Communal Diary 31st January - 7th February

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Old men sing badly?

Are you fed up of going to shul to hear old men trying to sing badly?

Well... on the the 6th of February at the home of Elaine & Ya'akov Yechezkel (Harrogate Road- the one with the cats on the roof) there will be a one off friday night minyan for Boys and girls Mummies and Daddies.

This minyan is going to be lively, fun, tuneful and most importantly we are going to bring friday night in the BA way with the BA tunes!!

If you could email me back if you would like to come - but DONT think that if you haven't emailed me back you cant come - its just so we know approximately how many Sidurim to get.

Taste of Jewish Leeds

Let as many students and young adults know about this as possible. Click to enlarge:

Change of title: Historical Society

There has been a change of title to Dr. Simon Phillips talk on 2nd February, 8.00 at UHC. It is now:

It wasn’t just the Jews
A Jews Perspective on the experience of Non-Jews European Migration after 1945.

Communal Diary 25th - 31st January

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Historical Society- Interviewing Holocaust Survivors

Jewish Historical Society of England- Leeds Branch

Dr Simon Phillips

will talk on

Interviewing Holocaust Survivors

Monday 2nd. February 2009 at 8.pm
UHC Synagogue

All Welcome - Refreshments will be served
Free for members - Non-JHS Members £2.00

The Art of Communication

Originally written for the January edition of JLife:

As community development worker there is nothing more important than communicating what Leeds has to offer to everyone I can, whenever I can! This includes not only people who regularly attend communal events, but the unaffiliated within our own community and the Jewish world at large. With the advent of modern technology the opportunities for communication are unprecedented and we must take advantage of them.

However, we must bear in mind that: “The newest computer can merely compound, at speed, the oldest problem in the relations between human beings, and in the end the communicator will be confronted with the old problem, of what to say and how to say it.” (Edward Murrow) If the community bombards you with emails, then its only fan will be the 'Deleted Items' folder! The attempt to communicate is nullified by trying to say too much.

This, unfortunately, is a problem within this community where you might get the same advert multiple times from different organisations who have been asked to send it out. It is no wonder that people do not want to give out their details. However, I'm building a community-wide database that will solve this problem. As such, in an ironic twist, I kindly request your details once more!

When the database is fully operational we will ask all organisations affiliated with the Representative Council to stop sending out emails unrelated to their own activities. Anything of relevance to the community-at-large will be sent out via this single database in one weekly email. There will be an online facility for you to select by interest what kind of communications you want to receive and the option to always or never receive communications from a particular organisation. The emails will automatically be constructed according to your individual preferences.

As the adage goes: “Less is more”. With less emails but which are relevant to you, we might be able to communicate more. To sign up please visit: www.lji.org.uk

Organisations of the community: Etz Chaim Synagogue

Boasting a congregation of more than 1300, the Etz Chaim is a thriving synagogue which moved to its current premises in 1981. The modern, purpose-built premises on Harrogate Road are home to many activities. Regularly-attended morning and evening Minyanim are held in the small synagogue in the reception room. Services are held every Shabbat, and on Yom Tov. Running alongside these are regular supervised children’s services. There are evening classes for pre and post Barmitzvah and Batmitzvah youngsters, a successful Leisure Club which meets fortnightly, and a well-stocked bookshop catering for the needs of the Observant household.

The Etz Chaim also has a social and cultural committee, organising various events including coffee mornings and Friday night dinners with guest speakers. Another social group, Simply the Best, is renowned for its annual dinner with entertainment. In 2006, the Shul’s function room was totally refurbished and renamed the Reuben Vincent Hall, and with a seating capacity of around 240, is available to hire for weddings, Barmitzvahs and similar events. The city’s Mikveh is also situated in the building.

Our Rabbi, Shalom Kupperman, was appointed in 2006, succeeding Rabbi Y Angyalfi, who had been Rabbi since 1983. Our Minister/Chazzan Rev Anthony Gilbert has led services since being a teenager, more than 30 years ago. Synagogue president is Paul Gross, and Marilyn Mack and Hilton Lorie are vice-presidents. There is also a synagogue council comprising 18 members.

Associated with the Shul is Gourmet Foods, the only supervised Kosher butcher in Leeds, and delicatessen which has been on Sandhill Parade, Harrogate Road, since 1988. In 2007, the Shul’s newsletter, Shabbat Shalom, was named Synagogue Newsletter of the Year in a national competition organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Chronicle.

