Category: NEWS

From : Chairman of The Genesis Prize Foundation I am writing to you as someone who voted for the prominent scholar, theologian, and philosopher Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l during the Genesis Prize online voting campaign in 2020. Today would have been the 74th birthday of Rabbi Sacks. As Chief Rabbi of the UK and advisor to heads of governments and members of the British Royal Family, Rabbi Sacks left a legacy of teachings and wisdom that will be felt for many years to come. This past November, one year after his passing, The Genesis Prize Foundation honoured Rabbi Sacks with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the President of Israel Isaac Herzog to Lady Elaine Sacks at a special event in London. I hope you will enjoy this documentary produced by our foundation in recognition of Rabbi Sacks’ role in inspiring the next generation of Jews. Best regards, Stan Polovets Chairman and Co-Founder The Genesis Prize Foundation The Genesis Prize Foundation 1540 Broadway, Floor 39 New York, NY 10036, USA ...

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Putin’s War Today’s missile strike, accidental or otherwise, on the Babi Yar Memorial in Kyiv, containing the graves of 34,000 Jews, slaughtered by the Nazis, is a poignant reminder of how quickly war degenerates into indiscriminate attacks on people and property. It is all well and good to justify such actions as a consequence of collateral damage, but the reality is lives are lost, homes destroyed and people suddenly become refugees.   One of Putin’s justifications for the invasion of the Ukraine is to “de-Nazify” this state. Apart from it being an affront to a democratic state, it is also an insult to its Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has shown such fortitude in the face of Russian aggression. The Ukraine, and, indeed, all those countries that became independent on the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, have an absolute right to self-determination. NATO, unlike the Russian Republic, has not amassed 100,000 troops on Russia’s border. We have seen since the annexation of the Crimean Peninsular in 2014, Russian separatists in the...

Liar, liar, pants on fire, if you didn't relate to at least some of these :-) Staring at your phone in silent horror until the unknown number stops ringing Hearing a recording of your own voice and deciding it’s perhaps best never to speak again The relief when someone doesn’t answer their phone within three rings and you can hang up Filming an entire fireworks display on your phone, knowing full well you’ll never, ever watch it again Mishearing somebody’s name on the second time of asking, meaning you must now avoid them forever Leaving it too late to correct someone, meaning you must live with your new name forever Running out of ways to say thanks when a succession of doors are held for you, having already deployed ‘cheers’, ‘ta’ and ‘nice one’ Changing from ‘kind regards’ to just ‘regards’, to indicate that you’re rapidly reaching the end of your tether Realising you’ve got about fifty grand’s worth of plastic bags under your...

Our Purim Fancy Dress Party - the event of the year ! Don't miss out - the food will take you back to the glorious days of your youth :-)  !! We're now registering numbers for our Purim Fancy Dress Party - it's important so we know how much to prepare as we hate turning hungry people away LOL We DO need confirmation from EVERYONE. If you haven't already let us know - please email Glen or phone Sandra now to confirm you'll be coming. Transport is available to and from the event - please email me if you need a lift. The donation of £7.50 pp is payable at the door, and will be distributed to the Shul's nominated charities. ...

The final scene in the film “Schindlers List” shows the descendants of the Jews saved by Oskar Schindler from the NAZI death camps placing stones on his grave. What is this ancient custom and why is it practiced? One belief is that is pays homage to the Hebrews in Exodus who could not bury their dead in the hard baked earth of the desert and were forced to cover them in stones. Another is that a stone, as a sign of love and respect, lasts much longer than a flower. A third is that the Talmud mentions that the soul dwells for a time in the grave. The stone is thought keep the soul down on the earth before moving on. The size of the stone can be small or large and is always place with the left hand. Whatever the reason, it is above all a sign of respect and a custom that dates back 4,000 years.... ...

Dear Member Your Executive have taken a decision to no longer require the wearing of a mask in shul on Shabbat 26th February and onwards. You may of course continue to wear a mask if you wish. In view of this the importance of social distancing increases, so would you please continue to observe the request to sit only in seats marked with the yellow/black tape, and if possible to spread out as much as possible, including using seats on the side of shul opposite the entrances. Ventilation measures i.e. leaving entrance doors and windows open will continue. Other than on shabbat mornings, i.e. for yahrtzeits, Monday evenings and Thursday mornings,  if there is a minyan, the service will be in the main shul. If fewer than 10 men, the service will be held in the Beth Hamedresh. Please also continue to log your visit to shul at the entrance desk. Many thanks for your cooperation. Robert Pinkus President 07768 400144 On behalf of St. Annes Hebrew Congregation www.shulbythesea.co.uk...