Shabbat Shalom (Terumah) Shabbat begins at 5.07pm 1. From the Rabbi - Ein Kemach Ain Torah Without flour there is no Torah, say the Rabbis in Pirkei Avot. What they mean is that the public face of our engagement in Torah masks a necessary flurry of administration, bureaucracy and organisation that make Torah possible. As we, as a community, become busier: as we do more for our older members, and our youngest; more meetings, more weddings, more education, more kids, more social events, more meals, more kiddushim, we’ve needed more ‘Kemach’ to continue to serve our needs and lift our expectations ever higher. This week I began to work with Kala Jerzy, a member of the Synagogue who many will know. Kala will be providing me with part-time secretarial support. Over the coming weeks our wonderful administrator, Sarah Koffman, will be scaling back some of her hours and sharing her work-load with another new member of the New London team, Irene Levin. We are making more use of our paid administrative support by welcoming a rota of volunteers to staff the Synagogue office on a Sunday. I’m particularly delighted that the costs of my secretarial support are being met by a very generous donation to the Synagogue and therefore will have no impact on the Shul’s financial position. I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Kala, Irene and our willing volunteers into their posts. And I hope you will bear with us as the new members of our professional Kemach team find their feet in what is a very special, but most unusual, working environment. Shabbat Shalom, 2. The Week Ahead The Kabbalat Shabbat service this evening begins at 6.30 pm. Tomorrow morning, Shacharit will be at 9.15 am in the synagogue. This week Rabbi Gordon is away and the sermon will be given by Lester Kershenbaum. Michael Cooper will be celebrating a special birthday by reading the Haftarah. Joorie and Michael invite you to join them for a celebratory Kiddush in the New London Hall following the service. On Shabbat afternoon at 5.00 pm, the Minyan Chadash will be holding its first Se'udah Sh'lishit (with food, stories and songs) and Havdalah, which will be led by Joanne Kosmin, at the home of Angela Gluck. Do join us to bid Shabbat farewell. Everyone is welcome. If you need the address, contact Angela by clicking here. On Sunday morning Shacharit will be at 9.15 am in the Bet Midrash. The Cheder is on Half Term this week. On Sunday evening, at 6.00 pm, the New London Film Club (in association with the Friends of the Jewish Museum) will be showing the film Etz Limon (Lemon Tree) as part of our season on 'Conflict'. 'Salma, a Palestinian widow - living there for decades - has to stand up against her new neighbor, the Israeli Defense Minister, when he moves into his new house opposite her lemon grove, on the green line border between Israel and the West Bank.' Admission £6 to include refreshments served from 5.30 pm. All welcome On Monday morning Babes in the Wood our popular mothers and babies group meets from 11.00 - 1.00 pm. On Monday evening - The second unit of the Prayer series concludes with the Aleinu and will be taught by Rabbi Jeremy Gordon On Wednesday, The Art Group meets from 10.00 am. 5. Forthcoming Events/Dates for your diary Purim 27th/28th February - Click here for the full Purim programme Sunday, 7 March - Yom Masorti will be held at New North London Synagogue, as part of the 2010 European Masorti Conference weekend. The programme for Yom Masorti is wide-ranging - from Israeli dance to text study - and includes sessions with Hagai Segal, Dr David Cesarani and Julie Schonfeld (Executive Vice-President of the Rabbinical Assembly), as well as discussions on volunteering, education and fundraising. The day starts with an 'Ask the Rabbis' session, where our Rabbis will give the Masorti view on some of the more difficult questions that are frequently asked. 7. Social and Personal Bereavement Mazal tov Shabbat Shalom Stephen Cotsen |
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