As we come to the end of the Ivriah, Shabbatots and Kabbalat Torah term I want to share our highlights. It’s been such a good year – we have added another 10 children to our Ivriah, we have 4 new families at Shabbatots, we have more teachers than ever, our Kabbalat Torah and B’nei Mitzvah groups are our biggest yet, and our Challah Baking project has reached so many members of the community.
I recently saw a Torah commentary called “Learning from a Sandwich”. As a good Jew (i.e. someone who perks up and the sight of food) this title caught my eye – and seemed especially relevant this week as our Torah Portion tells us the Kosher laws.
Our year 5 and 6s (aged 10-11) explored the Kashrut in all its forms, from the laws in the Torah and traditional adherence, to progressive interpretations of Kashrut, through to Eco-Kashrut and how it influences our ideas on all purchasing.
Perhaps a highlight for both adults and children was when they came into Café Ivriah to lead a discussion on FPS members’ experiences, adherences and encounters with Kashrut. The children wanted to know how adults in their community chose to respond to the laws of food as they begin to look at the decisions they will make as adults.
This is so important. Adults in our community are the role models for our children. Children are intrigued by our truths, our lives and our decisions. The more I do this job the more I expose young people to the inner workings of the adult mind – not so they can be weighed down by mortgage payments and blocked sinks – but so that they can see we sometimes stumble and struggle, that conversation is essential, and crucially that children can learn from listening to adults but also that the adults continue their thought journeys by listening to children.
Our incredible teachers make our ever-growing Ivriah a fun and interesting place to learn – and our children respond with (lots of!) exuberance and joy. However, we know we’re tucked away in the Education Corridor. So please do join us when we come out into the light – our Kabbalat Torah teenagers will be taking the Shavuot morning service, our teachers take most B’yachad services (special shout-out to our Musical B’yachad on 12th May), our Duke of Edinburgh volunteers challah bake every Thursday, our B’nei Mitzvah students will be taking part in the Yom Ha’Shoah conversation on 2nd May, and you can always, always catch them near the Kiddush table every Shabbat morning – because you really can learn a lot from a sandwich!
Shabbat Shalom
Zoe Jacobs
These days have been so strange. We have gathered for Purim in the aftermath of the mosque shootings in Christchurch. We have read the Megillah, even an edited version hints at seemingly gratuitous violence by the Persian Jews. And of course we read of the fear of being recognized as Jews. Esther did not reveal her people or her kindred, for Mordecai had told her not to reveal it. (Esther 2:10) the name Esther even means hidden.
The symbolism is not lost. Sylvia Barack Fishman suggests the way Esther negotiates her position in the royal household and her relationship with the king models diaspora living for Jewish groups (and indeed all minority groups). That is not the message many of us want to take from the Book of Esther, particularly now. We read these megillot (books) celebrate these festivals and insist on a fresh way to understand and make meaning from them.
The jollity, levity and general silliness encouraged at our Purim party, spiel and feast coincided last night with World Jewish Relief opening their appeal for Cyclone Idai that has hit Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbambwe. If Purim calls for matanot levyonim gifts for the poor, then this is it. www.worldjewishrelief.org/cyclone. Please consider giving.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Rebecca
This Shabbat is known as SHABBAT ZACHOR. Zachor means memory. We are encouraged to remember on the sabbath before Purim the wrongs done to the Israelites by the Amelikites as they crossed the desert. The link to Purim is justifying rage and self defence against those who hurt us. It’s an interesting ‘reminder’ now. Zachor [remembrance] is a mitzvah that has made modern Jews uncomfortable. The natural desire to forget and be happy collides with the ongoing pain of memory and analysis. When asked why President Ronald Reagan in 1985 initially declined to visit the Dachau concentration camp, a presidential aide explained that the President was an “up” type of person and did not like to “grovel in a grisly thing.”
We Liberals have always have an ambivalent relationship with Purim, the ’season of levity’ as Rabbi John Rayner called it. The flamboyant violence offended early Liberals. We now engage in Megillah reading (a slightly edited, less excessive version) and generally a festive Spiel and costume party. Hadas Esther’s Hebrew name means hidden. God is absent entirely from the Megillah of Esther. It makes for an interesting holiday.
Truthfully whatever our feelings about Purim and remembering former oppression, we would all agree that memories make up our Jewish life and experience. Our Jewish memories are often those most exuberant like. Purim and those most filled with joy. We know the community thrives on these as well as us personally. We appreciate all those who continually contribute to synagogue life and make it thrive.
