בס׳׳ד
YINNMagazine
THE
Pesach 5780
Wishing all Congregants Chag Sameach v'Kasher e-mail: insurance@pope-geri.co. il Tel: 09-862-4824 The Choice of AACI Netanya For Excellence - Country wide B | YINN Pesach 5780
YINNMagazine
THE
In This Edition
Pesach 5780
Board of Management........................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Letter from the Editor......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Index of Advertisers........................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 A Pesach Message from the Rabbi ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Chairman’s Message by Graham Nussbaum............................................................................................................................................... .6 NACHAS PAGES ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6-10 Pesach – Wonder of Wonders by Hazel Broch............................................................................................................................................ 11 DAF CORNER – Masechet Berachot Pesach Insights By Rabbi Ozer (Edward) Feigelman............................................................... 12 Thoughts – Poem By Avril Kormornick.......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Between Passover and Shavuot: Realising the Aim of Israel Adapted from Rabbi Yehuda Leon Ashkenazi z”l (Manitou) By Georges Mendelbaum.................................................................... 15 From Canonicals to Sushi: The United Synagogue at 150 By Professor David Newman OBE.................................................. 16-19 My Father By Stuart Horowitz..........................................................................................................................................................................20 My Mum By Vivienne Simenoff........................................................................................................................................................................ 21 A Remarkable Incident By Rev Michael Plaskow MBE............................................................................................................................... 22 The Message of Freedom By Rabbi Simon Silas......................................................................................................................................... 23 Return Without Repentance By Rabbi Arnie Fine................................................................................................................................ 25-27 Kiddushim............................................................................................................................................................................................................26 Jews and Psychiatry By Joseph Berger...................................................................................................................................................29-30 Helping Soldiers Chillax: How YINN supports AWIS By Pamela Peled ........................................................................................ 30-31 Journey Into Jordan By Phil Margulies.................................................................................................................................................... 34-37 Do We Have Reason To Believe? By Harvey Green....................................................................................................................................38 Living With The Gods — On Beliefs and Peoples By Stuart West................................................................................................... 39-41 Friday Evening a la Francais By Denis Elkoubi........................................................................................................................................... 42 Shul Trip to Eilat – 17-21 November 2019 By Janice Zemmel............................................................................................................... 43 Siyum Hashas 8th January 2020 By Dr. Leah Adams, David Gillis, Viv Simenoff..........................................................................44-47 Danny Levitt........................................................................................................................................................................................................48 Some Personal Thoughts On Visiting Homes For The Aged By Mervyn Leviton.........................................................................49-50 Purim Revue 2020 By Judy Frankel................................................................................................................................................................. 52 Community Reports.................................................................................................................................................................................... 54-61 Tarbut Excursion: Jerusalem Photography and article by Avril Gatoff...................................................................................................58 Contacting the Shul by Email – A User’s Guide........................................................................................................................................ 61 Shiurim.................................................................................................................................................................................................................62 Do you recognize him? ....................................................................................................................................................................................62 Greetings to our Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren 2020.........................................................................................................63 Useful Telephone Numbers.............................................................................................................................................................................64 The YINN Magazine is edited by Alan Gold and Sharon Carr. Design by Therese Berkowitz. Photography: Avril Gatoff. Advertising Manager: Ivor Carr. Opinions expressed are those of the writers concerned and are not necessarily those of the editor or of the Young Israel Synagogue.
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Young Israel of North Netanya 39 Shlomo Hamelech, Netanya
Board of Management Honorary Life President: Aubrey Blitz Chairman: Graham Nussbaum Vice Chairman: Alex Stuart Treasurer: Andrew Kaye Secretary: Sharon Carr Senior Gabbai: David Feiler
Gabbaim: David Feiler Rev. Michael Plaskow Hilton Share Asher Edery Administrator: Gillian Amroon
Board Gerald Barnett (co-opted) Hazel Broch Janet Elkoubi Anthony Felix Alan Gold Andy Kormornick
Elkan Levy Ivor Lewis Tony Plaskow Eze Silas Vivienne Simenoff Hilton Share (ex-officio)
We wish all our congregants who are unwell or indisposed a refuah shlema and we extend our deepest condolences to all who have suffered bereavement. Our congregants and their families wish Rabbi Boruch and Esther Boudilovsky, Rabbi Eddie and Frankie Jackson and Rabbi Natan Morowitz and all their fellow congregants and their families חג כשר ושמח. Would anyone who feels he has not received a mitzvah
for some time, please accept our sincere apologies and contact David Feiler who will be happy to remedy the situation. Please note that there are no reserved seats in the Shul other than on the Yamim Noraim, so it would be appreciated if ladies and gentlemen already present are not requested to move their seats by members coming into the Shul after the service has commenced.
About the Chevra Kadisha In time of sorrow, a kind word and a helping hand can bring much needed comfort. As a Congregation, we must be aware of the help we can give to all persons who are in mourning, be it by attending the funeral, visiting the mourners while they are sitting Shiva, attending services at the Shiva house or helping with meals for the mourners. The care shown at this time is greatly
appreciated and is its own satisfaction. Members should know that the Committee is here to help with all arrangements at these unfortunate times. Phyllis Carr is the co-ordinator of the team of cooks who help to alleviate the trauma of the mourners in their hour of need.
Contact Numbers:
Mobile
Home
Rabbi Boruch Boudilovsky Eze Silas 09-862 8737 Alan Gold 077-530 1758 Yitzhak Bakst 09-887 2474 Phyllis Carr 077 456 3750
054-525 9490 054-459 3209 050-215 0697 052-741 2228 052-379 0740
Tehillim Circle
Bar & Bat Mitzvah
Please join the group of women reciting the Book of Psalms for the Matzav, the Sick, Shidduchim, and Klal Yisrael every Monday at 5:00 pm. Contact Ruth Lyons 054-475 3637
Many people still do not know that they are entitled, if a full member of the shul, to a Chumash for a child or grandchild celebrating their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Please advise Linda Lawrence, in good time, by email at linron33@gmail.com or phone 0548 646 466.
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YINN AND THE HEALTH SITUATION: This magazine was prepared before the latest restrictions on public gatherings announced on 14th March and consequently many of the activities mentioned will be on hold for the time being. The situation is of course likely to change during the next few weeks and months. Members and their families can be confident that, whilst strictly adhering to Ministry of Health guidelines, the Shul will do its utmost to provide services and support. We can only reiterate that if you have any flu type symptoms, please stay at home and if necessary seek medical advice.
Letter from the Editor Out Comes The Calf If it’s not sacrilegious to say it, I have always thought that Aaron’s justification for the Golden Calf is one of the tamest on record. Let’s look at the dialogue: For they said to me, “Make us gods, which shall go before us; and as for this Moshe, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what became of him.” And I said to them, “Whoever has any gold, let them take it off.” So they gave it me; then I cast it into the fire, and out came this calf. Now I feel a great deal of sympathy for the good old High Priest. I announce that we have a magazine to get out and the community response has been absolutely staggering. It just happened… For example within twelve hours of each other, Stuart Horowitz and Vivienne Simenoff produced fascinating portraits of their respective father and mother, one in the US forces in WW2, the other working in top secret at Bletchley Park. At the same time, we have tributes to major features of shul life in the past six months as we record the Siyum Hashas, the Tarbut day out in Jerusalem and the ever-popular shul trip to Eilat. Joseph Berger gives us a fascinating insight into the history of psychiatry and an old friend, Judy Frankel, makes a welcome return to cast her critical eye on the Purim Shpiel. There is much more in this edition that I have no space to mention but I hope it will give you and your family and friends enjoyable and insightful reading during Pesach and the weeks that follow. Sharon and Ivor join me in wishing our contributors and advertisers, our ever patient designer Therese, Avril our photographer, June Weinberg ace canvasser for Pesach greetings, our distribution team and the entire kehillah a chag kasher v sameach. A Alan Gold
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Amechaya........................................................ 14 Buy A Piece Of Israel............................... 32-33 Currency UK..............................Inside Back Cover Ha’merkaha Pharmacy.................................. 51 Kwik Kopy........................................................34 Le QG Hair Salon ...........................................24 Maadaney Avi Catering & Restaurant....... 28 Malka Catering.................................................4 Manchester Curtain Company.....................10 Mike Electronics.............................................22 Pope - Geri Insurance........Inside Front Cover Shipony Insurance Agency Ltd.... Back Cover Steak House & Burger Bar........................... 46 Yochanan Real Estate................................... 26 Yoram Sarusi................................................... 51 Zvi Centre........................................................ 60
The Editors and the Young Israel Community of North Netanya appreciate the support of our advertisers. Please let them know that you have seen their advertisement in this publication. YINN and the magazine team are not in any way responsible for the performance of our advertisers nor for the accuracy of their advertisements. In particular we do not guarantee the kashrut of any establishment advertising in this magazine.
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A Pesach Message from the Rabbi When exploring the abundant biblical references to Moses’ speech disorder, the mystical teachings of the Zohar compare three stages of redemption to three levels in speech development. The first stage, in which the Jews are trapped in the depth of hopeless slavery, is symbolized by silence. When Moses appears with a message of freedom, sound replaces silence. Finally, when redemption
the joy of freedom. A slave has no identity, no story to share, and therefore no voice. A slave is not heard or noticed, only used. A free person has an identity, a story to share, language and words through which he or she expresses oneself. Language and words are therefore a symbol of freedom. On Passover evening, many rituals such as drinking wine, celebrating
more. Thus, our communal magazine is another expression of our freedom which we enjoy and celebrate. I congratulate all the contributors and thank the magazine team for their hard work which is evident by the quality of this issue. Finally, on behalf of Esther, myself and our children, I wish you and your families a Chag Kasher V’Sameach. A
A free person has an identity, a story to share, language and words through which one expresses oneself. is complete, sounds shape words. Moses’ personal battle with speech, in which he struggles to communicate clearly, is an expression of a national yearning to materialise hope into freedom. Silence characterizes slavery, words represent freedom. The Halachic requirement to articulate the story of the Exodus on Passover evening captures the tragedy of slavery and
with family, and reclining, are symbols of freedom. Verbally articulating our story is an additional expression of our freedom. Therefore, we do not only remember the Exodus on Passover evening, rather we verbally share it as our story. The community magazine is a platform where each of us can share our stories, ideas, insights, memories, hopes, greetings, and
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Chairman’s Message by Graham Nussbaum
WHAT’S NEW? On Simchat Torah we enjoyed a Hachnasat Sefer Torah where the Rabbi led the parade of men, women and children as it was danced into the Shul. The Sefer which is over 200 years old was buried during the Shoah to enable it to survive. Sadly, it is badly damaged but we want to bring it back to life. We have started trawling trusts and organizations who we feel might be able to cover the cost of the repair. A Clubhouse was donated anonymously, via AWIS, in honour of YINN at an IDF Base in Pardes Hanna.
was a very lively atmosphere in the auditorium created by about 4,000 people who represented a full spectrum of Israeli society. The majority of the people appeared to be below 30 years old, our future in all its glory. The stage accommodated over a hundred Rabbanim. I thought that if they all speak we would be there for another full cycle of Shas, 7 years six months. Actually the Dvrei Torah were excellent as was the Hadran and the beginning of the new cycle was exciting. Shwekey sang numerous songs, and had everyone rocking in the aisles. What a Simcha!
...The blessing of the congregation we read on Shabbat includes “to those who give lamps for light and wine for Kiddush and Havdalah and all who occupy themselves with the needs of the community”. I didn’t appreciate its full meaning until we joined this Community... A bus full of our members witnessed the ceremony which included a Dvar Torah by the Rabbi. The Clubhouse is magnificent and the soldiers loved it. It contains all the latest high tech leisure equipment and the ever popular low tech table football unit. In addition, several of our members donated special sports equipment. The ‘Best deserve the Best’. Ian Fine, who does such a great job for AWIS, arranged everything. A full report appears elsewhere in this magazine. Twenty of our members travelled to Jerusalem to be part of an English speakers’ Siyum Hashas. There
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A week later a Siyum Hashas was held in the George Goddard Hall. Anthony Felix had a dream to hold a Siyum Hashas at YINN, he suggested it and inspired others to help him make it happen. It honoured Rabbi Lippa Z. Rabinowitz ל”ז, the founder of Daf Yomi in our Shul and was sponsored by his wife Renee. The Daf at YINN has been perpetuated by Maggidim Shiur Rev Michael Plaskow and Rabbi Edward Feigelman. The Hadran and the re-starting of Shas was dramatic and emotional. To keep up with the women there is now a keep fit class for men, started
by Sender Lees, which attracts 15 to a session. The instructor is Nikia Blumenthal who is a kineticist. The Gabbay, David Feiler, is pleased the class is doing so well as he now has another 15 men who can do Hagbah. The Tarbut Committee, headed by Eze Silas, and the Irgun Nashim, headed by Joanna Rosenberg joined forces, for the first time, to produce a Melava Malka and Tarbut Chanukah party, on the seventh night of Chanukah. This was a fabulous night, with lively entertainment by Richard Stareshefsky, excellent food and lots of fun. A Tarbut trip to the headquarters of Hatzola in Jerusalem was enlightening. We received a lecture explaining the communications system they use to enable them to be at the site of an emergency quickly. The average time it takes is 90 seconds as there are Hatzola volunteers throughout the country. Each volunteer is ready and prepared to respond immediately. We also visited the Belz Great Synagogue in Jerusalem which resembles the First Temple and is probably the largest synagogue in the world. It can hold up to 7,000 worshipers, a gabbay’s nightmare, in the main service plus 3,000 in other minyanim. The Aron Hakodesh houses 100 Sifrei Torah. The Rabbi is very popular and our members love his Sermons, Divrei Torah and his Shiurim. He is involved with all aspects of the community; his input is most welcome. He is a man of high intellect and vision and it is a pleasure to work with him. The Rabbi is very much a family man, he and
NACHAS PAGES (Since Rosh Hashana 5780)
מזל טוב
Welcome to our Newest Members Esther complement each other as they invest much effort in bringing up their lovely family. The blessing of the congregation we read at Shacharit on Shabbat includes “to those who give lamps for light and wine for Kiddush and Havdalah and all who occupy themselves with the needs of the community”. I didn’t appreciate its full meaning until we joined this Community which is run by so many people who regard the job they do for the Shul as an integral part of their lives. We could not manage without each and every one of them. The Shul services are well run and those who conduct the services do so expertly. It is the regular Chugim, Shiurim, Care, Social and Entertainment groups that define us. I prefer to thank people for all they do for the Shul personally but I won’t miss this opportunity to thank them publicly as well. Whatever your role may be, thank you very much. If anyone is alone for the Pesach Seder, please contact me so you can be welcomed to a family Seder. Rowena and I wish Rabbi Boruch and Esther Boudilovsky, Rabbi Eddie and Frankie Jackson, Rabbi Morowitz and the whole Kehillah, Chag Kasher V’Sameach. A
