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Highlights from 2018/2019:
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Our PJS End Of Year Party!
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Our Shabbat with Leeds Egal.
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Our retreat, 'Reconnect' in the Peak District.
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Our Chizuk leadership programme on their training weekend in the Peak District.
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Our Shabbaton at Oxford University with Oxford Egal.
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Our Shabbaton in Durham with Durham JSoc.
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Are you starting your first year of university? Still have questions on what to pack, what to expect, and how to make the most of it? We got you! Click the image link below to read our guide for getting ready for university:
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Reflections On The Last Year:
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There are two verses from Psalm 126 that I love and find myself returning to again and again:
הַזֹּרְעִ֥ים בְּדִמְעָ֗ה בְּרִנָּ֥ה יִקְצֹֽרוּ׃
"They who sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy."
הָ֘ל֤וֹךְ יֵלֵ֨ךְ ׀ וּבָכֹה֮ נֹשֵׂ֪א מֶֽשֶׁךְ־הַ֫זָּ֥רַע בֹּֽ֬א־יָב֥וֹא בְרִנָּ֑ה נֹ֝שֵׂ֗א אֲלֻמֹּתָֽיו׃
"Though he goes along weeping, carrying the seed-bag, he shall come back with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves"
Sometimes the metaphor of sewing tears and reaping joy resonates powerfully and deeply. Other times I sit and read the two verses over again and again contemplating them curious about how they might apply.
Our leadership course, Chizuk, began with each participant identifying a situation that was not ideal: the lack of Jewish community on their campus, the lack of an egalitarian prayer space in their JSoc, feeling unwelcome at their JSoc or a lack of meaningful Jewish learning in their lives. By identifying your moments of lack or alienation – the tears referred to in the Psalm – you were able to identify what you were seeking and plant the seeds to create it.
The seeds came in different forms: sometimes a conversation with another student where you discovered that they had a similar experience; sometimes conversations with Fran, Maya or myself. You planted these seeds and I have been inspired by what has grown. And over the summer as you transition from university to home and back again or on to pastures new: the seeds will continue to grow. Make sure you water them with your hopes, fertilise them with your learning and allow your conversations with friends to shine upon them.
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Although I was only in the role of PJS fieldworker for 5 months, I have been incredibly inspired by the students I have met. From lunch ‘N’ learns and dine ‘N’ discusess, to our Chizuk leadership programme and student-led shabbatons, the passion and love for Progressive Judaism evident amongst our community of students is amazing. We have run two retreats, one being a leadership training weekend for our Chizuk participants and the other being a weekend for our participants to reconnect to their spirituality. On both of these retreats I was astounded by the student’s depth of engagement and insight into their sense of their own Jewish journey. As well as this, we have had really interesting discussions particularly exploring Jewish feminism and the Shekinah. Although my time with PJS has come to an end as I am moving on to work with LJY-Netzer, I know that PJS is in very safe hands not only with the wonderful students I have worked with, but also with my inspirational colleagues: Maya Skaarbrevik and Rabbi Daniel Lichman.
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The last year has been such a joy, filled with moments of learning, laughter, and new people. I particularly enjoyed teaching sessions on the 'Me Too' movement, Climate change and Feminism. Our retreats really were a highlight, I'm proud of all of our Chizuk participants and the things they've brought to campus, and our Jewish spirituality retreat. One of the most powerful things that was taught was how to bring a sense of presence, vulnerability, and awareness to our everyday lives. 'Hineni' - Here I Am, the words that Moses says to G-d as he calls out for him by the burning bush. Sharing these words with yourself at the beginning of a transformative journey, a moment of anxiety, or when you are feeling joy can ground you in the present moment and make you more connected to life. Will you be saying 'Hineni' before you return to campus? [On the right, a stitching made by our Reconnect Retreat participant Katie Marks!]
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