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

Thursday 26 August, 2021

The scenes from Afghanistan are heart-breaking. Families trying everything to secure their release. Hours – days – spent queueing in the baking sun. Desperate parents handing their babies to soldiers in the hope they’ll be taken to safety. Yesterday the Pentagon estimated that more than 10,000 people were at Kabul airport awaiting evacuation. And now, as we prepare to send You&US, there are reports of an explosion and casualties at the airport.

It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of a crisis of this magnitude. That’s what makes Bushey United Synagogue’s collection of goods for Afghan refugees even more extraordinary. Last week a single post on a private shul Facebook group asking for support for Afghan refugees who have been resettled locally went viral. The community was inundated with clothes and other items. The outpouring of generosity from the Jewish community and beyond is heart-warming. Kol hakavod to Rabbi Elchonon Feldman, the Senior Rabbi of Bushey United, and the team of volunteers for what they achieved. Rabbi Feldman was interviewed by the BBC and ITV as well as radio stations and newspapers both here and internationally. You can read his reflections on the situation here.

Having spoken with our colleagues at Bushey United Synagogue, it’s clear that the wonderful donations will be able to support not only the Afghan refugees beginning new lives here, but many more people in need. We’ll be taking some of the toiletries – items which are always needed, like nappies – to our asylum seeker drop-in centres run by US Chesed. You can donate items too online – just click here and choose what you wish to give. They will automatically be delivered to our remote hub. Our asylum seeker drop-in centres are well-placed to support more Afghan refugees in the coming weeks and you can support this important work by clicking here. US Chesed is talking with local authorities and partners and will let members know if there are other ways to make a difference.

Our friends at World Jewish Relief have already stepped up to the challenge of responding to what looks likely to be another major international refugee crisis. Millions of Afghans are now in neighbouring countries. World Jewish Relief will be supporting people in need both in the region and in the UK. Read more about their important work here.

If you are looking for a specific prayer which relates to the situation in Afghanistan, one option that we suggest is Alenu (p. 140 in the green siddur). Recited at the end of each service, it reminds us of our obligations to build a better world and asks for God’s help in doing so.

New book: Rabbi Sacks And the Community We Built Together

The United Synagogue is proud to announce today that we have written a new book to honour the memory and teachings of the much missed Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt''l. Rabbi Sacks And The Community We Built Together contains over 250 pages of Torah, recollections, photographs and stories from Rabbi Sacks' colleagues during his Chief Rabbinate as well as some of Rabbi Sacks' own writings from that period.

Ahead of Rabbi Sacks' yarzheit in Cheshvan/October, we wanted to honour his memory, bring some comfort to his family and all those mourning him and to share some of the most important lessons of his Chief Rabbinate for today's and future generations.

Rabbi Sacks served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the UK and Commonwealth from 1991-2013, during which time his expositions of Judaism and community in particular helped him to become one of the most influential rabbinic figures globally.

United Synagogue member households will have a copy sent direct to them, free of charge. Check your letterboxes next week! Further copies are available to purchase here. You can watch the short advert we've made here.

We thank our contributors and sponsors and all those who brought this book to fruition.

Stonesetting for the late Rabbi Sacks zt''l

The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust has asked us to let members know that the Stonesetting (Matzeiva) for Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt"l, will take place this Monday (30 August) at 2.15pm at Bushey New Cemetery. All are welcome to attend. We wish Lady Elaine, her children and Rabbi Sacks' brothers chayim aruchim, long life.

Midnight Selichot after Shabbat this week

Selichot, or penitentiary prayers, are recited in the run up to Rosh Hashanah and then onwards to Yom Kippur. Many communities say them after midnight daily. The tradition has arisen for the first night of selichot to be marked in a special way, with singing and an address. A number of our communities are holding selichot services this Saturday evening or on Sunday morning (see below) and all are welcome. We're broadcasting the service from Bushey United Synagogue live on TheUS.tv from 11pm which you can watch here.

Shabbat shalom,

Richard Verber

Communications Director,

United Synagogue

How we perform good deeds makes all the difference! Click here to find out why in this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi.

In addition, Rebbetzen Rachie Lister, Senior Rebbetzen of Edgware United Synagogue, asks: does wealth matter? Read her D'var Torah here.

This week Raymond Lawrence from Sheffield United Synagogue has contributed this poem, Let’s have a year of cheer!

Year fifty-seven eighty-one
Really hasn’t been much fun
Covid’s had us on the run
Now it’s nearly gone and done-
I feel like hugging everyone –
It’s been a dreary year!
No going to shul without a mask
Except with zoom – it’s been a task
Wondering – how is Covid passed?
And how long do the symptoms last?
Worrying – has my die been cast? -
It’s been a dreary year!
Passover came and went on Zoom
With everyone in a different room
Miles apart in Covid gloom;
Sukkot passed with ne’er a bloom
Chanukah silent as a tomb
Like a wedding party with no groom
It’s been a dreary year!
Now Rosh Hashanna’s nearly due
Year fifty-seven eighty-two
Is coming swiftly into view -
Let’s give up feeling sad and blue
Let’s cast off Covid (and the flu’)
Let’s face the World with hope anew –
Let’s have a year of CHEER!

Thank you, Raymond! Just reply to this email if you'd like to contribute.

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