I found the communal Pesach Seder this year to be a joyous intergenerational telling of our story of liberation.For me, the highlights were the play, which included much in the way of humorous improvisation such as kvetching about the kneidlach being too salty, but also inviting consciousness of the plagues of our times, and showing …
Our latest Culture Club offering was a seasonal on-line event to test our baking skills.Frances writes:Rabbi Anna came up with the idea of a Passover Cookathon and asked Elizabeth, Lily and me to lead it. Elizabeth would be preparing and baking to my instructions. Lily would be the technical wizard for the Zoom and this …
The Shabbat service on 21 March was special in many ways, and I was glad to be able to attend.Prior to the service we had a musical practice session, going through the chanting of the Shemah passages. As Anna pointed out this was not an easy task, as learning the Torah trope is not the …
The 3CLJC’s Purim celebration took a lively gameshow format, hosted by Rabbi Anna Gerrard. The story of Esther was interspersed with three rounds of Purim themed games: a quiz, a shadow puppet challenge and a Just a Minute-style competition where contestants had to speak for sixty seconds without hesitation, deviation, or repetition on topics like …
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 …
