Faith

SURVIVORS of the Holocaust will once again share their experiences as part of events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), in the hope that such a horrific atrocity will never repeat itself.

More than six million Jews were persecuted at the hands of the Nazi regime and today (27) is exactly 65 years since the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated in 1945.

About 2,000 children from 33 schools across Hillingdon, Harrow and Hertfordshire will commemorate the anniversary at HMD events in Northwood - the largest in the UK - organised by Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, in Oaklands Gate, and Northwood United Synagogue, in Murray Road.

ST EDUMND'S in Pinner Road, Northwood Hills is hosting The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 20 at 6.30pm.

The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus will be told in nine short Bible readings, intermingled with the singing of Christmas choirs and hymns. The event will be followed by mulled wine in the church hall.

A crib service will also take place at 4pm on Christmas Eve, and the church is asking everyone to bring gifts for the Myosotis Trust, a charitable organisation which works in Barlad, Rumania.

Items needed include baby products, toys and games, materials to dress wounds and cash donations to offset the £2,000 cost of driving a lorry to Rumania. Please do not wrap gifts.

For further information, visit www.saintedumndschurch.org.uk.

LAST Sunday (29) marked the 10th anniversary of Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue's thrice-yearly Blood Donation Day.

The event, a collaboration between the synagogue, in Oaklands Gate, Northwood, and Northwood United Synagogue, in Murray Road, attracted more than 125 people, with 110 donations taken.

It is estimated that 2,500 people have given blood to the project since it started.

Christmas Fayre at Northwood Methodist Church, Oaklands Gate on Saturday 14th November from 10am-1pm. Entrance 30p. For further information call 0208 866 3745.

THE president of the International Council of Christians and Jews will be speaking at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue in Oaklands Gate on Tuesday, November 24.

Dr Debbie Weissman, who has a PhD in Jewish Education, has journeyed from Israel to talk about A Jewish Theology of Other Religions.

The event starts at 8pm. For more information, visit www.npls.org.uk or call 01923 822 592.

Northwood Missionary Auctions will be holding its next charity auction tomorrow (7) at Fairfield, Windsor Close, Northwood Hills.

NMA has been supporting Christian Charities for 40 years and holds twice yearly sales of donated items with the full hammer price being sent to donors' nominated Christian charities. Many valuable antique and collectible items are offered for sale and the full catalogue with pictures can be viewed on the NMA website - www.nmauctions.org.uk.

The viewing of lots will take place between 10.00am and 12.15pm with the sale starting at 2.15pm. Also in the morning between 10.00am and 12 noon there is a grand sale of bric-a-brac and books, with many bargains to be had.

AN ORGANIST is hosting two recitals to raise money for the repairs of a Rickmansworth church clock project.

Andrew Sykes will perform at the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, in Church Street, next Friday (13) and the following Friday (20).

The events will feature the music by classical composers including Bach and Mozart, as well as improvisations of the theme of The Simpsons and The Onedin Line.

Both shows begin at 7.30pm and all donations gratefully received.

Visit www.stmarysrickmansworth.org.uk for more information.

THE Royal Air Forces Association President's Band is performing at St Edmund's Church, in Pinner Road, Northwood Hills.

The event is being held at 7.30pm on September 26 to raise money for the church's roof fund.

Tickets are £8 and £5 for children. Call 020 8868 7785.

A SYNAGOGUE played host to a unique weekend attracting people from far and wide to literally sing their way through the Sabbath.

Participants from as far afield as Leicester, Hereford and Manchester joined Rabbis and musicians at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, in Oaklands Gate, Northwood, on July 24 and 25 for the 'Singing Weekend'.

Everyone learned religious chanting and took part in workshops to improve their vocal techniques, as well as having a go at playing the Shofar (a ram's horn blown to mark the Jewish New Year).

Over the course of the weekend the two dozen or so participants joined Northwood's regular congregants in leading two musical services as well as a short Havadalah, which marks the end of the Jewish Sabbath.

Northwood and Pinner Rabbi, Hillel Athias-Robles, said: "Shabbat is an incredibly joyful time for Jews, and as a community we have a strong tradition of singing and chanting to express that joy.

"There was something for everyone at the 'Singing Weekend', from the most modern to the most traditional.

"Hopefully we will now have created a new tradition which will have Jews from Northwood to the North West singing from sunrise to sunset."

THE chairman of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust will be speaking at a Northwood synagogue as part of a commemoration.

On June 6 Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, in Oaklands Gate, Northwood, will be commemorating the lives of the Jews of Kolin and the legacy of the Torah Scroll that now resides in the Holy Ark in Northwood - now the last Jewish survivor of Kolin.

To mark this occasion, Dr Stephen Smith MBE, the co-founder and director of the Holocaust Centre and chairman of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, will be speaking on the subject: "Memory in the future in the absence of survivors."

Senior Rabbi, Aaron Goldstein said: "We want to welcome local residents to appreciate the legacy of the Holocaust that is present in Northwood.
"It is important to us that our young people and our neighbours understand the opportunity of this legacy, to provide hope in the future, that genocide will be eradicated from the world and any form of hatred is never allowed to develop in our local Community."

The lecture will start at 10am.For more information go to www.npls.org.uk, email admin@npls.org.uk or call 01923 822592.