Website of the Yeshurun Synagogue (Centrist Orthodox), Edgware, United Kingdom

Jewel In The Crown of the UK Federation of Synagogues

Fernhurst Gardens, Edgware, Middlesex, UK.   Contact Our Helpful Staff on 020 8952 5167

Office Hours :  Sun – 10 to 1, Mon, Tue & Thur – 10 to 4; Friday – 10.30 to 12.30.  Answerphone out of hours 

Last Updated : Tuesday, December 2nd, Kislev 4

Tuesday December 2nd

Extra Mincha Service From This Shabbos

In response to customer demand, there will be an extra Mincha service, immediately after the kiddush, from this Shabbos and throughout the winter period.   Starting times will vary from week to week according to the religious calendar.  This week the extra Mincha will begin at 12.25pm.  Future start times will be posted in the services' times column on the left.  Washing and bentsching facilities will provided in the Kiddush for those who wish to avail themselves of this facility.  There will be no Borchi Nafshi in this service.  The regular Minchah will be at 3.45pm.  The Rabbi's Gemorah shiur will operate as normal after the regular Minchah.

Kenny Leigh's Father Has Died - Updated Shiva Details
We are sorry to report the death of Kenny Leigh's father, Edward.  Shiva is at Kenny  Leigh's house from Monday evening. Mincha is at 1.15pm and Maariv at 8.00pm. Condolences to the family. 

Sunday November 30th
There Is A Cohen Gene

Cohanim, Leviim and Israelites all turned out to listen to Rabbi Yaacov Kleiman, from the Jerusalem-based Centre for Cohanim speak to a captivated audience in the Leff Hall on Sunday about the chromosomic link between Abraham and today's Jews.  He also confirmed that Cohanim (but it would appear, not necessarily Leviim) share a common gene. 

In a fascinating talk, attended by around fifty people, Rabbi Kleiman explained how the biblical account of Jewish ancestry can be confirmed by scientific research. In questions, he gave three explanations why an Ashkenazi looked like an Ashkenazi....and a Sephardi looked like a Sephardi.  

And one of the audience revealed that, through his own research into his genealogy and common gene ancestry (and a subsequent conversation with his father) this coming Shabbos he was to be called up as a Levite for the first time.   Rabbi Kleiman also signed copies of his book (above), which was bought by a number of attendees.

Ladies Guild Chanukah Fair Is A Sell Out
North West London Shopping Club, Passion Leaf, UGGS Boots, Childrens Books, Gone-to-Pot, Personal Touch, Tishbi Wines, Tree Blocks, Bridge Direct, Fancy & Silver Jewellery, Scrapbook Supplies, Giftwrap and Unique Silver Bechers.  If you went to the sell-out Ladies Guild Chanukah Gift Fayre on Sunday you would have seen them all.  "The busiest ever" said organiser Rosa Samuels.  A significant sum was also made for the Ladies Guild, which will find its way to good causes.  Everyone went away with lots of useful stuff, and hopefully did not meet people they were buying the presents for!

Sapphire for the Kushners
Mazzal tov to Suzanne and Stanley Kushner, who are celebrating their Sapphire Wedding with us this coming Shabbos, Parshas Vayeitze, 6th December. 

Motzei Shabbos, November 29th

Sacred Scrolls Reader Celebrates Silver
This week Yeshurun's Scrolls Reader, Russell Grossman (pictured), celebrated 25 years reading the scrolls at Yeshurun.  He commemorated the occasion with a kiddush after the service last Shabbos, Parshas Toldos.

Rabbi Mordechai Rose at Edgware Sem This Week
Rabbi Mordechai Rose is at the Edgware Sem this week, speaking at 11am on 2nd December on the subject of "Transforming Life through the Power of Giving".  All welcome.

Mazzal Tov To David and Margery Cohen
Yeshurun Secretary, David and wife Margery Cohen are celebrating the engagement of their daughter Gail to Yochanan Carroll, in Melbourne (pictured, right).  Mazzal tov to the family.

Dworkin and Gitlin Are Nominated As Yeshurun's First Women Federation Reps
Karen Dworkin and Miriam Gitlin, being the only two women who stood for the two positions of election to women representatives to the Federation Council are deemed elected to join our existing seven male representatives to the Council.  There will be no contested election, which would have been held on Sunday 30th November.

