Tayere ale! (Dear All)
A greeting I’ve learned in the Yiddish course I’m taking on Zoom, through Leo Baeck (HHDs Appeal recipient) and which our newest member, Osian is teaching. I can truly say, try it-you’ll like it. So welcome Osian!!
He’s also got a starring role in our Purim spiel, written by renowned local playwright, Ezra Woodger. Please join us! (On Zoom too) Lots of hamentaschen to be eaten! Details to follow in this newsletter.
I should say that the spiel, in the Peill Room and followed by a chavurah meal, will take the place of our usual Kabbalat Shabbat service with an earlier start time of 7p.m. Normal programming resumes on Saturday with our Beit Midrash at 9:45 in the Vestry followed by Shacharit at 11:30 in the Peill Room.
An important reminder!! NLJC is holding its 35th AGM on Monday, 31 March at 7:30 on Zoom. Our acting Secretary, Steve Pruner has sent out the agenda and will send a reminder in due course. Only full members can vote but everyone has a voice, and we encourage both members and friends of the Community to attend.
You will also have received a package explaining the proposed coming together of Liberal and Reform Judaism into one Progressive Movement. There was a lot to digest there and so LJ has put together a more user-friendly version with which to familiarise yourselves. Prior to the EGM of LJ & Reform scheduled sometime in mid-May and at which time a vote will be taken, NLJC will hold a community meeting to discuss the ‘merger’, hopefully address your questions/concerns so that we may fairly represent the views of our Community.
Our annual 2nd night Seder will again be held at Chantry Hall on Sunday, 13 April at 6:45 and will be led by Rabbi Martina. There is disabled access, limited parking, as well as what one euphemistically refers to as disabled ‘facilities’. We’ve got several invited guests joining us so please fill out your forms and put the date into your calendar.
Also in this issue, more Yiddish You Can Use, from Chaim of Drayton, AKA Philip Lawrence, some news about our conversion programme from Rosie, news about a new book group from Lorna and a mouth-watering Hamentaschen recipe.
To close, before handing over to Rabbi Martina – While NLJC has always prioritised the ‘spiritual’ side of things, i.e., our Beit Midrash and services, we do recognise the need and desire to do more together as a community. So, we’ve got our Purim spiel and our Seder in the calendar, but there’s lots more to look forward to! Coming up, we’ve got a quiz night, a talk by a co-founder of Human Rights Watch, a visit to the Theatre Royal, a horn quartet, a summer party, and a mystical outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat. We very much want to hear from you with your suggestions and invite you to get in touch. We’re listening!
Best wishes,
Linda
P.S. Greetings from Student Rabbi Hannah who will be ordained this summer. Yasher Koach Hannah! I attended a lovely Shabbat service with her at Finchley Reform while in London recently and saw the Czech scroll she wrote about.