View Web Version

26th June 2021 / 16th Tammuz 5781 / Balak
Pirkei Avot Chapter 6

Dear Member,

 

Please see below for our weekly e-newsletter.

 

Booking is now open for Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, 2nd July at 7.15pm and for Shabbat on 3rd July at 10am.

 

Bookings will close at 6pm on Wednesday, 30th June.

 

We are open for Shacharit services, On Monday and Thursday at 7.05am. Tuesday,  Wednesday and Friday at 7.15am. Sunday and Bank Holidays at 8.15am, booking is now open.

 

We are open for Mincha and Ma'ariv services on Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm.

 

To book your place please e-mail or call Robin on 07956 617669.

 

Bookings will close at 6pm on Thursday, 1st July.

 

The Shul office will remain open for phone calls only. Please do not visit the Shul office for any reason. If you are due to make a payment, this can be done by debit/credit card by ringing Michelle on 020 8629 2783 or by cheque through the post.

 

If you know of anyone that needs our help please contact the Shul office.

 

This week’s Cranbrook News is kindly sponsored by
Barbara Mervish and Family in loving memory of her mother
Annie Symons, Channa bat Benjamin zt”l

 

Shabbat Shalom

 

Cranbrook US

The Seventeenth of Tammuz –
What Are We Missing?

 

This week we will be observing the fast of 17th Tammuz (June 27th 2021). The fast lasts from sunrise (1.04am) until night (10.22pm). It marks the day on which Jerusalem fell prior to the destruction of the Temple three weeks later, on 9th Av. These three weeks are a period of national mourning during which time we do not have haircuts and men do not shave, we do not buy or wear new clothes, and we refrain from celebrations.

 

How can we connect to the loss of the Temple 2,000 years after it’s destruction? One could argue that even though we do not have the Temple, we can still connect to Hashem in our shuls, through daily prayer, and by visiting places like the Kotel, the Third Temple Institute and the Tunnel Tours in the Old City of Jerusalem. There are countless ways to connect with Hashem and spirituality, no matter where we are or our level of religious observance. We do not have the Temple, but surely we are doing our best to make up the shortfall. It’s hard to miss something that we did not experience first-hand so, when we have been living with the next best thing for so long, how are we expected to feel that we are lacking anything?

 

The past year has forced us to create a Plan B existence as we continue to wait for the pandemic to be under control worldwide. We have had to limit our interactions with other people - hugging and hand-to-hand contact were forbidden, we have been limited in the number of people we could see face-to-face at any one time, and we have not been able to welcome friends or family into our homes. But we have had Zoom! Arguably, we have been able to reach out to more people from the comfort of our own homes than we would have been able to see in person. Some of our shuls have even seen an increase in engagement during the pandemic as homebound members, and those living further afield, have been able to tune in to classes and workshops from their armchairs. And yet, my Facebook feed was recently full of emotionally-charged photos of families reuniting and hugging for the first time in over a year. Instinctively we know that there is a certain quality in in-person contact that simply cannot be experienced through a screen. There is a quality of connection that we experience in the presence of others that is hard to describe in words, but which we feel so strongly when it is denied to us.

 

This is the quality that we are mourning on 17th Tammuz and throughout the three weeks. The Torah states, “And you shall make for me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell in your midst” (Exodus 25:8). The Temple was not just a building or a place of worship; it was a place in which we could experience being in the physical presence of G-d. It is that palpable quality of connection with Hashem that we are lacking and for which we will yearn, cry and mourn over the next three weeks. May we merit to see the building of the third Temple speedily in our days.

 

I wish you all a good Shabbos

 

Rabbi Steven, Siobhan, Maya and Talia Dansky.

Clarification regarding the Shabbat times during the summer months

Ordinarily Shabbat begins 15 minutes before sunset. However, as we enter the long days of summer in our community we will be bringing Shabbat in at the earlier time of 7.40 pm.

 

This will allow our members to have their Friday night meal at a more convenient hour.

For the benefit of our members who are unable to light candles with the rest of the community at 7.40 pm, we have put the latest time for candle lighting in brackets.

 

Kabbalat Shabbat will take place at 7.15pm throughout the summer.

Chesed - food bank collection
 

Following the success of last year’s food collection campaign and the ever growing demand for food from families hit by the Pandemic, US Chesed have decided to run this project again this summer.

 

US Chesed are encouraging members to donate the food items as listed on the poster below. If you are able to help by donating one of these items, please bring them to the Shul Office at the following times from Monday 21st June 2021 until Thursday 22nd July 2021.

 

Mondays:      10am-2pm

Thursdays:    10am-2pm

 

We will be unable to accept toiletries or any other items at this time.

 

Please do not donate perishable items.

 

Please note masks must be worn at all times and you will be asked to drop your donations into the allocated boxes.

With thanks for your support.

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 UPSTAIRS KEEPING TO THE LEFT

 

ALL CLOAKROOMS ARE CLOSED KEEP BELONGINGS WITH YOU

 

NO COMMUNAL SINGING OR CHANTING, RABBI / LEADERS ONLY

 

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.

