October 2012Tishri/Chesvan 5773

Inside this month:Rabbi Pete admits he can’t do it all and lays down the gauntlet to take on TLSE Spring Playscheme in Rabbi’s Word on page 2Learn to Leyn with Joseph Finlay in just 12 hours (not all in one go!) find out more on page 9Catch up with what the Adult Education attendees have been learning about as Peter Ellinger gives an overview of a talk on Interfaith on page 13

Dedication of the new TLSE scroll covers

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consent forms, collected in the money, enlisted helpers (about a week before the event itself) devised the programme (two days before), bought all the supplies (the day before) and co-ordinated the activities (with the help of some excellent helpers) for all four of the days. Control freak - moi?The Synagogue Manager played her part in co-ordinating this activity by keeping the money safe and filing the application and consent forms (except for the ones I forgot to give her). But the question could legitimately be asked: ‘why did the rabbi end up doing all this virtually single-handed?’ And the answer is quite simply ‘because he didn’t ask anyone.’Here’s another little story. Those who were in shul on the eve of Yom Kippur will have heard me sing the

At the end of August, TLSE o r g a n i s e d a children’s

summer playscheme. It was attended by more than 20 d i f f e r e n t children across the four days, and they took part in a variety of activities, r a n g i n g from indoor badminton to face painting, from singing to challah making.It was so successful that at the end of the week, the parents were asking when it was going to be repeated. The answer is that we will aim to repeat the playscheme in the spring. The challenge is to see if it can be organised by then. Because to do so will require a change

in the way in which events like this happen at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree.

It’s all the fault of the rabbi. The s y n a g o g u e r e c e n t l y commissioned a study into the role of the Synagogue Manager. Part of that study

included a consideration of the way the Synagogue Manager works with the shul’s other employee, the rabbi. In this report, the rabbi was described as ‘a control freak with an almost total lack of organisation’ (though the author of the report did go on to add that he is ‘a high achiever with a huge

output of work’). The playscheme is a classic example of these characteristics. In the build-up to what was an excellent event, I prepared the publicity, devised and sent out the application and

That Was The Week (Well, 4 Days)

That Was

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Kol Nidrei. How did this happen? The synagogue is proud to include among its membership several professional singers, all of whom could have done a much better job. Indeed, I promised myself last Yom Kippur that I would seek to persuade one of them to perform this moving element of our Yom Kippur liturgy this year. I even went so far as to procure the sheet music from one of the choir members, and work out the melody so that I could present it to one of our professional musical members. So how come I ended up singing it? Because I didn’t ask anyone - well, not entirely true, I did ask one person, two weeks before the event and, not unsurpr i s i ng ly, they declined.This is part of a regular pattern. There are a number of initiatives that I

have launched over the years that have begun with great enthusiasm and enjoyed a fair amount of success - and then they fade away because I have failed to encourage others to take them on. Remember the first ever Community Sunday when, on a bank holiday, over 100 congregants of all ages were in the synagogue on a Sunday morning drinking coffee and eating bagels? Guess who bought all the food and spent the previous Saturday evening with his wife filling 100 bagels? It happened a few times more then just faded away. The Shul of Rock - a wonderful event in the life of the shul when they made their first appearance three years ago. They featured a few more times after that - and each time you know who spent an hour or more

setting up the equipment (which he’d ordered and purchased) and dismantling it afterwards. And the Shul of Rock have not appeared for well over a year now.Is the same going to happen to the playscheme? If it’s left to me to organise and co-ordinate it, then yes. And the same could well apply to a variety of other events that began with a flourish and then floundered because no one was asked to look after them and ensure that they continued.So this is a direct request to the parents of those children who had such a great time at the end of August. If you want this scheme to be repeated in the spring, then please wrest it from the hands of the rabbi and take responsibility for overseeing it. Perhaps he’ll learn to let go. And maybe

the synagogue will enjoy even more s u c c e s s f u l events in the future. Chag same’ach!

Rabbi Pete TobiasWe want you to organise our next summer week - (and not him!)

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Religion SchoolAnyone who was at the Rosh ha-Shanah children’s service will know what a wonderful atmosphere was enjoyed by so many people. And we do it every Sunday at the end of our Religion School mornings!

