Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2020
for presentation at the 91[st] Annual General Meeting to be held on-line by Zoom on Sunday 31[st] January 2021 at 11:00am Registered Charity No 236711
This is the Annual Report for the accounting year 1 September 2019-31 August 2020. However, because of the current, unusual situation caused by COVID-19, Council has decided, except for the Statement of Financial Activities (which covers the accounting year 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020 only), this Annual Review should cover the period 1 September 2019 to date, so that members are aware of developments since 31 August 2020, as well as for the previous year
## The South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS)
## **Annual Report**
Registered Charity No 236711
## **Introduction and overview**
**The Council of The South London Liberal Synagogue (the Synagogue) presents its annual report together with the statement of accounts of the Synagogue in respect of the financial year ended 31 August 2020. The statement of accounts is not statutorily required to be audited and have been independently examined by Gareth Berney, whose report appears below.**
## **Origin and objectives of the charity**
The Synagogue was established in 1929 and is an unincorporated association. Under its current Constitution of 11[th] February 2017 (the Constitution)[1] the Synagogue has the following purpose: to advance Liberal Judaism by actions, teaching and practice, in particular (but not exclusively) by means of:
- (a) providing religious education for children and adults and providing facilities and teaching leading to _Bar Mitzvah_ or _Bat Mitzvah_ and _Kabbalat Torah_ (Confirmation);
- (b) providing and maintaining a place for public religious worship and providing, arranging and conducting religious services;
- (c) providing facilities for the solemnisation of marriages and for burials and cremations.
## **Review of the activities**
A review of the main activities of the Synagogue in relation to the purpose described above is contained in the Chair’s Report on page 12 and in the other reports on Synagogue’s activities from that onwards.
## **Governance**
The Synagogue and its property and assets are administered and managed by its Council, members of which are the charity trustees of the Synagogue. Decisions concerning day-to-day management of the Synagogue are made by the Chair together with the other officers. In accordance with the Constitution members of Council are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Synagogue (or, in the event of a casual vacancy, appointed by the Council to serve until the next AGM) and serve without compensation.
The Council members who served during the past year were: James Krikler (Chair), Eve Samson (Vice Chair), Paul Infield (Hon. Secretary), Andrew Hoffman (Hon. Treasurer), Jacqueline Ashton, William Cohen, Julia Goring, Maya Jaffe, Kirst O’Neill, Shula Sinclair, Brian Jacobs and Gillian Walker.
In carrying out their responsibilities, the members of Council, as trustees of the Synagogue, have had regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission for England and Wales (the Charity Commission).
Title to the property of the Synagogue was held during the past year by property trustees Paul Infield, Eve Samson and Shai Wade.
1 A copy of the Constitution is available from the Synagogue office on request.
3
## **Membership – all categories**
Total at 31 August 2020*: 190 (2019: 200), which included 8 Honorary Members (2019: 8), and 25 Friends (2019: 22).
_**Deaths**_ We record with sorrow the deaths of: Simon Benedictus, Adele Schwarz
*Please note that some members and friends noted here have joined subsequent to this date, however are included for completeness
## **Reserves policy**
The Charity’s principal activities are detailed above.
1. The present reserve level is considered realistic to maintain liquid reserves to cover the Synagogue’s day to day activities.
2. At each annual Budget meeting, a review of the current level of reserves will be undertaken against Budget predictions.
At 31 August 2020 Unrestricted Funds amounted to £129,669 (2019: £125,210) and Total Funds stood at £165,928 (2019: £157,109).
## **Risk management**
The Council has decided not to prepare a formal risk review report. However, the Council has given consideration to the major risks to which the Synagogue is exposed and satisfied itself that systems or procedures are established in order to manage those risks. The Council will continue to review areas of potential risk. The principal financial risks identified in the short to medium term are as follows:
- The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the businesses which rent space in the Synagogue building and the consequential loss of income;
- A persistent imbalance between income and expenditure, leaving the Synagogue regularly in deficit;
- Rising costs, including staff costs;
- The limitations on the Synagogue’s ability to meet its running costs while maintaining subscriptions at a level affordable to Members and Friends;
- Loss of paying Members and Friends of the Synagogue and difficulties in attracting new paying Members and Friends;
- Declining numbers of donors and ‘donor fatigue’ among existing donors;
- The possible need for significant further repairs to the Synagogue building.
