The arrival of a baby brings joy to the whole community. Please notify the office so we can wish you Mazal Tov and add your baby to our database.

We encourage members to have a Baby Blessing in the Synagogue. The Blessing would normally take place on a Shabbat morning towards the end of the Torah service.

Usually, the family will sponsor Kiddish for the community. Please contact the Synagogue office, to plan the event.

Brit Milah

Jewish baby boys are circumcised by a trained person with a medical background, known as a Mohel.

The ceremony takes place on the 8th day after the baby’s birth, unless medical reasons mandate. We can support you to find a registered Mohel. These ceremonies usually take place at the family home.

Pidyon Ha'Ben

Jewish tradition believes that the firstborn son of an Israelite must be redeemed from a Cohen when the child is thirty days old. Pidyon Ha’Ben only takes place if the baby boy is not the son of a Cohen or Levi, and is the first born child of the mother, born naturally, who has not been previously pregnant.

If you do not have a friend or family member who is a Cohen, we can invite someone suitable to attend and assist you.

Please contact the office for help in organising these events.

A boy becomes a Bar Mitzvah at age 13 and a girl becomes Bat Mitzvah at age 12 or 13 whether they have had a ceremony to mark the moment, or not. At SHEMA, we see this as an opportunity to deepen the commitment of our youngsters with Judaism and their own identity. Our exciting year programme includes group lessons, family activities, field trips and much more. Our students arrive to their ceremony fully prepared and aware of the meaning and challenges of becoming a Jewish teenager in the 21st Century. For more info, check out our B'nei Mitzvah page or email the office by selecting the appropriate link below.

The building of a “New Home for Israel” is a most joyous occasion, full of hopes and dreams for the future. A shared life, a shared love. At SHEMA we combine a traditional wedding with the possibility of adding elements that will personalise the ceremony and make it entirely your own. The happy couple should meet with our rabbi a few times as they build together the exact wedding ceremony they want. Weddings can take place inside our sanctuary as well, should you consider using our beautiful building as your venue. For more information, contact the office by clicking on the link below and request an appointment.

Judaism has always seen as a blessing the incorporation of proselytes to the Jewish People that are honestly willing to join us and take upon themselves the commandments and traditions of the faith of Israel. In coordination with the European Masorti Bet Din, headed by Rabbi Chaim Weiner, we offer a conversion programme that will prepare a candidate with the basic information needed to present themselves to the Bet Din and join the Jewish People. This preparation usually takes about a year, but is discussed between the candidate and the rabbi personally. If you want more information about conversion through SHEMA please contact the office. You are also welcome to learn more about conversion from the website of the European Masorti Bet Din by clicking on the link below.

Judaism gives much importance to the respect and dignity of a person that passes away. Our rituals and ceremonies are designed both to honour the dead as well as help the mourners to deal with their grief and prepare to carry on with life without their loved one. At SHEMA we will help you to organize and perform all aspects of the mourning process: the Levoyah (funeral), Shivah, shloshim, Giluy Matzevah (stone setting) and the yearly Yahrzeit (Anniversary of Death). If you have suffered the loss of a dear one please contact the office via email or call us on 020 8905 4096. For urgent queries email David - chairdg@shemacommunity.org. Out of office hours, please contact the Joint Jewish Burial Society directly. Most of our ceremonies take place at the Western Cemetery in Cheshunt. Please also see Bereavement or click on any of the links below for more information.