ARCHIVE OF RECENT EVENTS

Former Southern African-American Baptist Minister, now Orthodox Jew, Ahuva Gray spoke to the Cardiff Jewish community about her life story and her experiences. This event was sponsored in memory of the late Susan Beatus (Ora Bas Yisroel ע״ה).

Thanks to Lisa Gerson and the Social & Cultural Committee for putting on a fantastic Chanukah party, with innovative games and quiz, great food and company, enjoyed by a hundred people!

“Miri and I were not prepared for the really upscale, professional Chanukah evening we attended, the meticulously planned (numbered pasta samples for each table!) activities and the friendly, welcoming spirit and enthusiasm of all participating - how vibrant and thriving this community is!

I have now met a number of CUS families and feel very welcome and really impressed with what a success CUS is and will grow to be. I hope to be there often Please G-d.”

(Dr Roger Gewolb is a recent visitor to our community who divides his time between Cardiff and London.)

On Tu Bishvat, after the Shabbat service, around 60 members of the community attended a lunch in the Harold Greene Hall.

Those that attended enjoyed an excellent meal. We were served wonderful salads, meat loaf and as customary on Tu Bishvat a wide range of fruits. Some so exotic that many of us had not tasted before.

The Rebbetzen and friends had worked hard to prepare and provide us with such a good meal.

The meat loaf was exceptionally tasty and I am sure Blima will be only too pleased to give out the recipe. (Editors note: see pg 22 of this magazine for the recipe!)

Zemirot were sung followed by grace after meals performed by Haydn Cotsen. Coffee was served and everyone went home feeling very full up and satisfied.

I really didn’t know what to expect at the Chinese Evening in the shul last week. I thought it would be a good social event and if our Rabbi and Blima were going to take the time to provide an evening ‘with food’ then I should make the effort to go and how glad I was that I did.

It was hard to imagine the shul hall with a ‘restaurant feeling’ but the lighting was low and created the atmosphere perfectly. Tables were dotted around the hall and The Rabbi showed yet another of his talents by being the Maitre D’ for the evening. We were shown to our table, I was fortunate to have the company of Helen Fine and Laura Liss on my table.

The room filled and all the tables were taken, it was good to see that two big tables were taken with people from the Swansea Community who had travelled over for the evening. Sadly it was only when we were on our dessert that the Rabbi was able to start playing the piano, he had been too busy before, it really added to the evening and his ‘Candle in the Wind’ was better than Elton’s!

Also, we didn’t get to see Blima who was working so hard over hot woks in the kitchen but we were richly rewarded, yet again, by her culinary skills.

On Friday night, 16th February the Bat mitzvah Club class girls, together with their siblings and parents attended a Friday Night Shul service. They braved the weather, snow having fallen on both the Thursday and Friday.

Following the service the Rabbi and Mrs. Wollenberg hosted a traditional Friday night meal which we all enjoyed. Each of the Bat mitzvah Club girls had written a small presentation to do with their course and they read these to us all. Perhaps more importantly, the girls themselves had helped to prepare and cook the food and helped to serve it.

London Jewish Male Choir.

Cardiff Concert .

Sunday March 26^th 2006.

As part of the celebrations for the 80^th anniversary of their formation, the London Jewish Male Choir has embarked on a series of concerts in provincial venues. Last Sunday, Wales hosted a concert at the Cardiff United Synagogue, Cyncoed.

Ably supported by the Cardiff Synagogue Choir, under the direction of Ivan Margolis, the LJMC sang a varied programme of Yiddish, Hebrew and English songs which were performed to a packed house in the Harold Greene Hall.

Chazan Stephen Leas of the Central Synagogue, London and Eliot Alderman provided lyrical and moving solos that captivated the large audience.

Since the recent appointment of their new musical director and conductor, Michael Etherton, the choir has developed and expanded its repertoire. The choral sound is still rich, full and fresh, being especially strong in the bass register. The presentation is clean and bright. Michael’s experience as a music scholar at Balliol has helped enhance the whole special choral sound, and rightly allows the choir to be considered as one of the most sparkling jewels in anglo Jewry’s musical crown.

If you have a chance to hear them, run all the way. You will not be disappointed.

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(Extra information)

Incidentally, both Ivan Margolis and Stephen Leas grew up in Johannesburg and their long standing friendship was rekindled in Cardiff last Sunday after many years many in different continents.

A host of dignitaries headed by the Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, the
Israeli Ambassador Zvi Heifetz along with the chairman of the Board of
Deputies Mr Henry Grunwald QC and the national AJEX Chairman Ron Shelley,
joined members of Caridff Untied Synagogue and Newport Hebrew Congregation
for a reception at the CUS Cyncoed Gardens Shul. The Chief Rabbi who
addressed the assembled crowd on the subject of remembering the Holocuast.
He also praised the vibrant Jewish life which continues in Caridff and the
surrounding areas.

Other speakers included the Israeli ambassador and the Chairman of the
Board of Deputies, who elaborated on the purpose of HMD, namely that the
Jewish people are well aware of the horrors of the Holocaust and its
lessons, the aim now is to take that message to the wider world, which has
happened with the monumental UN decision to commemorate HMD.

The dignitaries were joined by several thousand people, including many
members of the local Jewish community at the Millenium Centre for the
National Holocaust Memorial Day event, which included a performance by the
Cardiff United Synagogue Choir as well as an address by the Chief Rabbi
and participation by Cardiff Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg. The Choir
managed to perform their piece with gusto despite an interruption by a
heckler before they had even started (he was heckling Tony Blair, not the
choir!)

Earlier in the afternoon, the Chief Rabbi visited the Penylan House Jewish
Retirement Home where he met members of the board and delighted residents
who were very excited at the occasion. The Chief Rabbi praised the staff
and board of management for the wonderful and caring environment which
they provide for their residents

The next day (Friday) a memorial commemoration ceremony took place in
Cathays park, at the Raoul Wallenberg memorial, attended by local
dignatiries including the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, the leader of Cardiff
City Council Rodney Berman (who is Jewish), Mr Alan Schwartz MBE of the
South Wales Jewish Rep Council and local Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg (no
relation!) along with members of the local community. Mr Schwartz spoke
about Raoul Wallenberg's remarkable achievements, the Lord Mayer read the
commitment to the future and Rabbi Wollenberg recited commemorative
prayers.

Chanukah saw a host of events including a doughnut kiddush, a Chanukah party with giant Lego menorah building and community parties at the Rabbi & Rebbetzen’s house. Although it was the ‘holiday season’ and a number of people were away, it was nice to see so many people taking part in events in particular the many grandchildren who joined their parents for the Lego menorah-building!

Latkes, hot soup and doughnuts were distributed to a number of people in the community.

The electronic Menorah on the front of the Shul building was, of course, lit every night of Chanukah.

Some 35 people came along to hear Rabbi Immanuel Schochet, a world-renowned author of books on Judaism and Professor of Philosophy, speak about moral values in today’s society. We hope to keep bringing you interesting and informative guest speakers every couple of months.

If you have any ideas for a guest speaker or topic, please contact Rabbi Mordechai.

Fruit is supposed to be healthy and low-fat but this year that was ruined by the Chocolate Fondue afternoon held at the Wollenbergs’ home. Participants were invited to choose from a selection of some 18 fruits, then dip them in delicious melted chocolate from the chocolate fountain in the centre of the room. It took some time to clean up!