For more information, please contact the synagogue office on Leeds 266 2214.

Excercise with fun!

See below flier (click to enlarge):

Mission to Israel

The Leeds Community through UJIA are organising a short missiion to Israel in February. Howard Foreman, UJIA's Regional Director confirmed that a group from Leeds will be visiting Israel from February 26th to March 3rd.

They have already found around twenty people who have signed up and this will be an ideal opportunity to show our soldarity with the citizens of Israel at this very difficult time. You will be based in Jerusalem and the Galil and will meet with local Israeli citizens and hear at first hand about the current situation.

It is also planned to meet with some of this year's gap year students and also meet with last years Magic Moment's students who visited the UK as part of the UJIA Living Bridge Programme.

Howard Foreman said "This mission is an opportunity to show in a real and tangible way our support for Israel".

Further details can be obtained from UJIA. Contact 0113 2693136 or email leeds@ujia.org

Brodetsky Primary School Dates

Here are some important dates for Brodetsky Primary School:

• Wednesday 28th January School photographs
• Tuesday, 3rd February 7 pm – SATs and SRE info evening for Y6 parents
• Wednesday 11th February Kidscope, 9-10.30 am @ Alwoodley Children’s Centre, Lingfield Approach
• Friday 13th February Last 2.30 close for winter Shabbat
• 16th – 20th Feb 2009 School closed for (two days) staff training and half term
• Friday 27th February Back to 3.30 close on Fridays to end of school year
• 9th – 13th March The Arts Theme Week
• Tuesday, 10th March Purim – Fancy dress on theme of Circus
• Wednesday 11th March Kidscope, 9-10.30 am @ Alwoodley Children’s Centre, Lingfield Approach
• Friday 13th March School Oneg – separate letter sent this week via ParentMail
• Tuesday, 17th March Parent consultations 5-8 pm
• Thursday, 19th March Parent consultations 4-7 pm
• Tuesday, 31st March 10 am – Reception Seder with parents
• Wednesday, 1st April 7 pm – Years 5 and 6 Seder with parents
• 6th – 17th April 2009 inclusive School closed for Pesach holiday
• Mon 4th May 2009 School closed for May Day bank holiday
• 11th – 15th May 2009 inclusive KS2 SATs
• Wednesday 13th May Kidscope, 9-10.30 am @ Alwoodley Children’s Centre, Lingfield Approach
• 25th – 29th May inclusive School closed for half-term and Shavuot
• Wednesday 10th June Kidscope, 9-10.30 am @ Alwoodley Children’s Centre, Lingfield Approach
• Wednesday 8th July Kidscope, 9-10.30 am @ Alwoodley Children’s Centre, Lingfield Approach
• 20th July Cycle training for Y6
• 24th July 2009 Last day of school for 2008-09 academic year

Upcoming Masorti events

Masorti activities for January and February

Friday 23th January 2009 6.30 pm Oneg Shabbat.
At Bill & Helen’s, Kabbalat Shabbat followed by bring-and-share (veggie) Dinner.
Call Helen evenings 2662891 to find out address and say what food you're bringing.

Sunday 8th of February: Tu b’Shvat with Reli Israeli (Shelicha from Israel)
3 pm- children’s activities and tree planting
6 pm- Seder (Deb and Sarah’s)
- volunteers needed to cut up fruit - pls contact Deb on 266-6595.

13/14 February Shabbaton
Shabbat Yitro with Shira Wallach, JTS rabbinical candidate
Traditional Egalitarian Morning service at MAZCC
A chance to hear the 10 commandments and to talk about them.

Communal Diary 18th-24th January

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Hull, Hell and Dewsbury Moor!

Yorkshire Cancer Research, Leeds Committee
Presents

Hull, Hell and Dewsbury Moor!
The life and times of a Prosecutor

Guest Speaker:
Malcolm Taylor
(Special Casework Lawyer
Crown Prosecution Service)

Sunday February 1st 2009
At 8.00.p.m. prompt

£10 including light refreshments

Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue,
Street Lane.

For tickets please contact Committee members or 07803293246.

