This page was last updated on: Saturday, 09 February 2008
Youth Matters - Sunday, 3rd February 2008 at 8.00pm
Reform Synagogue Hosts First Open Day
The
first Southend and District Reform Synagogue (SDRS) Open Day to welcome all to
the synagogue (the idea of their current chair, Sue Levitas), was held on Sunday, 10th
June 2007 and was a one hundred percent success, according to their website.
The event saw a steady stream of visitors of all ages, including David Amess MP, the Mayoress of Southend, Mrs Daphne White (pictured left with Rabbi Warren Elf), local Councillors and members of the local Jewish orthodox synagogue. Other visitors included those interested in joining the SDRS community as well as members of other faiths who were keen to learn about our synagogue, Reform Judaism and modern Jewish life in Southend.
The
event was billed as 'A Taste of Judaism' and was just that. Stalls
included; books of interest for sale, Judaica for sale (run by Pat DePass
pictured right), Jewish Artifacts, Movement for Reform Judaism, information
about RSY Netzer (Youth Movement), a display of the SDRS website and of course a
full table of food, as no event would be complete without that!
Rabbi Warren Elf, attendees of the synagogue and a few guests were available to run stalls and discuss aspects of synagogue life. Many thanks to Sue Levitas, Rabbi Warren Elf and SDRS for hosting the opening.
Sacred
Heart Catholic Primary School (SHCPS)
of Southend became the first school to use the new multi-faith centre on
Tuesday, 22nd May 2007 as part of their ‘multi-faith week’. Sixty
pupils from years three and four visited in four groups of fifteen, with year
three focusing on Hinduism and year four, Buddhism.
The
pupils made full use of the computer suite and centre - producing some excellent
artwork. See the picture bottom right (to view a larger PDF version please click
the picture). The children were over-whelmed at being able to handle the artifacts and
see them close up, unlike their experiences of museums where you can only look
at displays from a distance. Over all the day was an absolute success, if a
little chaotic!
SEEIFA would very much like to thank Paula Barningham (from SHCPS), the teachers, parent helpers and children for making the day possible. Our team look forward to seeing you again very soon.
If your school would like to visit the multi-faith centre or would like more details about the project, please e-mail or telephone. Our details are on the 'Contact Us' page.
Please note that at present the centre doesn’t have a teacher on site so one of your staff would have to lead the class.
E-flyers
Issued to Essex Schools and Organisations 
Electronic flyers were issued to most schools in the Essex area on Monday, 21st May 2007 giving them up-to-date details about South East Essex Interfaith in Action, the interfaith project and multi-faith resource room located in Westcliff. Schools e-mailed a poster in the first phase were located in Basildon, Billericay, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Grays Thurrock, Rochford, Southend, Westcliff and Wickford.
A copy of the flyer was also issued to the local deanery and various religious organisations in the area. To download a copy of the e-flyer for your own use or to forward to friends in the education sector or to anyone who may be interested, please click here.
New Interfaith Community Worker appointed
Committee members, Fern Potter and Warren Elf of South East Essex Interfaith in Action are very pleased to announce they have appointed a new Interfaith Community Worker to take it through it's second year after recently securing further funding from the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund.
Richard
Levy (pictured) been awarded the job and will be assisted voluntarily by his
wife Devorah (also pictured). Richard isn't a new face at the Interfaith
Centre as he dealt with the ICT, admin and site management side voluntarily for
the final six months of year one. Richard will continue with the ICT and admin
whilst Devorah will help with the education side. Devorah
is a qualified teacher (from the USA) who specialises in deaf education and
currently teaches at a junior school in Rayleigh.
Sunday, 11th
March 2007 saw the much awaited opening of the South East Essex Interfaith in
Action's multi-faith Resource Centre in the presence of The Mayor (pictured right)
and Mayoress of Southend, Councillor Price and Mrs Price.
The grand opening was the culmination of a years work by a dedicated steering group and the year one Interfaith Community Worker, Chris Farge (pictured with Fern Potter).
Rabbi Warren Elf and Fern Potter set up South East Essex Interfaith in Action (SEEIFA), (which is funded by the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund), in October 2005. With the new resource centre now fully operational, it is going to be an invaluable resource to many more schools and community groups.
At 3.00pm, the opening commenced with a tour of the 'Centre and an opportunity to explore the resources and artifacts. After the tour, dignities, visitors and alike gathered for refreshments. Rabbi Warren Elf started the proceedings by thanking those present and handing over to SEEIFA Steering Committee Member and SDRS Chairperson, Sue Levitas. Sue made a short speech of thanks and announced that SEEIFA had successfully won a second year grant.
The
children from the SDRS religious school performed a few songs with some musical
accompaniment (and lots of encouragement) from Rabbi Elf. Pictured right, in mid
dance.
Fern Potter (pictured above with Chris Farge) read a very moving prayer written by her young son Mark. A number of people approached Fern afterwards to say how moved they were - some close to tears - and how remarkable that the piece had been written by a teenager. If you would like to read the prayer please click here.
Speeches also followed from Revd Harris, Dr Pasha, Mayor Cllr Ron Price and Rabbi Warren Elf.
Many thanks must go to (in no particular order), the SEEIFA steering committee; Chris Farge, Fern Potter, Sue Levitas, Rabbi Warren Elf, Revd Colin Baldwin and Dr Pasha. David Rees, the entire SDRS Guild, Richard and Devorah Levy, Clive Potter, David Sears, The Mayor and Mayoress of Southend and all those who attended to show support for the project and make the afternoon very special.
