This year, we celebrated Chanukah with an original Chanukah Play. From the audience The real star of this show was Rabbi Anna, writer, producer, director, wardrobe mistress, curator of the beards and stage manager; all undertaken with patience and good humour! Alongside the extra dimension to her duties: the audience. When I arrived for the …
“Till and tend” was the theme of our Eco Shabbat service in Stroud attended by members of the community from across the Three Counties. During the service Rabbi Anna explained the virtues of “till and tend”: that while we take from the Earth, we must also care for it and treasure it for subsequent generations. …
The air was heavy with the damp chill of an early November evening, while the darkness of mid-autumn pressed in, but within the hall, a different atmosphere was taking hold. Our first Friday night service in what felt like an age was beginning, and as the room was filled with song and the Shabbat candles …
After spending 3½ hours in Friday evening traffic jams I finally arrived at Exeter. After checking in and putting my suitcase in my room, we all met at the reception to walk together to Exeter Synagogue. It’s not the first time I have been there, and I am always in awe entering this synagogue. It’s …
Almost fifty people from congregations in the South-West met in Exeter for the first Chagigah-celebration- which was held over one weekend in October. After Friday evening service led by Rabbi Anna in the eighteenth century synagogue we had dinner followed by Oneg Shabbat music and singing. An alternative session on Shema deep listening and gentle …
Although this year’s was a traditional High Holyday morning service, it was actually held in the afternoon. I personally found the service, which was conducted by Rabbi Anna and lay readers both enjoyable and thought provoking. Several members of the community contributed with readings, or blessings, in Hebrew or English, which helped make it feel …
Time to Reflect This year was my first Yom Kippur since completing my conversion, which made it especially meaningful for me. I took some of the time to reflect on my journey into Judaism as well as to focus on repentance during the community prayers. The Kol Nidrei service was solemn and reflective. I always …
A large group of all ages gathered at Rabbi Anna’s house to celebrate Sukkot on Sunday 12th October. We started the afternoon by helping to decorate the sukkah with some light greenery, fruit and some beautiful paper fruit decorations. Hanging a pear with string proved to be more challenging than you might think! When everyone …
Sukkot has always been my husband Marc’s favourite festival. He loves building a temporary structure, eating and sleeping in it for a week. We used to live near to the Ultra-Orthodox community in Stamford Hill and he is a bit of an expert on making a kosher Sukkah, which we used to do each year …
On 14th June, the Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community held its annual Anne Frank Memorial Service in Hereford. This year’s theme, “Hope in Difficult Times,” was movingly explored by Rabbi Anna Gerrard, who spoke about the enduring power of hope in the face of global conflict, famine, and suffering. Drawing from Jewish tradition, Rabbi Anna …
