London: 19:56 Birmingham: 20:00 Hull: 20:00 Sheffield: 20:03 Southport: 20:10 Jerusalem: 18:34 London: 21:04 Birmingham: 21:14 Hull: 21:21 Sheffield: 21:23 Southport: 21:30 Jerusalem: 19:52 You can find details of this week's Torah reading, Maftir and Haftarah in our weekly Daf Hashavua by clicking here. Today we launched our brand-new, free, self-guided walking tour: The Jews of London. Written by Rabbi Yoni Birnbaum and Ben Vos as part of our 150th anniversary celebrations, the tour begins at the Barbican and ends at Fournier Street, Spitalfields taking in nearly 1,000 years of Jewish history.
The tour begins by asking: how did the first English Jews live? What brought them to London? And how were they received? Over fifteen stops, we then take in the expulsion of 1290 and the Jews' readmission more than three centuries later. We explore the development of London's Sephardi and Ashkenazi communities, look at diamonds and disputes, the formation of the United Synagogue, the seismic changes brought about by Jewish immigration from eastern Europe, the development of kosher food, Jewish schools and the move from the East End to London's suburbs.
It is a fascinating journey and one we do hope you'll enjoy. As lockdown restrictions continue to ease and good weather remains on the forecast, it’s the perfect time to get out and about. Our many non-London-based members and readers can also enjoy the tour from the comfort of their own home - or put it on your to-do list when you're next visiting. Please do let us know your feedback!
Jews of colour: our review
Today the Board of Deputies releases the report by its Commission on Racial Inclusivity in the Jewish Community. The United Synagogue welcomes the work done by the Board of Deputies to highlight areas of communal life which could be more inclusive of Jews of colour.
The Torah teaches that we should love our fellow Jew as we love ourselves (Leviticus 19:18) and the Midrash famously quotes Rabbi Akiva who refers to this mitzvah as a fundamental principle of the Torah. Given that, we have committed publicly to learn how we can be more inclusive by listening to our members of colour and carefully reading the recommendations of the report. We were pleased to be able to offer our time to the Commission and thank Stephen Bush for the sensitivity he and his team have shown.
You may remember that following the shocking killing of George Floyd, last summer Michael Goldstein, President of the United Synagogue, launched a review to look at how the United Synagogue could be more welcoming to people of colour – Jewish or not – in all of our spaces.
He asked members to share their experiences with us. Our findings – a summary of which was shared with the Commission for inclusion in its report – showed that both people of colour and white people felt that the United Synagogue is welcoming overall. However, some respondents shared some very disturbing examples of racism which they had experienced.
There were two common themes which came out of our survey, and both are echoed in the Board of Deputies’ report suggesting they are challenges faced across the community. The first is around security at synagogues, with incidents involving security guards and volunteers. The second is a lack of awareness of the diversity which exists in the Jewish community, with respondents sharing negative experiences of shul welcoming committees and comments by people in shul – even if sometimes well-meaning.
The United Synagogue set up an advisory committee including Jews of colour, Rabbinic, lay and professional leaders to discuss the data and identify issues raised. The committee has recommended a) that the United Synagogue speak with CST about training for security volunteers and guards employed by synagogues and b) that the United Synagogue run diversity training for religious and lay leaders. We are committed to doing both to ensure the United Synagogue’s spaces are welcoming and inclusive places.
Choose your own Cheesecake
There's still time to enter our brand new competition in partnership with Jewish News and COCO Bakery in Golders Green. We need YOU to come up with a brand new flavour of cheesecake! The top 5 entries will be put to a public vote next week and the winning entry will be made and sold at COCO Bakery ahead of Shavuot.
