Please click on the title of the service or activity to be taken directly to Zoom,
or use the Meeting ID and Passcode.
FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER
Baby Den (10:30)
Chug-a-lug into Shabbat. Sing your favourite Baby Den songs, dance to a Shabbat beat and wave to some familiar faces. For families with young children.
Ruach (17:15)
Our pre-Bar/Bat Mitzvah programme delivered by our wonderful team of madrichim. Participants can come from 16:30 for Drop-In and are expected to stay for the Erev Shabbat Service, finishing at 19:30.
Monthly JMM (17:00) – Online Only
Welcome in Shabbat with us in a peaceful and reflective environment. Free of charge. All welcome.
Erev Shabbat Service (18:30)
We welcome Shabbat as a community, joining together online and in person. Led by Rabbi Hannah, Rabbi Elliott and Katie. The D’vah Torah will be given by Alyth member, Nick Aleksander, trustee of Rene Cassin in honour of Human Rights Shabbat.
Click here for the Shul Sheet.
(ID: 892 7116 7329 Passcode: 785089)
SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER
Early Shabbat Morning Service (9:00)
Led by Rabbi Elliott. Including the Bar Mitzvah of Lucas Quastel.
(ID: 876 7622 0483 Passcode: 552528
Shabbat Morning Service (10:30)
Led by Rabbi Hannah and Rabbi Elliott. Including the Bar Mitzvah of Anthony Eden and Bat Mitzvah of Sasha Barrett. There will be a guest sermon by Rabbi Daniel Lichman.
Click here for the Shul Sheet.
(ID: 828 1256 3058 Passcode: 785089)
Shabbat B’Yachad Lunch (12:30)
As part of the Alyth Friendship Project, a special lunch after the shabbat service. For catering purposes, please let Lynette know you are coming at lynette@alyth.org.uk or 020 8457 8793.
There is no charge for this, but donations are always appreciated.
Sensory Havdalah (16:00)
Havdalah is one of our most sensory experiences. We see the flickering candle flame, smell the sweet spices and taste the wine. Join Rabbi Hannah, Han and the dungareenees, for this special Sensory Havdalah experience where our youngest members can wave goodbye to Shabbat and prepare to start the week anew. Feel free to wear your PJs or onesies!
SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER
Alyth Cycling Community Bike Ride (8:15)
Bringing riders of all abilities together to enjoy cycling and conversation. For more information, please contact laurancemendoza@aol.com
Sunday Shacharit (9:00)
Every Alyth week begins with a member-led minyan, with bagel breakfast after. All are welcome. (ID: 864 4782 5935, Password: 785089)
Sunday Morning Galim (10:00)
Our Jewish education programme for Reception to Year 6. Click here to enrol into SMG.
SMG provides our youngest members with the opportunity to explore their Jewish identity; key Jewish behaviour and rituals and Jewish texts.
Biblical Hebrew (11:15) Online Only
Prayer Book Hebrew: studying the Hebrew and how it is translated – a programme for those with high-level Hebrew reading ability. Email edwardjgold@hotmail.com if you would like to join this class so that you can be sent the link and materials in advance
Academy of Performing Arts (18:00-20:00)
A feature of the Alyth calendar for secondary school aged children for over 20 years. The group rehearse and then perform the show in May.
Alyth Choral Society Concert: The Seasons (19:30)
Alyth Choral Society and Orchestra perform The Seasons by Haydn. Click here or email acs@alyth.org.uk for tickets (£20 per person, under 18s are free).
Whisky Tasting (19:30)
Following a hugely successful inaugural tasting, The Alyth Whisky Society welcomes you to Round Two – The Global Big Four: Tasting Scotland, Ireland, USA & Japan, with complimentary and complementary snacks. For everyone (over 18!). In the interests of health and safety, we ask people not to drive to this event. Click here to sign up (£20 or £10 for 18 – 25 year olds).
