Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE PAGE 1 31st October - 31st December 2015 18th Cheshvan - 19th Tevet 5776 Date Event Oct 31st, Saturday Parasha Vayera. Fortune Chamberlain is service leader. Nov. 7th, Saturday Parasha Chaye Sarah. Sue Fox and Mina Abram- Hebblethwaite service leaders. Service commences at 11am. Nov. 13th, Friday Service and chavurah meal at Dr & Mrs Goldthorpe’s home. Details from office. Nov. 14th Saturday Parasha Toldot. Scroll inauguration Service Leader Chazen Gershon Silins Kiddush. Further details within L’Chayim Nov. 21st, Saturday Parasha Vayetze. Service leader is Richard Choueke Nov. 22nd Sunday Mitzvah Day. Further details to follow. Nov. 28th, Saturday Parasha Vayishlach. Service leader is Joan Brooke 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 Synagogue Dates to remember L’Chayim For those receiving L’Chayim by e-mail, you can print off your own calendar at home. Continues on page 2
Transcript
Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �1
31st October - 31st December 2015 18th Cheshvan - 19th Tevet 5776
Date Event
Oct 31st, Saturday Parasha Vayera. Fortune Chamberlain is service leader.
Nov. 7th, Saturday Parasha Chaye Sarah. Sue Fox and Mina Abram-Hebblethwaite service leaders. Service commences at 11am.
Nov. 13th, Friday Service and chavurah meal at Dr & Mrs Goldthorpe’s home. Details from office.
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �2
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. They sit separately.
Any kind person interested in be-coming a leader could they please contact the office. Please speak to the Chairman concerning training requirements.
Date Event
December 5th, Saturday
Parasha Vayeshev, service leader Fortune Chamberlain
Parasha Vayechi. Service will be at The Home ( see below).
On behalf of the congregation I would like to thank all the service leaders for their support in keeping theSouthport and District Reform Synagogue alive. Our unsung, and sometimes sung heroes! (ed, Chairman).
Please note:
For the chavurah community events - please bring a vege-tarian or fish dish, or a dessert to share, if possible.
It is really appreciated that services can continue thanks to our regular congregants, and the service leaders. We could however do with more people taking an active part in synagogue life if the future of the synagogue is to be secured. The value of having aReform Synagogue in Southport should be understood by all members.
SUPPORT YOUR SYNAGOGUE
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �3
Page Highlights of this L’Chayim
4-6 The High Holy Days, the Chairman’s personal view.
7 Ducks, Tashlich, and Park Picnic.
8 A visitors view of our synagogue.
9 The Dog and the Flea
10- 13 Community News, festivals
14 Sukkot
15-16 History of Southport Jewish Community
17-18 Book review
19 Thought for the Day
Just a reminder that our Kol Nidre appeal stays open until the end of December, if you have not managed to donate to date.The four good causes we are supporting this year are:
The Jewish community's response to extreme poverty http://tzedek.org.uk/
Housing the homeless
Donations can be sent to the shul office- thank you
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �4
The High Holy Days
A personal view from your synagogue Chairman, Selwyn Goldthorpe
Another year has gone by. It all seems a bit of a haze, really. I received nothing but positive feedback from those attending the services. Southport Reform & District
Synagogue deserves the best, and we cer-tainly continued with that tradition this year.
It was good to see so many people in the synagogue. I hope those that attended have a lasting memory of an experience for the forthcoming year. An experience for change,
and how to continue to live our lives according to the high principles
of modern Reform Judaism. My thanks for Mina Abram-Hebblethwaite’s article that fol-lows my own hazy thoughts on this subject.
I do appreciate all the help I have in running the synagogue, without the small number of people who lend physical help, and their, and other’s opinions, and organisational skills, the synagogue would only be open for High Holy Days. As I live in Crosby, my thoughts go out to the fate of Crosby and Waterloo Synagogue, not to mention my own childhood synagogue of Stockton-on-Tees, that closed to become a Sikh temple when I was 16years old. Could the same happen in Southport?