Etz Chaim Leisure Club Schedule

Here is the schedule for the Etz Chaim Leisure club from January to July:

Tuesday Jan 20- The Centre Players present CINDERELLA 2009 Produced and directed by Ruth Bush and Helen Lorie

Tuesday Feb 3- An Afternoon of Music and Humour with Alan Harris and Friends

Tuesday Feb 17- 2pm Annual General Meeting.
2:15pm “Your Questions Answered” by Councillors Ruth and Ronnie Feldman

Tuesday Mar 3 12 noon Half an Hour of Jewish Knowledge.
Presented by Rev A Gilbert
Followed by Lunch £3:50
2pm “American Bands and Singers of the 30’s and 40’s”
Presented by Norman Stone

Tuesday Mar 17 “Music Through the Seasons” Presented by Leisel Carter

Tuesday Mar 31 “My Kind of Music” Presented by Sydney Taylor

Tuesday April 14 No Meeting – Pesach

Tuesday April 28 Yom Hazicaron Guest Speaker – To be announced

Tuesday May 12 “A Musical Interlude in New England” Presented by Mona Bloom

Wednesday May 13 A visit to Sheffield Jewish Friendship Club. Leaving at 10:30am £12:50

Tuesday May 26 “Ask the Rabbi” Rabbi S Kupperman will answer your questions

Tuesday June 9 “An Afternoon in the company of Cecil Davies and Alan Vann

Tuesday June 23 “Call me Irving” The Life and Music of Irving Berlin”
Presented with slides by Mike Levy

Israeli Film Club: Jellyfish

This Thursday at 8p.m. there is free entry to the fil JELLYFISH:

Film plot:

JELLYFISH (MEDUZOT), tells the story of three very different Tel Aviv women whose intersecting stories weave an unlikely portrait of modern Israeli life. Batya, a catering waitress, takes in a child apparently abandoned at a local beach. Batya is one of the waitresses at the wedding reception of Keren, a bride who breaks her leg escaping a locked toilet stall, ruining her chance at a dream Caribbean honeymoon. Attending the event with an employer is Joy, a non Hebrew-speaking domestic worker who has guiltily left her son behind in her native Philippines.As this distaff trio separately wind their way through Israel’s most cosmopolitan city, they struggle with issues of communication, affection and destiny—but at times find uneasy refuge in its tranquil seas.

Service for Welfare of Israel- Tonight

Message from the Va-Ad Rabbonim

Dear All

The Va-Ad Rabbonim are holding a special service on Thursday evening 8thJanuary at 7.30pm at Etz Chaim Synagogue, Harrogate Road.

The service will include Maariv, an address by Rabbi Kupperman and scripturalreadings by the Clergy of Leeds. We imagine that the service will take nolonger than 1 hour.

With kind regards
Reverend Anthony Gilbert, Chairman of Va-Ad Rabbonim

Israel rally- Sunday

IT IS TIME FOR US TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
Join us for a pro Israel rally this Sunday

END HAMAS TERROR
PEACE FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND GAZA

SUNDAY 11th JANUARY
ALBERT SQUARE, MANCHESTER
11 am - 12 noon

WE NEED A MASSIVE ATTENDANCE TO SHOW OUR SOLIDARITY SO PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

We know it is cold but wrap up warm and just think how cold it is for the brave men and women of the IDF many of whom will hardly have slept for nights on end

Organisations of the community: JLGB

Since 1895 the Jewish Lads’ & Girls’ Brigade has given young Jewish people the chance to make friends across the country (and locally too), learn skills that will last them a lifetime and share amazing experiences that they will talk about for years to come.

Leeds JLGB (est. 1974) continues to form part of this thriving national Jewish youth organisation with Juniors for those aged 8 – 11 and Seniors for those aged 11 – 18. The successful and popular Leeds Band is back!!! The Band offers free tuition and cheap instrument hire for young people in school years 6 to 13.

With a massive programme of activities and a welcoming atmosphere, we are sure you will find plenty to enjoy – there’s something for everyone. Why not come along to Leeds JLGB and you could be doing the following:

Arts and crafts, Dance, Photography, Concert Band, Drama, Cookery, Film-making, Car mechanics, Leadership skills, Sign language, First aid, Road safety, Debating, Drill, Projects of Jewish/Israeli interest, Camp craft, Volunteering, Drumming, Tzedakah to name just a few!

As a national organisation the JLGB offers camps, sports, badge schemes, accredited leadership training, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (14+) and educational tours - Adventure Israel Tour for 16+ and Discover Europe Tour for 17+.

If you are 18 or over and want to get involved, why not join us as a leader - there’s so many different ways you can help.