Past Purim memories:
As March is Free Wills Month it seems appropriate to ask you to consider remembering FPS in that way. I couldn’t resist thinking of the synagogue. All we do and all we need.
Shabbat Shalom and looking forward to seeing those who do Purim next Wednesday at 6.30pm with a Tot tea at 5.30pm for Tots, parents and grandparents.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca
I began my week at the Home Office. Our MP Mike Freer had arranged a meeting with Caroline Nokes MP, Immigration Minister, for me and two other Barnet rabbis. Finding a slot has not been easy.
Along with Citizens UK we asked Barnet to take in 30 children over 10 years along with every Local Authority across the UK. Richard Cornelius, leader of Barnet Council agreed as long as they receive funding. At the meeting we discussed how we and the Minister’s office can support central and local government attempts to fulfill this promise. It was good to hear from her that she uses Barnet as an example of good practice in settling refugees, and understands we along with Lord Alf Dubs and Safe Passage are asking for more.
In these tense Brexit times she told us a poll revealed attitudes to immigrants and those seeking refuge has improved these past two years. I found that intriguing.
I reflected on the challenge we have as engaged citizens. We want to bring about justice and push for saving lives and yet we also understand the practical restrictions that dictate who can be cared for and where Barnet Council’s resources go. It is good that we are part of the conversation.
The Book of Exodus finishes this Shabbat with the wonderful image of the Community of Israel being guided and directed by the Pillar of Cloud by Day and Fire by Night to keep them on track and on route. We want that in our lives.
We want to hold it all, balancing the needs of ourselves and those in our families – feeding and caring for those we love, supporting those who are in hard times, earning a living, finding the potential spiritual (and intellectual) nourishment in our synagogue – with those in wider society. Should we be marching in the street or continuing with focus on ourselves?
Finding our place and our direction in how we use our time is paramount for a good life.
When we finish a book of Torah we say ‘Chazak Chazak V’NitChazek’ ‘Strength, Strength Let Us Be Strengthened’. Let that be so for each one of us.
Shabbat Shalom to all
Rabbi Rebecca
I was on a mountain last week when I heard Austrian Radio broadcast Luciana Berger’s resignation speech. It was quite something, hearing her words in that context, in Austria.
Returning to London and Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson’s challenging of his leader Jeremy Corbyn addressing what he called “a crisis for the soul of the Labour party” was stirring and sobering; “My message to our Labour party, to our half million members, is – ‘look, I know we’re in a crisis. The departure of our colleagues is a real blow to us, and we need to understand why they felt the need to go, because if we’re going to be in government, we need to address those concerns’.”
Whatever we are thinking right now, in this decidedly fractured place, Tom Watson’s words are important for all of us to hear, whether or not we are members and supporters of the Labour Party. Last week Liberal Judaism held its first Hot Potatoes evening on issues of tension and passion. They began with Jews and the Labour Party. Talking in our communities remains critical.
“Vayakhel Moshe Kol Adat B’nei Yisrael” Moses gathered the whole community together at the start of Parashat Va-yakheil. As we survey the scene around us, it’s not unity we are aiming for in the Jewish community, or ours in FPS for that matter, it’s the ability to gather and talk and listen.
Shabbat Shalom to all
Rabbi Rebecca
In this week’s portion, Moses gets some info from God (I’m paraphrasing somewhat). When Moses comes back down the mountain, they say his face is radiant.
I wonder what experiences in my life have left me feeling radiant. Dividing my life into those activities that do and those that don’t feels like the Biblical version of Marie Kondo’s question posed to every item we own: “Does this bring you joy?”
While it might be simplistic, surely it’s true – we should be doing more things that make us feel radiant. And I know, life doesn’t work that way; rent needs to be paid and dishwashers need to be unloaded but despite that, we can still prioritise our limited free time by asking what makes us feel radiant. I could spend my time sorting my emails and there would be some happiness at seeing an empty inbox. But, would it make me feel radiant? Probably not.
It might become my new mantra: does it make me feel radiant? [For your information, hugging cats: yes, surfing: yes, picnics: yes, dishwasher loading: no].
I hope you enjoy this week, especially if it’s half term, and I hope your activities, encounters and experiences bring radiance to your face.
Do watch Rabbi Rebecca’s thought for the week as she discusses the rather more famous moment from this portion!
