Northern Communities Gather in Grange-over-Sands
Written by Movement for Reform Judaism Tuesday, 29 November 2011
The Movement for Reform Judaism's Northern conference took place on the weekend of 25th-27th November with representatives attending from 13 communities from Blackpool to Glasgow, Newcastle to Southport, Manchester to Hull.
The Northern Communities' Weekend, featured services, study and communal learning (and lots of fun too) centred around the theme of 'Building Community'at the Abbot Hall hotel in Grange-over-Sands.
Sessions and workshops were held on issues such as 'what really constitutes a community', 'engaging the stranger', 'opening a Jewish School' and 'the next generation of Reform Judaism'. Discussions also included an opportunity for the Northern Communities to respond to the Movement’s strategic review, ways to use our new siddur more creatively and how to make services more musical (with Cantor Zöe Jacobs, the UK’s first Reform cantor).
Guest speakers included Ben Rich, Chief Executive of the Movement for Reform Judaism who led an interactive session on Reform Jewish values; Rabbi Barbara Borts of Newcastle Reform Synagogue, who participated in a discussion on the future of Northern communities, and Peter Kessler, Founder of Eden Jewish Primary School, which opened in September 2011.
A special youth programme was led by Southport Reform Synagogue member Frankie Stubbs of RSY-Netzer including games, creative sessions and special services.
Ben Rich, Chief Executive of the Movement for Reform Judaism said: "This was a wonderful opportunity to reinvigorate some of our smaller and more far-flung communities as well as our larger centres of Reform Jewish life in the North. It was a chance to share innovative new ideas and best practice as well as drawing on some of the resources and skills the Movement can provide across the country.
"Being part of a larger Movement is particularly important to our younger members whose chances to interact with Jewish peers come through the activities of RSY-Netzer and Jeneration at events like Shemesh and Sheleg camps and our summer Israel Tour."
Read more about the weekend in the JC: 'Shining example is set by Reform's northern lights'
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