Pinner

Moriah primary makes headway

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:48:47 +0100

Moriah Jewish Day School has appointed Judy Lethbridge as its new head, replacing Alan Shaw, who is moving to the top job at Hasmonean Primary for the next academic year.

Informing parents of the decision, governors’ chair Alan Capper wrote that the school had wanted “to recruit a head who would drive the school forward.

“We hope that Mrs Lethbridge will place us firmly on the path towards raising our Ofsted rating from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’. Her track record at her last three schools demonstrates her capability to raise standards for all pupils.”

He added that Mrs Lethbridge, a Pinner Synagogue member, was “keen to enrich the inclusive and tolerant religious ethos of which we are so proud. We all believe she has the vision, ambition and ability to make a difference.”

Moriah Jewish Day School intruder seen off by staff

Anna Sheinman — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:00:20 +0100

An intruder was chased off the grounds of Moriah Jewish Day School in Pinner on Tuesday.

In an email to parents, head-teacher Alan Shaw wrote: “An intruder entered the far end of the school playing field from the housing estate on our western boundary. He was spotted immediately due to our strong security procedures [CCTV, security guard, vigilant staff] and chased off the premises.”

Police and the Community Security Trust had been informed and the police were provided with “video footage both of the intruder and the car he drove off in”.

The CST’s Mark Gardner described the incident as “isolated and highly unusual.
“But the school staff reacted promptly and correctly.”

Pinner group hears the poignant case of an Auschwitz survivor

Jay Grenby — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:36:38 +0100

The MOVING story of a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor was relayed to the 450 people at Pinner Synagogue's Yom Hashoah commemoration.

Czech-born Zdenka Fantlova was incarcerated in Terezin, Auschwitz and finally Bergen-Belsen, from which she was liberated. She was the only survivor from her immediate family.

She recalled being initially incredulous at the atrocities she witnessed. However, a will to live - a theme of the Pinner evening - was key to her survival.

Some years ago, an acquaintance visiting Auschwitz spotted her suitcase, clearly marked with her name, on top of a pile of luggage once belonging to inmates and now part of a display in the Auschwitz museum. After contacting the museum curators and proving that the case had been hers, Ms Fantlova was sent a photo of the display.

"As soon as I saw it, what came back to me was not so much the horror of it all, but simply the smell of that cardboard and imitation snakeskin suitcase," she recalled.

"The curators asked me if I wanted my property returned. I debated this with fellow members of Jewish Care's Holocaust Survivors' Centre in Hendon.

"Half of them said I should claim it back. The other half, including myself, thought it was better for the case to stay where it was as a permanent testimony to what happened."

She today lives in the same Bayswater building from which the British Special Operations Executive planned the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, known as "The Butcher of Prague" and one of the architects of the Final Solution.

Pinner members queued until late in the evening to purchase copies of her autobiography, The Tin Ring, whose title was inspired by a tin ring given to her by her boyfriend as a symbol of love and a commitment to marriage if they both survived - which he did not.

Other speakers at the commemoration included another Czech-born survivor, Victor Greenberg, and former UK ambassador to Israel Sir Andrew Burns.

Chief praises 'great rav'

Caron Kemp — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:22:45 +0000

Inducting Rabbi Danny Bergson as minister of Pinner Synagogue on Sunday, Lord Sacks said the congregation had got what it deserved - "a great rav".

Rabbi Bergson and his wife Anna would be "great energisers of this community. I wish them and their children many years of happiness here."

The Chief Rabbi also told the 400 guests that he had "known Pinner since 1974. And all this time it has been distinguished by its sheer warmth and supportive network of relationships."

Formerly with Glasgow's Newton Mearns congregation, Rabbi Bergson joined Pinner after the retirement of the long-serving Rabbi Yaakov Grunewald.

In his address, Rabbi Bergson said he hoped to emulate his predecessor's warmth and compassion.

The event also featured music from the Shabbaton and Moriah School choirs and an impromptu duet between Rabbi Bergson and Lord Sacks.

Chief praises 'great rav'

Caron Kemp — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:21:19 +0000

Inducting Rabbi Danny Bergson as minister of Pinner Synagogue on Sunday, Lord Sacks said the congregation had got what it deserved - "a great rav".

Rabbi Bergson and his wife Anna would be "great energisers of this community. I wish them and their children many years of happiness here."

The Chief Rabbi also told the 400 guests that he had "known Pinner since 1974. And all this time it has been distinguished by its sheer warmth and supportive network of relationships."

Formerly with Glasgow's Newton Mearns congregation, Rabbi Bergson joined Pinner after the retirement of the long-serving Rabbi Yaakov Grunewald.

In his address, Rabbi Bergson said he hoped to emulate his predecessor's warmth and compassion.

The event also featured music from the Shabbaton and Moriah School choirs and an impromptu duet between Rabbi Bergson and Lord Sacks.

World Jewish Relief Sleepout

theproffice — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:16:49 +0000

London synagogue initiatives attract the votes of politicians

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:55:58 +0000

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone joined Muswell Hill teenagers clearing litter from Cherry Tree Wood as part of a Mitzvah Day venture. The Hornsey and Wood Green MP said she "really enjoyed the good clear up, with some spring bulb planting to top it off. I am always excited to join the local synagogue for this wonderful day of community action. It's heartwarming and fun."

Another supportive MP was Harrow East's Bob Blackman, who helped serve tea to Ajex members at Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue. The guests had just returned from the annual Ajex parade.

Congregants also made food collections for the homeless and cleaned up the Watford New Hope Trust's market garden. Recipients of cards produced by Stanmore children included local policemen injured in a stabbling attack.

The baking of 400 biscuits for distribution to local families was part of a varied programme cooked up by Edgware Synagogue organisers.

