishment of the ghettos, the activities o f the Einsatzgruppen, the concentration camp system and the death camps of occupied Poland, the reaction of the outside world to news of the extermination policies, resistance and underground activity, and the discovery of conditions inside the camps in 1945.

The Holocaust Exhibition Project Of­ fice is in the process of developing the exhibition’s content in conjunction with the designers, Stephen Greenberg of DEGW and Bob Baxter of Amalgam.

Presentation of original authentic ma­ terial is a vital component o f the

Arup Associates' plan for the third and final stage o f the Museum's redevelopment exhibition. Monitors showing photo­ graphs and original film footage, sound systems carrying oral testimony, display panels and showcases will allow the visi­ tor to examine different kinds of historical evidence - much of it displayed for the first time.

The whole expansion programme, in­ cluding the other new areas, will: • increase the Museum's modernised display space by 37 per cent; •

complete the long-awaited redevelop­ ment o f the M useum’s historic building;

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meet the needs of the 80,000 school children who visit the Museum each year;

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provide greatly improved public ac­ cess to important national collections.

Field Marshal Lord Bramall, Chair­ man of the Museum’s Board ofTrustees, gave two reasons for creating the perma­ nent Holocaust Exhibition when he launched the project in April.

Speaking as a veteran o f the Normandy campaign and the final assault on the third Reich, he said that it was the Allied forces’ discovery of the Nazi death camps throughout Europe which, more than anything, had convinced them that they were fighting a just war - “and that Hitler and his most evil regime had to be beaten once and for all’’.

The second reason was that “ the Holocaust constituted an integral part of Hitler’s war aims and the sort of thou­ sand-year Reich he wanted to establish’’.

Although there had been other ghastly examples of man’s inhumanity to man, there had “never been such a cold, calcu­ lated exercise as the Holocaust to wipe out a whole people, organised by tidyminded staff officers w ho went home to wives and children in suburban homes, carried out and perpetrated in the most callous and depraved way possible by officers and men of disciplined agencies who actually got applauded, promoted and decorated for these ghastly crimes”.

The ease with which this had proved possible made it “vital that the truth about this particular tyranny, brutality and genocide should never be forgotten by future generations-and this must include some of the apathy shown at the time by the rest of the world”.

The Impenal War Museum, a national, civilian, historical and educational mu­ seum whose remit embraced all aspects of war and the individual’s experience of war in the 20th century, was the right in­ stitution to undertake this responsibility.

The Museum already covered aspects of the Holocaust in its collections and educational work, but without a compre­ hensive exhibition on the subject it would arguably never be complete.

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E d ite d b y Elana B row n Welcome to Kids’ Spot once again!

There is no doubt that all of you out there love doing puzzles! Once again, we received loads of entries for our prize Word Search Competition in the Rosh Hashana edition of Hamaor. This time our prize winner was IMordechai Grossberger aged ten from Stamford Hill who won a £5 gift voucher to spend at Chaim’s Books.

In this issue we have another prize puzzle for you, as well as another competition: We would like you to write either a short story or a poem for either Rosh Hashana or Succos and the best entry will be printed in the Rosh Hashana edition of Kids’ Spot, as well as winning a fantastic prize! Please send us your entries by Monday 23 June 1997. Mark your envelope “Kids’ Spot Short Story/poetry Competition” and send it to the same address as on the entry form at the bottom of this page.

Good luck!!!

WORD FIT CLUES (Answers can be found on page 38) Replaces bread on Pesach?

What is hidden on Seder night?

The Hebrew for bitter herbs.

The Hebrew month in which Pesach falls?

The first two nights of Pesach.

What we dip our vegetables into on Seder night.

Name of the book we read from on Seder night.

Name of the food made from ground nuts, apple and cinnamon that we eat on Seder night.

MfiTZff PUZZLE How many dots on the Matza?

The nearest guess wins a copy of the album “Two Candles” (see review page 33) Please write your answer on the entry form below and send it to us by the closing date of 23 June 1997.

Please make sure you send us your entry form by the closing date for the competition, Monday 23rd June 1997 to: Matza Competition, Hamaor, Federation of Synagogues, 65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ. (Please write in BLOCK CAPITALS) THE NUMBER OF DOTS ON THE MATZA IS: NAME: ADDRESS TELEPHONE NUMBER:................................................................................. AGE:

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srael’s northern coast and mountain tourist resorts of Haifa, Carmel and .Netanya have joined forces to form one large tourist region - Carmelim. The name recalls the Carmel mountain range which runs through this region - the plateau stretches for about 40 km - and is a source of endless hikes and beauty.

“The Sunny Med Spirit” holiday zone offers an unmatched resort package and unforgettable vacation with activities and attractions to suit all ages.