Brian and Heather Bank Ruth Keene Toni Levy
Ronald and Miriam Lewis Yonathan and Dana Newman Gabrielle Steinblatt
Births Enid Abrahams Freddy and Freha Apfel Brian and Heather Bank David and Anita Berke Jonathan Blitz Zvi and Charlotte Braun Stuart and Linda Burns Rabbi David and Leah Chanofsky Neville and Susan Cohen Bella Fielding Rabbi Arnie and Chevy Fine Yoel and Batsheva First Judy Frankel David and Eileen Gillis Brian and Ruth Gouldman Lilian Green Irene Gremson Marvyn and Ruth Howard Rabbi Eddie and Frankie Jackson Trude Kaye Anchel and Bella Klein Andy and Avril Kormornick Colin and Jill Lederman Sender and Zelda Lees Erna Lemon Joe and Leila Manasseh Michael and June Manning Anthony and Maureen Marcovitch Geoff and Rachel Marks Serge and Patricia Morgensztern Sala Newton-Katz Vivienne Oster Geoffrey and MaryJane Pollack Renee Rabinowitz Sandra Rabinowitz Julian and Slawa Rosenberg Stanley and Irene Ross
Great Grandson and 2 Great Granddaughters Great Grandson Granddaughter Great Granddaughter Twin Grandsons and a Grandson Grandson Grandson Great Grandson Grandson Great Grandson Great Granddaughter Grandson Great Grandson Granddaughter Brian’s Great Grandson Great Granddaughter Great Grandson Great Grandson Great Granddaughter Great Grandson Great Grandson 2 Granddaughters Great Granddaughter Granddaughter 3 Great Grandsons and a Great Granddaughter Great Grandson Great Grandson Great Grandson Great Granddaughter Granddaughter Great Granddaughter 2 Great Grandsons Grandson 2 Great Grandsons Great Granddaughter Great Granddaughter Great Grandson continued on the following page
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NACHAS PAGES continued from page 7 Births continued Beryl Sagal Esther Schneider Philip and Barbara Schwartz Richard and Helen Stareshefsky Moishe and Rochelle Veeder June Weinberg Avi and Cheryl Willinger John and Linda Wosner
Great Granddaughter Grandson Granddaughter Great Grandson Great Grandson Great Grandson Granddaughter Granddaughter
Bar Mitzvah Raymond and Jeanette Cannon Jeff and Hilary Dritz Rabbi Edward and Miriam Feigelman David and Eileen Gillis Harvey and Natalie Green Judah and Loretta Harstein Mervyn and Ruth Leviton Sheila Levitt Prof. Georges and Betty Mendelbaum Rev. Michael and Phyllis Plaskow Stuart and Stephanie Ronson Arthur and Sara Rosenstein Charles and Vivienne Simenoff Stephen and Diana Ucko Julia VanGelder
Grandson Grandson Grandson Grandson Grandson Grandson Grandson Great Grandson Grandson Great Grandson Grandson Grandson Grandson Grandson Grandson
Bat Mitzvah Joseph and Judy Berger Tony and Dizzy Bernstein Hyam and Sheila Corney Asher and Paula Edery Rabbi Edward and Miriam Feigelman Rabbi Arnie and Chevy Fine Rosalind Goldstein Fraybin Gottlieb Mike and Heidi Kaye Trude Kaye Sheila Levitt Geoff and Rachel Marks Ivor and Elaine Newman Beryl Sagal Joe and Betty Wahnon Stuart and Naomi West
Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Daughter Granddaughter Great Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter
Engagements Freddy and Freha Apfel Yitzchak and Rena Bakst Hyam and Sheila Corney
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Granddaughter Yitzchak’s Granddaughter Grandson
מזל טוב Rabbi Edward and Miriam Feigelman Bella Fielding Ian and Gillian Fine Joe and Beattie Gellert Angela Jenshil Barry and Ruth Lyons Sandra Rabinowitz Beryl Sagal Anthony and Rochelle Selby Yaacov and Orna Shuster Lynda Struel Avi and Cheryl Willinger
Granddaughter Grandson and 2 Granddaughters Granddaughter Grandson Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Grandson Granddaughter Daughter Granddaughter Son
Marriages Enid Abrahams Joseph and Judy Berger David and Miriam Bronner Bella Fielding Harry Friedgut Joe and Beattie Gellert Fraybin Gottlieb Brian and Ruth Gouldman Mike and Heidi Kaye Trude Kaye Anchel and Bella Klein Sylvia Kovler Erna Lemon Sheila Levitt Joe and Leila Manasseh Ian and Caroline Marks Jeanette Moore Vivienne Oster Lynda Struel Alex and Alexandra Stuart
Granddaughter Granddaughter Grandson Grandson and Granddaughter Granddaughter Grandson Grandson Ruth’s Granddaughter’s Wedding Daughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Grandson Granddaughter Granddaughter Granddaughter Daughter 2 Grandsons Grandson Grandson Daughter
Special Anniversaries Stephen and Joyce Berman Ronnie and Ruth Kotton Prof. Georges and Betty Mendelbaum Ivor and Elaine Newman Arthur and Sara Rosenstein David and Anne Silverman Leonard and Yehudit Solomons
55th Wedding Anniversary 50th Wedding Anniversary 45th Wedding Anniversary 45th Wedding Anniversary 58th Wedding Anniversary 40th Anniversary of Aliyah 70th Wedding Anniversary
Special Birthdays Alf Jacobs Helen Waingard Simon Waingard
96th Birthday 94th Birthday 94th Birthday continued on the following page
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מזל טוב
NACHAS PAGES continued from page 9
Special Birthdays continued Harry Friedgut Sala Newton-Katz Gerald Levy Sheila Levitt Julian Rosenberg Renee Rabinowitz Sender Lees Harvey Rosenberg Robert Hodes David Levy David Krasner Hilton Share Anne Silverman David Silverman Isaac Wind Darren Kay Myriam Hazan
91st Birthday 91st Birthday 90th Birthday 88th Birthday 88th Birthday 85th Birthday 83rd Birthday 83rd Birthday 80th Birthday 80th Birthday 70th Birthday 70th Birthday 70th Birthday 70th Birthday 70th Birthday 50th Birthday Special Birthday A
Manchester Curtain Company Donald Gough & Katy Gough wish you all Chag Kasher V’Sameach
03-540 0731 or 054-4508917 or 050-795 8326
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Pesach – Wonder of Wonders by Hazel Broch Mah Nishtanah Halayla Hazeh MiKol Halaylot? Why is this night different from all other nights? Will this Seder night be different from all the other Seder nights we remember? First of all, we celebrate Seder night as a “one off”. No longer two Seder nights as we once did. So why is this Pesach different from any other Pesach? So much has changed since my childhood days. I can still see in my mind’s eye my mother z’l preparing for Pesach. The minute Purim was over, Pesach was on its way. We did not have freezers to stock up. Some were lucky to afford a fridge! In our butcher shop the customers came in for extra hens’ fat to start storing in earthenware jars kept down in the cellar. Oh the smell of griebenes and onions – who worried about cholesterol!? In my auntie’s house, they made wine and mead. The house smelt like a brewery but we knew Pesach was coming. Nearer the time fish was chopped with a Hackmesser (small hand chopper with a sharp blade) and fish skin was ready to stuff the chopped fish into to make gefilte fish (not like today in jars). We began soaking jam jars for three days to make them kosher, ready for the eingemachs (beetroot jam) and pomeranson (orange jam).
As children we were reminded to clean out our bedroom—including all the drawers in the furniture. We usually came across sweets we had been hiding! We were four girls in our family, and in turn we helped to clean the library, the kitchen cupboards, the pantry, all involved in preparing for this great festival. As Pesach approached, certain rooms became ‘out of bounds’ because they were ‘Pesachdik’. Then the crockery, or Delph as we call it in Ireland; pots, pans and cutlery, all appeared and were put into the ‘out of bounds’ room. Then Yomtov arrived and we had to go to bed in the afternoon to rest and sleep because we would be up very late on Seder night. We went up to our room but never slept! We gathered at the home of our Zeide z’l. He would be dressed in his white kittel and would sit at the top table leaning on big, white pillows, his children and grandchildren gathered for the Seder. His custom was that for each household present, the father of that household would recite kiddush. We had eight households! One year, when I was aged five, I was selected to say the Mah Nishtanah. My mother gently woke me up and whispered ‘Hazel, you’re on’. Kiddush was so long that I fell asleep. The afikoman gift of a black mama doll was a dream come true. It was great fun playing with all our
cousins who lived nearby. We played games with hazel nuts and also we loved cracking the walnuts and brazil nuts into bowls. We helped Mammy by taking the skin off the almonds (by scalding them in hot water) and she would fry them in oil adding a little salt, so we had salted nuts. The sponge cakes came out perfect, the imbers and tagellach just right, and all was well in the world.
How times have changed. All meats and poultry koshered ready. Fishmongers mince the fish. Chicken fat has disappeared. Imber, tagelach, eingemachs pomeranson do not exist, mead there is none. The afikoman gifts are no longer dolls and small toys. Family gatherings are hopeful but not always possible. The use of disposables is far more convenient and popular rather than the real thing. Food outlets are very popular, providing ‘free from kitniyot’. There are Pesach rolls – just like bread and taste like cotton wool. (Dear me, can’t we manage without bread for seven days!?) Hotels are inviting and tempting us to get away and do nothing. Oh what a change over the years. Yet we look forward to Pesach year after year. Remembering the past, being with the present and hopeful for the future. A very Happy, Kosher and worthwhile Pesach. A YINN Pesach 5780 | 11
DAF CORNER – Masechet Berachot Pesach Insights Daf Yomi Maggid Shiur By Rabbi Ozer (Edward) Feigelman We have just completed the first tractate of the 14th Daf Yomi Cycle, Masechet Berachot. The beginning of the tractate deals with the recitation of the Shema and includes a reference to Pesach. This is found in the third paragraph of the Shema, the Parshat Tzitzit, where we are commanded to remember our going out from the Land of Egypt. The theme of Yetziat Mitzrayim, our Exodus from Egypt, is so important and integral to our liturgy, that we mention it twice daily when reciting the Shema in Shacharit and Ma’ariv. It is also emphasised when reciting twice daily the Mi Chamocha within the blessing of Ga’al Yisrael following the Shema. Most important, every evening Kiddush recited both on
בּי ִ ַ אָמַר ר.בלֵּילֹות ַּ מצ ְרַ י ִם ִ מַזְכִּירִ ין יְצ ִיאַת בע ִים ְ ש ִ ׁ הֲרֵ י אֲנ ִי ּכ ְבֶן:בּן ע ֲז ַרְ י ָה ֶ אֶלְע ָז ָר מצ ְרַ י ִם ִ תאָמֵר יְצ ִיאַת ֵּ ש ֶ ׁ וְל ֹא זָכ ִיתִי,שנ ָה ָ ׁ מע ַן ַ ְשנֶּאֱמַר ״ל ֶ ׁ בּן זֹומָא ֶ שּה ָ ׁ ָש ְדּר ֶ ׁ ע ַד,בלֵּילֹות ַּ מצ ְרַ י ִם ֹכּל יְמֵי ִ מאֶרֶ ץ ֵ תּז ְ ֹכּר אֶת יֹום צ ֵאתְָך ִ ״ ֹכּל יְמֵי חַי ֶּיָך״, ״יְמֵי חַי ֶּיָך״ — הַיָּמִים.חַי ֶּיָך״ — ״יְמֵי חַי ֶּיָך״:חכָמִים אֹומְרִ ים ֲ ַ הלֵּילֹות ו ַ — ח ַ שי ִ ׁמ ָּ ה ַ הבִיא לִימֹות ָ ְ ״ ֹכּל״ — ל.הָעֹולָם הַז ֶּה “The exodus from Egypt is mentioned at night. Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya said: I am like seventy years old, and although I have long held this opinion, I was never privileged to fulfill the biblical obligation to have the exodus from Egypt mentioned at night, until Ben Zoma interpreted it homiletically and proved it obligatory. Ben Zoma derived it as it is stated: “That you may remember the day you went out of the land of Egypt all the
The theme of Yetziat Mitzrayim, our Exodus from Egypt, is so important and integral to our liturgy, that we mention it twice daily when reciting the Shema in Shacharit and Ma’ariv. Shabbat and Yom Tov mentions the theme, “Zeicher Litziat Mitzrayim”, where we commemorate our Exodus from the Land of Egypt. Why is the theme of the Exodus from Egypt, “Yetziat Mitzrayim”, so important that it is mentioned daily within our prayers and within each evening Kiddush? Also, how is this theme even more special on the night of the Seder? The answer is found in the Mishnah at the end of Berachot Daf 12b, which we also recite at the Seder: 12 | YINN Pesach 5780
days of your life” (Deuteronomy 16:3). The days of your life, refers to daytime alone; however, the addition of the word all, as it is stated: All the days of your life, comes to add nights as well. And the Rabbis, who posit that there is no biblical obligation to mention the exodus from Egypt at night, explain the word, all, differently and say: The days of your life, refers to the days in this world, all is added to include the days of the Messiah” (based on the English translation of the Koren Talmud, Berachot, p. 83).
With respect to recalling the Exodus from Egypt within the recitation of the Shema twice daily, the Koren Talmud (p. 83) cites the following Halacha based on the Rambam: “Mentioning the exodus from Egypt at night: Although the mitzvah of ritual fringes is not in effect at night, this passage is nevertheless recited at night because it mentions the exodus from Egypt, and there is a mitzvah to recall the exodus from Egypt both during the day and at night. Therefore, one recites all three paragraphs of Shema on both occasions (Rambam Sefer Ahava, Hilkhot Keriat Shema 1:3).” The Gemara as well as numerous commentaries expound on this Mishnah. The Gra (Vilna Gaon) in his interpretation of the Haggadah and the Maharal mention that: “The word “Kol” has a dual meaning, and Ben Zoma expounds it as meaning the entire rather than all. He thus derives that we must mention the Exodus during both segments of the day – daylight and nighttime.” (Art Scroll, Berachot 12b4, note 42) Thus far we have addressed the importance of mentioning the Exodus both at day and at night. However, the issue of the various redemptions of our history and how they relate to Messianic times is addressed by the Maharsha: “The miracles of our salvation from the dominion of Babylonia, Media, and Greece will not be mentioned at all in the Messianic era. Since Scripture never imposes a requirement to remember our salvation from these oppressors,
Thoughts By Avril Kormornick we will cease to do so in the Messianic era, when there will be a far greater salvation to discuss. However, the remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt will always be carried on because the Torah has commanded us to remember it and this commandment is eternal. Nevertheless, it will become secondary because the miracles that took place at the time of the Exodus will be eclipsed by those that occur in the future.” (Art Scroll, Berachot 13a1, note 4) Even so, we are assured by the Baraita mentioned in the Gemara which clarifies the view of the Sages, that the remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt will not be abolished, since we achieved the status of becoming a Nation at that time. Thus, our reciting “Zeicher Litziat Mitzrayim” in Kiddush, especially on Pesach, is very special and dear to us as a Holy Nation. Miriam joins me in wishing all a Chag Pesach Kasher V’Sameach. A
As I sit here once again thinking of what to say I think of how the year has flown It has been so quick in every way So for me still so thrilled to be here I say to myself each day Imagine having to go back to “Chutz” OMG there is absolutely no way With so much to do between work and pleasure I seem to fit it all in Sometimes it is hard And I get into a spin Even when it rains in winter and it is cold outside that I do not even mind because the sun is only trying to hide It will be back for us all to see very very soon and of course it pleases me most when it stays for so long I feel no doom and gloom There are still many ups and downs That everyone goes through but here you get through it a bit easier and sometimes there is not a lot you can do So with 2 new granddaughters born this year My time will be filled even more When should I go and visit And to which door So when I go to bed at night I say a little prayer Let it continue to be so good Because if not I couldn’t bear A
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Between Passover and Shavuot: Realising the Aim of Israel Adapted from Rabbi Yehuda Leon Ashkenazi z”l (Manitou) By Georges Mendelbaum Many historical events occurred between Passover and Shavuot, during the Omer period. Some were in ancient times, some have been seen in our days. On one hand Redemption, on the other hand also tragedies. First of all, the Exodus happened after Passover: The structure of the book of “Exodus” reveals God’s plan: The Exit from Egypt is narrated in the first four portions of the book (Shemoth, Vaera, Bo, Beshalakh); this was the miraculous physical liberation but also military and political! Then the Laws of the Torah appear in the following two portions of the book (Yitro and Mishpatim), some seven weeks later: this was the spiritual and religious liberation. The last five portions of the book are dedicated to a description of the building of the Tabernacle which is the foundation model of the Temple of Jerusalem which has yet to be built in Israel. During the time when the Temple existed, in the period of the Omer, Israel had a happy and meaningful ritual: they followed the commandment of bringing each year the first fruits of the Land that the Lord granted us, at Shavuot: it was a thanksgiving holiday for the giving of the Land and Salvation, and also a holiday for the giving of the Torah and its commandments; a thanksgiving for the livelihood and the economy. Every person from Israel came to the temple and brought his new Omer (his new harvest) where, in front of the Priest of the Temple, the Cohen, everyone said a declaration on what the entire people felt: the realisation of ‘the Aim’, the consolation and
redemption and the thanks for both the Torah and the grain. This ritual occurred each year in Jerusalem, so at that time the period of counting the Omer was not considered as a period of mourning but as a period of joy. This was true until the Bar Kochba revolt against the rule of Rome over the land of Judah, resulting in the destruction of the Bar Kochba army which comprised about twenty-four thousand students of Rabbi Akiva (‘Bnei Akiva’ of those days). After that, this period became a time of mourning, marking the end of Israel’s independence and the Jews remained under the occupation of the Roman civilization. These events occurred between Passover and Shavuot: Since then, Israeli communities have been keeping the mourning for thirty-three days (Every community according to its custom). In fact, the period of Omer describes the fate of the people of Israel: it can be a possible Redemption or it can be a Holocaust, it can be an exit from slavery to independence, or it can be a falling into the illusion of a golden calf, and it can be a period of sin such as the spies in the desert in their refusal of God’s help for Aliyah to Israel. In our time, the period of Omer is on one hand, the reminiscence of the extermination of the Warsaw ghetto, as the symbol of the mass holocaust of European Jews, and on the other hand the reminiscence of the liberation wars of our Land with Jerusalem the capital of Israel, and the
declaration of Independence of our state. These events all happened during the period of Omer, between Passover and Shavuot, between the holiday of material redemption and the holiday of spiritual salvation. Did all these events happen by chance? It must have been by God’s Providence! In the time of Israel’s mourning, many of us stop the grief on the thirtythird day of the counting of the Omer, and we rejoice on the day of the Hilula of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. Is it possible that there is a coincidence here? Or on the contrary, is it an expression of God’s Providence? There is a hint of this in the Midrash Yalkut Shimoni commenting on the verse -”the Lord will answer you on a sad day” (Psalm chapter 20). The Midrash gives an explanation in the form of an analogy: A father and a son were walking on a road, the son asked his father: “Father when do we arrive to the city hall (medina = state, country)?”, the father answered him: “I will give you a sign to know it - when you see the cemetery before you, the city hall of the country will be soon after it.”