As I said in my High Holy Day Chairman’s address this year, if you want to have a Re-form Synagogue in Southport, the synagogue needs your physical support on a regular basis. It can be done. Our scroll appeal, headed up by Harry Kessler (thank you),
(continued on next page)
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �5
has been very gratifying to see how much you value your religion and it’s practice. It will be a blessing to have a scroll that can be carried, and lifted by most fit adults. The text is very clear. The scroll is a high quality, second hand Sefer Torah originally written in Eastern Europe. It is written entirely by one sofer on Vavei Amudim i.e. every column begins with a vav. The condition of the scroll is excellent. Council have invited the whole congregation to a special shabbat service on 14th November followed by a kid-dush. Such a nice scroll deserves a nice beginning in our synagogue, and we have arranged for a Cantor, Gershon Silins ( who also happens to be a student Rabbi) to both lead the service and of course sing for his supper!
Gershon Silins has also been an active freelance singer in the worlds of concert and opera, including appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under James Levine, Carlo Maria Giulini, and Sir George Solti, and with the Brooklyn Philharmonic under Lukas Foss. He also sang with the Mary-land Handel Festival in the role of Simon in Handel's Judas Maccabeus with the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Paul Traver.
Gershon has appeared in concert on radio stations WFMT in Chicago and WNCN in New York, and was featured on "The Listening Room" on WQXR in New York. In Israel, he sang at the Jerusalem Theatre and presented a recital at the Zionist Confederation House. He appeared as cantor in the Bloch Sacred Ser-vice with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Oratorio. He was a founding member of the Washington Monteverdi Singers, a Washington DC based vo-cal ensemble specialising in early music, and sang with many professional choruses, in-cluding the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Chicago's Music of the Baroque Chorus, and the New York Choral Artists.
Gershon has previously served as cantor of Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto, at Temple Avodah in Oceanside, New York, Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois and Temple Emanuel in Kensington, Maryland. He has also taught cantorial studies at the Abraham Geiger College Cantorial School in Berlin and the Levisson Institute in Amsterdam.
Those kind people that have donated towards the scroll have been sent a written invite ( Jewish, and non Jewish), though as I say, the whole congregation will be welcome to this unique cantorial shabbat at Southport and District Reform Synagogue
on November 14th.
(continued on next page)
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �6
Rabbinic Support Although the synagogue does not have a full time Rabbi, we do have Rabbinic support and of course the co-operation of other nearby communities. Rabbi Norman Zalud now offers the synagogue pastoral support for personal issues. Rabbi Robert Ash offers support to our ser-vices and for Jewish learning. Rabbi Elf supports our services on request. Student Rabbi Kath Vardi will continue to support our synagogue for services and education, thanks to the MRJ.
A big thank you to all those that helped make the High Holy Days special. In particular I would like to mention Neil and Fortune Chamberlain for acting as host and hostess to you all during Rosh Hashanah, with greetings and refreshments, it was so thoughtful. Neil blew the shofar ( and I added my own effort at the end of Yom Kippur). Stephen Pavion sang so well, thank you both.
And thank you to all that turned up on Sunday, 27th September for sukkah building, tea, and the erev service with student Rabbi Kath Vardi. I have covered this event later in the news letter.
Simchat Torah was rather special for me, as my Gillian was Kalat Bereishit, and Joan Brooke was a very well deserved Kalat Torah. Both ladies do some much for the syna-gogue, I cannot possibly write another paragraph about all they do. We were pleased to have a really special Erev Simchat Torah, our grand children suitably amused the congre-gation by playing hide and seek around the chanukkiah. Our friends that were non Jewish that attended were impressed with the informality of the service! A big thank you to Student Rabbi Kath Vardi for making the service so user friendly.
On a more fruity note, I wish to end my hazy thoughts, with some clarity, I hope, by stating the the Etrog Marmalade has to be seen to be believed. I have yet to taste it though! I will put this out for the ‘scroll kiddush’, so that we may all share in the sweet-ness of the year.
Kind regards,Selwyn
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �7
DUCKS (AND SEAGULLS) FULL OF SIN : TASHLICH AND A PICNIC IN THE PARK Bright and breezy was the day. Magnificent the scenery in its multiple shades of green as we gathered in the impressive Avenham park in Preston. Few in number, determined in intent, we had come to participate in the Tashlich Service informatively and sensitively conducted by Rabbi Robert Ash.
Together (only later discovering one had been left behind) we am-bled expectantly towards the high bridge overlooking the River Ribble. Following the prepared service soon we reached the point of momentum as the distributed bread was thrown into the river symbolically casting away all our sins of the year past. What a feast for the ducks - and the seagulls - never would they know the sins they were so eagerly swallowing!
