A change is as good as a rest, people say. I was away for a few days this week and it was a welcome break from the high tension of living in North London at the moment. These words from Wendell Berry’s Sabbath poem (1979) sum it up:
I go among trees and sit still.
All my stirring becomes quiet
around me like circles on water.
My tasks lie in their places
where I left them, asleep like cattle.
Then what is afraid of me comes
and lives a while in my sight.
What it fears in me leaves me,
and the fear of me leaves it.
I was indeed sitting among trees, breathing different air – but on Wednesday, I was heartbroken to see and follow yet another anti-Semitic attack in Golders Green. Although the condition of the victims Shloime Rand and Norman Shine is serious, we hope for their stable progress.
As always, our synagogue has acted swiftly with the police and CST to boost care and vigilance, to ensure it feels safe to come here. We have reviewed where are security will be and at Ivriah break times, there will be enhanced alertness for our children.
As proud Jewish Londoners, we must continue our work, our life and our community activities. Bar mitzvahs must be celebrated and babies blessed – and now, we need each other more than ever.
I hope to see you for Shabbat. Please reach out if you need to talk or check in.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca
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