London: 16:05

Birmingham: 16:05

Sheffield: 16:00

Southport: 16:04

Jerusalem: 16:18

London: 17:14

Birmingham: 17:18

Sheffield: 17:19

Southport: 17:25

Jerusalem: 17:38

The United Synagogue is working with our friends at JVN (the Jewish Volunteering Networking) to promote volunteering opportunities for our members to support the national vaccination effort.

JVN have collated centres across the country which are currently looking for volunteers to help with the Covid-19 vaccination programme. You can see where and find out more by clicking here. Do check back as the page will be continuously updated.

Last week the Chief Rabbi said that when a vaccine is offered to you, you have a religious imperative to take it. You can watch his short message here.

January means GENEuary

This week the Chief Rabbi has urged all young Jewish adults to be tested for genetic diseases. He spoke out during GENEuary, an awareness campaign by the charity Jnetics, designed to raise awareness of recessive genetic disorders and the importance of carrier screening.

Jnetics focuses on genetic conditions that, though not exclusively Jewish, are of higher prevalence to people of Jewish ancestry. These disorders can be devastating, but are preventable through testing. The screening involves just a simple saliva test and the results allow individuals and families to make informed health decisions.

More than 3,000 people have been tested since screening started, the Chief Rabbi said, and although it sounds a big number, it is far less than it should be. To find out more, click here.

Visiting loved ones in hospital

Are you worried about family or friends who are ill in hospital and cannot have any visits? At this very difficult time, Jewish Visiting chaplains are still in contact with patients, sometimes virtually and sometimes in person.

If you know of someone who would like them to get in touch, please phone our Coronavirus helpline on 020 8343 5696 (Monday-Thursday, 9am-5pm and Fridays 9am-1pm). At other times or in the case of urgent calls, please phone our Senior Hospital Chaplain, Rabbi Stanley Coten, on 07776 516 027. He will either respond directly himself or contact one of our team of Jewish chaplains to help.

Kosher meals for Jewish doctors and nurses!

Our community is really very special. A new free kosher meal service has been set up to supply Jewish NHS hospital doctors, nurses and other health professionals with cooked food. Delivery arrangements will depend on the hospital, but may be through a hospital contact, a hospital 'Shabbat room' or staff’s own homes. For more information or to request meals, please e-mail 'Kosher 4NHS' at kosher4nhs@gmail.com.

Shabbat shalom,

Richard Verber

Communications Director

United Synagogue

P.S. We're going north of the border tomorrow afternoon for this week's Kabbalat Shabbat service with not one but THREE Glasgow-based rabbis: enjoy! You can watch as usual via TheUS.tv and on our Facebook page.

Auschwitz, Art & Hope

Join the National Holocaust Museum for an interview with Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss MBE, step sister of Anne Frank, and Director of the Resistance Museum in Amsterdam, Liesbeth van der Horst. The museum has a collection of over 30 paintings by Eva’s brother Hans, which she found under the floor of their Amsterdam hideout when she returned after Liberation. Eva adored Hans who perished at Auschwitz. Watch on TheUS.tv on Wednesday (20 Jan) at 7pm.

The New Normal: lessons learnt from the pandemic

Watch a fascinating conversation between the Senior Rabbi of Mill Hill United Synagogue, Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet and the United Synagogue's Communities Director, Jo Grose. The two discussed 'The New Normal: Lessons Learnt From The Pandemic'. The talk is available now to watch on-demand on TheUS.tv, and can be found by clicking the link below.

WATCH NOW

Lunch & Learn

Catch up on this week's Lunch & Learn: Explore the Parasha with Rabbi Marc Levene of Belmont United Synagogue, who delved into this week's Parasha, Vaera. Watch it by clicking on the link below.

NEW SERIES

The Book of Shemot

Join Rabbi Baruch Davis from Chigwell & Hainault United Synagogue for his new series exploring the Book of Shemot. This week's talk is titled 'From Slavery to Sanctuary, Part 2', and is available to watch on TheUS.tv by clicking the link below.

NER TAMID PROJECT

Daily digital davening

Sadly, with many of our shuls now closed again due to rising infection rates, we've stepped in once again to organise daily prayer services. We will endeavour to broadcast prayers on our Facebook page three times a day (other than Shabbat) led by our Rabbis from across our communities.

