London: 19:57 Birmingham: 20:00 Sheffield: 20:02 Jerusalem: 18:36 London: 21:00 Birmingham: 21:09 Sheffield: 21:15 Jerusalem: 19:52 After five years of painstaking conservation and research, and despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, Willesden Jewish Cemetery is nearly ready to extend a warm welcome to people of all backgrounds. From Monday 7 September, the public will be invited to discover the lives of people buried there and to explore the customs and history of London’s Jewish community.
Thanks to £1.7m funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, support from the United Synagogue and partnership donations, the United Synagogue has built a new visitor centre and exhibition with trails through the 21-acre site to explore the fascinating 150-year history and stories of the cemetery. The listed funerary buildings have been conserved and refurbished with artistic soundscapes that evoke the sounds of prayer and burial rituals.
Later this year we’ll be offering socially-distanced guided walks, a varied events programme and outreach for non-Jewish primary and secondary schools designed with the Jewish Museum to learn about our traditions. There are already online events to engage people who are not able to visit in person.
But before the public opening, we’re inviting You&US subscribers to spend a morning or afternoon out in the fresh air in the next couple of weeks in a welcoming and COVID-secure environment.
The cemetery is the final resting place of a dazzling array of British Jews dating back to the Victorian era. They include four Chief Rabbis, scientist Rosalind Franklin, designer Kurt Geiger, jeweller Harriet Samuel, members of the Rothschild banking family, Tesco’s founder Jack Cohen, Pre-Raphaelite painter Simeon Solomon – as well as thousands of people whose stories are yet to be discovered.
There’s no need to book, and opening hours are on our beautiful new website. You can also sign up for newsletter updates by clicking here.
Whose story will you remember? Shabbat shalom,
Richard Verber Communications Director, United Synagogue Koren Machzorim discounts available! We are grateful to our friends at Koren Publishers for offering very generous discounts on the Koren Sacks "Minhag Anglia" Machzorim for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. The insightful commentary and explanations of Rabbi Lord Sacks as well as the innovative lay out of the prayers in these machzorim will enhance these holy days for you whether you are in shul or at home. The closing date for this offer is Wednesday 2 September. Postage is included to the UK only. To find out more and to order, please click on the link below. We're helping the BBC with a new documentary! BBC One are making an exciting new show about how Jews mark life's big moments. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a celebration of British Jewry and showcase our traditions. If you are expecting a baby, having a Bar/Batmitzvah (or celebrated this recently) or getting married (or were recently married), please be in touch. They would also like to talk to people holding a Stone Setting for a loved one in September or October. If any of this applies to you, please email Zoe Coupland by clicking the link below. SAVE THE DATE US Chesed conference The US Virtual Chesed Conference 2020 will take place on Wednesday 9 September at 7:30pm. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from a range of speakers on a variety of topics designed to help you learn new skills and increase awareness. For more information and to register please click the link below. BURIAL SOCIETY Cemetery visits Visiting a loved one at this time of year usually takes place a few Sundays before the Chagim. The Burial Society is asking that this year with the need for social distancing, you should try and come during weekdays, and it would be appreciated if you could stagger visits over 3-4 weeks before Rosh Hashanah. NEW WEEKLY SERIES FOR FAMILIES Watch this week's Parsha Cast! We are delighted to bring you Parsha Cast - a brand new video series for families from South Hampstead United Synagogue produced by Rebbetzen Lauren Levin and Rabbi Eli Levin of South Hampstead and Tribe. Each week you get the lowdown on the weekly parsha in a short fun video with some questions to discuss with your family. View the series on TheUS.tv. KLBD Eat Out To Help Out As part of the government's new 'Eat Out To Help Out' scheme, participating restaurants will be offering a 50% discount (up to £10) on meals, every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until 31 August. Click the link below to see the full list of KLBD-supervised restaurants participating. What is the key to continuous good leadership?
In Parshat Shofetim, we are told that a king must write a Sefer Torah during the period of his reign. This passage is introduced with the words “וְהָיָ֣ה כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ – and it shall come to pass while he sits on his throne”.
The Ktav Sofer (Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, 1815–1871, Hungary) asks beautifully: surely the Torah should have said ‘בשיבתו ממלכתו‘ – if it means ‘while he is sitting on his throne’? The word כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ indicates a meaning closer to: ‘as if he is sitting on his throne’.
The Ktav Sofer answers: in order to be a good king, every day of his reign should be as if it is his first day in office. ‘כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א – it should be like the time when he ascended to the throne’. Like that day, when he was fired with ambition, when he made many fine resolutions, when his intentions were great, when he dreamed of providing outstanding leadership for the nation which would have long-lasting implications for his people.
If you want to succeed in the long term, think about your aspirations on day one. This is such a beautiful message. It can be applied to the workplace as well. In order to be a good employee, think of your first day in the firm. Your intentions, your motivation, your excitement.
Similarly in a marriage, we should always reflect on the feelings, the excitement we had on the day of our wedding. Charged with potential. Let us strengthen and enrich our relationship on every day through our marriage as if it was always day one.
So it is within all areas of our endeavour. And the Ktav Sofer adds beautifully, that this is why the Passuk commences with the word ‘וְהָיָ֣ה‘, “וְהָיָ֣ה כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ“. If it were ‘ויהי – and it will come to pass’ – that, according to our tradition would indicate bad news here. But וְהָיָ֣ה is a sign of good news, of happiness, of fulfilment.
So that is the key to finding a happy and fulfilling position in the long term: Let every day always be like day one.
Shabbat shalom. NEW WEST END AND HAMPSTEAD UNITED SYNAGOGUE Cooking Demo with Denise Phillips Join New West End and Hampstead for a cookery demonstration with Denise Phillips, who will be making chicken roulade stuffed with apricots, carrots and garlic, and rugelach. Find the recipes by clicking the link below so you can buy your ingredients ahead of the event. Thursday 3 September at 8pm. HAMPSTEAD UNITED SYNAGOGUE Global Staycation: India Join Hampstead on Sunday (23 August) at 11am for the next episode of their series exploring the world virtually. This week we're off to India, with presenters Rabbi Haron Zalfasy from Israel, Ralphy Jhirad from India and Zipora Meir from Israel. They will be discussing travel and tourism ideas and plenty more. Watch live on TheUS.tv. COCKFOSTERS AND N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE CLC presents: Simon Goulden Join Simon Goulden for a two week virtual tour of the National Portrait Gallery, the oldest art gallery of its kind in the world, and hear the stories behind the faces. This is a free event but booking is essential. Next Tuesday (25 August), 11am. This email was sent with love from the United Synagogue. If you no longer wish to receive this email, please unsubscribe here |