gates of peace l’chayimsouthportreform.org.uk/lchayim-nov-dec2014.pdf · this year’s chairman,...

Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE

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Date Event

November 7, Friday No service

November 8, Saturday

Service leader Louise Davies: Parasha Vayera

November 14 , Friday

No service


Student Rabbi Kath Vardi service leader: Parasha Chaye Sara. Chavurah lunch

November 21, Friday No service


Service leader Fortune Chamberlain : Parasha Toldot

November 28, Friday Service at Lisa and Richard Sach’s home, 7pm, followed by chavurah ( details from office). Service Leader Fortune Chamberlain

November 29 Saturday

Service leader Richard Choueke: Parasha Vayetze

December 5, Friday No Service

December 6, Saturday

Service Leader Louise Davies: Parasha Vayishlach

Synagogue Dates to remember

L’Chayim Nov. -Dec. 2014 Cheshvan - Kislev -

Tevet 5774

For those receiving L’Chayim by e-mail, please print off the calendar (pages 1-2) so that you can display your hard copy at home. .

Contacts: Synagogue Office: Lisa Sachs (Administrator Tues, Thurs,

& Fri 10am-1pm), Princes Street, Southport, PR8 1EG Tel.& Fax.

01704 535950

email: [email protected]

website: www.southportreform.org.uk

Emergencies: Please contact the office

The Sternberg Centre home to the Movement for Reform Judaism General Enquires: 02083495724 www.reformjudaism.org.uk

mailto:[email protected]?subject=

http://www.southportreform.org.uk

http://www.reformjudaism.org.uk

mailto:[email protected]?subject=

http://www.southportreform.org.uk

http://www.reformjudaism.org.uk

Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE

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Please note:

For the chavurah community events - please bring a vegetarian or fish dish, or a dessert to share, if possible.

On occasions when we are unable to offer a service , we have been advised we can go to The Home ( 81 Albert Road) to attend the service there. If you wish to attend, you must contact Mr Brian King (Chairman of the Home), tel. 01704 565621, no later than Thursday afternoon prior to the service for security reasons. The home is orthodox, men and married women will need to cover their heads.

Any kind person interested in becoming a service leader, could they please contact the office. Please speak to the Chairman concerning training requirements.

Student Rabbi, Kath Vardi will be facilitating a course on service leading, with top-ics such as the meaning of prayer, spirituality, the

Date Event

December 7, Sunday Jackson’s Row Synagogue, Manchester, event -see within.

December 12, Friday No service


Service Leader Student Rabbi Kath Vardi. Parasha Vayeshev. Chavurah lunch/ Hanukah celebration

December 16, Tuesday

Erev Hanukah: Light the first candle

December 17, Wednesday

Hanukah



Service Leader Joan Brooke: Parasha Miketz

December 24, Wednesday

Last day of Hanukah( last night for candles is Tuesday 23rd)


December 27th Community Service at ‘The Home’, Southport. ( see advert for address)

On behalf of the congrega-tion I would like to thank all the service leaders for their support in keeping the Southport Reform Syna-gogue alive. Our unsung, and sometimes times sung he-roes! (ed, Chairman).


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A special thanks went to Tony Kletz, our honourable treasurer who has spent many hours with me, and without me, pouring ( or in our financial plight, should that be ‘pooring' ) over how to save a penny or two. My Mum also told me that ‘if you look after the pennies, the pounds will take care of themselves’. Although the accounts for the year 2013 show a deficit of £15000, this is a big improvement year on year. We hope that the next accounts ( which represent this year of my Chairmanship) should be more or less break even. I apologise for the medical terminology that comes to hand, however money is the life blood of the synagogue; we cannot survive as a synagogue on faith alone.

To boldly go where no man (or woman!) has gone before... The AGM- Sunday 12th October

It is nice to see our synagogue being supported. We had about 25% of our synagogue’s adult members at the AGM. Many shuls would be re-ally pleased to have such an attendance!

The minutes of the last AGM were read, and then, I would like to think what was the high-light of the meeting, I gave my report as Chair-man of Council.

Of course, people do doze at meetings. The idea of having dancing girls was thought of as inap-propriate, and so I decided folk would have to tolerate me as I was.

Members of council have worked really hard this year for their synagogue. The responsibility

of student education, welfare, catering , social and religious activities all taking place with a sense of worthwhile enjoyment. I feel that it is important that those giving their time in a voluntary capacity should feel that their time is being well spent. I have certainly enjoyed your support and was able to publicly say so at the AGM.

This year’s Chairman, Selwyn Goldthorpe, and Vice Chair, Gillian Goldthorpe discussing business over a good cup of tea.

Treasurer Tony Kletz


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Last year’s Extraordinary Meeting would be wasted if we do not carry out what was planned at that meeting. My thanks to Sarita Robinson, Communities Development Manager at MRJ, and MRJ provision for Rabbinic support for the synagogue. Rabbi Dr Robert Ash, from Preston, has very kindly offered to help our synagogue- thank you.

Your synagogue owes thanks to all those that have helped with taharah, the service leaders, the food catering, the maintenance, and general help for events and services. We are blessed with so many Friends of the synagogue who are willing to roll up their sleeves and help- thank you.

Our wardens work hard on behalf of the community to keep services going- please support them if they ask you to take part in the religious service - it is your synagogue, isn’t it? It is as much our honour that you take part. A special thanks to Duly and Gillian for the marathon of the High Holy Days. Neil Chamberlain was a star blowing the shofar. I know how hard it is as at the end of Yom Kippur I had a bit of a toot! All I will say, Neil, it is a lot better after a drink.

