Kingston Liberal Synagogue

Selichot Service with the Selichot Island Discs of Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh
2014-09-20 19:30 - 20:30 (Europe/London)
We are delighted to be welcoming Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh back to KLS to share his Selichot Island Discs for the High Holy Days as part of the Selichot Service at 7.30pm. The service will be led by Rabbi Charley Baginsky and the KLS Choir.
Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh was the Rabbi at KLS from 1977 to 1983, he has lectured at Leo Baeck College since 1984, and is the Director of Jewish Studies and a Senior Lecturer at the College.
Please join us at this service, and do bring something to share for kiddush afterwards.

Citizens UK Campaign Meeting - ‘Sanctuary Succot’
2014-09-20 10:00 - 11:00
We live in times when we often do not know how to respond to the many difficulties present in society. There is never a more poignant time in the year than during the Chuggim for us to really think about what it means to have as part of our identity a history of slavery in Egypt, refugee status in more recent times and now to live lives in freedom.
Citizens UK, a civil society alliance of 350 synagogues, mosques, schools, churches and unions, is launching a campaign for the 2015 elections to ensure that the next national government resettles 1500 UN refugees per annum in the UK. These refugees, who are the victims of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, would be resettled through an EU funded program. Partnering with Liberal Judaism synagogues, they’re looking to go throughout the country to build ‘Sanctuary Succot’ and ask local councils to commit to resettling 5 families. In the Jewish community, we know the importance of sanctuary. Whilst many were turned away, we remember that 70 000 Jews found sanctuary in the UK during the 1930s. .
Organisers and leaders from Citizens UK will be coming to Kingston Liberal Synagogue this Shabbat morning, 20 September, from 10 – 11 am to discuss the campaign and look at how KLS members can get involved. We are planing to build a Sanctuary Succot in Kingston in October.
BISHOP, SENIOR RABBI, IMAM AND COMMUNITY LEADERS LAUNCH PLAN TO BRING 1500 SYRIAN REFUGEES TO BE RESETTLED IN UK
Posted on August 21, 2014 by Gillian Owen

On Saturday 25th July the Liberal Jewish Synagogue played host to the New Citizens Organising Team as they launched their plan to resettle 1500 Syrian refugees in the UK.
A group of 55 faith and youth leaders, including Bishop Peter Selby, Senior Rabbi Alexandra Wright of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism Rabbi Danny Rich, Canon Steven Saxby of Saint Barnabas in Walthamstow and Imam Suliman Gani from the Croydon Mosque and Islamic Centre, came together to plan an 18 month strategy leading up to the 2015 national election. The strategy involves large-scale migrant voter registration, interfaith teams to support the resettlement of refugees in local areas, and increasing the number of refugees settled in the UK from 750 to 1500 per year. Britain, the sixth richest country in the world, has resettled only 48 Syrians in 2014 – not enough people to fill a double decker bus. Jordan, the world’s 89th richest country, has taken 1.2 million!
This is not the first time Citizens UK and faith leaders have joined forces to change the experiences of migrants in this country. The 2010 Citizens UK ‘Sanctuary Pledge’ to end child detention was supported by the Church of England, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, the Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed Churches, The Muslim Council of Britain, the Jewish Council for Racial Equality, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Chief Rabbi.
The campaign culminated at a Citizens UK assembly of 2,500 people just prior to the 2010 General Election, where David Cameron, Nick Clegg and then Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged to end child detention. Since then 4,000 children have escaped the trauma of detention. In January 2014 the Government announced an amendment to the Immigration Bill to prohibit in law the detention of children for immigration purposes. This enshrines in law the progress that the government has made since 2010 in ending the practice of locking up over a thousand innocent children with their families in prison-like conditions.
The recent planning and strategy meeting was interspersed with a Muslim Iftar meal – hosted in the synagogue – and the Jewish celebration of Havdalah, marking the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the working week.
Afterwards, Imam Suliman Gani stated:
“I visited the Liberal Jewish Synagogue because our faiths must act together for the common good. Our communities must welcome refugees, particularly those who have been driven from their homes.”
Rabbi Alexandra Wright said:
“The Liberal Jewish Synagogue is honoured to have hosted the Citizens UK ‘Sanctuary Pledge’ planning day. It was uplifting to see so many different communities engaged in vital action for change and to be part of the breaking of the fast for the Muslim community.”
Rabbi Danny Rich said:
“I pledge that Liberal Judaism’s synagogues will build temporary dwellings during the Jewish festival of ‘Succot’ and invite our Christian and Muslim brothers and sisters in to join us, as part of our work to ask our local councils to resettle a refugee family in our neighbourhoods.”

