Chariman’s Message

I find it hard to believe we are already in the lead up to Yom Tov – where has this year gone!
Since my last new year message EHRS has sprung back into life in so many areas after the pandemic. While we are still being careful, it is wonderful to see so many activities and people back in the building. I am particularly thrilled that so many activities are now taking place for members organised by the members themselves in our Together Groups. With a little help from our wonderful admin staff to point them in the right direction, we now have groups that meet on such diverse things as Whiskey Tasting, Foraging and TV Addicts to name but a few. We also have new groups about to spring into action, such as music of the Shaking Sixties. It is wonderful to see members coming together for something other than services, to enjoy all that we have to offer as a community. So, if there is something you enjoy and wonder if others might have similar hobbies, come to the office and we’ll help you put the word out there.
While mentioning services, this has been another tricky year. Numbers are slowly increasing for our regular Shabbat services, but I understand that some of you may still find it difficult to come into the building for these. I am ever grateful to our tech team who continue to bring the services into our homes for those who cannot attend in person. Other services, such as those for young people, and our parallel services, are gaining in popularity. Having changed our Bar Mitzvah classes to a Friday afternoon, our Friday night services are growing with young people, many of whom are learning how to take services themselves. It is very exciting to see the next generation growing in confidence.
I must mention all our wonderful Rabbis at this point. Last Yom Tov we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Rabbi Mati Kirschenbaum as our third Rabbi. He joined us in November 2021, but unfortunately has had to leave due to personal reasons. We wish him well for all his future endeavours. Since then, we have continued to enjoy the benefits of having fantastic locums – Rabbi Jackie Tabick and Rabbi Roberta Harris-Eckstein have done a great job helping us out during this time. Rabbi Tabick will be supporting us during the coming High Holy Days, and I wish her well with that.
Moving forward we have been fortunate to secure Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovitch on a one year contract from this November until after next year’s High Holy Days, while we start another recruitment process for a permanent third rabbi. Rabbi Tanya has worked with Rabbis Mark and Debbie before, and they are looking forward to renewing that relationship.
Talking of Rabbis Mark and Debbie, I want to thank them for their constant support, hard work and effort during this year. I know it has not been easy for them being only two instead of three, and I really appreciate all they have done and are continuing to do to move this community forward.
This is my last message to you as Chairman of EHRS as I will be stepping down after 40 months, at the coming AGM on Sunday 16 October. Due to the pandemic, it has not been the chairmanship I thought it would be, but has been challenging in different ways. I want to thank all those volunteers, too numerous to mention, for their support. I also want to thank the admin staff, particularly Perry and Martine, for their help and guidance, the caretaking staff, our wonderful choir, wardens, tech team, youth and teaching staff, and of course, our Rabbis, for making this time so special for me. If I have left anybody out, it is not intentional, and I hope you will forgive me.
I believe EHRS is a much changed place from the shul I took over – I hope the changes are for the better for our future. I just wanted to say it has been a real and genuine privilege to be your chairman during this time.
Wishing you a healthy and happy new year. Janet

Dear Friends
It feels like a long time since I last spoke or wrote to you, So I thought I’d send a quick message to bring you up to date on what is happening around the shul.
Firstly, I must welcome Rabbi Mati Kirschenbaum to our already amazing rabbinic team. I know he will be a huge asset to the life of the shul. He is looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible as soon as possible. Do say hello if you see him in kiddush, or if you want to find him in the building, he’s upstairs third door on the left through the swing doors – what a hub of activity that area has become!
Now let me tell you about some changes going forward. Many of you have asked about the protection measures in place in the synagogue and when they will change given that many of us are double or even triple jabbed. I know some of you have woken up on a Shabbat morning and thought ‘I fancy going to shul’ but then don’t because you haven’t booked in. We have now stopped bookings for Friday night services, and from January we will be stopping the booking system for Saturdays, so after that time if you ‘fancy’ coming, there’s nothing to stop you and I look forward to welcoming you back. We will still have spaced out seating and hand sanitiser. I know some of you would like us to change our mask wearing protocol – we are watching the numbers carefully and will review ‘maskgate’ in the next few weeks.
Another change is that we are moving to payment by Direct Debits. Many of you have asked for this so I am really pleased this is happening. When you receive your subscription notice in December for 2022, it will have details of how you can set up your new Direct Debit.
Since the High Holy Days period many more of you have come back to 118 for services. Many activities have started up again as people feel more comfortable being out and about and I’m so pleased that JACS, New Options, Israeli Dancing and Singing Circle together Groups, uniformed groups, to name but a few, are back in the building.
I hope to welcome many more of you as soon as you feel able.
Best wishes, Janet

Dear Friends

Now that we are slowly opening up as the government guidelines allow, I just wanted to bring you up to date on what has been going on at shul over the last couple of weeks, and also, what you can expect to see when you feel ready to come back on site.

