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London: 15:39
Birmingham: 15:38
Hull: 15:25
Sheffield: 15:32
Southport: 15:36
Jerusalem: 15:55
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London: 16:47
Birmingham: 16:50
Hull: 16:45
Sheffield: 16:50
Southport: 16:56
Jerusalem: 17:14
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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.
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Thursday 2 December, 2021
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It’s not every day you get a phone call offering to throw you a 150th birthday party! This week we were honoured that the City of London hosted a reception for the United Synagogue at the stunning Guildhall to mark our 150th anniversary.
As you may know, the United Synagogue was founded in the City of London. Back in 1870, five synagogues decided that they were stronger together. The Great, The Hambro, The New, Central and Bayswater all joined forces to become, via an Act of Parliament, the United Synagogue. Instead of duplicating resources, they worked together for the good of the community. This was a revolutionary idea and still underpins what we do a century and a half later.
Since then, the United Synagogue has evolved further. More communities have joined, including a growing number of regional communities. We are also focusing on new areas of Jewish growth.
On Monday we welcomed 300 guests including our Rabbis, Rebbetzens and Chairs of our communities. This gave me the opportunity to thank them – together with our Honorary Officers, countless volunteers, staff and fellow Trustees – for giving so much to support their communities during the pandemic. It’s no exaggeration to say many worked around the clock at times to support their members and keep them connected.
A highlight for me was not only listening to the Chief Rabbi describe the United Synagogue as “the most magnificent and outstanding religious organisation” but also watching him light our beautiful menorah from the 18th century which was used in the Hambro’ Synagogue, one of our founding shuls.
We were also thrilled to have the boys and girls from the Woolfson Hillel Jewish Primary School choir sing for us. You can watch their wonderful performance here, and you can listen to the Chief Rabbi’s speech by clicking here.
And you can watch my speech and the Lord Mayor’s here and see some photos from the event here.
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Our eco-Chanukiah winners are...
This Chanukah, Tribe and Jewish News challenged our young members to create a showstopping model Chanukiah that was not only kosher, but also kind to the Earth by using re-purposed or recyclable materials.
Today we can reveal the winners! We were blown away by the creativity of our young people. Thank you to everyone who entered - we loved seeing your entries and hope you are enjoying lighting them this Chanukah. Mazal tov to Noah Saltman and Sophie, Eva and Emmy Angel who win a £100 voucher. The judges were particularly impressed with your use of repurposed materials, beautiful design, and of course, that your chanukiot were kosher. You can see the winning entries here.
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Baroness Barran visits Rimon Jewish Primary School
It was an honour to welcome Baroness Diana Barran, Minister for the schools system, to Rimon Jewish Primary School this morning together with the Board of Deputies. Baroness Barran enjoyed listening to the children's morning tefillah! She also enjoyed meeting the pupils. After a tour of the school, Baroness Barran saw Golders Green United Synagogue with pupils. The community's Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Harvey Belovski, spoke about the history of the shul and of Rimon, where he is also the Principal.
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Don't forget to check out our fabulous online Kabbalat Shabbat tomorrow! Details below.
Shabbat shalom, Chanukah sameach and Chodesh tov,
Michael Goldstein,
President
United Synagogue
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Family Chanukah Extravaganza
Join Tribe together with Bushey and Shenley United Synagogues from 3-5pm on Sunday, at Immanuel College. Epic inflatables, awesome activities, delicious food and cool crafts! A lateral flow test will be required on the day before attending. Spaces are limited - booking is necessary. To book please click here.
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Chanukah Lunch & Learn series
Join Barnet United Synagogue's Rebbetzen Shoshana Landau for a special Chanukah Lunch & Learn series. The first talk, titled 'The She/Her Chanukah Story', took place earlier this week and is now available to watch on-demand, and the second talk, titled 'The Post-Doughnut Fast', will take place on Tuesday 7 December at 1pm. Watch on TheUS.tv or Facebook.
