Do
you want to lead the davening but don't know how? Interested
in leyening but don't know the notes? One of the advantages of
a smaller, more intimate minyan is that people can "practice"
and learn in a way that might be more difficult in a larger shul.
We can arrange one-to-one tuition for anyone who wants to improve
their knowledge and daven or leyen; please call Paul Jacobus
on 0171-286 6296. Alternatively, if you can daven or leyen but we
never seem to ask you to, please let us know!
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Contents
The next issue of WHAM news is already a twinkle in our eyes, but if you want to help make it even more than that then call us or just send your ideas to Paul at the address on the back page.
We will have the issue out in time for Passover, and it will be tastier than an Aviv apple juice matzah.
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A
great big (somewhat belated) thank you to everyone who helped
put together a great celebration. Jonny and Sarah for letting
us wreck their house, Paul and Alison for the pictionary, Dan
for the shopping (Sainsbury's watch out!!) and about 40 people
for bringing donuts!
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Page after page of fun-packed fun....
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Inside the envelope in which this newsletter arrived you will find a letter from Paul Jacobus detailing some issues and changes which WHAM is undergoing.
It is important that you understand the context in which these changes were made and I hope you will be able to give them your support.
In brief, Rabbi Harris will attend WHAM services once every six weeks (starting 2nd March) and WHAM will join the main service once every two months. These changes were developed and agreed against the background of the unanimous decision of last years' Special General Meeting where the Committee was mandated to work towards increased co-operation with Hampstead without further integration and, in the absence of a spiritual leader, to look towards Rabbi Harris for involvement in WHAM.
The AGM is fast approaching and at this meeting we should discuss these changes and develop further plans for the future. I hope you will all be able to attend so we can ensure that all views are represented and the discussion is fruitful.
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There's a chassidic story about a King who wants to throw a party for all his important ministers. All he asks is that each brings a bottle of wine to put into the communal wine vat. The first minister comes along and thinks "well, if it's just me putting water in..." as he tips in a bottle of water. The next minister does the same.... When the vat is opened to serve the wine, all there is is a vat of water.
With the AGM fast approaching (Tuesday 23 April), now is the time of year when people start to think about the kind of contribution that they can make to our community. Maybe you've lived here for a while, or maybe you're new to the area, maybe you like the shul, and maybe you think there are things that could be different about it. Whatever your position, we need a committee which reflects our community and the variety of views we hold (you know what they say; two Jews, three opinions). It feels like this is going to be a pretty important year for WHAM, so don't wait for someone else to go on the committee, think about it being you.
There are a whole host of interesting roles on the committee .....
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Purim, that lovely festival now fast approaching us, is given a controversial and provocative explanation by my teacher, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Chief Rabbi of Efrat, Israel. The explanation is very relevant to us.
Suppose you were asked: who was the hero of the Purim story of the Megilla? The obvious candidates are of course, Mordechai and Esther. Who can deny Mordechai's bravery in refusing to bow down before the powerful "Prime Minister" of Ahasuerus' 127 kingdoms, the evil Haman?
Moreover, Mordechai is the most obvious force for good in the megillah; a G-d fearing man, constantly encouraging and supporting Esther, allowing himself no respite until the battle for right is won and the Jewish people are saved.
Esther's claim to the title of true heroine of the Purim story is equally strong. Like Mordechai, she is daring almost beyond belief. She risks her life for her people by visiting Ahaseurus uninvited, and she too fights on until Israel is saved.
A more subtle answer might be that G-d Himself is the real hero of Purim. Never appearing by name even once in the Megilla. G-d is nevertheless relentlessly there behind the scenes, arranging in His Divine wisdom an intricate plot in order to save His people. G-d is the Heroic Person pulling all the strings behind the complex web of events that is the Book of Esther.
Rabbi Riskin suggests however, that the true hero of Purim is the last person we would consider for that accolade. The hero of Purim is Haman. Why on earth is this so? Was not Haman , descendant of Israel's eternal enemy Amalek, almost the very incarnation of evil? Was not his main goal the destruction of the Jewish people? Rather than the hero of Purim, surely Haman is its villain?
All this may be true, concedes Rabbi Riskin. But Haman has one crucial redeeming feature. The Book of Esther presents us with a picture of a Jewish people attempting to assimilate. They go along to Ahaseurus' feast and compromise their religious integrity by eating treif - nowhere does the Megilla say that they were provided with Hermolis meals. They participate in the drunken celebrations, culminating in Ahaseurus' humiliating demand of Vashti that she appear naked at the banquet.
Along comes Haman and says to Ahaseurus - these people the Jews are different. They have their own religion and culture, divergent from that of most of your subjects. Haman cannot tolerate this and wants the Jews killed. And suddenly the would-be assimilators are shocked out of their complacency and are forced to fight for their survival as Jews. And there is Haman's heroism, the one bit of good he does. He reminds the Jews of Shushan - as our enemies have done ever since - that they cannot conceal their identity. He reminds them that they are Jewish, and to be proud of it.
