Kaytana

One of the highlights of the young people’s calendar is our annual Kaytana, week-long summer day camp for children aged 5 to 13 held at Oxford's Hill End Field Study Centre. 2011 will be its 11th year. There is a specific theme to the camp programme each year, based on historic events and periods in Jewish life. Previous themes have included Life in the Shtetl, Medieval Jewish Oxford, The Golden Age of Spain, the Story of Masada, and a Virtual Tour of Israel.

The children explore their heritage in a friendly and creative environment: arts and crafts, drama, games, singing, dancing, cookery, plus outdoor and sporting activities are all employed to bring Jewish history and culture alive. The programme is adapted for each age group, with the older children also being taught youth leadership skills. The camp, which was sponsored by WIZO for several years, is now organised by our community development officer assisted by local young people, including university students and teens, with oversight by qualified and experienced members. We take particular pride in seeing children who began to attend at a young age growing up to be helpers and madrichim. For further information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Friendship Interfaith Walk

An annual walk in the early evening in early summer, the walk starts at the synagogue, pauses at the University Church and finishes at the Cowley Road Mosque. Members of all faiths join together on the walk, and prayers are held at various stopping places along the way before breaking for refreshments and a chat at the mosque at the end of the walk.

Interfaith members also participate in an interfaith listening circle (A wonderful method of sharing experiences and meeting members of other faiths, learned from peace workers in Israel). Please contact us if you are interested at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Mitzvah Day

The synagogue - both children and adults - take part in Mitzvah day on a Sunday in the autumn getting involved in helping local and national charities in a variety of ways. 2010 saw children make soup for a homeless shelter, and decorating and filling boxes for Asylum Welcome children in a nearby detention centre. Many members also knitted their way to hats and scarves for those in freezing conditions in the former Soviet Union.

In the afternoon, we joined with other local people of several faith groups to plant trees in the Cumnor Hurst community woodland, which activitiy has now become an annual tradition. For further details about Mitzvah day, which is a national project go to http://www.mitzvahday.org.uk