Kingston Liberal Synagogue

Keep In Touch Tea Party
2014-06-11 14:30 - 18:30 (Europe/London)
2.30pm Keep In Touch Tea Party – all members are welcome. Please contact the Synagogue Office for the address, and to let us know if you hope to attend. Need a lift there? Contact the Synagogue Office.

Choir Rehearsal
2014-06-10 20:00 - 22:00, 2014-05-20 20:00 - 22:00
Usually once or twice monthly on Tuesdays @ 8pm
The KLS Choir rehearses once or twice a month (and enjoy tea, cake and chat!), and sings at the monthly choral service on the 4th Friday of the month and at other services. You don’t have to read music, you don’t have to read Hebrew. Come and try it! Singing is a great way to meet people, blow away life’s cobwebs, contribute to KLS, learn about our prayers and about Jewish music. Interested? Contact Sandra Webber via the KLS office.

KLS Book Group
2014-06-07 10:00 - 11:00
The Book Group will be discussing Berlin Days by George Clare, father of a KLS member. The book describes his experiences in 1946-47 working for the British Military Government and the Allied Control Commission in Berlin. After being used as an interpreter for interrogating Nazis, he became responsible for denazification in culture and the media, establishing Germany’s new independent press, under the title of British Press Controller, Intelligence Section of British Information Services Control, Berlin. The book provides a vivid portrait of the city and its post-war inhabitants.

Shavout Service
2014-06-04 10:30 - 11:30
10.30am Shavout Service led by Rabbi Charley Baginsky

Shavout
2014-06-04
שבועות
3 June 2014
The giving of the Torah – “the cheesecake festival”

Erev Shavout Service
2014-06-03 20:00 - 21:00
8pm Erev Shavout Service led by Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Student Rabbi Adam Frankenberg, with the KLS Choir.
Shavuot is traditionally regarded as the time of the giving of the Torah. Come to KLS for a service combined with an interactive study session using Bibliodrama, where we will attempt to really get under the skin of Ruth and Naomi, Boaz and Elimelech, as well as other characters in the story.
Bibliodrama is a fun and dynamic way of interacting with the Biblical Text in a new and personal way, through responses in character. It is a great way to encourage midrashic thinking.
This session will be facilitated by Student Rabbi Adam Frankenberg, there will be participation, but it will be light-hearted and fun. (Props will be provided!)
Please bring something to share for the kiddush.

Shabbat service
2014-05-31 11:15 - 12:30
Each Saturday morning at 11.15am, this week led by Vince Daly, Lay Leader
As a Liberal congregation, men and women sit together and all members enjoy equal participation in services.
We read from the standard Liberal Judaism service prayer book, the Siddur Lev Chadash or ‘New Heart’ prayer book. It combines the core traditional prayers with contemporary readings, poems and meditations from a variety of Jewish sources. Uniquely it also uses gender-neutral language, reflecting our egalitarian approach to prayer. We also use many transliterated prayer sheets which are especially useful for those whose Hebrew is not fluent.
Music plays an important role in our services. Singing is regularly enhanced by our volunteer choir, led by our director of music, though the whole congregation is encouraged to join in. Service styles vary – our family services, for example, can be very lively, whereas our Friday nights are often quieter and more reflective. Our members participate in all parts of the service, including Torah blessings, haftorah readings and more. We also welcome lay readers from the congregation to lead services from time to time, although most services are taken by our rabbi.

Shabbat Service
2014-05-30 20:00 - 21:00
Shabbat Service led by Sandra Webber. Please bring something to share for Kiddush.

