This page has been kindly sponsored by Jill and Lawrence Collins who wish their children and grandchildren,together with their entire family, Rabbi and Rebbetzen Bar, Clergy and their many friends, a Happy Pesach

VOLUME 39 MARCH, APRIL, MAY 2012

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ContentsPage 3 Diary of Events, Organisations within the Community, Cemetery Etiquette, KashrutPage 4 Announcements, Stone Settings, Yom Hashoah, Yom Ha’AtzmautPage 7 President’s Report, S & WHC AGMPage 8 Shul Library, Lighting up in Costa Blanca, Conversos of AlteaPage 9 Rabbi’s Report Page 10 Macnaur Trip Page 12 Editorial, One makes the difference Page 14 Sunday Night Fever Page 16 Meals on Wheels, Stamps Page 17 Pesach GreetingsPage 18 Preparations for Pesach Page 19 Holocaust, WIZOPage 20 A Year in the Life, Southend AID Society, Pop In Page 21 Community Centre, Chola Bake, Sybil’s LecturesPage 22 Youth ClubPage 23 Simchah PagePage 24 Letters PagePage 25 Chanukah 5772Page 26 A Jewish Mormon, New SWHC Email, The Shop, Community Volunteering, CCJ

Diary of EventsMarch 20127th Fast of Esther8th Purim10th Auf Ruf – David Kalms 17th Bar Mitzvah – Ethan Fernley18th Chupa – David Kalms to Nicola Luton (Chelmsford)24th Bat Mitzvah – Molly Caplan25th Emunah – Bridge – Shul Hall

April 20126th Erev Pesach – 1st Seder Night7th 1st Day Pesach – 2nd Seder Night Communal Seder – Shul Hall8th 2nd Day Pesach13th 7th Day Pesach14th 8th Day Pesach18th Yom Hashoah 21st Bat Mitzvah – Olivia Solomons25th Yom Ha’atzmaut

May 20128th WIZO – Trip to National Portrait Gallery10th Lag B’Omer13th A Kosher Quiz – Shul Hall20th SWHC AGM26th Erev Shavuot – Woman of the Year Brunch27th 1st Day Shavuot28th 2nd Day Shavuot

June 20129th Council Shabbat12th AJR Annual Lunch - Shul Hall19th WIZO - Jewish Woman’s Week Lunch - Shul Hall 24th Bat Mitzvah – Sasha Hoff

July 20128th Fast of Tammuz17th WIZO at Porters22nd Cyclo-Aid28th Auf Ruf – Martyn Redstone

Advertising Contact Shul Office – 01702 344900

Advertising Rates - Social & Personal(pre-paid to the Synagogue Office)

Up to 30 words - £20, 31 – 40 words - £25, Boxed Advert - £30

Published by the S&WHCSynagogue Office, Finchley RoadWestcliff on Sea, Essex SS0 8AD.

Editor: Rochelle O’Brart Chairman: Alan GershlickEditorial Board: Pam Freedman, Riva Shaw

Advertising: Michael Franks

Communications addressed to:The Editor, Community Voice

Copy Deadline for Shavuot issue: 20th April 2012All dates and times correct at going to print

Organisations Within The Community

Aid Society Norman Zetter 478375A.J.E.X. Sid Barnett 582268Board of Deputies (Southend) Marie Bauer 07977 116013Chalkwell Social Club Josie Pitch 330316Cheder Talmud Torah Rabbi Golomb c/o Shul Office 344900Community Security Trust David Ramet 07946 650339 Michael Yaffe 07742 599304Council of Christians & Jews Stuart Jacobs 432967Emunah Marilyn Belson 831878 Rochelle Spector 436791Fair Reporting Jack De Metz 391535Jewish Community Centre Graham Freeman 334655Jewish Genealogical Society Anne Marcus 586877J.A.C.S. Alan Goldstein 01268 771978J.A.M.I. Neville Peters 525278J.C. Reporter(Regional) Marilyn Salt 476349J.N.F. Impact Anthony Larholt 348221Ladies’ Guild Geraldine Jay 341966Magen David Adom Stephen Salt 476349Meals on Wheels Tony Rubin 345568Pop In Centre Janice Steel 344900Raymond House Lyn Yeatts 352956Shalom Friendship Club Len Kaye 468384 S.J.Y.C.(The Buzz) Rebecca Barnett 589927Southend Security Trust Jeffrey Barcan 343192S&WHC P.R.O. Sybil Greenstein 477617Tuesday Nighters Lewis Herlitz 715676U.J.I.A. Stephen Salt 476349W.I.Z.O. Jackie Kalms 437801

SYNAGOGUE OFFICE HOURSMonday - Friday 9.00am – 12.30pm

Saturday – CLOSED Sunday 9.30am – 12.30pm

Tel: 01702 344900 Fax: 01702 391131Email: swhc@hotmail.co.uk

Website: www.swhc.org.uk/www.swhc.co.ukCemetery Management: Allan Silver, Maurice Symons, Elliot Baker, Brian Burns, Ivor Rose

Management of Shul Services Wardens: Geoffrey Pepper, Stanley RobinsonMembership: Derek Silverstone

If the office is closed, please leave a message and your call will be returned

Stock Rd Cemetery EtiquetteOn visiting Stock Road Cemetery, would all ladies and gentlemen kindly dress appropriately, with married ladies having their heads covered. Also, when parking at the Cemetery, please do not park on the grass areas, as this is Consecrated Ground.

KASHRUTWe cannot be held responsible for the Kashrut of any function or ad unless

it states ‘Under supervision of Southend & Westcliff Kashrut Commission’

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AnnouncementsBirths – We wish Mazeltov to:Suzanne and Anthony Larholt on the birth of a grandson, a great grandson for Lilian MontsashHilary and Derek Lee on the birth of a grandsonLyetta and Alan Witzenfeld on the birth of a granddaughter, Frances Witzenfeld and Rochelle and Barrie Spector on the birth of a great granddaughter and Esther Riseman on the birth of a great great granddaughterPamela and Melvyn Diskin on the birth of a grandsonJanet and Brian Levene on the birth of a grandson and RoseKanutin and Betty Levene on the birth of a great grandsonRabbi Mendel and Rebbetzen Rivkie Lew on the birth of their firstgrandchild (a boy).

Bar Mitzvah – We wish Mazeltov to:Ethan Fernley and his family

Bat Mitzvah – We wish Mazeltov to:Molly, parents Vicky and Saul Caplan, grandparents Sandra andGeoffrey Caplan and Ronnie BlackerOlivia, parents Ruth and David Solomons, grandparents Natalie andPhil Solomons and Evelyne and Philip RaphaelBrenda and Michael Franks on the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter, Ashira Raisal Franks and to great grandmother, Eve FreedmanMarilyn and Stephen Salt on the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter,Tamsin Salt

Engagements – We wish Mazeltov to:Roberta and Michael Yaffe on the engagement of their daughter, Sara, to Roger Black, son of Natalie and Stanley Baskin and Patricia and Leon BlackStephen Redstone and Joanne Barnett on the engagement of their son Martyn, to Leanne, daughter of Angela and Steven Samuels. Grandparents, Anne Goldberg, Zelda Samuels and Barbara and John Barnett

Marriages – We wish Mazeltov to:Jackie and Ashley Kalms and Estelle and Simon Luton on themarriage of their children David Kalms to Nicola Luton

Birthdays – Many Happy Returns to:Lily Klinger 103 YearsEsther Riseman 100 YearsJenny Sanders 95 YearsAnita Salomon 90 YearsAnnie Franks 90 YearsBetty Leader 85 YearsMorris Blaine 85 YearsMyra Blayer 85 YearsDoris Sim 85 YearsSybil Graham 85 YearsRoyston Keizer 83 YearsLeslie Kleinman 83 YearsYvette Eichen 80 Years

