Post on 07-Mar-2016
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October 2012
Shofarthe magazine of finchley progressive synagogue
פר שו
Beyond N12...
On the cover: Hula Valley, Israel
Left: Another Olympic memory: Ruben, Dora and Rafael with the torch
Copy deadline is the 10th of each month. Please email all content to shofar@fps.org
A big thank you to Sarah Aldridge and Paul Lichtenstern for the FPS calendar which is adorning many FPS homes and provides a great advertisement for the synagogue.
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From the Rabbi
After the introspection of the High Holy Days it is time
to look beyond our own patch to see what this fresh
new year might bring us, and what we might take into
the wider world beyond N12. In this sense, I’d like to
highlight our forthcoming Mitzvah Day which will be
returning in November – a little bit more about what’s
being planned on page 9. And before that, we are
looking forward to the FPS trip to our twin community
in Mogilev at the beginning of this month.
Of course, many of us have already travelled quite a distance, both
geographically and spiritually, to get to this corner of N12. Our FPS family
has ties, historical or personal, that stretch all over the world. In some cases,
the journey seems almost miraculous. I’m looking forward to learning more
about our individual journeys, and I can’t wait to see what follows next.
Beyond N12 is the theme of this Shofar. And
Jewish life beyond our experience in North
Finchley. It’s so easy to experience Judaism in
a parochial way closed in to our British and
London story of being a Jew. But there is, as we
know, so much more. I recently led the funeral
service for Bella Walls, a stalwart member of
FPS who together with her husband Jack had
been so key to the life of FPS and its gardens.
Bella’s journey from Germany to what was
Palestine to Finchley captures the wanderings
that many of our members have had to get
here. We have members from Russia, Ukraine,
Germany, France, Brazil, Switzerland, Italy,
Israel, Romania, the US, Poland and Peru to
name a few. And all have a story that follows
them. I love that about our community and
I hope that during our anniversary year the
stories of our many Jewish journeys will emerge
and perhaps create a map of the world leading
to Hutton Grove.
In the next few months our community is
making several trips beyond our synagogue.
A group will be heading to Mogilev, our twin
community in the Ukraine, taking practical
Jewish goods and bringing back news from
the East, as it were. Another group will be
joining with Nottingham Progressive to visit
Austerlitz where our Czech scroll is from. Neil
Pike from NPJC has spoken here at FPS about
the past Jewish life and history of the town
and now the group will be making positive
and creative connections with the existing
town and community. It promises to be an
important and exciting trip. Paul Anticoni of
WJR is planning an informative trip for Liberal
rabbis and members to see the work that his
WJR does for the vulnerable in the Ukraine.
In May 2013 the WUPJ holds its Jerusalem
conference and I hope a delegation will take
the opportunity to represent FPS and see the
intensity of progressive connections beyond
our own island.
We have members from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France,
Brazil, Switzerland, Italy, Israel, Romania, the US, Poland & Peru
to name a few. There is a an enjoyable tension between
being happy and content where we are
and having that irritable reaching after and
towards somewhere else to explore and seek
knowledge and experience the other, and
when we connect with it, all the better.
It was Proust who said; ‘When I went to
Venice I found that my dream had become –
incredibly, but quite simply – my address!’
From the Editorpat lehner rabbi rebecca qassim birk
beyond n12
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From the Chairlaura lassman
Several years ago I
went to Israel on a
Liberal Judaism tour
along with several
other Finchley
members and Mark
Goldsmith who
was our Rabbi at the time. It was a last minute
decision to go as my Jewish engagement rarely
extended beyond N12. I was either at FPS or
celebrating Shabbat and festivals with family.
My children were far more adventurous than
me having enjoyed LJY weekends, Kadimah,
Israel and Kayyitz tours while I was content to
stay home. Our ancestors all went on journeys
of discovery that were predicated on a change
of scenery and I wondered whether I could
journey spiritually without physically going
anywhere. That Israel tour changed everything.