4
## **Statement of Council’s responsibilities**
The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (the Regulations) require the Council to prepare a statement of accounts for each financial year which include:
- (a) a statement of financial activities showing the total incoming resources and application of the resources, together with any other movements in the total resources, of the Synagogue during the relevant financial year; and
- (b) a balance sheet showing the state of affairs of the Synagogue as at the end of the relevant financial year.
The statement of activities must give a true and fair view of the incoming resources and application of the resources of the charity in the relevant financial year. The balance sheet must give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity at the end of the relevant financial year. The statement of accounts must be prepared in accordance with the methods and principles set out in the “Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” issued by the Charity Commission (the Charities SORP).
In preparing the statement of accounts, Council is required to:
- (i) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- (ii) make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- (iii) prepare the Financial Statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
Council is responsible for ensuring that accounting records are kept in respect of the Synagogue which are sufficient to show and explain all the charity's transactions, and which are such as to (a) disclose with reasonable accuracy at that time the financial position of the Synagogue and (b) enable the Council to ensure that the statements of accounts comply with the requirements of the Regulations.
## _**James Krikler, Chair**_
**PLEASE REMEMBER US IN YOUR WILL** You have supported the SLLS during your lifetime; why not also in your Will for future generations?
**LEGACIES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE**
By leaving a bequest to SLLS you will support the future of Liberal Judaism in South London.
_**For further information please contact us on:**_ office@southlondon.org _or_ 020 8769 4787
5
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Synagogue Council**
I report on the accounts of the South London Liberal Synagogue for the year ended 31 August 2020, which are set out on pages 5-11 inclusive.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- to follow procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## **Gareth Berney**
31 December 2020
6
## South London Liberal Synagogue **Statement of Financial Activities**
## Income and Expenditure for the period 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020
|**Incoming Resources**
Subscriptions
Donations/Legacies
Gift Aid repayment
Appeals income
Property lettings
Fundraising income
Burial and Cremation Fees
Bank interest
**Total Incoming Resources**
**Resources Expended**
Rabbinic costs
Staff costs (not inc. Rabbi)
Building maintenance
Affiliation fees
Education
Insurance
Utilities
Management and administration
Depreciation
Burial and Cremation Costs
Fundraising and property letting
related costs
**Total Resources Expended**
**Net Movement in Funds £**
Funds brought forward at 1st
September 2019
Funds carried forward at 31st
August 2020|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
**2020**
**Total**
**2019**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
51,268
-
51,268
53,998
287
16,815
17,101
19,106
-
-
-
11,116
7,295
-
7,295
-
44,230
-
44,230
25,928
-
-
-
1,877
1,564
-
1,564
827
39
-
39
34|
|---|---|
||**104,683**
**16,815**
**121,498**
**112,886**
35,656
12,000
47,656
52,188
15,550
-
15,550
11,190
15,594
-
15,594
12,709
9,511
-
9,511
13,316
5,078
-
5,078
6,371
9,171
-
9,171
8,003
10,292
-
10,292
9,598
5,216
-
5,216
7,245
-
-
-
3,505
-
-
-
445
2,864
-
2,864
7,318|
||**108,932**
**12,000**
**120,932**
**131,888**
**(4,249)**
**4,815**
**566**
**(19,002)**
114,528
31,900
146,428
160,840
110,279
36,715
146,994
146,428|
Please note that, due to rounding, some totals may not correspond with the sum of the separate figures.
7
South London Liberal Synagogue Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2020
|**Fixed Assets**
Tangible fixed assets
**Current assets**
Stock
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
**Total assets**
**Current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
Rabbinic Salary donated, received in
advance
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
**Income Funds**
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
**TOTALFUNDS**|**£**|**2020**
**£**
**£**
111,279|
|---|---|---|
Of the unrestricted funds, £234 (2019: £234) were designated for specific purposes as set out in note 7 to the accounts.
8
## **Notes forming part of the statement of accounts for the year ended 31 August 2020**
**1. The principal accounting policies adopted by the charity are described below. They have been applied consistently throughout the period.**
## BASIS OF ACCOUNTING
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the 2011 Act, the Charities SORP and the applicable Financial Reporting Standard (FRS 102).
## INCOMING RESOURCES
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the monies are received.
## RESOURCES EXPENDED
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis when the liability is incurred.