The northern coastal region including Dor, Caesarea, Haifa, Nahariya and Netanya is host to some of Israel’s most excellent swimming beaches while from these areas, sightseers are within easy distance of fascinating sites. Herod the Great’s Roman theatre at Caesarea, the breathtaking Baha’i gardens, and the sea grottos of Rosh Hanikra are but a few.

A modern seaside resort only an hour from Tel Aviv, Netanya is affectionately known as “Israel’s diamond on the Med”, a place of glorious sandy beaches and relaxed moods.

The city hosts events throughout the year, from song festivals to arts and crafts fairs. The street performances, buskers,

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clowns, stalls and a carnival atmosphere enhance the holiday mood. Netanya is also the centre of Israel’s famous dia­ mond cutting and polishing industry, where one can take a tour of a diamond plant and watch the creation of exquisite jewellery.

Haifa, Israel’s third largest city, is situ­ ated in a broad natural bay between the beautiful Mediterranean Sea and the awe­ inspiring Carmel mountain. Haifa is a winning combination of the traditional, contemporary, sophisticated and relaxed.

This city is a perfect location for conference and incentive meetings, with its state-of-the-art hotels, conference centres and exhibition grounds.

Haifa offers a myriad of diverse places - from a zoo to religious sites. Why not wander through the Sculpture Gardens, take a trip on the colourful tourist train or ride down the mountain by cable car?

One can also choose from many dif­ ferent scenic nature walks amongst the lush green riverbeds surrounding the city.

There are several organised walks, such as The Adventure Route, The Ethnic Route or the Historical Route. Most im­ portantly, Haifa is the gateway to Israel’s

north, making it an ideal place for tour­ ing exciting sites such as Megiddo, Akko, Caesarea, Safed and Tiberias with their biblical, Crusader, Roman and cabalistic legacies.

One can cruise in a speedboat from Sdot Yam along the region’s coastal bays and reefs or the sunken port of Sebastus.

If this fails to excite, the Nachsholim area offers various sea activities from kayaking to windsurfing. One can follow the route along the ancient aqueduct at Beit Hananya on cart, donkey or bicycle whilst at Beit Oren there is a riding ranch offering many different trails by horse­ back, tractor and jeep. Anglers and their families can enjoy the relaxing atmos­ phere of the Hanayan Fishing Park, and golfers can experience the majestic fair­ ways of the 73 par Caesarea golf and country club.

However, the real beauty of Carmelim is its diverse culture set amidst a back­ drop of breathtaking natural scenery. One can unwind at the outdoor creative work­ shops of Zichron Ya’acov or visit the artist’s colony o f Ein Hod. Wander amongst the galleries displaying exqui­ site sculpture, pottery, jewellery and art or even watch the artists at work. Visit a Druze village and sample their famous Oriental hospitality, browse through the shuk (market) of Dalyat El Carmel and indulge in the authentic atmosphere.

Music lovers will appreciate the Music Centre of Beit Daniel where writers, musicians and painters meet and music festivals often take place. At Habonim Beach, daredevils can experience skydiv­ ing amid the beauty of Israel’s coastal region. And all of this is within easy reach of several stunning nature reserves and parks which are perfect for picnics or hik­ ing.

The northern coast of Israel is a per­ fect base for those wishing to experience all aspects of Israeli tourism. A truly magical holiday is waiting to be experi­ ence here.

For more information contact Carmelim on Tel: 00972 4 9845239 or Fax: 00972 4 9841296.

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o all nature lovers, the Green Club is a perfect framework for active travelling through Israel, combining natural and historical treasures of the region. Green Club focuses on providing travellers with exciting first-hand experience of the geographical, archaeological and cultural gems of the area within an ecological context. Small groups enable the Club to instill a comprehensive understanding of the land; its landscape, climate, animal and plant life, as well as insights into ethnic groups and their traditions.

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ourists can now enjoy a unique experience - a boat trip at the lowest point on earth.

The Sailing andTouring on the Dead Sea Ltd, now offers a ride on a wooden vessel, aptly called Lot’s Wife, along the salty waters of the Dead Sea. The vessel, which has two decks and seats 100 people, is equipped with a bar, kitchen, rest rooms and music system.

A wharf has been constructed on the Ein Gedi shore - on the western bank of Nahal Arugot - and can be reached via the parking area behind the Ein Gedi public beach.

The vessel leaves the wharf for the Ein Gedi springs, passes the geophysi­ cal float, the deepest part of the Dead Sea, and Nahal Arnon and then returns to the Nahal Arugot wharf.

The trip takes approximately one and a quarter hours.

Special prices can be arranged for groups but the regular rate is NIS 35 per adult and NIS 20 per child.

For further information or bookings call Dead Sea Sailing and Touring on Tel/Fax on 00972 7 6594430.

