Daily Minyanim are held on Sundays Mondays on Thursdays and yartzheits on special occasions. The evening minyan continues every day. Regrettably, the support for these important minyanimis continuing to be a struggle and everybody that is here today I would encourage to support the minyanim so that this vital service to our community continues. Chazzan Gedalya Alexander was well received by the community during the Yomin Norayim and I am delighted to be able to tell you today that Chazzan Jacob Rosten has been engaged for the forthcoming high holy days. I am also delighted to inform you that the Shul Council have appointed the Chattanim for the forthcoming Simchat Torah celebration and they will be announced in due course. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the running of the services throughout this year: You, the members; the Minyan co-ordinators; the members of the Services Committee; the warden David Woolf who I would like to make particular mention and recognise his support to our services. This year he has been assisted by Tony Blasebalk and Geoffrey Goldberg who have very kindly volunteered to assist throughout the year with the services; and our Rabbi.

I would like to thank the members, men and women for their work on the chevra kedisha and burial board and for the quiet discrete way they go about this business. Earlier this year, the shul council were informed of the changes at Penylan House. The consequences for the CUS was that a new location for the Tahara House needed to be found. The Council researched this and many options were considered. I am delighted today to be able to inform you that it is the intention for the new Tahara House to be housed on Cyncoed Gardens Shul site and that the process is well in hand. You will also be aware that an appeal was made to assist in the maintenance and upkeep of our cemeteries and I would like to thank those people who very generously contributed and also remind people that this is an ongoing project and all donations would be gratefully received.

We have some 22 children in the Cheder with more in the wings. I would like to thank the teachers, Rabbi Wollenberg, Laura Liss, Rosa Ezry, Brendi Waks, Lisa Carr, Talia Rosen, Carmel Rosen, Hannah Gerson &Jessica Schwartz.

I would like to thank Jonathan Rapport who was chair of education for his work in cheder last year. Currently he is now the vice chair and Neil Schwartz has taken on the mantle of chairmanship with Jonathan Rapport as his vice chair ably assisted by education committee.

Neil and the education committee have instigated a proposed major change in the cheder where Tribe from London will assist in the running of the lessons. Tribe are the youth wing of the United Synagogue and arrange educational programmes. The education committee have recently organised a cheder Friday night dinner and other events to which the council are very grateful.

The Social & Cultural Committee continue to work throughout the year arranging our weekly Shabbos Day kiddushim and contributing to Shalosh Seudos. I would like to make particular mention to the members of the social and cultural committee, Davine Rosen, Rosalie Silverman, Nettie Witten and Jonathan Rapport. It is felt that our weekly kiddushim are a major highlight for the community and they provide an opportunity for Community members, visitors and friends to meet and chat after a shul service. There are often regarding the “magnificent spread”. I know that the members of this committee have been particularly mindful of the Shul’s financial situation and have looked to significantly reduce the cost of Kiddushim and their cost saving actions have involved them home (shul) baking and reducing the set up costs for the Kiddushim while still maintaining the high standard that is enjoyed by all.

I would like to thank the members of the Kashrus committee who ably assist in maintaining the high level of kashrus that we are proud to have at the CUS.

Last year saw a large number of school and church visits, of which the majority were conducted by the Rabbi who also spoke to a number of different groups on campuses and CCJ. He also has attended many external events along with the National Holocaust Memorial Service and programmes on local radio. Another successful visit was made by Jenny Willott MP and Jenny Randerson AM who attended yesterday’s Shul service and spoke with community members in the Kiddush afterwards.

Cyncoed Gardens residents (the flats by the Shul) held their AGM in the Harold Greene Hall and we are delighted to report that we still have an excellent relationship with our residents and would remind all members to continue to show our neighbours courtesy and considering when using the shul building

Significant thanks goes to Stephen & Claire Bloom for the huge time and effort they give to security issues at CUS this is an important job which I know takes up a lot of their time both whenthey are actively providing security for the shul but also in the planning and support to the community on a day to day basis. Also a PACT meeting was held with our local Police Community Support Officer, Laura Moore, to develop closer links with community. Thanks also to CST for their advice, support and sponsorship.

Our Kol Nidrei Appeal brought in nearly £9,000 for the "Food for Kids" charity in Netanya. They have come to rely on our contribution to continue in helping children of poor families to get the nourishment they need and I hope that we may continue to support them. We would remind you that contributions can be made at any time through the CUS office and not just on Yom Kippur. Thanks to Linda Harris and Tony Schwartz for their help with the appeal.

We are very lucky to have Mr Ray Lawrence as Shul Administrator who handles tasks so efficiently and effectively and I would like to personally thank Ray for all of his support during office hours and out!

Mr Tony Schwartz again volunteered to help CUS by working on the gift Aid refunds and we are grateful to him for undertaking thisquite onerous task with dedication.

My report has been a lot of thank yous but it now remains for me to thank all my fellow Council Members, Without them it would have been a difficult task: Sheila Gewolb, Ray Lawrence, Paul Levene, Jonathan Rapport, Davine Rosen, Rosalie Silverman, Peter Whitten and Martin Joseph who stood down early in theyear and I would like to pause to thank Martin for all the considerable number of years service in a variety of capacities ranging from Council member and particularly minute secretary providing an amazingly high standard of minutes.

We have all be ably assisted by the Chairs of the Committees,

Peter Whitten – Building. David Woolf - Services, Haydn Cotsen –

Finance, Neil Schwartz – education

Kashrus, Sheila Gewolb – Board of Deputies

Before finishing I must make special mention of Haydn Cotsen who has now decided, to not seek re-election this year and to say that he will be hugely missed on the Shul Council where he has been a member for 30 years holding position such as president, vice president, treasurer and chair of finance. Council members are aware that working on behalf of the CUS takes up some of their personal time, however in the 30 years that Haydn has given to the shul, I know that this has well exceeded what would be reasonably expected and Haydn has taken on his commitment to shul in professional, dedicated way and we are all extremely grateful.

Thank you very much.

Council Member