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Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Jewish topics a way to access Judaism? Are you thinking of working towards conversion to Judaism or confirmation of Jewish Status? Are you looking for a fun and dynamic group with which to discuss topics of Jewish interest? If the answers to the questions above are yes, then Or Chadash may be an excellent group for you to join. The name Or Chadash meaning new light, or new dawn, is our weekly adult class for those wanting to learn more about Judaism. Sessions are held on Wednesday evenings. Our Jewish Studies course covers the Jewish lifecycle, the yearly festival cycle, Jewish history, and of course, a familiarising and appreciation of our prayer book and Hebrew Bible. It is a vibrant and questioning group and is warm and welcoming to new members with sessions taught by Rabbi Thomas, by our Head of Education, or by guest tutors. Hebrew classes are held before the Shabbat morning service on Saturdays and we work hard teaching the alphabet, decoding skills and later at explaining and demystifying the prayers, so that each student is able to participate and enjoy the services. It is essential for the conversion process that our students attend as many Friday and Saturday morning and festival services (as marked in the calendar) as possible during the course of the year. We encourage our Or Chadash students to immerse themselves in Jewish life and offer many ways to volunteer in various roles, which are explained in more detail on page 6. Partners are welcome at all our classes and encouraged to attend. Conversion students will have the option to appear before either the Liberal or Reform Beit Din (Rabbinic Board) where they will have an interview to have their conversion formalised. For more information, please contact our Rabbi or Nick Young through t h e c o n t a c t i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e b a c k p a g e. 2
Wednesday Classes: Term 1 Wednesday 14 th September, 6:30pm Who are we? Progressive Judaism and its origins Wednesday 21st September, 6:30pm Jewish Symbols IZ Wednesday 28 th September, 6:30pm The Gift of Shabbat Wednesday 5 th October, 6:30pm High Holy Days Wednesday 19 th October, 6:30pm Sukkot and Simchat Torah with the Jewish calendar IZ Wednesday 26 th Oct & 2 nd Nov Half term Wednesday 9 th November, 6:30pm Patriarchs and Matriarchs Wednesday 16 th November, 6:30pm Tzedakah, Mitzvah Day and Jewish Values IZ Wednesday 23 rd November, 6:30pm Torah and visit to Czech Scrolls Wednesday 30 th November, 6:30pm What it means to convert: The December Dilemma IZ Wednesday 7 nd December, 6:30pm Chanukah IZ Festivals and Activities Friday 16 th September, 6:30pm Or Shira Service Sunday 2 nd October, 6:30pm Monday 3 rd October, 10:30am Tuesday 11 th October, 6:30pm Wednesday 12 th October, 11:00am Sunday 16 th October, 6:30pm Monday 17 th October, 10:30am Sunday 23 rd October, 6:30pm Monday 24 th October, 10:30am Friday 25 th November Friday 30 th December, 6:30pm Highlights this term 3 Rosh Hashanah Evening & Morning Services* Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur Morning Services* Sukkot Evening Service* Sukkot Morning Service Simchat Torah Evening Service* Simchat Torah Morning Service Czech Scrolls Commemorative Service Chanukah Lights Service* * Attendance is compulsory Selichot - Coming in the week prior to Rosh Hashanah, Selichot are penitential poems and prayers that help us to reflect on the past year, to contemplate our mistakes and how we may make things better in the year ahead. The Selichot service on Saturday September 24th will be preceded by a shiur led by Nick Young - along with refreshments.