## **2. Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation**
- Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost of assets to their estimated residual values over their expected useful lives as follows:
- Freehold building & improvements - 2% on cost
- Furniture & equipment - 25% on net book value
|**Tangible fixed**
**assets**
**Freehold property &**
**improvements**
**Organ**|**Furniture &**
**Equipment**
**Total**|
|---|---|
|||
|**£**
**£**
Cost at 31 August
2019
174,676
6,995|**£**
**£**
16,820
198,491|
|Depreciation at 31
August 2019
(59,930)
(6,995)|(16,785)
(83,710)|
|Charge for the year
(3,494)
-|
(9)
(3,502)|
|**Net book value at**
**31 August 2020**
**£111,252**
**-**|
**£26**
**£111,279**|
|
**Net book value at**
**31 August 2019**
**£114,746**
**-**|
**£35**
**£114,781**|
9
|Direct charitable
activities
Management &
admin
**3.**
**Stock**
Stock of books for
resale
Showcase Stock
**4. Cash at**
**bank and in**
**hand at 31**
**August**
**2020**
HSBC General
CAF General
CAF Gold
CAF Burial and
Cremation
Balance at
31.08.2020|**Freehold property &**
**improvements**
**£**
111,252
-|**Furniture &**
**Equipment**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
-
111,252
26
26|
|---|---|---|
||111,252
**2020**
**£**
275
31|26
111,279
**2019**
**£**
403
122
525|
||306
**£**
18,012
10,432
1,169
24,730||
||54,343||
**5. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year** 0
10
|**6. Restricted**
**Funds**
Burial and Cremation
Fund
Rabbi's Discretionary
Fund
Building Fund
**7.**
**Designated**
**Funds**|**at 31.08.2020**
**at 31.08.2019**
**£**
**£**
24,730
25,520
2,342
1,042
9,188
5,338|
|---|---|
||**36,259**
**31,900**
234
234|
Abraham’s Tent Project funds
11
## South London Liberal Synagogue Financial Projection 2020 – 2021
|inancial Projection 2020 – 2021|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Income**|**£**||||
|Subscriptions|65,000||||
|Donations/Legacies|60,000|(including donations to the Rabbinic Salary Donation Fund and|||
|||Building Fund)|||
|Gift Aid repayment|20,000|(including Gift Aid repayments from FY2018-19 and|||
|||FY2019-20)|||
|Appeals Income|2,000||||
|Grants|4,000||||
|Property lettings|53,000||||
|Fundraising Income|100||**£**||
|||Eitz Chayim (Leaf Sales)|100||
|||Chevra||0|
|||HHD Tickets||0|
||||100||
|Burial & Cremation Fees|500||||
|Bank Interest|40||||
|**Total Income**|**204,640**||||
|**Expenses**|||||
|Rabbinic Costs|65,000||||
|Other Staff Costs|17,000|(Administrator & Cleaners' Wages + NI)|||
|Building works|70,000||||
|Building Maintenance|7,500||||
|Affiliation Fees|15,500||**£**||
|||Board of Deputies|500||
|||Liberal Judaism|15,000||
||||15,500||
|Education|2,200|(Teachers' Wages + NI + costs)|||
|Donations|1,000|(Pass-through of HHD & Pesach appeal donations)|||
|Insurance|9,500||||
|Utilities|8,000||||
|Management & Administration (excl. staff)|1,500||||
12
|Depreciation|3,500|
|---|---|
|Burial and Cremation Costs|500|
|Fundraising and property letting costs|500|
|**Total Expenditure**|201,700|
|**Net Surplus/Deficit**|**2,940**|
13
## **Louise Freedman President’s Message**
On 21 September 2019, we held a Shabbat Civic service to celebrate the 90[th] anniversary of the foundation in 1929 of this congregation whose nucleus was formed three years earlier from the South London Section of the Jewish Religious Union; this itself was the predecessor of the Union of Liberal & Progressive Synagogues or Liberal Judaism as it is now entitled. We can be justly proud of our past history; it is now up to us to ensure that our congregation’s future and that of Liberal Judaism is its equal. Nevertheless, the pandemic began early in 2020 and we haven’t been able to use our building for many months. We live in challenging times.