Anniversaries – We wish Mazeltov to:Susan and Michael Konyn Golden 50 YearsGillian and Dr Arnold Azulay Golden 50 YearsEvelyn and Philip Raphael Golden 50 YearsSheila and Terry Leigh Golden 50 YearsMarilyn and Stephen Salt Sapphire 45 YearsSylvia and Alan Wand Sapphire 45 Years

Condolences – Our deepest sympathy to:Jack Saunders on the loss of his sister, Trudy RankoffThe family of the late Mary Lubel

Lord David Gold, Sara Vandermolen and Marion Sussman on the loss of a mother and sister, Betty GoldJoanne Marcon and Lori Rumens on the loss of their mother, Helen GaleLily Bloch on the loss of her sister, Esther BarnettBetty Steel, Melvyn Field and Jacqueline Stern on the loss of a sister and mother, Marie FieldRobert Mendoza and Sally Gerstein on the loss of a sister and mother,Anne RossAnnette Gilbert on the loss of her brother, Daniel Azeroual

Stone Settings (At Stock Road unless stated elsewhere) March 201225th 2.00pm Edward Cohen 2.45pm Israel Zybutz (please note change of time)

April 201222nd 2.00pm Rita Levy29th 2.00pm Eva Brown 2.45pm Jean Kaufman (Please note change of date from 18th March)

May 201220th 2.00pm Sophie Graff 2.45pm Nina Solomon

July 201215th 2.45pm Deborah Lemel22nd 2.00pm Emmanuel (Eddie) Solomons

Social and Personal

YOM HASHOAHWednesday 18th April

Afternoon/Evening Service 7.30pm followed by Short film from Otto Deutsch

and ‘Sarah’s Keys’ in the Synagogue HallDonation £5.00 to go to Yad Vashem

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YOM HA’ATZMAUT CELEBRATIONSWednesday 25th April

in the SynagogueYom Hazikaron Service will begin at 7.00pm

Followed by;-

YOM HA’ATZMAUT CELEBRATIONSIN THE SYNAGOGUE HALLCelebrate Israel’s Independence

An evening not to be missed Donation £5.00 in advance as limited seating

Admission by ticket ONLY

Fallafel and fruit will be available to purchase.

All donations to go to the Israeli War Disabled

Grand Raffle on the night

WALTERS:Mirella and Philip would like to thank the Community for all

their kind thoughts, help, phone calls, good wishes and prayers for their son, Eli, who is now very slowly making progress.

Mirella and Philip are also delighted to announce that their daughter, Montine, has been awarded a Distinction for her

Master of Arts in International Security and Intelligence.

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President’s Report Sadly, this is my final report to you asPresident. As most of you know, I willbe standing down at the AGM on 20th May 2012. This is not a decisiontaken a short while ago but one Louiseand I made in 2006, before puttingmy name forward as a candidate. We both thought that (if re-elected in 2009)

two terms as President would be about right. After 2012, itwould be best for SWHC if someone else took over thereins. The six years have naturally flown by! I will deliver a fullreport in the booklet to be circulated for the AGM but I wouldlike to reflect here on some personal moments. So, pleasepermit me some indulgence on the following highlights whichare in no particular order.

Meetings have been the bane of my life! But there is alwaysone I actually look forward to. That is the editorial sessions ofthis magazine (the CV). The committee, consisting of RivaShaw, Michael Franks, Pamela Freedman and myself meet atthe home of our esteemed Editor, Rochelle O’Brart. Rochelleindulges us with all sorts of treats and refreshments. It isusually difficult to keep to a topic because we spend toomuch time mootling, that is nattering. We have fun but wealways get the decisions made (how, I don’t know!). Thesuccess of the CV is, without doubt, reflected in the relaxedway that it is managed.

In 2007, my friend Otto Deutsch, reminded me that inNovember 2008 would be the 70th anniversary ofKristallnacht, the infamous night in Germany when the Nazismade it abundantly clear what lay in store for us Jews. Howcould we mark this important date? I asked Barbara Newmanfor some ideas and, before I could draw breath, Barbara hadorganised a concert in our Shul which turned out to be one ofthe most remarkable events for many a year. It was held afterShabbos on 15th November 2008. Last December I bumpedinto Rabbi Lionel Rosenfeld who led the service with Cantor,Johnny Turgel, and accompanied by the Shabbaton Choir.Rabbi Rosenfeld still recalls that evening with great joy at itssuccess. Rabbis Bar and Shochet delivered excellent key notespeeches that reflected the serious aspect of the evening. Butthe Mayor, both our local MP’s and the many other dignitariespresent told me how they felt the underlying warmth as theevening became a celebration that the Nazis did not succeedwith their evil intentions.

Rabbi and Annette Bar have made an indelible mark on ourCongregation. The Rabbi galvanised us into raising moneyto acquire two brand new Sifrei Torah. There was some whothought that such an acquisition was a luxury. But the manyof you who attended the Hachnasat Sefer Torah on 16th May2010 know that misses the point.

two terms as Presiden

In front of the Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, the Mayor and otherdignitaries, we paraded the new scrolls (with bagpipeaccompaniment!) into our Shul. What an amazing day it wasfor the Congregation. As I walked in the procession holdingthe hands of Naftali and Shua, two of my grandsons, I wasfilled with an overwhelming sense of pride of what SWHC achieved, from top to bottom.

My last is a simple thing really. It is coming to Shul on aShabbat or Festival. I have tried to ensure that there is a friendly family atmosphere. Coming to Shul, whether you are frum or not, should be a pleasurable experience. With the excellent input of the Rabbi and the two wardens, Geoffrey Pepper and Stanley Robinson, I have always felt a warmth amongst you, the Congregants. Meandering round the Shul, as is my want, I have enjoyed your friendship, especially soafter the fire at my office last May and during my recentillness. For your comradeship I will be forever grateful.

Is that all, you say? No, it is not. There are in fact many more events I would like to include but I do not want to bore you. And if I make this article too long the Editor will exercise her prerogative to “edit”.

It only remains for Louise and I to wish Rabbi and Annette Bar, Yitzchak and Miriam, our family and friends and the whole Congregation a very happy and Kosher Pesach.

May the Congregation go from strength to strength.

Alan Gershlick

E. BEDINI & SONS

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If you cannot call in person, we are able to call on you in the comfort of your own home by appointment with no obligation.

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Southend & WestcliffHebrew CongregationAnnual General Meeting

will take place on Sunday 20th May 2012

in the Synagogue

Voting will take place from 9.45am closing at 10.30am

Meeting commences at 10.30am

Shul Library –Books for you

The community library is situatedin the Beis Hamedrash. We havean extensive range of bookscovering all aspects of Jewishinterest.

We are making progress, albeit very slowly, in re-organisingand cataloguing the books. We have acquired a computerand library software has been installed. We are at thepresent time listing the books and this will then be put onthe website for you to see the comprehensive selection wehave. After that, the database will be completed and we willthen have a library system for the community to borrow thebooks. You will, when all the data is completed, be able torequest books by email or telephone and collect them atsuitable times during the week. It has become very obviousthat the re-organization is taking much longer thananticipated.

We are keen to offer as wide a selection as possible and,if there are any books you would like to see in the library,we would be happy to consider obtaining them - so pleasecontact us.

The other area we are keen to expand on is visual andaudio. We will be looking at this aspect as a means, wehope, of attracting perhaps more of our younger memberswho are used to advances in technological communications.In a community of our size, there must be many diverseinterests, and it will soon become apparent that we mayneed more books to cover the many interests of ourmembers. If you have books that you no longer require, andwould like to donate them to the library, you can contactSonny Kosky either by e-mail sonnykosky@blueyonder.co.ukor by telephone 01702 589105, and collection can bearranged. Any books donated can, if you so wish, beinscribed on the inside with any suitable wording.

