The turnout at the Hazvi Yisrael Synagogue in Talbiyeh on Saturday was one of the exceptions to the rule.
By GREER FAY CASHMANUpdated: OCTOBER 15, 2015 16:01A kiddush wine cup(photo credit: INGIMAGE)
MOST SYNAGOGUES have larger congregations on the Shabbat preceding Rosh Hodesh, the new Hebrew calendar month, but seldom do the numbers reach the proportions of worshipers during the High Holy Day period. The turnout at the Hazvi Yisrael Synagogue in Talbiyeh on Saturday was one of the exceptions to the rule.The reason: Veteran stalwarts of the congregation Anne and Stuart Dove were hosting a kiddush in honor of the marriage of their son David, who had first come to the congregation as a very junior immigrant from London and had accompanied his father to services.As an adult, David moved to Tel Aviv, where he is the lay leader of a young congregation. His parents had almost despaired of his ever getting married, but at age 47 he surprised them by finding his soul mate and getting engaged to Anna Kingsley, the daughter of Linda and Laurence Kingsley, who is likewise a British expat. David told his parents that after so many years in Israel, he never expected to marry a British girl. The wedding took place last Thursday at the Inbal Hotel, and given that the bride and the groom come from British stock, it was understandable that most of the guests were either British expats or Brits who had flown to Israel for the occasion.Rabbi Avigdor Bustein, in congratulating the Doves on Saturday, noted their overall philanthropy without fanfare and their special contribution to the congregation. Commenting that recent events in Jerusalem had mingled tears of joy with tears of sorrow, he said that while standing beneath the bridal canopy, he had seen a tear on the bride’s cheek as the groom recited the traditional “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem...”The lavish kiddush was in the best British tradition, with one extra – platters of sushi. Whenever the Doves host a kiddush, they are unsparing in the volume and variety of food and always include such British (and Australian) favorites as fried fish balls. There was also gefilte fish, pickled herring, fresh herring, herring salad plus other salads and platters of fruit and cakes and more.AT MORE or less the same time in Rehavia, another British expat, Pessy Krausz, was hosting a kiddush at the Hanassi Synagogue. It was in memory of her husband, Neville, another quiet philanthropist, who died a year ago, and in honor of their great-grandsons, one of whom was born on the day of Neville’s death and the other who was born nine months and two weeks later. It was also the anniversary of Neville Krausz’s bar mitzva.Rabbi Berel Wein, the spiritual leader of the Hanassi Congregation, noted that the Bereishit Torah reading reflected both mortality and continuity, which was appropriate in the case of the Krausz family, and he wished Pessy much family continuity and many future reasons to celebrate.Krausz is the founder of Shalshelet, an organization that engages in pre- and post-marital counseling and also works to introduce unmarried men and women to each other in a pressure-free social environment.ELSEWHERE IN the area, on the seam of Rehavia-Talbiyeh, around the corner from the Prime Minister’s Residence, Yesha leaders, who are encamped there until they can be assured of a new security policy insofar as it affects Judea and Samaria, were also having a kiddush and were joined by local Jerusalemites. Missing was Yossi Dagan, chairman of the Samaria Regional Council, whose wife, Oriah, and their children were attacked by a rock-throwing terrorist while en route to Jerusalem to spend Shabbat with Dagan. The incident resulted in a collision with an oncoming vehicle. On learning of what had happened to his family, Dagan rushed to Shaare Zedek Medical Center to be with them and was relieved to discover that they were only lightly injured.NOW THAT self-publishing is in vogue, increasing numbers of people feel inclined to write their autobiographies, especially people who want to leave a meaningful legacy to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Writing or dictating an autobiography is not something that comes naturally, so the Tamar chapter of Hadassah is offering members and friends a little help. At its general meeting that will take place at AACI, 37 Pierre Koenig Street on October 19 at 9:45 a.m., Stanley Dalnekoff will deliver a PowerPoint presentation on how to tell your life story.
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