We have now received government guidelines, and advice on best practice, with regard to the physical reopening of Places of Worship. Please look out for a separate email from the Trustee Board in the next couple of days laying out the approach that the synagogue will be taking over the coming weeks. In the meantime, please click here for Rabbi Josh's sermon from Erev Shabbat on why 'reopening' is not the right word, and the specific challenges facing a community such as ours.
You can also click here for the sermon from Shabbat morning on the Jewish understanding of Justice, and here for a statement from the synagogue leadership on Alyth’s support for Black communities and Jews of Colour.
.
MONDAY 6 JULY
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).
Next month's Book Club will be on Monday 3 August and the book is "Rashi's Daughters, Book I: Joheved - A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France" by Maggie Anton. This is the first novel in a dramatic trilogy set in eleventh-century France about the lives and loves of three daughters of the great Talmud scholar. In 1068, the scholar Salomon ben Isaac returns home to Troyes, France, to take over the family winemaking business and embark on a path that will indelibly influence the Jewish world, writing the first Talmud commentary, and secretly teaching Talmud to his daughters.
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: Professor Margaret Harris on “The Future of Civil Society and Charities in the Covid-19 Era" This lecture will focus on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on charities, voluntary associations membership groups and volunteering. It will look at what has been happening in the crisis and how our 'civil society' is likely to change as a result.
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’. Click hereto join (Meeting ID: 892 0744 7130, Password: 785089).
.
FRIDAY 10 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).
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).
PRAY WITH US Erev Shabbat Service (18:30-19:30) Join Rabbi Hannah 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: 819 8192 5346, 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 11 JULY
BE WITH US Jewish Mindfulness Meditation (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).
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.
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 Bar Mitzvah of Matthew Janowski who will be reading Torah with the community for the first time from his home. 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.
.
SUNDAY 12 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).
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 13 JULY 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 What would Annexation mean for Israel's Security? In conversation with Rolly Gueron, Former Division Chief in the Israeli Mossad (19:00) (brought in partnership with Yachad)
With the Israeli government set on annexing West Bank territory – a move with potentially grave consequences for the region’s stability and for the future of the two-state solution – former Division Head in the Mossad, Rolly Gueron, will discuss what annexation will mean for Israel’s security.
The overwhelming majority of Israel's security establishment veterans agree that unilateral annexation of West Bank territory would seriously endanger Israel’s long-term security. As a former division head in the Mossad and a current member of the Executive and Steering Committees of Commanders for Israel’s Security (http://en.cis.org.il), Rolly Gueron is a leading expert on Israel’s security. Gueron joins Alyth to discuss how annexation will destabilise the region and undermine the very foundations of Israeli democracy itself.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 857 8504 0975, Password: 138638).
.
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.
