KLS-Annual Report-17-18-ONLINE

Film showings
As the year began we continued our season of Israeli
films with Hunting Elephants, Bethlehem, Shiva and
Farewell Baghdad. These were chosen and obtained
for KLS by one of our Israeli members, Shimon Morad.
The films were shown monthly on a weekday evening
and attracted a decent number of regular film goers.
We hope to run another series of films of Jewish
interest in 2018.
Cookery class
In February we held an excellent Sushi making session,
run by Crispin Jessop, returning by popular demand.
The event was attended by 16 people of ages ranging
from 9 to 82! The results were impressive and the
feedback extremely positive.
Museum visit
A smallish group visited the Amy Winehouse
exhibition at the Jewish Museum in March.
Anniversary weekend
April saw the centrepiece weekend of our anniversary
year, the 50th Anniversary Chavurah Supper on 21
April, followed by our 50th Anniversary Shabbat
morning service on 22 April. The former was led with
great gusto by our former rabbi Charley Baginsky,
accompanied with much verve by Tammy Rich on
piano and vocals. It was a wonderful moving evening,
very well supported and boasting a wide range of
delicious food.
The following day, a packed synagogue was treated
to a wonderful Shabbat morning service led
magnificently by our young student rabbi, Hannah
Kingston. She was joined on the bimah by Rabbi Danny
Rich and Rabbi Clifford Cohen who shared with us
their own reflections of KLS during its 50-year history.
The congregation was boosted by a large number of
guests including local dignitaries, interfaith leaders
and many former members of Kingston Liberal
Synagogue. After the service a superb celebratory
Kiddush, organised by Elsa Acton-Bond, was enjoyed
by all, photographs were taken by Philip Hyman and
Zoë Mendelson and a fascinating exhibition of 50
years of synagogue life was visited by many past and
present members.
Ramble
As the year moved into spring Philip Hyman and Judith
Osorio led a meticulously planned figure of eight walk
allowing members to select a morning, afternoon or
full day of rambling in the Surrey countryside, starting
in the village of Shere. In spite of a sudden heavy
downpour at the beginning of the afternoon route, the
walkers were treated to a great day out with both good
company and beautiful scenery.
Garden party
The second major event of this special year was our
50th Anniversary Garden Party and Bake-off, at the
home of our council chair and his family in Epsom.
Mary and Craig hosted an afternoon to remember
and the bake-off attracted a huge number of entries
which were so ably ‘tested’ by our panel of judges:
Carl Scheib, Carolynne Farer and Debbi Marco. The
number of pounds gained by members that afternoon
as they ate their way through dozens of cakes,
strawberries and raspberries is best forgotten!
Social & Cultural
15 – KLS Annual Report 2017