## **Cheltenham Hebrew Congregation** The Synagogue Synagogue Lane St James Square Cheltenham GL50 3PU info@cheltenhamsynagogue.org.uk cheltenhamsynagogue.org.uk charity no:1156818 ## **Trustees’s Report 1 March 2021 – 28 February 2022** Cheltenham Hebrew Congregation continued to be positive and active, engaging with both members and the wider community to achieve our objectives. Jewish Festivals and Holidays were marked with religious services and social events, generally online. Shabbat was welcomed with a service every week. We engaged Rabbi Claude Vecht-Wolf to lead our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Services which, with Covid-19 precautions fully in place, members were able to safely appreciate. The erev services were led by Senior Warden Allan Sanis, Leonard Bazar and Alan Silverston. Abigail Fisher organised the technology to facilitate online transmission from the Synagogue before Shabbat. Allan Sanis led our online Chanukah service and lit candles while members lit their own candles at home. A talk from Jessica Shapiro told us of Chanukah customs around the world, Lea Elliot read us a modern Chanukah story and we enjoyed selected poems. Rabbi Daniels led a Shabbat morning service in June; there was not a minyan and on this occasion, all were invited to participate. Those present found it a particularly engaging and interesting morning. Members were pleased to take part in the online Jewish Small Communities Network One Shabbat event. Especially appreciated was the Havdallah service, led from Israel by Elkan Levy who has kept close links with us and many small communities. Our CHC community was named as one of the ‘shining examples’ of determination and experience The New Year for Trees was marked with a talk by Jessica Shapiro about the history of the day and how it is celebrated in different parts of the world. A Service of Remembrance, remembering those buried in our cemetery and loved ones buried elsewhere, was held in our Elm Street cemetery prior to Rosh Hashanah. Jessica Shapiro continued to lead monthly study sessions focussed on the Torah. The Books of Isiah, Kings, Job and Judges were included during this period. We marked the first yahrzeit of Rabbi Lord Sacks by sharing his thoughts on family and community during a special online session, questioning them and putting forward our own points of view. As a small community we noted that each of us, if willing, has a significant role to play. Educational opportunities were increased by Rabbi Claude Vecht-Wolf who permitted his Drashas to be circulated to the community and issued invitations to his Shiurim. Rabbi Stanley Cohen from Ruislip Synagogue also invited our community to share some of his Shiurim. A native oak was planted in Pittville Park during a ceremony in honour of the 80th anniversary of the Association of Jewish Refugees and in memory of Dr John Burne, father of Simon Burne, who found refuge in Cheltenham from Germany in 1939. The Mayor of Cheltenham Councillor Steve Harvey and Dame Janet Trotter spoke of the significance of the occasion. Members met socially for coffee mornings and afternoon teas in outdoor venues, the face to face contact appreciated by those attending. A summer picnic in Pittville Park concluded with every participant getting thoroughly soaked by a downpour but was still, for most, a positive event. We challenged ourselves with online quizzes, rejoicing with success and but with much shaking of head as an elusive answer, failed to come to light in time. The multiple question setters were coordinated by Christine Dyer. A poetry evening focussed on poems about immigration, some familiar and some new, curated by Lea Elliott and Jessica Shapiro. In the wider community, increasing numbers of educational session took place online with school children who, like their teachers, have become familiar with this format. Different sessions were tailored to the ages, ability and syllabus of the children, from age 4 upwards to Gloucestershire University students. Children in both mainstream and special schools have benefitted from this service for which no charges were made. A talk by David Matlow focussed on Herzl who envisioned a state for the Jewish people as a solution to the antisemitism he had witnessed. Herzl’s work remains relevant and important today. Elkan Levy chaired the event from Israel and Andee Goldman, who had suggested David