17th April 2021 / 5th Iyar 5781 Dear Member,
Please see below for our weekly e-newsletter.
Booking is now open for Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, 23rd April at 7.15pm and for Shabbat on 24th April at 10am.
Shabbat morning will start at 10am from 24th April.
Bookings will close at 6pm on Wednesday, 21st April.
We are now open for regular Shacharit services, Monday and Thursday at 7.15am, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 7.30am, Sunday and Bank Holidays at 8.15am, booking is now open.
Bookings will close at 6pm on Thursday, 22nd April.
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 wishes a hearty Mazeltov to Gemma, Matthew, Kai, Luca and family on
Shabbat Shalom
Cranbrook US
News and Views
The Talmud relates a story of the sage Rabbi Alechsandri who was sitting, and learning. Suddenly he heard the sounds of a peddler who cried out, “Who desires the elixir of life?” The Rabbi stopped his learning, went out to see what the nose was all about. The peddler, once he had everyone’s attention said: “If you want to live a good and meaningful life, then you need to protect your mouth from speaking badly about others”. The Rabbi who heard this was astounded and said that he had never before heard anything as brilliant as that.
This is an exceedingly strange piece of Talmud. Did the holy rabbi not know that piece of psalms “guard your tongue from evil” which is recited every Shabbat? Did he not know that it was important not to gossip?
Rabbi Chayim Shmuelevitz explains this by interpreting a piece of Talmud. The Talmud states that a Metzora - someone who has got a type of spiritual malady is considered like a dead person. This looks strange at first sight. The Metzora may be separated from the rest of the community, but why does that mean that he is dead? Rabbi Chayim Shmuelevitz explains that the greatest gift that is given to man is his ability to give to others, to be able to see their pain, and to contribute. Greatness is being able to contribute, to be able to give.
The Metzora is like a dead person, because he is separate from society, and as a result he is unable to contribute or give in any way to others.
When we contribute, we are truly alive, because we are acting in the ways of the greatest contributor of all – Hashem himself. In the Benching we bless Hashem and say – HAZAN ET HA’OLAM KULO BETUVO – the One who gives food to the whole entire world. When we give, we are acting in the image of G-d.
With this insight, we can understand the words of the peddlar. Who wants a meaningful life? Who wants a life in which we are true givers? If we prevent ourselves from speaking badly from others, we move from a world in which we take, to a world in which we give.
Rabbi Alechsandri understands for the first time that our quality of life becomes marred when we move from giving to taking. We fulfil the vision of G-d when he created the world when we give, and therefore gives our life true quality, true purpose, true meaning.
I wish you all a good Shabbos
Rabbi Steven, Siobhan, Maya and Talia Dansky.
Weekday Shacharit: In Shul and on Zoom Tues 20th, Wed 21st & Friday 23rd at 7.30am.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84248315505?pwd=WTZDL0JndG1ZVWRiQjZtNms1Ny9SZz09
Meeting ID: 842 4831 5505 / Password: 013639 Mincha & Ma'ariv: On Zoom Monday 19th to Thursday 22nd at 7:30pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81050022128?pwd=ZEpwZXkxVFgzNko1aGNSSDhZV2Ntdz09
Meeting ID: 810 5002 2128 / Password: 434484
Shabbat Times - Tazria-Metzora
Kabbalat Shabbat at 7.15pm in Shul. Candle Lighting at 7.40pm (7.44pm).
Shacharit begins at 9.15am in Shul. Shabbat candle lighting (Achrei Mot-Kedoshim) next week at 7.40pm (7.56pm).
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.
The AGM for Cranbrook United Synagogue will be held on Tuesday, 4th May 2021 at 8pm via a Zoom Meeting (details to follow).
Details and the dates of the online and telephone Polls will follow at a later date.
This will be online via the US Member Portal and/or via a confidential telephone poll.
The form to add birthdays, wedding anniversaries and yahrzeit insertions in the 2021/22 Cranbrook Synagogue Calendar were recently sent out in your Pesach mailing; if you have mislaid the form it can be downloaded from the synagogue website. Please return the completed form to Ruth Lyndon via the synagogue office; these need to be returned by May, 31 2021.
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.
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!
Linda Aaron, Martine Conway,
Alfred Godfrey, Simone Mazin, Shirley Palmer, Evelyn Raine, Leonard Silver, Paul Stein and Beth Tomas on their respective birthdays.
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: April 24th; May 22nd & 29th; June 5th, 12th & 19th.
To book any of these dates please call the synagogue office on: 020 8629 2780 or e-mail admin@cranbrooksynagogue.org.uk
Condolences to:
Alan Scott on the loss of his wife, Sandra Scott.
We wish Long Life to everyone who is observing a Yahrzeit this week:
Michael Aaron, Ruth Abrahams, Edward Adler, Susan Bass, Shirley Bernstein, Sharon Bick, Michelle Bolle, Allan Brett, Barry Brett, Adrienne Burnley, Alan Burns, Estelle Carson, Marilynne Chyte, Barry Cohen, Mildred Davies, Helen Duncan, Linda Eleini, Philip Fagelson, Alan Geisler, Marilyn Gladstone, Alan Golstein, Elizabeth Greyman, Karen Grossman, Rita Grossman, Celia Hine, Angela Kalmanson, Joseph Kaye, Irene Klein, David Lee, Pauline Lester, Keith Luton, Denise Mallach, Joy Mallach, Michael Mallach, Wendy Mallach, Harold Marco, Vera Miller, Rhona Morris, Susan Morrison, Adele Pearl, Diane Rankoff, Janice Rebak, Howard Robbins, Angela Roberts, Ruth Rose, Ruth Rosen, Peter Rudd, Ruth Russell, Patricia Russell, Clive Schaller, Linda Schaller, Sidney Schlesinger, Jack Selner, Doris Sheril, Martine Sholem, Irene Silverman, Estelle Smiler, Rita Stevens, Stephanie Student, Maureen Tassie, Michael Trainis, Ronald Weinberg and Janice Winston.
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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