Seder

Join and Celebrate the Central traditional Seder
and the gorgeous 2nd seder.

Both are led by by an experienced rabbi and cantor. (English, Hebrew in Separate room).

Family Seder (Semi-Private ) & Traditional Communal Seders Available .
Matza Shmura – (hand made for the Seders)

Lectures & Scholars

Rabbi Yoni Golker and his wife Dina are the Community Rabbi and Rebbetzen at St John’s Wood US. They have been there since August 2016.

They are responsible for working with all age-groups within the community in partnership with the senior rabbinical team and the Youth Directors.

Rabbi Yoni Golker grew up in Golders Green and spent three years at Yeshivas Beis Yisroel. Rabbi Golker is an experienced educator and seasoned public speaker.  Rabbi Golker is known for his remarkable educational programming and especially his creative virtual programming during the pandemic, where he conducted over 100 interviews with renowned people across the Jewish world, with hundreds of thousands of online views.

Prior to joining St John’s Wood Synagogue, Rabbi Golker taught for over a decade at JFS, where he was head of Upper School Jewish Education.

Rebbetzen Dina studied psychology at undergraduate and postgraduate level, specialising in counselling psychology and is also a qualified secondary school teacher.  Rebetzen Dina leads the Babes in the Wood group for mothers and babies which meets on a Friday morning, as well as other mum support groups within the community.  Rebetzen Dina also delivers ladies shiurim as part of the Taste of Torah series on selected Shabbat Mornings.  Dina is part of the Chief Rabbi’s Maayan Programme for high-level educators for the Jewish community, as well as advisors in the area of Taharat Hamishpacha (laws of family purity) and women’s health issues.

The Golkers are responsible for education and programming within the community and work with our Young Professionals/Young Jewish Network, engaged and newly marrieds and with our Professional plus groups, as well as many other demographics within the shul.  Rabbi Yoni has also organised many of the successful educational programmes for various groupings in the community including our Judaism Alive course, Minimoons and Parenting Courses.  The Golkers play an active and leading role in local Young United Synagogue events with other US Shuls.  Rabbi Yoni also plays a full role in lifecycle roles for members of all ages within our community as well as delivering shiurim and classes.

Jewish life

Ashkenazi and Shephardic Minyanim
Mashguihim permanently on site.
An officiating minister (Hazan) Cantor “Boaz Davidoff”
and …. the most important…… exceptional and unique hidurim in kashrus.
Enrich your spirit with fascinating lectures and Shiurim.
Daily conferences “shiurim”and lectures in English, Hebrew and French.

Pesach 2022 and guest speakers included

Prof. Yossef Paperon is teaching hassidism at the Sorbonne ( Paris ) ; he is also the author of a book on Talmud and has a regular lecture on jewish thought at the French Jewish radio.

He has a PhD in Hebrew and also in classical literature, but nevertheless, he really tries to speak for everybody : to associate depth in thought and easy understanding.(Our legitimacy on the land of Israel.The plague of darkness in Egypt and the theme of light in Kabbala.Judaism and modern Psychology ….)

Trips

Recommended Tours:

Capital of the Dorada coast line, the city of Tarragona and the various tourist attractions that it has to offer. The cities Sitges, Salou and Reus. The warm and lively Barcelona, Girona the city of Rabbi Yona from Girona and the Ramban. The known Portaventura park, Aqualeon, Estival Park, Pablo Picasso museum etc.
Additional wide variety of attractive sites within driving distance.

Tarragona

Trip to the capital of the province of Tarragona, a beautiful port city with respectable status of World Heritage Site .We will visit the National Archeological Museum and visit a few sites from the ancient Roman time. We will tour in the streets of Tarragona with its many cathedrals and monuments. We will continue to the Rambla Nova with its special structures, boutiques and
colorful street performances. We will finish our day at the “Mediterranean Terrace”- a panoramic lookout overlooking a breathtaking view of the sea.

Barcelona-Montjuïc

the Gothic Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Synagogue and Ramblas Boulevard
We will start the first day at Montjuic (the Jewish mountain) a remarkable area that involves art and culture, beautiful gardens, old historic buildings and squares overlooking the scenic city. We will continue our tour to the Spanish square Palacio Nacional and enjoy a spectacular view; we will visit the Olympic stadium and ascend to an observation point on the harbor. From there we will
continue the tour by bus through Plaza de Colón- Columbus Boulevard and the promenade along the
city’s Old Port to the Parque de la Ciudadela and the Arc de Triumphe that were built in honor of the International Exhibition which took place in Barcelona in 1888.We will continue to the city and tour in the Old Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, the Jewish Quarter and the ancient Synagogue. We will finish at the famous Ramblas Boulevard.

Jewish Catalonia- Girona & Besalu

The Jewish museum, the Jewish Quarter, the old city “Besalu” and the ancient Mikva in Europe. Day trip to Catalonia devoted to Jewish heritage. The Jewish community in Girona was founded in the late 9th century and was the second largest in Catalonia. One of the most prominent sages was the Ramban who was also the chief Rabbi of the city and of all Catalonia.

Port Aventura

PortAventura Resort is the perfect destination to spend a great holiday with your family, partner or friends while you enjoy the best entertainment that southern Europe has to offer; and all in a setting with perfect weather where you will have a fantastic time at Europe’s leading theme park and water park while enjoying the sun, beach.