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.
Dr Edie Friedman was born in Chicago and moved to the UK in the 1970s. Wanting see more prominence given to the Jewish commitment to social justice, in 1976 she founded the Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE), of which she is now the executive director. In 2014 she co-founded Tzelem to organise Jewish clerical voices on social and economic justice issues in the UK. Unique in its conception as a clerical cross-communal campaigning organization, Tzelem seeks to continue the proud Jewish social activist tradition by taking action and providing a critique to the problems at the root of our society, our economy and our treatment of the vulnerable.
Alyth Online Lectures coming up
18 June: 'Seven Questions to Release My Potential at Work' with Michael Wellin. Michael is a Chartered Psychologist. His current work focuses on career coaching and assessing candidates for senior positions. Previously he consulted with organisations such as Arup, BDP, HS2, L&G, Reuters to lead and implement change.
25 June: ‘Heading Home - Motherhood, Work and the Failed Promise of Equality’ with Professor Shani Orgad. Shani Orgad is Professor of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Previous Lectures Some of our previous lectures have been recorded and can be viewed by clicking here.
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FRIDAY 12 JUNE
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).
BE WITH US Pre-Shabbat Tea with Lynette (15:00-16:00) Join Lynette and others for pre-Shabbat Tea and Chat. Bring the cuppa of your choice and let us know how your week has been before we all join for Shabbat. All ages welcome. 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).
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. This week we will be looking at the importance of free will in Judaism. Please check the times for your group below - please be aware that we will start the session at the start times given. - 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) 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).
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).
NEW PRAY WITH US New Music Moment (17:45-18:15) Join Cantor Tamara from her home to get yourself in the Shabbat spirit. No singing experience is required to learn a new melody which will be used by Rabbis Josh and Hannah in our Erev Shabbat service this evening. 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. 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.
Click here to join by Zoom (Meeting ID: 882 9450 1950, Password: 785089) If you do not wish to use Zoom, then the "Zoom screen" can also 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 those parts of the service taking place in our Beit Tefillah via LiveStream by clicking here.
SATURDAY 13 JUNE
NEW BE WITH US Synagogue Choir Online Rehearsal (9:15-10:15) Regular online rehearsals for the Synagogue Choir. If you would like to join us, we are delighted to welcome new singers who are interested in learning about the liturgy and music of our services. Please contact katie@alyth.org.uk for the Zoom ID and music repertoire.
BE WITH US 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 for contemplation, breathing, movement and meditation. Suitable for all. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 844 520 435, Password: 753749).
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 Zara Shattock who will be reading Torah with the community for the first time from her home. The sermon will be given by Rabbi Hannah. Please remember that this service is online only. 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. Click here to join by Zoom (Meeting ID: 822 5965 0179, Password: 785089). If you do not wish to use Zoom, then the "Zoom screen" can also 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 those parts of the service taking place in our Beit Tefillah via LiveStream by clicking here.
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. Last time we focussed on the structure and formula of blessings. This time, we will look at doxologies in our liturgy. Click here for materials for this service, which will be available from Friday afternoon. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 814 2060 4222, Password: 138638).
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SUNDAY 14 JUNE
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: 864 4782 5935, Password: 785089).
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 15 JUNE
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).
TUESDAY 16 JUNE
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 (20:00-21:00) Our programme for all those who want to ensure that their Judaism has firm foundations. All are welcome. For this term, we have redesigned the curriculum and sessions so that they are more manageable over Zoom, and will run for no more than one hour. Click here for the full schedule for June and July. This week, Conversion and Status with Rabbi Josh. 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). For Choral Society Members only.
WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE
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).
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Confronting Torah with Rabbi Tony Bayfield Wednesday 17, 24 June, 18:30
Torah is the central chapter of Rabbi Professor Tony Bayfield’s recent book Being Jewish Today: Confronting the Real Issues. Alyth and FRS are delighted to present a five-session weekly series with Tony going through the chapter of his book. These sessions will also include scholar and educator Rabbi Neil Janes probing, questioning and challenging his teaching. Click here the full programme.
This week: The Torah is Itself Interpretation.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 686 134 0661, Password: siddur).
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THURSDAY 18 JUNE
BE WITH US Mellow Chair Yoga (11:00-12:00) Our special Chair Yoga and Meditation with Maxine is open to all ages wishing to enhance overall mental and physical wellbeing! It includes movement, breathing, stretching, standing, twisting, balancing and more. Great for releasing tensions and increasing, stamina, strength and immunity. Less active participants can do all the movements sitting in a chair. Please click here to sign up and to pay online. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 616 879 143, Password: 797658).
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)
NEW THIS MONTH LEARN WITH US Pardes: My favourite... text (13:00-14:00) A new twist on our weekly text-based study session. Over the course of each month, the Alyth clergy will each teach a passage or subject that is especially important or meaningful for them. Starting in June with ‘My favourite ... text’ – taken from anywhere in the Jewish library. This week: 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).
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NEXT SHABBAT Friday 19 June - Baby Den (10:30-11:00) - Pre-Shabbat Tea with Lynette (15:00-16:00) - Ruach @ home (from 16:30) - Pre-Shabbat Story Time Live (17:15-17:45) - JMM on Friday (17:15-18:00) - Erev Shabbat Service (18:30) Saturday 20 June - Shabbat Shiur: ‘Redeeming a damsel in distress, or R. Meir goes to Rome’ with Student Rabbi Tali Artman - Shabbat Morning Service with Rabbi Hannah including the Bat Mitzvah of Mila Orloff (10:30). - Shabbat Playlist with Cantor Tamara (11:00)
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COMING UP AT ALYTH
Annual General Meeting of Alyth Sunday 21 June, 10:30 This AGM will be unlike any other in our 87-year history, taking place against the backdrop of a global pandemic. As we are unable to meet in person, the meeting will take place on Zoom. Details of how to register and vote at the meeting will be in the weekly emails on the preceding Monday and Thursday. The papers for the meeting, including the Agenda with resolutions for your consideration and an Explanatory Note can be found by clicking here (www.alyth.org.uk/agm).
Mid-sommer Day – Drinks, Canapes and Chat! 21 June, 19:00-20:00 Join Lynette for a relaxed Mid-sommer’s evening of chat. We will be joined by Tal Sunderland-Cohen, the Israeli Wine Ambassador who will speak about all there is to know about wine! A special pre ordered wine tasting pack is available from the L’Chaim Wine Club. This £49 pack contains three different wines (75ml each), a tasting mat, and will be delivered directly to you. Please order with lynette@alyth.org.uk. Whilst Tal will be referring to these wines during the evening, you can still join if you do not have them.
Desert Island Discs Mondays (14:00-14:45) Hosted by Abi Symons. Each week, a member of the Alyth team or community will share five pieces of music that have helped, inspired, and changed us. 22 June – Katie Hainbach 6 July – Rabbi Hannah 20 July – Mike Mendoza
Alyth@Home Book Club Monday 6 July, 18:30-19:30 This month’s book is “My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner”. Meir Shalev is an Israeli writer and journalist who was born on Nahalal, the first moshav, established in Mandate days. This is a tale of family ties, over-the-top housekeeping, and the sport of storytelling in Nahalal. Tonia, the grandmother of the title, arrives in Palestine by boat from Russia in 1923 and lives in a constant state of battle with what she views as the family's biggest enemy in their new land: dirt. Available on Amazon in paperback or on Kindle.
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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.
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.
