JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS Rosh Hashanah is now just over two weeks away. Click here to see an overview of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Our detailed Rosh Hashanah programme including Zoom and YouTube links, and how to sign up for In-Person offerings will be emailed to you tomorrow and will also be available to see online. If you have not received your Chairs' letter and overview in the post by Monday, please email mail@alyth.org.uk. ELUL To help make this year's Yamim Noraim more meaningful, we are pleased to offer a programme of learning, discussion and reflection for the month of Elul. Pleaseclick hereto see our full Elul programme. MACHZORIM As this year's High Holy Days services will be online, there will be two ways to access the Prayer Books. All of the liturgy will be available online, via the Reform Movement website. However, for the quality of the experience, we strongly recommend the use of physical copies and will have these available to borrow from the synagogue.
On Rosh Hashanah we will be using the Draft Rosh Hashanah Machzor and we will be holding “book collection” sessions when you can also say hello to members of the Alyth team and clergy and take a book to borrow on: Sunday 6 September, 10:00-12:00 Monday 7 September 19:00-21:00 There will also be the opportunity to collect machzorim throughout the day on: 9, 10 & 11 September between 10:00-12:00, 13:00-14:00 and 15:30-17:30.
We have only a very limited stock of the machzorim for Yom Kippur. If you have multiple copies in your home, and are happy to loan a copy to another Alyth family, please drop them off when you come to collect. Please make sure you write your name in the book so that we can get it back to you after Yom Kippur.
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FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
IN-PERSON FOR YOUNG FAMILIES Baby Den (10:30-11:00) Chug-a-lug into Shabbat with Rabbi Hannah. Sing your favourite Baby Den songs, dance to a shabbat beat and wave to some familiar faces. For families with Young Children.This week live in the Sukkah. Please note that this service is subject to the weather. The website will be updated at 9:30. Please check before you travel. This is fully booked, please only come if you have booked a space.
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).
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS - ALYTH IN ELUL LEARN WITH US Elul Half Hours: To speak about God in a time of pandemic (17:45) Each of this year’s Elul Half Hours will take on one of the profound questions of our time – how can we speak about God in the face of the challenges of the past months? In each session we will explore a different name or concept of God and explore how it might help us to think or speak about God in our time. Today's session: Yud-hei-vav-hei with Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner. Click herefor the source sheet used in the session. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 848 3829 8916, Passcode: 227394).
PRAY WITH US Erev Shabbat Service (18:30-19:30) Join Rabbi Josh and Rabbi Elliott 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. 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: 840 5547 2069, Passcode: 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 going to www.alyth.org.uk/youtubelive or www.youtube.com/c/AlythRS.
SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER
PRAY WITH US Bar Mitzvah Service in the Sukkah (9:00) Rabbi Josh is leading an early Shabbat morning service from the Sukkah to mark the Bar Mitzvah of Louis Gerrard. Please remember that this service is online only. Click here to join by Zoom (Meeting ID: 861 8340 2478, Passcode: 785089).
BE WITH US Jewish Mindfulness Meditation (9:00-9:40) 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).
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS LEARN WITH US Elul Half Hours: To speak about God in a time of pandemic (9:45) Today's session: Hester panim. With Rabbi Hannah. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 864 6177 8950, Passcode: 138638).
PRAY WITH US Shabbat Morning Service (10:30) Rabbi Colin and Cantor Tamara are running the Shabbat morning service from the Beit Tefillah. Please remember that this service is online only. Please click here to download a copy of the Torah portion (Deuteronomy 27:9-28:9), Haftarah, 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: 831 1005 5687, Passcode: 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 going to www.alyth.org.uk/youtubelive or www.youtube.com/c/AlythRS.
ALYTH IN-PERSON PRAY WITH US FOR YOUNG FAMILIES Sensory Shabbat in the Sukkah (10:45-11:30; 12:00-12:45) Families with babies are invited to sign up for a very special Sensory service in the Sukkah. The service will be repeated to allow more families to join over the course of the morning. Each family will need to bring their own picnic blanket to sit on and will be directed to a designated area of the Sukkah. Families will need to stay on their picnic blanket for the full duration of the service. Please also bring a musical instrument to play and a scarf to hide behind! Click here to sign up - there are only a few spaces left.
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SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
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).
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS Machzor Collection (10:00-12:00) The opportunity to pick up a machzor for Rosh Hashanah and to say hello to the Alyth team. Please also bring any spare copies of the Yom Kippur Machzor. See above for more details.
LEARN WITH US Biblical Hebrew (11:00-12:00) A programme for those with high level hebrew reading ability. Please email Edward Gold at edwardjgold@hotmail.com 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 7 September
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS PRAY WITH US IN-PERSON (7:30) A small in-person Shacharit Service in the synagogue sukkah. Click here to sign up.
