Mitzvah Corner

In Jewish tradition, the Torah contains 613 mitzvot (“commandments,” or religious responsibilities ).

Of these 613 commandments, 248 are mitzvot aseh (“positive commandments” commands to perform certain actions) and 365 are mitzvot lo taaseh (“negative commandments” commands to abstain from certain actions). Three-hundred and sixty-five corresponded to the number of days in a year and 248 was believed by ancient Hebrews to be the number of bones and significant organs in the human body.

 

Community

It is amazing how many different tasks and responsibilities there are to keep the community running on a day-to-day basis. Some require an ongoing commitment, such as joining the Synagogue Council, the Rites and Practices Committee or teaching at Lamdeinu (cheder). Some tasks require more occasional efforts such as organising social or festival events. Others require less time input but are equally important (and all too often forgotten). Here are some of these roles:

 

Other volunteer roles (a non-exhaustive list)

  • Giving people lifts to services
  • Washing and ironing tablecloths.
  • Washing and ironing talit
  • Refreshing and tidying noticeboards
  • Keeping fridge clean and emptying any rotting food
  • Stacking , re-stacking chairs and keeping folding chairs neatly in their upstairs slot
  • Re-positioning chairs for yom-tovs and simchas
  • Collecting challah order from bakers
  • Putting prayerbooks and Torahs away after the service
  • Washing up after Kiddush
  • Keeping cheder classrooms tidy and organised
  • Helping with maintenance
  • Being prepared to go to tip with any items broken or redundant
  • Helping prepare kitchen for Passover
  • Helping on one off days – for example Doors open Day.
  • Volunteering for security and wardening help on high holy days
  • Helping housebound members of congregation with shopping
  • Visiting and phoning housebound members
  • Hoovering on Shabbat after kiddush
  • Providing food for events.
  • Organising Chanukah party
  • Organising Sukkot building and celebration
  • Organise Community Weekends away (January & June)

 

Mentoring for Jews by Choice

Our community proudly has an ongoing number of individuals and couples becoming Jews by Choice who would benefit from mentoring and support by someone in the community. There is no requirement that you have gone through the same process. If you would like to mentor, please get in touch with Rabbi Monique.

 

Zoom Hosts

To support our ongoing virtual presence, our community depends upon a dedicated group of volunteers who host services and other activities on Zoom and Facebook with the potential for exploring other platforms. If you are able to support us in this way, please get in touch with Rabbi Monique.

 

Looking for Lifts, Visits, and Phone Calls

If you are able to help with providing lifts visits, or phone calls; or if you know of an individual who needs a lift (including yourself), please get in touch with KIT Lead Linda Hurst

If you would like to offer help in any area (including any not mentioned here), please email the relevant person on the contacts page. If you are not sure who to email, then just contact anyone from the Synagogue Council.

 

Service Wardens

The service wardens insure that our visitors receive a warm welcome, hand out various service honours to people, and liaises with the service leader. We are always looking for new wardens.

It is important for everyone in the community to be aware that although the wardens have a number of responsibilities, that does not mean that wardens must do all of them themselves. Everyone who comes to shul needs to do their share.

For a detailed breakdown click here: Warden Duties.

 

Website Administrator

We want our website to always look fresh and up to date. We regularly need things uploaded to pages, and pages need to be checked regularly to ensure they remain clean. The website administrator also manages all users (new and old). As of October 2020 we have an administrator.

 

Head of Cheder (Lamdeinu)

The Chai Judaism curriculum, the Z’man Likro plus Aleph Champ Hebrew curriculum, and the Rosenwasser (for new intakes) program are all established and able to run for many more years. The lessons include a clear syllabus and detailed lesson plans that are easy to follow and enable any adult (parents or otherwise) who are not trained teachers to readily teach a particular lesson. None of our current teachers is trained as such, yet they have each managed to find the curriculum well-enough designed to lead classes. With all this already established, Lamdeinu needs someone to coordinate the functioning and smooth running of the termly schedule. This person does not need to be a parent. As of October 2020 this position is filled.

 

East Bristol Food Bank

Non-perishable food and personal care items can be put in the plastic bin under the coat rack for delivery. More information.

Thank you for your time. It is hugely appreciated.