Tuesday 8th February

Eva Stellman To Leave As Administrator Of Yeshurun 

Eva Stellman, Yeshurun's administrator, is to leave in March.  Eva wishes to fairly balance the time given to her family and her job, and feels that the Yeshurun role is demanding more time of her than she is able to commit in the interests of her family. Given Eva’s natural tendency to diligence and wanting to do an excellent job, she feels unable to continue in both roles.   

Yeshurun President, Russell Grossman, expressed regret at Eva's departure. He said Yeshurun would miss Eva and she goes with Yeshurun's best wishes.  Russell said that some disruption to office service was likely, but the Honorary Officers would aim to keep this to a minimum.  Yeshurun is working to replace Eva as quickly as practical.   

Motzei Shabbos 6th February

Yehudit Gordon's Father Has Died 

We are very sorry to report that Yehudit Gordon has lost her father.  The funeral will be in Israel tomorrow and Yehudit will be sitting shiva with her family in Israel.  Condolences and long life to the family. 

Cantor Naftali Herstik Leads Shabbos Service At Yeshurun 

In a Yeshurun first, world-renowned Cantor. Chazan Naftali Herstik led the Shabbos Service at Yeshurun on Parshas Yisro, coinciding with the Bar Mitzvah of  Avi Son.   Chazan Herstik was Cantor at Finchley Synagogue before becoming Chief Cantor of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue in 1981, a position he held to the end of 2008.  He is now freelance.   Today's service at Yeshurun included a lot of sing along and, although we finished very late, it was clear the vast majority of congregants very much enjoyed the davenning.  Yeshurun President, Russell Grossman,said "This was a Yeshurun first, but of course a pretty unique one off.  We were honoured to host Chazan Herstik today and thanks to the Bar Mitzvah party for bringing him over. I apologise, incidentally, for not tipping people off we would have a late service."  The Edgware Choir also performed.   

We still need a minyan for our Poland Mission next week.   We need two more men to sign up for our Mission to Poland to Warsaw, Lodz, Lublin and environs so we can have a minyan at the various sites. The mission, led by Rabbi Alan Lewis will run from Sunday February 14th for four days until Wednesday 17th February.  Full details of the itinerary are here.   The trip is confirmed and fourteen people are travelling in total. However we need another two men to make the minyan.  A number of women are also signed up already. Please contact the President or Steve if you're interested.  

Do you know of someone who is ill?
Yeshurun Cares is the community's caring initiative, established last year.  Currently we are looking for carers and people to care for!   Do you know someone in the community who needs a little help? Perhaps... hospital visits, regular visits at home, help with shopping or transport?  And would you like to be a volunteer for Yeshurun Cares.  Don't assume "we must know".  Often, we don't.  Please contact Robyn or Simon at yeshurun.cares@yeshurun.org or on the helpline number:  07789 930426  

Mazzal Tov To The Menzcers
Mazzal tov to Aharon and Huguette Menczer on the birth of a granddaughter to son Richard.  The baby was named at Yeshurun last Shabbos.

Yeshurun Youth Club - Next Session, 11th February

The next session of the Yeshurun Youth Club will be on Thursday week, 11th February. The club, for years 7-11 inclusive, centres around fun, cultural activity and food including games (Wii challenge, pool, table tennis and more), a 30-minute talk on current affairs and more food (pizza and chips).   Cost is £3 per person to help cover the cost of food, payable on the night. The fortnightly evenings begin at 6.00pm until 8.00pm sharp .  Please e-mail David or Steve for further information.   

Chinese Kiddush Postponed For Youth Service
Following the oven fire in Yeshurun's kitchen last Friday afternoon, the Chinese hot kuggel and noodles kiddush which was due to take place in the Yeshurun Youth Service last Shabbos will now be served this coming week. 

Thursday 4th February

Coffee And Cake With The Ladies Guild - 8th February

Yeshurun Ladies Guild is inviting women to have fun, coffee and cake and to get to know a few new faces while helping raise money for charities in need. They look forward to seeing everyone on Monday February 8th at 8pm at 26 Orchard Drive. Further details from Angela.   

Naomi Antian Is Engaged
Congratulations to Richelle and Ray Antian, who left for Israel last year but maintain regular links with Yeshurun. Their daughter Naomi is engaged to Richard Simmons, son of Sandra and Gary Simmons of Cockfosters,   Mazzal Tov to them and to grandparents, Ruth and Lawrence Simberg and Marlene and Ahron Hadjizade.

