STANMORE & CANONS PARK SYNAGOGUE - Stanmore and ...

AROUND SHUL
Jacob Levy
Sephardi Shabbaton
David Kibel
Yad Sarah
Ground-breaking – not a word one
readily associates with a Shabbaton.
Yet on Shabbat 16 February 2013
something truly ground-breaking did
indeed take place at Stanmore and
Canons Park Synagogue; and it wasn’t
just the difference in catering either.
On Shabbat Terumah with the
Stanmore Sephardi Minyan having
entered its third glorious year – the
occasion was marked by a Communal
Sephardi Shabbaton.
The Synagogue halls were wired with
anticipation as 120 congregants convened
in the Community Centre (a change of
location and pace from its usual home in
the Boardroom) to celebrate the monthly
Sephardi Service. Swollen by the ranks of
four visiting Rabbonim and their families,
a healthy phalanx of Stanmore’s Sephardi
members and supporters as well as
curious, interested Ashkenazim from the
main Shul – we were treated to an awe
inspiring Service. The tunes were melodic,
robust, rousing and represented a perfect
fusion of competing styles (Persian,
Moroccan, Afghan, Spanish and
Portuguese, Iraqi and Bombay Baghdadi).
The supremely talented Amran Mamane
led an engaging Shacharit and Haftarah,
whilst Baal Koreh David Chazan, making
his debut at the Sephardi Minyan, was a
jaw-dropping revelation. The sermon was
delivered with style and humour by Rav
Mashiach Kelaty followed by a short,
interesting daroosh on Sephardic minhags
by Rabbi Yitzy David – and this was a
foretaste of great things to come.
After a communal Kiddush and with the
numbers now at 250 – the congregation
amassed in the Shul to hear an inspiring
daroosh on the meaning of ‘happiness’
from Rav Moshe Levy. His humour and
wit set us up wonderfully for what would
be an even more moving and spine
tingling lunch. From the Sephardic
catering to the welcome address by Nissan
Moradoff whose energy has wrought this
occasion through to the specially sent
blessing from the Sephardi Chief Rabbi
of Netanya wishing the Stanmore Minyan
good fortune, relayed by Simon Monk –
the diners were treated to speeches of
great emotion from Rabbi Lew and the
honoured guest and visiting Rabbi Farhi.
In their own ways they shared a common
vision – not a vision of differences and
distinctions; of foreign minhags or alien
ways; but one of collaborative efforts and
shared philosophies. As I looked around
the room at my Sephardi and Ashkenazi
friends (and at my Ashkefardi family) I
was struck by the warmth, the glow, the
true wonder of people enjoying
something new, something traditional,
something highly charged and emotional.
I am certain that none of us will forget the
electricity in the room or the sight of 3
young children aged between 3 and 6
standing on their chairs separately reciting
to the whole hall in small, firm, tuneful
voices beautiful Sephardic Shevachot
(Zemirot) whilst the surrounding tables
joined in. Who could forget the visceral
power of Rabbi Farhi’s daroosh, or the
whiskey that we all consumed, or the food
served in copious quantities, or the sense
of unity of purpose - Sephardi showing
Ashkenazi the dignity of difference - or
the room as a whole embracing the event
with purpose. Ashkenazi Sephardi For
me, none of these phrases capture it.
There was only one phrase that had
meaning in that room: “Am Yisrael Chai”
Last year’s Kol Nidre appeal partly
benefited Yad Sarah, an Israeli charity
little known by the diaspora, but which
is actually one of Israel’s largest
charities helping some 420,000 Israelis
annually. It is known as Israel’s best
kept secret – outside of Israel. It is a
charity which operates mainly through
volunteers (95% of its personnel are
unpaid volunteers) helping Israelis of
all persuasions – orthodox and nonorthodox,
Arab and Jew, young and
old. It has an annual budget of around
NIS 100m, of which 97 percent is
funded by donations from either
Israelis who have used equipment,
and from overseas donors.
During 2011, Yad Sarah assisted 420,000
people around the country via its 100 plus
branches and saved NIS 1.5bn that
otherwise would have come from public
coffers. This included the lending of
270,000 pieces of medical equipment -
from walkers and wheelchairs, to air
mattresses for the bedridden, breast
pumps for mothers of new born babies,
bed hoists, oxygen-producing machines,
and myriad other pieces of equipment
both at home or following their release
from hospital. Additionally they have
occupational therapists to help severely
disabled people, run groups for mentally
challenged persons, provides meals for
them, and collects and takes them home.
It also provides day centre care for the
disabled, dental clinics for the elderly and
a host of other activities for those with
disabilities and special needs.
The organization, founded by former
Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupolianski, also
repairs medical equipment, runs a
laundry service for the bedridden, has
A recipient of help from Yad Sarah was 24 year old Odelia Lavie, who was
taken in her wheelchair to the hairdresser, makeup artist and bridal gown
salon, and then to her wedding ceremony, in a specially converted van.
Born with disability, Odelia had been receiving the organisation’s help in
getting around for many years, and her bridegroom who became disabled
in school when he was 17 also uses a Yad Sarah wheelchair.
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