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In this wonderful Midrash we see the power of the relationship between the two days in the Omer period (the Remembrance day and afterwards the Independence day). The father’s vision explains clearly to his tired son that to get the country (medina), we must first pass the cemetery. This explains that in reality we must experience bad periods before arriving at any growth and a good life. We should not be afraid of a long and difficult way before arriving at the day of success, and even if it is delayed, we’d wait for it every day until it comes. Precisely during the Omer period we live in a generation that has achieved the hope of previous generations that were praying for a return to our Land; we are a regeneration generation. The Israeli people is building a new Hebrew nation here; it is the divine ‘aim’ that is being realised! It occurs precisely between Passover and Shavuot (material and spiritual independence): and we feel the beginning of the end of exile. In light of this, Independence Day and maybe especially Jerusalem Day are events that bring us closer to Shavuot the holy day of receiving the Torah for our Land. This is why the First Chief Rabbis of the State of Israel fixed these days as a time of joy for all the people of Israel. A
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From Canonicals to Sushi: The United Synagogue at 150 By Professor David Newman OBE This article was originally a blog on Times of Israel and is reprinted by permission of the author One of the oldest and most venerable of Anglo Jewry’s institutions, the United Synagogue, commenced its yearlong celebrations of its 150th anniversary, with its own version of the Siyum Hashas (completion of the entire Talmud) in London in January of this year. With 64 congregations, comprising 40,000 members, it is the largest synagogue body in Europe. The US has come a long way from its beginnings in the latter half of the nineteenth century, and the amalgamation of the first synagogues, none of which remain in situ today given the onward and upward mobility of the British Jewish community – from the East End initially to North and Central London, through North West London, South London and Ilford, and more recently to outlying commuter suburbs such as Hadley Wood, Borehamwood where the strongest growth is taking place amongst young families. Contrast the nature of the yearlong events with those which took place fifty years ago at the time of the Centenary celebrations, and the social and religious change within the organization is clear to see. At the time, the Anglo Jewish community in general, and the United Synagogue in particular, had just come through what – even today – is seen as the largest crisis facing the modern orthodox community in what was (and is still) known as the Jacobs Affair,
and was facing a crisis in declining communities, many of which were still bogged down in old English traditions and customs and which clearly did not appeal to the younger families of the time. Ruled over by Sir Isaac Wolfson, without whom the US could have gone bankrupt, the US was a tightly controlled institution, reminiscent of many older Anglo institutions which, in many ways, was out of touch with the changing social and economic characteristics of the post War baby boom society. The Rabbinate of the time still wore clerical canonicals (robes), a few still wore dog collars copied from the Protestant clergy, and the services were long formal affairs, often lasting up to three hours on a Shabbat morning, featuring cantors and choirs, with little informal participation on the part of the congregation itself. Children were hushed (to be seen and not heard), the Wardens wore top hats and waist coats and abided by a strict code of laws and regulations, most of which had been drawn up almost a hundred years previously. Women had almost no role to play apart from the Ladies Guild (usually ruled over by the Rabbi’s wife) whose task was to prepare the minimal Shabbat Kiddush, decorate the Sukkah and the synagogue on Shavuot, and prepare the annual jumble sale which was open to the wider community. Looking at the archives even further back (in the 1920’s and 1930’s), attempts to have women given voting rights in
their communities was meant with strong opposition, and the then President of the US, Sir Robert Waley Cohen, threatened to resign if the proposal was accepted. Fifty years on and the US is thriving, even as old synagogues left behind have shut down, only to be replaced with new, younger, communities which have sprouted forth in the outlying suburbs. The fact that two of the communities, Kinloss (Finchley) and Barnet (together with Hadley Wood) finished the seven year cycle of the Shas, is something which could not have been thought of fifty years ago, while the alternative range of Shabbat morning services, from the more formal (although nothing as formal as in the past), to young families, teenagers and alternative learning and study events, is something which is evidence of a vibrant and dynamic community which feels far less shackled by the Anglo customs of the past. Today, as to be expected, women serve as members, and chairpersons, of their synagogue management committees, and occupy prominent positions in all United Synagogue committees, with the exception of the Rabbinate itself. The United Synagogue is also the home of the London Beth Din, one of four orthodox Batei Din (Rabbinical Courts) in the London area, and also funds the office of the Chief Rabbi. The office of the Chief Rabbi has only had seven incumbents since
The inside of an old cathedral style synagogue, Dalston, destroyed in 1970
its institution in 1844. The present Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis is the first of these incumbents to have been educated in Israel, while his two predecessors, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits, were both elevated to membership in the House of Lords and were seen as constituting major moral voices on issues of the day. And although the British Chief Rabbi does not really represent either the Reform, Liberal and Masorti communities on one side of the religious spectrum, or the rapidly growing ultra-orthodox Haredi communities at the other end, it is to the Chief Rabbi’s office that a Prime Minister or a television agency (not least the BBC) will first turn for any response to matters relating to the Jewish community. The nature of the United Synagogue Rabbinate has also undergone change during this period. Today’s young community Rabbis are not necessarily the Yeshiva scholars to be found in the more orthodox organisations such as the Adath Yisroel or the Federation of Synagogues (there is no shortage of synagogue organisations in the UK), but they come armed with the additional skills and professions as
qualified social workers, family counsellors, and youth professionals. Almost all communities have regular Friday night dinners for professionals and the unaffiliated singles, maintaining an allegiance amongst those who would perhaps have been lost to the community at a future point, and for whom Shabbat morning services or Talmud sessions are not what they are seeking. They also have a vibrant youth movement known as Tribe, which competes strongly with other religious youth movements such as Bnei Akiva, holding weekly events, summer camps and trips to Israel – all of which are well attended. Working on the United Synagogue archives, I recently came across two boxes of material relating to the centenary celebrations which took place in 1970. One of these contained some forty original black and white photos of the events which took place at the time, a guard of honour for the visit of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to a formal reception at the Dorchester Hotel, a long procession of top hatted and waistcoated honorary officers of the United Synagogue for a special celebratory service, along with a book of long academic continued on the following page
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papers outlining the history of the organization. I recall one Shabbat morning when my father, who was the Rabbi of the long since deceased Dalston Synagogue, and who lived in the
mentioned North London football rivalries in his induction address. Such humour would not have been acceptable to the clergy at the previous celebrations fifty years ago. Change is also reflected in
Officiating in the Canonicals – gowns and dog collars
apartment on top of the synagogue, coming down to Shabbat morning services two minutes before they were due to start. No one had yet arrived, with the exception of the Synagogue chairman, adorned in his top hat, waist coat and tails and demonstratively looking at his ornate silver pocket watch, having arrived on the early train from his new residence, berating my father for not having adhered to the constitution of the United Synagogue and being present, adorned in full clerical canonicals, ten minutes before the start of the services. The contrast could not have been greater when, some five years ago, at the induction of Chief Rabbi Mirvis at the beautiful St. Johns Wood Synagogue, both Rabbi Mirvis and Sacks wore simple kippot to their heads (they did wear clerical gowns) while not one of the officiants or wardens wore anything but simple lounge suits and kippot. One (Sacks) mentioned the Beatles in his outgoing address, while the other (Mirvis) 18 | YINN Pesach 5780
gastronomical preferences. Fifty years ago, a cake and a cup of tea were the norm for a Shabbat morning Kiddush, with the occasional cracker and chopped herring thrown in on special occasions. Today, the inter community competition for best Kiddush of the year is in full swing – and any synagogue without a fullyfledged cholent, the obligatory platter of fruit and vegetables (for the health conscious yuppy generation), the best smoked salmon and, increasingly, plates of sushi (also reflecting generational change and upward social mobility), is unheard of. The old photos threw up an amazing personal discovery. At the reception attended by the Queen, each of the Jewish and Zionist youth movements of the time were requested to send four young representatives to make up a guard of honor for the royal visitors. And there, in the line is a little (dare I say sweet) David Newman, wearing the white shirt and blue neckchief of the Bnei Akiva youth organization, speaking
to the Duke of Edinburgh – no doubt trying to convince him of the ideology of Torah v’Avodah and the importance of going to live in Israel!!! The United Synagogue also has an important architectural heritage, although the most beautiful “cathedral” synagogues which were built at the end of the nineteenth century, such as Dalston, North London (Lofting Road), Shacklewell Lane, the Great Synagogue, and others (too numerous to mention) are no longer. Some have been destroyed altogether, while many have been transformed into places of worship for other religious faiths, be they Mosques (Shacklewell Lane, Brondesbury) or Churches (Hackney). Only two of the former architectural gems remain, the New West End in the centre of town right next to Hyde park, still functions as a synagogue, while the New Synagogue (in Egerton Road) has been transformed into a beautiful bet hamedrash by the Bobov chasidic community in the heart of Haredi London in Stamford Hill – the original windows and the marble plaques with the Prayer for the Royal family still intact. The newer synagogues are nowhere near as grand or ornate, but are functional buildings containing community halls and other facilities enabling a more diverse range of activities than simply the holding of services. Possibly the single most important heritage features today is the amazing collection of David Hillman stained glass windows, which adorn no fewer than seven of the synagogues. Over 100 are to be found in St Johns Wood alone, while others are spread around, with some of them having been relocated from their original synagogues which have now shut down (such as Bayswater, Cricklewood or New Cross) to new synagogues which have taken advantage of this beautiful
and unique decoration (such as Borehamwood, Woodside Park and Kenton). Hillman himself was the son of the former head of the London Beth Din in the early part of the twentieth century, while his sister was married to Rabbi Dr. Isaac Halevi Herzog, the first Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel (and father of President Haim Herzog). A move is presently being made to have all such windows placed on the heritage list of protected buildings so that these unique collections of windows cannot be moved or broken up in the future – unless they are transferred as a complete group to new synagogues, in either the UK or Israel. The United Synagogue is also the owner of a number of cemeteries, old and new, scattered throughout the Greater London area, their respective locations reflecting the movement of the Jewish community during the past 150 years. The most impressive of these is the Willesden cemetery, where many of the past Rabbis and
Chief Rabbis, along with other Jewish notables such as the Rothschild family, are buried, and which has recently been awarded heritage funding for its continued upkeep and for turning it into a visitor centre where people can come and learn about Anglo Jewish history. The Cemetery also includes a room where many tens of Torah Scrolls are stored, some of them no longer usable and others to be passed around the synagogues for such occasions (such as the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur periods) when extra scrolls are required for additional services. Despite a number of attempts on the part of this writer to transfer some of the unused Torah scrolls to new young communities in Israel lacking any of their own, and thus creating living links between UK and Israeli communities, the US has argued that it needs all of them for its own internal use, even if they are not being used for 50 weeks of any given
year. Changing their policy on this to commemorate the 150th Anniversary would surely be another appropriate form of celebration. It would also strengthen the links between UK and Israeli communities, in accordance with the strong pro-Israel and pro-Zionist sentiments of both its religious and lay leadership. Come what may, the United Synagogue enters its 150th year in a strong position, religiously, socially and financially. Many of its communities have a vibrancy which I do not recall when growing up in inner city London of the 1960s and early 1970s. Long may it continue to serve the wider Anglo Jewish community, creating the next generations of committed adults and families (at least those who decide to remain in the UK rather than come and live in Israel) in one of the Diaspora’s most important Jewish communities. A
The Queen at the Dorchester 1970
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My Father By Stuart Horowitz My father, Martin D. Horowitz, was born in an apartment on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn, on November 2, 1911. His father, Abraham, was from the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. His mother, Sophie, was from Poland. His parents spoke Yiddish at home. Abraham was a tailor. He had a pants store in Ridgewood, which is on the Brooklyn/Queens boarder. He picked this area because of the large number of German speaking people living there, which made it easy for him to conduct business in German. Martin celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Agudas Israel of Ridgewood. It was considered Orthodox, but Orthodox in America before the mid 50s was different than today. This congregation had a men’s section, a women’s section, and a family section. For many years Jews owned businesses on Myrtle Avenue and on Fresh Pond Road, the two main shopping areas in Ridgewood. These Jews helped support Congregation Agudas Israel, even if they moved away from Ridgewood and lived elsewhere. Today the community has changed. Jews in Ridgewood have dwindled, and Congregation Agudas Israel has closed. In November of 1925 Martin’s brother Lawrence was born. In May of 1934 Martin and Larry’s mother, Sophie, died of pneumonia. Penicillin and antibiotics weren’t 20 | YINN Pesach 5780
available yet. Martin had to help his father raise Larry. Martin went on to graduate from college with a degree in accounting. Together with a friend, he began a public accounting business. In the spring of 1940 Martin married Doris Dumtschin. They moved into an apartment on Myrtle Avenue in Richmond Hill at the eastern end of a trolley line that traveled from Richmond Hill through Glendale into Ridgewood. In December 1941 the United States entered World War 2. It wasn’t long before my father was drafted. He was in the Army Air Force. The army sent my father all over the country for training. He was sent to Florida and Colorado among other places. In Boulder, Colorado he went to Colorado A & M to learn to type the army way. Colorado A & M today is the University of Colorado, Boulder. Eventually he was sent to Italy by ship. The transport took a month to cross the Atlantic because it had to avoid German U-boats. Martin was part of the 15th Air Force, 5th Wing, 463rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) which was based at Celone Airfield near Foggia, Italy. This group flew B-17s, Flying Fortresses. When Col. Frank Kurtz commanded the group, Col. Kurtz’s plane was named the Swooze. Col. Kurtz’s daughter is
the actress, Swoozie Kurtz. This group carried out over 200 bombing missions between March 1944 and April 1945. Martin was not part of the flying crew. His job was on the ground. He would interview the crew after a mission and type up a report that would be microfilmed and sent to the Pentagon. He also kept the company books and assisted the Protestant Chaplain by leading Jewish services. Martin collected points and eventually had enough to be sent back to the United States. He typed up his papers and had his CO sign them. His voyage back was quicker. The war was winding down and U-boats weren’t a problem. The trip to New York only took a week. When he got to New York, he took a train to Chicago to sign in at his new assignment. Then he took a train back to New York to begin a furlough. Martin spent the rest of the war, based in Chicago and Milwaukee, working on the termination of war contracts. After the war, Martin and Doris started a family. First came Stuart then Allan. In November 1949 they moved to a new neighborhood in eastern Queens. They raised their family, and lived happily there for about 45 years. They had five grandchildren. Martin died in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania on December 24, 1999.A
My Mum By Vivienne Simenoff My late Mum, known to her family and friends as Sue Kennedy, was born as Sarah Zarifie Hodari on August 15th 1920. When I was growing up she mentioned briefly that she had been based in Bletchley during the war, but we knew no more than that, and truth be told we didn’t really know what Bletchley was or the incredible role it played in shortening the Second World War with the intelligence it collected and the secret codes it managed to break. It was also the birthplace of modern computing. In October last year I went to visit Bletchley Park which has now been brought back to life by tireless volunteers and dedicated employees. It was reopened by HM The Queen in 2011 when she said that “it is impossible to overstate the deep sense of admiration, gratitude and national debt that we owe to all those men, and especially women. They were called to this place in the greatest of secrecy–so much so that some of their families will never know the full extent of their contribution.” At its peak, around ten thousand people worked at Bletchley Park and its associated outstations. The exact number is not known, even now. They tackled the complex task of intercepting, deciphering, analysing and distributing the intelligence derived from enemy radio signals whilst their work was shrouded in the highest levels of secrecy. When I went it felt rather like a “pilgrimage “ to honour my dear Mum so I was rather dismayed when her name did not appear on their roll of honour. I went to ask at
