South Hampstead has a wide range of activities that include prayer and learning as well as cultural, social and recreational events.
South Hampstead provides a spiritual and uplifting range of synagogue services, including weekday Shacharit (morning service), Mincha (afternoon service) and Ma’ariv (evening service) in the summer months and Shacharit and Ma’ariv in the winter months.
Our services are relaxed, friendly, supportive and accessible with synagogue members on hand in the men’s and women’s section to answer any of your queries. Page numbers are announced regularly on Shabbat morning, so that following the service is easy and enjoyable.
Mourners who are unfamiliar with the service are assisted and women are welcome to recite Kaddish.
Many South Hampstead members find the Shabbat morning Rabbi’s sermon, given in shul around 11am, to be a highlight of their week.
We are also pleased to host the occasional Sephardi service, run by our own members, which is open to all.
The only services that require booking are the High Holydays to ensure that there is adequate seating accommodation.
Our Children & Youth provision focuses on several hundred families with children from birth to post-grad.
Jewish cultural and religious centres abound around town. What is unique about South Hampstead is that it combines both these elements. It is a natural community drawing old and young together across the spectrum; and it is a metropolitan meeting point for diverse Jews from all over the world.
To reflect this we cater for as wide a range of interests as possible spanning more formal education for the children in our dynamic Cheder, to the exciting and different informal education offered in our creative, imaginative children and youth clubs; and from pure fun social family events which have little to do with synagogue and services, to Shabbat and festival activities. Programmes include educational and social events for parents.
On Shabbat and festivals there are children and youth services for all age groups. These begin at 11am.
We would like you and your children to feel that South Hampstead is a second home.
South Hampstead has a range of educational, learning and study opportunities catering for the least to the most learned. Weekly classes, stand-alone events, courses, Scholars in Residence, significant days in the calendar and preparation for Jewish festivals, are all part of the mix. Sessions are open to men and women, and non-members too. Please click on Events & Bookings to see what is currently available.
South Hampstead Synagogue is in the Borough of Camden, an inner London Borough with many social welfare needs. The community works closely with Camden Council, local charities and other faith groups in the area to participate in support initiatives for homeless shelters, refugees, and other community needs.
Some of our current initiatives appear in our weekly mailings. For further information please contact Tamara Eisner.
Details of forthcoming events are available via:
- Our website Events & Bookings page
- Social media
- SHighlights – our listing of forthcoming events is emailed on Tuesday
- SHmaltz – our community announcements and service times for Shabbat or festivals, is emailed on Friday
To join the WhatsApp group or receive SHighlights and SHmaltz by email, contact office@southhampstead.org
We produce a brochure in pdf format of events for autumn, spring and summer. Download the current brochure here.
Mikvah
Did you know that South Hampstead has a mikvah? Well, it has a room reserved for a mikvah, and the hope is that in the not too distant future construction will begin to build a beautiful bespoke SH mikvah in our building.
A mikvah is a natural body of water or a gathering of water that has a designated connection to natural water. Immersion in a mikvah is a form of ritual cleansing. There are various uses of a mikvah – the intention is for the SH mikvah to be for women only. It will be both functional and used as an educational resource.
Yoetzet Halacha (Women’s Health & Jewish Law)
Rebbetzen Lauren serves as the Yoetzet Halacha for South Hampstead SHul.
Yoatzot halacha are women certified by a panel of orthodox rabbis to be a resource for women with questions regarding Taharat Hamishpachah (an area of Jewish law that relates to marriage, sexuality and women’s health). This role was devised to assist women who are more comfortable discussing very personal issues with another woman.
South Hampstead is one of 25 communities worldwide that have a yoetzet halacha. Lauren is happy to help any women who may welcome it from the community and beyond. You can contact her by phone, whatsapp, email or anonymously by clicking here.
If you would like to know more about yoatzot halacha read some FAQs, click here.
South Hampstead has a diverse membership. To cater to all tastes, we endeavour to provide a varied programme that embraces cultural, social and recreational activities. Some of these, such as YoungiSH, our programme for slightly older members; Arts Club, our luncheons with great speakers; or table tennis for young and old; are initiated by members. Others are the arranged by our creative programming team.
Our programmes and events are open to members and non-members alike. We welcome suggestions for new initiatives.
Please click on Events to see what is currently available.
Click here to read about our SHare programme.