Mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic
Magazine of the New West End Synagogue
Rosh Hashanah
5773 / 2012
On Mitzvah day, around the world, thousands of people (of all
denominations) give their time - not their money - to support local charities
and build stronger communities. Mitzvah day’s mission is reduce hardship
and poverty to help our environment and to bring a little joy - all together.
The NWES community is embracing Mitzvah day and we will keep you
informed of the activities we are planning. In the meantime, save the date
- Sunday 18th November - and keep it free in your diaries so you can join us
by donating your time and some energy to support the selected charity (or
charities) in our neighbourhood.
If you are willing to join our Mitzvah day commitee and help with the logistics,
please contact the Shul office asap.
For more information please visit: www.mitzvahday.org.uk
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Mosaic
Contacts
Minister
Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler
Contents
03 Message from the Editor
04 United Synagogue’s Chief Executive’s Message
Cantor
Chazan Jeremy Lawson
Wardens
Stanley Blum
Martin Lewin
Financial Representative
Harry Sieratzki
Message from
the editor
05 Social and Personal
06 Chief Rabbi’s Rosh Hashanah Message
07 Message from Rabbi Shisler
08 Skry Dive
09 The Choir
Board of Management
Lynn Brown
Michael Sharron
Jeff Hammerschlag
Angela Skry
Rachel Magrill
Michael Talalay
Jonathan Matheson
Trevor Toube
Toni Nagel
Bencie Woll
Representatives on the
Council of the United Synagogue
Lynn Brown
Jonathan Matheson
“Even at the lowest point we are still here
and will bounce back to our full glory”
10 Choir Biographies
12 Rosh Hashanah Recipes
16 Jewish Genetic Disorders
18 ‘Traditional Nusach’
20 A Zionist on Campus
As you hopefully are aware, I have the
honour of being the ba’al tokea for the New
West End, the person who blows the Shofar
on Rosh Hashana.
22 The AL Fund
Representative at the
Board of Deputies
Dori Schmetterling
Under 35 Representative at
the Board of Deputies
Josh Morris
27 President of the Board of Deputies
Rosh Hashanah Message
30 Coming out in the Media
When I have finished, there are always a
number of people who let me know how
long the final tekia gedola lasted. I have no
idea how long my longest one has been,
but I do know that no two people have
ever told me the same time!
34 Yom Tov Guide
The truth of the matter is that although I
start to practise my shofar blowing on
Rosh Chodesh Elul, at no time during that
month do I particularly concentrate on that
final blowing – what I do try and perfect is
the consistency.
Administrator
Michael Wahnon
Beadle
Eli Ballon
There are various halachot concerned with
shofar blowing and one of them is that each
note in a set of three notes should be the
Office hours
Monday to Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 12 noon
Sunday 10am - 12 noon
same length e.g. the first tekiah should be
the same length as the middle shevarim
teruah which should be the same as the
final tekiah. It’s not about getting the big
note at the end, rather regularity throughout.
Rosh Hashana is also Rosh Chodesh, the New
Moon. Our Rabbis tell us that we celebrate
Rosh Chodesh because just like the moon
waxes and wanes but never completely
disappears, so too the Jewish people go
through troubles in their lives and have ups
and downs, but even at the lowest point we
are still here and will bounce back to our
full glory.
in my shofar blowing, so too should
we try and be consistent in our service
throughout the year.
Although it is wonderful to see as many
people as we do over Rosh Hashana and
Yom Kippur, please remember that we do
exist the rest of the year too! Try and come
on the occasional random Shabbat during
the year, when nothing particular is happening
– it will be wonderful to see you!
Together with my wife Shana, I wish you a
happy, healthy and sweet New Year.
Eli Ballon
We have both high and low points
throughout the year – from the highs of
Simchat Torah to the lows of Tisha B’Av,
but we should try not to have our Judaism
disappear from our lives at other times
during the year. Just as I have to be consistent
Eli Ballon
Telephone 020 7229 2631
Fax 020 7229 2355
Email [email protected]
Website www.newwestend.org.uk
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Mosaic
From the
warden’s
box
The Board of Management
along with the members,
as well as visitors to the
NWES, wish to thank all
those who have sponsored
Kiddushim over recent
months.
The Kiddushim provides a
time to make new friends
and catch up with old
ones. We would like to
thank you all!
Dear Friends,
As you probably know, the Executive
of the New West End Synagogue currently
consists of 2 Wardens and the Financial
Representative, with no Chairman or
Vice-Chairman. Despite the difficulties
of the past few months, this new team
feels very positive about the degree of
understanding and co-operation within
the Executive and is working well together.
We look forward to this continuing in the
coming year.
The past year also brought the transition
to a new choir led by Michael Etherton,
the conductor of the London Jewish
Male Choir. We are looking forward to
wonderful choral performances during
the Yamim Noraim.
Please make an extra effort to attend
on all the High Holidays, to fulfil the
Mitzvoth, to learn from the instructive
sermons of Rabbi Shisler and to
participate in the up -lifting services
with our Chazan Jeremy Lawson.
Since last Pesach our community has
had the privilege of participating in a
number of memorable occasions. These
have included the Barmitzvah of George
Rosenfeld; the Second Barmitzvahs of
Michael Cutler and Bobby Jayson; and
many happy wedding anniversaries and
celebrations. We also had the privilege
of hosting a Shabbat Lunch in honour
of Stephen Pack, the President of the
United Synagogue.
As always, we are indebted to many
members of our community for their
untiring efforts in support of so many
activities. In particular our thanks are
due amongst many others to, (in no
particular order!) Patricia Fisher and
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her team for running our very
successful Friendship Club; Michael
Sharon and his team for running a
very popular Cheder - in co-operation
with Holland Park Synagogue; Toni
Rosenfeld and her supporters for
looking after and encouraging our
young people with Club Sameach,
children’s services and TRIBE; Michael
Talalay and his team for keeping us
safe and Caryl and John Harris for
generously giving their talent and time
for designing the publications of our
synagogue. Finally to our fantastic
Rebbetzin, Anne Shisler, and the Guild
for all their efforts , for feeding us on
all occasions, and organising our
functions ranging from our communal
seder to a very successful Supper Quiz
(presented by Derry and Tony Dinkin).
We are also fortunate to have an
exceptional and dedicated Baal Keriah
in Eli Kohn; an excellent Administrator
in Mesod Wahnon; an efficient and
friendly Beadle (and editor of our
Mosaic magazine and the weekly
“Spirit of the Community” and our
website) in Eli Ballon; and caring and
efficient Caretakers - to all of whom
our thanks are due.
We wish Rabbi and Rebbetzin Shisler,
Chazan Jeremy Lawson, the Members
of our Board of Management and all
members of the New West End
Community and their families
Shanah Tova veGmar Chatimah Tova.
Stanley Blum and Martin Lewin Wardens.
Harry Sieratzki Financial Representative
Social and
personal
We offer a very warm welcome to the
following new Members of the Synagogue:
Mr Glenn and Mrs. Victoria Portnoy
Mr Ron Gelberg
WE WILL
REMEMBER THEM
We have introduced
the practice of reciting
Memorial Prayers to
recognise the generosity
of those who have left
legacies to the Synagogue
in their Wills, and who
will be permanently
acknowledged in our
Yizkor Book. We are
extremely grateful to
those congregants who
have made bequests,
which enable us to
maintain and preserve
our beautiful Synagogue
together with its activities.
If you would like to make
provision in your Will for
the future benefit of the
Synagogue please contact
the office.
Mazeltov to:
George Rosenfeld
on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah
Bobby Jayson
on the occasion of his second Bar Mitzvah
Michael Cutler
on the occasion of his second Bar Mitzvah
Mazeltov to all who
were married at the
New West End over
the last few months:
Miss Cheryl Kirsh and Mr Jonathan Miller
Miss Janine Mann and Mr Daniel Gross
Stanley Blum
on the occasion of his 80th birthday
Caryl and John Harris
on their daughter Sarah’s wedding
Miss Amy Hall and Mr Jonathan Lightstone
Miss Shelley Portnoy and Mr Elliott Prayer
Miss Sarah Harris and Mr Spencer Marks
Lynn and Alan Meltzer
on their 25th wedding anniversary
Stephaney and Peter Featherman
on their 40th wedding anniversary
Miss Amy Goodman and Mr Alex Graves
Miss Danielle Cohen and Mr Adam Baron
Miss Lauren Wober and Mr Nicholas Stern
Michelle Hammerschlag
on her engagement to Jonathan Singer
and to her parents Pamela and
Jeff Hammerschlag
Miss Vicki Franks and Mr Bradley Goldenberg
Neva and Arnold Temple
on their 65th wedding anniversary
We extend our
condolences to:
Bencie Woll
in honour of her election as a
Fellow of the British Academy
Mrs Marcella Spelman on the loss of
her sister.