Unusual Trio Of Bar Mitzvah Aliyos As Avi Son Has His Bar Mitzvah Call Up
An unusual coincidence of bar mitzvah boys led to Yeshurun being able to call up its latest three bars mitzvah in reverse order of their confirmation last Shabbos Mincha.  First up, a cohen, was Avi Son who recited his first brochos on the Torah on the occasion of his own bar mitzvah call up.  Next, a levi, was Harry Salter who was the previous bar mitzvah then finally was Eitan Kropp, a yisroel, whose bar mitzvah on Chanukah was the one before Harry's.   Mazzal tov to the Son family on Avi's bar mitzvah which we celebrate in full this coming Shabbos, Parshas Yisro.

Sunday 31st January

Beis Hamidrash Windows and New Tree Dedicated
A large crowd came to Yeshurun this afternoon to dedicate two new stained glass windows in the Beis Hamidrash in memory of the founding Olivestone family and to mark a new tree in Fernhurst Gardens for the festival of Tu Bishvat, which was yesterday.

The tree, kindly donated by Roger & Susan Gibbons and family, replaces one knocked down last year by a builder's lorry. Yeshurun Board member, Miriam Gitlin worked with Barnet Council over the last two months so that the new tree (right) could planted for Tu Bishvat. A small plaque, commemorating the occasion, has been fixed in the shul grounds.

The dedication ceremony for the two new windows (left) in the Beis Hamidrash was conducted by Cantor Stephen Robins in the presence of Dayan Lopian, who gave the address, and of brothers David (who also spoke) and Cedric Olivestone.  Around 100 people attended.  The windows mark the life of Yeshurun’s former Life President, Bernard Olivestone, and his son Monty. Tea in the Leff Hall was prepared by the ladies guild.   

Dayan Lopian reminded the assembly that the continued zechus of the late Bernard Olivestone was the heimishe and friendly community which is still very much recognised today at Yeshurun, combined with the fact that the Beis Hamidrash was alive continually as a seat of learning and of Yiddshkeit.   

Yeshurun President Russell Grossman also spoke, noting this was the first time in at least his 26 years at Yeshurun that there had been an occasion to dedicate new stained glass windows.

The ceremony was especially notable for being the first time a Yeshurun Service has been broadcast live over Skype - in this case, to Israel where Yeshurun matriarch Helen Olivestone was able to see and hear the ceremony at her seat at Kibbutz Lavi as well as receive well wishes individually from the many people who attended.   Dayan Lopian was thus able to address some of his remarks to Helen through the laptop (right).

Yeshurun has already received further enquiries as to whether the remaining windows in the Beis Hamidrash are available to be dedicated in a similar manner.  If you are interested, please contact the President.

Sunday, 24th January

Kol Nidre Appeal Closed
We have now closed the Kol Nidre appeal.  If you didn't manage to redeem your pledge this year, there will be another Kol Nidre appeal along in the autumn.  However, unredeemed pledges can still be paid directly to the Federation of Synagogues and Stanmore and Canons Park Eruv Committee respectively.  Yeshurun will no longer handle these payments due to the load on the office.  Addresses for pledges to be sent are available by emailing The President.

Thursday, 21st January
David S Rose Has Lost His Father 
We are sorry to report the passing of Wally Rose, father of David S Rose of Sri Lanka.  Shiva is at 39 Ornan Road, Belsize Park from Sunday 24th to Wednesday 27th January.  Maariv prayers are at 8.00pm.  Condolences to the family.

Wednesday, 13th January
Jewish Marriage Council Melaveh Malkah
The Jewish Marriage Council is holding a melaveh malka on Motzei Shabbos, 6th February, at Hasmonean Boys School.  Dayan Yonason Abraham (pictured) is the guest speaker.  For further information about the event, please see the poster on the Yeshurun notice board - or speak to the chairman, Judge Martyn Zeidman.

New Format For Yeshurun Youth Service 
Following discussions between the Honorary Officers, the Board Member for youth and the Youth Director, and further discussion at the Board of Management, the Yeshurun Youth Service format has been changed to cater for a more diverse group of attendees and to specifically involve the girls more in the youth service.  The format changes now include a kiddush - this coming week it will be a hot kugel and cholent kiddush - after layaning, accompanied by a talk on a relevant subject.  The service continues after the kiddush.  Further details from the Youth Director.  

Wednesday, 6th January
Ovos UBonim (Fathers and Sons) - Starts Motzei Shabbos 16th January 
Yeshurun is starting a new venture on Motzei Shabbos with Rabbi Lewis - An Ovos UBonim (fathers and sons learning together) hour.  This will start a week on Motzei Shabbos, 16th January (note new start date from that previously announced).   The session will then operate each Motzei Shabbos one hour after the end of Shabbos until the clocks go back.  It will be for sons from 8 years old and upwards with their fathers and/or grandfathers.  There will be refreshments after the session.   Further enquiries to Rabbi Lewis.