Rosh Hashanah 1999 by Federation of Synagogues

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A Jewish Educational Experience

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Founded 1962 ISSN 0966-0291

Vol. 33 No. 1 Rosh Hashanah 5760 - 1999

CONTENTS News ..................................................................................................................4 Adult Education at Loughton, Chigwell and District Synagogue............ 8 Retirement of Mr Gerald Kushner .............................................................. 9 The Halcyon Days of an East End Shul ..................................................... 10 Match of the Day ........................................................................................... H Personal ........................................................................................................... 14 Obituaries ....................................................................................................... 16 A Blast from the P ast.....................................................................................18 A Question of Interest ................................................................................... 20 Recipes for Rosh Hashanah..........................................................................21 Norwood Ravenswood................................................................................... 22 The London School of Jewish Studies ........................................................ 22 Shaare Zedek .................................................................................................. 23 For Everything There is a Time ...................................................................24 Kids’ S p o t.........................................................................................................25 New Books from Feldheim Publishers ........................................................26 New Books from Pitsopany Press ................................................................ 27 Information ..................................................................................................... 28

Published by the Federation of Synagogues, 65 Watford Way, London, NW4 3AQ. Editor: Sarah M Ansbacher Kids ’Spot Editor: Elana Brown Art Director: Shmuel Ansbacher Contributors: Hadassah Dergel & Chana Meira Katz Advertising: Maureen Levy COVER: Machzike Hadass joins the Federation

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M a c h zik e H a d a ss jo in s th e F e d e ra tio n he Federation of Synagogues and the Machzike Hadass Synagogue are happy to announce that the Machzike Hadass joined the Federation of Synagogues as a full Constituent Synagogue. Founded in 1891, the Machzike Hadass was for many years a fortress of traditional Judaism in Anglo-Jewry. Fiercely inde pendent, it had a loose affiliation to the Federation of Synagogues which has rem ained and in later years it also developed friendly ties with the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations. At one time, the Machzike Hadass had its own Shechita operation which was eventually joined to the London Board of Shechita operating under its own Hechsher. Some twenty five years ago as the Jewish population in the East End dwin dled, the old M achzike Hadass Synagogue was sold, and the synagogue which had been established in 1956 in Golders Green continued in use until the present synagogue was built in the area in 1983. Both organisations feel that the merger will strengthen the more orthodox wing of Anglo-Jewry especially as another major Orthodox Synagogal body has de cided to look leftw ard towards the Reform and Massorti. The Federation

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The signing ceremony fo r Machzike Hadass. Back l to r: Mr Joseph Pearlman, Trustee o f MH. Mr Steven Jacobs, Trustee o f MH and Mr Nathan Brukheimer, Honorary Officer o f the Federation o f Synagogues. Front: Mr Arnold Cohen, President o f the Federation of Synagogues and Mr Norman Cohen, Chairman o f Trustees. will be strengthened by its new member ship and by the M achzike Hadass delegates to its Council w hilst the Machzike Hadass will have the benefit of belonging to a large organisation with the support of the Federation Rabbinate, Beth Din and Administration.

The Federation intends to develop an Educational Programme centred around the Machzike Hadass. Indeed, there is a site adjoining the Shul which has plan ning permission which hopefully will in due course be developed for educational purposes.

Fieldgate Street Celebrates its Centenary

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by Mrs P D Jacobson

special Mincha Service was held at Fieldgate Street's premises in the heart of W hitechapel on Sunday 9 May 1999 to mark the Syna gogue’s Centenary. The Service was well attended and included in the congregation were many people who had long family connections which was the theme of the President’s

address. The vice-president spoke on the history of the Synagogue and the guest speakers were Dayan Lichtenstein - Rosh Beth D in-and Mr Arnold Cohen-Presi dent of the Federation of Synagogues. One theme rang through all four speeches and that was the love and influ ence of the late Rev Leibish Geyer which had imbued the entire community.

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MISHNAYOS SIYYUM UNITES EDGWARE he 4th Annual Siyyum for the communal mishnayos learning in Edgware was the culmination of learning of the entire Shas by the Seven Orthodox Kehillos in Edgware : Yeshurun, United, Adass, Lubavitch, Vishnitz, Sephardi and Kol Ya’akov. Yeshurun had fifty people over the last 4-5 months learning the Seder of Nezikin. Thirty of these came to the Siyyum, at tended by some 120 people. All were privileged to hear some very high qual ity Droshos from the Rabbonim present, and to partake of a leibidik meal. This had been kindly donated by one of the participants, Dovid Reichman. Proceedings started with an erudite droshoh of introduction by David Rabson. This was followed by a droshoh and the reading of the Hadran by Rav Schneebalg. The main speaker was HaRav Dovid Moshe Lieberman, the

Chief Rabbi of Antwerp, Belgium and father of Rabbi Lieberman of the Adass. He spoke in a witty and informative man ner on the theme of “Achdus” (unity) which he said was the essence of the Siyyum: “The coming together of the Sheva Kehillos in Edgware with one unifying factor - the learning of Torah. This is the one unifying head that cements and bonds all of Klal Yisroel. He quoted the last lines of Shas read at the Siyyum that allude to the fact that Tzadikim are promised “Shai Olamos” in the world to come. This means 310 worlds. He ex plained that the Crown of the Toroh (Keser Toroh) is achieved by keeping the Mitzvos i.e. 613 Mitzvos plus 7 Mitzvos Derabbonon (from our Rabbis) = 620. This is double the 310. This, he explained, was because we get half the blessing and our wives get the other half for letting us go out to learn.

Board “cabinet” responsibilities agreed for 2000 as full field returns in Yeshurun elections eshurun President, Steven Brown, has agreed “cabinet” responsi bilities with the Board of Man agement after a full field of officers for Yeshurun’s Executive Team - the Hon orary Officers and Board of Management was returned at this year’s Annual Gen eral Meeting. The Honorary Officers were all re turned unopposed, while in the Board of Management elections, twelve men were elected from the fourteen on offer. The new Board includes freshmen Michael Kleiman, Peter Gaunt, John Sheer and Howard Palmer. Returning to the Board after some years’ absence are well known-favourites Roger Gibbons and Philip Rapport. Philip, Peter and John will be leading a new board responsibil ity of Hachnosas Orchim - welcoming people to Yeshurun and making them feel

a part of the community. They’ve been given a fairly wide brief and asked to re turn to the Board with initial proposals in a couple of months time. Howard will be joining Roger and continuing board member, Mark Goldwater, in taking for ward Yeshurun’s social side. This will represent a coming together of the previ ous functions committee and the culture club. One of its briefs will be to discuss and propose a landm ark event for Yeshurun in 2000. It will also work with the ladies guild to ensure mutually dove tailing social activities. Michael Kleiman will be responsible for youth liaison. He will be working closely with Chazan Michael Simon, whose work on the Yeshurun youth serv ice is now taking effect and who now reports periodically to the Board. Another new remit goes to Max Bayer, who in

Clapton Celebrates 80 Years by Jeffrey Cohen

lapton Synagogue after nearly 80 years is again beginning to look fresh and pristine as work begins on the exterior to brighten up our doors and paintwork. This follows some gen eral structural work, which indeed will continue for some months. This year, we also saw our first aufruf in many years, which once again filled our beautiful shul. Later on this year, we celebrate our 80th birthday. This will be commem orated by a special Shabbos service on the first day of Chanukah and lunch eon, at which the guest speaker will be the Mayor of Hackney, Councillor Joe Lobenstein. That will be followed on Sunday 5th December by a Thanks giving Service - Minchah, lighting of Chanukah candles and Ma’ariv. All our members and friends and invited to attend this wonderful occasion in our Synagogue’s long and illustrious history.

addition to health and safety, will be lead ing on the project for a new Sefer Torah. Other continuing Board members re main leading their previous functions. Jeremy Fisher has responsibility for chil dren’s services; Barry Blain for the shammos rota and Laurence Nesbitt for working with Michael Bentley on the high-profile premises committee. This committee will be raising the roof in one form or other during its tenure this com ing year. Russell Grossman will continue lead ing the communications committee. Steven Brown was keen to stress that all Yeshurun members were welcome to at tend and contribute to all Board committees. Committee chairs will be encouraging this. Although not a Board committee, the ritual and prayer commit tee will also be m eeting at regular intervals. This committee, which com prises the honorary officers and the clergy, provides a link from the member ship in discussing the format and style of the rituals and prayers in the synagogue services.

Yeshrun Shabbaton is Huge Success eshurun's recent Shabbaton, held on July 17th, was judged a huge success by both attendees and organisers. Nearly 150 people joined in the ma jo r communal event of the summer, which also saw a first for Yeshurun : the synagogue premises were needed for so many activities that the kiddush was held in the grounds outside. Keynote speak ers were Rabbi Mordechai Fachler, head of Limmudei Kodesh (Jewish Studies) at H asm onean High School and Mr Anthony Manning, a Hendon Solicitor and Talmid Chochom (person of consid erable religious learning). Mr Manning spoke on the illuminating subject of elec tricity on Shabbos and energised the audience with original and thought-pro voking insights into what constituted electricity and how it applied across the Sabbath laws. Rabbi Fachler provided a powerful discourse on the themes of Ex ile and Redemption. A separate session was held for the youth minyon, where David Hilton, Mill Hill chorister, spoke about Tisha B'Av. Y

Mark Goldwelter A further separate programme ran for children of nine and below. This was led by Austin Zeidman, head boy elect of Hasmonean High School. In a well-re ceived move, Adam Salomon from the youth minyon addressed the main gath ering after lunch on aspects from the Sedroh.

Many of those attending commented that there was a particularly notable Shabbos ruach (atm osphere) which spread through all rooms of the building as members from ages three to ninetyplus, enjoyed good food, Yeshurun whisky, zemiros, shiurim and Divrei To rah (lessons on Torah), and being altogether with the whole community. Members of the functions and culture sub-committee, said afterwards: “We were really pleased with the support from members and their families. “Everyone we've spoken to has said how much they enjoyed it and they all want to know when the next one is!" These sentiments were echoed by those attending - both adults and younger members. Thanks go to especially to the Ladies Guild for the catering and very well pre sented food and to Mark Goldwater and Roger Gibbons, leading lights on the functions and culture sub-committee and who led on organising the day. It was also good to see nonagenarian, Helen Olivestone, attend Yeshurun for the first time after months recuperating from illness.

rOOD FOR TnOUGFIT by Paul Ellerman

t has been a busy year at the Hendon Beis Hamedrash. Friday night services regularly attract up to forty people, Shabbat morning services now take place every week and three events in particular have made this a year of great achievement. The first two events represent some thing of a mini-revolution in Hendon, for the first tim e, the Hendon Beis Hamedrash, Raleigh Close United Synagogue and the independent Ner Yisrael worked closely to launch two exciting and innovative projects. Both events were the brainchild of Dayan Lichtenstein, with the support of Rabbi Ginsbury of Raleigh Close and Rabbi Kimche of Ner Yisrael. Dayan Lichtenstein had noticed that despite the many activities taking place in Hendon, two areas in particular were lacking, namely, youth activities and women’s shiurim on Shabbat.

Thus it was that Food for Thought was born, designed to fill a gap on the long summer Shabbat evenings. Every week for two months up to eighty teenagers met at Raleigh Close to learn, daven, eat so cialise and have fun. Organised by the formidable pair of Jonathan Spector and Daniella Goldstein, Food for Thought was an outstanding success, far beyond anyone's expectations. Hopefully, this pilot project will be the launch-pad for more joint ventures. For the ladies, the summer shiurim on Pirkei Avot were also an out and out suc cess. Each week, an average of sixty-five women braved the elements to hear shiurim at both the Hendon Beis Hamedrash and Ner Yisrael from Dayan Y Lichtenstein, Rabbi M Ginsbury, Rabbi A Kimche, Rabbi A Goldblatt (head master of Menorah Grammar School), Rabbi Z Telsner (Finchley Federation),

Rabbi S Djanogly (formerly Golders Green United Synagogue), Rabbi J Dove (Ohr Sameach), Rabbi M Blachman of Yeshivat Kerem BeYavneh and Rabbi Y Steinberger o f Yeshivat HaKotel. Our thanks to them all for giving of their time and erudition. Finally, let not the Nine Days get in the way of a good fleischig meal. Over twenty people gathered at the Hendon Beis Hamedrash to make a siyum on the completion of Masechet Kiddushin. After four years, Dayan Lichtenstein and his Monday night shiur were finally able to enjoy the fruits o f their labour with Divrei Torah, a three-course meal and genuine sim eha at com pleting this tractate of Gemorah. Of course, in Torah learning one never actually completes anything and the shiur is now embark ing on Masechet Megilla. Watch this space . . .

