PhysCap Football Fun Day

On Sunday 26th July 2009 in association with Masternaut, PhysCap will be having their 11th corporate football 5 a side tournament and family fun day, at The Grammar School at Leeds on Harrogate Road.

Please support them by entering your team and lets help raise as much money as we can. The full day tournament is affiliated to the West Riding CFA with qualified referees, great prizes and trophies and there’ll be all the usual family fun day entertainment, with BBQ and bar refreshments.

Communal diary

Below is this week's communal diary. Click to enlarge:



To see the rest of the weekly newsletter see: here

If you want to receive this newsletter every Friday, with all the events for the following week and other community information, sign up to the database at http://www.lji.org.uk/home/mailing-list.

O2 Cricket Cup Competition

LEEDS JEWISH REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL AND YORKSHIRE CRICKET CLUB

PRESENT

THE O2 CRICKET CUP COMPETITION

ON SUNDAY 5^TH JULY

10am – 3pm

To be held at the

CARRIBEAN CRICKET CLUB

SCOTHALL ROAD

There will be a 10-13 year interfaith group and a 14 - 16 year interfaith group. With COACHING, FOOD and MUSIC, it is going to be an exciting day for all. Telephone 0113 2697520 for more information.

Radio JCom Appeal

www.radiojcom.com

An appeal from David Harris, Radio JCOM station manager

Radio Jcom is the Leeds Jewish Community Radio Station and is here to serve the whole Jewish Community. At present we only transmit on the internet where you can listen to us 24 hours a day. However, from SUNDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2009, we will begin transmissions on 1386 KHz in the Medium Wave Band. This means you will be able to hear us in your car, and on any AM/FM radio, be it in the kitchen, the bedroom or the bathroom.

In order to do this we need to raise £15,000.00 to pay for the transmitter and aerial. As we are a Community Radio Station, I am asking for the community to help us towards this target. After 6th September we should be self supporting through advertising income. You can help by making a donation to our Transmitter fund. Please send your donation, however big or small, made payable to “Radio Jcom Ltd” to PO Box 1386, Leeds LS17 1FX.

By helping us to get on-air, you will be helping the Leeds Jewish Community. At the moment we are the only Jewish Community Radio Station in the UK, so once again Leeds Leads!!

Who do you think you are?

Below is the ticket for Yorkshire Cancer Research's forthcoming event at the BHH Synagogue on Wednesday 9th September at 7.30 p.m.

Dr. Nick Barratt will be speaking- he is the consultant to the B.B.C. programme " Who Do You Think You Are?" Tickets will be available from Committee Members- £15 including light Refreshments.

Click to enlarge:

Communal Diary: 21st - 27th June

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Salsa Passion

A sassy, salsa and supper night at Sinai!

Fiddler on the Roof

The Bradford Youth Players (ages 16-25) are putting on a production of "Fiddler on the Roof" in July. The show is on at the Lord Kalms Theatre at Dixons City Academy (Ripley Street, off Manchester Road, Bradford, BD5 7RR) on 15-18 July 2009, performances starting at 7.30pm.

The BYP are the only youth group in West Yorkshire which delivers all of its youth work through the performing arts. Although not a Jewish group, they are very keen to welcome members of the Leeds and Bradford Jewish communities.

Tickets are £9 for adults, £7 for concessions, and just £5 for full-time students & young people (aged 25 or under). They can be purchased online at www.bradfordyouthplayers.co.uk/bookings/booking.html, by email (byptickets@hotmail.co.uk), by phone (0750 47 45 220) or by post by returning a booking form with full payment to the address on the form.

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LJWB Midsummer Fair

Don't Forget.....
LJWB MIDSUMMER FAIR
　

BBQ-Fashion Show-Kids Zone
Live Music and lots, lots more

This Sunday 21 June

11am - 4pm : Marjorie & Arnold Ziff Community

Fantastic auction @ 1.30pm with prizes including:
2 x Jet 2 flights to Tel Aviv, 1 weeks B & B at the Eilat Hilton for 2 people and 1 weeks holiday in a luxury 6 bedroom villa in Florida

Sealed bids can be given in advance to Meirav Sasson on Tel: 0113 2185848

Art Project: "Jewish Identity/ Modern World"

Any feedback on the following idea is welcome. Are you an aspiring artist? Is this something you would like to do? It could be a way of a) bringing different segments of the community together and b) bringing people's artistic talents to bear on Judaism. What do you think?