Debbie Talalay
in honour of her being this year’s
Eishet Chayil
May the Almighty comfort you among the
other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem
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Mosaic
Chief Rabbi
Rabbi Shisler’s
“Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are times
for stock-taking, individually and collectively”
“One thing’s for sure and that is, you will
never be bored if you’re an observant Jew!”
Rosh
Hashanah
Message 5773
As we pray for God’s blessings for
the future, we reflect on the past: where
we have come from, how far we have
travelled, and what remains to be done.
As I think back personally to the day 21
years ago when I became Chief Rabbi,
my overwhelming feeling is one of thanks
and indebtedness to a community that
has renewed itself beyond expectation.
Most spectacular has been the growth
in education. There have been more
new Jewish day schools opened in the
past two decades than in any comparable
period in the 356-year history of AngloJewry. The percentage of Jewish children
at Jewish day schools has moved from
some 25 per cent to almost 70 per cent.
This is an immense achievement on the
part of many people: builders, funders,
governors, teachers, parents and children.
Together they have given us a future to
be proud of.
Nor has the growth in education been
confined to schools. There has been an
explosion of adult, family and informal
education. Never before has there been
so much learning taking place in our
community. We are better Jewishly
educated than we were, and our children
and grandchildren will be yet more so.
Then there has been the creativity and
exuberance of Jewish life in general. I
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think of the new London Jewish Cultural
Centre, the London Jewish Community
Centre currently being built, and events
like Jewish Book Week that attract ever
larger crowds. Most of our synagogues
are no longer simply houses of prayer.
They have become community centres
with active and dynamic programmes of
all kinds.
Jewish welfare organisations like Jewish
Care, JBD, Norwood, Nightingale House,
Langdon and others throughout the
country have achieved unparalleled
standards of excellence. Chessed
activities thread through almost all of our
organisations and schools, and Mitzvah
Day has inspired other faith communities,
becoming this year a national project
backed by the government.
Judaism are admired, and in the fight
against prejudice we have good and often
courageous friends. Were our Victorian
predecessors 150 years ago to see us now,
they would be frankly astonished at the
richness and exuberance of Jewish life.
Lo alecha ha-melakhah ligmor: It is not
for us to complete the task, but neither
have we desisted from it, and together
we have achieved great things. Our
children and grandchildren will have new
challenges to face, but they will do so
with more knowledge and confidence than
any Anglo-Jewish generation in the past.
So let us give collective thanks to God
shehecheyanu ve-kiyemanu ve-higiyanu
lazman hazeh, who has brought us safely
to this day. May the shofar of Rosh
Hashanah summon us to yet greater
The Jewish voice has become a significant achievements. May we remain true to our
part of the national conversation on moral faith and a blessing to others regardless
of their faith. May God write us and our
and social issues, listened to respectfully
families in the Book of Life.
by people of all faiths or none. Even the
demography of Anglo-Jewry has changed.
Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks
Having declined year-on-year for 60 years, in 2005 the tide began to turn, largely thanks
to the growth of the Haredi community.
We are now growing, albeit slowly.
And yes, there are negatives: the growth
of antisemitism and the various campaigns
against Israel. But Britain remains, for the
most part, a tolerant society. Jews and
Rosh
Hashanah
Message 5773
One of the greatest pleasures for
me of being a Jew is that there’s always
something to look forward to. As soon as
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are over,
there’s Succot, and after pausing during
Marcheshvan to get our breath back, we
have Chanukah, then Purim and only one
month later it’s Pesach. In my lifetime I’ve
been privileged to see the establishment
of two new Yom Tov’s, Yom HaAtzmaut
- Israel’s Independence Day and Yom
Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day, then it’s into
Shavuot and back again to Rosh Hashanah!
And as if this isn’t enough, there’s Shabbat
every week - a day that’s so different from
the other six days of the week, that it’s a
holiday all of itself!
One thing’s for sure and that is, you will
never be bored if you’re an observant
Jew! I can’t help feeling that people who
profess no religion at all must lead pretty
humdrum lives. Out of the fifty-two weeks
of the year they probably go to work five
days of every week for about forty-eight
of those weeks. On Saturdays they go
shopping in the morning and, during the
season, to football in the afternoon (what
do they do when there’s no football?).
On Sundays they crawl out of bed at 12
noon and spend the rest of the afternoon
and/or evening feeding and watering
themselves in a pub or restaurant. The
only interruptions to their weekly grind are
annual holidays, anniversaries, weddings
and deaths! And if no-one gets engaged
or married, or dies, it must be almost the
same routine year in and year out.
For me, this is one of the most wonderful
things about Judaism – there’s never a
dull moment. Judaism also gives purpose
to life. Some years ago I went to talk to a
group of sixth-form students at a college.
During the course of the discussion we got
round to speaking about the meaning
of life (no, not the Monty Python film!)
and what we’re doing here. One young
lady said she believed that the reason she
was on earth was to have a good time. She
intended to spend her life enjoying herself
by doing anything she wanted that didn’t
hurt anyone else, but her goals were set
firmly on a life of pleasure.
questions we will be asked is to explain
why we denied ourselves any of the
legitimate pleasures that God put on this
world for our enjoyment. But the main
difference between me and that young
lady is that I believe that my life is also
directed towards a purpose, and that is
to serve the Almighty. And I’m confident
that I get at least the same amount of
pleasure trying to do this as she gets from
the passing amusements that whittle away
her time.
A life spent as a member of a loving
family, and with warm and close friends,
making a contribution to the welfare of
mankind, and complemented by the varied
celebrations and commemorations that fill
the cycle of the Jewish year, will be, not
just a productive one, but one full of purpose
and value and overwhelmingly happy.
And this is exactly what Anne and I
sincerely wish for you all in the coming year.
Rabbi Shisler
Well, my life’s firmly set on pleasure
too. In fact our Rabbis tell us that when
we depart this world, one of the first
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Mosaic
Thanks to everyone that
sponsored Rachel and if
anyone else would like to,
her just giving page is open
until 8th November:
www.justgiving.com/rachelskry
Skry Dive
for the US
Chesed
Bursary
Fund
Skry Dive
Angela Skry
On Thursday 9th August 2012, my
siren alarm clock woke me at 4:55am.
The start was earlier than usual as Jon
and I were heading off to the North
London Skydiving Centre in March,
Cambridgeshire (surprisingly from its
name) to watch my daughter, Rachel
jump out of an aeroplane. Although
she is 19, you might think I would try
to stop her, but I did not. She has wanted
to do a sky dive since she was very
young. I blame Jon for that, as he did
13 jumps as a mad youth. Anyway, I
was delighted when Rachel said she
would raise sponsorship for a charity
very dear to my heart – the US Chesed
Bursary Fund. The charity provides
Bursaries for Jewish youngsters to enable
them to join Tribe tours to Israel, Poland
and Summer camps. This is especially
important in times of recession, when
many Jewish families are struggling.
We set off at 6.30am as we had to be at
the centre by 8.30am. The conversation
in the car was quite manic, especially as
we were giving a lift to another jumper,
Ilai, who was afraid of heights. Rachel
kept suggesting that if she got seriously
injured or worse, she would raise a lot
more money. After 2 hours, we found
ourselves on a dirt track leading to the
centre. The first image we saw were
about 8 people dressed in bright pink
t-shirts and leg warmers – not very
flattering especially on the men. We
referred to them as the “pink people”
for the rest of the day. Rachel and Ilai
met up with Simone – the third person
jumping for the same charity. They
completed umpteen forms waiving
liability for all sorts of eventualities and
then went for their extensive training.
They were back in five minutes, fully
trained. After that it was a waiting game,
but finally at about 1:15pm, it was their
turn. They got dressed in their kit, met
the instructor who held their lives in their
parachutes and headed off to the twin
engine plane that looked at least
100 years old.
As they took off into the sky, I looked
forward to seeing Rachel on solid ground.
She told us to look out for the blue and
gold parachute, Simone green and white
and Ilai green. As the little specks left the
plane 10,000 feet up, we could just about
make out a person. The parachutes started
to spin and slowly get closer to earth.
When she was about 100 feet up, Rachel
gave us a wave and then held up her feet
to ensure a safe landing. Although she felt
quite nauseous, she did enjoy the freefall
and the whole experience. Simone had
loved it and Ilai said “never again!”