On behalf of Southport Reform Synagogue, I made a presentation to Janet Landau, who we regret is leaving to join her family in the south - their gain is our loss. Janet is a Trustee of the synagogue, was acting chair-person last year, and when I think of it, there seems to be little she has not done for the synagogue from teaching, acting as chair, to helping in the kitchen. It is a loss to the synagogue to see her go, but at least she can take away some happy memories, and her friends remain where she knows she can find them. Janet has told me she wishes to continue to be a Friend of the synagogue. The lovely, mezuzah will always remind her of Southport Reform Synagogue.

Lisa Sachs, J.P. not only knows a thing or two about the Law, but has been of tremendous value to me, and all the community, in holding together our diverse needs, as our efficient office administrator. She very kindly has taken over as cleaner of the synagogue, thus saving us quite a bit of money. Like Abraham, I gave her a true test of her willingness to do anything for the shul, asking her to change the curtain of the ark and torah covers af-ter the High Holy Days. Instead of telling me what to do with myself (she does not live in Liverpool), she phones a friend to help, who tactfully suggested she turn over the paper where the words, “ I’m only joking, Selwyn”, were written. We had already changed the curtains! Thank you Lisa. Should Gromit ( your dog that is always with you when you work at shul) not take up security duties, I will be having a word with him!

Thank you to Janet Landau from Selwyn on behalf of all of us at the synagogue.


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Lisa not only brings her own expertise to the role of synagogue administrator, she brings the fearsome Gromit ( her dog), who has like everyone else been co-opted to help at the synagogue. Gromit, shown in the photograph on the left, has overall responsibility for front door security!

I plan to improve the governance of the synagogue, whether it is protecting children, fire safety, security, or accountability. I was saddened to hear a complaint about per-sonal behaviour at the AGM and will implement, with Council’s blessing, I hope, a com-plaints procedure. It is our duty as a charity, and as a religious organisation, to ensure that all members of the synagogue have equal rights, no matter what their background, and that we respect and support each other in our religious and charitable works.

The meeting went on to discuss the revision to the Laws of the Synagogue. Council had al-ready discussed how we need to adapt to our smaller and more peripheral membership. The Laws of the Synagogue are no longer under-stood in the language of the past. We need to have clear definitions of services, roles, and re-sponsibilities. There needs to be greater democracy, and voting by secret ballot when needed. The Chair of Council needs powers to ensure council meetings are not disrupted, and Council needs to ensure that the Chair is not disruptive to its work. I was pleased to see the AGM endorse the work done by Council, our honorary Solicitor (Michael Braham, Chairman of Southport Hebrew Congregation, thank you for your time and advice), and the Executive. The synagogue is now known as Southport & District Reform Synagogue.

Attentive listeners at the AGM (left), and the executive with the Honorary Secretary, Fortune, showing a nice smile.( upper left)


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The change in the Laws of the synagogue were passed by the meeting as per the copy you had been provided with. The only real change being that the shul administrator who comes to Council meetings to take the minutes, has the right to vote at the meeting if they are a member of the synagogue. The shul’s administrator, if you don’t mind more medical terminology, is at the heart of the synagogue! Should you wish to see the new Laws, please ask the shul administator, Lisa, though first you have to get by the security dog, Gromit!!

I was able to announce that the honour of Chatan Torah and Challat Bereishit this year would be Phil and Grace Levine, who so often this year have helped the shul without being asked. Thank you.

All the Council places were filled, thank you for your altruism. Serving on Council can be a piece of cake. As this last year’s Chairman, I am grateful for your commitment to the greater good of Southport and District Reform Synagogue - and do notice that the web site shows the new name of our synagogue!

Dr�� Selwyn�� Goldthorpe�� Chairman of Council Joint Editor of L’ChayimWeb site developer.

As mentioned above, the synagogue now has a ‘Complaint’s Procedure.’ This is available to you via our synagogue office. It covers how to complain, and what you should ex-pect to happen from the synagogue. This is a confidential service. Of course, you can always discuss matters informally by talking - this is something most Jewish peo-ple will be familiar with!

Our thanks to Phil Levine and Marcel Zachariah who have been appointed by Council, with their consent, to be Trustees of our synagogue (registered charity, number 227576). They join Richard Choueke in that role. Janet Landau was a Trustee, however she has now left Southport.


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Simchat TorahArticle by Susan Fox.

Chatan Torah 5775, Phil Levine (photograph left) and Challat Bereishit, 5775, Grace Levine.

This joyful festival, in which we show our love for the Torah, was led by Rabbi Robert Ash.

On Simchat Torah we celebrate the completion of the annual reading of the Torah and affirm Torah as one of the pillars on which we build our lives.Longstanding members of the congregation, who have served the community well over the years, Grace and Phil Levine were Kallah Bereshit and Chatan Torah respectively. They blessed the First & Last portions of the Torah, which were then read by Rabbi Ash.

During the Torah service, the concluding section of the Torah from D’varim (Deuteronomy) was read, and immediately following, the opening section of Genesis, or B'reishit was read. This practice represents the cyclical nature of the relationship between the Jewish people and the reading of the Torah.

continued page 8


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The Torah scrolls were taken out of the Aron Kodesh (The Ark) and carried around the synagogue by various members of the congregation performing lively and meaningful Hakkafot. Traditionally on Simchat Torah everyone participates and performs an active role in the service, so those who did not carry a scroll, sang or waved flags and banners. The congregation was also invited by the rabbi to bless the Torah together in two groups with a tallit being held over their heads as they recited the blessings in unison.During the service we had sweets and wine to celebrate this joyful festival and following Kiddush, there were also refreshments served.

