Women of the year celebrated with US Shabbat service

Synagogues across London have celebrated women in their communities with special Shabbat services.

Friday night dinners, special kiddushim and Shabbat lunches were held to honour ‘nshei chayil’ or women of the year.

Pinner United synagogue held a women’s Kabbalat Shabbat with a dvar Torah from Esti Hamilton. On Shabbat, Esti gave a shiur for the women followed by a sit down chulent kiddush for 140 guests.

Northwood United synagogue invited their locum Rebbetzen, Leah Green to give a talk in shul on Shabbat morning, and Muswell Hill United synagogue heard from their women’s officer, Ruth Jampel.

Women were also honoured at Stanmore and Canons Park, and Sutton & District United synagogues. 20 women and children came together at Golders Green United synagogue for Kabbalat Shabbat, with a dvar Torah from one of the attendees and a shiur by Rebbetzen Hadassah Fromson.

Kingston & Surbiton synagogue honoured member Jennie Strauss, the recent recipient of a Jewish Volunteer Network award for her 12 years of commitment at the Nightingale Hammerson Home in Clapham.

Mill Hill East Jewish community celebrated their two n’shei chayil, or women of honour, Katie Hart and Abby Monty. The women davened their own mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat, followed by a communal breakfast on Shabbat morning.

Naomi Cohen, community development manager, said: “US Women’s Shabbat was celebrated in communities across the country with an imaginative range of events. This year’s theme was Women as Role Models, and started appropriately with an online learning session on Miriam by Ma’ayan Siobhan Dansky.  Women’s Kabbalat Shabbat services brought women and girls of all ages together in prayer and song, while female speakers gave inspirational talks in many shuls. The Shabbat shows the importance of bringing women together across the US, as communities celebrate women’s involvement and learning.”