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 2022 – 28 February 2023
Cheltenham Hebrew Congregation continued to be positive and active, achieving our objectives by engaging with both members and the wider community.
Community Life
Jewish Festivals and Holidays were marked with services and social events.
At Purim we read the Megillah Esther and we celebrated our first in person Seder together since Covid arrived with Allan Sanis leading the service. Covid precautions, however, were still taken seriously. Allan also led many other services for us including at Shavuot and Chanukah. Jessica Shapiro contributed a Chanukah story at our party before the children lit the candles in members’s beautiful menorahs.
Erev Shabbat, services were held every week, their leaders were Allan Sanis, Leonard Bazar and Alan Silverston.
High Holidays services were conducted meaningfully by Rabbi Claude Vecht-Wolf.
A Barmitzvah was held in our Synagogue. A delightful service for Harry, the Barmitzvah boy, was led by Rabbi Mark Daniels on Shabbat morning.
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. An especially memorable and enjoyable session was focussed on the writings in Ecclesiastes.
Educational opportunities were also offered by Rabbi Claude Vecht-Wolf who permitted his Drashas to be circulated to the community and issued invitations to his Shiurim.
Members attended the unveiling of a Blue Badge marking the Gloucester site, in Alexandra Road, where 10 Jewish boys, coming to the UK on the Kindertransport, were cared for. The CHC Chairman spoke in praise of the Gloucester hosts. Michael Zorek, son of one of those boys, who now lives in America, initiated the recognition.
Laura and Steve Cohen made us feel very welcome at a well attended Anniversary Brunch where Abigail’s bagels were a highlight.
Our Summer lunch, also well attended, was warmly hosted by Sara and Peter Capie on a beautiful sunny day.
Members also met informally in outdoor spaces for coffee mornings and tea. We met online and challenged ourselves with a quizzes.
The Wider Community
Education
Sessions for school children took place online; pre-Covid numbers are now participating. An assembly on Chanukah was presented to an Islamic school.
Different sessions were tailored to the teachers’s wishes and the ages, ability and syllabus of the children. Children in both mainstream and special schools have benefitted from this service for which no charges were made.
Abigail Fisher has spoken to cubs and scouts in the Synagogue about Judaism and Marion Janner visited schools with workshops for the children.
An online erev Shabbat service was opened 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. Some members contributed to a request from Stephen Pett of RE today and advisor to SACRE to contribute to a new publication ‘Investigating Jewish Wordviews’ (Secondary). Our responses are now in the book, both hard copy and online.
HMD
Cheltenham’s Act of Remembrance for HMD was planned together with Three Counties Liberal Community, Dame Janet Trotter and Dr Steven Blake, supported by Cheltenham Borough Council. The Act of Remembrance, regarded as the best yet by many, was led by Dame Janet.
Heritage Open Days
During the Heritage Open Days in September, the Chairman delivered a session on Zoom ‘Cheltenham Synagogue, Hidden Gem’ which spoke of the history of the building as well as the community within.
We supported the CPC Hamper Scamper Scheme again this year when members delivered goods and cash to the Synagogue to be donated to this worthy local cause.
Alan Silverston spoke at a Symposium on ‘Behaviour in Public Life which mainly focussed on the behaviour of members of Parliament.
Security
The year has been a peaceful one. Contact has been maintained with Gloucestershire Constabulary and PC Hamid Charafi and the Community Security Trust (CST) based in London.
Membersa are reminded of our security precautions to support compliance.
Media
The Chairman had interviews with Jon Smith of Radio Gloucestershire for the programme Sunday Breakfast. One interview was planned to be on how our congregation had been impacted by Covid. This was cancelled to make room for items about our late Queen in September but reinstated with a royal focus when the producer realized that a relevant contribution from a personal and Jewish perspective could be made by Jenny Silverston, the Chairman.
Buildings and Maintenance
The 5 year Interim Report produced by architect John Middleton in November 2022 identified 3 areas requiring action:
Repair lead in lead gutter in the roof
Secure the bench seating the ladies’ gallery to the wall
Repaint the exterior of the lantern
The first two have been dealt with. The painting of the lantern has not yet taken place due to cold and damp and then extremely hot weather. It will be actioned as soon as cooler conditions prevail.
Following the complete refurbishment of the Bride’s Room/Kitchen the entrance and interior doors into the Synagogue have been patched where necessary and repainted.
The effectiveness of the external toilets will be examined with a view to replace the units with macerator toilets. In addition, the effectiveness of the piping carrying waste will be reviewed.
Thanks were given to all 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 were 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. Plus all those who supported our precious community during the year.