More Simchat Torah News

Mazeltov to Paul Lippa and Stephen Pavion who were given the honours of Chatan Torah and Chatan Bereshit respectively at The Home on Friday 17th October.


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Shakers and movers- sukkot

Rabbi Dr Robert Ash leads the festival of sukkot

A big thank you to all those that took part in decorating the sukkah . I do hope you enjoyed the lunch that shul provided as much as I did. It was a lot of fun. Didn’t we make a good job of the sukkah this year?Special thanks to Phil Levine for his ability to trim the neighbours’ greenery for us!


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A sticky end just what did happen to that etrog?

If you have been following the ‘Great British Bake Off’ you will know how hard it is to not have “soggy bottoms”, and so I do apologise for the soggy chocolate eclairs at Simchat Torah, as they had to be frozen for the day as my time prior to Simchat Torah was otherwise occupied. Sukkot, however, came to a rather sticky end.....

We did collect the lulav and etrog from Sukkah Mart, on Leicester Road, in Manchester, at great expense, not to us, but to the shul. An etrog markets at the lower end of pricing for £25 each ( not a crate, I’m sorry to say), and at the upper end of the market for £70. What you get for the extra payment is beyond my understanding. Perhaps there is someone reading this who is an etrog expert ( or should that be an egghead?)? I would be delighted to know the land marks of a decent etrog should I be faced with the choice of so many at some time in the future.

Having picked up the etrog, priced at £25, I am pleased to be able to tell you that the shul had a bargain as the lulav, and myrtle were thrown in for the same price. Would we like to come back erev Sukkot to pick up the willow? It seems willow wilts readily. If not fresh it is no good for the lulav ( My thanks to Rabbi Ash for explaining the collective term for palm, etrog, willow and myrtle). Unfortunately, we could not be popping over to Manchester on erev Sukkot. Around mid-night that day, as we came back home from Manchester, the problem was solved. We identified every willow tree in Crosby, and earmarked an especially weepy one, its trunk was in the church-yard, but its branches were over the pavement! As it happens I have a long pair of secateurs, and not being short myself, I was able to provide the congregation with fresh willow for erev Sukkot. I am sure the church approves of the use of my holy willow.

Our thanks to all those that helped decorated the sukkah, and those that provided plants, flowers and sweets for the shul. The strudel was an experience that sent you out of the building. Just how do you get pastry that thin? The answer lies in a good beating, a bit of a rest, followed by a stretch.

If you had paid £25 for a knobbly citrus fruit, you certainly would want full value for your money, wouldn’t you? I am pleased to say that there is the possibility of a little enterprise at Sukkot, should we be patient, as a member of the congregation received the etrog, extracted and planted the seeds, and very kindly handed the remains back to the shul. We may yet have a UK etrog supplier. I believe we have to wait 7 years.

As for the remains, they are not for burial. I had heard of Etrog Marmalade. This delicacy is not available even in the best of kosher shops. I found myself in a bit of a jam. What to do?The answer is to make your own Etrog Marmalade.

This is where my story comes to a sticky end. If you did not try the Etrog Marmalade at the chavurah on 25th October, then you have been pipped at the post, missing a rare, culinary expe-rience. It did take a lot of boiling to set the marmalade, which has a somewhat of a citrus flavour that I find hard to place. I intend to have lots of special toast with my very expensive marmalade. (Article by Selwyn Goldthorpe)


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Type to enter text

We were fortunate to have Nathan Godleman (photo to the right) lead the services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur this year.

We were joined by his partner, Linda for Yom Kippur.

I know a lot of people were with family over the High Holy Days, and perhaps they missed out on hearing Nathan’s sermon.

We thought it was so good, we have decid-ed to publish it in L’Chayim, working on the principle you cannot have too much of a good thing.

Hineini, Sermon for Rosh Ha Shanah Morning, Southport, September 2014, Student Rabbi Nathan Godleman, Leo Baeck College

There is a certain Hebrew word that we associate more than any other with our ancestor, Abraham. In fact, in English it is a phrase, and he seems to use it quite a bit. When we meet him in Bereishit, he is still known as ‘Avram’. He hears the call of a being that we assume he understood as God, and he answers ‘hineini’, ‘here I am’. God tells him to ‘go forth’, lech lecha, which he does, immediately, leaving home and land behind him. ‘Hineini’, has become Abraham’s badge of courage, emblematic of perfect faith and trust in God; an example to us all, perhaps.

Many events occur in the lives of Abraham and his wife Sarah before we come to the Akedah, the binding and near sacrifice of Isaac, the son of their old age. Through all of these events, Abraham’s faith remains constant and he is never likely to answer with anything other than ‘hineini’ when called upon, to the point that he is known in the tradition as ‘God’s friend’ (Isaiah 41:8). There is much to admire in this and to take pride in. Yet, we would probably stop short of calling him heroic. Biblical figures are not heroes in any conventional sense; they are too human for that, too flawed, they make mistakes. Part of the enduring relevance of these stories is that we can see ourselves in them and relate to the patriarchs and matriarchs in our own lives. They are like us. They are us.

Abraham may be the most flawed and the scene on Mount Moriah the least edifying in the entire family saga. It is a problematic episode for many a rabbi and many a lay person, too. It doesn’t help that it follows in the wake of the banishment of Hagar and her son, Ishmael, sent into the wilderness at the instigation of Sarah, but by the hand of Abraham. With one son left to the mercy of God, he methodically prepares to sacrifice the other. If we accept the biblical narrative that Abraham is being tested, how can we equate this with a God who is omniscient and will know the outcome already? If the test is for Abraham’s benefit, what does he learn from it? In terms of Isaac, he never speaks to him again. Many of us will believe that Abraham fails the test, because he should have answered not with ‘hineini’ but with ‘lo’, ‘no’. He had already argued for the righteous to be spared in Sodom and Gomorrah, so why not for his beloved son?

