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Rosh Hashana greeting from Board President
I approach the High Holydays this year with mixed emotions. On the one hand we have seen disturbing political developments during the summer. The Board has been dealing with the consequences of the decision of the Synod of the Church of England to endorse the EAPPI Programme, the growing campaign against Israel in churches, NGOs and in organisations like the Co-Op as well as the hostility to Israel in the media and in academe.
Above all there is the threat of renewed violence in the Middle East with growing unrest in Gaza, the civil war in Syria and, most ominously, the developing threat from Iran. None of these issues are going to go away in the New Year. On the contrary they are all going to deteriorate and present us with greater challenges than ever.
On the other hand, our community continues to be as vibrant and exciting as it has ever been. I have just come from Klezmer in the Park the annual celebration of the Jewish Music Institute and before that the beautifully moving Selichot Service held at the recently renovated Hampstead Synagogue, both reminders, if we needed it, of the dignity and richness of our communal life.
The Board must rise to the challenges in the new year. So far the signs are good. At our most recent Plenary we arranged ‘Breakout’ sessions where small groups of Deputies could have much more in-depth discussions about a variety of topics and join pro-active working groups. The feedback was extremely positive. We will of course only be able to judge when we can see the degree to which the initiatives which we have begun are translated into action.
On the other hand, our community continues to be as vibrant and exciting as it has ever been. I have just come from Klezmer in the Park the annual celebration of the Jewish Music Institute and before that the beautifully moving Selichot Service held at the recently renovated Hampstead Synagogue, both reminders, if we needed it, of the dignity and richness of our communal life.
The Board must rise to the challenges in the new year. So far the signs are good. At our most recent Plenary we arranged ‘Breakout’ sessions where small groups of Deputies could have much more in-depth discussions about a variety of topics and join pro-active working groups. The feedback was extremely positive. We will of course only be able to judge when we can see the degree to which the initiatives which we have begun are translated into action.
We need these initiatives both because the situation in the outside world demands them and also because the community is looking to the Board to provide leadership in these difficult times. The team of lay leaders and the professional staff at the Board are able and willing to provide it but more than ever the success of our efforts over the next three years will depend on the response and the engagement of Deputies. The initiatives that we will be launching both through Synagogues and other communal organisations but above all in our engagement with local MPs, local authority councillors and also MEPs as well as their staff will be of vital importance in the year to come.
In the end we will all be influenced by factors beyond our control. We need however to do our utmost and let us hope that we, the State of Israel, the Jewish people and all, humanity will be blessed with a happy prosperous and sweet New Year.
In the end we will all be influenced by factors beyond our control. We need however to do our utmost and let us hope that we, the State of Israel, the Jewish people and all, humanity will be blessed with a happy prosperous and sweet New Year.
