24 February 2020

The Kabbalat Torah class from Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) slept out on Saturday night to raise their own awareness of the issue of homelessness.

The group of 14 and 15 year-olds, including Rabbi Aaron Goldstein’s daughter Shaya, undertook the project as part of the synagogue’s support for New Hope. The Watford charity serves individuals who are homeless or vulnerably-housed through the provision of accommodation and opportunities to transform lives.

Aaron – who himself volunteers overnight at least twice a month for New Hope’s Winter Night Shelter – said: “I am proud that our teenagers are both Jewishly and socially engaged, wanting to learn and to act to contribute to society.”

After Shaya commented that the group were cold during the night, Aaron pointed out it was the actually mildest evening of the year so far.

He added: “NPLS’s Kabbalat Torah programme is all about building the foundation for lifelong relationships, based in the synagogue but going out from it to work for others.”