A huge thank you to everyone who, during this year, has given of their time and energy to help our Synagogue: our minister, Nathan Godleman, our Officers, Council and our administrator, Martina ZabelHoffman for their dedication and enthusiasm. We also thank those who have rallied round in these challenging times: attended services on Zoom and YouTube, read or taken part in those services, volunteered as SLLS Sentinels, to keep in touch with and help our members.
However, we appeal for more members to take an active role in synagogue life. Involvement is not necessarily onerous and can range from serving on Council to helping to organise an activity. Much needs to be done and every act to help, big or small, is an opportunity to perform a mitzvah. Ask yourself what task you could contribute to make things happen – please contact the office, Nathan or any Council member. Your generosity of time will be greatly appreciated.
Enjoy this year’s report and stay safe!
## **James Krikler Chair’s report**
This annual report is testament to the resolve and fortitude of our community, both its leaders and the wider membership, for we have all played a part in keeping going through some of the toughest conditions that our community has ever faced. It represents no small achievement and thankfully, we can celebrate not only remaining a going concern, coming through a still-raging, worldwide crisis, but somehow staying largely intact and functioning remarkably well. We have no doubt suffered great difficulties in our past, such as when having just taken up residence on Prentis Road in 1939, facing up to global conflict with its bombs, blackouts, rationing and loss of a number of members as well (as we’ve been discussing recently), causing plenty of anguish and more I’m sure. Or when during the late 1970s we were temporarily without a building, while extensive work took place to create the upper sanctuary and kiddush hall below. But this year has seen the first time that we have been unable to continue meeting in person, holding services and ceremonies in the normal way, or fighting through the children to get to the kiddush table, since the coronavirus pandemic rose up and took hold.
Time seems to have passed in something of a blur, months slipping by with the Groundhog Day film reference often cited. We started positively upbeat and confident in our future, before shuddering to a virtual halt in the spring, followed by a largely digital existence thereafter. Only that doesn’t do justice to the way that we have more than managed to keep an online synagogue ever present and important in our lives. And having found a way to survive, despite being largely shut out of our premises and physically isolated from one another, we have actually prospered, with attendances up (albeit online) and several new members joining. A huge amount of our relative success is easily attributed to Rabbi Nathan’s determination and enduring spirit that we have all appreciated, but we must also acknowledge the technical and other support that has come forward in a variety of ways from within our ranks.
14
Perhaps we have been helped by the fact that we are relatively compact as a community in terms of numbers, while fairly diverse in both make up and far-flung reach. This might explain why we seem to have been so adept at accepting and utilizing the technological salvation on hand. As a smaller community we are lighter on our feet and have embraced the innovation required, fitting our typical selfreliance and independent spirit. Already close knit and thus less shy about turning up on screen, we have got to grips with the online world of cameras and muting/unmuting of microphones – though not always at the right time! The geographic separation inherent in our membership was eased for many by not having to physically travel and accommodating everybody in each of our living rooms, kitchens, broom cupboards or wherever has actually been good fun at times. We might feel rather unsettled at the moment but to borrow from Paul Young’s 80’s classic, wherever I lay my phone/tablet/laptop/webcam, that’s my home (you can see behind me).
As mentioned, the year began with great fanfare and high expectations of what the coming months would bring. Our 90th anniversary civic service back in September 2019 was a great way to kick things off and I had the pleasure of welcoming the Bishop of Southwark, the MP for Dulwich and Norwood and the Mayor of Lambeth. We even published a lovely calendar full of photos and gathered insights from members and leaders, past and present – well done that team. After the turn of the year and an auspicious AGM, we held a suitably raucous and enjoyable Burn’s night, deploying our new tables for the first time and twirling away to full effect. Then came Purim fun including the usual, unusual garb and a memorable visit from storytelling Rabbi Pete Tobias. Next up was Pesach and preparations for our traditional seder were well underway, when it became apparent that the virus was taking hold and we realized that we couldn’t put the community at risk. Scrambling to master the tech, we somehow pulled off a tremendously successful online event at short notice – it couldn’t have worked better. Since then almost every lifecycle event has been online, whether recorded or live, along with the popular Thursday coffee mornings, brilliantly curated by Peter West, while even more services are on offer through the week.
