Shofar February 2023

From the Rabbi

Not many of us may know, unless we have looked carefully at the sign on our gates, that the Hebrew name for our synagogue is Shaarei Shalom; meaning Gates of Peace. We don’t use that name so much. But what I have intuited over the years is that gateway, open doors and welcome are very important to us as a congregation. Indeed, so many of us see FPS as our home. A home away from home; more than a synagogue, more than a building but a community hub that welcomes us all. The idea of synagogues, indeed all places of worship, being something more than the ark, bimah and sanctuary. After Covid I distinctly remember Monty Bixer arriving and weeping as he walked through our tired hallway and worn carpet into our synagogue. I have come home, he told me. I know many of you felt similarly and that has

Cover: The different ways we honour the past and the present in the FPS building:

60th Anniversary Mosaic;

Bima Chair Tapestry; The Boyd-Stone Library; The Seven Days by John Bernard; Memorial Rose Garden; Tree of Life

Copy deadline is the 10th of each month. Please email all content to shofar@fps.org

rabbi rebecca birk

made 54 Hutton Grove precious to many of us. So here we are celebrating 70 years of FPS life. Our current building has been our home since 1964; it has contained our laughter and our tears, hosted family celebrations and seen so much love beneath its roof. Now it needs our love in return, for us to make it a more beautiful, welcoming, inspiring and environmentally responsible home.

We have just launched our year with our spectacular yet warm civic service that showed off all parts of our community life. And this year as a much needed birthday present to ourselves we will be rolling out our exciting initiative to raise funds responsibly and sensitively to renew our home, refurbish our building and attend to our synagogue with the care and attention it has needed.

It is time and it is our time to do this. We are currently waiting for architectural plans that will correspond to our realistic yet ambitious intention to raise £650,000. We already have raised £250,000 in gifts and pledges. This is our opportunity to care for our home. And I am so excited for us to bring this on.

Ivriah children strongly supporting FPS becoming an ecosynagogue! Read more on Young Voices, page 15

“[Our building] now needs our love in return, for us to make it a more beautiful, welcoming, inspiring and environmentally responsible home.”

Farewell to Zoe

If we are a home then the people that run our homes are intrinsic to them.

This month Zoe leaves FPS in a formal way. Zoe joined us in 2017. I recall well all of Zoe’s journey here at 54 Hutton Grove. Her interview panel was utterly wowed by Zoe’s verve, charisma and exciting sense of community. Alex Kinchin-Smith called me when he first met her to say ‘She is Amazing!’. Zoe began after HHDs and together with Pauline held the fort while I was on sabbatical then we enjoyed a good 18 months of ‘peace time’ together before Covid hit. As you will all recall Zoe was utterly extraordinary during Covid: the networks she created, the communication she sustained and the energy that she brought throughout those two years of ‘new’ living. Since then Zoe has recognised a cumulative exhaustion from community work since she was 16 years old and the need for some restorative time in her new home by the sea. 2022 was a tough year for Zoe and so this is much needed.

adoration her Ivriah children have for her? The chocolate sedarim for Pesach, picking damsons and blackberries in our garden and the speed with which Zoe turns them into crumbles. All these we will remember.

Zoe has brought joy and kindness and I imagine FPS nor any of us will be the same again.

Words from a congregant-Bobbie: Zoe is great at involving people! The Friday night dinners, for example – I’m hopeless at small talk but Zoe thinks of crazy, fun questions that make everyone contribute painlessly. She has been instrumental setting up in our small but delightful Mindful Crafting sessions – apparently my idea (did I scratch my nose again?) – where I’ve made more new friends and have learned new skills from those who have generously shared their knowledge.

Yes, FPS asks a lot of individuals but every ask pays dividends by helping you to build links and feel a part of the community. I love reading about the range of creative activities in which Zoe has been key. And her care of the youth. There’s no greater privilege or responsibility than holding future generations in your hand and Zoe has done so much to nurture the future of FPS through its young people.

For five years I have worked so closely with Zoe and cannot imagine synagogue life without her. Whirling during Oseh Shalom in our family services; the skill she demonstrates in choosing apt pieces from literature to echo and reflect the Shabbat portion. Or what about the

To quote Debby Boone, “Dreams are the seeds of change. Nothing ever grows without a seed, and nothing ever changes without a dream.” Some dreams, and some seeds, go from strength to strength, and many reminders that ‘Zoe was here’ will remain.

Carry on dreaming big, Zoe – the world needs creative people more than ever! Thank you for the role you’ve played in encouraging me to bloom at FPS.

From Zoe

It feels so wonderfully appropriate that this edition of Shofar is about how and where we make our homes.

