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Shofar February 2013 Edition
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This month Shofar is edited by Sarah Aldridge
Cover: Friends from FPS
Left: Dylan Lehner’s Bar Mitzvah (see page 15)
Copy deadline is the 10th of each month. Please email all content to [email protected]
2
I’m writing this piece a few days after my son’s Bar
Mitzvah, surrounded by the usual debris that you find
after a big family party, and musing over the events of
the last week. Last Shabbat, watching Dylan reading
his portion, I suddenly found myself thinking of his
older brother’s Bar Mitzvah, and then of all the many
others who stood there before him over the last 60
years, and of all those still to come…
And I’m thinking of friendship, and how central it is to our society. After
all, our own FPS story starts with a small group of friends hatching a plan
for a new shul. For my own part, I’m overwhelmed with a deep sense of
gratitude for the friends in my family’s life, who made our recent simcha so
special. Friends who helped out, and came along to celebrate and eat and
dance. Friends who helped with the Kiddush. Friends, like Ofra, who is simply
the most outstanding Hebrew teacher I have ever met. Like Dean, whose
music was and is inspirational! And lastly, the wonderful Sarah Aldridge, who
offered to edit this edition of Shofar, so I could have a month off, clear the
house and put away a thousand balloons, bottles and spare beds.
From the Editorpat lehner
3
rabbi rebecca qassim birk
No one likes to work alone. No one likes the
ungratifying struggle of creating and building
things alone. Synagogues are not meant to
be places of lonely individual work. In the film
Field of Dreams we learnt: “If you build it, they
will come”. But only if they know about it!
Working in partnership is why I chose
congregational life and work. Nothing beats a
sense of shared investment and projects. Last
month we wrote about the synagogue, its
role in contemporary life and why people still
choose it to be part of their lives. A community
is a group of people gathered to share
something. And there is nothing more gratifying
than building projects and enterprises, classes
and clubs together, and the connections we
make.
Connections begin with our kids at Ivriah
through Rikkud, Youth Group, playing music
together at Shabbat Resouled to Book Group
and Rosh Chodesh. Café Thursday is successful
because of the folk who help Nicky Marzell
make a delicious lunch, and offer lifts to each
other. Adult Learning is thriving because I
now have a partner in Adrian Lister and we
are finding new supporters who are involved
in Lunch and Learn, Café Ivriah’s animated
discussions or the Beit Midrash Thursday
classes.
This year, our 60th, is the ideal time to join
me, if you don’t already, in sharing projects and
ideas. I hope this year we can push ourselves
to develop more in the synagogue. A dynamic
Nursery group is exploring plans to create a
financially independent Jewish nursery, let me
know if you want to make small steps in this
area.
I am looking for partners to join me and
David Aarons in establishing a well-peopled
welfare group. We’d like a group to arrange
afternoon teas in people’s homes. We are
hoping to expand our Shelter cooking group to
offer meals to those unwell, have had a baby
or suffered a bereavement. I’m looking for
partners in offering creative Family Education
programmes, and we will be launching our
Grandparents Project at the FPS weekend away
in March.
May we continue to be bound by good
connections and friendship. I noted that
Finchley Synagogue spoke of their soon to be
lost Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis as having “built a
situation where the community is full of lay
people empowered to do more”. May that be
said of us during this auspicious year.
From the Rabbi
connections
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2ND
HAVDALAH IN YOUR PYJAMAS!!!
[at 4.15PM] FOR ALL AGES 0—12
COME IN YOUR BEST PYJAMAS!
COME AND TAKE PART IN A SPECIAL FAMILY HAVDALAH WITH RABBI REBECCA AND YOUTH CLUB! A PYJAMAS THEMED YOUTH CLUB FOR YEARS 2—6 WITH PILLOW FIGHTS AND MIDNIGHT SNACKS TO FOLLOW STRAIGHT AFTERWARDS!
Saturday February 2 Come & take part in a special Family Havdalah with Rabbi Rebecca & Youth Club!
A pyjamas themed youth club for Years 2—6, with pillow fights & midnight snacks to follow straight afterwards!(at 4.15pm)For all ages 0—12 Come in your best pyjamas!
A member recently
suggested that
Council is not open
or accountable to
the membership.
While it is tempting
to be defensive,
on reflection it is better to recognise the
perception and address it.
Any member is welcome to observe Council
meetings, unless there is a confidential matter,
as well as request copies of the Minutes.
