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WELCOME TO HARROW AND WEMBLEY PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE
PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM FOR NORTH WEST LONDON
This is the home page for HWPS.
HEAR RABBI ALEX DUCHOVNY PREACH......On Shabbat morning, 21st August, Rabbi Alex of the Kiev community, Ukraine, will be visiting HWPS and preaching at the service. All are welcome to come and hear him and find out the latest on our sister communities in Ukraine.
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 the
Synagogue 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 or fax number below.
For further details and a Lettings Guide click HERE!
'OUTREACH' - We 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.
Buy your Jewish or
other books or products through this link to Amazon
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326 Preston Road
Harrow
Middlesex
HA3 0QH
Tel: 020 8904 8581
Fax: 020 8904 6540
Email: info@hwps.org
Registered Charity No. 251172
13 YEARS.....13 YEARS...RABBI FRANK'S BAR-MITZVAH!...On Shabbat morning, 24th July, 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!
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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.
On
9th June our member, Ruth Barnett, talked to us as part of New Forum about her
recently published book, "Person of no Nationality: A story of Childhood
Loss and Recovery." It was an inspiring evening, as Ruth told her story of
coming to England on the Kindertransport, her childhood in the UK, and of her
struggle to make sense of her life.
FAMILY SERVICE......A sizeable congregation saw some of our children lead a
successful Family Service on the Shabbat morning of May 15th. The kids were
supported by their friends and family. They all read very well, having worked hard to perfect their
reading. It was a pleasure to see our next generation leading a service.
FUTURE DISCUSSED AT AGM......Over 100 members attended HWPS's 61st Annual General Meeting. As well as the normal business, which included reports of the year's activities and thanks to all those who had contributed to Synagogue life, Adrian Cohen, our Chairman, updated us on the position regarding the Synagogue's future. This included the status of the sale of our building, the reasons why our talks with Northwood had ended for now, and our recent discussions with Middlesex New Synagogue. Members then made a range of contributions, all of which were noted and will be taken into account going forward. Members will be kept up to date as the situation develops in the coming months.
COMMUNAL SEDER A SUCCESSFUL SELL OUT!......On Tuesday March 30th we held our annual Pesach Communal Seder. We again welcomed members from our sister community, Ealing Liberal Synagogue, and their Rabbi, Janet Burden who joined our Rabbi Frank Dabba Smith in conducting the service.
??SUPER SUPPER QUIZ!?? -
Pictured below are over 100 people enjoying the 2010 quiz on Sunday 14th March. With our resident quizmaster, Alan
Hunt, and our superb organiser, Janet Solomon, asking the questions, this
year it went to a tie break between 3 teams! None of them could tell us what the
price of a new first class stamp is to be, but the triumphant Nash table
correctly identified that the All England Tennis Club is in the London Borough
of.......Merton! The food, provided by our excellent catering team was delicious
and over £1,000 was raised for HWPS on the night. Thanks to all those who came,
and to everyone involved in the organisation. Here's to the next one!
GOING UNDERGROUND FOR PURIM 2010!..... On Saturday 27th February the usual chaos ensued at HWPS when our annual Purim Spiel took place, this year with the theme of Underground stations. Led by our Rabbi 'Hammer-Smith', a great time was had by all. Here are some informal snaps of the night! Can you guess the names of the other stations portrayed?
BAZAAR A GRAND
SUCCESS!.....On Sunday 29th November 2009 HWPS's doors once again opened to customers
for toys, gifts, bric-a-brac, books, refreshments and
much much more! It was a great day, raising much needed funds for HWPS. Thanks to
all those involved in the organisation.
THE FUTURE OF HWPS - Over
150 members attended a special meeting on Sunday 8th November to discuss the future options
for the Synagogue. After an introduction by our Chairman, Adrian Cohen,
and contributions from Rabbi Frank and our Treasurer, Steven Sanderson, many
wide-ranging comments were made, and questions asked by the audience. Those who
spoke covered the whole range of ages and activities of HWPS. At the end,
although views differed, a show of hands indicated support for Council in moving
matters forward. Thanks to all who attended and contributed.
OUR HONOURED CHATANIM FOR SIMCHAT
TORAH.....Mazel Tov to Mary Vulkan (Chatan Torah) and Cathy Smith (Chatan
Bereshit). At our Simchat Torah
services on the 9th and 10th October 2009 Mary and Cathy read the end of the
Book of Deuteronomy and the start of the Book of Genesis. (Soft!) sweets were
thrown! Children brought their flags! The scrolls were paraded and there was
also Israeli dancing!
YOM KIPPUR APPEAL - On Monday 28th September 2009, as part of our Yom Kippur morning service, Adrian Cohen, Chairman of HWPS, delivered the Appeal. This year our 3 main charities are Shalva (an Israeli charity which provides a therapeutic and supportive environment to advance children with special needs whilst enabling the family to stay together and live a normal life), Headway North West London (supporting people affected by brain injury), and the Progressive Congregations of Ukraine. Please be generous, even in these difficult economic times, so we can give good support to these 3 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
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.....Our new synagogue dedication service was held back on 5th September 2004! For images of how our new building evolved click here!
On 24th July 2004 the Synagogue bade farewell to its old building. The pictures below capture the final service and kiddush. The old building is no more and a sheltered housing development was constructed there in which a number 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.
326 Preston RoadHarrow
Middlesex
HA3 OQH
Tel: 020 8904 8581
Fax: 020 8904 6540
Email: info@hwps.org HWPS is a constituent member of Liberal Judaism.