FPS has become home for me – and I love it. And yet, I realised, it was time to go.

It turns out Jacinda Ardern had much the same thoughts, and she put them more eloquently than I could. I quote (with truly only a few edits!)

“Working at FPS is the most privileged job anyone could ever have, but also one of the more challenging. You cannot, and should not do it unless you have a full tank, plus, a bit in reserve for those unexpected challenges…

I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice…We give all that we can, for as long as we can, and then it’s time. And for me, it’s time.”

I am so grateful that you shared your lives, your children, your stories and your community with me. It has been such a pleasure. I have laughed so much. I have cried so much (though that’s no great surprise). I have learnt so much – with you, and from you.

I cannot have shared my life, my days and my work with Rabbi Rebecca without some love of Mary Oliver rubbing off. I found a quote from The Summer Day where she asks “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”. I feel like I’m on a precipice –because the answer is, I truly don’t know. I hope to take some time off, to swim and sleep and dance and walk… and during that time perhaps my next steps will show themselves.

I am so pleased that I am handing over Ivriah and KT, temporarily at least, to Natasha Kafka and John Rubinstein. I leave our children in the safest, kindest, most knowledgeable and joyful hands I know.

I know the Exec and Rabbi Rebecca have plans to appoint someone new in April. From our Crafternoons to Purim Spiels, kiddush rotas to High Holy Day charities, they will take these on with energy and new ideas and I can tell them only that it is a privilege, a joy, and only occasionally a headache.

I cannot leave – and goodness it feels so strange to type those words – without saying a few thank yous…

To the Exec and to Council for their kindness, generosity of time and knowledge and their enthusiasm. I have been supported at every step.

To Pauline, and more recently Caroline, who are both phenomenal colleagues, chocolate sharers, story tellers and problem solvers.

To Rabbi Rebecca, for making me a better person and a better educator. You inspire me more than I can put into words.

And to our wonderful children and teenagers, who have taught me more than anyone else, and who have made me laugh so much my tummy hurts.

I will miss FPS so much, but I will pop back very soon.

With love, Zoe

Notice Board

Board of Deputies of British Jews

My report for Shofar’s November 2022 issue regrettably missed being issued, but was attached to the synagogue’s weekly newsletter the following week, Shabbat 4th and 5th November. You will no doubt remember the late PM, Harold Wilson’s frequently quoted aphorism that, ‘a week is a long time in politics.’ During the turmoil of the last 3 months, ‘they’ are saying that nowadays, a day is even longer than a week used to be in politics.

I described the many questions raised by the Deputies at the last Plenary session in mid October to the President on her public statement to the Conservative Friends of Israel Group at the Conservative’s annual conference, supporting the proposed move of the UK embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. I quoted from a letter sent by a member of our congregation to the President, Marie Van der Zyl criticising her statement given at the conference. Many Deputies raised the same issue at the last Plenary, particularly complaining that the matter had not been discussed by the Deputies in the Plenary beforehand and thus they had not been given the opportunity to express views or vote for it in the terms of the President’s public stance, or at all.

Since then, we have had a change of Prime Minister. I understand that he has shelved the proposed move of the UK embassy to Jerusalem during the remainder of this government’s term of office.

The Family Law Group of the Board on which I sit postponed its meeting due to take place on Monday 7 November as we had only 2 current topics to discuss both of which depended on some progress from Parliamentarians, which have been frustrated as follow:

‘The All Party Parliamentary Group on Get

janet tresman

Refusal: Having spoken to Tracey Allen, Advisor to Jon Mendelsohn, it is difficult for him to arrange meetings as he does not currently have a PA. There has been no progress on the APPG’s work so far, and they will let us know as soon as there is.

The British Bill of Rights Bill: with Dominic Raab back as Justice Minister, and the new Prime Minister emphasising implementing the 2019 Manifesto, this would appear to be back on the agenda. I have re-requested a meeting with Dominic Raab. I note that Joanna Cherry QC, Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee has written to Dominic Raab asking if the Bill would be reintroduced, and if she has received a reply she hasn’t publicised it.

The Family Law Group have had a question and answer session with learned counsel: Adam Wagner KC , a distinguished human rights lawyer, so far as it may affect the Jewish community. I shall keep you informed, the meeting was postponed to the first week in December and our next Plenary takes place on 27 November with more in December, and January, I should have more to report for the next issue of Shofar.

