Our Book Club this year has been very successful and we have read a
number of different books all suggested by the Group. This encourages us to
read different authors that we have not read before and discuss them at our
friendly meetings. So if you have read a good book recently and would like
to share it please come along and let us know.
Refreshments. Cost £1. (See details below) Our next meeting will be on:
17 March at 11 a.m. off site.
Please contact me for more details and the venue
Marion Smith
MARCH Choice
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
The Age of Innocence is set in New York at the end of the 19th and beginning of the
20 Century. The story is set in the upper middle class society of the day and
describes the unrequited love between Newland Archer and the exotic divorcee
Ellen Olenska. The story follows the twists and turns of a besotted Newland, who is
already engaged to the beautiful May Welland, a woman who fulfils the
requirements of this status conscious society in which they both live. By contrast
Ellen does not fit in, she is her own woman, who intrigues the men but is feared or
disliked by the women, who feel she is ‘beneath them.’
The power of the book lies in the reality of the characters, who form a wealthy, and
self righteous group of insiders. The relationships, the parties and social life, are all
part of the exclusivity, and kept me involved throughout.
For me the story encompasses far more than the individuals concerned, it is about
the closed society in which there is a moralistic atmosphere which the families and
friends value beyond all else, the importance of ‘marrying well’ and not bringing
shame upon the family. On the surface it represents High Society, but simmering
beneath the surface are their secrets, shame and desires.
The book describes a world which the author, Edith Wharton was part of. She
creates an atmosphere that is believable and compelling. Her writing is incisive and
she makes wonderful asides and comments about her characters, which could
apply to life today, as well as over 100 years ago, when the book was written.
Thursday 29 March 2018
Thursday 22 March 2018
Words From The Chair
Despite the rainy cold weather, I am
pleased to report that the olive tree
planting for Hilda Schindler went very
well. The choice of an olive tree was
appropriate as, in the story of Noah’s Ark,
the second time the dove was sent out, it
returned with an olive tree leaf. Noah
associated the leaf with hope for the
future, as it proved there was still dry land. During her many
years of teaching, Hilda’s educational skills gave
hope to countless children. It was a poignant
moment when youngest Ruach pupil, Alice Dack,
and the oldest, Ilana Keren, helped with the
planting. I am sure Hilda would have approved.
In 1969 when Freda and I joined the Synagogue, the prayer book in use was the much loved “Service of the Heart”. Through the late eighties and into the nineties the leaders of the UPLS (as it was known by in those far off days) decided it was time to look at the possibility of a new prayer book to embrace modern Jewish liturgy. Under the auspices of Rabbis Andrew Goldstein, Chaim Stern, Charles Middleburgh, John Rayner, and other luminaries, the far reaching task ahead began. Their many years of earnest labour culminated in 1995 by the introduction of “Siddur Lev Chadash”. At this moment in time a group of LJ Rabbis are in the process of formulating a new prayer book, entitled “Siddur Shirah Chadashah”. We are in the process of acquiring forty draft copies, and will be using them over a period of time in selected Shabbat morning services. Whether the councils of LJ Synagogues and their members embrace this costly exercise as necessary and meaningful, is yet to be determined. Hopefully there will be common consent; however, in my humble opinion, even if there is no consensus, in all probability sometime in the future the powers that be will publish a new prayer book. Only time will tell if they made the right decision.
It’s hard to believe that at the end of the month we will be celebrating Pesach; it has come round so quickly. Even though most of us will have celebrated the previous evening, the Synagogue Seder which takes place on the following day Saturday 31st is always a congenial experience. This year, to encourage young families to attend, there will be no charge for children under the age of twelve. I look forward to greeting many members and hopefully their family and friends. Last year we had a very successful coach outing to Waddesdon Manor. To keep the momentum going, I have provisionally booked a trip to Beth Shalom Holocaust Education Centre near Nottingham. It is about a two and a half hour journey, but well worth the effort, because it is not a Holocaust Museum, but a learning centre, with presentations about combating anti-Semitism, guest speakers, and other educational programmes. If anyone is interested in going please let me know asap, otherwise regretfully I will have to cancel. Middle March is the cut-off point.
