The Promised Land

Anthony Clavane is an author and journalist who was born and brought up in Leeds.

Anthonyis currently the Chief Sports Writer for The Sunday Mirror. He left Leeds aged 18 and has always maintained an interest in his beloved Leeds United and the Leeds Jewish Community.

His research has culminated in a book called "Promised Land" which is a must read for all Leeds residents and is currently number 3 in The Amazone Football Best Sellers. Anthony will also bejoining the fantastic 150 years Heritage Project led by Makor.

Anthony will be at the Mazcc CentreTHIS Wednesday August 25th at 8pm where he talks and reads from his book.

Anthony would love to meet as many people from Leeds as possible and if you attended Selig Brodetsky Jewish Day School (now The Zone) during the period 1966 to 1971 he would be especially delighted to reunite with you.

For more information you can check out the website www.anthonyclavane.com or you can email him clavane@fsmail.net

Together is Better

The Jewish Women's Circle invites you to
Feed your mind... Nourish your soul... Delight your senses

Together is Better

Drum to the Beat
with Anna Green of Rythmajix

Monday, June 21st, 2010
8:00 pm
At the Lubavitch Centre
Cover charge £5

Hostesses:
Mikayla Casdan, Angela Cohen, Sarah Doerfler

Please RSVP by Monday June 14th so we can ensure sufficient supplies.
Contact Dabrushy Pink at JWCLeeds@gmail.com or on 07970 190210
Looking forward to seeing you there!

Leeds Student Controversy

A member writing from the Jewish Community Centre for London has sent us their monthly podcast, Sounds Jewish. This month’s edition of the Sounds Jewish podcast in association with The Guardian has a big feature on the Leeds Student newspaper controversy, featuring commentary by The Guardian's Jonathan Freedland and the founder of Muslims4UK, Inayat Bunglawala. The debate is a very interesting one and is relevant as it relates directly to Jewish students at Leeds University.

Please find the link to the podcast below and feel free to get in touch with any questions- rachel@jcclondon.org.uk

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/audio/2010/may/13/free-speech-religion-judaism

Hora Derbyshire

Hora Derbyshire! 18th-20th June

We've just finalised the schedule of dances and you should not miss out!

Avivit, Roberto and Annette have sourced some of the most amazing and up-to-date material straight from Israel. We're living up to our reputation of bringing you dances each year that have not been seen in England before .. and go on to become top new numbers for the season. There will also be recaps of the best recent hits and classics that must not be forgotten.

We have our last two standard and ensuite rooms available at a great rate - either for the whole weekend or for those wishing to join us on Saturday afternoon/ evening for the Summer Sunshine Party, with space to stay for breakfast.

We've booked great weather for your escape from the city!! (We do usually have a glorious weekend :) And we have visitors from overseas too! Plus separate halls, for teaching at advanced and intermediate levels.

Do let me know as soon as possible if you are planning to join the Summer celebrations.

Because FULL IS FULL folks!!

Best wishes

Julia Kay

Leeds Israeli Dance Organisation (LIDO)

07762 059 858

Last week of BA

Dear All,

Hope you are having a good week.

Just to say that as we mentioned last week this is Leeds Bnei Akiva’s last week of the year. We will resume meetings in September once schools have returned.We have had a really great year which has seen an increase in the quality of the meetings which your children will experience on Shabbat afternoon. There are pictures available for the year by clicking here.

Bnei Akiva has also been helping the Leeds community by running Jewish assemblies in Allerton and the Grammar School attracting large audiences.We would like to thank you very much for your continued support for Bnei Akiva and appreciate any sort of feedback from the year. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the dedicated Madrichim for all their hard work.

For those people that are going on camp, have an incredible time!! If you still wish to go to camp please click here to request more information and a form.

Love

Liat and Emma

Bnei Akiva Returns

Dear Parents,

Hope you had a nice and relaxing Pesach.

Bnei Akiva returns this week at UHC from 3:30-5:30pm, meeting at Gourmet at 3:15pm.

We wish to make a special effort to end the year on a massive high, so please encourage your children to come this week.

Take care and have a good week

The Leeds Bnei Akiva Team

EXTRAS REQUIRED!

On Tuesday, 16th March at 8 pm LIMELIGHT DRAMA GROUP will be casting its forthcoming production of "Quartet" by Ronald Harwood.

The play, described as 'wickedly comic', will be performed on Tues., Wed and Thurs., 25, 26 & 27 May at The Carriageworks. In addition to the four main characters, all over 60, director Raymond Williams requires several 'extras'. If anyone over 20 years of age would like to appear in this play in a non speaking role, please contact Raymond Williams on 2693679 or come to Limelight House, (top of BHH driveway) on the casting evening.