Mark and I stood in the glass-domed
rooftop of Beit Shmuel, Jerusalem, the Culture
and Education Centre of the World Union
for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) and realised
that we were part of a remarkable and large
organisation. FPS, a constituent of Liberal
Judaism, is affiliated to the WUPJ along with
the Reform movement here and in the States,
progressive communities from Europe, South
America, South Africa, FSU, Australia, New
Zealand and Asia. From Jerusalem, the group
journeyed to the desert where I had a profound
sense of those ancestral journeys and an
understanding of how that environment might
bring one closer to God. The location provided
the first steps on another journey – on the back
of a camel – with Danny.
Stepping beyond N12 into the wider Jewish community is enriching, enlightening and
heartening.A year or so later, I went with him to the
European Region conference in Hamburg
which provided an opportunity to meet so
many people from both new and established
communities spanning our continent. There is
so much to learn from our sister congregations
and much also we can offer. Stepping beyond
N12 into the wider Jewish community is
enriching, enlightening and heartening. We
are part of a major Jewish movement that is
committed to social action as evidenced by
the Religious Action Centre in Washington, to
renewal through the growth of congregations
in Germany and the Former Soviet Union; one
that acts for justice and equality, democracy
and peace, personal fulfilment and collective
obligations. Its doors are open and you might
wish to consider connecting in Jerusalem in
May 2013 (www.wupjconnections.org).
After the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympic feel-good comes FPS’s 60th anniversary. We are gearing up for a year of celebration and building for the future. Over the coming months, events, activities and projects will be scheduled to make 2013 a year to remember in the life of the community.
We want to ensure that there is something to appeal to everyone. Make sure you complete the card to tell us what you would like by way of celebration and commemoration or email 60@fps.org. It can be any idea that appeals to you.
If you want to help organise or contribute to one of the projects please let us know by email (60@fps.org) or post to Jacquie Fawcett c/o the synagogue office.
We are looking for:
Designers Sales peopleResearchers and archivists CaterersProject,managers Bottle washersPhotographers Fund raisersGames makers Singers
60th anniversary celebrations
simchat torah invitation
Sunday 7 October at 6.30pm & Monday 8 October at 11am
Danny Rich & Laura Lassmanwill be Chatan Torah (reading the last verses
of Deuteronomy/Devarim) and Kallat Torah
(reading the first verses of Genesis/Bereshit)
and hosting Kiddush in celebration of the
festival and their recent wedding.
Everyone is invited to join them
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Sukkot at FPSlionel lassman & darren beach
Sukkot, a festival of colour, full of ritual and
warmth occupies the first week of October. We
have a very full schedule and everyone is invited
to join the celebrations
erev sukkot
Sunday 30 September 4.00pm - Make the Sukkah wonderful!
Bring your greenery, flowers, fruit, decorations,
offerings for the Kiddush table so that the we
have a feast for all the senses.
6.00pm - Smoothies and nosh
6.30pm - Family service and kiddush
sukkot morning
Monday 1 October11.00am - Festival
morning service
12.30pm - Lunch in the
Sukkah
chol hamoed sukkot
Saturday 6 OctoberA very full Shabbat starting with Shabbat
B’Yachad when we will welcome our new
students into Ivriah, giving them their own
miniature scroll
11.00am - Consecration Service and kiddush
5.00pm - Youth Club and Sukkot sponsored
sleepover when our young people will consider
homelessness and raise money for those who
do not have a roof over their heads
7.30pm - Daniel Cainer in concert, a fund raiser
for the President’s Fund
simchat torah
Sunday 7 OctoberAn opportunity to celebrate continuity as we
end the Torah readings and start again under
the Chuppah
5.00pm - Come and decorate the chuppah
6.30pm - Bring your flags and miniature scrolls
to join the party
The last verses of Devarim (Deuteronomy) will
be read by the Chatan Torah Rabbi Danny Rich.