spoke to us, gave a vote of thanks at the end. Cheltenham Inter Faith members students and staff of the University of Gloucestershire had been invited to this. An online erev Shabbat service was opened up to the wider community during Inter Faith week. The service was in Hebrew as usual but members spoke about different aspects of the service in English to help our guests understand its content. **SACRE** The Chairman attended all meetings, upholding the importance of Judaism within the SACRE Primary Syllabus and offering relevant opinions. **The County Prevent Board** meetings, also attended by the Chairman, led by The Rt Revd Robert Springett Bishop of Tewkesbury focussed on ‘Faith in the Community. **The Gloucestershire Hate Crimes and Incidents Strategic Group** met regularly and your Chairman was able to report current trends and incidents nationally as well as community concerns. Learning of local and national hate crimes and incidents has been valuable to appreciate and convey the importance of reporting to the police to evidence the need for adequate police resources. Alan Silverston and the Chairman attended a **Child Protection Training** course organized by the United Synagogue. We supported the **CPC Hamper Scamper Scheme** again this year when members delivered goods and cash to the Synagogue to be donated to this good local cause. **Media** exposure included opportunities to speak from a Jewish point of view about current issues. Radio Gloucestershire interviews with the Chairman included Anna King for her show and Jon Smith for Sunday Breakfast. **Heritage Open Days** ‘A Taste of Jewish Food’ was written by the Chairman to fit in with the English Heritage theme ‘Edible England’ for this year. The article was and still is hosted by Cheltenham Civic Society website. ## **Buildings and Maintenance** The Bride’s Room aka the kitchen of the Synagogue is now fit for purpose with safe and sturdy new units and hot water on tap. Our thanks to David, Frances and Leonard for financing this project in memory of their parents June and Henry Bazar. Both parents took active roles in the community for many years, June within the Ladies’ Guild and Henry as Honorary Secretary. In our Elm Street cemetery, Percy Edwards grave tilt was corrected and the ground around neighbouring graves stabilized for the foreseeable future. Following this Abigail Fisher, with some help, cleared vegetation to the side making the space available for further graves. **And thank you** … The Chairman thanks to all our Board Members who have been so supportive and positive during the year. Honorary Officers have been Allan Sanis: Senior Warden, Jessica Shapiro: Treasurer, Abigail Fisher: Secretary, Steve Cohen Assistant Treasurer, Christine Dyer Minutes Secretary, Board Trustees: Sara Capie, Lea Elliott and Elizabeth Jacobs. Thanks also are due to Leonard Bazar, our Board of Deputies Representative, Alan Silverston Buildings and Maintenance and Security Officer and Penny Pepper our External Examiner and all those who shave supported CHC in reaching its objectives. The Trustees now look forward to the next year Jenny Silverston Chairman of Cheltenham Hebrew Congregation July 2022 CHELTENHAM HEBREW CONGREGATION INCOME & EXPENDTTURE- YEAR TO FEBRUARY 28 2022 2021 INCOME Note 2022 Contributions Members Subscription5 Friends and Associate5 Subscriptons Total Contributions 9.658 108 9,766 121 43 9,647 Donation5 Donations Donation for B.O.D Total L)onations 2,042 235 2,277 131 8.832 232 9,064 12,043 Total Contributions & Donations 18,711 Other Income Bank Interest Reading Group Rent from No. 44 Elm Street Donation from Schiiol Wistts GiftAid & tsx Repaid Grants Books Sold Sale of Card5 Jewish Studies Congregation Events 399 21 78 163 7.741 141 397 78 95 3,841 151 24 8,426 4,411 20,469 TOTAL CONGREGATION INCOME 23,122 EXPENDITURE Property: Synagogue & Elm Street Ltghting. Heating. Water for the Synagogue Synagogue Maintenance Cleaning Rates- Elm Street Elm Steet Maintenance Insurance 241 32,356 590 193 8,985 592 47 161 47 401 2.960 36,595 3,311 16,072 Other Expenses Representations & Donations to B.O.D Fees to Rabbinate Rabbi's Wisits Fees and Expenses for High Holy Days Ceremony Postage & Stationery Printing & Photocoping Sundry Expenses 485 190 50 2,625 39 185 38 14 675 3,516 181 227 3,616 40.111 TOTAL EXPENSES 19.688 -19,642 EXCESS / (DEFICIT) OF INCOME OVER EXPENDtruRE 3,434