Monthly Archives: September 2016

Elkan's View

ELKAN’S VIEW FROM NETANYA

ELKAN’S VIEW FROM NETANYA WEEK ENDING 24TH SEPTEMBER 201

It’s been a good summer including the unforgettable 50th anniversary of the Belmont Synagogue where I was the first Minister.

To the great relief of Israeli parents the Chofesh Hagadol, the long vacation, has come to an end and the children have gone back to school. One parent wrote a long prayer of thanks, based on the Shehecheyanu blessing, that the holidays had finally come to an end! Israel is now getting ready for the Tishri festivals. The blazing heat of the summer is beginning to pass and the climate is altogether more pleasant.

There are concerns. The level of rainfall this year has been very low and an island has appeared in the middle of Kinneret because the water level has dropped fifteen feet below the maximum. Unfortunately the outlook is for a dry winter, so please pray fervently on Shemini Atzeret when Jews all over the world recite Tefillat Geshem, the prayer for Rain!

The American elections are a topic of extreme interest. Almost every discussion among Israelis will sooner or later turn to the Trump or Clinton question. Last week I went to a whole programme about this, and came away no wiser.

Religion is again becoming an issue in Israeli politics. The stranglehold that the ultraorthodox parties have within the coalition has begun to be challenged on two fronts. The first major issue is the question of the egalitarian prayer Plaza at the Kotel which is open to nonorthodox Jews. A clear agreement was signed in January 2016 but has not been implemented and the Supreme Court has asked for the whole matter to be brought before it. One of the justices even asked whether the government needed the court to pull its chestnuts out of the fire.

The other issue concerns work on the high-speed line between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and the Tel Aviv Underground. It had been agreed that work on these projects will take place on Shabbat. Under pressure from his coalition partners Netanyahu stopped the Shabbat work. In this case the High Court told him that he had no power to do so and for the moment it goes on.

 

News

Ki Teitzei

We are now deep in the stream of Moses’ discourse as he goes through all of God’s laws, accompanying these with promises and warnings. It is as if he were a very wise old man speaking calmly and encouragingly with his children before he leaves them to go into the future depending on their own will and actions. Appoint yourselves judges, he says, at the beginning of Shof’tim. Do not erect sacred pillars or engage in any of the revolting practices and idolatry practised widely in the region. Resolve difficult judicial questions by consulting the Levitical priests (and Levites). Do not allow your monarchs to aggrandise themselves. Root out sorcery. Some of the rules are an expression of compassion, such as allowing those betrothed, those who have recently planted a vineyard, or even those who are simply faint-hearted, to return home before a battle.

Ki Teitzei continues in similar vein. Women captured during a war may not be sold as slaves or kept as servants if the captor does not wish to marry them. It is not clear, however, what choice the women themselves had in the matter. And what about the rebellious son who does not amend his ways even after flogging and may be stoned to death? The rules continue. You must help a neighbour’s donkey if you see it fall under its load. Do not take a mother bird along with her chicks. If a man bears false witness against his wife he may be flogged. A rapist will be put to death. And so it goes on, ruling after ruling, all designed to enable Israel to construct a just and fair society. If you don’t believe me, and even if you do, come along on Saturday at 10.30. Adam Feldman will put us right.

News

Letter from a Moshav by Jo Gore

collage

Helloooo

No miracle birth but I have been in Israel now for 9 months!

I finally succumbed and took a job at my friend’s company in Ra’anana – not my ideal location, or job, though definitely a medium-term plan to get me out of Tel Aviv… Soooo not a city-girl anymore, though the beaches and sunsets are absolutely stunning. The longer I stay in Israel, the more I like the idea of living on a kibbutz, so I’ve got the next best thing and am on a moshav that’s a mere 15 minute (electric) bike ride to the office. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain before I figure out alternative transportation!  I’ve taken a lease on an apartment that is the top floor of a family house – there’s a big balcony, with a sofa that overlooks the equestrian centre, OK and the construction cranes in Kfar Saba. There are fruit trees growing all around so I’m looking forward to the ripening of pomegranates, mangos, lemons… and that’s just what I can see from my balcony.