Limelight looks forward to welcoming any potential thespians.

Shaliach Gilad Amit

(Relatively) recently we have been privileged to welcome the arrival of our new Shaliach Gilad Amit. Here is a little information about him:

Gilad is the Community Shaliach in Leeds UK. He was born and raised in Jerusalem- whereby he had his BA and MA in education, media and mass communication studies from The Hebrew University. Prior to the Shlichut, Gilad worked as a teacher, a head of year for the 6th form in Giva'at Gonen High School, and was active within the community of Katamon Neighbourhood in Jerusalem. He also has experience in PR, as he had been working for a PR company in Savion.

Gilad served as a sergeant in an artillery unit.

Gilad would love to help you with talks about Judaism, Zionism, The Media Effects, The History of Israel and the Holocaust.

As the Community Shaliach in Leeds, Gilad brings Israel to the Jewish Community by organizing information and cultural events, encouraging Aliyah, supporting long and short term programmes to Israel, and enhances the awareness and activism amongst Jewish youngsters and students in Leeds.

Aliyah and Israel

Come along for one-on-one meetings & lecture with Jewish Agency for Manchester Shaliach Alon Aron discuss the following topics:

Aliyah Options , Pensions in Israel
New Tax Reform Options for New Olim & Returning Residents , Israel’s Economy, Health Benefits, Youth & Education Options

On Sunday 7^th March, from 12:00-6:30pm - one-on-one meetings, 7:00-8:00pm – lecture on Daily Life/ Attitude/ Relationships in Israel, at Ziff Centre

MP for Jewish Refugees

Jewish Historical Society

Leeds Branch

Dr Susan Cohen.

The University of Southampton

Will speak on

Eleanor Rathbone:
MP for Jewish Refugees.

Monday March 1st. 8 PM

UHC Synagogue- Shadwell Lane LS17 8BW

All welcome

Non- JHS members £3.

AGM for members precedes the meeting 7.15 PM

Sinai Purim Events

Saturday 27th February : Erev Purim will be celebrated with a traditional Megillah reading starting at 7.30, and, with a chance for alcohol-fuelled discussion, is even more traditional!!

Sunday 28th February : Purim and a chance for fun for all the family. Starting at 3.30 there will be a more light-hearted Megillah reading accompanied by activities for the children in the Malcolm Featherman Hall. On offer is : mask-making, greggor-making, face painting, tombola,
calligraphy, sale of Hammantaschen (of course!). There's something for everyone and all we ask is that fancy dress be at least ..........A HAT! Dressing up clothes will be available for those who need a helping hand.

At 5.30 we are offering a supper of baked potatoes and various fillings.

At 6.30 to 9.30 it's the OY FACTOR with acts to enthral, surprise and entertain. Don't miss out on this year's talent from the Sinai community.

All this for just £5 per person or £10 family donation. All proceeds will go to the Haiti Disaster Fund and the Youth Fund.


Heidi
Sinai Synagogue
Roman Avenue
Leeds
LS8 2AN

Essay Competition

Jewish Historical Society launch inaugural Essay Competition

The Jewish Historical Society of England Leeds branch have launched their inaugural essay competition.

Intended to be annual event, focussing on a different theme each year, and with the aim of encouraging widespread interest in all aspects of Jewish history, this year's competition takes as its theme The Jews of Yorkshire.

Entries, which should be between 1500 and 2500 words, can cover topics such as immigration to Yorkshire, family history, the history of individual synagogues or organisations and oral history. Essays from young and old are welcome, with prizes to be distributed in Teenager (under 18) and Adult categories.

Nigel Grizzard President of the Leeds Branch of the JHSE said ’I am grateful to our sponsors The Burton Trust and Five Leaves Books’ who have agreed to sponsor the competition. We know many people young and old are researching the Jews of Yorkshire and we hope the competition will stimulate that research’

For further details, please see www.jhse.org/contents/events or contact Simon Phillips on 07931 370791 or simonphillips90@hotmail.com

Jewish Volunteer Network

Dear Colleague/s

• Do you rely on volunteers for the continued success of your organisation?
• Do you find it difficult recruiting new volunteers?
• Would you like to enhance your organisation’s profile within the Leeds Jewish Community?

If you have answered yes to any or all of the above questions, then we are delighted to introduce the Jewish Volunteering Network (JVN) which aims to become the “One Stop Shop” for Jewish volunteering in the UK.

