newsletter

Dear {{first_name}}

From Rabbi Josh

One important idea that runs through Jewish life is the expression of gratitude.  Saying thank you.
 
The first words that, traditionally, we say on waking up in the morning are Modeh or Modah Ani – I am grateful. 
 
In our liturgy we find a number of expressions of gratitude, the purest of which is the Hoda’ah – the paragraph in the Amidah beginning ‘modim anachnu lach’, translated in our siddur as ‘we declare with gratitude’.  In communities which recite a silent and then a repeated Amidah in the morning service, there is an interesting feature of the Hoda’ah.  When the shaliach tzibbur is repeating the other sections of the Amidah, the community can leave them to it, but when they get to the modim, there is a special parallel version that everyone has to say.  Gratitude is something you can’t delegate to somebody else – we must take responsibility for saying our own ‘thank you’.
 
So, on behalf of the Alyth team, after more than a month in lockdown, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you.
 
Thank you to the many Alyth members who have volunteered: those who have made hundreds of phone calls of support to other members, those who have made deliveries, and those who have coordinated these efforts.  You can find an update on some of their work further down in this email.  Thank you, too, to all those who have volunteered for whom we have not yet found a role.  We will over the months ahead.
 
Thank you to the Alyth trustees who have met every week, sometimes twice a week, to provide leadership for our community.
 
Thank you to everyone who has sent us messages to keep up our spirits in this odd new world.
 
Thank you from me to my Alyth colleagues who have worked unceasingly to continue to provide what we do as best we can, despite it all.
 
But most of all, thank you to the whole Alyth community for taking this seriously.  As a community we have approached this period with thoughtfulness and responsibility. 
From our position as clergy, we can see that we have benefited from this. 
Not all of our colleagues have been so lucky so far.   
 
So thank you for staying inside. 
Thank you for using online options when you can.
When you have had to go out, thank you – strange as this sounds - for being unsociable to one another on your walks or shopping.
 
We know that it is hard.  We also know that we have many more difficult decisions – personal and communal – that we will face over the many months that we will be dealing with this.  Our lives, including our Jewish lives, have much more disruption to come, and we will need to continue to be resolute and wise, thoughtful and serious over coming months. 
 
Please know that your efforts are appreciated.  Thank you.

TUESDAY 28 APRIL

BE WITH US
Ballet in your Bathroom (11:00-12:00)
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)

BE WITH US
Alyth Choral Society (20:00-22:00)
A special Zoom rehearsal.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 976 4873 3959 Password: 113568).

LEARN WITH US
Hebrew Reading from Scratch and Judaism: The Essentials return next week

YOM HAZIKARON and YOM HA'ATZMAUT

Activities include:

Tuesday 28 April 

Israeli cooking demonstration (15:30-16:00)
Join Alyth member and Masterchef quarter finalist, Sam Lhoas, in this Yom Ha'Atzmaut cooking workshop where you’ll learn how to chop like a pro and make an authentic Israeli salad and hummus.
You will need the following ingredients: Cucumber x1, Ripe tomatoes x3, Red onion x1, Lemon x1, Olive oil, Salt and pepper, Fresh herbs (either parsley or corriander), Ground Corriander, Ground Cumin and a Tin of chickpeas. Optional: Handful of rucola, Sumac, Israeli or Greek Feta cheese, Nuts and seeds - any combination (walnuts, pine nuts, sunflower/pumpkins seeds) and Pitta to serve.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 940 2962 3279, Password: 131376)

ConnectiviTeen Escape Room (17:00-18:30)
Put your best escape artist hats on and join Raz, live from Israel, to crack the clues to this specially designed online escape room. 
For teenagers.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 738 204 200, Password: 971437)

Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut Tekkes (19:00-21:00)
This ceremony, including Havdallah to mark the transition between these days, will include Cantor Tamara, Rabbi Hannah and Katie Hainbach, along with Rabbis, Cantors and lay leaders from other Reform communities.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 97648883853, Password: ‘remember’).

Followed by:

Shira Yisraelit (20:00-21:00)
Israeli online song session. Including contributions from Cantor Tamara and other Alyth members along with clergy and musicians from other Reform communities.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 91309574796, Password: ‘sing’).
 
A Rabbi, A Theologian and an Editor walked into a bar to banter and ponder Israel (20:00-21:00)
Hosted by Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner together with Rabbi Dr Michael Marmur and Charlotte Halle.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 97648883853, Password: ‘remember’). 

WEDNESDAY 29 APRIL

PRAY WITH US
Wednesday Ma’ariv (20:00-20:45)
Join us for a mid-week evening service led by lay members.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 566 852 225, Password: 763158).


THURSDAY 30 APRIL

BE WITH US
Mellow Yoga (11:00-12:00)
Our special chair Yoga with Maxine. Maxine is a professional yoga teacher and so we are asking for a contribution towards Alyth’s costs in providing this class. Please click here to sign up and to pay online.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 616 879 143, Password: 797658).

