As this Thursday is First Day Pesach, we will be sending a second email on Wednesday this week, which will include details of Alyth programming further into the month.
In today's email you can find details of Alyth Online this week and through Pesach, including our Pesach services and sedarim. Also below are some links to help you to plan your own sedarim, including online haggadot.
Rabbi Josh's sermon on Saturday morning explored the essence of Pesach in these extraordinary circumstances, and can be read by clicking here. You can also click here to read Rabbi Josh's D'var Torah from Friday night: 'Holding on to our Core Values as a community'.
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MONDAY 6 APRIL
NEW Craft, Chat and Cuppa! (15:00-16:00) This ‘club’ is for anyone who would like to try any sort of hand craft. Join Brenda Freedman for anything from everyday sewing, tapestry, quilt making, knitting, and anything else you can think of! Click here to join or go to https://zoom.us/j/662052605.
PREPARE FOR PESACHSeder Songs (18:00-18:45) Join Katie to learn a variety of songs to sing around your Seder table. For all the community. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 360 360 6763, Password: 785089).
TUESDAY 7 APRIL
Hebrew Reading from Scratch (19:00-20:00) Taught by Alyth member Jan Roseman, who has been one of the UK’s leading Synagogue-based Jewish educators for the last few decades. Take an hour a week in term time to learn to read Hebrew from scratch. Click here to join.
This will be a Pesach unlike any other that we have known. Normally at Pesach we gather together, opening our homes to those we love, welcoming those who need our hospitality. On this Pesach we need to honour these same ideals while ensuring that we stay safely at a distance from one another. Below are ways you can balance these conflicting values with Alyth:
Erev Pesach Service Wednesday 8 April, 16:00-16:45 Join the Alyth community online for the opportunity to welcome in Pesach with an early Ma’ariv service. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 599 972 208, Password: 785089). Please click here to follow the Reform Judasim online Peseach Machzor.
Virtual Hosting of First Night Seder (Wednesday 8 April) Are you able to "lay a place" and host someone remotely at your online Seder? All you need is a tablet or laptop, and the willingness to invite someone virtually to your table. Please contact saskia@alyth.org.uk so that we can match you with someone who would like to e-ttend. If you would like to join someone’s online first night Seder please contact saskia@alyth.org.uk.
First Day Pesach Services Thursday 9 April (10:30-12:30) A choice of two online services:
Join Rabbi Josh from the Beit Tefillah, with Student Rabbi Nicola Feuchtwang from her home, for our First Day Pesach service. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 727 113 050, Password: 785089).
Join Rabbi Colin for an explanatory service, led from his home. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 196 183 616, Password: 035091).
Both of these services will be using the Pesach Machzor, a version of which, based on our siddur, can be found by clicking here.
Alyth Online Sedarim Family Seder (16:00-17:30) A spoonful of charoset makes the bitter herbs go down! Join Rabbi Hannah for a Disney Seder Spectacular suitable for all the family. Our interactive Haggadah activity book will be available to download from Tuesday morning. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 546 189 206, Password: 785089).
Communal Seder (19:00-21:00) We are all trapped in the metaphorical slavery of lockdown. Join Rabbi Hannah, Lynette and Katie to sing and pray with our community, as we virtually escape the confines of our home. We will work through a traditional seder together, before having a chance to break for different options. Either eat with your fellow community, or join our study or singing spaces. To join the Communal Sederclick here (Meeting ID: 415 774 648, Password: 785089) If you would like to lead a small section of the seder from your home, please email hannah@alyth.org.uk to be assigned a part. We are encouraging everyone to use the Haggadot they have in their own houses so that we can draw from everyone’s traditions. Key parts of the service will be displayed on your screen so don’t worry if you do not have a Haggadah at home.
The two break-out groups will have their own Zoom address: Study Section (approx 20:00):click here to join (Meeting ID: 571 619 234, Password: 035091) Singing Section (approx 20:00):click here to join (Meeting ID: 540 137 021, Password: 217986)
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PESACH RESOURCES Please find below a section of resources compiled by Cantor Tamara Wolfson, including various different Haggadot, activities for children and advice on how to run your online Seder.
Haggadot
Reform Judaism Click here for the Reform Judaism Online Haggadah
A Different Night - The Family Participation Haggadah Click here for the Classic Edition (published in 1997 with new insert from 2017). Click here for the Compact Edition (a smaller version, including most but not all of what made the original a success). Click here for their Seder Planner (works with both classic and compact editions).
A Night to Remember - Contemporary and in full colour Click here for “A Night to Remember”. Click here for their Seder Planner.
Sharing the Journey: For the Contemporary Family Click here for “Sharing the Journey”. An inclusive Haggadah with commentary, artwork, clear step-by-step explanations, inspiring readings, and opportunities for discussion.
Telling the Story: A Passover Haggadah Explained Click here for “Telling the Story”. A simple, basic, user-friendly downloadable Haggadah.
The Hamilton Haggadah: For fans of the hit musical! Click here to download the Haggadah
Resources for children Please click on the titles for the following links:
Baby Den (10:30-11:00) Chug-a-lug into Shabbat with Rabbi Hannah and Beth. Sing your favourite Baby Den songs, dance to a shabbat beat and wave to some familiar faces. For families with Young Children. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 142 813 452, Password: 346202).
