Call for High Holiday service prompt attendance & for more volunteers: Help needed with kiddush, to bring honey cake, to help collect Rosh Hashanah lunch & to help wash up.

Shana Tovah! We’re looking forward to seeing you over the High Holiday season. As services are likely to be very busy over the High Holiday period, we ask those who are booked to attend to please arrive to all services promptly. This will help take the stress off of our volunteers in trying to organise capacity & seating.

We will be reserving seating for those unable to stand during busier services but cannot guarantee seating for those who are able to stand. If you would prefer to have a seat, we would advise prompt/early arrival.

Kehillah services & events are always a huge community effort, so we are still seeking volunteers to help over Rosh Hashanah in the following specific areas…

Members of our Kehillah invited to Selichot at Finchley Progressive Synagogue 9th September 9pm Welcome & snacks for 9:30pm service.

We are grateful to Finchley Progressive Synagogue for welcoming us to their Selichot service, in a cross-communal, reflective opening of the High Holy Day season.

The service will be an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music, using Machzor Ruach Chadashah. The space will be held by Rabbi Rebecca Birk, who will be joined by musicians Dean Staker (guitar/vocals), Natasha Kafka (vocals) and Franklyn Gellnick (piano).

Mazel Tov to our members Ben & Emily on their marriage!

Mazel Tov to Kehillah members Ben & Emily who were married by Rabbi Leah this past Sunday! All at Kehillah wish you a lifetime of happiness together!

HIAS+JCORE’s JUMP Project

HIAS+JCORE is welcoming new volunteer befrienders for our JUMP project, which pairs unaccompanied young asylum seekers and refugees with a trained adult volunteer befriender.

At its heart, JUMP is about building sincere and supportive friendships. You’ll meet fortnightly with a refugee or asylum-seeking young person for a year, and potentially beyond. Our volunteers provide informal support and friendship – and the impact is long-lasting and varied, depending on both people’s interests.

As a volunteer, you’ll receive full training and a DBS check, and will be joining our JUMP community with events and activities throughout the year.

Beit Din Weekend Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th November 2023, Easingwold at The Hawkhills

Are you considering conversion through either Reform or Liberal Judaism? Are you in the process of converting?

Enjoy a Shabbat experience with those following a similar path and facing similar issues in a warm, open environment for questions and discussions. The weekend is being offered through the Reform Movement for Judaism but Liberal candidates and Liberal Rabbis are warmly invited to join us.

The weekend is open to anyone considering conversion or is currently in the process of converting. Partners, Jewish or non-Jewish are more than welcome.

If you can’t make it in person, you can attend most sessions online as well!

For further information contact Lynsey Goodmaker If you have any questions please email Lynsey or call 020 8349 5645.

Genetic testing for BRCA (a cause of breast & ovarian cancer) and other genetic diseases

You might have heard about BRCA-1 and BRCA-2. These genetic mutations can increase the risk of Breast and Ovarian cancers and are particularly common among those with Ashkenazi heritage. The NHS is encouraging all those with 1 grandparent of Jewish heritage (Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, Sephadi etc) to consider getting tested. This will greatly increase early detection and preventative procedures.

These gene mutations can affect the risk of other cancers too, so everyone is encouraged to get tested regardless of sex. This can also provide valuable information about potential risks for other family members.

Those consdiering becoming pregnant and their genetic pregnancy partners, as well as those who are pregnant should also speak to their healthcare provider/GP surgery for testing for other genetic diseases. The NHS can offer screening to those meeting certain clinical criteria for testing for genetic diseses that disproportionately impact those of their heritage. A healthcare provider may recommend that couples of Ashkenazi heritage get tested for Tay Sachs, Canavan disease and/or Familial Dysautonomia. Testing for cystic fibrosis may be appropriate for anyone with parents of European heritage, while sickle cell disease testing is generally for those of African heritage.

Please pass this information on.