I am dismayed to learn that the Movement for Reform Judaism intends to close its northern office in Manchester and sack Belinda Copitch, Director of Northern Development. It appears that the plan is simply to save money in the (northern) provinces and to concentrate MRJ activities in London.
Ms Copitch has circulated an email appeal to the chairmen and rabbis of northern congregations asking them to intervene. She points out that the MRJ "board are proposing to close the Northern Office and make me redundant as a result of lack of funds and the need to make savings.
"It follows that I will not be replaced and there will be nobody to do my work," she writes.
This is a great pity as I know from personal experience that Belinda has worked quite excessively hard in her post for a good number of years and makes herself almost always available very late into the evening. Indeed, she has already begun work on the next northern MRJ conference although it is not due for about 12 months.
I realise that by posting this piece I'm being disloyal to a community in which I have made my spiritual and social home but certain worries must be discussed in public if they are ever to be resolved.
I stress that I air an entirely PERSONAL opinion when I charge there is a grave lack of balance in the way funding is allocated (this I can't discuss in public) as the northern congregations help to fund movement activities as much as those from other parts of the country.
I hope Belinda's appeal won't be ignored.
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