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Latest from RSY-Netzer

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Josh Martin, Mazkir (Chair) of RSY-Netzer shares the latest news and some exciting events from the Zionist Youth Movement for Reform Judaism.

Last weekend saw RSY-Netzer hosting 3 exciting events. The first two, both in the North, were our first Northern Netzerventure event and the Northern Hadracha Shabbaton. Netzerventure events, regional activities for Reform kids aged 8-15, are always huge amounts of fun for everyone involved, and this one was no different.  25 kids attended from all around the Northern Region, and leaders from the North and South worked hard to make it the fantastic experience that it was. Kol Hakavod to Guy and Ben, RSY's Northern Project Workers.

The Northern Hadracha Shabbaton, a leadership training event for school years 11 and 12, saw 9 trainee leaders from the Northern Region attending to develop their skills for use both in their synagogues and on RSY-Netzer events.  After a day of training the 9 practised their art by leading a fantastic session for the Netzerventure attendees.

Meanwhile, in the South, the first North London Hadracha workshop, again for years 11 and 12, saw over 70 trainee leaders from all over North London, as well as some from Cambridge and Maidenhead.  There was an exciting buzz around the Sternberg Centre, and the group's enthusiasm for becoming leaders was clear.  Overhearing people's in depth discussions about why they wanted to lead and how they felt about RSY-Netzer was genuinely heart warming.

Ben Jardine and 10 members of the Youth Council at NWSS - North West Surrey Synagogue - went with Rabbi Jackie Tabick to Southwark Cathedral for an Interfaith Event, which included a Christian and a Muslim Youth group as well a as a NOAM group. All Youth groups learnt about each other and together created their own Interfaith logo titled 'FAITH IS GR8'. Connections have been made and we all hope to continue working together beyond the Interfaith Day.

This coming weekend RSY-Netzer is hosting a large group for Mitzvah Day. With NOAM and LJY-Netzer joining us at the Sternberg Centre, as well as a Muslim and a Christian group, we hope to be able to make a real difference. We will be collecting sports kit for a charity called Kit Aid, food for local homeless people, and clothing for asylum seekers through an NGO called RenéCassin. Those in attendance will also be encouraged to get creative making hospital gowns for Blue Peter's 'Operation Smile'.  We have high hopes that the event will be a major success and path the way for more collaboration between all these groups in the future.

Find out more at the RSY-Netzer website.