1. Disconnect to reconnect – Imagine the scene…with your two weeks’ holiday a year you decide to spend it on a sun-drenched beach with the sea lapping against the shore, a cocktail in one hand and your mobile phone in the other. Suddenly, beep, beep, it’s the office wanting just a small thing. Two minutes […]

When we think of Purim we often think of Hamatashen or costumes. However, there is a deeper meaning hiding just beneath the surface of this epic tale.   It is a story of leadership, spiritual regrowth and Divine Providence. Haman (booo) the Agagite was a descendant of the Amalkite people. Their central belief was that […]

Just like the three corners of the Hamantashen which we love to eat at this time of year, we’ve got three opportunities for you to celebrate and relive the Purim story with NWSS! The liveliest festival in the Jewish calendar kicks off with Erev Purim on Wednesday 28th February at 7pm. Come and join a […]

Rabbi Kath’s closing blessing she gave at the end of her Induction Service:

North West Surrey Synagogue welcomed over 300 guests on Sunday, 14 January 2018 for the Induction of Rabbi Kath Vardi, the largest attendance ever at the shul. Distinguished guests included the Mayor of Elmbridge, local clergy from several religions, representatives from the Movement for Reform Judaism, Liberal Judaism, Leo Baeck College and other rabbis. Also […]

There is an exciting line-up of Chanukah events for you this December!   Synagogue Celebrations: We will be holding our traditional Chanukah Lighting and Celebration at the Synagogue. This includes Music, Mulled Wine, Meal, Quiz – do join us for a fun evening for all ages! Chanukah cookie decorating will be available throughout the celebration. The […]

This article is being written “the day after the evening before” under pressure because of a very tight publishing deadline. The idea for this event came about during a meeting of the NWSS Social Group several months ago. It was suggested by Jen Jankel who had come to learn of Katsha’nes through her work with […]

NWSS 2017 FOUNDATION LECTURE Sunday 12th November 2017 7:30 p.m. ‘Israel: Balfour and Beyond’     It was a great privilege for NWSS to have as our Foundation Lecturer Colin Shindler, Senior Research Fellow and Emeritus Professor of Israel Studies at SOAS and the first person in Britain to hold a Chair in this subject.  […]

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 […]