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….!”