Sonny Kosky

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Lighting up the Costa Blanca in style!

Around 200 people attended and sangria and doughnutswere passed round to all present. The atmosphere waselectric and it was a very emotional and moving evening tobe able to celebrate such a joyful occasion where, up untilrecently, this would not have been allowed.

Lawrence and Pamela Collin

Post Shabbat meeting withConversos of Altea, 7th January

Following the edict of expulsion or forced conversion of Jewsfrom Spain in 1492, many continued to practice their religionin secret, over many generations, often still keeping severalrituals and traditions. Since the abrogation of this edict 500years later in 1992, many of these anusim - also called Hijosde los Forzados (Children of the Forced Ones) or Conversoshave started to seek ways to convert to Judaism halachically.

On Saturday, 7th January, asmall group of us went back toAltea to again meet up with onesuch group at their post Shabbatservice and see how they weregetting on. We joined them forevening prayers and we reciteda commentary (in Spanish and

English) on the week’s Torah reading at their community centre,then sat enthralled as several family members took to the stageand became transformed into a small band replete with drums,guitar and vocalists, singing Israeli songs. Somebody then tookthe biggest Shofar off the wallwhich I have ever seen, andblew a short accompaniment -fortunately the walls did not falldown! Afterwards we joined theCommunity for a meal downstairs and chatted about theirplans. Josue, who we met last time, is currently going toMadrid with his family as part of a conversion process under theauspices of Masorti. The final part of this process will take placein London and, hopefully, be finished by July. The wholecommunity were very welcoming and pleased to meet us, and happy to discuss many of the practical issues surrounding theircommunity. Although they meet mostSaturdays after Shabbat, they alsomeet once a month on Rosh Chodeshfor the whole Shabbat, with wholefamilies sleeping over at the premisesand using a rather well maintainedMikveh which would put some UKequivalents to shame.

It was a most wonderful feeling to be a part of a living historyand in the company of a truly remarkable community.

Lawrence Collin

In view of this and so as to offer some sort of facility to borrow books at the present time, you can contact me (details below) and I will see if we have a book or books in the subject or subjects you are interested in.

To finish the re-organization more speedily, we could do with some help in the listing of our books onto thecomputer (very simple data entry). Please let me know if you can spare an hour or two to help finish the task.

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The last night ofChanukah saw the erection of a Chanukia at Playa Flamenca beach, southern Costa Blanca, for the first time in at least 500 years.

K

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A

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The Seder Night Challenge

I challenge the community, each and every one of you, men and women to the Seder night challenge. There willbe one of the Rebbetzen’s Pesachbrownies for those that succeed!

The challenge is not which home isready for Pesach first, who can grate the horseradish withoutcrying or who has the fluffiest kneidlach!

The challenge is this: who can eat the right amount ofMatzah, wine and lettuce on 2 nights in a row and canspread the knowledge of these insane sounding quantities to the most people! (See below - mentioned last year, but in theblur of the 4 cups, here is a reminder). Keep me posted, thebrownies are at stake…

The challenge begins here!

Wine

If we weren’t Jewish we would have no problem with thisone! But thank G-d we are, we know about the food, butwhen it comes to wine and at least the quantity of it, weoften struggle, even as a Frenchman!

Preferably the four cups should be of red wine (or mixed withgrape juice if wine is too strong). The size of the cup needsto be at least 3.3 fluid oz/97.6 ml and needs to be full. Itis best to drink each cup entirely, but if that’s too hard, inorder to fulfil the mitzvah we need to drink the majority ofthe cup. Ideally downed in 1! (whilst leaning on the left), butif not possible within 9 minutes.

Matzah

Now it is here that we hit the biggest misconception! It is notenough to nibble on 1 small piece of Matzah throughoutthe night in order to fulfil the mitzvah. In fact did you knowthat this is the only time in the whole torah that there is anobligation to eat something! (shocking when all of Judaismseems to revolve around food!). For Seder night, ShmuraMatzah should be used (that’s the slightly more expensiveone in the shops - can be machine/hand baked, but mustsay Shmura on) and a piece equal to the size of 6 ¼ x 7”/15.9cm x 17.8cm, about the size of one whole Rakusen’sMatzah. It needs to be eaten ideally all in one go, preferablywith speedy munching of less than 2 min, but if not within 9min (whilst leaning on the left).

Then there is the sandwich (after the bitter herbs bythemselves), Korech, another bit of Matzah (4”x7”/ 10.2cmx 17.8cm), about 2/3 of a Rakusen’s Matzah which is eatenwith another full helping of bitter herbs (see below).

With the meal, however hard it is not to have 3 servings ofkneidlach and Grandma’s chocolate pudding, we must alsoremain with some appetite for the special extra “dessert”,the Afikoman Matzah at the end of the meal! That’s anotherbit of Matzah, the same size as the first, 1 whole machinebaked slice, you can do it!

Maror – Bitter Herbs

Did you know that having a tiny tear jerking, nose clearingtaste of freshly grated horseradish is not enough! If you wantto fulfil the obligation with ground horseradish, it needs tobe a bit more than 3 level tablespoons of the stuff! Mostpeople can’t do that so use lettuce instead or with a bit ofthe horseradish sprinkled on top. (Did you know that eating a bug transgresses more rules than eating pork?!) So wash

and check your lettuce, holding it up to the light reallycarefully before hand, leaf by leaf. And then the amount oflettuce to fulfil this rabbit like Mitzvah is approximately thearea of an A4 sheet of paper (20.3cm x 25.4cm). Then dip it in the delicious Charoset (mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine). It should ideally be eaten in one go - but if that’s too hard, then you’ve got up to 9 minutes (no need to lean for this bit).

Haggadah

And don’t forget, the other big Mitzvah of the night -Haggadah, to have in mind to fulfil the obligation to relate the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The mitzvah is fulfilled by relating three basic ideas:

- The wickedness of the Egyptians and the terrible sufferingsthat they afflicted upon the Jewish people during the longyears of slavery.

- The miraculous plagues that G-d brought upon theEgyptians, and the punishments meted out to them measurefor measure.

- Thanks and praise to G-d for the wonderful acts of kindnessthat He performed for the Jewish people, redeeming us frombondage and choosing us as His special nation.

Finally may I take this opportunity to wish all of you Goodluck in your Seder challenge - you can do it! May you andyour dear families, be blessed with a healthy, happy, spirituallyuplifting, wine drinking, Matzah crunching, lettuce munchingPesach!

Rabbi Binyamin Bar

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Israel Trip, Macnoar 2011

17th JulyMy suitcase was packed. Excitement surrounded me,Facebook statuses were set; we were off to Israel for threeweeks! People described these weeks as “the best time ofyour lives”. I was ready… until I weighed my case and foundout I was 26kg instead of 20kg. Unpacking began!The suitcases were on the coach and hugs and kissescommenced! After many photos of us by the coach and withevery combination of friendship group, it was time to boardthe coach! We had our tour t-shirts on and this was thebeginning, we were Macnoar…well…after the trip aroundLondon to pick everyone up! We had no idea what thethree weeks ahead of us would be like!

18th JulyBen Gurion Airport had thirty one ecstatic 16 year olds in it,we had the legendary tour photo in the airport, where wemet our Israeli tour leaders, Lali Amir and Shachar. Wewere standing there in our hiking gear; yes we were doing a hike at seven in the morning!One highlight for me was hiking and camping in the desert,with amazing views that you could stare at all day. I feltspecial knowing that when I went back home, no-one wouldhave seen this; how the landscape and different levels ofsand symbolises Israel and the journeys and struggles it hadtaken, but they had taken it as a Nation. Camping in thedesert showed how strong we were as a group by having abonfire and being together, while singing songs and enjoyinga meal we prepared.