FPS People’s Page

people

welcome to new members

Lorraine Hockley, Rosina Cohen, Yael Tischler with baby Dahlia

happy birthday to Tom Dolan, Renzo Fantoni, Michael Hudson, James Hyde, Lionel Jacobs, Valerie Joseph, Simon Lucas, Nathan Mainegra-Stewart, David Mosco, Gloria Silver, Alexandra Willner

happy anniversary to Peter & Christina Rosenthal

mazal tov to Manon & Jacob on the birth of Ruby Cole Perlmutter; Andrea Narcin on graduating with an MA in Religion

Beit Tefillah

services - february / shevat through to adar

Friday 3 February 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Rebecca & Dean Staker

Saturday 4 February 11.00am Shabbat B’yachad & Tu B’shvat Seder with Rabbi Rebecca, Dean Staker, Franklyn Gellnick & the Ivriah team, with farewell kiddush for Zoe

Friday 10 February 6.30pm: Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Rebecca & Natasha Kafka

Saturday 11 February 11.00am Shabbat Morning Service with Rabbi Rebecca & Natasha Kafka

Friday 17 February 6.30pm Shabbat Resouled with Rabbi Rebecca, Dean Staker & the Resouled Band

Saturday 18 February 11.00am Shabbat Morning, with Rabbi Rebecca, Dean Staker & Franklyn Gellnick

Friday 24 February 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Alex Gellnick & Dean Staker, followed by Community Friday Night Dinner

Saturday 25 February 11.00am Shabbat Morning Service with Beverley Kafka, Wika Dorosz, Dean Staker & Franklyn Gellnick

Friday 3 March 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Rebecca & Dean Staker

Saturday 4 March 11.00am Shabbat B’yachad with Rabbi Rebecca, Dean Staker, Franklyn Gellnick & the Ivriah team with baby blessing for Daniel Silver (& naming for his sisters)

Beit Knesset

S

ince Effie and Seymour came to live with us our home has changed. My partner Tom and I decided on two Siberian siblings, as I have cat allergies, and it turns out the breed is hypoallergenic. They are also big, fluffy, and ‘dog-like’.

So what’s changed about our home? There is now a welcoming committee who will run to greet you at the front door and help you take your shoes off, especially if there are shoe laces involved. The kitchen sink is now an exclusive spa, which doubles up as a water fountain. The dining table is now a sun lounger, and the sofa is now a climbing frame - who knew there were so many ways to get inside a sofa? Clothes on the drying rack are a fantastic source of entertainment, and they lie underneath them like a mechanic under a car, batting at socks and tea towels.

Little noises, squeaks, scrambling and thuds are expected, and I now make sure any suitable cardboard packaging is left out in case it’s fun to play in. My morning routine now includes two extra mouths to feed, and a cosy evening in front of the telly now involves (if we’re lucky) purry, soft, warm companions.

When the house is empty now, it’s not empty. When Tom went away for business recently I didn’t feel like I was on my own. Our home is absolutely theirs too now and that’s a very special feeling, as it feels even more like a home for me.

We got to know Zohar as one of Martha’s LJY friends, later as her boyfriend. We holidayed together and with the wider family. He was a younger brother-figure to our eldest daughter Rosa. We spent a large chunk of lockdown all stuck in the house together. We spent so many good times with Zohar, far too many to list. In essence, he joined our family, and we loved him.

The Trust was launched at the Arc Club, Hackney on 17 December 2022. 100+ people came together in an Open Mic event. We sang songs, danced, read poetry and it was a wonderful tribute. More can be found out about The Zohar Dean Trust on the Instagram and Twitter pages.

Zohar’s 23rd birthday fell on the 22 December 2022. Martha and Rosa had a star named in his memory. The star is in the constellation Capricorn.

As many of you know Zohar died in a tragic accident on the 1st of June 2022. He was 22 years old. To say it is hard to lose someone so young and so full of life is an understatement. We have been devastated by his death. Of course, Zohar was loved by so many: his beautiful family, his friends from school, Leeds University and by the whole LJY community, of which he was a part of for so long.

Zohar’s name quite literally translates to brightest spark and he was exactly that. He inspired everyone he met.

The Zohar Dean Trust has been established to keep Zohar’s memory alive and to raise funds to ensure that other young people are able to have new, enriching experiences.

Martha, Rosa and Zohar’s good friend Adam Aradi are the founding trustees, and a committee of his family and closest friends has been formed to make decisions about the future of the Trust’s direction.

Many friends in the FPS community knew Zohar and we hope that you might find some comfort in reading the above information, as well as in supporting The Zohar Dean Trust.

