London: 20:49 Birmingham: 20:00* Hull: 20:58 Sheffield: 21:01 Southport: 21:08 Jerusalem: 18:58 London: 22:07 Birmingham: 22:21 Hull: 22:37 Sheffield: 22:37 Southport: 22:47 Jerusalem: 20:19 *Birmingham communities bring in Shabbat at 20:00 throughout the summer You can find details of this week's Torah reading, Maftir and Haftarah in our weekly Daf Hashavua by clicking here. Thursday 27 May, 2021 On 1 June 1941 a Nazi-inspired pogrom took place in Baghdad, Iraq. At least 170 Jews were murdered. This gruseome chapter of the Second World War, known as the Farhud, is not that well known, at least among Ashkenazi communities, and so to mark the 80th anniversary of the pogrom, we are hosting a special programme online on Tuesday evening at 8pm.
Woodside Park's Edwin Shuker was born in Baghdad and will host the programme which will feature witness testimonies and an interview with Dr David Kheder Bassoon, chair of the Association of Jewish Academics. Join us as we shed light on a less well-known tragedy in Jewish history. Watch The Iraqi Pogrom of 1941 via www.TheUS.tv/farhud.
The United Synagogue is also supporting an international commemoration on Sunday evening at 6pm UK time presented by HARIF, The Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal and The Community of Babylon Iraqi Jews of Montreal. Details are here.
Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over...
It's not every day you have a celebrity live with you for a few days. But journalist and TV presenter Stacey Dooley has spent time living with Woodford Forest United Synagogue's Rabbi and Rebbetzen Wollenberg and their nine children as part of her new TV series. Stacey came to see what it was like living with an orthodox Jewish family.
Stacey said: "I really, really took to the family. The access felt quite privileged. I don't think it's typical for an Orthodox Jewish family to allow cameras into their home. That felt like a real treat in itself, but I just love how relatable and how warm and how honest the family were about who they are and about how important religion is to them. The kids are lovely, and Rebbetzen Wollenberg is a sweetheart. I think it's great to show people in their home being themselves. You end up taking to them, and that might make you think about bigger topics."
Rabbi Wollenberg told us that he saw this is a wonderful educational opportunity to educate a large non-Jewish audience about Jews and their traditions. "We're just a normal family," he said. "We do things a bit differently but we're not scary!"
Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, Strictly Orthodox Jewish Family, is scheduled to air on W Channel on Monday 31 May at 10.00pm. And on Wednesday 1 June at 7.30pm you can join Stacey Dooley and Rabbi Wollenberg as they discuss their experience making a documentary together for JW3 online. Click here for details.
Give the world a shot!
Do Jews have a responsibility to make sure everyone around the world has access to a Covid vaccine? Should priority be given to friends and family? Join Dyonna Ginsburg, CEO of OLAM, as she explores these questions with Dr Ari Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Muso, and Michael Goldstein, President of the United Synagogue. The Chief Rabbi also shares his thoughts on the Vaccinaid campaign to provide a Covid vaccine for everyone around the world. Watch now and on demand on TheUS.tv via this link.
Rabbi Goodwin update
Thank you for the wonderful messages of support for Rabbi Rafi Goodwin which came flooding in last week following news of his brutal attack. I am pleased to say that Rabbi Rafi is making a steady recovery and I know that he, his family and the Chigwell & Hainault community have been very touched by the outpouring of love and support from across the community. Thank you.
Shabbat shalom,
Richard Verber Communications Director, United Synagogue Last chance to tell us what you think! Our membership survey closes on Monday. This is the last chance to tell us your views about your community and the United Synagogue. Your opinion really matters to us. It will take about 10 minutes to complete and you could win a £100 Amazon voucher. You should have received a unique link in your inbox – if not, please email survey@theus.org.uk. Thank you to the thousands of you who have filled it in already. Jewish composer and shul choir win prestigious broadcast award Congratulations from all of us to composer Benjamin Till, and Mosaic Voices, resident choir of New West End Synagogue, London, who have won the Sandford St Martin Trustees Award, the UK’s most prestigious broadcast awards for religious content. The Award is for Psalm 23 (Mizmor L’David), a beautiful video composed, directed and performed by Till during the first lockdown in April 2020. An interview with Lord Leigh US in the City presents an interview with Lord Howard Leigh, hosted by Rabbi Jonathan Hughes. Baron Howard Leigh of Hurley is, inter alia, a member of the House of Lords and the Senior Treasurer of the Conservative Party. He is also the Co-founder and Senior Partner of Cavendish Corporate Finance. Wednesday 9 June at 8pm on TheUS.tv. Rabbi Chapper replaces vandalised mezuzot After the mezuzot of two homes in Borehamwood were vandalised, Rabbi Alex Chapper provided them with replacements and put up the new mezuzot for them. Although not members of Rabbi Chapper’s community, he reached out to families after hearing what had happened, for which they were extremely grateful. WATCH NOW We stand with Israel More than 2,500 people tuned in to our evening of prayer, chizuk (support) and solidarity last week. Presented by Mizrachi UK and the United Synagogue, contributors included the Chief Rabbi, Dayan Binstock, the Israeli Ambassador and Sivan Rahav Meir. Watch again now via the link. WATCH NOW Give the World a Shot Join Dyonna Ginsburg, CEO of OLAM, as she explores questions about the Covid vaccine with Dr Ari Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Muso, and Michael Goldstein, President of the United Synagogue. The Chief Rabbi also shares his thoughts on the Vaccinaid campaign to provide a Covid vaccine for everyone around the world. What can make Jewish suffering even worse for us? Click here to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi. KENTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE Kenton presents: Mark Halawa Mark Halawa was born and raised in Kuwait to an Arab-Muslim family. Mark knew his maternal grandmother was Jewish but never thought this would make him a Jew. At university, he met Dr Yitzchak Block, who informed him that by Jewish law, he is Jewish. Monday 31 May at 8:15pm. NORTHWOOD UNITED SYNAGOGUE Hearing loss and how it affects us Join Northwood as they hear from Laila Rajpal, who worked as an audiologist for the NHS and now runs Otocare, a private clinic in Rickmansworth, with her husband. She will talk about hearing loss and everything associated with it. Wednesday 2 June at 8pm on Zoom. EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE Dame Helen Hyde DBE & Michael Mail Join Edgware for Wednesday Night Live with Dame Helen Hyde, a Trustee and Chair of the Foundation for Jewish Heritage, and Michael Mail, Founder and Chief Executive of the Foundation for Jewish Heritage. Wednesday 2 June at 8pm, live on Zoom. COCKFOSTERS & N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE CLC presents: David Harris David Harris was appointed deputy head teacher of JFS in 1986 where he stayed until July 2015. Since leaving JFS, David has been a volunteer at the Jewish Museum in Camden Town where he guides visitors and gives a talk about the JFS exhibits. Tuesday 1 June at 11am. KENTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE Kenton presents: Michelle Barnett Michelle Barnett is the Founding Director of GIFT. Shocked by the volume of wasted food in supermarkets and restaurants, GIFT started from Michelle’s kitchen table in 2004, gathering excess bread from bakeries each week and redistributing it to struggling families. Tonight at 8:15pm. This email was sent with love from the United Synagogue. If you no longer wish to receive this email, please unsubscribe here |