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Our postal address and statutory information can be found here.
News.. News.. News..
Are you Interested in studying relations between Jews and Muslims?
Are you
Interested in studying relations between Jews and Muslims?
The Woolf
Institute, based at Wesley House, is seeking students
from September to take a ‘Certificate of Continuing Education in the
Study of
Islam, Judaism and Muslim-Jewish Relations’. Students will be introduced
to the
major characteristics of the Muslim-Jewish encounter, both in the past
and in
the contemporary world. For the last 3 years, members of the local
Jewish
community have enjoyed taking this course, which is multi-disciplinary
with an
emphasis on texts, theology, history and anthropology. The course is an
opportunity to study for a qualification awarded by Cambridge University
Institute of Continuing Education. Further details on website .
LEARNING DISABILITIES IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
Netbuddy is setting up a website for Jewish people with learning disabilities, their families and professionals. In order to ensure that the website is fully comprehensive we seek your help. We would be most grateful if you could include the attached notice in your newsletter, weekly email and/or website.
Set up by Linda Goldberg,, former CEO of a learning disability charity, and Deborah Gundle, mother of a disabled teenager, Netbuddy aims to provide the Jewish community with a comprehensive list of all that is available from large organisations to support groups and individuals active in the field wherever they are in the UK.
Netbuddy is endorsed by the Board of Deputies and major learning disabilities organisations such as Norwood, Langdon and Kisharon.
This website which will offer information, notice boards, and interactive forums will be an invaluable resource for people with learning disabilities, their families, and professionals within the Jewish community.
It would be most helpful to us if you could email us by return to let us know when and in which issue you plan to publish our notice.
Thank you for your support,
Best wishes,
Deborah Gundle and Linda Goldberg
SHARING RESPONSIBILITYAbove all, the purpose of CST, the Community Security Trust, is to ensure that any member of our community is able to lead the Jewish life that they choose. CST is part of our community, so it can only succeed if our community takes its share of responsibility. read more ...Shul_article_HHD_2010
BSRS members fire up fundraising
Members of BSRS held their first fundraising event
to raise money for a new shul building. The community have already
raised half a million pounds to purchase the land in Cambridge and now
need to raise further funds to provide a building.
Although it
was 'chilly with a chance of sunshine', around one hundred members and
guests enjoyed a Kosher barbecue at the home of Peter and Estelle
Wolfers, while relaxing in their beautiful gardens. Kosher burgers,
sausages and veggie sausages were provided along with an array of
salads, followed by strawberries and delicious (parve) ice cream for
dessert. Groups of friends gathered round to eat, drink, gossip and
discuss the plans, which caused a great deal of interest and comment.
The children played games and explored the extensive grounds, and
especially enjoyed the butterfly meadow.
Initial concept
plans, for the new building were on display, for everyone to view and
comment on. Council members were on hand to discuss ideas and concerns.
The plans show a two-storey building with the synagogue upstairs in a
light, airy room with a vaulted ceiling to give a feeling of space and
substance. One member
said, “I was very moved, close to tears, when I saw the plans, and
realised how much having a shul meant to me, and to our community.
Seeing the plans made it feel very real.”
Frank Harris, chair
of the Buildings committee, commented, “The members have been really
interested and inspired by this initial set of drawings, and we have had
some valuable discussion, feedback and ideas this afternoon. We now
need to raise close to one million pounds to make this dream of having
our own synagogue a reality. I'm sure everyone will be delighted to know
that this event has raised £1065 towards our target.”
The
Building Committee would like to everyone who attended, and of course
those who helped organise the event, especially the Wolfers family for
providing the idyllic setting.
Charity Concert of Classical and Jewish Music
There will be a charity concert on 9 May - please see pdf below, or calendar for details
Publicity for the new shul building is taking off with a radio interview with Frank Harris on Matt Jamisons Easy Sunday Programme on Radio Cambridgeshire.
If you move through the 3 hour programme to 2:04:10 you will hear Frank's 6:45 min piece where he explains about the new shul with a plug for both Carter Jonas and Cowper Griffith.
More information is available on their website at www.bod.org.uk
New Jewish Group being formed at Anglia Ruskin University
A New Jewish Group is being formed at Anglia Ruskin University by Natania Goldrich for
Students or Staff who might be interested.
The Society would be unaffiliated and Ethno-Cultural (rather than
primarily religious) so that all Jews from all walks of life,
backgrounds and religious persuasions can be included. The group would
be intended to foster a sense of common identity through cultural events
including Jewish art, music, literature and theatre, learning basic
Hebrew and any subjects that might be of interest within the group. The
University has never had its own Jewish Society although I have now
introduced Simon Mandel, the Jewish Chaplain to Cambridge University to
the ARU Chaplaincy and I understand he is to become an Associate
Chaplain. Please would anyone interested contact Natania Goldrich
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or call 01223 874539.
WJR Thanks BSRS Cheder
WJR says thank you to BSRS Cheder
A thank you certificate has been received from World Jewish Relief for the collection by the Cheder families for the Haiti relief fund.
Edie Eligator, who received the certificate, will bring it to Cheder to show everyone on Sunday. She said "It's fantastic that the children have been able to help towards this emergency fund, which needed immediate response."
10/3/10
Purim Celebrations
The purim celebrations at Beth Shalom were something to write home about this year. Starting with the boisterous Megilah reading and fancy dress parade on Saturday 27 February, the Cheder continued the party spirit on Sunday 28.