The first verses of Bereshit (Genesis) will be
read by Kallat Torah, Laura Lassman. The whole
congregation is invited to join them for the
service which will be led by Rabbi Rebecca and
for a celebration kiddush to mark their recent
wedding.
simchat torah
Monday 8 October11.00am - A more reflective morning service as
the cycle ends and begins followed by Kiddush
lunch
12.30am - Simchat Torah Kiddush hosted by
Laura and Danny
make it a week to remember!
Grab a sponsorship form from the synagogue or email Sam if you have any questions at all!
Please email sam@liberaljudaism.org if your children are coming so we have an idea of numbers
have fun & raise money for charity!
raise 15 pounds for the event! the proceeds go towards world jewish relief
for school years 2-6
SponSored Sukkot Sleepover
8 october5pm
Fp
S Y
outh club proudlY preSent
S:
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Beit Tefillahservices at fps
Friday 5 October Kabbalat Shabbat
Kiddush in the Sukkah
Saturday 6 October Shabbat B’Yachad with Consecration
of our newest students at Ivriah
Friday 12 October Family Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday 13 October Special Singing Shabbat
& Mogilev Expedition to speak
Friday 19 October Shabbat Resouled
Saturday 20 October Shabbat service
& Martin Zucker Bar Mitzvah
Friday 26 October Kabbalat Shabbat
with student Rabbi Rene Pfertzel
Saturday 27 October Shabbat Service
with student Rabbi Rene Pfertzel
Beit Knessetwhat’s happening at fps
cafe thursday
Every Thursday @12.30pm
yoga
Monday @7.oopmTuesday @7.30pm Contact Richard on 020 8349 9602
bridge club
Mondays @ 8.00pm in the Small Hall
book club
Wednesday 10 October @8.00pm, for details
please call Sheila on 020 8445 3284
We are reading ‘The Sense of an Ending’ by
Julian Barnes
film club
Sunday 14 October @7.30pm, ‘The Browning Version’. For details please see page 13
people
shabbat services - october
we warmly welcome new members
Debbie Dwek and Ben Hyde
with Thomas and James Hyde
congratulations and mazal tov
To the family of Martin Zucker
on his Bar Mitzvah
To Benji Aarons and his wife Tehila
who got married in Israel in August
And to Danny Rich and Laura Lassman
who celebrated their wedding in September
curtain up!
Wednesday 17 October @7.30 pm.‘The Last of the Haussmans’. For details please
see page 13
open mic night
The next Open Mic Night will be on 21 October
rosh chodesh
Our friendly woman’s circle, we welcome the
new month with spirituality, warmth, good
conversation and the odd glass of wine. For
details: Wika Dorosz, vdorosz@gmail.com.
Tuesday 16 October (Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan): Jewish HealingThursday 15 November (Rosh Chodesh Kislev): The Role of Women in JudaismThursday 13 December (Rosh Chodesh Tevet):
Jewish women in politics
our sincerest condolences
To Sarah Rosen Webb on the death of her
mother Gertrude Webb in Boston
To the family of Molly Walter, mother of
Meynell and Naomi
To the family and friends of Bella Walls,
widow of Jack Walls
And to the family of Pearl Barnett, mother
of Wendy Coleman
mitzvah day is here again!Put sunday 18th november into your diary and help fps join others across the country (and across the world!), to go out and work to improve our communities.
Current projects (to be confirmed) include:
entertaining the elderlypotting tulip bulbs follow up the visit
tidying and weeding a cemeterytree planting with the woodland trust
painting and decorating More details to follow!
If you have a project near to your heart that you think we should become involved in, contact sarah or andrea. this is your chance have fun and help others!
contacts: andrea narcin / andrea_narcin@yahoo.co.uksarah rosen webb / sarahrosenwebb@gmail.com
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Beit Midrashlearning at fps
cafe ivriah
An informal and lively Saturday morning chat
over coffee for Ivriah parents and others. With
the new earlier start to Ivriah, Café Ivriah will
now offer coffee from 09.30am and discussion
from 09.45-10.45am.
beit midrash on thursday
Our flagship evening of Learning has an
outstanding programme for this term.