JVN currently works with over 140 Jewish charities large and small from across the community and our innovative work is recognised by the government, Volunteering England and a recent award as best international charity in the Jewish Choice Awards.

Following a recent successful visit to Leeds we are now aiming to bring all the advantages of our network to the Leeds Jewish Community. The JVN recently attended Limmud in Leeds and also held meetings with members of UJIA’s Leadership Development programme, Rabbi Kleiman, Bernice Pearlman, The Zone and Leeds JSoc. We were delighted by the positive support we received from these meetings and the overwhelming response was “Why can’t we include Leeds in the JVN?”

It’s so easy – we are a bit like a recruitment agency. Prospective volunteers go onto our website, key in the areas they would like to volunteer in, key in their skills and choose from a list of possible positions. It’s perfect for all those people with free time on their hands who have never quite got round to volunteering and perfect for your organisation – the volunteers come to you!

Currently, the website www.jvn.org.uk has over 1,000 registered volunteers aged from 13 to 83 and receives hundreds of hits each week. Have a look at the website and I am sure you will agree that it is time that Leeds was included. There are so many Leeds organisations who can add their details and opportunities to the site – have a look how many London has – let’s get Leeds on the map too!

Please do sign up to the JVN website and list your volunteer requirements. It’s a FREE service, so by contacting JVN you can provide further opportunities to increase the supply of possible volunteers in Leeds.

We are also on Facebook and Twitter too – great for young people today who are realising the importance of volunteering - now everyone can keep up to date with our active online social networking channels.

To sum up, the JVN:

· Promotes the concept and Jewish values of volunteering

· Connects volunteers with the right opportunities by fitting their interest and skills

· Has hundreds of charities on our network from trusteeship and fundraising to event planning, office support and hospital clowning - you can specify when you register whether you want volunteers either on an ongoing, permanent basis or for a one-off event

· Aims to make a difference to the lives of individuals seeking to volunteer

· The JVN is not designed to replace the current work of charities and organisations in recruiting their own volunteers.

JVN would also like to thank the Leeds Jewish Representative Council for seeing the value in our work, and agreeing to send this letter out on JVN's behalf.

For further information please contact ourselves or reply with your details attached below direct to Esmond Rosen on esmond@jvn.org.uk.

With Kind regards

Esmond Rosen, JVN Regional Development Manager

Sarah Goldstone, Leeds JVN Coordinator

David Israel

Not Your Average Jewish Family

Not Your Average Jewish Family: Leeds Workshop for those with Non-Jewish Family Members

It is now a well-acknowledged fact that more and more Jews are in long-term relationships with non-Jews. Many non-Jewish partners do not wish to convert to Judaism, and that leaves couples and families having to deal with a variety of issues relating to mixed faith relationships. There are also many single people who, having converted to Judaism, or having embarked on that course, have non-Jewish family members.

On Sunday afternoon, 31st January, there will be a workshop for singles and couples who have non-Jewish family members. The aim will be to enable people to share experiences and to develop support systems for such families/couples/individuals, if that is what they would find helpful.

If you would like a booking form please email annadyson@googlemail.com or if you wish to call and discuss it, please call me on 07814 682 613. Booking will be essential as spaces will be limited. There will be a charge of £5 per head to cover costs.

If you know of someone else who may be interested in this idea, please feel free to pass this information on to them.

Pamper Evening

Hannah Sennesh Wizo's 3rd Pamper Evening

Wednesday this week, 2nd December from 8pm - Turnberry Avenue- 07811 204113

Come along and get your nails done, or have a head massage and some reflexology. Peruse the many stalls and afterwards see if you can win one of our excellent raffle prizes, which include Daniel vouchers, skin care vouchers and other goodies. Doughnuts and hot chocolate too.

We would love to see you - £15 on the door which includes a treatment, refreshments and a raffle ticket!

Communal Diary: 29th Nov - 6th Dec

The system that sends out the weekly newsletter to the mailing list is currently down. Hopefully, this will be up in time to send it out Saturday night- motzei Shabbat.

In the meantime, you can find the communal diary here which details all the events that are taking place within the Leeds Jewish Community between the 29th November and 6th December. It is a busy week with events from UHC, LJWB, WIZO, The Zone, Jewish Women's Aid, Talmud Torah and Brodetsky. Please take a look.

