London: 15:55 Birmingham: 15:55 Sheffield: 15:49 Southport: 15:53 Jerusalem: 16:12 London: 17:05 Birmingham: 17:09 Sheffield: 17:09 Southport: 17:15 Jerusalem: 17:32 A new year, a new lockdown. We know staying at home is the best way to reduce infections while we wait for the vaccine roll out but we also know the negative effects of lockdown too.
Many of our older members are isolating again - some have been shielding for the best part of a year. Our young people are worried about the future with schools closed and exams cancelled. Families are having to adjust again to home schooling, juggling work and family commitments. Others are worrying about job security or finding work. Those living alone are cut off from family and friends. All of this is piling on pressure at an already difficult time.
To support our members - and the wider community - the United Synagogue has a dedicated Coronavirus helpline during the new lockdown. The helpline will be run by United Synagogue staff and will offer practical advice or a friendly ear for those simply struggling to cope.
The helpline can point you or a loved one in the right direction for practical support such as shopping or picking up prescriptions, spiritual support such as rabbinic advice or religious guidance and emotional support if you just need someone to chat to. All calls are confidential.
The helpline number is 020 8343 5696 and email address is helpline@theus.org.uk. It will be available from Monday to Thursday 9am–5pm and Friday 9am–1pm. Outside of these hours just leave a message and we'll call you back.
We can't offer medical, legal or financial assistance but we will do our best to point you in the right direction. Please do get in touch. Nobody should be afraid to ask for help.
With many of our shuls closed during lockdown, don't forget you can find weekday services three times a day over on our Facebook page, and our Kaddish Pairing Project is available to ensure kaddish is said for a loved one. TheUS.tv has a great range of entertaining and educational programmes to watch.
If you are going to shul, please observe social distancing and all of your community's Covid protocols including leaving the service in households or support bubbles only and moving from the site and the nearby streets promptly. We continue to liaise with government and public health bodies to make sure United Synagogue guidance is up-to-date and we are evaluating the situation daily.
Rabbi Nicky Liss, Chair of our Rabbinical Council, has written a thoughtful piece on the situation for the Jewish News, and Steven Wilson, our Chief Executive, has penned a column for this week's Jewish Chronicle.
We pray the success of the vaccine will see all our shuls reopening very soon.
Queen's Honours: mazal tov!
Our communities have let us know about the following Honours announced by HM The Queen and we wish a hearty mazal tov to members Colin Balsam OBE, Linda Diamond MBE, Daniel Greenberg CB, Carol Hart MBE, Arthur Harverd MBE, Simon Lewis MBE and Richard Ross CBE. Mazal tov! Shabbat shalom,
Richard Verber Communications Director United Synagogue The BBC's Katya Adler - for one night only! Join South Hampstead's Rabbi Shlomo Levin for a fascinating conversation with Katya Adler, BBC Europe Editor, about Europe and her fascinating international assignments. Now that Brexit has happened, they'll also be asking 'now what' and you'll be able to ask your questions too. Sunday 10 January, 8pm, live on Zoom. All are welcome but you must register in advance by emailing office@southhampstead.org. There is no charge for the event. Please note it will not be recorded so please reserve your place for Sunday evening now! Memorial for Rabbi Dr Irving Jacobs zt"l The United Synagogue presents a special memorial programme to commemorate the shloshim of Rabbi Dr Irving Jacobs zt”l. Please join us on Sunday 10 January at 6pm for this special broadcast in memory of a master pedagogue, mentor and teacher of rabbis and thousands of others. Speakers to include the Chief Rabbi, Rabbonim, Adam Taub, colleagues and students. This programme will follow a special Arvit (Ma'ariv) and Memorial Prayer service from Neveh Shalom at 5pm, which can be accessed by clicking here. Watch the memorial programme live on TheUS.tv via the link. NER TAMID PROJECT Daily digital davening Sadly, with many of our shuls now closed again due to rising infection rates, we've stepped in once again to organise daily prayer services. We will endeavour to broadcast prayers on our Facebook page three times a day (other than Shabbat) led by our Rabbis from across our communities. WATCH NOW The US: 150 Years of Service To mark our 150th anniversary, we have produced a new book featuring unique artefacts from the private collection of Professor David Latchman CBE. The book provides a fascinating glimpse into the great events of the day over our 150 years of existence. Watch the fascinating short film we've made via the link below. WE ARE LOOKING FOR... US School Foundation Governors Foundation Governors make an important contribution to our local community and the wider Jewish future. Becoming a Foundation Governor allows you to shape the education our children receive. To find out more about the role, please click on the link below. COMING SOON Women's Hallel: Live Join Rebbetzen Dr Hadassah Fromson, Community Rebbetzen of Golders Green Synagogue, and Hannah Abrams, United Synagogue intern and Mizrachi Fellow, for an interactive and uplifting service on Zoom to mark Rosh Chodesh - the new Jewish month of Shevat. Join them on Thursday 14 January at 12.30pm, on Zoom and the United Synagogue Facebook page. What does our name mean to others? Click here to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi. BELMONT UNITED SYNAGOGUE New Year Honours Congratulations to Carol Hart, a member of Belmont United Synagogue, who was awarded an MBE in the Honours list. Carol is the Head of Volunteer and Community Services at The Association of Jewish Refugees, and received an MBE for services to the Jewish community during the Covid-19 pandemic. KENTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE Anshei Midot - People of Stature Join Kenton for a new series called 'Anshei Midot', where eight members of the community will be talking about a figure who, in their opinion, has had a major impact on the development of the Jewish people. The series begins on Monday 18 January at 8pm, live on Zoom. STANMORE & CANONS PARK UNITED SYNAGOGUE From Darkness to Light Watch Stanmore's new YouTube video series: 'From Darkness to Light'. This series features 10-minute interviews with people who have faced different challenges, talking about how they coped. Watch the series by clicking on the link below. FINCHLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE Live Kidney Donation: The Gift of Life Join Kinloss for a fascinating evening exploring live kidney donation with keynote speaker Rebbetzin Lori Palatnik. She will be joined by Dayan Menachem Gelley of the London Beth Din and Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence, Kinloss' Senior Rabbi together with Professor Liz Lightstone, Professor Anthony Warrens and Surgeon Jeremy Crane. This Sunday (10 January) at 7.30pm. COCKFOSTERS & N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE CLC presents: Michael Etherton Michael Etherton is Chief Executive of UK Jewish Film and a Member of the Board of Trustees, and will be talking about how UK Jewish Film rose to the challenge of thriving in Covid times. This is a free event but booking is essential. Next Tuesday (12 January), 11am. EALING UNITED SYNAGOGUE The experience of antisemitism in the ultra-orthodox Jewish community Join Ealing Synagogue for a talk by Dr Maya Flax, Lecturer in Criminology at the University of West London. Dr Flax is an academic and criminologist and has written on victimhood in hate crime. Her talk is a reflection on her recent research. She will speak on Thursday 14 January at 2.30pm.
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 Richard Gordon.
Which cheese is ideal for Pesach?
Matza-rella!
Please send your submissions to youandus@theus.org.uk.
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