Chag Sameach Pesach
Robert Dulin
In 1969 when Freda and I joined the Synagogue, the prayer book in use was the much loved “Service of the Heart”. Through the late eighties and into the nineties the leaders of the UPLS (as it was known by in those far off days) decided it was time to look at the possibility of a new prayer book to embrace modern Jewish liturgy. Under the auspices of Rabbis Andrew Goldstein, Chaim Stern, Charles Middleburgh, John Rayner, and other luminaries, the far reaching task ahead began. Their many years of earnest labour culminated in 1995 by the introduction of “Siddur Lev Chadash”. At this moment in time a group of LJ Rabbis are in the process of formulating a new prayer book, entitled “Siddur Shirah Chadashah”. We are in the process of acquiring forty draft copies, and will be using them over a period of time in selected Shabbat morning services. Whether the councils of LJ Synagogues and their members embrace this costly exercise as necessary and meaningful, is yet to be determined. Hopefully there will be common consent; however, in my humble opinion, even if there is no consensus, in all probability sometime in the future the powers that be will publish a new prayer book. Only time will tell if they made the right decision.
It’s hard to believe that at the end of the month we will be celebrating Pesach; it has come round so quickly. Even though most of us will have celebrated the previous evening, the Synagogue Seder which takes place on the following day Saturday 31st is always a congenial experience. This year, to encourage young families to attend, there will be no charge for children under the age of twelve. I look forward to greeting many members and hopefully their family and friends. Last year we had a very successful coach outing to Waddesdon Manor. To keep the momentum going, I have provisionally booked a trip to Beth Shalom Holocaust Education Centre near Nottingham. It is about a two and a half hour journey, but well worth the effort, because it is not a Holocaust Museum, but a learning centre, with presentations about combating anti-Semitism, guest speakers, and other educational programmes. If anyone is interested in going please let me know asap, otherwise regretfully I will have to cancel. Middle March is the cut-off point.
Chag Sameach Pesach
Robert Dulin
Thursday 15 March 2018
Religion School News
In January, all teaching staff a6ended a fantastic training
session, organised jointly by Liberal Judaism and the Reform
Movement, returning to SPS re-invigorated by training with and
exchanging ideas with colleagues from so many other
communities. January also saw the Bar Mitzvah of Ben Jeckel.
Congratulations to Ben and to all his family!
In February, Ruach celebrated the New Year for Trees with a lovely Tu B’Shevat Seder. Many thanks to Rachelle Ellenby for helping to prepare everything so beautifully.
We always plant a tree on Tu B’Shevat, but this year was very special, in spite of the rain, because we planted a tree in the Memorial Garden in memory of Hilda Schindler, who died in 2017, and who for many years was the Head Teacher of the religion school. Our Bnei Mitzvah students helped to lead the brief service. Alice Dack and Ilana Keren planted the tree on behalf of the students at Ruach, and one of our teachers, Stuart Finesilver, who is also a former student of Hilda’s, put down the memorial plaque.
Looking forward to March, there will be lots of celebrations, with another Family Service, as well as celebrating Purim and Pesach. We are always delighted to welcome young families to join us for our Pesach Seder, which will be on 24th March. Please contact our administrator, Shelley Samuels, if you would like to come along.
Meanwhile, we are still looking for volunteers to get involved with our programme of activities for our youngest members and their friends. Even if you cannot make a regular commitment, please let me know if you might be available occasionally to fill in, for example, when one of the regular volunteers is ill.
Gwendolen Burton
In February, Ruach celebrated the New Year for Trees with a lovely Tu B’Shevat Seder. Many thanks to Rachelle Ellenby for helping to prepare everything so beautifully.
We always plant a tree on Tu B’Shevat, but this year was very special, in spite of the rain, because we planted a tree in the Memorial Garden in memory of Hilda Schindler, who died in 2017, and who for many years was the Head Teacher of the religion school. Our Bnei Mitzvah students helped to lead the brief service. Alice Dack and Ilana Keren planted the tree on behalf of the students at Ruach, and one of our teachers, Stuart Finesilver, who is also a former student of Hilda’s, put down the memorial plaque.
Looking forward to March, there will be lots of celebrations, with another Family Service, as well as celebrating Purim and Pesach. We are always delighted to welcome young families to join us for our Pesach Seder, which will be on 24th March. Please contact our administrator, Shelley Samuels, if you would like to come along.
Meanwhile, we are still looking for volunteers to get involved with our programme of activities for our youngest members and their friends. Even if you cannot make a regular commitment, please let me know if you might be available occasionally to fill in, for example, when one of the regular volunteers is ill.
Gwendolen Burton
Thursday 8 March 2018
Holocaust Memorial Day
As we do every year, my husband and I attended Barnet’s Holocaust
Memorial Day annual event, held at the fabulous surroundings of the
Quadrangle at Middlesex University in Hendon.
Two of the strongest lessons that we brought away from this year's event, for which the theme was The Power of Words were:
1. Words are powerful and can mend, raise awareness, show that we have the guts to stand up and be counted - as well as hurt and destroy. As can silence. Fascism didn't start with actions - it started with the words of the fascists, and the silence of the rest. This was a timely reminder to ALWAYS speak out. Even if we make one person think again, it is worth it. At the very least, we are speaking up on behalf of those who can’t or won’t. We are showing that WE are not complicit.
