|
Rabbi Yitzhak Austin
Screen for Aliyahs |
Upcoming Services
Following the Government’s announcement about the re-opening of Places of Worship, we are re-opening for Shabbat morning services on Saturday 5th December. Going forward we will be open for weekly Shabbat morning services with certain safety measures in place. Shabbat Vayikra
Saturday 20th March Morning Service 9:45am Shabbat Tzav Saturday 27th March Morning Service 9:45am Parsha resources here.
|
Interior Layout for Distancing
Purim 5781 a message from Rabbi Austin
There is a strong connection between Purim and Shavous, the time we celebrate the giving of the Torah. In the megillah it says (9,23) ‘Vkibel hayuhudim eis asher heichelu lasots’, ‘and the Jews accepted what they had already started to do’. The gemora in Megila explains that on Har Sinai we accepted the Torah through an awakening from above, whereas on Purim the recommitment to the Torah was from our ourselves.
The idea of Jewish unity is also mirrored on Purim. At har Sinai the Jewish people camped as one person: on Purim we gathered together in fasting and prayer to advert the decree of Haman, expressing self-sacrifice which was also generated from our own convictions.
The yom tov of Purim is a special time to reinforce our commitment to Torah & mitzvos, and to strengthen our connection with each other. The four special mitzvos we perform are all about being together, and enhancing our ahavas yiroel. I look forward to seeing you over Purim, and to share the joy and friendship of this special day.
There is a strong connection between Purim and Shavous, the time we celebrate the giving of the Torah. In the megillah it says (9,23) ‘Vkibel hayuhudim eis asher heichelu lasots’, ‘and the Jews accepted what they had already started to do’. The gemora in Megila explains that on Har Sinai we accepted the Torah through an awakening from above, whereas on Purim the recommitment to the Torah was from our ourselves.
The idea of Jewish unity is also mirrored on Purim. At har Sinai the Jewish people camped as one person: on Purim we gathered together in fasting and prayer to advert the decree of Haman, expressing self-sacrifice which was also generated from our own convictions.
The yom tov of Purim is a special time to reinforce our commitment to Torah & mitzvos, and to strengthen our connection with each other. The four special mitzvos we perform are all about being together, and enhancing our ahavas yiroel. I look forward to seeing you over Purim, and to share the joy and friendship of this special day.
Rev Menasche and Chazzan Steve at the Pre-Rosh Hashanah Kumzitz
Havdalah with Rev Menasche
The Chief Rabbi has just sent the following message to all of the communities under his aegis:
Over recent months, during times of unprecedented challenge, I have been inspired by our remarkable Rabbis, Rebbetzens, lay leaders, staff and communities as you maintained the vitality of our Synagogues through regular services, events and programmes. Public health professionals and government officials have recognised your determined commitment to protecting the sanctity of life before all else, in what has been a true Kiddush Hashem.
I have no doubt therefore that, whilst you will share my sense of profound pain, following the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday, that places of worship must once again close for congregational prayer, you will also share my desire to take whatever further action is necessary to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This directive from the government confers an imperative upon us to close our Synagogues from Thursday.
As I have noted at a previous time, it would be tempting to use the permission granted for Individual Prayer to open our Shuls so that we can daven privately in the presence of others which would certainly be a מעלה (meritorious). However this is significantly outweighed by the potential for לפני עור (placing a stumbling block before the blind), because those present for Individual Prayer might be tempted to daven together in a מנין which would be a clear breach of the law and a ‘חילול ה' - a desecration of Hashem’s name.
Detailed guidance will follow shortly.
It is my fervent prayer that our shuls will very soon be able to safely re-open once again.
May the Almighty bless all of humankind with healing and a speedy end to the Pandemic and all the suffering that it has brought in its wake.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis
Over recent months, during times of unprecedented challenge, I have been inspired by our remarkable Rabbis, Rebbetzens, lay leaders, staff and communities as you maintained the vitality of our Synagogues through regular services, events and programmes. Public health professionals and government officials have recognised your determined commitment to protecting the sanctity of life before all else, in what has been a true Kiddush Hashem.
I have no doubt therefore that, whilst you will share my sense of profound pain, following the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday, that places of worship must once again close for congregational prayer, you will also share my desire to take whatever further action is necessary to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This directive from the government confers an imperative upon us to close our Synagogues from Thursday.
As I have noted at a previous time, it would be tempting to use the permission granted for Individual Prayer to open our Shuls so that we can daven privately in the presence of others which would certainly be a מעלה (meritorious). However this is significantly outweighed by the potential for לפני עור (placing a stumbling block before the blind), because those present for Individual Prayer might be tempted to daven together in a מנין which would be a clear breach of the law and a ‘חילול ה' - a desecration of Hashem’s name.
Detailed guidance will follow shortly.
It is my fervent prayer that our shuls will very soon be able to safely re-open once again.
May the Almighty bless all of humankind with healing and a speedy end to the Pandemic and all the suffering that it has brought in its wake.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis
