30 April 2018

The Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) Kabbalat Torah class led a Shabbat with a difference, bringing beatboxing into NPLS services for the first time alongside piano, guitar and a traditional choir.

The 12 teenagers also used poem, sermon and film to express their diverse characters and unity as a group in the very well-received Saturday morning service.

The Kabbalat Torah group – who are all around 15 years old – are led by Leo Baeck College Student Rabbis Elliott Karstadt and Anna Posner, with support from the NPLS rabbinic team of Rabbis Aaron Goldstein and Lea Mühlstein.

Kabbalat Torah (confirmation) is unique to Liberal Judaism and takes place at an age when it is felt students are able to affirm their commitment to Judaism as a consequence of a personal decision.

Liberal Judaism president Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein – the proud grandfather of two of the group, Jemima Colin and Liora Goldstein – said: “Kabbalat Torah is one the jewels in Liberal Judaism’s crown… keeping girls and boys enthusiastically engaged in Jewish education for years after their bat/bar mitzvah.”

Liora, daughter of Rabbi Aaron Goldstein and Tammy Kustow, added: “Our Kabbalat Torah experience was so special because 12 very different individuals came together as a group.

“We had trips to the Czech Republic, learning about the Shoah and our Torah Scrolls, and the East Midlands to learn about Jews in Britain. During these trips we really bonded and our service was a huge celebration of that.

“We are now all looking forward to being assistant teachers in the NPLS cheder.”

For more about Kabbalat Torah, please visit https://www.liberaljudaism.org/lifecycle/coming-of-age/.

Fore more pictures, please visit http://npls.zenfolio.com/kt_23april2018.