Interfaith Shabbat

By Glen BerdNo Comments
On 17th December 2022, we hosted an Interfaith Shabbat and were delighted to be joined by esteemed visitors including Mark Menzies MP, The Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Fylde Representatives of the Muslim Advisory Council of Lancashire Mosques, Members from the Catholic Church of St. Mary's in Leyland, Catholic Reverend Deacon of St.Anne's, Vicar of St Anne's Parish Church of England, C of E Retired High School Teacher /HMD volunteer Hindu Representatives Chief Inspector for Fylde and Blackpool, Police Liaison Offer for our shul, Preston Faith Forum Lead Chaplain from Spiritual Care Dept of Lancs teaching hospitals. Unfortunately some people were unable to attend due to the very cold and icy conditions on the UK's coldest day of the year ! Following the service, all guests and visitors were invited to a Special Kiddush and an opportunity to talk to members of our congregation. We hope all feel this was an inspiring and important inclusive event. Stephen : Thanks Rabbi Bergson and all those involved in making the interfaith shabbat a very special occasion for the...
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Oh What a Party It Was !

By Glen Berd1 Comment
December 2022 and the music rang out for Chanukah ! The Ladies Circle slaved over hot stoves all morning, and were delighted that the huge turnout invited to our Chanukah Party all gave 4 stars to the 3 course hot supper. After the Rabbi lit the first candle and all present had belted out Moat Tzur - we were treated to a musical concert by the guitars of the Dynamic Duo of Rabbi Danny and Mike Frankel. We had the added surprise and privilege of a guest appearance by the famous saxophonist, Wes Frankel, who gave us a cameo performance of a medley on clarinet - our gain was London's loss ! (Fiddler on the Roof melodies never sounded so good !) Michelle : As always just want to thank you and the ladies for all your hard work. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and the new St Anne's residents had a great time too and hopefully will get more involved in shul activities. See you tomorrow at...
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Shalom Fruma Sarah !

By Glen BerdNo Comments
Shalom Fruma Sarah Ruth Madoc the actress who immortalised Lazar Wolf's wife in the film Fiddler on the Roof dies. To actress who will forever be Fruma Sarah to Fiddler on the Roof fans died on Friday December 9 after a fall. Ruth Madoc, 79 who  became a household name playing “chief yellowcoat” Gladys Pugh in BBC sitcom Hi-de-Hi! was due to appear in  Aladdin in Torquay, but passed away in hospital following surgery for the fall she had earlier in the week. Ruth Madoc made her screen debut in Fiddler after spotting an advert for a soprano in The Stage newspaper, but it was her willingness to be suspended 15ft in a harness over a graveyard as Lazar Wolf’s dead wife that the film’s director Norman Jewison loved about her. Ruth as Hi-De-Hi’s Gladys “Today, a performance like that by an unknown would lead to more work, but I disappeared into oblivion,” she said when she appeared on Jewish News’ 50th anniversary celebration  for Fiddler in April 2021. “At the audition, there were...
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There’s a New Game in Town !

There’s a New Game in Town !

By Glen BerdNo Comments
Commiserations football fans - we're sorry England was robbed :-( But there's a better game in town next Sunday, instead of watching two imposter teams in the World Cup where England should be ! Come and be cheered up at our Chanukah Party from 4pm with a Hot Comfort Supper and some soothing guitar melodies. PLEASE NOTE : We do need everyone to register (for catering purposes) and as we are NOT collecting payment at the door, this is also a friendly reminder to those who haven't yet paid. Details on how to pay on flyer below. (Click to enlarge)    ...
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A Winter Soiree

By Glen BerdNo Comments
It was a cold dark night - but inside the Rabbi and Rebbetzens house the atmosphere was delightfully warm and cheeery ! The Rabbi and Rebbetzen's regular monthly soiree's kicked off after the busy month of YomTovim with a decided treat. Yair and Tolva Maron regaled us with the incredible and hugely entertaining story of their journey from Evangelical Pastors to becoming Jewish. But not before Rebbetzen Anna had served a delicious hot soup and various tasty finger foods. Altogether such an interesting evening and we were very grateful to Vair and Tolva for making the journey from Manchester to share our evening.                 Yair and Toivah Maron shared their fascinating journey to Judaism. They were both Christians that trained to become Pastors. Eventually they joined the Evangelical Church (a more ecstatic version of worship connecting to God's presence), but their thirst for truth and  and an authentic relationship with God left them deeply dissatisfied as they found theological issues that could not...
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The History of Chanukah

By Glen BerdNo Comments
The History of Hanukkah How the festival of lights became a holiday, and how it has evolved in modern times. Hanukkah is one of the few Jewish holidays not mentioned in the Bible. The story of how Hanukkah came to be is contained in the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees, which are not part of the Jewish canon of the Hebrew Bible.These books tell the story of the Maccabees, a small band of Jewish fighters who liberated the Land of Israel from the Syrian Greeks who occupied it. Under the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Syrian Greeks sought to impose their Hellenistic culture, which many Jews found attractive. By 167 B.C.E, Antiochus intensified his campaign by defiling the Temple in Jerusalem and banning Jewish practice. The Maccabees — led by the five sons of the priest Mattathias, especially Judah — waged a three-year campaign that culminated in the cleaning and rededication of the Temple. Since they were unable to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot at its proper...
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The Impossible Spy – A Follow Up

By Glen BerdNo Comments
Last night's Movie Night at the Shul showed 'The Impossible Spy' - based on the true story of Eli Cohen who spied for Israel in Syria and who was instrumental in the subsequent success of Israel in the 1967 Six Day War. After the show, there were refreshments and lively discussions about the film ! As a follow up - it may be of interest to take a look at the following articles : https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/widow-of-israeli-spy-eli-cohen-when-he-was-caught-something-died-within-me/      This is an interview with Nadia Cohen, the wife of the late Eli Cohen a few years ago after Netflix released a TV Mini Series in 2019 about her late husband, starring Sasha Baron Cohen.   Another interesting article is here : https://blog.nli.org.il/en/eli-cohen/ How Eli Cohen, Israel’s Man in Damascus, Was Captured - Noam Nachman-Tepper seeks to dispute the accepted narrative surrounding the capture of Eli Cohen....
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