Just a Week To Go ! Are you excited yet ??

By Glen BerdNo Comments
Purim and our Party By The Sea is just a week away - Monday 6th March at 6.30pm Booking is essential - we're now taking the last bookings for catering. Closing Date : Thursday 2nd March. Click here to book NOW We're serving a hot meat and vegetarian buffet supper as well as a stunningly entertaining show. featuring the angelic voices of Rabbi Danny and Spencer, and  the acting masterclass of Rebbetzen Anna and Family. Fancy dress is optional. although you may not want to miss your place in the fancy dress parade and judging. Our world renowned raffle with its raft of exclusive and desirable prizes will round off the evening -  for the best £12.50 you'll have donated so far this year ! ...
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The Deal

By Glen BerdNo Comments
The Deal by Peter Beyfus The anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, 24 February, is fast approaching and at the diplomatic level we have heard speeches of defiance from Presidents Zelensky and Biden and a predictable rant from Vladimir Putin, so reminiscent of the nonsense spouted during the Soviet era and what is the common currency of  totalitarian regimes around the globe. Russia’s spring offensive could well have started and the next few months will be a telling time for the Ukrainian people; there will be further loss of civilian lives, destruction of the country’s infrastructure, but, hopefully, with Leopard 2 and Challenger 2 tanks being deployed and surface-to-air missile systems, capable of destroying cruise missiles, being supplied by the USA, there will be no significant territorial gains by the aggressor. Whether this war of attrition will ultimately favour Russia, that has far more capacity for a long struggle, must be central to NATO’s strategy regarding support for the Ukraine. However, the indomitable...
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Leslie Howard – “one of the most valuable facets of British propaganda”

By Glen BerdNo Comments
Leslie Howard, born Leslie Howard Steiner, was a renowned Jewish film actor playing Ashley Wilkes in Gone With The Wind and a quintessential Englishman in other films After the rise of Nazism, Howard made anti German propaganda his goal and during the war decided to help shore up support for the Allies He was involved, so it is said, with British or Allied Intelligence When flying back on a passenger plane from Lisbon to Bristol...the Luftwaffe shot the plane down and Howard was killed. It was said at the time that the plane was shot down as the Nazis thought that Churchill was on board But it later emerged that Howard was the target as it was believed that he had been on a secret mission for Churchill A long-standing but ultimately unsupported hypothesis suggested that the Germans believed that the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was on board the flight. Churchill's history of World War II suggested that the Germans targeted the commercial flight because the British Prime...
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National Bagels and Lox Day, make your own bagels!

By Glen BerdNo Comments
Unlike fluden, chremslach or many of the delicacies featured on the Yiddish cooking show “Est Gezunterheyt,”, you’ve undoubtedly had a bagel before. We’re willing to bet, though, that you’ve never tasted one this good! Rukhl Schaechter and Zach Golden are the staff of the Forverts, the Yiddish Forward. In this episode of “Est Gezunterheyt,” Rukhl Schaechter and Eve Jochnowitz show you how to make bagels from scratch in your own kitchen. Hint: the secret is steam. Instructions: Adapted from George Greenstein Secrets of a Jewish Baker The Crossing Press 1993 2 cups water 1 1/2 teaspoon yeast 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon oil 6-8 cups bread flour 1 tablespoon salt Dissolve yeast in the water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the other ingredients beginning with 6 cups flour and mix with dough hook, adding more flour as needed to make a stiff dough. Allow to rise one hour and form into bagels. Allow the bagels to rise about 20 minutes or until they sink slowly in a bowl of water. Boil the bagels briefly in salted sweetened water and...
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‘Winter for Putin in Russia’ (thanks Mel Brooks)

By Glen BerdNo Comments
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Peter John Beyfus is an historian, published author, poet, and a person who prides himself on “thinking outside the box”. I have written many essays on Jewish themes, published in various journals, including ‘Wessex Jewish News’ and ‘Westminster Quarterly’, the magazine of Westminster Synagogue, London. Westminster Hall in London has witnessed, during its 900 years’ history, many famous speakers: Charles de Gaulle, Nelson Mandela, Pope Benedict XVI and Barack Obama to mention a selection of twentieth century prominent leaders; but, today, in a packed Hall, parliamentarians experienced an exceptional address by Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of the Ukraine. He paid tribute to the unwavering moral and practical support of the British Government and the people of these islands. Zelensky, drawing inspiration from Churchill’s indefatigable resistance to Nazi aggression, went on to describe the bravery of Ukraine’s military, and the determination of his government to free his country from Russian occupation. He cited, more than once, what binds Britain and...
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Girl Talk – To The Trees

By Glen BerdNo Comments
A peek into Rebbetzen Anna's latest Girl Talk Meet and Greet. Monday 6th February 2023 was Tu B'shvat and some 15 of us talked ABOUT trees (we've not reached the stage of talking TO them yet !! :-) ) Our get together was generously hosted in the home of Jennie Lipshaw, who produced a table groaning under the weight of every fruit available from our local Sainsburys. Rebbetzen Anna told us of the four New Years in a year (who knew !!) Tu B'shvat, the New Year of Trees, being the first one, followed by Kings, Rosh Hashana and Tithes. Why New Year of Trees ?  It represents the new cycle of life.  Spring is on the way, we can shed the winter blues and welcome the birth of new plants and trees. We were delighted by the Rebbetzen's surprise, a beautiful singing voice proving she'd possibly missed her way for Hollywood stardom.    Who knew ! What followed was a superb hour or so of...
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The Good Old Days

By Glen BerdNo Comments
Member, David Senator, has sent in a couple of old photos ... Can anyone dredge up their memories to fill in the gaps ? Photo One - (with memory stretched by Moishe Richman - E & OE)) :     Left to Right : ? ?    Rev. Feldinger.  Mrs Feldinger. Chief Rabbi's wife Mrs Brodie, Isaac Gould., Chief Rabbi Brodie. Casper Gordon, Mr and Mrs Phil Lewis. Mr Mrs Senator, Arthur Marsh and wife.   ? ?     Photo Two Well, there's Len Fairclough from Coronation Street .... ...
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2023 Holocaust Memorial Day

By Glen Berd2 Comments
On 27th January 2023, some 130 invited guests joined St. Anne's Synagogue for the Annual Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration. Remembering the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi Persecution and in more recent genocides. We were honoured by local dignitaries including : Two local MP's, Mayors and Mayoresses of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, The High Sheriff of Lancashire, Chief Executives and Leaders of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Councils. Members of Lancashire Constabulary. Our Guest Speaker was a 2nd generation Holocaust survivor, Leah Burman   THANK YOU for the  expertise and help  generously donated in making a video of the whole event to : Brian Hurst Producer, Brian David Films Click on the following link to watch the whole service : https://vimeo.com/793811992 The access password is 2468. It can be shared, watched or downloaded. You will find a download button underneath the video window. Please note that whilst it can be downloaded to any computer or laptop, it cannot be downloaded to a mobile device or...
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