The Cheder children from the younger classes sang some Purim songs, such as Chag Purim. This was followed by a Purim play in true panto tradition with leading ladies Esther and Vashti played by boys, and Haman, Mordecai and the King played by girls. The play was beautifully orchestrated by Shally Shefer and included fabulous costumes, super acting and jazzy singing by all.
After the entertainment we were able to enjoy the home baked treats on the cake stall, sponge throwing at Haman and lucky dip, among others, and a good time was had by all.
Kosher for Pesach
We have received information about a new kosher shop opening in Essex - download the pdf below:
Note there is also Derby Stores, Cambridge, who will get Pesach orders, and Just Kosher in Borehamwood, Herts if Gants Hill seems a bit far. Tesco Borehamwood also stocks a good range of basic Kosher for Pesach stock.
Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration Activities in the East of England
Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration
Activities in the East of England
There were a number of events in the East of England region to
commemorate this important occasion.
In Cambridge on 26th January, there was the
Launch of the exhibition "Polish Heroes; those who saved Jews during
the Holocaust" from the Galicia Jewish Museum in Krakow, at the Guildhall,
Market Square, Cambridge. This is an inspiring exhibition about Polish people
who have received recognition by Yad Vashem. They are among the "Righteous
Among Nations" and are commemorated in the Jerusalem museum.
Cambridge City Council's Holocaust
Memorial Day event took place on 27th January.
This year's national theme was Legacy of
Hope. Holocaust survivors - both victims and rescuers - spoke movingly of pain and loss,
survival and despair and their wish for a legacy of hope.
The evening began with an address
from the Mayor of Cambridge and ended with the usual moving candle-lighting ceremony.
The focus of HMD is memory and the lessons
from the Shoah. This year the Cambridge community welcomed a distinguished
recipient of the Yad Vashem Righteous Among Nations Award (given to non-Jews
who saved Jewa during the Holocaust). We will hear the story of Mr Jozef
Marionuk (pictured, right) and how his family helped saved a group of desperate Jews by hiding
them in their farmhouse in rural Poland.
The programme also included a new talk by
Eva Clarke, reflections on a visit to Auschwitz by two local school students, a
performance by the Beth Shalom Jewish choir, Kol Echad, an original dance piece
based on Schindler's List and more.
Also on the morning of 27 Jan the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse screened the film "The Power of Good" and winner
of the 2002 International Emmy Award for Best Foreign documentary.
The film shows how, on the wave of the Nazi
invasion and threats of war,Nicholas
Winton, a young British businessman,managed to take 669 mostly Jewish children, out of Czechoslovakia to
England.By helping to save their lives
he showed how one person can really make a difference and inspire hope in a
troubled world.
HMD, Norwich
27 January
Dr. John Clark and Dr. Jeannette Fine, as representatives of the Jewish community, attended a HMD event at Norfolk County Hall in Norwich and performed some readings. They were invited by the county hall chaplain, the Rev. Christine Copley, to a lunchtime service for county employees.
There were 36 people there including the chief executive and the Chairman of the County Council. The chaplain did some readings, Jeannette sang and read the Shema, John read from Elie Wiesel and read the Kaddish and an Imam gave a very supportive sermon, a prepared reading and read from the Haditha, the opening of the Koran in a very moving service.
At the lunch afterwards in the Chairman’s office, they were shown some documents by a Kindertransport survivor, who had managed to track down what happened to his parents. John was shown a three page typed document, in German, which was the summons to his mother to present herself for transport to Theresienstadt. His German is not the world’s greatest, and it was whisked off before he could read it properly.
However, Dr. Clark said, ”I did not get a chance to ask how he came into possession of the document, but by goodness it made my blood run cold. Not the least chilling aspect of it was that the Nazis had the chutzpah to label the document as being from the Office of Jewish Culture (rough translation).”
New RSY Netzer youth group at Beth Shalom
New youth group at Beth Shalom
BSRS is starting a branch of RSY-Netzer for Cambridge Jewish youth aged 12+ to join. The group has been initiated by Danielle Ross, a mother of teenagers and member of BSRS, who was concerned that there was nothing socially for her own children to do, to help connect them to other Jewish kids and enlarge their sense of Jewish identity.
Danielle says, “The teenagers need something other than shul services, to enable them to meet other Jewish kids. As we are a small community, I want the teenagers to have a sense that they are part of something bigger and provide a route for them to meet more Jewish kids both in and outside of Cambridge, hence RSY-Netzer, an established youth organisation."
The first meeting will be on January 24th. For more details, see the Calendar and our Youth Page
Review - Fiddler on the Roof
Review - Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof was a production by Cambridge Operatic Society in November 2009. An enjoyable rendition, it starred David Gower as Tevye, the milkman from Anatevka, and Caroline Dyson as his wifeGolda, as well as Beth Shalom's Leslie Wheeler as the Rabbi. Niki Samer, Director and Shearer Abrahams, Costumes Manager completed the Jewish contingent.
Since its foundation, our community has relied on hiring halls and other venues for services and other activities. Now, we hope, this is about to change - click here for more details.
Mitzvah Day
Mitzvah Day
Cambridge Beth Shalom Reform Cheder donate 50 bags of goods for World Jewish Relief
Members of Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue’s (BSRS) Cheder in Cambridge were among around 15,000 Jews and others who gave a few hours of their time to support numerous good causes on “Mitzvah Day” yesterday (Sunday 15th November).