2. There is no point calling the Nazis monsters. They were normal people doing monstrous things. If we forget that, we are in danger of thinking it can't happen again. This was the point of view put forward by one of the school girls who had been part of the organised trips to Auschwitz. Hope for the future lies with this fantastic programme and these young people who will keep the message going long after the last survivors have left us.
On a final note, Jethro and I were again disappointed at how few people who were not of the war generation attend this memorial event. It lasts less than 90 minutes, it is moving and varied, we hear wonderful speeches and hear spine-chilling words and music. As we leave, small children hand out snowdrop bulbs to commemorate the thousands of children who died in the Holocaust – so that we can come home and plant them as an ongoing memory.
Please think about going next year – you will not be sorry, and the many older people present will not have to feel that they are alone.
Marilyn Rowland
Two of the strongest lessons that we brought away from this year's event, for which the theme was The Power of Words were:
1. Words are powerful and can mend, raise awareness, show that we have the guts to stand up and be counted - as well as hurt and destroy. As can silence. Fascism didn't start with actions - it started with the words of the fascists, and the silence of the rest. This was a timely reminder to ALWAYS speak out. Even if we make one person think again, it is worth it. At the very least, we are speaking up on behalf of those who can’t or won’t. We are showing that WE are not complicit.
2. There is no point calling the Nazis monsters. They were normal people doing monstrous things. If we forget that, we are in danger of thinking it can't happen again. This was the point of view put forward by one of the school girls who had been part of the organised trips to Auschwitz. Hope for the future lies with this fantastic programme and these young people who will keep the message going long after the last survivors have left us.
On a final note, Jethro and I were again disappointed at how few people who were not of the war generation attend this memorial event. It lasts less than 90 minutes, it is moving and varied, we hear wonderful speeches and hear spine-chilling words and music. As we leave, small children hand out snowdrop bulbs to commemorate the thousands of children who died in the Holocaust – so that we can come home and plant them as an ongoing memory.
Please think about going next year – you will not be sorry, and the many older people present will not have to feel that they are alone.
Marilyn Rowland
Thursday 1 March 2018
The Power Of Words - From The Rabbi
In the spring of 2004 I made a lifetime dream come true. I was
accepted at Rabbinic School. I received a list of fourteen books to
read before I started the course in the autumn of that year. I
started a frantic reading of all fourteen volumes that included the
entire Tanakh, the Jewish Bible and a few other thick books. I
missed one little detail as I concluded a long and intense reading
period. The small print stated that it was a recommended list,
rather than a mandatory one. Words are very powerful indeed, no
matter how small they might be!
Still, there was one book that I started reading but could not get to complete. The bookmark is still on page 362 where I left it 14 years ago. The book is titled ‘The Holocaust’ by the historian Sir Martin Gilbert. In his book Sir Gilbert describes in dry academic language the history of the Holocaust.
Gilbert begins his book in 1933 with the rise of Hitler and his Nazi party to power.
What was apparent for me from the book was the gradual nature of the Nazi genocide of the Jews. Nobody in Nazi Germany of 1933 was talking about the elimination of Jews. By the time I reached page 362, in the spring of 1942, killing of Jews and other ‘undesirable elements’ or ‘enemies of the German People’ was common.
Sir Gilbert did not include in his book the early years of Nazism. It all started with ideas. These ideas were developed into words, and words were eventually translated into actions. actions took the form of discrimination, boycotts, burning of books, shops and synagogues, deportations, imprisonment, sporadic killings, and eventually genocide. There is an old joke about two Jews sitting on a bench in Berlin in 1935 and reading the papers. "Herr Altmann," said one of them. " I can't understand why you are reading Der Stürmer, a Nazi anti-Jewish propaganda sheet! Have you gone mad? "Not at all, Herr Baum. I used to read the Jewish papers and all I learned about were pogroms in Russia, riots in Palestine, and new anti-Jewish laws in Germany. Now that I read Der Stürmer, I see so much more: that the Jews control all the banks, that we dominate in the arts, and that we are on the verge of taking over the entire world. You know – it makes me feel a whole lot better!"
Beyond the joke, Der Stürmer was a part of the Nazi propaganda machine that was a vehicle in translating Nazi anti-Semitism into actions. They objectified the Jews, depicted them as vermin, mice and snakes, to be excluded and eradicated. The words spoken then were perhaps crude, yet they were an effective method of selling the myth of unity, national pride and greatness to Germans who desired a break from the painful past. This was achieved by the creation of a myth of an alien race that feeds on the host nation, and poisons its culture and blood - the hated Jew. It was easy for the Nazis to exercise control over the German People by making a minority people the ultimate enemy within.