Selichot
2014-09-20
סליחות
Night of Saturday 20th September
Join us at the service at 7.30pm

Choir Rehearsal
2014-09-16 20:00 - 22:00, 2014-09-09 20:00 - 22:00, 2014-09-02 20:00 - 22:00
Usually once or twice monthly on Tuesdays @ 8pm
The KLS Choir rehearses once or twice a month (and enjoy tea, cake and chat!), and sings at the monthly choral service on the 4th Friday of the month and at other services. You don’t have to read music, you don’t have to read Hebrew. Come and try it! Singing is a great way to meet people, blow away life’s cobwebs, contribute to KLS, learn about our prayers and about Jewish music. Interested? Contact Sandra Webber via the KLS office.

KLS Business Network
2014-09-15 13:00 - 15:00
KLS Business Network – 1-3pm on Monday every month or so
The KLS Business Network is a group of KLS members who run their own small businesses, are self-employed or who are currently between jobs.
We get together every month or so for a cup of tea/coffee and a chat. We share knowledge and experiences and usually have chat about specific business issues we’re facing.
Please let Ray Stone (via the Synagogue office) know if you would like to come to the September session.

Annual Picnic and Rabbi vs Chair Rounders
2014-09-14 12:30 - 17:00 | Marble Hill Park, Orleans Road , Twickenham, TW1 3BL
Come and join us for the annual picnic (from 12.30pm) and games (from 2 pm) in the park including rounders—or just sit and relax. This will be held at the usual venue of Marble Hill Park (at the side backing onto Orleans Road TW1 3BL).
Do join us even if you don’t play rounders and remember to bring a picnic lunch and plenty of soft drinks. Will the new KLS Chair be a dab hand at rounders, or will he revert to his rugby training and tackle the Rabbi?
Please contact the office for more details.

Shabbat Service
2014-09-13 11:15 - 12:30
Service held from 11.15am to 12.30pm, led by Rabbi Charley Baginsky. Followed by kiddush. See Services for more information on the type of services that we hold at KLS.
Guests are welcome to KLS, but please contact the office beforehand.

Israel Discussion
2014-09-13 10:00 - 11:00
Shimon Morad and Andree Frieze will lead a discussion about recent events in Israel and Gaza. A chance to ask questions, share opinions and concerns, or maybe you have some solutions. All members welcome.

Shabbat @ Home
2014-09-12 20:00 - 21:30
On the second Friday of each month a member invites us to welcome Shabbat at home with them. The service is informal and friendly, from our siddur, but please feel free to bring a reading or a topic for discussion. Please bring something to share for the Kiddush.
Please join Rabbi Janet and Vince along with members of our sister community SLLS for a Shabbat service at Rabbi Janet’s in Kingston. This will be a short, informal musical service with a look at and discussion of some texts about Teshuvah from our tradition.
Please contact the office for the address and to let us know you intend to come (but you won’t be turned away if you don’t).
Hosts needed: If you would like to host one of these services in future months, please contact the Synagogue Office.