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There are varying levels of challenge or ability with which the hikers can com­ ply, as well as different lengths and structures of tours. These include trips to: The Judean Desert, The Negev Desert, a camel trip in the mountains of Eilat, Mt. Karkom and desert landscape, Jerusalem and its surrounding areas, and desert safaris using four-wheel drives.

There are also trips that continue on to Jordan and Egypt. For the more adven­ turous who are interested in this type of active vacation, contact Green Club of Israel or JET Travel & Tours on Tel: 00972 2 6247270.

DID YOU KNOW... hen flying with El A1 Israel Airlines, it is possible to order from an amazingly wide selec­ tion of meals. As long as an order is placed at least 24 hours in advance, pas­ sengers can enjoy a Mehadrin kosher meat meal, Mehadrin kosher fish, Mehadrin kosher vegetarian, vegetarian,

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children’s menu, gluten-free, kosher dairy, low calorie, raw vegetable, low sodium, diabetic, low fat, bland meal (no spices), soft diet (for the dentally im­ paired), ulcer diet (no fried foods), fruit platter, non-lactose, fish meal, baby meal, Asian vegetarian or kosher orien­ tal meals. Phew! Quite a mouthful.

GIHON RE-SPRUNG ihe Gihon (Shiloh) Spring and Tun nel in Jerusalem’s Kidron Valley, near the City of David, has recently reopened following renovations.

The tunnel, built in the 8th century BC

by King Hezekiah, used to channel wa­ ter from the Spring to the pool of Gihon.

There are many references to this Spring in the new and old testament, placing both King David and King Solomon at differ­ ent times at this place.

Visitors walking through the tunnel may get their feet wet and should there­ fore bring a change of shoes. A torch is also recommended.

OH YERUSHALAYIM! b y Yehudat R e v ie w e d b y Sarah M S ch le im e r ince Yehuda! was last interviewed in Hamaor, he has been hard at work on his third album which has finally been released. By all accounts Oh YERUSHALAYIM! is his best album to date and has already reached the number one slot in the Jewish Album charts in the United States.

Listening to Oh Yerushalayim! is al­ most like being at a live concert. The first song “Yaish Sachar" begins with an in­ troduction of bending synthesizers and a drum roll creating an air of anticipa­ tion as if the curtains are slowly opening onto a stage; before the song bursts into a catchy dance beat. One almost feels like clapping when the song draws to an end!

There is something to suit everyone on this album from the slow and mellow “Haraini " with its gorgeous harmonies to the up-beat and Middle Eastern sound­ ing “ Yosis”. There is also a new and

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original version of “Siman Tov” which is bound to becom e a favourite at Simchas.

The title track of the album “Oh Yerushalayim!" is a hauntingly beautiful song with meaningful lyrics and is sung in English. There is also a song sung in Yiddish entitled “Ad B li”. Yehuda! him­ self composed one of the songs on the album which is entitled “Uvichain ”, and is an extremely innovative high tempo piece with fascinating instrumentation.

Oh YERUSHALAYIM! ends with the anthem-like “Umacha ” and the curtains close on the last few pure lingering notes of a piano.

Once again Yehuda! presents a fresh, energetic and original album on which he sings, arranges and performs all the mu­ sic, bringing Jewish music to an all time new high standard. Oh YERUSHALYIM! has definitely been worth the wait!

OH YERUSHALAYIM! COMPETITION We have a copy ot the new album Oh ) ERUSHALAYIM! by Yehuda! to give away to a Hamaor reader. Just answer the two questions below and send your answers and entry form to us before the closing date of Monday 23 June 1997.

1) In which issue ot Hamaor was Yehuda! first interviewed? a) Rosh Hashana 1996 b) Pesach 1996 c) Rosh Hashana 1995 2) What was the name of Yehuda!’s last album? a) Yehuda! b) Higher & Higher

c) Dovid Melech

(Please write in BLOCK CAPITALS) NAME: ......................................................................................................................................................................................

ADDRESS:..................................................................................................................................................................................................

TELEPHONE NUMBER:..........................................................................................................................................................................

Preferred format of album (Please indicate) CD ( ) Cassette ( )

Please make sure you send us your entry form by the closing date for the com petition Monday 23 June 1997 to: Oh YERUSHALAYIMf/YEHUDA! Competition, Hamaor, Federation of Synagogues, 65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ.

“TWO CANDLES BURN” he “Two Candles Burn ” Audio Cassette is an exciting concept in new songs for Jewish Festivals.

The songs were composed by Stephen Melzack who he felt the time was right to create a fresh approach to music to stimulate and interest children (and even adults) with each song carefully written to capture the essence of the Festivals.

Stephen, an accomplished Singer/ Songwriter and Performer has had songs commercially recorded and published. In 1992 he won an International Jewish songwriting competition held in Montreal with his composition “This Land " beat­ ing over 300 entries worldwide.

