newsletter

COVID UPDATE 16 December 2021

We once again find ourselves in a time when gathering together carries the potential for transmission of a dangerous virus. 

We therefore need to reintroduce more stringent Covid protocols for our communal life over the next few weeks. 

Until the New Year, all Alyth activities (including meetings with members of the professional team) will take place online with the exception of our Erev Shabbat and Shabbat morning services.  These will remain hybrid with the option of in-person attendance for those who wish (this will be reviewed on a weekly basis).  To reduce the risk of transmission within the professional team, only one member of clergy will be in the Beit Tefillah for the next three shabbatot.
 
For those attending in person, additional risk mitigation measures will be in place.  
Our covid protocols are now as follows:

1. Everyone attending a service will be asked on entry to show evidence of being fully vaccinated (including booster) or of a negative lateral flow test taken on the day.  
Vaccination status can be demonstrated using the NHS app (please use the Covid Pass for Travel which shows details of vaccinations).  
Lateral flow tests should be reported to the NHS.  The text message or email from the NHS can then be shown on entry.  Please do not bring the test with you.

2. You must not attend if:
– feeling unwell, even with the symptoms of a cold
– within the isolation period after having tested positive for Covid
– asked to self-isolate or to quarantine

3. Masks or face coverings must be worn at all times in the Alyth building, including when singing.

4. We will continue to have windows fully open for all services

5.  Capacity will be reduced in the Beit Tefillah to a maximum of one third capacity.  This will allow for extra distancing between rows and additional spacing around the bimah and technical area.

6. Pre-booking is still required.  It will end at 16:00 on Friday afternoon.  Anyone not pre-booked will not be admitted into the synagogue grounds.

We continue to be able to join together online via Zoom or live streamed on our YouTube channel.  Please join us from home over this holiday period, including supporting our B'nei Mitzvah over the next two shabbatot.  

FRIDAY 17 DECEMBER 

FOR YOUNG FAMILIES
Baby Den (10:30) 
Pre-Shabbat Story Time (16:30-17:00)
Baby Den and Pre-Shabbat Story Time will not take place this week.

BE WITH US ONLINE
JMM (17:00-18:00)
Jewish Mindfulness Meditation helps us to open our hearts and find peace through our spiritual heritage. Click here to make a donation towards the costs of employing the facilitators.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 977 611 369 Password: 035091).
This is the last JMM of 2021. We resume on Friday 7 January. 


EREV SHABBAT 17 DECEMBER  

PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE 
Erev Shabbat Service (18:30-19:30)
Join Rabbi Elliott as we welcome Shabbat as a community, online and in person in the Alyth Beit Tefillah.
IN PERSON
If you are joining us in person, please note our Covid protocols above. 
Please let us know you are coming by clicking here 
ONLINE
To join online, click here to join (Meeting ID: 848 3038 0047, Passcode: 785089).  The "Zoom screen" can also be seen via our YouTube channel by going to www.youtube.com/c/AlythRS
The Shabbat Supplement and Community News will be available from 17:00 Friday afternoon on the synagogue website.  Please click here to view the siddur online.


SHABBAT MORNING 18 DECEMBER 
 
PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE
Shabbat Morning Service in the Beit Tefillah (10:30) 
Led by Rabbi Elliott in our Beit Tefillah. Including the Bar Mitzvah of Saul van der Horst.
IN PERSON  
If you are joining us in person, please note our Covid protocols above. 
Please let us know you are coming by clicking here.
ONLINE  
If you are joining us online: Click here to join (Meeting ID: 875 3008 5353, Passcode: 785089).
The Shabbat Supplement and Community News will be available from 17:00 Friday afternoon on the synagogue website.  Please click here to view the siddur online.

Please note that the Big Bang scheduled for 18 December will not now take place

WEEK COMMMENCING 19 DECEMBER 

SUNDAY 19 DECEMBER  

PRAY WITH US ONLINE
Sunday Shacharit (09:00-10:30)
Our weekly minyan led by Alyth members. This week online only.
Click here to join online (Meeting ID: 864 4782 5935, Password: 785089).

