Chanukah at Alyth - Tonight: Last Night of Chanukah
Thursday 14 December Young Adult Board Game Café (19:30) Join Rabbi Elliott and Sam to play some classic board games and maybe even try some new ones! With latkes, doughnuts and refreshments. Contact Sam (sam@alyth.org.uk) for more information.
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FRIDAY 15 DECEMBER FOR YOUNG FAMILIES IN PERSON Baby Den (10:30) Chug-a-lug into Shabbat. Sing your favourite Baby Den songs, dance to a Shabbat beat and wave to some familiar faces. For families with Young Children. This is the last Baby Den of 2023. We resume on Friday 5 January.
BE WITH US ONLINE JMM (17:00) 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). BE WITH US IN PERSON Israel: Share and Reflect Together (17:15) An opportunity to come together with others to talk and reflect on events in Israel and the UK in a loving, non-judgemental space. Facilitated by Rabbi Elliott, including prayers for peace, for the release of captives, and for healing.
EREV SHABBAT PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE Erev Shabbat and Service (18:30) We welcome Shabbat as a community, joining together online and in person. Led by Rabbi Elliott and Student Rabbi Eleanor. Click hereto join online (Meeting ID: 814 6531 8254 Passcode: 785089).
SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER - SHABBAT MORNING PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE Choir Breakfast (09:15) Breakfast for Synagogue Choir Members. PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE Shabbat Morning Service (10:30) Led by Student Rabbi Eleanor and Rabbi Elliott. Accompanied by guitar and including the Bat Mitzvah of Lily Akgul. Click hereto join online (Meeting ID: 811 7011 0652 Passcode: 785089). PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE Shabbat Morning Choral Service (10:30) Led by Student Rabbi Nicola with the Alyth Choir. Taking place in the Upstairs Prayer Space. Click here to join online (Meeting ID: 837 8470 9795 Passcode: 636118)
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SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER BE WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE Sunday Shacharit (09:00-10:15) Click here to join online (Meeting ID: 864 4782 5935, Password: 785089). LEARN WITH US ONLINE Biblical Hebrew (11:15) A programme for those with high level Hebrew reading ability. Email edwardjgold@hotmail.com if you would like to join this class so that you can be sent the link and materials in advance.
YOUTH AND EDUCATION Alyth Academy of Performing Arts (18:00) A feature of the Alyth calendar for Secondary School aged children for over 20 years. The end of year production takes place in March. Contact abi@alyth.org.uk for more information. This is the last Academy of the year. We resume on Sunday 7 January.
MONDAY 18 DECEMBER
BE WITH US IN PERSON The Alyth Social (14:00) Part of the Alyth Friendship Project. Join us for an afternoon of entertainment, discussion, tea and great company! Today: A Trip Down Memory Lane A trip down memory lane with Hannah Kieve - Hannah is a young member of the Alyth community (and the daughter of the lovely social club volunteer Tracey!). Now studying at the University of Chicago after graduating from Oxford with a degree in music she is returning for the winter holidays. Hannah will bring pieces ranging from Billy Holiday to Barry Manilow for all to sing along to and enjoy.
BE WITH US ONLINE Israel Briefing with Rabbi Golan (18:00) We look forward to welcoming Rabbi Golan Ben-Chorin into our community as Interim Rabbi in January 2024. Rabbi Golan is joining us from Haifa, and has worked in a number of Progressive synagogues and communities across the north of Israel for many years. This will be an opportunity both to meet Rabbi Golan and to hear from him his perspective on the events of the last few months, as well as how progressive communities in Israel are responding. All questions are welcome. Click here to join online (Meeting ID: 360 360 6763 Passcode: 785089) TUESDAY 19 DECEMBER
BE WITH US IN PERSON Alyth Choral Society (20:00) Coming up: Alyth Choral Society, as part of Alyth Synagogue’s Yom Hashoah Commemoration on 5 May 2024, will be performing Annaliese by James Whitbourn. The Society would warmly welcome singers to join them and be a part of this special occasion. Weekly rehearsals start today; for further details please contact alythchoralsociety@gmail.com
THURSDAY 21 DECEMBER
BE WITH US ONLINE Mellow Chair Yoga for All Ages (11:00) Our special Chair Yoga and Meditation with Maxine, open to all ages wishing to enhance overall mental and physical wellbeing. This is the last Mellow Yoga of the year. We resume on 11 Janaury. Click here to register and pay for the class. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 892 6465 8503 Passcode: 202324)
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FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER
BE WITH US ONLINE JMM (17:00) Jewish Mindfulness Meditation helps us to open our hearts and find peace through our spiritual heritage. This is the last JMM of the year. We resume on Friday 5 January. Click here to make a donation towards the costs of employing the facilitators. Click here to join (Meeting ID: 977 611 369 Password: 035091).
EREV SHABBAT PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE Erev Shabbat and Service (18:15) We welcome Shabbat as a community, joining together online and in person. Click hereto join online (Meeting ID: 892 7116 7329 Passcode: 785089).
SATURDAY 23 DECEMBER - SHABBAT MORNING PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE Shabbat Morning Service (10:30) Led by Rabbi Elliott and Rabbi Hannah. Including the Bat Mitzvah of Alexa Bradley. Click hereto join online (Meeting ID: 828 1256 3058 Passcode: 785089).
