Festivals

Tu b’Shvat

One of the four new years we have in our Jewish calendar and that doesn’t count January 1^st or the beginning of the financial year, Tu B’Shvat is the new year for the trees.  Its name is simply the date, the 15^th of the Hebrew month of Shvat and as we move away from our agricultural roots this festival has lost much of its traditional meaning.  However, it gives us a time to explore our relationship with our environment.

Purim

This festival is archetypal of the way we sum up Jewish history: “they tried to kill us, they didn’t succeed, let’s eat.”  Purim is the time we let our hair down, with the reading of the megillah accompanied by costumes, heckles and alcohol.  The evening tends to be adults only, with innovative ways of reading the story of Purim.  The carnival is dedicated to families, allowing the children to thoroughly enjoy the entire occasion.

Click here to find out more about this year's Megillah reading.

Pesach

The universal themes of Pesach, slavery and freedom, oppression and personal narratives reach far beyond the confines of our community.  Our pre-Pesach interfaith seder allow us to welcome other local faith communities into our synagogue.  Our own traditional community seder, on the second night of Pesach, brings every generation together and enhances our knowledge through singing, questions, food and much more.

Click here to download booking form for this year's Communal Seder

Shavuot

This agricultural pilgrim festival also enables us to celebrate the receiving of the Torah.  A late night of study begins this festival and gives us the opportunity to join with other Reform communities to get the very best of Jewish education.  Shavuot morning, through a tired mist following the lateness of the night before, gives us time for the community to pray together in various different age appropriate services.

Sukkot

After the intensity of the High Holy Days, Sukkot reminds us to look outside of ourselves and to take responsibility for the world around us.  Our Sukkah is decorated with more than simply fruit and vegetables; our aim is always to reflect a socially responsible message.

Simchat Torah

As we celebrate the ending and beginning of the Torah reading cycle, we pay tribute to members of our community who we honour because of all they do for FRS and the wider Jewish world.  Four people are chosen each year: two adult members and two involved teenagers.

Chanukah

This festival of lights reminds us of the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a period of persecution.  This has taken on much greater significance in both the UK and America, as it gives Jews a festival of lights around the time of Christmas. 

Rabbi Miriam Berger talks about what is the the great miracle of Chanukah.