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Hunukkah Shabbat Service and Kiddush
December 7th 2007.
Around fifty members and guests of the Comunidad gathered on Friday December 7th
at the synagogue Social Center
to light the large shul menorah, together with many smaller menorahs brought
along by others.
Mario Periera recited the blessings and the Hanerot Halalu at the lighting of
the fourth candle
and everyone joined in the singing of Moaz Tzur. There followed the lighting
of the Shabbat Candles,
after which we all made our way into the synagogue for the Shabbat Service.
This was followed by a special Kiddush
Table on which was heaped all kinds of mouth watering foods, many of which
were of the traditional
variety such as lutkas, fried fish, and doughnuts. Hunukkah Gelt, Dreidals,
and Festive Decorations abounded,
and song sheets provided us with words for the Hunukkah "Sing Along".
Report by: B.I.

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"ADDRESS UNKOWN"
Wednesday November 7th 2007.
"Inspiring", "powerful", "so emotional", these were some of the reactions to the recent Xàbia Book Circle
presentation of a dramatised reading of "Address Unknown" at the social centre of the Benidorm Synagogue.
The book was written in 1938 by an American journalist Katharine Kressman Taylor and its success,
both then and again in 1995 when it was republished, is a tribute to the power of the writing,
which the author used to warn of the destructive power of racist ideology.
The story unfolds through a series of letters between two German friends who are business partners
in America, which recount succinctly the terrible changes to the lives of the men and their families
brought by the rise of the Nazi party in pre- war Germany. Max, a Jew, remains in California to
manage their art and antique business, while non-Jewish Martin, returns with his family to Germany
in 1932 to expand the European side of the business. At first Martin is depressed by the social
and economic misery that he finds and gradually he is impressed by the energy of the ideas of Adolf Hitler.
Away from America and his friend Max, his liberal philosophy is replaced by a blind allegiance
to a doctrine of racism and intolerance, with tragic results.
The presentations of Address Unknown on the Costa Blanca - the first was in 2006
in Xabia, are the culmination of a five-year dream of Calpe resident Bertrand Lewinson,
who, together with his family, was a refugee from Nazi persecution. The recent production in Benidorm,
directed by book circle member Anne Griffith, was dedicated to Bertrand and his family,
and the many others in the Synagogue audience whose lives were similarly affected.
The part of Max was played by Huw Griffith and that of Martin by Christopher North.
The narrator was Sue Mercer.
Nina Davies.
November 2007.
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Comunidad Music Evening
10 October, 2007
Maria Callas, Monserrat Caballe and Victoria de los Angeles, enchanted the audience of
over 50 people at our New Community Hall with their breathtaking singing.
Maybe these superb sopranos weren’t there in person, but listening to their voices recorded on disc,
through a flawless sound system, they could have been standing in front of us.
At the Community’s first Social Evening in the new Centre,
John Deacon presented a recorded music concert and entertained and informed us about the artists,
orchestras, composers and musicians. All the music played had a Spanish or Jewish connection.
The following is the playlist.
- Sarasate : Carmen Fantasy/ Itzhak Perlman/ RPO/ Lawrence Foster (EMI)
- Montserrat Caballé: Chapí: El Rey que rabió "Mi tio se figura"(RCA)
- V.de los Angeles: Iradier: La Paloma : Sinfonia of London/ de Burgos (EMI)
- María Bayo : Zarzuela Barroca: Blasco "Llegar ninguno intente" (Naïve)
- Sousa : Nobles of the Mystic Shrine - Eastman Wind Ensemble/ Frederick Fennell (Mercury)
- The 3 Counter-tenors: O Sole mio ! (Harmonia Mundi)
- Kol Nidre: Sacred Music of the Synagogue (EMI Germany 565457-2)
- Placido Domingo : Alonso: "Canto a Murcia"/Madrid SO/Moreno-Buendia (EMI)
- Juan Diego Flórez :Padilla: "Princesita"/ Fort Worth SO/ Harth-Bedoya (Decca)
- Maria Callas: Saint-Saens: Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix (Samson & Dalila) (EMI)
- Angela Hewitt: Chabrier: Habanera/ Angela Hewitt (piano) Hyperíon
- Flanders & Swann : "Los Olividados" (At the drop of another hat) (EMI)
- Massenet : Le Cid "Navarraise" / CBSO/ Frémaux (EMI)
- Buena Vista Social Club : "Amor de loca juventud" / Compay Segundo
- Mahler Sym.No.2 (extr. last movement): Philharmonia Orch. & Chorus/ Otto Klemperer (EMI)
Listening to recorded music will never be as magical as being at a live performance,
but many of the audience said that the quality of the sound system was so good,
they could have been sitting in the front row of the dress circle at the Royal Opera House –
thanks to Ted and ATC Loudspeakers.