The tape is sung in English using key Hebrew words and Stephen’s two daugh­ ters Louise and Cara supply the children’s vocals and percussion.

The cassette has proved ideal for all

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ages of children particularly including Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils, and is being used to lead singing in the Class­ room or Assembly and introduce children to and support the teaching of Judaism in any School - indeed Stephen is receiv­ ing orders from Schools all over the Country for this purpose.

He has already been invited to sing and teach children in various chadorim Nursery and other Schools and the reac­ tion to the songs has been tremendous from the children to the teachers.

To quote from the cassette “ from Shofars to Hamantashen, Dreidels to Matzot - each song tells it all”.

The cassette is priced at £5. Further information is available from Stephen, 29 Mowbray Road, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 8JG, Telephone Number 0171 -242 5462.

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One Day at a Time Esh Mizmor L’David Rikud Rhythm Dedi III Encore Encore Shomrei Yisroel

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BUILDING JERUSALEM: JEWISH ARCHITECTURE IN BRITAIN

By Michael Goldman Edited and introduced by: Sharman Radish Vallentine Mitchell. Hard back £45, Pa­ per £19.50 n her introduction to this handsome, richly illustrated book, Dr. Sharman Kadish (editor of Hamaor 1989-92) deplores what she and other contributors condemn as the neglect by the Jewish community in Britain of our architectural heritage. Following the destruction of European Jewry, ‘we are’, as she rightly stresses, ‘in a uniquely fortunate position, possessing Jewish monuments and Jews.’

The volume comprises a collection of scholarly essays ranging over every ma­ jo r type o f building structure from synagogue to tombstone, and includes one

by Dr. Kadish herself on the history of the Mikveh in this country. As far as I am aware, this, the longest article in the book, is the first serious study of the subject, and provides poignant evidence that the reli­ gious obligation ofTaharas Hamishpachah was largely unobserved during the late eighteenth century. Happily, as the author notes, the 1980s (two hundred years later) saw an explosion of mikveh construction, and new mikvaoth are still being planned throughout the country.

This reviewer believes that the increas­ ing observance of this basic mitzvah is a greater and more ‘potent expression of our faith in the future’ than the somewhat over­ stated demand in the book for the conservation of bricks and mortar, how­ ever im portant that may be for architectural history and pride in our heritage.

Certainly, if fine old buildings and ar­ tifacts can be preserved and maintained for communal use, then the effort to do so should be made. But, as Mr. Kenneth Rubens (J.C. 14 March 1997) and others have forcefully argued, we have to get our priorities right. Funds are urgently needed for new premises, especially for schools.

(Significantly, apart from the Jews’ Free School, school buildings receive only a few passing mentions in this book.) If old synagogues and communal edifices have to be disposed of to pay for new schools, w

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so it must be. After all, we do now have camera, microfilm and much else for the preservation of history.

Sharman Kadish was educated at London and Oxford Universities. She is author of Bolsheyiks and British Jews (1992) and ‘A Good Jew and Good Englishman The Jewish Lads ’and Girls ’ Brigade 1895-1995 (1995). In 1991 she organised the ‘Future of Jewish Monuments in the British Isles’ conference and founded the Working Party on Jewish Monuments in the UK and Ireland. She is now based at the Center for Jewish Art, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.

FACING ADVERSITY

strong and continue business as usual?”

There are plenty of gaps and spaces for reflection in which one wishes to reach out to the author and ask “Please, let me share your insight into life”.

This book, which is full of feeling and emotion, does not preach and is nonjudgem ental but it sim ultaneously provides a much needed injection of en­ couragement whilst showing us how the true Yorei Shomayim approaches and analyses Yissurim.

We may not possess the answers to our own tailored “pecklach " about which we complain, but this publication will make it a little easier for us to carry our “peckei' in the correct manner.

WITH FAITH

by M.L. Cramer Reviewed by: Norman Younger Distributed by: Feldheim Publishers his moving book charts the ongoing challenge faced by a mother, and her response, based upon emunah and bitachon. Originally, her thoughts and emotions were jotted down informally in diary fashion together with apt anecdotes and pertinent insights from a host of sources, some classical and some more contemporary, stories of Baalei Mussar, Rebbes and everyday encounters.

The awe-inspiring work is broken into many sections, each portraying a differ­ ent stage in the onset of her illness or how a particular thought pierced the clouds of despair which threatened to envelope her broad smile.

The emotional search for reasons and the quest for inspiration led her around the globe metaphorically, involving nu­ merous Rabbonim, and even literally, taking her to the Kever of one of her il­ lustrious forbears, who to us are household names.

During the period in which the author was suffering and searching, she man­ aged (and continues to date and ad meo y e ’esrim shono) to conduct her lifestyle as usual in a warm, calm and dignified manner, dispensing advice to the many people who turn to her for direction and support in their own turbulent waters.