Shabbat Shalom
Zoe Jacobs
Community Education & Development Manager
Rabbi Dr Arthur Green, a brilliant philosopher and theologian, opens his book Radical Judaism with this assertion: “As a religious person I believe that the evolution of species is the greatest sacred drama of all time. It is a tale – perhaps even the tale – in which the divine waits to be discovered. It dwarfs all other narratives, memories and images….”
I love this and will reveal more of his radical thinking at Beit Midrash this week. Creating our own sense of science, God and Judaism is the work of our lives. Probably.
So why not jettison Valentine’s Day (which is not Jewish at all*) on Thursday evening? Instead join us for our conversation about God [and that kind of love] and where it fits into our contemporary Jewish lives and experiences. This Thursday we will also be joined by Rabbi Lea Muhlstein as we discuss Liberal Judaism’s draft siddur and the language of love in that!
*[Originally commemorating the martyrdom of two Saint Valentines by Rome, and the feast of Lupercalia. Where men sacrificed a goat and a dog, then whipped women with the hides of the animals they had just slain. I read, it was very consensual. The day was only made romantic and popular during the time of Chaucer!]
Wishing you Shabbat Shalom. I shall be away all of next week for school half term holidays but look forward to seeing everyone on my return.
Rabbi Rebecca
And you shall make the altar of acacia wood… (exodus 27:1)
There are many ways to build a synagogue. One is, of course, as our Portion this week details, T’rumah, the wood and details used for an altar and a sanctuary. One, that is so much harder to gauge and design is the mood, intention and vision of a synagogue community.
Gazing on our ark as we do every shabbat, the physical details of our sanctuary and its power to uplift and concentrate the mind is important. So is what we do inside and with our community.
This week is our Listening Campaign. This is an opportunity to talk about issues that concern fellow Londoners, possibly us. We will take every opportunity this week and coming Shabbat to listen to each other and form a sense of what matters most to us as a congregation right now. We hope to bring those concerns to the Mayoral Assembly 2020 and this is the start of gauging what matters to us, what we care most about.
Siddur Lev Chadash contains these words ‘May the door of this synagogue be narrow enough to shut out pettiness and pride, envy and enmity…. May this Synagogue be, for all who enter, the doorway leading to a richer and more meaningful life.’ (Mishkan Tefillah).
Please join us particularly at Learn at 12 noon on Thursday and/or Shabbat services and Cafe Ivriah this weekend to talk and listen and combine the beautifying of our sanctuary with those of our hearts as well.
Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Rebecca
#WE REMEMBER
#HMD2019
We have always marked Holocaust Memorial Day for the wider community. This year #We Remember we are so proud to welcome Derek Niemann, author of A Nazi in the Family and his discovery of his grandfather’s Nazi role and his grandmother’s resistance to it.
His extraordinary story is so relevant today in the conversations of bystander resister and family loyalty. Derek wrote this book, a huge departure from his usual nature writing, because he felt he had to. As Noemie Lopian, child of a survivor, wrote: “At the end of the day we are all, in inverted commas, ordinary human beings,” she said, “And we all have a choice. We all have the ability to do evil.”
I do hope you will join us for this shared event with Finchley Reform Synagogue. this Thursday, starting at 7.30 pm (refreshments from 7.00).
This Shabbat sees the beginning of our Listening Project; opportunities to talk and listen to each other about these following issues and how they are affecting Londoners. Our part in anticipating the next Mayoral election is important. Tamara Joseph will lead the Cafe Ivriah session on Shabbat morning at 9.45 am (full information below) and all are welcome.
Shabbat Shalom and looking forward to seeing you.
Rabbi Rebecca
“‘Love thy neighbour as thyself’ — Why is it written ‘love thy neighbour’ and not ‘love your people?’ Because included in ‘neighbour’ is all of humanity.” – The Sage Elijah Benamozegh, 1863
Or perhaps …
“Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?”- Malachi 2:10
Woe to those who add house to house
And join field to field,
Till there is room for none but you
To dwell in the land” – Isaiah 5:8
Just a few of the texts we will be looking at on Thursday night’s session Are Human Rights Jewish? I think they may be comforting and challenging depending where you are coming from. No doubt we all think about this a great deal. Where does our Jewishness call us to be in terms of dignity for every person? It will be an interesting conversation days after the moving burial last Sunday of the remains of 6 Jewish souls murdered at Auschwitz and given the dignified end they were denied in life and death. And days before our commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day 2019.
I look forward to seeing you join us.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Rebecca
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