Wednesday Classes: Term 2 Wednesday 11 th January 6:30pm Structure of Services & Learn the Music of our services Wednesday 18 th January, 6:30pm Tanakh: Structure, Importance and Meaning Wednesday 25 th January, 6:30pm The Holocaust Wednesday 1 st February, 6:30pm Shabbat Liturgy: Structure, Meaning and Prayer Wednesday 8 th February, 6:30pm Tu B Shevat Seder Wednesday 15 th & 21 st February Half term Wednesday 1 st March, 6:30pm Women and Judaism: JB Wednesday 8 th March, 6:30pm Purim: Topsy Turvy Ethics and Laughter Book of Esther Wednesday 15 th March, 6:30pm Journey through Jewish history using the timeline Wednesday 22 nd March, 6:30pm Pesach: Story, History & Meaning Wednesday 29 th March, 6:30pm Pesach: Food and Cooking Festivals and Activities Friday 27 th January, 6:30pm Holocaust Memorial Day Reflective Service Saturday 11 th March, 6:30pm Erev Purim * Monday 10 th April, 6:30pm Erev Pesach Service and Seder Tuesday 11 th April, 10:30am 1st Day Pesach Sunday 16 th April, 10:30am 7th Day Pesach * Attendance is compulsory Highlights this term Purim and Pesach Purim and Pesach are two important festivals in this term. On Purim, members are encouraged to come in fancy dress. If you speak a foreign language, let us know and you can participate in our Service of Many Tongues. We shall be having a communal First Night Seder in the Synagogue on Monday 10th April which we enjoy sharing with you and your loved ones. 4
Wednesday Classes: Term 3 Wednesday 26 th April, 6:30pm History of Ancient Israel Wednesday 3 rd May, 6:30pm History of Modern Israel AJ Wednesday 10 th May, 6:30pm Oral Torah: An Introduction to the Talmud Wednesday 17 th May, 6:30pm Shavuot: Revelation, Sleep Deprivation & Cheesecake Wednesday 24 th & 31 st May Half term Wednesday 7 h June, 6:30pm Birth, Brit and naming ceremonies Wednesday 14 th June, 6:30pm Bar and Bat Mitzvah Wednesday 21 st June, 6:30pm Put a ring on it: Jewish Weddings Wednesday 28 th June, 6:30pm Death, mourning and afterlife Wednesday 5 th June, 6:30pm Food Glorious Food: Traditional and Progressive Kashrut Wednesday 11 th June, 6:30pm Your questions answered / Festivals and Activities Friday 21 st April, 6:30pm Friday 5 th May, 6:30pm Tuesday 30 th May, 6:30pm Wednesday 31 st May, 10:30am Yom Hashoah Reflective Service Yom Ha atzmaut Celebrations Erev Shavuot Service and Supper with Guest Speaker* Shavuot Morning Service * Attendance to service is compulsory Hebrew Learning The Hebrew language is at the core of our identity, culture and heritage, and therefore learning Hebrew is an essential element of becoming Jewish and the Or Chadash journey. For those who wish to learn Hebrew, the Beginners Class meets every Saturday morning during term-time from 10:30-11:20am with Ilana Alexander. 5
Westminster Synagogue Activities and Groups But when Moses father-in-law saw how much he had to do for the people, he said, What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you act alone? The thing you are doing is not right; you will surely wear yourself out For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone Exodus 18:14,17-18 Members contribute to every aspect of Synagogue life. Many have helped out on a regular basis or as often as their schedules permit. It is fair to say that without members support, the community would function in a very limited way. Or Chadash students have always been integral in helping with Synagogue life and we hope that you will be able to continue this tradition. There are many opportunities for Or Chadash members to help or serve. It may be that you have a new idea or you have a skill that would benefit your fellow members. Don t be shy, the rewards of contributing often far out-weigh the time and effort involved and offer the perfect chance to get to know the wider Synagogue community. Some examples of activities and volunteering opportunities are: Kiddush Rota helping to prepare Kiddush for after the Shabbat Morning Service once a year; Westminster Young Professionals (WYP) organise events targeted at our young professional community members; WS Czech Scrolls create events and activities centered around our very special Torah scrolls from Horažd ovice and Přestice; Hospitality help out with festivals, events and Kiddushim; Purim sing and act as part of our troupe who perform the story of Purim in song; Quiz night and Fundraising help raise money for our Education Department and the Synagogue as a whole; Music explore, expand and learn the music of our services; Cooking learn new recipes and help to prepare food for special occasions. For more information, contact Renée Salamon through the Synagogue office. 6
