Over the last few weeks, we have worked hard to respond to our extraordinary new circumstances with two main priorities.
One has been, as much as we can, to continue to serve the intellectual and spiritual needs of our community by offering a rich and diverse online programme of learning, prayer and communal activity. As well as moving our regular programming online, we have also introduced new offerings throughout the week.
One piece of feedback we have received is that the programme has been somewhat overwhelming and that it has been hard to see everything that is on offer. Thank you for letting us know that this has been the case. From this week, you can see our programme in a different, we hope more accessible, format: Click here to see this weekend at a glance Click here to see next week at a glance
Our other priority has been to reach out with care, especially to those for whom this period is most difficult. As we face up to the reality that our lives will not return to normal for many months, there are members for whom the challenges of this crisis are becoming more acute. We are here to help in any way that we can.
As the financial challenges of lockdown become increasingly real for many in our community, below you will find information about ways that Alyth can help you with this aspect of the current crisis. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with us if we can help.
The emotional reality of the situation is also increasingly hard for many of our members. From next Tuesday, we invite you to join Lynette for a special coffee morning to share your experiences and challenges. Details of how to join are below. Please remember that you can also contact Lynette directly, phone our special care-line, or reach out to any one of the clergy team if we can support you in any way.
Wishing you all strength. L'shalom Rabbi Josh
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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 for the source sheets. 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 Saturday (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)
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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. Please email colin@alyth.org.uk if you would like to share your story from the armed forces or as a civilian at home.
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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)
TUESDAY 5 MAY
BE WITH US Coffee and Chat with Lynette (11:00-12:00) How are you doing in these slightly surreal and unprecedented times? Anxious, frustrated, lonely, depressed or welcoming the chance to do all those things you never have had the time for in the past? Join Lynette for an hour of chat and check in – come and share how you are feeling and meet and talk with others. All ages welcome, you will just need to bring your own refreshments! If you would rather speak in confidence to Lynette then please email her at lynette@alyth.org.uk or call her on 07746952769. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 884 2321 2866, Password: 785089)
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)
LEARN WITH US 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 (Meeting ID: 909 882 685, Password: 686711)
LEARN WITH US E-ssentials (20:00-21:30) Our programme for all those who want to ensure that their Judaism has firm foundations. This week: Prayer (part 1) with Rabbi Josh. For all the community. Please click here for the resources which will be used during this session (available from Tuesday morning). Click here to join (Meeting ID: 668 234 069, Password: 419681)
BE WITH US Alyth Choral Society (20:00-22:00) Click here to join (Meeting ID: 976 4873 3959 Password: 113568).
BE WITH US YEH Alumni Pub Quiz (18+) (20:30-22:00) Bringing together all our adult madrichim & educators for a Youth Hub reunion! If you've ever worked or led alongside the Youth & Ed. team, please join us at the *SpaceBar* for a quiz and bevvy. Put your quiz team together and zoom over. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 818 9638 0075, Password: 785089).
WEDNESDAY 6 MAY
BE WITH US News, Views & Schmooze (14:00-15:00) Join us for an hour of schmooze to discuss what is going on in the world around us. Led by volunteers from the Soup and Schmooze group and Lynette. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 996 0969 5198 Password: 933950).
BE WITH US Pre-dinner concert with Katie and Tom (17:00-17:30) Join Katie and Tom for a live concert streamed directly into your home. This varied programme will include repertoire from the operas, musicals and more. For all the community. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 108 960 491, Password: 961337).
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 7 MAY
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 Cantor Tamara. 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)
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:
Economic Policy in the Age of Coronavirus with 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. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 892 0744 7130, Password: 785089)
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FRIDAY 8 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). BE WITH US 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) 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: 980 645 693, Password: 202243) 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 9 MAY
LEARN WITH US Shabbat Shiur: Stories from VE Day (9:15-10:15) This year marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the end of the Second World War in Europe. 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. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 240 937 705 Password: 602287)
PRAY WITH US Shabbat Morning Service (10:30) Rabbi Hannah is running the Shabbat morning service from the Beit Tefillah. The service will include the Bat Mitzvah of Yuli Katz who will be reading Torah with the community for the first time from her home. Please remember that this service is online only.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 464 801 636, Password: 179113)
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 Shacharit Deconstructed (10:30) A special study service with Rabbi Josh from his home in which we take apart the morning service to understand more about its origins and core ideas.
Click here for materials for this service, which will be available from Friday afternoon. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 895 6573 8631, Password: 711613)
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SUNDAY 10 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.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
We regret to announce the death of: - Christine Twena, wife of Ernest Twena, mother of Michael and Nicole Twena. - Roger Westman, husband of Jula Westman, father of Sophie Curiel and Sam Westman.
Our thoughts are with all those who mourn.
In these difficult times, we are especially delighted to wish Mazel Tov to: Sam and Simon Heller on the birth of their daughter Annie.
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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.
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Financial Assistance
If you are facing financial challenges at this difficult time, please do not hesitate to contact us. As well as discussing the level of your annual synagogue contribution, we can also help you to access a number of Alyth funds that are specifically here to help our members in times of challenge. Please contact Lynette at lynette@alyth.org.uk.
If you feel able to support other Alyth members in financial difficulty at this time, please email Rabbi Josh at josh@alyth.org.uk
The Jewish Leadership Council in partnership with Work Avenue has also established a fund to support those across the community whose earnings have been directly affected by COVID-19. This fund was set up to specifically assist those who are ineligible for Government support or who face delays accessing Government funds. Go to www.theworkavenue.org.uk/covid19 for more information.
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. 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.
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.
