Welcome

Please take a look around my website and do remember to RSVP.On 29th November 2025
This is also Joseph's actual 13th Birthday.1030 Service. This will be held at Sinai Synagogue, 2a Roman Rd, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 2AN*, followed by Kiddish at 1230.1830 Evening reception at Leodiensian (Leos) Rugby Club, Crag Lane, Off King Lane, Alwoodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS17 5PR. Please note the turning is not easy to find. The What3Words address for the turning is ///cube.hats.since. Please also note that cars can be left safely overnight.*Synagogue is currently in the early stages of redevelopment planning. In the unlikely event that we have to change the venue we shall let you know by email.If you would like to book our wonderful band, please contact Marcus on [email protected]

About the service

About the service: This is Sinai Synagogue’s usual Saturday morning service, during which Joseph will read from the Torah (scrolls) for the first time, marking him as a Jewish adult.Kiddish: This is wine and Challa (Bread) served after the service. As this is a special day sandwiches and cakes will be available too. Please pick up wine at the end of the service and wait until the prayers have been said before drinking or eating.Dress: Smart casual. Anyone who wishes to wear kippa (head covering) is welcome to and these will be available on the day. Jewish adults are invited to wear tallit (prayer shawls).On arrival: Please be aware the Synagogue has a security gate, expect to be asked your name on arrival.

Accommodation

Both venues are in North Leeds, approximately 2 miles from the city centre (which is also where the main train station is located). Below are some suggestions of budget, mid-range and luxury hotels that we think are suitable. It may also be worth looking at AirBnB.Budget:Art Hostel
Premier Inn, Headingley Leeds
Headingley Lodge Hotel (overlooking Leeds Rhino's home turf)
Hinsley Hall Hotel
Ibis Styles, Leeds City CentreMid-Range:
Haley's Hotel
White Rose Hotel And Restaurant Leeds (nb. a little further out of Leeds)
Weetwood Hall Hotel
DoubleTree by Hilton
The Old Police Station Aparthotel
Headingley Hideaway apartmentsLuxury:
The Queens Hotel
Quebecs Luxury Aparthotel
Malmaison Hotel Leeds
Dakota Leeds
Oulton Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort (nb. a little further out of Leeds)

Visiting Leeds

Leeds is located in West Yorkshire. The City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom.Leeds is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. The city was a small manorial borough in the 13th century and a market town in the 16th century. It expanded by becoming a major production and trading centre (mainly with wool) in the 17th and 18th centuries.Leeds developed as a mill town during the Industrial Revolution alongside other surrounding villages and towns in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It was also known for its flax industry, iron foundries, engineering and printing, as well as shopping, with several surviving Victorian era arcades. City status was awarded in 1893, and a populous urban centre formed in the following century which absorbed surrounding villages and overtook the population of nearby York.Leeds' economy is the most diverse of all the UK's main employment centres, has seen the fastest rate of private-sector jobs growth of any UK city and has the highest ratio of private to public sector jobs. Leeds is home to over 109,000 companies, generating 5% of England's total economic output of £60.5 billion, and is also ranked as a high sufficiency city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Leeds is considered the cultural, financial and commercial heart of the West Yorkshire Urban Area.Leeds is also served by five universities, and has the fourth largest student population in the country and the country's fourth largest urban economy.Leeds has a vibrant nightlife, there are also ample facilities for sporting and cultural activities, including classical and popular music festivals, and a varied collection of museums. (Stolen and edited from Wikipedia).If you have the time and want to explore the city we recommend looking at both Visit Leeds and Leeds List websites. We would also recommend visiting the following:Parks and gardens
Meanwood Park (our local park)
Golden Acre Park
Roundhay Park and Tropical World (a sort of zoo)
Temple Newsam
Otley Chevin Forest Park (further out)Museums and galleries:
Leeds Art Gallery
Leeds City Museum
The Royal Armouries which you could get to by catching a water taxi from Leeds Docks
Thackray Medical Museum
Kirkstall Abbey and Abbey House Museum
Harewood HouseCultural Highlights:
Leeds Kirkgate Market
Victoria Quarter
Leeds Corn Exchange
Brudenell Social Club (lots of events
The Domino Club (a jazz speakeasy)
The Wardrobe (lots of events)Theatre and Film:
Leeds Playhouse
Hyde Park Picture House
City Varieties Music Hall and Leeds Grand Theatre
Cottage Road CinemaFood and Drink:
Leeds has am abundance of independent of food and drink establishments, from local cafes and coffee shops to the traditional English Pub and to fine dining.Sport related:
(though it will be out of season for some):
Leeds Rhinos (Rugby League)
Leeds United Football Club (that is football, not soccer)
Yorkshire Cricket
Leeds Knights (Ice Hockey)

