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EventsNational Holocaust Memorial Day 2010Two services marked National Holocaust Memorial Day in Cheltenham, attended by many of our members. An Act of Remembrance organized by Allan Sanis and Michael Webber from Cheltenham Hebrew Congregation and Rev. Brian Torode was held in the Council Chamber in Cheltenham in association with other local faith groups. Candles were lit for peace and a two minute silence commemorated the deaths of the twenty million who died in the First World War. We were reminded that one third of the world's Jewish population was killed in the principal concentration camps of the Second world War with chilling statistics taken from "The Holocaust - The War Against the Jews" by Lucy Dawidowicz. Prayers, including the Shema and Psalm xxiii, A Psalm of David, were said in Hebrew and in English by Readers and by all participants. Councillor Lloyd Surgenor, Mayor of Cheltenham read an extract from the book “Chasing Shadows” by Rabbi Hugo Gryn. All stood while The Mourner's Kaddish was recited by the Jewish men.
Introductory Reading by Alex Giles: Student, National Star College Students with disabilities often feel apart from the rest of the world and their inclusion in a banner making project was very important. Reminders of what a national policy of exclusion can lead to were given in moving readings and a DVD made by the STAR College students “On Top of the World”. Banners made were inspired by students of the National Star Centre and Severn Vale School by year’s theme “Legacy of Hope”. Students designed their own symbols after first looking at those already relating to the subject. Themes of hope, patience, forgiveness, love and strength were explored.
"It wasn’t just the Jews. It was also the mentally ill, the physically handicapped, the Gypsies and the Gays who were imprisoned, tortured, shot, gassed and turned to ash because they didn’t fit someone’s narrow template of what it means to be human. May the memory of the victims of the Holocaust become our immune system against hate; may we stand together; fighting prejudice together.” Reading from Sir Jonathon Sacks, Chief Rabbi by Gill Oxley, Equalities Manager, Gloucestershire County Council Social Events
Highlights of our calendar include both the religious - a communal Seder at Pesach, a Purim party and a Chanukah tea - and the purely social - such as quizzes, brunches and garden parties.
Where appropriate, we read in both Hebrew and English to allow everyone to participate. The Chanukah tea in particular attracts many members; we light the candles together and as dusk falls, B'rachot are said and the story of Chanukah told. While the children solve puzzles, make dreidles and colour-in, traditional latkas and viennas are served and the adults have time to socialize.
A keenly fought Quiz Supper was recently brought to a nail biting conclusion when the final question separated the two leading teams. Events have also included an entertaining “Desert Island Discs” which allowed others to view those interviewed, even after long acquaintance, in a new light. In May of each year, we celebrate the inauguration of the Synagogue with a brunch. Other events have included an auction which sold promises as well as items and a Bring and Buy Sandwich lunch which proved a sociable fundraiser.
Further opportunities for members to come together are provided by members who informally arrange groups to attend concerts and lunches. We welcome good ideas for new events and volunteers to help organise them! Women’s Association of Cheltenham Synagogue (WACS)The Women's Association has been running for over 50 years. It is a warm social network that plays an important part in organising many of the Synagogue's events and has raised funds for a range of good causes. The monthly meetings provide a good place for making and renewing friendships. Jewish Film GroupWe're establishing a group to show films with a Jewish theme. Naturally all members and their guests are welcome to attend and make suggestions for future screenings.
Our first film was “Paper Clips”, an inspiring story about children from an insular town in Tennessee, USA, finding out about the Holocaust in a way that was meaningful to them. Their small classroom assignment on diversity grew to an event that transformed the entire community. The eponymous paperclips were collected in memory of Holocaust victims; the collection was inspired by the Norwegians who wore paperclips on their collars to demonstrate their sympathy for groups being persecuted by the Nazis.
After viewing, the films will be available for members to borrow from the Library.
170th Anniversary
Special guests included the Mayor of Cheltenham and our local MP, Martin Horwood.
The London Cantorial Singers have performed widely in concerts, religious and social events and are drawn from leading Synagogue choirs. They include several "Chazanim" (Cantors). The aim of the Choir is to perform synagogue music, once popular but now rarely heard, as far as possible in the composer's original settings. Find out more about the singers by clicking here.
Music Festival 2009The 2009 HSBC Cheltenham Music Festival, 3 - 18 July, marked the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn's birth with a celebration of music by composers of Jewish heritage. Highlights included: A talk by Norman Lebrecht on Mendelssohn and Mahler in Cheltenham Synagogue. Sephardic chant performed by Joglaresa and primary schoolchildren. A range of Mendelssohn works, including the Octet, Violin Concerto and Hebrides Overture Viol Consort music for Henry VIII's court by Venetian Jewish emigres Jazz-infused klezmer from Swiss quintet Kol Simcha A Hollywood film music night, featuring classic scores by Steiner, Berstein, Waxman, Rosza, Herrmann and Korngold |
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The Gloucestershire service was held this year in
the National Star College and the theme was "The Legacy of Hope". Students
from the college and the local Severn Vales school took an active part through
readings and guiding participants around the College facilities.
"Holocaust
Memorial Day 2010 marks 65 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. On it we can
become part of the Legacy of Hope. Our responsibility is to remember those who
were persecuted and murdered. Our challenge
is to make the hope of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and subsequent
genocides part of our future."