As a family of Indian origin looked on with open curiosity, Rabbi Ash ever alert to opportunity explained we were Jewish, why we were there, and what we were doing. An unexpected boon promoting inter-faith understand-ing.
On return to our meeting point, discovery of our 'lost' participant took Rabbi Ash off with him for another Tashlich whilst we began to indulge, sin-free, in a delicious picnic of apples and honey. Our old sins cast firmly behind us we could indeed look forward to a good and sweet new year.
Article by Mina Abram-Hebblethwaite
Hymie and Sam were hired by the Rabbi to paint the exterior of the synagogue. Their sharp practice was to thin the paint so that they could make a larger profit.As Hymie and Sam were painting the synagogue atorrential rain began to fall and it washed all of the paint off. Then, as quickly as the rain began, it ended, and the sun came out. As the painters gazed skyward, they heard a voice from above saying:" Repaint ! Go, and thin no more."
(I take sole responsibility, for the lisp, sorry lapse, Selwyn)
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �8
We welcomed Pastorin Dorothea Pape, to our High Holy Day services and at our Erev Sukkot service where she helped decorate the sukkah and also donated food for the shared tea and for the baskets of fruit and vegetables in the shul and sukkah.
She is a Christian Pastor from Pinneburg near Hamburg Germany visiting Liverpool for a few weeks helping at a school in Liverpool to improve her English. She is friendly with Rabbi Walter Roth Rothschild in Berlin, hence her interest in our festivals.
Schalom, Gillian and Selwyn, I want to send you photos. It was so nice to meet you again and to drive with you to the Syna-gogue. I want also send you pictures of my daughters Maria, Anna and Lea and my husband Frank. (He has studdied agricultre and works with handicapped people in Kiel. I want to change may work and also to go
to Kiel - but it is not so easy.)
Pastorin Dorothea Pape
Maybe you are interested in some.... I have translated a lot into German.... I like his style....
Schalom, Dorothea.
from Rabbi Walter Rothschild ( tales from the Rabbis desk available from Amazon Kindle stories) http://www.lulu.com/shop/walter-rothschild/tales-from-the-rabbis-desk-volume-one/ebook/product-22356522.html here is one of his stories:-
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �9
THE DOG AND THE FLEA. Once there was a dog who itched. He scratched and scratched himself, as dogs often do, and he caught a Flea. “What the hell do you think you are doing in my fur, you bloodsucker, you”, growled the Dog to the Flea, who was caught in his claws.
“I am only claiming my rights to warm secure housing, security and a regular supply of nourishment”, said the Flea. “Are you not also a Socialist? Do you not under-stand your responsibilities to smaller and therefore weaker members of the Animal Kingdom?” The Dog was non-plussed. “You mean, you have a RIGHT to suck my blood?” he demanded. “Of course”, replied the Flea. “Under the provisions of the Social Welfare Acts 1948, 1953 and 1974, especially paragraphs 246 and 249 Section Three. And what is more, I hereby exercise my right to bring a further 325 members of my family into your region, particularly the region under the tail, by the way, and down the right rear leg, which is hardest for you to scratch, and we shall all claim Asylum together.” The Dog sat back and considered the situation. He scratched his ear thoughtfully. “Stop that!” said the Flea; “You are in danger of upsetting further Parasites of Especial Scientific Interest and disturbing members of my species. That is a form of Racism if not Speciesism and is punishable under several Legislative Instruments, though I shall not bother you now with all the details.” “That is indeed kind of you”, said the Dog, sarcastically and baring his teeth (though it looked only as though he were grinning happily.) “Let me get this right. You live in my fur, you live both off my back and, I suppose, on my back. You live off my blood, you lay your eggs in my skin, you demand the right to increase both naturally and through immigration, and you say all this is Right?” “I did not say it was Right”, said the Flea; “I said it was MY Right. A blow for Fleadom. It is not a matter of Fairness but of Furness. You have Fur, I live there. Now will you please remove me from this uncomfortable paw accommodation and return me to the position where I was living before you disturbed me. Or I shall complain loudly to the authorities. Now.” The bemused canine raised his paw and let the irritable insect scramble back into his fur, where it in fact took up position on his head. MORAL:- Don’t challenge the System, or you may get a Flea in you !
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �10
Mazal tov to Sian and Alex Hirsh-man who have had a bouncing baby boy . Mazal tov also to Nives Hirshman , the proud grandmother and the rest of the family.