I spent the weekend shopping and unpacking as I seem to have expanded from the 3 suitcases of stuff I first came out with. Have joined so many Facebook groups I picked up a table with 4 chairs, a leather sofa and chair from various places, and a new bed, so the place isn’t as barren as it could be. It’s really weird as I keep thinking I’ve got all of my stuff already and don’t need more, but it’s mostly in Fowey, so may as well be in Timbuktu!

Ruth and Stevie made their annual pilgrimage to see me for a week in the summer and we enjoyed trips to Haifa, Jerusalem, Jaffa and a yoga class at the nemal, making more Facebook memories to be reminded of in the future (though glad they didn’t take pics of me asleep at the Pink Floyd tribute concert, I was star-gazing…) – I seem to have had numerous reminders daily for months about trips by said duo, Hannah, Grace & Mils and the Pasters, along with general Fowey sailing and regatta fun!  Simmons has been out a couple of times too. All may attest to my driving skills – I passed my test to get an Israeli licence so am now expected to drive like a crazy person!!!

My language skills are regressing, now I’m more settled I think I’ll have to take lessons again – it’s just so easy not to bother… but I mamash (really) want to be fluent!!! I also took a calligraphy lesson in Jerusalem and am looking forward to practicing on graph paper with my special pens, watch this space…

I don’t really have any news, though I got a call asking me what my favourite whisky is as I joined up to a group that meet every month and they wanted to get my favourite in – now have a craving for some Lagavulin…

Trust you’re well and looking forward to hearing your news and seeing you when you come visit…

Lotsoflove xxx

Jo Gore

Jeremy’s Notes

R’eih and Blessing for Elul, Machar Chodesh

You are a very stubborn nation. Why? Because (Ekev) you provoked God your Lord in the desert. So Moses tells the Israelites as he continues his lesson to the people in the wise words of Devarim. All is by no means lost, however. We can make the difference between disaster and success. Not alone, for we rely on the grace of God, who has already guided and supported us ever since His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The ultimate choice, though, is ours and it is a simple choice. Follow the laws, build and maintain a just society free of corruption, refrain from the glorification of things and from idolatry and we will be great. Disobey, allow self-interest and the thirst for wealth and power to overrule our moral sense, replace God with a deification of material objects, and we will be subjected to alienation and the rule of others.

As Moses speaks, he weaves the moral choices in with the history of the people so far. He also says the words which have become part of the litany of Jewish prayer: “If you are careful to pay heed to my commandments, which I am prescribing to you today, and if you love God your Lord with all your heart and soul… Be careful that you heart not be tempted to go astray and worship other gods, bowing down to them.”

And so we come to R’eih, the choice between a blessing and a curse. The parsha covers a lot of ground: idolatrous practices, the responsibilities as a chosen people, kosher food, treatment of slaves and the remission of debt. In other words, it treats of both ritual duty and of social laws and justice. There is a lot more, and to find this out and to share Shabbat morning with the community, come along at 10.30. This week Harvey Kurzfield and Murray Brown  will be leading us, so a real treat.

News

Service with the A-Team

Murray Brown made his debut as a Sh’liach Tsibbur on Shabbat R’eih, 3 September, co-leading the service with his mentor, Harvey Kurzfield. A crowd of visitors and members of the Kehillat Kernow congregation were on hand to take part in this special Shabbat service which was also Murray’s farewell gift to his community before he leaves to attend Exeter University.   Murray and his family have been active members of our community since their arrival here from Manchester ten years ago.

The service itself was wonderful with poignant speeches from Murray about the importance of the KK community to his life as well as a good sermon from Harvey Kurzfield on the parsha. Mazel tov, Murray on a job well done! All good wishes in your new life as a university student.

Pat Lipert