As you know, we recently held an EGM in order to elect our delegates for the Board of Deputies for the next three years. These are Tony Seymour, Sheila Levitt, Stephen Levy, Melissa Williams and Emma Brand. Tony, Stephen and Sheila were existing deputies, and I want to thank them for standing again. I know we appreciate the time they devote to representing us on the Board. I also want to mention Eric Lenz z”l who sadly passed away last year, and Stephen Curtis, who has had to stand down due to ill health. Both gave many years of hard work to representing our shul, and we are grateful to them for all the time and effort they put in on our behalf. I am delighted that Melissa and Emma have chosen to stand – the Board needs to hear from younger voices. I wish all of our delegates well as they embark on their three-year term.

I am thrilled to advise you that our religious school and Bar/Bat mitzvah classes are now back in the building – it is so wonderful to hear the voices of our youngsters in our classrooms once again. Not all have returned which means our teachers are learning a new skill, that of hybrid teaching! I want to wish them all well as we find our way forward.

As you know, Jewish Care are no longer to be found on the ground floor of the community centre. Instead, building works are continuing apace to expand the space for Bookies Babes and for Nagila. It is our intention that both will be able to expand their intake in the coming academic year, when, hopefully, we will be over-run by babies, toddlers and young families! Our first in person young family events are booked out, so that is such a promising sign.

I know it is several months into the future, but plans are being made for the coming High Holy Days, which will be here before we know it. We will certainly have to plan for some in person, some online services. It may be helpful if you have a think about what you would like to do – I know its early to be certain, but some indication as to your thoughts may be helpful in our planning process. Drop us a line and let us know if you think you may be happy coming back in the building for Yom Tov.

That’s all for now. I hope to see you soon.
Janet

Dear friends,

I can’t believe we are nearly a full year into a world-wide pandemic – the last time many of us got together was Purim last year, and next week we will complete a full cycle of festivals. I hope you are all well and coping as we have to dig deep in these winter months, and hopefully, with the vaccine being rolled out, we will come out the other side into a community that can live, pray and work more closely together.

As you know from the various reports in OWA and our magazine, our committees and groups have not been idle during lockdown, our schmooze with the rabbis, talks of the week, shiurim and teaching are all continuing online. Last week some of us visited Jerusalem in the spring sunshine, we cooked together and drank together, things are still happening and we can still ‘meet up’. I am still amazed by all the hard work being put in by dedicated staff and volunteers, I thank you, EHRS would not be what it is without you.

In the past week you may have received a letter from the Office of National Statistics regarding the census. There will be a question about religion in the form and I know some people may be reluctant to tick the box marked ‘Jewish’. Please do not be – census data are anonymised and used to understand populations as a whole, and cannot be used to identify or target individuals in any way whatsoever. Ticking the Jewish box is an easy and effective way to support the community, and holds no risk to any individuals. The data generated by ticking the Jewish box play an essential role in community planning on a wide range of issues, including elderly care, schooling, health, inclusion and combating antisemitism. Countless Jewish organisations, charities, synagogues, schools, trusts and foundations across the country use census data in a variety of ways to help them understand and cater for the needs of the Jewish population. Equally essential, local and national authorities use census data regularly to make decisions about services that address the needs of the Jewish community, for example, funding for security at our schools. So when you sit down to complete the census this year, please do tick the religion box.

That’s all I have to say this week, I wish you all well. I hope to see many of you online at the seaside at Shushan next week, with sun tan lotion, sunglasses, and a mojito in hand.

Best wishes, Janet Brand

So, we come to the end of 2020. Some will say ‘good riddance’, others will look back at the year with some pride for the way they have coped. Which ever you are, what a year it has been……
For all of us, it has been a difficult and unusual year in many ways, for some harder than others. As a community we have lost some wonderful people who have touched our hearts, too many people to name, but each family will no doubt stop and pause at the end of the year and wonder, ‘what if……’

As a community we have also grown in understanding of what we are capable of achieving, both as individuals and collectively. My thanks, as I have recorded in previous messages, go to all those who have seen us through this year – to the rabbis, the staff, the countless volunteers. We would not have managed without you.

But I feel now is the time to look forward. We are not yet out of this pandemic, but with the advent of the vaccine, we hope that the end is in sight. Until we can all meet together ‘normally’, everyone will continue to support the community. There will be new initiatives in youth and education, there will be building programmes aimed at expanding our nursery provision, there will be new Young Adults and Young Families events, new learning and living experiences for all.

This community has not closed during COVID, and as we come out of it, I am sure we will go from strength to strength looking for new ways to engage and enrich the lives of all our members and to attract new ones.

2020 is ending and I am certain 2021 will eventually be brighter for us all. I wish you all a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you soon.

Janet