Services
Roadworks around the synagogue - Just a reminder to everyone that roadworks are still ongoing in the area around the synagogue. These works and subsequent road closures will affect how you are able to access the synagogue particularly during the High Holy Days. There is clear signage for closures and diversions are clearly marked but these may affect your journey times. You may wish to check this before start your trip. We will update you should the situation change.
Shabbat
We hold Shabbat services every Friday and Saturday:
Fridays at 8.00pm (Chavurah suppers monthly 6.30pm) and Saturdays at 11.15 am or 11.30am for family services. For up-to-date service details see the Calendar section.
As a Liberal congregation, men and women sit together and all members enjoy equal participation in services.
We read from the standard Liberal Judaism service prayer book, the Siddur Lev Chadash or ‘New Heart' prayer book. It combines the core traditional prayers with contemporary readings, poems and meditations from a variety of Jewish sources. Uniquely it also uses gender-neutral language, reflecting our egalitarian approach to prayer. We also use many transliterated prayer sheets which are especially useful for those whose Hebrew is not fluent.
Music plays an important role in our services. Singing is regularly enhanced by our volunteer choir, led by our director of music, though the whole congregation is encouraged to join in. Service styles vary - our family services, for example, can be very lively, whereas our Friday nights are often quieter and more reflective. Our members participate in all parts of the service, including Torah blessings, haftorah readings and more. We also welcome lay readers from the congregation to lead services from time to time, although most services are taken by our rabbi.
Chavurah Suppers and Kiddushim
Once a month, usually the first Friday, we hold a Chavurah supper at 6.30pm. Members are each encouraged to bring along their own informal meal which they then enjoy together after the early evening service. All Shabbat services are followed by a Kiddush, a chance for members to catch up and have a chat over some challah and wine. Special Kiddushim for specific events are often arranged and if you wish to do so please contact our office.
Family Services
All ages are of course welcome at all services but we do have a specific family service, usually on the first Shabbat of the month (starting at 11.30 am). 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. There is also a fortnightly group for the littlest ones, shabbatots.
Festivals and Major Dates
We hold special services and events for all the major Jewish festivals. For our festival service details, please visit our events calendar or contact the KLS office.
Here are the major dates and festivals for the years 2010 and 5770/71 - (תש"ע / תשע"א):
Wednesday 27 January 2010 - Holocaust Memorial Day (UK)
Friday 29 January 2010 - Tu B'Shvat eve - ערב טו בשבט
Saturday 30 January 2010 - Tu B'Shvat - טו בשבט
Saturday 27 February 2010 - Purim eve - ערב פורים
Sunday 1 March 2010 - Purim - פורים
Monday 29 March 2010 - Erev Pesah (Seder) - ערב פסח
Tuesday 30 March 2010 - 1st Day of Pesach - פסח
Wednesday 31 March 2010 - 2nd Day of Pesach (Sefirat Ha'Omer begins)
Tuesday 6 April 2010 - 8th Day of Pesach
Sunday 11 April 2010 - Erev (Eve) Yom Ha'Shoa - Holocaust Memorial Day (Israel) - ערב יום השואה
Sunday 18 April 2010 - Erev (Eve) Yom Ha'Zikaron - Israeli Memorial Day - ערב יום הזכרון
Monday 19 April 2010 - Erev (Eve) Yom Ha'Atzmaut - Israeli Independence Day (Eve) - ערב יום העצמאות
Tuesday 20 April 2010 - Yom Ha'Atzmaut - Israeli Independence Day - יום העצמאות
Saturday 1 May 2010 - Lag Ba'Omer Eve - ערב ל״ג בעומר
Sunday 2 May 2010 - Lag Ba'Omer - ל״ג בעומר
Wednesday 12 May 2010 - Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day יום ירושלים
Tuesday 18 May 2010 - Erev (Eve) Shavuot - ערב שבועות
Wednesdat 19 May 2010 - Shavuot - שבועות
Monday 19 July 2010 - Erev (Eve) Tish'a B'Av - ערב תשעה באב
Tuesday 20 July 2010 - Tish'a B'Av - תשעה באב
Wednesday 8 September 2010 - Erev (Eve) Rosh Ha'Shana 5771 - ערב ראש השנה תש"עא
Thursday 9 September 2010 - Rosh Ha'Shana - ראש השנה
Friday 17 Septemver 2010 - Erev (Eve) Yom Kippur (Kol Nidrey) - ערב יום כפור
Saturday 18 September 2010 - Yom Kippur - יום כפור
Wednesday 22 September 2010 - Erev (Eve) Sukkot - ערב סוכות
Thursday 23 September 2010 - 1st Day of Sukkot - סוכות
Wednesday 29 September 2010 - Erev (Eve) Simchat Tora - ערב שמחת תורה
Thursday 30 September 2010 - Simchat Tora - שמחת תורה
Wednesday 1 December 2010 - Erev (Eve) Hanukkah - First Candle - ערב חנוכה
Life Cycle Events
Sharing life as a community is integral to our services, which can include baby blessings and bar/bat mitzvahs, engagements, weddings and conversions. Two examples of joyful services over the past few years have involved a ‘late celebration' bat mitzvah and a diamond wedding anniversary.