PRAY WITH US IN PERSON AND ONLINE Wellbeing Service (10:30) Our occasional service in which we have the opportunity to reflect on our own wellbeing with prayer, song, and readings. We will join the service in the Beit Tefillah in time for the Sermon. Led by Lynette and Justin Wise. Click hereto join online (Meeting ID: 857 0155 6210 Passcode: 349365).
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DEVELOP YOUR JEWISH LEADERSHIP WITH RABBI GOLAN We’re delighted to announce that Alyth has four places to offer on an exciting Jewish Leadership programme taking place from January to July 2024, which will be led by Rabbi Golan in partnership with Rabbi Chen Ben-Or Tsfoni from Ra’anana. The programme consists of seven monthly online learning sessions and an early-July trip to the unique interfaith Peace Project in Tiblisi, Georgia. It will be an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the Progressive Jewish world, develop communal leadership skills, and form relationships with members of an Israeli Reform community at this critical time for Israel and the Jewish world. If you would like to know more, you can register your interest here.
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SPARE KIPPOT We are looking for more Kippot, If you have any Kippot you do not need anymore, please consider donating them for our Synagogue services.
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HOLIDAY OFFICE OPENING HOURS The building/office is closed on 24, 25, 26 and 31 December. The office is open on 27, 28 and 29 December between 10am-4pm. In case of an emergency, please call the emergency careline – 020 8457 8798. Please use this number if you need urgent pastoral support, for example in cases of hospitalisation or bereavement. This number will be answered by a member of the Alyth professional team.
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SAVE THE DATES Leo Baeck College Dinner Monday 12 February 2024 Leo Baeck College is celebrating 35 years of ordaining LGBT+ rabbis, with a fundraising dinner on Monday 12 February 2024. If you are interested in joining for this prestigious event, please contact Rabbi Elliott (elliott@alyth.org.uk). Tickets are £175. Please speak to Rabbi Elliott if you would like to sponsor a table or sponsor a LBC student to attend.
Shirei Meets Chagigah Friday 15 – Sunday 17 March 2024 Shirei meets Chagigah is an all singing, all learning weekend away with the Movement for Reform Judaism. Join your friends and family in our biannually held conference to learn together, pray together and have fun together! Click here for more information.
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Responding as a Community to Events in Israel
We are sure that like us, many of you continue to be pained and worried about events in Israel. Please know that we continue to be here for you if you need us. If we can do anything to support you in this difficult time, please contact Lynette by email to lynette@alyth.org.uk or at 020 8457 8793.
Leaders, rabbis and members from across the Jewish community have signed a statement of Jewish values and core principles in response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Click hereto read the statement.
Being together as a community Over the next few weeks we will be organising activities where members can gather, support one another and gain insight into life in Israel and Gaza in these troubled times. These activities will include a session with the Bereaved Families Forum (tonight- see above for more information), briefings from UK organisations, and from our friends and colleagues in Israel, as well as space to reflect and talk together, supported by Alyth clergy. See December’s ‘Around Alyth’ for more information. Share and Reflect Together, in person, Fridays 15 December, 17:15 An opportunity to come together with others to talk and reflect on events in Israel and the UK in a loving, non-judgemental space. Facilitated by Rabbi Elliott, including prayers for peace, for the release of captives, and for healing. Israel Briefing with Rabbi Golan, Monday 18 December, 18:00 We look forward to welcoming Rabbi Golan Ben Chorin into our community as Interim Rabbi in January 2024. Rabbi Golan is joining us from Haifa, and has worked in a number of Progressive synagogues and communities across the north of Israel for many years. This will be an opportunity both to meet Rabbi Golan and to hear from him his perspective on the events of the last few months, as well as how progressive communities in Israel are responding. Click here to join online (Meeting ID: 360 360 6763 Passcode: 785089) Ways you can help We are a collection point for Sebby's Corner. Please click here for a list of items that they are collecting.
Please click here for a list of resources and ways to help, collated by The Reform Movement, including appeals to which you may wish to donate
Security at Alyth In these times of heightened security, it is very important that we have full teams for volunteer security. Please make sure that you open your Rota Central emails and respond positively if you are able. If you are willing to do an extra shift at this time please contact security@alyth.org.uk. CST are running additional training courses, please see their website if you are interested in doing any of these. We are very grateful to our security team leaders for their extra commitment at this time.
Click here to view previous newsletters and blogs. Click here for our Instagram and click here for our Facebook page for regular building updates. There are photos and a face of Alyth on social media this week.
FACES OF ALYTH During the expected 54 weeks of the building project, we’ll share short video clips of Alyth members, Trustees, Clergy and Staff Team speaking about why they love Alyth, what matters to them, and why the renewal of our building is such an important and exciting time for the future of the whole community. Click herefor Faces of Alyth on Instagram and click here for Facebook.
Emergency Careline – 020 8457 8798 Please use this number if you need urgent pastoral support, for example in cases of hospitalisation or bereavement. This number will be answered by a member of the Alyth professional team.
Click hereto view our partner organisations including links to sign up to their weekly communications.
