Been away so missed a week or two.

Question for Parshat Vayetze

Connect this weeks births to a famous Alfred Hitchcock film based on a John Buchan novel, a piece of music celebrating Russian victory and Alan Spier.

Answer in Shul PG

Linda

Answer was Akeida the Hebrew name for the story of Isaac being bound to the altar and nearly sacrificed. Akeida means 'bound' or 'binding'. Leave the rest for you.

Round Sedra Quiz

Some time ago I was listening to the Round Britain Quiz on Radio 4 when I heard a question that was sent in by listener named Kieth Sayliss. Well the name sort of rang a bell and when I met up with him he confirmed it was THE Kieth Sayliss. So I thought if he can do it so can I just the subject matter might be a little different. This set me thinking , what about a Round Sedra Quiz with cryptic questions on the sedra of the week? I tried it out last week in shul and someone suggested that the clue should go on the web so here goes with a question on the sedra of Vayera.

'He will laugh on the New Year but not a terrorist group because neither il nor q'

Hmm!

A short clip of Denis Avey's talk.

One of my hobbies is photography and I can’t resist posting a picture or two. This one is of the Ladybower as I drove home from Manchester one sunny day in June. I had to stop and take a few shots as the scenery looked stunning.

Recently I passed by the same spot and was very surprised at how low the water level was. Has someone been building lots of Mikvehs round there or something, where has all the water gone?

Cook Off

An evening was held in June in support of Keren Chanah, a fund that helps Jewish girls to attend Seminaries. My father-in-law and his colleague Rabbi Mordechai Sufrin have been running this for years and every now and then we have helped raise some money. This time my daughter Chayala aided by her sisters all powerhouses of energy decided on a ‘Cook Off’. I’ve never heard of the term before but I soon found out what it meant. Four candidates with culinary skills were asked to make a soup in front of an audience showing ingredients and how the soup is created. New saucepans where kindly donated by David Grunwerg and on the night Dr Alan Anderson, Dr Philip Rubin Mrs Carol Cahm and my mother-in-law Mrs Ruthie Simon duly performed in front of a very respectable crowd. While the soups were cooking Rabbi Sufrin gave a talk praising the role of women in creating a Jewish home. When the soups were ready we were able to sample each one and vote. It’s not important who’s soup got the most votes what is important is that we all had a evening of fun and a nice sum was raised for this important cause. Yasher koach to the ‘soupists’.

Apologies

It’s been some time since I posted any articles on the blog and my apologies to readers. I have not been in the best of health recently and lacked a bit of enthusiasm to get writing. However I am almost back on form so I will continue where I left off. I personally see this blog as a sort of diary of our community so since there are events and stories that have happened some time ago I still want them to be included.

Have you ever met a hero?

I don’t mean just a hero I mean a real hero, someone who of his or her own choice decided to do something extraordinarily brave in order to help another person. Well if you were at the CCJ meeting several Sundays ago and listened to the story of Denis Avey you would have come away thinking ‘I met a hero’.

This man was captured by the Germans during the 2^nd World War and as a POW he was sent to work for Farben close to Auschwitz, Birkenau. While working there he came in contact with Jewish prisoners who were inmates at the notorious death/concentration camp and he actually swapped clothes with one of the prisoners who was of similar build and features so that he could see for himself what as actually going on in there. His friend would also benefit from the better food and conditions (not difficult as the conditions in Auschwitz were beyond anything one could imagine) where Denis stayed. Needless to say that in doing so he was putting his own life at enormous risk. He described as best as he could some of the evil, vicious and inhumane things that he saw there; things that we have all read about or seen pictures thereof but there is something arresting about hearing it from a firsthand witness. He kept the entire audience completely captivated as he described his war experiences some with a touch of humour culminating with his capture and subsequent interment. When trying to sum up Auschwitz his words were “if I spent two weeks using every adjective available I could not even begin to describe how evil it was!” Recently his heroism has been recognised and he has been awarded the British Heroes of the Holocaust Medal (pictured here). On that occasion he met and related his experiences to the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Denis is an elderly man now but he still radiates courage and steely determination as he relates his story, the same determination that made him take such enormous risks to help others. He lives with his experiences every day of his life and admits that this has sometimes made him a difficult person to be with but evidently his moral fortitude and strength of character have sustained him.