If you would like more information about The Jewish Lads’ & Girls’ Brigade, contact them on:
Phone: 020 8989 8990 Website: http://www.jlgb.org/ Email: leeds@jlgb.org

LJI social

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Learn to read Hebrew

5 Week Hebrew Reading Crash Course

Learn to read Hebrew from scratch or just polish up your Hebrew.

Commencing Shabbat morning
January 10th for 5 weeks, concluding February 7th
10:45 am -12:00 pm in the Luper Room

To register please contact:
the UHC Shul Office: 269 6141
or Rabbi Daniel: 266 4772

This course is aimed at adults of all ages.
If you need somewhere for your young children
let them enjoy the Play-Shul or Kinderlach services.

That's right, read Hebrew in just 5 sessions!!
Members free. Non-members £20

New year honours

Below is part of a report on totallyjewish.com that can be found by clicking here. It is about members of the Jewish community who were awarded in the New Years Honours List. This includes members of the Leeds community:

Also honoured is Stanley Cundle who picked up an MBE for services to the Jewish community in Leeds. It's the second accolade for the Alwoodley resident in three months. In October, the 69-year-old who is chair of the Makor charitable trust, the Leeds Jewish International Performing Arts Festival and vice chair of the Zone youth club, as well as a former head of the Leeds Community Security Trust, was given the first ever Leeds award for services to the city

Staying in Leeds, there was another MBE in the list for Auschwitz survivor Arek Hersh. A regular speaker at the Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre, all proceeds from his book A Detail of History are donated to the facility.

Can you provide hospitality?

A request from our community Shaliach

Dear friends,

We need your help to offer home hospitality for a respite break here in Leeds for a few of the many families living in the south of Israel under continuous day and night rocket attacks.

We would like to offer some of them our warm Leeds hospitality for about a week to have a break from this daily terror.I know that there are a few families from the Sderot area in Israel who would be very grateful for this opportunity .Any help that you may offer would be greatly appreciated.

If you can't offer hospitality but can offer some contribution for their flight tickets or for the other trip expenses it will be greatly appreciated as well.

Please let me know,

Thanks for all your help,

Asaf SegevLeeds Community Shaliach

New Radio JCom schedule

The following outlines the new Radio JCom schedule:

Daily 18.00 – 19.00. Sixties Hour presented by David Harris.

Daily 19.00 – 20.00 The Student Hour. (Leeds Jewish Students content)

Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday. 20.00 – 21.00 Straight Answers presented by Ivan Green. (Interview with Rabbi Jason Kleinman)

Monday, Wednesday & Saturday 20.00 – 21.00 Women Aloud. (Women’s discussion programme)

Daily 21.00 – 22.00 Music in the Air presented by Andrew Ullmann

Daily 22.00 – 23.00 The Surreal Hour presented by Edward Moss.

Daily 23.00 – 02.00 The Night Owl Show, presented by Harry Venet

Israel Appeal: A letter from Benji Apfel

The following was a letter written by Benji Apfel (son of Chazan David Apfel) who serves in the IDF. This was written to BHH members but may be of interest to the wider community

Dear All,

I am writing to you from Sderot in order to extend to you a challenge, to be taken as a community, for the people of Israel and her soldiers.

As you will know, a battle is raging in the Negev and the towns of Sderot, Ashkelon and Ashdod are bearing the brunt of its fury.

As is to be expected, the press coverage being circulated from the area has been very negative and imbalanced, leaving many in the United Kingdom condemning the action of the IDF for its efforts to defend our homeland against terror. Such unjustified condemnation must be combated directly and speedily.

Now, a mere two and a half years after their previous war of 2006, Israel's sons and daughters are fighting on behalf of world Jewry once more, for the security of the State of Israel.

Let us stand with them! Not merely in sentiment, but through a clear program of information combined with action; and let us do it now; without delay!

Many of you will be asking how? So here is the answer I propose:

Over the next ten days, I will be conducting video interviews with the following groups of people:
· Soldiers on the border with Gaza awaiting orders to deploy
· The parents of those soldiers as they await news of the immediate fates of their children
· High Ranking and Junior ranking officers about their thoughts, dilemmas and strategies regarding the current operation
· School children and their teachers
· Businessmen who will outline the effects of the constant rocketing by Hamas, particularly that which preceded the operation in Gaza
· Communal figures and figureheads

I will also be photographing any images I see as being pertinent to what I am trying to achieve.