Shabbat Island Discs with Sam Cohen
2014-05-23 20:00 - 21:30
Choral Service led by Rabbi Charley Baginsky, with the KLS Choir, and featuring Sam Cohen – former LJY Netzer movement worker – who will reveal his choice of music as part of our regular Shabbat Island Discs feature, which takes place on the fourth Friday night of each month.
Our “Shabbat Island Discs” services are proving popular, with record attendances at the first four in the series (sorry about the pun).
The idea is based on the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs, where a guest chooses their favourite pieces of music and explains what they have meant in their life.
We have a mixture of outside guests and “celebrities” from within KLS. Our castaway in June is Rabbi Pete Tobias.
If you would like to volunteer as a castaway and select the music either recorded or for the choir to sing, contact the Synagogue Office. There are spaces from July onwards. You can even accompany the choir if you play an instrument.
The choir do their best to learn a new tune or two for the occasion. They excelled in January when Sandra tracked down the singer and then the composer of one of Craig’s choices (identified on a YouTube clip), got him to email the sheet music for the choir to learn, accompanied by Liz on the piano, all in the space of a week.
Music chosen so far
Paul Levene
Former KLS Chair and music connoisseur
Bendigamos, a Sephardi after meal blessing sung in Spanish by Lisa Hirsch
Cantor Emile Ziahan of the Sephardi Synagogue in Ashkelon, Israel, singing a liturgical piece in the Morrocan style
Abbodah (worship) by Ernest Bloch, written for a very young Yehudi Menuhin
Yism’chu sung by Yitzchak Meir Helfgot with Itzhak Perlman on violin (from the album Eternal Echoes: Songs and Dances for the Soul)
Cantor Gershon Silins
Cantor for the Liberal Judaism Rabbinic Team
Shalom Aleichem (arrangement by Michael Isaacson)
Ahavat Olam (arr. Sol Zim)
V’shamru (arr. Goldstein)
Shalom Rav (arr. Ben Steinberg)
Adon Olam (arr. Charles Osborne)
(all sung by Gershon with the KLS choir)
Gabriel Webber
Final year student at Sussex University and Headteacher of Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue
Instant Concert by Harold Walters
The Daleks by Murray Gold
Hariyu by Rina Epstein
The Vatican Rag by Tom Lehrer
Hashikvenu by Dan Nichols
Gabriel also played clarinet on V’shamru (arr. Debbie Friedman) and Adon Olam (traditional Yiddish folk tune Ale Brider).
Craig Simmons
KNB editor and KLS Council member
My Song by Basya Schechter (from the album Songs of Wonder—musical settings for early Yiddish poetry of the philosopher and social activist Rabbi Abraham Heschel)
Lev Tahor (Psalm 51:12-13 set to music by Simchah Soloveitchik arranged and performed by Sappir, a group formed by Rabbis Danny Bergson and Mitchell Goodman, from the album Echoes)
Adon Olam—salsa arrangement by Cantor Gastón Bogomolni from the album Ta’am Latino: The Latin American Shabbat
Vaychulu (arr. Meir Finkelstein) sung by the KLS choir
Mary Simmons
KLS Funeral Secretary
The Representation of Chaos —Prelude to The Creation by Joseph Haydn

Polling Station
2014-05-19 06:30 - 22:30
The KLS building will be used as a polling station. The Office will be closed.

Truffle Making Workshop
2014-05-18 11:00 - 12:30 | NFJ Hall
Sunday 18th May at 11am in the NFJ Hall
You are invited to join Nigel Jackson in a truffle making demonstration and workshop. Nigel has been a KLS member for about 4 years now, but has spent much longer developing his recipe for Rum and Raisin Truffles, and he has kindly agreed to share his secret with the KLS community! (Apparently the success of the truffles lies in selecting not only the best rum but also the best Green & Blacks chocolate for the job!)
Non-alcoholic recipe available for students.
The workshop will finish by about 12.30pm.
Places limited to 30. Bring an apron!

Shabbat service
2014-05-17 11:15
Each Saturday morning at 11.15am led by Craig Simmons, Lay Leader
As a Liberal congregation, men and women sit together and all members enjoy equal participation in services.
We read from the standard Liberal Judaism service prayer book, the Siddur Lev Chadash or ‘New Heart’ prayer book. It combines the core traditional prayers with contemporary readings, poems and meditations from a variety of Jewish sources. Uniquely it also uses gender-neutral language, reflecting our egalitarian approach to prayer. We also use many transliterated prayer sheets which are especially useful for those whose Hebrew is not fluent.
Music plays an important role in our services. Singing is regularly enhanced by our volunteer choir, led by our director of music, though the whole congregation is encouraged to join in. Service styles vary – our family services, for example, can be very lively, whereas our Friday nights are often quieter and more reflective. Our members participate in all parts of the service, including Torah blessings, haftorah readings and more. We also welcome lay readers from the congregation to lead services from time to time, although most services are taken by our rabbi.