So welcome to the new format, digital report and online AGM – hopefully to be a one-off, but equally worthwhile and productive event as ever. Reporting more specifically on what has been happening throughout the synagogue over the last year I’m happy to begin with the children, where Gesher maintained a welcome presence and kept them, as well as their parents, connected and enriched. While uncertainties held sway, Zach took it upon himself to establish an online offering and it has gone from strength to strength. Changing circumstances and with the alternative form of delivery, we found ourselves standing down Aviva and Sarit who began the year as joint heads, along with our many assistants. Their efforts over many years and willingness to accept the evolving situation this year with grace and understanding, is very much appreciated. For now, the format of the classes has been completely restructured, with Nathan in an executive role and Zach working hard as an effective Coordinator.
In a similar way, there has been an enormous change in the format and delivery of our South Circular newsletter – moving largely digital and more magazine-like, under the new editorial stewardship of Alison and well supported by Nathan. We give thanks to our President, Louise, for her efforts over many years in putting together and getting out the previous incarnation.
While talking staff, there’s no one more important to our effective functioning than our administrator, Martina. We have seen the role taken on, transformed and delivered and have to acknowledge the work that has been put in, as well as the flexibility that has been paramount to coping with the changing operations. In doing so, we have increased Martina’s working hours to more closely match the real workload, though we will keep an eye on this to ensure we are not taking advantage of her good nature!
In various ways Rabbi Nathan has also grown through lockdown, though that could partly be down to Linda’s cooking. Joking aside, we are so lucky to have had the right person at the right time. He is also particularly good at seeing opportunities and bringing in others when required, for a truly collective
15
effort. The good news is/was that we managed to sign him up on an ongoing contract when his original two year period finished, at the end of August 2020.
The Covid effect has been felt in relation to our nursery tenants and hall renters too, though we have tried to be as accommodating of their needs as possible. They have all had difficulties operating as usual and naturally this has affected our income, particularly from the hall use. At least the nursery seems to be managing and are paying their full rent again, having had a sizable discount in the first lockdown. To help them maintain distancing we have permitted the front doors to be used for additional access and likewise agreed more use of the hall, given its availability. This is good for us additionally, as a building in use is naturally safer and more secure.
This applies equally to the family accommodated in the ATP flat – they are generally quite happy and we have agreed to extend their lease until we’re clear of the current crisis for their peace of mind and convenience. An issue of the last few months has been extensive mould on walls due to a build up of humidity and condensation – resulting from not opening windows or running the heating! We have provided a dehumidifier and agreed to cover the heating bill for two months. Redecoration will be required in due course unfortunately. Thanks to Harriet for maintaining a liaison and management role.
The renovations to the defunct caretaker space to provide the ATP flat was a great collective undertaking and showed what could be achieved with determined effort allied to a good cause. We have been talking for a while now about the next big project – essentially to renovate the rest of the building, taking care of ourselves. We brought it to everyone’s attention at the last AGM that an anonymous donor had offered £25,000 towards such works, if we could match it and we duly set about looking into ways of doing so. Several council members took charge and in April, despite being in lockdown, we secured £4,000 from the NLPS trust, specifically to refurbish and upgrade the two accessible toilets. This sum, along with a number of other generous donations was added to the match fund appeal. Individual effort has been epitomized by Diego who was sponsored to ride his bike all over London in May and recently helped to put an electronic donation button on our website (that he also set up and maintains!). Remarkably enough, we have now raised the funds required and have put together a schedule of works focusing on renovations and improvements to the main ‘front of house’ spaces. This is being priced by, and discussed with, several local building firms – one of whom put up the Bimah banner and has already carried very important maintenance work recently to our roof. I have been instrumental in putting this together, given my architectural experience, but it remains to be seen whether we will be able to afford to do all that we wish. It’s never easy forming committees or finding people able to spare significant time to volunteer, but I’m hoping that one or two of us who aren’t already serving on council, will come forward to make this another truly collective effort, as we push on with the works. Meanwhile, we intend to keep fundraising towards other specific projects such as replacing our aging lift and would appreciate others involving themselves here as well. I’ll happily meet anyone interested, online or in person, to discuss the plans in hand and any other ideas.
I know that this will be dealt with elsewhere but an important undertaking this year has been a thorough review of our membership rates – for levels, fairness, simplification and administration. As a council we were wary of making significant increases for some, but also conscious that the rates were not providing sufficient funds to meet our overheads and that we are over reliant on a few very generous donors. This is not a fair or sustainable model and so, painful as it may be, as the current custodians we feel justified in pursuing this course and taking the difficult decisions necessary to secure our future.
