London: 20:42 Birmingham: 20:00 Sheffield: 20:55 Jerusalem: 18:54 London: 21:58 Birmingham: 22:11 Sheffield: 22:26 Jerusalem: 20:16 (Thanks to everyone who has been in touch about the start time for Shabbat in Birmingham! The United Synagogue community in Birmingham - Central Synagogue - and indeed all the shuls in the area, brings Shabbat in at 8pm in the summer months. Many London communities also bring in Shabbat early so check the time with your shul.) Tonight and tomorrow is Yom Yerushalayim marking the famous day in 1967 when, in particular, Jews were once again able to pray at one of our holiest sites: the Kotel, the outer western wall remaining from the Temple in Jerusalem.
We'll have Hallel from the Kotel tomorrow (Friday) at 11.00am. You can watch on our Facebook page.
Tomorrow evening we are joining forces once again with Mizrachi UK for the UK Community Shabbaton at Home: Jerusalem edition. Building on the success of the last Shabbaton before Pesach, we've put together inspiring readings, stories and quizzes focusing on Jerusalem, past, present and future. Download your pack here.
To kick the Shabbaton off, join us on Friday at 6:30pm for a special Yom Yerushalayim concert featuring some of the UK’s favourite names in music, as well as addresses from the Chief Rabbi and the Israeli Ambassador before welcoming in Shabbat with an uplifting Kabbalat Shabbat service. Watch live via this link.
You can buy our Yom Yerushalayim machzor with prayers and stories from our online bookshop.
Rabbi, Steady, Cook!
Every now and again a rabbi comes to you with an idea so bonkers it's brilliant. Belmont's Rabbi Marc Levene suggested doing a live cook-off over the internet between four of our rabbis. And given it's Shavuot next week, how about they make pizza from scratch - dough included - in 30 minutes. What could go wrong? Battling it out against Rabbi Levene are Borehamwood and Elstree's Rabbi Alex Chapper, Woodside Park's Rabbi Pinchas Hackenbroch and Central Synagogue's Rabbi Barry Lerer.
We're thrilled that comedian Ashley Blaker has agreed to host the competition and play the role of Ainsley Harriott. Watch live on Monday at 7pm on our YouTube channel.
Lunch and learn programme ahead of Shavuot
It's Shavuot next week so our team has put together a fascinating programme of lunch and learns starting on Monday (25 May). They will all be broadcast live on our Facebook page at 1pm. You can see the programme here.
Shabbat Shalom and Yom Yerushalayim Sameach,
Richard Verber Communications Director
LOCKDOWN PHOTOS MADE INTO FILM Musical response to Coronavirus Thank you to the 300 of you who sent in your lockdown photos! Some 70 of them have now been set to music in this beautiful new composition by composer Benjamin Till. It is a poignant insight into the challenges posed by lockdown and Covid-19. THIS WEEK'S KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICE Hampstead Garden Suburb United Synagogue welcomes you this Friday! BOOKS United Synagogue and Tribe Bookshop Our Shuls might be closed, but our online bookshop is still open for business, with a special offer until Shavuot (including delivery) on our Yom Yerushalayim machzor of prayers and stories! Hit the link to find out more and and email publications@theus.org.uk to place your order... This week, Rabbi Nicky Liss shares a verse from Mishlei, the Book of Proverbs.
“Do not withhold good from one to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” (3:27)
Can you be mandated to help someone? Does Judaism view volunteering as essential?
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (Germany, 1808-1888) uses this verse in Mishlei to demonstrate that far from being a ‘nice to have’, helping others is a core part of Judaism – even an obligation. He writes:
"It is highly significant that the Jewish code of law demands of us, with every stringency of a legal obligation, to carry out actions which others could ask from us as an act of charity, but not claim as due them by right. As soon as we are in a position to do good to our neighbour, we are to consider them as someone entitled to demand it from us, and we are not to deny them any benefit that we are able to grant them.
"God has given legal title to any person who is in need of help or support, to claim from us by the word of His law what no person could demand by their own rights."
I am always awestruck by the countless individuals in our community who give of themselves day in, day out to help those less fortunate than themselves. During the Coronavirus crisis, this selflessness has taken on new dimensions and I am so proud of our incredible volunteers who haven’t viewed what they have done as a nice thing to do but rather as a religious duty.
Rabbi Nicky Liss is the Rabbi of Highgate United Synagogue and Chair of the Rabbinic Council of the United Synagogue
FINCHLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE Baking masterclass with Ryan Stafford Join Kinloss on Monday at 8pm for a baking masterclass with Ryan Stafford, chef to top celebraties, winner of Young Chef of the Year and a MasterChef semi-finalist. All welcome, no charge. Why not watch after Rabbi, Steady, Cook at 7pm! HENDON UNITED, ALEI TZION AND MAGEN AVOT The Race to Beat Covid-19 in the UK Our three Hendon communities invite to you to a fascinating three-part series on efforts to deal with the virus, dealing with those infected and halachic perspectives on Coronavirus and the lockdown. The second event is on Monday at 8.30pm on Zoom. BUSHEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE Yom Yerushalayim Virtual Event Join Bushey United Synagogue this evening at 7.30pm for the premiere of their Yom Yerushalayim film. Featuring Miriam Peretz, Rabbi Elchonon Feldman and Rabbi Nick Kett with their families, narration by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, and members of the Bushey community. COCKFOSTERS AND N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE Beyond the Green Line Join Marc Goldberg to hear a very personal account of his experiences in the IDF during the Second Intifada. A journalist, blogger and author with a MA in War Studies from King’s College London, Marc is well placed to give his perspective on the role of the IDF. Tuesday (26 May) at 11am on Zoom. No charge. This email was sent with love from the United Synagogue. If you no longer wish to receive this email, please unsubscribe here |