I (Neil Clarke- community development worker) want to initiate an arts project where, through a variety of media, people will be able to express what Judaism means to them in the modern world. This will hopefully involve every segment of the community, and culminate in a final exhibition of everybody’s work (e.g. in the community centre).

Ideas for art include:

• A ‘Bayeux Tapestry’ of the Parshiyot in the Torah- updated for modern times. How would these stories play out in today's world?
• Film of “Modern Jewish Identities”- looking at Jews who are both mainstream and outliers.
• Paintings related to how the festivals are celebrated now that we have Israel.
• Poems about “struggle” in believing in Judaism today; or about loving Israel but being in the diaspora.
• Collage of “Jewish Diversity”
  

The exhibition can be used to showcase the work of talented artists within the community, resulting in professional and stimulating artwork being on show. Equally, however, various organisations can also get involved with particular projects. For example, members of “the Hub” art class can contribute a piece, or it could be an activity at The Zone or Donisthorpe.

There is the potential for this to be funded, and for talented artists to get a small fee.

BA Family Friday Night

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Database Launch

Last Friday saw the first mailing from the Leeds Jewish Community Database. The numbers are growing but we want to reach every member of the community, to let them know what is going on in the community.

The ultimate idea is to ask organisations to stop sending emails out on behalf of other people. People are fed up of being flooded with emails and usually delete them anyway! According to this plan, organisations will advertise their event through their own mailing list, and through this database ONLY. So you will get an email a maximum of twice, rather than the multiple times you get at present. However, we can only do this if we get 1500 people on the database!

So please sign up here: www.lji.org.uk/home/mailing-list. Alternatively, fill out a leaflet at the Centre, The Zone, The Kosherie or Gourmet and post in the box provided.

If you know someone who is unaffiliated with any particular group; doesn't live in a specifically 'Jewish area' of Leeds; is new to the community; you have heard grumble that they didn't know about an event; or a friend who is not on the database, please let them know about the initiative.

Finding Lost Relatives

Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain
Leeds Regional Branch

JEANETTE ROSENBERG of JGSGB - London
will be speaking on the theme of:

LOST + FOUND
Finding Lost Relatives

Hit a brick wall with your genealogical research? They can’t guarantee Jeanette can answer all your queries, but we know she’ll do her very best to help! The Society’s Publications will be available for sale and refreshments will be provided.

Date and Time: Thursday 2nd July 2009, 7.00pm – 10.00pm
Venue: The Hall at Sinai, Roman Avenue,
Admission charges: Non-Members £3 Members Free

Communal Diary: 7th - 13th June

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Tel Aviv Centenary Party

The city of Tel Aviv is 100 years old and to celebrate this momentous birthday, the Leeds Israeli Dance Organisation (LIDO) is putting on a party! Wednesday 10th June at Sinai, Malcolm Featherman Hall, Leeds 7.30 pm until late... please bring kosher nosh, chocolate, crisps, fruit etc.. and wear something white and/or sparkly!

Men, women and young people of all ages welcome - until 9pm we will concentrate on fun, lively material, including partner dances, that people can follow even if they don't know them. Later, we will teach and dance the latest funky hits from Israel that are seen all over the world, getting ready for our Hora Derbyshire residential weekend in July with dancers from Leeds, Manchester and London!

Cost only £4 however long you stay.

Come along and have a blast!!

European Elections Today

Today- Thursday 4th June- is election day!

The Leeds Jewish Representative Council encourage you to take part in the democratic process, and to vote for one of the mainstream parties. Due to the elections being based on proportional representation, there is a huge risk that a BNP candidate could be one of our representatives.