The style of the book is such that one constantly asks, “ Would I manage in similar circumstances?” “ Would I be

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BETWEEN TWO STREAMS A DIARY FROM BERGEN-BELSEN

by Abel J. Herzberg Translated by: Jack Santcross Published by: I.B. Tauris 256pp. £16.95. ✓

n the midst o f the Holocaust, it was Nazi policy to preserve small groups o f Jews from exterm ination for use as potential exchanges against German civilians held by the Allies. These supposedly privileged Jews were incarcerated in the special ‘Sternlager’ at Bergen-Belsen, where their privilege amounted to being kept alive rather than gassed. Despite this special status 70% of the internees deliberately not known as prisoners perished before the liberation o f Bergen-Belsen, victim s o f disease, starvation, beatings and sheer despair.

One such privileged internee was Abel Herzberg, the distinguished Dutch law­ yer and writer. Herzberg managed in the hell of Bergen-Belsen to keep a day-today diary which, in its humanity, depth and detail ranks as one of the most im­ portant testimonies of the Holocaust. This diary is unique in that, because of the author’s privileged position, he was able with pencil and paper to maintain an ac­ tual daily record o f events in a concentration camp.

Between Two Streams describes the conflict between irreconcilable forces: National Socialism and Judaism; dog­ matic cant and humanity; the persecutors and the persecuted; the powerful and the powerless.

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NEW BOOKS FROM rIT$^ NV PITSPOPANY PRESS ? !

TEACHING TORAH “THE JEWISH CHILDREN’S BIBLE: EXODUS’’

Adapted by Sheryl Prenzlau.

New York, Jerusalem. Pitspopany. 80 pp.

With review s b y D vora Waysman “ SAYING GOODBYE TO GRANDPA”

by Moshe Spero Ph.D New York, Jerusalem. Pitspopany very child goes through certain rites of passage in life. There are happy ones, like bar/bat mitzvah, and there are sad ones, like the loss of a grandparent.

A new book from Pitspopany, "Saying Goodbye to Grandpa ” by Moshe Spero Ph.D., helps parents, teachers and children to cope with the very painful subject of the loss of a loved one.

This is a very honest, very dignified book about losing a grandfather. It is aimed at children in the four to seven age group, but undoubtedly older children, and even adults, will learn valuable lessons from it about how to handle bereavement.

Adults know that losing loved ones is an unavoidable part of living and it is pain­ ful at any age. But for children such a loss is often inexplicable - one day they have a loving and beloved grandparent and then, often without warning, they awaken to find that person has been removed from their lives. Children have no terms of ref­ erence for such tragedy. And too often we forget that this is their first encounter with death and, as such, leaves them particu­ larly vulnerable to their vivid imaginations and the half-understood information they overhear from grownups.

In his foreword to “Saying Goodbye to Grandpa ”, the author discusses how children of different ages view the con­ cept of death, and he provides eleven rules for discussing death and dying with chil­ dren.

The book itself is a tribute to the Jew­ ish grandfather who is often a role model and a very important component of a child’s life. The child needs to know that even when the grandfather is gone, his values and the lessons he taught his grand­ children will live on.

This is more than a story book. It will prepare children whose grandfather may be very old or sick, for the possibility of death. When the inevitable occurs, it will help the child to better cope with the loss and provide comfort to all the mourners in the family.

In school libraries, “Saying Goodbye

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to Grandpa ” will be a very valuable re­ source book, available to any student who is suddenly faced with mourning the death of a grandparent.

Lovingly illustrated by Marilyn Hirsh, “Saying Goodbye to Grandpa ” will help parents, teachers and children to deal with grief and to understand the mourning process.

The book’s companion volume, “Say­ ing Goodbye to Grandma ” is also available for children from eight years and above.

WHEN TIME RUNS OUT SAYING GOODBYE TO GRANDMA

By Moshe Spero Ph.D. New York, Jerusalem. Pitspopany. 64 pp. hen I pass on, I cannot think of a book I would want my grandchildren to read more than this sensitive book from author Moshe Spero “Saying Goodbye to Grandma.” It is a companion volume to his earlier book, “Saying Goodbye to Grandpa ”, and is written with the same warmth and comfort, like cuddling into a fluffy blanket on a cold day.

In fact, this is a book I would want my grandchildren to have even before that sad day. It would be good to read it to them when one knows that the inevi­ table is drawing nearer, to prepare them for the fact that there will be a separa­ tion, but death need not mean the end of love. It is an emotional story, but it is also an optimistic one because it explains how to keep memories alive and how to pre­ serve the important attributes which were the essence of the bond between the grandmother and the child. The Jewish mourning practices are explained in a way that children can accept, and Elisheva Gaash’s heart-warming illustra­ tions add an extra dimension to this comforting book.

