Prayer Services
The synagogue has been led by five ministers over its sixty-year history: Rev. Charles Berg (1948–1953), Rev. Stanley Solomons (1953–1969), Rabbi Harold Vallins (1970–1972), Rabbi David Soetendorp (1972–2005) and Rabbi Neil Amswych (2005–present day). In 2007, BRS also inducted its first Associate Rabbi - Rabbi Jenny Goldfried Amswych.
Bournemouth Reform services are in both Hebrew and English. The synagogue aims to be egalitarian by encouraging members to participate in relevant mitzvot (commandments) regardless of gender. The Friday evening (Shabbat) service is usually more fluid with a story as the central focus, while the Saturday morning (Shabbat) service has a choir and has the Torah reading and its exposition as the central point.
A significant development in the liturgy was made in March 2008 when the community voted by a large majority to adopt the eighth edition of the Forms of Prayer siddur written by the Movement for Reform Judaism. For Succot 2009, Rabbi Jenny created a booklet of prayers to allow the community to move away from the 50-year old pilgrim festival liturgy. Another major development in the services was the relocation of the reading desk from the front to the middle of the community, creating a more inclusive atmosphere.
Many decisions regarding community customs are made at the synagogue's Ritual Forum which meets around every six weeks and which is open to all synagogue members. Recent decisions of the Ritual Forum can be accessed from the synagogue's website.
Read more about this topic: Bournemouth Reform Synagogue
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