Page 37 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - Autumn 21
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and the code for every song ever written. The the rails by the time I was age appropriate,
last song he taught me was, appropriately, the and I knew it
Pink Floyd song that goes, “We don’t need The trauma of my early years has required a
no education…”
lifetime of work and my teens weren’t the
I think the translucent Roy Graham lived in time to begin. Over the years, however, I’ve
the little room at the back of the building for been fortunate to have counted amongst my
a while. Is this true? I may have made it up. associations many incredible people and
The naughty kids smoked stolen ciggies organizations, who have tolerated me and
behind the moadon. If it weren’t for the whom I have loved even if I never really
damp, the place would’ve gone up in flames committed fully to the program. Habonim
once a month. Kupah: we rarely had sixpence looms largest.
to chuck in, but we always got a slice of Mars My wife Ava (also from Leeds, but no fan of
bar.
tents, frankly) and I were married on Kibbutz
Rikudim in the gym, sweaty hands in hands. Tuval in October 2010. Stuart Saffer was
A first sense of sexual tension. The there, Elaine, Gubsy, Neil and Caroline and
beginnings of a Judaism I could do Hokey many more. Rob (now Reuven) Mathieson
Cokey style with my spiritual left leg in, my was a witness. I’ve played at Yehudit and
left leg out. Mostly out. Mushroom soup from Menachem (Leeds Ken alumni)’s Festival a
powder. “Are you going to WA?” “Did you bunch of times and hope to again. We live in
know that Fran got off with Danny at California. I’m a cantor in a shul (with one
machaneh?” (whispered) “What’s leg out). In June we’re meeting Dan Baddiel
machaneh?” I was at that camp. I don’t know in New Orleans for a few days. He was at my
how my mum afforded it. I now suspect the first Amelim camp, 1976. We talk on the
kindness of someone anonymous at Leeds phone a lot.
Ken. Fran is my cousin, of course, and
Danny, for reasons too personal to reveal
here, a true hadracha hero. I’m not kidding.
I’ve played at Yehudit and Menachem
(Leeds Ken alumni)’s Festival – Jacob’s
Danny & Fran (Feddy) Sokel at the Ladder - a bunch of times
90 Anniversary Celebrations
th
I didn’t become a madrich. I wasn’t asked. I Ava and I go to Leeds once a year when there
didn’t go to the 6th form either, for the same isn’t a pandemic on. Her folks are still there
reason. I didn’t question it. I was wildly off but the old moadon is no more. Probably it
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