Bromley Reform Synagogue
Encyclopedia
Bromley Reform Synagogue is a synagogue
in the London
Borough of Bromley
; it serves the areas of south east London and north west Kent including Bromley, Beckenham, Orpington, Blackheath, Dartford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
The community was established in 1964 and has been based in its present location for 41 years. The Sanctuary was recently refurbished in light wood and glass, with the hope that it would reflect the Hebrew name of the community, Beit Or, House of Light.
and the current minister - Rabbi Tony Hammond - is Chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK for a two year term of office starting in 2009. The rabbi is the only full-time employee of the community. Other staff include an administrator, cheder
(religion school) head teacher and a caretaker.
Rabbi Hammond has served as rabbi at Bromley Reform Synagogue since 2004.
Family services are held regularly through the year and are normal Shabbat services but are shorter (1 hour) with lots of participation, less formality, storytelling rather than a haftarah, songs and no sermon. There are sweets for the kids and small gifts for those with birthdays. Toys are available for the very young, and there is a bring-and-share cake kiddush after the service.
Most services led by Rabbi Tony Hammond, using the standard Reform liturgy. There are also other services, mainly on Friday nights, when the format differs, and there is a great deal of opportunity for participation by lay members, many of whom also lead services when the rabbi is absent.
A wide range of events and activities are organised - youth, education, social, religious and local area groups which organise social events in their own neighbourhoods.
There is a social centre for older people with coffee and socialising, board and card games, gentle physical exercises and a discussion on a topical issue followed by lunch and a talk or entertainment.
There are also some special interest groups and the rabbi sometimes gives talks and lecture series.
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Borough of Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
; it serves the areas of south east London and north west Kent including Bromley, Beckenham, Orpington, Blackheath, Dartford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
The community was established in 1964 and has been based in its present location for 41 years. The Sanctuary was recently refurbished in light wood and glass, with the hope that it would reflect the Hebrew name of the community, Beit Or, House of Light.
Affiliation and staff
Bromley Reform Synagogue is a member of the Movement for Reform JudaismMovement for Reform Judaism
Movement for Reform Judaism is the main organizational body of the Jewish Reform community in Great Britain....
and the current minister - Rabbi Tony Hammond - is Chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK for a two year term of office starting in 2009. The rabbi is the only full-time employee of the community. Other staff include an administrator, cheder
Cheder
A Cheder is a traditional elementary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language.-History:...
(religion school) head teacher and a caretaker.
Rabbi Hammond has served as rabbi at Bromley Reform Synagogue since 2004.
Services
Services are held every Shabbat on Friday evening and Saturday morning as well as for all Jewish festivals. Services are egalitarian; men and women sit together and take an equal role in the religious life of the community.Family services are held regularly through the year and are normal Shabbat services but are shorter (1 hour) with lots of participation, less formality, storytelling rather than a haftarah, songs and no sermon. There are sweets for the kids and small gifts for those with birthdays. Toys are available for the very young, and there is a bring-and-share cake kiddush after the service.
Most services led by Rabbi Tony Hammond, using the standard Reform liturgy. There are also other services, mainly on Friday nights, when the format differs, and there is a great deal of opportunity for participation by lay members, many of whom also lead services when the rabbi is absent.
Community
The synagogue has an inclusive approach to Judaism and all sorts of people are involved in the community including born Jews with varying degrees of Jewish knowledge, people considering conversion or actively engaged in study for conversion, mixed-faith families and people who have lost contact with their Judaism and are looking for a way back.A wide range of events and activities are organised - youth, education, social, religious and local area groups which organise social events in their own neighbourhoods.
There is a social centre for older people with coffee and socialising, board and card games, gentle physical exercises and a discussion on a topical issue followed by lunch and a talk or entertainment.
There are also some special interest groups and the rabbi sometimes gives talks and lecture series.
Education
There is a strong emphasis on families learning together and the synagogue has a cheder (religion school) for children aged 5–14 where they study Hebrew and learn about Judaism. There is also a thriving gan yeladim (kindergarten) on Sunday mornings with activities, food and songs for toddlers and their parents, and facilities for children from birth upwards.Young People
The community has made funding available for members of its B'nei Mitzvah class to attend Shemesh, the summer camps organised by RSY-Netzer, the Zionist youth movement for Reform Judaism. Young people are also encouraged to participate in Jewish holiday camps and in Europe tours and gap year schemes organised with Israel Experience. They also have the opportunity to join in local youth activities with Maccabi and JLGB, among others, and with RSY-Netzer.Communications
Bromley Reform Synagogue's website was recognised in the 2009 Board of Deputies Media Awards, when it won the prize for best synagogue website. The community has a weekly e-newsletter 'e-Light' as well as a monthly printed newsletter, Highlight, itself an award-winning publication.External links
- Bromley Reform Synagogue on Jewish Communities and Records - UK (hosted by jewishgen.org), accessed 24 November 2010.