Leyning and Haftorah

 

If you would like to lein part of your Barmitzvah or read the Haftorah on a Shabbat or would need some help in going over.
 

Please contact Harold who will pass on your name to Rabbi Dansky.

Please don’t be shy we would love to have more of our members take part in the service on a Shabbat morning.

Important Reminder

 

Please be advised the synagogue is not responsible for any property left anywhere in the building for any reason.

 

No claims whatsoever will be entertained for any loss or damage incurred, all items are left at the owners risk.

 

With this stipulation the management insist any tallisim or books must be marked with the owners name and address to save any confusion.

There are occasions that we need men to help make a minyan at a levoya, this is a great mitzvah. We appreciate that during this difficult time men do not want to go out, perhaps some of our younger members would like to help out.

If you are interested please give Harold a call on 07434 580885.

Susan & Clive Wiseman (50th), Merle & Gary Lewis (50th) and
Michele & Keith Biller (40th) on their their respective wedding anniversaries.

 

Sylvia Fletcher, Elizabeth Greyman, Cyril Hyman, Amanda Miller,
Paul Nathan, Martin Wickers, David Winton, Lisa Placks and
Sharon Segal on their respective birthdays.

 

Elaine and Matthew Noble on the occasion of their son’s wedding

 

Adam Noble on the occasion of his marriage.

 

Joyce Meltzer on the birth of a great granddaughter.

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: July 3rd, 17th & 31st; 7th & 14th August.

 

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

Condolences:

 

Alan Graham on the loss of his wife, Stella Graham.
 

Adrian Graham on the loss of his mother, Stella Graham.

 

Maxine Pooley and Larry Dobin on the loss of their father, Paul Dobin.

Join us to honour Jews in HM Armed Forces, past and present

 

National Armed Forces Week (21st - 27th June) is an opportunity to honour the Jewish men and women who served in HM Armed Forces protecting our freedoms, and those who are serving today. Please join us for a unique virtual tour of the National Memorial Arboretum and a special ceremony to celebrate the significant contribution of Jewish Servicemen and women to HM Armed forces, past and present. 

 

To watch the event please log on to www.youtube.com/ajexjma on Sunday 27th June at 2pm.

 

We would also love your community to join our ‘Raise a Glass’ campaign by sharing photos of them raising their drink of choice - anything from a juice to water bottles – as a l’chayim to those serving and to share on social media tagging AJEX and #raiseaglass They can also email a picture for us to share via raiseaglass@ajex.org.uk.

House of Life - Willesden

 

The House of Life Willesden are currently looking for Volunteers able to cover shifts Monday or Thursday mornings (9:30-13:30) and Sundays, (9:30 - 13.00 and 13.00 - 16:30). They ask Volunteers to be available for one shift a month as a minimum. Shifts will include time for tea and lunch breaks.

 

Front of House Volunteers welcome visitors to the Visitor Centre, enhancing the visitor experience by answering questions about the site, helping visitors navigate the cemetery and engaging them in discussion about history, death and memory.

 

Front of House Volunteers also play an essential role ensuring the smooth and safe running of the Visitor Centre. During quiet periods Front of House Volunteers will support the staff team with administrative tasks.

 

This role is perfect for people who enjoy talking to new people and have a passion for sharing the heritage of the site with the wider community.

 

Further information can be found using the following link:-

 

Front of house volunteer — Willesden Jewish Cemetery

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

 

Geoffrey Basco, Laurence Basco, Martin Baskin, Henry Berman,
Barbara Besbrode, Gerald Braman, Stanley Brattman, Philip Burke,
David Carron, Annette Colman, Helena Davis, Joan Dobin,
Martin Freedman, Barbara Goldman, Edna Graham, Estelle Gudde,
Irene Hyams, Sylvia Jay, Rosalind Jessener, Frances Keen,
Maureen Keizner, Michael Kenner, Minnie Kogan, Philippa Land,
Anthony Lane, Ida Lawrence, Anthony Levine, Stanley Levy,
Leonard Lewis, Mervyn Lyndon, Gilda Melnick, Barbara Mervish,
Bradley Mervish, Colin Myers, Sandra Nerden, Helen Rabin,
Sandra Robins, Gerald Robins, Emanuel Robinson, Gerda Rosenberg,
Diane Roth, Jacqueline Scott, Mark Serkes, Elaine Shear,
Shirley Slipman, Estelle Smiler, Simon Solvey, Rita Stedman,
Victor Wallen, June Whitesman, Martin Wickers and Phoebe Wigul.

Latest 200 Club Winners

 

1st Prize May 2021 – Ball Number 25 - Maura Newman

2nd Prize May 2021 – Ball Number 133 - Ivor Barwin

 

1st Prize June 2021 – Ball Number 184 - Howard Walters

2nd Prize June 2021 – Ball Number 6 - Philip Powell

If you no longer wish to receive community information from

Cranbrook United Synagogue, please unsubscribe here