Reading List for Or Chadash Students: 1. Westminster Synagogue s Daily and Sabbath Prayer Book 2. Westminster Synagogue s Rosh Hashanah and Festival Prayer Books 3. Siddur Lev Chadash (Liberal Judaism Website) 4. Machzor Ruach Chadashah (Liberal Judaism Website) 5. Haggadah b'chol dor va-dor (Liberal Judaism Website) 6. Hebrew-English Tanakh, Jewish Publication Society of America (JPS), 2003 7. W Gunther Plaut, The Torah: A Modern Commentary, 2005 8. Liberal Jewish Values and Practice leaflets (Liberal Judaism Website) 9. Affirmations of Liberal Judaism (Liberal Judaism Website) 10. David J Goldberg and John D Rayner, The Jewish People: Their History and their Religion, 1987 11. John D Rayner, Principles of Jewish Ethics 12. Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah, Compelling Commitments, 2007 13. Pete Tobias, Liberal Judaism: A Judaism for the Twenty - First Century, 2007 14. Jonathan Magonet, The Explorer's Guide to Judaism, Hodder & Stoughton, 1998 15. Julia Neuberger, On Being Jewish, London, 1995 16. Louis Jacobs, The Book of Jewish Belief, 1984 17. Louis Jacobs, The Book of Jewish Practice, 1984 18. Simon Schama, The History of the Jews, 2013 Useful Contacts: Movements: Liberal Judaism: www.liberaljudaism.org Reform Judaism: www.reformjudaism.org.uk London Jewry: The Jewish Museum, London: www.jewishmuseum.org.uk United Jewish Israel Appeal: www.ujia.org JW3 www.jw3.org.uk J-Date: www.jdate.co.uk Jewish Film Festival www.ukjewishfilm.org Jewish Music Institute www.jmi.org.uk Jewish Chronical www.thejc.com Jewish News www.jewishnews.co.uk Limmud www.limmud.org 7
About Westminster Synagogue: Founded in 1957 and worshipping since 1960 within the splendid surroundings of Kent House, Westminster Synagogue celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007, a significant landmark in the life of any community. The three rabbis who have led the community since its inception - Harold Reinhart, Albert Friedlander and Thomas Salamon - have all remained true to the spirit and passion of Westminster Synagogue's unique founding principles. The Synagogue offers a wonderful combination of the traditional and the progressive. It is a warm, welcoming independent community which is committed to the well-being of its members and their families. The Sanctuary in which we are sitting is the spiritual heart of the Synagogue and it occupies the former ballroom and music rooms of one of the more remarkable historical buildings in London. Downstairs, the Reinhart Library and the Friedlander Room provide further space for meditation, learning or communal gathering, while extensive educational facilities in the lower ground floor areas of the building have ensured a new vibrancy for the Synagogue, as generations of children and young adults become part of the regenerated Westminster Synagogue story. Do arrange to pay a visit to the third floor of Kent House where you can experience the dramatic story of the Czech Memorial Scrolls. The current exhibition opened in September 2008 and it has now been 50 years since the scrolls arrived at Westminster Synagogue. These dynamic messengers have been given a second life as a focus for education, interfaith and understanding In that time, the Museum has received visitors from all over the world. Both Jews and non-jews alike have been deeply moved by the human tragedy implicit in what they have seen and greatly uplifted by the story with its positive message of hope, continuity and resilience. Contacts Rabbi: Rabbi Dr Thomas Salamon E: thomas@westminstersynagogue.org M: 07973 187311 DDI: 020 7052 9712 Chairman of the Executive Jeffrey Ohrenstein E: chairman@westminstersynagogue.org Community Renee Salamon E: renee@westminstersynagogue.org Education: Nick Young E: nick@westminstersynagogue.org DDI: 020 7052 9714 Jon Zecharia E: education@westminstersynagogue.org DDI: 020 7052 9711 General Enquiries Hilary Ashleigh E: secretary@westminstersynagogue.org T: 020 7584 3953 F: 020 7581 8012 DDI: 020 7052 9710 WESTMINSTER SYNAGOGUE, RUTLAND GARDENS, KNIGHBRIDGE, SW7 1BX, www.westminstersynagogue.org 8