“You are a stranger only until you enter Stanmore Shul”
Shabbat 24 MAY 2008 - 19 IYAR 5768
Commences at 8.00pm
Service in shul at 7.30pm
SIDRA for the Week:
BECHUKOTAI (page 542 Hertz)
HAFTARAH:
JEREMIAH 16, 19-17 (page 551 Hertz)
Special Event:
Naming of Baby Girl — LEIBOVITCH
Naming of Baby Girl — WELBY
Shabbat Ends:
9.59pm
Thought for the week
The root of the word Bechukotai - the name of this week's Sidrah - is 'Chukah'. The Midrash suggests that although the conventional understanding of the word Chukah is Statutes, in this instance it refers to the study of our holy Torah, which the Almighty encourages us to study and understand. The Midrash brings support for this suggestion. Since the verse actually continues with the importance of upholding the Mitzvot, which definitely refers to laws, it follows that the beginning of the verse is discussing something else - Torah study.
The opening verse of Bechukotai reads as follows: If you walk in the ways of my 'Chukim' ... Now that we have established that 'Chukah' refers to Torah study, why does the verse use language like walk, which is more suited to the performance of laws? Surely, Mitzvot involves walking and expending energy, while Torah study is done when one sits comfortably and calmly! Anticipating this observation, the Midrash points out that actually Torah study also requires effort and sweat. Accordingly, the word 'Walk' is urging us to not merely study Torah in a perfunctory manner; one must actually pour all ones energies into it to fully engage its mysteries.
RABBI MENDEL LEW
Who's Who?
RABBI MENDEL LEW will lead the service
RABBI ANDREW SHAW will deliver the sermon
MAURICE HACKENBROCH will lead Pesukei DeZimra
MICHAEL VOGEL will lein the Sidra
MICHAEL DEAN will read the Haftarah
YOSEF YITZCHAK LEW will lead Anim Zemirot
Hospitality (upstairs): PAULINE NEWMAN
Hospitality (downstairs): HOWARD DAVIS
This Week’s Presiding Warden: DAVID METZGER
SHACHARIT Main Shul 9.00am
Youth Service 9.30am
Intermediate Service 10.30 Children’s Service 10.30am Toddlers’ Service 11.00am
RABBI MELVYN BLOOM'S Shiur will be at 8.00pm
MINCHA at 8.59pm to be followed by RABBI MENDEL LEW'S Shiur
MA'ARIV at the termination of Shabbat at 9.59pm
AMANDA and ROBERT WELBY together with VIVIENNE and LESLIE LIPOWICZ on the birth of a granddaughter are pleased to invite the community to Kiddush in the Freeman Susman Hall following the service.
Bnei Akiva Meet this Shabbat at 3.30pm
Sunday and Monday (public holiday) - Shacharit at 8.30am.
Mincha and Maariv at 7.30pm
Tuesday - Friday - Shacharit at 7.15am
Wednesday and Thursday - Mincha and Maariv at 8.00pm
Tuesday - Mincha and Maariv at 7.45pm (earlier time due to TLC)
Next Friday Shabbat Mevorchim commences at 8.00pm
and service in Shul will be at 7.30pm.
Social and Personal
We wish Mazaltov to:
Rebecca and Elliot Welby on the birth of a daughter, a sister for Tyler Anthony (Menashe). Mazaltov also to grandparents Amanda and Robert Welby and Vivienne and Leslie Lipowicz and great grandmothers Joyce Saffron, Rosetta Welby and Miriam Waterman.
Caroline and Darrell Ezekiel on the birth of a son. Mazaltov also to grandfather Issy Ezekiel.
We offer our sincere condolences to:
The family of the late Cynthia Carter. Shiva terminated.
Sam Rogoff on the loss of his mother Rela Rogoff. For shiva details see noticeboard.
We wish 'Long Life' on the consecration of Memorial Stones to:
The family of the late Rose Pearlman Sunday 25 May at 11.30am at Bushey cemetery.
The following consecrations will take place the week commencing
Sunday 25 May:
Maurice Faiman (husband of Renee Faiman)
Rebecca Synett (mother of Julian Synett)
Harold Waterman (husband of Marlene Waterman).
STANMORE YOUTH WANTED FROM SEPTEMBER: Cheder requires 4 reading helpers (year 11 or above) and 1 classroom assistant (year 12 or above).
SMILE requires a reading lead for the Challenge programme (year 12 or above).
Interviews to be held on Sunday mornings in June by arrangement and will be based on Jewish knowledge and reading ability.
Glynis Kuzuk urgently needs a co-editor to assist with the production of the next edition of Habimah. If you are interested, please contact Glynis as soon as possible on 8954 9954.
Would you like to read a Haftarah on Shabbat or Yom Tov?
If you need help in perfecting your skills, please contact the Honorary Executive
Members should note that the Burial Society office is now located at Bushey.
The telephone number is 020 8950 7767.
