New Year for the Youth

Dear Parents,

We hope you and your little ones are keeping well in these strange times, and are looking forward to some apple and honey to bring in a sweet new year!

As you know, government advice has recently shifted, and we have been in conversation with parents about plans and thoughts for going forward. Based on this, we have made some decisions about youth provisions for the upcoming festivals. While we wish we could see and celebrate with you in person, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

For this festival season, we will not be providing children’s services in-building; we will instead seek to provide most of our content online. There are a few opportunities for being in the synagogue, especially for older children. Please see below for our plans, and also for some other High Holy Days content for our youth.

ROSH HASHANAH

Uploaded Rosh Hashanah Service
Stav Meishar and the New London Clergy team have uploaded a youth service aimed toward our youngest New Londoners, which you can find here.  You will find here a collection of songs, stories and more!

In the Building: Rosh Hashanah Afternoon Reflections Services
While we will not be running in-person services for the youth, it remains the case that the Afternoon Reflections Service (RH Day 1) with Kohenet Rachel Rose Reid is suitable for families with children who are 10+. This is not a children’s service, and all attendees will be expected to remain in their seats throughout; it will therefore not be suitable for all 10-year-olds. But we know some of our younger members will be able to contribute and engage in this service as young adults and we want to welcome that. You can sign up for that service on our Rosh Hashanah sign-up form here

Noam Family Packs
This year, Noam Masorti Youth is making a Yamim Nora’im Family Pack, full of fun activities and songs, as well as thought-provoking sources and discussions for your family table, all infused with Noam programming from afar! You can sign up for your family pack here

Blow Shofar Online!
You can now blow shofar on Instagram here – we would love to see your virtual shofar skills!

The High Holy Days with PJ Library
PJ Library have uploaded a fabulous guide for the High Holy Days with the children at home, which you can view here You can also visit their website here for stories, videos, recipes, and all kinds of wonderful content!

 

YOM KIPPUR

Erev Yom Kippur: A Kol Nidrei Youth Experience
Sunday 27 September at 10am
In the daytime before Yom Kippur joins us, NLS will hold a youth Kol Nidrei experience online. Kol Nidrei is one of the most impactful prayer services of the Jewish calendar, and we are looking to share this with our youth. We will run this on Zoom here We hope to see you there!

Erev Yom Kippur: Noam’s ‘Home Holy Days’
Sunday 27 September at 2pm
Noam Masorti Youth will be running a series of Zoom events starting at 2pm for Years 3 through 13 (and beyond). Sign up here

Uploaded Yom Kippur Service 

Our Yom Kippur children’s service, featuring the NLS clergy team and Gabriella Spencer-Hope is live here  Loads of good songs and stories for our youngest members. Also, have a look at www.facebook.com/newlondonsyn/videos for some tales for older children from Rabbi Jeremy and Emma Parlons book, An Angel Called Truth.

In the Building: Yom Kippur Afternoon Reflections Service
While we will not be running in-person services for the youth, it remains the case that the Afternoon Reflections Service (RH Day 1) with Kohenet Rachel Rose Reid is suitable for families with children who are 10+. This is not a children’s service, and all attendees will be expected to remain in their seats throughout; it will therefore not be suitable for all 10-year-olds. But we know some of our younger members will be able to contribute and engage in this service as young adults and we want to welcome that. You can sign up for that service on our Yom Kippur sign-up form here

 

SUCCOT AND SIMCHAT TORAH  
While we won’t be able to go ahead with our service and outdoor plans, we would like to complete the season on ‘one last hurrah’. Therefore, we are inviting you to join us for…

Simchat Torah Service and Drum Circle
Sunday 11 October: 10am service, 11:30am drum circle
After Shacharit on Simchat Torah, we will hold a drum circle in place of dancing with the Torah scrolls. Children are invited to join with their adults, as long as they will be able to remain in their seats. Provided government advice doesn’t change, we would love to see you there!

 

Cheder Going Forward

Parents will be receiving an email from DY about our plans for moving forward, which we plan to provide online until we, the government, and parents feel that it is appropriate to meet in the building on a weekly basis again.

Wishing you a shanah tovah um’tukah – a good and sweet new year!