January
Sussex Jewish News was conceived on a coach trip to the synagogue in Portsmouth in September 1993. Arnold Lewis z’l and Doris Levinson learned that Irene Noah, who had been producing a magazine called Jewish Life with her husband for some years, had decided to give it up because of ill health. As members of the Representative Council, Arnold and Doris felt that the essence of the magazine – the Communal Diary, so lovingly and carefully produced every month by Pauline Fifer z’l – should continue to be available for members of the Jewish community in Brighton and Hove. Read more...
The very first issue of Sussex Jewish News came out in October 1993 and consisted of a letter from Herzl Sless z’l, the then President of the Brighton & Hove Jewish Representative Council, with the Communal Diary on the reverse. It was sent out to members of synagogues and organisations asking for membership of £5.00 and a request for articles and advertisements. It was hand-typed and photocopied (no electronic equipment in sight at the time) and stuffed into envelopes and posted out to arrive on people’s doorsteps on the first day of every month.
And so it has continued – arriving on the doorsteps on the first day (or as near to the first day) of every month (except for a combined 2-month New Year issue). The price has of course had to be increased, due to printing and postage costs, but it is still very affordable and fantastic value for money, as well as being a lifeline for many members of the community, especially those who do not have computers or are housebound.
After a few months, Steven Morris very kindly offered to produce the information on his computer in his back room, often working until 2.00 am. Gradually, advertisements and more copy arrived, and the magazine grew to four, then eight and even twelve pages – still in black and white and still being photocopied, collated by hand before being sent out.
In November 1996, Hilary Miller designed the first colour cover and proudly SJN now boasted 16 pages of information, rising to 20 or even 24 for the Rosh Hashanah issue.
Every month, each of the four synagogues contribute a page with inspiring messages from each of the rabbis. News came in from Worthing, Eastbourne, Hastings & Bexhill. Most of the community organisations send in stories and messages, including personal announcements, details of events and photographs, charity reports, information from the JACS and Historical Society team and also the very full programme at Ralli Hall. There continue to be film and theatre coverage, book reviews, reminiscences, personality profiles, poetry, history and information about Israel.
SJN has no reporters as such, but is grateful for all those who send in articles, comments, letters and advise the team of what has or is about to happen. All the major community events have been covered, such as the Holocaust Memorial at Meadowview Cemetery, the launch of Jewish Continuity; the Anne Frank Exhibition at Brighton College; the Brighton Jewish Film Festival; the deaths of our greats – Yitzhak Rabin, Rabbi Erwin Rosenbloom, Rev. Kalman Fausner; MBEs and OBEs awarded to members of our community; the Torah Academy; Hillel House; the Centre for German-Jewish Studies at Sussex University as well as the induction of Rabbis Efune and Rader by Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks; the visit of Chief Rabbi Efraim Mirvis; the induction of Rabbis Meyer and Zanardo at the Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue and Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah at the Progressive Synagogue.
The SJN team is very small, but very dedicated and there have been a few changes. Katie Lyons took over from Steven Morris for a while with her computer expertise and helped to redesign the SJN look. The blind and partially-sighted were delighted when Stewart Macintosh recorded each month’s issue onto cassette tapes and then floppy disks which were sent out free of charge every month to ten or twelve subscribers in special envelopes which they returned free of charge in the post.
Over the years, SJN benefited from the knowledge and support of a number of wonderful helpers – Laurence Temerlies, Calum Turner, Myra Winston, Deanna Samuels, Laura Sharpe, Angela Goldman, Sharon Rubin, Karen Pettit and Ivor Miskin z’l. Doris Levinson stepped down in 2006 as her husband was very ill and sadly passed away in 2007. Arnold Lewis, who had been the Administrator, also sadly passed away in 2007. But miraculously, Linda Freeman, who had come back down to live in Brighton from London, stepped up to the mark and offered to take over the editorship of the magazine for a couple of years, with Ivor Sorokin as Administrator, assisted by David Seidel, Sharon Rubin and Ivor Miskin, who sadly is also no longer with us.
Out of the blue, SJN had the extreme good fortune to be joined by Stephanie and Brian Megitt who had come to live in Eastbourne from Manchester and they have been and still are an immense asset, working tirelessly with great expertise together with Ivor Sorokin, Bernard and Lydia Swithern, David Seidel, and Michael Rich Doris Levinson, who came back on board,.
The magazine has been completely transformed into a full colour production with amazing front covers and interesting articles. Two weeks of every month are dedicated to the production of SJN, sourcing information, editing and proofing copy, chasing people for articles in time for the deadline, sourcing Communal Diary events, obtaining advertisements, sending out invoices and organising the printing and posting of the magazine. It is a professional production, produced by a team of dedicated volunteers.
Sussex Jewish News has become an archive for the Jewish community in Brighton, Hove and Sussex. It is sent to the East Sussex archive and to the Jewish Museum in Jerusalem. There are readers all over the world.
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Issue 292
January 2019
1 JANUARY 2019 • TEVET - SHEVAT 5779 • ISSUE 292 SUSSEX SUSSEX JEWISH JEWISH NEWS NEWS WHAT’S INSIDE.... NATIONAL HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAMME | HOLOCAUST REFLECTIONS SUSSEX JEWISH REP COUNCIL | WHAT’S ON | AND MORE Whats 2 Community Spotlight 3 Jewish Historical Society of England – Sussex Branch by Godfrey R Gould Even the atrocious weather of 27 November could not dampen individuals who had taken part and especially those who had the enthusiasm of the capacity audience who turned up at our perished. last meeting of 2018 to hear our Chairman, Michael Crook, speak on The Brighton Jewish Community: 1910-1920. This lecture was delivered to commemorate the end of the Great War a century ago. In all, this was a most impressive display of original research excellently presented. Michael observed that it was surprising that nobody had undertaken such a study before. The many who had made such a special effort to attend were not Michael has researched most diligently from several primary disappointed. sources, such as the Minutes of the Brighton Hebrew Congregation, the Jewish Chronicle Archive, the Jewish Roll of Honour and local Directories to assemble this Our next meeting will be on impressive picture of the Brighton and Hove Jewish community then. The Tuesday 29 January 2019. many intriguing highlights included Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 29 January 2019 when Dr Imogen Choi, Queen Sofia Special Fellow and Lecturer in Spanish, Exeter College, and Associate Professor of Spanish at the short-lived Montefiore Minyan, the the University of Oxford, will speak impressive generosity of Sir John Howard, and the remarkable on “Mediaeval Sephardi Literature”. The meeting will be at Ralli number of High Holydays services (five, all Orthodox!). Of Hall commencing at 7.45 pm, free for members, students and course, most important, was the contribution made by men of season ticket holders, only £5 to most welcome guests and the local Jewish Community in the global conflict. Here, Michael visitors, and which also includes light refreshments after the had discovered many discrepancies in the numbers and of the lecture. Cover: Flower images painted by members of the Jewish Art Society (JAS) for the new Top Hat production this month. EDITORIAL BOARD Doris Levinson, Stephanie Megitt, Dr Winston Pickett, Michael Rich, David Seidel TECHNICAL ADVISOR Brian Megitt SJN brings local news, events, articles, reviews, announcements, people, congregations, ADMINISTRATOR Hazel Coppins communities, contacts and more. Delivered at ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ivor Sorokin the start of each month, SJN is run entirely by volunteers for reporting, editing and circulating each edition. It has become the cornerstone of ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 COMMUNAL DIARY sussexjewishrepco@gmail.com COVER PHOTO Rochelle Oberman the Jewish community across the region. PRODUCTION/LAYOUT Gemini Studio SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 8 JANUARY 2019 Email address for submissions and correspondence: sjneditor@sussexjewishnews.com or editor@sjn.org.uk SUSSEX JEWISH NEWS SUBSCRIPTION Name:_______________________________________________ Date:_________________________ Address:___________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Postcode:____________________ Email: _______________________________________________ Telephone:____________________ Subscription (tick one) ❑ I would like to receive electronic copies of SJN. £20 p/a ❑ I would like to receive printed copies of SJN. £27 p/a. ❑ I enclose my cheque payable to Sussex Jewish News at PO Box 2178, Hove BN3 3SZ ❑ I have made a bank transfer to the Sussex Jewish News at Lloyds Bank, Sort Code 30-98-74, Account No. 00289447 and I have included my name as a reference to ensure my subscription is noted. 2 Sussex Jewish News PO Box 2178 • Hove BN3 3SZ Telephone: 07906 955 404 Contents 3 sjneditor@sussexjewishnews.com or editor@sjn.org.uk FEATURES 1 TOP HAT FLOWERS Image by various members of the Jewish Arts Society 2 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Jewish Historical Society – Sussex Branch 9 HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY 2019 The programme at the University of Sussex 10 HOLOCAUST REFLECTIONS The Great Escape, Torn from Home and Rabbi Charles Wallach 13 ZEH RAK DA’ATI Godfrey Gould’s fourth instalment 14 SUSSEX JEWISH REP COUNCIL What our great and good have been up to REGULARS 4 SUSSEX AND THE CITY Your news, views and stories from across the county 8 CULTURE Film and East Preston remembers 20 WHAT’S ON – JANUARY Regular and special events in your community YOUR COMMUNITY 16 BRIGHTON & HOVE PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE 17 BRIGHTON & HOVE REFORM SYNAGOGUE 18 BRIGHTON & HOVE HEBREW CONGREGATION 19 HOVE HEBREW CONGREGATION Full page (A4 size) £170 Half page (A5 size) £100 Quarter page (A6 size) £65 1/9 page (credit card size) £40 Personal Announcements in a box (up to 6 lines): £25 Announcements up to 3 lines £10 Flyers: Price on application Local Jewish charities will not be charged, subject to editorial decision. Sussex Jewish News (‘SJN’), its Editor and Editorial Board: • are not allied to any synagogue or group and the views expressed by writers are not necessarily those of SJN; • accept advertisements in good faith but do not endorse any products or services and do not accept liability for any aspect of any advertisements; and • welcome readers’ contributions but reserve the right to edit, cut, decline or submit the content to others for comment. To ensure that we receive your submissions by email, please send them ONLY to sjneditor@sussexjewishnews. com, otherwise we cannot guarantee their consideration for publication. To assist the Editorial Board, submissions should be in Word format using Times New Roman font, size 12. Receipt of submissions may not be acknowledged, unless specifically requested. As the Editorial Board is made up entirely of BOOK NOW! 07906 955 404 volunteers, any response may be subject to delay. ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 MARTIN GROSS Memorials All aspects of stone-masonry undertaken from new to renovation and cleaning 01273 439792 07801 599771 4 Sussex and the City 5 Your News Special Birthdays Deaths We wish a very happy birthday to Maurice Booker, Nati We wish Long Life to the families of Gerald Conn z’l and Buchalter, Tonia Lewis, Sylvia Simon, Ivor Sorokin and all Professor Edward (Ted) Timms OBE z’l who have special birthdays this month. Get Well Erratum In the December issue of SJN we printed the name of Hershel We wish refuah sheleimah to all who are unwell or in Gorker z’l as having passed away. This should have read hospital at the present time. Hershel Golker z’l. We apologize for the error and wish the family Long Life. Your Views From Myrna Carlebach My continued congratulations for your welcome bit of Lauterpacht initiated the phrase Human Rights and Lemkin Brighton interest every month. invented the word Genocide. Lauterpacht was one of the I always read it cover to cover with a special interest in the four rabbinical thoughts. However, this month I need to add to British team at the Nuremberg Trials and was Professor of Law at Cambridge University. the Jewish Connection to Human Rights article. We knew the Lauterpacht family in Cambridge and I taught With respect, you cannot talk about the Declaration of Human the three grandchildren in the cheder. Rights without mentioning Hersch Lauterpacht whose design You can read the amazing story of Lauterpacht and Lemkin in it was. He and Rafael Lemkin were both Jewish law students Phillipe Sands’ amazing book, “East West Street”. at Lvov university before WW2. from Peggy Sherwood MBE I read with interest Simon Seligman’s article in the December 2018 SJN and also the Pause for Thought piece. Having been born and brought up in Hove, and having been an out of town member of BHPS for several years, I enjoy my subscription to SJN very much. For many years now, my synagogue, Finchley Progressive Synagogue, has taken part in Together in Barnet’s Winter Night Shelter. Each night, a different place of worship in the London Borough of Barnet opens its doors, provides a hot three course meal, hosts up to 17 guests (referred by Together in Barnet) to sleep in the building, and then provides a fully cooked breakfast. Finchley Progressive Synagogue was the first synagogue to be involved in the Shelter but now there are others – Finchley Reform (who also run the five day/ night Christmas Night Shelter), Shaare Zadek Reform and now this year New North London Masorti. The Shelter runs for 30 weeks from October through till April with three cycles of ten weeks each. This year Finchley Progressive has been involved in the first ten week cycle every Tuesday night. A band of four or five FPS members open up the synagogue at 7pm and serve a delicious vegetarian home-cooked meal to our guests, at 10pm two further volunteers come to sleep over in the synagogue with the guests and then around 6.30am a further two volunteers arrive to cook a full vegetarian breakfast. The guests leave by ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 8.30am and two further volunteers transport sleeping bags on to the next venue. This is a wonderful project which I’m proud to say I’ve done the FPS rota for the past three years. This year it was extended to 30 weeks from 24. At the end of the 30 weeks we hope that many of the guests will have found accommodation before being back on the streets for the summer months although it’s sad to note that sometimes we see many familiar faces the following year. Synagogues and other places of worship are ideal places for a Night Shelter – generally unused at night and large enough to accommodate people who otherwise would have spent the night on the streets. Because it is a project run through Together in Barnet guests are referred to us – no alcohol or drug use is tolerated and we have had few problems. Finchley Progressive Synagogue is also a collection point for Finchley FoodBank which is run by our neighbours and friends at St Mary’s Church, East Finchley. Recently we had a request for Advent Calendars for their clients – we delivered over 50 to the Church last week as a special treat. And we also co-run a Coffee Club for Syrian Refugees settled in the London Borough of Barnet – true multi-faith working and collaboration. I’m so proud to be associated with the synagogue because this is true Tzedakah and, I strongly believe, the way forward to heal our broken world. 4 Sussex and the City 5 Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club by Jacquie Tichauer I am sure you are wondering what happened to 2018? I am not sure I can answer that but I do know that everyone had a great time at the Lunch and Social Club. I cannot thank our amazing volunteers enough for all the hard work, dedication and kindness they give to the Lunch Club as it could not exist without them. Thank you so much and I look forward to working with you all next year. Once again, we enjoyed our long weekend in Eastbourne which was well supported. The weather was wonderful and everyone had a great time. Our members went for a day out to Rushfields Plant Centre where they enjoyed a lovely lunch and cream tea. Our annual Card Afternoon was a great success with a full house of seventeen tables of bridge, kalooki and rummikub, followed by a delicious tea. This is one of our major Message from the Centre Manager by Maxine Gordon ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 fundraising events of the year and we thank Alan and Shirley Burke and their magnificent volunteers for such a great afternoon. On Tuesday 4th December we held our annual Chanukah party and were joined by the Sussex Jewish Representative Council, our card ladies, Helping Hands and JACS. Top Hat Productions entertained us, much to everyone’s delight. Chanukah candles were lit by Rabbi Efune. What with our members and volunteers together numbering about 110 people, it was quite a squeeze but well worth it. Our new winter menu is proving to be successful, with lovely thick winter soups, pies and traditional food that our members enjoy. We look forward to seeing current members and volunteers together with new faces in 2019 Happy New Year! Our membership forms are on their way and we hope you will be able to support Ralli Hall this year by becoming a member. We really do appreciate the contributions that are made to your local Jewish Community Centre, and we would be grateful if you are able to do so in 2019. If we haven’t sent you a form, do please let us know. The term ‘membership’ has been misinterpreted over many years - people often ask, “what will I get for my membership?”. So, it was agreed by our Board to change it to ‘Friends of Ralli Hall’. We are sure you will agree that this now represents the real reason – friendship, loyalty and a commitment received from members of our local community, who take the time to support the only non-denominational Jewish Centre in the South-East. Thank you. We are proud that, since 1976, we have been able to support our local community and a few recent examples include:- • Top Hat Productions – supporting a locally home-grown group by providing free rehearsal space over a 6-month period and our beautiful Main Hall with Stage for their annual shows. • Complimentary meeting and function rooms for local groups including Sussex Jewish Representative Council, Helping Hands, Sussex Friends of Israel, Jewish Living, Brighton & Hove Jewish School and CST Security. • Interesting Ralli Hall groups which are run by dedicated volunteers for many years, including Israeli Dancing and JAS (Jewish Art Society) on a weekly basis, and Jewish Film Club every 2 months. Tel: 01273 202254 rallihallcentre@gmail.com www.rallihall.com • Ralli Hall Lunch & Social Club – their home every Tuesday and Thursday where the older congregation can enjoy Kosher lunches, entertainment, and more importantly, company. Once a month (1st Thursday) they are also joined by JACS (Jewish Association of Cultural Societies) where interesting speakers visit, and a variety of different topics are discussed. • Many Simchas, including Wedding Anniversaries, Birthdays, Pre-Barmitzvah Shabbos dinners, Chabad functions for the whole community including Festivals and High Holy Day celebrations. We are delighted to welcome Nicola Hyman, Lesley Walker, Michele Kay and Gary Weston as new Committee Members on our Board. All have an abundance of Jewish community experience, local knowledge and bright ideas. They will definitely enhance our established team, making it an exciting time ahead. In fact, save the date of our forthcoming Barn Dance on Sunday 17th March 2019 – more details to follow! We look forward to welcoming you to Ralli Hall in 2019. Important message HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY VISITS If you are in hospital or know anyone being admitted into hospital, please get in touch with info@ sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org or telephone 07789 491279 so that a Jewish chaplain can be contacted to visit. 6 Sussex and the City 7 Turning a vision into reality by David Shinegold As the five of us looked around the empty room which the staff at Ralli Hall had kindly arranged for us with tables, chairs and refreshments for forty people, we speculated on how many would attend this significant communal meeting to discuss the possibility of establishing a Jewish Primary School in Brighton and Hove. It was a proposal we had been exploring for over a year, and for which we undertook a small survey of Jewish families in the area, visited Mosaic Jewish Primary School in Roehampton and met with officers of our local Education Authority who wondered why we didn’t already have such a school. After looking at the evidence, we felt that whether or not we continued with this project was a decision that should be made by members of the Jewish communities in Brighton & Hove. Talking with people informally over the months we found that while some supported the idea, others felt that, for one reason or another, it was not a viable proposition. We therefore decided to hold this meeting to give people an opportunity to hear the experiences and challenges of setting up the Mosaic School and provide a forum in which people felt free to express their views about establishing a similar school here. As the room began to fill up with people from across the four Jewish communities in the area including three of our rabbis, I detected a sense of eager anticipation amongst the participants. When I introduced Shirley Lee, the Founding Chair of Mosaic School, to give her presentation, I did not foresee how strongly her informative, fascinating and inspirational delivery would impact on the audience. While she articulated the benefits and joys of setting up Mosaic, she was very open about the challenges and the enormous amount of work and commitment it took to achieve their aims. She interspersed her delivery with clips of the school and its children and I could see the concentration on the faces of many people as they listened intently to what she had to say. After listening to Shirley’s comprehensive account of how the Mosaic school was founded, the attendees had the opportunity to express their personal views on the benefits and challenges of setting up a similar school in Brighton & Hove as well as asking questions about the project. Some of the views expressed about opening a school here were very moving: • “It would endure and enhance the future of Brighton & Hove Jewish life and perpetuate Jewish communities on the South Coast.” • “It would bring my faith to everyday life.” • “It could lessen prejudice as children do not have preconceived ideas and will learn about other cultures and build bridges between the Jewish and general communities.” • “The school will promote morals and beliefs as well as faith education.” • “It is a fundamental requirement in attracting Jewish families to the area.” ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 • “Having a school will motivate people to become more involved in the Jewish life of their community.” However, these challenges and practicalities were also explored and articulated: • “Acquiring a suitable site in the right location.” • “The politics of different faith groups.” • “The threat of antisemitism and the provision of adequate security.” • “Ensuring that other religions and beliefs are represented in the classroom.” • “The current lack of a Jewish secondary school in the area to which pupils could progress.” • “The widespread geographical area from which children may wish to access the school.” • “Attracting and inspiring young Jewish families to enrol their children at the school.” • “Apathy and declining population.” • “The availability of a sufficient number of young people in the community who have the energy, enthusiasm, expertise, commitment, time and inspiration to make this project successful.” As had been anticipated, these discussions evoked a strong interest in identifying a whole range of questions which needed to be answered - some of which were: • “What are the entry criteria?” • “Do children in similar cross-communal schools mix naturally or do they segregate themselves?” • “What would be the parental line defining the child’s Jewish identity?” • “Is there a sufficient number of Jewish children in the area?” • “What sort of funding is available to purchase a site, provide and maintain a school?” • “How can we find and use a core group of experts to help?” • “Will the school start at Reception or would all years be catered for initially?” • “Would all boys wear kippot regardless of their faith?” • “Could the school have a funded nursery?” • “How much involvement would the community need to have?” • “What can elderly people without children or grandchildren contribute to this project?” Within the time that was left, Shirley answered some of these questions in relation to the experiences of setting up the Mosaic School, but in the near future all of these questions will need to be addressed in respect of establishing a school in Brighton & Hove. The biggest surprise of the evening was the result of the questionnaire that those present completed and handed in at the very end of the meeting. The feedback that we received showed that 99% of people supported the founding of a Jewish school in the area. More importantly, of the 35 people who attended, fifteen agreed to be part of a Project Management Group and actively work towards achieving what the community has clearly chosen to support – a Jewish school in Brighton & Hove. This group will hold its first meeting on Tuesday 15th January. It will not be confined to those people who submitted their forms on the evening. Everyone who wishes to be a part of this project and who feels that they have specific skills, knowledge, experience and commitment will be made welcome, so that, together we may explore how we can develop and implement a strategy that will turn this communal vision into a successful reality. 6 Culture 7 Farewell Gaby’s by Gordon Kay Another Jewish London institution closed recently. Gaby’s Continental Deli, in the heart of theatreland, just down from Leicester Square station, closed its doors at the end of October. And another little piece of characterful Jewish London disappeared. At least this time it was on the owner’s terms. After 53 years of trading Gaby Eleyaho had decided to retire. And there was something of a prophet in his Middle Eastern Jewish cuisine when he opened his deli in 1965. It is said that he brought the falafel to Londoner’s palates. In an area of shabby sandwich bars it stood out, gaining many famous theatrical friends over the next five decades. They came to his aid in 2012, when the aristocratic landowner, the Marquess of Salisbury, wanted to replace Gaby’s with a more profit-inducing chain fast food restaurant. Theatre stars rallied to save the deli, with Simon Callow running a special falafel-themed theatre piece and Henry Goodman literally singing for his supper to keep it open. Even Vanessa Redgrave brought her best campaigning skills to keep it open. They succeeded. I went there from the late 80s, remembering the first occasion sometime after my bar mitzvah, so it felt like some kind of additional rite of passage. The wonderful thing is that the food was always the same and of the same quality. And while you sat there enjoying the meal, you looked at the number of signed posters and photos of stars, from Jackie Mason to Matt Damon. For me, it was its reliability that made it special: you were never disappointed and the staff were always warm and welcoming, which is not something you can say about every Jewish restaurant. It also expressed an unfussy expression of Jewish culture, in the same way that its near neighbour, Bar Italia, expressed for Italian culture with its coffee and cakes. As it happened, I had one more chance to dine the day before it closed its doors. The falafel and pita were as I always remember. Falafel made with bulgar wheat, vibrant salads and great hummus. My only regret is that I did not have one of his fine latkes, I was just too full. It was as busy as ever, packed with customers, each thanking Gaby personally for his work as they paid at the counter. It is a pity no one could see the potential in taking it over, but now falafel is available in Asda and Tesco, it is probably ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 not seen as being so special. With rents so high in London, I guess some chain will take the place, but we shall all have the memories. We sometimes think that Jewish history and heritage is in buildings, like shuls and community centres, but our culture is richer than that. As Gaby’s joins the collective memory like Solly’s and Bloom’s, we should remember that their stories and our memories of them should be recorded. Such as one about a man who brought falafel to theatreland and won celebrity and Londoners’ hearts. Enjoy your retirement, Gaby. SUSSEX JEWISH FILM CLUB AND THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY (SUSSEX BRANCH) Present a Special Evening for Jewish History Month at Ralli Hall. On Sunday 10th MARCH 2019 PHIL GRABSKY - 35 YEARS IN FILM MAKING Programme for the evening: 7.30pm Light Refreshments (Tea, Coffee & Biscuits) 8.00 Presentation 9.00 Any Questions? 9.30 Conclude Free to Ralli Hall and JHSE Members. Visitors £5.00 Contacts: Film Club David Bresh dbresh@icloud.com JHSE: Michael Crook amcrook321@gmail.com Parking at Hove Station Car Park Cost £2.15 8 Culture 9 GETT: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem On Sunday 3rd February, we will be showing GETT: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem. This 2014 film received many global awards. The film is the third in a trilogy by celebrated brother/sister duo, Shlomi and Ronit Elkabetz, and is about an unhappily married woman, Viviane Amsalem. She seeks a divorce, but finds out just how difficult it can be for Jewish women to obtain a Gett from the religious court in Israel. Her husband refuses his permission to a divorce and thereby she cannot be granted a Gett. This results in a host of trials and tribulations over a five- year span. A suspenseful film mostly filmed inside the court room. Free to Ralli Hall members and full-time students, otherwise £4. For more information contact David Bresh at breshdavid1@gmail.com. East Preston Remembers its Jewish Residents by Nicholas Beck If one asked in London or even Brighton & Hove, there are many who would not know of East Preston, a leafy village on the West Sussex coast between Worthing and Littlehampton. From a Jewish point of view, the same is true about general knowledge of Israel Zangwill and his wife Edith Ayrton. However, both are people very worthy of being known and remembered. The Sussex Jewish Outreach Group and West Sussex Jewish Community were invited to take part in the unveiling of a plaque to their memory. From a Jewish point of view both Israel Zangwill stands with the greatest and his wife not far behind. His parents were immigrants but Israel was born in London in 1864. He went to the Jewish Free School in East London and then to London University where he was awarded BA with honours in English, French, and Mental and Moral Science. He was foremost an author; Zangwill’s work earned him the nickname, ‘the Dickens of the Ghetto’. He wrote a very influential novel, The Children of the Ghetto, which is available as an audio book on YouTube, as are his books, The Melting Pot - a play - and the King of Schnorrers. However, if he was famous as a writer, he was more influential as one of the leading Zionists of the day. ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 In 1901 in the periodical New Liberal Review, Zangwill wrote “Palestine is a country without a people; the Jews are a people without a country”. In the UK in 1895 he introduced Theodor Herzl to supporters from Anglo-Jewry and was a supporter of Herzl until Herzl’s death. He was put off by the reaction of the Arab population in Jerusalem and thought that the Jews moving in to Palestine would be sitting targets. He founded his own Jewish Territorial Organisation (the ITO) which sought other remedies, such as land in Uganda, or the United States or Canada. His greatest ITO success was in working with Jacob Schiff on the Galveston Plan, which brought 10,000 immigrants to the United States between 1907 and 1914. Israel Zangwill died in 1926 in Midhurst. Although we know the development of the Zionist cause eventually delivered the State of Israel, Zangwill should be remembered, and his writings are well worth discovering. Zangwill’s second wife, Edith Ayrton, is famous in her own right as a fighter for Jewish Women’s rights and suffrage. She married Zangwill in 1903. Because of ill health she felt she could not be a militant suffragette but she and her stepmother joined the Women’s Social and Political Union and in 1912, she helped to found the Jewish League for Women’s Suffrage. 8 Holocaust Memorial Day 2019 9 Holocaust Memorial Day at The University of Sussex Centre German-Jewish for Studies Jubilee Lecture Theatre, Jubilee Building, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9SL Holocaust Memorial Day TORN FROM HOME 1:30 pm Welcome • Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex Frida Gustafsson, President, University of Sussex Students’ Union Michael Newman, Chief Executive, The Association of Jewish Refugees • Gideon Reuveni, Director, Centre for German-Jewish Studies 1:45 pm Professor Richard Overy, Professor of History, University of Exeter • ‘September 1939 and the Fate of Europe’s Jews’ • Chair: Liz James, Head of School of History, Art History Wednesday 6 February 2019 and Philosophy Jubilee Lecture Theatre | Jubilee Building | University of Sussex | Brighton | BN1 9SL 2:45 pm Short break 3:00 pm Detective Chief Superintendent Nick May will light a memorial candle designed by Anish Kapoor and say a few words on behalf of Sussex Police. 3:05 pm Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, one of the founders of the English Chamber Orchestra 4.30 pm Film: HOME MOVIE by award- survived Auschwitz as a member of the woman’s winning documentary film-maker orchestra. She has spent the past 30 years lecturing Caroline Pick in Germany as a warning for the future. Chair: Nicola Glucksmann, Documentary Niklas Frank’s father was Dr Hans Frank, Governor Producer and Jungian Analyst of Nazi occupied Poland. He has completely repudiated his father and spends his time warning new generations about the future. This film has been selected for several prestigious international Jewish Film Festivals: London, Jerusalem, Toronto, San Francisco, The two will be in conversation, chaired by Trudy New York, Berlin and Moscow. Gold, Director of Holocaust Studies, JW3, Jewish Community Centre, London Following the showing of the film, Caroline Pick will be in conversation with Nicola 4.00 pm Refreshments in G30 Social Space, Jubilee Glucksmann followed by a Q and A. Building ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 10 Holocaust Reflections 11 The Great Escape A true and honest account of Kate Atkins’ escape from the Holocaust - her words were taken down by Gweni Sorokin and Harry Atkins, her daughter and son. Early in 1939 things were very bad in Germany for the Jews and so my husband and I decided to emigrate to South America. Shortly before we were due to leave the country we received a telegram from the South American authorities stating that refugees were no longer being allowed into the country. Whilst we were deciding what to do my husband was arrested by the Gestapo and even though I managed to get him out by proving that we were about to leave Germany, he had to flee the country very quickly and England seemed the only place to go. When he got here he immediately joined the British army and soon got permission for his wife to join him. Two weeks before war broke out I started my journey across Europe. From Berlin the train made its way to Aachen, the German/Belgian border. We arrived late at night and were ordered off the train and into the customs shed. All our passports and travel documents were taken away and I even had to surrender my watch and wedding ring while the luggage was being searched. You had to have a list of everything you were taking with you, and if anything else was discovered in your baggage or on your person it was immediately confiscated. Then, one by one, we were taken into a small room for a body search. While waiting I got into a conversation with a woman who was also travelling to England with her small son. We were all cold and tired but had to wait patiently on the platform. When my turn came the customs officer in charge of searching the women did a very strange thing. She told me not to bother about the search, but, as we had to allow some time to elapse before I returned, we chatted. She returned my documents and asked about my husband in England, and did I want to see him again? What a stupid question: of course I wanted to be with him, but, just as importantly, I wanted to get out of Germany. She then told me that at 5.00 a.m. a train was due at the station, the boat train going on to Dover. It stopped only long enough to throw out the mail sacks, but unless I was on that train I would be returned to Berlin and certain death. I was to tell no-one as spies were all around and she would be in big trouble if she was found out. I went back to the waiting room and the woman I had been speaking to before asked about my encounter with the customs lady. I wasn’t going to say anything but when I saw the face of her little boy I motioned her to follow me outside. In the middle of the platform, away from everybody, I told her about the in-coming train. I warned her not to breathe a word to anyone, even her son, and when the time was near we would walk out again onto the platform on the pretext of getting some fresh air. She was worried about her luggage but I couldn’t have cared less. We had the opportunity to escape with our lives. Nothing else really mattered. A few minutes before 5 o’clock we were ready and waiting. ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 The train pulled in, scarcely coming to a complete halt. The woman jumped on, I handed her boy up to her then jumped aboard myself. I still had one foot on the platform as the train started to move out of the station. The last thing I remember seeing were the faces of the doomed passengers still in the waiting-room. All I had with me were the clothes on my back and the equivalent of 50p in my pocket. I sat back with a sigh of relief. There were no more Nazis now... this was a Belgian train travelling to Dover with Belgian porters checking our papers. Apparently, this was the last train leaving Aachen for the foreseeable future. When this news sank in I sobbed my heart out. After years of living in fear of my life I was finally safe. Anyone else trying a similar route later on was going to be sent back to a death camp simply because they had tried to escape. I think I must have had a guardian angel watching over me all that time. Finally, we reached Ostend. More customs officials but this time it wasn’t so frightening. All that was asked was where were we going and what was the purpose of our visit? Then the ferry sailed. During the crossing I had time to reflect on the miracles that had happened so far. All my fellow passengers were in similar circumstances, so when the ship was in sight of the cliffs of Dover, we all came out on deck to watch the English coastline approaching. Some people cheered, some sang, a lot cried but all of us were thankful to God. As the boat was going through the process of docking I heard all kinds of strange sounds coming from the harbour. Imagine my feelings when I learned that the port was, in fact, being sealed off as the rumours of war were now very strong. No more boats would be landing at Dover. Suddenly I was standing on British soil and there, beyond the barrier, was my beloved husband eagerly awaiting my arrival. He had had no way of knowing the exact time I would get to England but had put his faith in my determination and in God that we would be together again. I don’t think I could ever describe those first precious moments. Lots of hugging, kissing and weeping: both of us so grateful to the Almighty for our reunion. I have lived in this country for more than forty years now: I became a naturalised British citizen as soon as possible after my arrival. My husband served in the British army for the duration of the war. Both our children were born and raised here, as were my grandchildren. Since coming to England I have travelled to many other countries, including South America, where I might have lived had things been different. In my opinion this is the best country in the world where one can be truly free. I regard myself as a British subject and proud of it. I hope you all realise how lucky you are to be English - I certainly do. 10 Holocaust Reflections 11 Reflections by Rabbi Charles Wallach Though life forces us to move on to the next event in Armistice Day. Instead, I willingly went to London to our calendar - currently Chanukah and all that pertains attend the very moving service in Westminster Abbey to it, allow me to give a personal reflection on some of commemorating the end of the First World War. As the what I was able to experience over the weekend that Senior Rabbi of the Movement for Reform Judaism, had us observe the eightieth anniversary of Kristallnacht my colleague Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner had other and the centenary of the Armistice ending the First duties and I offered to deputise. As those who may World War. have seen the service on television could testify, it was Although unable to attend the complete programme at the Progressive synagogue relating to Kristallnacht, I joined my wife in hearing Marguerite Mendelssohn speaking about her own experiences of Kristallnacht. It is a topic I know well as my own grandparents were more than an occasion - the readings, the involvement of the President of Germany alongside Prince Charles and other readers expressed the complexity of the folly of war but the need, nevertheless, to be determined to stand up to naked aggression. caught up in it. Indeed, in responding to Marguerite’s As if to illustrate that further, prior to entering the clear and deeply personal presentation, I mused on one Abbey I joined the throngs watching the march past aspect of the Holocaust that is often brushed aside. and the laying of wreaths at the Cenotaph. But just Although my immediate family were able to rebuild as impressive and probably staying with me, is the their lives in South Africa after escaping Germany in memory of walking in the courtyard outside the Abbey. the 1930s, I grew up with only a hazy knowledge of the There, each of the units that made up the British and much wider family that existed post war in countries Commonwealth forces had areas in which markers as spread out as the United States, Argentina, Israel, bedecked with a single poppy recalled lives of lost Holland, Switzerland, Denmark and even Germany servicemen and women. Most of these markers were itself. Indeed, in 1985, on the fiftieth anniversary of the of course crosses, but two sections side by side were founding of the Central British Fund for World Jewish solely made up of Magen Davids. One, the Gedud Ha Relief - now known as WJR - as I sat hearing the Ivri - the Jewish Brigade that emanated chiefly out of speakers and looking at the guest booklet, I noticed Palestine under the Mandate, and the other AJEX. In the name of a distant relative: It took another twenty the latter was a complete list of numbers of Jews who years and the opening of an exhibition of the work of had fought in both world wars and others. In all, over one branch of our family to get the bulk of the family a million and a half in both world wars: A testament together. surely of who we are and of our determination to play But that sense of determination to overcome these huge pitfalls which war created, was well expressed our full part in society - and maintain ourselves in the process. in the first of two films presented at the Progressive synagogue’s event. It was a documentary in which various survivors of Kristallnacht or, more exactly, those who got to Britain via the Kindertransport, spoke. Their stories are well known but worthy of repetition. Two were known to me, Bob and Anne Kirk, who lived in London for decades. And both are testament to that determination as they not only settled in this land, but became positive influences, both becoming leading Top Hat Productions figures in Liberal Judaism, with Bob serving as Chair of Leo Baeck College some decades ago. The second film was a docu-drama on the Irving trial – the canard that David Irving tried to expound Presents ‘Love Notes’ featuring lots of lovely songs from the shows that the Holocaust was a myth. Though again the story was known, presenting in the way it was, was captivating of itself. And again, the determined effort of those involved - author Deborah Lipstadt (whom I had the pleasure of meeting a number of years ago), lawyer Anthony Julius and the whole legal team, and the charts at Ralli Hall, Denmark Villas, Hove 12th January 2019 at 7.30 pm 13th January at 2.30 pm Tickets £10 Adults was testament to what can be done when all seems otherwise. £6 for under 12s. Contact Laura on 01273 722173. This year I was not at the local observances on ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 12 Holocaust Reflections 13 Torn from their Homes – Kinder at Burgess Hill 80 years ago by Lesley Urbach At the end of December 1938, the Grand Order Sons of Jacob, a Jewish friendly society, agreed to accommodate and financially support 50 girls, who had arrived or were arriving on the Kindertransport, at the Wyberlye Ladies Convalescent Home in Burgess Hill. Amongst these girls were my mother and aunt, Eva (16) and Ulli (13) Wohl. Each Lodge agreed to provide £1 a week to support one child (approximately £50 today.) Some members donated food, shoes and clothes. Kosher chickens were delivered to the home on Fridays. The convalescent home continued to operate and its matron looked after the children. Eva R wrote: ‘It was a nice residence, the gardens and the putting green and the tennis court. Our rooms were cold because the little gas light did not give much heat and we had 3 doubled blankets on top of us, but I was not unhappy there.’ Alice referred to the shock she felt, “coming into a home where everybody spoke German and English. And we didn’t speak a word of either. They thought we were little hicks because they were all from big cities. But we adjusted quickly. We had all kinds of nice things in the home. We lived at the back of the big house. There were about eight of us to a room. We ate our meals in the main building which was very elegant. We received 6 pence pocket money each week. It was used mainly for stamps to write home”. The children, aged between 8 and 17, had different religious backgrounds and upbringings. My mother said they all got on as they spent the most difficult time of their lives together. The children were well cared for: Eva R wrote, “I do remember the ladies who were convalescing there treating us to chocolates and ice cream”. Alice wrote, “The dining room was beautiful. Places were set for breakfast just in the best style you can imagine, and next to each setting there was a banana or a piece of fruit for breakfast and cereal. I mean I had never seen things like that in my village”. The older children helped in the house and the ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 younger children attended local schools. Lotte complained that she was expected to study Shakespeare when she just wanted to learn English and she hated the country dancing lessons, “We were dancing in circles. Everything was so foreign to us. Everything was so different. And it takes a while. You learn the language quickly but the other habits were so different and we had to get used to it”. And Alice, “we did not learn anything. We just copied words from the blackboard”. The matron was strict, telling the girls that there was no such phrase as ‘I can’t’, only ‘I will try,’ and insisting that the girls speak only English, withdrawing their pocket money if they contravened this rule. However, Eva R still has the doll that the matron gave her. Lotte commented, “We were treated very strictly but we were well taken care of. The food was kosher. The food was awful, not at all what we were used to. I especially remember tapioca pudding and oat meal in the morning”. The children had to walk around the town on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and my mother complained that there was little to do in Burgess Hill. My aunt remembers going to the cinema occasionally. Other children learned how to play tennis. A rabbi came from London to take Shabbat services. The children missed and worried about their parents. Several, including my mother, looked in the telephone directory for people with the same surname to contact to ask them to help their family come to England. M. Wohl didn’t answer my mother’s letter. Letters were exchanged before the war. My mother had one phone call. During the war they sent and received telegrams through the Red Cross but were restricted to 25 words. Lotte commented on the futility of being taught how to make dolls when everybody worried where their parents were, particularly once the war started. Alice recalled “going to the village on a Saturday morning to buy myself a little candy. As I was walking towards a store, I saw a father walking with his little girl holding hands. It broke my heart and I started to cry bitterly remembering walking with my father. From then on I did not go to the village on Saturdays”. The Grand Order raised £1,095 (approximately worth £50,000 today) to build extra accommodation for the children. There was an open day on 1 June 1939 when the new building was consecrated by Rabbi Lew from Highgate Synagogue. Donations from the Lodges declined after the war began, a matter of concern to the Executive Committee. The military authorities requisitioned the Home in early February 1941 and the children were returned to the Refugee Children’s Movement and the Polish Jewish Refugee organisation to be rehoused elsewhere. There was no further mention of the children in the Grand Order’s minutes. During their time at Wyberlye House the children were well treated, but this was not the experience of many who came on the Kindertransport. The majority of the children never saw their parents again. A plaque is to be placed near the site of the Home in the summer of 2019. 12 Features 13 Zeh Rak Da’ati - 4 by Godfrey R Gould “Walking home alone after Cheder.” there were the Ben Gurion University Foundation (Secretary), Although I was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne I spent the first eight years of my life in Sunderland. Ours was a Jewish home. Friday night was Friday night, candles, Kiddush and challahs, baked at home by my mother (all our bread was baked at home). On Shabbos and Yom-tov morning I would stand (or sit) beside my father - no playing; Shul was for prayer not play. JACS (founder Vice-Chairman), Book Fairs (twice Chairman), Welfare Board (19 years), Representative Council (two stints for different organisations), Jewish Historical Society (sundry posts and now Hon. President) and I still go to Shul regularly. For some decades I was a guide at Middle Street Synagogue. Earlier this year I was declared surplus to requirements but I have now been asked to resume that role! And now I undertake And from the age of five I went on the tram to school, on the same function at Florence Place Cemetery. For seven the other side of Sunderland. My mother thought the local years I was co-editor of the “Shofar” our Shul magazine. And I school was too rough. How she got me into the one I went have co-edited and partially written the definitive history of the to I do not know and I’m not sure it was any less rough. On Brighton and Hove Jewish Community. As you are reading this Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon (about 4.30 pm) then you’ll be aware that I do write much for this and sundry I would return home, getting off the tram at the stop before other outlets, in print and on-line. mine, to go to Cheder for an hour and a half (as well as two hours on Sunday morning). After Cheder I would walk home by myself, a part of the journey being along a road called The Cedars. It seemed very remote with a high wall on the far side and big houses set well back behind more high walls on the near. Alongside the path there were naturally cedars, enormous cedars. On a winter’s evening it seemed to me that the shadows of the trees cast by the street lights were giants coming to get me. It was a fearful walk. Eventually it got the better of me and one evening my little six-year-old self could go no further. I stood rooted to the spot terrified and started to cry. But a kindly policeman on patrol (they did that in those days) noted my plight and holding my hand took me home. And it all started with those giants as I walked home alone from Cheder when I was five. Somehow, I managed all this without going to any Jewish Day School. Indeed, I don’t know if they really existed or were even needed in my younger days. Life then was so much different with few of the distractions and opportunities that are available to young people today. But I do wonder if we may be in danger of losing the Jewish Heritage and way of life to which I was accustomed? I don’t know. Whatever happened to those like my mother and so many more who came before us and who set us such meaningful examples? Maybe you should simply ignore me - perhaps I’m really just another angry old man? If I thought that I wouldn’t have to walk home alone again (and I don’t think I did) my solitary journeys continued and I swiftly learned that trees are not giants about to get little Jewish boys. But on 3 September 1939 a real giant appeared: Adolf Hitler upset my routine by invading Poland. Between then and 1945 Brighton & Hove Jewish Welfare Board provides affordable accommodation in Central Hove I lived in seven different homes and went to eight different schools. Sometimes I would go to Shul and sometimes Cheder, depending where we lived, but always to school. When I was ten, we lived with my grandmother in Newcastle and then I went to everything, even a Shiur with our Rabbi on Shabbos afternoon. The following year we had moved to a suburb of It currently has a vacancy for a one bedroom unfurnished flat, suitable for single occupancy and a one bedroom unfurnished flat suitable for a couple. The rent includes central heating; constant hot water; use of garden; television and telephone points. Newcastle well away from the Jewish areas, to be near the For further information or to request an application form Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Neptune Shipyard where my father was then required to work. But I still went to Cheder four times a week and to Shul on Shabbos morning, please telephone 07716 114012 or email bahjha@googlemail.com but without my father. When Rabbi Rabinowitz discovered that I came to Shul on the bus, he told my mother that if I had to use the bus it would be better I did not come! Her reply is a classic, “What would you rather Godfrey do on Shabbos morning - play in the streets with the goyim? Godfrey should know that on Shabbos morning he should be in Shul, and Brighton and Hove Jewish Housing Association provides sheltered accommodation in Central Hove that’s where he’s going to be”. It currently has a vacancy for a one bedroom By 1945 life returned to what to me became normal. I went unfurnished flat, suitable for single occupancy. to University (ultimately three), and when I was 21 I became a The affordable rent includes central heating; constant hot member of the Shul - it was simply what I expected to do. And water; use of garden; television and telephone points. within about five years I was Hon. Secretary of the Shul. As I moved about the country I was not as involved as I had been. But when I moved to Brighton (Hove, actually) 53 years ago, I joined New Church Road Shul and became involved in sundry communal activities. I was on the Shul Board for a few years For further information or to request an application form please telephone 07716 114012 or email bahjha@googlemail.com (an object lesson in how not to run any committee!) and then ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 14 Rep Council 15 SJRC Lording it up The Chair Team of the SJRC, together with other leaders from British Jewry, was invited to a Chanukah Reception at the House of Lords on December 3rd. The event was hosted by the Board of Deputies and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews. Guest speaker was Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Minister. Chief Rabbi Mirvis lit the Chanukah candles in front of a packed audience. Also present was Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, Senior Rabbi to Reform Judaism and Rabbi Danny Rich, Senior Rabbi and Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism. Chanukah at Number 10 by Beryl Sharpe During November I received an invitation from the Prime Winton’s daughter, Lady Grenfell-Baines, who herself came Minister, Theresa May, to attend a Chanukah reception. A wet to England on the Kindertransport. Mark Regev, the Israeli and murky Monday 3rd of December dawned and I was almost Ambassador, said he remembered fondly his trip to Brighton paralysed with nerves at the thought of having to walk down and enquired whether or not the BDS were still demonstrating Downing Street to number 10 on my own. outside Ralli Hall. I met a lady from Stamford Hill who works Having been to The House of Lords with the chair team, now it was me alone! Thankfully Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner was walking my way and we walked Whitehall together. with people who have Crohn’s and colitis but cannot for various reasons talk about it. Although ultra-religious, she is determined that these debilitating illnesses should be talked about and that no one should suffer in silence. Having gone through security, I walked up to number 10 where the policeman opened the door and there I was, quite unbelievably, inside the Prime Ministerial residence! Mobiles were taken, coats and bags hung up and then we walked up the famous staircase lined with pictures of past prime ministers with festive decorations intertwining the beautiful balustrades. Gradually, people from all walks of life, different religions, charity workers, MPs, Rabbonim, The Israeli Ambassador The Chief Rabbi lit the Chanukah lights and spoke movingly about the Kindertransport ‘children’ who were with us. We were then entertained by some of the children from Matilda Marks school. Unfortunately Mrs May was still debating Brexit in the House of Commons so she couldn’t attend the reception, but the Secretary of State spoke of the Prime Minister’s support for the Jewish Community and her anguish at the anti-Semitism that is and so many interesting people filled the 3 magnificent inter- growing in this country. connecting rooms with genuine delight to be included in such a special event. The food kept coming: the latkes and doughnuts were amazing! When it was time to leave I wanted to bottle and keep tight the memories of such a special two hours and I felt truly humbled and overwhelmed that I had been invited to 10 Downing Street I was privileged to spend time with Barbara Winton, Nicolas to represent the Brighton & Hove Jewish Community. ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 Mark Regev, Israeli Ambassador SJRC Chair Team at the House of Lords 14 Rep Council 15 Sussex Jewish Community Helping the Homeless After appealing for donations of sanitary products and toiletries from the community we have been astounded by the contributions made so far. Within a few days of the appeal going out the products started arriving at the collection point. A large cupboard was quickly filled and bags of female and male products were made up. ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 On an extremely wet November night we were ready to venture out into Brighton & Hove city centres to start our first distribution. Beryl Sharpe, Sarah Wilks, Grace Myers and Simon Seligman packed the boot of a car with the bags we had collected and with much trepidation we were on our way. We received amazing thanks and appreciation from the men and women who received our contributions and it really felt that we were carrying out an amazing Mitzvah. The homeless seemed to really welcome the practical items that we were able to donate. We are looking to carry on this project on an ongoing basis and are looking for volunteers who would be willing to give up a few hours every few weeks to distribute the bags to the homeless. Please contact Sarah on 01273 327763 or Beryl on 01273 734300 to volunteer. PLEASE KEEP THE PRODUCTS COMING Toothpaste, Brushes, Deodorants, Sanitary Pads, Cleaning Wipes, Soap, Razors, Shaving Foam, Shampoo, Chocolate, Power Bars, Scarves, Socks etc. PLEASE DELIVER YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:- ODM, 235-237, HANGLETON ROAD, HOVE, BN3 7LR Mon-Fri 9.00 -5.30 Voluntary Support Agencies • Ralli Hall Lunch & Social Club (Day Centre) 01273 739999 ralliday@tiscali.co.uk • Norwood/Tikvah, Rachel Mazzier House 01273 564021 • Hyman Fine House 01273 688226 • Helping Hands 01273 747722 helping-hands@helping-hands.org • Brighton & Hove Jewish Welfare Board 07952 479111 or info@bhjwb.org; website: www.bhjwb.org • Brighton & Hove Jewish Housing Association. bahjha@googlemail.com • Welfare at Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue/L’chaim project 01273 737223 • Welfare Officer at Brighton & Hove Reform. (Sue Rosenfield) 01273 735343 • Brighton & Hove Jewish Community Foundation at Ralli Hall. Tel: 01273 202254 or rallihallcentre@gmail.com ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW WEBSITE: www.sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org 16 BHPS Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue, 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF Tel: 01273 737223 Email: info@bhps-online.org www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk 17 Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue Twitter@BHPS2011 Remembering Lily Montagu, z’l by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah January is generally a dreary month in the northern living as a committed Jew in the modern world. In January hemisphere. And yet, set at the heart of winter, January also 1899, she published an essay in the Jewish Quarterly ushers in new beginnings. Across the world, the Jewish Review, entitled, ‘Spiritual Possibilities of Judaism Today’, people mark Tu Bishvat, the 15th day of the month of Sh’vat which encapsulated the worldview of Liberal Judaism. She with the New Year for Trees – Rosh Ha-Shanah La-Ilanot – wrote: “Together we must sift, with all reverence the pure as in Israel, the almond blossom appears on the trees. This from the impure in the laws which our ancestors formulated year, Tu Bishvat falls on Sunday, 20th January. And then, in order to satisfy the needs of the age...” a week later, on National Holocaust Memorial Day, we will recall the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army on 27th January 1945, which marked the beginning of the end of the Sho’ah. The commitment to respond positively to ‘the needs of the age’ became a cornerstone of Liberal Judaism, which first found organisational expression in February 1902 with the establishment of the Jewish Religious Union. Open In late December, I was conscious of a much less familiar to all Jews interested in reflecting on how to live as Jews date: the 145th anniversary of the birth of Lily Montagu, one today, services were held on Shabbat afternoons to enable of the three founders of Liberal Judaism, who was born on Jews of all denominations to attend. However, by 1909, 22nd December 1873. Lily Montagu died in 1963, at the opposition from some Orthodox quarters led to the decision age of 89, and between Tu Bishvat and National Holocaust to reformulate the JRU as a movement dedicated to the Memorial Day, on 22nd January, it will be her yahrzeit. ‘Advancement of Liberal Judaism’. Limitation of space allows me to share just a few key In the years that followed, Lily Montagu helped to found highlights from her life. At the age of 20, together with her Liberal synagogues around the country and in 1928 became elder sister Marion (1868-1965), and their cousin, Beatrice lay minister of the West Central Synagogue, a position she Franklin (1871-1959), who later married Herbert Samuel held until her death in 1963. In 1925, she helped found the (1870-1963), Lily Montagu founded the West Central Jewish World Union for Progressive Judaism and was responsible Girls Club. The aim of the club was to give working-class for running the WUPJ from 1926 through 1959, including Jewish girls the opportunity to develop themselves through organising its international conferences; the first of which classes, concerts and outings – and also through Shabbat was held in Berlin in 1928. Today, the WUPJ is the largest services which she led. During this time, Lily also led global Jewish organisation with affiliates around the world, services for children at the West Central Synagogue. including, in this country, both Liberal Judaism and the It was also during this time that Lily Montagu met the Jewish scholar, Claude Montefiore (1858-1938), whose vision of Liberal Judaism mirrored her own approach to Movement for Reform Judaism. Zichronah livrachah – May her memory be for a blessing; a source of continual blessing as we respond to ‘the needs of the age’ in the 21st-century. Events @ BHPS Third Season of Sunday Lectures and Lunches. 11.30 am - Welcome drink on arrival 12.00 to 1.00 pm - Lecture by guest speaker and Q&A session 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm - Lunch including wine or soft drinks and coffee Only £22.50 per person. Non-members and their friends welcome 27 January: Sir Anthony Seldon - ‘300 years of Premiership in Britain’. How the job of ‘PM’ has evolved over the last three centuries, particularly in recent times. Sunday 24 February: Dr Aviva Deutsch – ‘The Remarkable Isaac Rosenberg: WW1 Poet and Painter’ See our website for the full series programme and booking details. Onagim Join us on Friday evenings at 7.30 pm for a shortened service, light refreshments and an interesting talk and discussion. January 11: Dr Deborah Pencharz: ‘Nuclear Medicine’. How radioactivity can help diagnose disease. All are very welcome to our events, but if you are not a member or friend of our synagogue please let us know you are coming on info@bhps-online.org or 01273-737223. Exploring Judaism with Rabbi Elli is open to all those who wish to broaden and deepen their Jewish knowledge. The curriculum draws on Jewish texts (e.g. Torah, TaNaKH, Mishnah, Talmud, ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 Siddur & Machzor) and includes an exploration of the differences between Liberal Judaism and other Jewish denominations. The course includes the festivals and commemorative days as they come up. Classes are held on Shabbat from 2.15-3.45 pm, after the Access to Hebrew class. No class will be held on 5 January 2019. Unit 3: Doing Judaism 12 January: Tz’dakah & G’milut Chasadim 19 January: Tu Bishvat seder will be held in place of classes, 1.00-2.30 pm 26 January: Finding your way through the Siddur 2 February: Finding your way through the Chumash Access to Classical Hebrew with Rabbi Elli is held on Shabbat afternoons, 1.00 to 2.00 pm. Are you interested in being able to read and understand the Hebrew Bible or the prayer book? This class is open to students of all levels – from total beginners to those wishing to study classical Hebrew grammar and/or prepare a Torah reading. Students work on their own or in chavruta (pairs), with input and support from Rabbi Elli. To join the class, please contact the synagogue at info@bhps-online.org Open Wednesdays - BHPS is open on Wednesday from 11.00 am – 4.00 pm for social activities. These include scrabble, chess, bridge, kalooki, exercise classes, computer training, access to the library and crafts. Please bring a packed lunch (vegetarian or permitted fish). Hot drinks are available. Ring the office for further details if you would like to join us. 16 BHRS Rabbi Dr Andrea Zanardo Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue, Palmeira Avenue, Hove BN3 3GE Tel: 01273 735343 Email: office@bh-rs.org www.bh-rs.org https://www.facebook.com/BrightonReform 17 BrightonReform Pizzaid by Rabbi Dr Andrea Zanardo Sderot, Israel, first week of December 2018: Little Shmuel is tired of his military service. Of course, it is important to serve in the Army of the Jewish State. The memory of the pogrom in Algeria, which Safta survived, is enough to remind him of the importance of having a Jewish State. Nonetheless, military life can be terribly boring. The silence is depressing. Yes, he has a smartphone, with all the radio stations of the world available, but let’s face it, would you really want to listen to the BBC, where every other day Israeli soldiers like Shmuel are portrayed as bloodthirsty monsters and day in and day out some pompous academic, perhaps even Jewish, lectures the world on alternatives to the two states solution? But wait. What’s that? Pizza? For me? Sababah! that is great. And there is a card. “We are grateful for all that you do! Greetings from New York” New York? thinks Shmuel. When this service is over I want to visit New York. Safta has a cousin in New York. And on that night in Sderot, little Shmuel felt less alone. ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 Some weeks before, in England: I’d really rather not be drawn into these arguments, thought the Rabbi. But his American colleague was desperate for his opinion. “This actor” says the friend “Nice fellow, but... I mean, he is great. Campaign for the immigrants, you get the idea. Unfortunately, ten years ago or so, he tweeted some anti- Semitic rubbish, like “Jews brought the USA to war in Iraq, Jews are the ruin of this Country.” “Wow, disgusting.” “Now a journalist has uncovered the tweets ... but the actor regrets, you know? He wants to apologise, he is a different person now... What do you think?” “Well, I think he should do something, to prove that he really is a different person. His actions have caused damage and damage must be repaired. You know, Jewish ethics is not about the intention, but about action, facts. “And which sort of reparation do you suggest?” “Let me think... I have an idea... this guy probably was not so fond of Zionism when he tweeted that rubbish. Now hopefully he understands Israel... and there is this web site, http://pizzaidf.org Job acancy ccountant/eperienced Bookkeeper required: ◊ o keep books and manage the returns for our Redevelopment proect ◊ his task will be remunerated and should take, after set-up, perhaps a few hours per month. If you are interested please reply to Peter os by email to: finance@bh-rs.org Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue - Palmeira Avenue Hove East Sussex. BN3 3GE - Tel: 01273 735343 Bulletin Board – January Friday 4 Shabbat Kolot, 6.30 pm Saturday 5 Shabbat morning service led by Jason, 10.30 am Cheder Havdalah, 3.30 pm Saturday 12 Book Club - ‘Three Floors Up’ by Eshkol Nevo, 9.15 am Shabbat morning service led by Tony, 10.30 am Saturday 19 Shabbat morning service led by Steve, 10.30 am Shabbat Shalom Yeladim, 10.30 am Sunday 20 Tu B’Shvat Cheder including Tu B’Shvat seder, 9.30 am Saturday 26 Shabbat morning service led by Jason, 10.30 am (The diary is subject to change) *** Please book your place by calling the Shul Office 18 19 Why? by Rabbi Hershel RaderISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 BHHC Rabbi Hershel Rader Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation, 31 New Church Road, Hove BN3 3AD Tel: 01273 888855 Email: office@bhhc-shul.org www.bhhc-shul.org Imagine you own something really precious and wish to pass it on to someone else, what kind of person would you give it to? Would you give it to someone who would cherish and care for it or someone who might neglect and forget about it? This is the question the angels in heaven asked G-d before He gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, one of the most pivotal events in our history - recorded in Yitro, the last Sidra this month. The Rabbis tell us that when Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Torah the angels challenged the Almighty claiming that they should be the ones to receive this gift. After all, a doctrine that contains Divine wisdom belongs in heaven where it will be appreciated fully. The response was that the Torah contains a code of moral and ethical conduct and perspectives, fresh attitudes and discovering hidden strengths of character that we never knew we possessed. Angels are holy beings that are never tempted and never have the need to experience change. As G-d said to them ‘do you have wives that you can be unfaithful to?’ We humans, who are faced with temptation, are forced to dig deeper into our souls to discover fresh methods and strength to withstand temptation. We are forced to fortify our value system by constant reflection and self-education. We have the opportunity of being totally different than we were yesterday, last week or last month. By immersing ourselves in the Torah and pursuing its values we involve ourselves in a continuing creative process. With all our frailty and flaws, we are the recipients of G-d’s Torah. Let us make sure to use it well. can only be given to those that have an inclination to break that code. Only those that are tempted to steal, commit adultery and lie are appropriate recipients of the Torah. This seems a strange argument. Why would Our Weekly Shiurim G-d want to give His treasure specifically to those that are tempted to abuse it? Three shiurim are held every week at 31 New Church Road, Hove. The Zohar, the fundamental treatise of Jewish Wednesdays, 12.30-1.30 pm. Mysticism, teaches that the Torah is much more than a book of rules. It is the blueprint of creation, the tool Lunch and Learn for all. A light informal lunch followed by a shiur. £3 a head. G-d used to create a new realm of existence. When Thursdays, 10.00 to 11 am. Ladies’ Shiur. He decided to part with the Torah and give it away, He (no charge). still wanted it to be used as a creative tool. By using the teachings of the Torah, not just as a code of good conduct, but as an implement of real change, it is also a form of creation. When we experience real growth, improving and refining our personality and making Saturdays, half an hour before Minchah (times vary - please see weekly notices). The shiur is followed by Minchah, a Seudah Shilitit and Ma’ariv (no charge). space for G-d to enter our existence, we become new people, realising the full potential of the Torah. Real change can only come when there is challenge BHHC Events to April 2019 and temptation. It comes from breaking out of our status quo and comfort zone, seeking alternative Catered Lunch & Learn Monthly on Wednesdays at 12.15 pm 9 January, 6 February, 6 March, 3 April Featuring a three course lunch – cost £7.50 Want to save money on your Monthly Friday Night Dinners Home / Business Expenses with a Which? Recommended supplier? 18 January at 5.45 pm 22 February at 6.30 pm (provisional time) 15 March at 7.00 pm (provisional time) Cost £15.00 - Spaces limited Contact David Schaverien Tel: 01273 779001 Pesach Seder Friday 19 April Email: theschav@uwclub.net Please call the shul office 01273 888855 to book or for further information 18 HHC Rabbi Hove Email: Hebrew hollandroadshul@btconnect.com Samuel Congregation, de 79 Beck Holland Road, Spitzer www.hollandroadshul.com Hove BN3 1JN Tel: 01273 732035 19 New Year Revelations by Rabbi Samuel de Beck Spitzer On the night of this 1 January / New years’ Day 2019 (25 Tevet), I shall celebrate my birthday. Don’t all jump with vintage bottles of champagne, chocolates and flowers please, it is wholly unnecessary. It does beg the question as to the true significance of a birthday and whether or not it has any real importance. The ‘birthday’ subject has been rather exhausted and Rabbinical responses in various formats can be found all over the Internet. What I would care to focus on is the concept of ‘Gilgul’. Otherwise known in common parlance as ‘Reincarnation’ and obviously related to the day of one’s birth, the topic is vast and the details could fill tomes many times over. Perhaps a brief overview will act to inspire further investigation. To the best of my knowledge, a belief in the ‘Gilgul’ (Literally translated as ‘cycle’ or ‘wheel’) of the human soul is, in our era, common knowledge and basic to Jewish philosophy. Having said that, it is not an essential element of our belief system and would not constitute an affront to Judaism’s basic tenets should one choose to reject it. The migration of souls and their myriad segments has been delineated in the work ‘Shaar HaGilgulim’ (Gate of Reincarnations) compiled by Rabbi Hayyim Vital, which relays the teachings of his Master the ‘Ari HaKadosh’ (The Holy Lion), Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534-1572) of Blessed Memory. He was the 16th century Kabbalist and mystic par excellence who lifted the lid on both the theoretical and practical Kabbalah, never previously revealed. He founded the doctrines of Lurianic Kabbalah as part of what he perceived to be the metaphysical purpose of Creation and his fame spread throughout the Jewish world effecting global Jewish practice, despite the fact that he died at the relatively very young age of 38! Indeed, he is buried in the Holy city of Safed in the Galilee and his tomb is a destination for pilgrimage unto this day. In the work ‘Shaar HaGilgulim’ (which can now be found in several English translations), an oeuvre primarily geared to the already mystically initiated, Vital builds on the Kabbalistic foundations set out by his Masters’ predecessor Rabbi Moses Cordovero and takes it to another level. Thereby, all things, in fact all matter exists by virtue of the fact that it contains within it sparks of Godliness that provide it with its Life- Force. Because the concept of Tikkun (Fixing and improving the world) features very high in the worldview of the Holy Ari, therefore souls migrate to other bodily manifestations within different lifetimes in order to fulfil their destiny of Tikkun. ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 It must be said that within this particular school of thought, souls can also manifest themselves within the animal kingdom, plantlife and even inanimate objects by virtue of the fact that only within the lowest and most physical of spiritual entities can the elevation of those ‘sparks’ of Holiness arrive at their position of origin. Much of Hassidism, stripped of its visual outward trimmings, is based on these concepts of spiritual elevation and use of the physical. Of course, I do realise and shall even presume, that some of these concepts shall come as a surprise or even mild shock upon hearing them for the first time. Whilst some elements are admittedly contested, what emerges and what is common to all authentic expounders of Torah, is that the practical physical Mitzvot (Commandments) as laid out in the Torah alongside its prohibitions, act as a vehicle towards the fulfilment of the Jewish soul in its elevation back to its source. Kindertransport Commemorative Shabbat SUITCASE Grey and tattered it stands in the attic Having accomplished sixty odd years Of survival and childhood memories, Stuffed tight with mother love and heartache, Unable to forget the packed trains Of ownerless children and platforms of tears Its pock-marked skin a testimony And emblem of such histories. What now in this war-world of cul-de-sac lives, Seekers of all ages for a place to own Confronting friendlessness in a strange town, A suitcase, perhaps, of unhappy souls To be stored in some future eventual attic Or dumped in a museum as showpiece of luck. Lotte Kramer Lotte was born in Mainz in 1923 and came to Britain in June 1939 on the Kindertransport. She lives in Peterborough. 20 What’s on: January 2019 Website: www.sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org Email: sussexjewishrepco@gmail.com SJN Email: sjneditor@sussexjewishnews.com or editor@sjn.org.uk 20 COMMUNITY EVENTS – IMPORTANT REMINDER: Contact the Communal Diary before planning your events. Email: sussexjewishrepco@gmail.com SHABBAT SHALOM – BRIGHTON TIMES REGULAR ACTIVITIES In Light candles Out Havdalah Owing to the various bank holidays, please contact activity organisers to Fri 4 3.51 pm Sat 5 5.06 pm confirm that activities will be held Fri 11 4.00 pm Sat 12 5.15 pm Fri 18 4.10 pm Sat 19 5.24 pm Fri 25 4.22 pm Sat 26 5.35 pm Mondays Shiur for the Actively Retired with Rabbi Efune 4.00 – 5.00 pm at 11 Hove Manor, Hove Street, Hove. Tel: 07885 538 681 Talmud for the Thinking Man with Rabbi Efune 8.15 – 9.15 pm at SPECIAL DATES Chabad House, Upper Drive, Hove Tel: 01273 321919 Tuesday 1 January Bank Holiday Monday 21 January Tu B’Shevat Torah & Tea with Penina Efune. Weekly Discovery and Discussion Group based on Jewish texts focusing on the personal meaning and relevance to our lives. 8.00 pm at Chabad House, Upper Drive, Hove. Tel or Text 07834 669181 Tuesdays EVENTS IN JANUARY Something to Say? - Discussion Group with Rabbi Samuel, every other Tuesday Hove Hebrew Congregation, 79 Holland Road, Hove Tuesday 8 10.30 am Tel: 01273 732035 Sussex Jewish News – Submission deadline for the February 2019 issue. Send your articles, thoughts, photos and announcements to sjneditor@sussexjewishnews.com or editor@sjn.org.uk Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club, 10.30 am - 4.30 pm Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 Weekly Ralli Hall Mummy and ME Music with Penina Efune at Montessori Nursery Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 Top Hats present ‘Love Notes’ songs from the shows at Ralli Hall, Denmark Villas, Hove 7.30 pm. Tickets £10/£6 under 12s from Laura 01273 722173 from 11.30 am to 1.00 pm. Enjoy a stimulating environment with your baby/toddler, some meaningful discussion, music and movement Painting with Rochelle (JAS), Studio at Ralli Hall, 2.00 - 4.00 pm. Tel: 07811 601106 Recommences 15 January. Chutzpah Choir Yiddish singing in 4 parts with Polina Shepherd. 11.00 Tuesday 15 Meeting to further discuss the new Jewish Primary School - 7:15 am – 1.00 pm weekly. For Hove venue contact chutzpahchoir@gmail. com or ring Betty on 01273 474795 pm at Ralli Hall Israeli Dancing, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm Ralli Hall Email: nicolahyman@ talktalk.net or miriambook1@gmail.com Sunday 27 Wednesdays International Holocaust Memorial Day ‘Brains of Brighton’ Fun quiz in aid of Montessori Nursery, Mark Luck Hall, 31 New Church Road, Hove at 7.30 pm. Tickets £10.00 from 01273 328675 Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community (affiliated to Liberal Judaism) Coffee morning, 11.00 am, 1st Wednesday of each month, Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne. Information: www.eljc.org.uk or phone 01323 725650 Tuesday 29 Jewish Historical Society Sussex Branch with speaker Imogen Choi, Associate Professor, University of Oxford ‘Medieval Thursdays Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club 10.30 am-4.30 pm Weekly Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 RH Sephardi Literature’. Ralli Hall, Denmark Villas, Hove. 7.30 pm. Members free. Visitors £5.00. Contact: amcrook321@gmail.com JACS members are invited on the first Thursday of every month to the RHL&SC Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 RH Centre for German-Jewish Studies Evi Wohlgemuth memorial Bridge at Ralli Hall 11.00 am lecture at the Royal Academy of Arts with Tracey Emin CBE RA and art historian Sir Norman Rosenthal discussing the works of Austrian painter Egon Schiele. 6.30 – 7.30 pm Tickets £20 Email: tickets@royalacademy.org.uk Weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Efune - men and ladies welcome - 8.15 - 9.15 pm at Chabad House. 01273 321919 Fridays Kuddle Up Shabbat parent & child playgroup with Sara Zanardo and her guitar IMPORTANT INFORMATION For visitors using a satellite navigation system in their vehicle Free Happy Hour at Montessori Nursery 12 noon – 1.00 pm ALL WELCOME. Come and celebrate, see, taste, hear and feel the joy of Shabbat. Tel: 01273 328675 JEWISH CEMETERY, MEADOWVIEW, BRIGHTON Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community (affiliated to Liberal The post code for this cemetery is BN2 4DE Judaism). Service at 6.30 pm, 4th Friday of each month, at CTK Hall, JEWISH CEMETERY, OLD SHOREHAM ROAD, HOVE The post code for this cemetery is BN3 7EF Eastbourne, BN23 6HS. Information: www.eljc.org.uk or phone 01323 725650. Saturdays Eastbourne Hebrew Congregation, Shabbat services at 22 Susans Please note that our next issue will be January 2019 Road, Eastbourne, 10.00 am. Contact 01323 484135 or 07739 082538. The deadline for your announcements, news, views, Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community (affiliated to Liberal articles, photos, adverts, etc., is 8th January 2019 Judaism). Service at 12.30 pm, 2nd Saturday of each month, at CTK Hall, Eastbourne, BN23 6HS. Information: www.eljc.org.uk or phone 01323 725650 ISSUE 292 | JANUARY 2019 -
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Issue 215
January 2012
Whats d MORE | AN T’S ON HA | w EEK w ISH BOOK AT 5772 • ISSUE 215 w | JE TEVET / SHEV Y 2012 • AR | MIAMI NICE JANU dAY UST MEMORIAL x dE.... T’S INSI TIONAL HOLOCA SUSSE JEwISH NEwS HA SUSSE JEwISH w NA 2 Pause for thought 3 guest commentary by ivor richards Holocaust Memorial is nothing new for Jews. Sadly, genocide has continued to be practised Ever since the horrors of the concentration camps throughout the world, despite knowledge of the became known, we have remembered. atrocities perpetrated during the Second World War. We instituted Yom Hashoah one week before the Perhaps philosophers can understand what there is day of celebrating Yom Haatzmaut, which is the within the human psyche that enables such events to day which marks the creation of the modern State take place – I cannot. of Israel. If nothing else, the Since Holocaust sadly, genocide has continued to be Practiced proximity of one Memorial Day was first day to the other throughout the world, desPite knowledge of made a national day of is a permanent the atrocities PerPetrated during the second commemoration, local reminder of both authorities have been world war the sorrow and free to create their own the joy of living. programmes. We in Brighton & Hove have been very fortunate in having caring councillors and officials It took more than 60 years for a British Government who put considerable effort into devising sensitive to recognise that the events of the Holocaust did not events. just affect Jewry and that man’s inhumanity to man is common to all. Please do support them. SJN brings local news, events, articles, reviews, ADMINISTRATOR Ivor Sorokin announcements, people, congregations, communitites, contacts and more. Delivered at the start of each month, SJN is run entirely by volunteers for reporting, ADMIN ASSISTANT Gweni Sorokin editing and circulating each edition that has become the cornerstone of the Jewish community across the region. COMMuNAL DIARy info@sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org EDITORIAL BOARD COVER Brian Megitt Doris Levinson / Stephanie Megitt / Sue Rea David Seidel PRODuCTION/LAyOuT TECHNICAL ADVISOR Anand Day Brian Megitt SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 8 JANUARY 2012 susseX Jewish news subscriPtion Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: _________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Postcode: _________________________ Email: _______________________________________________ Telephone: _________________________ Subscription (tick one) I would like to receive electronic copies of SJN. £15 p/a I would like to receive printed copies of SJN. £18 p/a. 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I have made a payment via PayPal (www.paypal.co.uk) to editor@sussexjewishnews.com issue 215 | January 2012 2 contents 3 sussex Jewish news features Po box 2178 hove bn3 3sZ 1 the new JerusaleM light rail telephone: 07906 955 404 Israel reveals its new commuter train e-mail: editor@sussexjewishnews.com 4 Moss rich (1910-2011) An appreciation of our local poet 7 MiaMi nice Rabbi Charles Wallach on the Jewish culture of South Florida 8 national holocaust MeMorial day Programme of remembrance in the City and at the University of Sussex 12 MitZVah day 2011 Community action at our best regulars 5 your news & Views Letters and announcements 6 coMMunity life News from across the county 10 culture Films, lectures, Jewish Book Week and more 16 what’s on Regular and special events in your community your coMMunity 13 brighton & hoVe ProgressiVe synagogue 14 brighton & hoVe reforM synagogue 15 brighton & hoVe hebrew congregation 15 hoVe hebrew congregation Full page (A4 size) £160 Half page (A5 size) £90 Sussex Jewish News (‘SJN’), its Editor and Editorial Board: • are not allied to any synagogue or group and the views expressed by writers are Quarter page (A6 size) £50 not necessarily those of SJN; 1/9 page (credit card size) £35 • accept advertisements in good faith but do not endorse any products or TISING services and do not accept liability for any aspect of any advertisements; and Personal: £4 per line • welcome readers’ contributions but reserve the right to edit, cut, decline or Flyers: Price on application submit the content to others for comment. To ensure that we receive your submissions by email, please send them ONLY to Local Jewish charities will not be charged, subject to editor@sussexjewishnews.com, otherwise we cannot guarantee their consideration editorial decision. for publication. To assist the Editorial Board, submissions should be in Word format BOOK NOW! 07906 955 404 using Times New Roman as a font. Receipt of submissions may not be acknowledged, unless specifically requested. As the Editorial Board is made up entirely of volunteers, editor@sussexjewishnews.com ADVER IN SJN GUIDELINES any response may be subject to delay. issue 215 | January 2012 4 Moss rich (1910-2011) 5 Moss rich: an obituary critique, Rich was a man with a very big heart and by John Davies and Tom Slingsby tender emotions often sitting side by side with satire in his work. Moss Rich lived an extraordinary life filled with love and poetry, which brought delight to his fans and family After receiving his message from the Queen for his alike. 100th birthday in 2010, Moss continued to publish new works, receiving national media coverage as ‘Britain’s He claimed to have started writing poetry in the 1970s. oldest working poet’. He and Milly were dubbed In 1939 the young Moss met Milly at a performance at ‘The Most Romantic Pair in Britain’ in a feature that London’s Unity Theatre and shortly after commenced appeared in The Mirror. The piece caught the public what was to become a life-long tradition. imagination and the couple appeared soon after in the video for ‘Let There be Love’ by former Spice Girl, Needing a way to make his first Valentine’s Day with Mel C. his sweetheart truly special, Moss lacked the resources to indulge in expensive gifts. Instead, he composed a Moss’s sight had by then deteriorated, yet he continued poem that so charmed Milly, that it started a tradition to share his indefatigable creativity by dictating new of writing her a romantic lyric for every birthday, poems and reciting old ones from memory. In 2010 he anniversary and Valentine’s Day. published A Patch of Land to House Six Million Ghosts through his own Scribblersinn imprint. In the 1970s the Riches moved to Hove, a decade which saw the acerbic side of Moss’s talent come to Waterloo Press published ‘A Psalm of Consequences’ the fore. In 1975 he sent a satirical poem about the and in 2011 Pighog Press published A Lifetime of Love, Harold Wilson government to a political columnist at a luxury boxed edition of Moss’s love poetry printed The Times. He was surprised to see that they published on postcards. This has been a year in which Moss it and even more so to receive a cheque for ‘two and demonstrated his desire to spread his love of poetry a half or three guineas’ in payment for the piece. Moss by supporting the inaugural Moss Rich Poetry Prize, says, ‘From then on, I began taking poetry seriously.’ organised by Pighog Press in conjunction with the University of Sussex. The prize proved a great success, Moss’s poems are nearly all intended to be read aloud and Pighog intends that, by continuing to run it, we and what sets them apart, is their special combination will sustain our celebration of the great man’s legacy of of exuberant rhythmic bounce and sarcastic sense of love and letters long into the future. difference from social convention. But for all his pithy Tom Slingsby is an Assistant Editor with Pighog Press a personal tribute to Moss rich In his books he launched into the most controversial by Aubrey Cole matters, stating his views - which were often those of the minority - in a manner that was firm but charming. With the passing of Moss Rich an era has come to Although he often acted as the devil’s advocate, few an end. Moss was a man of a great intellect that could have been offended by his observations. All who increased as he grew older. knew Moss will remember him with great affection. MARTIN GROSS Memorials All aspects of stone-masonry undertaken from new to renovation and cleaning 01273 439792 07801 599771 issue 215 | January 2012 4 your news & views 5 births deaths • Mazel tov to Stephanie and Brian Megitt on the birth of a We wish Long Life to: grandson, Louis Solomon. • The family of Freda Gordon z’l • Mazel tov to Barbara Moss on the birth of a second • The family of Adrienne Lewis z’l granddaughter, Sophie Rebecca. • Angela Goldman on the death of her mother, Lilian Pritchard z’l special birthdays • The family of Moss Rich z’l • The family of Avril Samuels z’l • Mazel tov to each of Devorah Dicks, Jacques Du Vivier, Helen Epstein, Ruth Karp, Miryam Kerpel, Ella Lubich, Sally Manley, Rosalind Pantoock, Pauline Pollock, Ivor Moss Rich, 1910-2011 Richards, Tony Rosenfield, Evelyn Shamash, Matthew In the words of his daughter Shula published on Sorokin, Candice Springer and Nathan Style, all of whom www.webjam.com/indi: are celebrating special birthdays this month. “Moss went to bed, had a massage from his helper, finished achievements his Irish Whisky and by morning had passed peacefully away. Even with such things we can be blessed!” • Mazel tov to Judy Irwin who was honoured with an award by The Witness Service for services to victims and witnesses in the Crown Court. a plea for clarity anniversaries Another publication has asked me for the reasons why • Mazel tov to Wendy and Ronnie Bloom on their 45th Bollywood-themed bar mitzvahs and parties have become popular in the Jewish community. If anyone knows the wedding anniversary. answer, I would be pleased you would kindly contact me by • Mazel tov to Adrienne and Michael Davids on their 30th email at sue@joogleberry.com. wedding anniversary. Thank you. get well Sue Popper • We wish a refuah shelaimah to Paul Bass, Julie Benjamin, Michael Brummer, Gary Epstein, Nicholas Epstein, Cyril Jacobs, Lee Panto and Mef Sharpe. aJeX pending elections at our AGM next April. In the interim all our members will be notified and we hope to arrange our social by Judy Gabriel, PRO, Brighton & Hove Branch programme in due course. After a lifetime of dedicated service to AJEX, Aubrey Cole has retired from office as Chairman with all other aspects of the I am sure everyone in the wider community will acknowledge administration. You’ll be pleased to know that the Branch has his past achievements and will join me in wishing Aubrey well been restructured under the direction of the Hon. Secretary for the future. about our cover: the Jerusalem light railway by Brian Megitt According to the Guardian (17 August 2011) the “long-The trams are built in awaited light railway splits opinion”. What must be the most France by Alstom and are costly ever rapid transit system, at approximately £60m, said to include security-has taken over 10 years to construct and runs from Pisgat related features. However, Ze’ev in the east to Mount Herzl in the west. That works out the project has been at approximately £7.5m per mile and progress at less than a plagued by technical mile a year. Whether or not that is a record does not seem to problems. The traffic have been considered by those concerned with its existence. lights, intended to provide priority for the trams The very idea of this form of transport running from east to (referred to as “trains” in west through Jerusalem has prompted political arguments Israel) have failed to work for years during its gestation period. It has been seen correctly and the ticketing to be a ploy by Israel to strengthen its claim over all of system failed to work at Jerusalem. No-one appears to believe that this is simply all. At the moment, travel the modernisation of a somewhat chaotic transport system. is free and the population Even though confining Jaffa Street only to trams has caused is making the most of the service. Extensions are planned congestion elsewhere, it is a joy to walk along Jaffa to the and at least two more lines are expected to be added in the Mehane Yehuda market or in the opposite direction towards near future. the Old City. issue 215 | January 2012 6 community life 7 ralli hall lunch and social I would like to say how much I appreciate all the help from our club wonderful faithful volunteers, without whom the Lunch and Social Club would not be so successful. Everyone one of them is fantastic, so thank you so much to Alan, Fiona, Shirley, Sheila, by Jacqueline Tichauer Sue, Georgie, Miriam, Vivienne, Greta, Janet, Betty, Vivian, Laura, I hope everyone had a lovely Chanukah. I am happy to say the Suzanne, Sylvia, Margaret, Marilyn, Paul, Linden, Beverley and Lunch and Social Club is growing ever stronger and we have new Zoe, not to forget Adele who takes the Tai Chi class and Mickey, members who love their days out with us. who comes in once a week to take the Bingo sessions. Our programmes are becoming even more interesting with bridge Also, a big thank you goes to Mike Lyons for his website and tuition, computer classes, exercise classes, quizzes, bingo, for making sure the Ralli Hall website looks great: www.webjam. card games and games afternoons. We also have amazing com/lunch_social. A big thank you also to Clive Gordon, for his entertainers, including singers, piano players, guitar players and fantastic donation of name badges for all volunteers; a great help dancers. One afternoon we had John Bruzon playing piano and and much appreciated. singing with us. He is always fun and many of our members got up and had a wee jig; Estelle sure can dance a good tango and If you are feeling a little lonely this winter why not give Ralli Hall Philip and Hazel are just so lovely to watch! Lunch and Social Club a try? We are sure you will love it. We have also had speakers from Age Concern, and Sidney Having a birthday, anniversary or a special day and don’t really Lipman from AJEX, who gave us a talk and played some lovely want a present? The Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club is so Yiddish music. Georgie will be starting her Genealogy Classes in important for our community so how about asking your friends January, so if you are interested please give us a call. to donate to our wonderful club. For more information, please contact our co-ordinator Jacqueline on 01273 739999 ralli hall Those of you who are current, or recent, members of B&HJCF by Roger Abrahams, Hon. Chairman at Ralli Hall should have received your membership renewal documents. Thank you in anticipation of your early return of Last month I pointed out that, although we are doing quite well the completed forms with your subscriptions, which are again with our room lets, we have not been left untouched by the unchanged, and we would invite those who are not already current serious economic climate, and a number of new lets members to join the Centre, if for no other reason than to show have fallen by the wayside. I went on to say how delighted we solidarity with your (secular) community. I am sure that you would were to welcome a new weekly Sunday Craft Fair to Ralli Hall. all miss Ralli Hall if it no longer existed! Unfortunately, I was a little premature, as it only lasted for its initial week! In the meantime, all of our usual winter activities are continuing and thriving, although we would dearly love to see renewed Ivrit I should like to say goodbye, good luck and thank you to our lessons and would welcome a new teacher, who would not be caretaker for the last seven years, Martyn Coblenz, who has expected to work just as a volunteer. I am sure that there would decided to leave in order to make a further change in his life. be enough interested members of the community to make such a Martyn came to us after taking early retirement from British venture economically viable. Telecom and has continued with his hobby of backstage work with large and complicated amateur theatrical productions. His See you at Ralli Hall. knowledge of theatrical light and sound equipment has been most helpful to us over the years. We wish you all the best, Martyn, and good luck for the future. Jewish historical society up about Bevin’s attitude to the establishment of State of Israel, should come to hear a very different take on this controversial by Godfrey Gould politician. The meeting will be at Ralli Hall, commencing at 7.45pm; no charge to members, £4 to visitors, to include On Tuesday 19 November at Ralli Hall, a capacity crowd listened refreshments. All are welcome. with increasing approval to the brilliant address by Professor Miri Rubin, of the University of London, to the Sussex Branch of the Jewish Historical Society of England. Her PowerPoint presentation dealt with the relationship between Church and Synagogue in mediaeval Europe, as depicted in paintings, artefacts and sculpture, showing how the attitude of the Church changed over the centuries, from one where Judaism was understood, if not accepted, to one where Judaism was berated and despised. The many and varied illustrations confirmed her thesis admirably. Professor Rubin is certainly a master of her subject. There followed some very perceptive questioning. All agreed that this evening was one of the true highlights of the Branch’s first decade. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 24 January 2012, when Raphael Langham, a Vice-President of the Society, will talk on Ernest Bevin. All, especially those who have made their minds issue 215 | January 2012 6 features 7 Miami nice mixes Israeli cuisine with Momma’s a local Jewish newspaper appears. favourites. If you want kosher sushi Beyond informing on forthcoming by Rabbi Charles Wallach or other South East Asian there is Thai events and comments on the weekly Treat. If you want burekas or other parsha reflection on particular topics My wife and I recently returned from simple milchik kosher finger food – occurs, in the week we arrived it a visit to Miami. We happen to be including the ubiquitous pizza, there had just been the anniversary of fortunate enough to visit there more is a store just a block from the beach Kristallnacht - the night of 9/10 often, due to our daughter Beverley called B & H, which, when I first saw November,1938 - when the Nazis (some of the community will remember the name, had me thinking that maybe attacked countless Jewish places of her) residing there together with her it could be transferred to another place worship, schools and businesses as husband and family. called B & H! a precursor to what was to follow. That anniversary had been observed Miami and South Florida in general Not all is always peaceful in Kosher at Miami’s impressive Holocaust has become an attractive place to Food Land which is the name of memorial, which was the central live, not least amongst Jews. With its another kosher store, a mini-market feature of that week’s newspaper. warm climate it is particularly a haven where whatever bread is unsold is left for what is termed the “snowbirds” – daily on the pavement – sorry, sidewalk A week later the paper was almost those who normally reside in New York – for all comers to help themselves. saturated with the “buycott” – the and the like and who want to get away When Beverley first arrived in Miami counter to the anti-Israeli boycott, from the cold and the rain for some she assisted for a time in a kosher deli an attempt to have as many Israeli or all of the winter months. Indeed, while she awaited her green card to goods bought as possible. This the Jewish population of Miami is work as a teacher in one of the many national campaign was one to be fully hard to fully account for, precisely for Jewish schools in the area. The deli supported in the Miami area. It surely that reason. We were there now in was run by an avuncular Israeli called was. November, which we were told was the Jack, who had built up quite a clientele start of the “season that stretches until of those who came for “take out” or to Alongside the maintaining of an eruv around Pesach. spend a good time over a bagel and on part of the boardwalk by part coffee, not to mention the rest of our of the beach, but not on the beach In truth, what we are talking about familiar foods. Jack retired a year ago itself, Chanukah cards sold in their is what is known as the tri-counties, or so. The new owners have changed hundreds next to Xmas cards as covering Miami Dade, Broward and the place entirely and not for the better. well as one other important image of Palm Beach. And if those names Our dear children more or less forbade Miami: synagogues proudly displaying sound familiar cast your mind back to our going in there – not that we needed both the American and Israeli flags. I the US presidential election of 2000. much discouragement! Instead those am sure discreet security is always In Miami Dade and Broward there were who want only to eat under a hechsher in place, no constant need for the problems with the voting procedure have moved a few miles away to equivalent of CST on the doorstep! that caused a delay in the result. other sidewalk cafes, whilst the Indeed, probably many troubled by neighbourhood Bagel Bar has more those forms at the time were some of than redoubled the elderly Jews! its clientele, especially Jewish life and the influence of for its cream Jews on the life of the area are not cheese and lox to be minimised. As with a number breakfast. of roads here, especially in Hove, many streets and parks in Miami Lest one thinks carry names of prominent Jews. The that gastronomy main entertainment complex for the is the sole topic performing arts in downtown Miami there let’s not carries the name of a Jewish lady who forget the many did much for the arts in the area. It was synagogues there where we went to hear famed of all streams Israeli-born violinist Itzchak Perlman and communal and eight of his protégés perform for institutions that an evening. abound. But let me round this Unlike here where kosher restaurants bird’s eye view and supply outlets are down to near of the place with nothing, kashrut thrives. And one a journalistic can take one’s pick. Shalom Haifa note: each week issue 215 | January 2012 8Brighton and Hove Holocaust Memorial Events Programme January 2012 9 A series of events will be taking place in Brighton & Hove to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (27th January) Wiener Library Travelling Exhibition into the Army and sent to Korea to fight the anti-communist war ‘Never Again? Thinking about the Holocaust’ there. The Wiener Library is Britain’s leading archive on the Holocaust The 1 hour presentation will also include a short film made by and Nazi era, and for over 70 years Bernard Offen of the site of Plaszow concentration camp on the has played an instrumental role in outskirts of Krakow. providing material for educational Date: Tuesday 24th January 2012, 11 am resources. Venue: Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton BN1 1GE The exhibition has been designed to For more information: equalities@brighton-hove.gov.uk educate and inform audiences and to encourage people to think critically about the issues raised by the Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue Holocaust and genocide. Dates: 4th – 12th January The Synagogue will be marking National Holocaust Memorial Day Venue: Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton BN1 1GE during the Erev Shabbat (Sabbath Eve) service. The service will be led by Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah. All are welcome. For more information: equalities@brighton-hove.gov.uk Please note: the service will not be held at the synagogue. Date: 27th January, 8pm. Tel: (01273) 737223 (Mon to Fri 9am Light a Candle for Hope – 1pm) A peaceful space for quiet reflection and an opportunity to light a candle for hope at this time of remembrance. Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue Free entry. Refreshments available. The Jewish community in general throughout the world observes All welcome. Yom HaShoah – the Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust on the Venue: Friends’ Meeting House, eve of 18th going into the day of 19th April. However, in recognition Ship Street, Brighton of Holocaust Memorial Day our Sabbath services will include Date: Sunday 22nd January, special readings dedicated to the Holocaust. 2 – 5 pm For more information: Date: 27th and 28th January. Tel: (01273) 735343 for details Tel: (01273) 684234 Venue: Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue, Palmeira Avenue, Hove Brighton Ourstory, Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual History Young People’s Centre Holocaust Memorial Events at Jubilee ‘The Third Sex in the Third Reich’ an exhibition tracing how the Library presents: Nazi Party changed the world for male and female homosexuals and transvestites, from the beginning of its reign to well beyond the ‘Paper Clips’;’ an award end. Includes poems written by younger LGBT people with the help winning documentary film about students in the USA who began of Queer Writing South, inspired by the famous “First they came a school project to create a monument for the Holocaust victims for…..” in Nazi Germany, which then evolved into one gaining worldwide Exhibition Dates: 23rd – 30th January Free entry attention. Jubilee Film Club Sunday 29th January, screening: Free, suitable for children accompanied by an adult, popcorn ‘Bent’ (1997) at 11.30 am and ‘Aimee & Jaguar’ (1999) at 2 pm included! Venue: Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton BN1 1GE Date: Sunday 29th January, For more information: (01273) 294071 1pm Aged 13-19? Join our study support session on Presentation by author, Thursdays in the Young Norman Jacobs People’s area 5-8pm. Memoirs of Bernard Offen - You can watch ‘Paper Clips’ My Hometown Concentration on YouTube. Camp The memoir tells the story of the Aged 9-16? Join us at young Bernard who was born in the Homework Club: we will be building our own paper clip the Krakow Ghetto and survived memorials during the week of 23rd January. five concentration camps including Auschwitz-Birkenau. To join any of our sessions see www.citylibraries.info for details. Following five years as a refugee in Sessions are free with trained helpers ready to help and refreshments London, he immigrated to the USA included. where he was immediately drafted issue 215 | January 2012 8 Holocaust Memorial Day Wednesday 25 January 2012, 1.30 pm 9 Chowen Lecture Theatre, Medical School, University of Sussex Organised by the Centre for German-Jewish Studies Sponsored by the Association of Jewish Refugees Free entry – all welcome 1.30 pm Welcome Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex Councillor Anne Meadows, Mayor of the City of Brighton and Hove David Cichon, President, University of Sussex Students’ Union Dr Gideon Reuveni, Director, Centre for German-Jewish Studies 1.45 pm ‘Four Perfect Pebbles – A Holocaust Story’: A Message of Perseverance, Determination, Faith and Hope Marion Blumenthal Lazan 2.30 pm Film: Marion’s Triumph followed by a question and answer session chaired by Gideon Reuveni 3.45 pm Tea, Sussex Medical School foyer 4.15 pm Rabbi Julia Neuberger DBE ‘Holocaust Remembrance and why it is important for everyone’ Chaired by Christian Wiese, Visiting Professor, Centre for German-Jewish Studies Marion Blumenthal Lazan is on a mission to teach the public Holocaust film that would be accessible to all ages. In Marion’s life about the Holocaust. Her memoir Four Perfect Pebbles is taught he found the ideal subject. in classrooms throughout the world. And although she’s been speaking publicly about the Holocaust since 1979, her speaking Julia Neuberger, who was educated at Newnham College, engagements have significantly increased since the publication of Cambridge and Leo Baeck College, London, became a rabbi in 1977, her book. Marion addresses many different groups, but her favorite serving the South London Liberal Synagogue for twelve years before audience is a room full of students. “You, the students, are the very becoming President of Liberal Judaism. More recently she was last generation that will hear the story first hand,” Marion explains to invited to join the European Council of Religious Leaders. And she her eager listeners, “I therefore ask you to please, please, share my became Senior Rabbi of the West London Synagogue in March 2011. story with your friends and with your family and someday with your Julia, who was made a Life Peer in 2004, has a special interest children.” in Public Health, having been Chairman of Camden Community NHS Trust from 1993 until 1997 and then Chief Executive of In 1938 the Blumenthals had begun their journey to the United the King’s Fund, an independent health charity. She has been a States as refugees from Nazi Germany. Shortly before the family’s member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, the Medical scheduled departure from Rotterdam in spring 1940 the Germans Research Council and the General Medical Council, a Trustee of the invaded Holland, their ship was bombed, and they were trapped. Runnymede Trust and the Imperial War Museum. There followed six-and-a-half years of horror in Hitler’s camps, and Julia Neuberger is the author of several books on Judaism, women, an incredible story of near escapes, dashed hopes and tragedy. healthcare ethics and caring for dying people. Not Dead Yet, a When the war ended, it took three more years of struggle before manifesto for old age, appeared in May 2008 and her latest book, Is Marion, her brother Albert and their mother obtained the necessary That All There Is?: Thoughts on the Meaning of Life and Leaving a papers and boarded ship for the United States. Marion`s story is one Legacy, was published in June 2011. of horror and hardship, but it is also a story of courage, hope, and the will to survive. For further details contact: The Film: Marion’s Triumph Diana Franklin T +44 (0)20 8381 4721 E d.franklin@sussex.ac.uk Despite the horrors depicted, this documentary film differs from Centre for German-Jewish Studies, University of Sussex Falmer, other Holocaust stories. For it presents a life-affirming, inspirational Brighton BN1 9QN narrative of survival, reconciliation and the limits of endurance, and Free entry to this event is made possible by the generous support renews one’s faith in humanity. Illustrated with historical footage, of the Association of Jewish Refugees and is open to anyone who photos and animated flashbacks, it also features surviving members is interested – you are welcome to attend all or any part of the of the Blumenthal family. Director, John Chua, wanted to make a programme. Registration is not required. issue 215 | January 2012 10 culture 11 khorovod* of songs Polina was born in Siberia and teaches the traditional A new monthly East European singing group will start on repertoire, which she used to sing at the family table 11th January at Ralli Hall, room 12, and will meet on the after eating borsht and drinking homemade wine in second Wednesday of each month, 7.00 – 9.00 pm. The Tatarstan, Russia, including dance songs, lyrical, seasonal, group will be open to all and no singing experience or wedding and drinking songs, lullabies, and easy classics. knowledge of the languages will be needed. Everything will be sung in the original languages and carefully translated. Songs will be taught by ear, but Songs in Russian, Yiddish, Ukrainian, Belorussian and transliterations and sheet music will be available too. other East European languages will be taught by ‘native’ East European choir leader Polina Skovoroda-Shepherd. Each sessions will cost £5 for Ralli Hall members or £6 for Come and enjoy the explosive mixture of powerful dance non-members, payable on the night. Why not give it a try? rhythms and profound melodies of the Steppes and the Singing is good for you! Shtetl spiced up by Tatar Bazaars and washed down with a fisherman’s song from Odessa... *Khorovod is a Slavic circle dance and song art form. refugees from nazism in Jacs south africa by Nina Taylor (Hon. Chairman) by Joan Melcher I’m pleased to report that JACS is still holding very Forgotten Letters of Refugees from Nazism in Apartheid interesting meetings in the comfort of the AJEX Centre. South Africa was a fascinating lecture at the University of Sussex delivered by Dr Shirli Gilbert, of the University We had a talk from the local fundraiser of the Macmillan of Southampton. It was held at the Faculty of German-Support Group and we learned how David Macmillan Jewish Studies on the 5th December. Dr Gilbert’s founded the organisation in 1911 after his father was lecture focused on the discovery of 2,500 letters written struck down with tuberculosis, an illness that was quite by Rudolph Schwab (1911-1971), a refugee from Nazi common in the 1930s. With the founding of the Macmillan Germany who settled in South Africa at the start of World Society in 1930, sixty-nine beds were arranged in War II. hospices, so that sick people could be nursed. There are now some hundred and sixty Cancer Care Centres and These letters were written to many people all over many volunteers help patients in their own homes. We are the world and they tell a fascinating story of the life of lucky to have a Macmillan hospice in our area. Mr Schwab. South Africa had little involvement in the Holocaust; however, anti-racist activists drew parallels Not all our meetings are about sad subjects, in fact one between the iniquities of apartheid and the anti-of our very successful meetings occurred when the guest Semitism rife in Germany. After 1945 South Africa was speaker forgot to turn up! Most of the members gave a quintessentially a racist state but Schwab was given talk, giving a pen-portrait of themselves, where they came sanctuary with many other refugees. from, the work they used to do, various hobbies, etc. What started out as a disaster turned into a triumph. Schwab understood the South African situation; the letters mainly describe daily life in the Germany he had left Sidney Lipman gave us another very interesting behind and the experience of refugees, some who fled to afternoon, with his mix of recorded Jewish humour Shanghai, Montreal and many other places, as well as to and music. Sidney works really hard to prepare these South Africa. programmes and it certainly pays off. Shirley Huberman presented a DVD of “The Boys” which showed how Schwab was advised to leave Germany when he was a hundreds of teenagers released from concentration young man by a friend called Kipfer who was a member camps after WWII were brought to England, her late of the Nazi party and who knew that he was in danger. husband, Alfred z’l being one of them. The DVD was However, his family refused to leave and perished in the called “Triumph Over Adversity” and was very moving. camps. They felt they were involved in German life and that nothing would happen to them. In 1942 Schwab Our old friend Godfrey Gould took us on “The World’s lost contact with his family and later learned of their fate. Most Beautiful Voyage” on the Norwegian Fjords. He After the war, Kipfer contacted Schwab and tried to get had been on this particular trip in the summer and the restitution for him. He regretted his ‘undemocratic’ life as water was as smooth as the proverbial mill-pond, but he a Nazi and did all he could to help his friend. assured us that it was a very different story in the winter. We closed for two weeks in December but we have a full Dr Gilbert is still working on the letters, a rich source programme this month and look forward to seeing old of primary historical evidence. There were interesting friends and new at our Wednesday afternoon meetings. questions, mainly by students and ex-South Africans in the audience. issue 215 | January 2012 culture 11 see the earliest films of Jewish These are the films we will show: life • L’CHAIM, 1910 (9 mins) - the first film ever made showing Jewish life from the inside, The first screening by the Sussex Jewish Film Club in 2012 will considered to be the birth of Jewish cinema. be a rather special evening. We’ll be showing some films from • SARA’S GRIEF, 1913 (14 mins) - one of the the Yuri Morozov Jewish Film Collection (Kiev) on Sunday, 22nd first Jewish cinema dramas about moral, January, 7.00 for 7.30 pm at Ralli Hall. religious and emotional ethics. This unique collection contains some of the earliest cinematic • JEWS AND THE LAND, 1927 (18 mins) - an representations of East European Jewish communities. Black and extraordinary documentary describing Soviet Russia’s attempt white silent films made from 1910 onwards depict the Jews of to create a colony of collective farms of Jews, in Crimea in the Ukraine and their daily lives in both narrative and documentary 1920s. forms. Many of these films have never been seen outside the • AGAINST FATHERS’ WILL, 1926 (43 mins) - based on Ukraine and some have not been screened for over 80 years. Sholem Aleichem’s story ‘Flow of Blood’, this film depicts the participation of Jews in the 1905 Revolution. The films will be accompanied by live music by Merlin and Polina Shepherd, whose playing of traditional musical pieces and Don’t miss the opportunity to see these unique historical films. All stylistically accurate new compositions will act as the perfect foil are welcome. It’s free for Ralli Hall members; others should make for these amazing historic documents. a donation on the door. Jewish book week 2012 by Pam Lewis Jewish Book Week 2012 is moving to Kings Place, which has three comfortable auditoria, excellent acoustics and good visibility from every seat. The full programme is available on www.jewishbookweek.com and tickets can be booked online at www.kingsplace.co.uk or by calling 020 7520 1490 (tickets are £2 extra when not booking online). There will be special discounts when booking multi-events or for groups. Numbered seats will be allocated on booking in the main auditorium but note that it holds fewer seats than our previous venue, so please book early to avoid disappointment! JBW Children’s Day 2012 will be held on Sunday 5th February at the Jewish Museum. There will be a full day of events comprising sessions that will appeal to different age groups, including children’s authors, storytellers and of course, a children’s book fair. As usual, a comprehensive JBW programme will be posted to everyone on our mailing list at the beginning of January. If you would like to receive updates from us, and don’t already do so, do sign up to our e-letter on the website. We are very excited about the move to Kings Place, and hope that everyone will be happy with the improved facilities it offers. We look forward to seeing you there. Pam Lewis is a member of the Jewish Book Council. centre for german-Jewish studies The Centre for German-Jewish Studies at the University of Sussex has announced its 2012 winter/spring lecture programme. All sessions are at the University of Sussex unless otherwise noted. On Thursday 2 February in Arts A155, we will be welcoming Prof Mark Roseman of Indiana University. His topic will be “The Rescue of Memory: Wartime Experience and Postwar Claims of a Group of German Rescuers”. The following day, Friday 3 February, will feature an international panel who will be looking at “The Wannsee Conference: 70 Years After”. Panel members include Prof Mark Roseman of Indiana University, Prof Stefanie Schüler-Springorum of the Zentrum für Antisemitism Forschung and Dr Gerhard Wolf of the University of Sussex. Time and venue will be announced at the beginning of January. On Monday 27 February Dr François Guenet of University College London will deliver a lecture “Is there a Jewish Political Tradition? The Jewish Intercessor (Shtadlan) in Modern History as Case Study”. Join us at 4.30 pm in Arts B127. Join the Centre’s new director, Gideon Reuveni, on Thursday 2 May at 4.00 pm in Arts A when he will be speaking on “The Politics of Jewish Consumption” issue 215 | January 2012 12Mitzvah day 2011 13 Mitzvah day with helping hands As you know, Helping Hands, the made “Memory” plant pots that were filled with plants Welfare Board and the Ralli Hall and then delivered to residents of Hyman Fine House Lunch and Social Club had the idea of along with memory bags. sending members of the community Pledge Cards through SJN and all the Volunteers also put together brown paper “Memory Synagogues in the town, as part of the Bags” filled with sweets from the olden days, Mitzvah annual Kol Nidre appeal. We asked Day cards prepared by cheder children from all the people for time not money. congregations, a voucher for a day at the Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club, and a voucher for a Helping The idea was to pledge a number of hours of voluntary Hands Tea, a Helping Hands newsletter and a notebook work for the Community on a sliding time scale starting for recording a special memory. The bags were from one hour and going up to ten, hopefully to be distributed by volunteers to housebound community carried out six months subsequent to the appeal and members, residents of Tikvah House, Sussex County starting on Mitzvah Day. So we were delighted that Hospital patients and guests attending the afternoon a number of new volunteers who pledged their time tea at the Reform Synagogue. Volunteers invited volunteered on Mitzvah Day. recipients to disclose their personal memories and these will be put into the memory scrapbook; we hope Our theme was “Sweet Memories” and the idea was that all the memories will be published in ‘The Brighton to bring together young and old to share memories and Hove Community Memories’ book. and socialise. At the Mitzvah Day “hub” in the Princes Marine Hotel - fortified by endless cups of tea and Please go to our website at www.helping-hands.org coffee and a constant supply of biscuits and filled to read a selection of some amazing memories from challah rolls - students and community volunteers members of the community. issue 215 | January 2012 bhPs rabbi elizabeth tikvah sarah Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue, 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF Tel: 01273 737223 Email: bhps@freenetname.co.uk www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue Twitter@BHPS2011 13 trouble-Making Judaism well as those who are bisexual and/or transgender. It involves welcoming those who are Jewish in different ways and those by Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah who are Jew-ish, as well as non-Jews. It involves taking steps Judaism is many things – and also means different things to to ensure that our congregations welcome all those who wish to different Jews and different Jewish denominations. I’ve written a participate and celebrate the myriad gifts which people bring. book called Trouble-Making Judaism, which will be published by David Paul Books on 1 February. If you’re interested in knowing more about what I mean by ‘Trouble-Making Judaism’, and missed my recent session at I’ve given my book that title because - in my view - from the Limmud, I will be talking about the book, and signing copies, at prophets who admonished the leaders and people of Israel for Jewish Book Week on Sunday 19 February at 3:30 pm. I also their ethical misconduct through to the rabbis who troubled hope to have a book launch in Brighton and Hove – so watch this the Torah to make meaning for Jewish life, Judaism has been space for details. engaged with troubling and trouble making. Trouble-making is about challenging and disrupting the status quo. It is also about Trouble-Making Judaism by Elli Tikvah Sarah (ISBN being troubled and troubling our Jewish texts and inheritance to 09780954848293) will be published in paperback on 1 February adapt and change in response to the lives of Jewish individuals, 2012 by David Paul Books (www.davidpaulbooks.com) and will families and communities here and now. sell for £9.99. For more information, please contact Rabbi Sarah at BHPS (see above) or via Facebook or Twitter: @RabbiElliSarah The book falls into four parts. Beginning with an exploration of some trouble-making precedents – the Torah’s account of the creation of humanity, Miriam, the 2nd century scholar, B’ruria, bhPs go greenfingered! and the first woman rabbi, Regina Jonas – I go on to explore the BHPS marked Mitzvah Day by returning to Moulsecoomb struggle for equality and inclusion, ways of engaging as Jews and Forest Garden Project to work with their volunteers. Jewish communities to foster Jewish life today, and the challenge to acknowledge both Israel and Palestine. Trouble-making, being troubled and troubling our Jewish inheritance involves engaging with our Jewish teachings and narratives. It involves living Jewishly with pride and commitment in today’s world. It involves taking issues and concerns which have been pushed to the periphery because they are so difficult and making them the centre of our concerns. It involves celebrating family life in all its diverse expressions today and making space for those who are single, childless and childfree. It involves acknowledging and affirming heterosexual people and relationships and lesbian and gay people and relationships – as Malcolm Green Catering The selection of your menu is an important part in the planning of your Simcha. For that reason our Chefs continue to create exciting and tasty menus to meet your every need. Photo by Rabbi Sarah We can tailor a menu to fit your specific requirements and help create the function you will be proud of. Let us introduce you to a cuisine that has made us one of Israel’s twelfth night with a very special flavour: leading Caterers & the world’s foremost glatt kosher the wonders of chocolate destination wedding specialist. Our monthly erev Shabbat oneg is on January 13, when Join us for our glatt kosher June/July tour of “Mystical Ireland” Dragon’s Den winner Galia will tell us about her chocolate KOSHER CATERING AT ITS BEST business – and just maybe tickle our taste buds as well. Chocoholics please ring the office for details of the venue. Contact Malcolm on 0203 393 6823 koshercaterer@yahoo.co.uk national holocaust Memorial day www.kosherservicesworldwide.com BHPS will be marking National Holocaust Memorial Day www.kosherexperiences.co.il during the Erev Shabbat (Sabbath Eve) service on Friday, 27 January 2012 at Ralli Hall. The service will be led by Rabbi Sarah and will commence at 8.00 pm. All are welcome. UNDER SUPERVISION KASHRUT DIVISION OF THE LONDON BETH DIN Project going Places (For functions in the U.K.) Our postal address, phone and email have not changed, and “You’ve eaten the food now read the blog” our website is always lively and up to date! Shabbat morning www.koshersericesworldwide/blog/ services and Cheder are in Ralli Hall at 11 am courtesy of the Ralli Hall Board, and our Shabbat evening services are being held in members’ homes. For details please ring the office. issue 215 | January 2012 14bhrs rabbi charles wallach Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue Palmeira Avenue, Hove BN3 3GE Tel: 01273 735343 Email: office@bh-rs.org www.bh-rs.org 15 school Visits to bhrs We receive hundreds of by Gweni Sorokin letters from these children a few of which are here. The During the last fifteen years or so I have been responsible for most gratifying group are arranging visits for schools to the synagogue. Many of you those from Special Needs will already know that, together with the help of Vivien Harris schools who are quite and Roger Berlin, this goes on throughout the year but what fascinated by the stained you may not realise is the scale of this facility. This year we glass windows and the have seen over 1,100 children and January is already filling impressive array of scrolls. up. Although all this is very time Pupils from age five to fifteen are regularly given a tour consuming we all derive together with explanations about Jewish festivals and great satisfaction from the customs. knowledge that we are giving a good service whilst at the same time promoting inter-faith relations. nhMd @ bhrs The Jewish community in general throughout the world observes Yom HaShoah – the Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust on the eve of 18th going into the day of 19th April. On 27 and 28 January, in recognition of National Holocaust Memorial Day, our Shabbat services will include special readings dedicated to the Holocaust. issue 215 | January 2012 14 bhhc hhc rabbi hershel rader rabbi Vivian silverman Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation Hove Hebrew Congregation 31 New Church Road, Hove BN3 3AD 79 Holland Road, Hove BN3 1JN Tel: 01273 888855 Email: office@bhhc-shul.org Tel: 01273 732035 www.webjam.com/bhhc10 Email: hollandroadshul@btinternet.com 15 the tenth of tevet anglo-Jewry 1844 – 1911 by Rabbi Hershel Rader by Rabbi Vivian Silverman On the 10th of Tevet of the year 3336 from Creation In July 1911, Chief Rabbi Herman Adler died. He had been (425 BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor delegate Chief Rabbi from 1879 when his father Nathan Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. Thirty months Marcus took ill and retired to Hove. On his father’s death in later, on Tammuz 9, 3338, the city walls were breached, and January 1890, Herman became the unanimous choice to on Av 9th of that year, the Holy Temple was destroyed. The succeed him. So, the Adler family were the spiritual leaders Jewish people were exiled to Babylonia for 70 years. of Anglo Jewry and the British Empire for sixty seven years: from 1844 - when Nathan Marcus, Chief Rabbi of Hanover, Tevet 10 (this year January 5, 2012) is observed as a day of was elected Chief Rabbi of Great Britain in the eighth year of fasting, mourning and repentance. We refrain from food and Queen Victoria’s reign - to 1911, the year her grandson was drink from daybreak to nightfall, and add Selichot and other crowned King George V. special supplements to our prayers. More recently Tevet 10 was chosen to also serve as a ‘general Memorial day’ for This was a most important period in the history of Anglo-the victims of the Holocaust. Jewry. The Jewish population grew from around thirty thousand to over three hundred thousand, due to persecution An ancient Jewish custom is to deliver words of inspiration in the Russian Empire where the majority of world Jewry lived. and arousal to repentance on fast days. It is our duty as Numerous pogroms (directed from the very top of the Russian Jews to reflect on the significance of the tragic events of government) drove up to two million Jews westwards with the our history and endeavour to find some practical inspiration vast majority seeking refuge in the United States. from them. One hundred years ago, there were well known and highly fun at the bhhc cheder party respected East European rabbis in all main centres of this country – something unheard of when the first Chief Rabbi End of term at the BHHC Cheder was celebrated with a Adler came from Germany. In 1911 the London Beit Din party to get ready for Chanukah! Over fifty children were Dayanim were Moses Hyamson, Asher Feldman, and Moses joined by approximately thirty adults who enjoyed latkes, Avigdor Haikin – all born in Russia. hot dogs and ice pops. There were stalls selling Chanukah candles, gelt and party supplies, cakes and the leaders A very essential point to bear in mind about this period of of the local JLGB were present telling kids and parents change is that those who arrived from Eastern Europe were about their activities. After lunch many children were doing positively encouraged to become acculturated- to learn the Chanukah crafts while others were out playing football in the language of the Country and its ways. Thus, Jewish schools garden. Sidney Posner laughed as he won a Champneys and special evening classes made it their priority to teach home spa bag of goodies. English to the immigrants and their children so that they would be able to take their place in society with relatively little ill-Mazel tov to Sarah Amram and Lucinda Lewis who feeling on the part of their non-Jewish neighbours. organised the event that raised over £300 for the BHHC Cheder. Thanks are also due to Ron Amram and Len Though there were still many Jewish families who could claim Lewis for their help and to Efrat Burman who painted faces that their ancestors had come from Holland or Germany during throughout the afternoon. the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, they would soon be in the minority. With the continual influx of East European families between 1882 and 1914, the face of Anglo Jewry and religious observance changed. remembrance service Hove Hebrew Congregation hosted the annual Remembrance Service this year. There were many dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Peter Field and the Mayor of Brighton and Hove. The event was organised by the AJEX Chairman Aubrey Cole. Many congregants from the Brighton and Hove Jewish community attended the service, which was conducted by Rabbi Silverman and was followed by tea prepared by Sandra Gross and the Ladies Guild. DIARY FOR JANUARY 2012 1 Sunday Bank Holiday 2 Monday Bank Holiday 5 Thursday Fast of Tenth Tevet (ends 4.54 pm) 10 Tuesday Talmud Shiur, 10.30 am 17 Tuesday Ladies Circle, 10.30 am followed by Talmud Shiur issue 215 | January 2012 16 what’s on: January 2012 website: www.sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org email: info@sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org shabbat shaloM – brighton tiMes Grodzinki’s In Light Candles Out Havdalah Fri 6 3.52 pm Sat 7 5.06 pm challot and rye bread are Fri 13 4.02 pm Sat 14 5.17 pm available from Premier Fri 20 4.13 pm Sat 21 5.26 pm Convenience Stores in Hove Fri 26 4.24 pm Sat 28 5.37 pm Street every Thursday morning notable date until supplies run out. Thursday 5 – Fast of Tevet eVents for January regular actiVities J:tots – for parents, toddlers, grandparents and carers - is held monthly at Sundays Ralli Hall.For information regarding the next session, please e-mail Rachel at jtots@rocketmail.com or ring 01273 204334. carmel tennis club 10.00 am-12.00 noon. Weekly. All levels welcome. Tel: Leon on 07717 222744 Wednesday 4 Jacs with guest speaker Alan Grey on ‘Iceland Land of Fire and Water. Mondays AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members/£2.50 non-members. the ethics of our fathers with Rabbi Efune 11.30-12.30 pm Chabad House, 15 Upper Drive, Hove. Wednesday 4 – Thursday 12 Tel: 01273 321919 holocaust Memorial day event: Wiener Library Travelling Exhibition at Jubilee afternoon club with tea 1.30 pm. Tel: Reba 01444 Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton. 410435 (RH) Wednesday 11 rubber and duplicate bridge 1.30-4.30 pm £2.00. Jacs with guest speaker Geoffrey Mead on the Quiet Corners of the Sussex Tel: Reba 01444 410435 (RH) Coast. AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members/£2.50 non-members. contemporary basic talmud with Rabbi Efune - Men khorovod of songs Monthly singing group with Polina Shepherd. 7.00 pm – only 8.15 pm at Chabad House 01273 321919 9.00 pm (RH). £5 members/£6.00 non-members. tanya (kabbalah) learning group with Penina Efune - Ladies only 8.15 pm at Chabad House 01273 Sunday 15 321919 sussex Jewish film club: 4 short silent films from the Yuri Morozov Jewish Film Collection with live musical accompaniment. 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm (RH) Tuesdays Wednesday 18 ralli hall lunch and social club, 10.30 am-4.30 pm Jacs with guest speaker Veronica Walton on Kitchen Cupboard Remedies. Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 Weekly (RH) AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members/£2.50 non-members. art in the studio with Martin 2.00-4.30 pm (RH) Painting with rochelle (Jas) 7.00 pm-9.00 pm. Tel: Sunday 22 01273 503708 (RH) holocaust Memorial day event: Light a Candle for Hope, Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton 2.00 – 5.00 pm israeli dancing 7.45 pm-9.45 pm Tel: Jacky 01273 688538 (RH) Monday 23 – Monday 30 holocaust Memorial day event: The Third Sex in the Third Reich, Brighton Wednesdays LGB History Centre, Jubilee Library, Brighton art in the studio with Martin 2.00-4.30 pm RH Tuesday 24 Jacs at the AJEX Centre 2.00 pm, Eaton Road, holocaust Memorial day event: Memoirs of Bernard Offen – My Hometown Hove - £2.00 members/£2.50 non-members. Concentration Camp – a presentation by author Norman Jacobs, 11.00 am Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton Thursdays Jewish historical society, sussex branch with guest speaker, Raphael Langham on The Bevin Enigma, 7:45pm – 9:30pm (RH) ralli hall lunch and social club, 10.30 am-4.30 pm. Weekly Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 (RH) Wednesday 25 bridge at ralli hall 11.00 am holocaust Memorial day event: University of Sussex, Centre for German-Jewish Studies 1.30 pm (see full details on page 9) weekly torah portion with Rabbi Efune 8.15 pm at Jacs with guest speaker Sydney Levine on St Hugh and Jews, AJEX Centre, Chabad House. 01273 321919. Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members/£2.50 non-members Saturday 28 night to honour israel Ralli Hall. Doors open at 6.30pm. Buffet & Wine, Israeli music & songs Entrance £12. Contact: Jane Dennett 01273 455751/Evelyn 01273 279932 Ticket Line: Rick Simpson: 01273 539046 COMMUNITY EVENTS – Sunday 29 IMPORTANT REMINDER young People’s holocaust Memorial event: Homework Club presents “Paper Contact the Communal Diary before Clips” at Jubilee Library 1.00 pm planning your events! Email: info@ holocaust Memorial day event: Jubilee Film Club LGB History Centre, “Bent” at 11.30 am and “Aimee and Jaguar” at 2.00 pm, Jubilee Library sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org issue 215 | January 2012 -
Issue 226
January 2013
1 Whats | | 2 Pause for thought 3 It was rather cruel. Back in the Am Dram days, people considered to be of lesser talent would be given silent parts in the background. The more talented performers referred to the extras as Trees. THE COLD WINTER DAYS AND Thinking about it, however, it is a time of year when we are all Trees. Chanukah has now come and gone, and NIGHTS ARE CONDUCIVE TO the cold winter days and nights are conducive to doing DOING LITTLE BUT WAITING little but waiting for the new year to once again stand tall FOR THE NEW YEAR dressed in the colours of the new season. TO BEGIN. To all of the Trees in our community, we wish you a happy new year, a chag Tu B’Shevat same’ach. SJN brings local news, events, articles, reviews, ADMINISTRATOR Bernard Swithern announcements, people, congregations, communitites, contacts and more. Delivered at the start of each month, SJN is run entirely by volunteers for reporting, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Ivor Sorokin, Lydia Swithern editing and circulating each edition that has become the cornerstone of the Jewish community across the COMMUNAL DIARY info@sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org region. EDITORIAL BOARD COVER PHOTO Doris Levinson / Stephanie Megitt Brian Megitt David Seidel/ Michael Rich TECHNICAL ADVISOR Brian Megitt PRODUCTION/LAYOUT Anand Day SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 8 JANUARY 2013 Email address for submissions and correspondence: editor@sussexjewishnews.com SUSSEX JEWISH NEWS SUBSCRIPTION Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: _________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Postcode: _________________________ Email: _______________________________________________ Telephone: _________________________ Subscription (tick one) I would like to receive electronic copies of SJN. £15 p/a I would like to receive printed copies of SJN. £20 p/a. I enclose my cheque payable to Sussex Jewish News at PO Box 2178, Hove BN3 3SZ I have made a bank transfer to the Sussex Jewish News at Lloyds Bank, Sort Code 30-98-74, Account No. 00289447 and I have included my name as a reference to ensure my subscription is noted. ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 2 Contents 3 Sussex Jewish News 0/ FEATURES 4ELEPHONE 1 READY FOR TU B’SHEVAT A pomegranate tree in Israel dresses up in fruit for the new year. Photo by Brian Megitt 8 HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY 2013 Events from the Centre for German-Jewish Studies at the University of Sussex 10 HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY 2013 Events and commemorations in Brighton & Hove 12 THROUGH THE FLAMES Suchitra Chatterjee on her play about love in Brighton during the First World War REGULARS 4 COMMUNITY LIFE Your news, views and announcements from across the county 16 WHAT’S ON Regular and special events in your community YOUR COMMUNITY 13 BRIGHTON & HOVE PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE 14 BRIGHTON & HOVE HEBREW CONGREGATION 14 HOVE HEBREW CONGREGATION 15 BRIGHTON & HOVE REFORM SYNAGOGUE &ULL Sussex Jewish News (‘SJN’), its Editor and Editorial Board: (ALF s are not allied to any synagogue or group and the views expressed by writers are not necessarily those of SJN; 1UARTER s accept advertisements in good faith but do not endorse any products or 4)3).' services and do not accept liability for any aspect of any advertisements; and s welcome readers’ contributions but reserve the right to edit, cut, decline or 0ERSONAL £4 per line submit the content to others for comment. &LYERS Price on application To ensure that we receive your submissions by email, please send them ONLY to editor@sussexjewishnews.com, otherwise we cannot guarantee their consideration Local Jewish charities will not be charged, subject to for publication. To assist the Editorial Board, submissions should be in Word format editorial decision. using Times New Roman as a font. Receipt of submissions may not be acknowledged, unless specifically requested. As the Editorial Board is made up entirely of volunteers, "//+ !$6%2 ). '5)$%,).%3 any response may be subject to delay. ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 4 Community life 5 Your news Special birthdays Get Well Mazel tov to Anthony Becker, Penny Darvey, Dina & Isaac Finn, Louis We wish a refuah sheleimah to Sam Barsam, Ivor Goldman, Ralph Gordon, Anna Grant, Rosalie Hershman, Marianne Jackson, Natalie May and June Noah. Levene, Muriel Lewis, Julia Milton, Lee Panto, Olivia Sasson, Amelia Shepherd and Eliana Shlomo on their special birthdays this month. Deaths Anniversaries We wish Long Life to the families of Maurice Cleps z’l, Rita Gordon z’l and Judah Lixenberg z’l. Mazel tov to: s s anniversary. A big thank you to Liz Posner Liz Posner, after 11 years of dedication She has been the voice at the end of the ‘phone for the last 11 years, to Helping Hands, has decided to retire. being the first point of contact, coping with requests both simple and Her contribution over the years has been difficult, but still making callers feel at ease whenever necessary. Over immeasurable, both as a member of the Exec that time she dealt with such a varied range of calls from really serious and the Trustees. It will certainly be the end and heart-wrenching situations to “Where can I buy a kosher chicken?” of an era as far as HH and the community is concerned. As HH grew, we all needed to be in contact with each other on a daily basis to discuss recent calls, future events and the day to day running When Liz first joined Helping Hands, she helped form the best trio in of HH. Brighton. Sarah Wilks and Liz Shaw thought of her as the older and more sensible one – for those of you who know her, you will realise Everyone at HH will miss Liz P’s involvement. However, we look forward how wrong they were! She made them laugh more than anyone else to her being there for us in an advisory capacity: her slant on situations and, at every meeting by 4.00 pm, their sides ached. is invaluable. Liz is someone really special, warm, friendly, funny, reliable and … basically, there are not enough words to describe her. Seriously though, it is safe to say that there are few people in voluntary work like Liz P. She was the most hardworking and We are sure that the whole community joins us - Sarah, Liz S, and the dedicated member of HH, and certainly the most knowledgeable on Helping Hands Executive and Trustees - in wishing Liz a long and happy community affairs. She was generous with her time and support for retirement. everyone, both clients and volunteers alike. SUSSEX JEWISH REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL STATEMENT AJEX Remembers This is to clarify the position of the Sussex Jewish Representative Council regarding the Brighton & Hove Online Jewish Community by Sidney Lipman website. This website is not and never has been under the auspices of the Our Annual Remembrance Service in November, at Brighton & Hove SJRC and is administered independently. Hebrew Congregation, was quite an historic occasion as it was the largest attendance that has ever come together for an AJEX Service in this city. It was also a wonderful public relations opportunity as invitations had been extended to civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries as well as to representatives of various Services, all of whom socialised very well at the tea that followed the Service. The Queen was represented by Mrs Sara Stonor, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Sussex, who replied with a very warm tribute to the welcome she had received. All this could not have been achieved without the help of the Synagogue plus the Union Flag and Standard Bearers who added to the occasion and most important of all, the Jewish Community website which publicised this event over many weeks. Also the sun shone, which enhanced the attendance, and gave hope for an everlasting peace everywhere. ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 Community life 5 Dining & dancing to celebrate our 10th anniversary by Jacqueline Tichauer On 18 November Rall Hall Lunch and Social Club celebrated its 10th anniversary with a dinner dance at the Ralli Hall Community Centre. After many months of preparation we had an amazing evening as 120 people came, ate freshly cooked fish and chips and danced the night away to a wonderful live band. There was even a waiting list! We appreciate the way in which the community has supported the RHLSC over the years in so many ways and in particular, how it supported this event. The feedback was extremely positive: indeed, people are already asking when there will be another function. The Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club provides a lifeline for the senior members of our community, many of whom attend twice a week to enjoy our three-course kosher meal, computer and exercise classes, members. We will now have a bus picking up at 11.00 am or 11.30 am, bridge and entertainment. Our dedicated volunteers and I are always so if you would like transport just give me a call; (4) outings to garden on hand to offer help and friendship. centres; (5) a weekend away to Eastbourne in springtime; and (6) coffee mornings. We have lots and lots planned for 2013 including (1) new computer classes for everyone, where you can learn about the Internet, shopping So that is just a start. If you are interested please give me a call or if on line, speaking to family who live abroad, Word and Excel etc; (2) you have some ideas please let me know. bridge classes for beginners and those who are more advanced (we have amazing teachers); (3) two transport pickups are organised in the Take care and we look forward to seeing you at the Lunch and Social mornings because we realise that 10.00 am is too early for some of our Club. I wish you all a healthy and happy 2013. Hyman Fine House – 007 meets Jaws by Beverly Barnett and Natasha Carson Residents at Hyman Fine House have enjoyed a range of excursions We have continued to provide a wide range of activities within the over the past few weeks, ranging from a fish and chip lunch to home with recent changes, including setting up a creative writing seeing the latest James Bond movie and a trip to Salomons house group and an art group. Both these groups are facilitated by volunteers in Tunbridge Wells. In addition, several people went to the Sea Life with the help of our staff team. Centre and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the wide range of colourful fish on display, particularly the shark tunnel. If you feel that you could give a little time to the home to help us introduce more things to do or accompany us on outings please A Kiddush provided by the Ladies Fundraising Committee was held contact Natasha or Mark on 01273 688226. on Saturday 24 November attended by residents, volunteers and members of the local community. It was very enjoyable and our thanks Beverly Barnett and Natasha Carson are a Volunteer go to the catering staff for the excellent food. Co-ordinator and Manager, respectively, at Hyman Fine House National Mitzvah Day at Helping Hands On Sunday 18 November - National Mitzvah off my mind”; and “I live at the top of a big hill. If it snows, could you Day – we launched our new project ‘Friends & come by helicopter?” Neighbours’. Our volunteers telephoned some Helping Hands clients in their neighbourhood, Other comments received were: ““The scheme is the kindest thing I just to say hello and to let them know that, when have heard of in a long time”; “Always nice to know there is a lifeline the expected cold weather sets in later this year, however independent you are”; “I will most certainly use the number if I they would be able to take them emergency have to” and “What a wonderful idea.” supplies such as a loaf of bread and some milk. Helping Hands also took part in the Sunshine to Senior’s project, By the end of the day, our volunteers reported some very positive where a number of Helping Hands volunteers joined the staff and feedback from clients such as: “Most of my family live abroad and residents of Hyman Fine House in Brighton for an afternoon of tea and your contact is very reassuring and it has made my day”; “Very kind of music. you and very thoughtful”; “Having the number to phone takes a worry ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 6 Community life 7 Ralli Hall by Roger Abrahams I am sure that you will have noticed the recent enhanced state of cleanliness throughout the building, including the outside spaces. I am very pleased to announce that the last of the heating upgrades This is because we now have a full complement of caretakers and has been completed and the entire building should now be warm cleaners since taking on Neil and his wife Donna, whilst retaining and inviting, with simple-to-use controls. Gavin as Neil’s assistant. We are very happy with their work and I There have now been several functions in the Great Hall since even noticed during my Friday morning visit to Ralli Hall that our the new décor and lighting were completed. Irit and I have since Chanukiah had been cleaned and polished to great effect – thank attended the Lunch and Social Club Dinner and Dance, which was you all. super – my congratulations to all concerned. There was a full house Membership renewal forms for 2013 are being sent out, again with of 120 guests and I am sure that we were not alone in our enjoyment no subscription increase, so please respond positively and show the of the evening. Board that the Community is backing its efforts to provide a Centre I now sincerely hope that many more groups and individuals will of which we can all be very proud. In fact, this coming year will book their simchas at Ralli Hall with three choices of catering – mark 100 years since Ralli Hall was built by the Ralli family, initially kosher meat or milk under supervision, or vegetarian / fish, without as a community hall for All Saints Church on the corner of the Drive the necessity of supervision, all with the benefit of a drinks licence. and Eaton Road, and we are planning celebrations of this quite Please contact the office and discuss your requirements with Norina momentous anniversary later in the year – so watch this space. or Maxine. I hope that you all had a pleasant and enjoyable Chanukah and that The Magrill Lounge is next on our list for an upgrade, hopefully in we can look forward to a peaceful and prosperous New Year, in the spring, so if your simchas require a fifty-seater annexe to the good health. Great Hall, or just the use of the Lounge, then soon we can add this See you at Ralli Hall. to our list of first-class facilities for hire. AJEX Parade in London by Doris Levinson June Noah and Buckley, the beautifully-behaved grandson of Michael and Penny, came to join the throng and applaud our proud I had never been to an AJEX Parade in London and was delighted to have been asked by Michael and Penny Phillips to come and soldiers, sailors, airmen and women who had fought so gallantly join them on Sunday, 18 November to watch the Parade of Jewish on behalf of this country. ex-Servicemen and women and witness the most moving and It was such a shame that so few of us from this city were able to beautiful Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, come along. Just to support these fantastic people is an honour led by the Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks. – please do try to come along next year and feel what I felt. We all Michael was the proud Standard Bearer for Brighton & Hove. need to show our thanks to the brave people who have and are The only other person marching for our community was Bernard protecting us. Frost. Sadly and inevitably, numbers are dwindling, but the crowds watching and supporting were huge and larger than ever before. Important message: HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY VISITS If you are in hospital or know of anyone being admitted into hospital, please get in touch with info@sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org or telephone 07771 210186 so that a Jewish chaplain can be contacted to visit. ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 Community life 7 Images: Sophie Sheinwald Rep Council Community Meeting The Sussex Jewish Representative Council felt it necessary to call a meeting on 28 November due to the increase in anti-Zionist and antisemitic feeling in Brighton which had escalated as a result of the current situation in Israel. Evidence of this had been seen by the cancellation of one of the two performances by the Batsheva Dance Company as well as pro-Palestinian protests outside the Dome concert hall before the performance and disturbances inside the auditorium during the performance on the Friday night. Also, a concert by Yasmin Levy at the Old Market had been cancelled due to security concerns. Demonstrations and protests outside the Ecostream shop in Brighton, as well as the anti-Zionist views and actions of Caroline Cobbs, David Rose, James Dyer (Christian Friends of Israel), Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, hosting a meeting Sandra Gross and Rabbi Andrea Zanardo gave their views, of the Jordan Valley Solidarity Group in Parliament and anti-Israel experiences and suggestions. The panel of guest speakers was activity by academics at the universities, were all giving cause for as follows: Ilana Fenster from the Israeli Embassy, Alex Brummer, concern. Vice President of the Board of Deputies and City Editor for the Daily Mail, and Stephen Jaffe working for the Board of Deputies The objectives of the meeting were to provide information on what assisting regional communities to advocate for Israel. The chair is happening in Brighton. It provided an opportunity for discussion was Alan Aziz of the Zionist Federation. and questions and to formulate a plan as to how the community should best move forward in order to counter these problems. After the speeches the floor was then opened to a lively question and answer session, including a more balanced understanding of Beryl Sharpe, President of the SJRC, together with Debra Israeli and Palestinian issues. There were a number of suggestions Goodman and Sarah Wilks welcomed the large audience. Simon from the panel - such as lobbying the MPs in Parliament; attending information seminars to become better informed to counter the protests and lobbies; better education for students in schools and colleges on Jewish matters; running more creative cultural and educational activities to show the good side of Israel and being more creative in our responses to protests, such as going into shops, asking for and purchasing Israeli goods. The attitude of the media and the Press were also discussed: Alex Brummer said that improvement was being noted as to more balanced reporting on Israel on the part of the media. He told the audience that the problems in Brighton are being replicated all over the UK, indeed worldwide. Beryl Sharpe thanked the Sussex Police, the CST and the Christian Friends of Israel who were in attendance as well as Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation for hosting the meeting. Hastings Jewish Society was suffering from pneumonia, pleurisy and anorexia – not because by Brian Linke I refused to eat but because there was simply no food”. Whoever listens to a witness becomes a witness. Hastings Borough Council will host a Holocaust Memorial Day Service at St Mary-in-the-Castle on Saturday 26 January at 11.00 am. The We are looking forward to our local community coming together to event will be attended by local dignitaries. All members of the local remember victims of the Holocaust and those whose lives have been community are invited to join the commemoration. affected by exclusion and hatred in subsequent genocides. By holding this annual event we condemn the evils of prejudice, discrimination The theme for HMD 2013 is Communities Together: Build a Bridge, and racism. By attending the service we demonstrate that we value a which will provide an opportunity to listen to and consider stories from free, tolerant and democratic society. the Holocaust and the Bridge Builders. Stories will involve the experiences of the elderly and the young in Admission is free, but by ticket only available from the Information Europe, together with those striving for a better understanding of the Centre, Priory Meadow and the Bexhill Library, Western Road. Music past and current behaviour. will be provided by Opera South East. Our special guest will be Dorit Olivier Wolff. “At the end of the war I For information, please email Brian Linke at linkebrian@hotmail.com or was nine years old, weighed three stone, had lost my hair, and ring 01424 855904. ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 Centre for German-Jewish Studies 1.30 pm Welcome Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex Holocaust Memorial Day The Mayor, Cllr Bill Randall, Mayor of the City of Brighton and Hove Kelly McBride, President, University of Sussex Students’ Union Dr Gideon Reuveni, Director, Centre for German-Jewish Studies Communities Together: 1.45 pm Professor Peter Pulzer, University of Oxford Build a Bridge ‘30th January 1933’ Chaired by Professor Matthew Cragoe, Head of School of History, Art History and Philosophy 3.00 pm Tea, Jubilee Building G30 workspace 3.30 pm Zigi Shipper, Holocaust survivor, will speak about his experiences in Auschwitz concentration camp Chaired by Gideon Reuveni 4.30 pm Film: After the Holocaust followed by a discussion with the film-maker, Daisy Asquith Wednesday 30 January 2013 Peter Pulzer was born in Vienna in the year 1929 and left for the UK in 1939. Jubilee Building Lecture Theatre He was educated at the Universities of Cambridge and London. From 1957 to University of Sussex 1996 he taught Politics and Modern History at the University of Oxford. From 1984 until his retirement he was Gladstone Professor of Government and Free entry – all welcome Fellow of All Souls College. He has held numerous visiting professorships at North American and European universities. His research interests cover modern Organised by the Centre for German-Jewish Studies European history, including Jewish history, and extremist political movements. His Sponsored by the Association of Jewish Refugees books include The Rise of Political Antisemitism in Germany and Austria (German translation 2004), Jews and the German State (2003) and Germany 1870-1945: Politics, State-Building and War (1997). Centre for German-Jewish Studies Holocaust Memorial Day Communities Together: Build a Bridge Wednesday 30 January 2013 Jubilee Building Lecture Theatre University of Sussex Free entry – all welcome Organised by the Centre for German-Jewish Studies Sponsored by the Association of Jewish Refugees Zigi Shipper was 14 when he was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp. He Cover image: described himself as lucky to have survived and feels he owes it to those who did Arnold Daghani, ‘At the place of execution’ (undated) in 1942 1943 And not survive to keep talking about what had happened. “Whole families were wiped Thereafter (Sporadic records till 1977) (1942-77), ink on paper out – who will tell their story?” (Arnold Daghani Collection, University of Sussex © Arnold Daghani Trust) Mr Shipper, who was born in Poland, said In the grey space around the officers featured in our image (as Deborah Schultz he felt he did not lose as much as some explains) Daghani drew the faces of those fated for execution, his fellow inmates people in the camps because he grew up from the camp, who emerge from the shadows as a haunting presence. At the without his parents and had no siblings Mikhailowka slave labour camp in the Ukraine numerous Jewish prisoners were to be separated from. However, he does randomly shot. In December 1943, after a partisan attack when some of the regret being denied the chance to thank inmates managed to escape, the remaining prisoners were all executed. the grandmother who raised him for what she had done. She was detained in a For further details of the ordeals of Arnold Daghani and his wife Nanino, including different concentration camp and died on their post-war efforts at reconciliation with their erstwhile captors, see Arnold the day it was liberated. “She didn’t even Daghani’s Memories of Mikhailowka: The Illustrated Diary of a Slave Labour Camp have one day of freedom,” Mr Shipper Survivor, Deborah Schultz and Edward Timms (eds)(London: Vallentine Mitchell, said. “I would love to have at least once A view of the Auschwitz-Birkenau 2009). put my arm around her and kiss her and camp in 1955 say thank you for bringing me up.” Mr Shipper does not feel any hatred towards Germany – and urges people never to feel hate “ How can you believe that one human being can do that in their own lives. “It’s certainly not the fault of to another one? the people who are alive today. Why should I Zigi Shipper ” hate them when they did nothing?” The Film: After the Holocaust Daisy Asquith’s interest in making a Holocaust film began with her MA in Cultural History, Memory and Identity at the University of Brighton. She wrote her dissertation on Lanzmann’s Shoah and the limits and challenges of Holocaust For further details contact: representation. Diana Franklin, Centre Manager To make this film, she spent eight months in the lives of three of Britain’s T +44 (0)20 8455 4785 T +44 (0)1273 678771 Holocaust survivors, learning about their pasts and exploring with them the ways E d.franklin@sussex.ac.uk in which the Holocaust still plays out in their present. Obsessions with food, Centre for German-Jewish Studies, University of Sussex appearances and fearful parenting are all respectfully and warmly observed in a Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QN film that gives humanity and individuality back to each survivor. Most importantly, the survivors, who are now in their eighties and nineties, get a chance to tell Free entry to this event is made possible by the generous support of the their story. Association of Jewish Refugees and is open to anyone who is interested – you are welcome to attend all or any part of the programme. Registration is not required. 10 Brighton & Hove Holocaust Memorial Events Friends Meeting House A series of events will be taking place in Brighton & Hove to mark Holocaust Memorial Exhibition Holocaust Memorial Day (27th January). This year’s theme is Date: 21st/29th January ‘Communities Together: Times: Mon – Sat 10am-5pm, Sunday 12.30pm -4.45pm Build a Bridge’ Venue: Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF Imagine waking up to find Holocaust Memorial Event at Jubilee Library that the neighbours you have known all your life, Speaker: Dr. T. Scarlett Epstein OBE has served in many capacities and even sat next to at over a distinguished career, including Research Professor at the school, now walk past you University of Sussex (1972 – 1984). In 1938 Scarlett was at High School without stopping, now when Hitler annexed Austria. She became a Jewish Refugee forbid their children from overcoming extreme obstacles to escape being sent to a concentration playing with yours, now camp. Refused a visa by many countries, she was offered asylum in spit at you and even Albania. In 1939 she travelled to the UK via Germany, where she was attack you. detained and tortured, arriving in London to work as a machinist in a sweat shop. She took evening classes, starting her long journey to On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember and stand by those communities becoming a University Professor. Professor Epstein’s autobiography is which were destroyed in the Holocaust under Nazi Persecution and in called ‘Swimming Upstream’ subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Exhibition: Year 6 pupils at Carden Primary School have been thinking about the importance of Holocaust Memorial Day. They have been Sussex Jewish Film Club reflecting upon the lessons that can be learnt and have been considering how to stand up to prejudice and discrimination. As part of The Club presents ‘Paper Clips’, a documentary their project they met and interviewed two Holocaust Survivors from the about an extraordinary experiment in Holocaust Brighton Jewish community. education in rural Tennessee. Struggling to grasp the concept of six million Holocaust victims, the students Display: “Forgotten Victims” - East Sussex Traveller Education Team decide to collect six million paper clips to better understand the extent of this crime against humanity. Date/Time: Thursday 24th January, 9.45am – 11.30am The film details how the experience transformed Venue: Jubilee Library Conference Room, Jubilee St, Brighton BN1 1GE them and their whole community. Non members welcome with a donation on the door. Children must be accompanied by an adult Date/Time: Sunday 20th January, 7.30pm (hot and cold drinks available from 7pm) Venue: Ralli Hall For more information: (01273) 688538 or 07808 580047 11 Culture 11 An Uplifting film Jewish Historical Society for Holocaust by Godfrey Gould, Co-Chairman Memorial Month Two excellent presentations opened the 2012-13 session of the Sussex Branch of the Jewish Historical Society. On 30 October, As the Film Club’s contribution to Beverly Nenk, Curator of Medieval Collections and Judaica at the Holocaust Memorial Month we will be British Museum, explained the origins of Judaica at the Museum, showing the film Paper Clips on Sunday although much of the original collection is now in the British 20th January at Ralli Hall at 7.00 for 7.30pm as usual. It’s an Library. She had, however, plenty to show us from medieval to inspiring and uplifting documentary made in the USA (84 mins) and relatively modern times of the wonders to be seen, although most not at all harrowing. Even if you’ve seen it before, it’s well worth are in the reserve collections. An invitation to visit the Museum to seeing again and children are welcome. see these treasures and more will be followed up and a select few of us will have a rare opportunity for a private visit to the Museum It concerns an extraordinary experiment in Holocaust education later in 2013. conducted at Whitwell Middle School in rural Tennessee. Struggling to grasp the concept of six million Holocaust victims, the students On 27 November a capacity audience heard Dr Rosa Vidal of decide to collect six million paper clips to better understand the Queen Mary College, University of London, talk about the Jewish extent of this crime against humanity. The film details how the students met Holocaust survivors from around the world and how community in late mediaeval Spain and its relationship with the the experience transformed both them and their whole community. Christian church. A spectacularly enthusiastic speaker provoked a veritable barrage of questions and discussion. Living only a few We hope to see you there. streets away from Ralli Hall enabled Dr Vidal to stay later then usual to discuss her topic with a number of our members and most welcome visitors. The next meeting will be on 29 January 2013 when our speaker will be Rabbi Pesach Efune. His subject is ‘18th Century Western European Jewish Jewry in Turmoil - the Dispute between R. Yaakov Emden and R. Yonathan Eibeschutz’. Don’t know what it’s all about? Here’s your opportunity to find out. Come along. All welcome. All our meetings are held at Ralli Hall commencing at 7.45 pm. The lecture is followed by questions and discussion, followed by light refreshments. Entrance is free for members, £4 for visitors, who are always most welcome. JACS by Nina Taylor, Hon Chairman Our weekly meetings continue to be of many of our members, eg. tailors, Sussex visited us and told us about their interesting, amusing and, slightly, bookbinders, jewellers and furniture makers. organisation and gave us readings from a educational. We had a team from KKL/JNF Steve Morris told us about his experiences very interesting booklet which they have describing the past, present and future of as a Guide at the 2012 London Olympics. produced. their organisation. The Blue Box collection, He was one of 70,000 volunteers! Steve which at one time was to be found in most was a “meeter and greeter”, giving Our dear friend, Godfrey Gould, enlightened Jewish homes, was started in the period directions. The volunteers were supplied us about serious and near-accidents on the between the two Great Wars and was with a uniform, which they got to keep, railways in the 19th and 20th centuries. even found in a concentration camp! The badges and free travel on the London money collected was to buy land and build Underground and Buses. Volunteers living Janice Greenwood gave us talks about communities in Israel away from over- out of London had to make their own composers George Gershwin and Cole populated towns and to have settlements travel arrangements. Steve stayed in his Porter, which she illustrated by playing CDs fruitifying some of the wilderness. daughter’s flat which was a short distance of some of their wonderful music. from the main arena. Steve had a wonderful David Barnett told us about Jewish Traders time. Besides meeting members of the We have another full and varied programme in Regency London. I had thought that public he met celebrities and royalty. He’s for January and look forward to seeing old Jewish people who came to England at that hoping to go to Rio in four years time. friends and new at the AJEX Centre on time were mostly money lenders, but no, Wednesday afternoons. The doors open at they were tradesmen and craftsmen who Maxine Toff and some of her colleagues 1.30 pm. established themselves as the forefathers from The Jewish Women Friends of ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 12Culture 13 Through the Flames by Suchitra Chatterjee When I planned to write a love story set public, the Royal Pavilion which had been father is a Hindu Indian, whose longing for against the backdr op of Brighton’s military adapted as a military hospital, suddenly his homeland, now that he is in this twilight hospital for Indian soldiers in WW1, I had ‘walled’ its patients in, only allowing them years, is as poignant as it is bitter sweet. already subconsciously decided that the to leave the grounds under escort? Why Through the Flames is pure fiction, but female lead would be Jewish. I was already were all female personnel pulled from the historical context is not. Transracial or courting controversy by daring to speak the working in the Brighton military hospitals transreligious relationships are not just a unspeakable, which was that white English long before the Indian soldiers left English 20th and 21st century phenomenon. I totally women had had relationships with some shores? These were just two questions of understand that people want to hold on to of the Indian soldiers during the 18 months the many that I asked, but finding answers what is unique about themselves. However, they lived in Brighton while recovering from was nigh on impossible. Much was written the world is a small place and when people their wounds. about when east met west in Brighton all fall in love, then things can and do change. My research into the subject came about those years ago, but also so much was left But this is not necessarily a bad thing in the when I got involved with the Black History unsaid. I suspect that all that is now left is long run. Even though my mother’s family Project here in Brighton. I already knew rumour and supposition. have lived English lives superficially for a a fair amount about the Chattri Memorial So I decided to fill in the gaps in my own long time, the memory of who they once north of Patcham, but I knew very little way by writing a fictional love story, or were is still with them and is being handed about what happened before the Chattri rather a “love play” about a young Indian down to the next generation. So all may not was built. Army Officer and his love for a Jewish be lost. Who knows? Perhaps my nephew Digging into the past can be enlightening; nurse. The story begins in the 21st century will come home from university with a nice it can also be heart-breaking and shocking. and the setting is the Chattri Memorial. It Jewish girl and what was once lost will You might be surprised to know that racism then moves back in time to tell the tale come home again at long last... and religious intolerance do not shock me, of Jemadar Ashok Seth and nurse Judith Through the Flames is written under the pen but obliterating people’s lives because they Cahn, star-crossed lovers whose story name of Sonya Roy and has had a three dared to love someone from a different race transcends not only racial and religious scene reading at Crawley Library for Black and religion did shock me. And it also made boundaries. but time itself. History Month 2012 that can be seen on me angry. Very angry. I suspect that my choice of heroine is based YouTube. Everywhere I found tantalizing clues as I on my own rather disjointed heritage. My Suchitra Chatterjee is the Hate dug deep into Brighton’s time as a military English mother‘s family were once Jewish Crime Coordinator at Brighton hospital town. I could not understand why, many generations ago, but assimilation Police Station. after so many months of being open to the and integration have taken their toll. My HYMAN FINE HOUSE Malcolm Green FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE Catering (Registered Charity No. 1111793) The selection of your menu is an important part in the planning of your Simcha. For that reason our Chefs continue to create exciting and tasty menus to meet your every need. PRESENTS and help create the function you will be proud of. Let us introduce you to a cuisine that has made us one of Israel’s A BRIDGE & KALOOKI AFTERNOON leading Caterers & the world’s foremost glatt kosher AT RALLI HALL, DENMARK VILLAS, HOVE destination wedding specialist. (£1.00 Parking Fee at Hove Railway Station) KOSHER CATERING AT ITS BEST FRIENDLY COMPETITION – WITH PRIZES Contact Malcolm on 0203 393 6823 koshercaterer@yahoo.co.uk www.kosherservicesworldwide.com ON SUNDAY 17th FEBRUARY 2013 AT 2.00PM www.kosherexperiences.co.il DONATION £8.50 INCLUDING TEA UNDER SUPERVISION KASHRUT DIVISION TICKETS FROM OF THE LONDON BETH DIN (For functions in the U.K.) ALAN BURKE - 01273 416335 AND RAYMOND FELSENSTEIN - 01273 505056 “You’ve eaten the food now read the blog” www.koshersericesworldwide/blog/ ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 12 BHPS Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah "RIGHTON 4EL "RIGHTON 4WITTER "(03 13 Be Menschlich – a message for us all by Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah As Jews, we are rightly troubled, both individually and God never commanded Cain not to commit murder against collectively, about how other people treat us – and his brother; the moral law is engraved upon the human soul’. preoccupied, in particular, with the continuing offence of Within Jewish teaching, an entire area is devoted to ethical antisemitism. behaviour: Mussar literature – where the way that one behaves is an external manifestation of one’s middot, character traits. Our Jewish tradition teaches us to focus our concern, also, on how we treat one another. In Pirkey Avot, ‘The Chapters of the Most of us will be aware of the expression, ‘being a mensch’ Sages’, appended to the Mishnah, reference is made to the or ‘behaving like a mensch’. A Yiddish concept, taken from concept of derech eretz: (2:2): ‘Beautiful is the study of Torah the German word, mensch, meaning ‘human being’, being a with derech eretz (Torah im derech eretz), as involvement with mensch means being a person of integrity and honour. We also both makes one forget sin.’ It is not clear what derech eretz speak of menschlichkeit or being menschlich, when we want means in this context. The literal translation is ‘the way of the to talk about behaving like a mensch. The Yamim Noraim, the land’ and in rabbinic literature there are a wide range of ways ‘Awed Days’ from Rosh Ha-Shanah to Yom Kippur provided us that the expression is used, which connect derech eretz, for with the opportunity to reflect on our actions, approach those example, to earning a livelihood and behaving appropriately whom we had wronged and make amends in order to begin and respectfully to others. the New Year afresh. Given how easy it is to revert to old ways, might I suggest that each one of us takes the opportunity of American orthodox Rabbi Jeff Forsythe points out that there the secular New Year to resolve to be menschlich and treat one are approximately 200 teachings concerning derech eretz as another with respect. decent, polite, respectful and thoughtful behaviour. Another American, conservative Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel, interprets The following are websites for more information on Rabbi the teaching, “Derech eretz comes before Torah” (Midrash Jeff Forsythe and Rabbi Michael Samuel: Vayikra Rabbah 9:3), to mean ‘that human decency is a s precondition to the Israelites receiving the Ten Commandments INTERPERSONALDERECHERETZHTM at Mt. Sinai. Without this type of natural morality, for which the Golden Rule is based upon – no morality is possible. As s Levinas has pointed out many times, IS RELIGION NECESSARY FOR MORALITY BHPS News Cantor Gershon Silins at BHPS by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah On 1 December we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon on The On Saturday 26 January the BHPS Hour of Sunlight: One Palestinian’s Journey from Prisoner to Shabbat Morning Service at the Ralli Peacemaker with Jen Marlow – and Sami al Jundi contributing Hall will be led by Cantor Gershon via Skype. Very inspiring to hear Sami’s story, and to learn about Silins. Following the service at 1.00 his collaboration with Jen and of the excellent work they have pm he will take a workshop entitled both been doing with Seeds for Peace, an Israeli-Palestinian “An Introduction to Synagogue youth initiative. I can’t wait to read the book! music – historical influences from The Hour of Sunlight can be ordered from www.riverwalkbooks. many different places.” This com/book/978156854485 and additional information is available workshop will provide an opportunity from www.donkeysaddle.org/index.php/the-hour-of-sunlight to learn some new melodies. Cantor Gershon Silins is cantor at Liberal Judaism. He is also Adjunct Professor of Cantorial Arts at the Abraham Geiger MARTIN GROSS College in Berlin. He has served as cantor of Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto, Temple Avodah in Oceanside, New Memorials York, Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, New All aspects of stone-masonry undertaken Jersey, Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois from new to renovation and cleaning and Temple Emanuel in Kensington, Maryland, where he was founder and artistic director of Temple Emanuel’s “Arts at 01273 439792 Emanuel” Concert Series. Gershon Silins has also been an active singer in the worlds of 07801 599771 concert and opera. Some credits include appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under James Levine, Carlo 07540 066566 Maria Giulini, and Sir George Solti, and with the Brooklyn Philharmonic under Lukas Foss. ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 14BHHC Rabbi Hershel Rader "RIGHTON 4EL 15 Of Men and Trees by Rabbi Hershel Rader ‘Man is a tree of the field’ (Deuteronomy 20:19) and the Jewish Faith may be the least noticeable of our spiritual qualities and its calendar reserves one day each year - the New Year for Trees on true extent may be hidden from those around us, maybe even the 15th of Shevat - for us to contemplate this. A tree consists of from ourselves, but it is there to give us strength to survive life’s three basic components: Its roots, which anchor it to the ground buffetings and to provide sustenance for our spiritual activity. and supply it with water and other nutrients. Its trunk, branches and leaves which are essentially the tree’s body and its fruit, I recall officiating at the funeral of a man who had died at a young which contain the seeds by which the tree reproduces itself. age and left behind a wife and two teenage children. As we stood behind the bier, about to accompany it to the Prayer House, the Unlike its body and fruit, a tree’s roots are not demonstrably daughter turned to her mother and said ‘I don’t think I can do attractive. They are hidden out of sight but nevertheless are this’. The mother, a grieving widow, responded ‘it says Hashem absolutely crucial. A tree with weak roots will not survive. Roots oz l’amo yitain - G-d will give strength to His people ... you will be represent a person’s faith, an unseen force which provides the able to do it’. I will never forget this expression of a powerful faith motivation for all our spiritual endeavours. Just as a growing tree that carried a family through such difficult times. requires larger roots so does our spiritual growth depend on the development of our faith. Just as strong roots enable a tree to Abraham was chosen by Hashem because of his faith. It is faith withstand buffeting winds so does our faith enable us to maintain that is the root of Jewishness and Judaism. our moral compass in the face of life’s many challenges. HHC JANUARY DIARY Rabbi Vivian Silverman 8 Tuesday Ladies Discussion Circle, 10.30 am followed by Talmud Shiur. (OVE 12 Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Shevat. 4EL 26 Shabbat Tu Bishvat. Congregation News The New Year For Trees oil by which people honour the Almighty and mankind, and go to hold sway over the by Janet Cowan by Rabbi Vivian Silverman trees? Once again, HHC’s Catering Corps The most famous episode regarding trees Next, they spoke to the Fig tree, “Come excelled itself. On 19 October we made a is that of The Garden of Eden, when Adam and reign over us.” The T’eina (fig) replied: Friday Night Dinner, and nearly 50 people and Eve were told that they could eat of all Should I leave my sweetness and go to hold attended. The weather was really awful, the trees in the garden except for the two in sway over the trees? but nevertheless, everyone turned up to the centre: The Tree of life and The Tree of be very well fed. We particularly enjoyed Knowledge of Good and Evil. They then said to the Vine, “Reign over the Benching after dinner, conducted us.” To which the Gefen (vine) responded: The parable of the trees, as related in the by Chazan Dov Speier who was visiting Should I leave my wine which brings Book of Judges, is not so well known. The Brighton with his wife Edit. Chazan Speier happiness to God and man, and go and youngest of Gideon’s sons, Yotam, stood also davened in Shul on Shabbat morning. hold sway over the trees? on the top of Mount Gerizim and addressed I hope they enjoyed their visit to our the people of Shechem as follows:- Finally, the trees said to the lowly Bramble, community as much as we enjoyed their “Come and be our king.” He answered: If being with us. The trees wanted to anoint a king. So they you really mean to anoint me as king over said to the Olive tree, “Reign over us.” The Wishing you all a happy, healthy 2013. you, come and take shelter under me. But, Zayit (olive) answered: should I leave my if you do not mean it, then let fire come and consume the Cedars of Lebanon. At one time, when a boy was born, a Cedar was planted in honour of his birth; for a girl, a Cypress. When a couple met and decided to marry, their respective trees were cut down and made into beams to be columns for the chupa which represented their future home. Tu Bishvat (15 Shevat) teaches how important trees are for preserving the landscape. Ever since the Jewish National Fund was founded in 1901, countless millions of trees have been planted in Eretz Yisrael precisely for that reason – an early form of what we call ecology. ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 14 BHRS "RIGHTON 0ALMEIRA 4EL 15 The Lessons of Limmud representing his/her own organization or denomination. This leads to an extraordinary level of tolerance and acceptance, which can by Rabbi Andrea Zanardo sometimes become the basis of a wonderful friendship. For those of you who still do not know what Limmud is, it is a one For example, I saw once two young girls davening mincha together: week-long Jewish conference, which takes place at the end of one was reading from the Orthodox Artscroll Siddur, while the other December. It is totally run by an amazing group of volunteers, and was reading from the Reform Siddur, Seder haTefilot, “Forms of is a regular meeting point for Jewish artists, intellectuals, educators, prayer”. They subsequently told me that they had met at Limmud, two leaders, and of course Rabbis. There are thousands of sessions and years before, and had become friends. Every year they look forward activities, concerts, exhibitions, and children’s activities. All of these to the opportunity to meet up. They, of course, have attended each are based on Jewish themes. other’s bat mitzvah. Interestingly, there are several Limmuds that take place all over the I was literally moved to tears by this beautiful example of k’lal Israel, world, from China to Israel; but the main event, the big Limmud, is in unity among the people of Israel. This is a real Jewish value, and it is England, and more precisely at Warwick University. It is a wonderful wonderful to see how it prevails over inter-communal divisions and opportunity to meet, and sometimes sit down with authors of books strife. you have just read, or artists and musicians that you highly admire. Indeed, the reason why I feel so at home in the Reform Movement is And beside all that, Limmud is a great place to talk. that we make this value the centre of our Judaism. We respect Jewish My family and I are longstanding Limmudniks. I have been attending tradition and law, but we do not allow in our midst different levels of Limmud ever since I arrived in the UK. I even managed to deliver some observance. At the same time, we take into consideration the evolving sessions. One notable session was when I tried to put together my nature and adaptability of our religious tradition. Other denominations two longstanding passions: Talmud and Aikido, a Japanese martial make different choices in these respects, but I am proud to say that I art based on flexibility. I cannot adequately summarize that session respect and feel respected by all my colleagues here in Brighton. for you here; but it is easy to describe a Talmudic debate among the You may be aware that in Brighton there is a local version of Limmud, Rabbis as a match, where each of the opponents is looking for the called Lishma. This will be taking place in a couple of months. There weakest point of the other. This is also the principle of Aikido. too I will be teaching about a struggle, the one between Jews and Fortunately, my session was well attended, and the debate gave me History, namely Zionism. But more of this in the next issue of Sussex real food for thought. Nobody objected to it, even though my topic Jewish News! looked strange in principle. There is not, after all, a huge amount of literature on the topic of Jewish thought and Japanese martial arts! JANUARY DIARY I believe that the secret of Limmud’s success is exactly what I have experienced: and that is that Limmud is not judgmental. Its main Saturday 5th Shabbat Doroteinu, 10.45 am principle is that every Jew is there as a Jewish individual, and not Sunday 6th Cheder new term, 10.00 am Afternoon Tea, 2.30 pm Thursday 10th NEW - Rosh Chodesh Group, 6.00 pm Saturday 12th Rabbi’s Shiur, 9.00 am Baby blessing - Samuel Sharpe, son of Joanna, 10.30 am Sunday 13th Kids Club, 12.30 pm Tuesday 15th Breakfast Club, 8.00 am Saturday 19th Book Club, 9.15 am “The Bus Driver who wanted to be God” by Etgar Keret Saturday 26th Rabbi’s Shiur, 9.00 am Sunday 27th Cheder Tu B’shvat - Tree Planting, 10.00 am ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 16What’s on: January 2013 Website: www.sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org Email: info@sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org 16 SHABBAT SHALOM – BRIGHTON TIMES EVENTS FOR JANUARY In Light Candles Out Havdalah All Holocaust Memorial Day events in Brighton & Hove and at the University of Sussex can be found on pages 8-10. Fri 4 3.51 pm Sat 5 5.07 pm Other events around the county are noted below. Fri 11 4.00 pm Sat 12 5.15 pm Fri 18 4.10 pm Sat 19 5.25 pm Wednesday 2 Fri 25 4.22 pm Sat 26 5.35 pm ¢ JACS – What do you think? Join the discussion at AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members / £2.50 non-members NOTABLE DATES Tuesday 8 Sat 15 Tu B’Shevat – New Year for Trees ¢ Sussex Jewish News – Submission deadline for our February issue REGULAR ACTIVITIES Wednesday 9 ¢ JACS with guest speaker Sydney Levine on The Sundays Sentence of the Court. AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members / £2.50 non-members ¢ Carmel Tennis Club 10.00 am - 12.00 noon. Weekly. All levels welcome. Tel: Leon on 07717 222744 Tuesday 15 ¢ Brighton JLGB (Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade) The youth club for 8-18 year ¢ Jewish Business Breakfast Club 8.00 am – 9.30 am at olds meets every Sunday during school terms from 4.15 pm - 6.00 pm BHRS, Palmeira Avenue. Tickets £10 at Ralli Hall. Contact Diane on 07963 552920 Wednesday 16 Mondays ¢ JACS with guest speaker Richard Levison on Lasting Powers of Attorney, Wills, Probate and Related ¢ Ethics of our Fathers with Rabbi Efune 11.30 am - 12.30 pm at the Subjects. AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. Brighton Hillel Centre, 66/67 Middle Street, Brighton Tel: 01273 321919 £2 members / £2.50 non-members ¢ Afternoon Club with tea 1.30 pm. Ralli Hall Tel: Reba 01444 410435 Sunday 20 ¢ Rubber and Duplicate Bridge 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm £2.00 Ralli Hall. ¢ Sussex Jewish Film Club presents Paper Clips Ralli Hall, Tel: Reba 01444 410435 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm ¢ Contemporary Basic Talmud with Rabbi Efune - Men only 8.15 pm at Wednesday 23 Chabad House 01273 321919 ¢ JACS with guest speaker Helen Poole on Shoreham: A ¢ Tanya (Kabbalah) Learning Group with Penina Efune - Ladies only Patchwork History. AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 8.15 pm at Chabad House 01273 321919 2.00 pm. £2 members / £2.50 non-members Thursday 24 Tuesdays ¢ Understanding the Montessori Dimension for parents and ¢ Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club 10.30 am - 4.30 pm prospective parents at Torah Academy Nursery, 29 Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 Weekly at Ralli Hall New Church Road, Hove. 8.00 pm ¢ Art in the studio with Martin 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm Ralli Hall Saturday 26 ¢ Painting with Rochelle (JAS) 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm Ralli Hall ¢ Holocaust Memorial Day, Hastings – Hastings Borough Tel: 01273 503708 Council host a Holocaust Memorial Day Service at St Mary-in the Castle, 11.00 am ¢ Israeli Dancing 7.45 pm - 9.45 pm Ralli Hall. Tel: Jacky 01273 688538 Sunday 27 Wednesdays ¢ Holocaust Memorial Day, Eastbourne The Court Room, Eastbourne Town Hall ¢ JACS at the AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members / £2.50 non-members (see programme in Events listings) Tuesday 29 ¢ Art in the studio with Martin 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm Ralli Hall ¢ Jewish Historical Society – Sussex Branch with guest speaker Rabbi Pesach Efune on 18th Century Western Thursdays European Jewish Jewry in Turmoil – The Dispute between Rabbi Yaakov Emden and Rabbi Yonathan ¢ Mother & Baby Group (0-2 years) at the Torah Nursery, 29 New Church Eibeschutz. Ralli Hall at 7.45. Vistors, £4 Road, Hove. All mums welcome 9.30am – 11.30 noon. Wednesday 30 ¢ Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club 10.30 am-4.30 pm Weekly Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 (RH) ¢ JACS – CD: Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour. AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 ¢ Bridge at Ralli Hall 11.00 am members / £2.50 non-members ¢ Weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Efune 8.15 pm at Chabad House Tel: 01273 321919 Keep the date! April 15th 2013 Yom Ha’atzmaut - the whole of the Sussex Jewish Grodzinski’s challos, rolls and Kosher bread available weekly Community will have the chance to come together by courtesy of Lubavitch Brighton. Please be sure to reserve to celebrate Israel’s 65th birthday your challos etc at Premier Covenience Store on Hove St. so COMMUNITY EVENTS – IMPORTANT REMINDER that we know how many to supply. Orders can be collected on Contact the Communal Diary before planning your events! Thursdays or Fridays. Email: info@sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org ISSUE 226 | JANUARY 2013 -
Issue 193
January 2010
SUSSEX JEWISH NEWS WWW.SUSSEXJEWISHNEWS.COM | £2 | JANUARY 2010 | KISLEV/SHEVAt 5770 | ISSUE 193 REMEMBERING tHE HOLOCAUSt • AROUND tHE JEWISH WORLD • AND MORE Pause for thought A welcome note from the editorial Board It’s a magical time of year. Then we celebrated chanukah. we joined we cannot pretend that uk holidays or Jews around the world to celebrate the the traditions that follow them do not light of the historical re-dedication of the “ exist. For example, there is the New holy Temple. Year’s Resolution. Many people will be But re-dedication and celebration are also making conscious decisions about how to themes that continue throughout this month. live their lives in future. it doesn’t matter The 7th is National holocaust Memorial Day, whether those decisions involve losing a day selected by the British government weight, stopping smoking or volunteering to commemorate one of the darkest eras, with a worthy cause, everyone who if not the darkest era, in history. it is a time makes a New Year’s Resolution is really when we need to – we ought to, re-dedicate saying that he or she wants to live a ourselves and strengthen our commitment better life. to life, our Jewish way of life and the or perhaps, putting it another way, by preservation of life. choosing to lead better lives people are January is also a time of Jewish new years re-dedicating themselves to their lives. – one real and one imaginary. The former in this respect, one need only look at is in the calendar. Tu B’shevat - the new the Jewish calendar and our community year of the trees, fal s on the 30th. The where we are in the midst of two months latter can be found here in the pages of of events where re-dedication to life – sussex Jewish News where our local rabbis and the Jewish way of life, is the theme. have been commenting on the weekly The end of November 009 saw the Torah readings. on the 3rd they wil have Bishopstoke Players and sussex Jewish completed a ful year of parashot. Not a online presentation of kindertransport at new year per se, but with a little bit of Ral i hal . The play itself is about humanity, linguistic jiggery-pokery we could say that choices and the dedication to life. we are we have made our own simchat Torah. grateful to hanno Fry, a kindertransport And that’s magic. child, for submitting a review of the play. happy new year and l’chaim. Submissions deadline for next issue: 8th January 2010 ” issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 3 contents On the cover 1 FRoNT coVeR: iT’s MAGic! ADVERTISING IN SJN courtesy of prestidigitator Russell Levinson Full page (A4 size) B/W: £160 Col: £260 6 NATioNAL hoLocAusT MeMoRiAL DAY 010 Half page (A5 size) B/W: £90 Col: £160 commemorative events in Brighton & hove Quarter page (A6 size) B/W: £50 Col: £90 1/9 page (credit card size) B/W: £35 Col: £50 7 The iMPoRTANce oF hoLocAusT eDucATioN Personal: £4 per line by John evans Flyers: Price on application 9-1 Jewish coMMuNiTies ARouND The woRLD Local Jewish charities wil not be charged, subject to editorial decision. explore Rhodes, warsaw, Akko and corfu BOOK NOW! 07906 955 404 editor@sussexjewishnews.com 0 ReMeMBeRiNG MeNDeL kAPLAN sussex connection to a giant of the Jewish world sJN brings local news, events, articles, reviews, announcements, people, congregations, communities, contacts and more. Regulars Delivered at the start of each month, sJN is run entirely by volunteers for reporting, editing, printing, and circulating each edition that has PAuse FoR ThouGhT become the cornerstone of the Jewish community across the region. 4 coMMuNiTY LiFe Editorial Board Doris Levinson Pictures and news from the past month stephanie Megitt ivor Miskin 5 The sJN hALL oF FAMe David seidel who will we see you with? Administrator ivor sorokin 8 PeRsoNALs, LeTTeRs & PosTcARDs Your thoughts and views Admin Assistant Gweni sorokin 13 cuLTuRe Community Issues Music and more Laura sharpe Communal Diary 19 whAT’s oN Angela Goldman Regular and special events in your community diary@sussexjewishnews.com Your Community Photographer sophie sheinwald 14 hove hebrew congregation E-Publishing 15 Brighton & hove hebrew congregation Gary weston Andy Devon 16 Brighton & hove Progressive synagogue 17 Brighton & hove Reform synagogue Design/Production katie Lyons 18 Ralli hall SUSSEX JEWISH NEWS SUBSCRIPtION Name: Date: Address: Postcode: email: Telephone: subscription (tick one) i would like to receive electronic copies of sJN. £15 p/a i would like to receive printed copies of sJN. £18 p/a. Payment (tick one) i enclose my cheque payable to sussex Jewish News at Po Box 178, hove BN3 3sZ i have made a bank transfer to the sussex Jewish News at Lloyds Bank, sort code 30-98-74, Account No. 0089447 and i have included my name as a reference to ensure my subscription is noted. Or you can subscribe online at www.sussexjewishnews.com and pay with PayPal! issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 4 community life AJEX Eastbourne Progressive by Judy Gabriel Jewish Congregation AJex had a very busy November by Andrew Jay, chairman & Lay Reader in 009. The Remembrance our monthly coffee Mornings continue to be very popular Parades and services were wel with people attending from across the communities attended and our thanks go to in eastbourne and Brighton, with the next being on al who took part. Thanks also go wednesday 7th January at 11.00 am in the Garden to Rabbi Rader and Brighton & Room (conservatory) of The hydro hotel, Mount Road, hove hebrew congregation, New eastbourne. Don’t sit at home alone, come along and church Rd hove, for hosting the make some new friends and meet old friends. All can be AJex service. assured of a very warm welcome. The London Parade and Rally were well supported not our regular erev shabbat services are held at The only by Brighton & hove but also by all the regions. Friends Meeting Place, eastbourne, wish Road, on the it was good to see so many people taking part. second and fourth Friday of every month. on 8 January The month ended by AJex being represented at the the service will commence at 7.00 pm. on January our performance of kindertransport at Ralli hall. For this we service will begin at the earlier time of 6.00 pm and will need to thank sJo who invited us to take part. The four be followed by our chavurah supper. banners loaned to us by AJex hQ proved to be of great All enquiries should be directed to the Administrator on interest and the play itself was well thought out and well 0133 75650 or e-mail at epjcong@aol.com. performed. A very worthwhile time was had by all. January brings another date for your diaries: the ever popular AJex Quiz. This will be a Music Quiz at the Jewish Historical Society AJex hall on January 17th, hosted for us by stewart by Joan Melcher Macintosh. Please call Aubrey cole for more details and to book on 737417. why not make up a table, come on Tuesday 4th November, Professor Ladislaus Lob along and have some fun? gave a compelling talk entitled ‘Razco kasztner - A Jewish schindler?’ Professor Lob told the remarkable story of kasztner, a hungarian Jew, regarded by some as a traitor Hastings and District Jewish Society and by many others as a hero, who negotiated with the s.s. to get 1670 Jews out of hungary. by claudette woolfson Lob was 11 years old, and, with the other 1670, it was yet another wet and windy night when we held our crossed the border into switzerland to safety. Although November service. Dr Alfred Bader was our guest speaker. kasztner saved many Jewish lives, history has not wholly he always provides us with a thought-provoking talk and acknowledged his triumph. Twelve years later, he was this occasion was no exception. his subject was women in murdered by an extremist Jewish gang in his adopted the Bible. Perhaps he was feeling inspired by his wife isobel home of israel. The session ended with interesting who had just celebrated her birthday. questions and a delicious tea. Please note: there is no service in January. our next The next meeting of the Jewish historical society will be service will be held on Friday 5th February. on 6th January 010 when sydney Levine will talk on Another date for the diary is saturday 30th January when ‘The Rise and Decline of the Bradford Jewish community’ the annual holocaust Memorial Day service takes place. at Ralli hall at 7.45 pm. This year‘s theme is ‘The Legacy of hope’. There will be readings and music and participation by opera south east. if one has not visited st Mary in The castle, which Jtrails Road Show is an architectural gem, then this is certainly the occasion The latest JTrails Road show was on which to do so. There is no charge to attend this held at Ral i hal on 9 November. event but tickets must be obtained from the information Pictured at the Road show are service at the Town hall or a committee member. Philip kiberd and Marcus Roberts of we’ll be reporting on the chanukah events in Bexhill and JTrails with Zippy & Martin Gilmour. eastbourne in the next issue. For all enquiries please The Brighton & hove Jewish heritage Trail is to be launched contact the society on 07743 9995 or write to hDJs at during this year’s Brighton Festival. Po Box 74, Bexhill, east sussex TN39 4ZZ issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 5 community life Helping Hands trip to the shops had lost their pleasure. i missed just This following was written by going out with a friend to sit in a cafe, someone with elizabeth Bex, a helping hands whom to share the highs and lows of life. i missed all of client. it was read out at our that so much. volunteer day in october. we i have been fortunate to have Jessica, who has been a feel it should have a wider constant and very special befriender. it’s been important audience. Permission has been to us to have a routine with some flexibility, being aware given to publish the names of that the befriender has her own life and family. That’s both client and volunteer. why knowing what one wants from the relationship and i am sorry i couldn’t be here with you today but i would what one can receive in return is important. i also hope like to tell you a little bit about how helping hands has it is a two-way experience. The support has been of the been a lifeline for me in so many ways. greatest value to me, as has the friendship which has grown over the years. Boundaries are important too and i became ill with Me many years ago and with it came it’s good to set those right at the beginning of any help the debilitating symptoms that led to my becoming that is offered. i have been very fortunate to have met housebound, being retired from work and more isolated someone who has become constant and who has very from friends and community. special qualities. Jessica is fulfilling a very important sarah wilks from helping hands came round to meet mitzvah in what she has given to me over the years. me and talk about the kind of help that i thought i Befriending can provide a very special kind of relationship would need and what she felt helping hands could offer. between the Helper and Receiver. I have benefited so Befriending seemed to be an answer to my isolation and very much from this relationship. loss of friends over the time that i had become ill. The everyone will have their special needs and hopes and initial help from Sarah was invaluable in finding the right Helping Hands has succeeded in fulfilling some of those person to replace that loss of friends i had experienced. for me. i would like to say a big thank you to helping isolation and loneliness seem to come hand-in-hand with hands but an even bigger thank you to Jessica for her ill health and growing older. special role in my life. Family cannot always be there for you and having someone special can make all the difference and prevent one from becoming more withdrawn and even depressed. Worthing & District Jewish Community Finding the right person for you, and that works both ways, is important and this does not always happen on the first attempt. One should not be afraid to say if you do not feel comfortable or if you do not think the befriender you have met is right for you. it’s not being ungrateful or fussy but realistic that you might not be right for one another. i always think one’s intuition is something not to take lightly and to trust in one’s judgment and of course this works both ways. Good communication and friendliness is very important. i was able to tel sarah that i had become isolated Pictured are magician Russell Levinson with ian and from friends i had from work, and other friends in the Barbara Gordon at the very entertaining and successful community. Me was in its early days of recognition and worthing & District chanukah Party on 1th December at not everyone understood. sarah had great insight into the Quaker Meeting house. my needs and this meant she was able to do her best in finding just that right person for me. Cal it intuition and skil on her part too. the SJN Hall of Fame it is also important to say what one might need and as i our new look has been the talk of the town. But use a wheelchair outdoors this was an essential part of we want more than just talk. we want to see who me. it had not been easy from being an active individual is looking at us. send us a picture of yourself with in society to asking for help and support. isolation can a celebrity. each month we’ll pick one celebrity pic make one feel withdrawn and anxious about going out and print it. if it’s yours, you’ll get a free 1 year and about again and i really missed that activity in my subscription (or subscription renewal) to sussex life that i had taken for granted and always enjoyed. A Jewish News! have fun and get snapping! issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 6 National holocaust Memorial Day 010 All of the details for the following events in Brighton and hove were correct at the time of publication and remain subject to change Portraits for Posterity Sussex University – A Photographic Exhibition commemorates NHMD Portraits for Posterity is an independent ongoing project speaker Freddie knoller, author of Desperate Journey: to create memorable photographs of survivors of the Vienna, Paris, Auschwitz’ (00) and ‘Living with the Nazi holocaust now living in Britain. The exhibition will enemy: My secret Life on the Run from the Nazis’ (005) feature local holocaust survivors together with a short biography of their lives Freddie knoller was born in Vienna in 191, where he lived with his parents and his two brothers until 11 March Venue: Jubilee Library, Jubilee square, Brighton 1938, when Austria was annexed by Germany. his life, Dates: 11th January – 1th February during the tragic period 1938-1945, reads like a novel: arrests, prison, escapes, hiding with false papers, joining the resistance and concentration camps. But luck and the Artwork of Darfuri Children courage saved him from extermination. – An Art Exhibition The film ‘Daring to Resist: Three Women Face the in connection with Brighton Voices in exile, Brighton & hove holocaust’ (Martha Goell Lubell and Barbara Attie, usA Progressive synagogue wil be hosting an exhibition of the 1999), will then be shown. artwork of Darfuri children. Al are welcome. Following the film a panel comprising Dr Shirli Gilbert Venue: Brighton and hove Progressive synagogue (university of southampton), Dr Leshu Torchin (university 6 Lansdowne Road, hove BN3 1FF of st Andrews) and Prof christian wiese (university of Dates: nd – 4th January sussex) will discuss the link between this year’s theme “The Legacy of hope” and contemporary issues regarding Times: Friday nd 6 pm – 8pm human rights, genocide, memory and resistance. and sunday 4th 11am – 4pm All welcome, booking not required. info: Tel: (0173) 7373, online at www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk Venue: university of sussex, chowen Lecture Theatre, or email bhps@freenetname.co.uk Brighton and sussex Medical school, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9Px Date: 7 January Children’s Holocaust Memorial Event – Free Time: 1.45 pm Based on the experiences of the sinta and Roma gypsies info: Diana Franklin. Tel/fax: 00 8381 471 during the holocaust, children aged 6-1 are invited to join email d.franklin@sussex.ac.uk in with our storytel ing and craft activity to commemorate National holocaust Memorial Day. Although a free event, spaces must be booked in advance. Venue: Jubilee children’s Library, Jubilee square, Brighton Date: 3rd January Time: workshops from -3pm and 3.30-4.30pm info: (0173) 96960 Light a candle for hope Offering a peaceful space for quiet reflection on National holocaust Memorial Day, people are given the opportunity to light a candle or perhaps write some thoughtful words on this day of remembrance. The café will be open. Free entry. All welcome Venue: Friends Meeting house, ship street, Brighton BN1 1AF Date: 4th January Time: 1pm – 5pm info: (0173) 77058 issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 7 The importance of holocaust education by John evans i have been exposed to two people who had close a significant starting point to ensure that young people experience to the events of the 1930’s and 1940’s. appreciate how evil can manifest itself in so many ways. For The most important to me were my parents. As a boy, example, the holocaust brings other events into focus such when i asked what they did during world war ii, the as the Rwanda massacre, and ensures that we, as human answers were short and never terribly enlightening. My beings, are ever conscious of what horrors we can do to father had some connection with the liberation of Norway each other. And we must prevent ourselves from doing so. and he never paraded his war service. My mother was a The evils of the 1930’s and early 1940’s delivered to europe school teacher during the Blitz. They both met Americans over 60 years of peaceful social, economic and personal prior to D-Day too. development where the freedom to travel, intermix, support however, the experiences of that time had an impact on your footbal teams in trans-european competitions and go my childhood. we never went to spain until General Franco on stag or hen nights in virtual y any city you choose are died. My father and i were actual y in a German family now taken for granted. These sixty years were won at the home on the afternoon when england won the world cup in price of a monumental struggle in world war between 1966. it was part of an exchange through a school that was what might loosely be cal ed the “good” and the “evil” the first to set up a pupil exchange with Germany in the sides of the european enlightenment of the 17th and 18th 1950s. Al Dad would say was that my exchange partner’s centuries. This liberal and humanitarian foundation for parents were very nice but were probably Nazis. our lives needs continual reinforcement. we cannot, for a moment, lose sight of the quality of this, alongside the After the war my mother, however, would never go to fragility of its continuation. Germany on holiday or otherwise. she took many school trips abroad – especially skiing ones, to italy, Austria and But continuation sometimes takes some personal France, but never to Germany. in those days, i went a involvement, some personal contact by Jewish people couple of times. we always travelled by train, overnight and non-Jewish people (like me) to create the motivation from calais via Aachen, Basel and innsbruck. to do something about it and pass it on to the next generation. This is why holocaust education is so real Final y, one night at the beginning of such a trip we and so vital for today’s young people. crossed the German border just to get through and on to switzerland. Mum had to tel me: the last times she had John evans is an educator, consultant and writer. crossed the German border was on school trips after 1933 but before world war ii began, and she often had more kids in the group going home than she started with. how she ever managed not to die of fright when the frontier guards checked passports she never knew. she never, ever spoke about this again in her life, but she knew i knew. By contrast, over many years, part of my life has been deeply involved with the teaching of history, politics and international relations. i was privileged to go to a school with long historical traditions where David irving is also an alumnus. Although he was feted many, many years ago as a historian of note and he often spoke to groups of us about what historical research was all about, gradually, his “history” changed. irving began the process that has led to his current situation in Austria, where holocaust denial is illegal. several years ago, David irving was invited to speak to the sixth Form at my old school. The reason given was the pursuit of historical balance. i remembered my mother’s bravery, my father’s distaste for war and both of my parents’ humanity. i campaigned to stop the speech from happening. i pursued the issue through the chairman of Governors, and ensured that, in at least one smal way, young people would not be subjected to holocaust denial. The holocaust must never be perceived to be the only source of evil. it is important to understand how it can be issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 8 Personals, letters and postcards Personals Kvelling Hostility Births by Nefesh sikhli Mazel tov to Lewis Mann on the birth of a granddaughter, Next month the uk Branch of the world Medical League Ruby, to Jaime and Natalie is expected to release Grudge Match: health and Mazel tov to Joan & David Melcher on the birth of a hostility. This explosive report should be of considerable granddaughter, a daughter for Lucinda and Adam and sister interest to British Jewry. sussex Jewish News was for Jonah and sacha. provided with an advance copy of the report, the fourth chapter of which begins with an examination of the special Birthdays concept of broygues. As a term it “carries the double Mazel tov to Rachel Barnard, Jonathon carris smith, simon meaning of a perceived offence and the bearing of a elkin, Rabbi Pesach efune, clare essex, Alex Gardner, responsive grudge. Both need to be present.” Martin Gould, simon hatchwel , Audrey hirschberg, Mavis hirschberg, Bob kaltz, hanne Lixenberg and Jenny The wML has been studying the issue for several years Macintosh, al of whom are celebrating special birthdays. now, concluding that in “most hebrew communities many broygueses – or broygi, have been reported and continue wedding Anniversaries to this day.” Most intriguingly, the report discloses that Mazel tov to Dr & Mrs ed Meltzer on their 40th wedding medical opinion on the subject is quite divided. As a anniversary. result, assistance is not, and has not been, forthcoming. Mazel tov to Mr & Mrs sasson sweiry on their 40th wedding From a physical point of view broygueses “increase one’s anniversary. stress levels, raising one’s blood pressure,” according to Get well cardiologist M. einhertz, who concludes, “and that is not good.” By contrast, psychiatrist Dr P Rozak, a specialist we wish a refuah shelaimah to cyril Jacobs, Amanda in the field, believes that broygueses can be good for Rutherford, cliff walker and Ryan walker. an individual’s mental health noting, “it gives people Deaths something to live for.” we wish long life to: Yet despite being stymied about whether treatment is • the family of Rita Gordon z”l, widow of Murray Gordon z”l desirable, the wML continues to look at symptomology. • the family of edith Jackson z”l Although consultant dermatologists Peltz and kepilah • the family of hetty saunders z”l have isolated a consistency among patients, they are • the family of David shaw z”l unable to conclude whether skin density is the key to prevention. “As all of our subjects were already suffering three cheers for three tries from broygues,” they admit, “we cannot be certain if thinness of skin was present beforehand.” sandra & Derek carlton The chapter on British Jewry concludes with tables on the As extremely proud communities where broygues is most prevalent. Despite grandparents, we are writing coming fourth in the number of incidences of broygues to let you know that our (behind London, Manchester and Leeds), Brighton & grandson Daniel Levene hove topped the table in terms of proportionality. started at st. Peter’s col ege, The authors consider this to be an epidemic. oxford in october and was soon selected to play as a Sussex Jewish News (‘SJN’), its Editor and Editorial Board: winger for the university • are not allied to any synagogue or group and the views expressed by under 1 rugby team. writers are not necessarily those of sJN; • accept advertisements in good faith but do not endorse any The highlight of the season products or services and do not accept liability for any aspect of any was the varsity match played advertisements; and against cambridge university • welcome readers’ contributions but reserve the right to edit, cut, at Twickenham on Thursday decline or submit the content to others for comment. 10 December. Daniel (pictured) played superbly, scoring submission deadline for next issue: 8th January 010. three out of oxford’s eight tries. oxford ultimately won To ensure that we receive your submissions by email, please send them oNLY to editor@sussexjewishnews.com, otherwise we cannot the match 53-17 in a record win. guarantee their consideration for publication. To assist the editorial Board, submissions should be in word format using Times New Roman During the Michaelmas term Daniel trained 3 times a as a font. Receipt of submissions may not be acknowledged, unless week in order to build up to this fixture which holds so specifically requested. As the Editorial Board is made up entirely of much prestige and history. volunteers, any response may be subject to delay. issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 9 The Jews of Rhodes Rabbi charles wallach Recently, my wife and i travelled to Rhodes in the Rhodes society. Developed by those who have roots there eastern Aegean. in history the island has been the – and also by rich American sephardi Jews – the museum possession of the ottoman empire, the italians and, even has records of all those who were sent to their death by briefly, the British as well as both ancient and modern the Nazis. Its inner building reflects a typical Sephardi Greece. As it is situated in the eastern Mediterranean, synagogue, not just in the traditional orthodox style, Rhodes has also had a long Jewish presence. but the wall where the Aron kodesh or Ark is found is it is believed that the island’s history commenced indented according to the Muslim custom of accentuating alongside the development of ancient Greece. its and indenting the wall that faces Mecca – and in this greatest period of Jewish involvement was when Turkey case Jerusalem. There are costumes of the dress worn and the ottoman empire ruled over countless lands. That by the community of old, especially on marriage. There influence is evident even today as the walls of the capital, are documents relating to personalities, including a list of the city of Rhodes are those built by suleiman. fifty of those sent away by the Nazis who were saved by the Turkish consul. By proving Turkish nationality going This was the selfsame suleiman who built the famed back to the Turkish Empire, these fifty individuals were walls of Jerusalem. indeed Rhodes was known as ‘little protected. Jerusalem’ for, as with israel’s capital city, the Jews lived within its walls. They lived quite amicably under Although the community’s practices of course have the Turks, falling under what was called the “millet” now been lost to the ravages of others, some quirks system. This was a means by which Jews – and other should not be forgotten. They used Ladino, the non-Muslims – maintained self-control over all internal “Yiddish” of the sephardim stemming back to their matters within the community, leaving formal governance escape from spain after 149. They even used it of society at large to the Turks. During this time six liturgically, on occasion adding verses in Ladino to the synagogues developed as well as a boys’ school. The standard hebrew. sesame seeds and other sweeteners community was never large but effectively stable and were used at Rosh hashanah. They had no problem survived the fall of the ottoman empire which, for baking their matzot at the public bakery, and it was Rhodes, actually happened earlier than elsewhere. customary to collect and display seaweed at Pesach as a tactile message of the exodus. For the next twenty-five years after Italy took Rhodes over in 191, italian control probably enhanced the Finally, a short distance away from the synagogue, in Jewish community. A girls’ school was opened. The what is known as the square of the Jewish Martyrs, already established rabbinic college became more a black stone obelisk stands. in different languages it influential, including involvement with French-based reminds all who care to look: “There were gathered Jewish educational and cultural contact. on that dark day in July1944, the Jewish community of Rhodes”: An eternal reminder and remembrance of a Then came the rise of Mussolini. From 1938 to 1944 many once small but proud and unique community. of Rhodes’ Jewish institutions were closed. emigration to Palestine and elsewhere occurred. in July 1944 the remaining 1793 members of the community were rounded up and joined with the Jews of kos to be sent SPECIALISTS IN SECURITY SYSTEMS SINCE 1974 to Auschwitz. only a handful returned. (it is worth noting this was not the fate of al Greek Jews. some years ago i participated in an event honouring the Access Control Gates & Barriers people of Zakanthos where the Jews Door Entry Systems were, in fact, al saved). After the war, CCTV Surveillance Care Call Systems most of the Rhodes Jews joined their brethren abroad. Today it is believed only Sales Service forty souls remain. FREE SURVEYS Repair & QUOTATIONS Installation Today there is only one synagogue Maintenance TRADE & PUBLIC which is also a most interesting Technical Advice SHOWROOM Design museum. set up in 1577, the synagogue can be visited weekdays 0800 068 5447 from 1.00 am to 3.00 pm. The museum info@dorcom.co.uk www.dorcom.co.uk not only shows the history of the Jews of Rhodes, but also of the whole of Unit 3, St Josephs Business Park, St Josephs Close, Hove, BN3 7HG issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 10 A family and modern history of warsaw by Philip Freeman My father was born in warsaw in 1898. Fol owing his bar different to that in Poland and that warsaw was the place to mitzvah in 1911 and the death of his father soon after, be as many German Jews were moving there. he never saw he came to england just before world war i, coming to her again. out of a large and talented family, at the end of Brighton in 194. his younger brother fol owed him to the war the only two survivors were my cousins. england in the early 190s. Their mother and four sisters remained in warsaw where their mother ran a delicatessen. The elder of these two brothers came here for education in 1937, after his bar mitzvah. caught by the war, he volunteered in 1933, when i was about six months old, my father made with the RAF as soon as he could and was sent to canada for his only journey back to warsaw, travel ing by air to Berlin flying training. He served as a pilot to the end of WWII. and from there by rail. i have a lot of photographs of him and the family taken during that visit. it is clear that his his younger brother was taken prisoner by the Germans mother – my grandmother Jochwet whom i never knew in the Ghetto uprising of 1943, and survived some – was very il . indeed, she died three years later. terrible experiences. After being liberated by the Red Army at Theresienstadt (Terezin) in 1945, he came to his eldest sister, my Aunt chaya, stayed with us in hove england. he now lives in hove, aged 80, and is the sole just before world war ii. i was about six at the time and survivor of my warsaw family. it is one of my earliest memories. After the war i asked my father why she went back to Poland. he told me that in May 008 i visited warsaw, something i had although he had done his best to get her and her family to wanted to do for a long time because my strong family come here, my aunt said that the way of life here was very connections to the city. i stayed at a very centrally-situated hotel, close to the central station on Aleja Jerozolimskie (Jerusalem Avenue) – which itself has some old Jewish connections. A three hour city tour includes much about Jewish Warsaw and the Tourist Information Office also has a very useful leaflet on Jewish Warsaw with a map of the Ghetto that is written in Polish and english. however, the leaflet does contain some minor errors. in 1939 the Jewish population of Poland was approximately 3.5 million, of whom only some 50,000 survived the war. The population of warsaw in 1939 was 1. million, of whom approximately 300,000 were Jewish. Today warsaw has a population of 1.8 million of whom only about 1,800 are Jewish. As soon as the Germans occupied warsaw in 1939 the city was divided into three parts – German warsaw, Polish warsaw (ie. non-Jewish) and the Ghetto. The Ghetto wal enclosed 73 of warsaw’s 1,800 streets, about 7,000 homes, a cemetery and a sports ground. No park or garden was included. in Poland there were over 400 ghettos. Today many warsaw Ghetto streets keep the same names but not al are in the same places as they were pre-war. By summer 194, more than 100,000 Jews had died in the Ghetto, mainly from disease and starvation. in the two month period from July 194 over 60,000 perished, having been deported by train – from the umschlagplatz (loading point) at the northern end of the ghetto, to the gas chambers of Treblinka a mere 65 miles away. in 1943 fol owing the warsaw Ghetto uprising, the entire ghetto area was razed to the ground. General, Jurgen stroop, “The Butcher of the Ghetto”, symbolical y pressed a button to blow up the Great synagogue in order to show Hitler that he had destroyed Warsaw Jewry. Today, an office skyscraper – completed in the early 1990s, stands on the site of the Great synagogue and is said to be cursed. issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 11 Adjoining the Great synagogue was the Jewish history institute, a neo-classical building completed in 1936 with a facade harmonising with that of the synagogue. Destroyed during the war, it has been rebuilt to its former design with a picture gallery, library and museum that contains precious items of Judaica. in a small auditorium one can view a short film about life in the Ghetto. some of the images are very disturbing. copies of the film on DVD are on sale in the bookshop. in 1944 the Germans razed the entire old Town to the ground. This has been rebuilt, copying the original Museums in America and Australia. in those gaps, people buildings. As a result the old Town is now newer than have placed stones and lit memorial lights. the New Town. in a park, close to the old Town, i came At various sites in the city, monuments have been across an open-air exhibition of large aerial photographs erected and each has a description – in Polish and taken by Luftwaffe aircraft during the 1939 bombing english – of what that area was like pre-war, together of warsaw and also in 1943 and 1944, all enlarged with a photograph. i came across one of these in a lovely to a size of about 6 feet by 4 feet. in the earlier early green park, and it was upsetting to realise that here, photographs, the places i had visited and where my pre-war, was a busy street full of Jewish people. family had lived were clearly visible. however, the 1944 photographs show there were no buildings left standing. synagoga Nozyk is the only shul remaining inside the former Ghetto wal s. Although desecrated by the Germans, After the war, the memorial to the Jews of the Ghetto and the interior has