The AGM provides an annual opportunity for
Council to report to the membership, to answer
questions and to present proposals for any
constitutional changes. We previously wrote
Council Notes in Shofar and this has lapsed, so
is being remedied here.
The major activity of the moment is
changing the organisational structure so that
we have fewer large committees and more,
smaller working groups. In many ways, the
organisation had been based on a model set
up when the synagogue was begun in 1953.
Our founder members were all families where,
in the main, father went out to a 9-5 job and
mother stayed at home. There was plenty of
time for the pioneers to meet once the children
were in bed.
In 2013, our demographic is very different
with households (the unit of membership)
including mixed faith, single parents, and
many whose work extends into traditional
synagogue time. There are industries dedicated
to extra-curricular activity for children and
entertainment for adults. We live in a service
culture where everyone is viewed as a customer.
FPS can either increase subscriptions to pay for
more staff to improve ‘customer service’ or we
must restructure to facilitate manageable tasks
for volunteers. The Council opted for the latter,
and to create focused working groups.
The community is small enough for all
members to feel connected and large enough
for different friendship groups to develop.
Working on a task or project is an ideal way
for members to build relationships and have a
stake in the community. Being small, however,
much depends on the Rabbi and she needs
partners to maintain the provision across a
range of activity.
Currently, our three main committees are in
the process of delegating their responsibilities
to small groups of people who focus on one
aspect of synagogue life. The groups and
co-ordinators are listed on the back cover
of Shofar. There are also ad-hoc groups who
may gather for a one-off project. There will be
more opportunities for participation in leading
projects and, hopefully, a route through to
synagogue leadership and the Executive (Chair,
Vice Chair, Treasurer and Hon Sec) of the future.
We are working on job descriptions for these
roles as well so that the responsibilities and
expectations are clear and manageable.
The community is small enough for all members to feel connected
and large enough for different friendship groups to develop.
4
laura lassman
From the Chair
The Times circa 1953
5
Our daughter Alison was confirmed at Finchley
Progressive, as it had become in 1970, and our
son three years later.
My grasp of Progressive Judaism was
sketchy but I rather reluctantly took on the
editorship of Shofar from Sheila King Lassman
in 1996, soon after the assassination of Yitzhak
Rabin, and I continued in that position for
almost 12 years.
Shul membership was changeable, at
its lowest it dropped to 400. A quarter of
departures had moved away and nearly a third
had died.
Judging by the many activities,
opportunities for young members and new
members, nowadays Finchley Progressive
looks good. A few old survivors still turn up
for the Thursday lunches appetisingly (and
copiously) prepared by Nicola Marzell and
Corinne Oppenheimer in the presence of Lionel
Lassman.
Long may it remain so!
Kay Pilpel and I (My Kind of Judaism, December
Shofar) were members of Finchley Liberal, as
it then was, long before the tennis courts on
which it was later built changed hands. We had
married in March 1951, when spring weddings
ensured a welcome Government tax rebate.
In the summer of 1951 I joined The Times
as a junior sub-editor at £14 a week, having
previously worked on the Irish Times in Dublin
and taken a degree in English and French. We
had moved from Kay’s bachelor flat in Highgate
to Finchley and she saw to our joining the
synagogue.
My elder brother and I had learnt Hebrew
at my mother’s insistence when the family lived
opposite what became Eagle Lodge in Golders
Green Road, coached by a peripatetic Mr Cohen
once a week, but we gave it up after my father
sent us to a ‘progressive’ boarding school in
Devon. Kay never mastered it, and I am still far
from proficient.
Derrick Zimmerman, Life president of FPS,
called at our house and enrolled us, assisted by
Dick Levy and Jack Mundy, all from the Chandos
Tennis Club. Derrick’s name deservedly appears
four times on the synagogue’s memorial board.
As Kay wrote, Friday evening services
were held in each other’s homes, upstairs at
the North Finchley Library, or occasionally in
the hall at Christ Church. Rabbi Frank Hellner
presided and put in 33 years’ sterling service.
leon pilpel
FPS 60 Years On
Judging by the many activities, opportunities for young members
and new members, nowadays Finchley Progressive looks good.
6
sixtieth updaterosh chodesh group
The year of special events celebrating the 60th anniversary kicked off with the January
meeting of the Rosh Chodesh Group. We were considering our changing relationships
with and within the synagogue over the past decades. Younger and older women –
both in years and length of FPS involvement – discussed the growing role of women
in our community, sometimes wondering whether our male membership might feel
underrepresented and even dominated by the almost exclusively female leadership.
