London: 19:33

Birmingham: 19:38

Hull: 19:34

Sheffield: 19:38

Southport: 19:44

Jerusalem: 18:24

London: 20:38

Birmingham: 20:47

Hull: 20:50

Sheffield: 20:53

Southport: 21:00

Jerusalem: 19:42

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

Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Yom HaShoah UK held a moving National Holocaust Commemoration event last night. Click here to watch it.

Sunday marks the 60th anniversary of the start of the historic trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of the orchestrators of the Final Solution. We have a powerful article about the trial in this week's Daf Hashavua which you can read here.

If it weren't for the pandemic, hundreds of British Jews would have spent this week in Poland with March of the Living UK. Today they would have marched from Auschwitz I through to Birkenau, together with Holocaust survivors and thousands of other people from around the world.

Instead, March of the Living UK has produced some beautiful videos of well-known personalities walking with survivors here in England, including snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, vice-chair of West Ham United and Apprentice star Karren Brady and ITV's Robert Peston. Click here to watch the trailer and click here to see all the interviews.

Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut

Next week is Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism and Israel's Independence Day).

Join us on Wednesday evening (14 April) at 7.00pm for Bnei Akiva's annual Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut service, usually held at Finchley United Synagogue. Sadly this cannot take place in person for the second year running, but the online service promises still to be moving and uplifting. The singing of Hallel by Jonny Turgel, Chazan of Stanmore & Canons Park United Synagogue is a highlight of the year and we look forward to a keynote speech from the Chief Rabbi. Click here to watch on TheUS.tv.

We have three powerful broadcasts coming up on TheUS.tv to mark Yom Hazikaron:

On Sunday (11 April) at 8.00pm, join United Synagogue Israel Educator Rabbi Dov Kaplan in conversation with Arnold Roth, Chairman of Malki Foundation and father of Malki Roth who was killed in the Sbarro restaurant bombing in Jerusalem in 2001. You can watch here.

On Monday (12 April) at 7.30pm, Rabbi Dov Kaplan will be speaking to the families of three soldiers who tragically lost their lives in the heroic defence of the State of Israel. Watch via this link.

And on Tuesday (13 April) at 8.00pm, join JRoots' Tzvi Sperber for a virtual tour of Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem to discover the fascinating stories of those heroes who lived, fought and died in defence of the State of Israel. Watch at 8.00pm and on demand afterwards by clicking here.

From Exile Towards Redemption

From Exile Towards Redemption is a ground-breaking machzor (special prayer book) for these special days. Produced by the United Synagogue and Koren Publishers, the machzor includes prayers, photos, maps, inspirational stories and essays with contributors past and present including the Chief Rabbi, Natan Sharansky, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt'l and Golda Meir describing the significance of these days from people who lived through these events. You can buy yours now for £15, including postage and packaging (UK orders only).

Hope you had a good Pesach.

Shabbat shalom, Chodesh tov and Yom Ha'atzmaut sameach,

Richard Verber

Communications Director

United Synagogue

The CRP process

The Certificate of Religious Practice 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. Some changes have been made to the process this year in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. You can read the full details here and watch a short informational film by clicking the link below.

Women's Hallel: Live

Join Rebbetzen Dr Hadassah Fromson, Community Rebbetzen of Golders Green Synagogue, and Rebbetzen Siobhan Dansky, Rebbetzen of Cranbrook United Synagogue, for an uplifting Women's Hallel service to mark Rosh Chodesh, the new Jewish month of Iyar. Monday 12 April at 1pm, live on Facebook and on Zoom. Please note that this event is for women only.

ROSH CHODESH INSPIRATION

Heads Up!

Join Rebbetzin Emma Taylor for a Rosh Chodesh series, sharing inspiration to keep your head up for the coming month. Watch Rebbetzin Taylor in conversation with Nikki Schreiber, Founder of Humans of Judaism, by clicking the link below.

WATCH AGAIN

Lunch & Learn

Want to appreciate the deeper meaning of the weekly Torah portion? Looking for a nice Dvar Torah to share at the Shabbat table? Catch up on this week's Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Joel Kenigsberg, who delved into this week's Parasha, Shemini. Watch via the link below.

EUROPEAN CANTORS ASSOCIATION

The Voice of the Cantor

Join the European Cantors Association for the next in their 'Voice of the Cantor' series, which will be titled 'The Challenge of Modern Orthodoxy for the Cantorate', featuring Michael Goldstein, President of the United Synagogue. Wednesday 14 April at 7pm. Register by clicking here.