Doroteinu - "It's been good fun!"
2014-09-10 14:00 - 16:00
Wednesdays every two months from 2-4pm.
Geoff Bradman will give a talk tantalisingly entitled “It’s been good fun!”.
Doroteinu is our social group that meets bi-monthly on a Wednesday, usually with a speaker or activity, followed, of course, by a cuppa and cakes! We have an annual tea or lunch in October, with a special speaker, and wonderful food. We also hold an annual garden party at one of our member’s homes.

LJ Inter-Synagogue Quiz
2014-09-07 15:00 - 19:00 | Finchley Progressive Synagogue, 54 Hutton Grove, London, N12 8DR, United Kingdom
Annual quiz, which KLS has won in the recent past, to be held at Finchley Progressive Synagogue this year. Each synagogue can send a team of 8 – if you wish to join the KLS team, contact the office at office@klsonline.org

KLS Youth Club
2014-09-06 13:00 - 15:00 | NFJ Hall
For children aged 7 to 16 (school years 3 to 11), meets monthly after the Family Service and HeBrew Café at KLS for a range of activities from craft to sports.

HeBrew Café
2014-09-06 12:30 - 13:00
After the Family Service – our fundraising café selling filled bagels, crisps, cake, sweets and hot and cold drinks

Family Service
2014-09-06 11:30 - 12:30
Saturday morning at 11.30am led by Rabbi Charley Baginsky.
This is a chance for the whole family, and the wider KLS family too, to pray, discuss the Torah reading and show off what the children have been up to at religion school. We have multi-lingual renditions of Happy Birthday for all those who have celebrated that month – so far we have sung in English, Hebrew, French, German, Welsh, Spanish, Italian and Russian! There is also a group for the littlest ones, ShabbaTots.
For more information about the services at KLS see Services

KLS Book Group
2014-09-06 10:00 - 11:00
Saturday mornings before the Family Service. We meet in the Library between 10 and 11am to discuss a book which we have read in the preceding month. This month’s book is “Jews and Words” by Amos Oz and Fania Oz-Salzberger (available from all good bookshops!!):
‘Why are words so important to Jews? Novelist Amos Oz and historian Fania Oz-Salzberger roam the gamut of Jewish history to explain the integral relationship of Jews and words. Through a blend of storytelling and scholarship, conversation and argument, father and daughter tell the tales behind Judaism’s most enduring names, adages, disputes, texts and quips. These words, they argue, comprise the chain connecting Abraham with the Jews of every subsequent generation. Framing the discussion within such topics as continuity, women, timelessness and individualism, Oz and Oz-Salzberger deftly engage Jewish personalities across the ages, from the unnamed, possibly-female author of the Song of Songs through obscure Talmudists to contemporary writers. They suggest that Jewish continuity, even Jewish uniqueness, depends not on central places, monuments, heroic personalities, or rituals, but rather on written words and an ongoing conversation between the generations. Full of learning, lyricism and humour, Jews and Words offers an extraordinary tour of the words at the heart of Jewish culture, and extends an invitation to the reader to join the dialogue.’

Beiteinu
2014-09-06 09:45 - 12:30
Religion School from 9.45am-12.30pm each Saturday morning during term time.
Beiteinu celebrated Purim with games, food and some strange characters joined us for the morning…..
The school uses the principles of Informal Education to teach a religious knowledge and Hebrew curriculum to over 50 pupils aged between 5-17. It also has a developing early years’ programme. The children have a short breaktime – bring fruit for the snack. There is a short assembly for all children each week, and teaching in year groups. Music, art and Hebrew teaching feature for children in primary school. The 12-13 year olds prepare for B’nei Mitzvah, then go on to studying for a GCSE in Jewish Studies, and then complete their Beiteinu experience in the Kabbalat Torah class.
Beiteinu pupils working on the Shalom Mosaic that welcomes all to KLS
Beiteinu students at the unveiling of their handiwork – the new Shalom Mosaic welcoming all to KLS

Shabbat Service
2014-08-29 20:00 - 21:00
Shabbat Service led by Seymour Kelly. Please bring something to share for Kiddush.