Yeshurun To Commission Ncw Sefer Torah eshurun’s Board of Management has approved proposals to com mission a new Torah scroll. A sofer (scribe) is expected to be appointed after the High Holydays and will take a year to fulfil the remit. All members will be encouraged to get involved through pledging specific sec tions of the Torah scroll, which will be received into Yeshurun in late 2000 through a big celebratory event. The project results from recent con firm ation (discussed previously in New@Luach) that only five of the thir teen existing Torah scrolls are still Kosher. Two others are being repaired for modest sums by Manchester scribe, Rabbi Shimon Rothstein. The remaining six are irreparable. The main thrust of the Board’s thinking is that, having grown into a major kehilloh (religious congre gation) Yeshurun is in a position to now

commission a new Sefer Torah. Such an act signifies a key milestone in the life of any Jewish community. The Board is to establish a Sefer To rah sub-committee, to be chaired by Max Bayer. With Max, Yeshurun President Steven Brown has already carried out detailed preliminary research on the project. Steven said: There is no reason why a shul of the size and prestige of Yeshurun should not write its own Sefer Torah. This is an opportunity for every member of the kehilloh to be involved in a communal project, and we are very ex cited about it.” The Sefer Torah sub-committee will shortly confirm a donation scale, once costs are known. Ball park indications for the total project cost are in the region of £20,000 £25,000 and Yeshurun is most concerned that one of the very best scribes be ap pointed to the task. Under consideration

are set sums for the 54 sedros, for indi vidual portions of each sedroh (seven per sedroh), for verses, and for individual words, which are likely to be for children in their own special sedroh. Some donors may wish to nominate individual sedros for personal reasons (say, a bar mitzvoh). These would be al located on a first-come, first-served basis. Commemorative certificates would be issued to all participants with a note of the portion (though not the amount) they donated. This is a particularly nice and often practised custom for children The next step is a launch event at Yeshurun to which all members will be invited. A scribe will give a brief explanation of the technicalities of writing a Sefer Torah and explain the project in detail. A fund-raising event is also being planned by the Cultural and Social committee for 2000.

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Adult Education At Loughton, Chigwell and District Synagogue b y R a b b i H B elo vsk i t is said that variety is the spice of life, and in my role of Rabbi of the

earlier than usual to give us ample time for a proper programme. Although each

Rabbi Simon ran his classic explanatory service, which he has taken to many

Loughton Shul, I have tried to bear this in mind when formulating an interesting adult education programme. Apart from a regular cycle of sermons, educational Shabbos morning services and ‘Ask the Rabbi' sessions, I have attempted, with varying degrees of success, to focus on two areas of development regular‘hashkofah’(Jewishthought) evenings and occasional special events. The first, held on alternate Monday evenings in a member’s home, takes the form of a Shiur / discussion. There are no holds barred, and any question, no matter how obscure or personal, is inappropriate. It mainly attracts couples over thirty and, especially when the subject is controversial, can be attended by as many as 25-30 people. The evening takes place as a guided discussion, sometimes accompanied by a handout, more often not. It is rare for a session to last for less than two hours and this is always followed by further questions and comments and refreshments. This format really gives everyone a chance to have their own ques tions and concerns addressed in a non-judgemental environment; in this way, many age-old prejudices and mis conceptions are finally laid to rest. A range of subjects, catering for every taste and predilection have been covered, in cluding understanding mysticism, the occult, death and mourning, men and women (3 evenings), capital punishment, chassidism, suffering of the righteous and national calamity (4 evenings), refuting a missionary, does reform Judaism de form Judaism, the function of a Beis Din, kashrus, Jewish rules for gentiles, con traception and abortion, who the devil is the Devil, attitudes to other religions and the Moshiach. Some of the more popular ones are now being repeated. We have run the second type of programme three times in this Jewish year. It involves inviting a guest speaker to stay in the community over Shabbos and trying every possible means to attract members who are not regular Shul-goers, in the hope that they will give it a try. We start the Shabbos morning service a little

of the three have been a little different from each other, the basic structure is to have a Shiur (or parallel Shiurim) before the Torah reading, a lively Rabbi-congregation discussion about the Sidra during the reading (between aliyos, of course!), a sermon or some kind of programme before Musaf, and a half-hour question and answer session on any topic at all after the conclusion of Musaf. The final attraction is a very large, slap-up Kiddush / buffet-lunch, which is served at the end. We have been fortunate thus far to receive outside funding for this and so have offered lavish hot fleishig fare, with French wine and a huge spread of cold foods. The first of these events , with Rabbi Rashi Simon, director of Kesher, attracted well over one hundred people (a lot for Loughton on a Shabbos morning) while the subsequent Shabbatonim, with Rabbi Dr. Steven Gaffin, director of the Imaje outreach project and Dayan F. J. Lewis, Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam, also proved to be popular.

Shuls around the country. He engaged the community in a fascinating union of traditional prayer, song, thought, discussion and reading. Rabbi Gaffin focused on the beginner taking his first faltering steps in prayer. He considered howto stroke one’s spiritual side, understand the structure of the service and find things to pray for. Dayan Lewis, at the most recent event, addressed the controversial theme of the generation gap. He mustered an entrancing combination of personal experiences, stories, traditional sources and plain common sense to provide insights into this potentially explosive subject. His question and answer session was particularly well-received. It is intended that these programmes should be continued into the new year, These programmes, together with the other activities in Loughton really are making a difference to the way people perceive Judaism and their Jewish goals for their families. I hope and pray that they sow the seeds for a vibrant future,

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n Simchat Torah this year the I 1 members of Shomrei Hadath hope to celebrate the completion of the first cycle in the reading from a new Sefer Torah. The Sefer Torah was commissioned by Mrs Hannah Winegarten in memory of her husband, the late Mr Moshe Winegarten z”l, who was a

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founder and president of the shul and long-standing member of the executive and council of the Federation of Synagogues. The Sefer Torah was written by Mr Pinchos Riseman, a brother-in-law of Dayan Elzas. Pictured above is the Sefer Torah being brought into the shul on Hoshannah Rabbah last year.

Retirement of Mr Gerald Kushner by M ichael Goldman

appropriately inscribed. Alluding to Mr Kushner’s talent as an amateur photographer, Mr Winegarten said that “if the art of developing a film is to turn a negative into a positive im age, then Gerald Kushner has played his part in effecting a similar process for the Federation itself.” Mr Winegarten described Gerald Kushner as ‘diligent, considerate, gentle, helpful, courteous - in short, a true gen tleman’. He and his colleagues hoped that Mr Kushner would reflect on his decade at the Federation with ‘nostalgia and goodwill’ - as those present would think of him. Mr Kushner, thanking the President and Honorary Officers for their gift, ex pressed his ap p reciatio n o f their support. He hoped the Federation of Synagogues would continue to progress in full co-operation with the other bodies that comprised the Anglo-Jewish community.

Jonathan Winegarten presenting Mr Gerald Kushner with a silver dish. To his right is Rosh Beth Din Dayan Y Y Lichtenstein erald Kushner, who stems from a family associated with the Fed eration for many decades, first at the pre-war West London & Blooms bury Synagogue and later at the Montague Road Beth Hamedrash in Dalston, where his late father was Presi dent, joined the Federation staff as Flead of Administration in January 1989. This was a critical moment in the Fed eration’s history, the former Secretary had retired three months previously and the accounts department had had no senior manager for even longer, thus, Mr Kushner, whose previous career was in commercial accounting, had undertaken the dual task of running an Orthodox communal institution and also maintain ing and up-dating a somewhat creaky accounting system. This daunting pros pect was compounded - or perhaps eased - by the election in March of that year of an entirely new team of Honorary Offic ers headed by Mr Arnold Cohen. Furthermore, within a few months of Mr Kushner’s appointment, the Beth Din, Kashrus Board and other departments were in the throes of re-organisation and plans were afoot to transfer the Federa tion’s headquarters from the East End to Hendon - itself a massive task. He was inevitably involved, too, in a time-con suming enquiry that had ju st been launched. Throughout these exceptional

operations - as well as the vicissitudes and disruptions that mark communal ad m inistration on a daily basis - Mr Kushner serviced the Federation Kehilla conscientiously and efficiently.

B u r ia l S o c ie ty In n o v a tio n s We are pleased to announce that there will shortly be available a printed guide for visitors to the Cemetery. This will incorporate a space for personal records of departed relatives. If you would like a copy of this, please send a cheque for £2 (to include postage) payable to the Federation Burial Society to 65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ - for the attention of Mr Norman Kahler.

Mr Kushner responding At a reception held on 27 April 1999 at the Federation’s Head Offices in Hendon to mark his retirement, attended by the Dayanim, Honorary Officers, Council members and staff colleagues, Mr Kushner, who was accompanied by his wife, was presented by vice-president, Jonathan Winegarten with a silver dish,

N ew Life V ice -P re sid e n t at C o v e n try R oad Mr Alex Stuart has been elected a life vice-president o f Ilford Federation Synagogue, having previously served as financial representative and chair man of the Synagogue for a number of years.

THE HALCYON DAYS AN EAST END SHUL by Nat Roos

he date is July 17"11899 when Mr A. Rothchilds accompanied by Samuel Montague Brt. (later to become the First Viscount Swaythling) founder of the Federation of Synagogues, laid the foundation stone of Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue, and here the story begins. Mr Montague founded the Federation of Synagogues because he could see that the Eastern European Jews were not be ing treated correctly by the pseudo English Jews who davenned at the Great Synagogue Dukes Place. Fieldgate St. Great Synagogue did not have to venture very far to find a congre gation because this area was a Jewish ghetto with flats and tenements all around it. This was truly a very live and vibrant community, which remained virtually static until the Second World War. Many great and respected rabbis would wend their way there on Shabbos and Yom Tov to give a packed shul a drosha in Yiddish lasting at least one hour. The people who’s shul this was were, Tailors, Cob blers, Tin Smiths, Cabinet Makers, Glaziers, Small Shopkeepers, not a pro fessional man amongst them and these same men and women were very proud of their synagogue. In 1933 the Elders of the Synagogue sent a letter to a leading yeshiva in Po land asking if one of their students would be interested in the position of Acting Minister of their synagogue. A young man took up the challenge, that young man was Rev. Labish Gayer of sacred memory, what a man he was. Apart from being the Minister he was also the Treas urer. To earn a living he had a Fruit and Veg Shop in Brady Street. He was known throughout Whitechapel far better than the then Chief Rabbi. Early on in the Second World War the shul was badly dam aged by enemy bombing and services were halted. The community joined Alie Street Synagogue for prayers with Rev Gayer assisting. Flis son Jack (the current President of Fieldgate St. Great Synagogue) was Barmitzvah there.

In the early 50's Mr Nathan Zolotnicki the then President of Fieldgate St. Great Synagogue, and many of his friends set about getting the shul rebuilt. They made one major alteration, the roof was origi nally flay, but they decided to put in a large skylight directly above the Bimah. It was very well thought out, for many of the members who came from Russia and Poland knew that in their home land there was no gas or electric lights so that they layned by natural daylight and to remind themselves of home this skylight was erected. The synagogue took a fair time to be rebuilt but eventually in 1956 it was finally finished and was re-consecrated by Rabbi Cymerman of sacred memory. Now the hard work began. Mr Zolotnicki together with Rev Gayer started to get a committee organised. The driving force was Rev Gayer and he with such gentleman as Julian Singer, Barney Besser, Ralph Starr, Wallace Jacobson, and many more started to refit and furnish the shul by means of running many Dinners and Balls, which were not only a great success but looked forward to by the community each year. This event put the shul on its feet. At this time the Chazan was Rev Shmuss a tall man with a rosie face and wonderful voice who stirred the very hearts of all who heard him. With his jolly smile and waving arms he got everyone to join in. The team of Gayer and Shmuss was wonderful to see and listen to, the one singing and the other leading us through the Torah. Alas all these fine gen tlemen have gone before us and may their souls rest in peace. Great speakers like Lord Barnett Janner, the poet Stencil, and others would come at Mincha of Yom Kippur to speak to a packed congregation. Fieldgate St. Great Synagogue contin ued in this way while other shuls were closing. In 1965 Vine Court was the first to join Fieldgate St., this was followed by Alie St in 1969 and Ezras Chaim in 1973. As you look around the facia beneath the Ladies Gallery, you will see various donations given by members of this shul.

