Over the last few days we have seen a number of companies in the UK announce redundancies. We know that the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic is beginning to be strongly felt by those who now find themselves out of work or with small businesses struggling in this environment.
If this applies to you, please be in touch with us to discuss how we can help.
It is a core Alyth value that financial difficulties should never stop someone from being a part of their community.
As well as discussing your annual synagogue contribution, we can also help you to access funds that are specifically here to help our members in times of challenge and funds in the wider Jewish community. For more information, see below.
.
THIS EVENING AT 19:00
Alyth Online Lectures
‘The dome of St Paul’s Cathedral: a fragile symbol of endurance’ with Dr Gordon Higgott
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 892 0744 7130, Password: 785089).
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. Some of our previous lectures have been recorded and can be viewed by clicking here.
‘Architecture,’ wrote Sir Christopher Wren, ‘aims at eternity.’ It ‘has its political use’ and ‘makes people love their native country’. Wren’s crowning achievement was the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, completed in 1710. This remarkable structure survived enemy bombardment in World War II and came to symbolise Britain’s endurance at its gravest moment of national crisis. The dome retains its hold on our collective imagination, not just for its serene profile but for what it embodies of our shared history and values. In this lecture Gordon Higgott will explain how Wren developed his design for the cathedral in several stages, using a system of construction that allowed him to modify his scheme as work progressed.
Dr Gordon Higgott is an independent architectural historian who specialises in architectural drawings and design practice in early modern England. From 1989 to 2010 he was a historic buildings inspector and senior researcher at English Heritage in London, where he advised on alterations to listed buildings and historic churches, including the reconstruction of St Ethelburga’s Church in Bishopsgate after a terrorist bomb attack in 1993. An authority on the history of St Paul’s Cathedral, he has catalogued the designs by Wren and his office for St Paul’s at London Metropolitan Archives, and a similar collection by Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor at Westminster Abbey.
Next week (9 July): Professor Margaret Harris on “The Future of Civil Society and Charities in the Covid-19 Era" Margaret is a researcher, teacher and consultant on Voluntary and Community Sector Organisation and Management. She is Emeritus Professor of Voluntary Sector Organisation, Aston University, and Visiting Professor, Birkbeck, University of London’.
.
FRIDAY 3 JULY
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).
YOUTH AND EDUCATION: RUACH Ruach @ Home Finale (17:15-18:20) For everyone in Ruach 1-4, please join Mike, Abi & Sophie for a special end of year celebratory session where we consider “endings” and what’s Jewish about saying goodbye. This session will take place 17:15-18:20 and will be followed by a special Erev Shabbat service with the community. 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 for a pre shabbat story to help bring in shabbat. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 423 529 768, Password: 785089).
BE WITH US Jewish Mindfulness Meditation (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 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 Rabbi Josh and Cantor Tamara as they lead the Erev Shabbat service from the Beit Tefillah. Rabbi Josh will also speak about the challenges of Alyth prayer life in the coming weeks and months. 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: 873 6424 0879, 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.
SATURDAY 4 JULY
LEARN WITH US Shabbat Morning Shiur: Mah Tovu - When Our “Tents” Become Screens” (9:15-10:15) An exploration of how this week’s Parasha relates to our current moment. With Cantor Tamara. Click here to join by Zoom (Meeting ID: 240 937 705, Password: 602287).
PRAY WITH US Shabbat Morning Service (10:30) Rabbi Josh is running the Shabbat morning service from the Beit Tefillah. The service will include the Bar Mitzvah of Oscar Philips who will be reading Torah with the community for the first time from his home. Oscar will be reading Numbers 23:1-20. 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: 880 2350 8796, 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.
PRAY WITH US FOR YOUNG FAMILIES 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 5 JULY
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 A.S.M.R End of Year - Alyth Sunday Morning ⟳Reloaded⟳ (10:00-11:00) Join Mike & Sophie for our end of year closing session, where we will bring everyone in Rec-Yr6 back together to celebrate all we have learnt and enjoyed together. Enrolment for SMG will be available over the summer. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 830 747 818 Password: 301658).
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).
MONDAY 6 JULY BE WITH US Desert Island Discs (14:00-14:45) Hosted by Abi Symons. Every other week, a member of the Alyth team or community will share pieces of music that have helped, inspired, or changed us. This week: Rabbi Hannah. The next session will be with Mike Mendoza on 20 July. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 863 2988 8743, Password: 138638).
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).
BE WITH US Alyth@Home Book Club (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. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 816 0975 2765, Password: 785089).
TUESDAY 7 JULY YOUTH AND EDUCATION ConnectiviTEEN presents: Games Night: The Finale! (17:00-18:30) For our final evening together, we return to the good old fashioned favourite, with all the games you know and love! Join us for a night of competition and laughter as we prepare for the summer! Click here to join (Meeting ID: 738 204 200, Password: 971437).
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: Death and the World to Come with Rabbi Colin. 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 8 JULY
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 9 JULY
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).
LEARN WITH US Pardes: My favourite... biblical character (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. In July we will be looking at our favourite biblical characters. This week with Rabbi Josh. 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).
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. Some of our previous lectures have been recorded and can be viewed by clicking here. This week: “The Future of Civil Society and Charities in the Covid-19 Era" with Professor Margaret Harris
.
NEXT SHABBAT
Friday 10 July - Baby Den (10:30-11:00) - Pre-Shabbat Story Time Live (17:15-17:45) - Erev Shabbat Service (18:30) Saturday 11 July - JMM on Saturday (9:15-10:00) - Synagogue Choir Online Rehearsal (9:15-10:15) - Shabbat Morning Service with Rabbi Hannah including the Bar Mitzvah of Matthew Janowski (10:30).
.
Save the date: The Israeli government’s annexation plan: In conversation with CIS - Commanders for Israel’s Security Monday 13 July (19:00) (brought in partnership with Yachad)
CIS is an organisation of high ranking security, army and Israeli police officials (http://en.cis.org.il). All those involved in the organisation have significant security credentials, so understand issues around Israel's security less in terms of politics or polemic, and more from a military and geo-political perspective.
On this basis they oppose the annexation as threatening to Israel's security. In this special conversation, we will hear why.
We will be joined by Rolly Gueron, a member of the Executive and Steering Committees of CIS. Rolly is a former Division Head in the Mossad with over twenty-five years of government service in intelligence, homeland and international security. He is presently involved in introducing Israeli homeland security-related technologies to emerging markets in central Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 857 8504 0975, Password: 138638).
.
Community News
In these difficult times, we are especially delighted to wish Mazel Tov to: Michael and Natalija Allard on the birth of their son Zachary, a grandson for Mirjana and Predrag Sasic.
.
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.