Krav Maga (Self Defence)
2014-08-28 19:30 - 21:00
Weekly 1 1/2 hour class on Thursdays 7.30-9pm
Stay sharp. Be fit. Burn 1000 calories. Look after yourself.
Rabbi and Chair discuss deep theological issues
Krav Maga is great for confidence, awareness, exercise, stress-relief, fitness and self defence. You don’t have to be fit to start but your fitness will improve. Geared to mixed ages and abilities, beginners welcome. cost- £10 per session, paid directly to the external trainer. First trial session free. Please contact the KLS Office for more information or if you would like to try Krav Maga.

Shabbat@Home Service
2014-08-22 20:00 - 21:00
Shabbat@Home of the Hyman family. Please contact the office for address details. Please bring something to share for kiddush.

Shabbat Service
2014-08-15 20:00 - 21:00
Shabbat Service led by Sandra Webber. Please bring something to share for Kiddush.

Machaneh Kadimah (Summer Camp)
2014-08-14 15:00 - 2014-08-27 15:00 | Sandroyd School, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Salisbury, SP5 5QD
Kadimah 2013
LJY-Netzer’s biggest event of the year! We bring together hundreds of young Liberal Jews between 8 and 15 years old from around the UK, introduce them to a tsevet of over forty passionate enthusiastic and highly-trained volunteer madrichim and conjure up two weeks of magical, creative, fun and engaging activities.
Planking and Owling. What else could it be?
Generations have been to many years of Kadimah and come out the other side as positive, socially-conscious, happy young people with memories that last a lifetime. Ask anyone who’s been on Kadimah what they thought and you’ll get the same response: “It was the best two weeks of their year!”

Kadimah Goes To The Beach

Kadimah Camp Family Service
2014-08-14 11:30 - 12:30
The Happy Campers will be taking part in a lively service to start their Kadimah adventure as they mean to carry on.

KIT Tea Party
2014-08-11 14:30 - 16:30 | Surbiton
The next Keep In Touch Tea Party will be held at the Spevack home in Surbiton. All members are welcome (editor’s note: the cakes are rather delicious!!). Please contact the office if you hope to attend and to get the full address, or if you need a lift.

Shabbat service
2014-08-09 11:15 - 12:30
Saturday morning at 11.15am led by Michael Brandon.
For more information about the services at KLS see Services

Shabbat @ Home
2014-08-08 20:00 - 21:30
On the second Friday of each month a member invites us to welcome Shabbat at home with them. The service is informal and friendly, from our siddur, but please feel free to bring a reading or a topic for discussion. Please bring something to share for the Kiddush.
This month will be at the home of the one of our families in Kingston. Please contact the office for the address and to let us know you intend to come (but you won’t be turned away if you don’t).
Hosts needed: If you would like to host one of these services in future months, please contact the Synagogue Office.

Doroteinu - Annual Garden Party
2014-08-06 14:00 - 16:00
Our annual garden party is a highlight of the year. If you can, please bring a garden chair, and either a cake or some biscuits. Please let us know what you will bring. Contact the Synagogue Office for location details, and if you would like us to arrange a lift.

Tisha B'Av
2014-08-05
Tuesday 5th August
ט׳ באב
Day of Tragedies

Lights Out! Commemorate the Centenary of the Start of the First World War
2014-08-04 22:00 - 23:00 | Your home
LIGHTS OUT
The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.
Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, uttered these words on the eve of Britain officially entered the First World War. Exactly 100 years later we are inviting millions of individuals, households and companies to join together in a national moment of reflection.
We’re encouraging everyone in the UK to turn off their lights between 10pm and 11pm on 4 August 2014 – leaving only a single light or candle for this symbolic act of reflection and hope.

A limited edition Centenary candle is available from M&S stores or online for £4, with all profit coming to The Royal British Legion.
We hope to light one million candles across the UK to remember each and every one of those Service men and women who gave their lives in the war to end all wars. Please join together with us to create a unique national moment for the United Kingdom and The Royal British Legion.