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Mr and Mrs Nat Roos outside Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue. By today’s standards they are not great amounts, but at the time these were given, they constituted a weeks wage. That is a sign of the love people had for this shul. These were the Golden Days o f Fieldgate St. and no Mister, Chazan and Committee could do more to make each day, Shabbos and Yom Tov a great suc cess. The Ladies Guild played a very im portant part in our lives, dealing with the kiddushim on Shabbos and Yom Tov, and decorating the shul with flowers for Shavuot, and the Succah with fruit and flowers. These ladies gave full support to the shul. They were an unseen army. In 1990 the golden days of the syna gogue came to an end, when our crown lost its glow with the passing of Chazan Shmuss and Rev Labish Gayer, may their souls rest in everlasting peace. We have kept going thanks to our war dens, Mr Burns, Mr Davidson and Mr Barnett. We still open every morning and have a minyan, thanks also to our friends from Nelson St, and are still the only viable shul in the East End of London. To paraphrase a well-known theatre WE NEVER CLOSED.

M A TC H O F T H E D A Y by Henry Dony

hwack! Thatquintessentially Eng lish sound of ball against willow reverberated around the ground. Was this the hallowed soil of The Oval? Was it the home of English cricket Lords? No. This was Edgwarebury Municipal Park. The occasion was the battle of the Titans - the meeting of no lesser teams than the Finchley Central Federation Shul and the second eleven of Hendon’s Ne’er Yisrael. The idea was the brain child of Mitch Caller who, whilst watching a game at Lords a few weeks earlier, had fallen into conversation with Peter Hockley, a mem ber of N e’er Yisrael. Together they hatched up the idea of a game between our two Shuls. Finchley Central is not renowned for its sporting prowess, un like the young Turks of Ne’er Yisrael. And so it was that Ne’er Yisrael agreed to field their second eleven against such bodies as Mitch might be able to cajole into playing for Finchley Central. Over Seudah Shlishit a few weeks ear lier, whilst Mitch Caller was trying to drum up some players, Rav Telsner asked whether he might be considered for the team. As gently as he could, Mitch ex plained that in this game, white was the predominant colour, and the Rav’s black Kapotta might not go down too well. “That’s fine” retorted the Rav, “I’ll wear my K itteir At this point, dear reader, perhaps I am assuming too much. It might be that, like our American cousins, one or two of you might not understand the finer points of this game. So I shall attempt to explain the rules as clearly as I can. There are two teams or sides, each comprising eleven players. A decision is made (usually by the toss of a coin) which team shall bat first. This team is said to be “in”. Most of the members of this team sit in the pavilion drinking beer or some other suitable beverage, playing cards, and exchanging ribald stories. But of the team which is “in” two of their number are out in the field facing the onslaught of the team which is out - on the field. You see the object of the game is for the team which is out, on the field, to get the team which is in - out. And as each of the batsmen of the team which is in, gets

out, he goes back in - to the pavilion. Eventually all those in the team which were first in, are out, and therefore in the pavilion. So they all change round and the team that was out, is now in, and the team, which was in, is now out. I do hope that is quite clear so far. The team which is not in, selects one of its number who is called the bowler. It is his function to wreak as much havoc with the opposing team’s batsmen as is humanly possible. He achieves this by hurling the ball at the batsman at speeds which, if replicated on the motorway would earn him instant disqualification. In preparation for his onslaught, he “po sitions his field.” He will instruct some of his colleagues to field “in” and some to field “out” - the object always being to ensure that the batsman who is in, is out, as soon as possible. Should the bowler be talented enough to get three batsmen out with successive balls, he is said to have achieved a “hat trick”. This is a term used both by Jewish and NonJewish players alike and has nothing whatever to do with the wearing of skull caps or other head gear as worn by some Orthodox cricketers. To further aid clarity, I can tell you that terms “in” and “out” have nothing to do with the terms “o ff’ and “leg”. You must of course understand that in every other walk of life, the opposite of “o ff’ is “on”. But this is cricket, and cricket is unique. So one side of the pitch (that’s the term given to the battleground itself) is the “o ff’ side and the other is the “leg” side. That’s really all you need to know. It’s really quite simple isn’t it? As I said earlier, Rabbi Telsner had expressed a desire to participate. This request had been met with a mixture of disbelief, mirth, concern for the safety of our revered Rav (and others) and, frankly fear that he might lack a certain rever ence for the game. He is after all American, and what do Americans know of this game? I suppose the nearest they ever get to cricket is something called Baseball. Apart from the fact that both cricket and baseball are played with a bat and a ball, the two games have about as much in common as the white cliffs of Dover have to a lump of Stilton! Can you

believe that in the American game when one side is out they call that an “inning”. Much more logically, we call that singu lar event an “innings” And so the day of the match dawned. We are told that when any of the gedolim in our history was about to go into battle, he prayed for victory. I had been praying ever since I knew that the match was to be played, and suddenly, on the morning of the match I found it! In the Korbonos, in that section headed “Taking o f the Ashes ” we read:“Umichnesey vadyilbash al besoroh, vehayrim es hadeshen ” which translated means:- “And he is to put on linen breeches upon hisfleshy and he is to pick up the Ashes”!! WOW, we were home and dry! Jack Blau was superb. Even during our practice sessions it was obvious that he was a natural. There was, however some concern at the rather cavalier manner in which he approached the game. During the practices he steadfastly refused to wear any shin pads over his shorts, train ers and socks. This despite being warned of the obvious and well-publicised dan gers of having unprotected socks. The match turned out to be not too dissimilar from the famous meeting of David and Goliath. Save that the David that was Finchley Central lacked a sling and stones. The result was almost inevi table - a win for Ne’er Yisrael. But whilst Finchley Central lost, they did so with honour! They scored 97 runs against 128 from Ne’er Yisrael. This was a real team effort with everyone applauding the suc cesses of all the players, especially the teenagers. Everyone played well, and the omission of anyone’s name from the roll of honour should not be taken to indicate a mediocre performance. But a few of the players must be singled out. Amongst the bowlers, special mention should be made of Daniel Caller and Ian Lebens, both of whom took three wickets, and David Gertner who took two. Shmuli Telsner, the youngest member of the squad acquit ted himself well and bowled a creditable over. At the other end of the age spec trum Henry Dony, by far the oldest player, and the only grandfather in the Continued overleaf

Vos111 i■■i to Replace Roof N e w Shul in Elstree Regular Shabbos services at the new shul in Elstree began recently. The first Minyan attracted sixty people on Shabbos morning and twenty people attended the Mincha service and Shiur that afternoon.

Shiur a t M achzike Hadass

eshurun has received a grant from Federation of Synagogues' head office for the cost of replacing the roof and ceiling of the building in Ferhurst Gardens, built in 1975. A provisional programme has been prepared in conjunction with surveyor Leo Lewis. This will see the work split into three sections, beginning at the Femhurst Gardens end of the building, on the part of the roof over the upstairs hall. Once this is completed, work will be carried out on the main shul, and there after on the classroom block. This should enable Yeshurun to continue to use at least two thirds of the building at all times, thus minimising any disruption to the regular activities that take place at Yeshurun. In the main, inconvenience is likelv to be limited to scaffolding around the build ing for most of the winter. It now seems unlikely there will be a need to suspend services, or decant to alternative premises although Yeshurun may be moved out of

the main shul and into the downstairs hall for a week or two. The work is scheduled to take sixteen weeks. No starting date has yet been agreed but this will certainly be after the high holydays. Following earlier reports of asbestos in the roof, a survey has con firmed this is present, in common with many properties built in the seventies. However, it's in a form which presents no hazard and there will be no risk present during building work. Co-incident with the roof replacement programme, Yeshurun is likely to erect two relief staircases from the ladies gal lery to ground level. Prem ises sub-committee chair, Michael Bentley, explained: “Anyone here at a big Simchah will know the problems with clearing the ladies gallery into the ground floor en trance lobby. These staircases are desirable on health and safety grounds and will be for both normal and emer gency exit use. We expect them in by Summer 2000”.

MATCH OF THE DAY continued

to the success of the afternoon. It must not be forgotten that for the majority of the players, the most exercise in which they normally indulge is jumping to con clusions! But those who lacked sporting prowess more than made up for their shortcomings with enthusiasm. Full marks too to the players of Ne’er Yisrael who entered into the spirit of the afternoon, and although they played seriously, and well, participated fully in the essentially “fun” activity of the after noon. No-one questioned the umpires’ decisions and there was no display of “wicket rage” that sometimes accom

team managed to take a wicket in his only over, with the aid of some skilful field ing by Jack Blau. With the bat, Ian Lebens distinguished himself again by being the highest scorer with 17. His son Gavriel notched up 12 as did Russell Caller. Daniel Westbrook and Elliot Goodkin also scored double figures. There was something rather nice about seeing Russell and his brother Mitch at each end of the wicket. Similarly we were treated to Ian and Gavriel Lebens run ning between the wickets. But all the players made a significant contribution

Since Machzike Hadass joined the Federation of Synagogues, Dayan Berkovits has now begun giving a Shiur at the shul every Tuesday night. This Shiur was previously given by Dayan Fisher for fifty years.

M o re Scandinavian G ittim Dayan Berkovits made a trip to Malmo, Sweden in May to arrange more Gittim for the community there.

Hachnosas Sefer Torah A Hachnosas Sefer Torah took place in Finchley Central on 16th May in memory of the late Mr George Moses who had been a member of the Shul.

Dayan Lichtenstein a t Prague Lectures Dayan Lichtenstein was in Prague from 27 to 29 June to participate a series of lectures for Rabbonim from all over Europe. The event was spon sored jo in tly by the Council of European Rabbis and the Centre for Diaspora Affairs. Also in attendance was Rav Shar Yashuv Cohen - Chief Rabbi of Haifa.

panies a game of this type. The afternoon's enjoyment was en hanced in no small measure by the presence of the Finchley Central Support ers' club in the shape o f wives and children of the players. Apart from their physical encouragement, they brought with them some really welcome refresh ments. A pat on the back for Mitch who did most of the organising, and indeed to all those who helped make this a truly memorable event. Who knows, in a mo ment of weakness we could agree to stage this as an annual event. We shall see . . .

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LEGAL NOTICE BY ORDER OF THE COURT

To victims of Nazi persecution and their heirs who may have claims against Swiss Banks or other Swiss entities relating to the Holocaust: Swiss banks agreed to pay $1.25 billion U.S. dollars to settle legal claims relat ing to the World W ar II era conduct of Swiss banks, Swiss businesses, and the Swiss government ((<Swiss Entities”). The U nited States District Court for the E astern D istrict o f N ew York (the “Court”) w ill hold a hearing on Novem ber 29,1999, to decide whether the Settle ment should be given final approval. Note that you may be included even if you d id not have a Swiss bank account, and that this Settlement is differentfrom the Swiss Humanitarian Fund.

Who Is Affected by the Settlement You are affected by the Settlement if you fit into one of the following five Settlement Classes. Four Classes consist of "Victims or Targets of Nazi Persecution" (any individual, business or group persecuted or taigeted for persecution by the Nazi Regime or its agents, because they were or were believed to be

Jewish, Romani, Jehovah's Witness, homo sexual, or physically or mentally disabled or handicapped), AND who: Had assets on deposit with any Swiss bank, investment fund, or other custo dian, prior to May 9,1945, OR May have claims against Swiss Entities relating to assets looted or taken by the Nazi Regime*, OR 3. Performed slave labor for entities that may have deposited the revenues or pro ceeds of that labor with or transacted that

profit through Swiss Entities, OR 4. Unsuccessfully sought entry into Switzer land to avoid Nazi persecution, or after gaining entry, were mistreated, and may have related claims against any Swiss Entity. The fifth Settlement Class includes any in dividual, whether or not a Victim or Target of Nazi Persecution, who performed slave labor in a work site, wherever located, owned or controlled bv a Swiss Entitv.

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All Settlement Classes include heirs and suc cessors of the persons and entities described above.

Even if you're not sure whether you are a member of one of the Settlement Classes, you should request a Mailed Notice and Ini tial Questionnaire. For example, if you per formed slave labor, you may not know whether revenue or proceeds of that labor were deposited with Swiss Entities; you may still be a Settlement Class member. How and When Claims w ill be Paid No claims process or Plan of Allocation has yet been established. The Mailed Notice ex plains how you can make suggestions.

To receive further notice of a claims process, and ensure that you are able to file a claim, you must either mail a request for such no tice to the address below, or complete and return the Initial Questionnaire attached to the Mailed Notice. If the Court gives final approval of the Settle ment, a Plan of Allocation will be adopted and the Fund will be disbursed. Not all

Settlement Class members who apply will be eligible to receive payments. If You Do Not Want to Participate If you do not wash to participate in or be bound by the Settlement, you must exclude yourself by writing a letter so indicating, to the address given in the Mailed Notice, by October 22,1999. If you do not, you wrill be barred from prosecuting any legal action against Swiss Entities relating to the settled disputes. If you exclude yourself, you will NOT be able to claim a portion of the Fund.