These are well-worn paths in sermons and commentaries. However, perhaps a little more could continued/


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be said about that word ‘hineini, ‘here I am’. It occurs three times in the Akedah. On each occasion, Abraham is responding to someone different. At first, it is God who calls out ‘Avraham! Avraham! This is when he receives his instructions and sets about them unquestioningly. The second time is in answer to his son, who meekly asks his father what the animal to be sacrificed is. ‘God will provide the sacrifice, my son,’ he is then told. Final-ly it is an angel, a messenger of God, who calls out urgently ‘Avraham! Avraham!’ at the moment that Abraham is about to slaughter his son. The same word, but did ‘hineini’ mean the same thing each time?

If hineini means ‘here I am’, was Abraham fully present, emotionally or spiritually, in every instance? The answer seems to be an emphatic ‘no’. He is present to God, or at least appears to be, in that he answers, listens care-fully and obeys exactly. Yet, how can he be present to his son, the intended victim of an act that is allegedly ordained by God? He seems to be almost sleepwalking up the side of the mountain, going through the physical motions and not connecting emotionally at all. He replies to Isaac’s question, chillingly, but he has erected a barrier between them. They are not really ‘yachdav’, together. Abraham’s trance-like state is only broken by the cry of the angel, at which point he seems to become aware once again, but his relationship with Isaac is forev-er broken. We have witnessed Abraham the fundamentalist, and there is an obvious, if uncomfortable, parallel to be drawn with certain other knife-wielding men, convinced that they are doing God’s will, numb to the suf-fering they cause in acts of the utmost barbarity. And how can they, how could Abraham, be truly present to God, when totally absent to other human beings?

These are, thank goodness, extreme examples. However, not being present to others is a problem we all face, sometimes in very mundane ways. For example, my mother, who is eighty five, becomes very frustrated when a particular granddaughter visits her, as she is constantly distracted by her mobile phone, talking or texting others, planning for later. She is not fully ‘there’ in the moment. Channel hopping while supposedly conversing with our partners after work is another example. A former work colleague of many years’ standing always seemed to be halfway out of the door, mentally if not physically, and it affected our relationship. Trying to speak to someone who is half absent is not easy!

Maybe this is modern life; the result of technological innovation and over-busy work schedules. However, it contrasts sharply with a story I once heard about Rabbi Hugo Gryn, of whom it was said that he gave every person he spoke to his absolute attention, and they felt it and appreciated it. Martin Buber, the great German Jewish theologian, learnt this lesson the hard way. Visited by a man in his study one day, Buber continued with his mystical wanderings as the other spoke. His mind was elsewhere and he was not really listening and cer-tainly not feeling the other’s pain, which must have been great, as the man committed suicide shortly after-wards.

There is a lesson for us in all this. I don’t think that anyone in a Reform community is likely to be a religious fundamentalist, but the danger of not being fully present to others is one we all risk. We may even have lost touch with ourselves to some extent, who we are and where we are meant to be. If so we need a wake up call, a shofar blast, because life is short, as we realise more and more with the passing years.

Thankfully, we have the High Holy Days to help us; an extended penitential period with time and space to re-flect upon our lives and to set about change. Being fully present to ourselves, to others and to God, in that order, I think, and with each a part of a greater whole, might well be a fitting aim and worth considering.

What are the potential benefits? A deepening of our relationships with those we love; greater openness to and awareness of those around us, who may look to us for friendship or need our help; and more than anything, an increase in the quality of the time we have before us. The quantity of time we have may be outside of our con-trol, but not the quality, if we decide to fully live in the moment and are able to declare in each interaction with others, and really mean it, ‘hineini’, ‘here I am’.


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Where is the Waddington Conservative Club? This was the starting point for The Southport Jewish Heritage Walk on 21st September. We arrived somewhat warmed up having walked from our synagogue at Princes Road, to Sussex Road. We mingled with twenty three oth-ers, about half of which were from Southport Hebrew Congregation, Arnside Road.

With the Jewish Heritage Walk starting from the Waddington Con-servative Club, it was game plan on.

My suspicions were confirmed by finding a table-tennis table at the centre of a large room. Michael Braham, Chairman of Southport Hebrew Congre-gation, explained that this room was the first synagogue in Southport. I thought they must have been quite good at table-tennis. There was little to suggest that this Club had been a shul, though we did find two holes on the front door frame from where I was told the mezuzah had been at-tached, or was it just wood-worm?

We bonded as a group (being a sticky, sunny day), obstructed the pavement, and set off walking towards the sea, passing various houses pre-viously occupied by eminent Jews of times gone by. Of interest was that the building next door to Arnside Road shul used to be a pub- quite handy for Yom Yippur, when the mouth becomes dry, I thought. In any event, business could not have been that good; Jews are not known for heavy drinking. The pub had long since closed, though I believe the lamp stand from out-side lives on at a shul member’s home.

We were welcomed into Arnside Road shul, past the board of Presidents, and into a space fit for a king. The east wall of the shul hosts the best marble I have seen outside of Marble Arch in London. No expense had been spared in constructing an ark and its surrounds that would have kept Moses in the wilderness another 40 years if it had to be carried in blocks. The photos of the east wall and the glass are enclosed.

