Reform Judaism Shabbat at Alyth

Alyth Synagogue joined the special Shabbat celebrated by the Jewish community on 23rd and 24th October 2015 through participating in Reform Judaism Shabbat.   Children and adults came together on Thursday 22nd October in the Synagogue community kitchen to bake their own Challah from scratch. Beginning with preparing the yeast and going all the way to the finished Challah, all went home with a Challah made with their own hands. While the dough rose they joined Rabbi Mark Goldsmith and Rabbi Colin Eimer for a teaching session on the history of Challah from the Torah to the present day.   Alyth member, Sue Haskel made her Challot in the shape of Abraham and Sarah to reflect the Torah portion of the week, Lech L’cha.

Alyth’s Kabbalat Service was preceded by a teaching session for adults on “Keeping Shabbat at Home” using a special booklet prepared by the Movement for Reform Judaism. Alyth member Donna Rothbart recalled Shabbat evenings at her childhood home in Aden, Yemen, whilst Henry Levy recalled being blessed weekly under his father’s hands in his childhood home in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, a practice which he continue for his own grandchildren in London.

Some of the Challot from the baking session were shared at a special Shabbat dinner for the couples who had married at Alyth Synagogue in the past year, whilst a parallel open Shabbat dinner was held for anyone who wished to stay after the service. Lynette Sunderland, Alyth’s Director of Welfare and Life Cycle, who organised both dinners said: “Sharing food and hospitality with each other is the centre of Shabbat for me. It was wonderful to be able to share with members of the Synagogue who are just starting their family life as well as those for whom the Synagogue community has become like an extended family.”

Two Bnei Mitzvah were celebrated in one of the Alyth Shabbat morning services whilst a second Shabbat morning service at the Synagogue gave a more relaxed atmosphere for those who needed it. The two services were preceded by parallel Shiurim given by Alyth Rabbis Mark Goldsmith and Josh Levy on Shabbat in Halacha, Jewish law and Shabbat in Aggadah, Jewish ideology.   Rabbi Josh Levy said: “In the spirit of Reform Judaism Shabbat we considered how we make our choices as to how we observe Shabbat in a way that is true to our tradition, building from our classical Jewish texts.”

Alyth’s Reform Judaism Shabbat ended with Havdalah outdoors on Central Square in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Rabbi Mark Goldsmith said: “Thankfully the rain stopped for long enough to allow us to end Shabbat in a spirit of togetherness in the heart of our community.”2015-10-22 001 029