On Thursday evenings 4, 11, 18, 25 October, 7.30-9.30pm (note new time) we will offer:
Science and Religion – conflict or compromise? Led by Adrian Lister, formerly
Professor of Biology at University College
London and now a Research Leader at the
Natural History Museum.
Tohu Vavohu Formless and void (Gen 1: 2): A Rabbinic perspective on evolution. Led by
Rabbi Danny Rich, Chief Executive of Liberal
Judaism.
Beginners’ Hebrew
Advanced Hebrew
Delving into Judaism (alternate weeks), for
conversion students and others. Led by Rabbi
Rebecca Qassim Birk
Adult Bat Mitzvah class (alternate weeks).
Led by Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk
Pilates for all. Led by an experienced trainer
Tea, coffee and cake break shared by all classes
Entrance is free with voluntary donation to
cover the cost of tea and coffee. Pilates is
charged at £40 for the four sessions.
Important: If you wish to attend October
Beit Midrash, please inform Adrian Lister on
AdrianLister@blueyonder.co.uk or just come
along to the first session. Places for Pilates need
to be reserved and paid in advance – please
contact Adrian as soon as possible.
lunch & learn
Every Wednesday 12.30 – 2.00pmHot learning topics with tea and cake – bring
a sandwich or lunch. Starts again 10 October
with an outing to the British Museum
fps breakfast shiur
Saturday 20 October – 8.45am / Professor Mark Pagel – What made us human?Human beings share over 98% identity in the
sequence of their genes to chimpanzees and
over 99% with the now extinct Neanderthals.
Why, then, did this one species – Homo sapiens
– go on to occupy the world and produce art,
music, religion and technologies while all
others have remained essentially unchanged
throughout their existence? We will explore
the uniquely human invention of cumulative
cultural adaptation and how that invention has
moulded our species psychology, morality and
behaviour.
Mark Pagel is a Fellow of the Royal Society,
Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the
University of Reading and an External Professor
at the renowned Santa Fe Institute in the USA.
He has travelled the world studying evolution
and the spread of cultures, is the editor-in-chief
of the award winning Oxford Encyclopaedia
of Evolution, co-author of The Comparative
Method in Evolutionary Biology, and author of
articles in many journals. His new book Wired
for Culture was published March 2012.
Breakfast Shiur in November: Eliott Karstadt
– David and Uriah: Temptation, Baths and
Corrupt Kings.
At FPS on Saturday 6 October at 7.30pm In aid of the President’s Fund Tickets: £15.00 in advance; £20.00 at the door
Refreshments: Cheese and Wine included
Rosh Hashana Family Day
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Arts at FPSYoga for Spirits
Meetings for Curtain Up! are held on the third
Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm, and the
next meeting is scheduled for the 17 October.
The play for discussion is The Last of the Haussmans at the Lyttelton. Note that it
closes on 11 October. Also note that a live
performance from the National Theatre will be
shown at the Phoenix Cinema on 11 October.
14 October 2012, 7:30 pm | The Browning Version
The Browning Version has recently been
presented in the West End in a superb revival
and was the topic of a Curtain Up discussion.
Written as a short, one act play, it may well be
the finest work by playwright Terence Rattigan.
When the decision was made in 1951 to create
a full length film version with Michael Redgrave
in the lead, Rattigan was asked to extend the
play. He agreed to do so and the result is one
of the great British films of all time. Whether
you saw the West End production or not, it will
be fascinating to see how Rattigan expanded
his masterpiece so successfully.
coming up
11 November 2012, 7:30 pm | Sunshine(2007) with Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz
2 December 2012. 7:30pm | The Goodbye Girl(1977) with Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason
When Rabbi Rebecca asked me to conduct
a workshop on the above topic it sent me
scurrying to research and establish links
between Yoga, Judaism and Spiritualism.