The Yad Vashem was an emotional experience and let usexplore our Jewish identities, to increase our passion forIsrael and to learn what people fought for. To see what ourreligion has gone through, through the ages, made us wantto be strong for our people.Rhapsody was a challenge but expressed what good friendswe had become. Teamwork, participation and persistence were needed to build the best raft possible! It became acompetition as we were split up into two teams, Lalix andAmice (names of leaders, put together). We painted oursails and ended up covered in paint. We did get some looksfrom Israelis and other tour groups! The sails were up andwe were off for the two hour sail across the Kinneret.Amice’s journey consisted of singing, sleeping and, ofcourse, drinking plenty of water! Amice got to the otherside first. We obviously had the better raft builders! It wasan exhausting day but competition thrived out of us, whichovertook the tiredness.

The leaders were amazing role models for the Chanichim;teaching us, showing us passion and helping us to create abelief. They taught me personally that everyone has a voice,it is just up to us if we use it! They helped me create apassion for Israel that I did not have before, which made myexperience so wonderful and awe-inspiring. Throughpassion and determination I know that my beliefs andidentity can help me become someone who can stand upand raise awareness that Israel is not all war, that Israel is abeautiful place that consists of people who dearly love theircountry!

I am currently sitting in my tour hoodie writing this accountwith these memories that will stay with me forever. Memories that should always be shared. Friendshipsthat will last a lifetime. These thirty one people sharedsomething that taught us and gave us so much. Our leaders are more like our friends who we can go to foradvice and inspiration but we still give them the respect thatthey deserved for giving us the most incredible tour.

Macnoar Tour 2011 – truly the best!Verity Rosehill

Editor’s note: My apologies to Verity – this article should have been in the last issue but was misplaced in the wrong file.

Jewish Care and the Southend & Westcliff Hebrew Congregation

Invite you to join us at our

on Friday 6th April 2012 at 7:30pmMincha & Ma’ariv services commencing at 6:45pm prompt

At: Southend & Westcliff Community Centre Tickets £20 per person & must 1 Cobham Road be booked & paid for Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 8EG by Tuesday 27th March

For Tickets and Information please contactGraham on 334655 or email southend@jcare.org

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EditorialPage 3 of the CV always has theCLOSING DATE for all reports, stories,photos and, of course, adverts, to beincluded in the next magazine. Thereare those of you, very few I can assureyou, who live in (excuse the expression)“cloud cuckoo land” and think oneonly needs a couple of days to put themagazine together before it is printed.

Some people think we collect everything together and send it tothe printers for them to sort everything out! Can you imaginethe problems that would create? Well, let me assure you, ourCV is prepared with a great deal of care. Our printers work hand in hand with us to make sure you have a good magazineto read but to do this, time has to be allocated to it and that iswhy we have to adhere to our deadline to make the magazinethe “good read” it has become over the years. So please, takenote of the copy closure date to ensure articles are inserted intime for the forthcoming issue.

If you are planning to use the Shul Hall for a function, be ita Talk, Quiz, Dance or Simchah, before finalising your date,kindly check the Shul Diary in the first instance, to ensure youare not clashing with any other function on that day or a similarfunction within that period. Also, if you are holding a functionat an alternative venue, please make sure that this also doesnot clash with anything that may be taking place in the Shul Hall.

We are commencing with a new “special page” – ASIMCHA PAGE. Photos of a family wedding, Barmitzvah,Batmitzvah, new baby, graduation with a short caption.So please either send in or come into the Shul Office withyour photo/s addressed to The Editor, Community VoiceMagazine, Finchley Road Synagogue, Westcliff on Sea.

We are approaching Pesach and, although the “Pesach Trek”has no doubt started up and down the A127 and the M25, wehave in Southend several shopping outlets, including our own –THE SHOP – who have promised to hold as much Pesach stockas they can. Their opening times are within this magazine.

The Community Voice would like to thank the outgoing President,Alan Gershlick, for all the good work over his years of officeand for all his input on the Community Voice Board. We allwish you well, Alan!

All reports, stories, photos and information must be in by the closing date, 30th April 2012 for the Shavuot Edition.

To all the Community, we wish you a Kosher Pesach.

Rochelle O’Brart - Editor

ONE MAKES THEDIFFERENCE

AT THE MINYANDOES IT REALLY MATTER?Well ACTUALLY IT DOES!

When we hear of a person whounfortunately is ill, or is about to have

an operation, other than wish the person well, we arehelpless to give active assistance, OR ARE WE?

When a person loses a loved one, they are helpless to alterthe situation, and thereby carry the feeling of helplessness.However that CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be the end ofthe matter.

Each one of us has a human and spiritual OBLIGATION inACTIVELY helping the person who is ill. We can pray in anyform for the recovery of the ill person. It takes a few secondsof each day to mention the persons’ name - The Hebrewname of the person together with that person’s mother’sHebrew name. Obviously you can mention the English name.

ALWAYS our prayers are answered. Sometimes the answerwe cannot comprehend, other times we feel that maybe wehave contributed to Hashem`s actions.

It is so important that we acknowledge the anniversary of thepassing of a loved one. We recite the Kaddish, a mourningprayer, which is not a prayer for the dead. It is anacknowledgement to G-d, praising his name, glorifying andpraising him. Most of all we have the opportunity to showour trust in G-d and whilst reciting the Kaddish, we areenabling the NESHAMA, which is the SOUL, to be elevated.Both of the above situations require for us to be ACTIVE in aspiritual and practical manner.

Ten men are required to make up a Minyan, in order for oneto recite Kaddish. By supporting people you know or evenstrangers, you are carrying out a HUGE Mitzvah. You areallowing them to say Kaddish. Our community is quitemagnificent in ensuring that we have at least ten men ateach service, YOU SHOULD SHOW YOUR SUPPORTWHENEVER YOU CAN.

Please contact Geoffrey Pepper and nominate a morning/evening when you are prepared to come to Shul and JOINTHE ROTA – once a week, once every two weeks, somegentlemen come occasionally. He would appreciate yoursupport.

Roy Barnes

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S&WHC’s Annual Dinner Dance was held inDecember. Over 100 people attended. The Hall was transformed into a disco with the help of Vince, our caretaker. The tables looked great with huge mirror balls on each table. The themeon this occasion, was “A Tribute to the Bee Gees” and “Barry Gibb” turned up, also known as Johnnie. Vice President, Stephen Salt, welcomed everyone.

After a delicious three course meal, the crowd were entertained by a selection of Bee Gee’s music and the dance floor was packed. During the tea break, the pre-sold raffle was drawn. The winner was Janette Jacques, 2nd Stan Polins, 3rd Brenda Franks and 4th Frank Linden. The “in hall” raffle was won by Jackie Franks. We thank everyone who purchased raffle tickets. The raffle was followed by an auction for tickets to tea and a tour of the House of Lords, kindly donated by Lord and Lady Gold. These were won by Jill and Lawrence Collins.

Functions Chairman, Marilyn Salt, who organized the function was presented with a lovely bouquet of flowers. Marilyn said a wonderful night was had by all, in fact, this was the best AnnualDinner Dance to date.

Thanks go to Susan Konyn, Sandra Kutner,Rochelle O’Brart, Stephen Salt, Irvine Ford,Michael Nelkin, Alan Markovitch, Pam Freedman(Shul Office) and Jennifer Pepper (Shomer).

Grateful thanks to “The Shop” for ordering the food.