Paul Lippa has a new hip and is doing well. He would like to thank the synagogue for the flowers and message wishing him all the best for a speedy recovery.
Joan Brooke (shown on the right), this year’s Kalat Torah, and Gillian Goldthorpe, this year’s Kalat Bereishit, displaying their certificates the details being written in fine script by Rabbi Ash ( Thank you).
Joan and Gillian extend their thanks to the con-gregation and also for the flowers presented to them on Simchat Torah.
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �11
We would like to hire out 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 the second car parking space 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.
More from Simchat Torah:
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �12
You are never too young to enjoy sukkot
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
� PAGE �13
Thank you for your support and help.It was a wonderful afternoon. Tea was superb. The service was a pleasure to attend.
Mina has something to say about thisspecial sukkot....
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �14
SUKKAH DELIGHT To begin. Take on average three, twos, and ones of genera-tions of happy Jewish folk. Add a good sprinkling of active, excited Cheder children. Mix together with a rich variety of shul members and welcome friends.
When required, introduce - just briefly - an interested police-man or two: making sure to offer them goodies as they leave, well informed by a Selwyn about how we build our Sukkah - and if they could kindly arrange for removal of the the car blocking entry to shul it would be most helpful. Have a Phil and any other willing helpers well prepared to carry armfuls of leafy greenery safely across the road whilst avoiding moving and stationary vehicles. Put them into an open door place, combine with a Neil and other willing helpers. Leave undis-turbed to interweave branches and trellis to create a beautiful
bower. Admire appropriately. Do not forget to have on hand a smiling boy wielding a large broom to keep the sukkah floor clean and tidy.
Meanwhile in an airy, busy kitchen put together willing hearts and minds and hands, of all ages and varieties, with a heavily laden table bearing fruits and vegetables of many kinds and colours. Remember, a good supply of materials for hang-ing decorative foods, once prepared, is absolutely essential. Set to work with much fun and laughter. Prepare ideally little hands and feet to be busy to-ing and fro-ing between kitchen and sukkah bringing the foods for decoration to others merrily engaged in: strangers- become-friends, and haven't-seen-you-for ages catch-ups, and here-we-are-again, well tossed conversations.
To complete. Have a Fortune ready to spread the trestle table with a beautiful white cloth. Adorn with a lovely array of tempting fruits and fancies ready for kiddish. Make sure all involved have an oppor-tunity to appreciate each other's en-deavours to create a delightful sukkah, suitable to everyone's taste.
Afterwards bring together all who do not have to leave early. Enjoy delicious, traditionally baked jacket potatoes, steaming with goodness. Accompany these with fresh salads and other satisfying foods. Ensure leisurely eating and drinking to facilitate recuperation in preparation for the fascinating service to follow.
Article by Mina Abram-Hebblethwaite
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �15
TEA & TALK with JOHN
John Cowell gave a preview of his forthcoming book about the Jewish History of Southport at Southport & District Reform Synagogue on Sunday afternoon, 25th October, our friends from Southport Hebrew Congregation were invited. There was a power point presentation from John on how he has gone about collecting the various facts and stories from the community, and how he hopes to have his book printed in the first half of next year. There was then the opportunity to ex-change questions with John and talk about our memories of the community.
An afternoon, cake and biscuit tea was provided for the occasion. Thank you to all those that brought in goodies for the tea. It was anything but crummy, more like scrummy! And thank you for tidying up. The synagogue funds received a small sum from the donations towards the refreshments, as the event itself was hosted without charge. ( editor)
Progress of the History of Southport Jewish Community – by John Cowell I was happy to give an update on this “magnum opus” at the Reform Synagogue on the afternoon of Sunday 25th October 2015. I did this in the form of a Powerpoint presentation of perhaps inordinate length (38 slides) and covered particularly the early years of the Southport Hebrew Congregation, from Sussex Road to Arnside Road, then moving on to the establishment of the New (later the Reform) shul. These were hectic and eventful years, with a congregation at Arnside Road that succeeded in filling its very large synagogue in the Second World War and after for some years, but has now dwindled to more manageable proportions, still exercis-ing an influence in the town. When the Reform congregation came on the scene, it built up a healthy membership too, from one temporary meeting place to others, then to the former Friends’ Meeting House on Portland Street. So that became the second former Christian establishment to be taken over by a Jewish congrega-tion! (It has, of course, now been superseded by the smaller building next to it, in Princes St, a well-designed home for a smaller congregation than the original New Synagogue) (continued on next page)
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �16
The town’s population was once, perhaps, more diverse than it is now, though the German, French, Italian, Armenian and Jewish communities before World war one
were relatively small, and no doubt dwarfed by today’s other ethnic groups. The Jewish popula-tion has provided many long-standing shopkeepers of quality and variety - from the furriers to Gruber’s delicatessen, and from jewellers to tobacconists (the last of them mainly in the early years). It has also produced a number of Councillors, Justices of the Peace, and even a Deputy Lord Lieu-tenant of Merseyside! The arts
haven’t been neglected, either, with some excellent pianists and other musicians, and talented painters and some professional, as well as amateur actors. And there have been doctors, teachers, lawyers and other professionals.