So a great day out, 3 young Jewish people
doing a mad but brave event to raise
money for other Jewish youngsters less
fortunate than themselves. What could
be better or make a parent more proud.
“As the little specks left the plane 10,000 feet
up, we could just about make out a person”
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Every parent’s
nightmare!
Lynn Brown
It is difficult to imagine the grief
that a family who have recently suffered
bereavement must go through. Just
supposing though if the deceased is a
young person who is not a member of
a Shul and is not covered by the insurance
of the Burial Society. This creates many
problems not only for the deceased
person’s family but also the staff of the
Burial Society.
Recently I attended the United Synagogue
Council and listened to a talk by the head
of the society. He explained some of the
difficulties of approaching a family in
exactly that tragic situation. Firstly it is
necessary to confirm Jewish status by
asking the family for a birth certificate
or other proof that the deceased is
halachically Jewish. Then he has to raise
the question of costs. This has to be one
of the most difficult parts of their job
especially in the case of a young person
– discussing finances with a family who
is suffering at such a traumatic time. The
costs involved for a burial are substantial
and it is not just to cover the cost of the
funeral but also the general up-keep
of the United Synagogue cemeteries,
staffing costs etc.
If you are a member of the United
Synagogue you pay your burial fees
together with your synagogue
membership and become part of the
United Synagogue family. Many people
are unaware though that children stop
being covered by their parents’ membership
at the age of 21. This situation can so
easily be avoided. Please try to ensure
that you are not placed in this position
by encouraging your children and other
family members to join a synagogue.
Anyone between the ages of 21 and 30
can join TCM (Tribe Community Member)
and for £60.00 per year not only will you
get lots of benefits you will also be
covered for burial.
When our children go on holiday we make
sure they have insurance (just in case),
when they buy a car they insure it fully
comprehensive (just in case) so, go online
and join TCM (just in case)
The staff of the Burial Society do their
best to show compassion and consideration
in helping anyone who has lost a close
relative. They do not want to have to sit
with another family and discuss money
when all that family should be concerned
about is burying their loved one.
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Mosaic
The
choir
Michael Etherton
Music has always been an integral
part of Jewish life and prayer, and
nowhere more so than at New West End.
Here is a community where the Rabbi is
also a composer, cantor and authority on
Jewish music; where the cantor has at the
ready a dazzling array of virtuoso music;
where the congregants can be heard
exchanging pithy critiques on the latest
productions at Covent Garden,
No surprise then that New West End
treats its choral tradition with the kind
of care and respect normally reserved
for a newborn child. Choral music links
us emotionally as well as intellectually
not only with the venerable choral legacy
of New West End, but also through the
centuries right back to the time of the
Temple – the longest choral tradition
known to mankind. The Mishnah tells
us that the Temple’s regular ensemble
comprised twelve male singers and
twelve instrumentalists.
We no longer have those instrumentalists
but the participation of a chorus of male
singers within the luturgy remains central.
As you may know, over the last few months
a new choir has been engaged by New
West End for this important role within
the community and it is a task I, as musical
director, and the choir, have embarked
upon with both great seriousness and
enthusiasm. As a conductor with both
a classical training and a passion and
background in Jewish music, it is so
important for me that New West End
can experience ensemble singing of
real quality that respects the richness
and uniqueness of our unique musical
heritage, as well as developing it by
exploring new arrangements and music
from a new generation of composers
and musicians.
At the same time the new choir faces
the challenging task of finding a balance
between moments when it can inspire
the congregants through the excellence
of its singing, and moments when it
can encourage the particiption of the
congregants, leading them to experience
the joy of singing and daveing together
as a community. Finding this balance
is part of the process of integrating the
new choir within the community, and
over the first few months we have
begun on this journey and hugely
appreciated your warm support.
The singers that I have brought
together for the new choir encourage
some continuity with the musical past,
with the much appreciated participation
of choristers Elliot Berman and Jack
Ferro;and also introduce some wonderful
and formidable new musicians. I would
like to take this opportunity to highlight
to you some of these new choristers,
with the extraordinary diverse range of
talent and experience that they bring:
Experience the joy of singing and
davening together as a community
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Robert Jacobs:
Conductor/ Singer
Robert began his musical career as a
scholar at Eltham College before being
offered a choral scholarship at King’s
College, Cambridge where he obtained
his Honours Degree.
He was appointed Senior Choral Scholar
and toured extensively both in the UK
and abroad. Robert leads a varied career
as a singer, conductor and teacher. He
is Assistant Conductor of The National
Youth Choirs of Great Britain, and
Founder and Artistic Director of The
Omega Consort.
Dickon Gough
Marc Joseph
Gabriel Gottlieb
Dickon trained at the LIPA, studied
Opera at Birkbeck University and is a
former member of the National Youth
Choir of Great Britain. Credits include:
Don Giovanni, Pirates of Penzance, La
Boheme, La Traviata, and Jesus Christ
Superstar. Film/TV programmes including
‘The Tudors’, ‘The Borgias’ and Ridley
Scott’s ‘Robin Hood’.
Born and raised in Liverpool, Marc trained
at Arts Educational where he was the first
winner of the highly prestigious Andrew
Lloyd Webber Scholarship. West End
credits include: the UK Premiere of ‘The
Fields Of Ambrosia’ (Aldwych Theatre)
in which he played the show-stopping
leading role of Jimmy Crawford to wide
critical acclaim, ‘Les Miserables’ (Palace
Theatre), ‘Annie’ (Victoria Palace),
and ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ (London
Palladium). TV credits include: Carlton in
‘Eastenders’ and a guest appearance on
the ‘This Morning’ with Richard and Judy
singing songs from ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
with Su Pollard. Marc has also been guest
soloist on BBC Radios 2’s ‘Friday Night Is
Music Night’.
As well as singing with New West
Synagogue choir, Japanese speaking
Gabriel sings with the Neimah Singers at
St John’s Wood Synagogue under Marc
Temerlies and with the Rinah Ensemble
under Eliot Alderman. As a professional
singer he is a regular member of the extra
chorus of the Royal Opera House and sings
with The Monteverdi Choir and BBC Singers.
Roles include Enrico ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’,
Figaro ‘The Barber of Seville ‘and Papageno
‘The Magic Flute’; and solo concert work
includes the Requiems of Mozart, Brahms
and Fauré.
Toby Young
Elliot Berman
Elliot has been singing at New West End
since 2008, although he first started singing
in Jewish choirs a long time before that;
some 30 years ago, in fact, as a pupil at
Ilford Jewish Primary School. Today, Elliot
also sings with the London Jewish Male
and Kol Kehilla choirs and has also been
involved in amateur dramatics and operatics,
taking roles in productions including
Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe, La Vie
Parisienne by Offenbach and that
perennial favourite, Fiddler on the Roof.
In his professional life, Elliot is a Sales
Director for an investment management
firm, specialising in emerging markets.
He lives in Mill Hill with his wife, Rachelle
and their two children, Amelie and Leo.
Toby Young is a composer and singer
from London. He studied composition with
Robin Holloway at Cambridge whilst also
being a choral scholar in the prestigious
King’s College Chapel Choir. Since winning
numerous competitions, most notably
theInternational ABRSM Composition
Competition (2009) and the Guardian/
BBC Proms Young Composer of the Year
(2006), Toby has been much in demand,
both in the UK and abroad, with works
being performed at numerous prestigious
venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and
Sadlers Wells by renowned ensembles and
orchestras including the London Symphony
Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra In 2009-10, Toby was composer
in residence at the University of Perugia,
and a Panufnik scholar with the LSO.
Upcoming performances include newly
commissioned works for the London
Symphony Orchestra, the Choir of
Westminster Abbey, and an opera for the
Cambridge Festival of Ideas in collaboration
with the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Benjamin Ellis
Robert Davis
Robert Davis (tenor and occasional
conductor, sometimes simultaneously)
is a singing teacher and opera singer.
Recent roles have included Tito La
Clemenza di Tito with Giornata Opera
and Ballad Singer and cover Hugh Hugh
the Drover with Hampstead Garden
Opera as well as Prince Leopold in a
concert performance of La Juive with
Alyth Choral Society. Robert has also
sung a principal role in a new opera at
Montepulciano Festival Opera and in
the choruses of ENO, Grange Park and
Dutch Touring Opera as well as concert
appearances from Messiah to Kodaly’s
Psalmus Hungaricus.
