Matt Bennett & Alexis Burnetts who were married at Shendish Manor by Rabbi Larry Becker of Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue on June 16th 2013. Sylvie Sugarman was the Marriage Secretary....

Major change at the Movement for Reform Judaism as it implements its strategic plan

Friday, 01 February 2013

Following the conclusion of its strategic review, the Movement for Reform Judaism has announced a major restructuring to ensure its effective implementation. The aim is to release resources tied up in the central office to enable more to be invested in community development and articulating Reform values, in line with the strategic plan’s central goals.
The intention is that these and the other investments in frontline services will be paid for by the discontinuation of the post of Chief Executive and other savings.

The changes – based on the strategic plan developed last year and following extensive consultation across member communities – are expected to see the various elements of Chief Executive Ben Rich’s role taken on by Board members, supported by the senior executive team, as well as greater streamlining of administrative functions.

In order to enhance its direct provision to communities MRJ is delighted to announce today the appointment of Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers as MRJ’s new Community Educator. Her role will be to help ensure Reform values are cascaded to all ages throughout the Movement’s communities. MRJ will also be investing heavily in its L’Chaim adult education programme which is intended to promote greater understanding of these values.

Rabbi Young-Somers joins the Movement from West London Synagogue. She is an outstanding educator and will focus on building on the excellent practice already in place in our synagogues. She becomes the third Rabbi and graduate of the Leo Baeck College to join the MRJ staff over the past 15 months.

Ida & Bradley were married at Stock Brook Manor - Stock- Essex on Monday 20th May 2013. The ceremony was conducted by Rabbi Larry Becker who was assisted by Frank Godson. Jocelyn Shepherd was the Marriage Secretary on the day.

The Chuppah was a beautiful affair and the function afterwards was lively and enjoyable with many guests from Sweden

Congratulations go to the veryy happy couple

On Sunday the 14th of April Grace Watch, Luke Ennis, David Truskauskas and Max Burney joined up with other youngsters from SWESRS, Woodford Liberal and Beit Tikvah synagogues for the first extravaganza activity of the new 11 -13 year old youth group.

Led by experienced youth leaders Frankie Stubbs and Sam Grant (RSY and LY respectively) the fearsome four and their teammates charged around Gilwell Park activities centre exploring the site and their own skills in a challenging and fun afternoon.

As one participant put it, it was brill!!!

More exciting and fun activities are planned so keep your peepers posted.

The activities are open to all synagogue members of the appropriate age, you don't need to be a member of the cheder in order to participate.

In his book The Gift of Therapy Irving Yalom wrote “Sometimes I simply remind patients that sooner or later they will have to relinquish the goal of having a better past.” This is a tough test for any of us to pass.

Given that I am writing this piece between Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron I wonder to what degree this insight into individual behaviour can be held to describe our communal attitude as Jews? Can we let go of the tragedies of our past and if we could should we?

Certainly we have more than our fair share of events in our history that we wish had been different or had not happened, but do we really live our lives in a way that indicates that we have been unable to come to terms with them? We mourn the loss of the Temple, but

would we really wish that animal sacrifice was still the centre of our worship? The Roman emperor Julian was a friend to the Jews and outlawed the outrageous persecution of all those who did not follow the Nicene Creed (Jews, pagans and other Christian groups alike). Who knows, perhaps if he had not died after only a little more than a year in power we would have been spared centuries of persecution. What would such a world lead by a polytheist have been like? But these are ancient issues and have become the stuff of fantasy and science fiction rather than real yearning and desire.

Throughout the middle ages and modern times we have suffered from isolation in Ghetto and Mellah, been subject to rape, murder and pillage, been vilified and libelled. Indeed there are few places where our suffering would not stand inspection with the worst of history. The Shoah represents an apex of horror and bestiality that seems unmatched in history.

Chavurah Supper & Service Friday 5th July 2013 from 7.00pm

A Chavurah Supper & Service will be held on Friday 5th July 2013 from 7.00pm. Why not come along and bring some food to share. These evenings are always enjoyable and very sociable.........So....why not give it a try ?????

Why not come along and join us for a very enjoyable and social evening. Bring some food to share (no meat please)

Also on Friday 2nd August 2013 7.00pm.

Rabbi Miriam Berger on a meeting last week with Natan Sharansky on proposals that would allow the Kotel, or Western Wall, to be accessible to all who seek to pray there.

I am notoriously bad about taking things back or writing letters of complaint. So the fact that Anat Hoffman spurred me on to write to Daniel Taub, the Israeli Ambassador to Britain in itself says something. The response I got from the community in my request to join me in demanding religious pluralism in Israel was wonderful.
What I wasn’t expecting was the response I got from the embassy. A few days later I received an invitation inviting me to a meeting with Natan Sharansky who was coming to London.

On Wednesday he attended the funeral of Baroness Thatcher, whom along with Ronald Reagan , Russian- born Sharansky, a founder of the Refusnik movement attributes his freedom from a Siberian labour camp.
Seven of us sat down to meet him at the embassy: me, together with Rabbis Laura Janner-Klausner, Julia Neuberger, Helen Freeman and Sybil Sheridan plus the Conservative Rabbi of Belsize Square Synagogue and a representative from the Federation who sit to the right of the United Synagogue.

Sharansky explained that as the head of the Jewish Agency he had been tasked with tackling the issue of the Women of the Wall who want an egalitarian prayer experience at the Kotel. This isn’t a new issue, the Women of the Wall have been meeting on Rosh Chodesh since 1988 but the escalating tensions around it and the involvement of diaspora Jewry have taken it to another level.

On Tuesday evenings we hold Texts Study Classes with Rabbi Larry Becker from 8.30pm in the Cheder Block

All are welcome to attend

Please contact Rabbi Larry Becker for details

The synagogue holds Access to Judaism Classes at our synagogue Synagogue or at Woodford Progressive.

Wednesday evenings at 8.30pm

Please contact Rabbi Larry Becker for more information.

Leave a message on 020 8530 3345

All are welcome

or e mail rabbecker@hotmail.com

A FAITH, HEALTH & WELLBEING PROGRAMME

• Have you been thinking about get fit and healthy without spending money on expensive memberships?
• Do you want to increase your fitness level?

If YES, then why hesitate come along and join in our programme.

It’s a great way to get fit & healthy or increase your fitness level, whilst meeting new people. You can join on one of three days during the week.

All ages and abilities welcome. All you need to do is register on Parkrun.org.uk

Instructions for joining are below, register and start your personal training programme with Professional Trainers for FREE.

REGISTER on Parkrun.org.uk

Steps to follow: Enter your details, when asked which Parkrun, please enter ‘Valentines’, it will then ask you for the option to select a running club, please select Sikhs in the City.

Print off your bar codes and bring/take with you to the run.

Be prepared:
• If you have any health issues, please seek advice from you GP before starting the run
• Bring your own bottle of water,
• Be ready in running gear as no changing facility
• Free parking close to all venues – if using car parks or meters please check pay & display)
• No toilet facilities
• Suitable for wheelchair users
• Suitable for all ages
• Bring your bar code – which you should have printed off after registering on Parkrun.org.uk

FRIDAYS at 7pm
• Meet outside Fish Bar 13 Claybury Broadway IG5 0LQ with the junction of Woodford Avenue.
• INTENSIVE Course for more experienced runners includes intense additional cardiovascular exercises along the route.
• This session last for two hours.