the information desk how I could rectify this and was directed to a historical survey form to complete to send to their researcher, William Hanley. He emailed me very quickly, and explained that he is the Oral History Assistant there and sought information on her timeat Bletchley. I had none so he suggested I write off to get her service records. I knew she was in the Women’s Royal Air Force and as such I had to contact Headquarters Air Command ACOS Career Management in RAF Cranwell. I needed to prove I was her next of kin so her death certificate was also needed. Rachel Rich, a genealogy case worker at RAF Cranwell also responded quickly and was able to tell me the following: Sarah Zarifie Hodari (2081333) was enlisted on 9th July 1941 and released on 20th May 1946. She served in Leighton Buzzard, then Chicksands (which was renamed Church Green). During all this time she was a teleoperator and was made into a temporary Corporal. The
abbreviations on the information we were sent suggests that she stayed and worked for the intelligence services at the end of the war to assist in the shutting down of the stations. Her postings did indeed entitle her to say she worked at Bletchley and William Hanley has now updated their roll of honour to include her name. My Mum was I am sure, but a small cog in the enormous war machine, but she and all her colleagues played their part in destroying the Nazis and bringing an end to the war. I am so pleased to have been able to add her name to the roll of honour at Bletchley Park. If ever you visit, please think of her. As a very quiet, shy and unworldly Sephardi girl the worldliness of Bletchley and the compromises she must have made to her deeply held religious belief would have come as a heck of a shock. She took all this on, as did so many British Jews as part of the war effort. Thank heavens they did. A
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A Remarkable Incident By Rev Michael Plaskow MBE This incident is based on a lovely Dvar Torah by Rebbetzin Shira Smiles which I read in Torah Tidbits. She begins her essay by saying “Did you ever find yourself in a certain place and wonder how you landed up there? Did you ever make the wrong turn and got completely lost? All these experiences are reflected in the bracha we say each morning, “hameichin mitzadei gaver” Hashem prepares the footsteps for each person. We need to remind ourselves that it is ultimately Hashem who leads us and we will land up in the exact location He desires. I now relate my story. The year 1958 was the 10th year since the founding
of the State of Israel. Aged 22 and living in London, I began dating this lovely girl named Phyllis. I decided to treat her to a concert marking the 10th Anniversary in the London Coliseum theatre. The only seats available in the packed theatre were high up and generally known as “the gods”. The show began and twenty minutes or so later I became very restless as Phyllis had not turned up. There were no mobiles in those days so I could not make contact. I did not like “the gods” as I do not like heights so I decided to leave and go home. I was wearing a kippa (no problem in those days) and I was about 300 yards from the theatre. Out of the
blue, a stranger stopped me and, seeing my kippa, asked me if I have come from the theatre. I replied that I had. He then asked me the obvious question. Why did I leave so early?” I told him that my girlfriend had not turned up. “So do you still have a ticket?” I replied that I have two which you can have. Now this is where Hashem moves in a mysterious way. This stranger actually wanted to sit in “the gods” to meet his friends and offered me a ticket in the Grand Circle. So I thought nothing lost and I accepted the ticket and returned to the theatre. The theatre was in darkness and I was shown to my seat. The lights went on for the interval and as I turned around to see my bearings, Phyllis was in the row behind me. Hashem led me to this seat and it was the exact location He and I desired. The rest is history and with the help of Hashem we have celebrated 58 years of marriage. A
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The Message of Freedom By Rabbi Simon Silas One of the most profound teachings teachings of the Torah. Levi stated: “No man is free but he of the Bible is that which related to Thus, they were to be redeemed who labours in the Torah” deriving human freedom. Freedom is indeed physically as well as spiritually. this from the verse: “And the tablets the greatest blessing conferred on a This, indeed, was the significance were the work of God and the writing civilized society but mankind has had of the freedom for which Israel has was the writing of God, graven upon to fight and struggle to acquire it in lived by throughout the ages. Indeed, the tablets (Exodus 32:16). Read every generation. the distinguishing feature of Jewish not “charut” – graven, but “cherut” This idea of freedom, first taught history has been one of physical and - freedom – he alone is free who in the early chapters of the Book spiritual freedom. To preserve that studies the laws of God (Pirke Avot of Exodus, are expressed in such liberty, the Jew was often forced to 6:2). words: “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from Indeed, the distinguishing feature of Jewish history has been one of under the burdens of the Egyptians” (6:6). physical and spiritual freedom. To preserve that liberty, the Jew was Whilst this belief in often forced to lead a wanderer’s existence, roaming the world in freedom is a tradition of search of a haven where he could live freely. the Jewish people and which is recited at the Seder table “in every generation oppression raises its lead a wanderer’s existence, roaming When we sit around the Seder table head”, the concept of human freedom the world in search of a haven where with our family and friends and recall became in time the cherished ideal he could live freely. the liberation of our people from of civilization. Yet as history shows, During the Biblical period when Egyptian bondage, we remember the centuries had to pass before the slavery was permitted, the Hebrew true purpose of our freedom: freedom human individual accepted this selfslave was to be treated with the in our service to God. A evident truth that liberty is the right of utmost respect. In Jewish law, unlike every person, a prerogative to every those of other nations, the Hebrew human being, and that it is wrong slave was not a chattel of his master, to enslave or degrade a person by but a human being. Brutal treatment subjection. with the loss of any limb secured his The liberation of Israel from immediate freedom. Moreover, he oppression in Egypt, however, was was to serve his master for six years, not meant to be just a physical and after which he was to go free. political freedom but to create a It was with regard to this principle nation living under the laws of the of freedom from serving others that Torah. the Rabbis ask how is it permitted Our Sages commenting on the text: for a Jew to be employed by anyone “When you bring forth the people and replies that the right of the out of Egypt, you shall serve God worker to withdraw his labour at any upon this mount” (ibid. 3:12) explain time preserves his essential liberty this to mean that the purpose of (Exodus Rabbah 32:1). redemption was to enable them to It was this idea of freedom to serve serve God by accepting and living the God alone that Rabbi Joshua ben
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Return Without Repentance A Book Review By Rabbi Arnie Fine When I came to Israel for the first time in September 1960, with my very fresh university degree, I was bombarded with a litany of issues which were a danger to this country. The major ones were not military or physical security but social problems. The rift between the European Ashkenazim and the Edot HaMizrach was wide and seemed to be unbridgeable. The Sephardim also were troubled by the Ashkenazim. The differences were very evident. Today that concern is much less fearsome. The intermarriages of members of the various Jewish communities is quite common. So many families, including ours, proudly include members from other Jewish ethno-cultural groups. Most of us are celebrating that aspect of the strengthening of the social fabric of Israel. Are the communal issues non existent now? No, but they are very manageable! The most recently retired Chief of Staff of our military is from a Moroccan background. We have had and have many non-Ashkenazi leaders, including at least one president, and we are still a very young nation! Another worry from that period and we still experience it today, is the void between the religious and secular communities, which we hear about regularly and often. Israel was founded as a secular and Jewish democratic state, by avowed secularists. The Jewish religious communities, of course, had and have the right to live, pray, educate their children as they see fit. Reading any Israeli newspaper, however, we see the tensions and the efforts of
secularists and religionists to maximize their influence and their rights. Frankly I see this as a blessing! The most recent concern for the Hiloni community, secularists, is הדתה, advancing religious Judaism in the non religious public schools. The struggle is important! A deputy mayor of Tel Aviv has forbidden one of the groups encouraging the laying of Tefillin, to come in close proximity to non religious public schools in his jurisdiction. In some religious public schools the question is also how
located outside of Maale Adumim, Hazara Bli Tshuvah, literally Return Without Repentance, a study of the development of Jewish secularism in Eretz Yisrael and of Jewish orthodoxy, both of which he correctly identifies as modern movements in Judaism, from about the early 19th century until today. Both groups have a variety of streams in them and Goodman demonstrates that at times they are often alike in their methods and goals, while apart in their approaches to Jewish tradition.
Whenever I hear of a very non Shabbat activity on the Shabbat, I am also very uncomfortable and there are thousands like me! But the non religious community also have their rights. much general studies should be introduced. The tensions are very much there. Elements of the religious community are very upset about attempts to provide public transportation on Shabbat, since that day is a primary religious moment every week. Whenever I hear of a very non Shabbat activity on the Shabbat, I am also very uncomfortable and there are thousand like me! But the non religious community also have their rights. Is the gulf between the various religious and secular communities so deep that it is a danger? I recently read a book in Hebrew by Dr. Micah Goodman of the Prat Institute,
Most of the founders of modern Israel were, for the most part Ashkenazi secularist, who were rebelling against the Eastern European perception of Judaism and who were very influenced by the spirit of Socialism and ideologies of the mid 19th and early 20th centuries. Their political parties ruled this country until well into the mid 70’s of the 20th century. They tried very hard to inculcate their values and outlooks into the new Israelis coming from North Africa and Asia. They were not very successful! (Remember Salah Shabbati, the film of the late 1950’s, which focused on the very different culture of the non-Ashkenazim?). The memories of many from that era continued on the following page
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Kiddushim
Cake and Wine Kiddush - 1,000 NIS Sponsors are invited to provide 2 litres of Whisky for their simcha. Full Kiddush - 2,200 NIS Sponsors are invited to provide 2 litres of Whisky for their simcha. Includes a choice of 2 fish dishes (2 of Pickled Herring pieces/Chopped Herring/Tuna). Includes Potato & Lockshen Kugel. Sponsorship of Kiddushim can be shared. However, during July and August sharing of a Kiddush will not be permitted as a safety measure. This will also apply when Chanukah falls during the Xmas holiday period. To make a booking for a Kiddush or use of the George Goddard Hall please email the Administrator office@yinn.org or phone 09 832 1078
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are still very painful, but they have of the secularist and Judaism, which recovered their religious and cultural they did not necessarily see as God values and they also influence what centered or rabbinically directed. happens in the State of Israel. Today we are witnessing some very That is a background to today interesting and challenging trends. here in Israel. We have a very strong We are seeing hazara b’tshuvah, Haredi community, which has become returning to the very traditional politically sophisticated. The religious forms of Jewish life, with a sense Zionist community, the kippa serugah of repentance, since the returners element, has learned to use its were not involved in it previously schools and youth movement, its and feel that they saw their earlier rabbinate, its large following, to build lives as sinful. At the same time in its huge influence. Since so many of the religious community, we now its members are university educated, have tendencies, such as those “who they are involved with trends, leave with a question,” essentially questions and issues that are very turning their backs on traditional as in the traditional institutions, but much a part of the intellectual world Judaism, as they once practiced it. with a desire to struggle, to have a both here and abroad. We have a very Brian Blum in the Jerusalem Post conversation with them and to make pluralistic religious scene as well as Magazine, occasionally tells us of the them part of their outlook and their social and political ones. datlas”h, those who were previously lives. Will this necessarily bring them Dr. Goodman details the religious and who have left it behind. to a more traditional Jewish view? development of Jewish secularism, It is, perhaps, too soon to know what Who knows! Will they bring a new for some of the secularists that will be the fate of those who have understanding to these beloved means a complete severance from exited the religious community and books, will they challenge some Jewish tradition and for others a will they return or develop into other traditional perspectives? Some will reworking, dare I say a “renewal” of perspectives of Judaism. Will these Jewish tradition, without Brian Blum in the Jerusalem Post Magazine, occasionally tells us of the necessarily a devotion to the datlas”h, those who were previously religious and who have left it behind. Almighty. But It is, perhaps, too soon to know what will be the fate of those who have already, early on, certain exited the religious community and will they return or develop into other personalities, perspectives of Judaism. such as Ahad HaAm, Haim Nahman Bialik shudder at this question. Others in tendencies strengthen the Jewish and A. D. Gordon were trying to the the community may well look base of the State of Israel, will they weave tradition into their secularism. forward to the opportunity to debate positively influence trends in our Bialik and his colleague, Ravnitsky, the understanding of the tradition and diaspora communities? produced Sefer Aggadah, a huge perhaps add other layers to it. From Goodman’s book finishes with collection of rabbinic literature, which my reading of Dr. Goodman, he thinks a look at elements of the secular was to be studied in non religious this is good and healthy dynamic. Are community, who, perhaps, want to schools. They knew that their secular we seeing a new understanding of continue what the Ahad HaAm, Bialik Zionism also required a relationship repentance in the secular community? and Gordon, among others were with tradition. Each of the persons I cited had his own ideas of how to synthesize Jewish tradition with their secular outlook. They provided a still ongoing conversation between some
doing or tried to do more than 100 years ago? They are creating yeshivot and other programs, in which they study texts intently, not necessarily
From our home to your home Chevy and I wish you Hag Kasher v’Sa-mayah, a happy and Kosher Pesach! A YINN Pesach 5780 | 27
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Jews and Psychiatry By Joseph Berger In many areas of Medicine there have been incredible advances in diagnostic equipment and treatments over the past thirty years and more. But in spite of a considerable amount of research on the brain, there have been almost no significant advances in either diagnosis or treatment in psychiatry. Whether that is related to an observation that there seem to be far fewer Jews becoming psychiatrists, is something worth considering. To try to answer that question, it is important to first understand that essentially there are two different aspects to psychiatry. One, I call the Psychiatry of Severe Mental Illness. That deals with the serious conditions that most people have heard about, such as Schizophrenia, ManicDepressive Illness (now unhelpfully re-named Bipolar Disorder) and Clinical Depression. The other aspect of psychiatry is what I call the Psychopathology of Everyday Life. This phrase describes the wide variety of everyday problems that may bring people to a psychiatrist, because they arise from psychological conflict. Such things as people losing jobs, having career difficulties, marriage failures, making poor choices of partners, parents dealing with teenagers especially with drug problems, ageing parents, and today, the many sexual identity issues. None of these is a severe mental illness likely to put a person into hospital. Yet the people affected by these issues may be in positions of
responsibility where they may have influence over the lives of many people, even hundreds or thousands such as employees or others. Many such behaviours are a result of what we call character or personality problems, and if the people themselves are very anxious we often use the term neurotic. Although severe mental disturbance has been with us since the beginnings of human history, there are many references in Tenach and Gemarah. Psychiatry as an area of modern medicine really developed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, when doctors started classifying the various symptoms and signs of disturbance into discrete disorders, with the hope that they would better understand and be able to treat people with such disturbances. But at the same time, another revolution was going on, and this was the finding of Freud and his followers that much of people’s psychological problems could be traced to difficulties in their early growing years and their relationships with their parents. Freud went to the United States in 1909 and lectured there, and his ideas had a very strong influence on American psychiatry, and so most training programmes in psychiatry until the 1980’s, were based upon his and his followers’ principles, of verbally listening to people and trying to help them understand their inner psychological processes, so as to have better control over them, and thus reduce their disturbances.
