Share deals helping regional planners

KEY ISSUES facing regional communities were discussed at the Chief Rabbi’s conference in Birmingham.

Representatives from Aberdeen, Belfast, Cardiff and Newcastle were among 60 regional leaders who shared views on how to increase membership, revitalise services, improve self-sufficiency and make more creative use of their buildings.

The Chief Rabbi and United Synagogue executives shared examples of community development and enhanced programming.

Malcolm Hyams, a trustee of Solihull Hebrew Congregation, said the support of the Centre for Rabbinic Excellence — a department of the Chief Rabbi’s office — “has enabled Solihull to play in a league far above what we could achieve alone”.

Uptake for the annual conference, organised by the CRE, has grown annually since the inaugural event in 2013.