London: 21:07
Birmingham: 20:00
Sheffield: 21:20
Jerusalem: 19:07
London: 22:28
Birmingham: 22:42
Sheffield: 23:02
Jerusalem: 20:37
"I am so excited to be back at school," Amber, a pupil in Year 1 at Sinai told us. "I really like seeing my friends again and to meet new teachers. I have Madame Dutch as my 'huddle' teacher and she has been teaching me to speak French and I am only in Year 1! I like my maths meeting in the morning, dancing in my PE lessons and playing outside."
The shoes have been polished and the satchels dusted off. June is an odd time to be going back to school but for many United Synagogue families, the last couple of weeks have started to take on just a hint of normality.
Sinai Jewish Primary School in Kenton is the largest Jewish primary school in Europe. Staff told us they were overjoyed to be able to welcome back Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 at the beginning of the month.
The team have made a number of changes in light of the current crisis, operating a drop-and-go system in the car park in the morning and a socially-distanced collection at the end of the day.
Children are arranged in small ‘huddles’ and, we’re told, are enjoying daily Maths, English, Jewish Studies and tefillah (prayer) with plenty of outdoors time and huddle picnics at lunch time. During the week there are art lessons, mindfulness sessions, Humanities and PE.
Home learning is being offered through the school’s Google Classroom provision. Sinai’s efforts have been praised by their local MP.
The schools which make up the Jewish Community Academy Trust (JCAT) – Hertsmere, Moriah, Rimon, Sacks Morasha and Wolfson Hillel also opened their doors again on June 1. About two thirds of all JCAT children have chosen to return with more returning every day as they see how happy and safe the other children are. Those still at home will continue to receive JCAT’s home learning programme.
Like Sinai, a huge amount of planning has gone in to creating safe spaces. This includes ‘bubbles’ of staff and children, learning spaces with social distancing built in, staggered breaks, lunches and drop off and pick up times and a comprehensive cleaning plan.
It’s actually not strictly accurate to say that the schools were closed, as both JCAT and Sinai have kept their doors open throughout the Coronavirus crisis for at-risk children and children of Key Workers. In JCAT, there are 180 children with one key worker parent and 59 with two.
JCAT schools were selected to participate in a 100 school Public Health England COVID-19 testing programme. JCAT told us they were delighted to be able to help with the research.
We’re so pleased to hear how excited the children have been to return to school (who’d have thought it?!). They’ve adapted well and are settling in to their new routine.
We hope schools can reopen for all year groups soon when it is safe to do so. We’re sure that there are many disappointed children who can’t wait to get back to school to see their friends and teachers again. We wish them all well.
Shabbat shalom,
Richard Verber
Communications Director, United Synagogue
Rabbi Liss on Radio 4
Rabbi Nicky Liss, Chair of the United Synagogue's Rabbinic Council and Rabbi of Highgate United Synagogue was invited on to Radio 4 on Sunday to discuss the Jewish community's reaction to houses of worship being open for private prayer only. You can listen again now via the link below - just scroll forward to 17:28.
Update on Certificate of Religious Practice (CRP) for Jewish schools admissions
One of the elements of the Admissions process for many Jewish schools is the operation of the criteria set out in Certificate of Religious Practice (CRP). Given that shuls are closed due to COVID-19, the criteria will be changed. Please read and share the short update in the link below.
Commission on Racial Inclusivity in the Jewish Community
The Board of Deputies launched a Commission on Racial Inclusivity in the Jewish Community. The Commission is inviting Black British Jews and other Jews of Colour to give evidence about their experiences in the community – good and bad – so that we can build a picture of what is happening. The United Synagogue supports this initiative and invites members to find out more and to give evidence.
New kosher restaurant and new kosher products
We welcome Gideon's Glatt Meat Restaurant in Edgware which is now under KLBD Supervision. Alpen Chocolate Muesli is KLBD Certified Dairy, no logo and Bear Strawberry & Mango Yoyos, Blackcurrant & Beetroot and Strawberry & Butternut Squash Bites are KLBD certified Parev, with logo. Full details in the link below.
GRENFELL TOWER
Grenfell, three years on
This week marked the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman, whose community, New West End Synagogue, is just a few minutes' drive from the site of the tragedy, took part in the Grenfell United online commemoration today which you can watch again online now.
WATCH AGAIN
Red Sea Spies: with the BBC's Raffi Berg
Listen again to the amazing true story of the secret Mossad operation which smuggled thousands of Ethiopian Jews out of Sudan to Israel in the 1980s using a fake diving resort as cover. Raffi Berg is the BBC online Middle East Editor.
THIS WEEK'S KABBALAT SHABBAT!
Golders Green United Synagogue welcomes you tomorrow!
This Friday at 7:00pm join Golders Green Synagogue's Senior Rabbi Dr Harvey Belovski for an uplifting Kabbalat Shabbat service with a D'var Torah from the shul's Rebbetzen Dr Hadassah Fromson. Watch live on our Facebook and YouTube channels.
THIS WEEK'S HUMAN OF THE US
Meet Cassie Daniels
Every week we are highlighting the stories of our members past and present to mark our 150th anniversary. Inspired by the Facebook sensation, Humans of New York, meet some of the wonderful people who make up the US.
YOUNG PEOPLE
Tribe Time is back!