How to Comment or Object You may comment on the terms of the Settle ment by October 22,1999. The Mailed No tice describes how to submit comments or objections. You have the right to appear at the November 29,1999 hearing in person or through counsel, although you do not have to.

Who Represents You The Court appointed attorneys as Settlement Class Counsel, and appointed Settlement Class Representatives, including Holocaust survivors, the World Jewish Restitution Or ganization ("WJRO"), and the World Coun cil of Orthodox Jewish Communities. You do

not have to personally pay the Court ap pointed attorneys. Certain attorneys will ap ply to the Court for reimbursement of their costs, up to about .2% of the Fund. Certain Plaintiffs' attorneys will also apply for fees, up to at most 1.8% of the Fund. The Court may award a lower amount. Most attorneys will not apply for fees, and counsel for the WJRO will not apply for fees or costs.

Getting More Information To learn more, fill out the request form be low, call toll free 0-800-917-4424, or visit the website http://wrww 5 wissbankclaims.com

Send me the Mailed N otice and Initial Questionnaire. Name Address

County

PostalCode

Country Preferred Language

This is NOTaClaimForm. Please mail this to: Information Holocaust Victim Assets Litigation PO Box 8300 San Francisco, CA 94128-8300 USA GB-ENC-ORGK

0 - 800 - 917-4424

www.swissbankdairm.corn Scope o f Release The Settlement of this case (la re Holocaust Victim Assets Master File No. CV-9f>4849) concludes all legal actions and disputes against Swiss Entities relating to the Holocaust, World War II, Victims or Targets of Nazi Perse cution, the Nazi Regime, treatment of refugees, or any re lated thing. The term "Swiss Entities" (or ^Releasees') in cludes Credit Suisse and UBS AG (successor to Union Bank of Switzerland and Swiss Bank Corporation), and their former and current corporate parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and branches; the Swiss National Bank; other Swiss Banks; the Swiss Bankers Association; the Swiss Confederation (in cluding the Swiss government); all business concerns head quartered, organized or incorporated in Switzerland as of October 3, 19%; and certain other affiliates of Swiss con cerns described in the Mailed Notice. Certain claims against various Swiss insurance companies listed in the Mailed Notice are not included in this Settlement. * Ihe second Settlement Class also includes claims against Swiss Entities relating to "Cloaked Assets," which are as sets disguised by a Swiss lintity for the benefit of an Axis company or person associated with the Nazi Regime, be tween 1933 and 1946.

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Mazal Toy wishes are extended to the following people:

B ir th Mazal Toy to the following on the birth o f a child: Rabbi and Mrs B Knopfler of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the birth of a daughter. Mr and Mrs M Itzinger of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the birth of a daughter. Mr and Mrs M Nerden of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the birth of a son. Mr and Mrs B Silverman of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the birth of a son. Mr and Mrs I Leskin of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the birth of a son. Mr and Mrs A Levison of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the birth of a daughter.

Devorah Rivkah to Laura and Rabbi Yitzchok Macmull of the Yeshurun Syna gogue. Mazal Tov also to grandmother Ruth Goldbaum.

Rabbi and Mrs C Z Cohen of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on their son’s wedding. Rabbi and Mrs E Klyne of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on their daughters’ weddings.

Emma Zoe to Abigail and Richard Brady of the Yeshurun Synagogue. Mazal Tov also to grandparents Hanna and Louis Broomberg.

Mr and Mrs N Iwanier of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the wedding of their daughter.

A son to Lisa and Mark Barnett of the Yeshurun Synagogue. Mazal Tov also to Laurence and Hilary Corney on their first grandchild. Hairy Ari to Eunice and board member Russell Grossman of the Yeshurun Synagogue. Mazal Tov also to grandpar ents Irene and David Grossman and Barry Goodstone. Shmuel and Sarah Ansbacher - editor of Hamaor - on the birth of a son.

Rabbi and Mrs B Knopfler of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the birth of a grand son.

E n gagem en ts

Rabbi and Mrs Leitner of Beis Hame drash Sinai on the births of grandchildren.

Elaine and Alan Rubenstein of Ilford Fed eration Synagogue on B radley’s engagement to Karen Bash.

Mr and Mrs G Halibard of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the births of grand children.

Mark Sheinfield of Finchley Central Syna gogue on his engagement to Lydia Burman.

Mazal

To y

Mr and Mrs J Weg of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on their daughter’s marriage. Mr and Mrs Dzialowski o f Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the wedding of their son. Mr and Mrs Y Englard o f Beis Hamedrash Sinai on their son’s marriage. Mr and Mrs R Steinhard o f Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the wedding of their son. The Adler Family of Finchley Central on Nadine's marriage to David Stark.

to the following:

Weddim g A n n iiversan es i

Mr and Mrs Ch Hoffman of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the birth of a grand son. Mr and Mrs Bradpiece of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the birth of a grand daughter. Rabbi and Mrs E Klyne of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the birth of a grand daughter. Simone and David Landau of Finchley Central on the birth of a daughter. Lombi and Max Landau of Finchley Cen tral on the birth of a great-granddaughter. Brocha and Meir Moller of Finchley Cen tral on the birth of a daughter. Martin Nathan of Finchley Central on the birth of a grandson. Frances and Stanley Bookatz of Ilford Federation Synagogue on the birth of their granddaughter. Jemma Ann to Alison and Neil Rodol of the Yeshurun Synagogue. Mazal tov also to grandparents Hilary and Harold Sadick.

W eddim gs Mazal Toy to the following: Frances and Andrew Garfield of Ilford Fed eration Synagogue on Mark's marriage to Sara Chait.

Mazal Toy to the following:

Mr and Mrs Hymie Singer, Life Presi dent o f the East London Central Synagogue, on the occasion of the cel ebration of their 65th Wedding Anniversary.

Mark Weston of Shomrei Hadass to Daniella Estrin of the Yeshurun Synagogue.

Elissa and Max Bayer celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary on August 11th. Dr Max has been associated with Yeshurun for many years and is currently amember of the Board of Management, holding the health and safety portfolio. Elissa is a company director. The cou ple have three daughters, Michelle, Katie and Julia and live in Penshurst Gardens.

Rabbi and Mrs B Knopfler of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the marriage of their son.

Mr and Mrs S Stanhill of Ilford Federa tion Synagogue on their 65th Wedding Anniversary.

Rabbi and Mrs B Knopfler of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the marriage of their daughter.

Mr and Mrs H Miller of Ilford Federa tion Synagogue on their 65th Wedding Anniversary.

Rabbi and Mrs M Kampf of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the wedding of their daughter.

Shirley and Eddie Amron of Finchley Central on their 45th Wedding Anniver sary.

Rabbi and Mrs Y Bondi of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on their son's wedding.

Barbara and Arie Bleiberg of Finchley Central on their Silver Wedding.

Sadie and Jack Biller of Ilford Federation Synagogue on Ian’s marriage to Ruth Murray.

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continued

M itzvah Mazal Tov to the following: Rabbi and Mrs B Knopfler of Beis Hamedrash Sinai. Rabbi and Mrs M Kampf of Beis Hamedrash Sinai. Mr and Mrs M Itzinger of Beis Hamedrash Sinai. Mr and Mrs J Simmonds of Beis Hamedrash Sinai. Mr and Mrs M Ginn of Beis Hamedrash Sinai. Mr and Mrs S Roth of Beis Hamedrash Sinai. Rabbi and Mrs M Leitner of Beis Hamedrash Sinai. Rabbi and Mrs C Z Cohen of Beis Hamedrash Sinai.

Alon Gordon the Yeshurun Synagogue on Parshas Re’eh (August 7th). Mazal Tov to parents Yaffit and Jeffrey. Alon goes to Immanuel College and is a keen cricketer. Football interest is towards the Highbury end at Arsenal. Unlike Steven Brown, how ever, he also enjoys horse riding and piano, demonstrating a balanced approach to life. Joshua Kleiman the Yeshurun Synagogue on Parshas Ki Saytzay (August 21st). Mazal Tov to parents Susie and board mem ber Michael. Joshua’s another guy from Immanuel College and as well as the re quired football (Man United) likes buying and displaying posters. Other interests in cluded “eating food”, no doubt good reason for mother Susie’s newly-finished kitchen. Shimon Goldwater the Yeshurun Syna gogue on Parshas Ki Sovvo (August 28th). Mazal Tov to parents Rochelle and board member Mark. Shimon is a Hasmo boy and a keen walker, especially on hills. His other interests include computers and col lecting semi-precious rocks.

Mr and Mrs J Cohen of Beis Hamedrash Sinai. Mr and Mrs D Kaye of Beis Hamedrash Sinai. Mr and Mrs D Wilner of Beis Hamedrash Sinai. The Caller family of Finchley Central on Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah. Alexander Nathan of the Yeshurun Syna gogue on Parshas Voeschanan (July 24th). Mazal Tov to parents Sorrel and Trevor. Alexander is a Hasmo boy and displays a range of interests from classi cal music to sport: he’s a keen cricketer and enthusiastic snooker player. It’s said he’s also a dab hand with the piano keys. Father Trevor was Choson Toroh last year. Joshua Raymond the Yeshurun Syna gogue on Parshas Eikev (July 31st). Mazal Tov to parents Hilary and Jonathan. Joshua goes to Buckingham College High School. Interests include skating, snooker and art. Wrestling is high on his list of pursuits, though mostly watching. However, he con fesses to it being much of his life and wanting to be a career wrestler.

B n o t C hayil Mazal Tov to the following: Emma Coyne of the Yeshurun Synagogue on Sunday 1st August. Mazal Tov also to parents Ann and Harold. Talia Grace of the Yeshurun Synagogue on Sunday 1st August. Mazal Tov also to par ents Jane and Norman. Natasha Carp of the Yeshurun Synagogue on Sunday 1st August. Mazal Tov also to parents Andrea and Stephen.

is also a favourite. She didn’t want us to mention she’s already working on GCSE for Modern Hebrew.

B irth d a ys Mazal Tov to Mike Adler of Finchley Central Synagogue on his 60th birthday.

M a za l Tcov Mr Henry Grunwald, the representative of the East London Central Synagogue, to the Board of Deputies of which he is also a vice President, on the occasion of his being appointed a QC. Mr Zachary Segal of Ilford Federation Synagogue who obtained a BA in His tory at Oxford University. Miss Ruth Bookatz of Ilford Federation Synagogue on obtaining a BA in Com parative Religion at Manchester University; and on becoming chair of the Union of Jewish Students. Our best wishes to the following young men and women of Beis Hamedrash Si nai who have gained places in major Yeshivas and Sems in Israel and England. Yisroel Kaufman

Abigail Gohen Mordechai Simmonds Sara Dina Kirsh Rifka Itzinger Yisroel Englard Yocheved Elzas Shimon Bondi Hudi Cohen Miriam Simmonds Michali Kirsh Miri Knopfler Chani Adler

B a t M itzvahs Mazal Tov to the following:

Condolences

Lauren Fished of the Yeshurun Synagogue on Sunday 4th July. Mazal Tov also to par ents Michelle and Yeshurun Board Member, Jeremy

We offer our condolences to thefollow ing: Rabbi B Knopfler of Beis Hamedrash Si nai on the loss of his father.

Anna Harwood of the Yeshurun Synagogue on Sunday 29th August. Mazal Tov also to parents Sylvia and Andy. Anna’s a Haber dasher’s Girl and is musically astute, with violin and piano well under her belt. Drama

Rabbi M Leitner of Beis Hamedrash Si nai on the loss of his mother. Mrs D Dolond of Beis Hamedrash Sinai on the loss of her husband.

