June 2013Sivan/Tammuz 5773

Rabbi Pete's surprise 10th anniversary service

With Rabbis Alan Mann & Andrew Goldstien

Enduring praise from Michael Walton Receiving his Watford shirt.

Inside this month:From Feel Good Friday to Schmoozy Sunday Rabbi Pete talks about the success and future plans of the community’s social plans on page 2

Read all about the cross communal erev Shavuot service on page 6

There’s a review of the Singing Workshop on page 9

Another fantastic TLSE Quiz has been and gone. Read what happened on page 14

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on Feelgood Fridays. We’re going to call this new project ‘Schmoozy Sundays’ - again, an opportunity for the community to come together to share their heritage, their building and their connection with one another. It will all start on Sunday 16th June. If you have any suggestions as to what activities might be included please let

me or one of the other organisers know: s a r a h . p o l l o c k 1 3 @ntlworld.com or d a v i n a b e n n e t t @googlemail.com. If you’d like to see how it all works, then why not come along to one of the

A new project was launched by a team of synagogue members on Friday 17th May. Going by the name of ‘Feelgood Fridays’, this event was the culmination of more

than a month of planning. It has sown the seeds of the synagogue as a drop in centre for the community that has been my vision for just about all of my time in the rabbinate.On that Friday morning, more than 20 people, mainly shul members, ranging in age from 3 to 70+, came to the shul for coffee and bagels, plus the chance to have a taster session of massage or reiki. There was a nail bar and a hairdresser, displays relating to neo-natal concerns, toys for very young children to play with while their mums had their nails done and,

of course, coffee and bagels on sale. Future Fridays will see the range of activities and therapies extend to include support groups, counselling, table-tennis, cookery sessions, films, guest speakers - whatever people want, it can be arranged.So successful was this venture that it’s already being extended to a very different audience on a Sunday morning. The Religion School always seems to fade away in the summer. It will still take place, at its usual times of 10.00am until 12.15pm. But in addition to the Hebrew and Jewish studies that the children engage in on a Sunday morning, there will also be activities for adult

members of the community, similar to those available

From Feel Good Friday

to Schmoozy Sunday

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Feelgood Fridays? They run every Friday from 10.30am until 1.00pm - and you can see from the pictures what’s on offer. And - one unexpected bonus for those with very young children getting ready to enter Jewish

nursery school classes in September - these events count towards your child’s points for priority admission to Clore Shalom!

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Religion SchoolThe Religion School will continue to meet during the summer as part of the new ‘Schmoozy Sundays’ (see Rabbi’s Word). There will still be Hebrew tuition and Jewish Studies, and there will also be Hebrew and other classes for adults (not just parents).

It will meet on the following dates in June

Sunday 2nd No Religion School - half term Sunday 9th No Religion School - Day of Celebration Sunday 16th 10.00am – 12.15pm Religion School Sunday 23rd 10.00am – 12.15pm Religion School Sunday 30th 10.00am – 12.15pm Religion School

And Schmoozy Sunday will end at 12.15 pm with that brilliant Religion School service to end the morning!

Bar-/Bat-Mitzvah ClassThe bar-/bat-mitzvah class is reaching the end of the book ‘Never Mind the Bullocks’ and will focus on the historical events that led to the destruction of Jerusalem and how Ancient Israel’s prophets warned abut that destruction and then explained why it had happened.

The bar-/bat-mitzvah class meets on the following dates:

Saturday 8th June 9.30 – 10.45am Saturday 22nd June 9.30 – 10.45am

Kabbalat TorahThe almost legendary KT trip to Berlin is drawing ever closer and the second largest group ever is preparing to make the trip to the German capital at the end of July. In the meantime, the KT Group continues its research into the Holocaust by studying first hand accounts of what happened in Nazi Europe and thinking of ways to honour the memories of those who were murdered.

The KT Group meets on these dates in June:

Saturday 15th 10.30am - 12.15pm Sunday 23rd 11.15am - 1.15 pm

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Thursdays At TLSEAdult education continues at TLSE on Thursday mornings and evenings, following the same course at 11.00am and again at 7.45pm.

During June participants in these discussions will be considering how the prophets of ancient Israel might feel about the current practice of the religion they founded over two thousand years ago. Using texts of imaginary conversations between 21st century characters and our biblical founders.

This novel approach will encourage discussions about the relationship between the visions of the prophets and those who seek to preserve, implement and transmit their ideas and ideals in a world very different from the one in which they were first conceived.

