The last crumbs of matzah have been thoroughly ground into the shag pile carpet. The Haggadot, with their pages cemented together by the harrozet and horseradish of consecutive seder nights, have been shoe-horned back onto the bookshelves. The cracked teacups have been ceremonially packed away with the tin of ‘interesting’ Israeli instant coffee left over from last year.
Springtime always brings out the positive in people.
......But this time it’s different. Since the General Election there’s been more than a hint of optimism in the air. It’s curious how a failure to heed oracles (opinion polls), supernatural events (tidal waves and landslides) and a nation’s final release from bondage, seem to chime with the Passover story! So welcome to the first WHAM newsletter produced under a Labour Government. And goodbye to the last produced under this current committee. Moving to elections closer to hand we can proudly announce that WHAM now has two members representing it on the Council of Hampstead Synagogue, Geoffrey Charin and Anthony Warrens. We are certain that this will benefit both ourselves and the main shul and marks the start of a period of greater understanding and communal spirit. But there’s more. On Sunday May 18th WHAM is holding its Annual General Meeting. Firstly, this is a chance to vote in a new committee and secondly to discuss certain pressing issues concerning WHAM. (A copy of the annual accounts are enclosed with this Newsletter. If there’s a particular subject you’d like to raise, or are interested in standing for election, please contact either:
Jean-Marc Barsam (0181-444-2815) or Jonathan Seitler (0171-306-0102). Hope to see you there!
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Contents
The Annual General Meeting for 1997 will take place on
Sunday 18 May 1997
at 8.00pm in The Board Room at
The Hampstead Synagogue, Dennington Park Road.
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Read the book, see the film.....
You may have missed a great book in 1991. The writing of Paul Auster is a treat I'd recommend to anyone with a mind for the creepy, the unpleasant possibilities which lurk in lives if we take a wrong turn. Paul Auster, born in New Jersey in 1947, has yet to write a Jewish-themed book, but has often stated that his Jewish upbringing gave him an awareness of being ''other'', being somehow different.
The Music of Chance is a clever and unpleasant story of men caught up in strange circumstances. To begin with, this tale seems mundane, rather than menacing. On inheriting a fortune, Jim Nashe leaves his job and embarks on a series of long drives around America.
Just as you may begin to reflect wearily that this journey of discovery has been made once too often in films and in fiction, he meets the deeply sleazy Jack Pozzi, an itinerant young gambler. Nashe's inheritance is by now almost depleted, but Pozzi is an inspired poker player, and when they drive to Pennsylvania for a game against two reclusive millionaires, both expect huge winnings. Stakes are accordingly high. But Pozzi is out-manoeuvred and by dawn, all is lost.
From then on, the narrative takes a sharp turn as Nashe and Pozzi set to work on a stone wall to repay their debts. But there's more going on here, on a deeper level, uglier level. It will stay with you. The film too is truly unsettling and lives up to the book.
Of the other works by Paul Auster - the New York Trilogy, is hard work, not nearly as worthwhile as Leviathan or the Music of Chance.
Sally CharinReturn to Contents
As always this was a great success and thanks must go to the hosts and hostesses for their culinary inventiveness and hospitality, and to Geoff Zelin for his organisation and mathematical manipulation.
Go-on! Try it next year !
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Wham’s Purim this year was extremely busy. We said goodbye to Lawrence Rose (emigrated to Hendon) with a Kiddush on Shabbat. We held a Saturday night Megillah reading followed by a house party. And a noisy Sunday Morning Megillah was followed by a brunch at shul.
In the afternoon, the children’s party was held at the home of Robin and Adrienne Powell, with entertainment provided by the truly wunnerful, Jolly Joe.
Many thanks to all the above, Lionel Davis and Francine and Miles, for all their hard work and help.
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Gerald the Giraffe has been living in the shul (in the front row of seats, men’s section, far side) since Purim. He’d now like to trace his original owners.
Gerald is about 12cm tall, soft and light brown - with a long neck.
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2 tins of tomatoes (chopped)
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 cucumber
1 red pepper
15ml olive oil
water, or ice cubes if in a hurry.
malt vinegar
salt & pepper to taste
fresh parsley
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Yes! It’s true! Shoot-Up Hill is to get it’s very own pedestrian crossing at the junction with Mill Lane/Mapesbury Road. Apparently, Brent and Camden Councils have decided that the "protests" of WHAM regulars "stopping the traffic", en masse, every Saturday lunch-time, is sufficient reason to overcome the technical and administrative difficulties of the site. (The junction lies on the boundary between the two councils).
To all the Council Officers involved, many thanks on behalf of WHAM.
Now about this "aruv" thingy ....!!.
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Who is the member of WHAM whose name is made from the same letters as:
HER NANNY SAW ROT
Answers to Geoff Charin.
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If you’d like to be put on the WHAM mailing list, or like to notify us of changes in your details, then write to:
|
WHAM Mailing List West Hampstead Alternative Minyan 1 Dennington Park Road London NW6 1AX |
Or fill in the Subscription Form and we'll add you to the Mailing List.
You will then receive a copy of the newsletter and our other mailings by post, and you'll get an Email notice when a new newsletter is added to this site.
If you do not live locally, we won't post the circular to you, but we will send you Email whenever a new newsletter is added to this site.
[Please state if you object to having your personal data stored on computer.]
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Restarting soon, alternate Wednesdays |
Drama Group 8.30pm Phone Sarah Davis: 0181-452-5137 for details |
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Sunday 10th May |
Yom Hatzma’ot celebration at the home of Rabbi Michael
and Sara Harris. With music by Jess Gold and Friends 8.00 pm. Flat 19, Palace Court 250, Finchley Road |
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Sunday 18th May |
WHAM Annual General Meeting The Boardroom The Hampstead Synagogue 8.00pm |
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Shabbat 31st May |
Shabbat Mevarechim - Breakfast Kiddush |
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Friday 6th June |
Oneg Shabbat at 9.30 pm Contact: Clarissa Coleman 0181-450-2217 |
| |
Shavuot |
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Tuesday 10th June Evening |
Erev Shavuot - Tikun Leil at the home of Rabbi Michael
and Sara Harris. From 11.30 pm. Speakers include: Rabbi Michael Harris and Rabbi Cyril Harris (Chief Rabbi of South Africa) Shacharit from around 2.45am |
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Wednesday 11th June |
No WHAM Service (due to sleep deprivation) |
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Thursday 12th June |
2nd Day WHAM Service, 10.00 a.m. |
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