We have a responsibility to ensure that the words of community leaders and politicians are not directed at uniting ‘us’ by separating ‘them’ from ‘us’, accepting the ‘similar’ by rejecting the ‘different’, loving ‘my neighbour’ by hating ‘the stranger’.
The Torah, the holiest Jewish text, begins with creation of the world. “And God said, “let there be light”, and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) The world was created with words. Human civilisation was created and formed with the words of philosophers, scientists and religious leaders. And it is the ability to form words and find meaning in words that distinguished us from the rest of creation. The book of Proverbs (18:21) describes all too well the power of speech: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Just as the tongue can bring life, prosperity, and growth, it can bring death and destruction.
In Nazi Germany crude, yet powerful words and ideas brought misery, death and destruction upon millions of victims, and millions of their perpetrators. Let us resolve to use words wisely to the benefit of the individual, the community, our country, humanity and Planet Earth, this Garden of Eden entrusted into our care. Let us take phrases such as ‘us and them’ out of our vocabulary. Let every person, regardless of their skin colour, race, religion, sexual orientation, or place of origin, be a part of our family, one of ‘us’.
Rabbi Yuval Keren.
Still, there was one book that I started reading but could not get to complete. The bookmark is still on page 362 where I left it 14 years ago. The book is titled ‘The Holocaust’ by the historian Sir Martin Gilbert. In his book Sir Gilbert describes in dry academic language the history of the Holocaust.
Gilbert begins his book in 1933 with the rise of Hitler and his Nazi party to power.
What was apparent for me from the book was the gradual nature of the Nazi genocide of the Jews. Nobody in Nazi Germany of 1933 was talking about the elimination of Jews. By the time I reached page 362, in the spring of 1942, killing of Jews and other ‘undesirable elements’ or ‘enemies of the German People’ was common.
Sir Gilbert did not include in his book the early years of Nazism. It all started with ideas. These ideas were developed into words, and words were eventually translated into actions. actions took the form of discrimination, boycotts, burning of books, shops and synagogues, deportations, imprisonment, sporadic killings, and eventually genocide. There is an old joke about two Jews sitting on a bench in Berlin in 1935 and reading the papers. "Herr Altmann," said one of them. " I can't understand why you are reading Der Stürmer, a Nazi anti-Jewish propaganda sheet! Have you gone mad? "Not at all, Herr Baum. I used to read the Jewish papers and all I learned about were pogroms in Russia, riots in Palestine, and new anti-Jewish laws in Germany. Now that I read Der Stürmer, I see so much more: that the Jews control all the banks, that we dominate in the arts, and that we are on the verge of taking over the entire world. You know – it makes me feel a whole lot better!"
Beyond the joke, Der Stürmer was a part of the Nazi propaganda machine that was a vehicle in translating Nazi anti-Semitism into actions. They objectified the Jews, depicted them as vermin, mice and snakes, to be excluded and eradicated. The words spoken then were perhaps crude, yet they were an effective method of selling the myth of unity, national pride and greatness to Germans who desired a break from the painful past. This was achieved by the creation of a myth of an alien race that feeds on the host nation, and poisons its culture and blood - the hated Jew. It was easy for the Nazis to exercise control over the German People by making a minority people the ultimate enemy within.
We have a responsibility to ensure that the words of community leaders and politicians are not directed at uniting ‘us’ by separating ‘them’ from ‘us’, accepting the ‘similar’ by rejecting the ‘different’, loving ‘my neighbour’ by hating ‘the stranger’.
The Torah, the holiest Jewish text, begins with creation of the world. “And God said, “let there be light”, and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) The world was created with words. Human civilisation was created and formed with the words of philosophers, scientists and religious leaders. And it is the ability to form words and find meaning in words that distinguished us from the rest of creation. The book of Proverbs (18:21) describes all too well the power of speech: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Just as the tongue can bring life, prosperity, and growth, it can bring death and destruction.
In Nazi Germany crude, yet powerful words and ideas brought misery, death and destruction upon millions of victims, and millions of their perpetrators. Let us resolve to use words wisely to the benefit of the individual, the community, our country, humanity and Planet Earth, this Garden of Eden entrusted into our care. Let us take phrases such as ‘us and them’ out of our vocabulary. Let every person, regardless of their skin colour, race, religion, sexual orientation, or place of origin, be a part of our family, one of ‘us’.
Rabbi Yuval Keren.
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