Marilyn Salt

Sunday Night Fever

The Morning HelpersIrvine Ford, Jennifer Pepper, Rochelle O’Brart,

Susan Konyn, Sandra Kutner, Alan Markovtch, Marilyn Salt

Michael Franks & Marilyn Salt

Bernie Zecharia, Jan & Howard LindenAnne & Anthony Green

Pam Freedman, Paul Binder, Barrie FreedmanMarlene Binder

Audrey & Alan Braden, Geraldine & Ben Jay Sidney Barnet, Sandra & Geoffrey CaplanSusan & Micky Konyn

Derek & Rosalyn Silverstone Diane Franks, Lawrence & Jill Collins,Jeannette & Maurice Jacques

Michael & Brenda Franks, Gerry & Margaret Althasen, Chesney & Marilyn Lewis

Bernie & Sass Zecharia, Janet Levene and David Wallrock

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www.bodysopticians.co.uk THE LOOK – 37-43 Broadway West, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 2BX Tel: 01702 710031

IT’S HOW YOU LOOK

‘THE LOOK’, Body’s Leigh-on-Sea store, offers the widest range

of designer brand frames in the area. Our qualifi ed experienced sales and

ophthalmic staff are dedicated to providing you with a complete service.

It’s about you, it’s how you look.

THELOOK

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Meals on Wheels Chanukah PartyNearly 100 senior citizens, some with carers, arrived at the Shul Hall for a wonderful brunch, sponsored by S&WHC Ladies’ Guild.Rabbi and Rebbetzen Bar arrived and went all the way around the Hall welcoming each lady and gentleman. There was a rousing singing of Maor’tzur. Tony Rubin, Chairman of Meals on Wheels, welcomed everyone present and, after brunch, there was singing and dancing to the music and lovely voice of Elan Reviso.Otto Deutsch gave a spontaneous vote of thanks to the Ladies’ Guild on behalf of everyone present and everyone was sent home with a party bag which was greatly appreciated.

ISRAEL STAMPS – PASSOVER 5752In 1981 Israel continued it’s annual festival series of stamps and issued

a set of four stamps commemorating the Festival of Passover .

Designed by Arieh Glaser

Denom. 0.70 “...the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” (Exodus 3, 2)Denom. 1.00 “...Let my People Go...” (Exodus 5, 1)

Denom. 3.00 “But the Children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea...” (Exodus 14, 29)Denom. 4.00 “...with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand...” (Exodus 34, 29)

Sonny Kosky

The Guests

Members of the GuildGeraldine (Chairman), Monica, Sandra,

Shirley, Susan and Louise

Esther Riseman and Milly Nelkin

Outings Organiser Rochelle andVice-Chairman Loretta

Rabbi and Miriam Tony Rubin

Otto Deutsch

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Braden: Audrey and Alan, together with their family, wish all their friends and the entire Community a very Happy Pesach.Cohen: Angela and Sammy wish their children, grandchildren and friends a very Happy and Kosher Pesach.Franks: Brenda and Michael, together with Eva Freedman, wish their children, grandchildren, family, friends and the whole Com-munity a Happy and Kosher Pesach.Franks: Jackie and Martin send Pesach Greetings to their family, friends and members of our Community.O’Brart: Rochelle and Donald, wish all their friends a happy Pesach.Office: The Synagogue Office Staff would like to wish the entire Community a Happy and Kosher Pesach.

Salt: Marilyn and Stephen, together with their family, wish the en-tire Community a happy and Kosher PesachWaterman:Sheila and Geoffrey, together with their family, wish you all a happy and wonderful Pesach.

Pesach Greetings fromThe Executive and Shul Council

HENDRICKJeffery and Brenda, together with their children Lisa,

Gary, Sasha, Philip, Erika and Steve and their grandchildren Joshua, Joseph, Lyle, Brodie and Eden,

wish Rabbi Bar, Annette, Yitzchak and Miriam, the Executive and all members of the Community,

a Happy and Healthy Pesach.

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Pesach Cleaning in a NutshellEarly Preparation for PesachFor generations, great and righteous women (helped by responsiblemen) have observed to the highest level the Mitzvah of having a homefree of chametz for Pesach. Many customs have been adopted such aslining shelves, cleaning curtains and having a general “Spring Clean”of the house. For Pesach the more one does the better it is. But forsomeone who may not have enough time here is a guide to rid yourhouse of chametz without cracking into a pile of Matzah meal.There are three golden rules. 1) Dust or mess is not chametz 2)Detergent is your best friend 3) Anything that a dog would not eat, is not considered chametz (Benji the dog would definitely not fancycrumbs of Challah smeared with Mr Muscle kitchen cleaner). We can commence by turning out drawers and cupboards throughoutthe house (only those who have come into contact with food duringthe year), checking pockets of children’s clothing and making sure thatno chametz is served in bedrooms. Cleaning and checking the diningroom, tables and chairs, down the sides of the couches, rugs andcarpets which may truly contain edible crumbs. Let us not forget lightswitches, doorknobs and children’s toys. The kitchen is the main focusof the cleaning and should be left for the end.Food for PassoverAll commodities other than fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, raw fishand meat should carry the seal of the Beth Din or other recognisedRabbinates. When the Pesach order comes, put it away in a cupboardcleaned for Pesach.Passover MilkCan be obtained from The Shop, Talmud Torah, Finchley Road. Ordermust be made in advance of Pesach!Inedible products such as cosmetics, shampoos, deodorants etc. evenif they are made of chametz (often alcohol) are not a problem onPesach, however some are stringent not to use them.KitchenIn order to accommodate the Pesach utensils which are stored duringthe year, cupboard space must be made available in the kitchen. Allcupboards’ shelves should be washed and scrubbed with a detergentor lined before the Pesach utensils are transferred into them. Theordinary chametz utensils are put outside in a shed or in cupboards,those should be sealed and clearly marked “chametz” for the durationof Pesach. Fridge/FreezerIt must be thoroughly cleaned and defrosted and all shelf surfaces andinside walls must be scrubbed with a detergent or covered.Food MixerThis machine can be used for Pesach provided that separateattachments, such as the plastic bowl, are obtained and kept for Pesach use only. It must be thoroughly cleaned with a detergent including the crevices where food may have crept in. Kashering of VesselsAlthough it is best to have a complete set of Pesach equipment, certainitems that are used during the year may be kashered for use onPesach. The kashering should be completed not later than an hourand a half before midday on EREV PESACH. Utensils may not be usedfor 24 hours before they are kashered and must be thoroughlycleaned.Utensils which may be KasheredUtensils made of metal, e.g. stainless steel, silver and silver platedcutlery (not those with bone or plastic handles) and small dishes andwine cups. The small utensils should be plunged into a pot of boilingwater and then a ‘red hot’ stone or small brick (which was heated infire) held in tongs put in to ensure that the water keeps on boiling.Then remove and rinse in cold water. The pot used for kasheringshould be a Pesach utensil, a new one or a chametz utensil which waskashered. After use it must be kashered if it is needed for Pesach. Bigutensils (such as the kashering pot) are kashered by filling them withboiling water until the top whilst on the hot plate and the “hot stone”gently dropped in it so the water overflows to the sidesUtensils which cannot be KasheredGlass or ovenware, e.g. Pyrex. Earthenware mixing, pudding bowls and casseroles. Baking tins and frying pans cannot be kashered.

Cooker Use an oven cleaner to clean the inside of the oven thoroughly, payingparticular attention to the roof of the oven. When all trace of dirt hasbeen removed, leave the oven heated for at least two hours after it hasreached the highest temperature i.e. turn the thermostat to maximum.Whenever possible, replacement of movable parts is ideal for Pesach. Top of Cooker (gas)Clean every part thoroughly. As mentioned before, it is best to purchaseseparate sets of pan supports for Pesach use only. If this is not possible,heat the pan supports until ‘red hot’ by placing each part of the supportover the gas ring in turn. The burners and grill should then be turnedon and left burning for one hour. Solid parts of the cooker should becovered with double thick foil. Top of Cooker (electric)Clean every part thoroughly. Turn electric plates and grill onto ‘high’and leave for one hour.Microwave OvensClean thoroughly and then boil an open dish of water in it for severalminutes to allow the steam to circulate freely. It would be preferable tocook or bake in covered dishes and containers during Pesach. Somenew models also incorporate ‘conventional’ heating elements andtherefore have to be treated as ordinary ovens. SinkThis should be thoroughly cleaned. Washing up bowls should not beput directly into the sink but on a raised board or rack. If the sink isstainless steel, it can be kashered by pouring boiling water over a ‘redhot’ stone held by tongs in a continuous stream over every part of thesink. Worktops and SurfacesAll surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned and covered. Drainingboard should be covered unless made of stainless steel or aluminium,in which case it can be kashered in the same way as a stainless steelsink.For any other Pesach questions please feel free to contact me, Rabbi Bar directly on 01702 39 35 35.