From time to time one asks oneself, what would I do if faced with a great challenge? Well this is one man who can tell you what he actually did. To me he is a hero.

One of my hobbies is photography so when Group 62 invited Paul Shatzberger to come and exhibit his work I decided to go along. He is a quiet man perhaps even shy but still commanded attention with a selection of his photographs which he did using a laptop and projector. Son of Holocaust survivors he practised medicine but eventually left to pursue a full time career as a photographer.

He is not your average family snap fellow his work is much more thoughtful and seeks the art in what isn’t apparent as much as what is. So a lot of his work is about empty spaces, nearly bare rooms and objects without their subjects. He is fascinated by the presence of sunlight as visible in itself rather than illuminating the subject. He has also ventured into the taboo subject of photographing death and its environs. Frankly it was a very different perspective than my own – I’m fond of family people shots, close up into the warmth and personality of the subject - and I asked him why he felt the need to capture these sorts of pictures. His reply was disarming as he made no attempt to justify himself. He simply said that he gets a certain feeling for a photo opportunity but doesn’t always know why and it is only afterwards that he thinks about the content of his picture.

I left Kingfield pondering his work and only as I drove home did it dawn on me that he had achieved precisely what a good photographer should.

He had not sought to provide answers he had just made me think!

I always enjoy a Jewish wedding. Having children in cheder is great and Bar Mitzvahs and Bat mitzvahs are even greater but the greatest chance of survival of the Jewish family is when they marry ‘kedat moshe veyisroel’ – ‘according to the law of Moses and Israel’. Add to that when the individuals are people whom one has known for some time but are not members of the Sheffield community per say then there is something very gratifying when one is asked to perform the marriage ceremony.

Mark Saunders came to Sheffield some years ago as part of the management of William Hill. Being a traditional Jew he sought out the community and we became friends and shared many Shabbat and festivals meals together. After a while he moved offices down to London but we stayed in contact. About a year and half ago Sharna appeared from South Africa and things were looking hopeful. Soon they were engaged and they both came up to spend weekends with us and discuss wedding matters. During this time we got to know the lovely Sharna as well which was important to me as I like to know the people that I am marrying. Last Bank Holiday weekend they were married at The Pines Hotel near Chorley. We wish them both every blessing and may they go on to build a bayit ne’eman beyisrael a faithful house in Israel.

By they way present at the same wedding and probably checking out what's what was Saul Kaufman and his fiance Anna. Some of you may remember Saul as he studied medicine at Sheffield University and is now a GP. They are due to get married please G-d next year.

Cutlers’ Feast

Every year I attend the Cutlers Feast, held usually sometime in May, as representative of the Jewish community of Sheffield. The only occasions that I can remember not attending was when it coincided with Shavuot. The feast is a grand affair probably the most prestigious in the Master Cutler’s diary. This year was a little different as in addition to representing the Jewish Community I also attended as Chaplain to the Master Cutler our very own James Newman. So Thursday 13 May Faige Rochel (a first for her) and I got ourselves dressed for the occasion and waited for Selwyn and Judith Burchhardt who were also invited to pick us up.

Arriving at the Cutlers’ Hall we entered the foyer and I went to one of the side rooms to put on my chain of office and then together with my wife we made our way towards the stairs. We were greeted by a Guard of Honour standing to attention on the grand steps leading up to the reception rooms and main hall. Half way up the stairs you are given a booklet containing all the details of the night’s events including a table plan. At the top of the stairs a toastmaster presents each person to the three dignitaries waiting to receive you namely the Master Cutler, who is your host, and both the Senior and Junior Wardens. On this occasion the Senior Warden was in hospital so only the other two were in waiting. For the first time ever the host at this notable function was a member of our community and I felt a special thrill to be greeted by him especially as I was to be saying grace.

There are three reception rooms and with the invitation comes a coloured card indicating into which room one should go. We went into ours and mingled with the guests striking up conversations here and there as most people are curious to know more about Judaism or Rabbis. In the hall a quartet played familiar classical pieces. Slowly the room filled up then at the appointed hour the beadle invited everyone to take their places in the main Banqueting Hall.