Here’s to another great few weeks that will take us through Sukkot and Simchat Torah - come and be part of the excitement on these dates in October:Sunday 30th Sept* 10.00 am – 12.15 pm Religion SchoolSunday 7th Oct 10.00 am – 12.15 pm Religion School Sunday 14th 10.00 am – 12.15 pm Religion School Sunday 21st 10.00 am – 12.15 pm Religion School Sunday 28th No Religion School - half term

And parents: please join us at 12.15 pm for that brilliant Religion School service to end the morning!

* Sunday 30th September will include building our Sukkah!

Bar-/Bat-Mitzvah ClassAnother busy September saw three b’nei mitzvah ceremonies for the second year running! We said goodbye to Jonah Zur, Alycia Levy and Zack Wolpe last month, but have welcomed two new recruits to the bar-/bat-mitzvah class!

The bar-/bat-mitzvah class meets on the following dates in October:Saturday 6th 9.30 – 10.45 amSaturday 20th 9.30 – 10.45 am

Kabbalat TorahHaving helped organise the children’s services over Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur, members of the KT 2012 group will be starting to prepare for their service in December. The services will be on the weekend of December 14-15, and the KT Group will be preparing readings and musical accompaniment for those two services

The date for the KT group to meet in October is:Sunday 7th 5.00 pm (before Simchat Torah service at 6.30pm)

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Adult EducationBasic Judaism discussions continue to take place regularly with one class on a Friday evening and one on a Saturday lunchtime. The basic text for these classes is Rabbi Pete’s ‘Liberal Judaism: A Judaism for the Twenty-First Century’ which is available at shul, priced £9.99.

Although these classes are primarily intended for those converting to Judaism, other members are welcome to join the group, which meets after the service on just one date this month:

October 2012:Saturday 6th Post-biblical festivals

The class will follow the 11.00 am service, starting at around 12.45pm and ending at 1.45pm. Refreshments will be available.

Please note that those involved in the conversion programme are expected to attend the service as well as the class that follows it: attendance at services is an integral part of the conversion course.

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 October we will be concentrating on particular prayers in Jewish liturgy, looking at the theology of such prayers as the Sh’ma, the Amidah and the Aleinu as well as considering the role and purpose of prayer in the 21st century.

There will be classes from 11.00-12.30 and 19.45-21.15 on Thursday October 4th, 11th and 25th. No class on October 18th

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Services ForOctober 2012

Happy Birthday!Mazel Tov!Gabriella BishopConnor Davey

Tyler GrossmanRaphael Haffner

Carl MillerOliver Nathan

Lola SanIsabella SinclairTom Yungerman

Michael RoseZach Rose

Zach Rose for his Bar-mitzvah on Saturday 27th October

Mon 1 Oct 11.00 am Sukkot morning service

Fri 6th Oct 6.30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat supperSat 7 Oct 11.00 am Shabbat morning service 2; Deut 31, 23-29, 32, 48-52 Reading Isaac M WiseCouncil Rep: Mike Walton Theme: Land of IsraelSun 8 Oct 6.30 pm Erev Simchat Torah serviceMon 9 Oct 11.00 am Simchat Torah morning service

Fri 12 Oct 6.30 pm Erev Shabbat serviceSat 13 Oct 11.00 am Shabbat morning service 3; Exodus 13, 3-16; 11 Kings 23/24Council Rep: Mike Rebak Theme: Redemption

Fri 19 Oct 8.00 pm Erev Shabbat serviceSat 20 Oct 11.00 am Shabbat morning service 4; Exodus 30, 11-16; Synagogue 3000.Council Rep: Davina Bennett Theme: Synagogue

Fri 26 Oct 6.30 pm Erev Shabbat serviceSat 27 Oct 10:00 am Tots’ serviceSat 27 Oct 11.00 am Shabbat morning service 5; Leviticus 10,1-11; 11Kings 14/15Council Rep:Nick Belkin Theme: Worship

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The Talent of the Special ShofarA Children’s Book

Liberal Judaism has just published another great festival-based children’s book by Rabbi Pete Tobias. The Talent of the Special Shofar explains the significance of blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashana , and looks at why it is such an honour.

