The range of Jewish Online Guides (JOG), of which there are currently 15, are available on the United Synagogue’s You Tube Channel, the You & US website and on various social media platforms.

Each short instructional film is introduced by the Chief Rabbi with United Synagogue members and staff demonstrating the practice. On screen transliterations are provided to help with the Hebrew of any relevant blessings and a full commentary provides context and background to the observances.

Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks commented on the Jewish Online Guides:

“These incredible videos are the beginning of something special. Social media is so easy to use today; it’s how our kids interact with the world. I see it as Hashem’s way of saying to us to go out and teach them our Torah.”

Rabbi Andrew Shaw, Director of the US’ Living & Learning Department said:

“This is a project that we’ve been particularly excited about since we began filming six months ago and we’re thrilled with the result. Individuals can now watch these Jewish Online Guides from the comfort of their own home and learn at their own pace. The set of guides are an incredibly valuable resource for the Jewish community, and although we’re launching the project with 14 guides, we hope to add to that number as we get feedback on the particular areas our members would like to see covered.”

Raymond Lyons, member of St John’s Wood United Synagogue, whose idea the project was and whose support made it possible, explained:

“I felt it was important to assist people who had missed out or had a limited Jewish education as children. When you are older it is more difficult to learn and you may feel embarrassed having to ask the same questions again and again. The programme is aimed at people who have little background and knowledge, or may have forgotten and need some refreshing. For instance, if suddenly you have a levoya (funeral), and don’t know what to do or say, or you’re a parent whose child goes to a Jewish school and you want to be able to make Kiddush on Friday night but don’t know how, these guides will help.

“I would like to thank the Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks, for his tremendous thought and meaning he has put into each section. I would also like to thank Rabbi Nissan Dubov for transferring my thoughts into a meaningful format, and Jeremy Wootliff of Worthwhile Productions for transferring the format into a realistic video. Finally, and certainly not last, I would like to thank Tribe with Rabbi Laitner for accepting and making the film suitable for the United Synagogue and giving the whole project tremendous momentum and making the project suitable for all. Without their push and ideas it could have just been a waste of time. There are also many who helped with the Synagogue filming and the home service and other parts of the project. Thank you very much.”