It also provides an opportunity to forge a close bond between the reader and the child who is grieving. Losing any family member or a beloved friend is traumatic, whether one is a child or an adult. This book is more than a story - it is educational, it comforts and it explains.

W

o child is too young or too old to learn Torah, and this new book (the second in the series) is a wonderful way to begin. It is also very timely, because in addition to presenting all the major stories in easy-to-read language, there is a special, beautifully illustrated children’s Passover Haggadah as the last section of the book.

All the wonderful stories are here: how we were slaves in Egypt under the cruel Pharaoh; Moses and the burning bush; the ten plagues; crossing the Red Sea; Manna in the desert; receiving the Law on Mount Sinai and the Ten Com­ mandments; the Sin of the Golden Calf; building the Mishkan. It is our duty to teach these stories to our children, but this book turns duty into pleasure. What makes it unique are the Midrashim, Tales of our Sages, that follow the Bible sto­ ries. Explanations are given that will satisfy children’s probing minds, and will answer their“how” and“why” questions.

For example, the plague of frogs. The Midrash tells us that Aaron brought up only one giant frog from the Nile. But the people began to beat it, trying to kill it. Each time they hit the frog, it split into two. The more the people beat the frogs, the more they multiplied, until they filled the whole of Egypt. And when, in the tenth plague, God passed over the houses of the Israelites, all the Egyptian idols were destroyed. The wooden ones rotted and the metal ones melted.

This is a book for a lifetime, because we are passing on to our children our her­ itage. Parents or teachers can review the weekly Torah readings with children in a dramatic, fascinating way. The Midrashim encourages discussion of the texts. And the realistic illustrations by Zely Smekhov, who is the chief illustrator for Jerusalem’s Temple Institute, will bring the characters alive. There are over 60 full colour pic­ tures interwoven with the text.

Finally, the Passover Haggadah is guaranteed to keep children not only awake, but actively participating at the Seder. It will encourage them both to ask questions and also to provide some an­ swers, that will delight the adults at their depth of knowledge.

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FEDERATION OF SYNAGOGUES 65 Watford Way, London, NW4 3AQ. Tel: 0181-202 2263 Fax: 0181-203 0610 HONORARY OFFICERS President: A. J. Cohen Vice-President:\N. Ungar Master J. Winegarten.

Treasurers (Federation): A. Finlay & G. Halibard Treasurers (Burial Society) H. Dony, N. Bruckheimer Co-opted: J. Gitlin BETH DIN Emeritus Rav Rashi: Dayan M. Fisher.

Rosh Beth Din: Dayan Y. Y. Lichtenstein Dayanim: Dayan M. D. Elzas, Dayan P. Braceiner, Dayan B. Berkovits Registrar: Rabbi Sholom Zaiden Enquiries to the Registrar, Tel: 0181-202 2263.

ADMINISTRATION & ACCOUNTS G. Kushner BURIAL SOCIETY Administrator: M. L. Stuart Sexton: H. Brooks Tel: 0181-202 3903. Fax: 0181-203 0610 Out of hours answerphone: 0181-202 3903.

Cemeteries: Montague Road, Edmonton, N18.

Tel: 0181-807 2268.

Upminster Road North, Rainham, Essex.

Tel: 01708 552825.

During the winter months both cemeteries are open daily, except Shabbos and Yomtov, from 9.00 am until dusk.

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CONSTITUENT SYNAGOGUES

AFFILIATED SYNAGOGUES

BEIS HAMEDRASH 65 Watford Way, Hendon NW4 3AQ. Tel: 0181-202 2263. Rav: Dayan Y.Y. Lichtenstein.

BEIS NADVORNA BETH HAMEDRASH. 45 Darenth Road, N16. Tel: 0181-806 2030. Rav: Rabbi M Leifer. Tres: Mr S Tessler

CLAPTON FEDERATION SYNAGOGUE (Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;are Shomayim). (IncorporatingYavneh Synagogue), 47 Lea Bridge Road.

E5 9QB. Tel: 0181-806 4369. Secretary: W. Jacobs. Tel: 0181989 5211.

CONGREGATION OF JACOB SYNAGOGUE. 351/355 Commercial Road, El. Secretary: P. da Costa. Tel 0181-809 4221.

FIELDGATE STREET GREAT SYNAGOGUE. 41 Fieldgate Street, El. Tel: 0171-247 2644. Secretary: Mrs. D Jacobson

CROYDON & DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE, The Almonds, Shirley Oaks Road, Croydon. Surrey. All correspondence to The Secretary: Mrs. S. Hanover, 2 Lynden Hyrst, Addiscombe Road, Croydon, CR0 SPD. Tel: 0181-655 4040

EAST LONDON CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE. 30/40 Nelson Street, El 2DE. Tel: 0171-790 9809. Secretary: L. Gayer. Tel: 0181-554 5267.

