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As we come to the last You&US of 2020 I wanted to look back at the past extraordinary 12 months. This time last year we announced a range of wonderful programmes to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the United Synagogue. Sadly, like all of us, we’ve been responding to the global pandemic instead.

  

Too many of our members have lost loved ones this year and our hearts go out to them - we wish them all chayim aruchim, long life.

 

As a result, it was a year like no other for our outstanding Burial Society. We had to ensure they could operate safely and respond to the intense and very sad pressures we faced. My immense gratitude goes to the staff and volunteers who have kept our cemeteries open to those who needed them throughout the pandemic.

 

Another top priority was to support our most vulnerable members and beyond, with outstanding work from our volunteers and staff led by our Chesed team – initially with our Coronavirus helpline and then a very rapid response providing thousands of Pesach Food parcels, Shabbat meals and now essential food boxes to those who need them. Thank you to everyone who has donated items for our boxes.

 

At a local level, Rabbis, Rebbetzens and volunteers made thousands of calls to members in need. Many younger people stepped up to the plate to volunteer and I am very grateful. We had to ensure we could continue supervising the provision of kosher food in care homes and despite the challenges, kept our asylum seeker drop-in centre project running.

 

As I've written previously, the hardest decision of my professional career was to close our shuls in March. Whilst we love our shul buildings, keeping our members safe is paramount. I want to pay tribute to our truly outstanding lay volunteers and Rabbinic and professional teams, both locally and centrally. The examples in this email are just a snapshot of activities over the last year and it is thanks to their wonderful work and selfless dedication that we have not only minimised the risks to our members but also provided pastoral care almost round the clock and a superb range of programmes both by individual shuls and our central office via TheUS.tv.

 

Things like online Kabbalat Shabbat services (with people joining us from Inverness to Devon) gives a lovely feeling of togetherness when we cannot be together. And that unity stretches worldwide, not just through people joining our events on TheUS.tv, but also in helping those of us who sadly need to say Kaddish but are unable to do so through our Kaddish pairing project.

 

In addition to maintaining religious services wherever possible, I have been tremendously impressed by the number of Covid-secure in-person events our shuls have managed to put on, despite the pandemic. Whether offering 'staycations' over the summer holiday and October half-term, drive-ins for Chanukah or mobile succahs for Succot, Tribe and our shuls have pulled out all the stops to engage members wherever possible.

 

We are still reeling from the shock of losing Rabbi Lord Sacks zt'l last month. Our moving memorial, put together in just a few days, has now been viewed more than 22,000 times. I keep in mind Rabbi Sacks' description of the United Synagogue's name in Hebrew in his book Community of Faith, written for our 125th anniversary – Kehillah Kedosha, Knesset Yisrael – we are a holy community, an assembly for all – and so our communities have found inspiring ways to stay together even when they can’t be physically together. 

 

I am certain that we have learnt things that we will carry forward into 2021. Online programmes stick in my mind including the wonderful provision prior to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with virtual Selichot, Yizkor and Kol Nidre. But I also had reports of how welcome it was to have a range of different services in many communities this year and that this will be something to consider going forward notwithstanding the immense logistical challenges.

 

I am blessed to have very supportive Trustees, who as well as having overall leadership of the Charity, are also willing to roll their sleeves up wherever needed. Like all organisations, we’ve had to keep a very close eye on our financial position and sustainability and this will be among the Trustees' and my key concerns for 2021 alongside supporting our members in ever more innovative ways.

 

I wish you and your families only good health for the coming year, as we pray for the positive impact of the Covid vaccines. I’d love to hear your thoughts - do reply to this email to let me know.

It's been a wonderful week of Jewish learning. At Limmud Festival, the Chief Rabbi gave a presentation on resilience which featured classical Torah ideas and the words of musician Leonard Cohen. Hampstead's Rabbi Dr Michael Harris joined a panel to discuss whether our experience of social distancing will continue to impact our community for years to come. Our United Synagogue Rabbi in Israel, Rabbi Gideon Sylvester, took part in a panel looking at the remarkable contribution of Rabbi Lord Sacks zt'l.