The women’s initial terms will last until our AGM in May 2009. There will be further elections for the following year at the 2009 AGM. For some time, Yeshurun has campaigned for the Federation of Synagogues (of which Yeshurun is a constituent member) to more fully recognise the role and representation of the women in our community.  The Federation has now agreed to allow women to attend and speak (although not yet to vote) at its quarterly meetings, and to represent their synagogues.  

Renee Dudack Has Died
We are sorry to report the passing of Mrs Renee Dudack. The Funeral has taken place. The family is sitting Shiva in Stanmore. Maariv is at 8pm. Shiva ends on Monday morning, 1 December 2008. Condolences to the family.

Bookings Continue For Yeshurun Mission to Poland 
Yeshurun is organising its first Mission to Poland in February.  Designed to be long enough to be meaningful but short enough to avoid taking too long off work the Mission begins early on a Sunday winter's morning on 15th February and concludes on Tuesday evening, 17th February.   

The detailed itinerary is here, together with details of how to book.  You need to book the flights yourself NOW with Ryanair then contact our agent, Marcel Manson, who will arrange everything else for you.

To prepare for this important Mission, Yeshurun is planning to run a programme of cultural learning during December and January, before the trip, for those attending, though of course anyone will be able to attend these.   Further details shortly. 

Motzei Shabbos 22nd November
Davies Screamers Win Yeshurun Supper Quiz
Despite a promising start by the Bernstein Stingers (left), it was a team headed by Sheila Davies and with notables including Leo Winter and Eva, Graham Davies, Marcel Weinstock, Elissa and Max Bayer and Jonathan Silver who won the 2008 Supper Quiz this Motzei Shabbos carrying away the coveted nuts.

110 people, the Leff Hall's capacity, tucked into an Aviv meal followed by eight rounds of quiz, led in the end by Yeshurun's Russell Grossman after the celebrity quizmaster failed to show.  Russell was assisted by the lovely Brian and the lovely Robyn.  

Raffle prizes, organised by Steve Resnick, were won by Philip Baigel, Annette Koslover and Hilary Raymond among others.  Thanks to all those who created, organised and generally made the evening happen and donated raffle prizes.  Over £400 was raised for Step by Step from the raffle.  

The final scoreboard and the questions and answers are here, apart that is from the audio questions, which included Australia's national anthem Advance Australia Fair and one of Yeshurun's famous Cantors singing Ashrei backwards with the Yeshurun Synagogue Choir.   

Latest Mazzal Tovs
Mazzal tov to....

Sydney Newman on his 70th birthday

Joyce and David Akram on the birth of a grandchild in Jerusalem

Estelle and Ronnie Saloman on Adam's marriage this Sunday to Elisheva Livshin

Motzei Shabbos 15th November
Half English Sunday Breakfast Being Trialled From This Sunday
From this Sunday Morning, 16th November, we are trialling a learning, Half English breakfast with Rabbi Lewis, after the service on Sunday morning in the Leff Hall from 9.15am to 10.00am.  All welcome.  We plan that the breakfast will be sponsored and that it will not be necessary to pay.  The trial will run until Chanukah.

Michael Vogel Reprises Scrolls Role As Holders Celebrate Bas Mitzvah
Yeshurun resounded to the excellent layaning of one of its former Baalei Koreh (Scroll Readers) Michael Vogel (pictured) last Shabbos as he reprised his role for Parshas Vayeira.  Michael, who celebrated his second bar mitzvah a few years ago, was Baal Koreh for many years in the fifties, sixties and seventies and was in shul to celebrate the bas mitzvah of his granddaughter, Yael Holder.  Mazzal Tov to the Holder family on the Bas Mitzvah.

Wednesday 11th November
Yeshurun Cares
Do you know of any one in the community who may need a little help? Perhaps...

• A problem that needs to be talked through  

• Help for someone who is unwell or just come out of hospital

• Someone wanting a visit in hospital

• Anyone who may like a regular visit for a chat or for company

• Help with shopping or transport.

If you know of anyone in need of this type of help, or in need of any other sort of assistance in the community please email Yeshurun Cares or phone David Harris.

And if any member feels able to offer help to others in the community (this may involve visiting, helping with shopping or transport) please email Yeshurun Cares or phone David Harris.