Masorti has a lot to learn from its big day of debate
SUBJECTS RANGING from gender and sexuality to human rights issues were covered during Masorti Judaism’s annual educational day, Yom Masorti, which attracted 200 people from its 15 communities to the New North London Synagogue in Finchley.
Sessions were conducted by Masorti personalities including Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Rabbi Jeremy Gordon and chazan Jaclyn Chernett and external specialists such as Toni Rickenback, director of the UK Task Force, who discussed diversity in the Knesset. She said the event “was an opportunity to raise awareness about issues relating to Arab citizens of Israel. The questions and conversations about Arab representation in the Knesset, and more widely in Israeli society, were engaging and positive.”
Masorti chief executive Matt Plen chaired an education panel which debated whether Jewish schools were needed to provide a Jewish education. Among other sessions, BBC Radio programme makers Sarah Peters and Alan Dein brought an East End street to life and the New Israel Fund’s Kalela Lancaster discussed Israeli human rights NGOs and the meaning of Israeli democracy.
Culture buffs enjoyed music and literature sessions. Culinary types were well served by Nina Mellman’s demonstration of Middle Eastern recipes and beatboxing and circus skills were part of an extensive children’s programme.
Mr Plen said the day reflected “our movement’s energy and momentum. This is an exciting year for Masorti Judaism with membership on the increase, new communities i n Bri s t ol a nd Liverpool, two newly-ordained rabbis, Roni Ta b i c k a n d Oliver Joseph, andouryoung a d u l t s a n d youth organisations going from strength to strength.”