ABOUT OJC
על הקהילה
The Oxford Jewish Congregation provides for the needs of all Jews in Oxford, all under one roof. Whether permanent residents, students, or visitors, whatever your background or your tradition, your level of observance or your circumstances, you have a home in this community.
Membership of the Congregation is open to all persons of the Jewish faith, and both men and women are counted as full members. Significantly, the community does not have a rabbi or other formal spiritual leader: except for on High Holy Days, when outside assistance is obtained for the Orthodox services, and for part of the summer when absences create the need for some assistance with lehening, all the services are run by lay volunteers.
Most services at the OJC are Orthodox, run by a religious services committee in accordance with halachic principles and long-standing local custom. However, there are also semi-autonomous informal groups that organise Progressive, Masorti, children's and women's services, all in accordance with their own traditions, but all also in the name of the OJC. Each group is entitled and expected to protect the integrity of its form of service; but each group also understands and accepts that it is part of a wider and unified community. The activities are coordinated by the Shul Council.
Membership of the Congregation is open to all persons of the Jewish faith, and both men and women are counted as full members. Significantly, the community does not have a rabbi or other formal spiritual leader: except for on High Holy Days, when outside assistance is obtained for the Orthodox services, and for part of the summer when absences create the need for some assistance with lehening, all the services are run by lay volunteers.
Most services at the OJC are Orthodox, run by a religious services committee in accordance with halachic principles and long-standing local custom. However, there are also semi-autonomous informal groups that organise Progressive, Masorti, children's and women's services, all in accordance with their own traditions, but all also in the name of the OJC. Each group is entitled and expected to protect the integrity of its form of service; but each group also understands and accepts that it is part of a wider and unified community. The activities are coordinated by the Shul Council.
How does this all work in practice?
The short answer is that it works because everyone wants it to work. The slightly longer answer is that it works through a combination of mutual respect, tolerance, inclusiveness, negotiation, common sense and avoidance of rigid structures. Some very practical examples:
The location of services is determined in an equally civilised and sensible manner. Formally, the Centre is run on a day-to-day basis by a Management Committee, whose chairman is appointed by the company, but whose other members are appointed by the OJC and the OUJS. The Management Committee's responsibilities include ensuring that the principle of equal access for 'all forms of Jewish worship' is upheld. In practice, the arrangements are usually settled between the respective service convenors. Orthodox services are normally held in the 'main' shul, and any alternative service in an adjacent multi-purpose room - but this is only because the Orthodox services generally attract larger numbers. If, on a particular Shabbat, either the Liberal or Masorti group wants to use the main shul (e.g. for a family simcha such as a bar/batmitvah) the locations are switched.
- The OJC's stock of Sifrei Torah is available for use by all denominations without qualification (other than a mutual understanding that every Torah scroll must be accorded utmost respect);
- Out of respect for Orthodox sensitivities, the Progressive group would not hold a service with musical instruments in the Centre on Shabbat (if they wanted to do so on a particular Shabbat they would move off-site for that occasion)
- There have been occasions (e.g during the early part of the shacharit service) when the orthodox service has been short of a minyan, and has temporarily 'borrowed' attendees from the alternative service;
- Although there are some individuals who, through principle or preference, will attend only their 'own' services, there is a significant degree of fluidity in attendance (a number of Liberal and Masorti adherents, for example, attend the Orthodox services on the Shabbatot when their preferred service is not available)
- The post-service kiddush never starts until both services have finished, even though - on occasions - congregants from one service have to wait 20 or even 30 minutes for the other service to finish.
The location of services is determined in an equally civilised and sensible manner. Formally, the Centre is run on a day-to-day basis by a Management Committee, whose chairman is appointed by the company, but whose other members are appointed by the OJC and the OUJS. The Management Committee's responsibilities include ensuring that the principle of equal access for 'all forms of Jewish worship' is upheld. In practice, the arrangements are usually settled between the respective service convenors. Orthodox services are normally held in the 'main' shul, and any alternative service in an adjacent multi-purpose room - but this is only because the Orthodox services generally attract larger numbers. If, on a particular Shabbat, either the Liberal or Masorti group wants to use the main shul (e.g. for a family simcha such as a bar/batmitvah) the locations are switched.