PLEASE NOTE THAT UNWANTED RELIGIOUS BOOKS CAN NO LONGER BE BROUGHT TO THE SYNAGOGUE BUILDING.
PLEASE BE KIND ENOUGH TO PHONE BUSHEY CEMETERY TO ARRANGE FOR DISPOSAL.
Our website service "Ask the Rabbi" is a message board where you can post a question that will require a BRIEF answer from Rabbi Mendel Lew.
As it is a message board you will also be able to see other questions and answers - so please visit regularly.
Rabbi Mendel Lew is now replying to previously posted questions - please click the link above to read his answers.
On Shabbat 2nd April 2005, at the conclusion of the service, Stanmore members gave a presentation of their personal reflections on their recent pilgrimage to Auschwitz. This presentation, entitled "60 Thoughts for 60 Years" can be viewed, together with photographs and a five minute video, on the Community Department page.
Communal Diary
The Honorary Executive invite members to the 'H.E. Surgery' where we will be pleased to hear opinions, answer questions and discuss matters concerning Shul activities and other communal concerns.
The first Surgery will take place on Sunday 15 June - PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE - between 10.00am and 12.30pm in the Harry Freedman zl Library.
Appointments must be booked in advance – please telephone Ruth Franks 8954 4545.
Kindly note that financial matters will not be dealt with at the Surgery but the Financial Representative, Jeffrey Ginsberg may be contacted via the Shul office.
THIS WEEK AT TLC — TUESDAY 27 MaySESSION A – 8.00-8.50pm
Is British Jewry History? Does British Jewry have a future? - Rabbi Andrew Shaw
Body & Soul — Personal safety & basic self-defence - CST
The Bluffers Guide to the Synagogue Service — The Amidah - Rabbi Saul Zneimer
The Israeli Army — Laws of war and the call for peace - Dr Daniel Reisel
Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides, Brownies, Rainbows, FZY, JLGB, Art
Class, Craft Class, Keep Fit, Israeli Dancing and Ivrit - check with leaders
Rabbi Mendel Lew’s weekly Shiur for ladies - Tuesday at 10.30am
Community Department (8385 7263)
S Café - Tuesday at 5.00pm
Learn to Lead - Thursday at 6.30pm
Bet Midrash - Thursday at 8.00pm
NEXT Shabbat 31 May. Rabbi Mendel Lew will conduct a Question and Answer Session after the conclusion of the service in the main shul. Please note that the session will end at 12 noon and will be followed by kiddush. Questions should be sent in advance to Rabbi Mendel Lew via his email address: rabbilew@stanmoresynagogue.org or in writing c/o the Shul office.
Shabbat 7 June. The main Shul service will take the form of an Explanatory Service. Parsha Discussion will start at 9.00am. The full service will commence at 9.20am and explanations will be given throughout the service by Rabbi Mendel Lew and Rabbi Andrew Shaw. Service will end at the normal time and will be followed by a Kiddush.
The Ladies Guild are arranging a coach trip to Brighton on Wednesday 25 June. For full details please contact Lila Edwards 8385 7551
There is a lift adjacent to the Freeman Susman Hall staircase.
It will work on Sunday and weekdays.
On Shabbat and Yom Tov the lift will operate on automatic shabbat mode.
However please note:
The lift is ONLY for the use of disabled people and the elderly
The maximum capacity is two people at a time
When in automatic mode the lift must be allowed to operate without assistance - the door will open and close very slowly and must not be pushed or pulled as this will damage the mechanism.
Stanmore Synagogue Community Care offers support to the members of the community in all sorts of ways. If you need help in any way whatsoever please contact us on 8954 3300 in total confidence.
If you know anyone who is ill or housebound please contact
Stanmore Synagogue Community Care on 8954 3300
MALE CONGREGANTS ARE REMINDED THAT THE MEHITZA IS IN PLACE AT THE BACK OF THE SHUL DOWNSTAIRS. THEY ARE RESPECTFULLY ASKED NOT TO OCCUPY THE SEATS BEHIND THE MEHITZA AS THEY ARE RESERVED FOR THE USE OF WOMEN FOR ALL SERVICES EXCEPT ON YOMIM NORAIM.
Please inform the Shul office if you wish the name of a relative or friend to be included in the Prayer for the Sick recited on Shabbat morning.
Tyler Anthony Welby is delighted to announce the birth
of his sister and wishes Mazaltov to Mummy and Daddy.
The loudspeaker system is not in use on Shabbat/Yom Tov.
The shul loop system for the hard of hearing is in use,
for halachic details please see the notice board.
If you notice that a member has not been attending Shul for a few weeks, please inform the Wardens in order that they can make contact.
If you are a first time visitor and would like to be informed regularly of our updates, then please contact us at: info@sacps.org.uk
THIS WEEK AT TLC — TUESDAY 27 May
SESSION A – 8.00-8.50pm
