Due to people’s growing awareness of the environment, Tu B’Shevat has become increasingly popular and many congregations have followed the Kabbalistic tradition of holding Sederim. 

Nearly forty adults and children joined Rabbi Kathleen de Magtige-Middleton and her family on Friday 29th January for a Kabbalat Shabbat service, a vegetarian chavurah supper and a fruit seder.

In the 16th century, kabbalists living in Safed developed a Tu B'shevat Seder on the model of the Passover Seder. These mystics sought to uncover hidden mysteries of God's wondrous creation of trees and fruits through relevant verses, midrashim, gematria and observations of nature. What, for example, does it teach us about the nature of the universe that God created some fruits with inedible shells (pomegranates, oranges, grapefruits), some with inedible pits (dates, olives), and others that can be eaten whole (grapes, raisins, figs)?

On Wednesday 24th February at 8:00pm, you are invited to explore with Rabbi Kathleem de Magtige-Middleton the hidden messages, the roles of the characters and the symbolism of the Megillah in a Purim Workshop entitled 'Emancipation and Rebellion in Megillat Esther'.

Saturday 27 6:30pm - Erev Purim;
Havdalah, daily evening service, reading of the Megillah by the younger members of the community, followed by entertainment.

27th February – 7th March
at the Royal National Hotel. Bedford Way. London WC1H 0DJ

There is an excellent Jewish Book Week booklet and website www.jewishbookweek.com for this forthcoming event. Our Israel Focus group at MNS has highlighted amongst the many interesting and stimulating items the following Israel related events to draw to your attention.

Sunday 28th February
12:30pm    DAY AFTER NIGHT    Anita Diamant, Anne Sebba (Chair)
3:30pm      THE HOUSE OF RAJANI   Alon Hilu, Ian Black (Chair)
5:00pm      Sir MOSES MONTEFIORE  Abigail Green
6:30pm      FOOTBALL ACROSS BORDERS Assaf Gavron, Jeremy Gavron, Jerrold Kessel, Simon Kuper, Uri Sharadsky, Jim Cockin  (Chair)

Monday 1st March
3:00pm Documentary film WE HAVE NO OTHER LAND

Sunday 7th March
8:30pm A WAY FORWARD?  Shlomo Ben Ami, Francesca Klug, Daniel Levy, Jonathan Friedland (Chair)

Rabbi Kathleen de Magtige-Middleton and the MNS Council invite you to join them in a real heimishesecond night seder among family and friends at Middlesex New Synagogue on Tuesday 30th March.

Ticket prices:

MNS members:
£12.50 pp, (£17.50 pp after 1st March), children under 14 .. free, family rates available on application to the office.

Non-members
£20.00 pp, (£25.00 pp after 1st March), children over 13 .. £5.00 pp, children over 13 .. £5.00.

A fish meal will be provided; please let us know if you require a vegetarian alternative.