But from the 1970’s, another revolution took place, the production of drugs that could calm down some disturbed people, and could stimulate those people who appeared to be depressed. Although eventually it became realized that drugs don’t actually cure very disturbed people, nor are very good for many depressed people, the availability of money from drug companies for research meant that many bright young people– including Jewish doctors–followed that path, rather than the earlier path of psychiatrists who were interested in really trying to understand why people thought, felt, and behaved the way that they did. And so over the past thirty-plus years there have been far fewer young Jewish doctors training to become psychiatrists. The Freudian method required the patient to come at least four or five times a week, lie on a couch not facing the therapist, and just talk. The idea being that the patient would dig deeper into his or her own thoughts and feelings, so that eventually their unconscious fears and drives would emerge, they would now have greater control over those, and could lead a happier life. But it was time consuming, hard, and financially expensive, and certainly had little success with very disturbed people. So it became much modified and what developed was Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, a process where the patient sits up facing the therapist, usually comes just once a week, and the focus is on learning through the patient’s daily continued on the following page
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Helping Soldiers Chillax How YINN supports AWIS By Pamela Peled real-life problems the underlying psychological conflicts that are driving the patient to make the ‘poor choices’ the patient is making, and help make better choices and decisions. But because the drug revolution helped clear out most of the huge human ‘warehouses’ where up to 10,000 patients might have stayed for most of their lives without being re-evaluated whether it was really necessary, many training programmes turned their research and teaching focus towards finding new drugs, and fewer bright young Jewish doctors went into that branch of listening and talking with people about their lives. So that area became taken over by psychologists, who may do psychotherapy, but are not medical doctors. Psychiatrists in many countries today, mostly work in hospitals, or in clinics where they may see patients once every month or two, and prescribe medication. The interest in really listening to people, exploring their thoughts, feelings and desires with them no longer holds the same attraction for bright young Jewish minds as does using the latest technical equipment for diagnosis and research in medicine, or the whole broader world of computing. A
This article originally appeared in ESRAmagazine #203, January 2020, https://magazine.esra.org.il/ The soldier at a small army base tucked away in a pastoral part of Central Israel held out his hand as our bus approached the gate. Ian Fine, chairman of the English Speaking branch of AWIS, stood on the top step to assure the uniformed young man, laden with electronic equipment and walkie talkies, that our busload of ageing Anglos did not constitute a security risk. “We’re from Netanya,” declared Fine, in beautifully British articulated Hebrew. “We’re here to donate sporting equipment and new-fangled TVs that can work in the field. We’re from the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers.” And then, in an only-in-Israel moment, the army corporal broke into a grin. “My father-in-law davens in your shul,” he volunteered, beaming. A quick exchange about his lovely young
wife’s family ensued, the barrier to the camp rose, and we were in. Israel is a crazy place. The head of the base joined us, looking ridiculously familiar. Was he in politics; had he been my student? Unfortunately the reason was more tragic; I recognized him from the annual memorial services for a good friend’s soldier son; he had been David Solomonov’s officer when David was inexplicably shot dead on a peaceful border at the end of Yom Kippur, three days before his service should have come to an end. Suddenly this random base in the middle of nowhere was full of family. And family is how the AWIS members view “our boys” and “our girls” in Israel’s armed forces. Each month a busload of olim packs into their seats for a trip to selected bases from the Golan Heights down to Eilat; Christmas, or rather Chanukah, lasts all year. The contingent always comes bearing gifts: from boxes of Bamba and Bisli
Edited version of a talk given at McDonald Lecture Series. February 19.2020, in honour of 19th birthday of our grandson Noam Avraham Fortinsky
Graham cuts the ribbon watched by Ian and many of the chayalim at the base
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to the refurbishment of clubhouses, or equipment including sports and workout gear and electronic devices. Funds are all privately donated: around 40,000 shekels will remodel an existing building and fit it out with coffee stations and games, comfy sofas, a wide-screen TV and a fridge; books, plants, a Kiddush cup and candles add touches of home. Up to 90,000 shekels will build a new clubhouse from scratch; it can often be organized for less than half that price. Donors give whatever they like; a 500-shekel annual contribution ensures membership and eligibility to join trips (and also to win big in a raffle.) Donations also fund scholarships for soldiers for postarmy studies – 20,000 shekels per student over three years – and 1,000 needy new recruits each year receive 350 shekels each in vouchers for extra socks and underwear and other necessities that their families cannot afford. Founded by Ben Gurion in 1942, AWIS, through supporting and assisting the soldiers, demonstrates in practical ways how grateful the nation is to the youngsters who keep us safe. “We regard the chayalim as our children and grandchildren,” said one of the donors at a renovated clubhouse dedication, “and we are so grateful to you and proud of you”. For some of these Netanya-based olim from England, South Africa, America, Canada and Australia, these excursions are the closest they have ever got to a shooting range, or a tent. More like glamping than camping, an AWIS tour is a glamorous way to see how our military functions from up close. Arriving on an airconditioned bus, the participants are greeted by the Camp Commander, and invited to sample a delicious array of dried fruits, baked goods and cut up tomatoes and cucumbers. Lunch is a full-on affair: chicken and a type of cholent and fluffy pitot and all the spreads … it’s enough to make you want to join the Permanent Forces
for the rest they chaperoned their donors to a of your life. graduation ceremony of Air Force Obviously graduates, saw “some secret stuff” the food is all at select bases, visited the Golan, fine for even and experienced seasickness in a the most submarine simulator. particular In another only-in-Israel moment, participant – they were shown how Shabbat is kept according to while keeping the country safe: for the Resident example, if something simply has to Rabbi on the be written down on one base it’s done Our Rabbi shares his tour, Baruch in ink that later disappears … magic! military memories Boudilovsky, No desecration of the holy day of keeping rest, and we can all rest assured that kosher has been easy in the army someone is looking after us. ever since Rabbi Goren (the first Head At the end of the tour, having of the Military Rabbinate) decreed anonymously dedicated a large that only meat can be cooked in army clubhouse in honor of the Young kitchens; all dairy has to be served Israel shul, and another from funds cold. Rabbi Boudilovsky has the from raffle tickets and membership, pulpit at the Young Israel Shul by the stuffed with delicacies from every sea in Netanya; although most of the stop and having caught a quick congregants are no longer that young, Mincha at an army synagogue, Rabbi and it’s debatable whether any are Israeli. Yet when it comes to enthusiasm, energy and contributing to the community, Young Israel must be at the top of any list. Comprised mainly of retirees from Anglo countries, Inside the clubhouse in Machneh 80 Dotan, near Pardes Hanna the congregants are so busy with shul business – meals, trips, charity Boudilovsky regaled the group work, Kiddushim, learning and with stories of his own service as a davening – that there is little time for paratrooper. I was tired at the end of the rest: Pilates, daily swims, more the day; I’m sure the others went on charity work and lectures, bridge and to brisk walks on the beach, and then bowls. Certainly no spare second to some charity movie, or fundraising for growing old; these grannies and dinner, or talk. grandads get younger by the year. I think there are two lessons to be Amazingly, in the midst of all learned from the day: join AWIS and this, Ian Fine and his indefatigable retire to Netanya. A secretary, Rosalind Goldstein, together with their small and enthusiastic committee, managed to organize the refurbishment of twenty-eight clubhouses around the country last year. In the process
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Journey Into Jordan By Phil Margulies The English Speaking Residents Association or ESRA , has a very active group in Netanya We arrange regular tiyulim and last September, under the guidance of our professional guide Stephen Kliner we took a group of 43 on a tour showing them the Highlights of Jordan. The group arrived promptly at 6.00 am to our departure point in Netanya and we drove to the Husseni Bridge, the northern crossing point into Jordan near Beit Shean. The crossing was fairly easy apart from one participant losing her exit visa on the Israeli side and then having her powerful binoculars confiscated by the Jordanian customs authority. However this was sorted out and we eventually crossed the border. In Jordan we boarded the tourist bus with our Jordanian driver and our Jordanian guide and headed south. We had an armed policeman with us for security who was interested to find out which part of Israel we came from and we did manage to communicate although his English was rather limited. A guard is quite normal and is something the tourist authorities provide for all Western groups Crossing into Jordan I was struck by the amount of plastic bags and rubbish floating about. Israelis are not the most conscientious when it comes to keeping our country clean but at least we do try with our efforts at recycling. Our first stop was Madaba. The amazing 6th century mosaic showing Jerusalem at its centre. The mosaic today measures some 16 meters by 5 meters although once was much 34 | YINN Pesach 5780
larger and is found inside a church in Madaba. According to the mosaic map the main entrance to the city was through a large gate opening into a wide central street. Archaeologists were never able to excavate the site due to heavy pedestrian traffic. However, a few years ago after some work was done near the Jaffa Gate, large paving stones were discovered at a depth of 4 meters below ground proving such a road existed. Until recently this priceless piece of history was walked over by visitors but thankfully now the mosaic is protected. After lunch in Madaba we drove on to Mount Nebo to see the amazing view from the top, Mount Nebo is where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land which he was not allowed to enter. It is holy not only for Jews but also to Christians and Muslims who also see Moses as a great prophet. Here again in the church were amazing mosaics and outside, the famous Brazen Serpent monument created by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni. The serpent is used as a symbol by the IDF as well as other medical facilities in other countries, for their medical corps. From here we could enjoy a view similar to the one Moses must have had some three thousand, five hundred years ago. Back on the bus for the long ride to Petra. The roads in Jordan are not of a particularly high standard and the Desert Highway is no exception. The roads are full of speed bumps which had to be manoeuvred over by our driver. The hotel when we arrived was very comfortable and after dinner we
set off to experience Petra by night. For those who have been to Petra, the walk through the narrow gorge can be exhausting by day. However by night it becomes a bit of an ordeal as it’s almost a mile walk in semi darkness lit only by candles. The end result was that we were crowded into the area in front of the Treasury, sitting on the sand to listen to someone playing a pipe, a story was told about Petra and finally the Treasury was illuminated in all its glory for us to see. I did feel however they should have made much more of this as at David’s Tower in Jerusalem where the story there is retold with light and sound and is an amazing experience. Together with hundreds, maybe thousands of other visitors we
struggled back up the Siq in the semi darkness and boarded our bus for the ride back to the hotel. The following morning we again made the trip into Petra, this time walking down the Siq in the daylight accompanied by our Jordanian guide. Petra is an amazing city. Once the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom, it lost its independence to the Romans who took over the lucrative spice trade. It went into decline and was rediscovered by the Western world only in 1812. The Nabateans were able to control the use of water and remains of their amazing water system can still be seen. The earthquake in 363 destroyed the city with its 30,000 inhabitants but what is left are the incredibly beautiful carved mausoleums in the sandstone cliffs. The most famous of these is the Treasury, so called because it was believed to contain a king’s treasure. The surface still shows the results of hundreds of bullet holes made by local Bedouin tribesmen looking for the treasure rumoured to be hidden within. There is also a large theatre which gave the participants a first class view of the mausoleums all around. Petra, the Red Rock was once the theme of a popular Israeli song which encouraged young Israelis to risk their lives in order to visit the site; so many tried and never returned and consequently the song was removed from the playlist of Israel Radio. Petra was the central reason for coming to Jordan and the experience we had was certainly worth the effort. After spending a few hours
exploring the city and being amazed by the multitude of carved mausoleums we returned to our bus, and had a buffet lunch at the nearby Sandstone restaurant. Our very helpful waitress was interested to know where we had come from and happily accepted the fact that we were a group of English speaking
Israelis and she also expressed a wish to one day visit Israel. At no time during our visit did I experience any anti-Israel sentiments. We then continued our drive to the next destination, the outstanding area of Jordan known as Wadi Rum. We arrived at the Bait Ali Bedouin Camp where we were to stay the continued on the following page
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night, a complex built not too far from the railway line constructed by the Ottomans and one of the targets that Lawrence of Arabia and his Bedouin would attack. It was hardly a typical Bedouin camp but a series of buildings, some tents and a large eating area. This was an ideal opportunity to do some star gazing. The light pollution is much less in the desert and whilst not perfect we were able to enjoy the sky at night. A thousand star hotel in the desert. The next morning we were up early, breakfasted and away in the 7 jeep convoy to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Wadi Rum. The area made famous by T E Lawrence is one of the most amazing scenic places we have visited. Wadi Rum, known as the Valley of the Moon is a valley cut into the sandstone and the largest Wadi in Jordan. It is understandably often
used by film makers to depict terrain on far off planets. We saw inscriptions left by the Nabateans nearly 2000 years ago and also at one stop, the face of Lawrence of Arabia carved into the rock face. The scenery in Wadi Rum is stunning with spectacular desert landscape, sandstone mountains, desert valleys, canyons and great expanses of nothing but sand. This was for me one of the most outstanding parts of our visit to Jordan. However after two hours of driving in this amazing landscape we had to return to our hotel and the bus was loaded up ready for our return to Israel. The bus took us on to Aquaba and the border which was very well organised, probably due to the large number of visitors using the crossing. Tourism is a main source of income for the Jordanian economy. We said
goodbye to our guide, to our driver who had done a great job and our guard who had looked after us so well and we crossed back into Israel. Our Israeli bus was waiting for us when we arrived and it felt good to be home. The next part of our journey took us through the magnificent Israeli Negev scenery to Mitzpe Ramon, the huge machtesh in the desert and the centre dedicated to the memory of Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut. The visitor centre there is a tribute to Ilan and shows his accomplishments in reaching for the stars as Israel’s man in space. His death was a tragic loss and the centre is a moving tribute to this brave Israeli flyer. We then returned by bus to Netanya after three amazing days. This was an ambitious but thrilling tiyul, appreciated by all the participants who managed to cope with all the challenges presented to them. A
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Do We Have Reason To Believe? By Harvey Green There is a well-known story that during the Holocaust a Rabbi and his flock in Auschwitz put God on trial. They found him guilty. Immediately afterwards the Rabbi said “let’s go now and daven Mincha”. Rabbi Hugo Gryn, a survivor of the concentration camps was asked “where was God during the Holocaust” He answered “where was man?” My father who had lost fourteen members of his family always remained a traditional Jew. On the other end of the scales sits a Rabbi who made a not
arises as I sit on the fulcrum of the scales is in regard to faith. I am finding it increasingly problematic praying to my Deity as I feel that with all that’s gone on, I am not sure that He is there. I suppose that we would not expect His interference during the last 2000 years as they can be thought of as small incidents. The Holocaust with its six million murders including fifteen hundred children, well that beggars belief. Because Pesach is a miracle that we have in the Torah I find no problem in following it. I am doing things when deep down I am not sure for what purpose. There is a well-known story that during the Even Holocaust a Rabbi and his flock in Auschwitz Yom Kippur put God on trial. They found him guilty. when I Immediately afterwards the Rabbi said “let’s appeal go now and daven Mincha”. directly I am not sure if I uncommon statement when I am heard. The two occasions that attended a seminar. He said I had a religious experience could that after the Flood and certainly well have been hysteria on that by the end of the Tenach God holy day. withdrew Himself from the world There is no doubt that the on the basis that let man make his Jewish way of life gives us a moral own goodness or evil. code from birth to death. Does it Faced with that, I have a need God’s presence? The reality problem. I consider myself at least is that I am trying to opt in, not a fairly Orthodox Jew and have no out, of my faith. A little help would problem in keeping the Mitzvot be appreciated. A whenever I can for I have the Torah and wealth of commentaries to use. Where the problem
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On 23rd October 2017 Neil MacGregor, a former Director of the British Museum, began a series of lectures, broadcast on BBC Radio 4, entitled “Living With The Gods”. His first lecture was on “The Beginnings of Belief”, during which he told listeners about an amazing discovery made by two archaeologists on the 25th August 1939, immediately prior to the outbreak of World War II. Both men were excavating in the back of the Hohlenstein cave, near Ulm in south-west Germany, north of the Danube. This was in an area known to contain remarkable material from the Ice Age. It was the last day of the dig, because both men had received their call-up papers for the German army. As they were preparing to pack up their tools, they found tiny fragments of mammoth ivory in a further cave forty meters in, which appeared to have been worked by human hands. The mammoth is an extinct species that lived during the Pleistocene geological epoch that lasted from 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago. Due to the immediacy of war breaking out, the fragments were taken away and put into storage in crates, ultimately ending up in the city museum of Ulm. It was only thirty years later, in 1969, that the curator of the museum and two colleagues undertook the task of sorting and publishing the material from the cave excavation. Amazingly, they found that they could put the fragments together to reconstruct what was revealed as a statue, 30 centimeters in height, partly in human form, but with the head of a lion. It was dubbed “the Lion Man”. Jill Cook,
Living With The Gods — On Beliefs and Peoples By Stuart West an expert from the British Museum, who specializes in Ice Age art and the archaeology of human evolution, described the figure, as having “the head of a cave lion, common in Ice Age Europe, and bigger than the modern African lion”. After describing the physical features of the figure, she commented, “This is not a human being wearing a mask. This is a creature, albeit a creature that cannot exist. And he is attentive, he is listening, he is watching.” According to radiocarbon dating, the Lion Man was about 40,000 years old, having been originally made at the end of the last Ice Age. This sculpture, representing two observed species, was unique in that it is the oldest evidence of the human imagination giving physical representation to a being in reality that can never be seen, but which is physically graspable. It is evidence that, so far back in time, humans had the ability to reimagine and reshape nature, dissolving the boundary between human and animal to a world beyond nature. Here was a sculpture made from the tusk of a mammoth, the largest animal known to man at that time, with the head of the fiercest animal, and the body of the only being capable of imaginative thought, and having mastery of the different tools required to fashion this figure, as well as the ability to invest the necessary time and patience to create it. For MacGregor, “the Lion Man represents a cognitive leap to a world beyond nature, and beyond human experience.” The Lion Man is an object that
makes sense only if it is part of a story, what we might now call a myth. There must have been an accompanying narrative or a ritual that would explain its appearance and its meaning. We can now only guess what that story was. Almost certainly, it was about humans and animals, but presumably it was also about something beyond ourselves, beyond nature, which can somehow help to strengthen a community and enable it to overcome dangers and difficulties. Closer examination of the Lion Man revealed that its mouth had been infiltrated by an organic substance, possibly blood, suggesting some sort of ritual in which the lion’s mouth played a part. Furthermore, any of the irregularities one would expect on the surface of ivory were not present, indicating that they had been smoothed away due to prolonged handling by people over many years, possibly over several generations. It would appear that the Lion Man was shared by a group. Clive Gamble, Professor of Archaeology at Southampton University, demonstrates the importance of imagination in Homo sapiens, explaining, “We can construct myths and legends. We can inhabit other worlds and make great imaginative leaps,
bringing together things which do not occur in nature, as in the Lion Man.” These were the imaginative leaps that allowed man to develop a belief in an afterlife, and to create rituals, with their accompanying symbols and ceremonies. As if to confirm this, the cave where the Lion Man was found, has been re-excavated, and in
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STAINED GLASS WINDOWS GREAT REDUCED PRICE SALE Take advantage of this special Pesach offer to dedicate a Stained Glass Window in our Shul. There are four windows available in the Ladies’ gallery for sale at the amazing price of 10,000 shekels each.