With love, Miriam & Graham (Martha & Rosa’s mother & father)

miriam dwek & graham slater

From Our Members’ Kitchens

hojuelas

Originally from Morocco, Hojuelas are a Sephardic treat, prepared for Purim due to their shape: the thin dough layers make them reminiscent of Esther’s Megillah! These little sweets are a labour of love, but worth your time.

method

1. In a food processor, add eggs, water, oil, baking powder, and orange blossom. While mixing, add the flour until the dough becomes consistent and firm.

2. Remove the dough from the processor and divide into 4-5 equal portions. Knead the dough portions then flatten them on a lightly floured surface until very thin, almost see through (you can use a pasta machine).

3. Slice the dough into 3 finger wide strips, about the length of your arm. Set on floured surface and cover with a cloth.

4. In a small frying pan, pour in vegetable oil to deep fry. Bring to medium heat.

ingredients

2 eggs

5 tablespoons water

5 tablespoons olive oil

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon orange blossom water

300g plain flour

Oil for frying

syrup ingredients

200 g water

200 g sugar

200g honey

2 teaspoons orange blossom water

5. Pick up one end of the dough strip and insert it between a fork. Dip the fork and dough in oil. As the dough starts to blister, using your other hand, lift the loose end of the dough and slowly feed it into oil, while the hand holding the fork, slowly rotates, wrapping the fried dough around the fork, forming a scrolled pastry. Once dough is scrolled, remove at once from oil and place on paper towel to drain. Continue process until all the dough strips are fried into scroll shapes.

to make the syrup

In a small pot, bring water and sugar to boil over medium heat. Add the honey and orange blossom. Bring to gentle boil. Dip each pastry into syrup for a few seconds, making sure to completely coat.

claudia prieto - piastro

home / by chloe grossmith - dwek

Being the last child to ‘leave the nest’ my arrival day at university was particularly emotional for my parents. After this teary goodbye I found myself alone in a new city with no idea how to approach this scary chapter of my life.

Navigating new friendships, whilst being faced with more challenging work expectations I initially found university to be an impossible balancing act. I vividly remember being invited to the first Jewish social event of the year. Upon arriving I quickly clicked with everyone. Being mostly made-up of North London Jews there was no surprise that we had many, many mutual friends with each other! Although the Bath Jewish Society is small, I instantly felt that I had a community at university which will support me through this challenging new transition. From watching the Chanukah lighting, to breaking the fast together on Yom Kippur, to

home / by lily ( age 8)

There are three places that make me feel home.

The first place is school because both teachers and friends are kind to me.

The next place is synagogue because I have some good friends there. I like synagogue because it is fun and we learn and have games.

holding each others hair back in the club toilets, my Jewish friends have provided me with some of my favourite university memories which I will never forget.

Throughout my time at university I have become more and more involved with the society. At the end of my first year I applied and got voted to become the Treasurer of the society. I joined the committee in order to ensure the new intake of first year students experience the ‘home away from home’ that the Jewish Society provided for me. My time at university has made me even more affiliated with my Liberal Jewish roots. For me, home is not a building but a feeling. When my whole word was changing the familiarity of Friday night dinners and the Jewish holidays were small but crucial reminders that tiny pockets of my home exist all over the world.

While our B’nei Mitzvah students and their families are about to debate whether we should be an eco-synagogue, our younger children have already made up their mind!

finchley progressive synagogue 54 Hutton Grove N12 8DR 020 8446 4063 www.fps.org facebook.com/finchleyprog

Rabbi Rebecca Birk, rabbi@fps.org

Emeritus Rabbi: Dr Frank Hellner

Community Development Manager: Zoe Jacobs, zoe@fps.org

Musicians in Residence: Franklyn Gellnick, Dean Staker

Office Manager: Caroline Bar-Gal, administrator@fps.org

executive 2022

Chair: Tamara Joseph, chair@fps.org

Vice Chair: Beverley Kafka, beverley@fps.org

Treasurer: Roy Balint-Kurti, treasurer@fps.org

Honorary Secretary: Paula Kinchin-Smith, honsec@fps.org

council members

Gordon Greenfield, gordon@fps.org

Sam King, sam@fps.org

James Levy, james@fps.org

Sharon Michael, sharon@fps.org

Lesley Urbach, lesley@fps.org

President: Paul Silver-Myer, paulsm@fps.org

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

contacts

Board of Deputies Reps: Janet Tresman, Stanley Volk

Beit Midrash (Adult Education): Adrian Lister, adrian@fps.org

Beit Tefillah (Rites & Practices): Alex Gellnick, alex@fps.org

Community Support Coordinator: Beverley Kafka, beverley@fps.org

Website Editor: Philip Karstadt, fpswebsite@fps.org

Shofar: shofar@fps.org

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