I’m inspired with Rabbi Leah staying with us for 3 months already! Several changes have taken place.
In addition to taking Services R. Leah is available to talk to the people in our Community. Leah is in Norwich from 4:30 p.m. on Friday to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday (and perhaps some Sundays) over Service weekends. This means she has time for one to one discussions (confidential) after the Shabbat morning Service unless we’re having a special event. However, when she’s not in Norwich, Leah is available to us by phone and email. Please do not hesitate to speak to her or get in touch via Liberal Judaism. Phone numbers are on the LJ website.
Our Cheder is also now up and running, meeting monthly at 10:00 a.m. before Shabbat morning Service, with R. Leah and Annie leading. In January, we enjoyed learning about Tu B’Shevat, eating more than 12 different fruits and discovering the history of this Festival in Cheder on Saturday morning (as well as at the Tu B’shvat Seder on Friday evening). We welcome to cheder any families who are new to our community. Please contact me or any other Council member for more information.
The OMH and Peill Room are beautiful, historic old buildings but, as I’m sure you’ve also noticed, they can do with a bit of love and attention to make them more liveable. Annie and Stuart’s lovely furniture donation has made the Peill Room most homely and comfortable and, with the additional heating, our Peill Room now welcomes us for Cheder and other events. A few months ago we cleaned up one room in the OMH which we hope to convert into a kitchen. It’s now time for another round of cleaning, tidying and fixing up so we’re holding an OMH Mitzvah Day on Sunday 23rd February from 10:30 – 12:30, with a light lunch and schmooze after. Please do join us!
Our February Service weekend is 7th and 8th February. Friday evening’s Engaging with Judaism in the Peill Room and led by Rabbi Leah, will be on how we decide which customs and traditions to use in our community and in LJ. Please contact me to let me know if you’re coming.
In order to make our services more participatory, we’re always happy for people to play roles, and many of them are in English (or even non-speaking!). If you’d like to read the week’s Torah portion or haftarah from the bimah, please let us know. Also, if you’d like to help to open and close the ark or dress and undress the scroll but need a bit more confidence, we have a plan to help; please keep your eye on the website and the Facebook group for details.
I look forward to seeing you and meeting new people at our services and events.
Sarah
Sarah Boosey, Chairperson
Norwich Liberal Jewish Community (PJCEA) 07460-849472