Tribe

Tribe Israel's Shabbaton Success

PRESS RELEASE

London,
27 October 2009

TRIBE ISRAEL'S SHABBATON SUCCESS

More than 150 British gap year students joined Tribe Israel last weekend for its annual Shabbaton, which was hosted in the north of Israel at the King Solomon Hotel, Tiberias. The theme for the Shabbaton was 'Unite' and aimed to bring all gap year students from the United Synagogue family together. Tribe members from over 30 youth movements, yeshivot and seminaries were represented as well as students from across the UK including London, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow.

Over the course of the Shabbat, students participated in a series of workshops and discussion groups, some of which were led by the leaders of the new United Synagogue's intern programme. The group of young male interns, who are all currently studying for their Rabbinical ordination in Israel, assist Tribe and the US communities in a variety of ways including running explanatory services, leading davening and running youth services.

The key note address was given by Rabbi Andrew Shaw, Tribe Executive Director, on 'The Future of British Jewry' and he also launched the new Tribe Israel Leadership Training Programme (TILT) for 2009/10. The training is a five part leadership programme for people on gap years, designed to equip them to be Tribe leaders on their return to the UK. Many TILT graduates over the years have become youth directors and leaders at various Tribe camps and weekends.

The United Synagogue's Chief Executive Jeremy Jacobs flew in especially for the weekend alongside the Shabbaton's guest of honour, Dayan Abraham of the London Beth Din.

Simcha Bauernfreund from Gush Seminary said: "The Tribe Israel Shabbaton was a wonderful event, providing the opportunity to socialise with such a large amount of UK students as well as engage in discussion about the future of our Jewish Community. It was a weekend enjoyed by everyone and helped us to see the importance of Tribe's role in Israel."

Rabbi Andrew Shaw, Tribe Executive Director said: "The Israel Shabbaton has become one of the highlights of Tribe Calendar -it is the most wonderful opportunity to unite gap year students from across the UK Jewish community for Shabbat under the United Synagogue banner."

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