FINCHLEY CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE, 2 RedbourneAvenue, N3 2BS. Tel: 0181-346 1892. Rav: Rabbi Z. Telsner. Secretary: M. Moller. Tel: 0181-203 2822

ILFORD FEDERATION SYNAGOGUE. 14/16 Coventry Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4QR. Tel: 0181-554 5289. Rav. Rabbi R. Livingstone. Secretary: Mrs. P. Hackner.

OHEL JACOB SYNAGOGUE (Ilford Beth Hamedrash), 1st Floor, rear of 476/478 Cranbrook Road, Ilford. Essex. IG2 2LE. Rav: Rabbi R. Godlewsky. Secretary: Mrs. R. Pressman. Tel: 0181-550 4596.

OHEL SHEM SYNAGOGUE. Hon Min.: Rev. G. Glausiusz.

Tel: 0181-904 5773. Hon Secretary: A. Cohen. Tel: 0181-459 3479.

SHOMREI HADATH SYNAGOGUE, 527a Finchley Road (entrance in Burrard Road), NW3 78G. Tel: 0171-435 3766.

Secretary: Mrs. J. Segal. Tel: 0171-431 0017.

SINAI SYNAGOGUE, 54 Woodstock Avenue, NW11 9RJ. Tel: 0181-455 6876. Rav: Rabbi B. Knopfler. Secretary: I. Leskin.

WOOLWICH & DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE. Anglesea Road, SE18 6EG. Tel: 0181 854 6680. Minister Rev. M. Gingold.

Secretary: B. Greenberg Tel: 0181-658 0448.

YLSHURUN SYNAGOGUE. Fernhurst Gardens, Stonegrove, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 7PH.Tel 0181-952 5167. Rav: Dayan G. Lopian. Secretary: D. Cohen. Tel: 0181-952 3844.

FINCHLEY ROAD SYNAGOGUE (Sassover), 4 Helenslea Avenue, NW11. Tel: 0181-455 4305. Rav. Rabbi S. Rubin.

GREENFORD & DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE, Oldfield Lane.

Greenford, Middlesex.Tel: 0181-578 2256. Hon. Secretary: R.A. Hyams. Tel: 0181-868 7275.

LEYTONSTONE & WANSTEAD SYNAGOGUE. 2 Fillebrook Road, E ll. Secretary: S. Pizer. Tel: 0181-924 7505 LOUGHTON, CHIGWELL & DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE. Borders Lane, Loughton, Essex, IG 10 3HT. Tel: 0181-508 0303.

Min: Rev. J.D. Lorraine. Secretary: A. Fell.Tel: 0181-504 2248.

MACHZIKEI HADASS SYNAGOGUE. Highfield Road, NW11. Rav: Rabbi C. Pearlman. Hon. Secretary: R. Shaw. Tel: 0181-204 1887.

NEW WIMBLEDON & PUTNEY DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE. Secretary: J. Leigh. Tel 0181-788 0176.

NOTTING HILL SYNAGOGUE. 206 1208 Kensington Park Road, W 11. Secretary: H. Lamb. Tel: 0181-952 4354 SPRINGFIELD SYNAGOGUE, 202 Upper Clapton Road, E5.

Tel: 0181-806 2377. Rav. Dayan I. Gukovitski. Secretary: L. Blackman. Tel: 01702 340 762.

STAMFORD HILL BETH HAMEDRASH. 50 Clapton Common, E5 9AL. Rav: Dayan D. Grynhaus. Secretary: M Chontow. Tel: 0181-800 5465.

TOTTENHAM HEBREW CONGREGATION. 366a High Road, N17 9HT. Tel: 0181-808 4698. Minister: Rev. M. Davis.

Secretary: Dr. S.S. Cohen. Tel: 0181-368 4158.

WALTHAM FOREST HEBREW CONGREGATION. (Queens Road) 140 Boundary Road, E17 Tel: 0181-507 0775. Minister Rev. L. Mockton. Secretary: A Wolpert. Tel: 0181-509 0775.

WEST END GREAT SYNAGOGUE (Beth Hasepher & Soho), 32 Great Cumberland Place, W1H 7DJ. Tel: 0171-724 8121.

Secretary: S.B. Levy.

WEST HACKNEY SYNAGOGUE AND MONTAGUE ROAD BETH HAMEDRASH, 233 Amhurst Road, E8 2BS. Chairman: I Leigh Tel: 0181-550 9543.

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FEDERATION KASHRUS BOARD C h a irm a n : D ire c to r o f K a sh ru s:

Mr. W. Ungar.

Dayan M. D. Elzas.

