St John’s Wood United synagogue in new BBC One faith series
North-west London shul features in first of 14 programmes on prayer and reflection beginning this Sunday
St. John’s Wood United synagogue’s will be the focus of the first episode of a new BBC TV series beginning this weekend, with the shul’s rabbi describing it as “an opportunity to share the beauty of Jewish prayer and offer a glimpse of Jewish life to non-Jewish viewers”.
‘Prayer and Reflection‘, a 14-part series co-commissioned by the BBC Nations, will be shown each Sunday morning across BBC One and iPlayer, and will focus on six of the major faiths across the UK.
The St. Johns Wood United episode will feature an explanation of morning prayer service Shacharit, a minyan, the recitation of the Amidah and readings from the Torah.
Senior Rabbi of St John’s Wood United Synagogue, Dayan Ivan Binstock said: “We were delighted to showcase our shacharit service to a potential audience of millions of people across the UK on BBC One.
“With the unnerving rise in antisemitism, this was an opportunity to share the beauty of Jewish prayer and offer a glimpse of Jewish life to non-Jewish viewers. Our morning prayers are a wonderful way to start the day with the community and provide an opportunity to connect with God and reflect on our lives.”
Daisy Scalchi, BBC head of commissioning, religion and ethics, said: “Prayer and reflection are integral to so many of the world’s faiths and it’s a privilege to be invited into these sacred spaces, across all four Nations, during such personal moments of spiritual and religious connection.”
The series begins this Sunday 14 September.
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