From the last days of Sukkot to the first hints of Chanukah, October brings the BNJC community together for food, music, learning and time with one another.
In short
- This week: Sukkot at YOFI, live piano on Tuesday 29 September, pizza in the hut on Thursday 1 October, Simchat Torah on Saturday 3 October
- Tuesday 6 October: Youth Club is back, every Tuesday
- Wednesday 7 October: Remembering together, at Palmeira Square and then at BNJC
- Sunday 11 October: Ulpan for Kids and Youth Open House begin
- Thursday 22 October: Shoresh Nursery open morning
- Sunday 25 October: Jewish walking tours of Brighton and Hove
- From Tuesday 27 October: new courses, Pregnancy Yoga and Mini Movers
- Sunday 1 November: the Brighton Jewish Art Exhibition. Come and look, or exhibit your work
Want reminders instead? Join the email list and we will send them before each event.
There is still a sukkah in the courtyard. Shoresh Nursery has eaten lunch beneath its branches, the community has shared kiddush there, and on Thursday local teenagers will gather for pizza. The sukkah comes down after Simchat Torah on Sunday 4 October; the courtyard then returns to its usual role as a place for meals, services, classes and community events.
Here are the dates to know, from this week through the end of October, plus a few things to look forward to in November and December.
This week: the last days in the sukkah
YOFI is open all week, and so is the sukkah
The YOFI sukkah is open to everyone until Simchat Torah. There is no booking or minimum spend: drop in for a coffee, bring the children, or invite someone to share a meal.
- Monday 28 September to Thursday 1 October: open as usual, with seasonal specials. Just walk in.
- Friday 2 October: open until 14:00. Shabbat menu, and Yom Tov dinner to take home. Order by Thursday 1 October.
- Saturday 3 October: takeaway only, pre-ordered.
- Sunday 4 October, Simchat Torah: lunch at 13:00 and dinner at 19:30. £38 per person, £25 per child, pre-order only.
To order, email yofi@bnjc.co.uk with the day, the sitting, how many of you there are and any dietary requirements.
New at YOFI: autumn specials
YOFI’s autumn drinks are here. The specials below are available hot or iced, alongside new cocktails on the drinks list.
| Chai latte | £4.00 |
| Dirty chai latte | £4.90 |
| Black Forest hot chocolate | £4.30 |
| Black Forest mocha | £4.50 |
| Pear’ot chocolate (contains alcohol) | £7.50 |
| Hot chocolate orange (contains alcohol) | £8.00 |
Bryan Edery plays through dinner
Tuesday 29 September · doors 18:30 · YOFI · £35 per person
Join pianist Bryan Edery at YOFI for a three-course dinner with live music. He plays by ear, so bring a request. Places are limited and YOFI will be closed to walk-ins that evening. To book, email yofi@bnjc.co.uk with your name and party size.
Pizza in the hut
Thursday 1 October · 18:00 to 20:00 · the sukkah · free · Years 5 to 11
Years 5 to 11 are invited to a relaxed evening of pizza and company in the decorated sukkah. Bring a friend; please RSVP so the team can plan for numbers and dietary needs.
Simchat Torah
Saturday 3 October · from 19:20 · event space · with BHHC
Share one last Shabbat morning kiddush in the sukkah with BHHC, then return in the evening as BHHC and BNJC celebrate Simchat Torah together. Expect singing and dancing, with a youth group travelling from London to join the festivities.
October: after the sukkah
Yalla, Tuesdays: the youth club is back
From Tuesday 6 October · every Tuesday, 18:00 to 19:30 · Years 7 to 9 · free
Youth Club returns for its first term, meeting every Tuesday until December. Young people can make friends, share food and take on a project together.
This year the club joins the Yoni Jesner Initiative, a national programme focused on kindness, volunteering and community action. The group will work on a project during the year and is invited to a national celebration at the end. There is no session on Tuesday 27 October during half term.
Remembering together
Wednesday 7 October · Palmeira Square at 19:30, then BNJC from 20:30
On the third anniversary of 7 October, the community is invited to a memorial at Palmeira Square, organised by the Sussex Jewish Representative Council and the Palmeira Memorial Group. The service will last about 45 minutes.
After the memorial, BNJC will host Open Circle: a quiet space to talk, share, or simply sit with others. Light refreshments, snacks, beer and cake will be available.
Ulpan for Kids
From Sunday 11 October · every Sunday, 9:30 to 11:00 · ages 5 to 13 · £45 for the first term
Children learn Hebrew through games, songs, stories and hands-on activities, with Israeli culture and festival vocabulary woven in. The first term runs from 11 October to 6 December. Taster sessions are available; parents can enjoy coffee and cake during class.
Youth Open House
From Sunday 11 October · every Sunday, 17:30 to 19:00 · Years 5 to 11 · free
Young people from across Brighton and Hove can meet, play and make friends, with games and activities arranged by age group. It is free to attend, but booking is required.
Later in the month, the nursery opens its doors to families who have never been inside.