Born in Leeds to a very non-musical family,
Benjamin has been leading synagogue
services since age 13. He first took up
choral singing in 2006 and joined the NWE
choir in January of this year - the first time
he has ever sung with a synagogue choir.
He was surprised to recently discover in
his parents’ house a copy of a first edition
“Blue Book” that was owned by his great
uncle, Cantor Raymond Ellis.
When he’s not singing, Benjamin works
half his week as an NHS rheumatologist
and half the week as senior clinical policy
advisor for Arthritis Research UK, where he
has an interest in health services research
and national health policy.
12
Mosaic
Recipes
Quinoa makes an extremely unusual
but versatile ingredient. It can be enjoyed
hot, cold or warm which makes it perfect
during the forthcoming Yom Tovim.
It is the fruit of a leaf plant and classified
as a seed. Originating from South America
about 5000 years ago, the Incas people
used it as their staple food, followed by
potatoes and corn. Before cooking, it
should be thoroughly rinsed in a strainer
under running water and drained to remove
‘saponin’ which has a bitter taste. Requiring
barely 15 minutes to cook and using a ratio
of approximately one part quinoa to 2-3
parts liquid, this is a very healthy quick
fix ingredient.
For best results sauté briefly before
adding the liquid.
To celebrate Rosh Hashanah the culinary
way, apple cake has got to be on the menu.
Beetroot is also symbolic at this time of
year as it represents thoughts of prosperity
and a life of good fortune. Combining
beetroot and apples subsequently fulfills
a meaningful tasty experience.
Beetroot is a remarkably healthy and
delicious vegetable. Beetroot gets their
distinctive colour from betanin antioxidant
pigments. Betanin also help the body make
carnitine which is a nutrient that helps the
body turn fat into energy. These nutrients
have been shown to provide good sources
of antioxidants and anti- inflammatory and
detoxification support. In addition beetroot
is high in vitamin C. If you are lucky enough
to buy beetroots with their leaves, remove
them, keep them and use like spinach –
they taste amazing!
slices easily and can be used as a dessert
with chocolate custard or ice cream or for
tea with thick cream.
Beetroot and Apple Cake
NB: If you have a family member who
says they don’t like beetroot ~ don’t tell
them the ingredients as they will never
know! they might change their mind on
discovery!!
Denise Phillips
This cake is an unusual mix of ingredients
but they merge well to produce a very
moist recipe that is full of goodness. It
Date Quinoa
Preparation Time:
Method
15 MINS
1. Place the quinoa in a sieve and rinse
well under cold water.
Serves:
6
Ingredients:
360g quinoa
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic – peeled and crushed
900ml Hot vegetable or chicken stock
150g fresh or dried dates – stone removed and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh parsley – leaves only
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation Time:
Method
20 MINS
Cooking Time
1 HOUR
1. Grease and line a 1kg loaf tin with
baking parchment paper.
Serves:
10 MINS
Cooking Time
Beetroot and
Apple Cake
2.
Heat the olive oil in a large frying
pan and sauté the quinoa and garlic
stirring continuously it starts to
become translucent. This will take
about 5 minutes.
3. Add the stock and dates. Cover and
cook for about 10 minutes or until it
is soft.
4. Stir in the lemon juice and parsley
and season well.
8-10
Ingredients:
250g cooked beetroot –
vacuum packed non vinegar
200ml vegetable oil
75g cocoa
180g plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
250g caster sugar
2 eating apples – peeled and cored
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Garnish: Dusting of Icing Sugar
2. Pre-heat the oven to 180C / 350F /
Gas mark 4.
3. Whizz the beetroot and apple into a
purée and add the eggs, and then
the oil.
4. Mix the remaining ingredients in a
bowl and add the beetroot purée
mixture.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about
an hour or until a skewer is inserted
and comes out clean.
6. Leave to cool for 10 minutes before
inverting onto a plate.
Date Quinoa
13
To serve the stylish way:
Dust the plate with icing sugar.
14
Mosaic
Turkey and pomegranate
salad with honey mayonnaise
Turkey and
Pomegranate
Salad With
Honey
Mayonnaise
The ingredients in this
recipe will appeal to the
whole family and make
an ideal colourful buffet
main course for Yom
Tov or Shabbat lunch.
Roasting turkey drumsticks
is an economical way
of making a meal for
when extra guests come
round. The recipe uses
apples, pomegranates
and honey which all have
symbolic connections for a
forthcoming year of good
fortune and luck.
15
Preparation Time:
Wishing You A Happy & Healthy New Year
Method
25 MINS
Cooking Time
40 MINS
1. Preheat the oven to 200C / 400F /
Gas mark 6.
Serves:
6-8
Ingredients:
900g cubed turkey (white or brown meat)
1 lemon – sliced
4 garlic cloves peeled and finely chopped
100ml white wine
2 eating apples cored and sliced
300g frozen garden peas defrosted
2 tablespoons fresh mint roughly chopped
Honey Mayonnaise
100ml mayonnaise
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons Dijon style mustard
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Pinch of salt
Garnish
50g walnuts
75g pomegranate seeds
75g dried cranberries
Baby gem lettuce leaves
2.
Place the cubed turkey in an
ovenware dish. Add the lemon slices,
garlic and season well with salt and
pepper. Pour over the white wine.
57
3. Cover with foil and bake for 30
minutes or until the meat is cooked.
4.
To toast the walnuts, place on a tray and
bake at the same time as the turkey for
10 minutes or until just golden.
Remove and set aside.
5. When the turkey is cooked, discard the
cooking juices and leave to cool.
6. Make the mayonnaise by combing all
the ingredients. Set aside and
refrigerate until ready to use.
7. Add the apples, peas, mint to the
turkey mixture.
8. Stir the mayonnaise into the salad and
mix well.
To serve the stylish way:
Arrange the baby gem lettuce around
the edge of a large round plate. Transfer
the chicken salad to the centre of the
plate, top with the toasted walnuts,
pomegranate seeds and dried cranberries.
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02/03/2012 13:18
16
Mosaic
It’s not just
tay-sachs
To learn more about Jewish
genetic disorders, genetic testing,
and the services mentioned in this
article please visit our website:
Jewish
Genetic
Disorders
The AL fund
memory of Rabbi A.L. Teitelboum killed
in the Mumbai terror attack in 2008
www.jewishgeneticdisordersuk.org
More than just a quirky sense of
humour and a fondness for chicken
soup, there tends to be a common bond
between Jews wherever they meet in
the world. Along with the religious and
cultural influences on our collective
identity, scientists have established a
common genetic origin that defines us
physically as well.
As a distinct and historically isolated
population, the Jewish people have
a unique genetic profile. Though there
are arguably some great benefits to
having ‘Jewish genes’, it also leaves our
community, like every ethnic group, at
higher risk of certain genetic disorders.
It is estimated that 1 in 5 Ashkenazi Jews
are carriers of at least one Jewish genetic
disorder. However, Tay-Sachs remains
the only disorder for which there is any
organised community education and for
which NHS carrier testing is available to
the Jewish population. For all the other
disorders, awareness in our community
remains very low and testing opportunities
are limited.
Jewish Genetic Disorders UK (JGD
UK) was established to address the
gap between scientific advances and
community awareness. Our charity,
supported by its expert scientific and
medical advisory committee, is dedicated
to improving the awareness, prevention
and management of Jewish genetic
disorders in the UK.
but at high risk of passing on a disorder if
their partner is also a carrier of the same
condition. Knowledge about carrier
status enables people to make informed
decisions and to have the most options
for their future family.
Jane Pearl and Chanochi
17
Ezer V’Hatzlah Ltd
Reg. Charity number
1117140
Send to:
Freepost Plus
RSSL-UGHL-ATXZ
Ezer V’Hatzalah Ltd.
52 East Bank, London
N16 5PZ
This is a view held strongly by Ian
and Jane Pearl. Following the diagnosis
of their son Chanochi with Familial
Dysautonomia, they were astounded to
find out about the Jewish connection and
now feel passionately that Jewish couples
should be made aware of carrier testing.
