London: 18:09 Birmingham: 18:13 Hull: 18:08 Sheffield: 18:12 Southport: 18:18 Jerusalem: 18:15 London: 19:13 Birmingham: 19:21 Hull: 19:22 Sheffield: 19:25 Southport: 19:32 Jerusalem: 19:32 Motz'aei Shabbat, 27 March London: 19:13 Birmingham: 19:21 Hull: 19:22 Sheffield: 19:25 Southport: 19:32 Jerusalem: 19:32 Sunday evening, 28 March London: 20:14 Birmingham: 20:16 Hull: 20:23 Sheffield: 20:27 Southport: 20:34 Jerusalem: 19:32 Sunday evening, 28 March London: 20:14 Birmingham: 20:16 Hull: 20:23 Sheffield: 20:27 Southport: 20:34 Monday evening, 29 March London: 20:16 Birmingham: 20:24 Hull: 20:25 Sheffield: 20:29 Southport: 20:36 You can find details of this week's Torah reading, Maftir and Haftarah in our weekly Daf Hashavua by clicking here. At my Seder table I like to read this stirring passage from Rabbi Sacks’ Haggadah (pp 2-3). His recent passing makes it even more poignant:
"On the 28th November 1947, member countries voted on the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. The plan proposed creating two states, a Jewish and Arab state side by side. If the plan gained two-thirds of the votes, it would herald the creation of the first Jewish State since biblical times and with it, the realisation of the Zionist dream. But this was by no means a sure verdict. It took much lobbying and convincing on the part of the Zionist movement to persuade other nations to vote for the plan.
"In his speech to the United Nations, David Ben-Gurion argued the case for the creation of the State of Israel by referring to Pesach and the story told in the Haggadah:
""Three hundred years ago a ship called the Mayflower set sail to the New World. This was a great event in the history of England. Yet I wonder if there is one Englishman who knows at what time the ship set sail? Do the English know how many people embarked on this voyage? What quality of bread did they eat? Yet more than three thousand three hundred years ago, before the Mayflower set sail, the Jews left Egypt.
"Every Jew in the world, even in America or Soviet Russia, knows on exactly what date they left – the fifteenth of the month of Nissan. Everyone knows what kind of bread they ate. Even today the Jews worldwide eat matzah on the fifteenth of Nissan. They retell the story of the Exodus and all the troubles Jews have endured since being exiled. They conclude this evening with two statements: This year, slaves. Next year, free people. This year here. Next year in Jerusalem, in Zion, in Eretz Yisrael. That is the nature of the Jews.""
Why is seder night the most observed of all Jewish traditions? Ordinarily, it ticks many of the boxes we Jews want from a good evening: time with our family and friends, great food and drink and wonderful songs and stories. But this isn’t the secret of seder night’s success.
The answer is this. On seder night we don’t just tell a story from long ago: we act it out as though it’s happening right now. On seder night we don’t just enjoy hors d’oeuvres: we eat foods which remind us of the bitterness of slavery and the sweetness of freedom. On seder night we don’t just sing songs: we chant the same words that our ancestors have said for centuries.
Seder night is, in modern parlance, an immersive theatrical experience. The Exodus from Egypt and the yearning for Israel, for a country we could call our own, was and must remain a lived experience. But unlike a regular trip to the theatre, our dining room stages take on cosmic significance: every seder night we participate in establishes another indelible link in the long unbroken chain of Jewish tradition.
Seder night forges collective memory. Seder night creates history.
That is what we will be doing this year, even if the pandemic means once again that we are facing another highly disrupted Pesach. We may not be able to spend it with our loved ones. We may not be able to enjoy it as we are used to. But by having our two seder nights, even in these difficult circumstances, we can still create history.
Changes to CRP, the Certificate of Religious Practice
The Certificate of Religious Practice (CRP) gives applicants the chance to demonstrate Jewish practice when applying to schools. Collecting CRP points allows you to prove that you are eligible for a faith place. There are different ways to collect the points and some changes have been again this year in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
We've got full details which you can read here and some wonderful young Jewish students have helped us make a short informational film which you can watch here.
All you need to know for Pesach
Last week's bumper email contained full details on how to sell your chametz, the unusual preparation given erev Pesach falls on Shabbat this year, KLBD 'in extremis' Pesach guidelines, how to kosher your kitchen and details for tomorrow morning's Fast of the Firstborn siyum. If you missed any of it, you can read it all here. Wishing you a Shabbat shalom and a Chag kasher v'sameach. My thanks as ever to the hardworking staff across the United Synagogue for all they have done and continue to do, and to our Rabbis and Rebbetzens and lay leaders for the extraordinary way you have led your communities at this most challenging time. Have a wonderful Pesach.