Tel:

0181 -202 2263

The fo llo w in g e sta b lish m e n ts are lic e n se d b y the F ed era tio n K a sh ru s B o a rd a n d are u n d e r th e S u p e rv isio n o f th e B eth D in o f th e F ed era tio n o f S yn a g o g u es:

CA TERERS: PARK LANE HOTEL, Piccadilly, London W1Y 8BX PHILIP SMALL BANQUETS LTD 1 Rookery Way, London NW9

J. MOLDOVAN, Quality & Flavour (Taramasalata), Unit 9, Kings Yard, White Post Lane, London E9 5EN 0181-985 0134

0171-499 6321

RESTAURANTS: AVIV RESTAURANT, 87 High Street, Edgware FOLMAN’S RESTAURANT, 134 Brent Street, NW4 2DR CASSIT, 225 Golders Green Rd., London, NW11 9PN SAMI’S 157 Brent Street, London NW4 EREZ RESTAURANT 239 Golders Green Road, NW11 MANUFACTURERS: Bluebird (Sweets) El-Al Kosher Catering Hansen (Soft Drinks) J. Moldovan, Quality & Flavour (Fish), Simtom (Pickles) Sundora (Dried Fruit) Wilkin & Son ‘Tiptree’ (Jams) Brauerie Herrenhausen (Distribution contact Mr. P Martin)

0181-208 3000

DEL/CA TESSENSAND SHOPS: PELTER STORES, 82 Edgware Way, Edgware, Middx.

0181-958 6910 THE WORLD OF KOSHER, 25 Station Road, Cockfosters, Barnet 0181-441 3621 MARLENE'S, 6 Hendon Lane, Finchley, N3 0181-349 1674 MACCABI, KING OF FALAFEL 59, Wentworth Street, London El 0171-247 6660 BAKERIES: MARLENE’S, 6 Hendon Lane, Finchley N3

0181-340 1674

HOTELS: GOLDERS GREEN HOTEL, 147/149 Golders Green Road, London NW11

0181-458 7127

EOR PASSOVER: with Kosher for Passover seal only THE WALNUT TREE (Presentation

0181-952 2484 0181-202 5592 0181-455 8195 0181-458 7127 0181-458 0444

0181-897 6136 0171-408 0345 0181-958 5791

0181-684 7682

KIDS* SPOT

TALMUDTORAHS Chairman: M a s te r J. W in e g a rte n Director of Education: R abbi

ANSWERS TO WORD FIT

R o n e n B ro d e r

L o u g h to n , C h ig w e ll & D is tric t T alm ud Torah, B o rd e rs Lan e, L o u g h to n .

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Ilfo rd T a lm u d Torah, 16, C o v e n try R o a d , Ilford, E ssex, IG 1 4Q R

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Y e sh u ru n T alm ud Torah, F e rn h u rs t G a rd e n s , E d g w a re , M id d le se x, H A 8 7P H

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Kindergartens:

L o u g h to n S y n a g o g u e , Y e sh u ru n S y n a g o g u e .

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MEMORIAL STONE INSURANCE Samson Insurance Services — 129 St A lb a n s R oad, W atford, H e rts w d i

PROTECT THE MEMORY OF A LOVED ONE

1 RA

Many insurance policies are limiting in what they will ensure you against.

But STONEGUARD is different. This scheme covers ALL RISKS - acci­ dental or malicious, including damage by storm. STONEGUARD covers the full value of replacing or repairing the stone and provides third-party liability up to £1,000,000. There is no need to renew the policy every year.

Stoneguard cover lasts for five years and can then be renewed each succes­ sive five years for as long as you wish. The memorial stone value will be index linked at 5% p.a.

It is a sad reflection of today’s society that many memorials suffer wanton vandalism, and these attacks are not restricted to grand or elaborate monuments; often the simplest family stones are the target of malicious or accidental damage.

Whilst it is impossible to prevent this happening, STONEGUARD in­ surance can ensure that any damage can be put right very quickly - even to total replacement of the memorial. The cost of this unique insurance is l% p.a. payable on a renewable 5 year term.

THIS IS WHAT YOU PAY Premium Payable for 5 Year Cover £50.00 £62.50 £75.00 £ 100.00 and so forth at 5% o f the value o f the stone

Replacement value of stone £

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£1,250 £1,500 £ 2,000

Please return this form completed to: Samson Insurance Services, 129 St Albans Road, Watford, Herts, WDI IRA Tel: Watford (01923) 225201. Fax: (01923) 818657 Name of Deceased

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Position of Grave .

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Replacement value of sto n e........... ..........- ........... ......................................

Evening...................................

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FRANKS, CHARLESLY & CO SOLICITORS TO THE FEDERATION Hulton House 161/166 Fleet Street London EC4A 2DY Telephone: 0171-353 1588 Fax: 0171-583 0647

Printed by Freedman Bros. (Printers) Ltd., St. Albans Lane, Golders Green, NW11 7QB

Tel: 0181-458 3220 Fax: 0181-455 6860