Highgate Shul

For 500 days a London shul saved a seat for Emily Damari. Only her picture sat there until today - Jewish News jewishnews.co.uk/for-500-days-a…

Emily Damari, a British-Israeli citizen, was shot and kidnapped by Hamas on October 7. She has been held hostage for a year. In this short powerful video, Emily's mum, Mandy, speaks about her daughter for the first time and asks us to help her bring her home.

#DDay80 #UnitedSynagogue On the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, we pay tribute to the heroic efforts of those who landed on the beaches of Normandy to liberate Europe from Nazi tyranny. We will remember them!

Please join us this Sunday if you can, to stand shoulder to shoulder with British Jews, as we march against Antisemitism.

We have emerged from two days of Jewish holidays this evening to be confronted by the unimaginable scale and unprecedented brutality of the terrorist attacks on innocent civilians across Israel. We are shocked and devastated by the inhumanity of the mass murder, kidnapping and purposeful desecration of Jewish life. We pray for a speedy recovery for the injured, and we mourn alongside the thousands of families grieving the loss of loved ones and those left agonising over what will become of the captured. The loss of every innocent life is a tragedy regardless of where it is taken and from the depths of our hearts we turn Heavenwards and pray: May He who makes peace in high places bring peace to us and to all Israel. Amen.

"We are all devastated at the events in our beloved Israel. The amount of life lost, impossible to comprehend. The pain of the grieving families, impossible to bear. And the sleepless nights, the unimaginable stress of so many who don’t know where their loved ones are. Having now switched on my phone after yom tov and seen the news firsthand, I still cannot comprehend such a monstrous attack and terrible tragedy. I was struck by this line from Lamentations, apt because we have just finished Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah: "“The roads of Zion are mourning for lack of festival pilgrims. All her gates are desolate, her priests sigh; her young women are afflicted and she herself is embittered.” (Eicha 1:4) "In the words of our Acheinu prayer, "May God have compassion on them and lead them from distress to relief, from darkness to light, and from oppression to freedom, now, swiftly and soon."" Michael Goldstein, President, United Synagogue

If you are able to do so, please can you help by donating at charityextra.com/uschesed/highg…

We are 75% of the way there! Please continue donating - the money we raise from this campaign will help families struggling to make ends meet over Pesach and the year ahead. charityextra.com/uschesed #HelpUSToHelpThem

There are a number of ways we can support the people of Ukraine. Here are some: 1. Donate. The best way aid agencies say we can support those in need is by donating money, not goods, to charities like World Jewish Relief: worldjewishrelief.org

UPDATE 🚨HOW THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CAN HELP RESETTLE UKRAINIAN REFUGEES 👇👇👇🧵 (1/3) @WJRelief @UnitedSynagogue @ReformMovement @LiberalJudaism @MasortiJudaism @Rene_Cassin @JCOREUK @BoardofDeputies

Our weekly discussion resumes tomorrow morning at 9.30am: the theme is Religion and Science. Mon/Tue marks Rabbi Sacks' first Yahrtzeit and the learning on will be in his memory. Access bit.ly/highsacks to see the amazing sources Rabbi Sacks' team have prepared.

This half term in RE Year 2 are learning all about leaders and teachers. To finish the topic they enjoyed a visit from Rabbi Liss of @highgateshul who discussed his role in more detail.

We cannot bring the dead to life, but we can keep their memory alive blogs.timesofisrael.com/we-cannot-brin…

Booking for our Friday evening and Shabbat morning services is now open! Book your place at bit.ly/sahigh (booking closes 5.00pm tomorrow)

The annual Shul golf day at Highgate Golf Club returns! The full handicap 18-hole Stableford Competition tees off at 1.30pm followed by a Covid-safe tea and prizes. The entry fee is £30 for Highgate Golf Club members and £55 for non-members. Email office@highgateshul.com for more

In response to the serious situation in Israel, join the United Synagogue for a short programme of Tehillim (Psalms) and Tefillah (prayers) for peace, tonight at 8:10pm. theus.tv/praying-for-pe…

Looking forward to hearing former wannabe soldier accountant and currently newly published author Adam Leigh's talk on Ambition tonight online: bit.ly/alcurious

Following the tragic events in Meron on Lag B'Omer, the United Synagogue will be holding an evening of prayer and reflection on Sunday 2 May at 8:15pm on Zoom, where we will be addressed by the Chief Rabbi and the Israeli Ambassador.

Tonight at 8.00pm: our special online event with Judy Dewinter, Chair of the Royal Free Charity and Rachel Anticoni, Chief Operating Officer of the Royal Free Hospital talking about their leadership journeys & the impact of Covid-19 on patients and staff: bit.ly/2Qb1hIU

During lockdown easing it has been fantastic to see more people returning to Shul. We welcome you to join them and enjoy the warmth of a service at Highgate. Yes, the masks may muffle us a little but the feeling of friendship and community are still clear. bit.ly/frishabbat