For several years, Guy’s Hospital has been
running a weekly drop-in clinic offering
free carrier testing for Tay-Sachs.Alongside
this, the clinic is now offering a private
Scientific research has identified a group
carrier testing service that covers 9 of
of genetic disorders that, while among
the most severe Jewish genetic disorders
people with Jewish ancestry relative to
and involves a simple blood test. These
With funding from Jeans for Genes
the general population. Some of these
and in consultation with affected families, conditions are very rare but absolutely
conditions involve mild or even no
devastating and can occur even when
we have recently developed a service
symptoms, yet others lead to chronic
there is no known family history. Thanks
to help people access the best available
disability and shortened lifespan, and
to scientific advances, we now have an
information, services and support for
a few - like Tay-Sachs - are tragically
Jewish genetic disorders. This web-based amazing opportunity to better prevent
fatal in childhood.
resource provides details on the disorders, and manage these genetic conditions. As
a community, we invest much in exploring
how they are inherited, testing options,
Tay-Sachs is widely recognised – but
and links to further resources and support. religious and cultural elements of our
how many of us can name any of the
heritage yet tend to know little about the
It also includes the option of sending
other genetic conditions below that
disproportionately affect our community? individual queries to our specialist genetic genetic threads that weave us together
– it is time to change that.
counselor who will answer confidentially.
Responding to needs highlighted in a
As a new charity, JGD UK are working
study last year involving over 60
with limited human and financial resources
community and health organisations, we
– and would welcome contact from
are also working to help facilitate access
anyone interested in helping us progress
to responsible testing services for the
our activities.
Jewish community within a general
awareness raising programme.
Too often people find out they are carriers
only after they have a child born with a
disease. A carrier is unaffected themselves
Please make cheques and
vouchers payable to:
The recession of recent years
has had an international effect; no
community or sector was left untouched.
But perhaps harder hit than most are
breadwinners of large families in Israel,
who have difficulties in making ends meet
in the best of times. It is not unusual for
children of these large families to go to
bed hungry or wear shoes a few sizes
too small! Many employers are unable
to pay regularly since they are facing
financial difficulties themselves, and
they optimistically promise weekly that
‘things will soon be better, hopefully’.
Meanwhile, fathers unfortunately content
with the utility companies’ threats of
halting their gas and electric supplies
midwinter. They receive politely veiled
warning letters from the banks, and live
with the constant stress that accompanies
an unstable financial situation. These
people do not have the means to pay
for basic necessities such as dental care
for themselves or their children clothing,
shoes, and unbelieveable as it may sound
in 2012, many of them constantly live
with empty fridges and larders.
In an attempt to assist those hit by the
recent recession, several community
representatives have established the
AL Fund to provide for these poor,
undernourished families.
Rabbi A, the founder of the funds relates
what the final catalyst for the
establishment of the AL Fund was:
What we do
Story
The fund provides basic nutritional
staples such as bread, meat and fish on a
regular basis. The fund also focuses mainly
on providing food in the holiday seasons,
specifically before the holidays of Passover
and Sukkot, thus easing the financial
burden at the time of great expense.
It was shortly before the holiday season
when this fine man was out shopping for
his family at the local supermarket. The
store was exceptionally busy, as would
be expected at that time of the year.
Large numbers of local residents were
rushing around, filling their trolleys with
seasonal goods for their families. Having
collected all the items he needed, he
waiting patiently in the line to pay for his
purchases. He waited and waited, and
soon began to wonder who was holding
the queue up. It was a busy day and he
had no time to waste.
been saved the shame of coming home to
his large family empty handed. He assured
his anonymous benefactor that he would
repay him…one day…when he is able. The
two men engaged in conversation until the
pitiable situation was clarified. It had been
several months already that his wages had
been irregular. Some months he received
nothing at all, and some months his
employer made a token payment, assuring
him that the payments would be received
soon. The job market was not kind to new
workers either, so finding another job was
not an option.
The caring man decided to move over
from his place in line to investigate the
cause of the delay, and was deeply upset
at what he saw. A young local resident was
there, his face red with humiliation. He was
being ordered to return the items from
his trolley back onto the shelves, since his
credit card was declined.
This incident occurred just a short time
after the Mumbai Massacre, in which Rabbi
Aryeh Leibish Teitelbaum, a close friend of
Rabbi A, was murdered. Rabbi A decided
to name the fund in the memory of this
pure, kind hearted soul who was renowned
for his special understanding of every
human being, and generous assistance of
those in need of support. And thus, the AL
(Aryeh Leibish) Fund was born.
Now that the holidays of Rosh Hashana
and Sukkot are approaching, we are
relying on your support more than ever.
Hundred of families in dire need are
relying on us to provide them with the
basics needed to get them through the
holidays. We cannot do it without you!
We are in desperate need of funds, in
particular now, before these financially
stressful times. The needy families view
the donations as deliverance from G-d’s
angels themselves.
We can be those heavenly angels sent
to lay their empty tables in their times
of greatest need. May those worthy
donations bring all supporters protection
from all accident and misfortune, bringing
them all blessings, with health, tranquillity
and long life.
Assessing the situation, this man rushed
over to the cashier, and quietly indicated to
him that he would settle the bill. The poor
man’s face lit up with gratitude, having
18
Mosaic
‘Traditional’
Nusach
Rabbi Geoffey Shisler
At this time of the year, when
many congregations have to employ
extra Ba’alei Tefillah to lead parallel
services, the question of ‘traditional’
melodies becomes of serious concern,
not only for people with a specific
interest in Synagogue music, but also for
the regular Shul-goer who recognises
and relies on his familiarity with these
melodies, and uses them to aid him in
his concentration.
modes are called ‘Nusach Hatephillah’,
and the same ones will be heard, with
minor variations, throughout the world.
(Those used by the Sephardim are totally
different from the ones employed by
Ashkenazim.) A thorough explanation of
what Nusach Hatephilla is, is outside the
scope of this brief article, but it may best
be described by drawing your attention
to the theme used for the repetition of
the Amidah.
That musical traditions vary from
one community to another is readily
discernable to every visitor, but many
people don’t realise that there’s a clear
distinction between what’s traditional,
and what’s patently incorrect. A Baal
Tephilla who begins the repetition of
the Amidah on Rosh Hashana in the
same way that he would on Shabbat,
is not just following the tradition of his
community, even if it’s been done there
for fifty years. He’s simply wrong!
You will notice that, whereas Ba’alei
Tephillah will sing a variety of melodies
for Unetaneh Tokef, they will all use the
same basic modes for the paragraphs
beginning with Uvechein Tein. They will
sing different tunes to Ya’aleh, on Kol
Nidrei night, but will use the same basic
modes for the Penitential prayers the Selichot.
Many congregations have melodies
that have been used in their services
for many years, and such tunes are
obviously ‘traditional’ in that particular
community. Very often, you won’t even
hear them in another Shul. There are
also tunes that are well-established in
London congregations that you might
not hear in a provincial community, and
vice-versa.
A very significant, and instantly
recognisable element of these modes is
the way that the Beracha and its Amen
are sung. In the unlikely event that one
had lost track of time, a regular-Shul goer
would be able to identify the day of the
Jewish calendar by hearing just one
Beracha in the Amidah.
These modes are exceedingly important
since they help to create the atmosphere
of the day, and if the wrong one is used,
it can be very disorientating and totally
spoil one’s concentration.
In terms of ‘traditional melodies’, we
must distinguish between individual
compositions and ‘modes’. The prayer
“There’s a clear distinction between what’s
traditional and what’s patently incorrect”
19
A rather surprising aspect of the melodies
for the High Holydays is the preponderance
of happy tunes. It’s only because most of
us don’t understand what we’re singing,
and don’t even take the trouble to glance
across at the translation, that we don’t
recognise the apparent incongruity of the
lustiness with which we sing, ‘Ashamnu,
Bagadnu...’ or ‘Veal Chataim.’
Among the fascinating aspects of the
Nusach for the Yamim Noraim are the
threads which connect it with other
occasions of the Jewish year.
In some communities extra prayers
are added in the Shacharit service on
the Shalosh Regalim. These are called
Yotzerot and Kerovot. The modes used
for them are very similar to some of those
used in the Shacharit service on the
Yamim Noraim.
We utilise the Succot themes in the
Kedusha, as well as the flavour of Tal and
Geshem, the prayers for dew and rain, in
the Kaddish of Neilah.
There’s also an association between the
Shavuot hymn, Az Sheish Meiot and Kol
Nidrei, and Lewandowski, at least, makes
an arrangement of Ya’aleh to his themes
for Tal.
Although it is difficult to establish why
these specific associations were made,
it’s not out of chance, or ignorance. It’s
as if the Nusach itself is reaching out to
us from beyond the Yamim Noraim and
saying, ‘Come back and hear me on other
occasions too.’
There is a variety of reasons for the
utilisation of these tunes on the most
solemn days of the year, the days on which
we are literally begging for our lives.
Firstly, singing them joyfully demonstrates
our confidence that the Almighty has
indeed forgiven our sins. The trial through
which we go on these awesome days is
unlike a trial by a human court. We know
that, if we have prayed with devotion, if
we have made a sincere commitment to
try to improve our ways, then with absolute
certainty, we shall be forgiven.