 

As we highlighted last week, Rebbetzen Dr Hadassah Fromson of Golders Green Synagogue, Rabbi Daniel Epstein of Cockfosters and N Southgate and Muswell Hill's Rabbi David Mason also spoke and had large (virtual) crowds. I joined my fellow CEOs of JW3 and UJIA to look at the future of the community which I enjoyed very much.

 

Now in its fourth year, the Bereishit Conference, organised by Rabbi Daniel Fine of Stanmore & Canons Park, drew more than 200 people to enjoy online talks from refusenik Rabbi Yosef Mendelevitch, advisor to the government on antisemitism Lord Mann, South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, Mishcon de Reya’s James Libson on defending Deborah Lipstadt, United Hatzalah's Eli Beer and former Mossad agent Danny Limor in conversation with BBC Online Middle East Editor Raffi Berg alongside local rabbis, rebbetzens and educators.

Save the date: memorial programme for Rabbi Dr Irving Jacobs zt'l

 

Just before Chanukah, we lost the late Rabbi Dr Irving Jacobs zt’l, the former principal of Jews College, Rabbi of the Neveh Shalom Synagogue in Wembley and a hugely popular teacher over many decades.  A memorial programme including the Chief Rabbi, colleagues and students of Rabbi Jacobs will be broadcast on TheUS.tv on Sunday 10 January. Further details to follow next week.

Queen's Honours: mazal tov!

 

We wish a hearty mazal tov to all members of the community who have been awarded an honour from HM The Queen. If someone in your community has been honoured please let us know and we'll wish them mazal tov next week!

Shabbat shalom,

 

Steven Wilson

Chief Executive

United Synagogue

Our Covid-19 journey – how should we respond to its uncertainty? Click here to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi.

 

In addition, Rebbetzen Shuli Liss of Highgate United Synagogue has written the following D'var Torah on Resentment which was due to be published in this week's Jewish News:

 

Nelson Mandela said: "Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies." 

 

Having suffered for a large part of his life due to the actions of others, Nelson Mandela is highly qualified to make that statement.

 

In our own lives, we are frequently affected by the actions of others – both intentional and unintentional. 

 

We may have been hurt many years ago and are still holding on to the pain. It feels like allowing ourselves to let go, permits the offender to escape without consequences for their actions. Yet, we forget that the resentment harms us more than it hurts them. 

 

In this week's Parasha, the brothers come to talk to Joseph, after their father’s death. Joseph suffered for many years due to their harmful acts. As a young boy, he was thrown into a pit, sold as a slave, dragged down to Egypt and thrown into prison for 12 long years. Finally, he was rushed out of prison to explain Pharaoh’s dream, and unexpectedly elected as viceroy to the King.

 

Now was his chance for revenge. His father was no longer alive, and he had free reign to do as he pleased. His brothers were afraid that he would now repay them for their cruel behaviour.

 

Yet, the story continues as follows: "And Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I instead of God? You intended evil but God meant it for good…'" (Genesis 50:19-20). Despite the brothers’ intentions, he truly believed that his life’s experience was planned by Hashem and was necessary for the fulfilment of his unique role in this world.

 

Of course, the brothers had to face the outcome of their plans – but that was not his responsibility. He knew that resentment only causes self-inflicted pain, and instead he strengthened his faith in Hashem. It was this faith that carried him and enabled him to find equanimity throughout the most difficult times of his life.

 

Rebbetzen Shuli Liss is Rebbetzen of Highgate United Synagogue

 

Welcome to 'Tell US', our new section where we invite you to contribute a joke, a poem or a story. We look forward to turning the spotlight on your literary creations over the coming weeks and months!

 

This week's contribution is by Lisa Mina.

 

What’s a Jewish person’s favourite kebab?

 

A-dona-lam(b)! 

 

 

Please send your submissions to youandus@theus.org.uk.

 

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