To conclude, I remain optimistic for the coming months and years, hopeful of a return to our building once the threat from the virus has receded. We will proceed with the refurbishment in one form or another and I have no doubt that our membership will continue to grow and strengthen in its commitment to the synagogue and each other.
As ever, I would like to thank all the people who work tirelessly on our community’s behalf and all those who come together to attend and participate in any of our activities – even if only across the ether for
16
now! Beyond those already mentioned, our honorary officers Paul, Eve and Andy deserve special praise for all that they do – diligently carrying out their duties as well as offering wise counsel to me and the rest of council, being generally proactive and drawing on their years of experience – it helps when two are past Chairs!
Whatever happens, we are clearly an enduring, friendly and mostly joyful lot and I look forward to seeing you all whenever joining a service or a meeting myself. So until the next time – and certainly at the AGM I hope – please stay safe and well and I wish you all the best for the coming year.
## **Rabbi Nathan Godleman Rabbi’s report**
The last four months of 2019 now seem quite remote, as does the first part of 2020. The global pandemic, which struck in early spring, has been monumental in the life of the synagogue. Therefore, I intend to concentrate on these last nine months, during which time our mode of operation has changed radically, enabled only by new technology. Nine months without a single service in the sanctuary, yet with services running online up to five times a week at one stage; life cycle events celebrated safely; a support network set up and a social and educational programme which has helped sustain us as individuals and as a community. With no losses to the virus to date and the handful who contracted having recovered, we can look forward to emerging from the crisis stronger, if anything, and having learned invaluable lessons, as well as new skills.
My thanks go to the synagogue council for setting and steering our course through these troubled waters; to Louise, our most active of presidents; to James and the honorary officers, upon whom so much rests; to our administrator, Martina; to Zach and Gesher; and to Diego, who provided me with a computer and a training session back in March, and has lent his expert assistance most generously ever since. I would also thank the community as a whole, from the oldest to the youngest, including our bar and bat mitzvah families. Good humour has been apparent throughout - witness our online kiddush every Shabbat, as have kindness and a willingness to engage in new ways. The South London Liberal Synagogue remains a good place to be, even as ‘being there’ has come to mean something quite different.
## Services
These carried on as normal prior to Covid, with weekly Shabbat morning services and Friday night services twice a month. The former were reasonably well attended, especially during term time. The evening services are attended by up to about a dozen regulars, and rarely by families. With the onset of the first lockdown, at the encouragement of the late Simon Benedictus, two weekday morning services online were added, now down to one, and a havdalah group formed, which attracts up to ten households on a weekly basis. The High Holy Day services of 2019 were a high point for me, in terms of collaboration and participation. The Chanukah celebration which followed, with a hall full of people and a table full of candles, was another success. Within weeks of lockdown, we were faced with an online seder, and did remarkably well, considering we were in the early days of Zoom meetings! Since then, we have celebrated almost all the festivals online, including candle lighting over eight nights of Chanukah - normally we’d come together only once, and a full set of HHD services. Numbers have increased, sometimes substantially, including at previously poorly-attended services such as Selichot. YouTube and then Zoom have proven convenient and agreeable for most. Guest rabbis have been able to participate remotely, providing some support for me and variety for all. We have also begun to join with other congregations, and already attract those within the wider Jewish community.
17
## Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Kabbalat Torah
I continue to teach all our bar and bat mitzvah candidates myself, which I enjoy as a former teacher and as a rabbi, building relationships which should go far beyond the big day itself. The only exception since September 2019 has been Reuben, largely taught by Bev. Reuben, Kingsley, Tal, Talia and Lexi have all celebrated their bar or bat mitzvah in the period covered by this report. Tal and Talia were filmed in the sanctuary, with the clips integrated into the following Shabbat morning service online. Lexi was filmed at home, as a new strain of the virus appeared. During the summer, I undertook to teach the preBM group Hebrew online over a period of about two months. I have also been teaching the KT group, which includes Thalia, on Sunday mornings as part of Gesher online.