Also, I believe the rabbis did not object
to them because they inspire communal
participation much more readily than
sombre tunes would. And the notion that,
being very attractive, they may encourage
people to return next year, should not be
too readily dismissed.
The importance of utilising the ‘traditional’
Nusach cannot be overstated. The
Chachamim were insistent on the correct
melodies being used, and it’s incumbent
on a congregation to do everything in its
power to employ as Baalei Tephillah, only
those who can demonstrate their total
familiarity with it, before allowing them
to officiate!
20
Mosaic
A Zionist
on campus
meetings, most alarmingly they are often
run by local adult members of the PSC (an
organisation that in the past has got into
trouble for posting videos made by a well
known holocaust denier).
Along with some friends from the Jewish
society, I went along to a talk that was
supposed to be a factual explanation of
the conflict, we found there to be so many
purely historical mistakes it was astounding,
and staged a walk out when one person
compared the IDF to the Nazis. I then did
have a more productive discussion with
some people outside the meeting who
said they also had never had the chance
to find out views from the other side and
were glad that I had gone.
Jack Mayorcas
“I share just as much compassion and concern
for the suffering of people on all sides as the
next person regardless of ther stance”
The word Zionist is perhaps the most
troublesome word when it comes to
discussions and arguments between
those who see themselves as proPalestine and those who strive to defend
Israel from scathing and often untrue
attacks and slander. The main problem
with it being that not many people who
aren’t Zionists actually truly understand
what it means, or the varying nature of
Zionism and the various different forms
which it comes in. Until I explained what
it meant to a somewhat close friend of
mine mid-way through my first term at
the University of East Anglia in Norwich,
he genuinely thought that it simply
described the violent religious settlers
that one often comes across in the news.
These images which we see often are
taken as the ‘true’ face of Zionism by
many who have little understanding of
the topic and this is what leads to much
of the negative sentiment when it comes
to Israel. It is difficult to know as a proud Zionist
what the best approach is, particularly
when moving into halls in a University
with a minimal Jewish population. On
the one hand one wants to simply slip
into university life with minimal conflict,
21
or at least with minimal risk of causing
it by bringing up the fact that you are a
proud advocate of a country which, put
simply and harshly, is hated by many
around campuses in the UK. Made more
problematic is the fact that I work for a
Zionist Youth Movement and so there
is little hiding that fact when you are
constantly around people. I decided
ultimately that all things considered,
particularly the fact I had just returned
from a gap year in Israel, I could only be
completely honest about my views. After
all what do I have to be ashamed of?
My Zionism is that of the old fashioned
kind, hoping for a home for the Jewish
people that doesn’t compromise on
democratic and social values. I share just
as much compassion and concern for the
suffering of people on all sides as the next
person regardless of their stance. With
this attitude I decided to be completely
open. It turned out that the girl in the
room next to me was very anti-Israel and
was on the first night out went round the
other people living in our flat saying ‘can
you believe we have a Zionist living with
us? How disgusting! How terrible etc’.
Through conversation with her it turns out
that she actually knew relatively little and
had only been told what to believe by
her parents who were involved in the PSC
movement. After a number of positive
discussions she turned round and said
that she was so thankful that I was able to
share my views with her as she had never
come across someone on the ‘the other
side’, particularly someone who didn’t
seem to come across as the ‘raving violent
Zionist’ she presumed that we must all be.
Despite this being positive, by the end
of the year I came to the conclusion that,
unfortunately, I felt her family was simply
anti-Semitic, due to some of the things
they had reportedly said about me and
Jews in general.
Having made some close friends within
the flat I was able to explain to them
broadly the situation with as little bias
as I could manage, they either took the
view that they didn’t know enough, or
didn’t care enough to form an opinion.
The safest option I would say overall. To
discuss more broadly, it is important to
talk about the Palestinian society which
exists at my University, and all round the
country with growing numbers and
influence. The one at UEA now numbers
around 100 people and holds regular
Another major thing to mention is an
attempt by members of the PalSoc to
politicise the Union by putting forward
a motion that called on the Union to stock
Palestinian goods and to essentially support
the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign in
general, although not a member of the
Union I went along to the meeting and
spoke against the bill. Luckily most people
seemed to realise the true nature of the
bill and the implications that passing it
would have and so it was voted against
quite heavily.
It is difficult to know whether it is best
to engage constantly with people, thus
igniting perhaps bigger arguments and
drawing in more people who will most
likely be drawn in by the larger and more
fashionable Palestinian cause, or to just
leave it and accept that there will always
be a small group. It is a decision I have
not yet reached, however there are ways
in which one doesn’t have to engage and
can still have an impact. For example,
towards the end of term I noticed a large
Palestinian flag hanging on the Union
high-street, I duly emailed estates and
asked what the rules were regarding flags,
to which the response was that flags aren’t
allowed. I then emailed them to say there
was such a flag hanging, and they went to
take it down, no arguments, no conflict.
Of course it will not always be this easy,
and I need to think about how much I will
be involved next year and how worthwhile
any effort expended is.
As President of the Jewish society next
year, it will be important to ensure that
the Jewish society remains purely one
for Jewish activities and not necessarily
Israel related ones. Of course the two
are closely related but it is important
for people to feel that they can attend
JSoc events without the fear that they
will be political or always Israel-related.
In a way I feel quite lucky that, although
at a University with minimal Jewish
population, the Palestinian Solidarity
Campaign is not as big and successful as
it is at other Universities around the UK.
One hears horror stories of PSC groups
creating ‘checkpoints’ which students
have to walk through to get to lectures
and staging huge ‘apartheid’ weeks
which are packed with vitriolic speech
and blatant hatred. I am coming round
to the idea that is going to become
increasingly important to stage events
and put out statements that highlight
the peaceful nature of most modern day
Zionists and try and expose the hatred
and xenophobia which exists within many
Palestinian groups. A way to do this is
to be aware of events they are running
and ensure that one knows the rules of
Campaigning on Campus to make sure
they are not taking advantage or breaking
those rules.
In conclusion, it is fair to say that it is not
easy to be an open Zionist on Campus
in the UK, this is of course only from
my personal experience and I am sure
that at Universities with bigger Jewish
activities it is a different story. However
from conversations with people and
following things in the news it is safe to
say that here are many problems and
this is something that has to be deal
with. Jewish students and those who
are involved in Israel actives need to be
less afraid of saying when something
goes beyond arguments and discussion
becomes offensive. It is also the role of
the UJS and other Jewish organisations
to provide more support for Zionists on
Campus. There are plenty of ways in
which Jewish students can get guidance
and advice on being Jewish on campus,
but not enough on how to deal with
anti-Israel sentiment. No-one should be
afraid to stand up and say that they are
proud of Israel. Although it is a country
that faces many problems and sometimes
makes mistakes, it should be a country
that all Jewish students in the UK have an
affiliation to and are not ashamed often
any way. They should especially never
be made to feel so by aggressive and
intense opposition.
Jack Mayorcas and other members of University of East Anglia JSOC
22
Mosaic
Happy New Year!
New Year Greetings
Rabbi and Mrs. Shisler and family wish the
community a healthy and peaceful New Year
Shanah tovah to all our dear friends!
