We, at Belsize Square Synagogue, are constantly expanding on what we can offer our members with particular needs, whether it is age-related, sexual orientation or a physical or mental disability. Our mission here is to treat everyone equally and we are always looking at new ways to improve upon this.
- There is a hearing-loop in the Sanctuary
- We provide magnifying ‘bookmarks’ to assist those visually impaired
- Our Services may be watched online at home
- There is a lift to the Bimah, if needed
- As an inclusive employer, we are registered as ‘Disability Confident Level 1’. To ensure our employees are kept mentally fit and productive, we have shared the Stevenson Farmer report on ‘Thriving at work’
- To assist our members, we share information about other Jewish organisations: these include JAMI (mental illness), Chai (cancer support), KeshetUK (LGBTQ+) and Langdon (education, supported-living, social and employment schemes for young adults with a learning disability)
- We hold an annual, mental-awareness Shabbat evening service
- We hold an annual ‘inclusion service’ Shabbat morning, for the whole community, including those, who might otherwise not normally attend. We invite people of all age-brackets and needs to attend, with carers if they wish
- We are a modern Synagogue, to which Jews from all backgrounds are welcomed
Members or visitors who identify as LGBTQ+ are welcome and many play an active role in our community.
Marriages: we welcome individuals from the LGBTQ+ community who wish to marry in the Synagogue. We provide a full marriage service where both partners are Jewish.
Service participation: if you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community and are called up on a Shabbat or festival, we are respectful of how you identify. If you are unsure how you’d like to be called up, then let us know and we’ll help you find a way that feels right.
Beit Mitzvah programme: in discussion with you and your family Rabbi Botnick, as with anyone in this programme, will work out how you wish to reflect your identity.
Life Cycle events: the Synagogue welcomes new babies at an annual service, helps to organise Brit Milah and has baby blessings during the Shabbat service. Rabbi Botnick will be delighted to meet with you about this.
The synagogue and your records: the office maintains all member records and will check with you that the correct title and pronouns are being used. If you are commemorating the Yahrzeit of a relative or friend, you can let the office know if you wish them to be identified in a particular way on the family relatives list in order to reflect their identity. The office will manage this. From time to time the office checks all member records to make sure that they are correct.
Belsize Square Synagogue recognises that everyone has value and is due respect and tolerance. We wish to embrace, and be welcoming and accessible to all, and, in particular, meet parents’ aspirations for their children. The whole Belsize Square Synagogue community joins in to help us meet these aims.
For more information contact: the synagogue office on 020 7794 3949