Har Sinai (The Ten Commandments)
Tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes
Old Destroyed Shul (Chorba) of Rabbi Yehuda Hasid
Sarah
A panel at the side of each window will contain an embedded dedication, and this is included in the price. The windows were designed and installed by Jeremy Langford, famous as designer of the Western Wall Sculpture Project. Do not miss this unique opportunity—first come will be first served!
Please contact Eze Silas at 054 459 3209 or by email at silaseze@gmail.com
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a smaller cave at the back various objects were found, including the teeth of various animals, such as Artic foxes, deer and wolves. Interestingly, they had been pierced, enabling them to be strung together and worn with small ivory pendants. Also found there were trimmed reindeer antlers. It takes little imagination to think of these objects being used in rituals, and to regard the smaller cave as a sanctuary or holy place. MacGregor completes his study of the findings at the Hohlenstein Cave, where the fragments of the Lion Man were found, with a most interesting conclusion. “The best hypothesis is that the people of the Lion Man made a great work of art, constructed a narrative linking the natural and supernatural worlds, and enacted that narrative ceremonially with a wider community. This is something that all human societies have done; searching for patterns, and then composing stories and rituals about them, which puts us — all of us — in our cosmic place. You could say that it is when a group agrees as to how the fragments of this great puzzle fit together, that you have a community: that Homo sapiens is also Homo religiosus, where the search is not for my place in the cosmos, but for our place, and where believing is closely connected with belonging.” I would venture to say that Emile Durkheim (1858-1917), French sociologist, and the principal architect of modern social science, would surely have commended this hypothesis, in that for him, the origin of religion is in belongingness. Furthermore, it is possible to find traces of this type of development in the Hebrew Bible,
commencing, as it does with its myths about origins, and with the use of stories and narrative, demonstrating the eventual achievement of a community from which Judaism, and later Christianity and Islam, developed. MacGregor’s book is not a history of religion, nor an argument in favor of faith. It is about the stories which give shape to our lives, and the different ways in which societies imagine their place in the world. The book looks across history and around the globe at objects, places and human activities so as to understand what shared religious beliefs can mean in the public life of a community or a nation, as well as how those beliefs shape the relationship between the individual and the state, and help give us our sense of who we are, and how to live with each other. MacGregor deplores the declining role
splendour of the interior of Plymouth synagogue, accompanied by a detailed explanation about reading from the Torah scroll, and the accompanying ritual in taking the scroll from the ‘Aron Kodesh’, as well as an explanation about the use of the ‘yad’ in order not to damage the Hebrew writing on the parchment. Another example is the Torah binder of Mordechai Gompel, dating from 1750. Originally it would have been a square or rectangular piece of linen to swaddle the baby Mordechai during his circumcision, and later it was cut into four strips that were then sewn together to make a Torah binder. The binder was embroidered by the women of the household, the style of sewing indicating that it must have been made in Germany. MacGregor explains that “this elegant piece of needlework lays out the ideal life of an eighteenth-century Jewish boy —
MacGregor’s book is not a history of religion, nor an argument in favor of faith. It is about the stories which give shape to our lives, and the different ways in which societies imagine their place in the world.
of institutional religion, as leading to a serious loss of community, but he concludes that all the traditions looked at in his book “affirm that the life of the individual can best be lived in a community...that living properly with other people, living with each other, is the nearest we can get to heaven.” Having listened to the podcasts, and then read the book, I can highly recommend both. The podcasts make for easy listening and are very well produced. But the book excels, in that it brings to life the podcasts by adding much more detail to each subject, accompanied by beautifully reproduced illustrations. For the Jewish reader, one example, of particular interest is a colour photograph of the Baroque
a life in which the religious and the social are indistinguishable — and defines his identity in the context of thousands of years of Jewish tradition. Through the ceremony of circumcision, when the cloth was wrapped around him, he was made heir to the ancient covenant between the Jews and their God, and was bound by the law of Moses.” Basically, these broadcasts and the book do not relate to the history of religions; rather they are an anthropological study of the origins and social relationships of human beliefs and assumptions, regarding faith, ideology and religion. A
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Friday Evening a la Francais By Denis Elkoubi For the second year in a row, YINN organised a Shabbat meal for the French speakers who attend our synagogue and their friends. Thanks to Rabbi Boudilovsky’s initiative, and supported by the board, French speakers (French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian) were able to spend a Shabbat evening with French as the common language and where the traditional meal of a Seudat Yitro, specific to North African communities, gave a particular flavor to this event. After a few words in English by our Chairman, Graham Nussbaum, Rabbi Boudilovsky welcomed us in French and then gave a short Drasha in English which was translated into French. A table of English speaking YINN members did us the honour of participating. Professor
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Mendelbaum developed some ideas around Parashat Yitro; an English translation of his commentary was distributed to our English friends so that they were able to fully participate. Many Sephardic communities are used to celebrating Shabbat Yitro in a special way. For some,“La Fête des garçons” in Tunisia, Shabbat Yitro was the occasion of a special meal recalling the end of an epidemic which affected many children. For others it was the initiation of young children to Hebrew or the Ten Commandments; miniature cutlery was used during these meals to stimulate their interest. In other communities (Tlemcen, Algeria) each married man invited his father-in-law in remembrance of the meal that
Moses made for Yitro, his father-inlaw. In the Tunisian communities, the meal ended with a “piècemontée”, a typical French festive pastry made of cream puffs mounted in a cone reminiscent of Mount Sinai. I introduced this traditional dessert, accompanied by champagne, with a few words about the importance of meals in the Torah. The friendly atmosphere, the Shabbat zemirot and the magnificent duet of the Rabbi with his son Daniel contributed to creating a very warm atmosphere and making this Shabbat a very special moment. Thanks to the encouragement of Rabbi Boudilovsky and the board of YINN, and the efficiency of Sue Levy, the French speakers of the community were able to share with their English friends the pleasure of a Shabbath with a French touch! A
Shul Trip to Eilat – 17-21 November 2019 By Janice Zemmel An unexpected opportunity presented itself enabling me to join the shul trip to Eilat. Having not been for eight years, going back to when Harry Friedgut hosted them, this gave me a really new perspective. Having little time to pack, the Sunday morning 7.15 am bus gathering came very quickly. The journey both there and back was very pleasant with only two stops each way and most importantly the bonus of Wi-Fi. Before leaving the bus, Rosalind suggested that, especially at mealtimes, people mixed by sitting with different people for each meal – in fact like the hotel suggests ‘all-inclusive.’ We arrived in good time for lunch, after which we registered and were tagged with the ‘blue bracelet’. The ‘all-in’ Isrotel Laguna throughout our stay lived up to anyone’s expectations as top class. The bedrooms, many of which had been updated, were spotless with a balcony, tea/coffee facilities, easy to setup safe and an enormous television screen you could tune to English with most channels available. Three meals a day with a mouthwatering assortment of delicacies. This presented a dilemma of what one could leave out. As I rarely make salads for myself, I really used this
opportunity for healthy eating…of course that was until I came to the desserts!! Although I am not diabetic, I was impressed by the variety of nonsugar options at each meal, especially at breakfast with a whole table of sugarless delights. The shul trip is for relaxing, and no organized tiyulim were arranged except…for those, most of us, who went to see the WOW show for which Alan Gold kindly bought
first night was more to my liking. The whole trip was just perfect for me, especially as I spoke to people from the shul whom I see on Shabbat but have had no opportunity to meet. Following the final money calculations, there is a surplus which will be shared 3 ways: between LEKET. HATZOLAH and the SHUL. To sum up….this trip does not happen by ‘magic’, so a really big ‘toda’ is due to Rosalind and Harvey,
tickets. There we spent an enjoyable couple of hours where the small cast worked tirelessly, complimented by spectacular background scenery. Nightly entertainment was available in the hotel and the group on the
ably assisted by Natalie, for their untiring yearlong planning of the Eilat trip. ABW I will definitely not be a latecomer next year but No.1 on the list when booking opens. A
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Left to right: the tables sparkled, a crowded agenda, Richie entertains everyone
Siyum Hashas 8th January 2020
By Dr. Leah Adams, David Gillis, Viv Simenoff On Wednesday night January 8, 2020, 12 Tevet, the Shul celebrated their Siyum HaShas dedicated in memory of the shiur’s first Maggid Shiur, HaRav Chaim Lipman Zaav Rabinowitz, O”H. The social hall was filled with those who were celebrating their completion of the learning of the Shas, as well as their proud family members, friends, and community members. Dinner was a four course catered meal of salmon, salads, soups, meat, dessert, and even fresh fruit. The roster of inspiring speakers included Rav Kalman Ber, Chief Rabbi of Netanya, Rabbi Boudilovksy, Rav of The Young Israel of North Netanya, Revererend Plaskow, former Maggid Shiur of the Daf Yomi, Rabbi Feigelman, current Maggid Shiur of the Daf Yomi, and Rabbi Johnny Solomon, speaker, who presented an audio visual history of the Daf Yomi. Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Morowitz and Rabbi Emeritus Reverend Jackson were in attendance. David Rabinowitz, son of the late Rabbi Lipman 44 | YINN Pesach 5780
Rabinowitz, spoke on behalf of the family and his sister, Dr. Leah Adams, presented an eye-opening slide show about their father. The evening was conducted by Antony Felix and lively music was provided by Richard Stareshefsky and his accordion playing! The entire evening was one filled with the energy propelled by Torah learning, and many of us left motivated to study further! Dr. Leah Adams As a rookie Daf Yomi student, this was my first experience in the Holy Land of Eretz Yisrael of a Siyum Hashas, the first I believe held by YINN. The siyum created a great atmosphere of achdus among the congregation, and the main event of the evening was a very good slide presentation on the history of the Daf, given by Rabbi Jonny Solomon. This was followed by our Maggid Shiur, Rabbi Ozer Feigelman completing the Siyum and Hadran. Rabbi Feigelman
also welcomed newcomers to the Daf and encouraged everyone to join, with new innovations introduced such as coffee and snacks while you learn. Rabbi Boruch Boudilowsky then opened the 15th cycle by teaching the first Mishnah of Masechet Brochot. The ruach of the evening was also enhanced by zemirot and dancing. A very memorable occasion indeed. Rabbi Feigelman gives a very clear shiur each morning after Shacharit, where talmidim are free to ask questions, and our teacher brings the topics in each day’s Daf to life with his great sense of humour and personal experiences. It is well worth joining and helping to increase the Kiddush Hashem in this world. A Daf a day helps keep the yeitzer hara away! David Gillis My husband Charlie and I attended the Young Israel Tarbut Committee Siyum HaShas on January 8th. We really had no idea what to expect
Top left to right: Eze Silas, Rabbi Feigelman, the Chief Rabbi of Netanya Rav Kalman Ber, Rev Plaskow, Rabbi Boudolovsky, Anthony Felix– Chairman for the event. Bottom left: Renee Rabinowitz and her daughter Dr Leah Adams; bottom right, Eze Silas welcomes the guests
when we returned our form to say we’d like to attend. I’m so glad we went. We were already in awe of the people we know who study a daily daf, the commitment it takes to do something every day for seven and a half years, and the intellect to absorb it! Remarkably, a great deal of care and effort went into letting us all know that we’d be made most welcome if we wanted to join. We received words of inspiration
from both the Chief Rabbi of Netanya and from Rabbi Boudilovsky as well as a fascinating presentation from Rabbi Johnny Solomon and the daughter of Renee Rabinowitz about the life of her father, Rabbi Lippa Rabinowitz who was the first Magid shiur in Young Israel. Rabbi Ozer (Edward) Feigelman, who is the current Magid shiur, also spoke. The catering was good, the speakers were excellent, and it was all carefully
chaired by Anthony Felix with an introduction from Eze Silas. It was a palpably emotional night for all the celebrants, many of whom were supported on the night by family and friends who had come from near and far. Richard Stareshefsky played the accordion with great aplomb and there was a beautiful moment when the men danced together, most with tears in their eyes. Charlie joins me in continued on the following page
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A really authentic Steak Restaurant under the supervision of the Netanya Rabbanate. By arrangement, the Restaurant can cater under the Hashgaha of any of the following Kashrut Authorities:
Friday lunchtime functions, for up to 100 people Smoked Meat available every Friday – Visit us We serve meat Halek Mehadrin Beit Yosef, and under the Hashgaha of Harav Mahpud 46 | YINN Pesach 5780
David Rabinowitz pays tribute to his father; Rabbi Feigelman performs the Hadran.
