May 2021
the magazine of finchley progressive synagogue
Regeneration
From the Editor... So how is it for you so far? Here we are, emerging blinking into the light as we come out of hibernation, some of us vaccinated (and some not yet) and all of us hoping to return to being able to live our lives the way we want to. For sure, at times it’s tempting to recall poor Private Baldrick, in the very last Blackadder IV, prematurely rejoicing “It’s over! The Great War 1914-17!” when the guns stop firing shortly before they go over the top. Can it really be true that we’re over it, and things can ever get back to ‘normal’? The unlocking of lockdown restrictions comes with mixed feelings for many of all ages and lifestyles. We have filled our time with hope and anticipation, which often travels hand in hand with wariness and even trauma at returning to a normality that may feel like it can’t be as normal again. How will it feel to be on a crowded train? At a gig or a sports match? Milling around in a busy shopping street? It’s therefore worth asking whether ‘normal’ has changed. After all, it’s already clear that working practices are being revised for good as regards home working and work/life balance. People do seem to be more conscious of mental health issues, wellbeing and the value of seeing
Cover: FPS Adult BM group
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darren beach
people you like and love more often - I for one have been one of those guilty in the past of falling into the habit of exchanging quickly forgotten ‘Yeah, we must meet for a drink sometime’ texts rather than actually seeing dear friends.
So perhaps this regeneration - starting now but more clearly on 17 May - can enable us to harvest what we have been missing out on most, whether that’s sitting in your favourite cafe, heading over to White Hart Lane or getting a haircut. And of course, most of all, the one thing that makes us unique as species - the desire we have to speak, to communicate, to make other people happy and empathise with them, the gift of human contact. I’m only too aware myself that while I’m no spring chicken, the need to isolate has been particularly hard for my parents’ generation - some of whom are alone or just wondering when they’ll see their family and friends again. I’m especially glad that this time of regeneration will allow our different generations to enjoy each other once more.
Copy deadline is the 10th of each month. Please email all content to shofar@fps.org
From the Rabbi M
ay 17th is our next roadmap date, after which our doors will open again, safely and optimistically. As we emerge tentatively into a different normal surely we are all asking ourselves, what have we learned from all this? It’s been an on-and-off of lockdown these past 14 months. Our lifestyle has been restricted and curtailed. There has been so much loss and suffering, especially for our young people. But there has also been a quietening of things, a space to reflect. We must have gleaned and discovered truths about our lives, ourselves and each other. Did we notice what matters most? What connections you craved, what you wanted to do? Were we able to distil what brings joy and contentment? What did you discover you cared most about? What is your orientating point? Last year at the start of the pandemic the writer Bill George quoted from his book True North in the Huffington Post: ‘True North is your orienting point - your fixed point in a spinning world. It is derived from your most deeply held beliefs, values and the principles you [live] by. It is your internal compass, unique to you, representing
rabbi rebecca birk
who you are at your deepest level. A fulfilled life is not just about your selfinterest, but serving those around you and taking on challenges to make this world a better place.” That’s what I am thinking about this month. What out of all this, will we choose to take with us? We have had time to think. “The unexamined life is not worth living” wrote Socrates in the third century B.C.E. This year has, I believe, amplified that sentiment; a thoughtful and conscious life benefits us all. Maybe it was our Judaism, some of us refreshed a new enthusiasm for what our synagogue offered. We chose to bring Jewish life, music and experience into our homes and be connected to the mothership of FPS. My hope is, once we emerge fully into real life with the obligations and choices it brings, that FPS will continue to have that place.
