A London synagogue has linked up with organisations in Israel and America for an innovative educational programme exploring Jewish ideas of social justice.

Participants in the “Takum” course will learn locally with a rabbi in their own country, while being able to access material online from other centres.

Classes began last week at the New North London Synagogue, led by its rabbi, Jonathan Wittenberg.

The Masorti congregation has teamed up with the Centre for Global Judaism in Boston, New York’s Congregation Beth Elohim, Israeli social justice organisation Atzum and the egalitarian Yeshivot Talpiot in Jerusalem.
As well as studying Jewish texts over the next 10 months, students will be asked to do 10 hours volunteering a month.

Josh Cass, director of New North London’s tikkun olam project, said the course was for people “of all ages who are committed to studying the Jewish underpinnings of social justice and practical engagement with critical issues confronting society”. Students would be able to take part in online shiurim in other countries and there were also plans for video-conferencing.