Please send in all your personal announcements to Hamaor, 65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ • Fax: 0181 203 0610 e-mail: shmuel_sarah@email.msn.com

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J a c o b M o rris G by H R a go l- L e vy

acob Morris (Morrie) Gans, who died on 21 July 1999 in his 92nd year had a record of distinguished service to the Woolwich Jewish Community. He was a shining example of Judaism both in his private and in his public life. Morrie Gans was born in Woolwich on 19 December 1907, the eldest son al though the fourth of nine children. After leaving school he served a formal apprenticeship as a tailor. His notes o f instruction during that period survive and bear witness to that mastery of detail which would later characterise much of

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his work for the community. During the 1939-45 War he served in the A uxiliary Fire Service and was present during that terrifying period in 1940 and 1941 when the London Docks and the whole of the East End of London was ablaze. He is first mentioned as a member of the Board o f M anagem ent o f the Woolwich Synagogue in February 1945. From then onwards his contribution to the life and work of the community steadily increased. 1le became actively concerned with Jewish education and in due course

became Chairman o f the Education Committee of the Synagogue. He was Secretary of the Synagogue for twenty four years (significantly it took three people to take over the work). Thereafter he continued to take a critical but benevo lent interest in the administration of the affairs of the community. Whenever the need for assistance arose in the years that followed, he was ever present with advice and where necessary, practical help. By far his greatest achievement, how ever, was to be a Warden o f the Synagogue for over thirty years. His pi ety was self evident, his fund of Jewish knowledge extensive and profound. He had a wide and exact knowledge of the detail of the Service in the Synagogue. Ever willing to give help and advice, he preferred to influence matters by personal example rather than by precept, although always prepared to insist on what he be lieved to be right. In carrying out all his duties to and for the community, he was always mindful of what was in the best interest of members of the congregation and of their families. Everything was done with skill, tact and humour. He was respected, admired and held in affection by all. In the unhappy period when it became apparent that the days of the Woolwich Jewish Community as an organised body were numbered, he was and remained a tower of strength and good sense. Al though clearly upset by the insistence of the Federation of Synagogues that they could no longer support the Synagogue, he never allowed his emotions to cloud his judgement. Despite the weight of con troversy and incrim ination when it became clear that closure was inevitable, he remained calm and rational through out. He continued to serve the community as Warden until the very end. Perhaps more important was the fact that he re tained the trust and affection of the whole congregation. It was with united voice that a presentation was made to mark his 90th birthday, still in office. He married his dear wife Stella Dia mond in 1938. She predeceased him. She supported him in all that he did. He is survived by his two children, four grand children and six great grandchildren, together a close knit and loving family unit who continued that support. They and all of us who had the privi lege of knowing Morrie Gans mourn his passing. We shall not see his like again.

u sin g a healing' astound with ho She; conunu demons Faith to many, vhelped health i underst;

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T r i b u t e t o S i m l a G o ld b e r g o’h ’ by Harvey Philip Goldberg

n Wednesday 14th October 1998 in the early hours, after a brave and most determined struggle for a long time, the whole of Ilford Com munity and especially the Ilford Shteible, where the family Goldberg belong, lost a most wonderful valuable lady member, Shula Goldberg. She was the mother of two loveable teenage boys, and the wife of our very dear friend Harvey, of the Blue & White Shop, Beehive Lane, Ilford, Essex. Shula’s relentless battle with cancer using a unique method of alternative healing, filled those who knew her with astounded admiration, as she soldiered on with hope and faith in the treatment. She and Harvey together, served the community with tireless enthusiasm, demonstrating an exceptionally strong Faith to us all. Shula gave Ivrit lessons to many, with patience and interest, and also helped Harvey with the shop whenever health permitted, offering comfort and understanding to many. The Shteible was urgently in need of a new Sefer Torah. This seemed an ideal way to commemorate and pay tribute to

this gracious lady, whose unwavering faith in Hashem never faltered. It was however a very costly project and at first seemed as though the project would not get off the ground. However, with the great organising of Rabbi Godlewsky and Mrs Rochelle Pressman, they set to work with other willing enthusiasts, fund raising, with great determination. Rabbi Godlewski, the head of the Shteible and Kollel (Achdut Torah Centre) made wonderful efforts to make many different events to fund-raise, using all their spare time and energy for this project. Modest contributions were gained from letters sent to friends and businesses, many being anonymous donors. Events such as a quiz, musical evening, Antiques Roadshow, garden party, Call My Bluff and the selling of raffle tickets brought in money that they had not dreamed of raising, all serving to their much needed funds. The Rav even flew the Sofer and the Sefer Torah here from Israel, making an other fund-raising event to add to the contributions needed. Everyone in their own modest way, worked relentlessly to

E ast L on d on C en tra l S y n a g o g u e rem em b ers Y etta D o v e o ’h ’

been negotiating with the relevant gov ernmental department regarding the possibility of her inclusion in the Honours List.

by Leon Gayer

Memorial Service in respect of the late Mrs Yetta Dover o’h was held on Sunday 18th April 1999 at which the Chairman/W arden Mr Lawrence Zysman thanked the large gath ering for their attendance. The Service was conducted by the Synagogue’s Minister, Rev Yitzchak Aus tin, and addresses were given by Rev Austin, Mr Leon Silver, the Synagogue’s Financial Representative, and by Mr Michael Freedland and Mr Jonathan Freedland, Mrs Dover’s nephew and great nephew respectively. Mr Leon Gayer, Secretary of the Synagogue, read from the Scriptures and then intoned the Memorial Prayer for Mrs Dove, a true Eshet Chayil who was known as the Angel of Algate. At the time of her death, the Synagogue had

Neasden Stained Glass Windows Have New Lease Of Life Yeshurun members have been admiring two small stained glass windows, located above the existing doorway at the back of the men's stalls in the main synagogue. These have been rescued from the former “Ahavat Shalom'’ (Neasden Federation) synagogue in Clifford Way, NW2, which closed in August 1997. One window is dedicated to those who gave their lives in the two world wars. The other is in memory of the parents of Mr Max Woolf, “Ahavat Shalom’s” former president who transferred his membership to Yeshurun with Martin Glenville, their former financial representative. A plaque explains their heritage, and

reach the target, which is to be presented on the Yahrzeit of Shula’s passing, 10th October 1999. The procession after the ceremony, will commence from King Solomon School Barkingside through the streets to the Ilford Shteible and Kollel Centre in Cranbrook Road, Ilford. The names of generous donors will be inscribed on the Mantle cover. Some certificates will be made out to those who were participants, who have chosen to be included to commemorate their kind sponsorship towards this vital project. Harvey, who devotedly and lovingly cared for his wife Shula throughout her long illness bom bravely, could not find enough words to express his overwhelm ing gratitude to all those involved in the project. The dedication, consideration and devotion to him and his family, and loy alty at all times from friends, colleagues and customers has moved him deeply. Together with his family both here and in Israel he would like to extend wannest thanks to all those who have contributed to this much needed Sefer Torah with such a ready response and so generously. It has enabled this precious gift to become a last ing memorable reality, written in loving loyalty. May everyone involved be blessed and rewarded for this great Mitzvah.

also the lineage of the tip-up cinema-style seating at the back of the shul and in the Beis Hamedrash. What the plaque doesn't explain is the efforts of Brian Lebetkin and Yeshurun secretary, David Cohen, who spent a couple o f energetic A'tmnfrj g/sso p/tho ir.onmi>nk*ntinQ Uh k v who .ja w th e ir f im in the tn v H M J M /s j and the tip-up $,w f/fy etong the' S/tte end a t the roar o f this Synagogue tend m the Doth Hsmedntshi wwy "roset/ed* from the Ahovat 6'hofom Non son n {'(‘donation Synagogue C liffo rd H'sy London NWZ hview/ng /to closure tn August 19/)/

lh o Sttcond rxmoi s/so from the.- Ahm-nt Shaforn

two donated hy Mr, mox bvo/f

(hot Syr/sgogue S form er fte s/d e n / who /oined the yeshurun in duty 1996 ■

afternoons uprooting the seats. Yeshurun is delighted to maintain this link with a former Federation synagogue and is very grateful to all those who have helped make the transition a reality. Neasden is not the only former Fed eration shul to pass on its “silver" and other closed synagogues, such as Woolwich live on in shuls today through their vestments.

A Blast rrom The Past A New Look at Posh liashanah by Rabbi H Belovski

osh Hashanah is a special gift from G-d. We are granted an un paralleled chance to rethink our outlook, an annual opportunity to redress inconsistencies in our behaviour. This essay attempts to consider the fundamen tal mechanism by which this process comes about in the light of the specific observances, prayers and underlying con cepts of Rosh Hashanah. The basic structure of our special Rosh Hashanah prayers is very old. The three middle blessings of the Musaf service, which describe the very essence of the day are unique to Rosh Hashanah and find their origin in the Mishnah. ‘One should say no less than ten verses of sov ereignty, ten of remembrance and ten of shofar-blasts.'"1 The content of each of these three blessings centres around the ten verses which lie at their core. Why did Chazal pick ten, rather than any other number of verses, to help us express God's sovereignty on this holy day? The Talmud, in its analysis of this issue, puts forward several possibilities, one of which will be our concern. ‘Rabbi Yochanan said, “They correspond to the ten statements with which heaven and earth were created.’” 121 If one looks at the start of BeReishis,'31 one sees that G-d created the world with a number of state ments, in which He, as it were, talked the world into existence. The Talmud, hav ing counted the ‘statem ents’ in the Genesis account, notes, ‘but there are only nine,' and answers, ‘“BeReishis” (the first line of the Torah) is also counted as a “statement.”’141 1 he B'ney Yisoschor, in his essays on the nature of Rosh Hashanah, quotes an obvious question from Reb Dov Ber, the Maggid of Metzrieh - why doesn’t the first statement also start with ‘And G-d said,’just like the others?'51 The Maggid gives an astounding response - at the beginning of the world, the letters, which are the tools of creation, had to be cre ated before anything else could come into existence. Thus the first act of creation was to form the letters, which were then utilised to create everything else. Only then could G-d ‘speak.' Indeed, a Kab-

balistic rereading of the first verse of the Torah yields this concept; ‘BeReishis Boro Elokim ES.'|6] - in the beginning, G-d created ES, the letters from aleph to toff, which form the building blocks of creation. Hebrew is a conceptual lan guage, in that the letters, their shapes and forms, are not mere conventions for com munication, but actual ideas. In their various combinations, they represent all of the forces which God required to cre ate the world.

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as animals cry out in pain or need when they c a n n o t help themselves, we too cry out to G-d, in a naive and desperate fashion... 55 This idea is further illustrated by an other quote from the Talmud. ‘Betzalel knew how to combine the letters with which heaven and earth were created.’'71 The desert Sanctuary, of which Betzalel was the architect, was a world in micro cosm, whose construction paralleled the creation of the universe itself. Thus its designer needed to understand the Divine tools to create the Sanctuary. All of this has a remarkable conse quence for our study of Rosh Hashanah. We are familiar with the oft-stated idea that a Jewish festival is not a mere com memoration of an event which is rapidly fading into the mists of time, but a chance to re-experience the very same contin ence of spiritual opportunities which existed at the original event. Thus Rosh Hashanah, about which we read, ‘this day is the start of Your handiwork, a remem brance of the first day,’181 really is the chance which G-d gives us to tap into the early universe, into the unsullied world in its nascent hour. In fact, one of the most well-known of the Rosh Hashanah litur gical poems reads, ‘Today is the birth / conception of the world...’'91 The word today’ is intended, at least in some sense,

quite literally. Our acknowledgement of G-d's sovereignty on Rosh Hashanah is twinned with an awesome opportunity to experience and most importantly, benefit from, the spiritual intensity of the day of creation itself. As we have noted, the pe culiar attribute of those early moments, was the absence of the letters of the aleph beis, the forces of creation. But how can we access a time which had none of the features of the world we know, and by so doing appreciate the undiluted sover eignty of G-d, and allow it to permeate our lives? Perhaps it is the shofar which enables us to do this. That there are many reasons given for the sounding of the shofar is well-known. It is clearly understood by Jewish litera ture as a stimulus to repentance and introspection. The P’sikta Rabbosi tells us, ‘When they take the shofar to sound it, renew your deeds and repent.’"01 The Rambam, in a famous piece, writes, 'Even though the sounding of the shofar is a Biblical decree, it hints to the fol lowing; wake up sleepers from your sleep, those unconscious, arise from your coma and examine your deeds - repent and remember your creator.’" 11 The Talmud Yerushalmi offers an alternative rationale, which seems bizarre, but will enhance our study. ‘So why do they sound horns? As if to say [to G-d], “con sider it as though we are lowing like animals before You.’” " 21 The simple meaning of this seems to be that just as animals cry out in pain or need when they cannot help themselves, we too cry out to G-d, in a naive and desperate fashion, acknowledging that only He can save us. However, there is more to this Chazal here describe Man as an animal, the speaker behaving as though he can not speak. The anim al bellow s its incoherent sound, for it is its only means of expression. Man, on the other hand, has many modes of coherent expression, so why does he choose to cry out to G-d on Rosh Hashanah as though he does not? The answer to this lies in understanding the qualities which the Jewish mystics ascribe to the shofar. The sound is pro duced from the lower part of the person