Published by Liberal Judaism, September 2012, 32pp, ISBN 978-1-291-05630-3, Paperback 190 x 190mm

Order your copy from s.o’dwyer@liberaljudaism.org or rabbi@rabbipete.co.uk

£4.95 + £2 p&p

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SATURDAYS

Sat 6 Oct 10.15am M Ward

S Lazarus

A Scott Norman

Sat 13 Oct 10.15am C Roche

J Macgechan

D jackson

Sat 20 Oct 10.15am M Woodcock

h Adams

D Festenstein

Sat 27 Oct 10.00am M Kaye

D Alexander

N Bloom

SUNDAYS

Sun 7 Oct 9.15am S Emmett

S Bishop

D Barkany

Sun 14 Oct 9.15am M Blake

D Alpert

R Cavendish

Sun 21 Oct 9.15am D San

A Rabin

G Jobling

Sun 28 Oct 9.15am NO RS

The deadline for copy for the next issue is

Thursday 18th October

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A Crash Course in LeyningA peer-led course in how to leyn from the Torah, consisting of six 2

hour sessions, taught by Joseph Finlay.

Joseph Finlay is a musician and a veteran of grassroots Jewish communities. He is musical director of Hendon Reform Synagogue and of the London Jewish Male Choir. He was a founder member of Wandering Jews, Jewdas, Moishe House and the Open Talmud Project. He enjoys teaching Jewish skills in a way that is fun, open minded and empowering.

We will spend 6 sessions learning to leyn, to chant from Torah. No special musical ability required, only a basic ability to read Hebrew. Leyning is not difficult, and is very rewarding. By the end of the course, everyone should be able to chant one aliyah, a section of the weekly Torah portion. All this will take place in a relaxed, friendly and peer-led environment.

£36 for the course, Monday nights from October 29th, 6 – 8pm, at the Montagu Centre (nearest station, Warren Street).

If you are interested in taking part, please email lianna.etkind@gmail.com or phone 07913 777 076.

This course is generously supported by Liberal Judaism and Jeneration.

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Tel: 0800 234 3290

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By the time you read this, we will already have celebrated Rosh ha-Shanah, and Yom Kippur. I hope that you found the services enjoyable and uplif ting.

You may well have noticed that a large team of volunteers was required to get our equipment to Clore Shalom, to ensure your safety, to occupy and cater for the needs of our youngest members, to provide ref reshments for Kiddush, and to ensure that entry to and exit f rom the hall in which worship was taking place was managed as unobtrusively as possible.

The shul is an institution that depends on the work of numerous volunteers. In recent years, this number has steadily diminished, meaning that it is being car-ried out by ever fewer people. Curiously, this is happening at a time when our membership is growing faster than ever.

So if you would like to volunteer to help with the arrangements on Yom Kippur - not to mention the numerous other tasks that require volunteer input during the rest of the year - please contact me (rabbi@rabbipete.co.uk) Rebecca in the shul off ice (office@tlse.org.uk) or Penny Beral, who is co-ordinating the shul volunteers (penny@beral.co.uk).

Many thanks and I wish you well over the festivals.

Rabbi Pete

This article appeared in last October’s edition of Hakol...

What can you do to stop it appearing in next October’s edition?

Well the obvious answer is - volunteer! But following on f rom the questionnaire that was handed out over the High Holydays, there will be a public discussion on

Sunday 30th September 11.00 - 11.45 am

to look at the f indings of the questionnaire and to discuss ways of creating more communal and social activities for the members of TLSE

So please bring f ruit and greenery to help decorate our Sukkah

and ideas to develop our community.

And as promised,

Refreshments will be served.

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IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN!

On SUNDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER we will be building our Sukkah! Please bring lots of greenery and f ruit so that we can completely cover the sides and the roof of our Sukkah! We’ll be busy doing this f rom 10.00am until 12.15pm on the Sunday morning - so please come and help out! Refreshments will be served.

Then we’ll be celebrating with our Sukkot services that evening!

SUNDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER

at 6.30pm and

MONDAY 1ST OCTOBER at 11.00am

And f inally we wrap it all up with Simchat Torah, saving the best till last!

SUNDAY 7th OCTOBER

at 6.30pm and

MONDAY 8th OCTOBER at 11.00am

We’re building the sukkah….

...welcoming Sukkot...

...and celebrating Simchat Torah!

