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Rabbi Yitzchok Austin
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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 Bamidbar
Saturday 16th May Morning Service 9:45am Shavuot Monday 17th May Tuesday 18th May Morning Service 9:45am Shabbat Naso Saturday 22nd May Morning Service 9:45am Parsha resources here.
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Message for Shavuot 2021 from Rabbi Yitzchok Austin
Shavuos is one if my favourite Yom Tovim. What is unique about it is that there are no specific mitzvos which we do besides keeping it as Yom Tov. There are however many special customs particular to Shavuos, and the one of eating milky foods (cheesecake and the like) definitely resonates well with me.
On a deeper note, Shavuos is of paramount importance because we are celebrating the giving of the Torah. Although this happened over 3000 years ago, the Torah is still our guide and has kept us going throughout this long bitter exile.
In the run up to the giving of the Torah at mount Sinai, the Jewish people said Nasseh V'nishma. We will do and we will listen. The doing refers to our performing the mitzvos even though we may not know why we do it. The nishma is about learning and understanding the meaning of the mitzvos and the Torah itself. Then there are the two aspects joined together, that our learning has to be prefaced by our belief in Hashem and that Yiddishkeit is not just when we can rationalise it.
Some people are doers, some are thinkers. Whatever type of person you are, come and join us this Shavuos, I am sure there will be something that you will connect with.
Shavuos is one if my favourite Yom Tovim. What is unique about it is that there are no specific mitzvos which we do besides keeping it as Yom Tov. There are however many special customs particular to Shavuos, and the one of eating milky foods (cheesecake and the like) definitely resonates well with me.
On a deeper note, Shavuos is of paramount importance because we are celebrating the giving of the Torah. Although this happened over 3000 years ago, the Torah is still our guide and has kept us going throughout this long bitter exile.
In the run up to the giving of the Torah at mount Sinai, the Jewish people said Nasseh V'nishma. We will do and we will listen. The doing refers to our performing the mitzvos even though we may not know why we do it. The nishma is about learning and understanding the meaning of the mitzvos and the Torah itself. Then there are the two aspects joined together, that our learning has to be prefaced by our belief in Hashem and that Yiddishkeit is not just when we can rationalise it.
Some people are doers, some are thinkers. Whatever type of person you are, come and join us this Shavuos, I am sure there will be something that you will connect with.
Havdalah with Rev Menasche
Rev Menasche and Chazzan Steve at the Pre-Rosh Hashanah Kumzitz
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