Be prepared for some challenges to the way Judaism is practiced in our time, an opportunity to consider how far we have deviated from the visions of the prophets and how we might return our religion to the teachings of justice and righteousness on which it was originally founded.

Thursday classes will meet at 11.00am and 7.45pm on these dates: June 13th, 20th, 27th

Basic JudaismPlease note that there is currently no Basic Judaism class. It will recommence in September after the High Holydays.

Mazal tov to Christine Fisher who has taken the Hebrew name of Malkah.

If you’re a champion cupcake makeror your biscuits are simply the best,

The Great Jewish Bake Day is the perfect chance to show off your skills and raise vital funds for Jewish Care.

We would like as many people as possible from across thecommunity to hold cake sales in aid of Jewish Care.

But we need your help to make it happen!Remember every crumb counts!

Call a member of our team on 020 8922 2810 or email bakeday@jcare.org or

you can register online at http://tinyurl.com/jcbake

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Services|June 2013Sat 1 June 11:00 Shabbat morning service 4 Deut 8, 1-20; Job 8, 1-10Council Rep: Allan Newman Theme: Jewish History

Fri 7 June 17:45 Tots’ serviceFri 7 June 18:30 Kabbalat Shabbat supperSat 8 June 11:00 Shabbat morning service Deut 10, 12-11,7; John Rayner, Jewish Religious LawCouncil Rep: Virginia Jaffe Theme: Continuity & Change

Fri 14 June 17:45 Tots’ serviceFri 14 June 18:30 Erev Shabbat serviceSat 15 June 11:00 Shabbat morning service Deut 13,1-19; 1 Kings 18,25-39Council Rep: Jason Levy Theme: Loyalty

Fri 21 June 20:00 Erev Shabbat serviceSat 22June 11:00 Shabbat morning service Deut 14,22-15,18; Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman HellerCouncil Rep: Davina Bennett Theme: Giving

Fri 28 June 18:30 Erev Shabbat serviceSat 29 June 10:00 Tots’ serviceSat 29 June 11:00 Shabbat morning service & birthday blessings Deut 16,18-20,17,8-20; Micah 6, 1-12Council Rep: Debbie Ram Theme: Justice

Shavuot at the MasortiThere was a good attendance from all three congregations-St Albans Masorti, our hosts, Radlett Reform and TLSE, at the cross communal erev Shavuot service. Rabbi Pete started the proceedings with a guitar service, with help from Hollie Walton, prior to the candle lighting and official start of Shavuot. Rabbi Paul from Radlett then took over the first part of the evening service, with the Masorti rabbi concluding with the Amidah and Kaddish. Following a break for kosher cheesecake and chat, we were invited to ask questions of the four rabbis present about the differences between the three communities. After a further break, those with sufficient stamina stayed on for a study session.Despite the difficulties caused by the need to accommodate the views of the most rule observant amongst the three communities, this was a worthwhile event, with an excellent atmosphere and well worth repeating.

Ed.

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SATURDAYS SUNDAYS

Sat 1 Jun David Festenstein Sun 2 Jun NO RS

Paul John Amiel

Sat 8 Jun Michael Gray Sun 9 Jun Richard Elman

Danny Alpert Jason De Jonge

Toni Rauch John Ben

Sat 15 Jun David Alexander Sun 16 Jun Alan Dove

Philip Mendelsohn Simon Bishop

Jeff Kaye

Sat 22 Jun Matthew Alabaster Sun 23 Jun Peter Blythe

Daniel Alter Tim Cook

David Jackson Bradley Kramer

Sat 29 Jun Michael Walton Sun 30 Jun Dave Pollock

Ben Wolpe Ken Savage

Michael Reibscheid Gary Jobling

Security|June Rota

The deadline for copy for the next issue is Tuesday 18th June

Please could members add Harvey Adams's email address and telephone number to their address book. Harvey is replacing Alan Dove as TLSE's Security Officer. harvo43@hotmail.co.uk 020 8954 1400. Security of TLSE is a vital role, please could members commit to the agreed rota. If there is a preferred way of contacting individuals please could they let Harvey know. Please could all members display their car park passes when parking in the synagogue car park.

Happy Birthday!Lola Cyzer; Maya Larholm; Grace Nunn; Aaron de Jonge; Emily Sinclair; Lewis Blythe; Zev Harris;

Lottie Deutsch; Chloe Rabin; Jacob Cridland; Joshua Rose; Lorella Fifer; Jasmine San.

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Paying too much for Medical Insurance? We provide independent advice to obtain the most suitable policy for you at the most competitive premium.