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From the Chair E
ighteen years ago when I moved into my present house, pregnant with Rebekah, I applied for an allotment in Camden with visions of my future children growing up rooted in the soil. In November, with Rebekah in the midst of university applications, I was finally allocated my half-plot. Since then I have cleared, weeded, dug, planned and dreamed; bought and sown too many seeds; planted out and netted tender seedlings. The mundane business of growing vegetables is all about hopes and dreams and visions for the future – and all about what happens when things don’t go according to plan! One of my allotment neighbours remarked yesterday that spring is his favourite season, with everything in prospect and full of promise – even better than summer and autumn, when he’s actually harvesting! That sense of hope and anticipation and possibility is just so wonderful! We are starting to return after a year’s interruption to deferred plans and tentatively starting to pick up again. Whether it’s a mayoral election assembly now online or an Israel tour transmogrified into a UK activity camp - nothing quite what we originally imagined. But how wonderful it is to be in a time of starting afresh and of new beginnings! There’s renewal at FPS too. First, electing our new Deputies (to the Board of Deputies) at our General Meeting in May has provoked lively conversation about their role and our relationship to the Board. Gillian Merron, who is moving on to the House of Lords has asked, as her parting gift, if we can double our annual contribution to the full rate, from £15 to £30. In 4
tamara joseph
reality, this is less than a pound a week. Whilst too late for this year, council agreed in April to the increase. It is automatically added to your synagogue membership but you can still opt out or pay the lower sum if you want. This is a moment of renewal and re-engagement between us and the Board. I’d like to thank our current Deputies, Janet and Stanley for enthusiastically and committedly representing us, and to all the candidates who have put themselves forward for election for the new Triennial session. Second, after much soul searching we have renewed our relationship with the social justice work of Barnet Citizens. When their last organiser left the member institutions had to think long and hard about whether to continue. It’s been choppy in recent years. But on balance - reflecting on what they had helped us achieve not least the relationships we have formed with each other, we felt we wanted to continue. The very act of staring into the abyss has re-energised us and together we are working with Citizens to recruit a new organiser. We now know we are really committed and currently working on a campaign to improve mental health services for children and young people in Barnet. We’ll be carrying out a listening campaign to hear from our members, so expect to hear more about this soon. My hope as we return to the synagogue building and emerge from a time of challenges, losses and thwarted expectations, is that we can enjoy the excitement of embarking on the next step of the journey with a renewed and strengthened sense of purpose and commitment.
Shavuot Notice Board This month sees Shavuot, the festival of Revelation, coming as it does after counting 49 days from Passover. And in a way the festival of Shavuot reminds us of our ties, our commitment to and relationship with a Jewish life. Back to the Future: Standing Again at Sinai. Is the title of our shared Shavuot with other liberal synagogues. We are always returning there. Not that mountain leaning over the tiny monastery of St Catherines which nestles under it. No, none of that is what we mean, it’s about the symbolism, the myth, the opportunity of revelation and rediscovery that Sinai offers. The place of the original revelation and the reminder for us when we go through it every year. the “original” basque cheesecake
If you are a nervous baker who views cheesecake as an impossible challenge, this is the recipe for you. The key to achieve a perfect Basque Cheesecake is to throw cheesecake rules out of the window and embrace imperfection. To achieve the flavour of the “real thing”, you have to burn it; don’t be afraid of letting it sit five more minutes in the oven. It is also a cake that was born to be shared; it will not work if you cut the recipe. This recipe is based on the original version of the cheesecake, served in Bar La Vina, in Calle 31 de Agosto, San Sebastian, Spain. ingredients (serves 15) 350 g sugar 1 kg cream cheese, at room temperature ¼ teaspoon salt 5 large eggs
480 ml double cream 30 g all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional) steps
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. 2. Grease a 10-inch (25 cm) cake pan with butter and flour/baking spray, and line it with baking paper, leaving a few cm (5-7) overhanging the sides of the pan. 3. Using a handheld mixer or in a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream sugar and cream cheese until smooth. You can do this by hand also, by beating them together with a wooden spoon for 8 minutes. 4. Add the salt and mix. Incorporate the eggs one by one and stir until fully combined. 5. Whisk in the cream and vanilla. 6. Add the flour, folding it in gently. 7. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes, or until browned and almost burnedlooking on top. Take the cheesecake out and check if it jiggles in the middle and is almost burned on top (it should be jiggly like a panna cotta or a flan). In case of doubt, leave it 5 more minutes - it does not matter if the top burns completely. Remove from the oven and let it cool before serving. Enjoy!!!
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Seder Memories valerie joseph
As it was just Howard, Jacqueline and me for our first night Seder and not being able to sing, we joined the Communal Seder and were not disappointed. Despite coming to us through our computer we really felt part of the community. It is now a while ago but I can still hear Dean singing 50 Ways to Leave your Pharoah, that well known Paul Simon song. After a year stuck in the house together, Rabbi Rebecca’s tradition of using spring onions to ‘bash’ each other was a welcome release. And then there was the goat!!! Unforgettable.