Below I provide a pro-forma for those who may be interested in having their names in the book – the advanced subscription is £10, the balance – to a maximum of £9.99 – payable when the book is published (I hope, next May, 2016) Advance subscribers will pay less than those who do not subscribe in advance, what-ever the eventual price – likely to exceed £20. It’s impossible to specify the price in advance because paper prices and the length of the book are not yet known.
✂………………………………………………………………………………………………….....................Application to become an advance subscriber to forthcoming history of the Southport Jewish community.I (full first and surnames, please)……………………………………………………wish to become an ad-vance subscriber to the forthcoming history of the Southport Jewish community, and enclose £10 deposit. My address for correspondence is as follows:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Post Code ……………….And my e-mail address is ………………………………………(My phone number is …………………………….)
✂…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..ReceiptThis is to certify that I, John Cowell, have received a deposit payment of £10 from ………………………………………………. in respect of advance subscription to the history of the Southport Jewish community, the balance to be paid when the book is published, and the price is decided. Your name will appear in a list of advance subscribers published in the book, and I am very grateful for your support, which assists with up-front costs.
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �17
Available from Amazon UK Kindle £7.03Paperback £9.72Hardcover £16.99
This New York Times bestseller is reviewed byShelley Yavetz for L’Chayim
You know that feeling when someone slips a book into your hands and you can’t put it down until you’ve read it from cover to cover? That sensation of utter delight as you turn every page? And finally, admiration and appreciation of the author’s honest and skilful writ-ing, at the tender age of 23 years.The author, Deborah Feldman, was raised in the closed world of the Hasidic community of Satmar in Williamsburn, Brooklyn, NY. The Yiddish word “Satmar” originates from “Satu Mare” a city on the border of Hungary and Romania. During WWII, a Hungarian Jewish lawyer, Rudolf Kasztner, saved the life of the Rabbi of Satu Mare, who then immigrated to America. There, he gathered together a large following of fellow survivors, forming a Ha-sidic sect named after their hometown. The purpose was to rescue and restore the remain-ing shreds of European Shtetls, yeshivas and ultra-orthodox communities that had been wiped out in the devastation of the Holocaust. The US Satmar sect returned to their her-itage and way of life almost extinguished by war, wore traditional Hasidic clothes and spoke only Yiddish, as their ancestors had done. They opposed the creation of the State of Israel, believing that the “Shoah” was a punishment for assimilation and Zionism. Hasidic Jews fo-cussed on reproduction “Peru oo’revoo” to replace Jews who had perished and to expand their communities – an action perceived as the ultimate revenge against Hitler and Nazism. (NB: not all Hasidic communities opposed the establishment of the State of Israel, for example Chabad/Lubavitch). (continued next page)
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �18
Deborah’s Mother was born and raised in a German Jewish community in England, religious but not Hasidic. Her parents divorced and with slim chances of marrying well, she accepted a “shidduch” from the Satmar in Brooklyn. The boy was from a wealthy family and she was initially thrilled at the prospect of living in a beautiful new home in America. Tragically her new husband turned out to be dysfunctional and mentally unfit, facts which the family had hidden in order to marry him off. Feeling alienated and miserable, Deborah’s Mother decides to leave the family home, a drastic step in a Hasidic community and becomes an outcast. She is not allowed to take her baby daughter and Deborah is raised by her US Grandparents. Strictly but lovingly cared for by her “Bubbe” and “Zaidy” she was always looked down on for having come from “bad blood” and a reminder of “the family shame”.Educated in a strict Satmar school so that she would marry a good boy from the community, Deborah is introduced t her “shidduch” when she is barely seventeen years old. The family are anxious to find an arranged marriage as soon as possible, so Deborah’s prospective “Chassan” is a 22 year old Hasid from a different branch of the Satmar dynasty, “Toldot Aharon”, named Eli. They meet only twice before the engagement is announced and there is no going back!
