​Shulamit and I, Stefan and Yasmin join in thanking Zvi, Shira, Gavi, Ora and Shula for the lovely Succot hospitality we received at JCoB. Berkshire must be very proud of their very active and talented rabbinic family. Rarely does one encounter such lively enthusiasm to serve Hashem as in the home of the Solomons. Rabbis are not just for knowing about Judaism, but for heartily practising its tenets, throwing their doors open to welcome in community and sharing their time and attention with their flock. In the manner of Abraham our ancestor, Rabbi Zvi's approach is inclusive, encouraging and uncompromisingly welcoming.
On the first day of Succot we enjoyed a splendid quorate tefilla and expert Torah reading in the garden marquee, and I gave a sermon on the unique quality of the festival of Succot. The four species we are commanded to take and rejoice with are: the citron, the palm branch, the myrtle and the willow. There is multiple significance in the four species: they allude to the delicate balance in nature, for which we pray at this time of year; to the patriarchal ancestors and their wives and families and not least, to four different types of Jew: the layperson mitzvah-doer (myrtle), the yeshiva Torah learner (Palm branch), the all-round achiever (citron)and the disengaged (willow). Until and unless all four are held together, the blessing cannot be made on the commandment to sing songs of praise (Hallel) with them. So it is with our communities: only when united, unified in communal purpose and dedicated to spiritual growth, is there blessing on our mitzvoth. It is clear that Rabbi Zvi and Rebbetzin Shira are devoted to the ingathering of every precious soul into the congregation of the Almighty. Shulamit and I join in blessing you with every success in seeing your tree of life grow in the garden of Torah and mitzvoth which you so lovingly tend, and may your children continue to give you yiddisher nachas for many happy and healthy years together.

Moadim LeSimcha,

Rebbetzin Shulamit and Rabbi Ariel Abel
Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation

Bio for Rabbi & Rebbetzin Abel

Rabbi Ariel Abel lives with his wife Shulamit, son Stefan and daughter Yasmin in Darwen, Lancs. Ariel and Shulamit both hold first class undergraduate degrees, in Semitics and Mandarin / Latin American studies respectively. Their ministry extends across Merseyside, serving the Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation and the Southport community. Ariel's has ministered to important communities in London and set up the first and only Semicha programme to prepare rabbinic leadership for mainstream Orthodoxy at Montefiore College, Maida Vale. When in Liverpool, Shulamit and Ariel stay at St. Margaret's vicarage and offer kosher hospitality alongside a Christian effort to serve the community in the same way upstairs! Rabbi Abel's philosophy "Judaism sums up in the tent of Abraham, a place where everyone is welcome and can feel at home and be in company with a hot meal, benefiting from a warm spiritual environment without being judged or told what to do". If you would like to join us on a Shabbat and support our work on Merseyside, e-mail Rabbi Abel on: [email protected]

Honesty (on Vayyelech / Shabbat Shuva)

(to be published in this week’s Jewish News http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/category/judaism/sedra/)

Every day a Jew has the opportunity of repeating Maimonides’ thirteen principles of our faith. These include the divine origin of the Torah, and the exceptional nature of Moshe Rabbeinu as a prophet – that there has never been and shall never be a prophet like him.  Our custom of reading the Torah is designed to keep his divinely-dictated words constantly in our ears and in our hearts. That is why we read the portions on Shabbat having already had a ‘taster’ on the previous Shabbat Mincha, Monday and Thursday. We are never more than three days from our next reminder of holy prophecy.
 
The parsha this week contains a custom which we do not practice today. The tradition of Hakhel gathered the whole Jewish People together to read the Torah through from one end to the other, on the Sukkot following the Sabbatical Year. That would be this coming Sukkot. It must have been a very moving and solemn occasion, and an opportunity to hear the whole Torah read in public in this manner would ensure that, in a society without printing and devices for standardization, the text of the Torah was kept faithful and pure, by instilling it as it were in peoples’ minds.
 