Glen Sinclair

Singing GroupThe singing workshop held in May, and led by Judith Silver, attracted about 30 members ranging in age from pre-schoolers to pensioners. We had fun warming up making a variety of interesting sounds worthy of London Zoo, followed by attempting to learn a couple of short, African sounding melodies, which we finally achieved singing in various parts. It was easy to follow the rhythms by watching Judith’s hand movements up and down the scale and covering up mistakes by claiming they were part of the harmony. It was all great fun, although surprisingly tiring. All members of TLSE are invited to join the next Singing Group practice at the shul on Saturday 15th June at 9:45am. We have started practising our singing accompaniment for the High Holy Day services. Please feel free to come and to join us. There are no auditions. All that is required is an enjoyment of singing and a willingness to take part. Tina Shaw.

Date: Saturday 29th JuneTime: 2.15pm

Leader: Elaine GreenbergMeet: in shul car park

for a walk round Aldenham reservoir

Mobile: 07989 198059

Welcome to new members

Rebecca & Nick Berger and Jamie, Dylan & Molly;

Kristopher Babb

Anthony & Joy Rickman

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Ruth was taken to Social Services by a man claiming to have found her wandering the streets of North London. She spoke Lingala and French and two lines of English. ‘My name is Ruth. I am twelve years old.’ She looked more like a fourteen year old and her English speech appeared to have been coached and memorised. She was probably an illegal immigrant brought in by relatives via Southern Ireland. She said she had lived in France and her family came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo but they had all been killed or lost in the conflict out there.

(‘We were strangers in Egypt and Kiev, we were foreigners in Babylon and Berlin.

We were wanderers and outsiders in Spain and Poland and France.

We looked at the citizens of those lands with the dark, pleading eyes of the alien,

And so we pray, help us to remember the heart of the stranger when we walk in freedom.’ From Haggadah B’chol Dor Va-Dor)(Author Marge Piercy).

Ruth was placed in a foster home with a French speaking Muslim carer. Efforts were made to trace the man who had brought her to Social Services, her family, or any other details of her former life, but nothing was discovered. Ruth continued to claim she could remember very little of her early years, although occasionally she became upset at hearing pieces of music, or seeing scenes on TV.

Ruth thrived in her foster home and at school. She refused to speak French or Lingala and quickly learnt English. She chose to accompany her carer to the Mosque and to practise Islam, although she had previous knowledge of Christianity. (Whither thou goest, I will go. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God). Book of Ruth 1:16

She loved school and worked hard, eventually managing to gain GCSEs in maths, English, French and science. At sixteen she had to leave the foster home to live in a hostel in Wood Green. She started work as a carer in a home for the elderly and took her NVQ qualifications.

(‘ The highest (giving) of all is to help the needy ….by enabling them to become independent.’) Siddur Lev Chadash-Giving. Maimonides 8 Degrees of Charity.

As an unaccompanied minor, Ruth had been able to stay in the UK under the care system. Social Services had made some efforts to provide her with documents to clarify her legal status but at age eighteen she faced several years of uncertainty, tribunals and appeals before she was finally granted asylum and a British passport, eight years after arriving in the UK.

Ruth was quite lonely living in the hostel and fell in love with a young man from Angola. She soon fell pregnant and was planning to move in with her boyfriend. However, because of his illegal status in the UK, he was picked up by the authorities and placed in a detention centre near Oxford. Ruth managed to visit him there a couple of times before finding out that he had been deported. Her hostel did not have accommodation for children and she was advised to apply to the local council as a homeless person. Because of her pregnancy she was eligible for help and was placed in a temporary one roomed flat in Crouch End. When Ruth could no longer work, she applied for and was granted benefits. (Single parents claiming benefits- Skivers & scroungers?).

Ruth proved to be a good mother to her son, Rizwan. As soon as she could she returned to work part time and Rizwan settled into school and made friends in the neighbourhood.

The Story of Ruth|A Modern Tale

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When he was eleven, Ruth met and subsequently married an English former soldier who was ten years older than her. She moved into his flat and quickly became pregnant again and gave birth to twin girls. Once the girls were born life changed for the worse. Her husband Alan, was not a tolerant man. He expected Ruth to do his bidding and put his needs first. He kept a tight reign on the purse strings and demanded to know where she was going whenever she went out. He accused her of having affairs and criticised what she was wearing, as well as her mothering skills. He smashed crockery and threw his dinner at the walls. One day he threatened to report her to Social Services. He constantly threatened her with violence.

