Pages to go to on this site
WELCOME TO HARROW & WEMBLEY PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE
PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM FOR NORTH WEST LONDON
This is the home page for HWPS, an inclusive community, that welcomes all Jews and non-Jewish spouses and partners and their children.
JOINT
EREV SHAVUOT
SATURDAY 26th MAY........At 8.00pm HWPS will be joining Masorti and Reform
communities to celebrate Shavuot at 434 Uxbridge Road.
There will be 3 separate services followed by Tikkun Leyl Shavuot
commencing at 8:45pm. Our own Rabbi Frank, together with Rabbis from three other
communities will lead a series of traditional Shavuot
study sessions in what may be the first of its kind, a Tikkun that straddles all
branches of Progressive Judaism. All are welcome.
CARING
FOR YOUR OLDER RELATIVES........HWPS, together with Middlesex New, Kol Chai and
Hatch End Masorti Synagogues are hosting two information and discussion evenings
for members of our communities, on Tuesday 29th May
at
8.00pm at
Help
the Shul! Buy your Judaica or
any books or products through clicking on this link to Amazon
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HWPS
is pleased to support applications from parents wishing to register their child
for entry to a Jewish School.
Please contact admin@hwps.org
for further information.
For a Diary of Events see below or click Here!
For Legal and Administrative details click Here!
For the latest news on
our Members click Here!
Would
you like a permanent memory to recall a loved one or to commemorate a happy
occasion? If so, click here for details of how to
contribute to the Synagogue's Tree of Life.
To read the latest Bulletin
on-line,
click here! You can also read
previous
months' Hakols by visiting our Bulletin
Archive!
Want to hire our Hall for a function of any sort? Very competitive rates and a fine hall with excellent kitchen and other facilities. Contact
Barbara Liff at the Synagogue office
on the phone the number below.
For further details and a Lettings Guide click HERE!
'OUTREACH' - We are an inclusive community
and welcome
mixed faith couples and families to our
community. The Rabbi also conducts acts of
prayer at weddings for mixed faith couples, according to the
guidelines of the Liberal Judaism Rabbinic
Conference. Please contact Rabbi Frank Dabba Smith at the
Synagogue (details below) for more information about questions involving Jewish status and acts of
prayer.
|
|
39 Bessborough Road
Harrow
Middlesex
HA1 3BS
Tel: 020 8864 5323
Email: info@hwps.org
Registered Charity No. 251172
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AGM APPROVES 'OR CHADASH' ACCORD... ACCORD SIGNED!...... On 19th April HWPS held its 62nd AGM, its first at Bessborough Road. The meeting included the unanimous endorsement of a 4-way Accord between ourselves, MNS, Kol Chai Reform and Hatch End Masorti Synagogue (HEMS). The Accord documents the key principles and framework for a new joint community, currently known as 'Or Chadash'. Then, on Monday 23rd April, the Chairs of the 4 Synagogues met in the HWPS sanctuary and signed the Accord. This is a significant moment for each Community. Now more detailed work is required to turn these principles into a concrete proposal to formally institute and create Or Chadash. Ten cross-communal working groups have been formed covering the key questions and essential planning needed in order to come up with detailed plans for the future, and to set out key proposals for approval by each community towards the end of 2012. There will be a number of meetings arranged to review and discuss the findings of each of the groups over the coming months. In the mean time if you have any questions or comments, or wish to be involved in any way, including joining one of the 10 working groups, please contact Adrian Cohen or the Synagogue office.
SECOND JOINT COMMUNAL SEDER A SUCCESS! ..........On Saturday 7th April HWPS held its second joint communal seder with Middlesex New Synagogue. Over 80 people attended a most enjoyable and enriching seder led by our two Rabbis. Thanks to Hana Schlesinger and all those involved in its organisation.
HWPS
LOTTERY GOING GREAT GUNS!.....Congratulations to our latest winner, Alan and
Brenda Hunt. For just £5.00 a
month you too can be entered in the monthly draw and win £100! To join ring the
Synagogue office or email Michelle Latchman at michellelatchman@btinternet.com.
CHANUKAH PARTY GREAT SUCCESS!.............. Over 100 members of HWPS and Middlesex New Synagogue joined in the fourth night Shabbat and Chanukah festivities at Bessborough Road. The event began at 4.00pm with a young children's party, including an entertainer, followed at 5.15pm by magic and tricks for the older kids. There was more fun and activities until 7.00pm when a joint Chanukah Family Service took place, followed by a Chavurah supper. A wonderful event enjoyed by all those who attended.
MITZVAH DAY! ..........On 20th November 2011 our Cheder took part in this annual event from which contributions are made across the Jewish community. Pictured below are a number of our Cheder participants, together with a refugee, a victim of torture in his resident country.
NEW CHEDER YEAR STARTS!.....Pictured below in our Sukkah is the 2011 Cheder intake plus teachers. HWPS now runs a flourishing Cheder with Middlesex New Synagogue at Bessborough Road. If you would like your child to join the Cheder please contact the Synagogue Office on 8864-5323.
FIRST 'OFFSITE' HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES HELD..........Our High Holy Day services were held this year at the Masonic Lodge, Northwick Circle. The services were very successful and well attended. The surroundings may have been unfamiliar, but the atmosphere was as warm as ever. A wonderful first offsite set of Chaggim services, and another step forward in this new era for HWPS.
YOM KIPPUR APPEAL
- On Saturday 8th October 2011, as part of our Yom Kippur morning service,
Adrian Cohen, Chairman
of HWPS, delivered the Appeal. This year our 3 main
charities are the Jewish Association of Mental Illness (JAMI) (based
in Golders Green), The New Israel Fund (which helps to secure
long-term survival for all Israel's citizens), and,
St Luke's Hospice (self funding its high standards of palliative care).