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Tree PlantingCeremony shows from l-r: Cllr Derek Jarvis; the Mayor, Cllr. David Norman; President of S&WHC Alan Gershlick, Rabbi Binyamin Bar, Leslie Kleinman, a survivor of the Holocaust and

member of S&WHC together with James Dudderidge MP.

Barbara Newman

WESTCLIFF & DISTRICT W.I.Z.O.Help make our Diamond Anniversary year sparkle by becoming amember (if you haven’t already done so) and supporting our eventsfor 2012. To book, or for more information, contact Jackie atjackiekalms@live.co.uk

Tuesday 8th MayJewish-themed tour of National Portrait Gallery

Don’t miss this special outing with excellent guide, Rachel Kosky.Contact Adrienne, 333004.

Tuesday 19th JuneJewish Women’s Week Luncheon 60th Anniversary Celebration

Our speaker this year is Sean Devoran, Head Butler of the SavoyHotel. VENUE: Synagogue Hall; TIME: 11:30am; DONATION:£20 members; £25 non-members.

Tuesday 17th JulyAn evening with Rachel Lichtenstein

A return visit by Rachel, author of “Rodinsky’s Room” and “OnBrick Lane”, who will be discussing her new book about thejewellery industry - “Diamond Street” - The Hidden World of HattonGarden (appropriately titled in our Anniversary year!)VENUE: Porters(Mayor’s Official Residence)Southchurch RoadTIME: 7.00 for 7:30pm; DONATION: £10 members and husbands;£12 non-members to include a wine reception and refreshments. (Not Under SWHC Kashrut Supervision)

New activities for connect@southend A year ago, Jewish Care in partnership with SWHC started upconnect@southend, a “Young at Heart” group that meet eachThursday afternoon in the Talmud Torah Hall and Youth Club area.

We opened with alimited range of activitiesand members but havenow grown in numbersand offer Table Tennisand Snooker, along withComputer, Spanish and Bridge lessons, Arts andCrafts and Wii games,Creative Writing and

Genealogy. We also have instructors on hand to help with problemsyou might be having operating mobile or i phones, etc.

Add to this our lively ‘Fit for Life’ exercise programme, run inconjunction with Southend United on Mondays and our walkinggroup on a Wednesday, there is just about something for everyone!

So if you want to liven up your week, come along and try somethingnew. To find out more contact Freda on 01702 334655 orfxharris@jcare.org

Cobham Road rocks!c o n n e c t @ s o u t h e n d held a ‘Tea Dance with a Twist’ on Sunday19th February at JewishCare’s Community Centre in Cobham Road. 60 people got together for an afternoon of liveentertainment, lots ofjiving, a bit of twisting and a load of fun. A

delicious nosh tea was prepared and served by a wonderful band of volunteers, which gave everyone the energy to ‘keep dancing’.

(Not Under SWHC Kashrut Supervision)

Dorothy YoungTel.: Southend 331218 (not Shabbat) Mobile: 07985 687085Email: dorothy@dorothyyoung.co.uk Website: dorothyyoung.co.uk

In stock for Chanukah, Purim, Pesach & ShavuotMachzorim, Tallaisim, Capples, Childrens books, toys and games, Flags, Cuddly Sifrei Torah, Books on the Yomim Tovim.

Orders taken for New Year Cards, Luachot, Calendars, Diaries & ArbaMinim (Lulav and Etrog).

Really Jewish Food Guide now in stock. (Kashrut Guide)

Challah cloths, boards, candlesticks, candles, Havdalah candles and holders, hand washers, benchers, tzitzit, silk pictures & more.

Other goods in stock for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur & Yomin Tovim

Holocaust Day: Tree PlantingCeremony and Holocaust

CommemorationOn Friday 27th January at the Tree Planting Ceremony, therewere about 50 people in attendance, including JamesDudderidge, MP.

Rabbi Bar spoke eloquently about the evergreen leaves ofthe newly planted Magnolia tree and how it was a symbol oflife amongst the grey days of winter. This mirrors life as bleakevents are followed by a flourish of life.

On Sunday, the Council Chamber was, without exaggeration,packed. It would not be an over estimate to say there weretwo hundred people in attendance.

The guest speaker was Mrs Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who spoke very well and eloquently about her encampment in Auschwitzand Bergen-Belsen. The Southend Boys’ and Girls’ Choirwere excellent and there were representatives from S&WHCCheder, Gina Winston and Daniel Rattner, who read poemsrelevant to the occasion. The Mayor’s Chaplain, the ReverendKeith Page, gave a prayer and Rabbi Bar gave a messageof hope and warned against complacency in the face ofsubversion. He pleaded with everyone to speak out whenever the forces of evil show themselves.

Rabbi Elf from the Southend & District Reform Synagoguewas in attendance, having made a special effort to travel toSouthend from Manchester.

The Mayor, Cllr David Norman, made a very good summingup speech at the end of the proceedings, by saying that themere mention of the Holocaust sends shivers down his spineas within his family lineage he had Jewish ancestors.

Refreshments were provided by SWHC Ladies’ Guild

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A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE WARDENS!MESSAGES FROM THE WARDEN`S BOX

The job of a warden is about making sure things get done. Thereis a continual flow of jobs to do and arrange, much behind thescenes organising and co-ordinating religious events, running thesynagogue services and managing lists.

In addition to the Yom Tov services, there are the normal Shabbat,weekday, Rosh Chodesh and Fast days` services. It starts everymorning with choosing who is going to daven assuming a suitable person is available.When the Rabbi is away, a substitute mustbe found for Shabbat and by-weekly leyning.What lists you ask? Managing ever-rolling listssuch as Haftorahs, Hebrew names, Yahrzeits(memorial prayers), Refuah shleimas (illness),Aliyos (call-ups), mitzvos, Shabbat and YomTov page numbers and countless telephonelists or emails to those who help to ensure that there is a daily minyan.

There are endless meetings in preparation for the Yamin No’orim.This starts in earnest just after Pesach with discussions as to whichvisiting clergy is to be invited to assist Rabbi Bar. There are livelydebates about any arrangements to be made for the MidnightChoral Selichot service which takes place on the Motsei Shabbat immediately preceding Rosh Hashanah.

After Shavuot is over, it No’orim time to think about the allocation of Mitzvos for the Yamin Nora`im. This takes many hours of discussionsbecause there are nearly 100 to allocate and many lists areproduced.

In addition, there is Yom Tov davening, leyning and blowing theshofar to think about, liaising with Rabbi Bar to formulate thetimetable for the Yom Tovim, working out and publishing the servicetimes (children`s and adults) and speakers for discussion groups andexplanatory services.

In July, the wardens start workingin earnest on Succot and SimchatTorah – choosing the senior Chatanim,meeting with them and their familiestogether with the junior Chatanim andof course the “Eshet Chayil” - younglady of the year. Having chosen them, it is decided how and when the services

will run. The wardens liaise with the Ladies’ Guild to make surethey are able to manage the Kiddushim over the Festival period,snowballing towards the Simchat Torah celebrations and Brunch,and swiftly on to Shabbat Bereishit.

Things do not slow down after that because there are still Simchasto plan. The Wardens make every effort to ensure the Simcha,whether a Bar or Bat mitzvah, special birthday or anniversary, orauf ruf, is one that will live in the memory for many years to come.There are different themed Shabbatot to innovate; and two YouthShabbatot during the year to set up and synchronize.

