Shabbat Shalom (Parashat Pinchas)

1. From the Rabbi 

Writing on an Empty Stomach

Thursday was the seventeenth day of Tammuz – Sh'va Esrei B'Tammuz. It’s a minor festival, commemorating the breach of the walls of Jerusalem at the time of the fall of the Second Temple. It marks the beginning of the ‘Three Weeks’ culminating in the 9th Av which we will commemorate at New London on Wednesday/Thursday 29th/30th July.

I’ll admit, this time last year I had a five week old baby to contend with and fasting passed me by, it was tough enough keeping my eyes open. This year I was home in the middle of the day to see my, now one year old son, teething. I cut a piece of cucumber for him to suck on. He wasn’t interested, I was about to stick the cucumber in my mouth when I paused. I was fasting this year. Even though the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem 1939 years ago I’m still torn up over issues around the power and politics of Jerusalem – some things never change. Then I realised something else; I didn’t need to eat today. I’d eaten well yesterday, I’m blessed enough not to have to worry about malnutrition. I looked back at the stick of cucumber, non-organic, plastic wrapped, probably flown in at some earth-busting carbon-welly boot-print expense, and I put it down, went to my study, made an on-line charitable donation and began writing this reflection.

This is how observance, I think, is supposed to work. It’s easy to mock quaint traditions like fasting on the 17th of Tammuz, abstaining from use of electricity on Shabbat or not eating milk with meat. Expressed without the accompaniment of lived experience, all of Judaism can look ridiculous. But from the inside, the web of ritual and obligation serves to direct our attention inwards to our national history and our heritage, and outwards to our God and the world in which we live. Our observance of Judaism is supposed to make us more observant, closer watchers of our lives and the lives of our fellows, more careful and thereby more caring. This is why we have, as a people, made such a big issue of the verse-fragment na'aseh v'nishma  – we will do and we will understand. When confronted by the prospect of Torah the Children of Israel accept first and assume understanding will follow. Greater involvement in Judaism doesn’t take a leap of faith, it takes a leap of action.

Shabbat shalom,

P.S. This Sunday I am taking part in a sponsored cycle from London to Southend. For more information please see http://www.justgiving.com/Jeremy-Gordon

Jeremy Gordon 

2. Can you help? -  Sponsors/Brochure advertisers needed for the Selichot Concert 
On the 12th September we are holding our annual Selichot concert and Service. The Selichot evening has become a highlight of our calendar, attracting many visitors to the Synagogue. 

Once again we are appealing to your generosity for sponsorship (any contribution would be most welcome)  or to help us obtain advertisements for the Programme. If you would like to contribute towards the expenses of the evening or can help with the programme (£250 for a half page) please contact me by clicking here.  You can see the concert programme by clicking  here. 

3. The Week Ahead

The Kabbalat Shabbat service this evening begins at 6.30 pm. Tomorrow morning Shacharit is at 9.15 am. A Children's service will be held at 11.00 am in the Bet Midrash and a Youth Service (11 - 14s) will be held in the classrooms at the top of the FRONT stairs.

This week, Tony Norton will be reading the Haftarah to celebrate his 65th birthday (the first time since his Bar Mitzvah),and there is a Baby Blessing for Amelia Posnansky (daughter of Rachel and Michael) The Norton and Posnansky families invite you to join them for a celebratory Kiddush following the service.

On Sunday morning Shacharit will be at 9.30 am in the Bet HaMidrash. At 10.15 am Rabbi Elaina Rothman's Hebrew Reading group will meet in the Rabbi's study. 

On Monday morning - Babes in the Wood invite you to a SPECIAL EVENT.  Mabel's Monsters will be coming to Babes!  Yippie! - singing, dancing and bubbles!   More information - http://www.mabelsmonsters.com/mabel.swf  if you haven't yet reserved your places, please email Cori SaNogueira by clicking  here. The cost is £15  to include lunch, and we will start promptly at 11. 

4. Forthcoming Events

Sunday 19th July, The Ladies' Association have organised a guided visit to the Chelsea Physic Garden, starting at 3pm. Please meet at the main entrance on Swan Walk, London SW3 4HS at 2.45pm.  Nearest tube station is Sloane Square.
 
You can book your place by calling Sarah at the NLS Office (places are limited).  Tickets are £10 per person.  Tea available at the restaurant afterwards at an extra cost. For more information please see the Garden's website on www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk  We look forward to seeing you there!

Wednesday evening 29th July at 8.00 pm -Tisha B'Av . Our annual service will include a study session with Rabbi Jeremy Gordon entitled - How to Warn about Destructive Behaviour - On the eve of the commemoration of the destruction of the Temples we will look at how Biblical prophets warned, challenged and succeeded (or not) in changing the behaviour of their people. This year, we will also be holding a morning service on Tisha B'Av at 7.00 am

Saturday 12th September Selichot Concert at 9.15 pm and Service at 10.45 pm.

Preparing for the High Holy Days - Two evenings devoted to the history, meaning and music of key liturgical texts from Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. 8.00 - 9.30 pm, cost £5 to include refreshments.
Monday 14th September - Un'taneh Tokef
Monday 21st September - Kol Nidrei

5 ...and finally

Stephen Greene is also taking part in the London - Southend bike ride this Sunday (see Rabbi's note above) in aid of Tzedek and the JCC
Sponsorship gratefully accepted! : http://www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Greene/

Mazal Tov to Einav and Alexandra Ben Yehudah on the birth of a baby boy.

Good luck to Isabel Burton who will be competing in the Maccabiah Games Triathlon in the coming week.

QUEST 4 - The new edition of our annual journal is now available  from the office - Cost £5. It includes last year's Jacobs Memorial Lecture by Chancellor Arnie Eisen, and the March lecture by Rabbi Reuven Hammer plus articles by Rabbi Jeremy Gordon, Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Rabbi Joel Levy, Angela Gluck and others.

Shabbat Shalom

Stephen Cotsen