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11 Oct 2008 / 12 Tishri 5769     

Social & Caring

Social Centre
The Synagogue's Social Centre for older people meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month for a programme that packs a lot into four hours: coffee and socialising; board and card games; gentle physical exercises; a discussion on a topical issue - these often become very heated and would over-run were it not for the fact that they have to stop for lunch to be served.  The excellent lunch is provided by a dedicated team of volunteer cooks/waitresses and is followed by a talk or entertainment led by either an outside speaker or entertainer or a member who has a particular interest or area of expertise.  Help with transport is arranged for those who cannot easily get to the Synagogue.  Details from the office. 

Caring
One of the priorities of the community is to offer help to any member who is unwell or otherwise in need, whether that involves visits at home or in hospital, offering lifts or finding the right person to deal with the problem.  In the first instance, the Rabbi or the office is the point of contact.  However, there are also local area groups that, while initially set up for social purposes, act as support networks for their members. 

Area Groups
The longest-standing area group is BR5 & 6 and Friends, which has been meeting for some 17 years in members' homes in the Orpington/Petts Wood area, but, as the title suggests, encompasses many members who don't live within those strict geographical limits.  Its activities include coffee mornings and shared meals, quizzes and games evenings, outings to places of interest and, occasionally, running events for the rest of the community.

Its newer sister is BR10, which covers the central area, but also welcomes all members.  Similar activities are planned, and details can be found in Highlight and e-light or obtained from the office.


FESTIVAL FOOD
The following recipes are recommended by Social Centre founding member Gertrud Roberts. The first is a Rosh Hashanah feast, Meatless Goulash.

Gently fry a chopped red onion and two cloves of garlic for about five minutes in 1 tbsp olive oil until soft. Stir in 1 tsp paprika and add 1 tsp oil before adding the following, all chopped:

2 sticks celery; 1 red pepper; 2 small courgettes; 2 carrots; half a fennel; 4 medium mushrooms, some sprigs of parsley, salt and pepper to taste. 

Mix all together to absorb the oil.  Cook gently for 5- 10 mins before adding a 14oz tin chopped tomatoes.  Dissolve 2 tsp tomato puree in half a cup of boiling water and add to the mixture.  Continue cooking over a low heat until all the vegetables are cooked, adding more water if necessary.

Drain and rinse a small tin of chick peas, add them to the mixture and continue cooking for another 10 minutes.  Immediately before serving, add 2 tbsp yoghurt to the goulash. Do not bring back to the boil.  Serve on a bed of rice or mashed potatoes.

...and the following is a pleasant, light soup, suitable for breaking the fast.

Light Barley Soup

Boil 3-4 oz (100g) pearl barley until soft (40-45 mins), adding half a stock cube towards the end.  Meanwhile, chop 10-12 spring onions, including the green parts, and cook them gently in 2 tbsp olive oil.  Then add, all chopped:

2 sticks celery; 2 new season's carrots; 1 small turnip; 2 skinned tomatoes; 1 courgette; half a yellow pepper; 2-inch length cucumber; parsley; salt and pepper to taste.

Mix well together before adding 1.5 litres boiling water.  Add the barley and 1 vegetable cube and seasoning if desired.  You can add fresh or frozen peas, and/or substitute other ingredients to taste.

Gertrud's recipes are available in bound form - details from the Synagogue office.


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