I asked myself 3 questions. 1. What is Yoga
and why participate? 2. What is Judaism and
why go to Shul? 3. What does Spiritual mean?
I could answer the first relatively easily,
with over 20 years’ experience teaching yoga
students. However, as a synagogue attendee
I struggled with my reasons and, more
specifically, wanted to take a closer look at
the nature of my relationship with my place of
worship.
It is here that I established links between
Yoga and Judaism. I went to both as a place of
refuge from the chaos of everyday life, to spend
quality time in a place that felt safe and raised
A few years ago, Sue Kelvin, who is a brilliant
actress and singer, did a one-woman show
at the much missed New End Theatre in
Hampstead, where she played the legendary
Sophie Tucker. Her songs were heard round
the world and her voice was unique. Sue has
reproduced Sophie Tucker to the life, in a show
written by her husband, Chris Burgess. It’s
funny, sad and very moving. Anyone who saw
it at the New End will not have forgotten the
experience.
Now FPS member, Sue Kelvin, is reprising the
show at
The Arts Depot N12Wednesday 24 October3pm Matinee & 7.30 pm,Thursday 25 October, 7.30 pm
Not to be missed!
my spirits and feeling of well-being. I felt good
about attending and uplifted as a result of
participating.
I also established that there were spiritual
undertones to both - Yoga (viewed as physical)
is ultimately a preparation for Meditation
(Stillness of mind), a practice where words
have no relevance, but being present without
distraction does. Regular Meditators talk about
experiencing a Higher State of Consciousness
and I would advocate that parts of a Synagogue
service or powerful sermon can resonate in a
similar way.
In Yoga there is a word “Sankalpa” which
means an intention to change something
in your life. Concentrating on this during
Meditation helps sow the seed inside you and
to strengthen the resolve - It compares in my
view to the introspection that takes place
during the High Holy Days .
A wonderful Indian Swami I had the
privilege to meet on my first trip to India talked
about happiness and sadness as impermanent
states and that we yearn for the former to
remain and the latter to end. I believe when
the dips occur then a spiritual connection has
a part to play to redress the balance and bridge
the gap.
People are generally hard on themselves
and suffer pain, stress, fear, and ailments that
are undesirable – both Meditation and Prayer
can be powerful antidotes - I would encourage
you to delve deeper and take up our Rabbi’s
CHAI challenge to come to Synagogue 18 hours
more than we normally do.
curtain up! sophie tucker
the screen on the grove
richard kravetz
Between 5pm and 7pm on :
September 22nd
October 6th: WJR sleepover
night
October 20th
November 3rd
November 17th
December 1st
December 15th
FPS YOUTH CLUB
FOR WHO? CONTACT INFORMATION
Young People of FPS! Come and get involved in a brand new youth club!
Games, trips, food and LJY-Netzer
madness!
DATES WHAT?
FOR SCHOOL YEARS 2—6
The new Youth Club is going to be run by Sam Grant—if you have any questions please do get
in touch : sam@liberaljudaism.org or 020 7631 0584: Looking forward to seeing you!
Between 5pm and 7pm on :
September 22nd
October 6th: WJR sleepover
night
October 20th
November 3rd
November 17th
December 1st
December 15th
FPS YOUTH CLUB
FOR WHO? CONTACT INFORMATION
Young People of FPS! Come and get involved in a brand new youth club!
Games, trips, food and LJY-Netzer
madness!
DATES WHAT?
FOR SCHOOL YEARS 2—6
The new Youth Club is going to be run by Sam Grant—if you have any questions please do get
in touch : sam@liberaljudaism.org or 020 7631 0584: Looking forward to seeing you!
