United Synagogue’s Women’s Shabbat 2025 will be taking place on Shabbat 7-8 February and this year’s theme is Eishet Chayil – Strength of Women.
We have many examples of strong and brave women from Jewish history and our annual US Women’s Shabbat offers an opportunity for all our communities to honour the strength, resilience and contribution of women in our community and beyond.
Many communities are marking it with special events, including the following:
Chigwell & Hainault has a challah make on Thursday 6 February: Women’s Challah Make. They have a Women’s Kabbalat Shabbat service and a special learning session with kiddush on Shabbat morning.
Woodside Park have a Women’s Kabbalat Shabbat service with guest speaker Shira Jackson: Kabbalat Shabbat
Mill Hill East have a Women’s Kabbalat Shabbat service with sushi, and a celebratory Breakfast Kiddush to honour their Nshei Chayil: Kabbalat Shabbat and Breakfast Kiddush
Borehamwood & Elstree have a Shema Koleinu women’s service on 8th Feb and they’re also making a publication of articles from women of the community on the theme of Eishet Chayil – Strength of Women.
Belmont have an Oneg on Friday night with guest speaker Dr Lindsay Simmonds: Oneg with Dr Lindsay Simmonds
Magen Avot are honouring their Eishet Chayil on Shabbat: Women’s Shabbat
Radlett are honouring their N’shei Chayil on Shabbat morning: Women’s Shabbat
In Cranbrook, Shabbat February 8th will be dedicated to women in their community, including the rabbi’s sermon and a special Kiddush celebrating the bravery of women in Israel during this difficult time: Shabbat morning
Kenton are honouring their Women of Worth with a celebratory tea on Sunday 8th February: Women of Worth
Cockfosters & N Southgate have a challah make on Thursday 13 February: The Great CNSS Challah Make
St John’s Wood are celebrating their Honourees on 28 February & 1 March: Women’s Shabbat
Other communities are also celebrating US Women’s Shabbat later including Edgware and Mill Hill celebrating their N’Shei Chayil, and Golders Green who are planning a creative project to showcase their members’ most inspiring Jewish women.
Highgate are marking US Women’s Shabbat over Friday-Shabbat 28 & 29 March with scholar-in-residence US CEO and honouring their N’shei Chayil.
Birmingham are planning to write a letter to every female member with Eishet Chayil themed words of appreciation together with a gift to remind her that she is loved within our shul ‘family’.
Barnet will be honouring Mala Tribich MBE as Honorary Vice President of Barnet Synagogue. She will also discuss her reflections on the recent 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz where she was the sole UK Shoah survivor.
There are also two United Synagogue-wide events:
· Women of Willesden online talk – Thursday 6 February at 2pm (free and open to all): Book here
· Women with Herts – Saturday 8 February, 7-8pm: Book here