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Mon 1 Oct 11:00 Sukkot morning service

Tues 2 Oct 10:00 Pilates

Thurs 4 Oct 11:00 Adult Education

19:45 Adult Education

Fri 5 Oct 18:30 Kabbalat Shabbat supper

Sat 6 Oct 9:30 Bar/Bat-mitzvah class

Sat 6 Oct 11:00 Shabbat morning service

Sat 6 Oct 12:45 Basic Judaism class

Sun 7 Oct 10:00 Religion School

Sun 7 Oct 17:00 KT group meeting

Sun 7 Oct 18:30 Erev Simchat Torah service

Mon 8 Oct 11:00 Simchat Torah morning service

Tues 9 Oct 10:00 Pilates

Wed 10 Oct 20:00 Council Meeting

Thurs 11 Oct 11:00 Adult Education

19:45 Adult Education

Fri 12 Oct 18:30 Erev Shabbat service

Sat 13 Oct 11:00 Shabbat morning service

Sat 13 Oct 14:00 Shabbat walk

Sun 14 Oct 10:00 Religion School

Tues 16 Oct 10:00 Pilates

Fri 19 Oct 20:00 Erev Shabbat service

Sat 20 Oct 9:30 Bar/Bat-mitzvah class

Sat 20 Oct 11:00 Shabbat morning service

Sun 21 Oct 10:00 Religion School

Tues 23 Oct 10:00 Pilates

Thurs 25 Oct 11:00 Adult Education

19:45 Adult Education

Fri 26 Oct 18:30 Erev Shabbat service

Sat 27 Oct 10:00 Tots’ service

Sat 27 Oct 11:00 Shabbat morning service & birthday blessings & Bar-mitzvah of Zach Rose.

Tues 30 Oct 13:00 Lunch Club

Diary October 2012

Carole & Laura would like to thank all the youngsters who helped serve the Kiddush for Rosh Hashana, it was much appreciated.

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Adult EducationInterfaith Talk

On Thursday 13th September we heard from Elliot Steinberg [who will shortly return to complete the 3rd year of his Theology degree at Homerton College, Cambridge] on his last two summer vacations and the view he has on how Interfaith is so important and how religion and politics affect one another.

Last year Elliot spent in Northern Israel living with a well off Palestinian family whilst working on a co-existence summer youth camp. He alone of the Jewish leaders worked with a group of Arabic children. The children, having asked Elliot if he was Christian or Muslim, just accepted him when he replied Jewish but his fellow Jewish youth leaders found it strange that he wanted to work with Palestinians. It was apparent to Elliot that the Jewish youth leaders had a stereotypical view of Palestinians.

This year Elliot worked as an Intern at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC, a non governmental think tank set up to influence the US government. His work was concentrated on the Middle East and he focussed on the future of Islam and the Middle East after the Arab Spring.

Elliot believes that if you understand another person’s culture and background you know where they are coming from and why they do what they do and that is why Interfaith work is so important.

He suggested that in the UK we do politics and religion badly as we are not clear where the divide lies. America does it better as they differentiate between religion and state. Israel deals better with the issue but has problems.

He summarised some of his thoughts from his time at the Hudson Institute as;• The US was focussed on Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt after the Arab Spring.• The US was concerned about what the Muslim Brotherhood would bring to Egypt.

Opinions in the US veered from the military going in to stabilise Egypt to leaving it alone to sort itself out.

• The US did not consider Syria strategic.• There was lots of funding by the UK & France in N Africa but less so by the US.• The US was talking to people who understand the religious background of N Africa.

On a separate note Elliot told us that whenever he spoke about the Israelis and Palestinians, whether to discuss a specific issue or problem, the response he always got was always Israeli, as though the Palestinians did not exist. This worries him.

Elliot believes we need to come to an understanding of whether Anti Zionism is Anti Semitism? He feels this influences how Israel acts and reacts.

For a young man addressing an audience many years older than him, he managed toentertain and inform us through his knowledge and experience.

Peter Ellinger.

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Hurdles and Cycles- A personal view

No. Not the Olympics, although that forms part of the rhythm of this particular year.

