London: 18:54 Birmingham: 18:58 Sheffield: 18:55 Jerusalem: 18:01 London: 19:53 Birmingham: 20:01 Sheffield: 20:03 Jerusalem: 19:16 London: 19:53 Birmingham: 20:01 Sheffield: 20:03 Jerusalem: 19:16 London: 19:51 Birmingham: 19:58 Sheffield: 20:00 Jerusalem: 19:14 Having thankfully recovered from Covid-19 earlier this year, on Tuesday I registered to donate convalescent plasma, trying to help others in a similar predicament. On entering the clinic, I was struck by the following profound message on the noticeboard.
It read: "After all this is over the only thing that matters is how we treated each other through this."
As we reflect during the High Holy Days on this past year, perhaps this should be one of the key questions we ask ourselves: how did we treat each other and what can we do to be even better next year? Sadly, the pandemic is still with us and many have suffered from it in a variety of different ways. Let’s continue to support and reach out to one another as we try to emulate Hashem’s attributes of mercy and kindness. Attributes which we appeal to at this time of the year when we hope and pray for a good year ahead.
We have all known for a while that this High Holy Day season was going to be like no other and each of us has had to make difficult decisions about how we are going to celebrate it including whether we are ready to return to shul. To add to the challenge, the government's 'rule of six' was introduced last week and now many families will no longer be able to spend Yom Tov together. I appreciate that this will really put a dampener on Yom Tov for many and my thoughts go out to you.
My colleagues and I will miss those of you who aren’t able to join us in shul, but rest assured that we will be including you all in our communal prayers. As the Talmud teaches, those who are unable to get to Shul are included in the Cohanim’s blessing (Rosh Hashanah 35a).
Perhaps I can offer some comfort from the year 1860. Some 160 years ago, and ten years before the United Synagogue opened its doors in 1870, Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888, Germany) wrote the following extraordinary lines:
"Perhaps the most radical cure in a time of confusion and the loss of all values would be the – provisional – closing of all Synagogues! Let such an idea not frighten the reader. The closing of all Synagogues would not affect or alter the precepts of the Divine Law one iota...it would give the most drastic emphasis to the truth that Divine Judaism embraces and dominates the totality of Jewish life and does not find its fulfilment in the halls of prayer and worship."
Rabbi Hirsch is reminding us that important though our shuls are, Judaism is a religion which is lived, not just prayed. It imbues every part of our daily lives. It cannot be confined to one place or one day. Our homes need to be as Jewish as our synagogues.
Please God may this be the only year we need worry about being able to go to shul or celebrate with our family and friends. On behalf of the United Synagogue, I wish you and your families a safe Yom Tov and a year ahead filled with only good health, blessings and happiness.
Shabbat shalom and Shana tova, ketiva vechatima tova - May God grant us a good and sweet year,
Rabbi Nicky Liss
Chair, Rabbinic Council of the United Synagogue and Rabbi of Highgate United Synagogue High Holy Days short thoughts With the High Holy Days fast approaching, we are excited to launch our brand new video series featuring some of the United Synagogue's rabbis, rebbetzens and educators. Get ready for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with our series of short inspirational video messages, which explore a variety of topics and answer some important questions relating to the High Holy Days. Watch on TheUS.tv by clicking on the link below. Ceremony and Celebration by Rabbi Lord Sacks Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, take a look at this fantastic family edition of 'Ceremony & Celebration' by Rabbi Lord Sacks, where he explores points to ponder, reflections and questions about the festival of Rosh Hashanah. He also takes a deeper look into 'Unetaneh Tokef', including an explanation of the prayer and an analysis of it. Read the full booklet by clicking on the link below. A COMPANION GUIDE Shana Tova! Members will have received a copy in the post this week of our beautiful new comapnion guide for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: a compilation of stories, essays and discussion points for both younger and older readers. You can also now read it online for free via the link below. It is complemented by the Rosh Hashana edition of Daf Hashavua. Shana Tova! WE'D LOVE YOUR FEEDBACK! Do you have your finger on the pulse? Finger on the Pulse is a focus group where our members talk to us and we listen. The next focus group is on Tuesday 22 September, and we particularly want to hear your views if you live in the London Borough of Barnet. Contact the United Synagogue's Ben Vos to book online by clicking on the link below. UNITED SYNAGOGUE IN THE NEWS Articles on the BBC and in the Guardian The Guardian published an article featuring a number of our synagogues about how to mark Yom Kippur during Covid, which you can read here. You can also read the BBC's article on marking the High Holy Days during Covid by clicking on the link below. SELICHOT Virtual