been restored and is the only functioning those who died in the uprising was erected in 1948. it is very shul in warsaw today. Near the shul is a kosher restaurant impressive. i also saw the umschlagplatz Memorial. on the (“Menorah”) and a café (“shalom”). There is also a Jewish other side of the road is the former Gestapo hQ, now used Theatre specialising in Yiddish plays. by the Department of Psychology of warsaw university. My family all lived in ulice Twarda very close to the shul. The Path of Remembrance was installed in 1988 and My father was bar mitzvah here and my uncle was a features sixteen inscribed granite blocks dedicated to an warden. i went to a kabbalat shabbat service there. event or hero of the warsaw Ghetto. The inscriptions There were about 35 men and 10 women. i met and are in Polish and hebrew. Among the names is szmul spoke to visitors from hendon and from israel. i had Zygielbojm (1895-1943), a member of the Polish National yahrzeit for my elder brother, who died three years ago, council in London who committed suicide to protest and i was able to say kaddish there. the liquidation of the Ghetto. Nearby the bunker in Mila street, blown up by Mordecai Anielewicz who led the some of the main avenues – one of which being Jana uprising, is also commemorated. Pawla ii (Pope John Paul ii), must clearly have been re-named after the fall of communism – were very The very large Gesia street Jewish cemetery appears to wide. over 100 yards wide, with wide pavements, large have been untouched during the German occupation. grass verges, two lanes of parked cars, four traffic lanes The gravestones at another large Jewish cemetery, on and two tramlines in the centre. some of these trams the far (south) side of the River Vistula, were taken by were very ancient. one, not so ancient, was covered in the Germans for building purposes. advertisements for Topshop. Gesia street has been renamed Mordecai Anielewicz street. In the last five years, since Poland joined the European The cemetery reputedly holds 50,000 graves. There is a Union, there are many new tal buildings, hotels and offices. large area given over to “symbolic holocaust Graves” with My eldest daughter was in warsaw in 1995 with a group no inscriptions on the stones. Nearby i found a gravestone from Young Yad Vashem. she took a lot of photographs with an english inscription bearing only the names of those showing how the whole area had been rebuilt in the post-to be remembered and the message, “we never knew you war communist era. in 1995, the site where one member of but we wil never forget you”. the family lived was a modern three-storey building. To my As of last year, strips of about 15 inches in width show amazement today that same site is occupied by a 45-storey where, in warsaw streets and parks, the Ghetto wall skyscraper housing the “TP Building” (“Telefonica Polska”), stood. They are marked in Polish and english, “Ghetto the BT Tower of warsaw!! wall 1940-1943”. There are two places where small i returned home pleased to have made the trip, but very portions of the original Ghetto wall may be found. They sad at what is no longer there. are now part of courtyards of post-war apartment blocks. some bricks have been removed and sent to holocaust issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 1 Mediterranean synagogues Hidden treasure of Akko Alvin Noah in any travel or guide book, the crusader city of old Akko is described as a boring town with a prison and perhaps a mosque or two. however, when visiting Akko we saw a site so exciting that most people should add it to their itinerary when making a trip to northern israel. on our most recent two-week trip babysitting for our three grandchildren, our israeli son-in-law’s parents took my wife June and me to old Akko to view a spectacular synagogue. “or Torah” synagogue is also known as ‘The Jeva’ or ‘The Tunisian’ and is situated at 13 kaplan street, Akko (Acre), 4513, israel. it is in the south of Akko just religious or secular, Jewish or non-Jewish. it is a great feast above the old city. of artistic endeavour and there is too much there to absorb in one visit alone. i am sure that we wil go back again and From our first glimpse of this building, we could see that it try to absorb al the artistry and effort that have gone into was something very special. The outside wal s are covered the design and presentation of this spectacular building. with mosaics, as are al the wal s of the four levels inside, including the floors and ceilings. There are 140 stained glass since coming back home to Brighton, i have trawled windows that, together with the mosaics, unfold the history through libraries and book shops but could not find any of the Jewish people throughout the generations. The reference to this wonderful tourist site. it is shame that building of the synagogue commenced in 1955 and work it is not more widely known and publicized, as i feel the is stil continuing it is a site worth visiting for everyone, workmanship is unsurpassed. i would highly recommend a visit to this site next time you are in israel. the Synagogue, Corfu him how we could get into the synagogue. he smiled in Jeff and Lydia stanford recognition and told us that he, Moshe, had the key and that he was the President of the local Jewish community. During a recent bridge holiday with our friends, we coincidence or fate? i just thought that was fantastic. discovered a jewel of a synagogue in the old part of he escorted us to the shul which had the Bimah at one corfu Town. end and the Ark at the other. we were al owed to take Roy Friedman, who studied at the rabbinical college with photographs and also visited the succah; the Foremans had David Meyer, helped us with directions. “After you get off never been inside a synagogue before. The shammos, a the bus at san Rocco square walk down the road towards man cal ed Victor ozmos, arrived to show us around and the harbour and take the second turning on the left after lock up afterwards. interestingly the long wooden pews Marks and spencer”. faced each other down the length of the building, not facing the Ark or Bimah. The present community only has services As we approached the building i sensed that we were on Rosh hashonah and Yom kippur. on one wal there was there, and indeed we found two Magen Davids on an a memorial stone for those Jews from corfu who perished exterior wall, but in the concentration camps. The names indicated that they the front door was were mostly of sephardi origin. locked. To say i was disappointed would be Moshe (Zimos Velelis) then gave us a short account of the an understatement. fate of the Jews of corfu during the war, when ,000 were Graham Foreman taken to concentration camps. About 145 returned. his pointed to a small own father was taken away in June 1944, but returned in turning nearby February 1945 and married in 1946. Zimos was born in and suggested we 1954. he showed us a striped concentration camp jacket, go down it to tour and placed it on the counter. i placed both my hands on the the local shops. i sleeves and a surge of tears stung my eyes. My friend Lyn, immediately noticed who is not Jewish, also found the moment extremely moving. a man standing Today, the members of the community do not number more in front of a shop than 65. They are weary from their difficult past but remain selling ladies’ wear guardians of the long remembrance of the Jews of corfu. and linens. i asked issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 13 culture Kindertransport JACS by hanno Fry by Nina Taylor, hon chairman on a wet and windy sunday afternoon in late November our regular members, including our friend from the Bishopstoke Players brought Diane samuels’ Goring, found braving the elements well worthwhile, play kindertransport to the Ralli hall in hove. The as, courtesy of our speaker, Brian chattock, we presentation was the initiative of sussex Jewish online. refloated on the Bay of Hong Kong, travelled through Ralli hall is hardly a theatre; there is very little stage high-rise buildings or in magical shopping areas. Brian lighting. The players, from a village in hampshire, are reminded us that hong kong had been taken by the not Jewish. The company puts on plays in aid of charity, British 150 years ago and only returned relatively in this case Jewish children’s organisations. The play is recently to china. Brian had worked there in the Bank one of the few written about the children from fascist of shanghai and during his stay had sung in the hong countries that the British government allowed to enter kong cathedral choir. the country, provided somebody else paid. The play is not intrigued as to which “enigma” sydney Levine would great. we do not feel that we understand the characters. explain, we were entertained by elgar’s musical on that sunday afternoon however, the Bishopstoke descriptions of his many friends and relations. Another of Players, under their director Joanna walker, overcame all our popular speakers, clive hamblin, told us of the life of the difficulties and showed the essence of the situation in Rudyard kipling, interspersed with his reciting many of human terms. we saw the rigidity of the German-Jewish kipling’s most popular verses. saddened by the tragedies mother and the life-long damage inflicted by the jack- of kipling’s life, i was also surprised to realize how booted spectre of Nazi-German hatred on the soul of the relatively contemporary elgar and kipling were of many vulnerable child, convincingly played by kate Robbins. of us in the 0th century. Final y, the adult woman, played by kate stubbs, who has suzanne collins told us about her career as court usher built a wal of coldness around herself, is forced by her own and how difficult it was to remain impartial at all the child to acknowledge her past and its irreversible effects on cases she witnessed. Marion Rose took us through the her. she stands alone on the stage and sheds bitter tears history of the movies starting with the silents, then on to about the reality of the world: this was a moment that the talkies. she had a good display of glossy photographs transcended al limitations. The community in the Ral i hal of 40’s and 50’s film stars, which started a lot of “do you was impressed, concerned, and thoughtful. remember” discussions. Two years ago, almost to the day, on a desolate and cold so, once again, a varied programme, and we have another morning, a memorial to the kindertransport was unveiled good one lined up for this month. see the Diary page and in the centre of Berlin. on the memorial a few of the then, hopeful y, we’ll see you at the AJex centre, eaton children faced england and rescue: a greater number Road, every wednesday afternoon at .00 pm. faced east and extermination. The city’s chief of police made the most impressive of many speeches. What’s Picasa About? the quality at which the uploaded versions get sent, to by your sussex Jewish online Team speed things up. it will even upload your videos on to the same shared album, and additionally to YouTube et al, if Wel , it’s ‘flipping good’. It makes it easy to import your you wish. photos from the camera into a holding area, omitting those You can add captions to your photos; essential for you’ve already transferred. You can al ocate them nicely to recording what you were capturing. Another cool albums and do al of the normal photo tweaking – cropping, feature is that if you export the photos back to the straightening, contrast adjustments etc. it even lets you file system, it embeds the captions in the resulting crop and recompress videos, which is perfect for us, since images, which many image viewers will allow you to our camera takes surprisingly good quality video. Another see without using Picasa itself. nice thing is that it doesn’t alter the original photos or videos when you tweak them, so you can always get back overall then, Picasa is a very slick photo management to the original if you want to. application. it is absolutely free to download from http:// picasa.google.co.uk/ synchronising the photos with an online album is super-easy too: as well as filtering by album you can also tell specific photos not to synchronise, and tweak issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 14 hhc Rabbi Vivian silverman hove hebrew congregation 79 holland Road, hove BN3 1JN Tel: 0173 73035 email: hovehc@btinternet.com Sedra for 2 January 2010: Vayehi however, there were alternative translations. one was that Until Shilo comes “as long as men come to shilo” referred to the future site of by Rabbi Vivian silverman the sanctuary in the time of the prophet samuel. Another was “until the one to whom gifts belong arrives” with shilo Yaakov blesses his fourth son with the words: “The being taken as two hebrew words, “shai lo” (gifts belonging sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawmaker’s to him). This latter translation was controversial in Jewish staff... until shilo comes.” eyes because christianity, almost from its earliest days and definitely throughout medieval times, maintained that it in Jewish tradition “The sceptre shal not depart from distinctly meant Jesus. The proof, said the church, was to be Judah” referred to the Davidic monarchy and, since the fal found in Jewish sources which stated that shilo related to the of the second temple, designated the head of Babylonian anointed one, known as Mashiah (Messiah). Jewry whose title was the “exilarch” or head of the exile (Reish Galuta). The next phrase “nor the lawmaker’s staff” Judaism refuted this by asserting that the Torah refers implied the head of Palestinian Jewry, who was cal ed the to a perfect human being who has yet to make his Nasi or Prince of eretz Yisrael. As for the hebrew phrase presence felt on earth. And, it could not mean Jesus “ad ki yavo shilo” this has proved contentious from the because he had suffered crucifixion and the Redeemer, first century down to our twenty-first century. spoken of in Jewish teaching, would not suffer death. in addition, he would be “the Prince of Peace” and ever Rashi (Rabbi shlomo ben Yitzhak) the great Torah since the first century there had been untold wars. commentator of eleventh century northern France, explained shilo as a reference to Melech hamashiah (the The christological meaning was held for many centuries. Messianic appointed king), basing himself on the Targum however, when the New english Bible was published onkelos and the Midrash: “until Messiah comes”. in 1970, the translators chose for “ad ki yavo shilo” the words: “so long as tribute is brought to him” which agrees with one of the alternative Jewish translations. January Diary Tuesday 1th Talmud shiur (weekly) at 11.00 am Tuesday 19th Ladies discussion circle, 10.30 am MALCOLM GREEN shabbat 30th Tu B’shevat, the New Year for trees. CATERING BRIGHTON & HOVE JEWISH HOUSING ASSOCIATION The selection of your menu is an important part in the TO LET: Ground floor studio flat in central Hove planning of your Simcha. For that reason our Chefs Newly refurbished continue to create exciting and tasty menus to meet Affordable rent includes: Central Heating | Constant your every need. We can tailor a menu to fit your hot water | Use of garden specific requirements and help create the function you are proud of. Let us introduce you to a cuisine Please phone 01273 277225 for an application form that has made us one of Israel’s leading Caterers. Plus summer holidays in Italy, Ireland and weddings throughout the world. KOSHER CATERING AT ITS BEST Contact Rachel on 01273 726495 or Malcolm on koshercaterer@yahoo.co.uk www.kosherservicesworldwide.com UNDER SUPERVISION KASHRUT DIVISION OF THE LONDON BETH DIN issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 15 Bhhc Rabbi hershel Rader Brighton & hove hebrew congregation www.bhhc-shul.org 31 New church Road, hove BN3 3AD Tel: 0173 888855 Email: office@bhhc-shul.org Young Families @BHHC Sedra for 9 January 2010: Shemot shabbat chanukah saw a new event New church Road, Where Are You? with our inaugural Toddlers’ service. we were delighted to welcome Richard and sam Pinnick of woodside Park, by Rabbi hershel Rader a couple with great experience in running services for ‘where were you?’ This is the question, asked by young people. Richard led the children’s service for those who depend on us, that we dread. A person children over five whilst Sam and son Nathan ran the with responsibility is supposed to ‘be there’ for those Toddlers’ service for younger children. who rely on him, whether a child, spouse, student, The Toddlers’ service was attended by ten children patient, friend or any other dependent. together with their parents. They all sat with their mums excuses don’t help or justify, they may offer an explanation, and dads, participated in songs and listened to stories but at the end of the day – you just weren’t there. designed especially for their age. Afterward the children, toddlers and parents were welcomed to sing the last A shepherd sees a little lamb run off. he runs after songs in the adult service before all present enjoyed a it to ensure its safety and to bring it back to a place chanukah kiddush. where it has enough water and tender green grass. while chasing the lamb, he sees a burning bush but, This activity was organised by the new Young Families miraculously, the bush is not consumed. G-d speaks to Group at Bhhc which has already run a successful him, tells him that the place is a holy one and charges sunday morning ‘Drop in and Play’ for families with him with the responsibility of returning to egypt and little children (pictured). Both activities are to run on a leading his people out of slavery. monthly basis. The shepherd, Moshe the greatest prophet of all time, asks ‘when the people will ask me Your name, what shall i say?’ To this pragmatic question - ‘who sent you’ - Moshe receives a cryptic answer ‘My name is i will Be what i will Be’. what is a name? A name is how we address someone but it often defines the relationship between two people or groups of people, particularly if it involves a title. By asking ‘what is your name?’ Moshe was in fact asking ‘how have you related to these people? where were you when Pharaoh threw their sons into the Nile and persecuted them?’ hashem answers ‘tel them i wil Be what i wil Be’. where was i? i was with them the whole time. You may not always understand me, my reasoning and my ways but i was always there and when they were persecuted, i was also persecuted. i am with you in your suffering. Just as the bush burns but i prevent it from being consumed, a nation is threatened with death – and will seemingly be destined for extinction time and time again - it does not die. Just as I am in those flames, I am with you in your suffering and will ensure that you will never be consumed. FLAT wANTeD Mature, employed male seeks quiet, unfurnished, 01273 930931 one bed flat in Hove area. info@lyonsrankin.com Long lease desired. Top floor preferred. Circa £600. www.lyonsrankin.com Tel 07851 776 76 issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 16 BhPs Rabbi elizabeth Tikvah sarah Brighton & hove Progressive synagogue www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk 6 Lansdowne Road hove BN3 1FF Tel: 0173 7373 email: bhps@freenetname.co.uk Bar Mitzvah of Joshua Winstone Sedra for 16 January 2010: Va-eira the meaning of tHE name by ivor Miskin by Rabbi elizabeth Tikvah sarah i am frequently astonished at the confidence shown by many of today’s The second portion of sh’mot, the Book of exodus, Va- young people. At the bar mitzvah of eira, continues the very familiar story of the exodus of Josh winstone, the tightly-packed the israelites. The story is so familiar that it is easy to congregation in the Progressive miss some important subtleties – one of which surfaces synagogue could not have failed to have at the very beginning of the parashah (exodus 6:-3): the same reaction. Leading the service Then God [elohim] spoke to Moses, and said to him: ‘i with ease, fluently reading a long Torah am YhVh [Adonai]. / i appeared [Va-ei’ra] to Abraham, portion, even making an off-the-cuff jest after giving a slightly to isaac and Jacob as God Almighty [el shaddai], but incorrect rubric, Josh showed maturity wel beyond his years. (by) My Name, YhVh, i was not known to them. Josh’s parents are Martin and sarah winstone, sarah The context is Moses’ continuing encounter with the eternal being the well-known local caterer and daughter of Anne One at the ‘burning bush’. At first sight, the declaration carr. A poignant note was struck from the bimah when doesn’t make any sense – after al , if you go back to the scroll was being handed down to each generation. B’reishit, the Book of Genesis, you wil find that ‘Adonai’ Rabbi sarah pointed out that Anne was standing on the – the word substituted for the ineffable Name of God same bimah where she had got married, exactly 50 years represented by the consonants Yud hei Vav hei (which previously, to her first husband Ivan Maykels. indicate God’s ‘being-ness’) – spoke to the ancestors on At his celebration dinner that evening, Josh demonstrated several occasions. so, what does it mean to say, ‘but (by) his talent as a musician, playing solo piano and performing My Name, YhVh, i was not known to them’? a duet with his cousin Michael playing guitar. so much talent Although YhVh spoke to the ancestors and made in one person is unfair – or am i just jealous? promises to them, they did not experience the fulfilment of God’s promises. The French medieval commentator, BHPS Calendar for January Rashi (Rabbi sh’lomoh Yitzchaki, 1040-1105), writes: StUDY OPPORtUNItIES “‘But by My name i was not known to them’ : it is not stated, ‘i did not make known’ [lo hoda’ti], but ‘i was not Access to Hebrew led by Rabbi sarah known’ [lo noda’ti] – i was not known to them through weekly on Thursdays, 11.00 am – 1.30 pm My attribute of keeping faith, which is implied in My workshop on Thursday 1st, 7.30 – 9.00 pm name YhVh: faithful to make true My words, since i Exploring Judaism led by Rabbi sarah. saturdays on made a promise and did not fulfil it.” 9th, 16th, 3rd, 1.00 – .30 pm after service & kiddush is this al just semantics and rabbinic ‘hair-splitting’? No SPECIAL EVENtS – because without interrogating the opening statement of Va-eira, we don’t just miss a subtlety, we fail to register how the Friday 8th oneg: Bridget whelan (sister of eileen encounter at the ‘burning bush’ sets the scene for everything Field), reads from her book “A Good Concession” that folows. explaining the import of the powerful declaration, with discussion to follow, after service @ 8.00 pm ‘i am YhVh’, Rashi writes: ‘Faithful to reward those who walk Friday 15th, tent Service, 7.00 pm – led by Avivit before Me. I did not send you for nothing, but to fulfil my katzil, LJ Young Adults worker words, which i spoke to the ancestors.’ And so, we read in the verses that folow (6:4-6): Friday nd opening of Exhibition of the Artwork of Darfuri Children. 6.00 –8.00 pm, before service* i have established My covenant with them to give them the land of canaan, the land of their saturday 3rd, Bar Mitzvah of Sam Watling, 11.00 am sojournings, wherein they sojourned. / And, also, i sunday 4th Exhibition of the Artwork of Darfuri have heard the groaning of the israelites, whom the Children 11.00 am– 4.00 pm* egyptians keep in bondage; and i have remembered My covenant. / Therefore say to the israelites: i am wednesday 7th* National Holocaust Memorial Day YhVh, and i will bring you out from under the burdens saturday 30th tu B’Shevat Seder, 1.00–.30 pm of the egyptians, and i will deliver you from their after service. Tu B’shevat Tree-planting, 3.30 pm bondage, and i will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great judgements. sunday 31st Cyber Quiz, 7.30–9.45 pm February 6th Bat Mitzvah of Leah Segal, 11.00 am issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 17 BhRs Rabbi charles wallach Brighton & hove Reform synagogue www.bh-rs.org Palmeira Avenue, hove BN3 3Ge Tel: 0173 735343 Email: office@bh-rs.org Sedra for 23 January 2010: Bo – from aspects of vision to taste to singing as well as Commemorating freedom the telling of the tale makes it the magical occasion it by Rabbi charles wallach can be. in many ways, if done properly and sensitively it is a curtain to all that is essential to Jewish life. The importance of the exodus from egypt in the psyche we learn not just the story of the exodus, but the text of our people is clearly manifested by the fact that of the haggadah takes us through Jewish history; we thirteen of the forty chapters of the Book of exodus bless candles, wine and (unleavened) bread as should – and really fifteen if we include the crossing of the Red be done at least weekly in our homes. we are reminded sea – are devoted to it. Further, certainly since Mishnaic that the seder plate carries symbols, thus affording times – and probably longer – the last meal taken deeper meaning to what are otherwise simply mundane in egypt has become the focal point of the Passover items. By blessing everything we eat and drink we learn ceremonial. More than any other of our festivals that to acknowledge our indebtedness to the Almighty for event, today encapsulated in that seder, is embedded what we do consume, not to mention that the Birkat in our way of life. A study undertaken some little time haMazon or Grace after Meals should also be as natural back noted that the seder was the most fully embraced to our lives as eating the food itself. occasion in Jewish life. so why not make an early resolution this secular year: Not And the book that we use for that – the haggadah – is only to celebrate Pesach when it comes around in a few believed to have found its origin in a line which we read months but to take time over the seder. Give some thought in sedra Bo. exodus chapter 13 verse 8: And you shall to its conduct, make sure al present have the text (and tell your child on that day, “it is because of what the the same text!). have someone lead the seder with ability eternal did for me when i went free from egypt”. and feeling so that those present go away not only fil ed You shall tell your child. The concept of telling and gastronomical y, but imbued with an experience worthy of retelling the tale is a requirement. But telling and the occasion. it is nothing less than the commemoration of retelling is only part of it. The very fact that the seder an event that launched a people, our people into Zeman involves a veritable cornucopia of experience as well cheruteinu: the time of our freedom! 2010: a new year’s odyssey these and i know gain tremendous satisfaction from them. by Rabbi charles wallach so here’s the challenge: resolve to take part, get involved, find some aspect of congregational or when i was stil back in south Africa, 010 had a strong communal life that suits you: For, as the advert might hold not only on me but on the entire nation. For the last say, once experienced, you’ll be so glad you have! eight years or so, this year has meant one thing: The world cup. i remember when it was announced that south Africa had been given the cup. i was in Durban at a conference. Bulletin Board for January 2010 The excitement was palpable as the possibilities were every Monday: Seated Exercise with Adele calculated. But alongside those were the chal enges, and (11.00 am to noon) these have been many. hopeful y al or most wil have been every wednesday: JACS in the AJEX Centre (.00 pm) met by the time July comes around. Friday 1st Service at 6.30 pm (not 8.00 pm) if human nature is anything to go by, confronting one’s challenges seems for many to require special effort, Tuesday 5th Discussion Group – 1.30 pm some might say superhuman effort. As with new year Godfrey Gould ‘What a way to run a Railway’ resolutions we often “mean” to do something but saturday 9th Book Club meets at 9.00 am to discuss somehow often fall short. True, sometimes situations do The Believers by Zoe heller arise which can prevent us fulfilling what we have set out sunday 10th Cheder term commences to do, but more often than not we know deep down that a little bit more effort will get us to where we should be. sunday 10th Members’ tea (.30-4.30 pm) The other day i was asked to write down what exactly goes saturday 16th Rabbi’s Shiur at 9.00 am on at BhRs. Besides the regular services which can always sunday 17th Kids Club (1.30-.15 pm) be better supported, i jotted down ten groups or activities wednesday 0th Discussion Group which take place either weekly, monthly, every six weeks or recommences at 1.00 pm once every two months. Many of our members and indeed members of the wider community can and do partake of 30th Jan tu B’Shevat issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 18 Ralli hall 81 Denmark Villas hove BN3 3Th thanks for 2009, wanting to get their creative juices going. The only dancing with styles into 2010 requirement for this class is a willingness to experiment, and the enthusiasm to try something new. The class will by Roger Abrahams, hon chairman be taught by a fine art graduate, Dany Louise, who has Two events were held in the last few weeks of 009. invented her own special drawing style. As with a number The Magic of the Musicals supper evening was run by of other such activities, there will be a small weekly fee the Ralli hall Lunch club committee. The chanukah Tea to pay. For more information, including the times of the & entertainment was put on jointly by the Lunch club classes, please contact Dany by phone on 07971 417098, and helping hands. Both events were excellent as well or by e-mail at dany.louise@ntlworld.com as social and financial successes. I would like to thank we hold regular salsa events at Ralli hall on saturday everyone involved for their tremendous efforts. evenings. Leo, our resident salsa expert, is willing to run i would also like to thank the family of stanley Jackson another salsa class for members on Monday mornings. if z”l, a well-loved and respected elder of our community. this appeals to you, please contact Norina at the office, They have donated an extensive collection of stanley’s so that we can see whether there is sufficient interest to books of Jewish interest that have been added to our take this further. library in the comfortable Beckerman Lounge. Members Finally, this incident at the end of 009 has left me with a are welcome to browse or borrow the books by warm feeling that we are not on our own. Around fifteen arrangement with the office. years ago, the then newly-formed coptic community The membership renewals for 010 are out. if you have found itself without a suitable place to meet and pray. not received yours or wish to join, please call us on For some time, we provided them with a home at Ralli 01273 202254 or pop in during office hours. You will hall, until they were able to establish the coptic church be made most welcome. Remember membership dues in Davigdor Road. They have never forgotten this for we have been frozen for a further year and there are many recently received a letter from Gamal khalil, a leader in activities for you to enjoy. the coptic community, enclosing a £350 donation for our much-needed disabled toilet project. we are grateful to For the new year, we have a new activity for members. the coptic community for their kindness and generosity An experimental drawing class is due to commence in and we are pleased to call them friends. February, weekly, for an initial period of twelve weeks. This activity is complementary to our long-standing on behalf of everyone at Ralli hall, i wish you a happy and very popular Jewish Art society. it is for anyone, and healthy 010. May it bring only good things. whatever their level of experience, interested in exploring see you at Ralli hall. a variety of drawing methods and new techniques and/or the Magic of the Musicals by Alan Burke oNLiNe... on sunday afternoon nd November, Ralli hall was crowded to capacity to enjoy The Magic of the Musicals Between issues of Sussex Jewish presented by The Brighton Musical comedy company. News, you can get community The company of twelve sang well-known tunes and melodies from many of the great 0th century shows, news bulletins and features from including music by ivor Novello, Rodgers & hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd webber and many more. these websites: The show was enhanced by a scrumptious tea prepared by Sussex Jewish News on our wonderful team of volunteers, ensuring that the whole www.sussexjewishnews.com afternoon was a tremendous success both musical y and gastronomical y! This fundraising event for the Ral i hal Sussex Jewish Online on Lunch & social club helped to swel our 010 budget and, www.sussexjewishonline.co.uk including the raffle, raised a very welcome £1,650. Brighton & Hove Online Jewish our grateful thanks to the cast and “behind the scenes” Community on www.webjam.com/indi members of The Brighton Musical comedy company together with the Lunch & social club volunteers, without Each website has different features and whose help the event would not have been possible. all should be supported. issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 19 what’s on: January 010 diary@sussexjewishnews.com Shabbat Shalom – Brighton times Events this month Fri 1st Jan in 3.47 pm out sat nd 5.30 pm For National holocaust Memorial Day events in Brighton Fri 8th Jan in 3.55 pm out sat 9th 5.10 pm & hove, please see page 6. Fri 15th Jan in 4.05 pm out sat 16th 5.19 pm Fri nd Jan in 4.16 pm out sat 3rd 5.9 pm wednesday 6 Fri 9th Jan in 4.8 pm out sat 30th 5.40 pm * • JAcs – cleopatra, the serpent of the Nile with guest * also Tu B’shevat, the New Year of the Trees speaker helen Poole, .00 pm at AJex centre, eaton Road, Hove. Members ₤1.50/Non-Members ₤2.00 Regular Activities Thursday 7 sundays • The chutzpah choir performs at the Brighthelm centre • shalom Programme Breakfast show on (top of North Rd near Queen’s Rd) with Russian choir www.radioreverb.com or 97. FM, 9.00-9.55 am and The Decibel es, another Brighton-based choir. starts • carmel Tennis club, 10.00 am-1.00 noon. 7.00 pm (doors open at 6.30 pm). There is a smal All levels welcome. contact: Leon on 07717 744 charge of £5 (£4 concessions) to help cover costs. Mondays Friday 8 • Afternoon club with tea, 1.30 pm. • submission deadline for February issue of sussex contact Reba on 01444 410435 Rh Jewish News • Rubber and Duplicate Bridge, 1.30 – 4.30 pm, ₤2.00. Monday 11 January to Friday 1 February contact Reba on 01444 410435 Rh • Portraits for Posterity, Photographic exhibition of local Tuesdays holocaust survivors at Jubilee Library, Brighton • Advanced oil Painting Group. wednesday 13 contact Martin 0173 37403 Rh • JAcs - Guest speaker Laurie Moss, Fire Prevention • Painting with Rochelle (JAs), 7.00-9.00 pm Officer, 2.00 pm at AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove. recommencing from 1th January. Members ₤1.50/Non- Members ₤2.00 contact 0173 503708 Rh sunday 17 • israeli Folk Dancing, 7.45 - 9.45 pm. • AJex Quiz at AJex hall, Brighton & hove Reform contact Jacky on 0173 688538 Rh synagogue. All enquiries, contact Aubrey cole on • Ralli hall Lunch and social club, 10.30 am - 4.30 pm. 0173 737417 contact suzanne on 0173 739999 Rh wednesday 0 • ivrit classes at Ralli hall, 6.45 pm – 7.45 pm. contact • JAcs - The Life and words of shelley with guest sara Allen on 566416 or Norina on 0544 Rh speaker Vanessa underwood, .00 pm at AJex centre, Eaton Road, Hove. Members ₤1.50/Non-Members wednesdays ₤2.00 • J:Tots (formerly Mothers & Toddlers), 10.00 am - 1.00 noon recommencing on 13th January. Tuesday 6 contact Rachel on 0173 04334 Rh • Jewish historical society, Ralli hall at 7.30 pm • Painting with Gwyneth Rose (JAs), 10.00 am - 1.00 wednesday 7 noon. contact 0173 540464 Rh • JAcs – An Afternoon with Barbara Blume, .00 pm at AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove. Members ₤1.50/Non- • chutzpah choir (singing in Yiddish, Ladino, hebrew, Members ₤2.00 Russian and ukrainian) with Polina shepherd, 7.00 - 8.45 pm. contact Rosalind on 0173 541031 Rh Thursdays The First Great L.J. cyber–Quiz • Ralli hall Lunch and social club, 10.30 am - 4.30 pm. Be Among the Pioneers contact suzanne on 0173 739999 Rh Join a table in the Montefiore Hall at BHPS. Sunday January 31st, from 7.30 pm to 9.45 pm. Brighton & hove Progressive synagogue, 6 Lansdowne Road hove BN3 1FF. Grodzinski’s challot and rye bread are available simultaneous Questions and Answers. National League Table will be relayed to you by your hosts, Louise and steve from Premier Convenience Stores in Hove Street Mordecai. Please bring a permitted dish to share. every Thursday morning until supplies run out. issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk 0 Personal Memories of Mendel kaplan (1936-009) by David Pincus journey with Mendel that took us to winburg in the Free state, south Africa to our families’ shtetls of Riteve and shadova in Lithuania. For many years up until his death, Mendel kaplan was a major figure in the Jewish world. While Chairman of the Jewish Agency, he was responsible for bringing Jews from the soviet union and from ethiopia to israel. he established the kaplan centre for Jewish studies and Research at the university of cape Town. But his generosity and kindness were not only directed at Jewish organisations. he also set up scholarships for the children of cape Gate’s more than 3,000 employees and built the marine walkway from st James to Muizenberg. he supplied the funds for the kalk Bay community centre, the computer room at Parow Preparatory school and the strandfontein Lifeboat. This year he had funded scholarships for ethiopian and Druze children in israel. he From left to right, David Pincus, Mendel kaplan, did not just write cheques to those causes and projects, George Pincus and Alex Pincus but personally got involved with them. Mendel kaplan was an exceptional man, a man of vision Another brainchild of Mendel and his brother Robert was passionately proud of his Jewish roots and israel. his the construction of the Jewish Museum in cape Town. it opinions were sought by Prime Ministers and Presidents, was an honour for me to attend the opening ceremony in by chief Rabbis and heads of other religions. his deeds 000 where Nelson Mandela walked hand-in-hand with and accomplishments on behalf of the Jewish people Mendel into the courtyard while a choir sang shalom were many and illustrious. he died suddenly in cape Aleichem. Mendel was also passionate about sport, Town in November at 73 years of age. particularly rugby. So it is a fitting tribute to him that the Mendel’s great-aunt Miriam kaplan had married my “springbok Minyan” exhibition, highlighting the careers of great-grandfather isaac Pincus. Although we were third Jews who played rugby for south Africa, opened at the cousins, he always introduced me as his “english cousin”. museum this year. We first met in his office in Johannesburg in 1995. My in November i was a guest at Robert’s 70th birthday wife Anne and i were in south Africa to learn more about celebrations in cape Town. one of the events was a my south African-born father - who had died suddenly musical evening in the city hall. i sat with Mendel and here in Brighton in 1947 - and his family. My late aunt his wife Jill. During the interval he presented me with his had suggested that Mendel would be the ideal person latest book Adventures in east Africa. he dedicated it to to speak to as he had researched our families and had his nine grandchildren. on my return to england, Robert included them in one of his books. phoned me with the news of Mendel’s sudden death. Among his many talents, Mendel was also a prolific i returned to cape Town and attended the funeral three author. his books include Jewish Roots in the days later. south African economy, Founders and Followers of whilst Mendel’s accolades, doctorates, accomplishments, Johannesburg Jewry, in search of a Minyan, seeking etc. would have filled two pages of Who’s Who, his Tzedakah, Riteve, Riding the wave and From steelmaking passion was his beloved family: his wife Jill, his children to shtetl. in another book, From shtetl to steelmaking, sharon, orne, David and Romy, his grandchildren, his Mendel described our family’s journey from the shtetls brother and his brother’s family. of Lithuania in the 1880s to the setting up of a wire and fencing company in Johannesburg. Today, cape Mendel kaplan was an inspiration to our family. Gate - the family business he expanded with his brother we will never forget his incredible memory, his Robert - is now one of the largest privately owned steel knowledge, his attention to detail and his kindness companies in the southern hemisphere. towards us. whenever we visited Johannesburg or cape Town, we would always be invited for Friday At the time of our meeting Mendel was the chairman of nights and family events. we loved him and the values the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency, a post that he cherished. his memory will be with us for the rest of was once held by another south African, Louis Pincus, our lives, and, Anne and i will talk about him and what whose ancestors also came from shadova. From that he stood for to our children and grandchildren. first meeting my wife Anne and I began an incredible issue 193 / JANuARY 010 / www.sussexJewishNews.co.uk -
Issue 204
January 2011
sussex Jewish news Whats what’s inside.... LOOKinG FORwaRd | LOOKinG BaCK | hMd 2011 | MitZVah daY 2010 | and MORe WWW.SUSSEXJEWISHNEWS.COM | £2 | JANUARY 2011 | TEVET/SHEVAT 5771 • ISSUE 204 2 Pause for thought 3 January, named after a Roman mythological god, From a religious perspective we look back as Brighton Janus, is often depicted as having two heads facing & Hove Hebrew Congregation celebrated the induction opposite directions with one looking back at the past of Rabbi Rader and Brighton & Hove Progressive and the other looking forward to the future. Synagogue happily marked ten years with Rabbi Sarah as its spiritual leader. Looking forward this month Looking back last year was not a happy one for Israel not only finds us completing our cycle of haftarah with its image in the world at a possible all-time commentaries, but also holds the celebration of a low and the peace process at stalemate. Months new Torah Scroll being welcomed at Hove Hebrew of relentlessly high temperatures and no rain were Congregation. followed by a real disaster: Still, looking back on as a community we can look back on unprecedented the nation’s favourite raging forest fires. mitzvah Day anD all that we DiD to bring topic – the weather – we Following the vast look back on how Britain ourselves closer together. destruction and was rocked and almost 41 deaths, we now look forward to Tu B’Shevat, the brought to a standstill by cruelly cold weather and the new year for trees which falls on 20th January, and pray worst snowfalls for many years. that it heralds an environmental renewal. Again we look forward to the days getting longer with As a community we can look back on Mitzvah Day the promise of more light. We hope that the cold, harsh and all that we did to bring ourselves closer together. winter will be followed by a warm, gentle summer when Looking forward to later this month, on National we in Sussex can continue to count our blessings, Holocaust Memorial Day we commemorate and make the most of every day and be of practical help contemplate on all that the Jewish people and the to our own community as well as to our wider family in world have lost. Israel. SJN brings local news, events, articles, reviews, ADmInIsTRATOR Ivor Sorokin announcements, people, congregations, communitites, contacts and more. Delivered at the start of each month, ADmIn AssIsTAnT Gweni Sorokin SJN is run entirely by volunteers for reporting, editing and circulating each edition that has become the cornerstone of COmmunITy IssuEs Laura Sharpe the Jewish community across the region. COmmunAL DIARy Angela Goldman diary@sussexjewishnews.com PhOTOgRAPhER Sophie Sheinwald EDITORIAL BOARD E-PuBLIshIng Gary Weston Doris Levinson / Stephanie Megitt / Ivor Miskin / David Seidel PRODuCTIOn/LAyOuT Anand Day SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 10 JANUARY 2011 sussex jewish news subscriPtion Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: _________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Postcode: _________________________ Email: _______________________________________________ Telephone: _________________________ Subscription (tick one) I would like to receive electronic copies of SJN. £15 p/a I would like to receive printed copies of SJN. £18 p/a. 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Or you can subscribe online at www.sussexjewishnews.com and pay with PayPal! issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 2 contents 3 sussex jewish news Features Po box 2178 hove bn3 3sz 1 yaD vashem’s hall oF names telephone: 07906 955 404 8 community ProFile e-mail editor@sussexjewishnews.com Meet Anthony Bloom 9 holocaust memorial Day 2011 A listing of this year’s events 10 mitzvah Day 2010 Cakes and wildlife regulars 4 your news & views Personals and Letters 5 community liFe News from across the county 11 culture Film and more 11 what january holDs Astrologer Val Aviv looks at the stars 14 culture Film and more 19 what’s on Regular and special events in your community your community Norman Grant 12 hove hebrew congregation 13 brighton & hove Progressive synagogue of Gary Green Memorials The Approved Mason for the 14 brighton & hove reForm synagogue B & H Reform Community and all Jewish Cemeteries Countrywide 15 brighton & hove hebrew congregation Renovations and Additional Inscriptions Home Visits by Appointment Brochure on request 01273 885874 mobile: 0776 951 5045 ngrant37@gmail.com Full page (A4 size) £160 Half page (A5 size) £90 Sussex Jewish News (‘SJN’), its Editor and Editorial Board: • are not allied to any synagogue or group and the views expressed by writers are Quarter page (A6 size) £50 not necessarily those of SJN; 1/9 page (credit card size) £35 • accept advertisements in good faith but do not endorse any products or TISING services and do not accept liability for any aspect of any advertisements; and Personal: £4 per line • welcome readers’ contributions but reserve the right to edit, cut, decline or Flyers: Price on application submit the content to others for comment. To ensure that we receive your submissions by email, please send them ONLY to Local Jewish charities will not be charged, subject to editor@sussexjewishnews.com, otherwise we cannot guarantee their consideration editorial decision. for publication. To assist the Editorial Board, submissions should be in Word format BOOK NOW! 07906 955 404 using Times New Roman as a font. Receipt of submissions may not be acknowledged, unless specifically requested. As the Editorial Board is made up entirely of volunteers, editor@sussexjewishnews.com ADVER IN SJN GUIDELINES any response may be subject to delay. issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 4 your news & views letters 5 births edmundo ros Abrahams and his wife Irit, as with others too many to • Mazel tov to Rabbi Zalman and Shterna Lewis on the birth mention, in the Brighton & of Yaakov Bentzion. You may be interested to know that Mr Edmundo Ros Hove Jewish Community. special birthdays OBE was 100 years old on I know this is a bit belated but I felt it was necessary • Mazel tov to David Black, Reaca Branston, Clare Driver, 7th December. to relate this sad event to Paul Feinson, Melanie Firsht, Miriam Flexer, Muriel Lewis, Throughout his exceptionally the many people who would Berny Lowenthal, Annette Norris, Victoria Pashaei-Nia, successful career, Edmundo have known him. Eva Carris Smith and Solomon Tarragano, all of whom are proved to be an outstanding celebrating special birthdays this month. friend to the Jewish Tony Green engagements Community. In fact, soon after arriving in the UK to • Mazel tov to Saonie Lyons and Jeremy Crown on their the media, the middle study music at the Royal engagement. Academy he was so warmly east and israel special anniversaries welcomed by members of the Jewish Community I noticed a letter in the SJN • Mazel tov to Sioned and Peter Vos on their 35th wedding that he quickly developed a with concern raised on how anniversary. strong affinity with them. He to handle data about Israel. also forged close friendships I highly recommend the get well with many prominent Jewish Honest Reporting website We wish a refuah shelaimah to Joy Barnett, Sally Crook, Pam figures of the day. for any concern on the Magrill, Ivor Miskin, Barry Smith, Edella Sutcliffe and Cecily Middle East situation is being Woolf. One of the many charitable reported in the media. acts Edmundo performed Achievements was for the then Brighton & HonestReporting was Hove Jewish Home, of which founded by a group of It is with great joy that we wish to inform you that our he became an honorary life concerned individuals beloved daughter Faye has qualified as a Medical time governor. Edmundo who affiliate neither to the Consultant in emergency medicine. was sometimes to be seen right nor to the left. The Lynda & Simon Weinberg amongst the congregation organization is interested of the late Rabbi Dr Louis only in ensuring that Israel Jacobs and in our own receives the fair media Thank You home, regularly joined in coverage that every nation We would like to thank our wonderful family and very Friday night kiddushim. deserves. HonestReporting special friends for their love and support during Bernie’s scrutinizes the media for recent bout of ill health. He is now on the road to recovery Edmundo is now living in a examples of bias, and then and we so appreciate the kindness shown to us during this care home in Javea, Spain informs subscribers of worrying time. close to the lovely villa where any problematic articles, Doreen and Bernie Walker he lived with his wife Susie asking them to respond for many years. directly to the relevant news Deaths agency. This is not merely We wish long life to Gerry Crest an information service - it’s • the family of David Benzecrit z”l a way we can respond to • the family of Deborah Boder z’l the media in an informed, • the family of Monte Boam z’l stan green coordinated fashion. So • the family of Stanley Green z’l. 1936 -2010 far, they have had a lot • the family of Elizabeth (Betty) Harris z’l’ of success in getting • the family of Rosa Kent z’l news agencies to change It is with regret that I editorial policy, and to think • the family of Edna Roseman z’l announce the death of my twice before publishing an • the family of Myra Bedford (previously Jackson), mother of brother Stanley Green in unbalanced report. Virginia Craig and Avril Leon (previously Myers) Vancouver BC on the 8th of November 2010. Stan would To register with Stonesetting – Nina Franks z”l have been remembered by honestreporting.com and many of your older readers. receive their user-friendly The memorial stone in loving memory of Nina Franks will He was quite well known communiques, visit be consecrated at Meadow View Cemetery, off Bear Road, around town prior to his honestreporting.com, or send Brighton BN2 4DE on Sunday, 2nd January 2011 at 2.00 move to Canada in 1975 with a blank email to hreporting@ pm. Please join the family afterwards. For details, please his late wife Paula & children list.netatlantic.com contact angela.moore@tfigroup.com Damon and Shelley. They or mgrover@emirates.net.ae were very friendly with Roger Sophie Sheinwald issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 4 community life 5 eastbourne hebrew jewish historical society congregation by David Melcher by Manny Godfrey On a cold and frosty night, Rabbi Hershel Rader gave a talk to the society on Rationalising the Miracle of Chanukah. The reason that the celebrations go on for 8 days is that the first day is to celebrate the victory over Antiochus and the remaining seven days are to celebrate the miracle of the oil. Another theory, put forward in the first Book of Maccabees is that the Jews were unable to celebrate Succot in the Temple at the proper time, but they celebrated it when the Temple had been cleansed and rededicated. Rabbi Rader pointed out that as we do not know who wrote the Books of the Maccabees, we cannot place any reliance on this theory. Interested questions were put to the Rabbi , one being on the significance of light in the Temple. (l to r) glen scrivener, james smith, rev malcolm weisman, rev Peter owen-jones, lynda lindfield, abdel rahim and tony lobl at ehc The next meeting of the Society will be held at the Ralli Hall on Tuesday 25th January 2011 when Dr Sam Barsam, In support of the aims of National Inter-Faith Week, Board of Deputies Defence Committee, will talk on The Eastbourne’s Faiths Forum held a Question Time event Enlightenment. at the Winter Garden. The panel was chaired by the Rev Peter Owen-Jones and six different religious faiths were represented by the Rev Malcolm Weisman (Judaism), Abdel ajex Rahim (Islam), Glen Scrivener (Christian Churches), James Smith (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), Lynda by Judy Gabriel, PRO Brighton & Hove Branch Lindfield (Paganism) and Tony Lobl (Christian Science). Questions were submitted by members of the audience and covered a wide range of religious issues. It was no surprise that the answers were as diverse as the representative faiths, but if there was one theme that emerged, it was respect for the people and beliefs of all religions. Unfortunately, there was not enough time for discussion or supplementary questions from the floor, but audience members were able to chat to individual panelists at the end of the meeting. Ronnie Taylor, Chairman of the Eastbourne Hebrew Congregation, found the Forum very interesting and hoped that the different faiths in the Eastbourne Community would have a better understanding of each other’s religions, which might lead to more tolerance and respect. (l to r) bert gabriel with our banner, angie morland, elaine rose, lt. commander jack rose and bernard Frost at horseguards Parade The London Remembrance Parade and Rally, on 21st November went very well with attendance of about 300 including a good number of younger people. Our group may be small but those that do go find it a very moving Bereaved and seeking friendship and worthwhile experience. On behalf of everyone we are indebted both to Helping Hands, who let us use their bus, and support from others in the and to Gary Weston, who very kindly did all the driving. same situation? The Holocaust Memorial Service at Bear Road will be held at 11.00 am on Sunday 30th January. Please try to attend. Contact Susan Sheftz on Finally, the AJEX Music Quiz, presented by Stewart 01273 279745 or e-mail Macintosh, will now be held at AJEX Hall on 6 February at 1.00 pm and will include lunch. Call Aubrey on 737417 to hymie.sheftz@sky.com book your place. issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 6 community life 7 worst fire in israel’s history brighton and sussex jsoc causes evacuation of yemin by Sigal Spirman orde from Brighton & Hove Youth Aliyah Committee At least 40 people were killed when a massive forest fire spread from Israel’s northern city of Haifa into the surrounding hills and incinerated a bus carrying prison guards. It was the deadliest fire in Israel’s history, according to rescue workers, who struggled to contain flames that raged late into the night. The students of Yemin Orde, our Youth Village situated close to Haifa, were preparing to celebrate the second night of Chanukah when the whole village was evacuated on an emergency basis. “Many of our youngsters who have already survived tragedy and trauma, often of the worst order, have had yet again experienced deep shock. Memories of loss, pain and fear are jsoc joins mitzvah Day never far away from our students,” said Director Dr. Benny As part of his programme to meet with the diverse ethnic The Fisher of Yemin Orde, “but a forest fire of such proportions autumn term has seen many developments. Following the big engulfing our village is simply dreadful. Many were crying, others were just stunned and very difficult to get out of the social in week one, a balance of spiritual, fun, socially active, room”. educational, and purely recreational activities took place. The weekly Soul Food lunch and learn sessions gathered a strong “As yet, it cannot be determined when we will be back in our following, while Shabbat dinner continues to be a success. houses, when classes will resume and what the exact extent of the damage is that has been caused. There will be a huge As the new committee has now fully taken over, JSoc has amount of work to be done, both with the children and at the instituted new weekly members’ newsletters, planned village”, added Susan Weijel, Director of Outreach. The forest social events and developed stronger links with UJS, UJC, fire had already devastated nearly a thousand hectares (2,470 Jeneration, as well as the local Jewish community. acres). The presidential UJS debate came to Sussex campus for the last elections, and Marcelle Jennings, a University of A steady stream of cars, police vehicles, fire trucks and Sussex sociology student, ran as one of the two candidates. ambulances crowded the road leading out of Yemin Orde and Moreover, the new Hillel House on Middle Street is due to be Ein Hod, the artists’ village opposite. Sirens sounded and ready next term as the venue for future events and Shabbat shouts from the megaphone filled the air. “Get out of here -- dinners. quickly! The flames are coming!” Brighton and Sussex JSoc traditions have continued. It was noted that staff were absolutely tremendous. They November’s Mitzvah Day proved to be a great success: JSoc remained calm and supportive to each and every child. They is looking forward to working with Helping Hands again, and continued to do their utmost to ensure that the children felt engaging with the local Jewish community. The day left all the safe and cared for. students in a joyous mood. Chaim Peri, Founder of Yemin Orde wrote that at least 20 buildings, including staff and children’s homes, the library and For the first time in years Chanukah fell during term-time and more were lost. The Village was now uninhabitable and he so students celebrated together before the winter break. was operating from Yemin Orde Initiative’s sister village Neveh With a candle-lighting and latke-eating session to start off Amiel, while the army searched for an installation where the the week and a Chanukah party in one of the local bars to entire Village could stay together until its home on the Carmel end it, JSoc found many ways to conclude the term with was rehabilitated. Jewish celebrations as snow hit Brighton. Rabbi Avi Neuman, the Southern Coast chaplain, concluded: “Our first term in Liz Posner, Chairman of the Brighton & Hove Youth Aliyah Brighton has been really sweet. Committee, would be pleased if all donations towards the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Yemin Orde, in the first The students are open and vibrant, and I believe that the instance be sent to her, and addressed to Youth Aliyah Child relatively small size of the JSoc adds an intimacy - lends a Rescue, c/o Flat 18 Baltimore Court, 74 The Drive, Hove BN3 feeling of family. Hopefully we’ll explore that more together in 3PR. the coming term.” issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 6 community life 7 ralli hall lest we forget – on two by Roger Abrahams, accounts Hon Chairman by Sidney Lipman The Ralli Hall Jewish For many decades ex-Servicemen and Women have paid Film Club held its tribute to those who have fallen in conflict when serving their third session last country by taking part in the Annual Parade in the Old Steine, month with a Sing-Brighton and elsewhere in the country. Along with Fiddler on the Roof. It was This year, I received a personal invitation to another service, a great success but with a greater significance to me, as it was from the and Irit and I look Downs Junior School, who not only received an historical forward to the Club’s lesson in an important part of our history, but in the effect and consequences which followed. its 2011 programme. This year, the Royal British legion, in conjunction with the school and others, provided marquees for all against the The toilet for the inclement weather. The service was attended by the Lord disabled is ready for Lieutenant of East Sussex, the Mayor, the Mayoress, the High use, complete with Sheriff, civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries. The playground a baby changing was ringed with many coloured standards. The programme facility. Work on included wreath-laying by the children who recited poems the ladies’ toilets is and sang popular songs from WW11 in perfect harmony. under way. I was very impressed by the military precision of the whole golda & tevye sorokin sing-a-long at ralli hall event and mainly by the transformation of the school hall. This was decorated with a multiple arrangement of red Suzanne Collins will be taking well-earned retirement from streamers suspended from a high point with down-drops the end of next March we sincerely hope that the right person bearing many large poppies. (The organisers at the Albert Hall will come along to take over this most important post. The should look to their laurels!) The atmosphere was further Lunch Club is most important to a good number of our Senior enhanced by the ladies, bless’em, who provided everyone Citizens, providing an essential service to our Community. with a smile plus hot soup! Membership renewal forms will be sent to all members We should also remember the present conflict as, last week, within the next few weeks as our membership year will re- we read of Platoon Commander Lt Craig Shepherd who, with commence at the beginning of January. Membership fees his brave men of the Grenadier Guards, fought off the Taliban for six weeks in an isolated compound where they were are not changing from last year. Those who are currently attached day and night. At one stage, the enemy were so not members are invited to join us. Membership forms are close that soldiers were ordered to fix bayonets. available from the office – please either pop in or phone 01273 202254. See you at Ralli Hall. The enemy were finally repelled, all without loss, and the platoon returned to the UK. For his prompt actions, extreme bravery and leadership in saving his patrol, Lt Shepherd was wizo Quiz on 12 February 2011 awarded the Military Cross. Please remember this. The quiz@home has been running successfully for over 5 years. Would you like to host a team at your house? You feed your guests whatever you choose and ask for a suggested donation of £15 per person. All the quiz materials are sent you to you by post & you have from 7.30pm on 12 February 2011 to 10.30pm to answer as much as you can & enter all your answers online. The results are displayed by 11pm. All passwords and logging on information are supplied. You will just need computer access & a CD player. It is a fun evening that you can do at your own pace amongst your friends and family. The winning team last year came from Oxford WIZO, perhaps you could be a winner in 2011? If you would like to register please supply your home address and telephone contact details & let me know approximately how many people would be on your team.