For the past eleven years, along with Valerie, I have been co-ordinating European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage (EDJCH) for B’nai B’rith. As each year passes, it becomes more clear to me just how interested our communtiy is in our religious and cultural history. This year, as EDJCH has fallen just before and just after Rosh Hashanah, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on our family roots and the history of the Jewish community in England, through the theme ‘Art in Judaism’.

The events this year began last Sunday and once again, Klezmer in the Park drew a great crowd of all ages to Regent's Park for an afternoon of family picnics and music! Over 100 people also gathered in Southampton for the British Association for Jewish Studies Annual Conference, while others enjoyed guided walks and visiting some of London’s historic Synagogues.

EDJCH continues after Rosh Hashanah on 12th September when I am looking forward to attending as many events as I can. Around the UK, historic synagogues will be opening doors to the wider public with guided tours and talks.

JTrails will lead walks in Oxford on Monday 13th and in Brighton on Tuesday 14th, while in London there'll be events and talks at the Wiener Library, the London Metropolitan Archives and the Museum of London, all of which I hope to catch in a final flurry of hectic activity before Yom Kippur.

Please do visit the B’nai B’rith website www.bbuk.org to find out more.

Barbara Nathan
European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage coordinator