The clarity of Moshe Rabbeinu’s prophecy is compared by our Sages to the clarity of seeing through a transparent glass window, whilst the other prophets were compared to opaque glass. The great Chasssidishe Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev points out that this is expressed in the manner of delivery. The point at which this becomes obvious is at the end of this week’s parsha, where Moshe Rabbeinu is prepared for his death. This is traditionally the point at which his clarity of perception was taken from him and transferred to Yehoshua. It was at this point that he stopped speaking directly and clearly and started speaking in parables and metaphors, using the poetic imagery to be found in the next Parasha Haazinu.
 
The change in language from prose to poetry is the signal of the change in Moshe Rabbeinu’s prophetic level. This is why, says Rav Levi Yitzhak, the parasha begins with the words Vayyelech Moshe vayyedaber (And Moses went and spoke...). Moses did not dress up his prophecy in any way – until it left him in its fullness, and a portion of his wisdom was transferred to his successor Yehoshua, in preparation for his leaving. Thus this week we have him reaching the end of his full power of clarity as a prophet, and next week a partially obscured prophecy clothed in the beauty of high poetry. 
 
Shabbat shalom,
 
Rabbi Zvi.
 
Ashley Madison

(to be published in this week’s Jewish News http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/category/judaism/torah/)

There are three things which a Jew should rather be killed than transgress. These are idolatry, murder and adultery. In the 613 Commandments (we Jews don’t just keep 10) these are punishable by death.  There are of course other transgressions which enter into the calculations when a person sins in one of these three ways, which would also have to be taken into account.
 
The recent case of Ashley Madison has brought several of these matters into sharp relief. The problem of adultery, something which shames and hurts the other person in a relationship, is obvious. One might say that the exposure of the people who committed such a nasty sin is prosaic justice, and an apposite retribution for what they have done. Yet there are other aspects of this which we would do well to examine.
 
For a start there is the issue of the exposure of those who signed up to the site. Cynics may laugh, but merely signing up and paying is not evidence of behaviour even though it is evidence of a certain callous level of intent. Were all these people really unfaithful? Did they commit adultery at all? Halacha has certain parameters which would have to be fulfilled.
 
Then there is the pain caused to the other party. One might argue that there is no benefit to society in this exposure – how might the innocent person feel once the humiliation of a public revelation has been forced onto him or her? Marital affairs are best dealt with between partners and not in such a public and easily researched manner. To put it onto the internet is an exacerbation of any humiliation caused, and makes it more widespread.
 
What of the children of these marriages? The other friendships and family members? What of their chances of the couple staying together? Now the whole world will be able to search them out! And it is not just there for a few days or a few weeks. It is there forever. Anyone will see it and it may well persist for a lifetime. This gives a new meaning to regret.
 
The lies and deceit are also severe and obvious problems, but they are minor compared to what else we can consider.  How many people will hurt themselves because of this revelation? How many will suffer depression or kill themselves?
 
The repercussions are too many and too large to expand on in this column. However wicked the initial sin, a person should be allowed to repent, and should always have hope. Belonging to the site is not firm proof of sin (which amongst other matters requires two frum male witnesses over 13), but will cause untold pain and suffering to many innocent people.
 
Is that really what the hackers wanted?
 
This week’s article by Jeremy Rosen on Yom Kippur is available from
http://jeremyrosen.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/everything-something-or-nothing.html
 
Last week’s article by Jeremy Rosen on repentance is available from
http://jeremyrosen.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/repentance.html

​Thanks to everyone who came together to create a special and uplifting Rosh Hashanah in our very own own 'ohel moed'. Special thanks to those who helped build and decorate our ohel, to those who assured a minyan in time for barechu, and to our new ba'al Shacharit Gavriel, who has made us all very proud. Looking forward to seeing you all again for Yom Kippur and Succot.
 
Thanks to our kiddush sponsors: Mike and Liz Jacobs (in memory of Mike’s mother) as well as Lionel and Melanie Dean. Rebbetzin Shira promises that more cherry drizzle cake and honey cake will be available at the break fast after Neilah!
 
