Festival Services & Activities

Evening festival service are usually held at 6.00pm and morning services at 11.00am, preceded by coffee and cake from 10.30am. At the end of every festival service there is a kiddush (blessing over wine).

Sukkot

After the solemnity of the High Holy Days, we come together to build and decorate a communal Sukkah (tabernacle). Each year we have a theme, and at an Open House service we welcome people of all faiths and none into the Sukkah.

Simchat Torah

At the end of the Torah reading year, the Torah scrolls are danced around the synagogue to joyous klezmer music. Congregants help unwind one scroll from one end of the Sanctuary to the other. The rabbis circumnavigate this scroll, reliving the journey from Genesis to Deuteronomy. A celebratory supper follows the evening service. The next morning the wardens at the end of their term of office are honoured.

Chanukkah

The communal chanukkiah dates back to 1849, and we light it each night of Chanukkah to mark the miracle of the light and the hope of good triumphing over evil. Each night of Chanukkah is dedicated to a different constituent group of the community. There may be a rabbis’ drinks reception, a celebratory intergenerational Shabbat Chanukkah service, a children’s doughnut party, area group meetings all over London where we light the chanukkiah in members’ homes, a young adults event, a tea party for our senior members.

Purim

For families, we host a joyful Purim carnival — packed with costumes, activities, and plenty of fun. And for everyone, our celebrations continue with a spirited reading of the Megillah (Esther), followed by a themed Purim Spiel performed by our rabbis and wardens in fabulous costumes, plus an upbeat after‑party to round off the night.

Join us on 2 March 2026 for this year’s Purim Spiel, Oyklahoma! — our playful, musical twist on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first classic. Before the show, come along to our Ma'ariv Service and cabaret‑style Megillah reading, complete with hamantaschen and generous jugs of our special Purim Prairie Punch. Visit the event page for more details and to book your place at the buffet.

Pesach

The very first communal Seder in the UK took place at West London Synagogue in 1931. We are proud to continue that tradition, hosting a warm and inclusive intergenerational community Seder on the first night of Pesach (Passover), bringing people of all ages together to share in the story, traditions, and spirit of the festival.

This Seder runs alongside our dedicated 20+/30+ Seder, offering two meaningful and engaging experiences so everyone in our community can take part in a way that feels right for them.

Shavuot

The evening of Shavuot starts with an uplifting service, followed by a supper and then a ‘Shavuaton’ - a  full night of inspiring study sessions. We welcome the first rays of morning with a roof-top sunrise service. The traditional 11am service commences with the community’s children dancing on rose petals in the Sanctuary, to release their perfume.