Religion School News

In December, Ruach took part in a fantastic Family Service, which included a prayer that the primary school age students had written in class. Graham Carpenter led the music during the service, and beforehand he ran a fun teaching session, when everyone was invited to come along and learn new tunes, ready for the service itself. 

December also saw the Bat Mitzvah of Ella Green. Congratulations to Ella and to all her family! 

At the beginning of January, all teaching staff will be attending the annual training session organised jointly by Liberal Judaism and the Reform Movement. We look forward to returning for the new term re-invigorated by training and exchanging ideas with colleagues from other communities. 

Meanwhile, we are still looking for volunteers to get involved with our programme of activities for our youngest members and their friends. Even if you cannot make a regular commitment, please let me know if you might be available occasionally to fill in, for example, when one of the regular volunteers is ill. 

Book Club

Our Book Club this year has been very successful and we have read a number of different books all suggested by the Group. This encourages us to read different authors that we have not read before and discuss them at our friendly meetings. So if you have read a good book recently and would like to share it please come along and let us know.

Our first meetings for 2018 will be on:

Monday 8th January at 11 a.m. off site and at our new agreed .me for the winter months. Refreshments. Cost £1. (See details below)

Monday 5th February at 11 a.m. off site Please contact me for more details and the venue

 Our choices for January are:

January 2018 - Book Club choices
We will be reading:

The Nutshell by Ian McEwan the critically acclaimed writer of 17 books including Saturday and On Chesil Beach and Atonement.
Trudy has betrayed her husband, John. She's still in the marital home – a dilapidated, priceless London townhouse – but not with John. Instead, she's with his brother, Claude, and the two of them have a plan. But there is a witness to their plot: the inquisitive, nine-month-old resident of Trudy's womb.

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls 

The true memoir of the journey she took from the dusty mining towns of the American Southwest, to an antique filled apartment on Park Avenue. The book tells how she escaped to New York with her older sister at just seventeen. Her younger siblings followed later. After pursuing the education and civilisation her parents sought to escape, she eventually succeeds in her quest for the 'mundane, middle class existence' she had always craved. In her apartment, overlooked by 'a portrait of someone
else's ancestor' she recounts poignant remembered images of star watching with her father, with recollections of a chaotic, disturbing life with her parents.

FEBRUARY Choice 2018 

The Throwaway Children by Diney Costeloe 

Rita and Rosie Stevens are only nine and five years old when their widowed mother marries a violent bully called Jimmy Randall and has a baby boy by him. Under pressure from her new husband, she is persuaded to send the girls to an orphanage – not knowing that the papers she has signed will entitle them to do what they like with the children. And it is not long before the powers that be decide to send a consignment of orphans to their sister institution in Australia. Among them – without their family's consent or knowledge – are Rita and Rosie, the throwaway children. 

Words From The Chair

Even though we are in January, I would like to begin my report with an event that took place at the end of November. Hilda Schindler’s Memorial service not only felt like the end of an era, but was also a bitter sweet occasion. Bitter because she is no longer with us, and sweet as a large congregation celebrated her life. She achieved so much, not only for SPS, but also for Liberal Judaism, and the Leo Baeck Education Centre in Haifa. Hilda touched so many people’s lives, especially young children. The five guest speakers were Phyllis Freedman, Rabbi Andrew Goldstein, Vivienne Jackson, Rabbi Ofek Meir, and the one and only Rabbi Harry Jacobi. All spoke from different perspectives, and eloquently summed up the extraordinary person she was. Some people are replaceable, others are irreplaceable, and undoubtedly she was in the latter category. Long may her memory be for a blessing.

As I write this report, I have just returned from Israel after visiting my daughter Natalie. Every time I go I always make my annual pilgrimage to visit the much loved and sorely missed ex SPS members Shirley and David Bild. David has fully recovered from last year’s serious operation, he is as sprightly as ever, and Shirley is still the same caring, warm-hearted lady she was at SPS. Surprise, surprise, both are involved in the day to day social life of the home. A lovely touch is that the walls of the complex where they live are adorned with David’s numerous paintings. Even though they love their sunny life in Herzliya, they also greatly miss SPS and the many friends they made whilst being members. They send their best wishes for the future prosperity of the Synagogue, and if anyone is going to Israel and knows them, they would be delighted to see you.

I love going to Israel, the people are so vibrant and expressive; the downside is that it has become very expensive, and politically it is a mess. The short holiday raised my spirits and, despite being delayed for over an hour on my journey home at Ben Gurion airport, I am looking forward to my next visit to the holy land. Famous last words, but even though the Chanukah Chavurah/Karaoke service took place after the Gate deadline, I am quietly confident that it was its usual thoroughly enjoyable experience. And that the Karaoke and sumptuous food overseen by the lovely ladies of the House Committee greatly contributed to the success of the evening. In last month’s Gate I asked if anyone would be interested in joining a Sunday afternoon singing group - only one person responded.

Therefore it will not be resumed.

We have now entered into our 75th anniversary year; two events are already in place, a quiz on 28th April and on Saturday 3rd November our celebration will conclude with a civic service. Hopefully In between there will be other events, including involvement from Ruach. When the time comes, please support the community, and celebrate a historic achievement for SPS.