The Berkshire Community Cheder has now resumed classes.  Find out how we can help your child get the most of his/her Jewish identity by contacting our head teacher, Rebbetzin Shira.  For information on our GCSE class in Jewish Studies, contact Rabbi Zvi.
 
Rabbi Zvi’s Rosh Hashanah Broadcast on Radio Berkshire can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03195rh From 1:47:30 for a few minutes. Have a listen.
 
Yom Kippur Services at JCoB Central

Join us for wonderful Yom Kippur services filled with music and traditional melody. The services will be musical and intellectually stimulating, the shofar (at the end of Neilah) is the best blast for miles, and we have a break fast after Neilah to enhance your experience. There are explanations to make sure you are up with what is happening, and the community is welcoming and friendly.
 
Kol Nidrei 7:00pm sharp on Tuesday evening 22 September (minchah at 6:45pm). Services resume Wednesday 9:30am and will continue throughout the day with a break after musaph. Neilah will finish at approximately 8pm, followed by cake and tea/coffee.
 
Besides the services themselves, Rabbi Zvi is happy for you to browse his extensive library of Jewish literature and philosophy, so that you can learn while taking in the atmosphere. The services will follow the Koren Machzor, according to the traditional Anglo-Jewish minhag, as in the old Routledge machzorim.
 
Children on Yom Kippur at JCoB Central

As usual, Rebbetzin Shira will run a children's programme from 11:30am with lunch available for your children so that you do not need to run home.  There are also games and books to keep children entertained while you daven, as well as swings and a climbing frame in the garden.  This year, all children’s provision is at JCoB Central.
 
If you are an adult who cannot fast, then as usual, Rebbetzin Shira can arrange food for you. Please contact Rebbetzin Shira with your needs.
 
Note to Goldsmid Road members:  In the spirit of communal unity we have repeatedly approached Goldsmid Road offering our services for free, most particularly to ensure halachically kosher services in the Reading area over Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but have not received any positive responses. 

Yom Tov Meals at JCoB Central

As always, you are welcome to join us for meals over yom tov.  We have the largest Sukkah in Berkshire and it is always a hub of activity.  As always, we ask for a contribution so that we can afford to have an open house.  Please let us know which meals you wish to attend . 

Thanks to a generous donation, there is currently no charge for children, students or low income adults attending meals at JCoB Central.  

For working adults, standard donations are: Dinners £15  Fancy lunches £10.  Light lunches £5.
We welcome your sponsorship so that we can continue to offer hospitality.

Shake that Lulav!   

Lulavim and Etrog are available through Rabbi Zvi as usual this year.  Student sets only £18!  Standard £25.  Fancy sets also available for £35+ (ask for details).  For the first time ever, we can also offer a limited number of mid-week fresh replacement aravot for £5.   Contact Rabbi Zvi by 24 September to order your set. 
 
KOSHER FOOD NEWS

JustKosher.com will deliver to Reading on Sunday 20 September.  We will also be doing a Golders Green trip between Yom Kippur and Succot.  Please contact Rebbetzin Shira if you require any items.

​Reading’s JCoB Cheder gathered on Sunday to celebrate the start of the new term. The children recorded a special Rosh Hashanna greeting to match their delightful photograph, with apple, honey and shofar. Based in Reading, the Jewish Community of Berkshire (JCoB)  is a new group which meets in Reading under the aegis of Rabbi Zvi and Rebbetzin Shira Solomons, running synagogue services, a cheder and other Jewish social, cultural and educational activities. This is the eighth year in which cheder activities have been run in Reading. 

“When we arrived in Reading there was no Cheder,” observed the Cheder Headmistress, Rebbetzin Shira. “We have always had high standards of Jewish education and there were families in Basingstoke, Wokingham and Newbury who had no opportunities for their children to learn except with us. We set up a cheder and within a few months had a dozen children.” 