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Hannah and I were very excited to welcome our
new Kabbalat Torah students this weekend, as
we joined the community in preparing for the
High Holy Days. The first session was only the
start of a whole term of exciting activities we
have lined up, which we hope will leave our
young adults with Jewish friendships, Jewish
memories, and Jewish learning. Activities over
the following months include visits to the
Jewish Museum and to Hoop Lane Cemetery,
contributing to the community’s Mitzvah Day
efforts, playing a day-long wide game across
LJY Netzer is the Liberal Judaism Youth
movement. LJY’s main event is Kadimah, the
2 week annual summer camp. At camp we do
things which anywhere else would be seen as
weird but not on Kadimah...
We pretend to be ninjas, play the strangest
games, sing crazy songs, sing slightly more
normal songs, sing all other kinds of songs,
eat amazing (vegetarian) food, meet the best
people ever, learn about Judaism, Israel and
many other things, pray, practise leadership
skills, learn completely random, unnecessary
skills such as how to eat a doughnut without
licking your lips and what to do if you ever find
yourself sleeping in a tent with a very large
spider.
At the end of your first Kadimah you say
“those were the best two weeks of my life” and
every year those words are repeated. I don’t
know how they do it, but somehow LJY manage
to top themselves every single year. Why wait...
sign up for the next camp!
Jess Lichtenstern
kabbalat torahkadimahFriday 5 October from 4.30 pmFriday Ivriah followed by Friday night service
Saturday 6 October from 9.30 amShabbat Ivriah
Shabbat B’Yachad Service including Kita Aleph
Consecration Service
Friday 12 October from 4.30 pmFriday Ivriah followed by Friday night Family
Service
KT weekend trip to Prague (home on 14th)
Saturday 13 October from 9.30 amShabbat Ivriah
Friday 19 October from 4.30 pmFriday Ivriah followed by Shabbat Resouled
Service
Saturday 20 October from 9.30 amShabbat Ivriah
Shabbat Service including the barmitzvah of
Martin Zucker
Kids’ Kehillah
Friday 26 and Saturday 27 October & Friday 2 and Saturday 3 NovemberIvriah half term
october at ivriah
rikudSaturdays 3.30-5.30
Dance your shoes off!Contact Denny Kingston on
020 8482 2149
mini-rikudSaturdays 12.30-2.30Bring a packed lunch!
London, and a three-day trip to Prague. All
this will mean that they return to the GCSE in
religious studies in January with energy and
enthusiasm, having built a solid social ground
on which to build their Jewish learning. Anyone
interested in helping out with any of our trips,
or who knows of other opportunities for us
to get our dynamic teenagers involved with,
please contact the Synagogue office.
Elliott Karstadt
16
Contactsfps who’s who
finchley progressive synagogue
54 Hutton Grove N12 8DR
www.fps.org
020 8446 4063
Charity Number: 1071040
Rabbi: Rebecca Qassim Birk
rabbi@fps.org / 07939 227480
Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner
Synagogue Manager: Pauline Gusack
pauline@fps.org
Community Manager: Angela Wharton
angela@fps.org
executive
Chair: Laura Lassman
chair@fps.org / 07957 545 569
Vice-Chair: Joan Shopper & David Aarons
01582 792 959
Treasurer: Richard Kravetz
020 8349 9602
Honorary Secretary: David Pelham
020 8445 8111
synagogue committees & groups:
Beit Tefillha, Contact, Education, Membership,
Events Plus, Babies & Toddlers, B’nei Mitzvah,
Hospitality Group, Security.
We are represented on the Board of Deputies
and Liberal Judaism. For further information,
please call the office.
shofar editor
Pat Lehner
shofar@fps.org
Editorial assistant Sarah Aldridge
FPS is a constituent of Liberal Judaism
21 Maple Street W1T 4BE
020 7580 1663
LJY Netzer (youth dept) 020 7631 0584
ashley pageinsurance brokers
Commerce House2a Litchfield Grove
London N3 2TN
Tel. 020 8349 5100
janet tresmanmediator & collaborative
family law specialist solicitor
consultant at newman law solicitors
10 Hendon LaneFinchley, London N3 1TR
Tel. 020 8349 2655
janettresman@newmanlaw.co.uk