A perfect ‘overture’ to what we hope is the first of many Social Events to take place in the New Community Hall.
Thanks to Brian for his splendid ‘orchestration’ of this event,
to John Deacon for playing such an interesting and unusual mix of music,
to the Roadie and the DJ, and as ever, to our splendid Ladies Guild,
who ensured that not just our heads were filled with heavenly music,
but our stomachs were filled with heavenly food!
Evelyn Adams October 2007
3rd ANNUAL COMUNIDAD GARDEN PARTY.
SEPTEMBER 2ND 2007
AND SPORTING HISTORY WAS MADE.................
So Arsenal won, Chelsea lost, Watford won, but the British Rowing Four, and Tim Henman didn't make it!
However, on the lawns of Carole and Harvey's house - Putting, Hotshot, Pinball, Skittles,
and Bullseye skills were being sternly contested. With very little margin for error or lack of ability,
well sort of, contestants battled for premier position on the league tables. Hand-to-eye co-ordination,
precise throwing, and other technical and well practised skills were needed to get little balls into holes,
knock over plastic bottles , throw sticky darts and putt golf balls along a bumpy path.
There is no mention in the 2012 Olympics of the Guess the Weight of the Cake competition.
Our winner got to eat a wonderful plum cake, lovingly baked that very day by Helena.
But most of all, we had fun, which is more than can be said of the football teams playing at the weekend,
they all look so miserable.
Nobody looked miserable on a sunny Sunday afternoon at 3rd ANNUAL COMUNIDAD GARDEN PARTY.
And our brains were exercised too. Tony and Andrea produced and directed an enticing and mind-stretching Quiz,
which involved lots of muttering and thoughtful pencil sucking. Away from all this frenetic sporting activity,
hidden away from public view, in a flower decked tent, sat Gipsy Rosa Levy, with her long black frizzy hair,
dangling gold bracelets and glittery vest. Cross her palm with silver, and she and her pussy cat,
licking its paws in a glass jar, revealed more or less accurate predictions of happy futures,
and tall dark handsome men and gorgeous rich blondes, lurking around somewhere.
The sun shone, no sign of clouds this year, and we all had a great time. We ate delicious food,
lots of it, brought by guests and lovingly plated and presented by the Ladies Guild. Harvey thanked
all those who helped make this afternoon such an enjoyable event. The catering helpers,
bar staff, games organisers, table and chair schlepping people and raffle money collectors.
As always, the Garden Party couldn't happen without the very hard work done by Brian and June,
to plot, prepare and produce this special function. June presented Carole and Harvey
with a 2 foot high quirky metal dog, to say thanks for having us, again,
in their lovely home and garden. And we all sang Happy Birthday to Alan Van Gelder,
who got an extra special birthday hug from Gipsy Rosa Levy.
Making all the effort and hard work by the Social Committee worth while,
the Comunidad raised a welcome profit from the entry fee and the generously
supported raffle, and we all wish Arnold back to good health as fast as possible.
No Comunidad "do" is complete without his and Gloria's smiling faces and helping hands.
Evelyn Adams.
September 07.