After that it was downhill all the way to the sea. A previous Jewish function room here, a hotel there, a Jewish Rest home, all eclipsed by two Lancaster bombers, a Spitfire, a hurricane, and an ear splitting Ty-phoon. We were in the right position to take full vantage of the Southport Air Show.

Eventually, we arrived at our shul. Now famous for its apple strudel; hands reached out as they turned the corner for the tables, all of the strudel having been in hand before we could get the tea pot onto the table. Of course we did not have marble. The cake was Madeira, with a sweet lemon layer, the biscuits were a bit jammy.

Richard Choeuke stood up when it mattered, and delivered a potted history of our congregation, which went down well with the strudel, cake, biscuits, as our large tea-pots were put to use.

Our Heritage Walk - a community event

A Waddinton’s game

continued/


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The stained glass triptych windows above the Ark at the Arnside Road synagogue are an impressive site.• The centre one is called “The Guardian”. In its base is shown the Menorah, the Pillar of Cloud by Day and the Pillar of Fire by Night. In the circle, at the head of the window, is the Ark of the Covenant, just suggesting the Cherabim and Sechinon above the Palm leaves. At the base is the inscription “Behold the Guardian of Israel will not slumber nor sleep”. The border is panelled with var-ious scripture plants Olive, Vine, Fig, Almond, Hyssop etc.• The left hand window is called the “Abraham” window. The panel at the base shows the traditional Oak of Abraham of Hebron, the Alter of Sacrifice prepared for Isaac at the head, enclosed with a Pomegranate border. The inscription reads “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy soul, with all thy heart and with all thy might”.• The window on the right depicts in the base Jacob’s Stone at Bethel. The two side panels with the basket among the rushes on the banks of the Nile with Pyra-mids in the distance. In the top circle of the window wa-ter flows from the Rock.

Now feeling refreshed though crummy, we carried on to the cemetery.We were directed to the old part of the cemetery, at the front, where there is another Jewish section. Remarkably, the sad stories of death brought life to the otherwise tired walkers. The stories of misfortunes, sui-cides, and military service were fascinating. I had always thought of Southport as being a quiet sea-side town. It certainly wasn’t like that for its Jewish residents.

Having brought life to death, a big thank you to Michael Braham for helping lead the tour- he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Southport Jewish life. Also, a big thank you to John Cowell, who is in the process of writing a book about the history of Southport Jewish Life, and also supports a detailed knowledge of Southport Jews.

(Article by Selwyn Goldthorpe)

Here is the commercial ✸if you wish to become a friend of John’s and support the book writing ( cost £10, which is knocked off the price of your book when you get the first edition), please con-tact John on [email protected]

Why do the walking when you can have a journey of discovery by reading his book?

HISTORY OF JEWISH BOLTON A BOOK on the history of Bolton's Jewish community by John Cowell and Hilary Thomas, ’An Industrious Minority,’ 2012

Do see the photographs from the walk on the next page....................


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We would like to hire the synagogue-hall during the week to interested groups. If you know of an organisation, or group that wish to use a modern hall, then please put them in contact with the office. The hall could be used for anything from chess clubs to yoga groups.

We have rented 2 car parking spaces at the front of the synagogue, Monday to Friday. Sorry for any inconvenience- it all helps to keep the synagogue open for a longer period as we continue to endeavour to not have a financial deficit.

Walkers unite.. a Southport Jewish Community Event - The Heritage Walk


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NEWS FROM YOUR COMMUNITY

Saturday 18th october was the auf ruf for Alex Hirshman prior to his wedding to his bride to be Sian Barton.Our synagogue was full with visitors. There was a kiddish after the service which was tak-en by Rabbi Norman Zalud - thank you. The synagogue presented the happy couple with an engraved kiddush cup, which I am told they will use at their marriage ceremony taking place in the USA.

Saturday 25th October was the Golden Wedding for Joan and Ivor Brooke. Our thanks to Rabbi Amanda Golby for the shabbat service, and Fortune Chamberlain, pictured below with Joan, leading the celebratory dancing. A big mazeltov to both Joan and Ivor, who were presented, from the congregation with a specially iced fruit cake . The following chavurah lunch was excellent- thank you for all your contributions, and for those that helped in the kitchen.

Sunday, 26th October was the stone setting for the late Rabbi Kay. The service was taken by Rabbi Golby. We all share the loss of Rabbi Kay, but none more so than the family for which we extend our deepest sympathy.May Rabbi’s memory be a blessing to all that knew him.There was a kiddush at the synagogue following the ser-vice- thank you to all that helped with this.

There was a ‘cheder Friday night’ at Anne Kletz’s (our cheder teacher) home on 24th October. I was pleased to be an honorary child for the occasion (ed.) What an educational experience! ( see below).


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Cheder Friday Night top left: around the table clockwise: Noah, Laura, Timothy, Daniel, Emilie. top right: Fortune makes kiddush with us. bottom left: Noah seems to like the cakes he decorated. bottom right: Anne shows us her challahs. The product of home baking. THANK YOU TO ANNE & TONY KLETZ FOR THE LOAN OF THEIR HOME FOR THE EVENING


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"What is Prayer?[Extracts from pp.13-14]

What is remarkable is that the Hebrew word for prayer is only used a handful of times in the entire Five Books of Moses. One reason might be that biblical figures do not pray to God in a ritualised sense, but just talk to God. It is more of a conversation that an act of imploring, with a sense that God is immediate and approachable. That is why the Midrash (rabbinic lore) holds that one of the first instances of prayer concerned the discussion about Sodom and Gomorrah, when Abraham demands of God: "Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Perhaps there are fifty right-eous men in the city ... Far be it from You to act in such a way and slay the righteous with the wicked ... Shall not the Judge of all the

earth do justly?" (Genesis 18:23-5). This is not a prayer but a rant, a confrontation, an argu-ment, with Abraham addressing God as if on equal terms. It is very far from the idea of us be-ing snivelling wretches who can only cringe in God's presence. Abraham respects God, but does not grovel before God. So with us: we may exist only because of the light of God - but we can sparkle back at God.