You have until midday on Monday (26 April) to enter here. Shabbat shalom,
Richard Verber Communications Director, United Synagogue Board of Deputies hustings Together with our friends at the S&P Sephardi community, we will be hosting a debate next week between the candidates for President and Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jewish. The Board of Deputies represents you and your community in dealings with government, media and other bodies so this is your chance to make sure their represenatives respond to your concerns. All are welcome to watch live next Wednesday (28 April) at 7pm via the link below. To submit a question, email hustings@theus.org.uk by Tuesday (27 April). The KLBD Virtual Roadshow Join KLBD for one of their virtual roadshows hosted by Sharon Feldman-Vazan, Retail Food & Drink Manager of KLBD. She will be talking about how to find kosher products on the high street, in supermarkets, health food shops and online, what companies do to get their KLBD Kosher Certification, and more. You can also win a KLBD goody box delivered directly to your door! To book a roadshow for your whole community, contact Sharon by email. WE NEED YOUR HELP! New book about Rabbi Sacks zt'l We are producing a book to commemorate Rabbi Sacks' tenure as Chief Rabbi and would love to include photos from that time. If you have any of Rabbi Sacks by himself or with people, please send them to us via L&L@theus.org.uk. Please be sure that the copyright holder has given permission for us to publish the photo. WATCH AGAIN Lunch & Learn Want to appreciate the deeper meaning of the weekly Torah portion? Looking for a nice Dvar Torah to share at the Shabbat table? Catch up on this week's Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Daniel Epstein, who delved into this week's Parasha, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim. Watch via the link below. ENTER OUR COMPETITION! Choose Your Own Cheesecake Last week we launched a brand new competition in partnership with Jewish News and COCO Bakery. We need YOU to come up with a brand new flavour of cheesecake! The top 5 entries will be put to a public vote and the winning entry will be made and sold at COCO Bakery ahead of Shavuot. Enter now by clicking the link below! WATCH NOW Vayikra Variety Borehamwood & Elstree Synagogue’s Rabbi Yaacov Finn continues to cook his way through the Parshiot – now we are onto the Book of Vayikra. Each week Rabbi Finn will be bringing you a delicious new recipe to try! This week is Za’atar & Feta Tear and Share Loaf - watch it by clicking the link below. FREE COOKBOOK Delicious new recipes to try KLBD have come out with a brand new 'KLBD-V' online cookbook, and all of the recipes in the cookbook are vegetarian or vegan, and in some cases also gluten free! The recipes are provided by over 30 KLBD certified companies. Download the free cookbook now by clicking the link below. US CHESED The Michael Seres Memorial Fund Last year, Radlett United Synagogue member and former chair, Michael Seres, sadly passed away at the age of 51. His friends Richard Harris, Andy Goodman and Paul Krisman started a fund in Michael’s memory, called 'The Michael Seres Memorial Fund', and walked 17 miles, raising £6,050 which they are donating to US Chesed's bursary fund so that children from low-income families can go on Tribe camps and trips. What is holiness? Click here to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi.
In addition, click here to read a D'var Torah by Rebbetzen Levene of Belmont United Synagogue as we continue our series with the Jewish News profiling United Synagogue Rebbetzens and female educators. STANMORE & CANONS PARK UNITED SYNAGOGUE 'Israeli Spy' lectures In honour of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Stanmore & Canons Park Zoom presents two revealing 'Israeli Spy' lectures: 'Betrayals in Espionage' with Saar Kadmon on Sunday 25 April, and 'From Mossad to Hollywood' with Avner Avraham on Sunday 2 May, both at 8pm. HENDON UNITED SYNAGOGUE Shiurim for women Join Hendon United together with Ner Yisrael for their series of shiurim for women, on Sunday evenings from 8:30-9:30pm. The next shiur will be by Rabbi Zvi Portnoy, titled 'Ayin Hara: Evil Eyes, Red String and Voodos!', and will take place on Sunday 25 April. RICHMOND UNITED SYNAGOGUE Musical painting with Alena Bystritskiy Join Richmond for a musical painting session with Alena Bystritskiy, a professional musician, artist and pedagogue. Children will learn music appreciation by learning to interpret music and rephrase it using different form of expression. Sunday 25 April at 5:30pm. COCKFOSTERS & N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE CLC presents: Eli Spitzer Eli Spitzer is a vocal advocate for education in Charedi schools, although admitting their poor standards of secular education. He has written many articles about the topic for The Jewish Chronicle and publishes a regular blog. Tuesday 27 April at 11am. FINCHLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE Dr Abi Greenwood Gewirtz Join Kinloss as they hear from Dr Abi Greenwood Gewirtz, a world renowned parenting expert and professor at the University of Minnesota, and learn tools to help your children through this challenging time. Wednesday 28 April at 8pm. Book now by clicking here. This email was sent with love from the United Synagogue. If you no longer wish to receive this email, please unsubscribe here |