If the BNP get in, then they will have access to a much larger pot of money than they do at present. This would be negative for both Jewish and other minorities.

A vote for a mainstream party will help keep the BNP out.

Who am I? pt 2

When I first took the post of "community development worker" in September I wrote a little introduction about myself on the blog (here). I also tried to introduce myself to as many people as possible, in person. However, it seems that many within the community have not matched my name to my face!

Whenever I do introduce myself, I get "Oh so it's you who do the newsletter..."; "Your the voice on the telephone who puts things in the communal diary"; "I didn't realise you updated the website..."; "My son went on your barmitzvah event..." This is usually followed up by a comment that their friends do not know about x that I ran, or y that I send out, or z that I facilitate.

It is important people know who I am, so I can help move forward any ideas they have for the community. Equally, people will then be able to aid me in projects that I initiate. For example, they will be able to tell me if someone new has moved to the community so I can deliver a welcome pack to them or express an interest in cross-communal arts project I am looking to start.

So, not for reasons of vanity, someone suggested that I posted some photos of myself in my newsletter and here!!!





Please say hello next time you see me!

History of Sinai Synagogue

Taken from www.sinaisynagogue.org.uk

Founded in 1944, for some time the community met in a variety of halls and front rooms of private houses in the Chapeltown area of Leeds, eventually moving proudly to its purpose-built modern synagogue on Roman Avenue, Roundhay, in 1960.

As the membership grew, this building was extended in the mid 1980’s and it now has a function hall, a library and classrooms as well as the main synagogue. The excellent kitchen facilities enable members, under the supervision of the Rabbi and the Sinai Kashrut and Catering Committee, to prepare Kiddushim, Chavura Suppers, social events and an annual communal Seder at Pesach.

Sinai now numbers some 750 adults and children and continues to grow.

The Zone April/May Report

April/May 2009 Activities Report- by Raina Sheaf

General Club
Most of our members are busy at the moment with one kind of test or another! From Sats to GCSE’s to AS, A levels and even driving tests!!
It’s tense for these kids at the moment so we are helping them by offering some one off activities and workshops as well as our regular sessions.
We are also busy planning our programmes for next term and have been offered some extra input from members and parents. It’s always good to get feedback so we can offer the community what they need from our club.

Sports
Intercity Sport – The David Clayman Trophy Championship was held again in Manchester and we lost…….again……so the less said about that the better! However, our sports coaches have assured me that it will be 3rd time lucky and that wonderful Trophy will be back with us next year!

Heritage/Leadership/Chagim
We have celebrated and commemorated over the last few weeks.
Following the Poland trip in February our participants co-presented
Yom Hashoah at the Mazcc. It was an extremely moving evening with the young people sharing their inner most thoughts and feelings. I have spoken to these youngsters myself and have been amazed at the maturity and depth of thought and feelings the trip provoked in them. We look forward to another trip next year.

The following week for Yom HaZikaron we invited an Israeli Army Captain in to talk to some of our members about life in the army, decisions that have to be made on the front line and the difficulties facing soldiers, their families and Israel during extremely challenging times. Our members asked some brilliant questions and learnt so much from that session. We then joined the community Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations, at which a fabulous dvd was shown reflecting life at The Zone.

Fashion & Culture
We have teamed up with Tribe to raise awareness of Jewish Women’s Aid. JWA are planning a fashion show in November and The Zone/Tribe will feature in a segment of that show. We had 24 enthusiastic girls at our first session during which we customised clothes whilst addressing the serious work of JWA. The girls responded really well and we will meet again in June.

Café Chai
It’s been all go in the kitchen over the last few weeks – From Matzo Brei to cheesecake! It is of course Shavuot this week so cheesecake has been what’s cooking! It’s great to watch the children cooking but I must be careful…..those calories!

Outreach and Development
In the last report I mentioned a new project we are working on to begin in September. “Leeds Leaders” – The Zone, Brodetsky, LJWB and Donisthorpe. We have been visiting with all the current Year 11’s (61) who we know of, who are doing GCSE’s now and will be going into 6th form/college next year. They have been invited to attend an afternoon in June at which we will present the course content and they will have the opportunity to apply for a place.