We also will continue to support the Progressive Congregations of Ukraine. Please be generous, even
in these difficult economic times, so we can give good support to these 4 selected
and most worthwhile main charities, with
a little held back for other worthy charities through the year. Many thanks in
advance to
everyone who donates. Every
donation, large or small, is much appreciated. For
copies of this and previous Appeals click HERE.
For a Gift Aid form to increase the value of your donation, if you are a tax
payer, click HERE. It is not too late to give. Please send donations to
the Synagogue Office.
OUR HONOURED CHATANIM for SIMCHAT
TORAH 2011 were Harold Sanderson (Chatan Torah) and Rosemary Wolfson (Chatan
Bereshit).
Mazel Tov to them both. At our Simchat Torah
services on 19th and 20th October Harold and Rosemary read the end of the
Book of Deuteronomy and the start of the Book of Genesis. (Soft!) sweets were thrown!
The scrolls were paraded, and there was
also Israeli dancing! Lots of food and sweets at the Kiddush afterwards as well!
COME IN TO OUR NEW LIBRARY! ..........Next time you come to Synagogue at Bessborough Road why not pop in to our new library and take a look? Better still, it is open every day and provides a quiet haven of relaxation in a light, airy room. The Library, which adjoins our sanctuary, has been completely redecorated and refitted, and now houses an impressive selection of books on all Jewish topics. We also have an excellent selection of children's books. You will find many books not widely available so come on in and have a read!
FIRST SERVICES HELD AT BESSBOROUGH ROAD ..........Our first Shabbat services were held at our new home on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th June. The sanctuary comfortably accommodated all those who attended. The atmosphere was very warm and friendly, with the strong and willing participation of all congregants. A wonderful start to this new era in the history of HWPS.
IN JUNE 2011 WE MOVED!.......FROM 326 TO 39!.......At the end of June 2011 HWPS sold its old building at 326 Preston Road. We now occupy a dedicated sanctuary and offices at 39 Bessborough Road, Harrow, pictured above.
Pictured above are highlights of the move on 12th June 2011, from the deconsecration of Preston Road and the removal of the mezzuzah, the parade of the scrolls to the waiting Routemaster bus, the Chuppah style reception at Bessborough Road, and taking the scrolls upstairs to our new sanctuary, after which the mezzuzah was banged into place on the door of our new home.
A farewell service and Kiddush at Preston Road, pictured above, was held on Saturday 11th June, attended by over 200 people. Our scrolls were transported on 12th June to their new home. A consecration service at Bessborough Road was then held, also attended by over 200, including the Mayor of Harrow.
A farewell dinner took place at 326 Preston Road that evening, at which Rosita Rosenberg, former Executive Director of Liberal Judaism and HWPS member, was the excellent guest speaker. It was also attended by 7 Rabbis, pictured below, including Rabbi Danny Rich, Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism.
These are changing, but exciting times at HWPS with great hope for our future, and for that of Progressive Judaism in Harrow and Wembley.
KABBALAT TORAH GRADUATION!......On the 11th December 2010, following their visit to Berlin in August, our Kabbalat Torah class led the service and addressed a large congregation, telling us about their trip, both of the places they visited and of their personal experiences. They are pictured below at the Kiddush afterwards with our Rabbi. Mazel Tov to them all.
13
YEARS.....13 YEARS...RABBI FRANK'S
BAR-MITZVAH!...On Shabbat morning,
24th July 2010, 150 people
commemorated the 13th anniversary of our
Rabbi's appointment as the spiritual leader of HWPS. This was a special
service, followed by a celebratory Kiddush. A presentation was made to Frank of
a replica 'Ernst Leitz' street sign on behalf of the
community, to mark this milestone. Frank and his wife Cathy are pictured below
with Chairman, Adrian Cohen and Synagogue Secretary, Barbara Liff, and his gift!
.jpg)
.jpg)
Ernst Leitz was the German Creator of the Leica Camera who also saved hundreds of Jews from the Nazis. As early as 1933 and continuing as late as 1943, Leitz quietly established what has become known as the "Leica Freedom Train", a covert means of allowing his Jewish employees, their families, and even non-Jews to leave Germany under the guise of being 'assigned' overseas Rabbi Frank's enthusiasm for Leica cameras led him to research Leitz's wartime altruism.
News....News.....Would
you like to make a donation or legacy to the future of the Synagogue?
Please send a cheque to the
Synagogue office. Gift Aid forms are also available from the
office, which can increase the value of your donations by 28p for every £ you
give. As HWPS is a
registered charity, a legacy is exempt from Inheritance Tax and will be deducted
from your estate before IHT is calculated. If you would
like to leave a legacy to future generations, please click
here. Your donation at this time would be greatly
appreciated.
News.....News.....A Synagogue dedication service was held on 5th September 2004 when we moved from our original building at Preston Road to our new building there. For images of how the building evolved click here! Now we have moved again, to our new home at Bessborough Road. Pictures from that move are shown further up of the page!
On 24th July 2004 the Synagogue bade farewell to its original building. The pictures below capture the final service and kiddush. This building is no more and a sheltered housing development was constructed there, in which some of our members reside.
To return to the top of the page click HERE
If you want to find out more about Harrow and Wembley or have any questions please contact us or write to the Secretary or the Rabbi at the address below; or you could email the Rabbi.
39 Bessborough RoadHarrow
Middlesex
HA1 3BS
Tel: 020 8864 5323
Email: info@hwps.org HWPS is a constituent member of Liberal Judaism.