Writing this between Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur, yet knowing it will be read when the hurdle of the High Holy days are well and truly over, gives me cause for reflection on the passage of time. When we are asked to look back on our faults and misdeeds in the past year, I always find it difficult to remember the details, other than those of the past couple of weeks. For me each year is marked by the cycle of events, starting with the secular New Year and the return to school or work. In my family we have a family gathering at my house in January caused by my brother’s unwillingness to travel over the Christmas season. At that event, the women (keepers of the social diaries) get out their calendars and mobiles and we negotiate the dates of family gatherings for the year- Seder (a slightly moveable feast to accommodate as many of our mixed faith and no faith family as are happy to attend); the Spring gathering at my sister’s; my niece’s summer BBQ; my son’s autumn BBQ; my nephew’s mulled wine evening and great aunty’s birthday celebration (104 this year). We are lucky to have a family close enough, both physically and emotionally, to hold such inter-generational events.

Of course there are other markers for us all; other festivals, both Jewish and secular; birthdays and education and work events. For me they provide a framework which makes life manageable both mentally and practicably. I need structure to get through the week but perhaps it is different for others. Some people seem able to enjoy the moment without the planning that goes into my life. Holidays for me are great but it is good to come home and I could not easily cope with the year off travelling around Europe, on which some friends of ours have just embarked. Retirement and unemployment present similar challenges for some of us, whilst others see them as a time of opportunity and well earned relaxation. ‘They also serve who only stand and wait.’

This year has been special. The Jubilee, the Olympics and the Paralympics have left me with happy and lasting memories. Next year is unknown territory. I have plans- already, so soon.

Tina Shaw

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Book ReviewHomesick by Eshkol NevoI picked this novel up by chance in the library and I would thoroughly recom-mend it to those who like stories about relationships. Translated from He-brew, and set in modern Israel, it inter-weaves the lives of a young couple, a married couple with young children, and a family who have recently lost their soldier son and brother, all of whom are near neighbours. Contrast is provid-ed by letters from a friend travelling the world and by the perspective of the Arab family who used to live in the house now occupied by these Israelis.The story is sensitively written, so that you come to care about what happens to the people involved and the personal and religious dilemmas they face, in a world in which the political realities are never far away.Ed

Edgwarebury Cemetery Extension Officially Opened The new extension to Edgwarebury Cemetery - secured after a not-inconsiderable legal battle at Hendon Magistrates' Court - was officially opened and dedicated on Sunday 9th September. Liberal Judaism's chairman, Lucian J. Hudson; chief executive, Rabbi Danny Rich; and movement cantor, Gershon Silins, attended the ceremony on behalf of Liberal Judaism. Liberal Judaism had worked closely with the West London Synagogue (Reform), Belsize Square Synagogue (independent) and the Spanish and Portuguese Jews Congregation (Sephardi) to ensure that planning was granted for the much-needed extension.

Following the ceremony, attendees toured the extension and then dispersed to visit graves of loved ones in the old cemetery site.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Cantor Gershon Silins referred to the Biblical story of Abraham burying his wife Sarah, and spoke movingly about the importance of designating a final resting place:“What we do here today is serious and weighty; more, it is fundamental. We dedicate today a place that, for generations of our community in a future we can only dimly imagine, will be a locus of dreams and reality, the dreams of unfinished conversations, the reality of an ending to them. Generations as yet unborn will come to this place, and the fact that it is here that their loved ones are buried will be the principal thing that defines home for them. They may never wander farther in their lives than the last stop on the tube, or they may find themselves unexpectedly living across an ocean, but this place will always be here to anchor their dreams and their memories.“

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We are very sorry to announce that Carol Pesskin has passed away and we send our condolences to her family

We send get-well messages to Jack Leon after his recent accident and also get well soon to Rachel Gordon

Fight The FluAnyone can get flu. Most people overcome the illness after a recovery period, but older people and people who are not well to begin with are more prone to serious complications that can follow a bout of flu.

Those who are considered to be at “high risk” from flu include:

• People aged 65 or over• People with lung disease such asbronchitis, asthma and emphysema• People with heart disease• People with kidney disease• People with diabetes• People whose immune system is weakened by disease or treatment• Residents of residential/nursing homes or other long-stay accommodation

The Department of Health recommends that everyone included in these “high risk” groups should have a flu vaccination every year.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.

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

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Tuesday 30 October

If you are coming, please telephone Carol 020 8950 1862, in goodtime, so that we can plan catering.

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

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Officers

Council Members

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Committee Groups and Heads

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Basketball, Facepainting and Arts & Crafts - The innaugral TLSE Summer Week was a raging success - Do you think you’ve got what it takes to run it in the Spring?