The Tribe team is on again this Sunday (June 21) for another ‘Tribe Time’ at 11am. Join us for a power hour of Jewish education and skills for children in Primary Schools. Join us on Zoom! (For security, please email info@tribeuk.com to get the details.)
WILLESDEN JEWISH CEMETERY
Can you help us trace these families?
We are seeking to trace the owners of monuments to Henry Arthur Nathan and the Neville family. Specialist stone conservation work on these monuments will start soon, following the recommendations of a professional survey into the condition of key memorials at this historic cemetery.
This week Reverend Shmully Aronson shares his favourite proverb from the Book of Mishlei, Proverbs...
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But the wise man accepts advice.” (Proverbs 12:15)
Some time ago I was having a chat with someone. He was praising the idea of having a clear opinion for yourself, and then fighting for it as a truth. At first I totally agreed with him, until shortly after I noticed that he was seriously misjudging a situation, based on an opinion that he had formed for himself.
Many times an opinion that we’ve formed will look straightforward in our eyes, and be as strong as any other truth that we know. Yet, an opinion is just an opinion and not a fact, and unless verified, you could well be missing some important considerations.
The first half of our verse teaches to view these opinions as absolute truth would be foolish.
However, we live in a world where we have separate realities. Every person has unique wisdom and insight, so one person’s perception of any given scenario may well be different to another’s.
King Solomon therefore points out to us in the second half of this verse, that if you want your opinions to be based on true wisdom, be wise and discuss it with others.
Rabbi Moshe Alshich (1508 - 1593) also points out that the verse does not say one has to agree with or accept the other opinions, just merely be open to listen for any deeper truth within them, from a neutral space.
Any fool can be open to hear other opinions, but only the wise are willing to listen open-mindedly and consider them.
Reverend Shmully Aronson is the Rabbi of Sutton & District United Synagogue
WOODFORD FOREST UNITED SYNAGOGUE
The Bar Mitzvah that nobody attended
Mazal tov to Rabbi and Rebbetzen Wollenberg, the Senior Rabbinic couple at Woodford Forest United Synagogue on the bar mitzvah recently of their son, Yisrolik! Rabbi Wollenberg has penned this lovely reflection on a Bar Mitzvah at this challenging time.
WOODSIDE PARK UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Building resilience during Covid-19
Join Woodside Park for the next in their series of seminars on mental health and wellbeing. This week, Emma Dorman, Senior Educator Coordinator at JAMI will run a workshop on how we can become more resilient. Next Wednesday (24 June), 9pm. Free event but sign up essential as limited to 50 people.
STANMORE AND CANONS PARK UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Stanmore Academy: Lord Finkelstein
Tonight at 8.30pm, join Lord Daniel Finkelstein of the Times in conversation with Jacob Levy. Next week Lord Pannick QC will discuss how the criminal and civil courts are coping with Covid-19.
COCKFOSTERS UNITED SYNAGOGUE
CLC presents: Rob Rinder
Rob Rinder is a barrister turned writer and broadcaster. In 2014, while still a practising Barrister, he began starring in his reality court show Judge Rinder, now in its 8th series. This is a free event but booking is essential. Next Tuesday (23 June), 11am.
KENTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Colonel coming to Kenton
Colonel Richard Kemp CBE will be travelling (virtually) to Kenton to be in conversation with David Harris. Richard was sent to Kabul in 2003 to take command of British Forces in Afghanistan and will be sharing stories about his career including what it was like being on a terrorist group's death list. Tuesday 30 June, 7.30pm on Zoom. All welcome.
EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Jack Cohen and 100 years of Tesco
Join Richard Cohen, Sir John (Jack) Cohen's great nephew to explore the founder of Tesco's early life in the army and how he transformed Tesco into the multinational powerhouse it is today.
Tuesday 30 June, 8pm on Zoom.
RICHMOND UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Tonight: An evening with Lord John Mann
Join Lord John Mann, the Government’s independent Adviser on Antisemitism for a discussion and Q&A on 'Antisemitism in a new political world'. It will be hosted by Rabbi Shindler of Richmond Synagogue next Thursday (June 18) at 8.15pm. Live on the United Synagogue YouTube page and via Zoom.
WOODSIDE PARK UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Israel, a struggle for solution and peace
Join Woodside Park Synagogue and Charlotte Korchak, Senior Educator and Director of International Student Programmes at StandWithUS Israel, for a three part series looking at current affairs in Israel. The first session is on Monday at 8pm.
ST JOHN'S WOOD UNITED SYNAGOGUE
Compelling conversations
Join St John's Wood for a new series of compelling conversations. The series continues on Wednesday (24 June) at 9pm with Rabbi Moshe Mayerfeld, Director of Aish New York, looking at assimilation, Millennials and marrying Jewish. Live on Facebook.
WHAT'S ON?
Online events
Our synagogues may be closed but our communities are open! See what virtual events are happening in our communities every week by checking out the United Synagogue events portal. All welcome!
BOARD OF DEPUTIES
Community Briefing
Read the Board's latest community briefing.
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Photo of John Mann is by Roger Harris - https://members-api.parliament.uk/api/Members/1387/Portrait?cropType=ThreeFourGallery: https://members.parliament.uk/member/1387/portrait, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86632787
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