... It is worth noting that while personal prayer could mean saying formal prayers at home from the book, garbed in a kippah (head-covering) and tallit (prayer shawl), it can also mean reciting impromptu prayers of our own, or being silent in deep reflection, or bursting into song, or humming a hum, or whistling or dancing - whatever expresses our hopes and fears

AT THE INVITATION OF A FRIEND

"You made a covenant with Abraham,to teach us that You can be found through many religious paths."(Siddur, p.157)

"Next week would you like to share with us something from your faith tradition?" asked Anne. The context was that of a Quaker Meeting and gave good opportunity to be well prepared.

Quakers, or Friends as they are sometimes known, once deeply embedded in the Christian tradi-tion are open now to people of all faiths and none. As perhaps many of you may know, it is usual practice for Quakers to sit together in silence, unless and until someone is inspired to speak aloud. In this instance time to think ahead was invaluable. What might the Quakers and Jewish tra-ditions have in common? What thoughts, concepts, ideas, practices, understandings, do we possibly share? Was there a 'meeting' point that could bring us together whilst still respecting - in the words of Jonathan Sacks: "the dignity of difference"?

Inspired by one of the books Rabbi Kay had kindly given to me whilst his student, I chose to focus

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and desires and moods. As with Abraham ... it can be a matter of talking with God, as did Tevye the Milkman [Fiddler on the Roof], chatting away, keeping God in touch with what was going on, consulting God, occasionally advising God and even quoting "the Good Book" at God. Although Tevye was only a fictional character, his easy relationship with God epito-mised one that many people share, or would like to share.

The English term 'to pray' comes from the Latin verb precare, meaning to entreat or supplicate, with the image of humans opening their hearts to God, arms open and on their knees (mental-ly if not physically). By contrast the Hebrew term 'to pray' comes from [the] Hebrew verb l'hitpalleil, meaning 'to judge oneself'. Here, prayer is an act of self-examination, not so much addressing God but oneself. This is most dramatically expressed in the prayer recited on Sabbath mornings, Ribbon ha-olamim, which asks: "What are we? What is our life? What is our love? What is our justice? What is our suc-cess? What is our endurance? What is our power?" (Forms of Prayer, p.167). I do not want to give the idea that Jewish prayer ignores God and is an act of personal therapy, but it does contain a strong element of looking at oneself in a critical way. Prayer-time can be the only occasion when we force ourselves to be objective, considering our existence and to what extent we live up to the ideals to which we say we subscribe, and resolving to lessen the gap between them.”

What followed was a lively, interesting discussion, as comment sparked comment in a smooth and fruitful flow. Not only had we found on our different paths a common 'meeting' place, but many fascinating avenues leading from it!

Reflections from Mina A Abram-Hebblethwaite

Mina writes:I belong to a book club which meets once a month alternating between books and poetry. Every year we decide amongst ourselves a programme for the next twelve months. Everyone is welcome to make sugges-tions and it usually works out into a very interesting programme. Also, each time we meet there in an empty bowl into which a voluntary donation may be made - no indication of any amount and the bowl is not passed around. Yet over the years this has raised a quite remarkable amount donated to an Indian charity.It occurred to me that perhaps we might form a shul book club along similar lines, perhaps with any vol-untary donations going towards shul funds or alternating between shul and another charity. Maybe it is something we might propose through L'Chayim?Whilst pondering whether to suggest this I read in 'Rosh Hashanah Reflections' - many thanks to whoever provided that, it was certainly worth reading/reflecting on - Rabbi Jonathan Romain's article: items 4. an 10. include a book circle and a poetry circle as two of the '50 Things To Do Between These High Holy Days And The Next'. An extra prod in the right direction?Hope you think it an idea at least worth trying. PLEASE CONTACT MINA via The Shul Office.


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A report from the rally in Manchester from Neil Chamberlain

As if life was not busy enough at this time of year, on Sunday 19th October Fortune and I bought a Duo day return rail ticket from Blackburn then hopped on a train to Manchester Victoria Station to attend our first ever protest rally. We felt this event was important as in recent weeks, during and following the recent conflict in Israel there had been a noticeably significant rise in anti-semitism especially in London and Manchester. We arrived early and made our way to the Cathedral Gardens at the back of the rather fancy National Football Museum, it was easy to find the gardens where loud but appealing music was playing from the stage on the grass, we had to pass by a couple of policemen on duty at the entrance to the area along with a large number of volunteer security officers from the CST.

Being rally newbies we really did not know what to expect, but were pleased at the apparent lack of opposition to the event by passers by, indeed there was an amazingly congenial at-mosphere and we felt we could proudly display our newly purchased Israeli flags and were also handed small hand flags to wave. There were many speakers including Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP, Ivan Lewis MP, Jonathan Arkush, Vice President of the Board of Deputies, Rabbi Daniel Walker, Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation but the star of the event was 92 year old Chaim (Henry) Ferster whose emotional speech left listeners in no doubt that he had endured countless hardships in the camps. His parting words were for him to declare that his name was Henry Chaim Ferster not B10924 the number tattoo'd on his arm.

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Contributions to L’Chayim, including those from our neighbouring communities, are gratefully

received by the shul office either by e-mail or paper. Thank you for your support.