Cheder pupils collected a carload of food and toiletries from local shoppers for the Gift charity. They also examined hundreds of bookrests in the main shul to identify those in need of repair and helped to clear away hundreds of old prayer books.

Langdon College volunteers were on hand to assist with the packing and clearing - and some painting around the synagogue buildings. Musicians from the congregation entertained residents of Rela Goldhill Lodge to complete what Rabbi David Lister said was the Edgware shul's "best ever" Mitzvah Day contribution.

Putting it in numbers, Golders Green Synagogue calculated its Mitzvah Day tally as two blankets, 12 crates of food, 43 bags of clothing and 100-plus volunteers.

The blankets from a "knitathon" and the winter apparel were for World Jewish Relief clients. The food collected outside Sainsbury's benefited Cricklewood Homeless Concern. Young community members took the endeavour farther afield by volunteering at a Stamford Hill soup kitchen.

Events co-ordinator Joel Clark said it was "fantastic to see so many members of our community, across all ages, coming together to do something that made a real difference".

Mitzvah Day helped St Albans Masorti members towards their pledge of committing 21 hours of their time to voluntary work in celebration of the community's 21st anniversary.

Among nine projects were a "collectathon" at the local Morrisons and a multifaith environmental collaboration, including the planting of hedges in Verulamium Park. Cheder pupils organised arts and crafts for elderly residents of a Roman Catholic care home, where its parent and toddler group entertained.

Teenagers baked and decorated muffins and cookies for the local women's refuge. Others partnered a group of disabled youngsters for an afternoon's outing.

Rabbi Rafi Kaiserbleuth said that "with 42 per cent of the community being involved today, I feel they are well on the way to achieving their goal [of 21 hours' voluntary service]."

Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue hosted a tea and entertainment in the synagogue for members of the Northwood Live at Home scheme, the Pinner and Northwood Good Companions groups, the shul's Tuesday Club and people in local residential homes.

NPLS senior minister Rabbi Aaron Goldstein said: "The interaction between our young people and the general public was illuminating. Those of other faiths were deeply moved to be invited to the synagogue for such an occasion."

Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue members made food collections outside Tesco for the Watford New Hope Trust - and at Just Kosher for Gift. Nursery children sang at a lunch for senior citizens for which other youngsters made table displays. There were also care home visits by young people.

World Jewish Relief, Children in Need and Homeless Action in Barnet were among beneficiaries of Finchley Reform's activities. Organiser Debbie Juggler said: "We also continued our work on the Glebelands nature reserve, baked biscuits for the FRS friendship club, held a bake sale and promoted the FRS green group."

On the premise that charity begins at home, Hendon Reform Synagogue's Mitzvah Day programme included the painting and repair of some of its classroom floors. Its Caring committee hosted elderly congregants for a coffee morning, bringing them to and from the synagogue, where they were entertained by religion-school children.

South London Liberal members went on a CitySafe walk in conjunction with London Citizens as a first step towards creating a CitySafe zone in Streatham. Other members participated in an interfaith event in Tooting and more supported the Ajex parade.

Rabbi Janet Darley took pride in congregants' "concrete action to make our community a better place to live and to improve surroundings for others".

Wanstead and Woodford Synagogue volunteers held a coffee morning at the Jewish Blind and Disabled home, Milne Court, which is next to the synagogue. Woodford Liberal Synagogue members collected 350 food items for Jason Lee House, formerly Redbridge Night Shelter, in Ilford. Cheder pupils made cards to send to British and Israeli soldiers.

One of the participating schools was Hertsmere Primary, where pupils laid coins on a giant photo of Pudsey Bear - it was Children in Need day - to raise money for charity. Akiva pupils in Finchley baked challah for patients at the North London Hospice, decorated plant pots for care home residents and invited elderly guests to tea and entertainment. Children from Kenton's Sobell Sinai Primary visited the Barnet General Hospital children's ward to present gifts of picture frames that had been made at school.

Driver who killed Northwood couple jailed for seven years

Jennifer Lipman — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 14:57:57 +0100

A drunk-driver has been sentenced to seven years in jail for killing a married couple from Northwood after he lost control of the car and swerved on to the pavement.

Alan Bernard, 53, and wife Rochelle, 51, died last September when a car crashed into them as they were walking down a road in Dorset. A friend of theirs was seriously injured in the accident.

Jonathan Knowles, 33, was also banned from driving for seven years by a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court for "weaving and driving" as if he were a "Formula 1 driver" before the collision.

The court heard that he had been made bankrupt the previous day and had been drinking that evening, when he chose to drive the short distance to his home.

Police said he was speeding in his mother’s Mercedes at about 60 miles per hour when he crashed. He pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Judge Samuel Wiggs said in court: “It should have been a happy day. They were minding their own business walking home from dinner on the pavement with their arms linked.

"There was no need to get into the car," he said.

The couple, who had belonged to Northwood United Synagogue, had been staying at their holiday home at the time.

They ran a building business and had three children together during their 28 year marriage.

After their deaths their son James said: "They were a fantastic partnership and represented everything married life and parenting should be about."

Highgate appoints

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:05:51 +0100

Scandinavia's first woman rabbi is to lead services for the Liberal Jewish Community in Crouch End.

Rabbi Sandra Kviat, 31, was recently ordained at Leo Baeck and has already been taken on by the Liberal Judaism head office to advise on educational and other issues.

She served the Lincoln and Northwood and Pinner Liberal congregations as a student rabbi and continues to work with the Progressive community in Copenhagen. "I'm delighted to now be a full part of the Crouch End Chavurah," Rabbi Kviat said. "I love the community and I love the area.

"I'm also looking forward to the 'ev-eryday Judaism' events we put on."

Cupple of Interior Decorators

howard dini — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:51:21 +0100