and it is created by bypassing the usual noise-making organs.1131The rough blast which is generated is a raw sound, only vaguely human, which emanates from the deepest recesses within and then escapes straight through the shofar into the air. This noise comes from the depths of the subconscious, the most recondite and uncorrupted parts of the personality. The shofar sound, is, in short, a primal scream, an echo of the earliest origins of the world. We thus perceive the sounding of the shofar as a form of connection with the very origins of creation, a blast of sound linking us to those ancient times when the very tools of speech did not yet exist. This imagery, in which Man abandons his usual human mode of communication and bellows like a animal with the shofar to his lips, is intended to stir feelings deep within us of a passionate need to connect to G-d in His pristine form, to experience His glory and sovereignty without any interposition. This is the stirring to re pentance, the compulsion engendered to clear away the dross of the year with which we have created a barrier between us and our creator and instead bathe in the untainted glow of His majesty. There is another aspect of the shofar which compliments our theme. In the first verse of the Torah, the verb ‘livro’ - to create ex nihilo, is used. This signifies the fact that this was the moment when G-d brought everything into existence from nothing. There was no further ex nihilo creation, rather the remainder of the Genesis story is a description of how G-d moulded the existing material, which He had created on the first day, into vari ous creatures. There is one exception to this - the creation of Man, when the verb ‘livro’ is used once again.[14] This indicates a quali tative difference between Mankind and the animals whose creation preceded his. G-d once again brought an entirely new type of creature into being, correspond ing to His original creation of heaven and earth. This was Man, who was to exist in the image of G-d; the only being capable of intelligent speech, of altruism and of spirituality. In the anthropocentric second creation story, Man’s transition from in ert being to vibrant life is described as follows. ‘And He breathed into his nos trils the spirit of life and Man became an animate life-force.’1151 According to custom, Rosh Hashanah actually celebrates not the start of exist

ence itself, but the beginning of human history; that is, the moment when G-d first brought Man to life. This means that on Rosh Hashanah, we get a chance to relive the instant when G-d breathed the soul into Man. This event, as we have seen, paralleled the creation of the uni verse itself, when the letters, the bricks of existence had not yet been made. It was, for Man, a time of the ultimate con nectivity to the Divine, one which has left its imprint on the whole of humanity for all posterity. Therefore, on Rosh Hashanah, each person gets the chance to feel intimate with G-d, to be touched by and to bare the Divine spark shrouded deep within. This expression of the most intense humanity bursts forth from its core on Rosh Hashanah, for just as long ago it was stimulated from without, now it is stimulated from within. This takes the shape of the shofar-blast, as described above - a revelation of the deepest spir itual roots concealed within, finding its expression as the raw, primordial screech of the Divine creative force. We are thus led back to our very origins by the shofarblasts, goading us to repentance and virtuous life once again. We have learned to see the shofar not so much as a tool for our numinous stimu lation, but as a profound expression of the special connection between G-d and Man which Rosh Hashanah implies. More than this, it can help us understand who we are and where we have come from. With these concepts, we can ap proach the Yom Tov season confident that we will pass through it having launched our self-understanding and our relation ship with G-d into a new dimension. It is noteworthy that this concept

surfaces not just in our private relation ship with G-d, which we renew on Rosh Hashanah, but also at a national level. The two greatest events of Jewish life, the his torical and the eschatological, are accompanied by the shofar-blast. At Mount Sinai, the Jewish people received the Torah to the sound of the shofar and the advent of the Messiah will be heralded by its blasts. These two occasions mark the greatest moments of renewal of the G-d-Man interconnection - in the light of our study, it is fitting that they be ac companied by the relationship-nurturing tones of the shofar. The Yalkut Shim'oni notes, ‘In the future, Your children will be entrapped by oppressive kingdoms. They will go from Babylon to Media, from Media to Greece, from Greece to Rome. But ultimately, they will be re deemed by the horns of the ram.’1161 Let us hope that this study goes some way to understanding this goal and our Yomim Nora’im this year to achieving it. 1 2 3 4 5

Mishnah, Rosh Hashanah 4:6 Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 32a BeReishis 1 Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 32a B 'ney Yisoschor, Ma 'amorey Tishrey, 2:10

6 BeReishis 1:1 7 Talmud, B 'rochos 55a 8 Rosh Hashanah Musaf introduction to Zichronos 9 ibid., Chazzan s repetition, after each of the three special blessings 10 P ’sikta Rabbosi, 39:4 11 Yad, Hilchos T ’shuvah 3:4 12 Yerushalmi, Ta 'anis 2:1 13 See Shem MiShmuel, Mo ’adim 5676 14 BeReishis 1:27 15 ibid. 2:7 16 Yalkut Shim 'oni, Zecharia, Remez 578

The Rav, the Honorary Officers and the Board of Management of the

YESHURUN SYNAGOGUE EDGWARE

extend their best wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful New Year to the members of the Beth Din and the Honorary Officers, Executive and all the members of the Federation of Synagogues

A Q U E S T IO N

INTEREST

by Allen Cohen

he Torah in several places prohi bits the charging of interest on loans between fellow Jews. The prohibition includes the obligation to pay interest in loan documentation, loans by word of mouth which are not reduced to in writing and also to interest by way of gift or waiver. The consequences are far reaching since, not only are the lender and borrower involved in transgressing the prohibition, but dependent upon cir cumstances, the wrong-doing can be extended to a guarantor, witness to a loan (QUAERE whether witnessing a signa ture on a loan containing interest provisions is forbidden) and the person preparing the relevant documentation which in many cases will be a solicitor or accountant. It is necessary to distinguish between Torah forbidden interest (known as "Ribbis Ketsutsah") which is interest be tween a lender and a borrower stipulated at the time of the loan and paid to the lender as a reward for waiting for the re payment of the loan on the one hand and Rabbinic interest (commonly known as "Avak Rivvis" meaning the dust of inter est). I he Rabbis in their wisdom understood the natural desire for a bor rower to look for ways in which the lender would be rewarded for leaving his money outstanding on a loan and felt it neces sary to strengthen the prohibitions in the Torah with Rabinnic ordinances. The dif ference between Ribbis Ketsutsah and Avak Ribbis is that the former can, if paid, be reclaimed via the Beis Din whereas the latter, if paid, cannot be reclaimed. We at Fladgate Fielder in our role of commercial solicitors, and acting for a number of Jewish clients, face the com plexities of Ribbis on a regular basis. For the avoidance ol doubt, although we may interpret English law, we neither seek nor are we qualified to determine the points of Halachah and although we are willing to make available our experience in this field, nevertheless the final arbiter must be the client’s own Rabbi. I set out below a few examples where the spectre of Ribbis raises itself on a regular basis. Commercial contracts today, whether lor the sale and purchase of land, or in

deed any other commodity, invariably contain clauses for payment of interest linked to base rate or LIBOR in the even of delayed completion. Flow is such a clause to be viewed by Halacha? Dayan Weiss in his Responsa seeks to argue that interest for late completion is not that type of interest which the Torah prohibits, rather this type of interest is more akin to a penalty or fine. However, a number of latter-day Halachists disagree and believe that at best this type of transaction in volves Avak Ribbis. In order to avoid any possible contravention of this prohibition we tend to use one of the following two methods: 1. A clause providing for a one-off fixed penalty for late payment and, wher ever possible, payable to a nominee of the vendor. This method is in itself an issue of dispute between two of the great early com m entators. The Rashba held that this is Avak Ribbis whereas the Ritva believed that since the money is not paid to the lender as a reward for waiting for his money, but rather it is a penalty for late pay ment, there is no problem of Ribbis. It is essential, however, that one-off payment is fixed and is not linked to the length ol the delay. Incidentally, since penalties are generally unen forceable under English law, it is prudent to ensure that the relevant clause is carefully drafted. 2 Either make time of the essence for completion of the contract or, alter natively, shorten considerably the period following which Notice to Complete is served prior to forfeiture of the deposit (if applicable) and/or rescission of the contract. Although non-recourse loans are highly desirable, nevertheless many banks, building societies and other finan cial institutions require a form of guarantee for their loans. Halacha con siders three different types of guarantor, but in this article I would like to consider only the position of an Arev Kablan. This is a situation where the lender can bring his claim for repayment either against the borrower or against the guarantor. Stand ard commercial documentation places the guarantor in a position of primary debtor •

to the lender and accordingly, if the guar antor is called upon by the lender to fulfil his obligations then the interest paid by the guarantor to the lender may not be able to be reclaimed by the guarantor from the borrower as in effect the bor rower would be paying the guarantor interest. Probably, however, the most common type of guarantee is an individual or in dividuals guaranteeing the obligations of a limited liability company. It is a wellestablished principle in English law that a limited liability company has a persona of its own and is a separate entity from the beneficial shareholders. In that case there is no problem concerning interest. However, many Rabbis do not accept that this position is in accordance with Halacha and it would be necessary to look “behind the corporate veil” as to the ben eficial owners of the limited liability company. In this case then not only would guaranteeing companies’ obligations be come difficult, but all contracts with limited liability companies with Jewish shareholders would have to be carefully scrutinised with regard to interest provi sions including the granting of licences and leases, sales of shares, hire agreements and any agreements where the price has increased due to delayed payment. Solicitors in common with many other professionals hold clients’ money in sepa rate accounts known as clients accounts. Theoretically each client, or even each separate matter has its own client account, although practically there may be one numbered client account for all clients and matters held at one bank. When in terest is earned at the bank on monies in an individual client account it is question able whether interest is paid and belongs to the professionals and if then paid out to the client would constitute a payment of interest by the professional to the cli ent, or alternatively, whether the account is held by the professional albeit in the professional’s name, but as nominee on behalf of the client. In the former case there would certainly be problems in re spect of interest if both the professional (or the group of professionals) and the client were both Jewish. In the latter case

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it may be argued that the bank is paying interest direct to a client and not via the professional. Today the custom is widespread for the parties to enter into Heter Iska which is a hybrid document where half the money is by way of loan and the other half is a deposit. It is necessary for the lender to share the risk and as considera tion therefore the lender’s share of the profit is no less than the stated percent age on the amount of money advanced by way of loan. At this stage in the pro ceedings the lender still runs the risk of losing his money and therefore the docu ment states that the risk is limited only to theft etc. whereas if the borrower is neg ligent then the loss must be borne by the borrower. Pursuant to the terms of the document the onus of disproving negli gence is upon the borrower and the document will set out the standard of proof which the borrower must produce to disprove negligence which to all in tents and purposes is impossible to procure; e.g. Beth Din judges. Since the borrower is unable to procure this evi dence the borrower would have to bear the total loss and the lender is therefore protected. Standard forms of Heter Iksa are available from the Federation Beth Din and their use is strongly recom mended wherever and whenever there is any doubt a proposed transaction may contravene the laws of interest. Allen Cohen is a member of Sinai Synagogue and head of the Property De partment of Fladgate Fielder, Solicitors.

R EC IPE/ FOR R O /H H A /H A N A H by Avril Fine

MY BOO BA'/ LEKACH

APPLE CAKE

ingredients 6 oz caster sugar 12 oz plain flour 2 eggs 1 teaspoon baking powder half a cup of oil 1 teaspoon ground ginger 8 oz Golden Syrup 1 teaspoon mixed spice teacup warm water 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda chopped/flaked almonds for decoration

ingredients 6 oz margarine lemon juice to taste 6 oz caster sugar 2 tablespoons warm water 6 oz self raising flour 4 large cooking apples 3 eggs cinnamon to taste

Method 1) Cream sugar and eggs well. 2) Add oil and Golden Syrup and mix well. 3) Sieve flour with baking powder, gin ger, spice and bicarbonate of soda. 4) Add this dry mixture alternatively with teacup of warm water until both mixtures are used up. 5) Pour into a 10” square tin which has been lined with bakewell paper and decorate with chopped/flaked al monds. 6) Bake at Regulo 4 (325°-375°) for one hour.

Method 1) Cream margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. 2) Fold in loz flour with one egg and beat. Repeat twice more and then fold in remaining flour with water and lemon juice and beat. 3) Grease an 8” square tin and pour half of the mixture in. (This can also be made in a 10” flan dish as a dessert). Cut, peel and slice the apples (not too thin) and arrange slices evenly onto mixture. Sprinkle with some sugar and cinnamon. Cover with remaining mixture and smooth over. Bake at Regulo 4 (325° - 375°) for one hour.

Avril Fine is a receptionist at the Head Office o f the Federation o f Synagogues.