We, The 4 organisations involved in this project are very excited about it and will present the whole project; content, aims and objectives when we have chosen our candidates. All Leeds Jewish organisations will have the opportunity during the project to introduce themselves and their organisations to the young people. More to follow..

Street Sound
We are very excited and thank the organisers, sponsors and donors from The Boxing night for raising some extra funds to enable us to buy an electronic drum kit and guitars so we can expand our content to music making and to those who do not have access to musical instruments at home. We continue to offer specific tuition in Street Sound and I have to mention (well I don’t have to but I will) that a mother of one of the Street Sound kids came specifically to tell me last week that we have changed her son’s life. He now has a hobby and interests he never had before, but most importantly he has friends and a social life and The Zone has given him that. I was so proud of our team, as I always am when I get that feedback.

Art and Crafts
During half term we ran a brand new art and craft workshop at which our children created, made, painted (and even cooked their art!) It was a truly fun afternoon and we hope to feature it again during Summer.

Finally
Once again - If you know a child who says we don’t offer what they want at The Zone, just let us know. As you know we believe flexibility triumphs so we aim to be as flexible as we can with our activities and events.

However, we don’t always know what your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or neighbours want so tell us!

It may be anything from a chess club to hair and nails activities, to journalism or photography – just let us know and we will try to schedule it in.

Date For Your Diary:
September 15th - The Zone Annual Golf Day
Please call the office for details – 0113 2172531.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about our activities and plans, and in the words of one of our parents; “There’s No Place Like Zone”!.
We welcome your feedback and any suggestions.

UJIA Extended School Programme

Leeds Chaverim are holding a Bagel Brunch on Sunday 14th June, 11am - 2pm, in order to raise money for UJIA Extended Day Schools Programme. The cost is £5.00 for adults and £2.50 for children. For any more information contact 07931370791 or email info@leedschaverim.co.uk.

Extended Day School Programme

There is a serious need to provide enrichment opportunities during non-school hours to children in Merom HaGalil, a poor and peripheral region with a diverse population of 11,300 residents spread out over 24 rural communities. The area suffers from a high unemployment rate and ranks three out of ten (ten being the highest) in the national socio-economic scale. This is a problem given that the school day in Israel finishes at 1.00 pm and afternoon school programmes are expensive. Yet there is a serious need to provide enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children in the region, to either bolster underprivileged pupils' academic achievement or prevent high school students from dropping out of school.

The UJIA, in conjunction with Keren Karev, the primary intervening organisation for the Ministry of Education, operates a 30 weeks long Extended School Day programme in 28 kindergartens and five primary schools in Merom HaGalil for 628 kindergarten children and 1,115 primary school children. Depending on the particular type of school, enrichment activities include nature/environment studies, art, music, English, communications and Torah enrichment. Included in this programme is “Tapuach” which will help bid a digital community andimprove their IT skills. 130 secondary pupils at the Branco Weiss Secondary School for high school dropoutsat Meron also benefit from the Extended School Day Programme.

Community Orientated Programming

There are three new community-orientated programmes on Radio JCom:

Lesley Millet has done a pilot show which is going out from 10.00am to 11.00am every weekday starting from Monday, and which they have called “Mid morning with Lesley”. Please do have a listen.

Then from 8.00pm until 9.00pm every evening there is J Talk, with Ronnie Miller & Guests coupled with Home & Away with Lynne Coates.
This is a new discussion with Lynne where she talks about her visit to Hungary and discusses some of the things which were not printed in the J Life article. As these are half hour slots, they alternate with Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday leading with J Talk followed by Home & Away, and then on Monday and Wednesday, Home & Away leads, followed by J Talk.

Stuart Woolf has started his series called “Living with …” and the first item called “Living with an eating disorder” has gone into the hour slots during the day. This is an interesting 22 minute discussion with someone who has an eating disorder and how they came to terms with it.