The United Synagogue

Chief Rabbi Launches 'How To' Online Jewish Guides

PRESS RELEASE

London,
5th September 2011


CHIEF RABBI LAUNCHES 'HOW TO' ONLINE JEWISH GUIDES

The Chief Rabbi has launched a range of groundbreaking video guides for the Jewish community today, at the offices of the United Synagogue. The guides, which were on show for the first time, are designed to make Jewish practice more accessible than ever before. They cover a variety of the most essential and widely observed parts of practical Judaism such as how to wear Tefillin (Phylacteries), how to say Kaddish (the memorial prayer) for a loved one and how to bless your children on a Friday night.

The range of Jewish Online Guides (JOG), of which there are currently 15, will be made available on the United Synagogue’s You Tube Channel, the You & Us website and on various social media platforms.

Each short instructional film is introduced by the Chief Rabbi with United Synagogue members and staff demonstrating the practice. On screen transliterations are provided to help with the Hebrew of any relevant blessings and a full commentary provides context and background to the observances.

Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks commented on the Jewish Online Guide:

“These incredible videos are the beginning of something special. Social media is so easy to use today; it’s how our kids interact with the world. I see it as Hashem’s way of saying to us to go out and teach them our Torah.”

Raymond Lyons, member of St John’s Wood United Synagogue, whose support made the project possible, explained:

“I felt it was important to assist people who had missed out or had a limited Jewish education as children. When you are older it is more difficult to learn and you may feel embarrassed having to ask the same questions again and again. The programme is aimed at people who have little background and knowledge, or may have forgotten and need some refreshing. For instance, if suddenly you have a levoya (funeral), and don’t know what to do or say, or you’re a parent whose child goes to a Jewish school and you want to be able to make Kiddush on Friday night but don’t know how, these guides will help.”

Rabbi Andrew Shaw, Director of the US’ Living and Learning Department said:

“This is a project that we’ve been particularly excited about since we began filming six months ago and we’re thrilled with the result. Individuals can now watch these Jewish Online Guides from the comfort of their own home and learn at their own pace. The set of guides are an incredibly valuable resource for the Jewish community, and although we’re launching the project with 14 guides, we hope to add to that number as we get feedback on the particular areas our members would like to see covered.”


-End-

EDITORS’ NOTES: -

The current list of online guides includes:

1. Putting on the Tallit
2. Putting on Tefillin
3. How to say the Mourners Kaddish – Prayers for Bereavement
4. The Rabbis’ Kaddish – Kaddish DeRabbanan
5. Call up to Open the Ark – Peticha
6. Having an Aliyah (being called up to the Torah)
7. Hagbah and Gelila (Raising and ‘Dressing’ the Sefer Torah)
8. Sitting Shiva – Mourning at home
9. Lighting the Shabbat Candles
10. Blessing Children on Friday Night
11. Friday Night Kiddush Including the Blessing for Washing Hands and the Blessing over Bread
12. The Blessing for Washing Hands Before Eating Bread
13. Hamotzi – Blessing Before Eating Bread
14. Havdallah – The End of Shabbat
15. Grace After Meals – Birkat Hamazon (Benching)

For further information, please contact:

Leonie Furman
The PR Office
Work: 020 7284 6969
Email: us@theproffice.com

this week
shabbat times

May. 25th - 26th
5th Sivan
Begins: 20:46
Ends: 22:03
Sedra: Bamidbar

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