London: 20:19

Birmingham: 20:00

Hull: 20:25

Sheffield: 20:28

Southport: 20:35

Jerusalem: 18:44

London: 21:31

Birmingham: 21:42

Hull: 21:52

Sheffield: 21:54

Southport: 22:02

Jerusalem: 20:04

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

Next week we are launching the biggest listening exercise the United Synagogue has undertaken for many years. From Monday, United Synagogue members will be sent a link to a survey to ask how we and our communities have done during the pandemic and get our members’ thoughts on coming back to shul, attending programmes online or joining activities in person.

The results will help our Chairs and Honorary Officers, our Rabbis and Rebbetzens, our shul professional teams and the United Synagogue head office think through how best to plan for the Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days) and the coming year.

Please look out for the invitation to take part in the survey. Your responses are very important: the more members who fill in the survey, the better the data will be to help us plan ahead and meet your needs. It will take about ten minutes to complete.

You could also win a £100 Amazon voucher! Two lucky people who complete the survey will each win one. The survey is confidential and is being administered centrally by the United Syagogue.

If your invitation to complete the survey has not arrived by Wednesday (12 May), please check your junk/spam folders. If there are any problems or for any queries, please email survey@theus.org.uk. We’ve also set up a special phone line for our members who don’t have access to the internet and are writing to them directly to invite them to take part.

Thank you for being a member of the United Synagogue.

Yom Yerushalayim programmes

It's Yom Yerushalayim on Monday, so Jodie and Luis Herszaft from our Tribe Israel team have created a series of videos showing us around different landmarks and areas of Jerusalem, sharing the history and stories behind them. You can find these videos on Facebook by clicking here.

On Sunday (9 May) at 8:15pm join the United Synagogue's Rabbi Michael Laitner for Torat Rabbi Sacks: Yom Yerushalayim – A sense of belonging as we explore themes about Jerusalem in the teachings of Rabbi Sacks zt'l. Watch here.

And on Monday (10 May) at 9:00am we're bringing you a special Yom Yerushalayim Hallel live from the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem. Watch it here or on the United Synagogue Facebook page.

And the winner is…

Today we can reveal the winners of our Choose your own Cheesecake competition in partnership with Jewish News and COCO Bakery! After some 300 tasty ideas were submitted, we whittled it down to just five to be put to the public vote. Hundreds and hundreds of people voted and we can now reveal that the winning flavour which will be made and sold at COCO Bakery ahead of Shavuot is the…

…S’MORES CHEESECAKE!

The three lucky people who independently suggested the winning idea were Natalie Braham of Hendon, David Kaufman, aged just 4, of Golders Green and Rebbetzen Blima Wollenberg of Woodford Forest.

David told us: "Thank you for voting for my S’mores cheesecake! Please can everyone buy it and have a lovely Shavuot!" And Natalie said: "It feels very encouraging to have won...I just hope the community will enjoy it and have a lovely Shavuot!"

Thank you to everyone who submitted entries and voted. For all those that entered to win a free cheesecake, the winner will be revealed on Monday so check your inbox!

We can’t wait to try the winning S’mores Cheesecake which will be available to buy, along with a huge range of other delicious cheesecakes, from COCO Bakery in Golders Green from Monday (10 May). Mazal tov to our winners!

Meron Memorial

On Friday our President, Michael Goldstein, wrote to you with his reaction to the Lag B'Omer tragedy in Meron, Israel. Some 45 people have lost their lives. The United Synagogue worked quickly to put on a moving memorial on Sunday evening with contributions from the Chief Rabbi and the Israeli Ambassador. You can watch the memorial here.

Shabbat shalom, Yom Yerushalayim sameach and Chodesh tov - check out details of our special Women's Hallel for Rosh Chodesh below.

Richard Verber

Communications Director,

United Synagogue

Cook Along with Celia Clyne

Join Celia Clyne, one of the UK's top kosher caterers, for a pre-Shavuot cook along as she prepares a variety of tasty dishes to enhance your Shavuot menu. The cook along will take place on Wednesday 12 May at 7:30pm. To book your place, please click the link below. A full ingredients list will be sent to you by email.

Yom Yerushalayim Hallel live from Jerusalem

Join Rabbi Dov and Rebbezen Freda Kaplan, United Synaogue Israel Educators, for a very special musical Hallel service live from the Kotel, featuring music from Yehuda Katz, as we commemorate Yom Yerushalayim. Monday 10 May at 9am. Watch it on TheUS.tv via the link below, or on the United Synagogue Facebook page.

THE MATMID PROGRAMME

Jewish Burial: the journey to beyond

Join Dayan Binstock for his shiur as part of the Matmid Programme - community text based learning. Dayan Binstock's shiur will be titled 'Jewish Burial: the journey to beyond' and will take place on Monday 10 May at 8pm, live on Zoom.

WATCH NOW

Lunch & Learn: Yom Yerushalayim

In this week's lunch and learn, Rabbi Michael Laitner delves into this Shabbat's Parasha, Behar-Bechukotai and explores its links to Yom Yerushalayim. Watch via the link below.

