When bubonic plague was spreading through London in 1665, Isaac Newton returned to his birthplace near the town of Grantham and self-isolated. During his year of quarantine, Isaac Newton invented the mathematical system calculus. When this did not suffice in curing his boredom, he drilled a hole in the shutter of his bedroom window, to which he held a prism and discovered that white light was made up of every colour. And finally, as if all of that wasn’t enough, he watched the apples drop from the trees outside his window, and casually discovered gravity. Three things in one year of isolation that completely shaped the future of science.
Now as we begin our seventh week in our own quarantine we are facing increased pressure to be more productive. But this time spent in our own homes is often not free time at all. With our daily routines disrupted completely, confined to our houses, with their spotty wifi signals, and suffering under pressures of unexpected childcare, and new household demands, it is natural to be less productive. When this is paired with the constant barrage of distressing news stories, it is no wonder that many of us end each day feeling overwhelmed and exhausted rather than prolific.
Yet human nature leads us to compare ourselves to others, to hold ourselves to their ideals of quarantine, to push ourselves to be better and use this time to find new skills. We are consequently plagued with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt when our own limits don’t measure up.
Midrash Leviticus Rabbah teaches us, “As human beings, we are often ashamed to use imperfect vessels. Not so with the Holy Blessed One. We are all broken, and we are all God’s vessels.”
We are often afraid to expose our vulnerabilities, even though God made us to be imperfect. The routines of our Jewish life help us to embrace the parts of ourselves we often wish to hide. Every morning when we wake up, we recite a prayer for the gift of our bodies. This blessing ends with the chatimah, ‘blessed are you God, who heals all flesh and performs such wonders.’
These words were chosen to remind us that our bodies are a wonder, that continue to function for us. But they also remind us that each and every one of us is in need of healing. That is the essence of being human. It is those broken parts of us which make us who we are.
So unlike Newton, our quarantine experience does not need to be ground-breaking, or perfect. We do not need to come out of it fitter, or slimmer, or with new skills. Rather, now we need to survive. We do this by being kind to ourselves, by learning to feel comfortable with our imperfect way of living during this time and feeling able to admit that this is hard. And as isolation draws out, and the light at the end of the tunnel feels further away, we need to feel able to ask for help, even if we thought we didn’t need it at the beginning.
Blessed are you God, who heals all flesh and performs such wonders.
Please click here to read Justin Wise's sermon from Shabbat morning on three paths for thinking about the future that the pandemic might bring and our part in it.
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PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE
Click here to see this week at a glance Click here to see this weekend at a glance
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Financial Support - How we can help
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 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 or Rabbi Josh at josh@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.
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MONDAY 4 MAY
LEARN WITH US SPECIAL Jewish Medical Ethics - When you can't save everyone (19:00-20:00) Our tradition places high value on the saving of a life, but what happens when there are not 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 for the source sheets. 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, the first of two sessions looking at Prayer with Rabbi Josh. All are welcome. 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 Chair Yoga (11:00-12:00) Our special chair Yoga with Maxine. Please click here to sign up and to pay online (a contribution towards Alyth’s costs in providing this class). 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 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:
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
Please note that today is a Bank Holiday and so the main Alyth phone number will not be answered. The Alyth staff team will also not be checking emails or phone messages. For urgent pastoral response please call the Emergency Careline on 07726 631808.
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 Postponed - Shabbat Shiur: Stories from VE Day This shiur has been postponed until such a time where we can be in the building together to hear the stories. VE Day will be marked in our Shabbat services.
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, structure 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.
BE WITH US Singing for Pleasure (15:00-16:00) Join Viv and sing songs from the shows, Israeli folksongs, songs from the 60s and much, much more. No need to audition, read music or feel intimidated. Please email vivienne.bellos@btinternet.com in advance for the song list and lyrics. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 731 393 138, Password: 197916)
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NEXT WEEK MONDAY 11 MAY Move it, Shake it, Sing it (10:30-11:00) Craft, Chat and Cuppa! (15:00-16:00)
TUESDAY 12 MAY Coffee and Chat with Lynette (11:00-12:00) Ballet in your Bathroom (11:00-12:00) ConnectiviTeen (17:00-18:30) E-ssentials (20:00-21:30) Alyth Choral Society (20:00-22:00)
WEDNESDAY 13 MAY Pre-dinner concert with Katie and Tom (17:00-17:30) Wednesday Ma’ariv (20:00-20:45) THURSDAY 14 MAY Mellow Chair Yoga (11:00-12:00) Pardes (13:00-14:00) A.H.A - Alyth Home Activities (16:00-16:30) Communic8&9 (17:00-18:00) Alyth Online Lectures - How to Sleep Well in Lockdown (19:00-20:00)
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SAVE THE DATE
Alyth’s Big Iftar (tbc) Tuesday 19 May We are working on the possibility of a virtual Iftar with partners from the Muslim community. Please save this date and we will let you know as soon as we can..
Erev Shavuot - Tikkun Leil Shavuot Thursday 28 May More information about our annual study evening Tikkun Leil Shavuot will be in future weekly emails.
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ACC - Come Together in Song
Each evening, the American Conference of Cantors are bringing a touch of themselves and their congregations to Facebook.
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.
