On Kristallnacht, the night of 9 November 1938, the Nazis destroyed the interior of the Westendsynagogue in Frankfurt-am-Main, where my grandfather, Dr Georg Salzberger, served as rabbi from 1910 until the family fled to Britain in April of the following year. But the Ner Tammid, the Eternal Light, continued to burn. People took it for a sign. This light, which shone through the darkness and turmoil of those days, symbolises the hope which is the essence of Judaism and all faiths.

 

I was 18 when my grandfather died and he has been a role model for me all my life, especially in my own work as a rabbi. On the centenary celebrations of my grandfather’s former synagogue I plan to light a torch from its Ner Tammid and walk with it through Germany and Holland to the sea (together with my faithful companion, Mitzpah) travelling back to London to kindle the Eternal Light of my community’s new synagogue.

 

I hope you will sponsor Mitzpah and me.

 

Your sponsorship will:

 

- support the Tikkun Olam, social action, projects of the synagogue in which we are engaging as part of our wider responsibility as we build our own new home.

 

These include: constructing a school library in Malawi, planting a woodland forest near London; equipping a Jewish community centre in the Ukraine; building a library for the benefit of all citizens in the Galilee; providing start-up scholarships and mentoring to young people developing their own social enterprise projects.

 

- support The Parents' Circle: bereaved Israeli and Palestinian parents working together for peace

 

- help create the Ner Tammid (everlasting light) and sacred objects in each of the places of prayer in our new synagogue.

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity (NNLS) and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So please dig deep and donate now.