Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue

EAST Festival of Jewish Music & Theatre

94 Jews, including a large number from Sukkat Shalom, both young and old, gathered together from far and wide across the four counties of East Anglia to join in a Festival of Jewish Music and Theatre that took place at the Belsey Bridge Conference Centre, some 15 miles south of Norwich, between Friday and Sunday 4th and 6th December. The Festival was organised by East Anglian Synagogues Together, (EAST), a loose confederation of at least 12 communities of various denominational affiliations across the religious spectrum; with financial support from Sparks, the Clore Jewish Development Fund.

The festival attracted a number or well-known presenters and performers, all experts in their fields, who kept their audiences amused and enthralled – the musicologist Alex Knapp surveyed the broad sweep of Jewish musical traditions, whilst Barry Davis conveyed the glory of the tradition of Yiddish theatre, declaiming Hamlet’s great soliloquy in Yiddish. Jaclyn Chernett, Britain’s first-ordained woman chazzan, explained how nussach and chazzanut bring spiritual meaning to religious services, herself leading the inspiring and memorable Shabbat morning service. Rabbi Marc Saperstein, the Principal of the Leo Baeck College, spoke personally and movingly about the powerful bond between music and religious feeling. The inimitable Reverend Malcolm Weisman challenged his audience by examining honestly differing levels of belief and non-belief amongst 21st century Jews and non-Jews. Other presenters included four East Anglian rabbis and David Jacobs, of Reform Judaism.

Apart from the delicious food, the highlight of the weekend was Saturday night’s lively performance by the Klezmorim Tzigayner, a newly-formed klezmer band from Norwich, who got everybody up on their feet singing and dancing. Several of the children and teenagers also took the chance to show off their musical and talents before the very appreciative audience.

After their really uplifting weekend, participants left looking forward eagerly to another EAST get-together next