Glen Berd – Page 37 – St Annes Hebrew Congregation

A short Meditation on Shema

17th June 2022 By Glen BerdNo Comments

A short Meditation on Shema Shema is more than just a declaration of faith. It is a meditative tutorial in connecting to the Oneness of Hashem. Shema means to actively listen. But the root also means to gather as in "And Saul gathered the people" וַיְשַׁמַּ֤ע שָׁאוּל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם (I Samuel 15:4) When we recite the Shema we are supposed to gather together every aspect of our selves and personalities before God to try and reveal the underlying oneness. Judaism does not believe in amputating aspects of ourselves. Our job is to take the negative and sublimate it to God, transforming it into the service of Hashem. For example a person has a desire for something forbidden, this is just a distortion of what the soul truly wants which is a relationship with Hashem. When we truly face ourselves with sincerity and come humbly before Hashem in all our vulnerability then we are able to lift up every part of ourselves and reconnect it back to Hashem. If Hashem is One then we are...

The Link Between Jewish Refugees and the Queen’s Jubilee

12th June 202212th June 2022 By Glen BerdNo Comments

How Jewish refugees were the inspiration for Paddington Bear Michael Bond was gripped by the sight of these young Jewish children stepping off a train at Reading station BY NIC NORTH The Queen and Paddington in their adorable sketch https://youtu.be/7UfiCa244XE Author Michael Bond’s daughter has recalled how Jewish refugees inspired her father to create Paddington Bear, whose antics with the Queen charmed the nation during the Platinum Jubilee. Karen Jankel told the JC: “My father was gripped by the sight of these young Jewish children stepping off a train at Reading station. There were a number of British evacuees at the station too, waiting to be found safe homes in the countryside. “Those memories stayed with him and he later drew on them when he created Paddington.” Bond was a boy when he saw Jewish children arriving in Reading shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. The Queen reveals she keeps a marmalade sandwich in her handbag His parents took in two Jewish boys for the duration of...

Two Special JSCN Events in June and July

7th June 2022 By Glen BerdNo Comments

You're invited to take part in two Special events that JSCN is producing. 1. Rabbi Danny Talks - series of 4 lunchtime discussions Thought provoking topics. Dip in to any or come to all four. Taking a look under the bonnet of Jewish thought for any Jewish observance 2. MEET Holocaust Centre North - a virtual tour Join us for this unique online opportunity to explore the centre’s collection, guided by centre director Alessandro Bucci, archivist Hari Jonkers and the team. In 2018 the Holocaust Survivors’ Friendship Association opened the Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre, located at the University of Huddersfield. The Centre promotes Holocaust education and research through the lived experiences of Holocaust survivors and refugees. The success of the centre has lead to a significant expansion of its role within the North of England. In acknowledgement of this the centre has re-visioned its exhibition and is re-branding as Holocaust Centre North Registration for both events is available via the JSCN website… jscn.org.uk/register ...

Rabbi on Shavuot/Jubilee Weekend

3rd June 202212th June 2022 By Glen BerdNo Comments

I just returned from a fascinating trip to Munich for the 32nd Conference of European Rabbis. Nearly 400 Rabbis attended and came from all over Europe as well as Israel (including both Sefardi and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbis) , USA and Iran! Above is a photo taken just after the conclusion of the conference on a tour of Dachau concentration. To my left is the chief rabbi of Iran, Rabbi Yehuda Gerami. We discussed how challenging Jewish life is under the current Islamic regime in Iran and how the community must remain low profile. It goes without question that they are unable to truly celebrate their connection to Israel something we take for granted here in the UK and elsewhere in the free world. As we celebrate the Queens's Jubilee it behoves us to reflect on the freedom of religion we enjoy here in the UK and to thank God for this great gift He has bestowed upon us through the vehicle of...