LEARN WITH US
Pardes (13:00-14:00)
The imagery of a garden has often been used in Jewish tradition to describe our textual tradition.  Each week will start with a different text from within our rich library.  This week with Rabbi Hannah.
Click here for the source sheets being used in the session (available from Thursday morning)
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 123 761 361, Password: 019498)

Click here for our full adult learning programme between Pesach and Shavuot.

YOUTH AND EDUCATION
NEW TIME A.H.A - Alyth Home Activities (16:00-16:30)
A burst of creative space for Primary School aged children. Join us online every Thursday for a new activity led by our wonderful team of educators and youth workers.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 922 5487 0891, Password: 134679)

YOUTH AND EDUCATION
Communic8&9 (17:00-18:00)
A fun social space for those in Year 8&9 where we play with the new ways we can communicate.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 931 0825 3242, Password: 411477) 

LEARN WITH US
Alyth Online Lectures (19:00-20:00)
An eclectic series of lectures on a variety of Jewish and non-Jewish topics.  
The lectures have two things in common:  the speakers are all members of Alyth and leading experts in their field. This week:

Israeli foreign policy since the end of the Cold War: From engagement to entrenchment? With Dr Amnon Aran
Amnon Aran is Senior Lecturer in International Politics at City University, with research focus on the international relations of the Middle East. He was previously Fellow in International Relations at the LSE.
His publications include 'Israel's Foreign Policy towards the PLO: The Impact of Globalization' (2009) and 'Foreign Policy Analysis: New Approaches' (2011). In this lecture, Amnon will share research from a new book on recent Israeli Foreign Policy which he has recently completed for Cambridge University Press.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 974 2623 5858, Password: 785089) 

See below for details of the next two Alyth Online Lectures

FRIDAY 1 MAY

FOR YOUNG FAMILIES
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). 

FOR YOUNG FAMILIES
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).

YOUTH AND EDUCATION: RUACH
Ruach 4 @ home (16:30-17:15 and 17:30-18:15)
Join Abi and the team for your group’s Ruach session. Please check the times for your group below - please be aware that we will start the session at the start times given. 
This week we will be looking at gratitude and how we can balance our feelings about the things we are missing out on with the things we are lucky to still have. 
- If you are in the new intake to Ruach 4, please join at 16:30 by clicking here  (Meeting ID: 956 0652 2899, Password: 5Gh7mx)
- If you have been coming to Ruach 4 since January, please join at 17:30 by clicking here (Meeting ID: 836 8808 1391, Password: 823690).

Ruach 1-3 @ Home (17:15-18:10)
Ruach 1-3
Please join Mike & Sophie at our regular time as we continue exploring how to make the most of our Bar/Bat Mitzvah journey.
The topic for this term is Gemilut Chasadim - “Acts of Loving Kindness”. 
Click here  to join (Meeting ID: 903 736 979, Password: 742355)

LEARN WITH US
Erev Shabbat Shiur: Very Superstitious (17:15-18:15) 
We've heard Stevie Wonder sing about superstition, but what does Torah have to say about it? Join Cantor Tamara for an exploration of Leviticus 19.
Click here  to join (Meeting ID: 395 809 430, Password: 964404)

PRAY WITH US
Erev Shabbat Service (18:30-19:30)
Join Rabbis Josh and Hannah 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: 428 016 374, Password: 785089)

The best way to access our services is by Zoom. 
If you do not wish to use Zoom, then the "Zoom screen" can be seen via our YouTube channel.  This can be accessed by clicking here (www.alyth.org.uk/youtubelive) or going to www.youtube.com/c/AlythRS. You can also watch the service from the Beit Tefillah via our LiveStream by clicking here.  Please note that the livestream can only show those parts of the service being led from the Beit Tefillah.

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 and the Community News and Yahrzeit list (these will be available from 17:00 Friday afternoon).
Please click here to view the Reform Judaism siddur online.


SATURDAY 2 MAY 

BE WITH US - JMM
JMM on Friday (9:15-10:00) 
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: 844 520 435, Password: 753749)

PRAY WITH US - EARLY START SERVICE
Early Start Shabbat Morning Service (9:30)
Join Rabbi Josh and Justin Wise at 9:30 as we take extra time over the early part of the morning service.  At 10:15 we will pause for some silence (or a cup of coffee) as we e-welcome the rest of the community, and prepare for the Bar’chu which will be sung at 10:30. Please remember that this service is online only. 

Click here to join (Meeting ID: 149 595 036, Password: 524172)

The best way to access our services is by Zoom. 
If you do not wish to use Zoom, then the "Zoom screen" can be seen via our YouTube channel.  This can be accessed by clicking here (www.alyth.org.uk/youtubelive) or going to www.youtube.com/c/AlythRS. You can also watch the service from the Beit Tefillah via our LiveStream by clicking here.  Please note that the livestream can only show those parts of the service being led from the Beit Tefillah.

