Dear Rabbi Anna, Members and Friends,

At last…and what a simcha it was!  Oren Frazer’s Bar Mitzvah took place on Saturday 30th October.  There were about 40 present at the OMH and more joined in via Zoom.

Oren’s reading from the Torah was perfect and was matched by a heartfelt speech, in which he spoke movingly about his concern for the environment and the need for urgent action.  To that end, he announced he would be donating 10% of the value of his Bar Mitzvah gifts to an environmental organisation.  What a mensch!  Seven family members from the U-S were in the congregation, and much nachas was had by all.

On Sunday 21st, we are having our Chanukah Fayre at the Forum in Norwich.  This has not only been one of our main fundraising events, but a way to raise our profile with the general population of the city.  It is also an opportunity for our members to socialise during the planning of the event and while running the stalls.

However, hiring the space in The Forum is expensive.  This year the charge is £210, which significantly reduces the income.  The NLJC Council has asked me to write to you all to see if you would consider making a financial contribution to the hire of the venue.  Perhaps those who have been unable to supply items to sell or raffle, and those unable to be there on the day, would care to assist in this way.

A lot of gantse machers (influential movers and shakers) are putting a great deal of effort into this, so please do support this enjoyable social event with donations and your presence. And after all, it is for the benefit of the NLJC as a whole.  Sponsors will receive an item from the Fayre in appreciation. Remember-We Need Your Support!

To keep you updated- NLJC Council has discussed the responses from NHC to our questions.  We’re now working on an agreed and comprehensive response in advance of face-to-face discussions with NHC representatives, to be arranged. 

Rabbi Anna’s penultimate service weekend will be on 12th/13th November.

Her last service with us will be on the weekend of 3rd/4th December, a week earlier than our usual service weekend.  Please do come to the OMH or join in via Zoom to say ‘thank you’ for her warm and enthusiastic input to NLJC.

You will be receiving a separate email about the progress in finding a successor for Rabbi Anna.  Student Rabbi Hannah Altorf will be leading an ‘extra’ service for us on Saturday 18th December.  It’s an opportunity for you to see her in action, and for her to meet us. We urge you to join us on the 18th, in person or on Zoom.  Council would welcome your feedback – please email Sarah or me.

Philip Lawrence

Dear Rabbi Anna, Members and Friends,

Our High Holy Days services were a great success despite Covid restrictions, and because of the participation and contributions of each of you!  Our Rosh Ha’Shanah services were ‘home-grown’ and took place in person and on Zoom on the 6/7th of September.  Linda Albin, Alan Joseph and I shared the Torah reading. The technology worked remarkably well for those attending via Zoom. A big thank you to Annie and Sarah for their planning!

Rabbi Anna led our Yom Kippur services, the highlights of which were cellist John Mudd’s playing of Bruch’s Kol Nidre and Anna’s chant of the sacred prayer, the expression of repentance for all those unfulfilled vows.  14 congregants present in the OMH and a further 16 joined via Zoom.  On Yom Kippur numbers varied throughout the day, but were generally about 16 present in person and a similar number joining in via Zoom.  The afternoon service was led by Alan Joseph, who read the entire Torah portion himself. “Yasher Koach”.   A very thought provoking study session was taken by Michael Frazer.  

As I mentioned last month, NLJC Council submitted written questions concerning the NHC proposal to their committee.  A written response has now been received.  This was discussed by the NLJC Council at the end of September.  I now envisage that we will have further discussions with NHC representatives.  We’ll keep you updated. 

Philip Lawrence

Dear Rabbi Anna, Members and Friends

Earlier this month we had our first service inside the OMH for more than a year.  It was attended by 12 and more than a dozen others participated via Zoom.

As mentioned last month, Rabbi Anna will be taking our Yom Kippur services, but she is with her London community, BKY, for Rosh Ha’Shanah.  The High Holydays are very early this year, with erev Rosh Ha’Shanah being on the evening of Monday 6^th September.  We will be having a home-grown service at OMH and with participation via Zoom for those unable to be present.  Home-grown services were much appreciated in 2018 and 2019.