MONDAY 9 DECEMBER
The Alyth Social (14:00)
This week: Key Notes – Guildhall School Of Music pianist, Jeremy Chan returns to fill Alyth with the uplifting notes from a number of pieces specially written for the piano.
Part of the Alyth Friendship Project. Join us for an afternoon of entertainment, discussion, tea and great company! Annual Membership: £25 per person members; £30 per person non-members; Weekly donation: £3.50 members; £5.00 non-members. Contact Lynette for more information. All are welcome.
Alyth Book Club (18:30)
A Murder in Constantinople (A Jewish Sherlock Holmes) by A.E.Goldin.
London 1854 – Ben Canaan’s father wants him to be a good Jewish son, working in the family business in Whitechapel, but Ben seeks adventure. An enigmatic letter and a photograph of a beautiful woman take him to Constantinople, the jewel of the Empire and the centre of a world on the brink of war.
Monday Club (19:00-20:30)
A friendly in-person meeting place for people with learning and other disabilities. For more information or to let us know you will be attending, please email lynette@alyth.org.uk.
TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER
Hebrew Reading Courses (19:00 & 20:00)
19:00 – For beginners to learn the aleph-bet and basic decoding skills.
20:00 – For those already proficient in Hebrew reading, to continue to develop their skills.
Taught by Alyth member, Jan Roseman. For further information, please contact: alythadmin@alyth.org.uk
Alyth Choral Society (19:30)
New members are always welcome to join the choir. We have two or three concerts a year, one with full orchestra. Click here or email acs@alyth.org.uk if our future programme inspires you.
Judaism – The Essentials (20:00)
Our regular introduction to Judaism class taught by our clergy. Essentials is the perfect class for those coming to Judaism for the first time, or looking to consolidate the learning of a lifetime – or anywhere in between. New students are always welcome.
Please contact Rabbi Elliott: elliott@alyth.org.uk for more information.
This week: Post-Talmudic textual development
JMM on Tuesdays: Breathe, Move and Meditate (20:00)
These sessions offer a chance to connect with your breath, move mindfully and meditate for inner peace and relaxation. They are open to all levels. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one. In-person at Alyth. Everyone is welcome! Please book in advance by calling Maxine on 07957 270899 or Mika on 07970 245211. £12 per session payable by cash or card.
WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER
Biblical Hebrew (18:00) Online Only
Biblical Hebrew: Studying the Weekly Parashah – a programme for those with high level Hebrew reading ability. Email edwardjgold@hotmail.com if you would like to join this class so that you can be sent the link and materials in advance.
THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER
Pardes (13:00)
At this darkest time of year, come and explore what Jewish tradition has to say about light – and in particular how our Chanukah compares with the winter light festivals of other religions and cultures. Taught by Rabbi Nicola. (ID: 123 761 361 Passcode: 019498
Alyth Children’s Theatre – ACT (17:00)
Our drama group for primary school aged children. The group rehearse all year and then perform the show in the summer.
Chavruta (19:00)
Chavruta is a classical form of Jewish study, in which two people grapple with a text together – The Talmud declares, “Two students learning together sharpen one another”. Tackling a famous section of the Babylonian Talmud – a section which begins with a discussion of workers’ rights and then recounts a number of rabbinic legends, including the famous story of the chavruta partnership between Rabbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish. We will be delving into the Talmudic text and looking at commentaries to help us make sense of it.
If you were involved in the previous course and you want to continue, please email Rabbi Elliott (elliott@alyth.org.uk). If you are new to the Alyth Chavruta Project, please join us by clicking here. You can join with a study partner already in mind, or we can find you one!