Speeches from the Prime Minister David Cameron, the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osbourne and the Bishop of Manchester were read out by representatives as they themselves were unable to attend the event.

During the event which ended in glorious sunshine, there was a short rain shower but that did not dampen anyone's enthusiasm, indeed our hearts were lifted when volunteers ar-rived distributing free packets various flavours of snacks, Osem Bisli yum yum.

I have to admit I was surprised at the diversity of the crowd, which included Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindu and some Kurdish Mancunians and I was equally surprised by the in-ventive signage on display with placards calling on the British government and public to oppose anti-Semitism, including "Stamp Out Racism", "We Wont Accept Anti-Semitism - Will You?" as well as "Hating Jews Is Not Trendy Or Cool".

After two hours listening and applauding the various speak-ers, we suddenly realised we had less than 10 minutes to catch the 4.10pm back to Blackburn and had to quickly run to the station where our circa 1960's diesel train was wait-ing to take us home.


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It is a religious obligation and a mitzvah to attend a Jewish funeral or stone set-ting. Some of our community have seen all their friends die, and do not have any-one to remember them. Sadly, we do need people to attend funerals and stone settings from both the orthodox and reform communities.

PLAESE TAKE THE TIME TO HELP

EVANS & BURKEY

STONEMASONS OF DISTINCTIONSPECIALISTS IN QUALITY HEADSTONES FOR THE

JEWISH COMMUNITY

MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

TELEPHONE 0151 733 5563

If you wish to sponsor a page in L’Chayim, this can be done for a minimum of £10. You can pay more if you wish. Please contact the office.

To advertise a business or an event, there is £10 minimum charge, or for a full page £40. L’Chayim is distributed around the Jewish community with an interest in Southport Reform Synagogue, this includes country members, and friends of the synagogue. (ed).

Joan and Ivor Brooke wish to thank the congregation on commemoration of our 50th wedding anniversary . It was a real treat for us, as we originally didn’t want a fuss. Many thanks and compliments to the resident baker ( Selwyn) for the fabulous cake which was superbly decorated , and tasted like a dream.

Letter received:


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Need a break?

In need of

The Southport Rest HomeChoice of long or short stays,

permanent residency

* Friendly atmosphere* 24 hour care* Rooms available at reasonable rates* Excellent food from our Kosher kitchens* Conservatory overlooking Hesketh Park* Beautiful synagogue for your convenience

Also available : self-contained flats

Enquiries to Julie on 01704 531975Type to enter

text The Home is looking for volunteers to take chair-bound residents out to the nearby local park and amenities.

If you can spare a little time for this mitzvah, please contact Julie on the above number. You are only young once!


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A rabbi was once passing through a field where he saw a very old man planting an oak tree. ‘Why are you planting that tree?’ Said he. ‘You surely do not expect to live long enough to see the acorn grow up into an oak tree?’‘Ah,’ replied the old man, ‘my ancestors planted trees not for them-selves, but for us, in order that we might enjoy their shade and fruit. I am doing likewise for those who will come after me’ Talmud Ta’anit 23a

A legacy to Southport Reform Synagogue today is a special gift to our tomorrow.

After considering your family and friends, you may also want to leave anamount in your will to charities. Please consider making SRS one of yourcharities. SRS future will be all the more secure so that our children may continue to practice the religion of their choice in Southport.

The responsibility to protect what was given to us, build on it and pass it on to the next generation in a better, stronger state is in-cumbent on us all. The gift of continuity in your will, whether large or small, will help to ensure that our community will continue for generations to come.L’dor v’dor—from generation to generation.

Remember SRS when writing your will. Even if you have already made a will,you can amend it at any time and make your gift by using a simple document, a codi-cil. We can provide the correct wording for this. It is always advisable to seek profes-sional advice when drafting something as important as a will. SRS can supply you with details of a number of local solicitors who are willing to offer advice.

Please give this some thought - your contribution can make a significant difference.


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Blackpool Northern Communities Day : Havdallah and Illuminations Saturday 1st NovemberAt Blackpool Reform SynagogueShabbat morning service, bring and share lunch, learning, RSY-Netzer activities, havdallah on the beach, Blackpool illuminations,

We were made very welcome by the Blackpool congregation. What a nice shul! Apparently our very own builder/Rabbi Kay had a hand in the design of the synagogue. I was told now that the orthodox synagogue is closed in Blackpool, the Town Council is keen to have the reform congregation take over the listed building. I was told that they are so happy with the building that even given grants to move and repair the orthodox synagogue, they want to stay where they are.

The synagogue was rather full, with people from all over the north of England attending. The Southport represen-tation was one of the biggest, as 7 of us made the jour-ney from one seaside to another. There was a large contingent of children from around the North West, and a sleep over was arranged.

Student Rabbi Kath Vardi ( shown above) took the service. This was child friendly, various young people coming to the front to take part in the service. Well done Kath for being so inclusive. We were introduced to a variety of different melodies for the prayer from our siddur. Personally speaking, I find it hard to grasp one, never mind all the others I keep hearing, but, bless her, Fortune ( who was stood in the row behind me) did her best to keep up.

I did note that the scroll was light and small ( please note Council), though the writing was rather on the small size. I would not like to see the big print version!

We had somewhat of a banquet. The back of the shul had been taken over by an exten-sive array of food brought for the chavurah. We certainly needed a sit down after that, and that is precisely what we got. We were able to choose our discussion groups, Gillian and I chose the one about relationships and marriage. I was pleased to note that we both chose this! Well, great minds think alike, we have been together more years than apart (ah!), and apart from our height difference, we usually see eye to eye ( though ballroom dancing can be an exception to the rule- especially when, “It is your fault!” (for standing on her toes!)