WATCH NOW

Vayikra Variety

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

The surprising value of self-doubt: click here to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi.

And in addition, as part of our regular series with the Jewish News profiling Rebbetzens and female educators, United Synagogue educator Pnina Savery explores what we can learn from having a "stiff upper lip". Click here to read it.

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

MUSWELL HILL UNITED SYNAGOGUE

The Big Israel Quiz

Join Muswell Hill for 'The Big Israel Muswell Hill Quiz' to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut, with some delicious Israeli food from Jasmine catering delivered directly to your door. Sunday 18 April at 8pm.To book and buy raffle tickets, please click here.

BOREHAMWOOD & ELSTREE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Job searching during Covid-19

Join Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue for an informative panel discussion on job searching and skills training for everyone, from school leavers to those with experience during this difficult time. Monday 19 April at 8pm, live on Zoom.

NORTHWOOD UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Yom HaShoah tribute

Join Northwood for a special Yom HaShoah tribute, with guest of honour Béatrice Katz, a Holocaust survivor, who will be interviewed by Henry Grunwald OBE QC.

Tonight at 8pm, live on Zoom.

KENTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Kenton presents: Raymond Cannon

Join Kenton as they hear from Raymond Cannon, a retired lawyer who made aliya in 2002. His talk is titled 'Israel - A British Expat's Personal Perspective'.

Monday 12 April at 8pm, live on Zoom.

EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Global Women's Hallel

Join Edgware for an uplifting Global Women's Hallel for Rosh Chodesh Iyar, to connect women all over the UK and around the world. Monday 12 April at 7pm, live on Zoom. The Zoom details can be found on the poster below.

NORTHWOOD UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Northwood's Bedikat Chametz

As part of Northwood's online Pesach programming, the community took part in Bedikat Chametz together over Zoom, led by Rabbi Zerbib. Read more about it

by clicking the link below.

BOREHAMWOOD & ELSTREE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Yom HaZikaron with Rabbi Black

Join Borehamwood & Elstree for Yom HaZikaron as they hear from Rabbi Gideon Black, who will discuss his experiences surviving two terrorist attacks, and losing his cousin and best friend, Yoni Jesner. Tuesday 13 April at 8pm, live on Zoom.

KINGSTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Jews and Film Trivia

Join Kingston for an evening all about Jewish film. Learn about nuns singing Yiddish, about the quintessential English gentleman (from
Rumania), and about the man who saved Fagin as well as the 15 Commandments. Sunday 11 April at 8pm, live on Zoom.

COCKFOSTERS & N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE

CLC presents: Dani Rotstein

Dani Rotstein moved from New Jersey to the island of Majorca, Spain, in 2014. There, he learned of the taboo history of the Conversos or Chuetas of the island. In 2018, he founded Limud Mallorca and has run over 50 successful events promoting diversity and inclusion in the growing, Jewish community. Tuesday 13 April at 11am.

FINCHLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Optimising your health

Join Kinloss for the third talk in their 'Healthcare Talks' webinar series in partnership with The Wellington Hospital and the United Synagogue. This talk will be titled 'For the over 70s: optimising your health', featuring a panel of consultants. Tuesday 13 April at 8pm, live on Zoom.

CATFORD & BROMLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Birthday Honours

Catford & Bromley United Synagogue celebrated three of their members turning 100 earlier this year. Mazal tov to Pearl Young, Joy Springer, and Auntie Marie. Read more by clicking the link below.

MUSWELL HILL UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Shabbat Shalom on Zoom

Join Muswell Hill Synagogue for a 15 minute pre-Shabbat get together, where Shabbat ideas will be shared, as well as a few songs and the opportunity to wish each other a 'Shabbat Shalom'. Starting on Friday 9 April at 6pm.

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.

Welcome to 'Tell US', where we invite you to contribute a joke, a poem or a story. This week's contribution is by Menasche Scharf, KLBD's Certification Manager.

Deciphering the Sephirah (Counting the Omer)

The seven weeks of Omer Counting started on the morrow of Pesach

so far, we counted one week and two days, keeping an eye on our goal

Sephirah is all about counting up – to a countdown to Chag Shavuot

when we received the Ten Commandments on two Tablets

Sapphire is the stone from which the Tablets were hewn

delivered to us by none other than the prophet Moses

Superman is only a fantasy; us mortals however do it slowly

our mission these days is clear: a daily improvement regimen

Safer to stand on firm ground and work our way up - step by step

no point trying to imitate fiction characters for short-lived thrills

Cypher conceals the layers of mystery shrouding the meaning of