I was siphoned off to one of the now empty reception rooms with the principle guests to pose for a photograph while people were finding their places. When done I had to get to my place fairly smartly so as to be ready to say grace as soon as the procession came in (one look from the ‘Colonel’ was sufficient to send me scurrying).

The toastmaster banged his gavel and the hall went quiet as he announced welcome to the Master Cutler and his principle guests. On the balcony were a trio of trumpeters from the police force who played a suitable fanfare to accompany the entrance of the procession. Moments later after handing me a microphone the toastmaster announced, “Pray silence for the chaplain to the Master Cutler who will now say grace”

I snatched a brief look around as three hundred plus people stood in silence and respect; Master Cutler, Lord Winston guest speaker, Sir Irvine Patnick, Nicholas Jeffries, Roger Viner, Brian Viner, David Grunwerg, Charles Grunwerg, Selwyn and Judith Burchhardt, Lawrence Swycher Stephen Ingram and more. Not bad, I thought, and clearing my throat, I began, “Boruch ata….!”

Roy with Paul Scriven (LD) Nicola Bates (Con) Martin Flowers – time keeper – Paul Scott (Lab) Jeffery Shaw (UKIP)



Every now and then there appears on the horizon a warrior galloping furiously on his white steed. Such was the case a few days before the much hyped election. Our very own Sir Galahad Lewis (Roy to locals) had been present at the plenary meeting of the Board of Deputies, mentioned elsewhere on this blog, as one of Sheffield’s deputies. He heard the infamous Lord Wallace espouse the sort of sentiments (details not relevant) one expects to hear from BNP candidates not from a leading light in the Lib Dem party. He couldn’t believe his ears; after growing up in Sheffield, raising a family, running a successful solicitors firm and all the while mixing with men and women of all backgrounds he could scarcely expect such thinly veiled anti-Israel offensiveness from a mainstream political representative and ‘noch’ in the 21^st century. Well our Sir Galahad was not going to take all of this lying down and he immediately set about arranging a husting with the candidates of three major parties and one small one so that the community would have a chance to put their questions to them. Perhaps we could get them to understand the Jewish perspective and feeling as well as being adequately informed of what each one would do should he or she get into power.

The result was one of the best evenings I have enjoyed for a long time. Speakers come and go but this was more than just a few speeches. It was the ordinary person’s chance to come face to face with real politicians and hear what they have to say not from some carefully worded statement but ‘from the horse’s mouth’. The interaction between them as well as the audience was very dynamic and for over two hours the broad mix of people who packed the Harold Cantor suite didn’t move as everyone listened attentively to the voices of our would be representatives. Whether we agree with them or not at least each one, particularly the Conservative and Labour candidates who were quite young, had the courage to come and face the crowd and they deserve credit for doing so. By the time the evening was over our Sir Galahad had slain the dragon of political mystique and brought us face to face with the real thing. I think we all went to the polling booths wiser and more informed than before the meeting.

Roy deserves a special mention for contacting the candidates, persuading them to come to Kingfield and chairing the whole evening with legal precision. His introduction was a masterpiece and I for one identified with everything he said. The election is over now and the results are known, time will tell whether the choices we have made have indeed brought mazel and brochoh!

Just spent a lovely weekend with Olivia Donn on the occasion of her Bas Mitzvah. So nice to see her surrounded by all her family Boruch Hashem and long may it continue. One of the legacies established by past generations in Sheffield is our system of Bas Mitzvah celebrations. I have seen other synagogues where the young lady is tagged on to the end of an already long Shabbos morning service and I don’t think it works as well as our separate Sunday afternoon celebration. I have been told it is in order to give her equal status with the boys for whom their Bar Mitzvahs are also done on Shabbos. If so it does not compare with having an individual service which is centred specifically on the Bas Mitzvah girl herself, and it must surely be limited to that which one can do on a Shabbos.

Interestingly Faige Rochel is a member of a site for Chabad Rebbetzens in communities all over the world and in one of her postings she described our service and amongst other things mentioned the Bas Mitzvah prayer. She began to get emails from all over wanting to know what this prayer was and could they have a copy. So our Sheffield Bas Mitzvah prayer has been emailed all over the USA!

