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

Although lockdown is easing, we know many people are still shielding or will be separated from their friends and family. To enhance our seder nights we are delighted to provide "Seder in a Box" again this year with wonderful materials and delicious food.

The box will once again contain everything needed for a seder for one night, including a three-course meal with disposable cutlery and crockery. The meal will be catered by top caterer 1070 Kitchen under the supervision of KLBD, and will contain soup, chicken, potatoes, vegetables, dessert, grape juice, matza and more, with vegetarian and vegan options available.

Seder in a Box will also come with educational materials from the United Synagogue, as well as a seder plate mat with everything you need.

The boxes can be ordered online right now. Orders close on Thursday 18 March subject to availability. They cost £40 for one person, £65 for two and £120 for a family of four. Delivery is included in the price within the M25.

There is also the option to donate Seder Boxes to a US Chesed recipient. The initiative is expected to sell out like last year so early booking is advised.

Let my people Le-go!

Budding builders and ambitious architects are being invited to create Pesach-themed models as part of a Tribe-Jewish News competition launched today. 

We are asking our younger readers to get out their building blocks, construction sets or LEGO kits and design something that will take pride of place on your Seder table.

Maybe you will build Moshe Crossing the Sea, the Pyramids in Egypt or even some of the Ten Plagues? The competition is open to anyone at primary or secondary school and one winning entry in each age category will receive a 500-piece LEGO set and be featured in the Jewish News! We’ll also publish some photos of the runners up too. 

Send us a photo of your masterpiece, along with your name and age, to competition@tribeuk.com for your chance to win. You must have permission from a parent or guardian to enter and include their contact details so we can let them know if you’re the winner! The closing date is Monday 22 March. Full terms and conditions available here. Good luck!

Prepare for Pesach with US!

With Pesach just a couple of weeks away, the United Synagogue has a wealth of online programmes available to watch on-demand and free of charge. With insights into the Rabbi Sacks Haggadah, a tour of an Israeli winery, a pre-Pesach concert and an evening of text-based learning, there’s something for everyone. Click here to find out more.

Our local communities are also running dozens of wonderful events and learning opportunities ahead of Pesach. Why not be in touch with your local shul or check out the events here?

We did it!

Congratulations to everyone involved in the US Chesed matched-giving campaign this week - we smashed it! We set out to reach our ambitious £300,000 target in 36 hours and have so far raised more than £440,000.

Donations will support more than 4,000 isolated members and vulnerable families in crisis this Pesach and over the coming year. We'll be providing them with food vouchers, Seder boxes, general food supplies and more.

Thank you to everyone who donated and thank you too to all of our matched donors who enabled everyone’s donations to be doubled, to our 105 Chesed Champions and to our Rabbis, Rebbetzens, lay leaders and staff for leading the charge.

This was a wonderfully collaborative team effort that will ensure the work of US Chesed can grow this year in the face of rising demand. Read more about the appeal here.

Hullo, Hull!

And finally, we give the warmest of United Synagogue welcomes to Hull Hebrew Congregation who joined the United Synagogue family this week. Read all about them in the article below. Welcome!

Shabbat shalom,

Richard Verber

Communications Director

United Synagogue

P.S. Sunday is Rosh Chodesh Nisan so do check out our wonderful women's Hallel service at 9.15am. Edgware United are also hosting one at 3pm if that's more convenient. Details of both services are below. Chodesh tov.

Why is Rosh Hashanah at the start of the seventh month of the year? Click here to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi.

In addition, Richard Verber, the United Synagogue's Communications Director, has written this D'var Torah for Vayakhel-Pekudei:

This week's sedra showcases how all the Children of Israel – men and women – contributed with great gusto to the building of the mishkan, the portable Tabernacle in the desert.

Three times the Torah uses the phrase “nideiv libo”, meaning ‘generous of heart’. This culture of giving has defined the Jewish people for millennia, whether through donating our money through tzedakah, charity or our time through gemilut chasadim, acts of kindness, and volunteering.

Two examples of being “nideiv libo” struck me this week.

The first was on Monday as our schools prepared to welcome back most of their pupils, many of whom hadn’t set foot in the building for more than two months. Seeing the selflessness and dedication exemplified by our teachers and school staff is a demonstration par excellence of being “nideiv libo”: despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic, they haven't ceased to put our children first and ensure our children do not miss out on their education. We owe them all great debt of gratitude.

The second example took place over the weekend as the United Synagogue Chesed department launched an appeal to raise £300,000 to support thousands of people in need this Pesach and beyond. There is no shortage of good causes to donate to at the moment. Our appeal, like so many others in the community, was a matched giving campaign, meaning that all donations were doubled thanks to some incredibly generous donors. Despite the challenges our community has faced during the pandemic, despite the tragic loss of life, we have not lost our generous spirit.

The campaign raised more than £440,000 and seemed to me a wonderful expression of a verse in this week’s sedra: “The men came along with the women; everyone who is generous of heart (n’div leiv).” (Exodus 35:22)

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