SAVE THE DATE
Friendship Concert (Sunday 15 December, 14:30)
Please join us for our end of year Friendship Concert, featuring music from the Alyth Drop-in Choir and Singing for Pleasure. This is a free, friendly community event, open to everyone and includes a delicious tea celebrating all the faiths and nationalities of our refugee choir. Please click here for more details and to reserve a spot or email: alythdropin@gmail.com
Chanukah (26 December – 2 January)
This year, erev first night Chanukah falls on Wednesday 25 December. Please see the December Around Alyth for all our Chanukah activities at Alyth and at homes.
Tu B’Shvat Supper Quiz – Sunday 9 February (18:45)
Back by popular demand, the Alyth Supper Quiz is a fun evening with old and new friends and a delicious supper to feed your brain cells. Either make up your own table of 10 or we can allocate you a table. Cost is £30 a ticket. To buy your tickets, please click here or for more information, please call Deborah on 020 8457 8784.
We are also looking for donations of high quality, exceptional raffle prizes and volunteers to help on the team. Please contact Sarah on 020 8457 8787 or sarah@alyth.org.uk
HAVDALAH WITH MOSHE LAVEE
Saturday 14 December, 17:00 – 18:30
Please join us for Havdalah with special guest Dr Moshe Lavee, who is joining us from Haifa in Israel to speak about ‘Hope Beyond Reason: Fighting for Peace after 7 October’. Click here to sign up.
From the horrors of family and friends near Gaza and the Lebanese border, through the volunteering experience in the missing hostages war cabinet of Brothers-in-Arms civil initiative, Moshe Lavee will share the struggle to revive a discourse of peace in Israel. How to face the loss of trust and utter despair? How to revive a sense of responsibility by both Israelis and Palestinians without falling into a blame game? How can we develop a Jewish response which will reclaim our heritage and harness it to strengthen a discourse of belief in peace, one of the names of God. Moshe will share a blend of personal stories, poetic, political and theological perspectives.
Moshe Lavee is a lecturer of Talmud and Midrash and Digital Humanities at the University of Haifa, as well as a poet and a teacher and facilitator of Jewish Studies in both intra-faith and inter-faith dialogue. Previously, he was lecturer at Leo Baeck College in London.
This event is the first of a new monthly series in which we will join together to mark Havdalah and hear from interesting and important speakers from around the world. Look out for information about events in January and February.
IT’S PANTO TIME!
We are all going to the pantomime…. oh no you’re not we hear you cry!! We have a few tickets left for the JW3 Pantomime, Goldie Frocks & The Bear Mitzvah, on Monday, 30 December at 14:00. Make your own way there or come to Alyth for a light lunch at 12:15 and we will get you there in time for the start of the merriment. Please click here or contact Lynette on 020 8457 8793 if you would like to join the fun. Tickets are £30 each
BOOK TODAY TO SECURE YOUR PLACE!
Alyth’s Weekend Away (Friday 28 – Sunday 30 March 2025)
The Alyth Weekend Away is back, bigger and better than ever before. Offering something for everyone, there will be a variety of indoor and outdoor activities to choose from or just read a newspaper and enjoy the spectacular view. Click here for the flyer.
Alongside shared community times, there will be a different tracks for you to dip in and out of, depending on what sparks your interest. They are:
Israel
Learning
Music
Movement & Meditation
Our Youth & Education team will also run a full programme for children during the day and in the evenings.
Booking details to come away with us are:
Adults – £290/pp
Children (aged 6-16) – £85/pp
Family of 4 – £665
Click here to sign up.
(The Clergy Jewish Participation Fund is available to enable all Alyth members to participate in Jewish activities where cost is a challenge, whatever the reason. To access the Fund, please email clergyfund@alyth.org.uk).
Click here for guidelines on how to use Zoom effectively, and click here to read our guide to using Zoom for services. For services, if you do not wish to use Zoom, then the “Zoom screen” can be seen via our YouTube channel. This can be accessed by going to www.youtube.com/c/AlythRS.
To connect by phone, please dial 020 3481 5240, 020 3901 7895, 020 3051 2874 or 020 3481 5237 and enter the Meeting ID and Passcode.
.