Yeshurun is not only a thriving modern orthodox synagogue with a full range of religious activities, but also a very active community with a surprisingly wide range of activities to suit all interests and shades of opinion. Click on our Calendar above to browse through some of our special events.  Our Liaison Group, has compiled a Guide for members to these numerous activities.  You can download the current version of this Guide here. Alternatively, you can read about some of the activities below.

Religious Services

As well as all the Shabbat and Yomtov services, Yeshurun maintains regular Shacharit, Minchah and Maariv services on a daily basis.  Children’s services are normally held every Shabbat and on Yomtov there is a Youth Minyan for teenagers.  Periodically, special Father and Son breakfast minyanim are held for teenagers.  The Women in Judaism Group (some of whom are pictured below with Rabbi Chaim during their twentieth anniversary celebrations) pioneered special services for women in the UK and hold Women's Tefillah services periodically.

Religious Education

Apart from the popular local North Cheshire Jewish Primary School and the Cheder, there is a regular programme of education to suit all interests and levels.

The SEED programme runs regularly at the synagogue and Rabbi Kupetz  presents  weekly shiurim at Yeshurun on Thursday evenings.
The Rabbi conducts Shiurim after the Maariv services on Erev Shabbat in winter, between Mincha and Maariv on Shabbat and Yomtov, and also gives a Shabbat Kodesh Shiur after Kiddush on Shabbat mornings.

In addition, classes are held on various subjects from time to time during the week.  These have included  special classes on Women’s Learning, instruction in Basic Judaism classes for adults, Siddur knowledge for Adults, and Davening and Lehning classes for adults who want to develop their skills and knowledge.

Post Bat and Barmitzvah Classes are available at times for those wanting to take their GCSE in Hebrew Studies.

Communal Care

Like many synagogues, Yeshurun boasts an active Ladies Guild who work tirelessly for the Synagogue and raise funds for specific projects, a Security Team, (trained by the Community Service Trust), and a dedicated Chevra Kadisha.

In addition Yeshurun also has a longstanding Liaison Committee with a wide range of support activities including sick visiting, welcoming visitors to the synagogue services, organising shabbat lunches and dinners for the unattached, and periodic New Member’s evenings.  Liaison are also responsible for producing a detailed Guide to the Synagogue and its activities which can be downloaded here.

Committees

There are many committees to look after various aspects and functions of the synagogue.  The synagogue Executive and an elected Council run the synagogue but there are also specialist committees for Education, Youth, Marketing & Publicity, the Ladies Guild, Mens’ Aid Fundraising Committee, Women in Judaism, Finance, Housing/Building and the Burial Society.

Charitable

There are annual High Festival Appeals for Israel and for local Charities (managed by the Charity Appeals Committee).  Other groups attached to the synagogue include the ES Rabinowitz Memorial Fund which helps to fund visits to Israel for deserving teenagers, and the Victims of Terror Support Group.  This last group provides moral and financial support to Israeli families who have suffered from terrorist attacks.  The Big Birthday Appeal operates at Yeshurun and there are monthly presentations to younger children with birthdays at the end of Shabbat services.  Members of Yeshurun are planning to start a teenage charity group under the Big Birthday banner.

Education, Social and Leisure

Yeshurun regularly welcomes interesting speakers from across the world, such as ex-Israeli Cabinet Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior (right), in it’s Adult Lecture Programmes. 

From time to time, specialist classes are run on subjects varying from Learning Ivrit and Computer Training, to Ladies’ Israeli Dancing and Pilates.

Xperience@Yeshurun is an active cultural club which hosts a variety of interesting speakers on wide ranging topics – such as a talk by Yeshurun member Dr Stephen de Wijze on moral dilemmas, and a report on the moral courage of Israeli soldiers by Sergeant Benji Apfel.

Throughout the year, lunches and dinners are arranged periodically on Shabbat and there is a popular annual communal Seder.  The Men’s Aid Committee holds a major fund-raising dinner each year with a specialist theme.

The Ladies’ Guild arranges a regular program of activities including Film, Quiz, and Mystery Murder Evenings as well the traditional coffee mornings.

Other regular activities include, for example, a Jewish History Study Group, a Gardening Club, and a Book Club.

Publications

A monthly newsletter is mailed or emailed to members to keep them informed on news, announcements, services, and activities.  A recent innovation is a weekly email newsletter with current announcements.

The Twelve Tribe Editorial Committee publishes the Twelve Tribes magazine (named after the distinctive tapestries which hang in the Synagogue) – see here.

Youth Activities and Groups (More under 'Youth', on the left)

Yeshurun arranges regular events for the children of the Synagogue, particularly during Chagim such as Purim, Chanukah and Succot.  The Yeshurun Youth Council, (a supervised group of teenagers) organises interesting youth activities for the post Bar and Bat Mitzvah age group.  Bnei Akiva meets at the synagogue on Shabbat afternoons and organises a lively annual Shabbat Ha’irgun at which they welcome Bnei Akiva members from across the country. They run various other events during the year as well.

There is an active FZY group for teenagers which meets locally while JLGB meets locally at North Cheshire Jewish Primary School. Habonim Dror also meets in South Manchester.