I presented Rabbi Anna with a small gift, a paperweight, from NLJC in recognition of her recent wedding.

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As part of the preparations for resuming services inside the OMH, Annie Henriques and I went there on Thursday 29^th July.  The eternal light in the Ark is powered by batteries which should last no more than six weeks. They were last charged in March 2020.  Remarkably, this is how I found the light:

Still glowing, just, after nearly 18 months.  A nes gadol, a great miracle, reminiscent of Chanukah.

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On Thursday 27^th July we visited the Norwich Hebrew Congregation shul to see the renovations.  NLJC participants were Sarah Boosey, Venetia Strangwayes-Booth, Byron Simmonds and Philip Lawrence.  We were warmly greeted and shown around by Marian Prinsley and Poppy Simons.

Written questions concerning the NHC proposal have been submitted by the NLJC Council to the NHC Committee.  We have been asked for some additional information about NLJC and understand that a written response will be sent.  This will form the basis for further discussion.

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Peter Whear, a former Chair of NLJC and long-serving Council member, has had to stand down because of ever increasing work commitments.  We all thank him for his efforts on our behalf over the years.  Recently Leiat Becker, Donna Frankel and Elise Page were co-opted onto the Council.

Philip Lawrence

Dear Rabbi Anna, Members and Friends

Last month we had our first ‘in person’ service for more than a year, in the grassed area behind the OMH. It was attended by more than a dozen. The rain stayed away and the wifi for the Zoom component of the service worked, most of the time.

Rabbi Anna is getting married over the weekend of our July service and is therefore on leave. A big mazeltov to her and Tamara from NLJC. We are very fortunate that Rabbi Roddy has kindly agreed to take Friday evening and Shabbat morning services via Zoom.

In August the plan is for Rabbi Anna to lead another service in Norwich. We are looking into how we can arrange this inside the OMH. Government and LJ guidance will be followed and we may decide to take even stronger precautions to maintain everyone’s safety.

The High Holydays are early this year, with erev Rosh Ha’Shanah being on the evening of Monday 6 September. Rabbi Anna will be with her other community, BKY, but she will be  taking our Yom Kippur services. Possibilities for our RH services are to join the BKY service  by Zoom, to have a locum minister or a home-grown service.

By now you should all be aware that Rabbi Anna will be leaving us at the end of the year. Preliminary steps are under way to find a successor.

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And now for something completely different. I had arranged a treat for you on Thursday

10th June – a 31% partial eclipse of the sun. Unfortunately, I missed the newsletter  deadline. To make up for this I shall be arranging a total eclipse of the Moon in May 2022 and a small partial solar eclipse in October 2022.

Philip Lawrence

Dear Rabbi Anna, Members and Friends,

You may be wondering what is happening ‘behind the scenes’. It may seem like not much has been happening, but I can assure you that many hours of effort have been and are being expended for the NLJC and its members.

The big topic is about the resumption of services ‘in person’. Services via Zoom have been amazing, by the fact that this wonderful technology exists at all – my Boobas and Zaidas would have been astounded – and by their warm content. They could have been cold and impersonal, but we must thank Rabbi Anna for making them the exact opposite. They have kept us going in very trying circumstances.

You will have received emails about our service on Saturday 12^th June taking place outdoors at the OMH. This will be proof that Rabbi Anna is not generated by computer graphics. We will be restricted to a maximum of 30, prior ‘booking’ will be needed, everyone will be widely spaced, no singing although you can hum behind a mask! No schmoozing or hanging around afterwards. Bring your own siddur, umbrella, and chair or blanket. No shared Kiddush, so no Palwin’s number 9³/4. We would be reassured by negative Covid tests in the previous 24-48 hours.

Rabbi Roddy has kindly agreed to officiate for the July service, which will be via Zoom.

No decisions have been made yet about August and then the High Holydays, although we are hoping that national circumstances will be such that we can resume services inside the OMH. Rabbi Anna will be taking our Yom Kippur services, but she will be with her other community, BKY, for Rosh HaShanah.

Philip Lawrence