NEW SERIES

Shemot Snacks

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

US IN THE CITY

An interview with Lord Ian Austin

US in the City presents an interview with Lord Ian Austin, hosted by Rabbi Jonathan Hughes.

Ian sits as a life peer in the House of Lords and was the MP for Dudley North from the 2005 general election until the 2019 general election when he stood down and spoke out against the anti-Semitic forces within the Labour Party. Tuesday 26 January at 8pm, live on TheUS.tv.

WATCH AGAIN

Live Kidney Donation: The Gift of Life

In case you missed it, you can re-watch a fascinating talk exploring live kidney donation with keynote speaker Rebbetzin Lori Palatnik, who was joined by Dayan Menachem Gelley, Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence, Professor Liz Lightstone, Professor Anthony Warrens and Surgeon Jeremy Crane.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

Passing on the torch

JRoots in partnership with the United Synagogue presents the world's largest online gathering of Holocaust survivors and their descendants, to commemorate International Holocaust Memorial Day. Wednesday 27 January at 4pm. To register for the event, please click here.

What has been the impact of Covid-19 on our senior citizens? Click here to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi.

This week also sees the latest in our series of United Synagogue Rebbetzens writing a D'var Torah in the Jewish News. Rebbetzen Ilana Epstein of Cockfosters and N Southgate United Synagogue. Read it here.

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

KENTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Lieutenant Colonel (R) Peter Lerner

Join Kenton as they hear from Lieutenant Colonel (R) Peter Lerner, the Director-General of International Relations of the Histadrut, who will be sharing his story. Thursday 14 January at 8pm, live on Zoom.

WOODSIDE PARK UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Our journey out of Covid

Join Woodside Park for a fascinating talk titled 'Our journey out of Covid: a doctor's perspective'. Rabbi Pinchas Hackenbroch will be in conversation with four experts from the Woodside Park community. Monday 18 January at 8pm, live on Zoom.

SHENLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Holocaust Memorial Evening

Join Rabbi Alan Garber and Rev Daniel McCarthy for a Holocaust Memorial Evening with guest speaker Mr Trevor Avery, director of the Lake District Holocaust Exhibition 'From Auschwitz Ambleside'. Tuesday 26 January at 8pm, live on Zoom.

FINCHLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Healthcare Talks

Join Kinloss in partnership with The Wellington Hospital for their new series of healthcare talks. The first talk of the series will be titled 'Healthcare problems for children during the pandemic' and will take place on Tuesday 19 January at 8pm. To register please click on the link below.

EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Breakfast & Learn

Join Edgware for Breakfast & Learn, as they hear from Rabbi Ephraim Guttentag, Community Rabbi at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue. Rabbi Guttentag will be giving his talk on Tuesday 19 January at 9am, live on Zoom.

SHENLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Marie van der Zyl

Join Shenley as they hear from Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies, who will be speaking on community matters and the work the Board of Deputies undertakes. Monday 18 January at 7.30pm, live on Zoom.

COCKFOSTERS & N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE

CLC presents: Rabbi David Mason

Rabbi David Mason is a steering group member of EcoSynagogue, and will be presenting their work. He will be showing some of the work going into updating the project's Environmental Audit. This is a free event but booking is essential. Next Tuesday (19 January), 11am.

RICHMOND UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Holocaust Memorial Day

Join Richmond Synagogue along with Richmond Council for a Holocaust Memorial Day programme, including an interview with a Holocaust survivor, and a range of fascinating talks from a number of different speakers. Sunday 24 January at 7.30pm, live on Zoom.

EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Edgware presents: Dr Martin Aaron

Join Edgware for Wednesday Night Live with Dr Martin Aaron, Founder and Honorary Life President of Jami, who will be giving his talk ahead of Mental Health Awareness Shabbat. Wednesday 20 January at 8pm, live on Zoom.

KENTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Kenton presents: Ann Harris

Join Kenton as they hear from Ann Harris, who lived in Kenton for 13 years as the wife of Kenton Shul’s first permanent rabbi, the late Rabbi Cyril Harris. Ann now lives in Cape Town where she is involved in several communal organisations. Sunday 17 January at 2pm, live on Zoom.

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.