WILLESDEN JEWISH CEMETERY

Guided walks

You can book a free guided walk through Willesden Jewish Cemetery, led by their wonderful volunteer guides. Learn about some of the fascinating residents of the cemetery, including scientist Rosalind Franklin, Tesco founder Jack Cohen, and more. You can book tickets now by clicking the link below.

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 Ricotta & Rum Cheesecake - watch it by clicking the link below.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

New book about Rabbi Sacks zt'l

We are producing a book to commemorate Rabbi Sacks' tenure as Chief Rabbi and would love to include photos from that time. If you have any of Rabbi Sacks by himself or with a group of people, please send them to us via L&L@theus.org.uk. Please be sure that the copyright holder has given permission for us to publish the photo.

The power of 'if'... Click here to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi.

Continuing our series with the Jewish News profiling United Synagogue Rebbetzens and female educators, this week's D'var Torah is from Rebbetzen Dina Golker, Assistant Rebbetzen at St John's Wood Synagogue. Click here to read it.

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

RICHMOND UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Virtual harp recital

Join Richmond for a virtual harp recital with Alena Bystritskiy - a professional musician, artist, ballet dancer and educator who will be sharing the beauty and magic of harp music from the USA. Wednesday 12 May at 7pm. Book now by clicking the link below.

POTTERS BAR & BROOKMANS PARK SYNAGOGUE

Medical detection dogs

Join Potters Bar & Brookmans Park Synagogue for a virtual talk as they hear about the amazing work of 'Super Sniffer' Medical Detection Dogs, who are helping the NHS and saving lives. Wednesday 12 May at 7:30pm, live on Zoom.

ALEI TZION SYNAGOGUE

Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon

Join Alei Tzion as they hear from Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon, Rav of Alon Shevut Darom, Israel. His talk will be titled 'Why is there no date mentioned for Chag Matan Torah?' and will be followed by Divrei Torah from Rabbi Daniel Roselaar. Tuesday 11 May at 8pm, live on Zoom.

MAGEN AVOT UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Organ Donation in Halakha

Join Magen Avot as they hear from Rabbi Professor A Steinberg MD for his talk titled 'Organ Donation in Halakha', with an introduction by Rabbi Joel Kenigsberg, followed by a Q&A. Thursday 13 May at 7:30pm, live on Zoom.

AHAVAT YISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

Jerusalem: Majesty and Sanctity

Join Ahavat Yisrael as they hear from Rabbanit Dr Tamara Spitz, Dean of Students and Mashgicha Ruchanit of Midreshet Torah V'Avodah. Her talk, titled 'Jerusalem: Majesty and Sanctity' in honour of Yom Yerushalayim, is on Sunday 9 May at 8pm.

RUISLIP & NORTHWOOD UNITED SYNAGOGUES

Ruislip and Northwood's 'Zoomzits'

Ruislip and Northwood recently hosted a 'Zoomzits', a Lag B'Omer Kabbalat Shabbat with The Travelling Chassidim. Following the tragedy at Meron in Israel, the programme was modified to reflect the feelings of the community. Read more by clicking the link below.

HENDON UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Shiurim for women

Join Hendon United together with Ner Yisrael for their series of shiurim for women, on Sunday evenings from 8:30-9:30pm. The next shiur will be by Rabbi Michael Pollak, titled 'Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin - an appreciation on his 200th Yahrzeit', and will take place on Sunday 9 May.

EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Edgware presents: Sara Cooper

Join Edgware for Wednesday Night Live with Sara Cooper, a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and Clinical Director of Raphael. Her talk will be titled 'Mental Health Is All Too Often Overlooked'. Wednesday 12 May at 8pm, live on Zoom.

FINCHLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Kinloss presents: Nadia Cohen

Join Kinloss as they hear from Nadia Cohen, for her talk titled 'The Untold Story of the Wife of Eli Cohen'. This inspiring, educational and insightful discussion will take place on Sunday 9 May at 7pm. Book now by clicking the link below.

MAGEN AVOT SYNAGOGUE

Ruth: From Alienation to Monarchy

Join Magen Avot as they hear from Dr Yael Ziegler, a senior lecturer in Tanakh at Herzog College and Matan. Dr Ziegler will be discussing her book 'Ruth: From Alienation to Monarchy' on Wednesday 12 May at 8pm.

EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Breakfast & Learn

Join Edgware for Breakfast & Learn, as they hear from Rabbi Ilan Halberstadt of Machzike Hadath, Golders Green. Rabbi Halberstadt will be giving his talk on Tuesday 11 May at 9am, live on Zoom. The Zoom details are available via the link below.

COCKFOSTERS & N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE

CLC presents: Adam Corsini

The Jewish Museum London's Collections Engagement Manager, Adam Corsini, will select 20 objects from over 40,000 items in the collection to narrate the story of British Jewish heritage, including the arrival of Sephardic and Ashkenazi immigrants. Tuesday 11 May at 11am.

MUSWELL HILL UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Nearly Shavuot Tikun Leil

Join Muswell Hill as they hear from Rabbanit Shani Taragin, Educational Director of Mizrachi, Jonty Blackman, tour guide, educator and lecturer in Israel, and Rabbi Shaul Robinson, Senior Rabbi at Lincoln Square Synagogue, for a pre-Shavuot Tikun Leil. Thursday 13 May at 7:30pm.

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.