One of the members joined about forty years ago, went away for a number of years
and then, relatively recently, returned to FPS: what better vantage point to discuss
the changes that took place in the meantime. We also talked about changing
‘minhagim’ (customs) at FPS and the right balance between contributing to and
receiving from the community.
purim spiel saturday 23 february
Join us for a time travel extravaganza that
will have Einstein rewriting his Theory of
Relativity. An all-star cast spanning the
generations of our community will delight
and intrigue you. Fasten your seat belts and
be ready to enter the time warp.
5.15pm: Gregger Making and Purim activities
including Fancy Dress Parade
6.00pm Megillah in different tongues
followed by Spiel and Purim Feast
Please bring food for the feast according to
your surname:
A-J Savoury foods (vegetarian quiches,
salads, dips, crisps, crackers, pita
bread, cut vegetables)
J- Q Desserts (pies, cakes, chocolates,
sweets, biscuits, fruit)
Q-Z Drinks (lemonade or other fizzy, water, juices, squash)
60th Anniversary
wika dorosz
7
planning aheadMany events will be taking place throughout the year and teams of volunteers have
been formed to work on specific projects. However, we still need help and what better
way to celebrate the anniversary than to participate in the planning.
archive and oral history project
We are gathering and sorting memorabilia over the decades and need your photos,
videos, press cuttings, stories and artefacts. Please help with the exhibition and let us
know if you can contribute to the Oral History Project, so contact Laura at
[email protected]. We need people to
• Film & script
• Interview
• Be interviewed
founders tea in may
Our May tea party will celebrate the founding members who built the congregation.
All current members are invited but we are
keen to welcome back relatives of the early
members. Lionel Lassman
[email protected] 020 8445 3284
is interested in photographs, articles or other
memorabilia connected with the early days of
the synagogue and the founding members, as
well as suggestions for guests.
generations day in october
Andrea Collett is co-ordinating a day of celebration with something for everyone. If
you have ideas, can help make the party something remarkable, have a bouncy castle,
chocolate fountain or champagne fountain you can offer, or a willing pair of hands,
please contact the office.
fund raising for fps@60
Would it be too great a target to aim for £60,000 to mark our sixtieth anniversary?
Council is identifying a wish list and over the next few weeks we will be publishing the
full shopping list.
60th Anniversary
wika dorosz
b’nei mitzvah families friday night dinner
Friday 8 FebruaryFriday Night Dinner for B’nei Mitzvah Families with our guest Rabbi Roderick Young, speaking on Discovering You’re a Jew at 24. Please bring non-meat dishes and desserts to share for pot luck dinner and Kiddush.
8
Beit Tefillahservices at fps
Friday 1 February Shabbat Resouled Unplugged
Saturday 2 February Shabbat B’Yachad
Friday 8 February Kabbalat Shabbat with participation from
Kita Vav and Zain
Saturday 9 February Tziltzelai Shabbat
Friday 15 February Shabbat Resouled
Saturday 16 February Shabbat morning service including
Yonatan Wade Bar Mitzvah
Friday 22 February Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday 23 February Shabbat service including Sam Levy
Bar Mitzvah
Purim service and spiel
two dinners, one speaker
shabbat services - february
young adults dinner
Friday 8 FebruaryYoung Adults Dinner following Kabbalat Shabbat service. Hosted by Daisy Goodman and Mike Daventry and Student Rabbi Rene Pfertzel. Please bring non-meat dish to share.Speaker: Rabbi Roderick Young - rabbi, writer and broadcaster on An Unusual Jewish Legacy.
