“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the palate and a cure for the body.” (Proverbs 16:24)

Volunteers play a big role in all of our communities, including in care teams where they dedicate their time and energy to support members who are in need.

Many of our volunteers have a wealth of experience, and some have had training in their professional life, but not all have had specific training, or sometimes it was a long time ago and needs to be updated.

This is why Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism have worked together for the past year to create a framework to support our volunteers. We aim to give them the tools they need when facing specific issues – be it understanding safeguarding issues, dealing with very difficult topics such as bereavement or looking after themselves and understanding their own boundaries.

We have had conversations with our movements’ rabbis and cantors, care coordinators and volunteers to find out what was needed in terms of training.

As a result of these conversations we are pleased to announce the launch of The Honeycomb Project – a complete programme for increasing volunteer training created by Project Coordinator Rabbi Eryn London.

The launch event takes place this Sunday (26 September) from 7-8pm on Zoom and is open to all. It will be addressed by Rabbi Alexandra Wright of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers of Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue and Sardarni Navleen Kaur, CEO of Sahara Sisterhood.

To attend the launch and/or find out more about the Honeycomb Project, please email honeycomb@liberaljudaism.org or visit the Honeycomb Project Facebook page.

The project gets its name from the verse at the start of this article, which we feel speaks to our ultimate goal of supporting our wonderful and vital community volunteers.

The training programme ranges from multi-part series to one-off lectures and will be infused with Jewish learning and spiritual care, both of which will enhance the training of our volunteers in the skills needed for providing pastoral support to those that they visit.

The first set of Zoom training, in early October, will be a three-part bereavement training course for current volunteers, led by Bereavement Care, and one session on Jewish specific bereavement with Rabbi Miriam Berger. From 26 October, a six-week general training course will then take place on Tuesday evenings via Zoom led by Rabbi Eryn London and various other teachers.

Our hope is that these courses will run again throughout the year, on different days and times, providing access to as many people as possible.

Additionally, a website will soon be accessible for Liberal and Reform Judaism members to find the course resources, community guidance and a wellbeing calendar.

Simply email honeycomb@liberaljudaism.org to get involved or find out more.