Dear Members and Friends,
It is almost 270 years since our congregation was established in Norwich and our first synagogue building was in Tombland Alley in 1828. We have been part of the City of Norwich heritage for a good number of years and we are today very much involved with our outreach programme. As in previous years we will be opening our synagogue on Sunday 16th September for Heritage Open Day and welcoming the citizens of East Anglia to learn about Judaism and its history.
We are grateful to Marsha and Todd Parker for their schools programme where they have welcomed over 2000 children who attended a Jewish experience visit to the synagogue during the last school year. I got up early one Sunday morning in July to take part in Radio Norfolk’s religious programme, where, together with representatives of six other religions we answered or commented on a range of subjects. In August Maureen and I welcomed about 40 trainee priests from the Anglican Cathedral on a visit to learn about Judaism, many of whom had not visited a synagogue before.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is visiting Norwich for two days in the autumn and he has expressed a desire to visit our synagogue for a short morning service on Wednesday 7th November which we are organising. In the evening that day there is a service at the Anglican Cathedral entitled ‘Reflections on Reconciliation’ where Marian Prinsley is honoured to have been invited to contribute. Please make a note in your dairy and give us your support.
In 1936 a member of the Boardman family was presented with a sapling oak as a gold medallist at the Olympic Games. This oak has since died and a memorial plaque entitled ‘Hitler’s Oak’ is in the grounds of his family home of How Hill. Our member, Elaine Black felt this was very inappropriate and on her behalf I wrote to their Trustees who have agreed to re-name this oak more appropriately. We were pleased with the outcome and look forward to hearing when this has been completed.
The summer is almost over, the holiday season is coming to an end and we look forward to the Autumn and our High Holy Days. It has been a busy and yet a sad year with the passing of our friend and treasurer Nick Simons.
Maureen and I wish all of you a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Barry