Shabbat and Shavuot and the Platinum Jubilee

2nd June 20222nd June 2022 By Glen BerdNo Comments

SHABBAT - 4th June 2022 The whole congregation is invited to join us for a very special Platinum Jubilee Shabbat Kiddush to celebrate 70 years reign of HM Queen Elizabeth 11. The Kiddush is kindly sponsored by Michael Godfrey and prepared by the Ladies Social Circle. SHAVUOT - 1st Day Sunday 5th June 2022 Join us for a Luxury Kiddush with Extras - including Cheesecake and Ice Cream sponsored by Sarah and Gavin Galasko (spoiler - a surprise extra - a choice of the most delicious homemade cheesecakes, created by the fair hands of our Ladies Circle). SHAVUOT - 2nd Day Monday 6th June 2022 Lunch is on us !! A Kiddush with a difference awaits you after the service (which includes Yizcor), and is sponsored by Lee Dribben ...

Inside Liverpool’s 150 year old synagogue with a unique choir

31st May 2022 By Glen Berd2 Comments

Inside Liverpool's 150 year old synagogue with a unique choir The building is at the heart of Liverpool's longstanding Jewish community Built nearly 150 years ago, Princes Road Synagogue has remained a fundamental part of Liverpool's Jewish community and this week its importance will be highlighted as it serves as the place of worship for those observing Passover It has been called the 'jewel in the crown' of Liverpool's architecture, but you won't know why until you step inside the Grade II listed building. The building is well known for its gilded interior decorated in the style of a gothic basilica. Construction on the building was completed in 1874 by architects W&G Audsley, two brothers whose idea for the synagogue mixed both eastern and western schools of art and drew from European inspiration seen first-hand. The brothers became famous for the design and would later go on to pioneer some of the first skyscrapers in New York. Costing £13,000 to build - which is over £100m in...

Rabbi Danny Talks

30th May 2022 By Glen BerdNo Comments

Jewish Small Communities Network I am delighted to announce our new lunchtime discussion programme. “Rabbi Danny Talks…” In association with Shul by the Sea, St Annes on Sea This series of 4 discussions is FREE and starts next week 8th JUNE. Danny Bergson takes us into each topic and introduces what the Sages say, followed by an interactive discussion. For everyone of any Jewish denomination. This is a lively and engaging programme looking under the bonnet of Jewish thought. Registration: jscn.org.uk/registraton ...

Bechukotai- The blessing and the curse

29th May 2022 By Glen BerdNo Comments

Bechukotai- The blessing and the curse This weeks Torah portion begins with the blessings for listening to God and obeying the Mitzvot followed by the curses for not following the Torah: "If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them, I will give your rains in their time, the Land will yield its produce, and the tree of the field will give forth its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage, and the vintage will last until the sowing; you will eat your food to satiety, and you will live in security in your land …" and "and if you despise My statutes and reject My ordinances, not performing any of My commandments, thereby breaking My covenant, then I too, will do the same to you; I will order upon you shock, consumption, fever, and diseases that cause hopeless longing and depression. You will sow your seed in vain, and your enemies will eat it..." We read this Torah portion each year...

Jerusalem Day! Yom Yerushalayim! 2022

29th May 2022 By Glen BerdNo Comments

Jerusalem Day! Yom Yerushalayim! 55th Anniversary .. 50 years after reunifying Jerusalem (1967) the 6 Day War, the soldiers from the iconic photograph reunite to recapture a moment in history .. It took God all of six days to create the world; it took modern-day Israel the same brief length of time to liberate the holiest city in the world from the hands of those who never understood or accepted its true sanctity ..The Six-Day War was by all accounts a contemporary miracle. ...

This singing trio wants to make Yiddish current again

27th May 202227th May 2022 By Glen BerdNo Comments

This singing trio wants to make Yiddish current again Raquel Nobile, Jodi Snyder and Maya Jacobson form the trio "The Mamales" with a goal to eventually release a concept album of Yiddish song covers. (Courtesy) (New York Jewish Week) – Like many great ideas, “The Mamales,” a Yiddish singing group, began on a summer night at a bar on the Lower East Side. The women who make up the trio, Maya Jacobson, Raquel Nobile and Jodi Snyder, had gotten together for a night of fun and to reminisce about the 2018 production of “Fiddler on the Roof” (“Fidler afn Dakh”) at the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene, where they met as members of the cast. Jacobson had been listening to The Barry Sisters — a duo whose Yiddish covers were wildly popular in the mid-20th century — and realized it was time for the next generation to carry on the tradition. “I heard The Barry Sisters’ version of ‘Abi Gezunt’ and I knew I wanted to record this...