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31st October 2020 / 13th Cheshvan 5781
Lech Lecha

Dear Member,

 

Please see below our weekly e-newsletter.

 

All Members attending services at the Synagogue are required to wear their own face coverings. These must cover the mouth and nose at all times whilst in the Synagogue.  In line with the US Guidelines, if you are unable to wear a face covering for any reason, you will NOT be permitted into the Synagogue.

 

Kabbalat Shabbat - 6th & 13th November - Book Here

 

Shabbat - 7th November book here, bookings close on Wed 4th Nov.

 

Shacharit:

Sunday 1st at 8.15am in Shul and via Zoom.
Monday 2nd & Thursday 5th at 6.50am in Shul and via Zoom.
Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th, & Friday 6th in Shul and via Zoom at 7am.

Ma’ariv: Monday 2nd, Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th & Thursday 5th in Shul and on Zoom at 7.30pm.

Booking is available on line select Cranbrook United Synagogue from drop down and then tick Prayer Services.
 

In the following weeks please see the website for future times of services.

 

We appreciate that due to the lock-down those of you who have had a Yahrzeit and especially those who have suffered a bereavement have not had the opportunity of saying Kaddish.

 

Members with internet access should be booking in on-line for all services via the United Synagogue Website using the following link: https://myus.theus.org.uk/events. select Cranbrook United Synagogue from drop down and then tick Prayer Services.

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Cranbrook US

News and Views

 

This week’s parasha deals with Abraham, and his exploits in the land of Israel. He is described as the first of our forefathers - the first Jew. In fact, he is the first one to be circumcised at the age of 99 no less.

 

However, we also know that Abraham was not the first monotheist. There was another who preceded him - Noah. Noah, whom we read about last week, is the one who was saved from the flood, and is described as “perfect and righteous in his generation” someone who walked together with the Almighty.  Why then should Abraham be the father of all Jewry?  What was wrong with Noah?

 

The Medrash, possibly with this question in mind creates a parable to both Noah and Abraham. Noah, says the Medrash, can be compared to a boy who is walking together, hand in hand with his father, while Abraham is considered to be a man who lights the way for his father with a lamp, illuminating the dark spaces of this world. 

 

The Medrash is comparing Noah to a boy beloved by his father Hashem.  Yes, the Almighty does love him, and this sign of love is expressed by the holding of hands, as any parent would do for their child. However, there is another reason that any parent would hold the hand of a toddler, and that is to ensure that the child doesn’t get a scrape or hurt himself. Letting go of a toddler in the middle of the street is criminal. The Medrash therefore sees Noah as beloved of his father, but also that G-d is wary of Noah, knowing that if He “disappears” at any given time, - that G-d is not apparent in the world that Noah will wander off and lose his way. This is clearly seen in last week’s parasha. After G-d had personally saved Noah from the ark, Noah’s first act is to get drunk and lose his level of perfection..G-d let his hand go, and Noah gets into trouble at the first chance.

 

On the other hand, Abraham is independent of G-d. Not only does he walk in front of the Almighty, but he lights the way for Him, so to speak. This is useful, not only because it allows G-d to see where He is going, but more importantly, it allows other people to see G-d. Abraham, through his acts of kindness and involvement in the world on a spiritual plane, allows all of humanity to experience godliness in the world. He gave all of mankind the tools to have an experience of the Almighty even though He was not performing any miracles at all.

 

It could be for this very reason that a famous story which is attributed to Abraham is not mentioned in the Torah. The Medrash tells us that Abraham was thrown into a furnace by Nimrod, and was unscathed by its fires.  The Torah doesn’t mention this story, because the story does not illustrate Abraham’s main power - to live with G-d and be completely independent of his miracles.

 

Abraham is therefore the first Jew - a being who can see G-d behind the guise of nature, the first believer in the Almighty, and the first to bring monotheism not only to himself, but to the world.

 

I wish you all a good Shabbos.

Rabbi Steven, Siobhan, Maya, and Talia Dansky.

COVID PRECAUTIONS

 

MEN TO ENTER THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS.

 

PROCEED STRAIGHT TO A SEAT WITHOUT STOPPING.  AVOID GREETING AND TALKING IN FOYER

 

LADIES TO ENTER THROUGH SIDE DOORS AND PROCEED TO SEATS KEEPING TO THE LEFT

 

ALL CLOAKROOMS ARE CLOSED KEEP BELONGINGS WITH YOU

 

MEN TO EXIT ONLY THROUGH THE SIDE AND REAR FIRE EXITS

 

LADIES TO EXIT USING THE MAIN STAIRCASE, KEEPING LEFT AT ALL TIMES AND PROCEED SLOWLY DOWN THE STAIRS TO FRONT FORECOURT

 

PLEASE OBSERVE THE 2M SOCIAL DISTANCING RULE AT ALL TIMES

 

WASH HANDS REGULARLY

 

Please remember the Guidelines are there for your protection and safety.

Sponsorship

 

If you would like to mark a birthday or Simcha, or want to commemorate a Yahrzeit, this can be done by sponsoring Cranbrook News. In the forthcoming weeks, there are many dates that are available. The cost of sponsoring Cranbrook News is £15.

 

Sponsorship is available for the on-line version of Cranbrook News on the following dates: November 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th, December 12th.

 

To book any of these dates please call the synagogue office on: 020-8629 2780 or e-mail admin@cranbrooksynagogue.org.uk

Condolences to:

 

The family of Renee Adler

 

Gloria Levene on the loss of her husband Alan Levene.

 

Michelle Levene and David Levene on the loss of their father Alan Levene.

 

We wish Long Life to everyone who is observing a Yahrzeit this week:  

Tracy Abrahams, Cissie Ackerman, Millie Allen, Stephen Arbiter,
Sandra Barnett, Frances Baum, Melanie Bernstein, Alan Bernstein,
Norman Bick, Sonia Black, Rose Blitz, Sheila Brand, Bernard Chaplin, Blanche Charach, Ivor Clements, Hetty Conway, Marian Conway,
Mildred Davies, Frank Eisen, Susan Faber, Julian Gold, Ruth Gold,
Elka Golding, Barbara Goldman, Alan Golstein, Eunice Green, Saul Green, Sylvia Green, Norma Hart, Michael Hart, Celia Hine, Sylvia Jay,
Rowland John,  Sharon Kantor, Harry Karker, Leslie Kingsley, Rita Lebetkin,
Alan Levene, Alma Levene, Lesley Levy, Michael Levy,  Lilian Levy,
Helena Marco, Maureen Marcus, Ivor Miller,  Anthony Mitchell,
Angela Morris, Dennis Moss, Warren Mullish,  Sandra Pearman,
Irene Placks, Joyce Rabin, Anita Sears,  Victor Shafier, Leah Shamplin, Simon Shaw, Stephen Shelton,  Laura Shone, Lorraine Silver, Estelle Silver, Angela Simmons, Bert Smiler, Brenda Stanton, Ruth Starr, Miriam Stein,
Helen Tranis, Doreen Wajchendler, Frances Wallace, Melvyn Windsor and Gina Winton.

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