Also, be aware of some important events that are taking place the following week including the UJIA Annual Dinner with Israeli Ambassador, Dan Gillerman, and the Limelight AGM

Limelight AGM

LIMELIGHT DRAMA GROUP will be holding its AGM on WEDNESDAY, 9 DECEMBER at 8 pm at LIMELIGHT HOUSE, 399 Street Lane (top of the driveway in grounds of BHH Synagogue).

The group looks forward to seeing all current members on that evening but would also welcome any new interested people over the age of 18. If you enjoy theatre and would like to get involved with, not only acting, but backstage (eg. costumes, props, technical) we would love you to come to the above AGM and meet like minded people. As well as putting on our main productions twice a year we have other theatrical activities on a smaller scale. Come and find out what we are all about.

UJIA Annual Dinner

UJIA Leeds Annual Dinner

Tuesday 8th December 2009
The Reuben Vincent Banqueting Suite
Etz Chaim, 411 Harrogate Road, Leeds LS17 7BY

Guest of Honour
Ambassador Dan Gillerman

Contact Howard Foreman for more details
Tel: 0113 2693136
E mail: leeds@ujia.org

Ambassador Dan Gillerman

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, 2003-2008 Ambassador Dan Gillerman served as Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from January 2003 – August 2008. His appointment marked the first time that Israel nominated someone from the private sector to this post.

Under Ambassador Gillerman, Israel saw a number of notable and unprecedented achievements in the realm of international politics and diplomacy at the United Nations. He was instrumental in passing numerous resolutions in the General Assembly and Security Council, including the first successful Israeli resolutions ever adopted by the United Nations. As a restament to his leadership, his colleagues elected him a Vice- President of the General Assembly in 2005, making Ambassador Gillerman the first Israeli representative in 53 years to serve the position, ever since Abba Eban in 1952.

Make Drama Work

Dear Friend,

You will hopefully have heard about the first Leeds Community Chanukah Show, being led by Nicky Smith, Jonathan Sumroy and myself. The performances will take place on Sunday 13th and Monday 14th December this year – you might even know somebody involved.

This is a landmark event for the Jewish Community of Leeds. Never before has there been an opportunity for youngsters from all the shuls to take ownership over an event that they are all involved in.

As with most community projects, the show is unsubsidised. As with all theatrical projects, there are some necessary expenses – sets, props and costumes do not come entirely free, no matter how skilled we are at the beg, steal and borrow game! Our aim will be to raise the funds to cover these costs and be able to feed something back into the community via the shuls and The Zone from ticket sales.

And that is where, we hope, you come in…

We will be having full colour, glossy programmes printed and would like to offer advertising space for either business promotion, or personal messages. The brochure will be

A5-sized and adverts start at £25 for a quarter page.

I would also like to take this opportunity to invite anyone with an interest in the Arts, to become Patrons of the event by making a single donation of £12. Patrons will be listed and thanked in the programme and associated with future ventures of this nature.

Of course there is always the option of sponsoring a specific part of the event; making a donation specifically for musical contribution, costumes, props or set construction perhaps.

All contributors will be acknowledged in the programme (unless they wish to remain anonymous) and will receive one free ticket to their preferred performance.

If you would like to be a part of this innovative project and feel you can offer your support in any way, please get in touch with me as soon as possible – any assistance will be greatly appreciated! E-mail emma@makedramawork.co.uk or telephone 07538 089 899.

All the very best,

Emma Gordon- DIRECTOR / TRAINER / FACILITATOR

Iran: Our Greatest Threat?

Dear Friends

You are invited to hear Neil Lazarus speak at the MAZ Community Centre, 311 Stonegate Road, on Tuesday 17th November 2009 at 8.30pm. Neil Lazarus is an internationally acclaimed expert in the field of Middle East, Israel advocacy and effective communication training.

He is emerging as one of Israel’s leading keynote speakers. His presentations are fun, informative and entertaining. His seminars are causing a sensation internationally. He is a favoured speaker for Jewish Federations, Community Leadership as well as student leadership groups. He is a welcomed guest at many Christian friends of Israel organisations.

Neil Lazarus has helped train a new generation of Israeli diplomats as well as Israel’s army and airforce spokespeople.

Neil acted as the Israel advocacy policy advisor for Israel’s leading reality television program, “The Ambassador”.

Born in Britain he received his first degree in Political Science at the University of Wales. Neil immigrated to Israel in 1988 and soon after received his Masters Degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

We are delighted that he has accepted an invitation to speak in Leeds. We hope that you will join us for what is sure to be an instructive and enlightening evening.

Please let us know if you will be attending this important meeting. Contact Sandra or Marilyn on 0113 2185865 or email info@leedszf.org

Thanks,

Phil Margolis