## Adult Education
Shiurim on Shabbat mornings, led alternately by myself and John, are proving more popular online, after unsuccessful attempts to sustain them at Prentis Road. The focus has been the Torah portion of the week, from either a scholarly or philosophical point of view. Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet returned in early 2020 to teach a course on Tanakh, which was well attended. The Delving into Judaism class has become simply ‘Judaism’ and hopes to attract anyone wishing to learn more, along with providing a solid grounding to those converting. Numbers are good - a dozen or so, with almost as many studying Hebrew with either me or Bev beforehand.
## School visits and Outreach
School visits, in either direction, ceased with Covid. Until March, most weeks would see either a visit to SLLS or a visit by me to a school. Surprisingly, only one approach for an online session has been made since schools resumed. 2021 may be the time to be more proactive in that area. I now sit as a member of the management committee of Faiths Together in Lambeth, and helped shape and run its online Remembrance event last November. I have since taken over responsibility, at least temporarily, for the borough-wide Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration, also online. Additionally, I have joined our honorary secretary, Paul, on the board of trustees of HIV Chaplaincy.
## Conversion and Membership
Two candidates from SLLS successfully appeared before the Liberal Judaism online beit din and have become full members. Their admission ceremonies were carried out privately in the sanctuary before the second lockdown. The culmination of long personal journeys and a proud moment for each. One other candidate is awaiting the resumption of in-person sessions of the beit din. Two others have registered recently, with a further two registered earlier. All have joined as friends of the synagogue, as have others in the class not registered. Membership in general, enumerated elsewhere, has been steady, considering the last nine months. I have been able to meet a number of prospective members at the synagogue, maintaining a social distance, and on Zoom, emphasising that our online services and events do give a good indication of the community.
## Marriages
One wedding, Alice and Anthony’s, took place at the synagogue, albeit with a curtailed number of guests present. Thus, it was broadcast simultaneously and was a joyous occasion for all involved. An earlier wedding blessing had to be postponed, as did a ceremony planned for elsewhere.
18
## Funerals
I took the funerals of five of our members, together with a stone setting and a shiva. Additionally, I conducted a number of non-member funerals, one stone setting, another shiva and a burial and stone setting on behalf of Bromley Reform Synagogue, which followed a hospital visit to a brave and ailing member.
## Pastoral Support/Friendship Group
The size and connectedness of our community has meant that our approach to pastoral care has been an informal one, at least during my tenure. Phone calls, emails and text messages are an integral part of my work. Visits are less frequent, due to geography, and had to cease completely with Covid. Zoom calls are a blessing, as was the move to online of the friendship group. Run by Peter since early 2020, it has grown in numbers and has attracted a wide range of interesting speakers. It is also an opportunity to meet with some of our older members, as both James and I have done on a regular basis. A number of them were involved, on either end of the phone, in the telephone group set up at the beginning of the first lockdown. Another development at that time was the formation of a group of volunteers - SLLS Sentinels, available to assist those in need. (Likely to have returned by the date of the AGM, though working in a more targeted way.)
## The Sanctuary
I was able to secure two carved oak reading desks and two upholstered benches in the Autumn from Mosaic Liberal Synagogue at no cost (a donation was made, effectively), transported them from Harrow to Streatham with Linda and installed them on the bimah, helped by William and James. The old pulpit has been retained, and the new arrangement will be trialled for a year. Eldi has also transformed the ark. The birds have flown, but will perch nearby. The spaces behind the bimah have been cleared for storage and use by myself and Igor. (The re-installation by Rene of our alt-neu ark banner back in September 2019, though within the remit of this report, now seems a world away.)
## The Magazine and E-bulletin
I have been pleased to assist Alison Watson as she has taken over South Circular from Louise, and to see it transformed into a bi-monthly magazine, necessitated by the fact of a weekly e-bulletin, sent out to a large proportion of our membership and its main source of news. I, in turn, have taken over responsibility for the e-bulletin from Martina.
## The Future
As I conclude my fifth annual report to you, in the 91st year of our history, I look forward primarily to a safe return to the sanctuary, continuing to stream our services when we do; to the renovation of our very special building in 2021, made possible by generous donations; and to growth, in various ways. I do feel we need a new social action project. (Our attempt to build a relationship with the food charity, Feast, was ultimately unsuccessful.) We also need people to step up to leadership positions in the synagogue. Not only to support others, but to lead, both on and off the bimah. I am hopeful, but it requires a decision and commitment within each individual, which I cannot dictate. We really do build, and can only build, together.
19