There is more – for example, leading thedavening in the Shul when necessary;attending shiva services (and occasion-ally having to take them) preparation offlyers for Religious occasions; helpingwith the preparation of the weekly leaflet,arranging speakers for the Shabbatafternoon Seudah and managing theSynagogue website..

A big thank you to all those who help the wardens during thecourse of the year - providing indispensable back-up.

Next time............the Wardens code on mindreading.

SOUTHEND AID SOCIETYAfter many requests for a return of Cyclo Aid (a 15 mile cycle rideand reception at the Jewish Community Centre) we are going toorganise another one under the watchful eye of Garry Steel,,, overto Garry

GREAT NEWS – CYCLO AID RETURNSAfter a roaring success in2010 Cyclo-Aid plans anotherride this summer on 22nd July. The cycling event was such fun and we raised over £5,500 for facilities for the elderly. This year we aim to raise funds toenhance the social facilitiesthat enlighten the lives of our

elderly folk at the Community Centre. So if you missed it last time,now is the chance to brush the cob webs off your bike and jointhe Cyclo Aid team on a very easy and pleasant ride along theseafront. If you’re one of the gang who joined us last time, do donyour shirts and ride again.

Contact Garry Steel for more info – sponsorship forms.Email: garrysteel@hotmail.com Contact: 07737441764

Pop In – 24th January 2012It was cold and wet and the rain had hardly let up. Inside theTalmud Torah building it was full of warmth and sunshine as our 58guests enjoyed catching up on the gossip with their friends whilstsampling more of Sandra’s excellent homemade cakes. Sandra,together with Rochelle, spent the morning preparing sandwichesand laying the tables in the hall which had been kindly set up byVince our helpful caretaker.

It was lovely to see many of our friends back again to enjoy arelaxing afternoon plus some new faces who came to join ourgroup.

President, Alan Gershlick, managed to escape from his ‘day job’for a little while and enjoyed a cup of tea and a chat with all theattendees.

Thanks to the dedicated and hardworking ‘Pop In’ team the afternoon was another success.

We meet once a month, dates in the weekly leaflet or on thewebsite or contact me by email swhcgm@btconnect.com or callthe office on 01702 344900.

Look forward to seeing you,

Jan Steel, Care Liaison

Barry Winston and Marilyn Lisner

Trudy Riseman

Helena and Cyril RosenbergandSarah and Henry Hyams

21

Jewish Community CentreHot off the Press

Jewish Care have completed a new brochure detailing all theservices available at the Community Centre in Cobham Road andfor the Southend community. Pick up your copy from CobhamRoad – or the Synagogue foyer.If you cannot pick one up then please request one by emailingsouthend@jcare.org or calling the Community Centre on (01702)334655.

Now for MeatDelicious meat meals are now back onthe menu at the Community Centre inCobham Road.

Highlights include favourite dishes suchas Salt Beef, Roast Chicken, Meat Balls,Chicken Schnitzel, Roast Lamb – andFried Fish will still be on the menu.

A vegetarian option is always available,along with soups, a choice of sandwiches,

a salad bar and jacket potatoes.

To find out more email southend@jcare.org or call the centre on (01702) 334655.

(The kitchen is monitored to meet Jewish Care’s high kosherstandards but is not under supervision of the SWHC Kashrut authority)

Sybil’s LecturesAt the Shul: Chalkwell Hall School - 2 trips, WoodlandsSchool, Woodham Ferrers - 2 trips, Wickford Junior School, Hadleigh Cubs, Fiennes Explorer Unit

At the School: Shoebury Primary School Assembly I have heard from a Deputy Head Teacher in a local school who is working on a project for Southend Education us-ing the national curriculum. She is creating a document for teachers and launching a website regarding teachingreligious education and has asked me for help. I havespoken to her.

Letters from children: (mainly 9 and 10)“Thank you for welcoming us to Westcliff Synagogue. I sawsome interesting artefacts and would like a Chelsea kippa.”“I would like to thank you personally for such a wonderful guide around the Synagogue.”“I’m writing to thank you both for being such great hosts.”“I’d like to come again and hope we won’t be late as wewere stuck in traffic.” “I really enjoyed the trip. It was FANTASTIC.”“I was unaware that you didn’t celebrate Christmas and thatyou pray in Hebrew. Before I visited the Synagogue I didn’tknow much about Judaism but now I know a lot more.”

A class sent a ‘thank you’ letter with all their names on it andthe picture they drew was a beautiful Sefer Torah.

Sybil Greenstein

At the Chola Baking - November 2011

Another one escaped

Toddlers having fun

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21st August 2011.Daniel Linton married Emily Barbasch.At sunset on the beach at Netanya, Israel

‘Beaming on the Bima’ Gavin Rosehill’s Barmitzvah, 24th September 2011.Son of Suzanne and Nigel Rosehill

Aaron Gelfand, Barmitzvah 10th September 2011 Son of Sara and Barry GelfandGrandson of Helen and Symon Davis

Isabel Davis Batmitzvah 26th November 2011 Daughter of Allyson and Steven Davis, Granddaughter of Helen and Symon Davis

Aron and Karen Barnes on their wedding day,13th November 2011 in Glasgow

Simcha Page

This page is kindly sponsored Anonymously.

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LETTERS’ PAGE Dear Editor,

I understand from my niece, RonaHart, that a special Seudah took placeon 25th February 2012 to celebratethe 70th Anniversary of the marriageof my late brother Sidney to Edith, mysister-in-law. I have very fond memoriesof my brother and we were very close,

although we did not see a lot of each other from the day in July1939 when I went into the army, but we did always keep in touch.I was away for most of WW2 serving in various theatres of war, butSidney was every bit as much in the war as I was. He joined thefire service in 1939 and was stationed in Bishopsgate in the City ofLondon, right in the thick of it. After being badly wounded in thebombing, he was transferred to the Wales fire service and there heand Edith became caretakers at the Colwyn Bay Synagogue.

Before WW2 we were both members of the JLB and Sidney boxedfor them. In 1936 the JLB won the Prince of Wales Shield forboxing and my brother received a medal from the then Prince ofWales. That same year, I received a Silver Medal when the footballteam that I played for in a minor league were runners up in thatleague. One weekend, the JLB were to play another local team atfootball and had heard that Hart was a good goalkeeper. I wasnot well known in the JLB, but Sidney was and so they approachedhim and he was delighted to play. I watched the game and mustsay that Sidney put up a good show. I would not have been ableto play anyway because I was registered with the FA and, at that time, to play on a Sunday, would have incurred lifetime suspension!

Yours sincerelyWalter Hart

SUPPORT OUR OWNKOSHER SHOP

Dear Editor

A number of our members haverightly pointed out either by emailor in this magazine that there aresome local stores and supermarkets stocking an increased or new rangeof Kosher products and of course itis important that we as a community continue to lobby our local stores to

ensure that they stock Kosher products. It is even more importantthat we do not lose sight of the fact that we have our own Koshershop and that, where possible, we support it wholeheartedly.

There may well be some products that our shop sells which couldbe obtained slightly cheaper elsewhere, but there are a numberof factors always to be borne in mind when deciding where to buyyour Kosher needs. Our volunteer staff can always be relied on togive that little bit of extra personal service, parking is no problemand to get to some of the supermarkets may well involve extramileage, which means using more fuel. Remember also that if ourshop does not stock a particular product, please ask them and theywill do their best to get it for you.It would be a sad loss if for lack of support; our shop could notcontinue to offer the service we need. One of the consequences ofhaving adequate Kosher facilities in our town is the attractiveness ithas for prospective Jewish settlement within our community.

Our shop needs to remain viable – please, please support itas much as you can, without it this community is that muchpoorer.