- email nicky@ wizouk.org sidney lipman with the mayor and mayoress issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 8 community profile 9 anthony is aged 40 Anyone who has driven past the Falmer stadium site cannot fail to have been hugely impressed by the sheer magnificence of by Ivor Sorokin the building, which is a smaller version of the Olympic Stadium I chatted with in Sydney, Australia. It is really set to become an iconic part Anthony at of the Brighton and Hove area. Hopefully, the stadium will his parents’ house concerts and conferences, and of course “Albion in the lovely home Community” will play a major part in local charities events. in Tongdean Road, Hove Tony recently completed the first Brighton Marathon in 3 hours where he 57 minutes, famously winning a large bet that he would do the stays when run in under 4 hours, thereby raising £150k for the Rockinghorse he comes Appeal, enabling them to contract a new respite care wing in down to Woodingdean for the families of terminally-ill children. B r i g h t o n His involvement in betting has spread to a love of horseracing in order to and he has a stable of very promising racehorses. check on the progress of his wonderful project – the magnificent stadium at Falmer, soon to be the new home of Brighton & His mathematical skills have also elevated him to the top rank Hove Albion Football Club. of world-class poker players and, anyone watching the poker championships on Sky Sports will probably have seen Tony, Anthony is now aged 40, was brought up in Hove, educated “the Lizard” in daredevil action, having won two very major at St Christopher’s School and Lancing College, prior to events. In December we spent six nail-biting hours from 7.00 graduating with a First in Maths at Manchester University. His pm to 1.00 am watching him in the televised final of the $1 first job was working as an accountant in London subsequently million championships, reaching the final two out of the eight joining Victor Chandler in Gibraltar. His entrepreneurial spirit finalists, but losing out to the winner with the turn of just one led him to setting up a betting company ‘Premierbet’ which card. he subsequently sold to go on to other betting, business and property interests. Now a family man, married to Linda and father of 2-year old Joshua, Tony is no longer willing to travel the world on the His family have always been strong Albion supporters, notably poker circuit, so he now spends half the year in his North his grandfather, Harry, who was vice-chairman in the days of London home and the other half in Melbourne, Australia, from Mike Bamber and Brian Clough. Uncle Ray is still on the board, where Linda hails. and Tony is of course chairman. My interview with Tony left me with the strong impression that It is well documented that the finance for the new Amex here is a truly modest, highly successful young man, but most Community Stadium at Falmer was arranged by Tony, and it of all, of a real “mensch”. is really doubtful whether the stadium would have ever been able to be built had Tony not opted in. At the present time the RALLI HALL LUNCH & SOCIAL CLUB Albion is sitting proudly at the top of the League Table. Is it a pipe dream to hope that the first game, in August 2011, will be Part Time Co-ordinator Required in the Championship League? Our present Lunch Club Co-ordinator, Suzanne Collins, will be retiring early this year and a replacement will be required to run the very successful Ralli Hall Lunch & Social Club. The appointment is part time - 2.5 days per week (18 hours) at a starting salary of c. £10,500 per annum. Whilst understanding and experience of working with elderly people is desirable, good interpersonal skills and commitment to the job are of paramount importance. Full “on the job” training will be available to the selected candidate. There is a full team of experienced volunteers already in place to provide support and back-up. This is an exciting opportunity for the right person to continue to provide a stimulating environment for our senior citizens, offering a creative programme of activities that will promote independence, combat social isolation and maintain elderly people in their own homes. Please apply in writing with a CV to: Lunch Club Management Committee Brighton & Hove Jewish Centre, 81 Denmark Villas, Hove BN3 3TH Closing date for applications: 15th January 2011 issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 8 9 issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 10 mitzvah Day 2010 11 cakes across the delivered them to Brighton. Hospital and residents of Hyman community On the morning of Mitzvah Day, children from the BHHC and BHRS Chederim Fine Home. decorated and wrote mitzvah messages We also had a team making sandwiches from Helping Hands on white cake boxes. and putting cakes on plates for the Rabbi Avi Neuman, afternoon tea, which was attended by the UJC Chaplin, approximately 140 people of all ages his wife Debbie and including the elderly, students, young their girls, along children and their parents, as well as with JSoc students, residents of Tikvah and the Hyman Fine some teenagers and Home. There was a magic show, after other community which one of the students played the volunteers, packed piano. After all the fun was over we took each box with three the surplus food to St Patrick’s, our 3 cupcakes with the local shelter for the homeless. message “Enjoy your cakes, thinking of We send a big thank you to all our you”. volunteers for their amazing help. Helping Hands Mitzvah day in Brighton HH volunteers and the students Some were volunteering for the first & Hove was a big success. Our slogan delivered over 100 cake boxes across time. Everyone loved Mitzvah day, was “Cakes across the Community.” the community to the housebound, because it connected people across the A volunteer collected 400 cupcakes patients in Royal Sussex County community. from Grodzinski in Golders Green and embracing the house and the hospital to mitzvah Day food growing and deliver cakes to those who appreciation of wildlife. jewish value were not able to make it to at bhPs More accustomed to of giving back the tea. supporting troubled Ellen Segalov, in charge of by Marguerite Wright teenagers, the Project’s from the Brighton & Sussex Education and Social Action organisers were impressed JSoc for the Brighton and Sussex Determined to give more with our efficiency as JSoc said, “Thanks to all the than money and verbal a whole new plot was great work by Helping Hands support to the wider local terraced for planting while Sunday 21 November was there was plenty of worthwhile non-Jewish community, the younger members this year’s Mitzvah Day. With things for us to be involved 15 members of Brighton of the group weeded an the theme of “Cakes across with. It was amazing that & Hove Progressive existing vegetable plot and the community”, Brighton and whilst we were supposed to Synagogue, ages spanning planted garlic cloves. Sussex JSoc teamed up with be the ones doing the mitzvah 70 years, went out and did Energy was restored over Helping Hands to do just that. we all had such an enjoyable things a little differently on lunch with vegetables Twelve members of the local afternoon and got to chat with November 21st. grown on site, cooked universities’ Jewish Society some fascinating people both On Mitzvah Day, when on and eaten round the volunteered for the day’s at the team at Hyman Fine actions speak louder than campfire before tackling events to show the essence of House and even the people words, the hardy bunch an even more challenging the Jewish communal spirit: we visited at the hospital. It of from BHPS met in the woodland area. transgressing generational was great to spend some time woods to donate time and A tour of the site, including gaps. with the rest of the Brighton energy to Moulsecoomb the beehive, thatched The day began at 12:30 pm community and we hope Forest Garden and Wildlife roundhouse and clay pizza with members of the JSoc see a lot more of this in the Project which operates on oven, confirmed that this and Helping Hands meeting future.” former derelict allotments was an ambitious and up with the children of the What may have began as a in one of Brighton’s least worthwhile cause. community to wrap and day of simple volunteering affluent areas. The Project decorate cakes in the AJEX continued into pure has social, community and Centre. As the day continued, enjoyment. By the end, the environmental benefits, the team split up. Some students were dancing with working with local residents stayed for the tea party, where the children, mingling and who volunteer, school the communities’ elders and hearing the adults’ stories, pupils, young people residents of the Tikvah home and one student shared his having problems at school where brought together for passion as a musician by and people with learning a lunch and magic show. playing the piano for the difficulties, to give an Others went to Hyman Fine versatile audience. experience of sustainability, issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com culture 11 Freedom begins with an act of Defiance by the Sussex Jewish Film Club Planning Group After our fun evening in December we return to a more singing along with Fiddler on the Roof, serious subject for our January screening. You’re invited to come and see the American film Defiance on Sunday, 23rd January at Ralli Hall. This movie, starring If you’re not yet a member of the Daniel Craig, revolves around the true Sussex Jewish Film Club you can come story of three Jewish brothers living in as a guest on the basis of a donation. Nazi-occupied Poland. They escape We meet at 7pm for drinks, with the film into the Belarussian forest, where they starting at 7.30pm join Russian resistance fighters in – and remember battling the Nazis. Throughout the war there’s free parking they build a village inside the forest and at Hove Station on save the lives of more than 1,200 Jews. Sunday evenings. The screenplay is based on Nechama We hope to see Tec’s book Defiance: The Bielski you there. Partisans. ralph, irene & zoe may jacs As usual, we have had a varied afternoon we had two for the price programme lately: Veronica Walton not of one! Janice presented a general by Nina Taylor, Hon Chairman only showed the beauty of minerals knowledge quiz and then she and Anne and crystals but gave us the history Conn read stories they had written Along with many other organisations of their use in medicine and folklore. whilst attending a creative writing class. we had to cancel our meeting at the Of great relevance to senior citizens in We have another full and interesting beginning of December due to the our community was a talk by Christine programme arranged for this month inclement weather. Ian Gledhill, who Simpson about the very comprehensive (see Diary page) and we look forward was to tell us about the world of Art world of Age Concern. Leaflets were to welcoming old and new members. Deco, will be coming to speak to us in available for any person who was in We meet at the AJEX Centre every February. need of advice and assistance. One Wednesday and 2 p.m. you can lead a goat to a water bearer: Val Aviv is an accomplished astrologer. For more information january’s stars view her website www.valaviv.com by Val Aviv Aries Cancer Libra Capricorn With so much going on within the public There’s a lot going on in your relationship A new feeling of optimism and buoyancy Impulsive buys are not eye, it’s no wonder you’ve been feeling the sector, no wonder you’re giving more could be the start of something special. A usually your style but after all your efforts pressure. All that grafting is paying off and thought to significant others. While the full relationship which expands your world view recently you may feel you deserve a treat your deep wish will become a reality, the moon in your sign on the 19th may make is set to make an appearance soon, isn’t it and rightly so. The new moon in your sign time for neglecting social invitations has you overtly sensitive, it will enable you to about time you let your hair down? means a fresh start and what a wonderful finally ended. express your feelings honestly. new year this will be! Scorpio Taurus Leo With a new lease of life coming to your Aquarius If you need to make a change, getting into a If partners seem more explosive than usual, home, this is a perfect time for a reshuffle A small part of you may be in the mood for strop will rock the boat but not necessarily you can thank the rather unruly influence of or renovation. Things are sure to go well as winter hibernation and indeed it won’t be help you stay afloat. As usual co-operation Mars in your relationship sector. Nearer the long as everyone agrees on what needs to a great time to kick start new projects until wins the day. While tact and diplomacy may end of the month a lucky phase starts and be done. Finances are set to soar. nearer the end of the month. After which not come naturally this month; drive and important people are taking notice of you. point you’ll be re-energized and raring to passion will. Sagittarius go get ’em! Virgo Are you ready for a whirlwind of excitement Gemini The temptation to over exhaust yourself and perhaps a new expanded vision of Pisces As you like variety and exploration, this with work commitments may leave you a the world? It could be a new romance or You’re looking your best and finally striking month won’t disappoint you as you’re little frazzled especially if someone in the creative project either way there is joy in this the right balance with your public persona. thinking big and going beyond your work place seems to be placing higher world and you are going to own it. Friends are truly on your side and while you ordinary perceptions of the world. While this demands on you. Save a little time for the might feel that some have a hidden agenda stimulates your senses, it also helps you to fun stuff! it could be you that has hidden frustrations. redefine your ambitions. issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 12hhcrabbi vivian silverman Hove Hebrew Congregation 79 Holland Road, Hove BN3 1JN 13 Tel: 01273 732035 Email: hollandroadshul@btinternet.com words of the Prophets Twenty-seven years later on 1 Nisan 560 BCE, a second haftarah for Parasha va’eira prophecy came to Ezekiel telling him that the king of Babylon 1 january 2011 – ezekiel 28:25-29:21 was about to bring a great army against the Phoenician city of Tyre. Egypt, too, would fall into the power of Babylon. the messianic vision Then, the Almighty’s promise to rescue Israel from her enemies would be truly fulfilled. by rabbi vivian silverman The haftarah parallels the thought of the Sidra, in that both In the last verse of the Haftarah we have the phrase “Atsmiah speak about the breaking of the power of Egypt. The first keren l’veit Yisrael” - “ I shall cause a horn to spring forth verse encapsulates the Messianic vision (also described in for the House of Israel”. Wherever “keren” (a horn) is found the haftarah for Vayigash) that when the Almighty will have in the bible or Siddur, it refers to pride/power, since the ox’s gathered the dispersed of Israel back to her land, God’s name horn is its most potent and powerful weapon. will be sanctified through them in the sight of the nations of the world. So, our phrase now means: “I will cause the House of Israel to feel proud” since I will have carried out my promise to Chapter 29 unfolds the prophecy that came to Ezekiel on destroy their enemy and restore them to their land. 12 Tevet 587 BCE, 10 years after he was carried into exile. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is pictured as a crocodile in the Diary - january 2011 River Nile, imagining he is all powerful. However, the Divine Fisherman puts hooks into the crocodile’s jaws, drags it from Tuesday 11 Talmud Shiur the Nile and throws it onto the open fields, where it will be destroyed. Sunday 16 Dedication of Rabbi Efune’s Sefer Torah Such will be the fate of the Egyptian Empire. For 40 years, she will remain desolate and her population scattered Tuesday 18 Ladies Discussion Circle, 10.30 am throughout the Mediterranean. Finally, God will gather her and bring her to Patros (the original seat of power in Upper Thursday 20 Tu B’Shevat/15 Shevat – New Year for Trees Egypt) where she will remain, a shadow of herself. Malcolm Green Catering The selection of your menu is an important part in the planning of your Simcha. For that reason our Chefs continue to create exciting and tasty menus to meet your every need. We can tailor a menu to fit your specific requirements and help create the function you are proud of. Let us introduce you to a cuisine that has made us one of Israel’s leading Caterers. Plus summer holidays in Italy, Ireland and weddings throughout the world. KOSHER CATERING AT ITS BEST Contact Rachel on 01273 726495 or Malcolm on koshercaterer@yahoo.co.uk www.kosherservicesworldwide.com UNDER SUPERVISION KASHRUT DIVISION OF THE LONDON BETH DIN issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com bhPs rabbi elizabeth tikvah sarah Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue, 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF Tel: 01273 737223 Email: bhps@freenetname.co.uk www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk 13 words of the Prophets Judah was conquered by Babylon in 586 BCE; however, that haftarah for Parasha bo wasn’t the end of the story. One of the purposes of the haftarah is homiletical – to chastise and denounce wrong-doing and conclude 8 january 2011 – jeremiah 46:13-28 with words of hope or consolation. Haftarat Bo closes with Jeremiah the meaning of omnipotence also predicting the end of the people’s captivity in Babylon and their return. This came to pass when the Persians defeated the by rabbi elizabeth tikvah sarah Babylonians and King Cyrus allowed the exiles to come back to the land and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Jeremiah was an isolated visionary whose words were rarely heeded. He spent forty years prophesying in Judah during the late 7th century It feels very neat, but something else is going on. Having defeated and early 6th century BCE when the two great powers of Babylon Egypt, why did the Eternal One allow Babylon to triumph over and Egypt were contending for supremacy in the region. There is Judah? By focusing on the eventual restoration of Judah, one may an obvious connection with the parashah which relates the final ignore a more powerful theological message in verses 18 and 28: plagues against Egypt and the defeat of Pharaoh by the Eternal One. Adonai Tz’va’ot – ‘the Eternal One of Hosts’, who punished Egypt, Similarly, Jeremiah prophesies that Egypt will be defeated by Divine also punished Judah; the Eternal One, who is ‘with’ Israel is also, intervention once again. ha-Melech – the Sovereign – of all, who condemns wrong conduct in every place. As we read in the final phrase of the haftarah: v’nakkeih Despite the obvious similarities, the context in which prophet was lo anakkeka – ‘I will not, indeed, exempt you’. delivering his message was very different. Jeremiah speaks out against the alliance Judah has made with Egypt in order to keep Babylon at bay and predicts that Babylon will prevail. His critique exposes the realpolitik for a tiny nation at the mercy of superpowers. celebrations at chanukah shabbaton Our Shabbat morning service was crowded with well-wishers who, in lieu of a sermon, received testimonies from 10 people who had joined our congregation during each of the past 10 years. Rabbi Elli thanked each one for their heartfelt and humorous words with a kiss! She was then presented with a cheque of donations from members. Chairman Peter Speck read out good wishes sent by Lucian Hudson and Rabbi Danny Rich. benjamin 2010 After a splendid kiddush and lunch (including latkes and an enormous three-tier anniversary fruit cake made by a generous congregant), visitors were welcomed for a discussion on what it is or feels to be Jewish, entitled “Are you Jewish or Jew- andrews ish?” The adults were then entertained by professional storyteller atthew m Sef Townsend who often tells stories in reconciliation events around the world. As it was Chanukah, the hour was light-hearted with a Ladino song about the eight little candles. Photo © The children joined in for Havdalah and Chanukah candle Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue celebrated 10 years lighting. Many people brought their own Chanukiyot. The with Rabbi Elli at a Chanukah Shabbaton on Saturday 4 flames burning at once, surrounded by children, made a very December. Although icy weather caused the cancellation of moving sight. our erev Shabbat service and chavurah supper, overnight the temperatures soared. Some suggested Divine intervention! 2011 aubrey milstein lecture 84th year, worked to foster racial harmony and challenge injustice by Marguerite Wright with various organizations including Brighton & Hove Council, Sussex Jewish Representative Council, Interfaith Contact Group, This year’s Aubrey Milstein Lecture will be delivered by Dr Brian Racial Harassment Forum and as a member of the Independent Klug at 3.00 pm on Sunday 6 February and is certain to be a Advisory Group. thoroughly thought-provoking event. Further information about the lecture, please contact the Dr Brian Klug has published widely on race, antisemitism, Jewish synagogue office on 01273 737223 or by e-mail at bhps@ identity and other subjects. His latest book - Being Jewish and freenetname.co.uk Doing Justice: Bringing Argument to Life - will be on sale after the lecture. Rabbi Elli describes the book as a “must read” and claims it one of the best books she has ever read. Aubrey Milstein Memorial Lecture As part of its commitment to interfaith relations and racial and Living in the World: religious harmony, Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue established in 2005 a biennial lecture to be given by speakers The People of God and the Pursuit of Justice who have made a significant contribution in a related field. by Dr Brian Klug The Aubrey Milstein Lectures, by speakers who have made Chaired by Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah a significant contribution to interfaith relations and racial and religious harmony, were established in 2005 and held biennially. Sunday 6th February 2011 at 3.00pm The lectures are named to honour the memory of Aubrey Milstein, Free admission. Refreshments. a former prominent member of our congregation who, until his issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 14 bhrs rabbi charles wallach Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue Palmeira Avenue, Hove BN3 3GE 15 Tel: 01273 735343 Email: office@bh-rs.org www.bh-rs.org words of the Prophets patriotic song and praise of the Almighty reaches crescendo. haftarah for Parasha beschallach Indeed, if one looks at the text of the poem, its format is 8 january 2011 – judges 4:4-5:31 stunningly similar to that of Moses with short, half sentences presented mainly in three groups of three or four words on a the foretelling of unity line. by rabbi charles wallach The importance of this moment needs also be considered. The alternative name for this Shabbat is Shabbat Shira – The world of the Tribes of Israel was just that, individual tribes the Sabbath of Song, because a central part of the Torah loosely confederated in what scholars call the amphictyony reading is Moses’ famous song after the crossing of the Red of Israel. Deborah, with the help of Barak as her general, Sea by the Israelites. In the Torah the song follows an actual was able to bring fighters from two tribes – Zebulun and description of the crossing complete with Pharaoh’s soldiers Naphtali – together. The success achieved was to be seen as being drowned in the returning waters following the parting a forerunner for such cooperation between other tribes under of the waves. The haftarah echoes this motif by describing an threat and something that eventually was so necessary that a event first, then following it up with a more poetic description. unified kingdom was the eventual outcome. This is also the case of Deborah and Barak’s victory over One final parallel between Torah and haftarah is that Deborah Sisera, general to King Jabin of Canaan. As with the passage is called a neviah– a prophetess - as Miriam is when she in Torah, we are almost forgetful of the bloodshed as the leads the women in the final refrain of the Shirah. truly a fine array of events! The following day, we were honoured to host the AJEX Annual Remembrance Service involving members of AJEX and our choir. Of particular note were the readings by two of our teenagers, Olivia Sasson and Eden Shepherd, and to experience the wonderful support by the community in the presence of several dignitaries. This moving service was followed by a splendid tea catered by our Guild. This would have been, to coin a phrase, “dayenu!” But two weeks later, in response to Helping Hands, our Cheder youngsters were in there as well: drawing colourful greetings on scores of boxes, which were packed with delicacies to be delivered around the community. The children also helped blow up balloons to help decorate the AJEX Hall ahead of a tea attended by the elderly in the community who were also entertained by a magic show. In between, our Kids Club turned their monthly meeting to create a “Mitzvah Tree” – made up of numerous sticks on which the children wrote what they thought a mitzvah was. Finally, the snow and cold forced us to change our plans for Chanukah. We celebrated in shul on Friday evening when we held We celebrated what we plan to be the first of a regular, once a term, a communal lighting of chanukiot, and on Sunday held a disco and child and family focused Shabbat morning service. A shortened, yet array of stalls. For the first time we held gatherings in private homes, meaningful service, was led by our upcoming Bar and Bat Mitzvahs including the families of our Cheder, who went nightly around the area and was followed by a fine Kiddush prepared by our wonderful to join in the celebrations. Parents’ Committee, under the leadership of Melanie Firsht. thank you to saonie lyons Melanie Firsht, chair of the Cheder Parents Committee, expressed the gratitude that was felt by all for Saonie’s hard work and commitment. Saonie Lyons, our Cheder Administrator of sixteen years, has She said: ‘Saonie has done an amazing job and has always been decided to step down. The Cheder children, parents and synagogue involved with the Jewish education of the Cheder children.’ representatives presented Saonie with a thank-you card and a gift. cheder children with saonie lyons, melanie Firsht and rabbi charles wallach at the back (photo by michael harris) bulletin board - january 2011 Mondays Exercise to music with Adele re- starts on 10th January Wednesdays JACS starts again on 5th January Saturday 8th Rabbi’s Shiur, 9.00 am Sunday 9th Cheder term begins Sunday 16th Members Tea Saturday 22nd Rabbi’s Shiur, 9.00 am issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 14 bhhc rabbi hershel rader Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation 31 New Church Road, Hove BN3 3AD 15 Tel: 01273 888855 Email: office@bhhc-shul.org www.webjam.com/bhhc10 The Induction service for Rabbi hershel & mrs Perla Rader was held on sunday 28 matter how small - to give to our community to ensure its continuity and strength. By november 2010. The event also marked the 50th anniversary of our West hove shul. rededicating ourselves to giving what we can and by stressing the positives in each Those present received an inspiring message from Chief Rabbi Lord sacks, who other and in what we do, our community will – like the increasing number of candles reminded us in advance of Chanukah, each and every one of us has something – no on the chanukiah through the festival – grow stronger and brighter. Left: Ruby Bass, 7, and Tal Lewis, 8, after presenting the Chief Rabbi with a gift commissioned from local artist Martin Wertheim- Gould. The painting sets out our Congregation’s history in Brighton & Hove from Devonshire Place to Middle Street to our current shul in West Hove. Lord Lieutenant of Sussex Peter Field, Mayor of Brighton & Hove Geoffrey Wells, Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, Rabbi Hershel Rader Member Stanley Faull and Left: Chief Rabbi Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks Lord Sacks as in conversation at the he delivers the celebratory reception. Induction Address MARTIN GROSS Memorials All aspects of stone- masonry undertaken from new to renovation and cleaning 01273 439792 07801 599771 issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com 16 what’s on: january 2011 diary@sussexjewishnews.com shabbat shalom – brighton times notable Dates In Light Candles Out Havdalah Thu 20 Tu B’shvat – new year for trees Fri 31 Dec 3.46 pm Sat 1 Jan 5.02 pm Fri 7 3.54 pm Sat 8 5.09 pm Fri 14 4.03 pm Sat 15 5.18 pm Fri 21 4.14 pm Sat 22 5.28 pm Fri 28 4.26 pm Sat 29 5.39 pm regular activities events For january Sundays j:tots – for parents, toddlers, grandparents and carers - is held monthly at Ralli Hall. For shalom Programme on www. information regarding the next session, please e-mail Rachel at jtots@rocketmail.com or ring radioreverb.com as well as 97.2 FM, 01273 204334. 9.00-9.55 pm. Wednesday 5 carmel tennis club 10.00 am-12.00 noon. All levels welcome. Tel: Leon jacs – Hat Debate, a lively discussion presided over by Dr Nina Taylor, 2.00 pm at AJEX on 07717 222744 Centre, Eaton Road, Hove. Members £2.00/Non-Members £2.50 Wednesday 12 Mondays jacs – Memories of the Holocaust with guest speaker Ceska Abrahams, 2.00 pm at AJEX the ethics of our Fathers with Rabbi Centre, Eaton Road, Hove. Members £2.00/Non-Members £2.50 Efune 11.30-12.30 pm Chabad House, 15 Upper Drive, Hove. Tel:. Sunday 16 01273 321919 completion and welcoming into the shul of the new torah scroll, 1.30-2.30 pm, Wavertree afternoon club with tea 1.30 pm. Contact Reba 01444 410435 House, corner Furze Hill & Lansdowne Road, followed by procession to Holland Road Shul. Everyone welcome. rubber and Duplicate bridge 1.30- 4.30 pm £2.00. Tel Reba 01444 celebratory Dinner in honour of the new Sefer Torah at 6.30 pm RH. £25.00 per person. For 410435 tickets tel: 01273 32919 or email rabbiefune@hotmail.com (no appeal) contemporary basic talmud with Wednesday 19 Rabbi Efune - Men only 8.15 pm at Chabad House 01273 321919 jacs – The Merchant of Venice with guest speaker Sydney Levine, 2.00 pm at AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove. Members £2.00/Non-Members £2.50 tanya (kabbalah) learning group with Penina Efune - Ladies only 8.15 pm Sunday 23 at Chabad House 01273 321919 sussex jewish Film club at ralli hall: Defiance - Drinks at 7.00 pm. Film begins at 7.30 pm. Tuesdays Non-members can attend one Club session free as a taster on the basis of a donation Painting with rochelle (jas), 7.00- 9.00 pm Tel: 01273 503708 Weekly Tuesday 25 RH. New term commences 11 jewish historical society – The Enlightenment with guest speaker Dr Sam Barsam, Board of January. Deputies Defence Committee, 7.45 pm RH. Members free/Non-Members £4.00 Tel: 01273 419412 israeli Dancing, 7.45-9.45 pm Tel: Jacky 01273 688538 RH Wednesday 26 jacs – The House of Hanover with guest speaker Lea Mitchell, 2.00 pm at AJEX Centre, ralli hall lunch and social club, 10.30 am-4.30 pm. Tel: Suzanne 01273 Eaton Road, Hove. Members £2.00/Non-Members £2.50 739999 RH Sunday 30th art in the studio with martin 2.00- 4.30 pm RH ajex holocaust memorial service at The Jewish Cemetery, Meadowview, Bear Road at 11.00 am. Please try to attend. Wednesdays Advance Notice radio reverb theatre programme ‘Curtain Up’ 7.00 am Sussex Jewish Representative Council chutzpah choir (singing in Yiddish, General Meeting for representatives of all organisations and the community Ladino, Hebrew, Aramaic and other When - Wednesday, 2nd February 2011 at 8.05 pm languages) with Polina Shepherd. 7.00-8.45 pm Where: - Ralli Hall, Denmark Villas, Hove Tel: Rosalind 01273 541031 RH. Please put the date in your diary Thursdays VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ralli hall lunch and social club, 10.30 Your Sussex Jewish News is going from strength to strength! Our success means we need am-4.30 pm. Tel: Suzanne 01273 more help. If you have time to help us, we’re looking for help with: 739999 Weekly RH ADVERTISING SALES REPORTERS * WEBSITE EDITORS weekly torah portion with Rabbi Efune 8.15 pm at Chabad House. Training will be provided. For more information, e-mail editor@sussexjewishnews.com 01273 321919. or call 07906 955 404. issue 204 | january 2011 | www.sussexjewishnews.com -
Issue 237
January 2014
1 SuSSEx JEwISh nEwS nEw WhatswhaT’S InSIdE.... CELEBraTInG ThE TrEES | ChanuKah arOund ThE COunTy ISSy hOFFMan rEMEMBErEd | whaT’S On | and MOrE January 2014 • TEVET / ShEVaT 5774 • ISSuE 237 2 Pause for thought This month, we are re-printing the six cover pictures that have had the most positive feedback from our readership during the past year. We hope you Right: July 2013 – The view enjoy seeing them again. across the South Downs from 3 Virginia Woolf’s garden at Rodmell, East Sussex Below: December 2013 – Sheffield Park Gardens in Left: June 2013 – The Autumn synagogue in Florence Above: March 2013 – Arlington Bluebell Woods, East Sussex Right: February 2013 – Dressing up for Purim at the Left: January 2013 – botanical Gardens in Jerusalem Pomegranate tree SJN brings local news, events, articles, reviews, EDITORIAL BOARD Doris Levinson / Stephanie Megitt announcements, people, congregations, David Seidel/ Michael Rich communities, contacts and more. Delivered at TECHNICAL ADVISOR Brian Megitt the start of each month, SJN is run entirely by ADMINISTRATOR Bernard Swithern volunteers for reporting, editing and circulating ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Ivor Sorokin, Lydia Swithern each edition that has become the cornerstone of the Jewish community across the region. COMMuNAL DIARy info@sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org COVER IMAGE Brian Megitt PRODuCTION/LAyOuT Anand Day SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 8 JANUARY 2014 New email address for submissions and correspondence: sjneditor@sussexjewishnews.com susseX JeWisH neWs suBsCriPTiOn Name:_______________________________________________ Date:_________________________ Address:___________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Postcode:____________________ Email: _______________________________________________ Telephone:____________________ Subscription (tick one) I would like to receive electronic copies of SJN. £15 p/a I would like to receive printed copies of SJN. £20 p/a. I enclose my cheque payable to Sussex Jewish News at PO Box 2178, Hove BN3 3SZ I have made a bank transfer to the Sussex Jewish News at Lloyds Bank, Sort Code 30-98-74, Account No. 00289447 and I have included my name as a reference to ensure my subscription is noted. issue 237 | January 2014 2 Contents 3 sussex Jewish news PO Box 2178 • Hove BN3 3SZ FeaTures Telephone: 07906 955 404 1 FOr Tu B’sHevaT The trees of Independence Park, Jerusalem. Photo by Brian Megitt 4 COMPeTiTiOn Your chance to win a Malki gift pack 9 HOLOCausT MeMOriaL Day A schedule of the commemorative events planned by Brighton & Hove City Council 10 susseX FrienDs OF israeL Our activists continue to wave the flags 13 issy HOFFMan reMeMBereD Memories from his grandson Melvin Gold and friend Ivor Richards reGuLars 4 COMMuniTy LiFe Your news plus stories from across the county 14 CuLTure Books, film and more 20 WHaT’s On Regular and special events in your community yOur COMMuniTy 16 BriGHTOn & HOve HeBreW COnGreGaTiOn 17 BriGHTOn & HOve reFOrM synaGOGue 18 HOve HeBreW COnGreGaTiOn 19 BriGHTOn & HOve PrOGressive synaGOGue Full page (A4 size) £170 Half page (A5 size) £100 Sussex Jewish News (‘SJN’), its Editor and Editorial Board: • are not allied to any synagogue or group and the views expressed by writers are Quarter page (A6 size) £65 not necessarily those of SJN; 1/9 page (credit card size) £40 • accept advertisements in good faith but do not endorse any products or TISING services and do not accept liability for any aspect of any advertisements; and Personal: £4 per line • welcome readers’ contributions but reserve the right to edit, cut, decline or Flyers: Price on application submit the content to others for comment. To ensure that we receive your submissions by email, please send them ONLY Local Jewish charities will not be charged, subject to to sjneditor@sussexjewishnews.com, otherwise we cannot guarantee their editorial decision. consideration for publication. To assist the Editorial Board, submissions should be in Word format using Times New Roman as a font. Receipt of submissions may not BOOK NOW! 07906 955 404 ADVER IN SJN GUIDELINES be acknowledged, unless specifically requested. As the Editorial Board is made up entirely of volunteers, any response may be subject to delay. issue 237 | January 2014 4 Community life 5 your news achievements Mazel tov to Margot Rubin on gaining Births her Ph.D. in Urban Geography from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Mazel tov to Laura and Elliott Hill on the birth of a son, Nathan Samuel, and congratulations to the Hill and Vogel families. Mazel tov to Judy Ironside, who has Mazel tov to Mariamne & Dan Bratton on the birth of their son. received an MBE in recognition of her A grandson for Eliana & Jack Rose. services as the Founder and Executive Director of the UK Jewish Film Festival. Birthdays Prince Charles bestowed the honour at Buckingham Mazel tov to Myrtle Van Buren, Joyce Goldman, Pamela Howard, Palace on Benjamin Infield, Muriel Lewis, Tonia Lewis, Terrie Lyons, Olivia Friday 6 Sasson, Vivienne Samuels, Frances Shepherd, Ivor Sorokin and all December. who are celebrating special birthdays this month. Judy was accompanied engagements by her husband Dr Leslie Ironside, her eldest Mazel tov on the engagement of Daniel Yaffe, son of Leonie & Ivor son Benjamin Heath and her step-Yaffe of Hove, to Judith Freeman, daughter of Amanda & Paul mother Jeanette Norton Mazzier. Freeman of Edgware. Get Well Weddings We wish a refuah sheleimah to Sandra Gross, Ron Gould, Renee Mazel tov to Sharon Luper and Christine Porthouse. & Brian Rubin on the marriage of their Deaths daughter Margot to Sagi Bazar in We wish Long Life to Marilyn Wallach and family on the death of Johannesburg. her mother, Priscilla Sugarman z’l. Long Life to Sonny Katz on the death of his brother Martin Katz z’l. erratum Last issue Sir David Lionel Salomons was incorrectly identified as the first Jewish Lord Mayor of London. That honour belonged to his uncle, Sir David Salomons. SJN apologises for the error. Another Chance to Voluntary Support Agencies Win a Malki Prize! • Ralli Hall Lunch & Social Club (Day Centre) 01273 739999 ralliday@tiscali.co.uk For one lucky subscriber to SJN, there’s • Norwood/Tikvah, Rachel Mazzier House 01273 564021 a chance to win £27 worth of Malki Dead • Hyman Fine House 01273 688226 Sea Bathcare products – absolutely free! All you have to do is answer this simple • Helping Hands 01273 747722 helping-hands@helping-hands.org question: • Brighton & Hove Jewish Welfare Board 07952 479111 or info@bhjwb.org • Brighton & Hove Jewish Housing Association bahjha@googlemail.com Where is the Dead Sea? • Welfare at Brighton & Hove Progressive a) USA Synagogue/L’chaim project 01273 737223 b) Switzerland • Welfare Officer at Brighton & Hove Reform (Sue Rosenfield) 01273 735343 c) Israel • Jewish Community Centre at Ralli Hall. Various communal activities. d) United Arab Emirates 01273 202254 or rallihall@tiscali.co.uk Call or text 07808 580047 by Friday 10 January with your answer. Please give your name and phone number. The winner will CARER AVAILABLE – PRIVATE be drawn by lot by the Editorial Board Over 25 years experience from all correct answers received and contacted to advise how to collect the Qualified to administer medication prize. This competition is open only to Hourly rates and references available subscribers of SJN. The judges’ decision Further information ring Jenny King is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 01273 880013 issue 237 | January 2014 4 Community life 5 Mitzvah Day 2013 - it’s the thought that counts! When Helping Hands was considering what and some information our Mitzvah Day project should be this year, about Helping Hands. we were particularly keen to do something We were overwhelmed that was inter-faith and would be valuable with the response! across the community. Over 100 gifts were collected, with more Mitzvah Day was on Sunday 17 November to follow. and a fundraising concert was being held by Afterwards Robert the Martlets at Hove Town Hall. Griffiths, the Director of Fundraising at the We have a special connection with the Martlets through the late Lily Martlets wrote to Bernstock, a much-missed Helping Hands volunteer, who was a thank us on behalf of patient there. We wanted to show our support for those who work the Patients, Staff and Liz Shaw at the Hove Town Hall with the donated gifts or volunteer at the Martlets and who provide such wonderful care Volunteers of the to the whole community. We decided that it would be a good idea Martlets Hospice and had taken the Mitzvah Day gifts to the to ask our supporters to brighten the day of both patients and staff Hospice for the nursing team to distribute, noting it “was a lovely by giving them a small gift for Mitzvah Day. gesture by you all and I know that the gifts will be appreciated by those who receive them.” On the afternoon of Mitzvah Day, a table was set up at Hove Town Hall displaying the gifts already donated and, throughout the We would like to say our own “Thank you” to everyone who afternoon, many more presents were given to us. We also gave out contributed to the success of Mitzvah Day. leaflets explaining to the public the concept behind Mitzvah Day Chanukah at Hyman Fine by Natasha Carson and Beverly Barnett We have enjoyed a very busy Chanukah – a Chanukah brunch had a very enjoyable day. The day was rounded off by a visit on Sunday 1 December, provided by the Ladies Fundraising to an ex-resident of Hyman Fine who is now living at Clore Committee, to which over 40 relatives and friends came Manor. She was delighted to see so many old friends. along to enjoy the excellent food and company. The following day we had a party with klezmer music, which proved very Other news from Hyman Fine includes a visit by some of popular with the residents. Rabbi Efune lit the Chanukah our residents to see a Puccini opera and inside the Home, candles. Some of our residents also attended the party at the activities include the Star music project. This is a group of Ralli Hall Lunch & Social Club on the following day and they classically trained musicians making music with residents thoroughly enjoyed the salt beef lunch and entertainment. of all abilities. Music is particularly popular for people with dementia. Table tennis is also very popular. A group of eleven of the home’s volunteers went on a trip to London and visited the Head Office of Jewish Care at The above are just some of the many activities and events Amelie House in Golders Green, to see the facilities offered that take place in and out of Hyman Fine and if anyone has on the campus. These are first class and include flats for some free time and would like to help out as a volunteer, then independent living, a care home and a day centre. This was a please contact Mark Pady on 01273 688226. good chance to see what can be achieved and all who went Helping Hands Pub Quiz postponed The Helping Hands Pub Quiz in your own home, which was to take place on Sunday 19th January, has had to be postponed owing to a similar event in the community on the same date. The Helping Hands Pub Quiz in your Own Home will now take place on Sunday 8 June. Save the date in your diary. Helping Hands apologises for any inconvenience caused. issue 237 | January 2014 6 Community life 7 ralli Hall Lunch and social Club by Jacquie Tichauer Firstly, I would like to thank the committee and my volunteers new friends here, who also meet each other socially outside for all the hard work they have put in over the last year and the Lunch and Social Club. for supporting me in all my projects. For the coming year we are planning more weekends away, outings, new computer I am still looking for new volunteers. Our current volunteers classes on Thursdays and new Bridge classes on Thursday find our club an enjoyable social event - so why not give me a mornings as well as games afternoons. Please remember that call and join us on a Tuesday or a Thursday? Don’t forget, our this is a social club and many of our members have made three-course kosher meal is the best in town!! a Lunch and social Club thank you by Alan Burke The Lunch and Social Club held their Chanukah Dinner Dance member of staff, our co-ordinator Jacquie. She does a really on Sunday 24 November to a total sell-out of around 120 outstanding job, assisted by around 30 wonderful volunteers guests. Everyone enjoyed a wonderful meal, which included who are thanked most sincerely for their dedication. Without latkes and salt beef, with a dessert of profiteroles (all non-their help, it would be impossible to operate the RHL&SC. fattening). The music was fantastic and everyone had a Thanks also to Ralli Hall Community Centre and staff for their really wonderful evening. Grateful thanks go to our functions help and co-operation in the day-to-day aspects of running committee for a really outstanding job. the club. The whole event was to support the Lunch and Social Club, which runs on a very tight budget with only one paid Giant Menorah Lighting This was followed by music blaring proudly as we danced and ate hot latkes and doughnuts. by Penina Efune People commented how they felt proud and privileged to live It was a mild evening as more than 300 people came together in such a free and tolerant country where we can celebrate on 29 November for the annual lighting of the Giant Menorah our faith without fear. Others mentioned how they were so at Palmeira Square. Children were given colourful glow sticks pleased to see people they hadn’t seen in a long time. It and chocolate Chanukah gelt as they waited for the young certainly attracted many new faces, including a group of Chazan to climb the ladder and light the Menorah. 14 women who had come down from London to celebrate Chanukah by the sea as well as quite a few Christian Friends Rabbi Efune welcomed everybody and explained that the of Israel. essential lesson that we can learn from the Menorah, is that peace can only be brought about when we stop celebrating wars. What we need more than anything else, is to teach and educate our children to show respect towards others and by doing so, we may have a chance of creating a more harmonious and peaceful world. issue 237 | January 2014 6 Community life 7 Celebrating Chanukah in eastbourne by Yvonne Greene, Suzanne Paginton and Stella Harris service led by ELJC’s Vice Chairman Yvonne Greene and the story and meaning of Chanukah was retold by members of the EHC. In addition to the Chanukah party, there was another celebration on the books, as everyone joined in to sing not only Moaz Tzur, but also Happy Birthday to Sam Bloch on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Marie Cohen, Barbara Bronstein, Lady Faith Barrett and Chanukah gelt and dreidels adorned the party tables and Frances Donne a klezmer band provided the music, to which everyone On Sunday 1st December, Eastbourne Liberal Jewish danced, including nonagenarians Ronnie Lawrence and Community and Eastbourne Hebrew Congregation Menashe Harounoff. A raffle was held, with prizes donated joined together with the Bexhill and Hastings community by Hastings Jewish Society and Eastbourne Hebrew to celebrate Chanukah. Over 45 people enjoyed a joint Congregation. ralli Hall by Roger Abrahams the entrance lobby is booked in for the same treatment within the next few weeks. In addition to the Vibrafit Studio I must emphasise how enjoyable both our centenary Tea in the Abrahams Room, currently open three times per Dance and the recent dinner dance for the Lunch and week and likely to be expanding, we now have Baby Ballet Social Club were. In both cases, our beautifully decorated weekly in the Youth Lounge, which also seems to be very Great Hall was full with members of our Community really successful. enjoying themselves. This is what Ralli Hall is all about and my congratulations to all involved. Jacqui is due to move into her new office shortly. The adjacent small meeting room at the rear of the stage, The work to the Brighton Pilates Studio is almost which has its own tea point annexe and toilet, will be complete, thanks to Ana’s extremely hard-working available for letting from the beginning of the year, and carpenter/husband. He is a real Speedy Gonzales arrangements can even be made for it to be accessed inasmuch as he will have been able to bring forward the and used outside of caretaker hours, if required – please open evening almost a month earlier than expected. We contact the office on 01273 202254. do not yet know who will be joining Ana in the other three activity rooms but, once we do, we will include them in our I hope that you all had an enjoyable Chanukah. We all monthly list of commercial activities at Ralli Hall available thoroughly enjoyed the lighting of the Chabad Chanukiah from the office. at the Floral Clock in Palmeira Square . Long may this tradition continue. The lower ground floor youth lounge and the Abrahams Room have now both been beautifully redecorated and See you at Ralli Hall. eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community by Yvonne Greene and Suzanne Paginton Exciting news - in the tradition of Liberal Judaism’s founders, The service will be led by student Rabbi Nathan Godleman in particular Lily Montagu, we will be holding our historic first at Christ the King Church, 3, Princes Rd, Eastbourne, East Shabbat afternoon service on Saturday, 11 January 2014 at Sussex, BN23 6HT. All are welcome. 3pm. The service will be followed by a Kiddush and a short study/activity session. issue 237 | January 2014 8 Community life 9 Children’s Chanukah Party by Penina Efune To make certain that no child should miss out on the their Chanukah spirit by dancing in the dark, lit up by their Chanukah celebrations, Chabad arranged a special after mothers’ mobile phones and ate lovely food, latkes and school Children’s Chanukah party at Chabad House on the doughnuts. night of Tuesday 3 December. As the children arrived they had a variety of art and craft activities to choose from. They could Afterwards we received thank yous from some of the mums make their own finger puppets, create sand art and craft with comments like “Thanks for a lovely party we really edible menorahs made from fresh vegetables. enjoyed it!” and “We just wanted to say thank you for putting on the Chanukah party today. Z had a great time and loved Rabbi Efune then lit the Menorah as the children and showing me his vegetable menorah, which he wants to keep!” parents watched and sang Chanukah songs, including funny variations on the classic dreidel song. They then expressed It was a great pleasure to have such a wonderful group of creative busy children and supportive parents! Chanukah at Torah nursery by Penina Efune The fun started at one of our annual the Chanukah story and found fundraising events, a Chanukah that one, little, jug of oil. It was Evening with Wine Tasting and a greatly enhanced by a lovely delicious buffet. colourful felt banner kindly bought by Susan Conway and Rabbi Efune spoke about the put together by the children. significance of oil over wine, how it permeates and sinks deep, just like There were many opportunities Jewish education, which should be to make Chanukah items, meaningful and have a lasting effect from Maccabee soldiers and He lit his oil menorah and together sew up dreidels, to traced we sang Moaz Tzur and tasted a elephants and Chanukah variety of interesting wines. counting books. We went to town with various material A large group of 60 supporters collage menorahs, a huge from a wide cross-section of the purple menorah made from community and of all ages and junk modelling materials and of stages in life, enjoyed delicious food, course the children’s very own a number of lovely salads, fish, hot clay menorah to take home pineapple kugel, blueberry crumble and light. and custard. What was most gratifying was to see so many of the Our new mums at Torah nursery parents, many of whom juggle work with caring for Playgroup enjoyed discussing the meaning of Chanukah and young children and lead very hectic lives. its relevance to the challenges we face in modern secular society today. The toddlers loved spinning dreidels, eating Altogether, including the raffle, we made £600.00 for the donuts, playing instruments and dancing to our special nursery, which will help to maintain our high standards at Chanukah CD. Torah. On Monday afternoon, Reba Cohen invited the nursery Special thanks to Diana Garnier, Fay Lyons and Janet Smith children to Ralli Hall. There we joined in their Chanukah party, who helped prepare the food and our governors Sara Newton sang our Chanukah songs, became human candles, played and Philippa Lazarus for all their ideas and support. our percussion, marched around like Maccabee soldiers and The children at Torah Nursery experienced Chanukah in a danced with our scarves and the twirling lights. A fabulous wide variety of ways. Our role-play area was transformed Chanukah was enjoyed by all. into a Bais Hamikdosh (Holy Temple) in which we acted out An important message from the Rep Council Members of all our local community groups put so much effort into their organizing events, it is a real shame when it turns out that two events ‘clash’ on the same afternoon or evening. The community diary is there for everyone to use. Please, please, remember to do so - even if a date is fixed as can happen, for instance, with nationally organized events. If your event is in the Diary other groups will be forewarned to avoid it - saving all sorts of trouble! All you need to do is to send a quick email to sussexjewishrepco@gmail.com or use the contact page on the SJRC website at www.sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org/contact issue 237 | January 2014 8 Features 9 Holocaust Memorial events Programme - January 2014 University of Sussex, Centre for German-Jewish Studies Sponsored by The Association of Jewish Refugees Programme: 1.30 pm Welcome - Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex; The Mayor, Cllr Denise Cobb, Mayor of the City of Brighton and Hove; Kelly McBride, President, University of Sussex Students’ Union; Dr Gideon Reuveni, Director, Centre for German-Jewish Studies 1.50 pm Sir Andrew Burns ‘Seventy years after the Holocaust: Why does it still matter and what have we learned?’ Chaired by Professor Matthew Cragoe, Head of School of History, Art History and Philosophy 3.30 pm Survival, Memory and Trauma, Part 1: Anita Lasker Wallfisch will relate the story of her experiences during the Holocaust Part 2: Anita Lasker Wallfisch and her daughter, the psychotherapist Maya Jacobs-Wallfisch, will discuss the impact the Shoah (Holocaust) had on their family life Chaired by Gideon Reuveni Date: Thursday 30th January 2014, 1.30pm Venue: Jubilee Building Lecture Theatre, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QN. Book your place for this event now: www.sussex.ac.uk/cgjs/hmd For further information contact: Diana Franklin, Centre Manager Email: d.franklin@sussex.ac.uk The experience of those affected by the Holocaust and genocide is characterised by forced journeys. Many of these forced journeys by trains, cattle trucks and on death marches ended in death. Some journeys however ended in survival: when those persecuted made journeys to escape, some in disguise, some into hiding. Sussex Jewish Film Club The Club presents ‘Paperclips’, a documentary about an extraordinary experiment in Holocaust education in rural Tennessee. Struggling to grasp the concept of six million Holocaust victims, the students decide to collect six million paperclips to better understand the extent of this crime against humanity. The film details how the experience transformed them and their whole community. Non members welcome with a donation on the door. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Date: Sunday 26th January, 7.30pm (hot and cold drinks available from 7pm) Venue: Ralli Hall, 83 Denmark Villas, Hove, BN3 3TH (near Hove railway station and served by No 7 bus) For more information: Tel: (01273) 688538 or 07808 580047 Friends’ Meeting House Vigil and reflection on the theme of Holocaust. A peaceful space for quiet reflection at this time of Remembrance. Free entry. All welcome. Date: Sunday 26th January, 2.30-4.30pm Refreshments available, 4.30-5pm Venue: Friends’ Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton For more information: Tel: (01273) 770258 Holocaust Memorial Events at Jubilee Library Monday 27th January, 1.30pm, Conference Room Welcome - The Mayor, Cllr Denise Cobb, Mayor of the City of Brighton and Hove Speaker: Hans Levy talking about his experiences as a child on the Kindertransport. Presentation: Carden Primary School students Speaker: Professor Ladislaus Löb, Emeritus Professor of German at the University of Sussex and winner of the 2012 Austrian Holocaust Memorial Award. At the age of eleven, Ladislaus was a member of the group saved by Kasztner. Based on his book Dealing with Satan: Rezső Kasztner’s Daring Rescue Mission (also published as Rezső Kasztner: The Daring Rescue of Hungarian Jews) his talk will combine the story of Kasztner with his own recollections of anti-Semitism in Hungary, the everyday lives of the 1700 captives in Bergen-Belsen, and his escape to Switzerland. He will raise some questions about the insoluble moral problem of negotiating with evil for a good purpose and saving hundreds or thousands of lives where millions are exterminated. Monday 20th – Friday 31st January, Jubilee Library window Exhibition: Year 6 pupils at Carden Primary School have been thinking about the importance of Holocaust Memorial Day. They have been reflecting upon the lessons that can be learnt and have been considering how to stand up to prejudice and discrimination. Display: “Forgotten Victims” arranged by Brighton & Hove City Council’s Children’s Services and East Sussex County Council Traveller Education Team Venue: Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton BN1 1GE issue 237 | January 2014 10 sussex Friends of israel www.sussexfriendsofisrael.org 11 My Brighton experience deeply saddened that the Palestinians There are no application or tuition have not yet fulfilled their wish for an fees, accommodation is provided by by Yedida Jacobs independent state and hope that in the Weizmann Institute and students For three the very near future that dream will are given a stipend of 400NIS days I have be achieved. Yet, I can understand (currently approx. £70) per week. been visiting the large picture is complicated. There are a variety of scientific fields the Brighton The world isn’t black and white, we that students can work in, including and Hove don’t live in a Utopian society and life sciences, physics, chemistry, area. I went we must be sensitive and open to computer science and maths. into schools, other people’s needs as well as our giving my own. This understanding was non- Debating visit to Brighton perspective existent within the BDS protestors. on life as a What I encountered was an ignorant College teen growing and immature understanding of the by Paz Ben-Nissan up in Israel. I world. A BDS protestor was arrogant tried to portray enough to tell the native Israeli that that just as teens here like music, TV her understanding of the Middle shows and shopping, I also share East conflict is superior to mine. similar interests. In the same way that When attempting to reason with the students I met here were battling to protestor, to find a solution we can figure out who they are and where both agree on she wouldn’t hear of they want to be, teens in Israel are it. In her eyes, and in her words, the struggling with similar questions Jews should return to Europe and about their place in society. Where the US. This simplistic view, one that teens here differ from those I know in leaves no room for compromise, is Israel, is that while we have to think very troubling. about all that, we are also growing up in one of the most conflicted places I would like to thank the dedicated On 13 November 2013 we visited on earth, which is a great influence on counter protestors who stand Brighton College in order to meet our perception of life and our role in it. and support Israel week after with the students and to attend an week, attempting to explain the A-level lesson in Politics, specifically, The people I met here were lovely. complex situation that is our reality. US politics. This visit is another part The Sussex Friends of Israel made To summarize, this was a great of our tour of the UK. We are going me feel welcome and took care experience for me. I learned a lot from around schools, sixth-form colleges, of my every need beyond their interacting with the different groups churches and other fora, speaking responsibility. Among the teens I met, and I do see hope for an open and mainly to teens in our age-group (17). most had no antagonism towards accepting society in the future. We give a presentation which shows Israel and were generally very our life as teenagers growing up in interested in what we had to say. We science students – an Israel, our views of the conflict and were asked some very knowledgeable Opportunity To study in just a little bit of general information questions and some that left me about Israel. puzzled as to how Israel is portrayed israel The head boy of Brighton College in the media. Yet, responding to the Every summer took us on a tour of his amazing two extremes, the students seemed the Weizmann school and all of its facilities. very interested in our responses. The Institute of Afterwards, we were shown to a students didn’t seem to be prejudiced Science in Israel gives outstanding lecture room where we gave our against Israel and were open to listen. undergraduate students from around presentation. The students asked Which at the end of the day, is all the world, the opportunity to join many questions and we could tell that one can hope for. All in all, I think leading scientists and become a fully- they were very interested in what we the schools we spoke to here were fledged member of a research team had to say. Even after the question engaged, interactive and open to our for 2 months. The Kupcinet-Getz time was over and the period ended, position. International Summer School not only some students stayed on to talk gives students the opportunity to gain to us. Then we went to the A-level As opposed to the open-minded experience conducting cutting edge politics class and experienced a very students, I was horrified by the research, but also the chance to visit interesting lesson. disgraceful behaviour I encountered Israel and discover a new country and outside the Ecostream store, where We were invited afterwards to lunch culture. the BDS (Boycott Divestment and and spoke to several senior members Sanctions) activists were protesting. The programme is a fantastic way of the school’s debating club, who As an Israeli citizen I am very for students to explore their scientific were also very interested in Israel and sympathetic to the Palestinian interests and see what a career in we started comparing army service in struggle for independence. I am scientific research is really like. both countries. issue 237 | January 2014 10 sussex Friends of israel www.sussexfriendsofisrael.org 11 Generally in the school, we felt activism’ and spoke engagingly Phenomenal Facebook great. The fact that everyone we and passionately about the work of had met was so nice to us made Sussex Friends of Israel in the Sussex the experience a great one indeed. community, nationally and beyond. The students’ very knowledgeable questions showed us the high level of The slides included a brief timeline teaching in the school and chatting and information surrounding the with the students later showed us the history of Jewish life in Sussex, ahead wonderful environment in which they of the 250th anniversary in 2016, as learn and study. well as the county’s long history of Israeli activism. All in all, I would sum up the visit as a great success. Not only were we The timeline moved quickly on to For those members of the Sussex welcomed with open arms but also more recent events and touched community who follow the Sussex we could tell that everyone was truly on the origins of SFI, born out of Friends of Israel Facebook page, you interested in what we had to say. the need to neutralise the growing activities of the Boycott, Divestment will be delighted to know that as the Zionist Federation Training and Sanctions movement. January edition of SJN goes to press, SFI has now reached more that 2,400 Day at ralli Hall With some amusing anecdotes from people. the audience and a very interactive presentation, the audience members The phenomenal success of were introduced to SFI’s social media Facebook is capturing the interest strategy, its activities at Ecostream of people far and wide, but just how and most importantly, the future does SFI do it? plans, including the development of a new and inclusive education programme to reach out to schools, colleges, community groups and churches. Feedback immediately after the presentation was very positive, with members of the community keen to find out more about some of the activities and especially the Christmas(ish) party, planned for the following week. A report of the latest SFI party will appear in the February edition of SJN. Following the SFI presentation, Jacob Vince, Chief Executive of Christian Friends of Israel UK and Eric Moonman, president of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain Sussex Friends of Israel were invited and Ireland, provided an excellent by the Zionist Federation (ZF) to discussion around ‘Effective political present, to an invited audience of lobbying’ and the need to have supporters of Israel, at Ralli Hall in dialogue with those that represent the December. community both nationally and locally. The event, part of the ZF’s The afternoon session kicked off with programme of support for a most informative update on Middle communities across the country, Eastern matters across a range of was attended by 30 supporters and spheres by Rony Yedidia-Clein, included presentations from Jacob director of public diplomacy at the Well, it is a team effort. There is a Vince of Christian Friends of Israel, Israeli embassy. volunteer team of administrators Eric Moonman and Rony Yedidia- who add stories and pictures to the Clein, director of public diplomacy at Overall, the day was well put together site, these are known as threads. the Israeli embassy. and should readers of SJN receive notice of a future ZF day, it will be well Facebook users ‘like’ the stories, they Winston Pickett and Neil Duncanson worth the time to attend. comment on them and they share gave the morning’s first presentation, them with their friends and if you are entitled ‘Inspiring a desire for lucky the stories and pictures ‘go issue 237 | January 2014 12 sussex Friends of israel www.sussexfriendsofisrael.org 13 viral’ meaning they self-propagate account holders who have chosen to posted on a Saturday evening are the and more and more people send them follow the activities of Sussex Friends most popular and we see a real spike on to more and more of their friends. of Israel. in numbers as a result. But in the early days of SFI’s Adding to the mix was the picture So, Facebook is turning into a real Facebook page, our followers were in of Jill, which was seen by more than success story, from very humble tens, not thousands. 200,000 people and it didn’t take long beginnings. You too can contribute to for the first 1000 followers to sign up. its success, so please ‘like’ the page, To generate interest, one of the site They then share the news and the follow the news and encourage your administrators, Monna Young, spent pictures with their friends and before friends to do the same. It really does many, many hours writing to pro- you know it, the pictures and videos work. Israeli groups and individuals to tell of the regular rallies at Ecostream are them about the efforts of Sussex seen by thousands of people. Friends of Israel. In return for Monna’s monumental efforts, more and more In fact, when checking the Facebook people started to follow SFI’s page analytical software we can see where and essentially SFI’s news. the visitors to the site are from and when they log in to find out what we We were soon into the hundreds of are up to. It will not surprise you to followers. These are unique Facebook know that the videos and pictures Important message HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY VISITS If you are in hospital or know anyone being admitted into hospital, please get in touch with info@ sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org or telephone 07789 491279 so that a Jewish chaplain can be contacted to visit. MARTIN GROSS Memorials All aspects of stone-masonry undertaken from new to renovation and cleaning 01273 439792 07801 599771 07540 066566 issue 237 | January 2014 12 Features 13 issy Hoffman (1910-2007) by Melvin Gold, his third grandchild My Grandpa, Israel Hoffman z”l, died in December 2007 In many ways, Issy was a dreamer and this was to become at the age of 97. He was a great character with a love of more important as his life went on. Perhaps his lack of Judaism and Israel coursing through his veins. One of his practicality was influenced by his natural charm and his ability sadnesses, sometimes expressed, to get people to do things for him. He was that he would not leave a tangible developed his own education – he legacy. You see, my Grandma, Rebecca was self-taught as well as self-made “His joy was bringing joy – usually known as Billie – had a talent – and he had a tremendous Jewish for sculpture and produced many pieces book collection. He also became to others – family, friends that still grace the homes of family fluent in both Hebrew and Yiddish, members today. But although Grandpa and perfect strangers; attending summer Yiddish courses in spoke frequently and wrote prolifically, Oxford after his retirement. who were never strangers there was nothing to show for it (in his opinion!). I was delighted to put this right He sought no recognition or for long.” with the publication of a collection of his recompense. His joy was bringing writings, albeit, after his passing. joy to others – family, friends and perfect strangers; who were never He was a patriarch and role model for a Jewish family, as well strangers for long. He would love the fact that his works as a communal leader, a businessman and a philanthropist. are now published, and he would especially appreciate the fact that his writings are accessible in Brighton and Hove, a Grandpa left school at 14 and went out to work. His family community where he was so proud both to live and to play were poor immigrants and there was no other choice, a his part. source of regret all his life. He met Grandma and married when he was 22 and she was just 19. They were parted in 2004 after 72 years of marriage, two daughters, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren later. Remembering Issy Hoffman The war was relatively kind to Issy – he spent much of the by Ivor Richards time in Carlisle as a driving instructor where he also involved himself in leading Synagogue services for the Jewish It is a fact that when we depart this world, we take servicemen. After the war, they moved to Hove and bought nothing with us and the only true legacy we leave is of their first factory. Daroma Garments was born, manufacturing fond memories. Those memories, sadly, are unlikely to quality ladieswear in larger sizes. Daroma, from the Hebrew endure for more than two generations, unless someone word Darom, meaning south, sent their products from England’s south coast around the whole of the UK and makes the effort to record them in a more permanent then around Europe. Issy and Billie and their partner Danny form. Ritterband had founded and developed a successful business In the case of the late Issy Hoffman (z”l) who passed – the poor East End boy had made good. away some six years ago, we are privileged to have a He made his first visit to Israel in the early 1950s, an written record of his thoughts as well as some details of intrepid voyage that had a story to it that only he could his life. tell. He returned to Israel frequently and threw himself into Jewish communal work and Israeli and Jewish charities. His Personally, I knew him only from his communal infectious enthusiasm, understanding of people and ability involvement but always realised that he was a warm to help people find common ground, led him to become human being with a wide range of interests. I did not Chairman of the Brighton and Hove Jewish Representative know that he was self-educated and extraordinarily Council for 18 years, to sit on the Board of Deputies of British erudite. Jews and to work for various charities. His public speaking and story-telling were legendary. The Collected Writings of Israel Hoffman, edited by He was a great communicator and put this to use in many his grandson Melvin, is a collection of personal and ways. He was involved with the Council of Christians and communal thoughts and reminiscences, and it is only Jews, helping to explain Jewish practices, customs and right that they should be available for study at each of beliefs and bridge the gap with the non-Jewish world. our Synagogues and at the Jewish Centre at Ralli Hall. He frequently broadcast on Radio Brighton, on both the specialist Jewish programme and in the regular programming. It would be invidious to single out specific items, but In retirement he spent his time as a raconteur and writer – on reading his poems, one is struck by the amazing his writings never published in his lifetime, to his regret, as vocabulary and sense of rhythm. mentioned above. In later life they moved to Woodford, Essex to be closer to their family. Hove’s loss was our gain and he It has been a privilege to come to know him better in this continued his public speaking and story telling well into his way. eighties. issue 237 | January 2014 14 Culture 15 Kindertransport in her mother Helga, heartbreakingly played review by Fiona Sharpe by Emma Deegan – particularly her admission that she would have preferred to stay and die with her mother in Germany rather than to have been sent away to the safety of England – which ended for me any hope of holding back the tears. Kindertransport is an honestly performed play with real integrity. There are many times when both director and actors could take advantage of the underlying subject and drag the audience through a predictable tear-jerking rollercoaster When I asked director, Andrew J. Hall, how he would describe his ride. But neither Andrew Hall’s subtle, yet powerful direction and production of Diane Samuel’s 1993 play Kindertransport, he told me staging, nor the emotionally intelligent performances of the cast do that it was a “deeply moving, uplifting and thrillingly theatrical insight that. Kindertransport allows the audience to finds its own place and into the pain and passion of a parent’s love.” He then asked if that truth in this timeless play about family and secrets. And that light and description would make me want to see the play. shade, combined with humour and sincerity, allowed its messages to stay with me long after I left the theatre. I saw the play when it was recently at Brighton’s Theatre Royal. If the director’s description doesn’t entice you to see it at one of the other theatres on the tour, hopefully this review will. The play is a beautifully haunting story which spotlights the life of Eva, who we first meet as a 9-year-old in Hamburg, at three pivotal stages: leaving her German family in Hamburg for the safety of England, her arrival in Manchester with her transition from ‘Eva’ to ‘Evelyn’ and her daughter Faith’s leaving home. The audience is moved between these time frames by the clever use Jewish Book Week 2014 starts on 22 February and runs of lighting and multi-purpose props, almost without noticing. A bed until 2 March, with 64 events over nine days, at suddenly becomes a railway carriage on its journey out of Germany Kings Place, London. to the foster families in England. The suitcase, so lovingly packed by Eva’s mother, makes it’s reappearance in Evelyn’s attic filled with old Booking opens on Wednesday 4 December 2013. toys and papers that Faith discovers as she tries to pack up her own things in preparation for moving out of the family home. While the war is clearly the backdrop for this poignant story, at its heart the play is a tale of mothers and daughters, loss and hidden identities and ultimately, sacrifice and choice. Universal themes that resonate across gender, religion and age. • David Grossman launches Falling out of Time, in conversation with Ian Janet Dibley’s Evelyn is the quintessential English, middle-McEwan class stereotype, down to the twin-set and sensible shoes. Her • Artist and photographer William Klein talks to Alan Yentob mannerisms are subtle and controlled. It is only in the second act, • Gary Shteyngart’s memoir of the American immigrant experience which I watched mainly through tear-filled eyes, that the audience • Julie Burchill tells Tanya Gold about her love affair with the Jews begins to see the real person, as the layers are peeled away during • Drawing Life: Jocelyn Pook’s musical tribute to the children of Terezin her emotionally charged exchange with Faith, (Rosie Holden). • Otto Dov Kulka talks to Simon Schama about his childhood in Once she appears bare-foot on the stage she finally begins to bare Auschwitz her soul and Evelyn reveals the Eva of her childhood. (It was only at For the full programme, including what’s on when, stay visit the website:- this point that I noticed the layers of shoes that created the banks of jewishbookweek.com. the railway line at the front of the stage.) Tickets will be sold directly from Kings Place, 020 7520 1490, from 4 As the tensions rise and pure emotion is exposed, we glimpse the December. Discounts will be on offer for many events. pain of the displaced Evelyn, a secret identity that she chose to hide and deny – together with the damage that it has done to her and The Jewish Book Week printed programme will be mailed to subscribers the fraying bond with her daughter. Paula Wilcox plays the down-to-in early January. earth Lil, the adopted Mancunian Mum; with unexpected lightness On Tour around the country she takes a tragic event and injects humour and a no-nonsense approach. Venues around the UK will be hosting Jewish Book Week authors from late February, including visitors from Israel and Australia. But for me, it was Gabrielle Dempsey as Eva, transported from a Look out for news of events in Bangor, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, heavily accented German 9 year-old into a northern-accented English Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester and Oxford. teenager, who captures the heart of the play. It was the total faith issue 237 | January 2014 14 Culture 15 an uplifting film for Holocaust Memorial Week by Sussex Jewish Film Club organising group For the Film Club’s contribution to Holocaust Memorial Week at the end of January, we will be showing the film ‘Paperclips’ - on Sunday 26th January at Ralli Hall, 7 for 7.30pm. We had planned to show it last year but it got snowed off, so let’s hope for kinder weather this time… This is an inspiring and uplifting documentary (84 mins) made in the USA and not at all harrowing. Even if you’ve seen it before, it’s well worth seeing again and children are most welcome. million paperclips to better understand the extent of this crime against humanity. The film details how the students It concerns an extraordinary experiment in Holocaust met Holocaust survivors from around the world and how education conducted at Whitwell Middle School in rural the experience transformed both them and their whole Tennessee, where most of the inhabitants have never met community. anyone Jewish. Struggling to grasp the concept of six million Holocaust victims, the students decide to collect six We hope to see you there. The Marrying of Chani Kaufman by eve Harris Eve Harris was born to Israeli-Polish parents in Chiswick, West London, in 1973. She has taught at inner-city review by Gillian Rich comprehensives and independent schools in London. She also taught in Tel Aviv, after moving to Israel in 1999. She This book tells the story of the returned to London in 2002 and resumed her teaching career choices to be made and the at an all girls’ Catholic convent school. The Marrying of Chani conflict that arises when people Kaufman was inspired by her final year of teaching at an all from a secular background girls’ ultra-Orthodox Jewish school in North West London. decide to follow a religious way of life. It follows three This is her debut novel. It has a long glossary at the back. families who are part of the However much you know, you may still have to look up Charedi (very orthodox) Jewish the odd word. I think this would be a very difficult read for community in NW London. someone unfamiliar with the Jewish world. I found it an interesting book and a good read, but wonder about how it Chaim and Rebecca meet while came to be longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. It left me with studying at university in Israel. a feeling of sadness about the narrow world described in the They are both searching for book, together with a sense of awe of the people who are something more in their lives. content with that life. Religious study makes Chaim feel more fulfilled and Rebecca is influenced by his enthusiasm. A few decades later and we find our young couple have become Rebbe Chaim and Rebbetzin Rivka, living in the Jewish heartland of Golders Green. If you know this area, reading some of the passages will certainly strike a chord. Did Carmelli’s, Orli Bakery and Solly’s pay for their product placement? Two other families, the Levys and the Kaufmans, are introduced. A shidduch has been arranged between Chani Kaufman and Baruch Levy. The book follows them closely in the days leading up to their wedding. They are both innocents, feeling their way to maturity. Eve Harris’ descriptions of this time are both revealing and sympathetic. The relationship between Avromi, son of the Rebbe, and Shola, his non-Jewish student friend, is explored with sensitivity. In fact, the author explores many varied relationships in the interaction between the various characters. issue 237 | January 2014 16 BHHC rabbi Hershel rader Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation, 31 New Church Road, Hove BN3 3AD Tel: 01273 888855 Email: office@bhhc-shul.org www.webjam.com/bhhc10 17 Tu B’shevat April. The year for taking the tithe on produce of trees began in the month of Shevat; according to Shamai on the first of by Rabbi Hershel Rader the month and according to Hillel on the fifteenth. We follow This year 16 January is Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for Trees. Hillel, hence the special day Tu B’Shevat – the New Year for Literally ‘the 15th of Shevat’, it is associated with the planting Trees. of trees, particularly in the fledgling State of Israel. Although the original significance of Tu B’Shevat no longer Originally Tu B’Shevat was related to the taking of tithes – a applies, Tu B’Shevat is still considered a festive day. We do contribution made to the Levites. Tithes had to be taken not say Tachanun (the prayer of supplication) and according from produce yielded over the period of a year. This was to the Magen Avraham (Shulchan Aruch Orech Chayim 131) not necessarily a calendar year, beginning in Nissan; the it is the Minhag of Ashkenazim to increase our eating of fruits beginning of the year period varied according to the type of of the tree. Some have the custom to eat fifteen kinds of fruit, produce. This can be compared to a tax year which begins in corresponding to the fifteenth of the month. sellout salt Beef and Latkes Chanukah & Hove Albion Dinner shirt signed by the players. Aside from On the fifth night of Chanukah, 76 people crammed into the being a great social Mark Luck Hall for our Annual Chanukah Dinner. Ladies of success the dinner the community including the Rebetzin, Cecile Levine, Alma was a financial Caplin, Lindsay Bloch, Shirley Huberman, Angela Samuels success raising and Lesley Shaw prepared a sumptuous three course meal much needed featuring salt beef and latkes served with wine. funds for Sussex Cheder. The event Musical entertainment was provided by veteran Chazan Dov was organised Speier of Southgate who also lit the Menorah. The event by Rabbi Hershel included a raffle, book sale and the auctioning of a Brighton Rader. Mendel’s Chanukah Mendel Rader, known to many of the community for his beautiful davening, is now studying in the northern town of Tzfat in Israel. Coming soon: Maleva Malka Over the festival of Chanukah he, together with his fellow Yeshivah students visited IDF bases supplying our soldiers with Menorahs, Dreidels, doughnuts and Chanukah 11 January 2014 cheer! They also brought greetings from their hometown communities. For more information, please email Mendel would like to thank all those who contributed to his office@bhhc-shul.org or ring efforts – the Brighton & Hove community having donated over Rabbi Hershel on 01273 888855. £400. issue 237 | January 2014 16 BHrs Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue Palmeira Avenue, Hove BN3 3GE https://www.facebook.com/BrightonReform Tel: 01273 735343 Email: office@bh-rs.org www.bh-rs.org 17 Leaders and saints Mandela led his nation towards real And so the honour given to Nelson peace, shalom, a word that comes Mandela turns into a skirmish over his by Rabbi Andrea Zanardo from the same root of shalem, relationship with Arafat, which turns Nelson Mandela had been a giant. He wholeness. South Africa is today the into a harsh confrontation about Israeli had been a great leader, and a true “Rainbow Nation”, a nation where every politics, which turns into reciprocal hero. He led his people in a just fight community has a voice and takes part accusation of disloyalty and blindness. that led to the defeat of one of the in a democratic process. Thanks to I have seen this happening in several most cruel and inhuman systems of Mandela we witnessed the transition places, and even on my Facebook exploitation. of his country from the dictatorship by page. a minority of the majority, to a whole, Like every leader, Mandela also had complete, democracy. I wonder why. To be sure, we all are faults. He could have done more to fight very passionate about Israel. But I also the terrible plague of AIDS that is still It has been a peaceful transition, and think that we expect too much from devastating his country and certainly, rightly Mandela earned his reputation political leaders. We want them to be like everyone in the Cold War, he as a man of peace. But exactly for this perfect... saints. But even a small fault, cultivated alliances with questionable reason, I found myself saddened in a questionable connection, turns into a leaders. Especially troubling has been, reading the controversies and debates reason to invalidate a whole biography. for us Jews, the relations of the African regarding Mandela’s biography, legacy, Or we are certain that a leader, able National Congress with Palestinian and alliances. to lead reconciliation in South Africa, terrorists and Arabic autocrats. has discovered the recipe to solve the How ironic. The honour given to a man conflicts in Middle East, and maybe of To be sure, these are minor of peace becomes a reason for a war the whole world. issues, compared to the historical of words. The memory of a man able achievements; dismantling the to build bridges and to heal secular How ironic. We think we live in a secular apartheid and leading a process of wounds turns into the pretext for strife. society, but find ourselves looking for national reconciliation with almost no This is because the word apartheid is saints. But saints don’t exist. Rather, precedence in human history. exploited by anti-Semites of every stripe Judaism teaches us that no human in their defamation of the Jewish State. being is perfect and that it would be We all know that unfair (more, it is wrong) to expect the comparison perfection from other human beings, between Israel leaders included. and South Africa is pure nonsense. We should therefore, be able to look at But we read it the great personalities of world history constantly and by looking mainly at what positives in Brighton it they have built. Nelson Mandela has is shouted out built, (together with many Jews) a loud in Western great democracy, by getting rid of a Road at least hateful system of discrimination, and once a week, to benefitting all the people of his country, our disgust. We and inspiring the whole world. Jews feel under pressure for it. Bulletin Board for January 2014 Saturday 4 Book Club, 9.15 am Shabbat Doroteinu, 10.30 am Sunday 5 BHRS Tea, 2.30 pm Monday 6 Rosh Chodesh, 7.30 pm Saturday 11 Rabbi’s Shiur - Pirke Avot, 9.00 am Shabbaton 10 yrs+, 10.30 am Sunday 12 Cheder, 10.30 am includes Tu B’shvat tree planting Kids’ Club, 12.30 pm Thursday 16 Tu B’Shevat Saturday 25 Rabbi’s Shiur - Pirke Avot, 9.00 am Friday 31 Shabbat Kolot, 6.30 pm issue 237 | January 2014 18 HHCrabbi vivian silverman Hove Hebrew Congregation, 79 Holland Road, Hove BN3 1JN Tel: 01273 732035 Email: hollandroadshul@btinternet.com www.hollandroadshul.com 19 The early years of the resettlement The nascent Jewish kehilla asked for and received protection from King Charles who agreed to be “their advocate and by Rabbi Vivian Silverman assist them with all his power”. Sasportas looked upon It was a few months before the Amsterdam Marano this as “a time when God has seen fit greatly to ameliorate merchants had been publicly recognised. The merchants the condition of his people, bringing them from slavery to had become resident in London through the good offices of freedom – in that we are now free to practise our own true Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel, who had petitioned Protector religion”. Oliver Cromwell in 1655 to allow them to remain permanently. However, the Haham remained just one year because he was Moses Athias, a relation of Antonio Carvajal and the most terrified by the Great Plague which broke out in 1665 and prominent of the merchants, came from Hamburg to take claimed the life of his predecessor, Moses Athias. charge of synagogue services. After living in Hamburg and Livorno, he returned to However, when the tiny kehilla became more organized, it Amsterdam in 1681. He became one of the city’s most was felt that a man of stature and scholarship was needed famous rabbis and was widely respected as a courageous as spiritual head. The choice fell on Jacob Sasportas, highly opponent of the Shabbetai Zvi Heresy, which he denounced regarded in the Amsterdam Jewish community. notwithstanding the widespread support for the pseudo- Sasportas was born in North Africa and after, officiating messianic movement throughout Europe. Shabbetai Zvi in Morocco, settled in Amsterdam which was a haven for announced himself as Israel’s redeemer in 1666 but, when those seeking refuge from religious persecution. The Sultan given the choice of death or conversion to Islam by the of Morocco sent him on a mission to the King of Spain and Sultan of Turkey, chose the Mohammedan religion. Many still it was on his return to Holland in 1663 that Sasportas was believed in him for decades afterwards. invited to come to London as Haham, spiritual head of the Though Jacob Sasportas never returned to London, he Sefardi community. corresponded with his successors in the Office of Haham – He arrived in England three hundred and fifty years ago. That Joshua de Silva and Jacob Abendana. When he died aged same year, 1664, the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the City eighty-eight in 1698, there was widespread mourning for him of London petitioned Charles the Second to have the Jews in Amsterdam and London. expelled on the charge that Cromwell, who had condemned the King’s father to death, had allowed the Jews to enter the country. Janet’s Column My good wishes to you all for the coming year. January diary by Janet Cowan Tuesday 7 2014 - my goodness, how the years are passing by! It only Gemara Shiur at the home of Mr Sam Barsam, 11.00 am seems like yesterday that we celebrated the new millennium. They do say that “time passes quickly when you are having Tuesday 14 fun” and hopefully that is true for all of us. Gemara Shiur at the home of Mr Sam Barsam, 11.00 am I have found a really nice hazelnut cake recipe that I had mislaid for years and only came across recently when sorting Thursday 16 out old recipes that I had accumulated (and never used)! Tu B’Shevat / New Year for Trees Although it is in my Pesach recipe list, it is perfect for any time of the year. Tuesday 21 Ladies Discussion Circle in the Talmud Torah Hall, You will need: 10.30 am • 6 eggs separated Monday 27 Holocaust Memorial Day • 225g ground hazelnuts • 175g caster sugar • 1 tablespoon brandy Brighton & Hove Jewish • grated rind of half a lemon. Welfare Board Beat egg whites until stiff. Beat yolks with sugar until thick. Add nuts and mix well. Then add the brandy and lemon rind is delighted to announce the launch of its and fold in the egg whites. Bake for about 45 minutes 375 new website degrees C. Enjoy. And in other shul news, June Noah sponsored a kiddush to www.bhjwb.org celebrate her grandson Ben’s bar mitzvah in Israel. Mazel tov to all the family on this special occasion. We also wish mazel tov to Laura and Elliott Hill on the birth of Please contact us to apply for financial assistance, a son Nathan Samuel. Congratulations to both the Hill and Vogel families. or to make a donation. issue 237 | January 2014 18 BHPs rabbi elizabeth Tikvah sarah Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue, 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF Tel: 01273 737223 Email: bhps@freenetname.co.uk www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue Twitter@BHPS2011 19 January and shevat As was often the case, the view of the appear and winter crocuses, and before School of Hillel became the halachah, too long, even February will be over. by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah the law. And so, if we step out from It’s January. As soon as we say the word, January and into Shevat, we can look There is, after all, something transitional images of deep winter fill our minds: forward to a mini festival, dedicated to about January, situated in the middle of grey skies, short, dull days, the cold and the planting of trees and the eating of the three winter months. Once the first two the damp, frost and ice, sleet and snow; fruits associated with the land of Israel. Of weeks have passed we begin to notice the naked trees and a barren landscape. Of course, while January almost coincides days lengthening, and by the end of the course, sometimes the sun shines and the completely with Shevat this year, there is month, spring is just four weeks away. bare branches make beautiful patterns no correspondence between chilly Britain Of course, since the inauguration of against the sky at sunset. and the warmer climate of the Eastern National Holocaust Memorial Day on the seaboard of the Mediterranean. Shevat There is no escape from January. We anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Israel is a time when the almond trees just have to get through it. But, actually, by the Red Army on January 27th 1945, blossom. I remember planting trees that’s not quite true. A parallel universe it is impossible to get through the month on Tu B’Shevat in 1979 on a kibbutz in beckons: the domain of the Hebrew without reflecting on the horrors of the the Western Galilee, wearing a T-shirt. month of Shevat – which begins this year Shoah. But we are summoned to do I also recall many a frozen Tu B’Shevat on 2 January. Shevat conjures up images more than this. As we remember the in England, and boiling several kettles of a very different kind. The first paragraph murder of six million of our people and of water in order to unfreeze the ground of Mishnah Rosh Ha-Shanah, which is the destruction of thousands of Jewish before planting. devoted to the various ‘new years’ of the communities, we are challenged to Jewish calendar, relates (1:1): On the Nevertheless, despite these obvious commit ourselves to the renewal of Jewish 1st of Shevat is a New Year for the trees, contrasts in climate, the month of Shevat life. according to the words of the School of reminds us that January is not quite what Shammai; the School of Hillel say, on the it seems. Within the bare trees all around 15th [day] of it. us, the sap is rising. Soon, snowdrops will Czech scroll rededication in 1977 on permanent loan. It came from Following the re-dedication of our at Westminster synagogue Frydek-Mistek in Bohemia/Moravia, Chay scroll, which included reading most of whose Jewish inhabitants were the document we received when it was on 8 February 2014 deported by the Nazis to death camps, committed to our care, we have devised mostly Treblinka, in September 1942. a variety of ways to ensure that our Chay The Nazis destroyed Jewish communities, Scroll plays an active part in the life of Jewish books and Torah scrolls and In 2004 Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah our congregation and is remembered and Jewish lives. Nevertheless in 1962 1,564 and three members of the synagogue cherished. Two of our members have also scrolls were discovered inside a disused travelled to Westminster Synagogue, travelled back to Frydek-Mistek and seen synagogue in Prague that had been together with our Czech scroll, to the town as it is today. collected from across Czechoslovakia. attend a conference marking the 40th Under Rabbi Harold Rheinhardt, the anniversary of the Czech scrolls arriving February 2014 will mark the 50th scrolls were brought to Westminister there. Inspired by the conference, they Anniversary of the arrival of the Scrolls Synagogue. Most were repaired by a returned home, determined to re-connect from Prague, and the Memorial Scrolls skilled sofer (scribe), and later distributed the congregation with their scroll, and set Trust is planning another service of on loan to progressive congregations about organising an event to re-dedicate rededication on 8th February. A group throughout Britain. Some found their way our Czech scroll, which we named the from BHPS will travel up to Westminster to America. Chay scroll as the individual numbers of Synagogue with our scroll to participate in 1278 add up to 18, the Hebrew numbers this event. Brighton and Hove Progressive that spell Chay / Life. Synagogue received its scroll – no. 1278 shabbatots Inter-community Quiz Night with Fish and Chip Supper Sunday 19th January at the home of Sandra and Cliff Walker BHPS regards education as a life-long commitment; we therefore offer education at all stages of life. For the youngest we offer Shabbatots for children aged 4-7 before transitioning to the next stage at Beit Lameid. Shabbatots meet once a month on the third Saturday of the month at Ralli Now in its fifth year! Hall between 10.45 and 12.30 to have The Cyberquiz is an interactive and fun quiz evening. Teams in Brighton will be answering fun, socialise and learn about Jewish questions in competition with each other as well as teams from other Jewish communities in the traditions and festivals. We provide a UK and abroad. nurturing and creative environment to Questions are set by members of South Bucks Progressive Synagogue, who are the central inspire young children’s curiosity, intellect co-ordinators. Our results will be emailed to the organisers at South Bucks, who will collate the and imagination. Children should always results and give us feedback about our position versus the other congregations. be accompanied by a parent or carer. Tickets cost £15 and include a fish and chip supper at the home of Sandra and Cliff Walker. Please reserve your place early as numbers are strictly limited. Make up your own team of 8 Sessions are very relaxed so if you’d like people or join with others on the night. to attend, call our office on 01273 737223 Please ring the office on 01273 737223 to reserve your place. issue 237 | January 2014 20What’s on: January 2014 Grodzinki’s challos, rolls and Kosher bread available weekly by courtesy of Lubavitch Brighton from Premier Convenience Stores COMMuniTy evenTs – iMPOrTanT reMinDer: in Hove Street (tel. 01273 735131) Contact the Communal Diary before planning your events! Please be sure to reserve your order so info@sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org that we know how many to supply. Orders can be collected on Thursdays or Fridays. 20 sHaBBaT sHaLOM – BriGHTOn TiMes reGuLar aCTiviTies In Light Candles Out Havdalah Sundays Fri 3 4.19 pm Sat 4 5.26 pm Carmel Tennis Club 10.00 am - 12.00 noon. Weekly. All levels Fri 10 4.07 pm Sat 11 5.16 pm welcome. Tel: Adam on 07720 598087 Fri 17 3.57 pm Sat 18 5.07 pm Mondays Fri 24 3.48 pm Sat 25 5.00 pm Discover, Play and Dance! New Torah Montessori Playgroup for Fri 31 3.42 pm Sat 1 Feb 5:43 pm 0-2 year olds. 10.00 am to 12.00 noon. Tel Penina on 01273 MeMOraBLe DaTes 328675 or email torahacademy@btconnect.com Wednesday 15 Tu B’Shevat – New Year for Trees Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Efune 12.30 - 1.30 pm at the Brighton Hillel Centre, 67 Middle Street, Brighton Tel: 01273 321919 evenTs in January afternoon Club with tea 1.30 pm. Ralli Hall Tel: Reba 01444 Wednesday 8 484839 JaCs Quiz presented by Moss Kimmelman. AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, rubber and Duplicate Bridge 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm £2.00 Ralli Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members/£2.50 non-members Hall. Tel: Reba 01444 484839 sussex Jewish news – submission deadline for the January issue. Contemporary Basic Talmud with Rabbi Efune - Men only 8.15 send your articles, thoughts, photos and announcements to pm at Chabad House 01273 321919 sjneditor@sussexjewishnews.com Tanya (Kabbalah) Learning Group with Penina Efune - Ladies only 8.15 pm at Chabad House 01273 321919 Wednesday 15 sariD (association of Jewish refugees) meets every 3rd JaCs An Afternoon with John Cave, Singer and Guitarist. AJEX Centre, Monday of the month at 10.45 am, Ralli Hall. £1.50 Tel: 0208 Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members/£2.50 non-members 385 3070 or email esther@ajr.co.uk Tuesdays Monday 20 – Friday 31 ralli Hall Lunch and social Club 10.30 am - 4.30 pm Holocaust Memorial Day event Jubilee Library window: Exhibition by Year Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 Weekly at Ralli Hall 6 pupils at Carden Primary School. ‘Forgotten Victims’ arranged by singing4Pleasure Tel: Robert 01273 555089 or email: Brighton & Hove City Council’s Children’s Services and East Sussex singingforpleasure@hotmail.co.uk County Council Traveller Education Team art in the studio with Martin 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm Ralli Hall Wednesday 22 Painting with rochelle (Jas) Studio at Ralli Hall, 7.00 – 9.00 pm. Tel: 01273 503708 (recommences 14 January) JaCs with guest speaker Helen Poole on Brides, Booty and Battles: israeli Dancing 7.45 pm - 9.45 pm Ralli Hall. Tel: Jacky 01273 the Tudors and Spain. AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 688538 members/£2.50 non-members Wednesdays Sunday 26 JaCs at the AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 vigil and reflection on the theme of Holocaust a peaceful space for quiet members / £2.50 non-members reflection at this time of Remembrance, 2.30-4.30 pm. Refreshments art in the studio with Martin 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm Ralli Hall available, 4.30-5.00 pm. Free entry. All welcome. Friends’ Meeting eastbourne Liberal Jewish Congregation monthly afternoon tea House, Ship Street, Brighton For more information: Tel: (01273) 770258 at the Cavendish Hotel, Grand Parade, Eastbourne at 3.00 sussex Jewish Film Club presents ‘Paperclips’ in commemoration of pm – on the first Wednesday of every month Holocaust Memorial Day 7.00 for 7.30 pm (hot and cold drinks available from 7.00pm), Ralli Hall, 83 Denmark Villas, Hove, BN3 3TH Thursdays ralli Hall Lunch and social Club 10.30 am - 4.30 pm Weekly Monday 27 Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 (RH) Brighton & Hove City Council Holocaust Commemorative event 1.30 pm at Ladies Who Learn 10.30 at Chabad House, 15 Upper Drive, Brighton Jubilee Library, Conference Room, with the Mayor of the City Hove 2.15 – 4.00 pm, to include herbal teas and healthy of Brighton & Hove, guest speakers and students from Carden Primary treats. All ladies welcome School Bridge at Ralli Hall 11.00 am Weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Efune 8.15 pm at Chabad Tuesday 28 House. Tel: 01273 321919 Jewish Historical society – sussex Branch with guest speaker Godfrey Fridays Gould on Orde Wingate, Man of Destiny? Ralli Hall at 7.45 pm prompt. Members free. Non-members £4. Refreshments available. Kuddle up shabbat parent & child playgroup with Sara Zanardo and her guitar 10.00 am – 11.30 am Ajex Centre Wednesday 29 eastbourne Liberal Jewish Congregation service on the 4th Friday of each month, WVRS, 24 Hyde Road, Eastbourne, JaCs with guest speaker Dr. Geoffrey Mead on Historic Sussex 6.00 pm Industries. AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members/£2.50 non-members Saturdays eastbourne Hebrew Congregation Shabbat services at 22 Thursday 30 Susans Road, Eastbourne, 10.00 am. Contact 01323 484135 university of sussex, Centre for German-Jewish studies Holocaust Memorial or 07739 082538 Day event 1.30 pm at Jubilee Building Lecture Theatre, University of stand up for israel at Ecostream, Western Road, Brighton, Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QN 1.00 pm - 3.00 pm issue 237 | January 2014 -
Issue 248
January 2015
