Jewish Helpline

The Jewish Helpline was set up over 27 years ago after a young woman living in Hendon, ended her own life. People felt that she could have been helped had there been somewhere for her to turn. Out of this tragedy, THE JEWISH HELPLINE (formerly Miyad) was born. We are...

A Message from Rabbi Jordan

Blessings like Rain I recently received a generic email from Redbridge Council, asking if our building could be a ‘warm site’ for the winter.  While I doubt our building will be appropriate, and that the council will be back in touch with me, it made me think deeply...

A Message from Rabbi Jordan

In place of a rabbinic reflection, this week Rabbi Jordan wishes everyone a good year ahead, and looks forward to spending more time getting to know everyone under the sukkah and on Simchat Torah, where there will be chances to talk.  Below is his reflection delivered...

Talley’s Folly

Talley’s Folly is about a single, middle-aged Lithuanian Jew who immigrated to the States as a child prior to World War I.  Though living and working as an accountant in St. Louise, Matt Friedman, on a lark, decides one day to take a vacation in, of all places, the...

Foster For Redbridge

Empower a child. Foster for Redbridge. You could be the one to guide, listen to, teach and enrich a child’s life, empowering them to become confident and independent young people. If you have a place in your home and heart to foster a child, please call us on 020 8708...

A Message from Rabbi Lev Taylor

“Return, O Israel, to the Eternal One your God,” Hosea implores us in the haftarah. This week is Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Return, when all are called on to return to God. But what does it mean to return? The prophet Joel gives us an answer: “declare a holy fast,...

A Message from Rabbi Jordan

The Majesty of the Horn Coronets and trumpets completed the array in the service to remember the Queen.  Their blasts surely woke up any slumberers amongst those that had travelled many miles to attend and marked the funeral as a moment of solemnity and grandeur. On...

A Message from Rabbi Lev Taylor

This Saturday, our choir will lead us in the Selichot prayers to gear us up for the High Holy Day season. This is one of the most spiritually moving events in the Jewish calendar. A few summers ago, I was in Jerusalem for the Selichot season. For Sephardim and...

A Message from Rabbi Jordan

A Thank You to SWESRS during Shloshim (the 30s days of mourning) I don’t have enough words to thank our new chair, Lester Allen, our vice-chair, Michael Dalton and the whole synagogue council, who said that I ‘must go’ and spend the time needed to be with my family...

Truus’ Children: A Forgotten War Hero

Pamela Sturhoofd and Jessica van Tijn dedicated over three years to research the complete story of this Dutch Oskar Schindler, a woman so dedicated, stubborn and convinced of her mission that she went to Vienna in December of 1938 to negotiate a deal with Adolf...

A Message from Rabbi Lev Taylor

Yesterday, I attended the unveiling of a memorial to the Kindertransport at Harwich. Throughout the 1930s, children fleeing Europe from the Nazis arrived at this Essex port. Many of those children, now adults, were there to see the statue unveiled, including Labour...

A Message from Rabbi Jordan

A Kind of Bark Mitzvah Celebration Many of us have had constant companions that saw us through the worst of the pandemic.  Reliable friends who come when summoned and provide comfort on-demand. This weekend is the traditional Jewish day that we celebrate such kind...

A Message from Rabbi Lev Taylor

"Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire… Daughter Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field, like a city under siege." This is the terrifying message of the prophet Isaiah in this week's haftarah. It is the final haftarah of...