There were five of us from Jackson’s
Row at this year’s MRJ Chagigah. But don’t stop reading if you don’t know what
that is. As Manchester Reform Synagogue we are part of the Movement for Reform
Judaism (MRJ), and the MRJ meets every two years for a conference/celebration
and we call it Chagigah (celebration.) So basically it’s a weekend in a swish
hotel in Nottingham catching up with old friends, making new ones, getting
inspired and renewing our commitment to Reform Judaism.
This year Chagigah had three
distinct strands – Leadership, Adult Social Care and Empowering Jewish
Practice. Some of us learned about community organisation and how to reconnect
with all shul members, and others focussed on initiatives to improve the way we
look after the elderly and lonely in our communities. I was involved in the
Empowering Jewish Practice Strand, and I have a new, rich understand of the
Shema and Amidah – feel free to stop me in shul and ask!
But the exciting thing is that all
three initiatives will become concrete strategies that will affect each MRJ
community. We had representatives in all strands, so you can expect to see some
very welcome new developments in all these areas. I promise to keep you all informed.
These three strands were the
filling in the Chagigah sandwich, but they weren’t all. Just as inspiring were
the inbetween conversations with people, and also in the car journey from
Manchester. And the wonderful feeling of strength we get when we are all
together.
There really was something for
everyone – from the bouncy castle used by our younger members (and some
rabbis!), the bar, the study bursts on such disparate topics as conversion,
depression, Talmud, the meditation sessions, the open Beit Midrash, the
bookshop, the music with the wonderful Cantor Zoe, Judith Silver and RSY
support, a crèche, a baby listening service, wonderful food and so on and so
on.
But also the services we shared were
very special. Each shul has its own minhag, so it’s quite challenging to create
Shabbat services that we can all connect to. However, the Chagigah team managed
it. Our Shabbat morning service was a creative one, with the Torah reading
being interspersed with commentaries from characters called Joy, Fear, Anger
and Sadness – you had to be there to see how well it worked! Rabbi Laura was
with us, of course, and was a constant source of inspiration. And none of this
would have been possible without the vision and hard work of our lovely Sarita
Robinson and Amit Handlesman in London.
Really – if this whets your
appetite at all, please do consider coming to the next Chagigah. If you value
our community at shul, MRJ values, and the focus that prayer brings, then be
part of something bigger, too!
Sherry Ashworth