Middle row: Rev Michael Plaskow; Rabbi Jonny Solomon Third row: Rabbi and Mrs Feigelman; Rabbi Boudilovsky welcomes the Chief Rabbi. Bottom row: our two Emeritus Rabbis: Rabbi Jackson and Rabbi Morowitz
wishing each of the celebrants, and any new participant in studying daf yomi in the new cycle that has already started, a long and a healthy life to continue this Holy work. We want to thank all the organisers for the tremendous amount of work involved in the evening, and for allowing us to witness such a special event. May we all be zocher to witness many such events and may the learning in our community go from strength to strength. Yasher Koyach! A Viv Simenoff YINN Pesach 5780 | 47
Danny Levitt Danny worked as a Health and Safety Co-ordinator in a large engineering firm until his retirement, which was a few years before we made aliyah in 1999. He was born in Liverpool in 1930, married in 1953 and left Liverpool for Sale in South Manchester, where we lived until we made aliyah in 1999. He was very active in Sale Shul, where he was president twice. He made aliyah the day after Simcha Torah when he had the honour of being Chatan Torah, having been Chatan Bereshit several years before. He had two children Rhona and Ian, both of whom made aliyah in the 1990s and at the time of his death he had 9 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren - all living in Israel. During his time in Netanya he was very active in helping needy families, having been involved in Meals on Wheels, Keren Olim and last but not least Food for Kids where he was chairman for many years. He was also a stalwart member of HOB Netanya and was co-chairman with Mottle Shaw for several years. He also started and organised the YINN car pool rota for taking members to and from hospital, which he did for 12 years. A
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Some Personal Thoughts On Visiting Homes For The Aged By Mervyn Leviton, Photography by Avril Kormornick Abraham Lincoln once stated, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Perhaps he had learned this from the Sedrah of Vayigash when Pharaoh met the elderly Yaakov and asked him “How many are the days of your life?” Chazal explain this as asking Yaakov not how old he was but “how many truly meaningful days have you had in your long life?” I am sure that all our readers have on many occasions visited homes for the aged. Many of the residents can be called “Young oldies”. Just as they did most of their lives, they still have the same style of interacting with others, the same interests, and the same attitude toward challenges. But as time passes many become unable to function as they did in previous years and are restricted to life in a wheelchair. I am fortunate to be part of a wonderful organisation called ATTAD, “Aid To The AgeD”, where once a week a group of volunteers, many from our local community, visit old age homes to entertain the residents. I want to share with you some of my own personal thoughts and emotions from these visits. Please keep in mind that I am only referring to those who need some form of geriatric care. I am sure that anyone who visits such a place for the first time will see a room filled with elderly men and women sitting in wheelchairs, some fast asleep, some dozing, and some fully awake but with bored expressions and perhaps just a few talking to his or her neighbour in
the next chair. Of course it is not like that all the time. The excellent fully trained staff arrange many activities to keep them awake, interested and involved, such as art and handicraft sessions. It is very clear that in every home the staff are very fond of the residents and are always on hand to be with any who need help or comfort. When I enter and look around such a room, I try to imagine what each of them was like when they were still in their twenties, thirties or forties.
What did they do to earn a living? How many were doctors, teachers, lawyers, scientists, university lecturers or authors? How many served in the army and experienced combat? Where did they live? What were they like as part of a young married couple? Who were their spouses? Sadly I know that, with some exceptions, I will be unlikely to receive accurate answers to many of these questions even if I asked them. I have tried having a deeper continued on the following page
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conversation but it is usually limited and I am left always longing to know more about them. On one occasion I saw an old man who was sitting in his wheelchair all alone in a corner of the room. I stood close to him and gently took hold of his hands. I spoke but he didn’t respond. I slowly moved his hands and arms in time to the music playing. He didn’t speak, he just looked at me intently. There was no verbal communication between us. He just saw me and kept looking at me. I then saw moisture in his eyes. When the music ended he squeezed my hands. He never spoke, but I truly experienced a warm feeling of communication with him. We volunteers all receive great satisfaction when there is contact between us and see the smile on their faces. It is rare to see any of the residents getting out of their chairs to dance with us. But it is truly wonderful to see them smiling broadly and often laughing with us. It is said that you do not stop laughing because you grow old – You grow old because you stop laughing. A
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Purim Revue 2020 By Judy Frankel Impossible to believe that another year had rolled past since YINN’s last annual fun-fest: but there we were, luxuriating in all the keenly-anticipated end-of-the pier knockabout. Alan Gold had once more devised and directed the proceedings, even making a hilarious appearance sporting a Boris-wig! The show, performed by a much larger cast than ever before, was presented with exhilarating “pzazz”, a masterpiece of teamwork and talent, featuring traditional and music-hall songs, modern pastiches on wellloved chart-toppers, and a mosaic of quickfire sketches and gags. To give some random examples: two 52 | YINN Pesach 5780
scenes feature the remorseless onset of forgetfulness as one grows older: outraged OAP’s take their revenge when exploited by a wily hotel-keeper: the current fashion for identifying harmful food ingredients by their initials is amusingly pilloried and so is wine-tasting: a doctor’s mother (Bella Fielding!) persistently rings and infuriates him (Richard Stareshefsky) while he treats patients but he nevertheless worries when she doesn’t ring: two sketches take aim at language usage, one cataloguing intriguing differences between English and American terminology: another, with a gloriously skittish duo of twinned “oo-la-la” mesdemoiselles
(Janet Elkoubi and Avril Kormornick) in stripy tops, scarlet berets and stylish black wigs brings the house down with their boisterous litany of French phrases invading the English language: a fruit and vegetable “fiesta” is cram-full of every groaninducing corny joke imaginable: an anxious line of expectant husbands in the Maternity Department is joined by a complete interloper, there only to augment his collection of cigars: a painfully funny Irish no-frills airline hostess (Avril K again) reduces the audience to helpless giggles as she complains about the Jewish passengers and their aisle-blocking hat-boxes. Miriam Feirberg receives a
name-check, as does the Medi-terre Hotel while Café Nitza is featured twice! Interspersed amongst the sketches were some excellent vocal interludes. These included Harvey Rosenberg’s melodic “Danny Boy” and his poignant rendering of “When I fall in love”. Abi Litt’s brisk change of US/ Israeli hats in “Yankee Doodle” and Neville Gatoff, clutching his beer bottle, delivering a particularly wellcharacterised rendering of “Mr Piano Man”. Singing “Oifen Pripechik”, Rabbi Boudilovsky gave pleasure to all, providing an authentic and moving reminder of our shared Yiddish heritage, bringing back for
many in the audience the familiar cadences and accents of our parents and grandparents. Other players in the sketches included Steven Brown, Vivienne Simenoff, Melanie Wind, Ruth Gouldman and Paulette Woolf (who both contributed additional material) and Hilton Share who, as Haman, ironically declared, Corbyn-style, that he didn’t have an anti-Semitic bone in his body! Unfortunately, both Eze Silas and Tony Plaskow were rendered unavailable at the last minute and it does great credit to the cast that their parts were covered seamlessly. Marilyn and Harvey Benson again energetically delivered skilful musical
accompaniment, Rochelle Veeder and Stephanie Plaskow provided costumes and props, Andy Kormornick was an impressive Stage Manager, with Alex Stuart controlling all audiovisuals and projecting the song lyrics which enabled maximum audience participation. Avril Kormornick was crucial to the entire show, both as choreographer extraordinaire and the person responsible for writing or adapting most of the sketches. But as Alan insisted, in his remarks after “the final curtain”, it was a team effort and a very happy team too! A
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COMMUNITY REPORTS YINN Charity Committee Report The Charity Committee meets several times a year, but the members of the committee are in touch with each other several times a week to deal with the needs of our community. The year to December 2019 saw considerable demands on our limited resources. We observe strict confidentiality and we involve a professional social worker to advise us, if appropriate. The social worker assesses needs and recommends steps that the recipient of our support should take in order to achieve selfsufficiency. Donations to the Charity Fund are primarily prompted by the Kol Nidre appeal, the Halachic requirements of Purim and the donations made when selling Chametz. The Purim money has to be distributed on the day of Purim and the Pesach donations meet the seasonal needs of our community and support for Sedarim arranged for the homeless and for outreach. As a result, the moneys received as a result of the Kol Nidre appeal, together with periodic specific donations and the contributions made via the collection box in Shul, must be carefully managed to enable us to respond to appropriate requests throughout the year. The Kol Nidre appeal was very successful and exceeded all previous years. It has taken considerable effort to collect some of the money pledged in shul and, at the time of writing, there are still several thousands of Shekels pledged but not paid. During 2019, our grants to individuals in need amounted to 54 | YINN Pesach 5780
₪39,100 and ₪112,922 was donated to carefully selected organisations, having appropriate certification and whose activities fully conform to the aims and objectives of our Charity Fund. We work closely with these organisations and we recognise that they have staff, professional support and are better resourced to deal with difficult cases. Some donations are “ring fenced” having been specifically earmarked for support for student visits to Poland; needy brides; summer activities for children of needy families and for specified educational purposes. Please continue to generously support your Charity Fund. Charity is a constitutional purpose of our community and a Halachic obligation. You can be assured that your contributions will be carefully used and will bring light into the difficulties and darkness of many homes. If you know of cases of need or wish to talk to the committee about its work, please contact one of us. Rabbi Boudilovsky: rabbi@yinn.org Anthony Felix: anthony@anfelix.com Eze Silas: silaseze@gmail.com Anthony Felix (Chairman)
2020 Vision— The Future Depends On You! What makes Young Israel great is our members and the contributions you make. In 1983 Rabbi Morowitz’s vision of a community building came to fruition. The shul is in constant use every
day, all day, from the Hall to the Bortz room and after 30 years it has to be admitted that the building is looking tired and doesn’t represent the enthusiasm and abilities of the congregation or the dynamics of our wonderful community. In recent months much of the electrical system and lights have been made safe and upgraded but now we need to look at the building as a whole. Plans have been accepted by the Board for a complete renovation of the entrance lobby but that will leave us with a “patched up” building so, we want to renovate the entire shul particularly the ladies gallery, the main shul, the kitchen and all the toilets to include disabled provision. We have a responsibility to our current membership and as we look forward to the future we need to bring our building up to date for the next 30 years. We estimate this will cost around 800,000 shekels, a huge sum but what are the options? Revitalising the shul is now not just a whim; if we don’t do it before it deteriorates further it will cost even more. If you have any ideas for the shul or particular grievances please contact me at: maintenance@yinn.org Gerald Barnett
A Word From The Gabbai After serving one year as Senior Gabbai let me summarise some of the Gabbai team’s achievements. At the risk of being considered
a little over pedantic, we have started keeping track each week of the recipients of every aliya, peticha, hagba’ah and gelila each Shabbat. This has allowed us to identify any members who may have slipped through the cracks and not received an aliya for more than six months. As of the end of February, there remain only a handful of regular Netanya-based members who have not received a recent Shabbat aliya. Going forward we will endeavour to ensure that all eligible members receive at least one aliya in every six month period. The difficulty, as we have often repeated, is that with a membership primarily comprised of retirees, there are many members commemorating Yahrzeits each week and we are halachically obligated to offer these men an aliya on the preceding Shabbat. In addition there are smachot such as second Bar Mitzvahs, birth of a grandchild or great-grandchild etc. which are important life-cycle events and for which there is an expectation of receiving an honour on Shabbat morning. We need to hear those siman tov umazal tov words sung to offset the long weekly list of Keil Maleh Rachamims. If we want to minimize the number of additional aliyot this means that there are relatively few opportunities to call someone up just because it has been a while since their last aliya. In order to ensure that our members do receive periodic aliyot we have adopted a policy of offering honours on Shabbat morning only
to members. Non-members will be offered an honour on Shabbat at Mincha and during the week. We occasionally see Russian speakers attending YINN so to help them we have purchased a number of Russian-Hebrew siddurim which include a transliterated Kaddish. These siddurim are kept in a secure location so if you identify a man or a woman who needs one please let me or Graham Nussbaum know and we will provide the siddur. Ruth and Barry Lyons continue to efficiently maintain the shul database containing all the Yahrzeit dates so that we can correctly assign the aliyot each week. Ruth also is the focal point for all smachot information for the gabbaim which drives the announcements and aliyot allocation. I schedule the Shabbat leining, the haftarot and the Seuda Shlishit speakers so if anyone wishes to take on one or more of these functions any week please advise me well in advance. If you remember your Bar Mitzvah parsha and wish to repeat the leining let me know and we will schedule you in. Also let me know about grandsons who might like to practice their Anim Zemirot skills. To sponsor a Seuda Shlishit please make that reservation with Gillian in the office. Asher Edery continues to handle most of the day-to-day gabbai roles of running the shul. These
include rolling the Sifrei Torah for the chagim and fast days, sorting out the Siddurim and Chumashim, preparing the Chanukia, taking care of Havdalah etc. This past year Hilton Share has stayed on as “GabbaiConsultant� offering his sage advice to guarantee a smooth transition after Mike Kaye served as Senior Gabbai for so many years. Running a shul is like running a small business. The membership is both our stakeholders and our customers. If you think of any shul procedural improvements please let me know and we will do our best to accommodate your wishes. David Feiler
Chevra Kadisha Unfortunately, we have lost several members of the Congregation in the last few months, many of them in close proximity to one another. At some times we have had two shivas taking place at the same time. The committee worked hard, and with its usual sensitivity, to make sure that all arrangements for funerals were carried out smoothly and without causing any difficulties for the mourning families. With the help of the gentlemen of the Congregation minyanim were arranged at all the continued on the following page
YINN Pesach 5780 | 55
shiva houses. The booklet of procedure and customs for Burial in Netanya, prepared and distributed some 3 ½ years ago, is still of assistance at the sad time of the loss of a loved one. If anyone, in particular new members who may not know of our service, needs a copy, information or further explanation they may contact me or any member of the committee. I would like to express my thanks to Alan Gold and Yitzhak Bakst for their assistance in all the work that we do. I am grateful to Tony Bernstein, and to all others who are always ready and willing to help with transportation of the necessities to and from shiva houses. Phyllis Carr continues to carry out without fuss, happily and very competently, the mitzvah of organising meals for mourners. June Weinberg kindly steps in when Phyllis is away. A special “thank you” to them and to all the ladies who prepare the meals for mourners so willingly at short notice. This is a very special service which is greatly appreciated by all mourners and their families. By way of information to the Congregation may I say again that the meals they provide are for mourners only and not for the extended family of the mourners. It would make the ladies’ work impossible if they had to provide for all family members who are at shiva houses. I hope that the Congregation will have little need of the service provided by our committee, but all should know that each of us is willing and ready to assist whenever called upon to do so. We wish all the members of the Congregation a Chag Pesach Sameach and many years of good health. Eze Silas - Chairman 56 | YINN Pesach 5780
The Children’s Corner Report For many years we had an area, near the wash basins going into the hall, for some form of gathering for children. Two years ago I approached Rivka Lehrman, who was attending to the children, if she would like my help in forming a more permanent area and help her to create a place for the children to be cared for. It was difficult to find somewhere as T.G. the Shul and various rooms and areas were not suitable nor available. However, with some insight, it was proposed to the Honorary Officers that we have a corner in the main hall. We would begin each week at 9.30 a.m. finishing at 10.15 a.m. so that all would be cleared away before the main kiddush. Lo and behold, we created the Children’s Corner each Shabbat and Chaggim. This year I am personally writing this report as I am now taking a back seat. I shall be available for Rivka whenever she needs me. The continuation of the Children’s Corner will continue to be a success providing You, our members, send your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren into the care of Rivka. We provide an interesting programme with Tefilot, Parashat HaShavua and lovely games for them to play. It ends with some tasty goodies. It has been a wonderful experience these past two years using my talents from the days of my Children’s Service in Leeds, where I was known as ‘Auntie Hazel’. However, Here I decided to upgrade myself and become ‘Savta Hazel’. So to you Rivka, you have the support of the Honorary Officers, the
Board and all the members of YINN to wish you every success together with those who will help you, and myself occasionally, to continue with the Children’s Corner 9.30 a.m. – 10.15 a.m. every Shabbat. To all of the Children – A Happy and Kosher Pesach. Hope you all find the Afikoman! ‘Savta’ Hazel Broch
Improve Your Hebrew Skills There are four groups meeting weekly designed to practice and improve our Ivrit skill levels. On Tuesday mornings at 11:00 am the Ivrit Parsha Group meets to read and discuss thoughts about the Parsha based on material written by contemporary scholars in modern Hebrew. Occasionally we also review ideas written in a more classical Rabbinic style in order to add some variety. Participants read the text aloud and are invited to provide their own thoughts in Hebrew. The level is close to normative Israeli conversational standards tempered by British debating norms. All material is circulated by email beforehand to facilitate preparation. We also offer three levels of Ulpan ranging from elementary sentence structures exercised in the Beginners’ Group through a mid-level class in which participants practice simple dialogs and up to the highest level where we read easy Hebrew texts often taken from children’s stories in the newspaper. In each group all unfamiliar words are summarized on the board and then e-mailed to the participants for further review the following week. The Ulpan classes meet on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings each week.