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WATCH NOW
Chanukiot Around the World
Join Rabbi Dov and Rebbetzen Freda Kaplan as they explore some of the magnificent collection of menorahs in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and the wonderful stories behind them. Watch on TheUS.tv by clicking the link below.
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WATCH ON SUNDAY
Women's Hallel: Live
Join us on Sunday 5 December for our latest Women's Hallel: Live with Rebbetzen Freda Kaplan and Hadassa Kessler. All welcome to take part in this uplifting service for women. Watch via Facebook and Zoom.
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THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES
Support for Holocaust survivors
The Association of Jewish Refugees administers funding from the German government exclusively for Holocaust refugees and survivors living in Great Britain, to be able to live independently in their own homes. For further details and eligibility criteria, click on the link below.
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TRAINING FOR US RABBIS AND REBBETZENS
'Building Back Better'
P’eir has run several training seminars for the United Synagogue rabbinate responding to issues relating to the pandemic. The final professional development seminar on this theme was hosted recently on the topic of “Building Back Better”. You can read more by clicking on the link below.
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8 lights for 8 nights! The Chief Rabbi has been delivering a series of short thoughts for each night of Chanukah. Click here to watch today's and catch up on the others!
The Chief Rabbi was also on BBC Radio 4 yesterday to deliver Thought for the Day. Listen here.
Would you tell a dictator that it's God who's in charge? United Synagogue educator Pnina Savery explores Joseph's daring response to Pharoah in the Jewish News this week. Click here to read it.
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POTTERS BAR & BROOKMANS PARK SYNAGOGUE
The Virtually Incredible Show
Join Potters Bar & Brookmans Park for a 'Virtually Incredible Zoom Show' with mind magician Ben Levy! Sunday 12 December at 7:30pm. Book your tickets now by clicking here. The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
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HENDON UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Chanukah breakfast
Join Hendon for a Chanukah breakfast in the new shul marquee on Sunday 5 December. Shacharit will begin at 8:15am and breakfast will begin at 9:15am, followed by a talk from Rabbi Aubrey Hersh, Senior Lecturer at JLE.
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MILL HILL UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Havdallah Jam
With the help of Office of the Chief Rabbi Centre for Community Excellence and Tribe, Mill Hill recently held a Pre-Chanukah Havdallah Jam. Over 70 people enjoyed hot chocolate and marshmallows, whilst enjoying outdoor glow-in-the-dark football, garden Jenga and filling donuts with custard, jam and chocolate fillings.
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EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE
The Making of a Professional Chazan
Join Edgware for a session presented by Chazan Yossi Schwarz, Cantor of Edgware United Synagogue. He will give us insights into how a professional chazan is trained. Tuesday 7 December at 8pm, live on Zoom.
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COCKFOSTERS & N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE
His Honour Judge Martyn Zeidman QC
HH Judge Martyn Zeidman QC has served for over twenty years in the most senior criminal courts in the country. Judge Zeidman is the Resident Judge at Snaresbrook Crown Court and Recorder of Redbridge. He also sits part time at the Old Bailey and the Court of Appeal. Tuesday 7 December at 8pm.
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EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Global Women's Hallel
Join Edgware for an uplifting Hallel service on Chanukah, to connect women all over the UK and around the world. Sunday 5 December at 3pm, live on Zoom. Finishing up with a virtual latke or doughnut!
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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.
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Welcome to 'Tell US', where we invite you to contribute a joke, a poem or a story. This week's contribution is by Stephen Miller.
Hope After Chanukah
I do hope that you have been able to enjoy as well as recognise
How Chanukah this past week has lit up our lives
Which is sorely needed, across our world right now
As we continue to hope that his pandemic, somehow
Soon ends, and rather than people, it is Coronavirus that dies
As we have now began December and the start of winter, I am thinking
That we do not have another Jewish festival - Purim, until next spring
In the meantime, I hope that this year
Our winter weather is not too severe
And the light in our lives, and faith in Hashem, until then, doesn’t dim
Shabbat Shalom to my friends and family
And to everyone in the Jewish community.
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BOARD OF DEPUTIES
Community Briefing
Read the Board's latest community briefing.
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