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On the Road with Rabbi David Mitchell

Written by Rabbi David Mitchell Thursday, 13 August 2009

As part of my work as an RBRS (Radlett and Bushey Reform Synagogue) rabbi I spent last week (Sunday-Wednesday in Wales with Atid, Reiut and Emunah and Shabbat afternoon and evening in Hastings with Briyah) traveling around the 4 RSY camps with the RSY Shaliach Ben Jardine.

In each of the camps I ran programmes, services, met the kids and their incredible teenage leaders, and brought everyone lots of jelly beans that were sent by Leo Baeck College to wish everyone a "sweet Shemesh". One of my highlights was sharing in a relaxed and musical post-Shabbat camp fire with the madrichim on Briyah.

Across the camps I was asked to run programmes on a variety of topics from 'Challenging Racism' to 'Facing our Fears', but of all the programmes, perhaps the most challenging and enjoyable was the 'Living Your Dreams' session that I ran 6 times back-to-back for the more than 170 kids on Emunah. Through a variety of texts I explained to the teens that they shouldn't let anyone hold them back or tell them that they can't follow their aspirations.

Sharing my story, I told them that I had wanted to become a rabbi when I was child and then again as a student and now I really am living my dream - especially being able to work with our youth. One of the main reasons I chose to become a rabbi before I was 30 (I'm 29) was so that I would still be young enough at heart and in appearance to hopefully relate and be relatable to our young people - I hoped that through this I could both support our youth and also work with them, as they really are our future!

I grew up in another youth movement and then became heavily involved with UJS, where I was a movement worker and educator, so this was my first experience of Shemesh - and what an experience! I've come back really inspired and motivated to put even more energy into our youth provision at Radlett and  Bushey Reform Synagogue. I have also come back knowing that not only did all our kids have a brilliant time on camp, but perhaps more importantly, we have a group of exceptional teenage leaders who, with the right support and encouragement, have the potential to create a very bright future for the Movement for Reform Judaism.

It was an unforgettable week of long drives, late nights and amazing encounters. Hopefully next year I'll be back to spend Shabbat with one of the camps.