B e t D in E s t a b lis h e d in G e r m a n y t a historic meeting in Berlin on 13 May 1999, at the initiative of the Conference of European Rabbis, a Bet Din was established to serve the religious needs of German Jewry. Participating at this meeting on behalf of the CER were Rabbi Lord Jakobovits, Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu, Dayan Yaacov Lichtenstein, Dayan Rebibo, Rabbi Lewinger, Councillor Aba Dunner and Rabbi Moshe Rose. The German Rabbis who have been invited to be included in the Bet Din are Yitzchak Ehrenberg, Berlin, Shimon Langenas, Munich, Dov Barzilai, Hamburg, and Moshe Schlesinger, Heidelberg, who together with the Dayanim nominated by the conference will form the central Bet

Din of Germany. The offices of the Bet Din will be situated in Munich. Before the tragic destruction of German Jewry in the Shoah, a central ised Rabbinate did not exist in Germany. However, with the continued migration of Jews from the CIS over the past few years more than trebling what was largely an ageing Jewish population, has prompted the CER to attempt to tackle this new and complex situation. It appears that the attractions of aliyah to Israel are unfortunately not powerful enough to alter the current situation. Some commu nities are almost completely made up of Russians and Ukrainians while in others they constitute a majority. Rabbi Lord Jakobovits returning to Germany for the first time since 1936

where his distinguished father of blessed memory headed the Berlin Bet Din, stated, “The process of establishing the German Bet Din has received the sym pathetic support and encouragement of Mr Ignatz Bubis, President o f the Zentralraat of German Jewry." He was joined at the at the inauguration meeting by Mr Nathan Kalmanovicz, a member of the praesidium of the Zentralraat. There was also a supporting message from Rabbi Joel Berger the spokesman of the Rabbiner Conferenz of Germany. The late Mr Bubis who hosted the Berlin meeting declared his delight at this great and innovative initiative and stressed its importance for the further development of authentic Jewish life in Germany.

Norwood Ravenswood Giving People a Chance in Life

orwood Ravenswood's mission is to build a better future for disadvantaged children, young adults and people o f all ages with learning disabilities (mental handicap) and offer support to their families. Children and life are not always perfect and sometimes a helping hand is needed. Maybe it is from the moment of birth when a child is born with a learning disability or is given up for adoption. Perhaps it is as the child gets older. He or she may suffer from dyslexia, or experience financial hardship in the family or be the victim of an abusive parent. Whatever the circumstances, people who need help need the best help they can get as quickly, efficiently and professionally as possible.

Norwood Ravenswood provides a ‘one stop' family service looking after children as they grow up and, where nec essary, offering on-going help throughout adulthood. This means local, accessible services, where people can get the help they need by making just one call. Norwood Ravenswood is an effective organisation for its users as well as rep resenting a cause that is close to everyone’s heart and is truly worthy of the community’s support. Our research and experience tells us that the demand for our services will in crease in the coming years. We already operate waiting lists for residential places and special educational programmes and we know that there are people in institu

tions and at home who simply do not, or cannot reach us and use our services. Also as services in local authorities and the NHS decline, the demands on us continue to grow. Norwood Ravenswood believes that all disadvantaged children and people with learning disabilities have the right to be supported in the pursuit of personal growth, expression and development, re gardless of the severity of their social disadvantage or disability. We pride ourselves on professional staff and dedicated volunteers who iden tify closely with our work, which is usually multi-disciplinary and enables us to offer each client a unique, bespoke care package.

The London School of Jewish Studies by Professor D avid Hillel Ruben

any of you will know of the London School of Jewish by its former name, Jews’ College. The LSJS has been given a new, and very clear, mission: to address the needs of the Orthodox Jewish community in the UK, by offering quality Jewish higher educa tion (we are part of the University of London) to the whole community, and by producing the teachers, rabbis, and pro fessionals required by our schools and community organisations. We have, for the first time, a serious Beis haMidresh, in which traditional Jewish learning takes place. We believe that the interaction be tween traditional and academic Jewish study, brought together on a single cam pus, enhances both of them. The LSJS is a valuable community resource. It belongs to the community and will be successful only if the community feels that it owns it, and has access to it. It is my hope that many in the Federation of Synagogues will see this institution as theirs, able to educate them, their rabbis, teachers, community profes sionals, able to provide a location for serious study of Torah in all its aspects. So too, I hope that many of the educa tors and rabbis from the Federation will be willing to give to us, by teaching

Torah in various ways at the LSJS. Given the ever increasing number of young Jewish men and women in univer sity, we must be able to provide Jewish education at the higher education level, which is as sophisticated as the higher education Jewish students receive in their secular subjects. This is particularly im portant for us as Orthodox Jews. If Orthodoxy is not to be on the defensive, it must present itself in a way that is at tractive and open, serious and rigorous, without compromise of what is essential to it. Our mission involves the provision of a range o f undergraduate and post graduate degrees, taught by a faculty of approachable Orthodox lecturers who are each acknowledged experts, in volved in academ ic research and publishing as well as teaching. Their courses can be taken either individually or as part of the full or part-time BA in Jewish Studies. We also offer a flexible MA in Hebrew and Jewish Studies, which is open to anyone with a first de gree in almost any subject and does not require any prerequisite Jewish knowl edge. Nor do we insist on traditional qualifications for entry. There are altemative ways to test suitability for the degree,

in the absence of ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels. If a two or three-year commitment is impractical, LSJS also offers a range of introductory courses in the ‘Gateway to Jewish Learning' Programme. Five-week evening courses in Biblical Hebrew, Me dieval and Modern Jewish philosophy, and various aspects of Jewish history and law run on a rolling basis through the year. Not enough students know- that, since the LSJS is part of the University of Lon don, they can take LSJS courses as outside options as part of their degree, at no cost, if they are registered at any of the colleges of the University of London. We also provide opportunities for re search in many aspects of Jewish Studies at the doctoral level. Finally, we have created a centre for traditional Torah study, a Beis haMidresh. We are pioneering the idea of students being able to earn university course cred its within their degree in a secular subject by attending shiurim at the LSJS. What ever we do, w hatever educational innovation we initiate, is governed by the sole criterion of strengthening our com munity by strengthening its commitment to Torah. David-Hillel Ruben is the Director o f the London School o f Jewish Studies

On Your Next Visit to Israel put Shaare Zedek On Your Itinerary

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his spring, Shaare Zedek opened its new Woman and Infant Centre - the first of its kind in Israel. Just in time, if the number of births in 1998 is anything to go by. A total of 6,313 babies were born at the hospital between Janu ary and December, including one quartet of quadruplets, 16 trios of triplets and 124 sets of twins! More women give birth at Shaare Zedek than at any other Jerusa lem Hospital. Shaare Zedek was founded in the late 1870s when there was no State of Israel. Jerusalem was a city of unpaved streets, dirty and unhygienic with a great deal of poverty. Diseases such as malnutrition, influenza, malaria and cholera were ram pant. There were no Jewish hospitals in Turkish-governed Jerusalem. A group of concerned German and Dutch Jews de cided that a Jewish hospital was needed to combine the highest standards of modern medicine with an adherence to the time hallowed Jewish values and prac tices that have sustained our people for

centuries. And so, Shaare Zedek (‘Gates of Righteousness’) was born, its aim to help all in need, regardless of race or religion. From the beginning its message was “attention for the total patient, and not just the disease”. Today, Shaare Zedek is an ultra mod ern 500-bed medical centre opposite Mount Herzl. It has a famous Nursing School, research laboratories and a com plete underground emergency hospital equipped with its own decontamination unit in case of chemical warfare. Built for peace, it is, nevertheless, always pre pared for war. but, however large the hospital becomes, Shaare Zedek never loses sight of its caring ethos, which is why it is known throughout the world as “The Hospital with a Heart”. Shaare Zedek treats all in need, regard less of race or religion. Jew or Arab, Christian or Muslim, Orthodox or Secu lar - everyone is treated with the same degree of care and compassion at this centre of healing and love. With no gov

ernment help, every stage of development of Shaare Zedek, and every piece of life saving equipment has to be paid for by donations. The British Council of Shaare Zedek has been established in the United Kingdom for more than sixty years, rais ing funds and drawing attention to the constant struggle to maintain this won derful hospital. This, then, is the miracle o f Shaare Zedek. Despite being independently funded, it still holds firm to its principles. It has not compromised and it has not disappointed. With the help and support of its loyal “family” around the world, it will continue to preserve its unique char acter and to care for those in need for centuries to come. I f you are planning a trip to Israel. please call Angela Margolis at the Lon don office fo r some special Shaare Zedek hospitality. You will he escorted on a VIP visit through the hospital by staff who love to greet their British visitors. Telephone: 0181 201 8933.

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by Martin D Stern

Dear Chaim Many thanks for your letter which arrived two weeks ago. I must apologise for the delay in my reply but 1 have been out of town on business and only came back just before Shabbos. At this time of the year we all try to accumulate extra mitsvot and give extra tsedakah but I think you were quite right to be upset over that incident with the meshullach; unfortunately it was not so atypical. After all, he should have seen that you had just put on your tefillin shel yad and wee about to put on your shel rosh; a donation for his yeshivah could have waited an extra minute. A similar thing happened to me once when I was about to say shema and had my hand over my eyes and som eone shouted “hachnassos kalloh " down my ear; it completely destroyed my kavannah. Ad mittedly he would have had to wait a bit longer than in your case but that hardly excuses such behaviour. We all realise that time constraints meshullachim work under but that does not justify soliciting funds at such inap propriate times. I consulted our rav about this some years ago and he assured me that there is no obligation to interrupt one’s tefillah tor them. We might say in our yamim noraim davenning “uteshuvah utejillah u tsedakah ma avirin et roa hageserah - repentance, prayer and charity annul the evil d ecree” but, to paraphrase chazal. “zeman tefillah lechud, zeman tsedakah le c h u d -there is a time for prayer and a time for charity”. I suppose that we must be grateful that not all meshullachim show so little sen sitivity in these matters. Of course if it were a case ofpikuach nefesh it would be different, but 1 have never seen anyone who was about to col lapse from starvation collecting in shul. In such a situation a monetary donation would probably be too late and a gift of some lood would be more appropriate. I wonder what would happen if one offered

a particularly obstreperous meshullach a sweet to help him survive till the end of davenning! I once saw a gentleman who had a lit tle card on his desk during davenmng which he pointed out to anyone who tried to talk to him. I think it read something like:

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I have always wondered how this problem has come about. Perhaps it all goes back to when they were children and were encouraged to go round with a pushke during chazarat has hats. Thank G-d we don't have that minhag in our shul but it is quite common despite the fact that the Peri Megadim writes so strongly against it. He should have understood the bad effect it would have on children since he always described himself as a makrei dardekel, an elementary-school teacher. I have seen quite often that people ask for change or even crack a joke with the child. Obviously they learn from this practice that chazarat hashats is not so terribly important and one can talk then. They do not realise the severity of the prohibition which the Shulchan Aruch describes as “gadol avono minso - his sin is greater than he can bear”. I sup pose for people who chat anyway, a charitable donation may be a palliative but it can only be a second best to giving undivided attention to the sheliach tsibbur.

I I I

I have never iyone who was o collapse from collecting

On the other hand where this custom is firmly established it would be difficult to abolish it. If everyone know of it they can have a coin ready in advance and avoid any distraction but the same can not be said of the many meshullachim who turn up. It would be best if a notice barring them at such times were put out side the shul door and the gabbaim ensured that they did not disturb the mitpallelim at such inappropriate times. There is another custom of collecting after Kriat Ha Torah which is in my opin ion infinitely preferable. One shul I went to on my business trips had this custom and it worked well for many years. Then they decided that they could raise more money by collecting every day. In order to avoid chazarat hashats, they sent a child round during Ashrei on other days despite the Peri Megaddim s reservations. It did not take long before the children forgot the original custom and collected then even on Monday and Thursdays. I am sure the amount collected did not jus tify the disturbance caused. People do not realise the importance of Ashrei, whose recitation three times a day chazal tell us assures us of a place in the world to come. Perhaps the teshuvah (answer) to those who Put giving money to charity above all else by saying “tsedakah tatsil mimavet - charity saves from death” is that through Tefillah one becomes a true ben olam haba, one who really merits eternal life. Wishing you and all your family nm u m rn m r a w Your friend M oshe

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Edited by Elana Brown

Which Whale 8wa Ilows ncollectii

Jonah? Answer on page 3 0

Prize Competition Find six o f the Ushpizim in the grid below Which one is missing?

Please make sure you send us your entry form by the closing date for the competition, Monday 1st November 1999 to: Prize Competition, Hamaor, Federation of Synagogues, 65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ. (Please write in BLOCK CAPITALS) THE MISSING ONE OF THE USHPIZIM IS: NAME: „d all y °“r

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

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AGE

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A S M O U N TA IN S AROUND JER U S A LEM by Rachel Pomerantz 256 pages Hardcover rom an acclaimed novelist comes yet another fascinating tale of four young people from the four

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STO R IES F O R A SH ABBO S A FTERN O O N by Chaiky Halpern 144 pages url up in your favorite chair or under your favorite tree and settle down for a wonderful read. Each story in this charming potpourri of tales from “here and there” - from modern suburbia to old Jerusalem - is skilfully woven, entertaining, and in spiring.

