View Web Version

London: 17:18

Birmingham: 17:21

Hull: 17:12

Sheffield: 17:18

Southport: 17:23

Jerusalem: 16:54

London: 18:22

Birmingham: 18:28

Hull: 18:26

Sheffield: 18:30

Southport: 18:36

Jerusalem: 18:11

You can find details of this week's Torah reading, Maftir and Haftarah in our weekly Daf Hashavua by clicking here.

Thursday 24 February, 2022

In my previous job I spent quite a lot of time in Ukraine. The people of Ukraine – and in particular the Jewish community – are proud of their country. They are stoic and have long memories: older generations remember the horrors of the Holocaust, the establishment and break-up of the USSR, the fight for Ukraine’s independence and its struggle towards democracy despite widespread corruption.

 

More upheaval followed when the Maidan revolution of 2014 saw the ousting of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych and fighting with pro-Russian separatists forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Thousands of Jews had to leave with just the bags they could carry. How many times have we had to say that during our people's history?

 

Conflict between Russia and Ukraine causes an identity clash for many of Ukraine’s Jews. Many have family and friends in Russia and speak Russian as their first language, particularly in the east. But they remain proudly Ukrainian and have no desire to leave. Some have made aliya recently, but that is not an option for the large number of older Jews who remain and for the most part, anyone who wished to move to Israel did so in the 1990s.

 

One of the few things we can say with certainty about the Ukraine crisis is that innocent people are likely to die and millions more may be displaced by the new fighting. The Jewish community there will need our support and this is why the United Synagogue is supporting World Jewish Relief’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

 

The Chief Rabbi said this week: "This is a time of deep concern for the Jewish community of Ukraine, and indeed every one of its citizens. The Talmud famously teaches that ‘Kol Yisrael Areivim Ze Bazeh’ – ‘all Jewish people are responsible for one another’. In addition to having the Jews of Ukraine in our prayers, we must do whatever we can to offer them humanitarian support in their time of greatest need. I applaud World Jewish Relief for providing us with an excellent way of offering that support, as they have done in Ukraine for decades, and I encourage all who are able to donate to their Ukraine Crisis Appeal."

 

The Chief Rabbi has composed a special prayer for the people of Ukraine to be said in shul on Shabbat which you can read here and you may like to say Psalm 121 which you can read here.

Tribe Israel Tour is back!

 

On a much more positive note, Tribe's popular Israel Tour will be back this summer for students in Year 11. Tribe Tour is a 3½ week trip around Israel where participants will be able to experience historical, cultural and beautiful sites while making new friends and enjoying unforgettable experiences.

 

Highlights include floating in the Dead Sea, hiking Masada at sunrise, kayaking along the Jordan river and visiting the Old City in Jerusalem. This will be the first time Tribe has been able to run Israel Tour since 2019 because of the pandemic. The dates are July 6-28, 2022. Registration opens on Tuesday (1 March).Visit www.tribetour.org to sign up!

Shabbat shalom and Chodesh tov,

 

Richard Verber

Communications Director

United Synagogue

TRIBE

Early bird offer ending soon!

Sign up now to take advantage of Tribe summer camps' early bird offer, which ends on 28th February! Information and booking links can be found by clicking here. Applications are also open for Madrichim - please click here for more information. Watch Tribe's promotional video by clicking the link below.

KLBD

Kashrut updates

Green's Sweet Carmelle Mix listed on p.52 as approved Parev has changed formulation and is now approved Dairy. There are also updates on Beechams Powders Sachets, Heinz Barbecue Sauce Sweet, Sticky & Smooth and more, which can be found by clicking the link below.

COMING SOON

Heroes and villains of the Purim story

Join United Synagogue Educator Pnina Savery for this two-part Lunch & Learn special as she explores the Heroes and Villains of the Purim Story. Part one will take place on Tuesday 8 March at 1pm, on TheUS.tv.

US CHESED

Volunteers needed!

US Chesed is blessed with some fantastic, committed volunteers, but now we need more of you! Please get in touch with Hannah at hannahskolnick@theus.org.uk if you want to help. Click on the link below to see full details of the opportunities we have available. 

What will you be doing on the day after? Find out in this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi!

EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

The Manchester Cantorial Scene

Join Edgware to hear about the lives and music of Manchester cantors, presented by Cantor Yehuda Marx in association with the European Cantors Association. Tuesday 1 March at 8pm, live on Zoom and on YouTube.

PINNER UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Exhibition coming soon

Pinner has partnered with the Headstone Manor & Museum to create an exhibition highlighting the features of their community. The exhibition will run from 8th March until 8th May 2022. For more information, please email Lisa Olins at chair@pinnershul.org.

EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Global Women's Hallel

Join Edgware United Synagogue for an uplifting online Hallel service on Rosh Chodesh Adar Sheni, to connect with women all over the UK and around the world. Thursday 3 March at 7:30pm, live on Zoom.

HENDON, MAGEN AVOT & MILL HILL EAST

Laying the foundations

Join Hendon, Magen Avot and Mill Hill East as they hear from Rebbetzin Dr Yocheved Debow, for her talk titled 'Laying the foundations: how to talk to our children about intimacy and sexuality'. Wednesday 2 March at 7:45pm.

BOARD OF DEPUTIES

Community Briefing

Read the Board's latest community briefing.

This email was sent with love from the United Synagogue.

If you no longer wish to receive this email, please unsubscribe here