An intelligent, sensitive girl, Deborah has secretly been attending libraries, reading “secular” literature since childhood, hiding classic works of Shakespeare, Louisa Alcott’s “Little Women” and Jane Austens “Pride & Prejudice” under her mattress. She longs to do “forbidden” things such as learn to drive and study literature at college. All of these are unattainable as Eli wants only an obedient, conventional Hasidic wife. The couple experience many struggles in their marriage and although they finally have a son “Yitzy”, their needs, hopes and dreams are diametricallyopposed. In desperation, Deborah decides to abandon Hasidic life and using risky legal strategy and fierce publicity, succeeds in obtaining both a religious and civil divorce as well as custody of her son.
Today, although no longer Hasidic, Deborah still keeps a Kosher kitchen at home and is raising her son as Modern Orthodox, so that he will not be disconnected from his Father’s lifestyle.
This fascinating memoir “Unorthodox” painfully yet beautifully opens a window for the reader to learn about the Satmar way of life, Deborah’s search for an indepen-dent identity and her place in the outside world.
Shelley Yavetz.
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �19
"For though we are different, we are each in God’s image. We honour Him by hon-ouring all humankind.” Rabbi Lord Sacks 26/10/15, BBC’s Thought For The Day
Wednesday of this week will be the fiftieth anniversary of one of the most remark-able moments in interfaith relations in my lifetime, the Vatican document Nostra Ae-tate, which transformed the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and other religions, most notably with Judaism and Jews.It was the result of the meeting of two remarkable men. One was the French- Jew-ish historian Jules Isaac, who survived the Holocaust, but lost his wife and daughter in Auschwitz. After the War he set himself to discover the roots of anti-Semitism, tracing it back to the early history of the Church. Isaac didn’t believe, nor should we, that the Holocaust, or anti-Semitism itself, were inspired by Christianity. Hitler’s hate had quite different roots, and anti-Semitism predates the birth of Christianity. But Isaac charted the tendency of early Christian texts to blame Jews collectively for the death of Jesus and to see Judaism as a failed relationship between God and hu-manity. He called this “the teaching of contempt.”Isaac’s work was read by Pope John XXIII, a man of courage who, during the war, had saved thousands of Jewish lives. In June 1960 the two men met, and the Pope resolved to re-examine the Church’s attitude to other faiths, Judaism in particular. Thus began the process that led to Nostra Aetate, though John, who died in 1963, didn’t live to see its completion. It transformed relations between the two faiths, so that today, after centuries of estrangement and hostility, Jews and Catholics meet not as enemies but as cherished and respected friends: testimony that even in the face of religious difference, broken relationships can be mended and ancient wounds begin to heal.Rarely has this been more important than now, when religiously-motivated violence is bringing chaos and destruction to great swathes of the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Christians are suffering; so are Muslims; and so are Jews.What we need now is a new and broader Nostra Aetate, bringing together all the great faiths in a covenant of mutual respect and responsibility. We need leaders from every religion publicly to declare that much of what’s being done today in the name of faith is in fact a desecration of faith and a violation of its most sacred prin-ciples.It took the Holocaust to bring about Nostra Aetate. Let’s not wait for another crime against humanity and God to bring us to our senses. For though we are different, we are each in God’s image. We honour Him by honouring all humankind.
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �20
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �21
visit www.pjlibraly.org.uk
INTERESTED IN BRIDGE?
The Bridge Club meets at 1pm, Wednesdays, in the Synagogue.
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �22
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.
PLEASE 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 and District Reform Synagogue, this includes country members, and friends of the synagogue. (ed).
Remember to bring long dated food and toiletries for our box near the front door so that this can be sent onto the local shelter.
If you have any contributions to the shul for raffle prizes these would be greatly appreciated at the shul office.
Thanks.
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �23
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 531975
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!
Community Newspaper of the Southport & District Reform Synagogue, GATES OF PEACE
PAGE �24
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 and District 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 S&DRS one of yourcharities. S&DRS future will be all the more secure so that our children may con-tinue 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 S&DRS 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. S&DRS 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.
