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

Bamidbar Braai

Borehamwood & Elstree Synagogue’s Rabbi Yaacov Finn continues to cook his way through the Parshiot – now we are onto the Book of Bamidbar. Each week Rabbi Finn will be bringing you a delicious new recipe to try! This week is focaccia - watch it by clicking the link below.

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

An interview with Michael Freeman

Mill Hill Synagogue’s Senior Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet recently interviewed Michael Freeman – Policy Advisor to the Foreign Minister at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Watch it now on TheUS.tv by clicking the link below.

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.

Iraqi Pogrom of 1941: A Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Farhud

What can make Jewish suffering even worse for us? Click here to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi.

for more Torah content, click here to read out Daf Hashavua

EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Jews and Jazz

Join Edgware for a talk by Tony Zendle partly based on Charles Hersch's book 'Jews and Jazz', where he will chronicle the special relationship between Jews and this unique form of music. Tuesday 1 June at 8pm, live on Zoom.

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.

HAMPSTEAD GARDEN SUBURB SYNAGOGUE

The Rabbinic Chavrusa

Join Hampstead Garden Suburb for 'The Rabbinic Chavrusa' in memory of Rabbi Lord Sacks. Rabbi Friedman and Rabbi Chapper will be discussing 'Future Tense: A Vision for Jews and Judaism in the Global Culture. Tonight at 8pm.

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.

HENDON UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Shiurim for women

Join Hendon United Synagogue 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 Rabbanit Shani Taragin and will take place on Sunday 30 May.

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.

WHAT'S ON?

Online events

Despite the challenges of lockdown we've got lots of great events taking place online! See what virtual events are happening in our communities every week by checking out the United Synagogue events portal.