This last week, we have been observing the nine days where we have a special period of mourning culminating in Tisha b’Av, where we remember the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash as well as other sad events that have happened to our people in this time period. Whilst I’m usually dubious about a period of collective mourning, this year I took one for the team. I cried enough for the whole community when I turned up to Stansted airport with an out-of-date passport on Sunday morning. So PSA, the expiry date on your passport is wholly irrelevant to European travel, check the date of issue!
I’m hoping that by the time of reading this I will be several hundred pounds poorer and in Croatia with my family, awaiting our very own Tisha b’Av where we plan to visit the old ruins of a concentration camp in Croatia and pay our respects to those who lost their lives there, followed by an exciting family wedding during the week (Mazal tov to the Davidsons!). It can be challenging to see where my role in Futures fits into this time period, as events associated with our young people are rarely without food and merriment, but educational opportunities are just as key to engaging our young people. So what for the next year?
We are so lucky that kids and youth are already in the amazingly capable hands of Rebecca, Soroh, Francesca, Katie, Melanie and Judith, who never get enough credit because it just wouldn’t be possible to spend all day thanking them, even if we really should be. I want to take our youth to the next level by ensuring that we bring in amazing youth directors who nurture and build relationships with them, as well as give them the confidence and knowledge to be the future leaders of our community. Also key on my agenda is introducing a new year 4/5-6 service, working across age groups for larger events and creating a young adults committee who can lead their peers. If you have any great ideas or want to get involved in any way, please get in touch. It would be especially great to hear from young adults who would like to lead on a new committee.
And as for this weekend, I hope you all fast well and enjoy the meaningful cross-communal programme on Sunday, and as they say in Croatia, ugodan vikend!
Shabbat Shalom
Louise Shama
Vice Chair, BES Futures