Once collected, these images and interviews will be condensed into a DVD presentation with the help of Asaf Segev, which will then be screened, with commentary, for the community as a whole. In particular, with the help of Asaf, we will show this footage to our youth, and even to the Youth in other communities, with the aim of showing them our side, the true side, of the situation, the suffering we are undergoing, and thereby positively influencing their outlook on this extremely difficult and complex situation.

This will present our community with a different reference point to that which they are currently exposed to, and will leave us better armed for the moral and debated issues that a situation such as this one presents.

In particular, the benefit of this will be that the community will be more aware of the hardships the people of Israel are facing, even as the current situation unfolds. In other words, we will be being pro-active, rather than merely reactive.

We will be combating, in our own small but direct way, the negative media campaigns which plague Anglo Jewry, and we always find objectionable. Let's do something about it!

Beyond that, I will also establish a place of need to which we can contribute as a community, or in your case, a synagogue, something to help alleviate the suffering of our people. It will be at your discretion to decide what that something will be. Perhaps it will be a pool table to go into a shelter, or some games for children. It doesn't really matter what, as long as there is something tangible and useful that we can present and that is easily sustainable.

As a shul, we will also present a certificate of achdut and solidarity along with this contribution, to be affixed in communal buildings in your shul's name, thereby linking you with a community in one of the aforementioned towns. I propose that each of the three big shuls present one gift to one place in each town. Any surplus funds will be distributed to the soldiers stationed around Gaza at the discretion of your executive committee.

This presentation will of course be filmed and photographed, and then be screened for you in Leeds.

So this is where you come in…

I am asking you all to dig into your pockets, give what you can and do so generously. I realize these are difficult financial times for many, but I'm sure you will agree that times are far worse for the people of Israel who are currently living under a daily barrage of rockets.

Members of your shul executive will then approve and organize the purchase of your proposed gifts and they will be presented by Sunday 11th January.

That sets us a clear deadline, and we can definitely meet it.

The reasons for us doing this together are simple, but let me state them for you:

I constantly hear the sentiment that we all want to do more, but do not know what to do or how to do it. Well here is your opportunity to obviate yourselves of that quandary. By accepting this challenge, you will be placing something directly where it is needed. You will know where it has gone, you will know you have contributed to its being there, but most importantly, the people in Israel will know where it has come from and just how closely we stand with them during these difficult times.

Furthermore, you will be leading by example. Your children, on viewing your presentation, will see that you have all participated. By seeing their parent's involvement, they will know the cause to be correct, true, justified and that they are on the side of right.

You will be showing your solidarity over and above pecuniary generosity.

Additionally, you will be converting your weekly prayers in shul for the safety of our people into action and your will to do something will be converted into something done.

You could involve the youth of your shul in this fundraising, further increasing their awareness, and instilling in them a greater interest in the presentation as it arrives and beyond.

Think about it….What I am proposing is not ba'shamayim…it is within our power. We can easily achieve it.

Whilst I know that organizations such as the UJIA do tremendous work, and that many of you will be involved in supporting the people and soldiers of Israel already, we can still do more.

Why give anonymously, when we can give directly and proudly as a community? Why make a
generic donation, when we can add to it with real specifity?

I have come out here at my own expense, I can offer you a direct connection and link to the people over here, but I am powerless to give without you and your help. Please meet me half way. I assure that the results will be rewarding, worthwhile and will make a real difference.

Your community leaders will support you and will facilitate this initiative.

I extend this challenge to you confidently, because knowing you as I do, I am certain you are able to meet it and much, much more.

Please take it up, do it with immediate effect, and let's make something happen here. Asaf at Makor, your shul president and your rabbi are standing by to assist.

Let's do it together, and let's show those guys in Manchetser and London, that where solidarity is concerned, Leeds leads the way!

Thank you all and Shabbat Shalom to you and to all your families!

Benji Apfel,

MESSAGE FROM DAN COHEN – BHH SHUL PRESIDENT

I do hope that you will urgently support this most worthwhile cause – please send you donations as shown below:

PLEASE SEND YOUR DONATIONS TO THE BHH SHUL OFFICE WITH CHEQUES PAYABLE TO THE BHH

PLEASE PLACE IN AN ENVELOPE MARKED ISRAEL APPEAL – OR SEND WITH A COVER NOTE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DONATION FOR THE ISRAEL APPEAL.