paul richman
Pesach is such a special festival, celebrating our exodus from oppression. Not just a victory in battle, but the self-liberation of an entire people. The Seder lies at its heart, and what better way to celebrate it than to join together with a community! The FPS online Seder was a wonderful opportunity to join and feel part of things, especially for those who are alone. It was truly magnificent, both traditional and modern, and I found it totally uplifting. The energy and warmth were palpable and the contributions by
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fps members
the musicians were outstanding. At the end, I left with real feelings of hope and renewal. In postscript, the online Havdalah service at the conclusion of Pesach was an innovation, equally enjoyable and uplifting. mandy carr
Opening the door for Elijah was one of many special moments involving my wonderful dad, who died nearly 40 years ago. Every year he would pour the fifth ‘cup’ of wine, solemnly request we ‘Open the door for Elijah!’ followed by shrieks of playful delight as we realised the
wine in the cup had mysteriously disappeared. Every year. Nowadays perhaps by virtual reality he can appear at every single seder in the world, long hair, beard and all! Elijah is such a significant figure and I hope his brief appearance did not upset anyone. I am also aware that he was probably not a white man with a long beard! Nevertheless, it connected me with the joy of our family sedarim all those years ago. Along with many other aspects of the service, not least our four-legged friend, it filled me with delight. I hope it did for others too.
FPS People’s Page people welcome to new members
thanks to
Bobbie Hood `Penny and Laurence Solomons
Asher Kinchin-Smith for completing his Duke of Edinburgh volunteering by being our extraordinary Tech Wizard for Ivriah
mazal tov to
Manon Ouimet on her admission to the Liberal Judaism family Shabbat Resouled on reaching 16 in April Franklyn Gellnick and Alexandra Simonon who will ` be married at FPS in May
50/50 club draw winners, april 2021:
1st Josie Kinchin 2nd Eliza King-Lassman 3rd Jake Silver-Myer
£25 £15 £10
get well wishes
To Rabbi Rebecca after her recent surgery condolences to
Laurel Farrington and Mitch Dalton on the death of their father Charlie happy birthday to
To the following members who celebrate milestone birthdays in May: Carol Caplan, Angela Hyams, Mandy Carr, Corinne Oppenheimer, Deborah Porton, Tim Redmond, Nell Weltman Also to Dan Epstein and Patrick Richmond who celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary
a note about family announcements
Please let the office know when you have good news to share, grandchildren born, photos, joy to mark. We want to capture them all. So please help us not to miss your life cycle moments. shofar@fps.org / pauline@fps.org
Basque Cheesecake, see recipe on page 5 7
Beit Tefillah
services at fps
FPS services are being held via Zoom video conferencing, links to which are included in
services – 21 june / sivan leading into FPS emails. From May in-person services can betamuz pre-booked.
services- may / iyyar leading into sivan
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Saturday 1 May
11.00am LJ Biennial Shabbat Service
Friday 7 May
6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday 8 May
11.00am Shabbat Service
Friday 14 May
6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday 15 May
11.00am Shabbat Service
Sunday 16 May & Monday 17 May
6.30pm-12:30pm LJ Tikkun Leil Shavuot including festival services, study sessions, LJY activities and guest speakers
Friday 21 May
6.30pm Shabbat Resouled
Saturday 22 May
11.00am Shabbat Service
Friday 28 May
6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday 29 May
11.00am Shabbat Service
Beit Knesset
community events, all welcome!
