text saying Shabbat times with the Shabbat times below it

London: 21:08

Birmingham: 20:00

Sheffield: 21:20

Jerusalem: 19:08

London: 22:28

Birmingham: 22:42

Sheffield: 23:01

Jerusalem: 20:38

No prizes for guessing the big news story this week! On Tuesday the Prime Minister announced that places of worship can reopen for communal prayer services next month.

We are, of course, delighted that the government has given us the green light to re-open our synagogues, many of which will open from July 5. Measures such as strict social distancing, hand sanitising, compulsory face coverings and a booking system will all be in place to keep each other safe, but nevertheless, we are thrilled to be able to open our doors again.

That being said, we remain committed to taking a cautious and steady approach to reopening as we get used to implementing and managing a new way of running our communities.

Each of our communities will be restarting services at its own pace depending on the needs of their members and we will support each community every step of the way. Our Rabbinic teams, Chairs and lay leaders have already spent countless hours putting together thoughtful plans and we are deeply grateful.

Of course, in addition to being houses of prayer, our buildings are community centres. They host support groups, educational events, social get-togethers, sports sessions, youth programmes and much, much more. The government’s recent announcement makes clear that, in a COVID-secure and responsible way, we can carefully plan to restart aspects of this broader communal provision.

It has been extremely painful for us - although the right thing to do - to keep our synagogues closed and we are looking forward to welcoming people back soon.

Shabbat shalom,

Steven Wilson

Chief Executive, United Synagogue

Summer is here

With impeccable timing to coincide with the heatwave, KLBD have just produced this year's Kosher Nosh Guide! With 700 kosher certified products to get your teeth into, there's sure to be something for everybody in this handy (free) publication. Get your copy inside this week's issue of the Jewish News or download it right now via the link below!

Rabbi Steady Cook returns!

Fresh from seeing off his rabbinic rivals in last month's pizza cook-off, Belmont's Rabbi Marc Levene has challenged three more rabbis to a battle in the kitchen. Join us live on Monday at 8pm as Shenley's Rabbi Garber, Bushey's Rabbi Feldman and Mill Hill's Rabbi Schochet take on a burger and chips challenge. Comedian Ashley Blaker will again take charge of compere duties.

AJEX SERVICE OF COMMEMORATION

We will honour their memory

Join AJEX online on Sunday at 11am for their Service of Commemoration to recognise British Jewish servicemen and women. The ceremony will include a keynote address from Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

WATCH AGAIN

Interview with the Mayor of London

Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, Senior Rabbi of Mill Hill United Synagogue interviewed the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, this week. The pair discussed the country's response to COVID-19, the new congestion charge in the centre of London and racism.

THIS WEEK'S KABBALAT SHABBAT!

Woodside Park United Synagogue welcomes you tomorrow!
This Friday at 7:00pm join Woodside Park's Assistant Rabbi Akiva Rosenblatt for an uplifting Kabbalat Shabbat service with a D'var Torah from the shul's Assistant Rebbetzen Batya Rosenblatt. Watch live on our Facebook and YouTube channels.

THIS WEEK'S HUMAN OF THE US

Meet Leonard Shear

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.

JEWISH SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS

Certificate of Religious Practice update

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.

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.

YOUNG PEOPLE

Tribe Time is back!

The Tribe team is on again this Sunday (June 28) 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.)

This week Rabbi Akiva Rosenblatt shares his favourite proverb from the Book of Mishlei, Proverbs...

“Wisdom sings out in the street; it gives forth its voice in the [public] squares." (Proverbs 1:10)

Wisdom isn’t only to be found in ibraries, books, or study halls, but out ‘in the streets’ of life too. In this verse, King Solomon, the wisest of all men, shares with us a profound idea: not only can wisdom be found everywhere, but metaphorically, it ‘sings’ out loud longing to be heard.

Our deepest insights are never discovered through the sophistication of our intellect but in the simplicity of everyday life and therefore, irrespective of IQ, every single human being is equally capable of finding them. For they aren’t complex equations anxiously waiting to be solved through our mental exertion and physical strain, but rather soulful tunes, patiently waiting to be heard.

If life was the Royal Albert Hall then Wisdom would be its philharmonic orchestra continuously playing myriads of the most beautiful symphonies and concertos. When we remove the earplugs of our distractions, we will begin to hear those deeply touching songs. And as soon as we do, we will never stop humming those tunes to ourselves.

Rabbi Akiva Rosenblatt is the Assistant Rabbi of Woodside Park United Synagogue

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

BOREHAMWOOD & ELSTREE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Organ donation: opt in or opt out?

What does the new law on organ donation mean for you? What does halacha (Jewish law) say about it? Join experts in the fields of organ transplantation and Jewish law to find out more. Sunday 5 July, 8.30pm.

WOODSIDE PARK UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Wellbeing during Covid-19

Join Woodside Park for the next in their series of seminars on mental health and wellbeing. This week, Kim Carr from Worth-it will run a workshop on multi-generational family strategies for wellbeing during Covid-19. Next Wednesday (1st July), 8pm. Free event but sign up essential as limited to 50 people.

ALEI TZION UNITED SYNAGOGUE

When Halacha meets technology

Join Alei Tzion for an interactive presentation live from the Zomet Institute. Rabbi Binyamin Zimmerman will be discussing 'Understanding Shabbat in the Age of Technology' on Sunday 28th June at 8pm on Zoom. Hit the link then to watch.

SHENLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Chesed community talks

Join Shenley for Chesed coffee and community talks, where Miriam will be joined by nutritional therapist Esther Donoff to talk about supporting your health during the current pandemic. Monday 29th June at 11.30am on Zoom. Password: SUJC

STANMORE AND CANONS PARK UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Stanmore Academy: Lord Pannick QC

Tonight at 8.30pm, join Lord Pannick QC to discuss how the criminal and civil courts are coping with Covid-19. Next week Karen Harris, entrepreneur and former managing director of Intu Digital, will discuss her story and the future of shopping.

COCKFOSTERS AND N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE

CLC presents: Arieh Miller

Arieh has been Chief Executive of Union of Jewish Students since 2019. He joined the UJS after the Zionist Federation where he served as Executive Director for four years. This is a free event but booking is essential. Next Tuesday (30 June), 11am.

MAGEN AVOT UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Life in the lab

Join Magen Avot for a fascinating conversation with Professor Shulamit Levenberg as she discusses 'From Cultured Meat to Corona - Bringing the Future to Life in the Lab.' Tuesday 30 June, 7.30pm on Zoom. Meeting ID: 872 8428 2189, please email rabbi@magenavot.com for the password.

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 30th June, 8pm on Zoom.

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.

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!