9
Beit Knessetwhat’s happening at fps
breakfast shiur
Saturday 23 February @ 9.00am
with Rabbi Wittenberg
cafe thursday
Thursdays @12.30pm
yoga
Mondays @7.oopmTuesdays @7.30pm Contact Richard on 020 8349 9602
film club
Sunday 3 February @7.30pm, ‘The Browning
peoplecongratulations and mazal tov:
birth
Trish and Alan Banes on the birth of their
grandson, Brodie Joseph Nightingale Banes,
son of Robert and Katherineb’nei mitzvah
Yonatan Wade and family on his Bar Mitzvah
Sam Levy and family on his Bar Mitzvah birthday
Joan and Henry Bennett
celebrate their 90th birthdaysconversion
Michael Daventry on completing his
conversion and on his admission ceremony
in Januarymarriage
Alan Freeman and Anna Eisen, stepdaughter
of David Eisen who married in January
Sam Lassman Watts, son of Laura and
grandson of Sheila and Lionel, and Roberta
Robino who will be married in February
wedding anniversaries
Valerie and Howard Joseph on their Ruby
Anniversary, hosting Kiddush on 2 February;
Joan and Howard Shopper on their Golden
Wedding, hosting Kiddush on 9 February;
Linda and Leon Gevertz on their recent Ruby
Anniversary
Many members are celebrating important life
milestones by hosting and accepting a mitzvah
at a Shabbat service. If you have a celebration
you would like to share with the community
please contact the office
a warm welcome to new members
Alison Pilpel
Ariel and Deepti Armon with Maya and Amit
Brian Spencer Hershon and Ruth Hershon
winners of 50/50 january draw were:
1st Jordan Helfman £20
2nd John Norman £10
3rd Paul Lichtenstern £5
Version’. For details please see page 11.
curtain up!
Wednesday 13 February @7.30pmFor details please see page 11.
rosh chodesh
Celebration of the new moon by women
gathering for learning and spiritual exploration
(over a glass of wine).
Rosh Chodesh Adar: Monday 11 February -Jewish women in literatureRosh Chodesh Nissan: Tuesday 12 March -Lillith and Eve
Thursday evenings from 7.30pm | The Sermons and Intellectual Legacy of Rabbi John Rayner z’l, with Liberal rabbis and others that knew him well, Hebrew & Delving into Judaism: A Course to
Refresh and Illuminate Judaism. | £5 donation/session For more information, contact Adrian Lister
28 February half term
10
Beit Midrashlearning at fps
feb
ru
ar
y 7
7.30pm 8.30pm
feb
ru
ar
y 14
feb
ru
ar
y 21
HebrewBeginners & Intermediate
HebrewBeginners & Intermediate
HebrewBeginners & Intermediate
Delving: Lifecycle Birth & Coming
of Age
Delving: Marriage & the Chuppah in
Jewish Tradition: New Ways of Partnership
Delving: Purim & the Power of Remembering
the universal and particular
Rayner - Integrity is not Cheap: Remaining a Minority
with Rabbi Pete Tobias
Rayner: Swimming Against the Stream: Vision for Liberal Judaism.
Has it stood the Test of Time? with Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk
Rayner: Whose God is it Anyway? Rabbi John Rayner’s Love of the Universal
with Rabbi Lea Muhlstein
ma
rch
7
7.30pm 8.30pm
ma
rch
14
ma
rch
21
HebrewBeginners & Intermediate
HebrewBeginners & Intermediate
HebrewBeginners & Intermediate
Delving: Liberal Jewish Theology and
Recollections
Delving: Death & Mourning in Jewish
Tradition and the rhythm of customs
Delving: Seizing the Seder and understanding
the power of Pesach
Rayner - Radical or Rooted: His Relationship with Jewish Tradition & History
with Rabbi James Baaden & Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk
Rayner: The Acerbic Correspondent
with Rabbi Andrew Goldstein
Rayner: The Wider World and Us: ‘Jews and Non-Jews’
with Rabbi Danny Rich
11
Arts at FPS
This is the monthly theatre group that meet
to discuss an agreed play. Recently Curtain
Up! enjoyed a visit from a stage production
manager, illustrating what goes on behind the
scenes to make a play work.
In January the group read a play, Arthur Miller’s
All My Sons, rather than visit the theatre. FPS’s
Curtain Up! would be delighted to have new
people to join this interesting and informal
group. Contact [email protected]
for more information.
The Book Club in February are reading The
Europeans, by Henry James and in March: The
Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
This book was first published in 1953, 60 years
ago, and the Book Club’s contribution to the
60th anniversary. Meetings are held in people’s
homes, 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of
each month. Contact [email protected] if
you’d like to join.
3 February | The Browning VersionTerence Rattigan’s film version of his superb
play, The Browning Version. Unlike the original
play which was just one act in length, Rattigan
re-wrote the script and added additional
material to turn it into a full-length film. All
those who saw the recent production in the
West End will want to see how well Rattigan
adapted the original
3 March | Roman Holiday
Kicking off Screen on the Grove’s 1953 season,
Roman Holiday stars the academy award-
winners Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. This
is a perfect example of the kind of romantic film
that only Hollywood could do so well.
Screenings start at 7.30pm, recommended
donation £5 includes refreshments. Films
already shown may be borrowed for £2.50.