Arnold and Dora Boom
Best wishes for a peaceful, healthy and
happy New Year Zara Brickman
Wishing you all a very happy, healthy
and peaceful New Year –
Jane and Cyril Hodes
We wish Rabbi and Anne Shisler, Chazan
Jeremy Lawson, Eli and Shana Ballon
and all members of the NWES a healthy,
happy and peaceful New Year –
Marcia and Perry Goodman
Geoffrey and Valerie Green wish all the
community a happy and healthy New Year
Wishing Rabbi & Mrs. Shisler, Honorary
Officers and the entire New West End
Community a happy and healthy New Year
- the Hammerschlag Family
Bobby Jayson wishes all his friends a
very happy and healthy New Year
With our best wishes for a healthy and
happy New Year to all our community Linda and Martin Lewin
Mrs. Phyllis Shapro and Stuart wish the
community a contented and peaceful
year and well over the Fast
Denise and Melvyn Lux wish all our
friends and relatives at the New West End
Synagogue a good New Year and well
over the Fast
Wishing everyone a happy New Year
and well over the Fast from
Eric and Sharon Shapshak
Maxine & Michael Margolis and Family
wish Rabbi & Mrs. Shisler, the Honorary
Officers and the entire Community a
happy and peaceful New Year
Happy New Year and best wishes to
family and friends from Marcella Spelman
Happy New Year to all the community
from the Steinfield Family
Hilde and Jonathan Matheson wish Rabbi
and Mrs. Shisler and all their friends a
happy and healthy New Year
A very happy New Year to all at NWES
from Jeremy, Sally, Rosalind and
Nicholas Stone
David and Sandy Montague wish
everyone health and peace in the
New Year
May the New Year bring you good health
and happiness –
Morris Weintroub
Wishing health and happiness to the
whole community –
Collette, David, Jordana and Keely Price
Best wishes
for a sweet
and happy
New Year
Sandra Blackman
Norma and Thelma
Epstein wish
the Rabbi and
Mrs Shisler, The
Honorary Officers
and the whole
congregation a
happy New Year
and a good fast
Derry and
Tony Dinkin
wish everyone
a happy and
healthy New
Year and well
over the Fast
David B. Frank and
Emilie Szasz-Frank
wish Rabbi and
Mrs. Shisler and
New West End
Community a
happy and
peaceful 5773
Happy New Year to all Renee and Valerie Richman
Happy New Year to Rabbi, Anne,
Jeremy and the Congregation Roy and Barbara Levin
23
24
Mosaic
Carol and Laurence
Lando together
with Jessica wish
all the community
a healthy, happy
and peaceful New
Year and well over
the Fast
Wishing Rabbi and
Mrs Shisler, Chazan
Jeremy Lawson
and all family and
friends a healthy,
happy and peaceful
New Year
L’Shana Tova
to all our
friends at the
New West End
Synagogue
From your Texas amigos Pat
Kalmans and Mike Ozer
Susan and Harvey
Katz wish Rabbi and
Mrs Shisler, family
and friends and all
the Congregation a
healthy and happy
New Year
The Miller Family
Wishes
Rabbi
and Mrs Shisler,
Family
wishes
The Miller
Chazan
Lawson,the
BoardChazan
of Management
Rabbi and
Mrs Shisler,
Lawson,
andBoard
all theofcommunity
a
Management
the
very happy aand
sweet
new
year
and all the Community
very
happy
and
sweet new year
Jacquie and Stuart Katz
25
26
Mosaic
Victor, Esther, Rudi,
Theo and Nathalie
Fieldgrass wish all
our families and
friend a happy, healthy
and joyous New Year
A sweet and
peaceful New Year
to all the NWES
community from
Gaby and Howard,
Lucy and Joshua
Morris
27
President
of the Board
of Deputies
Rosh
Hashanah
Message
September 2012
Tishrei 5773
Dear Friends,
I am delighted that, at the beginning
of the New Year and the start of the new
triennium, we have a new team of Honorary
Officers all of whom are enthusiastic about
their portfolios and have hit the ground
running. I look forward to working with
them during the next three years to face
the challenges and opportunities
confronting us.
One can also only be enormously heartened
by the unprecedented interest that the
community has shown in the Board
during the election period. In addition
to having a host of new synagogues
and organisations represented on the
Board, we had more Deputies standing
for Divisional elections than ever before
and we are privileged to have elected
Deputies of an extremely high calibre
to the Divisional Committees. All this is
good for the Board and good for the
community that it represents. The Board’s
mission to promote the welfare and
vitality of the community of which we
have good reason to be proud.
Our increasing dynamism over the last
few decades has confounded the prophets
of gloom. With record numbers of pupils
at Jewish schools, with institutions such
as Limmud, the Jewish Film Festival,
Book Week and the Jewish Music Institute
to name but a few, the community is an
example to others in the Diaspora of how to
integrate into one’s host community while
retaining one’s own identity and vitality.
At the same time we face increasing
challenges and the Board’s mission is also
to lead the defence of the community on
these. Living as we do in a pluralistic and
tolerant democracy, our rights to carry
out our religious practices should never
be in doubt. In fact, however, in the last
few years threats have emerged both in
this country and in Europe against some
of our practices; principally Shechita and
Brit Milah. It would not be fair to attribute
these to antisemitism, but nevertheless
their effect could seriously jeopardise our
way of life. The latest attack at the time of
writing, of course, comes from Germany
on Brit Milah.
The Board is at the heart of a crosscontinental initiative approaching German
ambassadors and lobbying parliamentarians
whilst trying to ensure that, here in the UK,
the community speaks with one voice which
is both cogent and rational. I am pleased
to say our representations have been well
received and we have been able to punch
beyond our weight. At some future date we
may need a grass roots campaign and here
the Board will look to the community to play
its part, whether in lobbying MPs or in
engaging in the media debate generally.
Above all we have to face the continual
attacks on Israel which are now coming
from the media, the unions, academia
and the churches - the latest being the
decision of the Church of England Synod
to endorse EAPPI, a grossly unbalanced
programme taking people to the West
Bank without showing them the Israeli
side of the conflict. We must not fall
into the trap, however, of branding
all critics of Israel as anti-Semites. On
the contrary, I see from conversations
with senior churchmen that many of
them regard themselves as firm friends
albeit critical ones of both Jewry and
of Israel. Often they are unaware of the
unfortunate antisemitic overtones of the
debate instigated. Our task is therefore
to confront the antisemites, expose them
and ensure that Israel’s case is made
effectively to the moderates. Again this
is something which must be done in a
calm and rational manner, and it falls to
all of us to engage with our Christian
neighbours to form relationships through
which we can express our views. With the
support of the community the Board will
be ideally equipped to do this in the year
ahead. How successful we will be one
cannot say at this point but it will not be
for want of trying.
Wishing you all a very happy and healthy
New Year.
Warm wishes,
Vivian Wineman
President
28
Mosaic
Will it be a
sweet New
Year for
all Jewish
families?
In most of our communities there are families who have a child with a life
threatening illness. From cancer to Muscular Dystrophy, these families face high
levels of stress and anxiety and its our Camp Simcha, our vision is that no Jewish
child, wherever they are in the UK, should have to suffer serious illness without
our support. We believe that the best way to improve quality of life for the sick
child is to change the life of the whole family including siblings, often the
forgotten sufferers.
Contact
If you know of a child or
family that could benefit
from Camp Simcha’s helps,
please do not hesitate to
contact us on:
020 8202 9272
Or for further information
visit our website at:
Jess’s Story
In February 2010, 7 year old Jess was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She has endured
surgery and years of chemotherapy. Her parents, Jane and Mark, watched their daughter
change from a bundle of energy into a shadow of her former self.
Jane and Mark contacted Camp Simcha and our Big brother and Sister volunteers
quickly became part of Jess’s life and that of her sister Mia. They visited Jessie
regularly and took her to parties and outings, providing respite for Jane and Mark,
whilst their dedicated Family Liaison officer provided them with 24/7 practical and
emotional support.
www.campsimcha.org.uk
Donations
To support our services
please visit:
www.campsimcha.org.uk
Or send a donation to:
“Camp Simcha”
The house
12 Queens Road
London
NW4 2TH
Or contact us at:
[email protected]
Charity no. 1044685
29
The whole family came on special Camp Simcha retreat where they met many other
families who really could understand and the children had the time of their lives. One
evening straight after chemotherapy, Jess and Mia went with Camp Simcha to the X
Factor concert at Wembley where she met all the stars. When we spoke to her a few
weeks later, Jess didn’t even remember the treatment she had that day – all she could
think of was meeting her heroes.
How to order
A special offer to US
members we are able to
offer the siddur at £11.99 inc.
p+p, saving you £3 per copy.
To order:
www.tribesiddur.net
0208 343 5656
This offer ends
31 October 2012
A siddur
doesn’t have
to be just
black and
white
Easy to use
For fifteen years, Siddur Shevet Asher has been the standard siddur for children
in our schools, shuls and chedarim. Now, following extensive research, Tribe has
published a completely new edition, building on original material from Jewish
Continuity and its successor, UJIA.
Bigger, better
Aimed mainly at children age 8-12, each service and section of prayer in the new
280 page siddur is now colour coded. Symbols throughout guide readers, both
children and their families, to information, instructions and brief translations. Links
to ‘JOG’, the Jewish Online Guides on the United Synagogue website and a QR
code take you straight to the instructional video clips – another innovation.
The siddur, with an introduction by Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, has also expanded to
include all the additional prayers for yamim tovim for which teachers and children’s
service leaders asked, avoiding the need for an additional machzor. Also included
are additional tehillim, psalms, said at time of difficulty in Israel and for the healing
of a sick person etc. With a special offer price for US members, the new Siddur
Shevet Asher is certain to become the new ‘must have’ siddur for all children and
families, as a stepping stone to the, now familiar, ‘Sacks’ Singer’s Prayer Book.