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: "The Elected Member" by Bernice Rubens (18:30-19:30) Norman is the clever one of a close-knit Jewish family in the East End of London. Infant prodigy; brilliant barrister; the apple of his parent’s eyes… until at forty-one he becomes a drug addict, confined to his bedroom, at the mercy of his hallucinations and paranoia. For Norman, his committal to a mental hospital represents the ultimate act of betrayal. For Rabbi Zweck, Norman’s father, his son’s deterioration is a bitter reminder of his own guilt and failure. Only Bella, the unmarried sister, still in her childhood white ankle socks, can reach across the abyss of pain to bring father and son the elusive peace which they both so desperately crave. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 816 0975 2765, Passcode: 785089).
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS Machzor Collection (19:00-21:00) The opportunity to pick up a machzor for Rosh Hashanah and to say hello to the Alyth team. Please also bring any spare copies of the Yom Kippur Machzor. See above for more details.
TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS HOW TO Help our children to have a good High Holy Days (19:00) As High Holy Days approach, families face a new challenge to make these days feel special and different, whilst at home. Parents may ask how do I do prayer for me while supporting my child? Children may ask "what's in the High Holy Days for us?" Join Rabbi Hannah, Mike & Sophie for a session on how to make these High Holy Days meaningful for your whole family. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 844 6351 6773, Passcode: 785089).
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).
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS LEARN WITH US E-ssentials: The High Holy Days (20:00-21:00) Our regular introduction to Judaism class has been completely redesigned to be taught online. Whether you are coming to Judaism for the first time or want to consolidate the learning of many years, these classes are the ideal way to build the foundations of your knowledge in advance of these High Holy Days. This week: Introduction to the Jewish Calendar with Rabbi Hannah. 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).
WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
BE WITH US News, Views & Schmooze (11:00-12:00) 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. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 810 6650 1155, Password: 847786).
PRAY WITH US Wednesday Ma’ariv (20:00-20:45) Join us for a mid-week evening service led by Alyth members. Click hereto join (Meeting ID: 566 852 225, Password: 763158).
THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS PRAY WITH US IN-PERSON (9:00) See above for more information and click here to sign up.
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... High Holy Day Liturgy (13:00-14:00) A new twist on our weekly text-based study session. This month, to bring the text to life, we will look at selections from the High Holy Day liturgy that are particularly profound or important for us. 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).
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FRIDAY 11 AUGUST
FOR YOUNG FAMILIES Baby Den (10:30-11:00) Chug-a-lug into Shabbat with Rabbi Hannah. 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).
IN-PERSON FOR YOUNG FAMILIES Pre-Shabbat Story Time Live (16:30-17:00) Those pre-school in age (and in heart) are invited to join Rabbi Hannah for a pre shabbat story to help bring in shabbat. This week live in the Sukkah. Click here to sign up.
BE WITH US Jewish Mindfulness Meditation (17:00-17:40) 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).
YOUTH AND EDUCATION: RUACH Ruach @ home (17:15-18:10) Our programme for pre-b'nai mitzvah members starts this week with a Rosh Hashanah Spacial.
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS LEARN WITH US Elul Half Hours: To speak about God in a time of pandemic (17:45) Today's session: Ha-M’vorach with Student Rabbi Nicola Feuchtwang. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 848 3829 8916, Passcode: 227394).
PRAY WITH US Erev Shabbat Service (18:30-19:30) Join our clergy 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: 840 1914 7247, Passcode: 785089).
SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER
PRAY WITH US IN-PERSON Shacharit in the Sukkah (9:00) A small in-person Shacharit Service in the synagogue sukkah. Click here to sign up.
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS LEARN WITH US Elul Half Hours: To speak about God in a time of pandemic (9:45) Today's session: Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh with Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 864 6177 8950, Passcode: 138638).
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 Sam Gubbay who will be reading Torah with the community for the first time from his home. Click here to join by Zoom (Meeting ID: 889 7043 8595, Passcode: 785089).
YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HIGH HOLY DAYS PRAY WITH US Selichot (21:00) Hear the sounds of the High Holy Days for the first time in the year, live from the Alyth Beit Tefillah. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 821 7891 1874, Passcode: 785089).
PRAY WITH US IN-PERSON Selichot (23:30) An in-person, late-night Selichot with music and readings. This service must be pre-booked. Please note that this service is subject to the weather. The website will be updated at 22:30. Please check before you travel. Click here to sign up. In the week before you will be sent the address for this service which is not taking place in the synagogue grounds.
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SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
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). Our Sunday morning programme open to everyone from Reception to Year 6 returns this week with a Rosh Hashanah special.
LEARN WITH US Biblical Hebrew (11:00-12:00) A programme for those with high level hebrew reading ability. Please email Edward Gold at edwardjgold@hotmail.com if you would like to join this class so that you can be sent the link and materials in advance.
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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: 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.