LEARN WITH US ONLINE
Biblical Hebrew (11:00-12:00)
A programme for those with high level hebrew reading ability. Email edwardjgold@hotmail.com if you would like to join this class. 


​WEDNESDAY 22 DECEMBER
 
BE WITH US ONLINE
News, Views and Schmooze (13:00-14:00)
Join us for a couple of hours of schmooze to discuss what is going on in the world around us. Led by volunteers from the Soup and Schmooze group. This week's group will be online.
​​​​​​​Click here to join (Meeting ID: 837 1668 3440 Passcode: 187790)
 
PRAY WITH US ONLINE
Wednesday Ma’ariv Online (20:00-20:45)
A mid-week evening service led by Alyth members.
Click here to join (Meeting ID: 880 9384 2526, Passcode: 543468).

FRIDAY 24 DECEMBER 

EREV SHABBAT 24 DECEMBER

PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE 
Erev Shabbat Service (18:30-19:30)
Join Rabbi Josh to welcome Shabbat as a community, joining together online and in person in the Alyth Beit Tefillah.  
IN PERSON
If you are joining us in person, please note our Covid protocols above. 
Please let us know you are coming by clicking here.
ONLINE
If you are joining us online, click here to join (Meeting ID: 835 5631 4624, Passcode: 785089).  The "Zoom screen" can also be seen via our YouTube channel by going to www.youtube.com/c/AlythRS


SHABBAT MORNING 25 DECEMBER
 
PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE
Shabbat Morning Service in the Beit Tefillah (10:30) 
Led by Rabbi Josh in our Beit Tefillah. Including the Bar Mitzvah of Noaz Godin-Heymann
IN PERSON 
If you are joining us in person, please note our Covid protocols above. 
Please let us know you are coming by clicking here. 
ONLINE 
If you are joining us online, click here  to join (Meeting ID: 889 9617 8314, Passcode: 785089).  The "Zoom screen" can also be seen via our YouTube channel by going to www.youtube.com/c/AlythRS

Save the dates

Tu B'shvat Tea with a “grain” of difference!
16 January (16:00)
From her recently published cookbook, Freekeh, Wild Wheat & Ancient Grains, recipes for healthy eating, Ruth will be serving up a delicious tea of grains and fruit to help us celebrate Tu B'shvat.   Please sign up by clicking here  and let us know if you have any dietary requirements by Monday 3 January. Donation - £5
This event will take place subject to Covid protocols in mid-January.

Annual Meeting of Congregants 2022
23 January (10:30)
Please save the date for our AMC which will take place on Sunday 23 January at 10:30am. The notice and papers for the meeting will go out via email in the last week of December.

Alyth's Weekend Away - 1 year to go!
2 - 4 December 2022 

Pray with us, learn with us, be with us…
laugh with us, relax with us, create with us, ramble with us, play table tennis with us, quiz with us, eat chocolate with us, meditate with us, read the newspapers with us, stay up late with us, design with us, revise in a quiet corner with us,
drink coffee with us, connect with us, study Talmud with us, drink with us, dance with us, watch films with us, play with us, hide and seek with us, chill with us, play games with us, sing with us, make new friends with us,
make memories with us...
For more information, click here or contact sam@alyth.org.uk 
Click here to book your place. 

Financial Support - How we can help

We believe that everybody who wishes should feel able to be a member of Alyth irrespective of ability to pay. In these difficult times, please do not leave the shul for financial reasons. If you are facing financial challenges, 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

Click here or phone 020 8457 8794 to be in touch.

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 by a member of the Alyth professional team between 08:00 and 21:00. 
Emergency Careline – 07726 631808
Please use this number if you need urgent pastoral support, for example in cases of hospitalization or bereavement.  This number will be answered by a member of the Alyth professional team.