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Beit Midrash
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coming up at fps
Regeneration & Artisinal Aunties tim seyner harness
There’s no doubt about it, the past year has been tough for many businesses and my recruitment agency that I run with my wonderful partner Jo was no different. When the first lockdown happened in March 2020, Jo and I went from heading up a busy company to suddenly having no business coming in, and no work to offer candidates. After a very challenging few weeks trying to make sense of this bizarre new world, and sort out furlough arrangements, Jo and I got on Zoom to discuss ways of ensuring the company was less susceptible to such dramatic world events in the future. We hit upon setting up a concierge care service for individuals and families who need extra help around the house. We initially focused on older people, who were suffering most from the isolation of lockdown. Jo had already had a poor experience of organising care for her elderly father and we couldn’t help but think, wouldn’t it be great, if agencies and carers acted more like an ‘Aunties’ or ‘Uncles’ helping out and behaving a bit like a member of the family. We decided we could help busy families and their elderly relatives and at the same time create work for our candidates. That was how our new business Artisan Aunties was born. We now have hundreds of
Photo: Sara Dibb
fps members
people ready to make a huge difference to people’s lives. When someone needs the help of an ‘Auntie’ or ‘Uncle’ to walk the dog, do a bit of cleaning, gardening, baking, babysitting, the school run, or helping older relatives with shopping or getting to appointments, we can help. We’re really excited about this and hope to make a huge difference to people needing the help of an ‘Auntie’ or ‘Uncle’. If you’d like to know more you can see what we do visit www.artisanaunties.com
my zayde (grandfather) / stanley volk
My Zayde was born in Lithuania around 1884. Probably to escape from being enlisted to the army, he became a stowaway on a ship at the age of sixteen which docked in Cardiff. There is some debate in our family that he had really intended to get to the USA, then got drunk in Cardiff and missed the boat. He stayed there and eventually married my Bubba (grandmother). They then went to live in the East End of London, had seven children of whom my father was the eldest. Zayde had learned the trade of cap-making, and successfully manufactured them from his workshop. He died in 1949 when I was 13 years old, and I have always regretted that I did not get to know him better. He was a popular local character, and as such I do recall a large crowd of neighbours gathered on the day of his funeral. I like to think that I have inherited some of his entrepreneurial spirit. 11
Regeneration & The Wilds Café 23 March 2020, The Wilds Café – along with thousands of others – closed its doors to customers. At the same time supermarkets ran out of basic goods and vulnerable people were isolated and struggling. Overnight, we decided to use the café and its suppliers to provide meals and groceries for people in need in the area. The Wilds has always been foremost a community café. We had toddler music groups, arts activities, flower arranging and a place for locals to meet. We also created a sustainable shop and gave local artists a space to promote their work. It had been our practice to invite our customers to donate to local charities such as Home Start and Baby Basics. When we went into lockdown we asked them to support our ‘meals on wheels’ initiative which enabled us to support people in the area and as far as North Finchley including deliveries for my grandparents! Those who could, made a donation for the deliveries but no-one was required to pay. On one occasion we had our local MP and a Barnet Councillor (no guesses for who that was) volunteering in the café. Fortunately, we were able to access grants such as the Mayor of London’s Pay It Forward scheme, support for hospitality businesses and Springing Back to Life: Plum Buds (from Michael Lassman) “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” Percy Bysshe Shelley, Ode to the West Wind)
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dan lassman
could furlough staff. A week ago we received a Certificate of Recognition from the London Borough of Barnet in recognition of outstanding service to the community which was quite unexpected. We did re-open last summer but it was quite difficult as each table had to be a separate household and the café had been a meeting place for friends. Then we had to close again. From 24 April we will be open Friday - Sunday 9:00 - 15:30. We’ll be open for brunch, takeaways and picnic orders. Hopefully the lockdowns and vaccination programme will enable us to get back to being a hub in the community. In the meantime we have bought a slush machine to keep the JCoSS kids satisfied! At the start of lockdown our children were aged three and nine months. As a family, like many others we see out walking, we were able to enjoy Hadley Wood, Oakhill nature reserve and other amazing green spaces. A year on, we have all benefited from the great outdoors, experienced the seasons and seen annual regeneration. Our children will walk for miles, they climb trees, explore the world beneath their feet and play with every passing dog. We have seen illness, isolation and fear, but with spring comes new hope. Barbara Shulman pictured outside the re-opened Isabel Hospice charity shop in Cuffley (Photo Credit Martine Xerri)
Regeneration & Art With Eden
eden silver myer
My art sessions started in FPS in July 2019. They have since evolved but always encourage finding joy in the process of creating and exploring, rather than putting any kind of pressure on the outcome. The art produced at the end is a wonderful bonus! I’ve had time to focus on work during the pandemic; it’s been a useful distraction for me. Both my art sessions and my confidence have changed a lot in the past year. Art moved to Zoom and I began to trust my instincts more and felt comfortable being on my own side if and when things didn’t happen as planned. I’ve come to understand that the value of my art sessions is in holding space for people to explore art and their feelings in a way that makes sense to them, to be themselves, and not to judge how ‘good’ their artwork is. Exploring our creativity can do wonders for our mental health. I really enjoy my sessions where we make art on a theme, in whatever materials we have to hand. Themes like ‘appreciation’, ‘balance’ and ‘silver linings’ have allowed us time to reflect on the pandemic and talk about it together in a safe environment. Being able to experience and process the past year with a small community of like-minded people feels incredibly special. And all via a screen! Zoom has proven to be a valuable tool for accessibility making connections, and I don’t think I’ll be ditching it. You can’t get the same informal, chatty feeling as making art in the same room as others, but I’m not ready to go back to in-person sessions just yet. I’ll probably move forward with a mixture of online and in-person sessions; maybe they will just be different ‘flavours’ of session for me.
