About Us

Makor Hayim was founded in 2019 through the merger of two vibrant communities: Shir Hayim in Hampstead and the Willesden Minyan. With Shir Hayim’s future uncertain, the coming together of these two groups created a new and beautiful structure where elders and younger members united to build something fresh, hopeful, and enduring.

A RADICALLY RELATIONAL COMMUNITY

We call ourselves as a radically relational community. At our heart is a commitment to compassion, care, thoughtfulness and acceptance. We welcome people as they are, without judgement. Mixed-faith couples, families of all kinds, and individuals with diverse experiences and at all stages of life are embraced as part of our community.

Our services and activities are intentionally intergenerational. We hold regular services designed to include everyone, from young children to elders, and offer specific provision for young families, including children’s education. Alongside this, we host events throughout the year, joyfully celebrating the festivals of the Jewish calendar together.

Makor Hayim is, above all, a warm and welcoming place to be. We are proud to be building a community that values deep relationships, celebrates diversity, and nurtures a sense of belonging for all who join us.

OUR VISION

What we’re up to as a community

Our community is an egalitarian Jewish community: a life-giving space of healing, meaning and hope.

In this broken world of disconnection, fear and social and environmental injustices, we can feel fearful, apathetic and powerless. We respond by building this community to show that another world is possible. Anchored by Jewish tradition, rituals and each other, we are engaged in the practice of how to be more compassionate, loving and just human beings, who make an active contribution to the world we want to see.

We believe that Jewish teaching and history offers us deep wells of life-giving wisdom that is alive and relevant today. By bringing this wisdom into dialogue with our own lives, we believe it can help us to remember who we are, to rediscover our humanity; and engaging with our tradition can challenge us to return back into the world as more radically just and loving people.

We affirm that engaging in Jewish ritual intentionally and creatively enables our healing in a broken world. We hold sacred space to witness each other’s joys and sorrows. By singing, praying, meditating, learning, eating, playing, celebrating and mourning together, we believe we can transform brokenness into wholeness.

We affirm each other as friends and supporters, teachers and students, challengers and seekers. We welcome each other exactly as we are – Jews and Allies, believers and sceptics. In relationship with each other, we can replenish our spiritual, emotional and physical reserves, and grow as leaders of the world we want to see.

Debbie Danon

Makor Hayim is the community I dreamed of, and didn't know whether I'd ever find. Growing up in a Sephardi-Orthodox community, I loved Jewish song, ritual and food, but I longed to be able to participate and express myself fully, and wrestle authentically with texts I disagreed with. Time spent at Makor Hayim is inclusive, informal and fun. But it also invites me and my family to engage with Jewish tradition in ways that feel deep, fresh and relevant.

Sam Glatman

I often found it hard to feel a real sense of connection in communities where I was simply one of many congregants. For me, faith has always been rooted in connection through active participation, especially through music. Makor Hayim has proven to be exactly the right place. Within just a few months of joining, I was leading Erev Shabbat Services, co-leading during the High Holidays, and even contributing strategic input on the community’s future. Makor Hayim meets you wherever you are, whether you’re seeking support, actively learning, or eager to get involved.

Ed Teeger

At Makor Hayim l learnt that our values are clearly stated, everyone has the right to be accepted and respected just as they are, opinions can be openly expressed, and decisions are made by groups, not individuals. Covid brought us closer together, demographic changes and world politics have challenged us. Our values create community support that brings us together in the search for torah.

Our Values

How we realise our vision

Kavanah

Intentionality - Creating meaningful Jewish rituals that are based in and cultivate intention; engaging intentionally and creatively with Torah & Jewish practice to inspire meaning and connection in our lives

Torah

Torah - Learning and being in active conversation with ancient wisdom that holds, moves, informs and challenges us

Chesed

Kindness - Being ‘radically relational’: building a community of kindness, care and friendship; showing up for each other’s joys and struggles

Tsedek

Justice - Acting with justice and compassion, taking active steps towards the creation of a more loving world; acknowledging the connectedness of our fate with the fate of other communities, British society and the wider world

Hineni

'Here I am' / Leadership - Believing that every one of us, Jewish or Allies, whatever our backgrounds, strengths and relationships with Judaism, has something of value to offer, and the power to make change.

INCLUSION STATEMENT

We aim to build a radically welcoming and egalitarian community, where people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, backgrounds, with and without disabilities, can feel there is a place for them as Builders of the community. We strive to ensure that both Jewish Builders and Ally Builders are treated with equal dignity, and can develop their own unique relationship with and contribution to the community. Our goal is for Builders to own, participate in and lead the community, and to take responsibility for recognising and dismantling barriers to participation and leadership for everyone.

If you have any questions about inclusion and accessibility, please don’t hesitate to contact