1 SUSSEx JEwISH NEwS NEw WhatswHAT’S INSIdE.... LAPTOPS OR TABLETS? | NHMd 2015 PROGRAMME | SHACKLETON’S CARPENTER | wHAT’S ON | ANd MORE JANUARY 2015 • TEVET / SHEVAT 5775 • ISSUE 248 2 Pause for thought 3 It would be foolish to pretend that the world outside does not impact upon our community. Many indulge in the traditions of the other. After all, what is wrong with a gift here or meeting family and friends there (and then wishing to be able to go back to work)? What comes after Chanukah? A lack of adrenalin with the only cure being The Sales. But here at SJN Central, December was stressful because our calendar was condensed to allow our printers to enjoy their holidays. Now that the issue is out, the adrenalin that helps put each issue together is released. As lethargy sets in we know that there is only one cure: we know there will be another issue to put together next month and, of course, there are The Sales. Both are sure to get us going! EDITORIAL BOARD Doris Levinson / Stephanie Megitt SJN brings local news, events, articles, reviews, David Seidel/ Michael Rich announcements, people, congregations, TECHNICAL ADVISOR Brian Megitt communities, contacts and more. Delivered at ADMINISTRATOR Bernard Swithern the start of each month, SJN is run entirely by volunteers for reporting, editing and circulating ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Ivor Sorokin, Lydia Swithern each edition. It has become the cornerstone of COMMuNAL DIARy info@sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org the Jewish community across the region. COVER IMAGE Brian Megitt PRODuCTION/LAyOuT Anand Day SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 8 JANUARY 2015 Email address for submissions and correspondence: sjneditor@sussexjewishnews.com SUSSEX JEWISH NEWS SUBSCRIPTION Name:_______________________________________________ Date:_________________________ Address:___________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Postcode:____________________ Email: _______________________________________________ Telephone:____________________ Subscription (tick one) I would like to receive electronic copies of SJN. £18 p/a I would like to receive printed copies of SJN. £24 p/a. I enclose my cheque payable to Sussex Jewish News at PO Box 2178, Hove BN3 3SZ I have made a bank transfer to the Sussex Jewish News at Lloyds Bank, Sort Code 30-98-74, Account No. 00289447 and I have included my name as a reference to ensure my subscription is noted. issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 2 Contents 3 Sussex Jewish News PO Box 2178 • Hove BN3 3SZ Telephone: 07906 955 404 FEATURES 1 A JAFFA STREET IN JANUARY By Brian Megitt 8 TABLET OR LAPTOP? Brian Megitt on technology today 10 NATIONAL HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY 2015 This year’s programme from the City Council and the Centre for German-Jewish Studies 13 THE SYNAGOGUE IN CELLE By Jackie Fuller REGULARS 4 COMMUNITY LIFE Your news, your views plus stories from across the county 14 CULTURE Reviews, film and much more 20 WHAT’S ON Regular and special events in your community YOUR COMMUNITY 16 BRIGHTON & HOvE PROGRESSIvE SYNAGOGUE 17 BRIGHTON & HOvE HEBREW CONGREGATION MARTIN GROSS 18 BRIGHTON & HOvE REFORM SYNAGOGUE Memorials 19 HOvE HEBREW CONGREGATION All aspects of stone-masonry undertaken from new to renovation and cleaning 01273 439792 07801 599771 Full page (A4 size) £170 Sussex Jewish News (‘SJN’), its Editor and Editorial Board: • are not allied to any synagogue or group and the views expressed by writers Half page (A5 size) £100 are not necessarily those of SJN; Quarter page (A6 size) £65 • accept advertisements in good faith but do not endorse any products or services and do not accept liability for any aspect of any advertisements; 1/9 page (credit card size) £40 TISING and Personal Announcements in a box (up to 6 lines): £25 • welcome readers’ contributions but reserve the right to edit, cut, decline or submit the content to others for comment. To ensure that we receive your Flyers: Price on application submissions by email, please send them ONLY to sjneditor@sussexjewishnews. Local Jewish charities will not be charged, subject to com, otherwise we cannot guarantee their consideration for publication. To editorial decision. assist the Editorial Board, submissions should be in Word format using Times New Roman font, size 12. Receipt of submissions may not be acknowledged, BOOK NOW! 07906 955 404 ADVER IN SJN GUIDELINES unless specifically requested. As the Editorial Board is made up entirely of volunteers, any response may be subject to delay. issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 4 Community life 5 Your news Special Birthdays Deaths Mazel tov to Martin Gould and Eugenia Simmons and We wish Long Life to Irit Abrahams and family on the all who have special birthdays this month. death of her father, Joshua Rottenstreich z’l in Israel. Wedding Anniversaries We wish Long Life to Susan Rose and family on the Mazel tov to death of her mother, Sybil Donner z’l. Edwin & Lorraine Meltzer on the celebration of their Sapphire Wedding Anniversary. Sasson & Carol Sweiry on the celebration of their Sapphire Wedding Anniversary. Cemetery Clean-up by Yael Breuer Fifteen people turned up at the old Jewish cemetery at Florence Place in Brighton for a clean-up of the neglected and overgrown site. The cemetery has not been used for approximately fifty years and Adam Bomzer, a member of Holland Road synagogue, initiated the clean-up. “I came across a photo of the cemetery on a Facebook page called Brighton Through the Ages. I had not been aware of its existence but realised the importance of the place and felt obligated to clean it up,” he said. Adam posted a message on the local Jewish Community Facebook page and a number of people replied and provided dozens of sacks with weeds, brambles and some more information about the cemetery and rubbish. “It is very significant, especially on the expressed the will to help. One of those, Ivan anniversary of the First World War, that members Lyons, who is also the treasurer of Brighton of the community rallied to show respect to and Hove Hebrew Congregation, organised the our forebears and those whose final resting clearing up event, during which volunteers filled place is in this cemetery. Even though Florence Place cemetery has not had a burial for many years, the community still has the responsibility for its upkeep,” he said. Helpers came from across the community. Rudi Reeves and her husband Calvin, who live in Edgware but spend a lot of time in Brighton, were pleased to take part in the initiative. “The cemetery, which is a grade 2 listed site, has captured my imagination and I feel that we ought to respect the past and pay our due respect to past members of our community,” said Rudi. The volunteers are hoping to make further visits to the cemetery to continue with the necessary work. issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 4 Community life 5 Chaos in the Middle East In Kedar’s view, Under the auspices of the Zionist Federation and stability and Sussex Friends of Israel, Brighton’s Jewish Community peacefulness is was privileged to hear an outstanding address on only achievable Monday December 8th 2014 by Dr. Mordechai Kedar. where the As a premier Israeli Jewish scholar on Arab Affairs, boundaries of the Dr. Kedar argued, before an overflowing audience at state encompass Ralli Hall, that the present boundaries of the Middle a more or less Eastern states such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and those homogeneous of North Africa reflected the 19th and 20th century cultural population-political and economic interests of the major Allied such as are found European powers following World War I. In determining in nine Arab their political boundaries, the Allies failed to take into Emirates located consideration that the interests and allegiances of the at the eastern end indigenous population of the region were ethnic, tribal, of the Persian religious or sectarian, and for whom the modern ‘State’ Gulf. In Lebanon, was a remote and corrupt institution. Syria, Iraq, Iran and State boundaries ignored the sociological Sudan, conflict and characteristics of the people – the vast number of tribes instability, as in the in the region, their numerous languages and dialects, past and present, their religious, sectarian and cultural differences - even will remain endemic. In Israel, some degree of peaceful among those of an Islamic persuasion. co-existence between the Jewish population and the Arabs in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) might Given the region’s lack of natural resources (other than be achieved by Israel’s recognition of the major Arab oil), Arab society survived by gaining and maintaining cities as emirates and by granting them considerable control over the limited water sources. This was independence. achieved by individual males rendering military and other support and that of their immediate families to the The Arab Spring was not a popular demand for clan – the extended family of brothers, cousins etc.. democracy - as the Western Powers claimed - but a protest against the corruption of minority clans, cohesive in their strength - whose leadership gained political power over their political rivals. For Kedar, until the launching of the Qatari controlled satellite TV station, Al Jazeera, in 1996, the airwaves were controlled by the various dictatorships operating in the region. Al Jazeera changed this. No longer could the regimes block information coming from the outside. This, together with the proliferation of mobile telephones and the social media brought about the political revolutions in the region. Political corruption was and is the motivating factor in contemporary Middle Eastern instability - not a demand for democracy. Helping to Fight Ebola http://www.craftyoldcrow.co.uk). Co-organiser Chana Moshenska A fundraising afternoon in Hove raised over £1,000 for said: ‘We were hoping for two Médecins sans Frontières, the medical charity that is on to three hundred pounds, so the front line in tackling Ebola in Africa. to raise this much was just Organised by Jewish Women Friends in Sussex, over wonderful. MsF is an excellent fifty JWF members, friends and neighbours came charity, and we know that the to the event at the home of Maxine Toff on Sunday money we send them will be spent where it’s needed 23 November. Everyone contributed to the delicious most”. afternoon tea, the bookstall and live music. For more information, please contact Maxine Toff The highlight was a sale of knitted germs made by at jwfsussex@gmail.com or go to the website for Monica Crowe: cuddly looking viruses, bacteria, and Médecins sans Frontières at http://www.msf.org.uk/ parasites of all shapes and colours (available from about-msf issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 6 Community life 7 Ralli Hall the lecture was fascinating as the speaker is an internationally renowned pundit, author and scholar, by Roger Abrahams fluent in both Ivrit and Arabic, and who spent twenty-This was rather a short Ralli Hall month for me, as I five years in the IDF Military Intelligence. I must had to fly to Israel at very short notice following the emphasise that I am finding more and more that worsening health, then demise, of my very elderly community activities are being held at the Ralli Hall, and sick father-in-law. At the same time Norina, our which pleases me greatly, as this is a good part of why Centre Manager, was also in Israel, but was definitely we are here. having a more enjoyable time than we were. However, The new roof lights should, at long last, be completed, shortly after we returned, the Ralli Hall Lunch and although there has been a further hold-up as, for the Social Club held their annual Dinner and Dance, which second time, the wrong glass has been delivered and was, as in previous years, a great success, with a there is temporary, unlaminated, glass currently in situ – full house, excellent food and a super atmosphere. a real saga. Congratulations to all those who helped to make it such a success, with special thanks to Alan Burke, the Hon. I do hope that you all had an enjoyable Chanukah, Chairman, and Jacquie Tichauer, the Club Coordinator, including the lighting of the Giant Chanukiah in for their tireless efforts. Palmeira Square on the 20th, compliments of Rabbi Pesach Efune and his highly enthusiastic colleagues. Chaos in the Middle East, a lecture by Israeli academic Dr Mordechai Kedar, took place in the downstairs See you at Ralli Hall. gymnasium. Sub-titled A Guide to the Perplexed, SJN Submission Guidelines Embellishments: A new trend has started to appear whereby one paragraph is separated from another by by Brian Megitt a fancy text pattern, e.g. o-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-o. Please It’s almost a year since we last published our do not send us items with such embellishments – guidelines for the submission of articles to SJN. they will be removed. We appreciate that you use a variety of computers Please do not send us any form of article as the to create your submissions, so if you set your word text of an email. It causes a lot of extra work. If you processor to the following settings it would be really do not know how to attach a Word document to an helpful. email please ask us for help. Articles One thing we just cannot accept is anything created The main issues we find are that articles are using Microsoft Publisher in Publisher format. It is submitted to us in American English, the headings just not compatible with anything - not even different are in bold text and capitals and underlined. Also, versions of itself! Please feel free to create your item new Windows versions of Word come with Calibri as in Publisher but send us the finished work as a pdf. the standard font. We have to change that as well as all the other settings that do not match the list below. Photos and Images If you want to send us a photograph, please make Language: UK or British English (can be set in Word sure that it is well composed, sharply focussed and from the Tools, Language menu) in jpg format. 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Images: If you want to provide images in your articles please send them as separate items – do not embed or place them in your Word document – we cannot use embedded images. issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 6 Community life 7 Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club by Jacquie Tichauer November was an exciting and very hardworking month The winter months can be very lonely, so if you want to for us at the Lunch and Social Club but it certainly was have some nice company, or a tasty three course kosher worth it. Our Dinner Dance on the 30th November was meal, or even if you just fancy coming in to play a game a great success. The 120 people attending loved the of Bridge, Kalooki, or Rummikub, you will be made more Scottish themed evening with a fantastic piper (I know I than welcome and please remember we are a social club am biased) who piped in the Mayor and Mayoress. It was for all ages! a wonderful night, raising a good amount for our funds. If you would like to learn how to play Bridge or learn how There are so many people I would like to thank for all their to use a computer, classes are starting now, so if you are hard work, especially the dinner dance committee Alan interested or would like more information please give me and Shirley Burke, Sheila Hart, Laura Sharpe, Sue Shaw a call. and all the volunteers who helped in the evening. We are glad to say that we will soon have our own website On the 3 December, 30 members and volunteers went to called http://www.lunchandsocialclub.co.uk, up and Rushfields Garden Centre for a lovely lunch, and afternoon running, so please keep an eye open for it. scones and cream tea. On 23rd December we had our Chanukah party. If you are interested in any of the above, please contact Jacquie on 01273 739999. Looking forward, on Sunday 8 February we will be having a fund-raising card afternoon at Ralli Hall with the usual delicious tea and on 10th May we are having another special event, a Race night, so watch this space. RALLI HALL LUNCH & SOCIAL CLUB A Personal Letter From Alan As Director and Trustee of the Lunch and Social Club we have run a number of very successful, well-supported for the past 12 years, I have taken sole responsibility fundraising campaigns and events, we still need to find for fundraising for this very worthy charity. When I new sources of income to ensure the continuation of this started doing this, we were receiving far greater financial vital community asset. assistance from Jewish charitable organisations, both local and national. As we enter our thirteenth year, we find We know how much the community values this worthwhile ourselves in the position of having to compete with other cause. Therefore, we hope that there are some new equally worthy local charities, for a smaller pot of money. volunteers who would be interested in sharing their skills and ideas in helping us devise some innovative, creative To put this in perspective, the running costs for the fund raising opportunities for the future. Lunch and Social Club are £63,000 per annum for operating on two days per week. Members’ contributions I would be happy to meet with anyone who feels they (which are £8.00 per day plus £2.00 for transport) cover might be interested in offering their services. approximately 50% of this figure. We are therefore Alan Burke required to raise approximately £32,000 per annum. While Eastbourne Hebrew Congregation RALLI HALL LUNCH & SOCIAL CLUB Eastbourne Hebrew Congregation is pleased to announce (Registered Charity No.1142922) that Chazan Stephen Cotsen has agreed to take the Shabbat service on 17th January, commencing at 10am. PRESENTS The Chazan is a member of the Masorti organisation and has been invited to our Synagogue in order to add another A BRIDGE & KALOOKI AFTERNOON dimension to our usual Shabbat services. AT RALLI HALL, DENMARK VILLAS, HOVE (£2.00 Parking Fee at Hove Railway Station) Non-members will be welcome, but, for security reasons, must telephone the Secretary, Linda Taylor, on 01323 FRIENDLY COMPETITION – WITH PRIZES 484135 or the Security Officer, Sally Taylor, on 0773 908 ON SUNDAY 8th FEBRUARY 2015 AT 2.00PM 2538, beforehand. DONATION £10.00 INCLUDING TEA TICKETS FROM ALAN BURKE - 01273 416335 RAYMOND FELSENSEIN - 01273 505056 issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 8 Features 9 Tablet, Laptop or Desktop? by Brian Megitt Technology! What’s it all about? To pinch a quote from Air 2 is less than a pound in weight and slimmer than a the spoof book, Fanny Hillman, “You’ve got it, you sell it pencil (see the illustration below). It has a processor that and you’ve still got it!” By which I mean that technology is light years ahead of any processor in any competing is all around us, it affects our lives on a daily basis and it product and is an absolute joy to use. Its smaller brother, is constantly changing and developing - whether we like it the iPad Mini 3, also boasts a powerful processor as well or not. as the superb “retina” screen. Out in the big wide world, even in your street, your apartment block or possibly your own house there are computers that are on their last chips. They are old, slow and probably run an old, insecure, obsolete operating system that the developer no longer supports. People struggle along with them despite the fact that they are After iPad was announced it became obvious to other most frustrating to use. The technological version of manufacturers that they could not offer a competitive banging one’s head against a brick wall. product of the same quality at Apple’s price. iPad’s competition is thus cheaper and inferior in quality, Accompanying the old box of tricks will be a screen, software and support. With the vast array of statistics possibly an old cathode-ray tube type rather than a available to us these days, it is known that the iPad’s modern flat screen with the advantage of zero radiation competitors are not used as much nor as frequently as emissions. And maybe a printer that has seen better days. the iPad. In fact many of these competing tablet devices, And sitting in front of all the kit is you, the user with the including e-readers like the Nook or the Kindle, are bought patience of Job and the stubborn desire to stick with what as presents, opened and then not used at all. Most you know rather than to move on to today’s technology. users of the Android system are using a version of that operating system which is over two years old. In contrast Of course, today, there is a plethora of options available to that, over 90% of iOS users are using a system that is to the buyer of computer technology. For a start, the days less than a year old. of big desktop tower computers are on the way out. The majority of computers sold around the world are laptops. The more traditional computing devices are giving way to laptops because space in the modern home is limited. But can a laptop be justified? If all you want to do is Older houses to surf the internet, order your groceries on-line, do had more your banking from your armchair, send and receive room and emails, maybe write some letters and possibly do some storage budgeting via a spreadsheet and of course, store family capability photos and movies for viewing at your leisure, what is but today’s your best option? architecture In 2010, Apple launched a revolutionary product, the relies on iPad. It can be held in your hand, is simple to use and cramming it sells in its more dwellings into a space rather than providing people millions. It is a with space in which to dwell. Thus laptops, which prime product, take up much less space than a conventional desktop beautifully computer, have become popular. Many offer the same made and is computing power as their desktop cousins but are not supported as upgradeable as the old desktop hardware, should you by the best want to upgrade components rather than replace the software entire device. But upgraders have to be aware that their infrastructure old boxes may not be able to take new components built in the world. to new technology standards designed to work within an Its operating entirely different computer architecture. system, iOS, When looking at laptops or desktop devices, the price tag works without should be the last thing you consider. The most important interfering with item for consideration is the operating system. There whatever you are two main competitors here, Microsoft’s Windows are doing and is and Apple’s Mac OS X. There are other options, such as kept up to date Linux, but if you’re not deeply into technology and into automatically. software engineering, then it is probable that the two main The new iPad contenders are all that you should consider. issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 8 Features 9 Apple’s Mac OS X (the X stands for ten) is based on a highly secure system called UNIX. Mac OS X has been developed over many years and is now into iteration 10.10. Unlike Microsoft, Apple now makes this software available at zero charge and there is only one version. Microsoft launched Windows 8.1 in an attempt to correct Windows 8, which was not at all well received by the press nor by Microsoft’s ‘partners’, the hardware manufacturers. Consumers voted by not investing in the Mention of the Mac Mini brings us back to the desktop product. computer. For those that cannot see themselves ever It should be remembered that Apple designs and builds using anything other than a desktop computer, the news both the hardware and software together. The Mac is that the big box approach need not rule the day. The operating system integrates with the iOS operating Mac Mini packs a huge amount of computing power in a system of the iPads, iPods and iPhones. Microsoft has yet box so small it could well become invisible on your desk. to understand mobile technology and its software is not It has all the connectivity you need and if you have a USB designed integrally with hardware which has traditionally keyboard, screen and mouse it is all you need to revitalise been made by third parties using components of varying your computing environment. quality, to keep prices low, so that they can sell in volume. The original Mac of 1984 was an “all-in-one” computer I mention this, because people, especially in this country, and like nothing that had gone before it. Today’s look at Apple products and dismiss them as expensive. equivalent is the iMac, the most popular “all-in-one” on They see rows of shiny Windows PCs on the shelves the market. Its quality and design makes it stand out from of PC World or John Lewis or wherever, and see lower all its competitors. prices. What most consumers do not see is that some So, stop being frustrated with your old computer and of these “bargains” are old products, or “new” ones look at today’s technology. Apple’s approach is to make containing old technology, being sold at a low price just to the best computers so that people can enjoy using them move them out of the door. without the fear that they will crash or be decimated by Numerous computer magazines have tried price viruses and malware. The concept is simple, you unpack comparisons across the major brands, Apple, Dell, HP, them, switch them on and they just work. Lenovo, Acer, to name but a few. When they try to match Images are copyright of Apple Inc and used with their permission. the specification of an Apple product they cannot buy a Windows machine as cheaply. This tells us that when you look at these products you are not able to compare like with like. A cheap price tag in this market usually indicates poor value for money. Apple designs and manufactures many of the components that go into their machines. From the body to the fans to the speakers and batteries. Obviously, they use electronic components that are available from the likes of Intel but the advanced processors used in their iPads, iPods and iPhones are of their own design. They are also the world leaders in the use of flash memory for solid state drives, which is why their MacBook Air and MacBook Pro computers are virtually as fast as their iPads. When you buy your new PC, remember that there is a cost of ownership. I came across a typical example recently. An acquaintance had bought a new Windows computer after struggling to make an old one work properly for a number of years. He just bought a new cheap device but did not look at Apple because of the perceived cost. He is not a person limited by finance. He now has a computer that is going to cost him a fortune. It is underpowered and will need more memory, it has a small hard drive, which will need upgrading and the list just goes on. If he had bought an iMac or even a Mac Mini - which he could have used with his existing screen and printer - he would have been much better off. issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 10Features 11 Brighton & Hove Holocaust Memorial Events Programme January 2015 27 January 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and will also be the 20th anniversary of the Genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia. Therefore the theme for this major anniversary year focuses on ‘Memory’. Holocaust Memorial events at The Old Courtroom, Brighton Speaker: Susan Kingsley, Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue tells the story of its own treasured Holocaust Memorial event at Jubilee Library, Brighton Czech Scroll. Rescued in Exhibition: Faces in the Void: Czech Survivors of the 1942 and discovered in a Holocaust*. A collaborative project by Poet, Jane disused Prague synagogue in the 1960s, this Torah Liddell-King and Photographer, Marion Davies. Scroll is all that remains of the destroyed Jewish community of Frydek-Mistek. Jane’s poetry reflects intense personal experiences, extinct communities and deserted synagogues. Readings: Year 6 students, Carden Primary School Marion’s stark photographs offer poignant images of Speaker: Bryan Huberman: The story of a child survivor the lost and the living. of the Holocaust. Alfred (Avram) Huberman was born Date: 19th - 30th January 2015 in Poland in 1928; he was one of six children. At the outbreak of WWII aged 12 he went into hiding where he Venue: Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton remained until 1942 when he was incarcerated in the BN1 1GE first of five concentration camps. He spent the following three years forced to work as a slave labourer. Visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/jubilee-library to check opening times. Presentation: Jane Liddell-King and Photographer, Marion Davies. Faces in the Void: Czech Survivors of the Holocaust. Sussex Jewish Film Club The Club presents ‘NICKY’S FAMILY’ (Czech Republic/ Inspired by a single Czech scroll, Jane and Marion Slovakia/ UK/USA/Israel/Cambodia, 96 mins, in travelled to its original home of Pardubice, in search English) - an inspiring documentary about Sir Nicholas of Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. Throughout the Winton (born in 1909, so now 105 years old!). He project they pursued intersecting stories including organized the rescue of 669 mostly Jewish Czech and in the UK, those of Sir Nicholas Winton and Alice Slovak children just before the outbreak of World War Sommer Herz. II. He didn’t speak about it for more than 50 years Date: Monday 26th January 2015, 1.15 – 4pm but then his wife found a suitcase in the attic full of documents and transport plans. Nicholas Winton Venue: The Old Courtroom, 118 Church Street was knighted in 2002 and has received many other (side entrance) Brighton BN1 1UD accolades and awards, most recently by the Czechs in October 2014. Dozens of Winton’s ‘children’ were found and many went on to achieve great things themselves. They have all lived due to the heroic deeds of this one man...... Date: Sunday 25th January, 7 for 7.30pm (hot and cold drinks available before the film) Venue: Ralli Hall, 81 Denmark Villas, Hove, BN3 3TH (near Hove railway station and served by No 7 bus) The Club welcomes guests, with a small donation on the door. For more information if needed: (01273) 688538 or 07808 580047 issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 10 Features 11 University of Sussex, Centre for German-Jewish Friends’ Meeting House Studies Programme ‘Keep the Memory Alive’ Vigil on the theme of Holocaust. Quiet reflection at this time of remembrance. All welcome. Date: Sunday 25th January, 3.30 – 4.30pm Venue: Friends’ Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton For more information: Tel: (01273) 770258 Lewes Holocaust Memorial Event ‘Keep the Memory Alive’ 1.30 pm Welcome Date: Friday 30th January 2015 Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex, Abraham Baldry, President, University of Venue: Lecture Hall, Lewes Town Hall, Lewes Sussex Students’ Union, Dr Gideon Reuveni, Director, Centre for German-Jewish Studies. 1.50 pm Thomas Harding will tell the true story of the Jewish investigator who pursued and captured one of Nazi Germany’s most notorious war criminals. The talk will be followed by a Question and Answer session. 3.30 pm Survival, Memory and Trauma. Zahava Kohn, a survivor of Bergen Belsen, will be in conversation with her daughter, Hephzibah Rudofsky (Kohn). She will speak about her war time experiences and about her family’s story of survival against the odds. Zahava and her parents lived through the horrors of Westerbork transit camp and then Bergen Belsen concentration camp. The talk will be followed by a Question and Answer session. Date: Wednesday 28th January 2015 Venue: Jubilee Building Lecture Theatre, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QN. This event is open to all, however booking is essential as seating is limited – book here: www.sussex.ac.uk/cgjs/hmd Free entry to this event is made possible by the generous support of the Association of Jewish Refugees. For further information contact: Diana Franklin, Centre Manager Email: d.franklin@sussex.ac.uk issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 12 Features 13 issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 12 Features 13 Hidden behind two timbered houses by Jackie Fuller I recently spent a few days in the German is very limited but I came to During Kristallnacht, 9/10 November Lower Saxony region of Germany understand that in 1974 the building 1938, the synagogue’s interior was (Niedersachsen). It has strong links had become a Jewish cultural and demolished by men wielding axes. with this country and with Brighton memorial site. From various exhibits The 12 Torah scrolls and various & Hove especially, because in and books available there I learnt religious objects, as well as the October 1714, 300 years ago, Georg that of the 140 synagogues that community’s library, were thrown onto Ludwig, the Elector of Hannover, had existed in Lower Saxony before the street. The building itself escaped ascended to the throne in London 1933, only about 40 still exist today destruction by fire only because the as King George I, thereby becoming as ‘structures’ (so not necessarily adjoining houses would have been ruler over two empires. He was then used for Jewish worship). In this unavoidably damaged. succeeded by four further kings from one at Celle the synagogue itself the house of Hanover (George II, III, is still preserved at the back of the From 1942 onwards the former our own George IV and William IV). building and is around 250 years Jewish school house served as The Hanoverians were on the British the ‘Jew-house of Celle’. It was throne for 123 years until Queen where Jewish people selected for Victoria broke the line when she deportation to extermination camps ascended to the throne in 1837. The were confined in extremely tight link with George IV gave rise to the quarters and under continuous naming of Brighton’s Hanover area observation. Jews from other parts (but anglicized down to only one ‘n’) of the Lüneburg district were also as well as Brunswick (Braunschweig). held there for deportation. In the synagogue’s antechamber there As part of the visit I went to Celle, a are memorial plaques erected by beautiful medieval town which, unlike emigrated members of Celle’s Jewish Hannover, came through the Second community honouring the memory World War completely unscathed. of their relatives murdered in the Maybe this was because there was extermination camps. no significant industry in the vicinity. Celle has nearly 500 timber-framed After the end of the war the military houses which have been extensively government confiscated the restored and are under preservation buildings of the pre-war Jewish orders. The centre of the town is community in Celle for the use of a largely traffic-free. newly created Jewish community. A mikveh was built in the backyard While using the Tourist Office’s of the synagogue in 1945 but was Old Town walking map to find my demolished in 1972/3 because it way around I noticed there was a was dilapidated. The small Jewish synagogue marked on the outskirts, community eventually remaining so I thought I’d have a look. The map old. When built it was quite common in Celle associated itself with told me it was the oldest remaining for small synagogues to be built Lower Saxony’s Union of Jewish Jewish place of worship in Lower within or behind ordinary houses. In Communities and its members Saxony, dating from 1740. I easily this way they were not immediately attended religious services in the found the street but walked up recognizable from the street. I learnt Hannover synagogue. and down twice without finding a that the Jewish community of Celle building that looked remotely like a bought the two plots of land in 1738 After a thorough renovation in 1973/4 synagogue. I looked at the address and built the synagogue as a rear organised by the local administration again including the street number house. The two front houses were of Celle, the synagogue was newly and then realised that the frontage used as a Jewish School and as dedicated by Rabbi Dr Nathan was in fact just a couple of half- residences for various employees of Peter Levinson of Heidelberg on timbered houses in the terrace. There the community. 20th June 1974 and the new Jewish was nothing distinctive on the wall Congregation of Celle has once again In the late 18th and 19th centuries to show what the building was but, been able to hold religious services Celle’s Jewish community numbered on looking more carefully, I saw that there. about 110 people. It then dwindled one of the doorbells was marked steadily until in 1933 this small If you have occasion to go to the ‘synagogue’ so I pressed it. community had only 70 members, pretty town of Celle, make sure you A lady came to the door and let me reduced to 35 in January 1939 and to visit the synagogue while you are in. She didn’t speak English and my only 15 by October of the same year. there. issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 14Culture 15 The Last Train to Tomorrow lit candles to remember the by Ruth Selo victims of the regime which The Roundhouse theatre in north London was packed on a included nearly sunny Remembrance Sunday afternoon for the finale of the all the parents Association of Jewish Refugees’ (AJR) commemoration of of the children, the 75th anniversary of the Kindertransport. The highlight of aged between the programme was the London premiere of ‘The Last Train 3 and 17, who to Tomorrow’, performed by the Finchley Children’s Music came to Britain. Group conducted by the composer Carl Davis and with He paid tribute lyrics by children’s writer, Hiawyn Oram. It tells the story of to the British the 10,000 Kindertransport children who came from Nazi-parliamentarians occupied Europe to the UK just before the outbreak of the and others, Second World War. notably the Quakers, who saw the approaching danger and The event was attended by the Prince of Wales who wrote created the Kindertransport. in the programme notes, “How proud I am of the choice our The Last Train to Tomorrow was impeccably sung and acted forebears made and of the role of our Jewish community in by the young choir dressed in 1930s clothes with labels on supporting the rescue mission. It seems entirely fitting the strings round their necks. Ms Oram’s lyrics cleverly told the [Kindertransport] story has been recorded for posterity in a story in language accessible to all age groups and Carl Davis’ song cycle written especially for performance by children”. music created an atmosphere of menace turning to one of Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, whose grandparents fled bittersweet hope as the narrative of the long train journeys from Berlin, led a commemoration of Kristallnacht, the across a dangerous Europe, on the eve of war, unfolded. Nazi pogrom of November 1938, and six former “Kinder” Jewish Historical Society of England - Sussex Branch by Godfrey R Gould Despite the inclement weather a goodly audience assembled at Ralli Hall on 25 November to hear Astrid Zajdband, a doctoral student at the University of Sussex. Astrid has just completed her thesis on the migration of German Rabbis from Germany in the years prior to the Second World War. Outlining the situation in Germany post 1933, she emphasised the particular persecution meted out to the Rabbinate. Her account followed several specific Rabbis who came to the UK, especially those from the German Liberal tradition, and the problems they had in finding employment in a limited field with different traditions. Her talk continued with their internment on the Isle of Man and the subsequent contributions so many of them made to Jewish life here and elsewhere. Astrid’s lecture was profusely illustrated and delivered in an easy and very accessible style. From her subsequent comments she was as happy to be with us as we were to hear some of the results of her extensive researches. Our next meeting will be at Ralli Hall on Tuesday 27 January 2015, commencing at 7.45 pm. The speaker will be Professor Geoffrey Cantor, Emeritus Professor of the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Leeds, and currently an Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Science and Technology at University College, London. His subject will be, “Anglo-Jewry in 1851: The Great Exhibition and Political Emancipation”. This should be an exceptional event and we welcome both members and visitors. There is no charge for members and students, £4 for visitors, which includes light refreshments after the talk, questions and discussion. issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 14 Culture 15 Nicky’s Family Winton was knighted in As a contribution to the UK’s Holocaust 2002 and Memorial Week 2015, the Sussex Jewish has received Film Club is screening ‘NICKY’S FAMILY’ many other (96 mins) on Sunday 25 January at Ralli accolades Hall (7 for 7.30pm as usual). This is the and awards, inspiring and true story of the British most recently ‘Schindler’, Sir Nicholas Winton (now 105 years old!), and by the Czechs is an uplifting film. in October 2014. Dozens At the of Winton’s outbreak of ‘children’ were found and many went on to achieve great World War II, things themselves. They have all lived due to the heroic Sir Nicholas deeds of this one man.... (‘Nicky’) organised The story is told through dramatic re-enactments narrated the rescue of by the rescued children and by Sir Nicholas himself. Rare 669 Czech archival footage and interviews with Joe Schlesinger, a and Slovak CBC reporter and one of the rescued children, documents children from not only how Winton’s act changed the lives of those he the lethal rescued, but also how it continues to influence the lives of threat of the thousands of others worldwide. Nazis. He We hope to see you there – anyone is welcome! Small didn’t speak donation on the door requested but free to Ralli Hall about it for members and full-time students. more than 50 years but then his wife found a suitcase in the attic full of documents and transport plans. Nicholas Shackleton’s Carpenter A review by Maxine Toff Shackleton’s Carpenter is a play by Gail Louw, directed by The set, which was sparse but effective, underlined the Tony Milner and starring Malcolm Rennie. loneliness of this man and the paucity of his life. It was very well designed. Why would anyone be interested in a famous explorer’s carpenter? Well Gail Louw was and she has researched Altogether a thoroughly engaging evening at the theatre. and written a most absorbing play about the man who challenged Shackleton after The Endurance sank in Shackleton’s Carpenter will be at The Old Market, Hove, Antarctica, leaving him and his crew of 27 stranded on the on 21st January 2015. For tickets phone 01273 201801. ice. Shackleton wanted to haul, manually, the three lifeboats Eastbourne Hebrew across very rough terrain to reach land. Harry McNish, a brilliant Scottish shipwright, warned ‘The Boss’ that this Congregation Synagogue was a foolhardy journey and that the boats would not be strong enough to survive it. This led to an altercation between the two of them. McNish was right: the lifeboats The Masorti Minister, Chazan Stephen broke up after two days, leaving them stranded. It seems Cotsen, will conduct the Shabbat that Shackleton bore him a grudge for this, as he was one of only four members of the crew who didn’t receive the Service on 17th Jan from 10.00am. highly prized Polar Medal. The service will be followed by a We see McNish washed up and destitute on a lonely beach in Wellington, New Zealand. He sees the ghosts Kiddush. of the crew and still harbours fears about some of them. Fears that he had experienced on the voyage. Non-members welcome by invitation His monologue is about his trip, his own history and only. his difficulties in coming to terms with this incident. Malcolm Rennie was very convincing as a man who had Please telephone 01323 484135 been skilled, competent and respected but is now old, or 07739082538 unregarded and alone at the end of his life. issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 16 BHPS Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue, 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF Tel: 01273 737223 Email: bhps@freenetname.co.uk www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue Twitter@BHPS2011 17 Resistance Lessons by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah January in the northern hemisphere is a miserable desert light could have been just too blinding for him month: cold, grey, damp. This year, after concluding to have noticed a mere s’neh, a lowly bush that was the reading of B’reishit, the Book of Genesis on not being burned up like the other bushes that were January 3, the Torah readings for the rest of the bursting into balls of fire in the arid landscape. month are devoted to the first portions of Sh’mot, The great tale of the liberation of our slave ancestors the Book of Exodus. As we read the well-known teaches us many things – including, the crucial story that begins with the oppression and of the part played by people in the Exodus. Just think of: Hebrew slaves, and culminates in our ancestors’ the Hebrew midwives, Shifra and Pu’ah resisting liberation, the Hebrew months will turn from gloomy Pharaoh’s genocidal decree and saving the baby Tevet, with its commemoration on the 10th of the boys (Exodus 1:15-22); Yocheved and Miriam, and onset of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 586 the steps they took to save the baby Moses (2:1-10); BCE, to Sh’vat, the month that heralds the first signs the slaves daubing lambs’ blood on the lintels and that winter is giving way to spring. door-posts of their houses in preparation for the final Of course, there is a critical difference between the plague (12:21-28). The text is very clear: if they had turning of the seasons and transformation in the not marked out their houses, they would not have socio-political sphere. Inevitably, the seasons will been saved (12:13). turn – until the world comes to an end. But human And so, even in the midst of the unfathomable beings, although we participate in these cycles, also enormity and extremity of what the philosopher, transcend them. You might argue that the Exodus Emil L. Fackenheim, called ‘Planet Auschwitz’ (in: To was inevitable; orchestrated by the Eternal One, Mend the World, Schocken Books, 1982), there was the slaves had to go free. However, there is another active resistance. On January 27, it will be the 70th way of looking at it. There were so many contingent anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau factors. Consider the role of Moses: imagine that by the Red Army. As we remember the murdered on that day when he was shepherding his father-in-millions and acknowledge that, thankfully, Hitler’s law’s flock achar ha-midbar, ‘behind the wilderness’ ‘Thousand Year Reich’ lasted no more than 12 years; (Sh’mot/Exodus 3:1), he had just walked on, and let us also recall the resistance fighters in the forests, not turned aside to see that ‘great sight’: why the camps and ghettos, the ‘Righteous Gentiles’, and burning bush before him was not being consumed the soldiers of the Allied armed forces, who refused by the flames (3:2-3). He could simply have been to acquiesce to tyranny. too preoccupied with his shepherding duties. The Musical Voluntary Support Agencies • Ralli Hall Lunch & Social Club (Day Centre) Concert 01273 739999 ralliday@tiscali.co.uk • Norwood/Tikvah, Rachel Mazzier House 01273 564021 Sunday 22 March 2.30 • Hyman Fine House 01273 688226 pm at Friends Meeting • Helping Hands 01273 747722 House, Ship Street, Brighton. helping-hands@helping-hands.org • Brighton & Hove Jewish Welfare Board 07952 479111 or Enjoy an afternoon of Light Music – Jazz, info@bhjwb.org • Brighton & Hove Jewish Housing Association Classical, and Musical Theatre with piano bahjha@googlemail.com and vocals. • Welfare at Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue/ Tickets £15 to include refreshments in the L’chaim project 01273 737223 interval. • Welfare Officer at Brighton & Hove Reform For further information and to reserve tickets (Sue Rosenfield) 01273 735343 contact Sarah Winstone 01273 501604, • Jewish Community Centre at Ralli Hall. Various communal activities. 01273 202254 mobile 07841 488620. or rallihall@tiscali.co.uk issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 16 BHHC Rabbi Hershel Rader Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation, 31 New Church Road, Hove BN3 3AD Tel: 01273 888855 Email: office@bhhc-shul.org www.bhhc-shul.org 17 New Year Resolutions by Rabbi Hershel Rader Paradoxically, the Sidra in which Jacob dies daily Minyonim here but, upon investigation, have begins with the words ‘Jacob lived’, in fact the found out that the backbone of those Minyonim entire Sidra is called Vayechi which means ‘he consisted of men in their 80’s or 90’s, and lived’. It is told of the late Rabbi Isaac Bernstein unfortunately such backbones have a tendency to that he would say ‘when someone dies - Anglo- break. Jewry comes alive’. Most communities are well organised when it comes to bereavements and Now, we are talking about a sizable community in people are prepared to put themselves out to Brighton and Hove, furthermore it is a community ensure that all religious requirements are catered blessed (?!) pro-rata with a lot of Rabbis so, on for. Peoples of all cultures seem to understand a good day, we are already a third of the way that the observance of traditions connected with there! Isn’t it possible for a few good men to death is important. In hospitals and hospices step forward and say ‘OK I’ll participate’? Isn’t it staff are briefed regarding various faith traditions possible for us to have regular Minyonim so that and instructed to accommodate them whenever anyone who wants to say Kaddish can do so possible. Great strides are being made in without aggravation or feeling they are beholden conducting ‘non-invasive’ autopsies using MRI to others? Shouldn’t a community of this size have equipment to avoid the mutilation which is against a regular Minyan? Wouldn’t it be possible for a few Jewish law. people to step forward and commit to coming to a weekday Minyan once a month? In Vayechi we find that Pharaoh allowed Joseph to leave Egypt in order bury his father Jacob in Ladies! No, I’m not asking you to come to the accordance with his wishes. But right at the outset Minyan at 7.30 on a Monday, but how about a of a Sidra dealing with death and a number of its resolution to learn more about Judaism? There are observances we are reminded ‘he lived’ because several learning opportunities which take place on before we focus on death and its observances it is a regular basis; I give a Shiur especially for ladies more important to concentrate on living. every Thursday morning from 11.00 to 12.00 and a Lunch and Learn, to which all are invited on It’s a new year. No it’s not the Jewish New Year, Wednesdays between 12.30 & 1.30 pm. These and maybe a Rabbi should ignore this holiday may not be convenient for everyone but there are which has absolutely no significance, religious or other learning opportunities; both Shiurim and otherwise, for his flock. But as I have the sneaking online. Jewish living is so much more meaningful suspicion that maybe a few sheep may be straying if we understand what we are doing so take the to secular New Year’s celebrations and, let’s face plunge and resolve to make this next year a year it, I am a Rabbi and therefore always looking for in which you make the effort to learn a little more an opportunity to exhort the community to good about your heritage. deeds, I have a few suggestions for New Year’s Resolutions for Jewish living. I wish everyone a very Happy New Year – a year of Jewish learning and living. I am assured by our funeral director that if he asks someone to come and make up a Minyan at a funeral they will make every effort to do so. We should have a Minyan (joint between the two Orthodox shuls) for every service; twice a day, Brighton & Hove Jewish every day of the week. Unfortunately the reality Welfare Board is very different. We have a Minyan scheduled for is delighted to announce the launch of its Sunday, Monday and Thursday morning and - as new website. far as weekday services are concerned – that’s www.bhjwb.org it! If someone asks me to organise a Minyan because they have to say Kaddish I will make Please contact us to apply for financial every effort to do so, and generally the community assistance, or to make a donation. will rally round. I’m told that once there were issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 18 BHRS Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue Palmeira Avenue, Hove BN3 3GE https://www.facebook.com/BrightonReform Tel: 01273 735343 Email: office@bh-rs.org www.bh-rs.org 19 Yom ha Shoah their plight was ignored by international public opinion, as all the attention was for Palestinians refugees. Indeed, and by Rabbi Andrea Zanardo despite all the wars and the conflicts, the expression “Middle Whoever has been in Israel on Yom ha Shoah is familiar Eastern refugees” is nowadays synonymous with Palestinians with the lacerating sound of the siren at 10.00 AM. For two only. Other Middle Eastern refugees did not benefit from minutes almost all the country freezes. Cars stop in the street, international attention, let alone help, from the international the drivers get out, students at school, clerks in offices, community. even doctors and nurses in hospitals, all stand in silence. In assisting the Mizrahi refugees, Israel was left alone; but it On Yom ha Shoah we commemorate the victims of the most managed the tragedy despite being in a constant state of war horrendous crime of human history, which happens to be part with their neighbouring Arab countries. After a relative short of our people. period of time, the refugees left the maabaras, the transit The Shoah is a tragedy of such an extent, that all the other camps, and integrated fully in to Israeli society. All of this in catastrophes fallen upon our people pale in comparison. less than one generation - a remarkable thing in itself! At this Nonetheless, there are so many; and only recently Israel has point, the memory of the persecutions was not pleasant and started to include them in its calendar. no one really wanted to indulge in it. This year, for the first time, the persecutions and the Things have now changed. Over the last decade the children expulsion of the Mizrahim, those Jews who have been living and grandchildren of those refugees and survivors have been in Northern Africa and in Iran, has been commemorated. The collecting stories and doing research. During the same time, story of the Mizrahim is long and fascinating. Jews have been thanks to the work of several associations and volunteers, the living in places such as Morocco, even before the Islamic issue of the Mizrahim, and their right to compensation, has conquest. They were, in a sense, more indigenous than the been raised in various contexts and places. Muslims! This year, for the first time, Israel has observed an annual But this long-standing permanence did not help when remembrance day on November 30. On this day, they mobs invaded Jewish neighbourhoods, when pogroms honour the Jewish refugees from Arab lands and Iran by took place, when families were deported, expelled, and giving voice to their plight. This date has been chosen as reduced to misery. In 1948 more than a million Jews lived it commemorates the day after the UN resolution on the in Arab countries. Nowadays, there are but a few thousand. partition of Palestine, which in 1948 gave way to a terrible In countries such as Algeria, Libya and Iraq, the Jewish wave of persecutions throughout all Arab countries. population has been reduced to zero. But the date is also meaningful for another reason. According Many survivors of these tragedies found their new home in to the Jewish calendar, it happens at the beginning of Kislev, Israel, the Jewish State. There, they have been rescued. But the month of Chanukah. The story of Chanukah is of how a small group of Jews were able to keep alive the observance of Judaism, and in the end, was able to rededicate the Temple. They did not lose hope. The candles of Chanukah are a symbol of hope. A hope that grows over time. Each night we add an extra light, while outside it’s darker and darker. At the darkest time of the year, we celebrate Jewish resilience. For those who, for all these years, have been campaigning on behalf of Mizrahi refugees, for their right to be heard, have been truly resilient. The whole of international attention has been elsewhere, and the plight of the Mizrahim had been all but ignored for decades. But now their story is part of public knowledge, at least in Israel, and hopefully in the Jewish world at large. Much like a Chanukah lamp, it has been placed in the public domain. Yet, there are still many things to do, so many wounds to heal, and so many damages to compensate. There are still so many lights to light, until justice will be restored. Bulletin Board – January Sunday 4 Cheder New Term, 10.00 am Saturday 10 Rabbi’s Shiur, 9.00 am Shabbat Doroteinu, 10.30 am Shabbaton 10yrs+, 10.30 am Tuesday 20 Rosh Chodesh, 7.30 pm Friday 23 Shabbat Kolot, 6.30 pm Saturday 24 Rabbi’s Shiur, 9.00 am Havdala, 5.30 pm issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 18 HHC Rabbi vivian Silverman Hove Hebrew Congregation, 79 Holland Road, Hove BN3 1JN Tel: 01273 732035 Email: hollandroadshul@btconnect.com and rabbivcsilverman@gmail.com Web: www.hollandroadshul.com 19 Winston Churchill and the Jewish People by Rabbi Vivian Silverman Shabbat 24 January will mark fifty years since suffering took second priority to defeating the Nazi Churchill passed away in London aged ninety. regime and winning the war. But he did condemn He was a colossus who bestrode the world the “Final Solution” policy in no uncertain terms:- of his time; having made a name for himself before he was twenty-five; having taken part “There is no doubt that this is probably the on horseback in the Battle of Omdurman in the greatest and most horrific crime ever committed Sudan (1898); entering Parliament in 1900 and in the whole history of the world, and it has been remaining an MP until 1964. He gave his backing done by scientific machinery, by nominally civilized to the manufacture of the tank – first used on men…” “It is quite clear that all concerned in this the Western Front in 1917, and to the use of crime who may fall into our hands, including the air transport as Minister for Air. He reached the people who only obeyed orders by carrying out pinnacle of power in May 1940 as wartime Prime the butcheries, should be put to death after their Minister, and his speeches galvanised the nation association with the murder has been proved.” and the free world. Churchill’s oldest Jewish friend was the American He was a writer, painter and orator of renown. financier and long-time adviser to American Presidents, Bernhard Baruch, who was a slightly Yet, what were Winston Churchill’s feelings older contemporary (having been born in 1870). towards the Jewish people? In 1985, Prof. Michael They both passed away in the same year, 1965. Cohen, and then in 2007, Sir Martin Gilbert, published their books, each entitled “Churchill The final association Winston Churchill had with and the Jews”. From them we learn that, from his the State of Israel, and therefore with the Jewish earliest parliamentary years, he concerned himself people, occurred just weeks before he died, when with Jewish questions when he saw them as he gave permission for a Chair in International interwoven with his own political fortunes, or with Relations to be named “The Sir Winston Churchill Britain’s imperial interests. Chair”, dedicated in his honour by the Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan. As prospective candidate for North West Manchester in 1904, which had a large Jewish constituency, Churchill took part in the Aliens Bill question in the House of Commons (1905). With regard to the Balfour Declaration of Important message November 1917 (the letter sent by Arthur Balfour, Foreign Secretary, to Lord Rothschild, President HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY VISITS of the British Zionist Federation, promising British If you are in hospital or know anyone being admitted support for the creation of a Jewish homeland in into hospital, please get in touch with info@ Palestine), Churchill was convinced that it would sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org or telephone 07789 be instrumental in mobilising Jewish support 491279 so that a Jewish chaplain can be contacted to visit. for the Allies during the Great War, especially in America, whose entry into the War, he felt, was secured partly through Jewish pressure. He also believed (at the time) that Zionism might be the antidote for Jewish Bolshevism – that Jewish resources and energy might be channelled into building up a British Protectorate in Palestine. When the rise of Nazism threatened and then shattered the political order established by the victors following World War One, Winston Churchill’s emotions were stirred by Nazi persecution of the Jews. However, whatever may have been the depth of his sympathy, Jewish issue 248 | JANuARY 2015 20What’s on: January 2015 Grodzinki’s challos, rolls and Kosher bread available weekly by courtesy of Lubavitch Brighton from Premier Convenience Stores in Website: www.sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org Hove Street (tel. 01273 735131) Email: sjneditor@sussexjewishnews.com Please be sure to reserve your order so that we COMMUNITY EvENTS – IMPORTANT REMINDER: know how many to supply. Orders can be collected Contact the Communal Diary before planning your events! on Thursdays or Fridays. 20 SHABBAT SHALOM – BRIGHTON TIMES In Light Candles Out Havdalah EvENTS IN JANUARY Fri 2 3.48 pm Sat 3 5.04 pm Wednesday 7 Fri 9 3.57 pm Sat 10 5.12 pm JACS Games Afternoon, Rummikub – Kalooki at AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2.00 members/£2.50 non-members Fri 16 4.07 pm Sat 17 5.21 pm Fri 23 4.18 pm Sat 24 5.31 pm Thursday 8 Fri 30 4.30 pm Sat 31 5.42 pm Sussex Jewish News - Submission deadline for the December issue. Send your articles, thoughts, photos and announcements to sjneditor@ sussexjewishnews.com. Please see Submission Guidelines on page 6 MEMORABLE DATES Saturday 10 Thu 1 - Fast of Tevet – ends 4.44 pm Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Congregation Shabbat Afternoon Service Thu 1 - Bank Holiday 2.30 pm Wednesday 14 REGULAR ACTIvITIES JACS Guest Speaker Brian Freeland “Women of the Raj” at AJEX Centre, Sundays Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2.00 members/£2.50 non-members Carmel Tennis Club 10.00 am - 12.00 noon. Weekly. All levels welcome. Tel: Thursday 15 for 8 weeks only Adam on 07720 598087 Penelope Wilton stars in acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre Mondays production of “Taken at Midnight” at Theatre Royal, Haymarket. To book phone 020 7930 8800 Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Efune 12.30 - 1.30 pm at the Brighton Hillel Centre, 66/67 Middle Street, Brighton Tel: 01273 321919 Monday 19 Afternoon Club with tea 1.30 pm. Ralli Hall Tel: Reba 01444 484839 SARID Film, “The Sturgeon Queen” 10.30 am Ralli Hall, Denmark Villas, Rubber and Duplicate Bridge 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm £4.00 + £1.00 transport Hove. £1.50. Tel. 0208 385 3070 or email esther@ajr.co.uk Ralli Hall. Tel: Reba 01444 484839 Contemporary Basic Talmud with Rabbi Efune - Men only 8.15 pm Holocaust Memorial Day Events at Chabad House 01273 321919 Monday19 – Friday 30: Exhibition at the Jubilee Library Study Session with Rabbi Efune at Chabad House 8.15 pm All men welcome Sunday 25: Vigil at the Friends Meeting House 2.30 – 4.30 pm Torah & Tea with Penina Efune. Living with the times – an in depth look at the Sunday 25: Sussex Jewish Film Club at Ralli Hall weekly parsha and its relevance to our times. All ladies welcome. 8.15 pm at Monday 26: Memorial Events at the Old Court Room, Church Street Chabad House 01273 321919 Wednesday 28: University of Sussex SARID (Association of Jewish Refugees) meets every 3rd Monday of the Friday 30: ‘Keep the Memory Alive’, Lecture Hall, Lewes Town Hall, month at 10.30 am, Ralli Hall. £1.50 Tel: 0208 385 3070 or email esther@ajr. Lewes co.uk Wednesday 21 Tuesdays JACS Guest Speaker Shirley Jaffe, “About Time” at Ajex Centre, Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club 10.30 am - 4.30 pm Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2.00 members/£2.50 non-Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 Weekly at Ralli Hall membersmembers01902 779720 Painting with Rochelle (JAS) Studio at Ralli Hall, 2.00 – 4.00 pm. “Shackleton’s Carpenter”, a new play by Gail Louw at The Old Market, Tel: 01273 503708 (recommences 13 January) Hove For tickets phone 01273 201801 Israeli Dancing 7.45 pm - 9.45 pm Ralli Hall. Tel: Jacky 01273 688538 Friday 23 Wednesdays Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Congregation Erev Shabbat Service 6.00 pm JACS at the AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2 members / £2.50 non-members Sunday 25 Sussex Jewish Film Club presents “Nicky’s Family” 7.00 for 7.30 pm. Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Congregation afternoon tea at the Cavendish Hotel, Grand Parade, Eastbourne at 3.00 pm – on the first Wednesday of every Drinks available. Ralli Hall, Denmark Villas, Hove month, commencing October Tuesday 27 Thursdays Jewish Historical Society of England, Sussex Branch with guest speaker Professor Geoffrey Cantor, Emeritus Professor of the History and Ralli Hall Lunch and Social Club 10.30 am - 4.30 pm Weekly Tel: Jacqueline 01273 739999 (RH) Philosophy of Science at the University of Leeds on “Anglo-Jewry in 1851: The Great Exhibition and Political Emancipation. Ralli Hall 7.45 pm. Bridge at Ralli Hall 11.00 am Members free/Guests £4 to include refreshments. Contact Godfrey Gould Weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Efune 8.15 pm at Chabad House. on 01273 419412 or email g.gould915@btinternet.com Tel: 01273 321919 Wednesday 28 Fridays JACS with guest speaker Neil Sadler on A Policeman’s Lot…..Can be Kuddle Up Shabbat parent & child playgroup with Sara Zanardo and her guitar Quite Interesting at AJEX Centre, Eaton Road, Hove at 2.00 pm. £2.00 10.00 am – 11.30 am AJEX Centre members/£2.50 non-members Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Congregation service on the 4th Friday of each month, WVRS, 24 Hyde Road, Eastbourne, 6.00 pm Advance Notice 21 February – 1 March is Jewish Book Week. For information contact Saturdays Email: info@jewishbookweek.com or phone 0207 446 8771 or Website: http://www.jewishbookweek.com Eastbourne Hebrew Congregation Shabbat services at 22 Susans Road, Eastbourne, 10.00 am. Contact 01323 484135 or 07739 082538 issue 248 | JANuARY 2015