Supper Quiz - 2009
Saturday,
28th November 2009 saw the return of the SDRS favourite; the traditional quiz
night with a fish and chip meal supper and apple pie and cream dessert. The quiz
consisted of eight rounds, all mixed with the bonus question (if answered)
doubling the score if correct or halving it if not. Over ninety people took
part. First place went to Michael Green's team.
Thanks must go to the many people who volunteered to help before hand. Many thanks also to all those who helped serve the food and those who stayed late after the event to help clean up the synagogue hall. A big thank you must go to the new Social Committee under the chair of Barbara Goldstein who organised it so well.
A donation was given to the Southend Aid Committee as a thank you to the quizmasters Sybil and Jeffrey Greenstein. Sybil being the chair of the committee that raises money for Raymond House.
Community in Harmony 2009
On
Sunday, 21st June 2009, Pat and Shirley DePass and I took part in the 'Community
in Harmony' event held this year at Southend High School for Boys.
The purpose of the event was for different cultural, religious, ethnic and other community groups to get together and celebrate and value our diversity. The theme of course was respect and harmony.
Please click here to see the full article from the Tishri 5770 / September 2009 synagogue magazine, which includes a montage of photographs from the day (opens as a PDF file).
Barn Dance
On
Sunday, 14th June 2009 SDRS held its first Barn Dance, ably organised by Ken and
Denise Phillips. Nearly thirty people enjoyed the evening, 'swinging their
partners' and 'dosey-doeing', instructed by well known local 'caller', Rob 'Sibby'
Sibthorpe.
Please click here to see the full article from the Tishri 5770 / September 2009 synagogue magazine, which includes a montage of photographs from the day (opens as a PDF file).
JAMI Sponsored Walk
Back
to Life', which supports the Jewish Association For The Mentally Ill (JAMI),
held a sponsored fun walk and bike ride on a bright but very breezy morning on
Sunday, 3rd May 2009.
The SDRS cheder, teachers and parents (pictured below) participated in the event along Southend seafront from the shelter at the bottom of Chalkwell Avenue to Ness Road and then back again. Everyone who took part had a great time and raised a magnificent £120. Please click here to see the full article from the Shavout 5769 / Summer 2009 synagogue magazine, which includes a montage of photographs from the day (opens as a PDF file).
A Day Trip to Israel
As
part of the celebrations for Israel's sixty-first anniversary of Independence,
the SDRS Cheder took part in a special activity organised by Eastern Counties
Association of Progressive Synagogues (ECAPS) called 'A Day Trip to Israel' on
the morning of Sunday, 26th April 2009.
The event, held at the Redbridge Jewish Youth and Community Centre, was co-joint with six other Reform, Liberal and Masorti synagogues in Ilford and throughout Essex. Please click here to see the full article from the Shavout 5769 / Summer 2009 synagogue magazine, which includes a montage of photographs from the day (opens as a PDF file).
Jack Petchey Awards Kiddush
On
Friday, 17th April 2009 SDRS held a special Kiddush to mark the achievements of
the five Jack Petchey award winners (pictured left to right) James Fairman,
David Sears, Hannah Kinn, Adam Sears and Adam Miller. Also pictured are Rabbi
Warren Elf and Chair, Lewis Miller.
James was nominated in March 2008 as our first JPA recipient because of his exceptional voluntary work in the local community, especially through the young people's committee he chairs.
Please click here to see the full article from the Shavout 5769 / Summer 2009 synagogue magazine, which includes a montage of photographs showing the individual winners receiving their awards (opens as a PDF file).
Brenda Lee on BBC Essex
SDRS
member, Brenda Lee, spoke about Pesach on the morning breakfast show of high
profile local radio station, BBC Essex, on Sunday, 12th April 2009 at 6.50am.
Weekend
presenter, Ian Wyatt started the discussion by asking Brenda "what's
happening for her during this time of year". Brenda gave an explanation
about the Passover 'spring clean', and substituting flour products for matzah,
matzah-meal and cake-meal and the two meals (Seders).
Ian asked why the change of diet was important. Brenda explained it commemorates the Israelites journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom. Brenda continued with details of the synagogue's communal Seder (see above) and explained about some of the customs of the meals and the requirements of the festival. Brenda finished the interview by wishing the community a Chag Sameach.
Communal 2nd Night Seder - 2009
The
SDRS Communal Seder, conducted by Rabbi Warren Elf, was held on the second night
of Pesach Thursday, 9th April 2009. As with previous years the event was a
massive hit, with at least sixty people attending, both members and their
guests. There were plenty of new faces too.
After a brief introduction to the Seder, the evening started at the earlier time of 6.15pm with the relevant blessings by Rabbi Elf and candle lighting by his wife, Simone.
The first half of the Seder was a combination of traditional readings taken from the Haggadah, explanations and commentaries in a fun and friendly way, plus a couple of songs, such as 'The Ballad of the Four Sons' and 'Moses and Aaron went to see Pharaoh' - a musical version of the ten plagues to the tune of 'Old MacDonald'.
A sumptuous five-course meal was prepared, cooked and provided by the Guild and many assistants. The Seder continued once the Afikomen was found. The evening concluded with the second half of the Seder and a tremendous chorus of all the traditional songs, interspersed with 'Just a Tad of Charoset', 'My Passover Things' and our famous 'There's No Seder Like Our Seder'. The Seder ended at 9.45pm.
The Seder was another huge success due to the hard work of the many volunteers too many to name. A special thank you must go to Rabbi Elf and Simone, who drove down from their home in Manchester.
The picture above is a library picture from 2006 of Rabbi Elf and his wife Simone with the Seder plate.
Family Games Evening
The
first SDRS 'Family Games Evening' was held on Saturday, 28th February 2009
between 7.00pm and 10.00pm. Twenty-five people of all ages attended and had a
great time; the event was deemed a huge success.
There were loads of games to play for all ages, including Backgammon, Boggle, Kalooki / Klobiosh, Rummikub, Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit. There were also computer games and a Wii Games Console.
Charlotte Avery's Bat Mitzvah
In
February, SDRS celebrated the first Bat Mitzvah of a Cheder pupil in recent
years (the last being Jamie Miller). Charlotte
Avery was called to the Torah on her birthday, Saturday 14th February 2009.
Her Torah portion was Exodus chapter 20: verses 1 to 14 and the Haftarah
portion was Isaiah chapter 6: verses 1 to 13.
The Avery family said, "... our family and all our guests really enjoyed the service of Charlotte's Bat Mitzvah. A big thank you to Rabbi Warren Elf for welcoming all our relatives and friends to the service and including them too.
Thank you to the Guild for arranging the Kiddush following the service. This was very much appreciated, as it was a job taken care of. Making our day even more special! Thank you to all who came along to the service, sharing our special day with us."