Camp Simcha helps all members of the family feel better, stronger and more able
to cope. All Camp Simcha’s services are provided free of charge to families from all
sectors of the Jewish community. We receive no government funding and
rely on the generous support of the community.
Help us make tomorrow’s treat more
important than todays treatment
30
Mosaic
Yom Tov Guide
Rosh Hashanah
Saturday 22nd September
Sunday 16th September
Light the Yom Tov candles before
6.59p.m. and recite the following
two blessings:
“Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech
ha’olam, asher kiddshanoo b’mitzvotav
v’tzivanu l’hadlik neir shel Yom Tov.”
“Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech
ha’olam she’hecheyanoo, vekiyemanoo,
vehigianoo lazman hazeh.”
Prior to lighting the candles, it is
important to light a twenty-five hour
candle e.g. a Yahrzeit candle, so that
one can transfer the flame from the
twenty-five hour candle to a new candle
in order to light the Yom Tov candles
on the second night of Yom Tov.
Sevices in the synagogue commence
at 6.45pm
Following services, and your return
home, make Yom Tov Kiddush, then wash
hands ritually and make the blessing over
the challah. The challot for Rosh Hashanah
are traditionally round and represent
continuity and wholeness. After eating
some challah, dipped in honey, we take
an apple and dip a piece in honey and
say the following prior to eating it:
“Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech
ha’olam, Borei Peri Haeitz”
It is important for every man,
woman and child to hear the blowing
of the Shofar which commences at
approximately 10.00am It is important to
hear the blessings recited by the Ba’al
Tekiah (the one who actually blows) and
to answer “Amein” to each of the three
blessings. Then, during the course of the
morning, we are obliged to hear one
hundred blasts of the Shofar.
It is forbidden to talk from the time one
hears the first note of the 100, right up
until the last one.
In the afternoon of the first day
of Rosh Hashanah, we will return to the
Synagogue at 4.45pm to walk together
towards the Serpentine for the traditional
Tashlich Service at 5.15pm at the Peter
Pan Statue. This is performed by reciting
several prayers at a source of water.
Afterwards, the pockets are symbolically
emptied as if a person is shaking off his
sins and casting them into the water. As
a source for this ceremony the verses in
Michah are often quoted:
“He will again have compassion upon us;
He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou will
cast all our sins into the depth of the sea ....”
We then return to the Synagogue for
Mincha and Ma’ariv at 6.30pm
Monday night 18th september
After eating it recite the following:
“Yehi ratzon milfanecha Adonye Eloheinoo
veilohei avoteinoo, she’techadesh aleinoo
Shana Tova oometooko”
“May it be your will. O Lord our Gd and Gd
of our forefathers that this year will be a
happy and sweet year for us.”
Monday 17th September
Shacharit services begin at 8.00am
31
We usher in the second day of
Rosh Hashanah by lighting the Yom
Tov candles as soon as possible after
7.58pm We do this by transferring the
flame from the existing flame which was
lit before the first night Rosh Hashanah
began (see above) and then reciting the
two blessings. Since there is a doubt
about whether we should recite the
She’hecheyanu Beracha on the second
night, it is traditional to have on the table a
new fruit that one has not eaten yet that
year, while one makes the blessings over
the candles. Alternatively one can wear
a new item of clothing. However, if one
does not have a new fruit or a new item of
clothing, one still makes both blessings
including “She’hecheyanu”.
Tuesday 19th september
Shacharit services begin at 8.00am
Mincha and Ma’ariv will be read at
7.00pm Yom Tov ends at 7.55pm
Shacharit will be at 9.15 am and will be
followed by Rabbi Shisler’s Shabbat
Shuva Lilmod.
Mincha followed by Seudah will be held
at 6.30pm and Ma’ariv will be held when
Shabbat ends at 7.46pm.
Yom Kippur
Tuesday 25th September
The Fast
Of Gedaliah
Wednesday 20th October
The day after Rosh Hashanah is
observed as a fast day, in memory of
Gedaliah ben Achikam. Gedaliah had
been appointed Governor of Judea by
Nebuchadnezzar, after the destruction
of the first Temple in 586 BCE. He had
been charged with the responsibility
of rebuilding Jewish life among the
remnant of the Jews still in the Holy Land.
As a result of internal strife among
the people, Gedaliah was assassinated
and, many of those Jews who had
remained in Judea, fled to Egypt. Since
this represented the final stage of the
destruction of Jerusalem, it is observed
as a fast day, when we recite special
Selichot prayers. Shacharit will be at
6.45am Fast ends at 7.47pm.
On Erev Yom Kippur, Wednesday 8th
October, at 1.30pm, we will conduct
the pre-Yom Kippur Mincha (afternoon)
service, in the Synagogue. Included in
this service is the first of the ten
times that we recite “Al-cheit” prayer
(confession) throughout Yom Kippur.
A festival meal on Erev Yom Kippur
is a mitzvah (obligation) because one
thereby reveals joy over the approach
of his or her time of forgiveness. This
meal is called the “seudat hamafseket”
(meal of cessation). There is no Kiddush
prior to this meal, but we do wash our
hands ritually, make the “Hamotzi”
(usually over a Challah) and say Grace
after Meals... The meal should be
concluded well before 6.38pm, allowing
enough time to light candles and to get
to the Synagogue in time.
The following Berachot are said over
the candles:
Friday 21st September
“Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech
ha’olam, asher kiddshanoo b’mitzvotav
v’tzivanu l’hadlik neir shel Yom
HaKippoorim.”
Shabbat commences 6.47pm Mincha
and Kabbalat Shabbat will be read
at 6.45pm.
“Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech
ha’olam she’hecheyanoo, vekiyemanoo,
vehigianoo lazman hazeh.
Shabbat Shuva
Wearing non-leather shoes. It is
forbidden for men, women and children
to wear leather shoes on Yom Kippur.
Kol Nidrei
Services in the Synagogue commence
at 7.00pm. The Yom Kippur prayers
begin with the chanting of Kol Nidrei.
We have to commence before sunset
since this prayer is a form of the repealing
of vows, and we are not permitted to
repeal vows on Yom Tov.
join us for a festive dinner in our Shul
Succah following services on Sunday
evening 30th September. Please make
reservations at the Synagogue Office on
020 7229 2631.
Thursday 26th September
Lights are kindled on the first Yom Tov
night in the Succah (if you have one or else indoors) and two Berachot
are said:
Shacharit commences at 9.30
Yizkor on Yom Kippur Day will be at
approximately 1.15pm.
If one’s parents are still alive, it is
permissible, but not essential, to leave
the Synagogue during Yizkor. However,
it is our custom that we commence
with a public Yizkor, which includes
Memorial Prayers for the victims of the
Holocaust and for Israel’s fallen soldiers,
for which everyone should remain in the
Synagogue. There will then be a short
break to allow those who wish to leave
to go out before we commence the
private Yizkor.
The Fast ends at 7.37pm.
Succot
The building of Succah
If you haven’t built a Succah before
and intend to do so this year, the Rabbi
will be very happy to advise on the
requirements to ensure that it is Kosher.
It is a Mitzvah to decorate the Succah.
If you are able to assist with the Shul’s
Succah, please contact the Synagogue
office for details of when it will be done.
Also please let us know if you are able
to donate laurel branches, fruit, etc.
Dwelling in Succah
Sunday 30th September
Kindling of lights.
“Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech
ha’olam, asher kiddshanoo b’mitzvotav
v’tzivanu l’hadlik neir shel Yom Tov.”
“Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech
ha’olam she’hecheyanoo, vekiyemanoo,
vehigianoo lazman hazeh.”
Note that the same requirements
regarding the 25-hour candle apply
as they did for Rosh Hashanah.
Four Species - The lulav
The four species are taken hold of
each of the seven festival days (except
Shabbat) and a Berachah is said over
them daily. Anyone who wishes to have
a set of lulav and etrog, please contact
our Shammash Eli Ballon in the Shul
Office. Even if you do not have your
own Lulav and Etrog there will be several
sets in the Synagogue for your use.
Simchat Torah
Please note that our annual Simchat
Torah party will take place this year on
Monday 8th October following the
evening service which commences at
7.30pm. Please bring your children
both on the Thursday night and Friday
morning for Hakafot - there will also be
a special Kiddush after the service on
the Friday morning.
It is a great Mitzvah to eat in the
Succah. The congregation is invited to
32