Makor Hayim High Holy Day Appeal

Makor Hayim is a radically welcoming, intentional and boundary-pushing progressive Jewish community in Northwest London and online.

We’re here because we didn’t settle for the one-size-fits-all approach of many larger Jewish communities. Instead, we came together to build the brand of community we want to be a part of. We like our prayer services to be nourishing, our Torah challenging, and our community spaces nurturing. We want our community to share in our joys and support us in our struggles. We are simultaneously universal – a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures and Jewish (or non-Jewish) journeys united by a vision for progressive, inclusive Jewish community – and local, firmly rooted in our local community and deeply invested in social justice on our doorstep in Brent as well as the wider world. We call ourselves Builders (yes, plain old “membership” isn’t our style), and our community is a reflection of the unique personalities and contributions of everyone who walks through our doors. In short, we’ve never been about doing things ‘just because’.

We were founded in 2019 by the merger of two very different communities: Shir Hayim, an established synagogue, custodian of half a century of tradition, wisdom and human stories, whose 21st-century future was uncertain; and the Willesden Minyan, a grassroots group of young adults who came together to realise their vision for a more meaningful, values-driven Jewish community. The resulting merger unites history and future, bringing together our elders and newborns to create a truly intergenerational Makor Hayim family.

Makor Hayim has never benefitted from the major grants or endowments that some shuls enjoy. Instead, we owe our existence to the enthusiasm of our Builders and the commitment of the many volunteers who give untold time and energy to make our dream a reality. For six years we have been sustained by what feels like sheer determination.

But now we’re at a turning point. Our 150-strong Buildership has been blessed with over two dozen babies in recent years, surely making us one of the most demographically vibrant communities in the country. But anyone who’s been a parent will know that combining childcare with co-running a synagogue is a tall order. As we aim to grow our membership and welcome new like-minded Jews and Allies into our community, the pressures on our small Leadership Team continue to grow. Our commitment to inclusivity means that a significant proportion of our Buildership pays concessionary rates. And we have overheads: our wonderful Rabbi, our indefatigable one-woman Operations department, rent for venues (a building of our own is a very distant dream), and the same administrative and legal burdens as placed on synagogues ten times our size.

This year could be make-or-break for the community. And our target is ambitious: we aim to raise £30,000 through this and other fundraisers during 5786. This is the figure required to meet our operating costs and put us on a secure financial footing for the years to come.

Please give as generously as you’re able. If you’re already a Builder, you know what’s at stake. If you’re reading about us for the first time, please help us to support nurture our vision of a Judaism that welcomes all with open arms. And if that vision appeals, we’d love to welcome you at a service or festival. Whether you’re steeped in Jewish learning or have never set foot in a synagogue before, we’ll make you feel at home. Check out makorhayim.org for upcoming dates and more info.