National Theatre Director Entertains Reform Guests
Written by Andrea Newman Monday, 12 October 2009
This year’s Reform Movement Dinner was completely ‘sold out’ at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London’s Portland Place. 230 people attended the event last week which raised almost £250,000. Guests were treated to the literary insights of leading British Jewish theatre director, Nicholas Hytner.
Mr Hytner described the similarities between what he is trying to achieve with the National Theatre, and what Reform Judaism brings to Jewish tradition. Both, he explained, are engaged in the dialectic between the past and the present, reinterpreting traditional texts for the 21st century. Like the Reform Movement he is keeping tradition progressive with the National’s repertoire.
Other speeches focussed on the theme of the evening: Touching Lives for a Brighter Jewish Future, with a film about the substantial investment the Reform Movement is making in inspirational programmes for young people of all ages. Click here to watch the 2009 Reform Movement film.
Rabbi Dr. Tony Bayfield explained how the Reform Movement is inspiring change: “Our day schools, our youth movement, our student work are now expanding programmes, cutting edge programmes, pioneering programmes, inspirational programmes. Enabling young people to live and breathe Judaism. […] We are bringing about change. We have set the seeds for what the Reform Movement will become. We have set the seeds for what British Jewry will become.”
The evening was sponsored by Investec, represented on the night by Dr Allen Zimbler, who emphasised the importance of the Movement’s investment in youth.
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