Michael Goldstein President United Synagogue
P.S. Do check out TheUS.tv for a fabulous range of Pesach programmes to watch on demand and there are more details below. Egypt and Sinai in the Pesach story In partnership with Finchley United Synagogue, Rabbi Yehuda Landy offers us fascinating insights into Ancient Egypt and its role within the Pesach story. This event will be taking place live on Zoom tonight at 8:00pm (click here to book in advance) and will be available on-demand on TheUS.tv from Thursday 25 March. The Koren Sacks Pesach Companion You can download The Koren Sacks Pesach Companion, which includes selected essays from the Koren Sacks Haggadah as well as a Pesach-themed Ceremony & Celebration piece, by clicking on the link below. You can also learn more about Rabbi Sacks on Pesach in our Torat Rabbi Sacks series by clicking here. WATCH AGAIN How is This Haggadah Different? The US' Rabbi Michael Laitner and Koren Publisher's Aryeh Grossman explored some fascinating Haggadot, with amazing graphics and essays, described by some of the authors themselves. These Haggadot are available from Jewish bookshops and www.korenpub.com. Watch again via the link below! WATCH AGAIN A Taste of the Four Cups Ahead of the festival of Pesach, Rabbi Dov and Rebbetzen Freda Kaplan of United Synagogue’s Israel team led a virtual tour of Bat Shlomo Vineyards, to learn more about the process of wine-making in the Land of Israel. You can watch it again by clicking the link below. WATCH AGAIN Exploring Pesach The United Synagogue held a pre-Pesach evening of Jewish learning, featuring: 'Ha Lachma Anya' – a virtual invitation to the Seder with Dayan Ivan Binstock and 'Why is this food different?' – a presentation from Rabbi Jeremy Conway, Director of the KLBD. Watch it again on TheUS.tv. WATCH AGAIN Slavery: The Exodus Story Rabbi Yoni Golker gave a fascinating talk about modern day slavery. Hear the incredible story of Harold D’Souza, a survivor of labour trafficking and debt bondage and Lisa Kristine, an internationally recognised photographer and humanitarian activist. Watch again on TheUS.tv. NEW RECIPE VIDEO Matzah Memories Borehamwood & Elstree Synagogue’s Rabbi Yaacov Finn is cooking for Pesach - watch his weekly recipe videos to learn a variety of delicious new recipes for Pesach! This week is Carrot Kugel, Gefilte Fish, Chocolate Mousse Cake & Salt Water - watch it by clicking the link below. How can we guarantee our Jewish survival? Click here to watch the Chief Rabbi's Pesach message! PINNER UNITED SYNAGOGUE Hollywood and the Haggadah Pinner Education Programme presents 'Hollywood and the Haggadah' with Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum. This is a tribute evening in memory of Brian Eisenberg z"l. Wednesday 31 March at 8.15pm. For more information, please click here. KENTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE Pesach goodies for Jewish patients Earlier this week, Jewish patients at Northwick Park Hospital were surprised with a bag of Pesach goodies with the compliments of Kenton United Synagogue. These were brought in by Rabbi Alan Garber, the Jewish Chaplain of the hospital. Read more by clicking the link below. BOREHAMWOOD & ELSTREE UNITED SYNAGOGUE Sharing the Songs of the Seder Rabbi Alex Chapper and Rabbi Dov Cowan went door to door for 'Two Rabbis and a Guitar - Sharing the Songs of the Seder', where they visited members on their doorsteps to perform some of the songs of the Seder. Watch the video by clicking the link below. COCKFOSTERS & N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE CLC presents: Rachel Creeger Rachel Creeger is a multi award winning stand up comedian, improviser, writer and director, and the only practising orthodox Jewish woman on the mainstream UK comedy circuit. Hear about Rachel’s life, told as only Rachel can tell it! Tuesday 30 March at 11am. Welcome to 'Tell US', where we invite you to contribute a joke, a poem or a story. This week's contribution is by Ray Lawrence.
A Soup Song For Passover
Passover was almost upon us My Booba was working like mad Whilst Zaida was waggling his feather Seeking out chametz – good lad!
The ladies were all in the kitchen Preparing the festival food Roasting eggs and mixing charoset Making chicken - baked, boiled and stewed.
They grated horseradish for Maror They chopped and gefiltered the fish They mixed eggs with the broken-up matzos Matzo balls – all you could wish!
Suddenly, my Aunt Rose posed the question “Where’s the soup? – have we put it on yet?” “Oh No!” cried Aunt Sue “There’s the chicken! On the table! But no need to fret!
“It can go in the new pressure cooker And be done in double quick time We can throw in the lokshen and carrots When it’s boiled – it’ll all be just fine!”
Preparations were very soon finished They had made all the food they could make “Let’s relax for a bit,” said my mother “Come into the lounge – take a break.”
For an hour or more they were sitting In the lounge, they were one happy gang ‘Til their peace it was suddenly broken By the “crash” of an almighty BANG –
They’d forgotten that fast pressure cooker How quickly it could overheat The chicken inside it exploded And filled all the air with hot meat –
There were matzo balls stuck to the ceiling There was kugel and fish in the hall Charoset and wine on the windows And horseradish stuck to the wall.
I’ll never forget that sad evening How Grandpa, with feather in hand, Groaned “My cleaning was going so lovely It all looked so spick and so span,
But now look at it, it’s all ruined.” I declare it’s not fair, not at all! Cos there’s chametz all over the ceiling And maror, maror on the wall! This email was sent with love from the United Synagogue. If you no longer wish to receive this email, please unsubscribe here |