Teshuva, teffila u’tzedakah: return, prayer and justice. These are the requirements of the High Holy Days. Teshuva; so that we return to ourselves, to others and to God. Tefilla, so that we achieve this return through our act of prayer and of allowing ourselves to be still and listen. And Tzedakah so that we enact […]

In my New Year message 12 months ago I wrote that 2016 had been the most tumultuous year in British political life in living memory. This year has been barely less eventful with a surprise General Election producing an even bigger surprise, resulting in the turbulence of a hung Parliament, coalition negotiations and a shaky […]

Rabbi Kath Vardi took up her post at NWSS following her semicha(ordination) from Leo Baeck College on 2 July 2017 when she was awarded a master’s degree in rabbinic theology. Rabbi Kath and her family have relocated from Preston in Lancashire to Surrey, and she notes that the whole family, who are avid walkers, have already discovered […]

Here is a copy of the sermon Rabbi Zucker delivered during his last Shabbat service at NWSS on Saturday 17th June 2017. Good morning. Shabbat shalom. In the words of the psalmist, Barukh haba b’shem Adonai, beyrakh-nukhem b’veit Adonai.  Blessed are you who come in God’s name, we bless you out of the house of […]

This article about our long-standing member, and Vice-President, Jennifer Jankel, was published in the Jewish Chronicle in June 2017. Jewish music of all sorts is having a moment, and a lot of it is due to Jennifer Jankel’s energy and ideas. I never get tired,” muses Jennifer Jankel. “I get up, and I get going.” […]

  Our hearts and souls, our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by Monday night’s attack in Manchester.   Together we mourn the innocent people, so many of them children, who have died. We send prayers of healing and consolation to those injured.   Manchester is a vibrant, creative, diverse and resilient city. […]

North West Surrey Synagogue held its annual Yom HaShoah commemoration on Sunday 23rd April. The theme this year was ‘Recalling the Journey through Folk Art’, focusing on the Kindertransport. The Traveling Exhibition of Memory Quilts, created by the Kindertransport Association was on display, visiting the UK for the first time ever from the Holocaust Memorial […]

Please visit us with your family! Sunday 30th April 2017 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm North West Surrey Synagogue, Horvath Close, Rosslyn Park, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 9QZ The Kindertransport Memorial Quilts Travelling Exhibition will be on display for the first time in the UK on loan from the ‘on loan from the Kindertransport Association through […]

by Dr. Yvette Alt Miller   Aish.com David Rubinger, Israel’s famed photographer, died last week at the age of 92. Born in Vienna, Rubinger’s life mirrored that of the Jewish state he helped found and whose history he so memorably documented. Saved from the Holocaust when he secured a place in 1939 on a Zionist youth […]

We are delighted that rabbi-to-be Kathryn (Kath) Vardi will join us as our next permanent rabbi in July 2017. Kath is in her final year at Leo Baeck College and will take Semicha (become ordained as a rabbi) in July 2017. She came to the rabbinate after a successful career in mental health, first as […]

Last year North West Surrey Synagogue inaugurated a programme to educate secondary school students about the Holocaust, replicating the annual Holocaust Memorial Day project model run by Kingston Liberal Synagogue and Kingston & Surbiton District Synagogue . Held on Holocaust Memorial Day and two additional days, the innovative sessions featured a film, a survivor testimony […]

Sermon by Amit Handelsman – delivered on 17th December 2016 Amit works in partnership with the Movement of Reform Judaism  southern communities on strategic planning, visioning and leadership, looking into new models of communities and the establishment of new communities. He runs workshops and training sessions tailored to the need of each community on change, […]

NWSS was delighted to welcome Rabbi Dr Jonathan Magonet to Shul on Sunday 15th January 2017 for our annual Foundation Lecture.    The topic was ‘Leo Baeck: The Man and the College’.   The text of Rabbi Dr Magonet’s talk can be read by clicking here.  

The NWSS Foundation Lecture in January 2017 will be given by Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet and focus on Leo Baeck: the man and the College. Ahead of the lecture, NWSS’ Press Officer Jean Cohen interviewed Rabbi Magonet looking at his writings and topical Jewish issues. Q: Your name appears as a contributor to the current Reform […]

Mitzvah Day was on the same day as our NWSS AGM, 27th November, which meant a lot of to-ing and fro-ing this year.   Starting at the end, our intrepid food collecting teams scored an incredible amount of donations for the Hersham & Walton Food Bank at Tesco’s Brooklands. Val & David, who collected last, […]