“Our numbers fluctuate, but we are committed to providing this vital service to the Jews of Berkshire,” added Rabbi Zvi. “As the only Orthodox Rabbi in the region, I wanted to ensure that we have the services traditionally associated with a synagogue community.

JCoB are running services over Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur, and are welcoming Jews from all over Berkshire to their home for the Yamim Noraim. If you live in Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell, Newbury, Henley, Basingstoke, Slough, Windsor or Maidenhead, you can contact JCoB on 0118 9500409.

Many thanks to the donors and to those who helped on Sunday to erect the marquee for JCoB - Jewish Community of Berkshire in Reading. The Jews of Reading now have a warm and waterproof structure to hold the Jewish community's only kosher Rosh Hashanah services in Reading this year. 

Serving the Jewish community in the area around Reading, Wokingham, Newbury, Henley, Windsor and Maidenhead, JCoB aims to make Jewish life in Berkshire and the surrounding area more enjoyable and easy to sustain. 

Contact us on 0118 9500409 or [email protected]

Happy birthday and best wishes for continued good health to Sheila Levy who recently turned 80.
 
Mazal tov to Leila and Monti Frey on their diamond wedding anniversary!
 
The Berkshire Community Cheder has now resumed classes.  Find out how we can help your child get the most of his/her Jewish identity by contacting our head teacher, Rebbetzin Shira.  For information on our GCSE class in Jewish Studies, contact Rabbi Zvi.
 
To celebrate the wedding anniversary of Paul and Evelyn Grabinar, the next JCoB Shabbat morning service will be on Saturday morning 12 September.  If you wish to stay for lunch, please let us know.  Donation £5.  We can always accommodate a few last minute people but please book ahead of time if you can.  As always, Goldsmid Rd congregants are welcome to walk up the road and join us for kiddush and/or lunch.
 
High Holiday Services at JCoB Central

Join us for a wonderful Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur services filled with music and traditional melody. The services will be musical and intellectually stimulating, the shofar is the best blast for miles, and we have a kiddush afterwards on Rosh Hashanna to enhance your experience. There are explanations to make sure you are up with what is happening, and the community is welcoming and friendly. Rosh Hashanna Services commence at 08:45 and will be finished by 13:00; Yom Kippur will start at 09:30 and will last through the day with a break after Musaph.
 
Beside the services themselves, Rabbi Zvi is happy for you to browse his extensive library of Jewish literature and philosophy, so that you can learn while taking in the atmosphere. The services will follow the Koren Machzor, according to the traditional Anglo-Jewish minhag, as in the old Routledge machzorim.
 
Our services are kosher and strictly according to Halacha, under the supervision of the only Orthodox Rabbi in Berkshire.  See below for information about yom tov meals.
 
Note to Goldsmid Road members:  In the spirit of communal unity we have repeatedly approached Goldsmid Road offering our services for free, most particularly to ensure halachically kosher services in the Reading area over Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but have not received any positive responses.
 

Yom Tov Meals at JCoB Central

As always, you are welcome to join us for meals over yom tov.  We have the largest Sukkah in Berkshire and it is always a hub of activity.  As always, we ask for a contribution so that we can afford to have an open house.  Please contact Rebbetzin Shira to let us know when you wish to join us.
Standard donations are as follows:  Dinners £15/£7.50/£0.  Fancy lunches £10/£5/£0.  Light lunches £5 pp.  (Discounts for students and low income folk / children.)  We also welcome sponsors who help us to offer discounted meals to students and families.  
 

Shake that Lulav!   

Lulavim and Etrog are available through Rabbi Zvi as usual this year.  Student sets only £18!  Standard £25.  Fancy sets also available for £35+ (ask for details).  For the first time ever, we can also offer a limited number of mid-week fresh replacement aravot for £5. Contact Rabbi Zvi by 24 September to order your set. 
 

KOSHER FOOD NEWS

JustKosher.com will deliver to Reading on Sunday 20 September.  If you have a small order and wish to include it with the Rebbetzin’s, please contact her.   We will also be doing a Golders Green trip between Yom Kippur and Succot.