THE THOUGHTS OF CHAIRMAN
MELVYN LUX
We have arrived at that time of the Jewish year which more than ever brings families together. I mean Pesach. What a brilliant time it is.
Gathered around the family table listening to the wonderful story of how the Jewish People were saved from oppression and brought to freedom. Watching the new generation hunt for the Afikoman, the newly cheder educated generation debate the pros and cons of every part of the ceremony and its contents, all the family joining in the songs they learnt at their mother’s knee, and seeing the older people look on in pride and amazement seeing all they did when they were young being repeated by a new generation.
It makes me realize that there is nothing new under the sun! Hopefully that golden thread of Judaism will continue to be passed from generation to generation.
I suppose you can say the same thing about our Shul. Members come and swell our ranks as others move away to be near their grandchildren and Jewish schooling.
So we continue on forward by endeavouring to make the members of the New West End feel they belong to a vibrant community and that they can participate in all its activities.
Firstly let me remind you that Rabbi Shisler is again running our Communal Seder on the first night. This was a sell out last year and we expect it to be again this year.
Throughout the last six months Shacharit Services have continued on a daily basis and although attendances have varied we manage to maintain a hard core of regular attendees. May I thank all concerned and ask more of you to come along say once a week to keep up the momentum.
Shabbat services continue with an attendance of regular attendees and a sudden influx when we have special events.
During the year we celebrated Lucy Morris’ Barmitzvah, Toby Steinberg’s Barmitzvah, Notting Hill Shabbat, & various Aufrufs, Special Anniversaries, and Birthday Kiddushim.
The Israel Society held its first major open event when Michael Cove, a Deputy Editor of The Times newspaper, spoke at length on various world affairs which stimulated a serious question and answer session.
The Guild in its turn had an open evening when it invited our Greater London Assembly member Angie Bray to explain how the GLA functions and what the future would be when the Congestion Charge for Central London came into being. This was another different and interesting evening that created a number of penetrating and lively questions
Besides these weeknight activities we have had a Shabbaton. This is a lunch with a speaker of note after Shabbat service. This year we had as our guest Dan Shaham, the Director of Public Affairs at the Israeli Embassy. He not only explained his view on Israel and Judaism’s place in the Western World, but was also able to answer a barrage of questions from the floor on these subjects. Henry Magrill who gave the vote of thanks to Mr Shaham also included reference to this Shul having had amongst its members in the early part of the Twentieth Century, Lord Rothschild, who received the Balfour Declaration on behalf of the Jewish People, the then Sir Herbert Samuel who was the first High Commissioner of the British Mandated Palestine, and Chaim Weitzman who became Israel’s first President. As always the organisation behind the scenes went without a hitch. May I take this opportunity to thank Anne Shisler and her team from the Guild, including Patricia Fisher, Linda Lewin, Valerie Richman, and all the others, for the catering and organisation. Amongst the rarely named behind-the-scenes workers was Martin Lewin who ensured that the table plan in particular was adhered to.
Our festival services have all been well attended. We started the year with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. The Services were run to a stringent timetable, and both Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler and Cantor Jeremy Lawson set the tone both spiritually and musically for a good year. I would like to thank on behalf of us all the additional contributions of leading and assisting in the services of Professor Lester Kershenbaum, Mike Scheuer and Hayden Noble. This was our first New Year’s services without our late Beadle Arnold Chazen. He was sadly missed. The stonesetting in his memory will be on Sunday 25th.May at Bushey at 10.30 a.m.
Eli Ballon, our new Beadle, is making his own mark on the community and is establishing his place with us, nobly assisted by his wife Shana.
Amongst other celebrations we had a Succot dinner, the Simchat Torah service and celebratory party, a Chanucah party and a Purim party. The Chatan Torah was Michael Cutler and the Chatan Berashit was Mike Talalay. The attendance and support was so great we filled the Herbert Samuel Hall.
The Cheder continues, but unfortunately with reducing numbers even under the skilled management of our Headmistress Esther Salomon. Numbers have declined because of the "aging" of our youth. We are discussing various ways of attracting more pupils and hopefully this will result in a return to a growing Cheder in due course.
The other activities such as the Friendship Club, Israel Committee, Cares Committee, the Guild, Yoga Classes, Israeli Dancing Classes, the Book Club, the Open Days under the sponsorship of English Heritage, and social functions such as a highly successful Games & Puzzle evening, keep this Shul fully alive.
A most unusual but highly successful social evening was the Olde Tyme Music Hall. So many of the members were involved that at times it was difficult to tell the difference between the audience and the players! I thank everyone who took part you were all splendid - even the ventriloquist and his dummy!
Please note that Yom Ha’Atzmaut will be celebrated on the 6th May with a concert by students from the Royal College of Music in the Golda Cohen Room after a short service in the Shul.
The League of Jewish Women has chosen our Shul to hold its Rededication Ceremony celebrating their 60th.anniversary of the founding of the organisation. The Chief Rabbi will be attending and leading the service. The Herbert Samuel Hall has been reserved for tea following the service. This will be on the 18th. May.
The beauty of our Shul continues to attract brides and grooms to celebrate their weddings with us. Our calendar for the year is almost completely booked. We were especially delighted that Abi Shisler, the daughter of Rabbi Geoffrey and Rebbitzen Anne Shisler, married Benjamin Warren at the NWES on 20th. March. We wish Mazel Tov to both of them and their families.
In the context of my opening comments about the vibrancy of the New West End Synagogue, we continue to attract new members and we welcome you not only as a name on our roll, but as participants in all our activities.
On behalf of my wife Denise and myself, may we wish you and yours a Chag Sameach.