O N E PLUS O N E ONE by Rabbi Emmanuel Feldman ne plus one = one: Bad arithmetic, but it adds up to an excellent marriage. When two individuals marry, two separate entities become one. This unique book tells us how the bless ing of Genesis - “and they [man and woman] will become one flesh” - can come true for you. This is not just another marriage manual, but a focused look at the timetested Jewish perspective on marriage. One Plus One carries a major message: How to implement this Divine arithmetic. Here you will find intriguing discus sions of what every man should know about the role of women in Judaism, and the classic Jewish way to fight boredom in marriage. You will also learn the hid den meanings o f the mikveh and the family purity practices, the symbolism of the wedding ceremony and its various customs, and the Torah's profound ap proach to the physical and spiritual aspects of marital relations - all written in a lucid, engaging style.

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ON B U SD R IV ER S, D R EID ELS A N D O R A N G E JU IC E by Tzvia Ehrlich-Klein 96 pages his collection of poignant, funny, and miraculous stories imparts to the reader the flavor of everyday life in Israel, which will strike a chord, both happy and sad, in the hearts of all who read it. Available in a handy, pocketsize format, this book is an ideal companion wherever you may go.

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NEW BOOKS FROM PITSPOPfiNY A CHILDREN’S BIBLE SUITABLE FOR ALL JEWISH CHILDREN new children’s Bible published by Pitspopany Press makes it easy for children to learn the sto ries in the Torah and helps parents and teachers explain the Rabbinic and Midrashic commentary that brings these stories to life for children. The Jewish Children's Bible is a fivevolume work that has taken over three years to complete. Adapted by Sheryl Prenzlau, a veteran Jewish children’s writer and author of the “Kid Sisters” series, and illustrated by Zely Smekhov, chief illustrator for the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, this work not only contains the major stories in the Torah, but also includes The Jewish Children’s Haggadah, The Book o f Esther, The Book o f Ruth, and The Book o f Jonah, each writ ten and illustrated for children ages 6-9. The Jewish Children’s Bible captures the splendor of Creation, the excitement of the Exodus, the majesty of the Sacri fices, the trials and tribulations of the Israelites in the desert, and fatherly re buke Moshe, the greatest Jewish leader of all time. Each of the five volumes follows the weekly Torah reading in the synagogue so that children can better understand the parsha. Each of the five volumes also contains a second section that gives par ents and teachers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of each parsha, and highlights the thoughts of some of the major Bibli cal commentaries. More than 250 full color illustrations are spread across over 325 pages in five volumes, each volume in its own jack eted cloth cover. Each individual book of the Bible is available separately, as well as part of a beautiful five volume gift set.

ROSIE AND THE MOLE - THE STORY OF A BRIS osie and The Mole is a book that talks to young children who are being confronted with the strange and sometimes scary world of ritual cir

cumcision. Rosie is jealous of her new baby brother. He’s getting all the attention. He is about to receive a bris and a Naming Ceremony, while all she had was a Nam ing Ceremony when she was bom. But when her father announces, “The mole is coming!” Rosie instinctively feels the need to protect her brother. After all, moles have sharp claws. By the time Rosie finds out that the “mole” is really a “mohel,” she has learned why boys have a bris and girls don’t, and what a Nam ing Ceremony is all about. Best of all, Rosie begins to realize how important her new brother is to her, and that being a big sister is a wonderful responsibility. Rosie and The Mole is written by Judy Silverman, a veteran children’s librarian, and illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn who has over 40 books to her credit. The book includes a wonderful introduction “WHAT’S A BRIS ALL ABOUT?” by Phil Sherman, a professional mohel, as well as a NAMING GUIDE and a full color “YOU ARE THE GREATEST OLDER SIBLING CERTIFICATE.”

THE HEBREW LETTERS TELL THEIR STORY - WELCOME TO THE ISLAND OF ALEF he Hebrew Alef Bet letters meet the Doodle Family on the Island of Alef in this wonderful ani mated, full color adventure where pooches fly and camels water ski. Each beautifully illustrated double spread page reveals a letter of the Hebrew Alef Bet through an unforgettable rhyme which children will love learning and repeating. New Hebrew words appear at the end of the book, and children will discover the Hebrew and English meaning of each word through the picture and its accom panying rhyme. The Doodle Family serve as fantasmagorical guides on the Island of Alef, revealing the secrets of the Hebrew letters. The Disney-like quality of the il lustrations will make young children eager to make the Doodle Family part of their family too. The Hebrew Letters Tell Their Story

is written and illustrated by Reudor, gifted cartoonist and illustrator whose Doodle Family explores Judaism in a fresh and novel way. Pitspopany Press publishes The Hebrew Letters Tell Their Story as well as an earlier Alef Bet title, My First Words, a “windows” book designed to help children learn everyday Hebrew words. The Hebrew words in the book are also transliterated for those who have little or no Hebrew background.

YOMIM TOVIM TITLES FROM PITSPOPANY PRESS Pitspopany Press, the leader in Jewish

children’s books, has available the fol lowing titles for the Yom Tovim: TELL IT FROM THE T O R A H : Two volume gift set. Provides a synopsis of the weekly Torah reading, a dvar Torah for each parsha, anecdotes, gemmatria, midrashim, and how the Torah and HafTorah relate. Includes all the major Jewish Holidays. Ages 12 and above. T E N T R A D I T I O N A L J EWI S H CHILDREN’S HO LI DAYS-Features “Yussel’s Prayer,” a wonderful Yom Kippur tale, and “The Big Sukkah.” Ages 6-9. THE ENERGIZING JEWISH CHIL D R E N ’S HOLIDAYS - The complete story of every major Holiday, including Customs and Laws. Full color hidden objects on the double page illustrations. Ages 7-12. JEWISH H U M O R STORIES FOR KIDS - Award-winning stories, includ ing “Hannah’s Sukkah." Ages 9-12. THE ESSENTIAL TRIVIA BOOK FOR KIDS - This book was written by kids for kids. Nine different categories, including “Jewish Holidays.” Ideal for home, synagogue, youth groups, and school. Ages 8-12

All Pitspopany Press titles are available at good Jewish bookshops or can be ordered from the UK distributor: B Horowitz in Man chester on: 0161 740 5897.

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F E D E R A T IO N SY N A G O G U ES 65 W atford Way, London, NW4 3AQ. Tel: 0181-202 2263 Fax: 0181-203 0610

HONORARY OFFICERS

President: A. J. Cohen Vice-Presidents: J. Gitlin Master J. Winegarten. Treasurers (Federation): A. Finlay & G. Halibard Treasurers (Burial Society) H. Dony, N. Bruckheimer

ADMINISTRATION & ACCOUNTS G. D. Coleman BURIAL SOCIETY Administrator: M. L. Stuart Sexton: N. Kahler

Tel: 0181-202 3903. Fax: 0181-203 0610 Out of hours answerphone: 0181-202 3903.

Co-opted: B. Mire Cemeteries: BETH DIN

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

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. During British Summer Time gates are open until 5.00pm and during the month of Ellul until 6.00pm.

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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. Hon Secretary: Z. Shenkin.

BEIS NADVORNA BETH HAMEDRASH. 45 Darenth Road N 16. Tel: 0181-806 2030. Rav: Rabbi M Leifer. Treas: Mr S Tessler.

CLAPTON FEDERATION SYNAGOGUE (Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;are Shomayim). (Incorporating Yavneh 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 Min: Rev M. Gingold. Secretary: P. da Costa. Tel 0181-809 4221.

CROYDON & DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE, The Almonds, 5 Shirley Oaks Road, Croydon, Surrey CR0 8YX. Tel: 0181662 0011. 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. ELSTREE BETH HAMEDRASH. 6 Allum Lane, Elstree, Herts WD6 3PH. Rav: Rabbi D. Tugenhaft. Secretary: Mr M. Slyper. Tel: 0181-953 8444. FINCHLEY CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE, 2 Redbourne Avenue, 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 Secretary: Mrs. P. Hackner. OHEL JACOB SYNAGOGUE (Ilford Beth Hamedrash), (Incorporating the Ilford Rabbinical College) 1st Floor, rear of 476/478 Cranbrook Road, Ilford. Essex IG2 2LE. Rav: Rabbi R. Godlewsky. Secretary: Mrs. R. Pressman. Tel: 0181 -550 4596. MACHZIKEI HADASS SYNAGOGUE. Highfield Road, NW11. Rav: Rabbi C. Pearlman. Hon. Secretary: R. Shaw. Tel: 0181-204 1887. OHEL SHEM SYNAGOGUE. Hon Min: Rev. G. Glausiusz. Tel: 0181-904 5773. Hon Secretary: A. Cohen. Tel: 0181-459 3479. SHOMREI HADATH SYNAGOGUE, 64 Burrard Road, Hampstead, London NW6 1DD. Tel: 0171-435 3766. Secretary: Mrs. J. Segal. Tel: 0171-431 0017. SINAI SYNAGOGUE, 54 Woodstock Avenue, NW1 1 9RJ. Tel. 0181-455 6876. Rav: Rabbi B. Knopfler. Secretary: Mr E. Cohen. YESHURUN SYNAGOGUE. Fernhurst Gardens, Stonegrove, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 7PH. Tel 0181 -952 5167. Rav: Dayan G. Lopian. Secretary: D. Cohen. Tel: 0181-952 3844.

FIELDGATE STREET GREAT SYNAGOGUE. 41 Fieldgate Street, EL Tel: 0171-247 2644. Secretary: Mrs. D Jacobson. 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. Rav: Rabbi H Belovski. Secretary: Mrs M. Lewis. Tel: 0181-504 2248. NEW WIMBLEDON & PUTNEY DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE. Secretary: Mrs R. Diamond. Tel 0181-788 6669. NOTTING HILL SYNAGOGUE. 206/208 Kensington Park Road, W11. Min: Rabbi J Klein. 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, N 17 9HT. Tel: 0181 -808 4698. Minister: Rabbi S Lewis. Secretary: Dr. S.S. Cohen. Tel: 0181-368 4158. WALTHAM FOREST HEBREW CONGREGATION. (Queens Road) 140 Boundary Road, E l7 Tel: 0181-507 0775. Minister Rabbi M Davis. 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.

FEDERATION OF SYNAGOGUES KASHRUS BOARD Chairman: Mr. W. Ungar. Director o f Kashrus: Dayan M. D. Elzas The following establishments are licensed by the Federation Kashrus Board and are under the Supervision o f the Beth Din o f the Federation o f Synagogues: CA TERERS: D'NAN BUFFET CATERING 7 Ascot Close, Elstree, Herts WD6 3J8 PARK LANE HOTEL Piccadilly, London W1Y 8BX REGENT BANQUETING SUITE 331 Regents Park Road. Finchley N3 SOMETHING SPECIAL David Hilton, 9 Woodland Way, London NW7 2JP

RESTAURANTS: 0181-207 5284

AVIV RESTAURANT 87 High Street, Edgware

0181-952 2484

0171-4996321

FOLMAN’S RESTAURANT 134 Brent Street, NW4 2DR

0181-202 5592

0181-343 3090

KINNERET 313 Hale Lane, Edgware, Middx HA8 7AX

0181-958 4955

0181-906 1208

CASSIT, 225 Golders Green Rd.,London, NW 11 9PN

0181-455 8195

0181-958 6910

MACABI, KING OF FALAFEL 59 Wentworth Street, London El

0171-247 6660

0181-441 3621

SAMI'S, 157 Brent Street, London NW4

0181-203 8088

THE WHITE HOUSE 10 Bell Lane, Hendon NW4

0181-203 2427

DEL1CA TESSENS AND SHOPS: PELTER STORES 82 Edgvvare Way, Edgware, Middx. THE WORLD OF KOSHER 25 Station Road. Cockfosters, Barnet

BAKERIES: MARLENE’S 6 Hendon Lane, Finchley, N3 THE CAKE GALLERY 306 Hale Lane, Edgware, Middx.

0181-349 1674 0181-958 6681

HOTELS: GOLDERS GREEN HOTEL 147/149 Golders Green Road, London NW 11

0181-4587127

THE FEDERATION HEBREW CLASSES

MANUFACTURERS: El-Al Kosher Catering, J. Moldovan, Quality & Flavour (Fish) Simtom (Pickles) Wilkin & Son ‘Tiptree’ (Jams) The Walnut Tree

0181-8976136 0181-985 5791

0181-959 6626

Which Whale Swallows Jonah?

Chairman: Mr Jonathan Winegarten Director o f Education: Rabbi Ronen Broder Loughton, Chigwell & District Hebrew Classes, Borders Lane, Loughton Headmaster: Rabbi H Belovski Tel: 0181 502 1263 Ilford Hebrew Classes, 16 Coventry Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4QR Headmaster: Rabbi R Livingstone Tel: 0181 518 5473 Yeshurun Hebrew Classes, Femhurst Gardens, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7PH Headmistress: Mrs S Brackman Tel: 0181 951 0239 Kindergartens: Loughton Synagogue, Yeshurun Synagogue.

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