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7th November 2020 / 20th Cheshvan 5781
Vayera

Dear Member,

 

Please see below our weekly e-newsletter.

 

The Shul is now closed for all services and all other events until further notice.

 

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 0208 629 2783 or by cheque through the post.

 

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

 

Details of our Zoom Services are below

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Cranbrook US

Message from Rabbi Dansky

 

Dear Friends

 

I hope this week finds you all well. It has been yet another tumultuous week, a time when we have been told that for our safety we have to go into another lockdown. It has meant the closure of our special Shul, and this has been hard for us all. As Rabbi of the Shul, it hurts me to have to close a place in which we come together to connect with the Almighty. Our Shul stands for the opportunity to connect and be close with Hashem, and to close the doors stands against everything I hold most dear.

At the same time, the knowledge that you are all safe and sound in your homes,that you are taking care of yourselves is a balm. The Torah tells us clearly that the highest value of all is life, and everything that can be done to save lives most be performed. We are even allowed to break Shabbat if it means saving a life. Thus, even the most important of commandments can be paused for life.

 

I know that being alone is so difficult. Not being able to visit your loved ones is hard, but I urge you all to find the strength which I know you all have to stand firm during this time. We will all be reunited together soon, with G-d’s help.

 

Love from Rabbi Steven, Siobhan, Maya and Talia Dansky

My most meaningful Shabbat
 

There have been many Shabbatot which I have enjoyed over the years. I think the most meaningful one for me was the first one Shabbat that I shared with my wife when we were first married. 

 

It was during the week of Sheva Brachot- the week in which the bride and groom are taken care of for an entire week, and are blessed with seven blessings. It had been an incredibly busy week, starting off our wedding, and then through a whirl of sorting our new life out as a married couple, setting up our flat together.

 

As exciting and wonderful as our time as newlyweds was, it was also incredibly exhausting. There was no time to really think, to absorb the enormity of Siobhan and my change in status to being a married couple!

 

I remember being in Edgware, and that Shabbat, all my family from South Africa and England, as well as from Israel were there.  There was this feeling of incredible warmth, love and belonging that Shabbat, even though it was very cold (we got married on the 12th of December). After so many years of us being on different continents, we were finally together to spend one special Shabbos together. It was the first time that we had been together as a family for 10 years.

 

That Friday night, as we were about to eat the meal, we sang Eishes Chayil together, the song which is attributed to a woman of valour - the quintessential Jewish woman who takes care of her husband and family. I remember reciting it, and looking at my new wife. I actively recall being so thankful that I had been given such a gift as Siobhan and all her qualities as a woman, a wife, such a gifted and capable person, who I knew I could entrust my heart with.

 

The next day, we went through the Shabbos davening, and I was able to slow down my mind and body.  So much had happened, and I could look over the week, and start thinking about what it meant to be a married man, what responsibilities I had taken on, and what it meant to be in such a close and wonderful relationship.

 

Our Sheva Brachot Lunch was held at Rabbi Sudak of Edgware, an incredibly warm and special man.  He managed to have us all in his house for this wonderful lunch, together with his wife.  I remember he told us a story about the Ba’al Shem Tov, and how warmly he spoke to us still remains so clear in my mind.  He personified the love that a Jew should have with another to the extent that their joy was his joy.

 

This was my most meaningful Shabbos, a moment of thankfulness, reflection, and joy in 24 hours.

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 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

Lunch and learn is an interactive, informal and inspiring discussion programme for women. Each time we learn a different topic based on Jewish concepts and find relevant, modern ideas that we can bring into our lives based on the wisdom of ancient texts. No prior Hebrew or Jewish knowledge required. Under non-Covid conditions, we used to meet in the shul and have lunch together. As it stands, feel free to bring your lunch to the table and eat while we learn!

Work Avenue virtual event

 

Work Avenue have asked us to let our members know about an event they are organising called Defining Your Second Career, which might well be of interest to some of our members.

 

This event is a free half day virtual conference, aimed at anyone whose job has been impacted due to Covid.

 

For further info, please visit www.theworkavenue.org.uk/dysc20.

 

They also have  weekly employment and business workshops, which are totally free www.theworkavenue.org.uk/events.

Condolences to:

 

Diane Lee on the loss of her husband Edward Lee .

 

Jeremy & Daniel Lee and Melissa Wellington on the loss of their father.

 

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

Melody Alicoon, Millie Allen, Cynthia Ballin, Judith Bara,
Geoffrey Basco, Beatrice Baxter, Sonia Black, David Bresh,
David Burack, Richard Burack, Sheila Burack, Isabel Burney,
Norma Burns, Barbara Cohen, Sidney Cohen, Leila Conn,
Nigel Conway, Howard Diamond, Colin Emden, Derek Ettinger,
Sonny Finberg, Michael Freed, Barbara Gallant, Elena Goldstein,
Alan Golstein, Raynor Gordon, Arnold Green, Rita Haberman,
Heather Hawkes, Helena Hockley, David Hoffman, Rochelle Jay,
Harry Karker, Jeanette Kaye, Joseph Kaye, Rosalind Kaye,
Deanna Klein, Simone Kramer, Martin Lander, Isadore Leigh,
Ivor Lethbridge, Betty Levine, Daryl Levison, Elizabeth Levison,
Hayley Levison, Lindsey Levison, Janet Lewis, Marlene Mendel,
David Mullish, Rose Nathan, Stuart Nieman, David Pinner,
Stephanie Plawner, Elaine Price, Maureen Rappoport, Stanley Rogoff,
Evelyn Rose, Betty Rothfarb, Irving Rozansky, Sheryl Saltman,
Anne Schlesinger, Alice Senk, Anita Silver, Sheila Solomons,
Linda Stanton, Philippa Stanton, Helen Syrett, Adrienne Trayman and
June Whitesman.

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