PledgeBank London (change)
I’ll do it, but only if you’ll help

Pledge “SaveYakarKehilla”

"I will go to Yakar Kehilla synagogue regularly on Friday nights at 7.30pm and 9am Shabbat morning but only if 9 other men will do the same."

— Jonathan Samuel, member of Yakar Kehilla (contact)

Deadline to sign up by: 31^st January 2007
6 people signed up, 3 more were needed

Country: United Kingdom
Place: London (view map)

More details
Yakar Kehilla is a modern orthodox synagogue that aims for meaning in prayer and Torah learning and ethical 21st century Judaism.

We are an accepting community that takes people as they come without judging them and aims to let them raise themselves up in Torah, Prayer and good deeds.

We have pioneered "Fair Trade", greater access for women to Torah and to responsible positions in the community and interfaith dialogue with both Christians and Muslims.

Our prayer services are tuneful, innovative and attractive and we welcome and have facilities for children.


My reasons for calling for this pledge are:

(1) The numbers attending Yakar Kehilla services have gradually been falling (probably due to the fact that we are praying in a school gymn and we lack publicity)

(2) Friday services are now failing to get a minyan (of 10 male Jewish worshippers).

(3) Shabbat morning Shacharit service is now often failing to get a minyan – though we do usually have a minyan by 10am and for kiddush, reading of the Torah and musaph service.

(4) As people lose faith in there being a minyan for shacharit or maariv we can expect numbers to drop even more
- if a new person comes to test out whether they like our syangogue they are unlikely to come again if they find only half a minyan at the service, so this is preventing the kehilla growing as we would wish it to.

Our committee are very concerned but their ideas for solutions (organise a rota, move to better premises, hire an amazing new Rabbi) will take time and, in my view, will not be soon enough.

All it would take to halt the decline of this unique and special kehilla which I love and value would be for 10 good Jewish men to make a commitment to attend Friday night at 7.30pm and shabbat morning at 9.00am every week.

If you can to make this contribution and commitment to keep our kehilla alive then please e-mail info@yakarkehilla.org.uk or phone and leave a message on the Yakar Kehilla answer phone: 0870 199 9048.

If you cannot make the whole pledge please say what you can do.

I have been a member of Yakar shul for over 20 years and after 3 years of independence we are still running attractive services and events with over 80 paid up members (with many others who come and support us who are “members” elsewhere).

Other communities have succeeded; I don’t see why we should not be able to do so.

http://www.yakarkehilla.org.uk/

Comments on this pledge

• I wish you luck with this pledge.
  
  As a new member of Yakar, I've made a committment from september when I'm back in the UK to come early on Shabbat morning once a month.
  
  I find the Kehillah vibrant and supportive and I look forward to supporting it through it's period of renewal.
  
  Hatzlacha Rabba with the pledge,
  
  Flora
  Flora, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• Well done. Keep signing up guys!
  Jonathan, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• Half way there!
  
  I am thinking of extending the deadline, everyone who has signed agrees.
  Jonathan, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• I have extended the deadline for this to 31 Jan 2007 (to allow it to run until our Kehilla AGM which should be around then).
  Jonathan Samuel, 23 months ago. Abusive? Report it!
• I have split this pledge into 2 pledges
  1) Fri night service: http://london.pledgebank.com/SaveYKFriNi...
  
  (2) Shabbat morning service: http://london.pledgebank.com/SaveYKShach...
  
  Please sign these as well or instead!
  
  Thank you
  Jonathan Samuel, 21 months ago. Abusive? Report it!