Olivia presented her pieces magnificently and her family and the Sheffield community especially her teachers in cheder and those who contributed to the Bat Mitzvah course should all be proud of her achievements. We may be a small community but we manage to produce the goods and watching Olivia at the pulpit in shul I thought to myself she could easily go down in any of the United Synagogues of the bright and beautiful London.

Mazel Tov to Olivia, mum and dad Shelley and Ivor (Ha’junior cohen), grandparents Sue and Mark and Sandra and Maurice (Ha’senior cohen)

Yesterday concluded what surely must have been an unusual weekend and highly interesting one. It isn’t often that one gets the Board of Deputies in town, the last time was ten years ago. That occasion was a little eclipsed by the opening of the new Shul, the new Sefer Torah and a different style of leadership. This time things were warmer and I enjoyed numerous conversations with some very interesting people. There was the President Viviane Weinman who’s easy manner conceals a sharp understanding of communal politics and by the way he spent time in Yeshiva, Jonathan Arkush – Vice President - who looked far too young to have a married son and davened Shacharit beautifully (what a pleasant change to have lay leaders lead the service), Flora Franks who’s Biblical knowledge outdid my own and her zest for learning was a breath of fresh air, (why do local women not seek learning like that) Dr Beverly Bergman who is a colonel in the army would you believe and knew an awful lot about families in Sheffield from which she is descended, Mr Krause with whom I shared a lengthy walk through Endcliffe Park and woods and others who’s names escape me.
The weekend got off to a good start with a visit to the Cutlers Hall. Some months ago when arranging this weekend Frada and I realised that with Shabbat not out till 9:00pm we could not repeat the visit to Chatsworth House of last time. It occurred to me that since this year we have a Jewish Master Cutler then maybe he would host a visit so as his Chaplain I would try and arrange it. As he was due to go away over the weekend the best time was Friday afternoon so over twenty deputies and myself made our way to the Hall and he kindly took us round. There are many fascinating exhibits at the hall which I have never seen despite attending the Cutlers Feast on at least 15 occasions. We had to pose on the steps of course and this picture was taken.
Friday night service was in the big Shul to accommodate the bigger crowd and this was followed by and excellent meal in the Kingfield Hall.
A word here about Frada as I have to take my yarmulke off to her. She didn’t stop the whole weekend with a steady stream of food, meals and entertainment. Yasher Koach Frada you looked after the Deputies with distinction.
Shabbos day we had a lovely davening from VP Jonathan Arkush, layning was almost perfect and the sermon not as long as usual! This was followed by a Kiddush and meal which my wife and family attended together with myself as guests of the Board. Then we went for a walk which took up most of the space between meal and Mincha and continued with Se’udah Shlishit. It was nice to read the Ethics of the Fathers at Mincha as each person present read a portion and here and there discussion ensued. After Ma’ariv and Havdalah we listened to a very entertaining talk about the buffer girls of Sheffield AND FINALY WENT HOME.
Sunday was the Board’s plenary meeting at the Town Hall which I did not attend as I was over in Manchester to participate in the unveiling ceremony of the late Mrs Halpern mother of (ylt) Ronnie.
I hope all got back safely

Well it's very nice to see some reaction and I appreciate all the nice comments. Heather this is boldly going somewhere that I have never been before so I hope I 'get there'. Dr Odes thanks for your nice remarks we do miss you here in Sheffield and I am now having to buy a lot more flowers! Simon keep up the good work (you know what I mean). One of your tea shirts with the Sheffield Day Camp emblem is now in Florida making a very ill seven year old a little happier thanks for donating them to us. Irenie I take it you found out how to comment.

Gosh I'm getting blogged down with all of this.

Hi everyone

This is my first attempt at blogging so please be patient with me till I get the hang of it.

I can't help but wonder at the way communications have leaped forward over the time I have been in Sheffield. When I came I had no idea what a computer was or how to use one. Some years later before windows was born, mitt mazel und brocho, Mira Burchhardt gave me her late husband's Amstrad word processor. This is now the equivalent of something prehistoric in computer years but it did the job for me at the time. Now I'm blogging! Oh well if it gets anyone to shul it's worth it.