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Rabbis change name and aim |
The Assembly of Rabbis – the professional body that links all Reform rabbis – has changed its name as part of a campaign to play a much greater role in British Jewry as a whole. Until now it has largely served as an in-house trade union for rabbis, whereas now it will seek to exert a national profile.As part of this new pro-active role, it voted at its Annual General Meeting to change its name to The Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK.
The AGM also saw Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain (Maidenhead Synagogue) being re-elected for a second term as Chairman, with Rabbi Paul Freedman (Radlett & Bushey Reform Synagogue) as Vice-Chairman.
One of its first tasks will be to respond to the current economic downturn by working with groups to help congregants find work, be it those seeking a first-time job or those looking for re-employment.
It is helping to initiate a strategy for assisting Jewish students throughout the country, especially those not served by JSocs and also those who feel on the margins of Jewish life. It has commissioned a series of pamphlets that address other contemporary issues. Titles planned include ‘Healing in Judaism, ‘New Creative Rituals’, ‘Agnosticism, Humanism and Judaism’, and ‘Ethical Investment’.
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