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Shabbat, 12th September 2020 / 23rd Ellul 5780
Nitzavim-Vayeilech / Pirkei-Avot: Chapter 5 and 6

Dear Member,

 

Please see below our weekly e-newsletter.

 

Can all Members attending services at the Synagogue please wear their own face coverings.  This does not apply to those who have a medical reason to not do so.  Face coverings must cover the mouth and nose.

 

Kabbalat Shabbat - Friday 18th September - Book Here

 

Shacharit: Sunday & Public Holidays – 8.15am in Shul and on Zoom.

Shacharit: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - 7am in Shul and on Zoom.

Ma’ariv: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 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.

People attending the weekday services should not be arriving more than 20 minutes before the start of the service.

 

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.

 

Please contact the Shul office on 020 8629 2780 to book in for the services you wish to attend.

 

This week’s Cranbrook News is kindly sponsored by Ruth Abrahams in loving memory of her father Yaakov ben Yosef ber Halevi z”l.

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Cranbrook US

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.

News and Views

 

Good Shabbos

 

This week’s parasha starts off with the following words: ATEM NITZAVIM HAYOM - you are all standing today in front of G-d, your leaders, your tribes, your judges and policemen, all the people of Israel. What nuance is being mentioned that we didn’t know before? Surely G-d is everywhere! Rashi comments that we need to see this verse in context. In the previous parasha we had heard all of the curses and rebukes that the Jewish people are going to receive. The Medrash says that after the Jewish people heard all of those harsh words they began to be perturbed and anxious.  Moshe comforts them and says to them - don’t worry, even though you are being cursed, you are standing in front of G-d - each one of you still stand in front of G-d.

 

This statement is very comforting on Rosh Hashanah, which we are quickly approaching. We are about to be judged, and the Almighty is effectively telling us no matter how your year has been, it is still going to be ok, because you are all standing before Me.

 

After everything that we as a Jewish people have gone through, through all the pogroms, crusades and holocausts we are standing in front of G-d still - faithful servants to Him. This is an amazing thought. This shows true character of strength. It is so easy to be a good Jew when things are good - but after everything that we have witnessed through the centuries to still say SHEMA YISRAEL HASHEM ELOKEINU HASHEM ECHAD is something phenomenal.

 

Rav Yerucham from Mir gives a very audacious explanation of the verse.  He says it is precisely because of the curses that we stand in front of G-d today. The fact that we have been through difficult situations in our lives is reason for our faith. In other words, our faith is strengthened by adversity.

 

The truth is that we don’t grow if we don’t face adverse situations. When things are easy our notions of right and wrong are not challenged at all. It is easy to stay the same when things are easy. The Torah tells us paradoxically that when things are easy that we actually forget G-d. When things are more difficult, when we are challenged is the right moment to realise that He stands right in front of us all.

 

This year’s pandemic has been so very challenging for us. It has forced us to be more resilient, to find strength, and our strength comes from the Almighty. We must try and open our eyes and see what is in front of us. All of us, the rich, the poor, the mighty and the powerless all stand in front of Him. The more we hold this idea firmly in our minds, the stronger we will be, the more able we will be to stand against whatever this life holds for all of us.

 

Wishing you all well and a good Shabbos

Rabbi Steven, Siobhan, Maya and Talia Dansky

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: September 26th, October 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st.
To book any of these dates please call the synagogue office on: 020-8629 2780 or e-mail admin@cranbrooksynagogue.org.uk

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Condolences to:

 

The Family of Alan Green.

 

 

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