Shutdown of Services

It is with regret that we have taken the decision to close our Shabbat Services to congregants during the current lockdown period. The Rabbi and Cantor will continue to stream services live on a Friday night and Saturday morning through BelsizeLIVE.

We have not taken the decision to close lightly. You may have read the new guidance released by the government which permits places of worship to remain open during the lockdown and we fully understand that many of our members still want to attend and have felt extremely comfortable with the measures that we have in place. However, after consultation with the Ministers, we feel that with the current message asking people to stay at home, it would be wrong to invite people into a setting that increases their risk of contracting the virus at this time.

We thank you for understanding and hope that you are able to join us on BelsizeLIVE for the next few weeks.

Please stay safe and well.

This entry was posted on January 13, 2021 by Lee Taylor.

Mental Health Awareness Shabbat

Mental Health Awareness Shabbat UK – 22-23 January 2021

The Mental Health Awareness Shabbat (MHAS), launched by Jami in 2017, aims to raise the profile of mental health in the Jewish Community.

The MHAS falls annually on Shabbat “Bo”, the weekly Torah portion which tells about the Plague of Darkness, which has resonance with mental illness.

This year’s theme is The Impact of the Pandemic. Living through the ongoing pandemic has affected all our mental health, and this special Shabbat is an opportunity for the entire community to focus on and raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing.

IF YOU ATTENDED THE EVENT BELOW AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SLIDES THEY CAN BE DOWNLOADED BY CLICKING HERE

Belsize Square is looking to arrange a guest speaker event the following week but there are a number of other events organised by MHAS:

Friday 22nd January 3.15pm
United Synagogue MHAS dedicated Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Daniel Epstein live on THEUS.TV

Saturday 23rd January 8-9.30pm
Mental Health Awareness through a Covid-19 Lens – Looking after ourselves,
our families and our communities (Interactive Head Room Education session)

Sunday 24th January 8-10pm
MHAS Community Conversations (Interactive Head Room Education session)

Monday 25th January 7-8pm
Getting through lockdown: taking care of myself and my friends (interactive Head Room Education session) for ages 14-16

Tuesday 26th January 8-8.30pm
Supporting our children during these difficult times Samantha Simmonds in conversation with Dr Ellie Cannon

Thursday 28th January 8-8.30pm
Monty, Mental Health and Mazal
Zaki Cooper in conversation with cricket legend Monty Panesar

Thursday 28th January 8.30-8.45pm
Cake is my Super Power with Ilana Epstein of Ta’am – Judaism on a Plate

To find out more information please visit jamiuk.org/mhas and to register for any events, please email laura.bahar@jamiuk.org

This entry was posted on January 12, 2021 by Lee Taylor.

Help & Activities – Useful Links

To all our members and friends, we just want to let you know that whilst facing the challenges that lay ahead over the coming months, we are stronger by being a community. As such, we will be staying in touch (so keep checking our website).

As a first step, we are publishing a list of weblinks to organisations that are there to help, as well as a few suggestions for entertainment and education. But please note that being listed does not imply that an organisation is recommended or endorsed by Belsize Square.

If, as a member of Belsize Square Synagogue, you are using a service that could be useful to others or you would like to volunteer to provide a useful service, even from the end of a phone or via the internet to our community please send an email to office@synagogue.org.uk.

The synagogue might be closed but the Ministers, Officers and Staff are there for you as we know you are for your community.

Local Authorities

If you live in London, most local councils are providing advice and information through their websites:

Barnet – www.barnet.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-information-and-advice

Brent – www.brent.gov.uk/coronavirus

Camden – www.camden.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19

Hackney – https://hackney.gov.uk/coronavirus

Haringey – www.haringey.gov.uk/news-and-events/haringey-coronavirus-covid-19-updates

Islington – www.islington.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/coronavirus-in-the-uk-how-to-reduce-your-risk

Westminster – www.westminster.gov.uk/coronavirus

Charities

Age Concern – www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/

Red Cross – www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/press-releases/coronavirus—latest-updates-from-british-red-cross

Carers Trust – carers.org/guidance-coronavirus

RSPCA – www.rspca.org.uk/coronavirus

Childline – www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/anxiety-stress-panic/worries-about-the-world/coronavirus/

Mutual Aid – https://covidmutualaid.org/ – local groups offering support in your area.

Paperweight – www.paperweight.org.uk – offering support on advice on welfare and benefits.

Food

Kosher Food Deliveries – www.paperweight.org.uk/covid-19/kosher-food-delivery/

Daniel’s Bakery – www.danielsbakery.co.uk/

Computer Support

Zoom Advice – click here for advice on how to use Zoom – provided by our member Anthony Hellman

Coffee & Computers – www.coffeecomputers.org – helping newcomers use computers, ta blets and smartphones

Entertainment & Adult Education

JW3 – an extensive collection of past lectures and events online as well as children’s programmes – https://jewishonline.jw3.org.uk/

Metropolitan Opera – streaming a different production every day of the week free – metopera.org

Amazon Audible – stories.audible.com/start-listen

Google Arts & Culture – using its Street View platform to give you online access to hundreds of museums and galleries around the world – artsandculture.google.com

Open Culture – free movies, books & courses – www.openculture.com

Israeli Movie Night – www.seret-international.org

UK Jewish Film – https://ukjewishfilm.org/ondemand/

Hampstead Theatre – free to watch plays – www.hampsteadtheatre.com/

National Theatre – new productions each Thursday – ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/

Berlin Philharmoniker – a wonderful list of past concerts on their digital platform for free – www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/home

English National Ballet – daily dance classes to help you keep fit – www.ballet.org.uk

Royal Opera House – the Royal Opera is offering free online streaming of past opera and ballet performances and much more – www.roh.org.uk

Europeana – opens the door to museums,art galleries,libraries and theatres – www.europeana.eu/en

Opera Vision – Opera streaming from all over – https://operavision.eu/en

London Symphony Orchestra – Each Sunday and Thursday the LSO will be streaming archive concerts on Youtube – https://lso.co.uk/whats-on/2019-20-season/alwaysplaying.html

Royal Albert Hall – free concerts from the Royal Albert Hall – www.royalalberthall.com/

Museum Tours – Virtual tours of 1200 museums around the world – https://artsandculture.google.com/

Classic FM – links to all classical music and opera being streamed from all over the world – www.classicfm.com/music-news/coronavirus/

Art Galleries – A wealth of Art is available to view and to study online:The Courtauld courtauld.ac.uk; Royal Academy royalacademy.org.uk; British Museum Britishmuseum.org/collection

Religion

Leo Baeck College – https://lbc.ac.uk/leo-baeck-college-online/

Children’s Education

National Geographic for Kids – www.natgeokids.com/uk/

Jewish Interactive – www.jewishinteractive.org/kids-learning-at-home/

B’nei Brith Youth Organisation – azabbg.bbyo.org/on-demand/home

P.E. with Joe – new lessons every weekday morning – www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ

This entry was posted on January 3, 2021 by Lee Taylor.

Monthly Archives: January 2021