Further afield

The city of Leeds is well placed for transport links to the rest of the country. The M1 (motorway) is approximately 11 miles to the east and makes travel both north and south easy. The M62 is south of Leeds and makes travel across the country east to west easy.Leeds has a large train station that is well used by all the train companies. Leeds and Bradford Airport is an international airport, but international travellers may find that Manchester Airport has more landing availability. There is also a direct train from Manchester Airport to Leeds City Station.If you are visiting and wish to spend a bit more time exploring the north of England, beyond Leeds, there is plenty to see!This year, our neighbouring city Bradford, is the UK City of Culture. There is a massive program of events in place. Bradford also holds what locals still call the National Museum of Film and Television, but is actually now called the National Science and Media Museum.While in that area, the town of Saltaire is well worth a visit, making sure to spend some time in Salts Mill. The artist David Hockney often shows work here.Further west of Bradford is Brontë Country, centred around the town of Haworth.To the south of Leeds is Wakefield. If you are a fan of the sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth the Hepworth Wakefield has lots of her work, alongside works by other contemporary sculptors and artists.On the outskirts of Wakefield lies the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Art galleries sit in vast gardens full of changing exhibits of sculpture and large scale art works.To the west of Leeds is the west coastline of the UK. On the way you could drop into the city of Hull. Here you could do the Hull Ale Trail and visit Ye Olde White Harte which is claimed to be the pub where the English Civil War started in 1642. Also in Hull is The Deep aquarium.Travelling north up the coast are number of interesting towns and villages, from the well travelled seaside towns of Whitby (think Count Dracula, and for good British Fish and Chips, the Magpie), Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough to the lesser travelled (and worth visiting) Robin Hood's Bay, Hornsea, Bempton Cliffs (nesting sights for lots of birds) and Saltburn-on-sea.Traveling inland, north of Leeds, head to Harrogate as the gateway into North Yorkshire. Make sure to visit Betty's Cafe and Tea Rooms.To the east of Harrogate
is the city of York, with it's rich Roman and Viking heritage there is plenty to see and do.From Harrogate you can branch out and explore towns and hamlets leading to both the Yorkshire Dales National Park (to the west) or the North York Moors National Park (to the east).Settle in the Yorkshire Dales is worth a visit. If you are cheese lover, The Wensleydale Creamery is a good destination to spend some time.On your way across to the North York Moors, stop at Leeming Bar and take part in a Gin Experience in the Masons Gin distillery. Tim and Megan have been and say it is really worthwhile - but do remember to bring some back fort them if you do go!Further into the North York Moors, Goathland and Pickering are fun places to explore and you can ride a steam train between them.Beyond Yorkshire, to the north east is the city of Newcastle.To the east are Manchester and Liverpool and in Cumbria, to the north west is the Lake District.Scotland is some 135 miles to the north.

RSVP

We would love you to come to Joseph's Bar Mitzvah and evening celebration. Please fill out the form below to let us know if you are able to attend. If you have any problems we have set up a dedicated email address, so do reach out to [email protected]Once method is agreed, add in here