Dear Members, It has been another exciting week at Shul. Last Shabbat, we had four different services for our younger members – toddlers, children, intermediate and youth services. It has been another opportunity for our younger members to enjoy and recall what Shul is all about. Quoting one of our youth who emailed me this week after attending his first youth service in five months, he says: "I had thought and dreamed about our first youth service back for many months, so for it to be a reality is unbelievable and incredible … I am absolutely chomping at the bits to come back again and have been left wanting more and more … I cannot tell you how much this means to me … you have allowed us to have the best possible youth service under the new climate". This is what a Shul experience should be about. Our youth have been extremely fortunate over the last two years – they have had two wonderful Youth Directors in David and Shira Gottlieb, who have led, guided, inspired and taught the youth much. Now, sadly, they are moving on to the next step in their journey together, with new opportunities and soon to be bigger family (please Gd). Right at the outset, David and Shira's attitudes and knowledge seemed to fit well with our youth and also SACPS' ethos. They have certainly lived up to all our expectations (and more) in how they have helped to develop all that the Youth Department encompasses. They have helped build on what they inherited almost two years ago and they leave our youth in rude health. From all the dinners and many other events that they have arranged; to the girls chats and "one to one" learning sessions which they have undertaken; all our youth have benefited hugely from them. On behalf of the Honorary Executive, the Synagogue Council, our youth, their parents and our entire community, we wish them only Hatzlacha and Bracha. As they depart, we are delighted to welcome Motti Rotenberg and Leoni Herszaft, who will officially start as our new Youth Directors on the 1st September. Both Motti and Leoni were born and grew up in Edgware, and, following their school studies in London, spent a year in Israel. Motti was privileged to be able to study at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh in the Old City, while Leoni studied in Midreshet Tehillah in Jerusalem. In their own words, they both experienced a year full of religious and personal growth. They are now both back in London and due to be married in November. Motti is presently working as a trainee accountant and before the Shul was closed, had been leading the Intermediate's service at Stanmore. Leoni is currently studying Health and Social Care at City, University of London. On behalf of the SACPS community, I am delighted to extend a very warm welcome to them both. I know that they are looking forward to becoming a part of the Stanmore community next month. We wish them all the very best in their endeavours as our new Youth Directors and we hope that they will be able to pop into the youth service this coming Shabbat to introduce themselves to our youth. As our younger members have experienced Shabbat services again, we are delighted to confirm that this Shabbat we are opening the Shul to a morning Shabbat service for our adult members. As with our midweek services, we would ask that you prebook as soon as possible at [shabbatservices] The booking page contains all the relevant details you will need, but for ease I would confirm that the morning service will start at 9:30am and begin from "Shochain Ad". There will be no sermon and no kiddush for the time being and the service will end between 11:15am11:30am. We very much hope to welcome you to Shul either for a Shabbat or one our weekday services. For now, Friday nights can still be viewed on Zoom but we hope to restart those services in Shul very soon. We thank you for your continued support and in the meantime, be well and healthy and stay safe.
Best wishes Jeremy Harris Chair
Samantha Jacobs ViceChair
David Rosen ViceChair