Pre-Shabbat Story Time Live (17:15-17:45) Those pre-school in age (and in heart) are invited to join Rabbi Hannah and Beth for a pre shabbat story to help bring in shabbat. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 423 529 768, Password: 785089).
JMM on Friday (17:15-18:00) Jewish Mindfulness Meditation helps us to open our hearts and find peace through our spiritual heritage, especially in these challenging times. Join Mika Hadar Borthwick for contemplation, breathing, movement and meditation. Suitable for all. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 977 611 369, Password: 035091).
Ruach @ Home returns on Friday 24 April.
Erev Shabbat Service (18:30-19:30) Join our Rabbis as they lead the Erev Shabbat service from the Beit Tefillah. Please remember that this service is online only. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 522 358 235, Password: 785089). The livestream will also be running for those who wish to join in this way. We invite you to have Shabbat candles and Kiddush ready in advance of the service so that we can join together in these moments from our homes. We will light candles together at L’cha Dodi and make Kiddush at the end of the service.
Please click here to download the Shabbat Supplement for Friday night (this will be available from 17:00 Friday afternoon). Please click here to view the Reform Judaism siddur online.
SATURDAY 11 APRIL
Shabbat Shiur (9:15-10:15) The limits of ‘Pikuach Nefesh’ Exploring the Preservation of Life in Jewish Tradition. We will continue to look at texts about the Jewish ideal of saving a life. In this session we will focus on times when our tradition does not think life should be saved. What does our tradition think is more important than life? And what if you have a choice of lives to save? With Rabbi Josh. Please note that you do not need to have attended the previous session on Pikuach Nefesh to join this session. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 240 937 705, Password: 602287).
Please click here to download a copy of the source sheet for this session (this will be available by 17:00 on Friday afternoon).
Shabbat Morning Service (10:30-12:30) Rabbi Hannah is running the Shabbat morning service from the Beit Tefillah, with Rabbi Colin and Katie Hainbach from their homes. Please remember that this service is online only. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 920 492 831, Password: 785089).
Please click here to download a copy of the Torah portion (this will be available from 17:00 Friday afternoon).
Please click here to view the Reform Judaism siddur online.
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Please note that the main Alyth phone number will not be answered from the beginning of Shabbat on Friday 10 April until Tuesday morning, 14 April. The Alyth staff team will not be checking emails or phone messages during this period, with the exception of urgent pastoral response.
SUNDAY 12 APRIL ASMR returns on Sunday 26 April.
Sunday Shacharit (9:00-10:00) Our lay-led minyan with bagel breakfast (please provide your own bagels…) Led by our lay members from their homes. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 431 181 644, Password: 163984). Biblical Hebrew (11:00-12:00) A programme for those with high level hebrew reading ability. Please email Philip Brodie at mail@pmbrodie.co.uk if you would like to join this class so that you can be sent the materials in advance. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 444 067 765, Password: 454209). MONDAY 13 APRIL
Craft, Chat and Cuppa! (15:00-16:00) This ‘club’ is for anyone who would like to try any sort of hand craft. Join Brenda Freedman for anything from everyday sewing, tapestry, quilt making, knitting, and anything else you can think of! Click here to join or go to https://zoom.us/j/662052605.
TUESDAY 14 APRIL
Ballet in your Bathroom (15:00-16:00) For teens and adults with or without dance experience. Join Abi Aleksander and keep your body and mind active. We will start with a short warm up, move onto her version of a ballet barre and finish with some more contemporary exercises. You don’t need any special equipment apart from a chair or countertop to hold on to and enough room to move your limbs in all directions. Wear something comfortable (and if you have a tutu lurking that you have been yearning to wear, feel free). Click here to join (Meeting ID: 942 377 314, Password: 133127)
"ConnectiviTeen": Teen Quiz Night (17:00-18:30) Join the Youth and Education team their week night quiz. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 738 204 200, Password: 971437).
Erev 7th Day Pesach Service (18:30-19:30) Led by Rabbi Josh from his home. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 601 171 421, Password: 785089).
WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL
7th Day Pesach Family Service (10:30-12:00) Led by Rabbi Josh and Rabbi Hannah from the Beit Tefillah. This services will include a reduced Yizkor service. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 109 396 611, Password: 785089).
7th Day Pesach Stripped Back Shacharit (10:30-12:00) A more formal Shacharit, including a full Yizkor service. Led by Rabbi Colin from his home and Katie from hers. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 750 281 552, Password: 479175).
Some of our partner organisations are also running programmes during this period. Click hereto see additional programming offered by Reform Judaism that you are invited to join.
Please remember that we also have two special numbers in addition to the main synagogue number: New Alyth Careline – 020 8457 8798 This will be answered between 08:00 and 21:00 by a member of the community for anyone who needs someone to speak to. Emergency Careline – 07726 631808 Please use this number if you need urgent pastoral support. The hard reality of this pandemic is that we as a community will support an increased proportion of our members and families through hospitalization and bereavement. This number is there for these cases and will be answered by a member of the Alyth professional team.
