London: 19:10 Birmingham: 19:14 Sheffield: 19:12 Jerusalem: 18:10 London: 20:10 Birmingham: 20:18 Sheffield: 20:21 Jerusalem: 19:25 At Pesach we ask: "Why is this night different from every other night?" Who would have thought we'd be asking ourselves the same question come Rosh Hashanah.
This will be a very unusual Jewish New Year. Synagogues across the country will be depleted. Some will even be closed. Families will be forced to spend the holiest days of the year apart.
Many members of our community are self-isolating. Some are alone.
Alone, but not forgotten. Across our communities, honey cakes are being delivered. Phone calls are being made. Shopping and medicines are being dropped off.
In our shuls, lay and rabbinic teams are putting the final touches to the most intricate of plans to enable Rosh Hashanah services to take place for thousands of our members across our communities in a Covid-secure way. And they're doing this while being acutely aware of the fact government guidance could change at any moment, as it did yesterday following the Prime Minister's press conference.
And the United Synagogue central team is here to support them every step of the way. We've been speaking with local and national government, poring over the new laws and helping to interpret them for our context.
In addition, we've had to rapidly adapt our programming this year. Everyone is in need of some inspiration, whether we're able to go to shul or not. So we've put together a series of brilliant resources for you:
Shabbat shalom, and if you are lucky enough to be going to a service next week, please follow all the instructions given to you by your community in addition to government guidance.
Richard Verber Communications Director, United Synagogue "My brother's 'killer' is now my 'friend'" Join Rabbi Yoni Golker for a fascinating interview with Denise Taylor and Ronnie Fields. Denise's brother, Bo, was murdered by Ronnie in 1987. For years she struggled to come to terms with her loss. Then she spent more than a decade trying to get her brother's killer out of prison. As we approach Yom Kippur, hear this devastating yet life affirming story of the power of forgiveness and a second chance in life. This broadcast is intended for an older audience and not suitable for children. Tuesday 22 September at 8pm on TheUS.tv. Musical highlights of Rosh Hashanah prayers As Rosh Hashanah fast approaches, join Belmont United Synagogue for an evening with Rabbi Marc Levene, produced by Asaf Flumendorf. Rabbi Levene will be exploring the prayers and taking us through the beautiful melodies from the High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah highlights will take place on Wednesday 16 September at 8pm, and Yom Kippur highlights will be on Wednesday 23 September, also at 8pm. Watch on TheUS.tv by clicking on the link below. MIDNIGHT SELICHOT Choral midnight Selichot film premiere Join us on Motza'ei Shabbat 12th September at 9.30pm for a YouTube premiere of 'Choral Midnight Selichot, a unique service featuring the traditional evocative Shabbaton-style melodies. The service was held in September 2019 and filmed live at the 120-year-old Hampstead Synagogue. WILLESDEN JEWISH CEMETERY Take part in an audio project! Willesden Cemetery is looking for a young person to be part of “Invisible Cities”, a sound piece commissioned from artists as part of the Brent Biennial art extravaganza. You need to have an older relative buried at the cemetery, and will be recorded chatting with a grandparent or carer. WILLESDEN JEWISH CEMETERY Life Lines As Willesden Jewish Cemetery opens to the public, join them for Life Lines: a virtual showcase for life story in all its variety, with prize-winning writers and workshops to guide you in creating your own. All this week, live on Zoom. Find out more by clicking the link below. TAIM KOSHER DELI New Kosher deli for East London & Essex! We are thrilled to announce that a new KLBD-supervised deli has opened to serve kosher consumers in East London and Essex! Taim Deli offers a wide range of food including starters, soups, mains course, Chalah, wine and dessert. Click the link to find out more! NEW WEEKLY SERIES FOR FAMILIES Watch this week's Parsha Cast! We are delighted to bring you Parsha Cast - a brand new video series for families from South Hampstead United Synagogue produced by Rebbetzen Lauren Levin and Rabbi Eli Levin of South Hampstead and Tribe. Each week you get the lowdown on the weekly parsha in a short fun video with some questions to discuss with your family. View the series on TheUS.tv.
What is the significance of every single letter of the Torah?
The Lubavitcher Rebbe gave a beautiful explanation. In Parshat Vayelech, which we’ll be reading this coming Shabbat, the Torah presents us with the last of the Mitzvot. Mitzvah number 613 states “וְעַתָּ֗ה כִּתְב֤וּ לָכֶם֙ אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֣ההַזֹּ֔את וְלַמְּדָ֥הּ אֶת־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שִׂימָ֣הּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם – and now, write for yourselves this song, which is the Torah, and teach it to the children of Israel. Place it in their mouths”. Why is there a mitzvah to write a Sefer Torah? We can fulfil this Mitzvah by writing just one letter of a Sefer Torah and it’s attributed to us as if we’ve written the whole Sefer. But why this imperative to be engaged in the writing of letters of the scroll?
The Rebbe explained, there is a Halacha which we learn from the Gemara in Mesechet Mehachot, Daf 29a. There Chazal tell us that all the letters must be “גויל מוקף – surrounded by blank parchment”. That is to say that no letter can be connected to any other letter. At the same time there is also a Halacha that each letter must be visibly part of its own word – and visibly separate from all other words.
Each letter represents an individual. The message of the letters of the Torah, is that each one of us should know that we are unique people. As a result, everyone should respect our own individuality, our unique nature and personality. At the same time, none of us should ever forget that we are an integral part of our nation and as a result, we have an ‘areivut’ – a responsibility, to selflessly care for others and reach out to them.
In addition, if one single letter of the Torah is ‘passul’ – rendered unfit, then the entire Sefer Torah is passul. From here we learn that if there is something with just one of us, then every single one of us is affected as a result.
This is such a beautiful message for us and so apposite on the eve of the commencement of Slichot – a time when we’re just about to usher in a new year and when we’re engaging in ‘Cheshbon Hanefesh’ – introspection.
At this time, therefore, let us never forget how important each and every one us is and how we should develop ourselves and excel in our own personal way as individuals. At the same time, we should never forget that everybody depends on us and is looking for us to pull our weight for the sake of our nation and for the sake of the world.
Shabbat Shalom
JOINT COLLABORATION More than just a blessing Join Bushey, Shenley, Stanmore, Belmont and Ohr Yisrael for a special event for Kohanim, where Rabbi Zvi Cohen of Kingsbury United Synagogue will be giving an inspirational and instructional refresher in preparation for the new year. Sunday 13 September at 8.15pm, live on Zoom. EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE First night Selichot Join Edgware for their first night Selichot, led by Chazan Yossi Schwarz, and accompanied by The Rinah Ensemble under the direction of Eliot Alderman. Rabbi David Lister will also be giving an address. Motza'ei Shabbat 12th September, at 10.30pm on TheUS.tv. This email was sent with love from the United Synagogue. If you no longer wish to receive this email, please unsubscribe here |