Chair: Keren Durant Rabbi: Ron Berry

The Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation is a lively congregation of around 140 members including families, single, student and associate members as well as friends. Our Synagogue is in Bristol, though our members live in a wide area of the South West of England and South Wales and we are affiliated with the national Liberal Judaism movement.

The Synagogue building was bought in 1975 and it was combined with the property next door in 1988 and expanded again in 2003. Services are held in the Sanctuary which can be extended into the adjoining area to accommodate larger numbers at communal events and includes a newly-equipped home cinema system. We have a substantial library housing more than one thousand volumes, several classrooms, offices for both Rabbi and Teachers as well as a Judaica Shop and a well-equipped vegetarian kitchen. The building has wheelchair access and an induction loop system for those with a hearing aid. The synagogue produces a monthly magazine, ALONIM.

Services

We hold services every Erev and Yom Shabbat. We hold regular Chavurah evening services on a monthly basis when we pray around the table and share a supper together. Services also take place on all festivals. We also hold occasional outreach services in other areas of the South West. Our services are led by our Rabbi and various lay members of the community. If you are not a member but would like to come to one of our services please contact us first so we know when you will be attending and can welcome you.

The style of the service can be varied according to the preference of the service leader. We support the principles and affirmations of Liberal Judaism (LJ). If you want to know more about Liberal Judiasm then click here. We use the LJ prayer book, Siddur Lev Chadash, which is an exciting contribution to the Jewish Liturgy. As ours is a Progressive Community, men and women sit together and take equal roles in the service. Also some parts of the service are read in English rather than in Hebrew. We have two Torah Scrolls. One is a Czech Memorial Scroll, rescued from Eastern Europe after the Shoah (Holocaust).We bought the other scroll ourselves a few years ago.

Cheder

The congregation has a thriving Cheder (Religion School) on Saturday mornings. The children are taught by members of the congregation with guidance from the Centre for Jewish Education and Liberal Judaism in London. There is a diverse curriculum of Jewish History, Practice, Bible and Hebrew reading. Preparation for Bar- or Bat-Mitzvah is usually supplemented by additional individual tuition. A Kabblat Torah ceremony is available for children wishing to 'graduate' from this class at age 15 or 16.

Library

We are extremely proud of our library, recently refurbished. It has a large number of books for a congregation of our size on a wide range of subjects of Jewish interest. As well as the complete Encyclopaedia Judaica, there is a variety of Hebrew Bibles and commentaries, Talmud, History, Siddurim (prayer books), Journals, Fiction, General Judaism and Progressive Judaism and, as they say, much much more! The library is a valuable resource for our members and for the wider community. Our librarians are Joachim Schapiro and Sheila Wilson. There is also a Children’s Library. Books can be lent to non-members for a small charge on request.

ALONIM

The community's monthly magazine, ALONIM, gives news, comment, reports, details of events and kosher food for thought! It is posted to all members to arrive on or around the first of the month; visitors to the synagogue are welcome to take one of the spare copies. For further details (or to submit material for the next edition) please contact the ALONIM Editor.

Judaica

The Judaica Shop stocks a wide range of Jewish books and artefacts. In particular, it is probably the best place in Bristol for Kippot, Mezuzot and cases, Bar- and Bat-mitzvah cards, Jewish New Year cards and, around Pesach, boxes of Matzah. If something you are looking for is not in stock, we will most probably be able to order it.

Educational and cultural events

The community organises various social and educational events throughout the year. These range from Supper Clubs in members' homes to Chanukah Parties, Matzah Rambles and occasional Study Days. There is a monthly 'shiur' to discuss the Torah portion before the service and we have held two very successful service-leading workshops. The Communal Seder is a very popular event. We hold our annual weekend retreat in November. Details of forthcoming events are published in ALONIM.

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