Come and see where little roots grow
Thursday 22 October · 9:30 to 11:30 · Shoresh Nursery · free coffee and cake
Shoresh means “roots”. The nursery welcomes children from birth to five, with a Montessori-inspired approach and Jewish life woven into the week. Every family is welcome, and funded places are available.
Meet the team, tour the rooms and see a typical morning. Registration will open soon; in the meantime, email nursery@bnjc.co.uk to reserve a place.
Walking tours with a Jewish twist
Sunday 25 October · 10:30 to 12:30 · code BNJC10 for 10% off
Qualified guide Marc Gardiner leads a two-hour walk through Brighton’s Jewish history, connecting familiar streets with lesser-known stories. The clocks go back that morning, so there is an extra hour in the day.
From bump to first steps
New six-week courses from Tuesday 27 October
Beth Nash, BNJC’s Head of Health and Wellbeing, leads two new six-week courses: one for expectant parents and one for parents and carers of babies who are on the move.
Pregnancy Yoga: Tuesdays from 27 October, 19:00 to 20:00 in the studio. For the second and third trimesters; no experience is needed. Sessions include gentle mobility, strength, breathwork and relaxation. £14 for one, £36 for three or £60 for all six.
Mini Movers: Fridays from 30 October, 10:00 to 10:45 in the North Event Space. Yoga for adults and babies who are on the move. Parents, carers and twins are welcome. Per adult: £9 for one session, £24 for three or £42 for all six.
Chair Yoga for back care and wellbeing is also in development. To book any of these courses, email gym@bnjc.co.uk.
Coming soon
Looking ahead, November brings an afternoon of local art and a ceramics course to make a chanukiah. Chanukah dates follow below.
The Brighton Jewish Art Exhibition is back this November
Sunday 1 November · 13:00 to 16:00 · free to exhibit, free to visit
Local Jewish artists will show and sell their work in BNJC’s event space, with coffee and pastries. Selected pieces may then be displayed at BNJC, with an opportunity for artists to sell them.
Visiting: Entry is free. Please reserve a place so the team can plan refreshments.
Exhibiting: Painters, photographers, sculptors and makers are welcome. Registration is free and takes only a few minutes.
Make your own chanukiah
November · dates coming shortly
Join Helen for a two-evening ceramics course. Design and build your chanukiah in the first session, then carve and glaze it in the second. It will be kiln-fired in time for Chanukah.
Also coming up
- YOFI Supper Club: Thursday 5 November, 19:00.
- Don’t Get Scammed: Wednesday 11 November, 11:30 to 13:15. Soup, rolls and practical advice from fraud prevention and trading standards officers. Sign up at info@bnjc.co.uk.
- Shoresh Friday night dinner: Friday 13 November, for nursery families. Places are limited.
- The Righteous Road Trip: Tuesday 17 November, 17:30. A film screening for adults and over-16s.
- Friday Night Dinner at YOFI: Friday 20 November. A pop-up dinner built around food, drink and modern Jewish culture. Time to be announced.
- Mitzvah Day: Sunday 22 November, followed by a community charities fair at BNJC from 11:30.
- On the Couch with Yehudis Fletcher: coming soon.
Chanukah at BNJC
Save the dates. Details to follow.
- Sunday 29 November: pre-Chanukah party
- Sunday 6 December: Civic Chanukah
- Thursday 10 December: communal Chanukah menorah lighting, on the seventh night
In October we gathered under branches. In December we gather round a light.
Every week at BNJC
Alongside the one-off events, these regular activities take place at BNJC each week.
Tuesday
- 11:00 to 13:00: Chatty Café with Helping Hands Sussex, at YOFI
- 14:00 to 16:00: Rochelle Oberman’s art class, all abilities. rochelleoberman@gmail.com
- 18:00 to 19:30: Youth Club, Years 7 to 9
Wednesday
- 10:30 to 11:30: Community Board Games Morning with Jewish Care, at YOFI. Free, just turn up.
- Afternoons: BHHC Lunch and Learn
Thursday
- 15:00 to 17:00: Craft Afternoon with Helping Hands, at YOFI
Friday
- YOFI open until 14:00, with Shabbat meal packages to pre-order
Shabbat
- 11:00 to 12:00: children’s service, for children up to 12 and their parents
- After the morning service: BHHC’s Shabbat kiddush
Sunday
- 9:30 to 11:00: Ulpan for Kids, ages 5 to 13
- 17:30 to 19:00: Youth Open House, Years 5 to 11
Every day: YOFI is open Monday to Thursday 8:30 to 21:30, Friday 8:30 to 14:00 and Sunday 9:00 to 21:30. Book a table for up to eight, or call 01273 750334 for larger groups. Gym and studio classes run Monday to Saturday, members only. Email gym@bnjc.co.uk for this week’s timetable.
Singing for Memory: Jewish Care runs Singing for Memory at BNJC. Places are by registration, so email Vicki Davids at Jewish Care on vicki.davids@jcare.org.
Don’t rely on remembering all this
We’ll share next month’s events in the next roundup and send reminders before each event. Join the email list to receive both.
We hope to see you at BNJC soon.