Shabbat Service
2014-05-16 20:00 - 21:00
Shabbat Service led by Jill and Norman Hyman (Lay Leaders). Please bring something to share for Kiddush.

Choir Rehearsal
2014-05-15 20:00 - 22:00
This week’s rehearsal is on Thursday!!!
The KLS Choir rehearses once or twice a month (and enjoy tea, cake and chat!), and sings at the monthly choral service on the 4th Friday of the month and at other services. You don’t have to read music, you don’t have to read Hebrew. Come and try it! Singing is a great way to meet people, blow away life’s cobwebs, contribute to KLS, learn about our prayers and about Jewish music. Interested? Contact Sandra Webber via the KLS office.

Evening Institute - Yiddish and Ladino Song
2014-05-14 20:00 - 21:30
Wednesday evenings from 14 May to 16 July (no class on 28 May and 9 July) from 8-9.30pm
Led by Rebekka Wedell, Director of Music @KLS
Everybody is welcome! Come and enjoy a wonderful selection of Ladino and Yiddish song.
Songs transmit our culture and traditions to future generations – Through these songs we will explore the rich and diverse tapestry of our Jewish heritage – we will map our own family histories onto the landscapes of where they and we come from.
We will ask:
How do these songs ‘speak’ to us today?
What do the new Yiddish songs composed today tell us about contemporary Jewish life?
How do we understand and appreciate the similarities and differences of Yiddish and Ladino culture?
Personal contributions of Ladino or Yiddish songs sung ‘at home’ are particularly welcome. Equally, no previous knowledge or experience is necessary.
Rebekka Wedell has been leading and teaching liturgical and secular Jewish song for the past 20 years. During this time she has also performed Yiddish and Ladino song programmes at venues across London. She is currently Director of Music at KLS, alongside other freelance music work, including composing new Yiddish songs for the London Yiddish Cabaret Band.
Cost: Free to KLS Members, £7 per session to non-members. Please contact the Synagogue Office for more information. Non-members, please contact the Synagogue Office to let us know that you are attending and so that we can send more information.

Table Tennis Club
2014-05-13 20:00 - 22:00 | NFJ Hall
2nd Tuesday of the month from 8-10pm
All welcome to join us for a friendly game of table tennis. We meet monthly, usually on the second Tuesday of the month, at the synagogue in the NFJ Hall. All ages and all abilities. The club recently received a new table in celebration of Robert Markless’s tutorship of 100 Bnei Mitzvah.
We have two tables and play singles as well as doubles. We usually end the evening with all around the table, when people have to keep moving around and hitting alternatively, losing a “life” every time they lose a point. After three lives, a person falls out. This continues until two left and they then play a best of five points singles. It can be very hectic at times, but good fun.
We took part in a national tournament in 2012 and won a trophy!
Please contact the Synagogue Office if you would like to join us
The new table tennis table is “christened”!!!
.

KLS Business Network
2014-05-12 13:00 - 15:00
The KLS Business Network is a group of KLS members who run their own small businesses, are self-employed or who are currently between jobs.
We get together every month or so for a cup of tea/coffee and a chat. We share knowledge and experiences and usually have chat about specific business issues we’re facing. The group felt that we should extend the time from 1.5 hours to 2 hours.
Nigel Gilroy will lead a session on the benefits of business networking.
Rough agenda:

Update and individual issues
Session lead by Nigel Gilroy
Discussion on some key business issues facing KLS

Please contact the Synagogue Office (office@klsonline.org) if you would like to come to the May session.

Shabbat service
2014-05-10 11:15
Each Saturday morning at 11.15am – led this week by Michael Brandon, Lay Leader
As a Liberal congregation, men and women sit together and all members enjoy equal participation in services.
We read from the standard Liberal Judaism service prayer book, the Siddur Lev Chadash or ‘New Heart’ prayer book. It combines the core traditional prayers with contemporary readings, poems and meditations from a variety of Jewish sources. Uniquely it also uses gender-neutral language, reflecting our egalitarian approach to prayer. We also use many transliterated prayer sheets which are especially useful for those whose Hebrew is not fluent.
Music plays an important role in our services. Singing is regularly enhanced by our volunteer choir, led by our director of music, though the whole congregation is encouraged to join in. Service styles vary – our family services, for example, can be very lively, whereas our Friday nights are often quieter and more reflective. Our members participate in all parts of the service, including Torah blessings, haftorah readings and more. We also welcome lay readers from the congregation to lead services from time to time, although most services are taken by our rabbi.

