A note from the Executive Director
2021 has been a year of change and transition. Personally for me, professionally for much of the synagogue office team, and definitely for the FRS community.
By the 2022 AGM, I will have been in post for a year. Mine is a role that is a real privilege to hold, working with the most incredible groups of people from our innovative clergy to our hard-working staff team and our passionate volunteers and lay leaders. I have loved playing my part for our synagogue, helping to ensure that what goes on behind the scenes will only benefit and enhance what FRS does for our community and beyond. I love the feedback from our members and always enjoy hearing your thoughts.
Continuing to work in a hybrid way, coupled with being in our temporary home, provides challenges and opportunities for the staff team and I know we are looking forward to being back together in our new home very soon.
There have been some changes to the office team, and we have said goodbye to some wonderful colleagues, including Suzi Becker, Robert Kimenia and Deborah Rouah-Choueke.
We have also welcomed some new colleagues: our new operations manager, Anni Williams, who many of us met on her first few days with us at the High Holy Days at StoneX Stadium and who has gone from strength to strength since. We also struck gold twice through the government’s Kickstart programme with Andy Marriott, who you may have seen helping with our AV and tech during services and Ma’ayan Armony, who has been such a support to the office during this year.
Our staff team continues to work tirelessly, rising above the challenges of the pandemic and our temporary accommodation while continuing to be creative, innovative and professional. We are very blessed to have such a talented team working for us and our programming and activities reflects that.
Our Kindergarten has continued to thrive and is such an exceptional setting that they frequently host colleagues from other settings to learn from Emma Wohl and her team.
Reflecting on 2021, it has definitely been a year that has showcased huge creativity, whether online, striving towards muti-access inclusivity or much longed for in-person events. Highlights for me have included the hilarious Zoom Purim spiel, garden services at Rubens House, our very own purpose-built Chanukiah and our return to in-person youth activities. Covid has added a new dimension of work to everything we do, as well as requiring a level of flexibility which can be challenging but pushes us to continue to be as imaginative and inclusive as possible.
For me, the absolute pinnacle of the year was the High Holy Days at StoneX. As many of you fed back to us, we were bold and courageous, and our year in the stands was one that will stay in the community’s memory for many years to come. It was hugely important to us that we gave the community the opportunity to participate in services as safely and meaningfully as possible. Being able to meet so many people as I stood in the StoneX piazza was a real joy and felt very much like being in the middle of a socially distanced FRS hug!
And of course, the main piece of work that has occupied so many of our staff and our dedicated volunteers has been preparing to move into our new building. The new building has given us the opportunity not to simply go back, but to step forwards, and really consider all areas of our work and community engagement. The new synagogue building will belong to us all and I’m so excited to be part of this next chapter in our history.
Finally, a huge thank you to Bob Humphreys and Simon Morris who have led FRS with such strength, wisdom and integrity (and huge amounts of hard work!) through such a challenging period - and been so supportive to the staff, clergy and community. Together with Council, Building Committee, the relocation team and all our volunteers we are blessed to have a community who give so much back.
Sam Clifford
