The Movement for Reform Judaism

The Reform Movement identified and supported three up-and-coming lay leaders from the UK to take part in the prestigious Beutel Seminar for Progressive Jewish Leadership in Jerusalem earlier this month.

Nick Dyson (Sinai, Leeds) Kathryn Michaels (Hendon, London) and Tracey Graham (Jackson's Row, Manchester) have just returned full of enthusiasm, ideas and practical skills to energise and invest in their communities after participating in the programme which is organised by the World Union for Progressive Judaism.

The course is a ten day seminar dedicated to active members on their way to assuming leadership positions in their communities, the Reform Movement and the World Union for Progressive Judaism. All participants were recommended by their community for their dedicated service to attend the course, in order to focus on strengthening their leadership skills.

The UK trio joined 15 others from around the world, from Rio de Janeiro to St Petersburg; from Cape Town to Perth in a once in a lifetime experience of prayer, text study, field study and leadership skill training.

Mornings would start with prayers overlooking the dramatic walls of Jerusalem's Old City, providing opportunities for participants to reflect upon the meaning of worship in their communities and personal lives. Text studies also allowed participants to engage meaningfully with text through chevruta.

Participants were encouraged and trained to develop their own leadership potential. They were exposed to different models of Jewish leadership: they met those who created Kibbutzim in the Negev as well as a group who set up a soup kitchen in Jerusalem. At Yad Vashem, they learnt about the story of how Jewish and other communal leaders functioned under the incredible stresses of the Holocaust whilst in Mod'in they met the committed Rabbi who set up a synagogue and thriving Reform Jewish school under intense pressures of local politics.

Nick Dyson enthused: "This has been an incredible experience on every level: globally, I feel part of a worldwide Reform movement and community; nationally, I can appreciate now how important the Movement for Reform Judaism is in supporting emerging communities across Central and Eastern Europe; and locally, I have a clearer idea of how we as a community need to grow and develop in the years ahead."
Tracey Graham echoed Nick's view: "The fact that the Reform Movement is prepared, each year, to sponsor attendance at the seminar programme is evidence of its commitment to develop lay leaders - not only in the member communities, but also for the world stage. We returned with renewed commitment, enthusiasm, and energy to contribute to our communities and repay the Movement's investment in us."

Kathryn Michaels added: "Ten days of spiritual and educational experiences... If people thought I was full of ideas and energy before, they haven't seen what came back from Israel! If you get asked to participate, don't turn down the opportunity." 

Julian Resnick, Living Judaism Director for the Reform Movement commented: "This is the second time we have sent participants on Beutel. Our participant from last year's programme is about to become Chair of his community. And it is partly because of the fantastic experience he had that we worked so hard to get three participants to Jerusalem this year. I want to commend the vision of the leadership of the three communities in their support of Nick, Kathryn and Tracey."

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