Pictured right to left, Rabbi Warren Elf, The Mayor and Mayoress of Southend, Councillor Price and Mrs Price, Revd Martin Harris and Mr Kwaja.
Please note, SEEIFA and the Resource Centre are not run by the synagogue, but is an organisation within its own right. It has its own constitution, its own funds and is self-administrating.
South East Essex Interfaith in Action Receives Grant
South
East Essex Interfaith in Action has been awarded a grant of £15,000 from the
Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund to continue its interfaith work started
last year and hosted by Southend and District Reform Synagogue.
Competing with over 1,200 applications from across the UK, the Community
Development Foundation has announced grants to 343 organisations to enable local
organisations to contribute towards community cohesion via a range of interfaith
activities.
South East Essex Interfaith in Action will use the funds to develop interfaith activities around South East Essex’s new Interfaith Community Resource Centre, recruit young people from various faith groups onto South East Essex Interfaith In Action’s Steering Group, and empower the young people, through a range of training programmes, to assist the Interfaith Community Worker in designing and delivering at least one major interfaith project for the South East Essex community.
The funds will build on activities already initiated in South East Essex Interfaith in Action’s first year of funding. During the first year, a dedicated Interfaith Community Centre, which houses a range of resources and equipment for use by the public was created. The Resource Centre is available to welcome groups from schools, churches, Mosques and interfaith groups, as well as local interest groups.
South East Essex Interfaith in Action’s Steering Group involves a group of individuals from the various faith communities in South East Essex, including Rabbi Warren Elf and Sue Levitas from Southend and District Reform Synagogue, Dr Mohammed Pasha from the Southend Mosque, Revd Colin Baldwin from Southend College and David Rees a representative for the Catholic community and an educator. “We believe that interfaith dialogue is vital in today’s society to overcome misunderstandings and to develop trust between members of different groups and religions.”, says Rabbi Elf…”We are delighted that this award will enable us to continue our interfaith work, and in particular, engage more young people in interfaith activities that promote greater dialogue and understanding.”
For further information, please contact Fern Potter (Committee Member) via e-mail.
Interfaith - SDRS Takes The Lead
Southend
and District Reform Synagogue has been awarded a grant of £24,110 from the 'Faith
Communities Capacity Building Fund' for its leading initiative: SEE (South East
Essex) Interfaith in Action. Competing with over 2100 applications from across
the UK, Home Office Minister, the Rt. Hon. Paul Goggins (pictured) has announced grants to
enable local organisations to contribute towards community cohesion via a range
of interfaith activities.
The synagogue will use the funds to create a dedicated Interfaith Community Centre which will welcome groups from schools, churches, mosques and interfaith groups as well as local interest groups. The Community Centre will house a range of resources and equipment for use by the public. The whole project will be led by an Interfaith Community Worker who will liase with faith groups across Southeast Essex and initiate a range of projects in consultation with faith leaders, teachers, the local authority and other community groups.
Since the horrific events of September 11th 2001, Southend and District Reform Synagogue’s Rabbi Rabbi Warren Elf has been actively working to bring faith-based groups together in a greater dialogue as a way of easing tensions.
“We believe that interfaith dialogue is vital in today’s society to overcome misunderstandings and to develop trust between members of different groups and religions.”, says Rabbi Elf…”We are delighted that this award will enable us to develop the interfaith work we are doing, to engage with more individuals and groups and to develop the resources that create the opportunities for more interfaith activities.”
For further information, please contact Fern Potter (Committee Member) via e-mail or at the centre address.
Wednesday,
23 November 2005 saw a ‘Celebration of Cultural Diversity Event’ (for HMRC*
staff) held in Portcullis House Southend. Around seven to eight hundred people
attended the occasion, including the Deputy Mayor. Mike Royston and Lewis Miller, HMRC staff and members of the
local community helped to run a
stall.
Displayed were a range of foods and religious garments, showing their link with the Jewish festivals. Mike and Lewis were able to explain about the Jewish faith and displayed posters advertising our synagogue’s website, so hopefully we’ll get some extra hits.
There was a lot of interest, and many visitors to the event stopped to have a free taste of Jewish food, including cholla and Mike’s mum's home made lockshen pudding! Many people were keen to find out more about the food and the part it plays in the Jewish way of life.
The Jewish stall was just one of many that featured a range of faiths and ethnic origins, reflecting the wide cultural diversity of those who work in HMRC and in the local community.
The event also raised over £2,000 for local charities; Fair Havens, HARP and John Grooms. It’s nice to know that our synagogue helped to achieve this.
Many thanks to Mike for providing the information used on this page and for the photographs.
* Formerly Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.
Interfaith Service with Southend Mosque
In
keeping with Rabbi Warren Elf's ethos of establishing interfaith dialogues it was
his great pleasure to welcome to Southend and District Reform Synagogue (SDRS)
on Saturday, 3rd September 2005 the Imam
and members of the congregation from Southend Mosque.
This most recent event follows a visit by members of the SDRS congregation to their Mosque earlier this year.
Rabbi Elf led an explanatory service for their benefit. Following the service he brought out a Sefer Torah for our visitors to view explaining the significance of the scroll and its garments. Rabbi Elf and SDRS hope that this tradition of sharing our faiths continues.