When the twins were four years old, Ruth could stand it no longer. She found the number of our Helpline and came to live in our Refuge with the girls. She arrived with two black plastic bags containing their clothing and a handbag containing their precious documents. Rizwan was desperate to remain at his old school so Ruth arranged for him to stay during the week with a school friend in London. However, she missed her son and was anxious to be reunited with him.

Ruth did not want to apply for housing in the area in which the Refuge was situated because she wanted to enable Rizwan to remain at the same school, where he had started on his GCSE courses. She applied to, and was eventually accepted, as eligible for privately rented housing in Enfield. She could not return to Haringey as it was not safe but she needed to be in an area where Rizwan could travel to school, preferably making use of free travel for school children.

Enfield is one of the four London boroughs trialling the new total cap on benefits at £500.per week, due to be brought in universally in October. Ideally, Ruth needed three bedroom accommodation but the only places that Enfield could offer her were in Lincoln, Leicester or Lancashire. She considered two bedroom properties but there was still nothing available in the locality because the rents were too high and in any case, private landlords did not want tenants on benefits.

When she leaves us to go who knows where next week, she will have to present herself as homeless at the council offices, still clutching her black plastic bags and her three children. They will offer her something, somewhere, because we do not allow mothers and children to sleep on the streets in the UK. She may have some basic furniture wherever they place her but she can no longer apply for a community care grant or a crisis loan, to tide her over, or to buy some basic necessities. We can apply to charities on her behalf and to the local council fund, wherever that maybe, but there are no guarantees that grants will be forthcoming. Thank heavens for food banks.

She is one of the undeserving poor. Boaz was more charitable. He did not question Ruth’s right to his help. He saw her need and encouraged her to take advantage of his greater wealth and glean the corners of his field. He offered her his protection before he realised that she was related to him. Are we not all children of God, related to each other by our common basic needs?

(‘May we always give generously, according to our means, but never think of ourselves as being generous. May we give because we care for those in need, and so that justice may be done. May we give quietly and joyfully because it is our duty and our privilege, happy in the knowledge that to give to God’s children is to do God’s will.’) Siddur Lev Chadash-Giving.

Tina Shaw works in a local Women’s Refuge. Names and some details have been changed to protect anonymity.

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Care and Welfare are very sorry to announce that Harvey Hammond has died and we send our condolences to his wife Margaretta and his step daughter Helen Posner.

We send our condolences to Carole Woodcock on the loss of her brother.We would like to thank Bob and Shirley Leuw for their generous donation to Care and Welfare.

A-B Barbara Merton 020 8953 1369C-F Leone Samson 07702 349350G-I Carol Hurst 020 8950 1862J-M Estelle Leigh 020 8954 9569N-Q Peter Merton 020 8953 1369R-S Rita Golding 020 8953 4439T-Z Judy Westley 01582 468100

Nicky Leigh 0778 875 1275

Crockery on loanAre you having an event that requires extra crockery and cutlery?

Look no further as the synagogue has acquired crockery and cutlery, which we can lend to you for a small donation.Please contact Carol Hurst for more information on 020 8950 1862

Do You Need To Borrow A Wheelchair?

The Care and Welfare Committee have a lightweight wheelchair that is available for anyone who would like to borrow it. Contact Carol Hurst for further information

Keeping Tabs On Care HomesYou can find out about the latest inspections of Hertfordshire’s Care Homes through a new email alert service.The Care Quality Commission carries out unannounced inspections of all NHS, private healthcare, and adult social care services in England.You can sign up to receive email reports on the care homes and other services you are interested in as soon as they are available.Find out more. To sign up go to www.cqc.org.uk/emailalerts

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TLSE QuizThe hall was packed to bursting point with 14 teams competing for the winning trophies, on Saturday 18th May. The winners, by a mere one point, were ‘One short of a dozen’ with 100 points, closely followed by ‘The In laws & Out laws’ with 99 points, and in third place, ‘Super Bradford’ with a respectable 96 points. The evening moved slickly through from the catered first course, through 5 rounds of relatively answerable questions, to dessert & coffee, followed by a further five rounds, and the grand raffle.Our thanks go to Stephen Monk, ably assisted by Sefton Monk and Mike Beral, for a well run evening, which netted approximately £1480 for shul funds. Ed.