Contact Wika [email protected].
curtain up!
the screen on the grove
cafe ivriahShabbat morningsfrom 9.30am
An informal, lively discussion over coffee, for Ivriah parents and others
lunch & learnWednesdays12.30pm-2.00pm
Hot learning topics with tea and cake - bring a sandwich!
Also in Beit Midrash...
book club
FPS weekends away of the past, with more hair
12
FPS Away Weekend
from south to north
In just a few weeks’ time, on Friday 1 March,
a large, very mixed group from our FPS
community will be trundling up the M1 for the
‘Away Weekend’: a group of babies, children,
teens and adults from 18 to over eighty. Some
could be described as regular worshippers,
maybe even observant, some rarely step foot
inside the synagogue and consider themselves
atheist. We have to ask ourselves why are we
going? We’ll all find out the answer by Sunday
afternoon. The weekend theme is loosely
based around story-telling, from biblical to
personal but in conversations I’ve had about
the weekend, the theme isn’t foremost on their
minds. Everyone is looking forward to spending
the weekend together at a beautiful country
hotel, getting away from work and stress,
maybe taking a couple of hours out on Shabbat
afternoon to visit the local area or just chilling
out with each other, in or out of the bar. Take
a look at the photos of past weekends to see if
you can recognise the faces?
It would be great to see you at Hothorpe
Hall this year and there are still a few spaces for
the weekend. If finances are a problem, please
speak privately to Rabbi Rebecca or to Alex
Kinchin-Smith who is leading the team. We’re
really looking forward to seeing you there.
If you are interested in coming along please
contact the office, or Josie at
[email protected] or Alex on
[email protected] for an application
form.
josie kinchin
13
FPS Communal Seder 2013
I am now 9 years old and this year will be my
fourth communal Seder at FPS which I am
really looking forward to.
When I think of FPS Communal Seder all
sorts of things come to my mind. It’s great fun
and very exciting, and I see lots of my friends
and their families. We tell the story together in
the Haggadah of Moses and how the children
of Israel left Egypt quickly. Along the way
there are lots of questions and if you answer
one correctly you get a sweet or chocolate.
Everyone takes part in the reading of the
Haggadah.
There is a meal which is always lovely food
that we eat together and of course lots of
matzo.
I really like Communal Seder as my Dad and
I enjoy it together with everyone at FPS - it is
very enjoyable for the whole group as we all
celebrate Passover as a community, the way
it should be marked. I am looking forward to
Seder, and hope many more people come this
year and enjoy it as much as I do.
Sam Conroy (9) with help from David Conroy (44)
fps Communal Seder 2013
Tuesday 26 March Starting At 6.00pm (Second Night Passover)This is a very popular event and numbers are
restricted so book early to avoid disappointment
Members: Non-Members:
£15 £18
Adults Adults
£10 £10
Children under 12 Children under 12
For seder tickets please contact the office on
COME AND HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT THE
SYNAGOGUE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE AT FPS
MARCH 9TH 4PM
SCHOOL YEARS 4 AND UP
COME AND HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT THE
SYNAGOGUE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE AT FPS
MARCH 9TH 4PM
SCHOOL YEARS 4 AND UP
come and have your say about the synagogue and talk about what you want
for young people at fps
march 9, 4.00pmschool years 4 and up
YOUTH COUNCIL WANTS YOU!
sam & david conroy
14
in my gap year I decided I’d prefer to work in the
Jewish world. Later, while at Kutz Camp in New
York, I met lots of young inspirational rabbis
who could relate to me as a young person. I
realised that it was something I could do too.
Did you then go on to study something related?I was already signed up to study Geography
at Birmingham. I was open to the idea that
I might still make my career about volcanos
and weather, but no – it is still rabbinic studies
for me. I’m now in my first year at Leo Baeck
College.
Will Geography be useful in any way to you, as a rabbi?There is a great link with Judaism and the
environment, healing the environment in the
way of Tikkun Olam. I will hopefully do my
thesis on Judaism and the environment.
It sets you out a bit from other rabbis, and other geography students?Well yes, although there is Rabbi Colin Eimer
from Southgate & District Reform who also
studied geography.
So what is your USP then?I’d like to become the all singing, dancing,
weather-forecasting rabbi of the future.
Interview: Sarah Aldridge
q&a with hannah kingstonWhat do you do at FPS?I teach at Ivriah, the class of 10 & 11 year
olds. I’m also involved in the Kabbalat Torah
Programme. I help with the Rikkud dance group
and was previously in the Shabbat Resouled
band.