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We were given a story from the talmud to discuss. I won’t go into the details, but it did get us talking. I expect after 35+ years of marriage that has to be a good thing! Anyway, we were all Jewish, so it probably doesn’t count.

Before we knew it it was time to board the double decker bus. Children upstairs, those with common sense, downstairs. What is all of this about the tradition of singing a song when you see an illumination? Did I know after all my years of marriage that my wife knows all the verses of “If you go down to the woods today you’ll be sure of a big sur-prise”. Well, actually, I did know she knows all the verses of the Teddy Bears Picnic- which just goes to show what a remarkable lady I married. Eat your hearts out, lesser beings that do not know all the verses - and they did with fish and chips. Can I have 70+ fish and chips please, and salt and vinegar? My admiration for the organisers of the event. High five!

I should say we stopped off at the coast for havdalah.I think you can see on the faces of the children how much they appreciated this. Shabbat was over, leaving only a sweetness. ( photos of Gillian Goldthorpe and Anne Kletz appreciating the sweet spices)

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Sunday 23 November: Sinai, 12.30-2.45pm or Jacksons Row, 5.15-7.15pmSeminar I’m Jewish My Partner Isn’tThis seminar was the brain-child of Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain and has been running for over 20 years. In its early days Rabbi Romain's pioneering work was recognised for addressing a very real life situation for thousands of British Jews - this work is as rele-vant today as it was then. With rapidly increasing numbers of Jews finding love with someone outside of 'the tribe' we know how important it is to create a non-judgemental space where people can talk, share, listen, explore, question, off-load, laugh and meet other people with similar views.

Entry is for anyone, whether or not they're synagogue members and is for both the Jew-ish and non-Jewish partners alike. If you have any questions around practicalities please contact [email protected] or for a rabbinic question Rabbi David Mitchell on [email protected]

We did enjoy seeing the illuminations again. Thank goodness, after 20 years they have actually changed them!

Blackpool was heaving. We had to leave the traffic queue ( see photo to right) as the smaller children were get-ting a little ‘hyper’ with tiredness- and they were going to sleep over in the shul. We left!

A good event, nice people, nice time. A special shabbat, with a special service. We look forward to having Kath Vardi lead the service at our shul in the months of November and December. Perhaps, we can have some visitors from outside the area, especially now that we are South-port & District Reform Synagogue?( article by Selwyn Goldthorpe)

mailto:[email protected]





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Communities Day

at Jackson’s Row - Manchester Reform Synagogue Sunday 7 December, 10am to 4pm

Choose from music or study, dancing or debate, creative writing or cookery. Presenters will include Rabbis Laura Janner-Klausner, Bobby Silverman and Esther Hugenholtz as well as a range of talented lay educators and experts. There will be something to suit everyone, and a chance to catch up with your friends in the northern Reform communities.

Cost: £10 for the day or £7 for half the day, Children £5

Register your interest or book your place by calling Mandy at Jacksons Row on 0161 834 0415 or book online www.reformjudaism.org.uk


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Contact Limmud for further information: [email protected]……………………………………………………………………………………LIMMUD CONFERENCE 26TH DECEMBER 2014 - 1ST JANUARY 2015The Limmud Conference 2014 Team has several volunteering opportu-nities available:Catering Co-ChairProgramming rolesShabbat team volunteersYTL - Teen CoordinatorYTL - Young Programming Co-ChairFamilies team volunteers - several positions available!For details on each role, please visit Limmud Conference 2014 Volun-teering Opportunitiesto learn more about the opportunities, skills and team to which it relates.Please contact Kim and Ilana on Volunteers Team if you are interested in taking on one of these roles...................................................................................................................MANCHESTER DAY LIMMUD 1ST FEBRUARY 2015Would you be willing to give 1-2 hours of your time to help make it a great day?There are many areas that you could get involved in.For example, there's HelpDesk, serving food, setting-up or packing away etc.Please send your responses to our Volunteer Coordinator,Belinda Copitch, via Manchester Day Limmud by October 2014...................................................................................................................HARROW DAY LIMMUD 15TH MARCH 2015The Harrow volunteer team is looking for:A Volunteer CoordinatorA Deputy TreasurerA Deputy Presenter LeadA Deputy Registration LeadA Deputy Chair (to work with Team Leaders, and also get involved for the nextHarrow Day Limmud)If you are interested in any of these roles, please email Harrow Day Limmud by the endof June 2014...............................................................................................................

http://www.apple.com

http://www.apple.com


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Chairman Chair Dr Selwyn Goldthorpe

Vice Chair Gillian Goldthorpe

Honorary Secretary Fortune Chamberlain

Honorary Treasurer Tony Kletz

Presiding Warden Duly Platt

Junior Warden Sue Fox

Education Anne Kletz

Welfare Joan Brooke/Doreen Canter

Security Alex Hirshman

Youth Laura Hoskin

Bridge Club Gertrude Lutchner

Fund raising for scroll Harry Kessler

Without portfolio Richard Choueke

The Home’ liaison Faith Choueke

‘Let us come together in God’s name and prepare to do God’s will ’

from Prayer for Committee Meetings, p 366 Siddur, Forms of Prayer 2008

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The following kind people have been elected to serve on the Council of Southport Reform Synagogue:

Southport Reform & District Synagogue is a registered charity, number 227576. Please be advised that our complaints procedure is available from the synagogue office.

gates of peace l’chayimsouthportreform.org.uk/lchayim-nov-dec2014.pdf · this year’s chairman,...

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