My computer|A tale of woeAny of you who received a recent e-mail from me may have wondered what I was doing being mugged in Manila. It was a scam and caused no end of problems with the phone going non-stop on Tuesday, and being unable to send or receive e-mails. A very long phone call to B.T. resolved the problem and by Wednesday my contacts were restored and all was well. I had e-mail from B.T, inviting me to upgrade Yahoo and that in turn restored my home page. Hooray everything back to normal and I could relax. Sadly no; on Friday I found myself having to log in to yahoo with my password. The message “wrong password” came up and to add insult to injury my security details had been changed, including my date of birth. A phone call to a less than helpful B.T. operative led to my having a new account but no contacts or mail list. Things were not looking good and on Saturday I tried again. This time after an hour-long phone call and a lot of changing of passwords and security details things got back to normal.

On opening my e –mail account there was a message telling me to upgrade my Yahoo account, only this time when I tried I got a message warning me that it was a scam and a very convincing one. I binned the message.Be warned. Check very carefully or you to may have the problems I encountered Michael Shaw

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to the LIBERAL JUDAISM

DAY of CELEBRATION at

BIRMINGHAM PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE

SUNDAY 9TH JUNE 1000-1600

An opportunity to study creatively, hear new music and share favourite tunes; make art together and hear from our Liberal Jewish rabbis and teachers, as well as a chance to share ideas with other communities about best practice and an opportunity to be inspired. Tracks are Parenting, Study, Art & Music, or Community. You can now down-load a full list of sessions available on the day by visiting www.liberaljudaism.org and following the links to Day of Celebration In addition an enjoyable youth activity programme is planned as well as a qual-ified, staffed crèche.

Costs and booking Tickets cost £20 for adults, £10 for young people under 18s & students. Family tick-ets are available for £40.

The cost includes lunch, refreshments, crèche and full youth programme provision. If there is sufficient interest, we will be organising a coach from Hertfordshire to Birmingham. This will be subsidised but we need to know by Monday 3rd June if you wish to use this transport.

THERE WILL BE NO RELIGION SCHOOL

ON SUNDAY 9TH JUNE TO ENCOURAGE

CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO TAKE PART IN THIS

IMPORTANT NATIONAL LIBERAL JUDAISM EVENT

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Dear Editor,

My sister and her husband normally stay with me when they come to London but, because Bob is so unwell, I am looking into the possibility of them renting accommodation when they come for ten days in August.

Is there anybody planning to be away on holiday between 4th - 14th August ( or part of that time)who might be interested in having a ‘tenant’ during their absence who can keep an eye on their property as well as making a financial contribution?

Please contact,

Shirley Leuw

Tel:020 8958 5726

e-mail <robleuw@gotadsl.co.uk>

Leo Baeck Summer Institute for lay & Rabbinic leaders takes place at:Radlett & Bushey Reform Synagogue on 17th & 18th July. For further information contact Leo Baeck College.

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Dia

ry|M

ay 2

013 Sat 1 June 11am Shabbat morning service

Tues 4 June 10am PilatesFri 7 June 11am FeelGood FridaysFri 7 June 5:45pm Tots’ serviceFri 7 June 6:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat supperSat 8 June 9:30am Bar/Bat-mitzvah classSat 8 June 11am Shabbat morning serviceSun 9 June 10am LJ Day of CelebrationTues 11 June 10am PilatesWed 12 June 8pm Council MeetingThurs 13 June 11am Adult Education

7:45pm Adult EducationFri 14 June 11am FeelGood FridayFri 14 June 5:45pm Tots’ serviceFri 14 June 6:30pm Erev Shabbat serviceSat 15 June 9:45am Singing Group practiceSat 15 June 10:30am KT GroupSat 15 June 11am Shabbat morning serviceSun 16 June 10am Religion School

Tues 18 June 10am PilatesThurs 20 June 11am Adult Education

7:45pm Adult EducationFri 21 June 11am FeelGood FridayFri 21 June 8pm Erev Shabbat serviceSat 22 June 9:30am Bar/Bat-mitzvah classSat 22 June 11am Shabbat morning serviceSun 23 June 10am Religion SchoolSun 23 June 11:15am KT GroupTues 25 June 10am Pilates

1pm Lunch ClubThurs 27 June 11am Adult Education

7:45pm Adult EducationFri 28 June 11am FeelGood FridayFri 28 June 6:30pm Erev Shabbat serviceSat 29 June 10am Tots’ serviceSat 29 June 11am Shabbat morning serviceSat 29 June Shabbat afternoon walkSun 30 June 10am Religion School

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Rabbi Pete’s Book Launch

Shabbat Walkers at De Havilland heritage trail