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Dear Members and Friends,
We had a good, relaxed Communal Pesach Seder this year, with folks contributing as well as reading during the service. Lotsa folks helped out. The setting-up crew arrived early, and set up by 7.00. But with everyone schmoozing we didn’t begin until 7.20!! Philip in his Russian hat led us gallantly and didn’t get a sore throat, like last year. Our food monitor, the dessert crew, the cleaner uppers all did splendid. We again self-catered and were back at Jessopp Road URC. Over the past few years we’ve tried to improve on our Seders and venues and it has not been outstandingly successful.
Why was this night different (better) from all other (recent Pesach) nights? We decided it’s because of doing things together, self-catering, family-style and in a suitable hall.
As always, 2 charities were chosen, local and Israeli. They are: East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and ALEH (Caring for Israel’s Children together). These two charities provide much-needed medical help, re-enablement, support for children with long-term conditions and their families, residential care, amongst other things. Please see www.each.org.uk and www.aleh.org. One thing Passover’s about is human rights - freedom from slavery. Children with long-term & life-threatening conditions and their families have little freedom. Support from EACH and ALEH helps to ameliorate this. We ask that all in our Community donate generously. As Martha led regarding Pesach, please send your donation to her or me.
Our service on 14 April led by Rabbi Stephen is on the 8th day of Passover. The Omer is counted since the 2nd day of Passover linking Passover and Shavuot when we will have a Community Service and Chavurah meal. We’d be pleased for members, friends and guests to participate respectively in the Service, catering and anything else to make it fully Communal. Please contact Emily or me know if you are able to contribute in any way. Please also note it has been necessary to change the Service day for May.
May service weekend is now Friday 4th May and Saturday 5th May.
We're looking for a new coordinator for singing practice, as sadly, Byron’s no longer in a position to do so. I'd like to thank him for all of his efforts in starting it again. We’d like to see lots of members and friends even if you don’t think you can sing or know the songs, so we can decide on future songs to learn, as well as who can coordinate and lead. You won’t be on your own!! I’ve hoarded all of the past years’ music and songs. We look forward to seeing confident and incipient singers at 10:15 in the Peill Room on Saturday, 14 April.
Cheder with Rabbi Stephen at present is Kabbalat Torah and other young people than are doing this already are welcome to drop in. The group is owned by our young people. It is possible for some adults to drop in also, but you do have to ask to join!
Our new Council’s first meeting is on Thursday 26 April. We will be organising for the new Council year and the rest of the Jewish Year.
I hope to see you all on 8th day of Pesach.
Sarah Boosey, Chairperson
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