We look forward to a good year ahead.
| 2022 | TNCOME | Note | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contributions | |||
| 9,604 | MembersSubscriPtions | (1) | 10,656 |
| 43 | Friends and Associates Subscriptons | (2) | 272 |
| 9,647 | Total Contributions | r0,928 | |
| Donations | |||
| 8,832 | Donations | (3) | L,63L |
| 232 | DonationforB.O.D | 180 | |
| 9,064 | TotalDonations | 1,8L1 | |
| 18,71,L | Total Contributions&Donations | 12,739 | |
| Other lncome | |||
| 397 | Banklnterest | (4) | 206 |
| 0 | ReadingGroup | 0 | |
| 78 | RentfromNo.44ElmStreet | 78 | |
| 95 | DonationfromSchoolVisits | 23s | |
| 3,84L | Gift Aid & taxRepaid | (s) | 2,26L |
| 0 | Grants | 0 | |
| 0 | Books Sold | 0 | |
| 0 | SaleofCards | 0 | |
| 0 | Jewish Studies | 0 | |
| 0 | CongregationEvents | 182 | |
| 2,962 | |||
| 23,L22 | TOTAL CONGREGATIONINCOME | t5,7Ot | |
| EXPENDITURE | |||
| Property:Synagogue&ElmStreet | |||
| 193 | Lighting, Heating,Waterfor theSynagogue | 32r | |
| 8,985 | SynagogueMaintenance | (6) | L,750 |
| s92 | Cleaning | 632 | |
| 47 | Rates-ElmStreet | 47 | |
| 2,944 | ElmSteet Maintenance | 273 | |
| 3,311 | lnsurance | (7|3,476 | |
| L6,072 | 6,439 | ||
| OtherExpenses | |||
| 485 | Representations&DonationstoB.O.D | L92 | |
| 190 | FeestoRabbinate | 200 | |
| 50 | Rabbi'sVisits | 0 | |
| 2,625 | Feesand ExpensesforHigh HolyDaysCeremony | 2,789 | |
| 39 | Postage&StationerY | 14 | |
| 0 | Printing&PhotocoPing | 40 | |
| 227 | SundryExpenses | (8) | 331 |
| 3,616 | 3,566 | ||
| 19,588 | TOTALEXPENSES | 10,005 | |
| 3,434 | EXCESS/(DEFTCIT)OF INCOMEOVEREXPENDITURE | 5,696 |
| ESTO | THEINCOME&EXPENDITU | RE -YEARTO FE | BRUARY282023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | MembersSubscriptions | 2022-2023 | 4,599 | |
| 2023-2024 | 6,057 | |||
| 10,656 | ||||
| (2) | Friends and Associates Subscr2022-2023 | I25 | ||
| 2023-2024 | L47 | |||
| 272 | ||||
| (3) | Donations | Comprises | WithMembers&Associates Subscriptions | 527 |
| AssociationofJewish Refugees | 80 | |||
| DonationforBarmitzvahinShul | 200 | |||
| Manchester Visitors donation | 100 | |||
| OtherPersonalDonations | 724 | |||
| 1,637 | ||||
| (4) | Banklnterest | Comprises | RBSNoL | 81 |
| RBSNo2 | 2 | |||
| Shawbrook | 124 | |||
| 206 | ||||
| (5) | Gift Aid & taxRepaid | Comprises | VAT Refund-DCMSScheme(fl,32}2O2t/221 | 0 |
| Gift aidReturns | 2,25L | |||
| 2,26L | ||||
| (6) | SynagogueMaintenanceComprises | Synagogue Kitchen&Hall-Painting | 90s | |
| 5Yearlnspection ReportNick JoyceArchitects | 562 | |||
| ProtectionService A&E Fire and Security | I43 | |||
| Repairtoleadgutterandgallerybenchfitting | 87 | |||
| SundryRepairs | 54 | |||
| L,750 | ||||
| (7) | lnsurances | Comprises | Combinedlnsurance Policy Endsleigh lnsurance | 3,476 |
| 3,476 | ||||
| (8) | SundryExpenses | Comprise | Website | 100 |
| ZoomExps | 1.44 | |||
| SinkTidyandotherKitchenEquipment | 24 | |||
| Other | 63 | |||
| KiddushExpenses | 0 | |||
| 331 |
| 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| BankAccounts | ||
| 39,684.84 | CashatRoyalBankof ScotlandNoIa/c | 45,332.6L |
| 931_.09 | CashatRoyal BankofScotland No2a/c | 932.94 |
| 27,47t.33 | Shawbrookbank-1Year Bond | 27,594.95 |
| 82.1.8 | PettyCash | 6"22 |
| 68,169.44 | 73,866.72 | |
| Fixed Assets | ||
| The Synagogue(Grade2*) | ||
| SynagogueFurnitureandContents | ||
| TheCemetery(ElmStreet) | ||
| The House at44ElmStreet |
| DETAILSOF INVESTMENT&BANK ACCOUNTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Royal BankofScotland No.1a/c | ||
| 36,665.19 | OpeningBalance | 39,684.84 |
| (19,023.69) | General Expenditure | (9,498.86) |
| (700.00) | TransfertoPettyCash | (600.00) |
| 22,743.34 | Receipts | 15,746.63 |
| 39,68431 | ClosingBalance | 45,332.6t |
| Royal Bankof Scotland No.2a/c | ||
| 930.61 | OpeningBalance | 931.09 |
| 0.48 | lnterestReceived | 1.85 |
| 931.09 | ClosingBalance | 932.94 |
| lnvestment-ShawbrookBank | ||
| 27,093.06 | OpeningBalance | 27,471.33 |
| 0.00 | Received FromRBS | 0.00 |
| 378.27 | lnterestReceived | 123.62 |
| 27,47L.33 | ClosingBalance | 27,594.95 |
| PettyCash | ||
| 45.88 | OpeningBalance | 82.r8 |
| 700.00 | FromRBSNo.1a/c | 600.00 |
| (663.70) | Expenditure | (67s.e6) |
| 82.18 | 6.22 |