The United Synagogue

'Learn To Lead' Brings Stanmore US And Radlett US Tribe Members To Israel

PRESS RELEASE

London,
7th March 2011


'LEARN TO LEAD' BRINGS STANMORE US AND RADLETT US TRIBE MEMBERS TO ISRAEL

Tribe initiative ‘Learn to Lead’, led by Rabbi Andrew Shaw, Executive Director of Tribe, took 25 year 10 children from both the Radlett and Stanmore US communities on a seven day trip to Israel last week.

‘Learn to Lead’ is a United Synagogue programme that provides year 10 Tribe members with essential leadership skills and the trip to Israel is aimed to help the young Tribe members to strengthen their connection to Judaism by developing their understanding of Jewish life.

Both community groups followed exactly the same itinerary but spent the days apart to encourage the growth of the community spirit, crucial for when Tribe members are given leadership roles at their respective communities when they reach year 11. During the visit, participants paid an emotional visit to Yad Vashem, volunteered at an absorption centre and a soup kitchen, spent time at the blind museum and toured the Har Hertzl military cemetery. The Tribe members also took in the sights at Tzfat, Caesarea and Rosh Hanikra. Shabbat in Jerusalem brought the two groups together and included Friday night prayers at the Kotel.

Rabbi Shaw, Executive Director of Tribe said;

“Over the last seven years I have seen how this trip has been the springboard for so many people to have a greater involvement within their community as well as promoting their own personal growth in Judaism.”

The ‘Learn to Lead’ Israel trip left a lasting impression on Gideon Bergbaum from Radlett United Synagogue;

“The trip allowed me to share amazing experiences with the people who I have gone through the course with, as well as making a connection with Israel as a young Jew in the modern world”

Ronen Gordon, Tribe Youth Director at Radlett United Synagogue commented:

“The development of the ‘Learn to Lead’ programme at Radlett is a huge step for Radlett Tribe. The trip clearly had a strong, positive impact on the Radlett participants and as their Tribe Youth Director, it was inspiring to watch them have an amazing time.”


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EDITORS’ NOTES: -

'Learn to Lead' provides year 10 participants with essential leadership skills and offers courses on first aid, self defense, tackling anti-Semitism and Israel advocacy. The current ‘Learn to Lead’ programme is now running in 12 US communities and Tribe is looking forward to introducing the ‘Learn to Lead’ Israel & Europe trips to many more of these US communities and beyond.

The first ‘Learn to Lead’ course and trip to Israel was launched at Woodside Park United Synagogue by their then youth director Rabbi Andrew Davis in 2004 and introduced to Stanmore Synagogue in 2005. Since then Rabbi Shaw has taken a further seven groups of nearly 150 Stanmore Tribe members on these trips. The trips have proved to be so popular that a similar trip has been implemented for the adult members from Stanmore wanting to have the same experience as their children.

In addition, this year Radlett United Synagogue were also able to send a group of their ‘Learn to Lead’ participants to Israel highlighting the growing popularity of ‘Learn to Lead’ amongst the US communities.

Bushey United Synagogue has also run an alternative, but highly successful ‘Learn to Lead’ programme for four years for year 9’s under the guidance of Rabbi Spector.

For further information, please contact:

Leonie Furman
The PR Office
Work: 020 7284 6969
Email: us@theproffice.com

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