Sonny Kosky

Dear Editor,

I wonder if there are any members old enough to recognise someof the faces in this photo.

As a matter of interest, my late father is standing at the back of theCharabanc and I think SB Rosenberg can be recognised beneaththe hat. Many of the traders in York Road were Jewish at the timeand it was a thriving business community. This event took placejust a few years after the establishment of our Congregation.

Leslie H LesserEditor: Magnifying glasses at the ready!

Dear Editor,

For nearly two years now my wife has been bedridden withdamage and inflammation to the nerves in her legs. I find myselfoften stressed and upset but I have to be strong for her.

If there are any partners who feel the same as myself, I would behappy to help to form a “support group” to maybe meet say oncea week for an hour or two, for a coffee and a chat, to try and cheereach other up.

Please let me know your opinions

Yours sincerely,Irvine Ford (Mobile 07801 869459)

Dear Editor,

I am so sorry that this photo has been somewhat delayed.

AJEX National Remembrance ParadeLondon Cenotaph November 2011

Our new Standard Bearer, Derek Silverstone, ably followed in thefootsteps of those who had served so well in former years. Also atthe Parade was Jeffrey Barcan accompanied by Audrey, accordeda place in front of the Home Office and, of course, your cameraman.

Ray Turner

Gala Night Present at the Menorah Lightingwere Alan Gershlick, President ofSWHC, Mayor David Norman, members of the Southend Council,CST, many from the Reform Shuland members of the local policeforce.

Over 100 people turned up forthe Menorah Lighting at the

Southend and Westcliff Gala Night overlooking the cliffs in Westcliffsponsored by Jill and Lawrence Collins. Rabbi Binyamin Bar ledthe proceedings and the Menorah was lit by the Mayor of Southend,Councillor David Norman.

After the lighting, many went back to the Synagogue Hall where abuffet had been prepared by the Ladies’ Guild and fabulous latkeswere served, made by the Rebbetzen Annette Bar.

Alan Gershlick, President of Southend and Westcliff HebrewCongregation, welcomed the Mayor who responded saying how much the Jewish community of Southend had contributed to the town over the last 100 years and what a pleasure it was for him to be there. He stated he has Jewish ancestry an the how Rebbetzen’slatkes were as good as his grand-mother’s!! Teas, coffees and doughnuts were served and all those present had a thoroughly en-joyable evening.

Chanukah 5772After the first candle lighting of the Chanukah Menorah on theCliffs at Westcliff-on-Sea by Rabbi Binyamin Bar, nearly 100people went back to the Synagogue Hall for a Family ChanukahParty arranged by Sharon and Paul Winston. A sumptuous buffetand champagne bar was put on by Toby Levy Caterers, which wassponsored by the Kids Kalendar. Rebecca Barnett, SJYC YouthLeader, and her team had decorated the Hall and she had organisedthe disco party which was a great success.

A prize for the best dancer was won by Mimi Jacques.

There were children and youth aged from 4 to 20 years with parentsand grandparents and a great time was had by all. The Disco wasprovided by Michael Binder.

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Raymond House Residential HomeRaymond House (Jewish Care Southend) home had a “Round theWorld” Chanukah party on 21st December 2011, which wasorganised by volunteer, Rita Roth. The residents and their familiesenjoyed a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment provided by thesinger, Billy Henry. Rabbi Bar attended and lit the Chanukahcandles after which tea and doughnuts were served. JacquiShuttleworth, the home’s manager, thanked all those who hadorganised and helped in the afternoon. She announced she wasleaving in January.

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‘A JEWISH MORMON’In the 1980s a twelve year old school boy named W Todd Knowlesliving in Utah, USA, was set a homework task; ‘draw your familytree’. After much questioning of his parents he managed tocomplete the task, going back several generations to the familywhich originally came to the USA from England. Looking at the names on the tree one name stood out, his great, great grandfatherMorris David Rosenbaum, who was born in Poland in 1841 anddied in Utah in 1885. An unlikely relative for a Mormon boy fromUtah, but Todd was fascinated and delighted by his discovery.

That twelve year old boy has now grown into an adult with hisown children but the joy of discovering his Jewish roots has neverdiminished. Today Todd is a reference consultant at the FamilyHistory Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and in addition, and moreimportantly for us all, he is the originator and compiler of one of the fastest growing databases of Jewish family history in the world,The Knowles Collection

This online database contains upwards of 180,000 individualrecords and is expanding weekly. It greatly relies upon individualfamily researchers like you and me sharing information that wehave found when researching our own family trees. However norecord is added to the online database without rigorous doublechecking of its authenticity. Once the information is on thedatabase it is there to be accessed for free by other researchers. Soin effect we are all helping each other by pooling and sharing ourknowledge.

I had the privilege of listening to Todd give a presentation to theannual conference of the Jewish Genealogy Society in London inOctober. He was funny, charming and erudite and his passion forJewish genealogy was infectious. I was surprised as to the depth ofhis knowledge about some of the lesser known Jewish communitiesof the world such as Greenland and Cape Verde.

The Knowles Collection, can be accessed online at:http://knowlescollection.blogspot.com/

On the homepage there is a link to:http://histfam.familysearch.org/This is where you will be able to search the database for your own family’s records.

As well as searching for individual records it is also well worthreading some of the other information that Todd has posted ontopics such as old Synagogues and photographic collections, andthe site can be viewed in thirty different languages.

If you would like to learn more about researching your family tree,consider joining the Jewish Genealogical Society. Contact me onavoceta@hotmail.com for further details.

ANNE MARCUS

Community Volunteering Goes LiveCommunity Volunteering, Jewish Care’s new befriending service, isnow up and running. If you feel that you could benefit frommeeting with someone on a regular basis for activity-basedsupport, then this might be for you. We’ll take your hobbies andinterests into account to match you with the right volunteer.To register your interest in this scheme, or for more information,please contact Sonny Kosky (589105 / sonnykosky@blueyonder.co.uk) or Alan Braden (474921).

Volunteers who have an hour or so a week to get involvedwith this important service are always needed.

Council of Christians & JewsSeventy years ago, in the midst of one of humanity’s darkest nights,Archbishop William Temple and Chief Rabbi Joseph Hertz cametogether to light a candle of hope. Jews were being massacredin vast numbers by the Nazis and Temple believed that Christianshad to take a stand. Hertz concurred and thus was born the firstnational interfaith organisation in Britain, The Council of Christiansand Jews.

Today we take interfaith activity for granted. We forget what a leapof imagination and courage it took in those early days. For thebetter part of two thousand years the relationship between theChurch and the Jews had been marked by a hostility that addeda whole series of words to the vocabulary of human suffering:disputation, forced conversion, inquisition, ghetto, expulsion andpogrom. For Jews and Christians to come together both sides hadto overcome deeply entrenched attitudes of suspicion and fear. Yetthey did.

This was religious leadership of a high order and we still benefit from it today. Much is owed for that pioneering work of the Council of Christians and Jews whose example continues to inspire today.

Ray Davy, Chairman of Southend Branch of CCJ

The ShopTalmud TorahFinchley RoadWestcliff on SeaEssex SS0 8AD

Serving the community with Kosher food

The Shop will be Kosher for Pesach from 15th March 2012

You will be surprised but not disappointed!!

Opening Hours

Thursday 11.00 - 4.30

Friday 9.00 - 12.30

Sunday 9.30 - 12.30

email: swhc-theshop@hotmail.co.ukTelephone: 01702 430307 (opening hours only)

New email information

Please note that, with immediate effect, our newemail address for correspondence to SWHC will be:

swhc@hotmail.co.uk

Emails will still be sent out to you fromswhc@btconnect.com but please reply to the new

Hotmail email address.

If you are sending anything in for theCommunity Voice magazine, please send it to:

cv_swhc@hotmail.co.uk

27

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