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London: 17:06

Birmingham: 17:07

Hull: 16:59

Sheffield: 17:04

Southport: 17:09

Jerusalem: 16:48

London: 18:10

Birmingham: 18:16

Hull: 18:13

Sheffield: 18:17

Southport: 18:23

Jerusalem: 18:06

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

Thursday 17 February, 2022

The cost of living crisis has been dominating the headlines this year.

 

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said electricity bills were up 19% in the year to January and gas bills up by 28%. Consumers are expected to be hit even harder in April when the energy price cap rises by 54%. ONS figures show food costs have risen sharply and inflation is now at a 30-year high.

 

All of this means an increase in household fuel and food bills, and a real strain on families - many of whom were already struggling to make ends meet because of the pandemic. For nearly two years, the United Synagogue's Chesed department has been quietly supporting hundreds of Jewish families with a weekly food parcel containing items such as soup, tinned vegetables, pasta and rice, fresh items like cheese and milk and some household items such as toiletries.

 

The Jewish News has written a powerful piece on how the cost of living crisis has affected Jewish familes, which you can read here.

Become a Chesed champion

 

We are very worried about the cost of living crisis and anticipate an increase in demand for our services. We are planning on extending our food parcels project to meet this need and will be launching a fundraising campaign in March to enable us to support as many Jewish families as possible, and the wider work of US Chesed.

 

Please be a part of this campaign by becoming a Chesed champion and telling your friends and family about the campaign next month. We'll be helping you all the way. Together, we'll reach our goal of supporting everyone in our community that needs help. Sign up to be a Chesed champion at www.theus.org.uk/champion.

1,000 Covid deaths

 

This week the Board of Deputies reported that sadly 1,000 members of the Jewish community have passed away due to Covid. This is a heart-breaking milestone for the Jewish community and a sombre reminder of the devastation wrought by the virus over the last two years. As Covid restrictions end and people return to shul, this is an appropriate time to remember all those families who will have an empty chair at their Purim seudah and Seder table in the coming weeks. We hope and pray all those who have lost a loved one will be spared further suffering.

 

This is also an appropriate time to thank the United Synagogue Burial Society for their extraordinary work. Colleagues have had to conduct hundreds more funerals during the pandemic, a figure tragically exacerbated by Covid-19, particularly in 2020. Despite these intense and unparalleled pressures – on our rabbis, chevra kadisha volunteers, gravediggers, administrative team and cemeteries staff – every single family was afforded time, care and attention. We thank them and colleagues in burial boards across the country for all that they have done.

Shabbat shalom and stay safe during Storm Eunice,

 

Steven Wilson

Chief Executive

United Synagogue

TRIBE

Register for Tribe Summer Camp!

Registration for all the Tribe Summer Camps is open and Year 6 and Year 7 are almost sold out! It's going to be an action packed summer, filled with fun, laughter and friends, so don't miss out!

Tribe are also taking applications for Madrichim (leaders).

FINAL CHANCE! CLOSES ON SUNDAY!

Win a £50 voucher!

We're offering two of you the chance to win a £50 voucher in return for filling in a short survey.

We want to know what you think of You&US and how we can improve it. The survey will take about five minutes to complete and will close on Sunday (20 February). Click below to complete it!

KLBD

The Great British Porridge Co

Today's KLBD certified product is naturally sweet and creamy porridge from The Great British Porridge Co, which is KLBD kosher certified Parev with logo. For more information on the kosher status of The Great British Porridge Co products, click here.

When can we read the Torah in reverse? Find out in this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi!

 

Why were mirrors used to beautify oneself allowed to be part of the mishkan? Rebbetzen Rachie Lister, Senior Rebbetzen at Edgware United Synagogue finds out in this week's Jewish News.

WOODSIDE PARK UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Mizrahi Mystery

Join Woodside Park's Rabbi Hackenbroch for a traditionally joyous Kabbalat Shabbat with tales of Jews from Mizrahi lands from Edwin Shuker, followed by a Mizrahi inspired Kiddush. Friday 18 February at 5pm.

NORTHWOOD UNITED SYNAGOGUE

The impact of climate change

Join Northwood as they hear from Professor Ian Hamilton, who will be speaking about how climate change threatens to undermine the past 50 years of gains in public health. Wednesday 23 February at 8pm, live on Zoom.

WOODSIDE PARK UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Danny Stone MBE

Join Woodside Park as they hear from Danny Stone MBE, Chief Executive of the Antisemitism Policy Trust, for his talk titled 'The fight against antisemitism: are we winning?'

Monday 21 February at 8:15pm, on Facebook and on YouTube.

HENDON UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Everything You Wanted To Know

Join Hendon together with Chana and CREATE Fertility for an online evening titled 'Everything You Wanted To Know But Were Too Afraid To Ask', with Dayan Shmuel Simons, Dr Veronique Berman, and Professor Geeta Nargund. Wednesday 23 February at 8pm.

BOARD OF DEPUTIES

Community Briefing

Read the Board's latest community briefing.

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