19th June 2021 / 9th Tammuz 5781 / Chukat Dear Member,
Please see below for our weekly e-newsletter.
Booking is now open for Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, 25th June at 7.15pm and for Shabbat on 26th June at 10am.
Bookings will close at 6pm on Wednesday, 23rd 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, 24th June.
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 has been sponsored in
Shabbat Shalom
Cranbrook US
The Torah says….What?? Moses was punished for hitting the rock rather than speaking to it.
Moses is told in this week’s Torah portion to speak to a rock and then it would “let forth its waters” so that the thirsty Israelites could drink. Moshe gathers the Israelites and says “Listen you bitter ones, is it from this rock that we will bring forth water? (Numbers 20). He then hits the rock, not once, but twice and sufficient water for the people and their flocks gushes forth.
The response of G-d here is fascinating. He said: “Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the Israelite people, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land that I have given them.” The sages are very confused as to the exact sin of Moses. Some learn that Moses should have spoken to the rock, and because he lost his temper and hit it, not once, but twice he showed that he did not trust G-d to bring out the water just by his words alone.
Maimonides points out that Moses’ downfall came from his words, called the Jews “bitter ones”, which, like Rashi, indicates that he lost his temper with the Jewish people. He should not have demeaned the Jewish people for being rebellious and unbelieving when all they were asking for was their survival. Nachmanides points out that this can’t be correct, because in other places we see that Moses has called the people rebellious. He quotes a verse from Deuteronomy where Moses clearly states: “You have been rebellious against G-d from the moment that I have known you”. Nachmanides therefore rejects Maimonides’ view of the sin.
However it could be that Maimonides has a point. In our story, Moses doesn’t describe the Jew’s behaviour as being rebellious, he defines them as being rebellious or bitter. This, together with his heightened emotion coalesced into such a powerful statement that the Jewish people may have accepted this description upon themselves. After the incident with the rock, the Jewish people saw themselves differently - not as people who were worthy of salvation, but as rebels whose nature it is to act in negative ways against G-d. It is for this reason that Moses is punished.
This should inform us of all the dangers of labeling others in any way. One word in the wrong context can be disastrous both for the person who says it, and for the one listening to it.
I wish you all a good Shabbos
Rabbi Steven, Siobhan, Maya and Talia Dansky.
Weekday Shacharit: In Shul Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 7.15am.
Mincha & Ma'ariv: In Shul and on Zoom Monday - Thursday at 7:30pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81050022128?pwd=ZEpwZXkxVFgzNko1aGNSSDhZV2Ntdz09
Meeting ID: 810 5002 2128 / Password: 434484
Shabbat Times - Chukat
Kabbalat Shabbat at 7.15pm in Shul. Candle Lighting at 7.40pm (9.07pm).
Shacharit begins at 10am in Shul. Shabbat Ends at 10.27pm.
Shabbat candle lighting (Balak) next week at 7.40pm (9.08pm).
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.
Clarification regarding the Shabbat times during the summer months
This will allow our members to have their Friday night meal at a more convenient hour.
Kabbalat Shabbat will take place at 7.15pm throughout the summer.
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.
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.
Sharon & Graham Kaufman (50th), Carole & Kevin Shine (40th),
Michael Aaron, Alan Bronzite, Barbara Cohen, Corinne Fishman,
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
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.
We wish Long Life to everyone who is observing a Yahrzeit this week:
Arnold Abrahams, Marian Arbiter, Beatrice Baxter, Hilda Berkoff,
Many thanks to everyone who submitted articles for the Pesach Edition of the Shalom Magazine - we have had some excellent feedback from our readers.
I am now working on the Rosh Hashanah 5782 Edition of the Shul Magazine. If you have any interesting or amusing articles with a Jewish content that you would like us to include, please email them as soon as possible to Philippa Stanton at stanton.philippa@gmail.com.
Shul Office Opening Hours As the Shul office is not open currently please call Estelle on 020 8629 2780 or Michelle on 020 8629 2783.
Rabbi Dansky is available out of hours. You can contact him directly on his mobile 07780 236697 or by calling the Shul office and selecting option 3.
Reverend Newman is available out of hours. You can contact him directly on his mobile 07882 054321 or by calling the Shul office and selecting option 4.
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