Please click here to download a copy of the Torah portion and the Community News and Yahrzeit list (these will be available from 17:00 Friday afternoon).
Please click here to view the Reform Judaism siddur online.

PRAY WITH US
Sensory Shabbat (11:00-12:00)
Our Shabbat experience designed to stimulate your babies’ senses in the first years of their life. Join Rabbi Hannah from your homes. Suitable for babies from birth to 2 years.
 
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 923 1184 7370, Password: 148273)

SUNDAY 3 MAY

PRAY WITH US
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).

YOUTH AND EDUCATION
Alyth Sunday Morning ⟳Reloaded⟳ (ASMR)
Every Sunday, open to EVERYONE from Reception to Year 6!
Join Mike & Sophie as we continue to explore the breadth of Jewish Studies through fun and creative methods!
Reception - Year 2 (10:00-11:00)
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 830 747 818 Password: 301658).
Year 3 - Year 6 (11:30-12:30)
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 836 8543 4865, Password: 194753)

LEARN WITH US
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 link and materials in advance.


MONDAY 4 MAY

FOR YOUNG FAMILIES
Move it, Shake it, Sing it (10:30-11:00)
Shake off those social isolation blues as you join your favourite faces for some singing and dancing. For pre-school children.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 662 052 605, Password: 747239).

BE WITH US
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 (Meeting ID: 588 095 846, Password: 468060).

LEARN WITH US SPECIAL
Jewish Medical Ethics - Who to save? (19:00-20:00)
Our tradition places high value on the saving of a life, but what if you do not have sufficient resources to save everyone?  Do Jewish texts give us any guidance on how to make these extraordinarily difficult decisions?
A special study evening with Rabbi Josh
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 930 4147 7226, Password: 198463)

Alyth Online Lectures
Thursdays 19:00-20:00

An eclectic series of lectures on a variety of non-Jewish and Jewish topics.  The lectures have two things in common:  the speakers are all members of Alyth and are leading experts in their field.

Thursday 7 May, 19:00
Economic Policy in the Age of Coronavirus
Professor Jonathan Haskel
Jonathan Haskel is Professor of Economics at Imperial College Business School, Imperial College London.  He was previously Professor and Head of Department at the Department of Economics, Queen Mary, University of London.  Since 1 February 2016, he has been a non-Executive Director of the UK Statistics Authority, and, since September 2018, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which sets the official interest rate in the United Kingdom and is responsible for directing other aspects of government monetary policy.  He is co-author of ‘Capitalism without Capital: The Rise of the Intangible Economy’ (2017).
Join Jonathan as he discusses the challenges of economic policy in this time of pandemic.

Thursday 14 May, 19:00
How to sleep well in lock-down (and beyond)
Dr Hugh Selsick
Hugh Selsick studied Physiology and Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg before specialising in adult and addictions psychiatry in London. He established the Insomnia Clinic at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine/University College London Hospitals and is the lead clinician there. He also works as a consultant in the Sleep Disorders Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. He founded and chairs the Sleep Special Interest Group in the Royal College of Psychiatrists and is immediate past president of the Sleep Medicine Section at the Royal Society of Medicine.  He is co-author of 'Oxford Case Histories in Sleep Medicine' (2015) and editor of 'Sleep Disorders in Psychiatric Patients: A Practical Guide' (2018).
 

VE Day Shiur

This year marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the end of the Second World War in Europe.  On Saturday 9 May (9:15-10:15) we will be hosting a special online shiur, sharing personal stories of the day.
Were you in this country or abroad? Were you still at school? Do you have any specifically Jewish memories of that time?
Please email Rabbi Colin (colin@alyth.org.uk) if you would like to share your story from the armed forces or as a civilian at home.

Alyth@Home Book Club

The first book in the Alyth@Home Book Club will be “The Chosen”, a novel written by Chaim Potok. The story follows the narrator, Reuven Malter, and his friend Daniel Saunders, as they grow up in the Williamsburg neighbourhood in Brooklyn, New York, in the 1940s.
 
We will meet online in the last week of May to review and discuss the book.

​​​​​Some of our partner organisations are also running programmes during this period. Click here to see additional programming offered by Reform Judaism that you are invited to join.
On Sunday 3 May (10:00-18:00), Limmud are running an online "day Limmud", with outstanding presenters, discussions and learning. Go to https://limmud.org/event/limmud-together-uk/ for more information.

Community Care Update

We are here for you!  So far we have involved 170 volunteers in making over 600 phone calls to our members and have helped over 60 people access essential food and other items including siddurim.  
We are so glad that most of you seem to be coping with these difficult times. However, please remember that if you need help in any way, whether practical or you would simply welcome a chat, please do get in touch.
Regardless of age or circumstance.  Please contact Lynette, our Head of Community Care & Life Cycle, on our dedicated Careline number 020 8457 8798.
We are here for you!  Be safe, be well.

Click here or phone 020 8457 8794 to be in touch.

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.