Welcome to Makor Hayim

Friday Night Lates

A service geared towards young people held in a trendy venue, followed by a meal/drinks and social. Launching 28/02/2025

📆 First Shabbat of the month*, service 6:30pm, kiddush and social 7:30pm

* In months starting on a Saturday, this will be the last day (Friday) of the preceding month

Shabbat BaBayit

An informal, intimate Kabbalat Shabbat home-hosted by one of our Builders, followed by a bring-and-share meal. Themes and formats vary widely between hosts, so keep an eye on upcoming events for more information.

📆 Third Shabbat of the month, arrive from 6pm, service 6:30pm

Makor Hayim has welcomed over two dozen babies into our community over the past two years, so you and your little ones will feel right at home!

Intergenerational Services

Our monthly service specially designed to be inclusive of our youngest members (aged 1 day upwards!) but open to and attended by all ages. Followed by kiddush and a children’s activity, and preceded by a study session for parents.

📆 Second Saturday of the month, study session 10am, service 10:30am

Cheder & Youth Programmes

As of 2025 we are currently developing a youth and education programme, which we hope to launch by the end of the year, so watch this space!

Have a young person (aged zero-18) who wants to get involved in any capacity? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please get in touch!

Ally Buildership

We are proud to welcome non-Jewish Ally Builders as fully-fledged members of our community. Allies come in all sorts of flavours: some have Jewish spouses or partners, while others simply find themselves at home in our community; some are candidates for conversion while others have no plans to convert. Whatever your situation, you are welcome.

As a Reform community, we take an inclusive view of Jewish status. If you have a connection or relationship to Judaism – whatever form it takes – we can help you find the best way for you to participate in our community.

Interfaith events

We regularly run events open to the wider community, such as interfaith Shabbats where Builders invite representatives of other and no faith to sing, meditate, pray, discuss and be in community together, and partnerships with the Brent Multifaith Forum.

Jewish education

We run Navigating Judaism classes covering the basics of all aspects of Jewish tradition, culture and life. They are aimed at those encountering Judaism for the first time, returning to Judaism after a period of non-engagement, or with some knowledge of Judaism who want to deepen their understanding of the religion.

Conversion

If you’re ready to take the plunge and convert to Judaism, we can support you on your journey.

Our membership is fantastically diverse in genders, sexual orientations and family arrangements. However you identify, you will be in good company!

Pride Shabbat

This annual event during Pride Month is a joyous celebration of all Makor Hayim’s fantastic diversity.

📆 Sat 28th June, 10:30-12:30

Online and hybrid services

As befits a community founded just before Covid, we take online participation seriously.

Every service and event (unless completely impractical) is livestreamed over Zoom, and open to participation by remote attendees. Our Zoom community is a thriving space, with its very own minhag, and its regulars range from frequent in-person attendees to Builders living many hundreds of miles away. We’ve even had readings and prayers in our Rosh Hashanah services led by online participants.

We also have online-only services led by regulars within the online community.

Out of the Kabbalat Shabbat (Friday evening) and Shacharit (Saturday morning) services, usually one will be in-person/hybrid and one will be online-only, alternating weekly.