Shabbat @ Home
2014-05-09 20:00 - 21:30
On the second Friday of each month a member invites us to welcome Shabbat at home with them. The service is informal and friendly, from our siddur, but please feel free to bring a reading or a topic for discussion. Please bring something to share for the Kiddush.
This month will be at the family home of members in Kingston. Please contact the office for the address and to let us know you intend to come (but you won’t be turned away if you don’t).
Hosts needed: If you would like to host one of these services in future months, please contact the Synagogue Office.

KLS Book Group
2014-05-03 10:00 - 11:00
The Book Group will be discussing “The Lady from Tel Aviv” by Raba’l Al-Madhoun. It has won the Arabic Fiction prize and The English Pen Award.
Plot summary:
Walid Dahman is going home. Returning to Gaza after nearly four decades in exile, he looks forward to embracing his mother and reconnecting with the people and places he once left behind. Boarding the flight from London, Walid’s life intersects with Dana, an Israeli actress, on her way back to Tel Aviv. As the night sky hurtles past, what each confides and conceals will expose the chasm between them in the land they both call home. The Lady from Tel Aviv is a powerful and poetic story of love, loss and the desire to belong.
Meet in the KLS Library.

Shabbat Island Discs with Rebekka Wedell
2014-04-25 20:00 - 23:00
25th April 8pm
Our Music Director, Rebekka Wedell reveals her choice of music as part of our regular Shabbat Island Discs feature, which takes place on the fourth Friday night of each month.
Both members and guests can take a turn at choosing the music. If you’d like a chance, contact Sandra Webber.

The Apartheid Smear
2014-04-23 20:00 - 21:00
23rd April at 8pm
Ron tells it how it is

Doroteinu – London Wetland Centre: a volunteer's view
2014-04-23 14:00
23rd April at 2pm
Nick Osorio talks about the London Wetland Centre, in which he will skim through its history, how it is managed and what can be seen there.

Pesach – Communal Seder
2014-04-15
15th April
Last chance to book your places at the Communal Seder – do it now!
Booking_form_for_communal_seder_2014
Please book your places asap – we need to know how many fish and how many matzos to buy.

Krav Maga (Self-Defence)
2014-04-03 19:00 - 20:30
Weekly 1 1/2 hour class on Thursdays 7-8.30pm
Stay sharp. Be fit. Burn 1000 calories. Look after yourself.
Rabbi and Chair discuss deep theological issues
Be aware, confident, safe! Burn calories and improve fitness!
Adult self-defence classes (Urban Krav Maga) run on most Thursdays at 7pm.
An additional warm up takes place at 7.30pm.
Sessions last for 90 mins.
First class free – but please book in advance via the office.
Krav Maga is great for confidence, awareness, exercise, stress-relief, fitness and self defence. You don’t have to be fit to start but your fitness will improve. Geared to mixed ages and abilities, beginners welcome. cost- £10 per session, paid directly to the external trainer. Please contact the KLS Office for more information or if you would like to try Krav Maga.

Shabbat Island Discs with Rabbi Janet Darley
2014-03-28 20:00 - 23:00
Rabbi Janet Darley— rabbi for South London Liberal Synagogue and KLS representatie on the Board of Deputies reveals her choice of music as part of our regular Shabbat Island Discs feature, which takes place on the fourth Friday night of each month.
Both members and guests can take a turn at choosing the music. If you’d like a chance, contact Sandra Webber.

Purim
2014-03-16
פורים

Purim Eve – 1970s Party
2014-03-15
ערב פורים
HOLD THE DATE.
MORE DETAILS COMING SOON.

Doroteinu – What is a good Jewish boy doing working in the middle of Africa?
2014-02-26 14:00
Stan Moss will answer the question:
What is a good Jewish boy doing working in the middle of Africa?
This will be a talk about his work for the British Council.
Contact Stan M. or Brenda D., or Helen In The Office, for more information, or if you would like to come but need a lift.