What is Rikkud? Are you a dancer?Rikkud is an Israeli dance group for children
over 6. I was involved with Rikkud at our
previous shul and helped set it up when we
moved to FPS. It is run for the youth by the
youth. Now at 22, I am there to advise and help
the little ones with their routines. Rikkud is
currently looking for new recruits.
Does Rikkud ever perform their dances?Recently Rikkud performed at West London
Synagogue for Chanukah, during One World
Week and at the East Barnet Festival.
I understand you are now training to be a rabbi, what led to this?I’ve always been involved with the progressive
Jewish community. While working at Accenture
The FPS Israeli Dance Group Rikkud
Contact Al on 07968 869 388 or [email protected]
Thursdays, 10am FPS, 54 Hutton Grove, N12 Admission, £5 (including tea/coffee)
Music and movement classes for
0-3 year olds
Al’s Little Singers
Come early for chat and play!
Off-street parking!
15
my bar mitzvah by dylan lehnerI had my Bar Mitzvah on the 5 January. This
was a very special experience for me, and many
of my relatives came from all over the world.
My portion dealt with one of the defining
moments of our Torah, the encounter of Moses
and the burning bush. Here God gives Moses
the mission to lead his people out of Egypt,
away from slavery to the Promised Land. But
Moses is reluctant to accept this mission
because he doesn’t feel he is the right person.
He says to God “Who am I that I should go to
Pharaoh, that I should bring the Israelites out
of Egypt?” This links to my Haftarah portion:
Jeremiah is also reluctant to do God’s bidding.
Moses and Jeremiah are two completely
different people, and they live in different
times. But they both do not feel ready or right
to do the job. These two famous prophets both
began as reluctant men who weren’t sure if
they were ready for these amazing missions.
They only really became ready by stepping up
and taking on these challenges.
In a way that made me feel a bit like what
this Bar Mitzvah has been like for me. There
was so much to learn and I wasn’t sure if I could
do it and now suddenly I’m here, although I’m
still not quite sure if I’m ready. When I talked
about this with my parents and with Ofra, my
Hebrew teacher, we thought it was quite nice
that these men felt the same way. They were
not ready. Who am I, they ask themselves, to do
this task and to think that I can do it?
My mum and Ofra said “That’s the point,
in the big moments of your life you don’t feel
ready”. Maybe you don’t feel ready when you
start a job, get married or have children. My
mum said to me “you don’t ever feel ready for
those things”. What makes you ready is being
there, stepping up, doing it even though you
don’t feel ready for it. It’s when you close your
eyes and step off, that’s when it begins.
In a way this portion is like a manual. God
chose Moses because he saw the miracle of
the burning bush, and was curious about it.
He went to find out like a scientist would. First
comes curiosity then comes courage. So when
there’s a miracle: go and investigate, don’t be
reckless but don’t ignore it or be scared.
When life presents you with an opportunity,
take it and step up to it, even if you’re not
feeling ready, you need to put in the work, but
it will only pay off if you take the opportunity.
16
Contactsfps who’s who
finchley progressive synagogue
54 Hutton Grove N12 8DR
www.fps.org
020 8446 4063
Charity Number: 1071040
Rabbi: Rebecca Qassim Birk
[email protected] / 07939 227480
Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner
Synagogue Manager: Pauline Gusack
Community Manager: Angela Wharton
executive
Chair: Laura Lassman
[email protected] / 07957 545 569
Vice-Chair: Joan Shopper & David Aarons
01582 792 959
Treasurer: Richard Kravetz
020 8349 9602
Honorary Secretary: David Pelham
020 8445 8111
synagogue committees & groups:
Beit Tefillah, Contact, Education, Membership,
Events Plus, Babies & Toddlers, B’nei Mitzvah,
Hospitality Group, Security.
We are represented on the Board of Deputies
and Liberal Judaism. For further information,
please call the office.
shofar editor
Pat Lehner
Editorial assistant Sarah Aldridge
FPS is a constituent of Liberal Judaism
21 Maple Street W1T 4BE
020 7580 1663
LJY Netzer (youth dept) 020 7631 0584
ashley pageinsurance brokers
Commerce House2a Litchfield Grove
London N3 2TN
Tel. 020 8349 5100
janet tresmanmediator & collaborative
family law solicitor
consultant now at hoffman-bokaei.co.uk
Lithos House307 Finchley RoadLondon NW3 6EH
Tel. 020 7433 2380