Chief Rabbi Mirvis to lead online memorial service before Yom Kippur

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis will lead a memorial service which will be broadcast ahead of Yom Kippur.

The traditional ‘Yizkor’ prayer, said to remember those who have passed way, will be streamed on the United Synagogue’s video platform, TheUS.tv, on Sunday 27 September at 2.30pm.

With more than 500 members of the community succumbing to coronavirus, a prayer composed for victims of Covid-19 will be recited during the Yizkor broadcast. Due to virus restrictions, synagogues have had to limit capacity for the High Holy Days by up to 90 percent.

It has also been announced that the United Synagogue will run a pre-recorded video of the evening ‘Kol Nidre’ service in partnership with Pinner United Synagogue. Rabbi Ben Kurzer will introduce it, before it’s led by Chazan Sam Freeman with a socially-distanced shul choir, broadcast from 5:30pm on Sunday.

Rabbi Michael Laitner, the United Synagogue’s Director of Education, said: “Yizkor prayers help us to recall and memorialise people whom sadly are no longer with us.”

He added, “as such, our recitation of Yizkor on, or as close as possible to Yom Kippur, a day on which we request atonement from God … provides an opportunity to recall and pray for deceased relatives, as well as for others who tragically have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

At this difficult time for our community, we are pleased to be able to bring both a Yizkor service and a Kol Nidre service to all who wish to participate.”