LIFE FROM HA8

By Samantha Fogelman

As mentioned elsewhere in this magazine, the Fogelman’s have made aliyah to Edgware. It was very sad for us to leave Notting Hill and the New West End for we have had ties here for some 22 years. My husband, Paul, has been attending Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat Mincha services even back to the days of Rabbi Turetsky. Soon he could be found opening the ark for both Shacharit at the Notting Hill Synagogue and Mincha at the New West End.

We thank you all for the lovely Kiddush we shared with Michael Cutler on our last Shabbat.

But as a wise man one said…"You do for your children’s sake…" and now we find ourselves ensconced in the suburban bliss of Edgware.

The move was a nightmare as most moves are but we’re settling in nicely. We’ve become very spoiled with the array of kosher facilities on our doorstep. No more schlepping to Golders Green for provisions. Everything is within minutes.

Our new Shul is very well attended on Shabbat, with many activities for children, as well as adults. However, I couldn’t help shedding tears on our first Shabbat morning. In air-conditioned splendour, I looked down from the Ladies gallery and Rabbi Shisler wasn’t in his chair; Lester wasn’t leining and Jeremy and ‘Elliot the choirmaster’ weren’t having their usual Shabbat morning eye-to-eye contact. And there were no distinguished men in black top hats! I had to remove myself forthwith to the Ladies room for a bit of mopping up.

I guess I didn’t realise how much I would actually miss our adopted New West End. But I do. I miss you all terribly, from Rabbi Shisler to Simon the caretaker and everyone in between.

A dear friend once told me a story about his father who studies with the Chofetz Chaim. When the father was preparing to leave his village for America, his mother told him to go and say farewell to the Chofetz Chaim. When he arrived at his house, the Chofetz Chaim told the father to go to the market square, and turn around three times so that he could commit to memory everything he saw, because he wouldn’t be returning for a long time, if at all.

I did this on our last Shabbat at the New West End and I will remember every detail of every face and ornament. Hopefully though, it won’t be too long before we return for a visit.

Paul, Mirele, Avigdor, Yael and myself wish you all a very Happy New Year and Well over the Fast.