Rabbi Michael HarrisReturn to Contents
Serves an awful lot of people
6oz plain flour
2 tbsp caster sugar
4oz cold butter in small pieces
1 egg yolk
6oz sugar
1/4 pint fresh lemon juice
4 fl oz orange juice
grated zest of three lemons
4 eggs
2 oz butter
4 tbsp double cream
Serves 4 - 6
1 1/2 lb potatoes
3 medium onions
8 oz brown lentils
8 oz chestnuts
salt and pepper
1 desert spoon of yeast extract
3/4 pint warm water
2oz margarine
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Ever wondered what WHAMers do when they are not in shul? Thought they just when back to their crypts for another week. Well in the first of a new section in WHAM news you can find out. Kicking us off is a day in the life of:
Carol Fedida
It really rather depends which day you are talking about, because Tuesday to Sunday I get up whenever I fancy, do a bit of oil painting, visit friends, help people out and do pretty much whatever I want!
Monday on the other hand is very different. Then I force myself out of bed at 1.30 am, having often only been asleep for some 1-2 hours. Astonishingly enough I'm out the door by 1.35 am (stylish and elegant I'm not!). A quick 20 minutes in my decrepid yellow van gets me into New Covent Garden and I'm off. At that time, unsurprisingly I'm one of the first in so I get a fantastic selection of the real bargains. A little bit of flirting always stands me in good stead for getting exactly what I want and I'm sure helps keep the price competitive - who said that women are discriminated against?
Yes, I sell flowers, but I prefer to do it the easy way, without having to tend a stall in the freezing cold all day, or worry about the overheads of a shop. I simply provide contract flowers for offices every Monday morning. In spite of having no floristry training I compete very successfully with the "names" by being cheaper, guaranteeing the flowers and offering professional service.
It's impossible to plan what flowers I may provide in any week as supply can change so completely from one week to the next which obviously affects the price. It is not unheard of for the price of a flower to have moved by 30 per cent. over a week. As a result I rush around for 1½ hours making my selections based on price and what goes well together and making sure it's different from last Monday. Of course since I have no retail outlet I have to think of a use for all the bunches in a box so fairly complex calculations are going on in my head, considering the hour.
When buying's complete, from about 3.30, I rush around the City and West End making my deliveries which includes washing the vases (they often absolutely stink from the old flowers), and arranging the fresh flowers. This means that my work mates are security guards and cleaning staff and it's essential that I stay on the right side of all of them as they can really delay me otherwise.
Traffic wardens are one of my real problems as unloading (which is allowed on double yellow lines for 20 minutes) does not include delivering, when you are away from the vehicle for more than a few minutes. Although I'm pretty careful I still correspond with Westminster (who always let me off) and Camden (who never let me off) too often.
Eventually I start seeing the clients as it gets towards 8.00 am. They all think I'm one of the most cheerful people that they see given that it's Monday morning, but they don't realise that I've almost finished my working week!
Then I go to bed.
NOTE: Everything has now changed and I'm working 7 days of 15 hours because I foolishly decided to buy a shop. Please call 0181-909 9909 after 16th December, 1996 for any flower requirements. I'll be doing a daily delivery around London.
Who will be next to get the WHAM day in the life treatment...?
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Contents
...And here is the new security rota. If you can't make your slot try and swap with some-one else, or call Geoff Zelin on 0171-433 1023
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5
9.15 - Charles Keith Andrew Mark Nevis Geoffrey
10.00 Daniels Malkinson Hougie Zelin
10.00 - Marguerite Lucy Stone Fran Sally Genny
10.30 Brodtman Raphel Charin Florentin
10.30 - Lionel Charles Dan Cohen Geoffrey David
11.00 Davis Coleman Charin Brodtman
11.00 - Mark Anthony Debroah Lyall Deborah
11.30 Berman Warrens Kroll Cresswell Frieze
11.30 - Stephen Daniel Paul de Paul Mike Davis
12.00 Mendel Shaw Keyser Jacobus
30 Dec 6 Jan
13 Jan 20 Jan 27 Jan 3 Feb 10 Feb
17 Feb 24 Feb 2 March 9 March 16 March
23 March 30 March 6 April 13 April 20 April
27 April 4 May 11 May 18 May 25 May
1 June 8 June 15 June 22 June 29 June
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Last issue it was Andrew Hougie who was first to recognise Jonathan Seitler as the WHAM member coming in on a laser thin jet. Well done! Now we have an offering in the spirit of the recent revelations from Kensington Palace.
This issue's anagram:
"I a lad forced"
The Women's Rosh Chodesh Group takes place once a month and is a textually based discussion group. The next few dates are below, or if you would like further information, please call Sara Harris on 0171-431 2887.
Please print this form and mail it, with payment where necessary, to Paul Jacobus, 50 Oakington Road, London W9. Alternatively you may complete the online form below.
__ YES! I would love to come to the events I have ticked below:
__ 17th February Rosh Chodesh breakfast
__ 21st February Womens Rosh Chodesh Group
at 19 Palace Court NW6. 8.00 pm
__ 2rd March Michael Harris leads the service
__ 3rd March WHAM Family Purim party
at the home of
Adrienne & Robin Powell, 2 Asmara Rd NW2
3.00 pm
__ 4th March WHAM Megilla reading followed by the Purim party
__ 17th March Womens Rosh Chodesh Group
at 2 Asamra Rd NW2
__ 23rd March Shmuel Boteach Lunch
__ 23rd April WHAM AGM
Also Passover..... For the first time WHAM will be offering a full set of services throughout the Yom Tovim. Details to follow.
Name _____________________ Home tel ____________ Day tel ______________ Address _______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Postcode ______________
Please mark with a cross if you object to having your personal data (as set out on this form) stored on computer
__ I object to having my personal data (as set out on this form
stored on computer.
Or just complete this form online. We'll need a cheque for the lunch tho'
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