A New Chair at SDRS
Written by Movement for Reform Judaism Thursday, 26 February 2009
My name is Jon Caine and I am the new chairman of Southgate and District Reform Synagogue. I am 30 years old, which is why many people in the wider community want to know how I came to be chairman at such a comparatively young age.
Here I should add that I was recently asked by a member of the community how they could become chairman, and they then said they wouldn’t wait as long as I did! It all started when I was invited onto one of the synagogue sub-committees by a friend. This group was particularly friendly and relaxed, which I am sure is why I remained on it for so long, and why I came involved in other areas of the synagogue including council.
I am sure that SDRS being such a warm and friendly community played a large part in my becoming involved and is the reason that many people join, stay, and become involved at SDRS. A significant landmark on the way to becoming chair was the annual Beutel Seminar that I attended in Israel last year. Thank you all, as the Movement of Reform Judaism got me to go and sponsored my place. It was certainly a life changing experience for me and gave me a far greater appreciation and understanding of progressive Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora and their effect on one another. I can heartily recommend it!
So what will I be doing? The top of that list is membership as synagogues are after all membership organisations. I will be aiming to improve the services (not religious) to our members which I am sure will have the knock on effect of attracting new members. I will also be doing my best to ensure a future for the community by getting more young adults involved. We are already heading in the right direction with 3 members of council under the age of 35.
Please do come and visit us at SDRS and say hi if I am there!
L’Shalom
Jon
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
