Nearly 500 women from around the world have joined a group which holds monthly women-only Hallel services — a 45 percent increase in just a month.

During Chanukah, group members have been uploading pictures of their candle lighting and donating money to the group’s first fund-raising campaign for World Jewish Relief.

Women from as far afield as Mexico, Hong Kong and Latvia have joined the group in recent weeks, alongside hundreds more from the UK, the USA, Israel, Europe, South America, Australia and Africa who have been taking part in the services since they were launched in 2020 by women from Edgware United Synagogue’s Rosh Chodesh group.

The Facebook group is called the Global Jewish Women’s Prayer Initiatives, and it was set up by Jane Habib Myers of Edgware United Synagogue, with Sara Garfield of Edgware Adas and other women from the local community. During the Hallel services, different women take it in turns to sing.

On Sunday, the eighth night of Chanukah, members of the group are being asked to post pictures of their candle-lighting to the group’s home page.

“It’s a way of lighting up Facebook and bringing connection to women and girls around the world,” said Ms Myers.