Selichot You can re-watch a number of online Selichot services on TheUS.tv. Find First Night Selichot with Edgware United Synagogue, Selichot Explanations with the Shabbaton Choir, the London Cantorial Singers Explanatory Selichot and the Shabbaton Choir's Choral Midnight Selichot Film Premiere by clicking the link below. GET IN THE MOOD FOR ROSH HASHANAH Music for the Jewish Soul Music for the Jewish Soul 2, a wonderful musical and explanatory exposition of our High Holy Day prayers, was a project of then Chief Rabbi Sacks together with a number of Chazanim and choirs. Its stirring sounds remain as relevant today as they were when it was first released. Click on the link below to listen again. LAUNCHING NEXT WEEK This year's virtual Kol Nidre Appeal Every year, you donate thousands of pounds to good causes during the Kol Nidre Appeal. This year, because of the pandemic, we've had to do things differently and we'll be launching a digital appeal next week for participating communities. The money raised helps thousands of people both here and in Israel. By giving together, we can again change lives. Look out for the email from your shul next week! US CHESED CONFERENCE 2020 US Chesed Conference goes virtual 100 participants attended the US Chesed Conference, which took place this year online, with great success. The evening included an inspiring video from Chief Rabbi Mirvis and a talk by Baroness Barran MBE, Minister for Loneliness. Participants also attended Zoom sessions on their chosen topic. TRIBE Youth activities for the Chagim We have two new publications from Tribe to support our young people: a pack with youth activities for the chagim with activities and discussions, and a guide for running your own children's service at home, which can be found by clicking the link below. THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS 'My brother's killer is now my friend' Join Rabbi Yoni Golker of St John's Wood Synagogue for a fascinating interview with Denise Taylor and Ronnie Fields. Denise's brother, Bo, was murdered by Ronnie in 1987. As we approach Yom Kippur, hear this devastating yet life affirming story of the power of forgiveness. Tuesday 22 September at 8pm on TheUS.tv. Our Covid-19 responsibility this Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is an anniversary. But of what?
According to our tradition it was on this day that God created Adam. It was the sixth day of creation. No wonder therefore that our liturgy takes us back to the dawn of all time. And it is in this context, at the beginning of the book of Genesis in Chapter 3, that we read the very first question on record. It was a question posed by God to Adam. God said to him,
“אַיֶּֽכָּה” – “Where are you?”
Adam had just eaten the fruit of the forbidden tree. Of course, Hashem knows everything, so what He implied with “אַיֶּֽכָּה” – “Where are you?” was, “Where are you standing? What is your מדריגה, your spiritual level? How responsible are you being to yourself and to your future?”
This was followed up by another question one chapter later in Chapter 4. This time God posed a question to Cain who had just killed his brother Abel. God’s question was,
“אֵ֖י הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יךָ” – “Where is Abel, your brother?”
It was as if to say, “How responsible have you been towards another?” And Cain’s answer was,
“לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי” – “I don’t know.”
“הֲשֹׁמֵ֥ר אָחִ֖י אָנֹֽכִי” – “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
I believe that these questions are as pertinent and relevant to us today as they were to those original dwellers on earth – particularly during Covid-19 times.
Hashem is saying to each and every one of us “אַיֶּֽכָּה” – “Where are you?” Literally, physically, are you too close to other people at a time when you should be socially distancing? Are you standing at events and in places where the law is being flouted? How responsible are you being to yourself?
In addition Hashem is saying to us “אֵ֖י הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יךָ” – How responsible are we being towards others? Because if we’re neglecting our health we could be posing a danger to the lives of others.
Over the High Holy Days we ask God for forgiveness for our sins, our trespasses, and our transgressions during the past year. According to our tradition, for sins between ourselves and the Almighty, we go straight to God but if we have sinned against others, we must first appease them before God will hearken to our prayers.
If this is the case with regard to regular situations, in which we’re hurting the feelings of others, offending others, disappointing them, how much more so does it apply to situations in which we might be presenting a threat to their very lives? As we enter into the forthcoming High Holy Days, sadly here in the UK, as is the case in many other places around the globe, cases of Covid-19 are on the rise and this is primarily due to irresponsibility – the responsibility that people have towards themselves and towards others. We pray that Hashem will bless us all with a שנה טובה – a good, happy, peaceful, fulfilling and most of all a healthy new year. But this can only happen if none of us ever again gives the shameful reply of Cain:
“Are we our fellows’ keepers?”
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