5781 has not been an ordinary year
So this is not your ordinary High Holy Days
Come join us, and we'll process the end of 5781 and beginning of 5782 together. We're a Reform, fully egalitarian congregation based in London - and we welcome folks from everywhere to join us online . This High Holy Days, we're using the opportunity of being online to mix up how we do things - but to keep connection and meaning at our core. Our name means 'source of life', and in this time of challenge, possibility, and pain, we work to be a source of hope in this world. We welcome mixed heritage families, Jews of colour, LGBTQI+ Jews, single Jews, old Jews, young Jews, those who have not stepped into a synagogue for years and those who go every week, Jews who have high levels of Jewish knowledge and Jews who have none, and we'd love to see YOU at one of our events. Sign up to join our mail list below - we won't ever sell or share your information, and will use it only to let you know about Makor Hayim events in line with our privacy policy that you can read here
We'd love to introduce ourselves...
Tzedakah - We Partner for Justice
Our High Holy Day Appeal 5782
2021 is not just any year - and this High Holy Day Appeal isn't just every High Holy Day Appeal. We're raising money both for Makor Hayim, but also our local community. This year, our partner is Feast with Us, a small and fast growing charity that tackles food poverty, malnutrition and food waste in London by cooking nutritious meals for vulnerable people by using surplus food that would otherwise be wasted. They have expanded over the past year to meet rising demands caused by the impact of the pandemic and they now provide meals across 6 London boroughs, and this summer also provided meals for school children in Camden. In 2020 the charity delivered 25,000 meals, saved 11,500kg of food from being wasted and worked with more than 800 volunteers. Many of us have been concerned about children going hungry in our local area - and this is a way where we can tangibly support change. We don't take any administration costs, so please donate by clicking on the below, or download information on how to send a cheque by clicking here, and let us know what percentage you want to go to Makor Hayim, and what percentage to Feast With Us.
WHY CHOOSE US?
What We Will Do Together
A SAFE, FULLY ONLINE PROGRAMME - WITH OFFLINE OCC
We offer more than just a service. Our HHD package includes all our events from the beginning of Elul - 9th August to Simchat Torah on the 28th September - but we offer more than just events. We'll help you get into the right headspace with pre HHD prep, deliver resources to your door (if you live in the UK..) and help you meet other members of our congregation to have a meaningful High Holy Day experience
LEARNING FOR YOUR HEAD.... AND YOUR HEART
With an Elul programme to reflect on the past year and learning throughout the High Holy Days we'll be coming together to process the past year - and set our plans for the next one. You can read about all our High Holy Day events by clicking here - and our special series, looking at the poetry and lyrics of Leonard Cohen in order to prepare for High Holy Days, here.
A COMMUNITY THAT BUILDS PROFOUND CONNECTIONS
No one shows up to our services without having someone there to welcome them unless they want to. Sign up to our HHD experience and we'll organise you a buddy and a pre High Holy Day virtual meal with others. We're a community who want to welcome you in, and make sure this High Holy Days you're able to build meaningful connections
A CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY AND TEACHERS ALL OVER THE WORLD
This year, we're connecting with our loved ones all over the globe. Our online programme means we're bringing some of the best educators from across the planet to our learning sessions, and we welcome those whose family are far away and often separated at this time to all join together- infact, if you're a Makor Hayim builder, we have a discount code you can use to invite your loved ones with.
SERVICES TO INSPIRE AND ORIENTATE US- ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO SIMCHAT TORAH
So many 'High Holy Day packages' miss out on some of the best bits of the Jewish calendar at this time of year. Drinking hot soup outdoors in a succah? Chasing chocolates and rejoicing at Simchat Torah? Our temporary builders package gives you access to all our events all the way through to the end of September.
A CHANCE TO REFLECT AND PROCESS THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS
It's been quite a year. Together we'll reflect, process, learn, mark, mourn, grieve, celebrate and digest the last twelve months - and set our intentions for the new year.
Are you the partner, friend, or family member of a Jewish person and exploring High Holy Days for the first time?
Our ally (what we call our members who are not Jewish, but in a family or relationships with Jews!) Lizzy has written a guide for the High Holy Days!
One thing that won't be different is the values we are built on
Torah
Torah
Learning and being in active conversation with ancient wisdom that holds, moves, informs and challenges us
Chesed
Kindness
- Being ‘radically relational’: building a community of kindness, care and friendship; showing up for each other’s joys and struggles
Tzedek
Justice
Acting with justice and compassion, working towards the creation of a more loving world; acknowledging the connectedness of our fate with the fate of other communities, British society and the wider world
Kavanah
Intentionality
Creating meaningful Jewish rituals that guide and build intention: engaging intentionally and creatively with Torah & Jewish practice to inspire meaning and connection in our lives
Hineini
Here I am/Leadership
Believing that every one of us, Jewish or Allies, whatever our backgrounds, strengths and relationships with Judaism, has something of value to offer, and the power to make change.
We aim to build a radically welcoming and egalitarian community, where people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, backgrounds, with and without disabilities, can feel there is a place for them as Builders of the community. We strive to ensure that both Jewish and non-Jewish Builders are treated with equal dignity, and can develop their own unique relationship with and contribution to the community. Our goal is for Builders to own, participate in and lead the community, and to recognise and dismantle barriers to participation and leadership for everyone.
Do these fit with your values? Come join us this High Holy Days.
Any Questions?
We want to hear from you
Makor Hayim
We can't wait to meet you
© 2021