This March I started a mindfulness teacher training course, which feels like the missing piece of my puzzle. Mindfulness fits so well with my art ethos already: slowing down, being in the present moment, and being kind to yourself. I’m so excited to see where art plus mindfulness takes me. I feel I’m emerging from my lockdown cocoon with new confidence, new skills, and more understanding of what I can offer. I think we all will have been changed by this year, and we can choose what to take forward and what to leave behind. Find out more about Eden’s art and mindfulness at www.artwitheden.co.uk
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(left): Our own Hannah as a madricha on Camp Lemala; (right:) Our KT children back in the building (well, car park!) for the first time! Socially distanced games.
MACHANEH HINEINI 5781
MACHANEH
KADIMAH
16-29 August
25 July 8 August
5781
Year 11&12 (Ages 15 -17)
Sign up at: www.ljy-netzer.org Price: £900 (LJ Members) £940 (Non-LJ Members)
Enquiries: j.powell@liberaljudaism.org Sign up: www.ljy-netzer.org Social Media: @ljynetzer
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Price: £940 £300 deposit (financial assistance available)
Secure your place with a £300 deposit! (Financial assistance available)
Years 3-10
(Ages 8-15)
life among the sloths q&a with ruben qassim
Q What’s it like? A It is really cool. I’m enjoying it so much - it’s so nice out here: great weather, great people and great views Q What do the sloths feel like? A Not actually as soft as I thought, a bit more like a Jack Russell, sort of wiry. Q Do you get to cuddle them? A You’re not meant to but there was one called Leon who I got a cuddle with - and a spider monkey who really liked me as well, which was great!
Q What was the best bit? A We got to give the baby sloths playtime outside which is so cute. Q Do they make noise? A Not really, they’re too lazy haha! Q Does Covid affect day to day life? A Not at all, thankfully - except actually getting here! Now we’re here we wear masks in shops but not much else. I’m so pleased for you. It sounds amazing. I think we’re all living vicariously through you stuck indoors. I really am so happy for you!
Q What do they eat? A Cooked fruit and leaves. We feed them twice a day.
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Contacts
fps website: www.fps.org
finchley progressive synagogue
President: Paul Silver-Myer, paulsm@fps.org
54 Hutton Grove N12 8DR 020 8446 4063 www.fps.org facebook.com/finchleyprog
Life Presidents: Sheila King Lassman, Alan Banes Vice Presidents: Cathy Burnstone, Renzo Fantoni, Josie Kinchin, Alex KinchinSmith, Laura Lassman, Lionel King Lassman, John Lewis, Andrea Rappoport, Joan Shopper
Rabbi Rebecca Birk – rabbi@fps.org Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner Community Development Manager: Zoe Jacobs – zoe@fps.org
contacts
Musicians in Residence: Franklyn Gellnick, Dean Staker Synagogue Manager: Pauline Gusack pauline@fps.org
Beit Midrash (Adult Education): Adrian Lister adrian@fps.org Beit Tefillah (Rites & Practices): Valerie Joseph valerie@fps.org
executive 2021
Chair: Tamara Joseph, chair@fps.org Vice Chair: Roy Balint-Kurti, roybk@fps.org Treasurer: Chris Nash, treasurer@fps.org Honorary Secretary: Ann Pelham, honsec@fps.org
Board of Deputies Reps: Janet Tresman, Stanley Volk
Community Support Coordinator: Beverley Kafka, beverley@fps.org Website Editor: Philip Karstadt fpswebsite@fps.org Shofar Editor: Darren Beach, shofar@fps.org
board members
Gordon Greenfield, gordon@fps.org Beverley Kafka, beverley@fps.org Paula Kinchin-Smith, paula@fps.org Sam King, sam@fps.org Phillip Raphael, security@fps.org
Shofar Team: Deb Hermer The Finchley Progressive Synagogue is a company limited by guarantee (Company No 9365956) and a registered charity (Charity No 1167285) whose registered office is 54 Hutton Grove, Finchley, London N12 8DR
ashley page insurance brokers Commerce House 2a Litchfield Grove London N3 2TN Tel. 020 8349 5100
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