For more information contact David Feiler at: davidfeiler2@gmail.com
Irgun Nashim Once again I can report that the Irgun Nashim has been active in the shul in organising kiddushim, the weekly Seudah Shlishit and various other functions. On Succot we had kiddushim, seudah Shlishit, Simchat Torah lunch and the Shabbat Bereshit kiddush. The Melava Malka/Tarbut party was a new joint function for Chanukah. Great catering and entertainment made it a very successful evening which was enjoyed by all. This year for Tu B’Shevat we had a special kiddush and seuda Shlishit. Purim with hamantaschen before the great Purim Shpiel and the breakfast on the morning after the Megillah finished our religious functions for this period. Special thanks must go to Betty Wahnon who has always been there when needed and has been a tower of strength for me. A big thank you is due to all the hard working ladies of the Irgun Nashim who give of their time to ensure that all their efforts culminate in success. The Board of YINN always show their appreciation and gratitude in thanking all the ladies for their effort and hard work. Please ladies do not forget that you are automatically a member of the Irgun Nashim and we look forward to seeing you at our functions. Wishing you all a Kosher Pesach in good health. Joanna Rosenberg
Ladies Keep Fit This class conducted by Wingatetrained Malka Cohen is held in the shul hall on Wednesday mornings from 8.45-9.45. We work at our own level without any pressure, according to our ability. Exercises to music are designed to prevent osteoporosis, improve balance, strengthen muscles and improve cognitive skills and allround fitness. All ladies are welcome. Further information: Ruth Leviton – 09 887 1178 Ruth Leviton
The Monday Club When we were first asked to take over the Monday Club we knew we had a hard act to follow but now that we are more than halfway through our first year of running the Monday Club we now know exactly what our Monday Clubbers like. We have had an exciting few months putting on events including Call my Bluff, Name that Tune and 7 Brides for 7 Brothers and so far so good - we have had a steady flow of people coming through the door on the first Monday of every month. We have just had a very successful afternoon with Shirley Bassey – no she could not make it – but 56 people enjoyed watching her life story on the screen and singing along to all her well-known songs which was followed by a scrumptious afternoon tea. Most people were disappointed when we had to put the lights back on as it was nearly 5pm and time to go home. We look forward to putting on many more successful afternoons and look forward to welcoming old and new people through the door of the YINN
Shul Hall on the first Monday of every month. Sharon, Phyllis and Avril
YINN Maccabi Netanya FC Supporters If anyone is interested in going to midweek home games of Maccabi Netanya FC, there is already a group going to some games. If you would like to receive emails informing of forthcoming games, you should email Martin Carr on martinc@ mandpcarr.com. Please include your mobile phone number.
Tarbut—Cultural Committee We had a very sucessful series of events last autumn/winter. Five lectures covering diffferent and interesting subjects all of which were very well attended – the best audiences we have had for years indicative of the the high standard of the chosen lecturers and their topics. Because of the inclement weather one of the lectures, presentation about the Evian Conference of July 1938, had to be cancelled. A novelty event this year was an outing to the central office of United Hatzalah of Israel followed by a visit to the Belz Synagogue. A very continued on page 61
YINN Pesach 5780 | 57
Tarbut Excursion: Jerusalem Photography and article by Avril Gatoff On 1 December there was a very interesting trip to Yerushalayim arranged by the Tarbut Committee. We visited two very interesting places, neither of which I had been to before. Our first stop was to the Head Quarters for United Hatzalah of Israel where we had a very interesting talk by Shai Jaskoll and we were shown some videos about their founder Eli Beer and the amazing work that they do. We were shown how the organisation works and how quickly the Hatzola volunteers can get to where they need to be thanks to the Ambucycle. We were also shown some heart wrenching videos showing 58 | YINN Pesach 5780
us the importance of their work and how their motto “Every Second Counts” is so true! After lunch we went to the second place on our trip, The very impressive Belz Great Synagogue, where we had a guided tour and were given facts, figures and information about what goes on in that enormous building by an excellent and amusing guide, Rabbi Yehezkel Friedman. The Belz is much more than a Shul, it is a Community Centre where they daven, learn, hold their Simchas, can get a meal and much much more. Shai Jaskoll (pictured at right) and Rabbi Yehezkel Friedman (top of page 59) A
YINN Pesach 5780 | 59
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Community Reports continued from page 57
succesful day out. See page 58-59 for a more detailed report. This year we combined our annual Chanukah party with a Shul Melava Malka. The evening was organised by our committee together with the Irgun Nashim. We had a full house in the Shul hall and the unanimous opinion of all who attended was that it was a special and happy celebration. As detailed fully in this magazine, we also organised, together with the Daf Yomi committee of the Shul, a Siyum Hashas to celebrate the completion of 7 ½ years of learning of Daf Yomi by members of the Congrgation. Another very successful evening which was graced by the attendance of the Chief Rabbi of Netanya. Much thought and effort went into the preparation of the programme and the success was in no short measure due to the publicity flyers and advertising material on the Shul website designed with great expertise
by Anthony Felix to whom I extend my sincere thanks. My thanks also to Alex Stuart and Brian Sopher who took charge of all the audio visual requirements for our functions. My thanks go to my colleagues on the committee – Anthony Felix, Mervyn Leviton, MaryJane Pollack and Brian Sopher who were very helpful in bringing the programme together. Thank you also to the lady on the committee, the wives of committee members and to the other ladies in the congregation who helped with the refreshments at our lectures and at the Chanukah/Melava Malka party. My thanks also to Neville Gatoff, Joe Wahnon and Andy Kormonick who helped to collect donations at the door. The committee will shortly commence preparation of the programme for the next season of lectures. We welcome members of the Congregation to join the committee,
and suggestions for lecturers and /or topics for inclusion in the programme. Eze Silas – Chairman
Women’s Torah Class A Women’s Torah Class in memory of the late David Nemtzov is given by his daughter Malka Cohen on Wednesday morning in the shul hall from 10 to 10.30 am. We are currently studying Halacha and Parshat Hashavua. Coffee and cake are served and there is no charge. Further information: Malka–058 770 7136
Contacting the Shul by Email – A User’s Guide Emailing the Rabbi: If there is any matter on which you wish to consult Rabbi Boudilovsky, use this email address: rabbi@yinn.org
Office – Gillian Amroon, Administrator: You are welcome to visit the office during its opening times which are on the website. Outside of those times please either phone to leave a voice message or use the email address: office@yinn.org
Magazine: If you have any ideas or want to know if an article you are thinking of writing is suitable or anything else about the magazine simply contact the YINN magazine editor Alan Gold on magazine@yinn.org
Membership: Thinking of joining YINN or maintaining or anything to do with membership just email member-
ship@yinn.org and our membership guru Tony Plaskow will soon be in touch with help and advice.
Chairman – Graham Nussbaum: Sometimes you may want to make a comment or offer your opinion on areas within the shul or even give a compliment. If so, this is the email address: chairman@yinn.org
Social & Personal: To advise the Shul about your forthcoming Simcha contact Ruth Lyons our Social Secretary at: social@yinn.org
Welfare: Please use this email address to tell the shul of anyone who has just gone into hospital, anyone who may need travel assistance or help with shopping, etc: welfare@yinn.org
YINN Pesach 5780 | 61
Shiurim Day
Shiur
Given By
Time
Daily except Shabbat Daf Yomi Rabbi Edward Feigelman
After Shacharit (Bortz Beit Midrash)
Daily D’var Torah Various Speakers
Between Mincha and Ma’ariv
Sunday Various Subjects Stuart Plaskow Advanced Notice Given Monday
MTC Women’s Community Beit Midrash
Various Speakers
10:00 - 13:00
Monday
Ein Yaacov The David Nemtzov Shiur Various Speakers
10:00 - 11:00 (Venues Vary)
Tuesday Ivrit Parsha Discussion Group David Feiler
11:00 (Beit Midrash)
Tuesday (Fortnightly)
20:30 fortnightly
Lecture Series
Rabbi Zev Leff (Mattityahu)
Wednesday Ladies Shiur Rabbi Boudilovsky
09:00 (Beit Midrash)
Wednesday Talmud Shiur Rabbi David Woolf
One hour before mincha (Bortz Beit Midrash)
Shabbat Morning After Kiddush Shiur Sefer Bereishit Rabbi Boudilovsky
Half an hour after davening ends
Shabbat Afternoon Summer Varied Subjects Various Speakers 55 minutes before Mincha Shabbat Mevarchim Dvar Torah Rabbi Boudilovsky During Seuda Shlishit Shabbat Dvar Torah Various Speakers During Seuda Shlishit
Do you recognize him? Answer will appear in our next edition.
The Rosh Hashana edition featured Graham Nussbaum
62 | YINN Pesach 5780
Greetings to our Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren 2020 Enid Abrahams Janice Alexander Freddy and Freha Apfel Benny and Nurit Aricha Gerald and Diana Barnett Michael Beach Joseph and Judy Berger David and Anita Berke Gillian Berman Stephen and Joyce Berman Anthony and Desiree Bernstein Aubrey Blitz Jonathan Blitz Elaine Bloom Yvonne Bortz Martin and Gill Boxer Zvi and Charlotte Braun Jaques and Hazel Broch David and Miriam Bronner Steven and Estelle Brown Raymond and Jeanette Cannon Ivor and Sharon Carr Martin and Phyllis Carr Simon and Sandra Catalove Rabbi David and Leah Chanofsky Judith Cohen Mervyn and Sandra Cohen Neville and Susan Cohen Hyam and Sheila Corney Anthony and Louise Daulby Elhanan and Nina Diesendruck Jeff and Hilary Dritz Asher and Paula Edery Denis and Janet Elkoubi Hillel and Yvette Factor David and Ziona Feiler Elaine Feingold Anthony and Daphne Felix Bella Fielding Arnie and Chevy Fine Ian and Gillian Fine Harold Fisher Elaine Fishman Judy Frankel Helen French
Golda Friedler and Sidney Lawrence Neville and Avril Gatoff Basil and Joyce Geller David and Eileen Gillis David and Carole Glass Alan and Ruth Gold Rosalind Goldstein Maurice and Jean Golend Fraybin Gottlieb Brian and Ruth Gouldman Harvey and Natalie Green Lilian Green Nathan and Sylvia Haberfeld Tony and Clarice Hanstater Judah and Loretta Harstein Geraldine Hartog Robert and Susan Hodes Mark and Anita Hoffman Stuart and Marlene Horowitz David and Miriam Illfeld Rabbi Edward and Frankie Jackson Alf Jacobs Diane Jesurun Cyril and Lydia Karp Maurice and Judi Kay Andrew and Geraldine Kaye Russell and Melinda Kett Geoffrey and Barbara Keye Moshe and Cheryl Kempinski Harry and Rosemary Klahr Anchel and Bella Klein Philip and Maureen Klyne Marlene Knepler Andrew and Avril Kormornick Jacques and Monique Korolnyk Ronnie and Ruth Kotton Sylvia Kovler Jacky and Shoshy Lax Brian and Nadia Lebetkin Sender and Zelda Lees Yehoshua and Dina Lehman Erna Lemon
Mervyn and Ruth Leviton Sheila Levitt David and Lilian Levy Elkan Levy Gerald and Rita Levy Sue Levy Ivor and Rachel Lewis Lily Lindsay Abi and Ellen Litt Rose Lurie Stuart and Susan Lustigman Barry and Ruth Lyons Ria Maissel Joe and Leila Manasseh Udo and Suzanne Mannes Michael and June Manning Anthony and Maureen Marcovitch Geoff and Rachel Marks David and Ruth Marriott Jeffrey and Rebecca Milston Serge and Patricia Morgensztern Neil and Denise Morris Rabbi Natan Morowitz Martin and Caroline Moser Ida Nemtzov Ivor and Elaine Newman Sala Newton-Katz Graham and Rowena Nussbaum Michael and Lynette Ordman Vivienne Oster Philip and Jenny Park Bernard and Bella Pentol Nelly Perry Michael and Phyllis Plaskow Mike and Frances Plaskow Tony and Stephanie Plaskow Geoffrey and Mary Jane Pollack Renee Rabinowitz Sandra Rabinowitz Jack and Frederica Reiss
Norman and Cynthia Roberts Dudley and Naomi Rogg Stuart and Stephanie Ronson Julian and Slawa Rosenberg Arthur and Sara Rosenstein Frank Ross David and Ita Rubenstein Brenda Rubin Maurice and Myrla Sacofsky Beryl Sagal June Schlesinger Esther Schneider Philip and Barbara Schwartz Anthony and Rochelle Selby Hilton and Rosalind Share Mottle Shaw Richard and Sonia Shaw Joyce Shohet Eze and Gillian Silas Charles and Vivienne Simenoff Ian and Shelley Sluckis David and Hilda Solomons Leonard and Yehudit Solomons Brian Sopher and Susan Rosenberg Yehuda and Jenny Sosnow Richard and Helen Stareshefsky David and Sandra Stein Lynda Struel Alex and Alexandra Stuart Moshe and Rochelle Veeder Joe and Betty Wahnon June Weinberg Ferry Weitz Stuart and Naomi West Isaac and Melanie Wind David and Paulette Woolf Janice Zemmel A
5779 | 63 YINN Pesach 5780
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS Rabbi Boruch Boudilovsky 054-525 9490 Honorary Life President - Aubrey Blitz
Executive Graham Nussbaum Alex Stuart Andrew Kaye Sharon Carr Senior Gabbai
Chairman of the Board Vice Chairman Honorary Treasurer Honorary Secretary David Feiler
Administrator – Gillian Amroon
Mon/Wed/Thurs 1.30 pm – 5.30 pm
Activities Art Group Building and Maintenance Charity Committee Chevra Kadisha Children’s Corner Daily Minyanim Education / Tarbut Series Hall, Kiddushim, Seudah Shlishit Bookings Hospital Car Pool Irgun Nashim Ladies Keep Fit Magazine Magazine Advertising Medical Monday Club Sale of Seats / Seats for Yomim Noraim Security Shul Management Social Secretary Table Tennis Chug Tiyyulim to Eilat Window Sales Yahrzeit Boards Youth Activities and Minyan Youth Minyan
Sandra Catalove Gerald Barnett Anthony Felix (Chairman) Eze Silas (Chairman) Alan Gold Yitzhak Bakst Phyllis Carr Hazel Broch Asher Edery Eze Silas (Chairman) Gillian Amroon - Administrator Neville Gatoff Joanna Rosenberg - Chairperson Ruth Gold - Treasurer Stephanie Plaskow - Secretary Ruth Leviton Alan Gold Ivor Carr June Weinberg (Pesach greetings) Dr David Krasner Avril Kormornick Phyllis Carr Barry Lyons Graham Nussbaum Gerald Barnett Ruth Lyons Jaques Broch Rosalind Goldstein Harvey Green Eze Silas Tony Plaskow Alan Gold Dr Yehoshua Lehman Adin Glass
64 | YINN Pesach 5780
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09-862 1933 052-403 7946 054-454 3760 09-862 8737 077-530 1758 09-887 2474 052-379 0740 09-834 2653 054-690 5646 09-862 8737 09-832 1078 058-766 8222 09-834 4619 077-530 1758 054-6439062 09-887 1178 077-530 1758 09-773 5108 09-861 7710 054-971-3934 058-792 3601 052-379 0740 09-833 5041 09-885 9852 052-403 7946 09-833 5041 09-834 2653 052-585-3025 052-307-5952 09-862 8737 054-653 0657 077-530-1758 09-882 1261 052-834 1019
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