Shuls and divisions

Like my colleague, Rabbi Jonathan Romain (Synagogues should not just be for those who

are religious, 8 January), I also serve a community that is developing its building.

Unlike the project in Maidenhead, though, our plans include not less but more prayer space, better to accommodate diverse minyanim on Shabbat and festivals.

If we were able to expand our main prayer space — often standing room only in normal times - we would do this too.

While Rabbi Romain is right to emphasise the importance of other aspects of synagogue life - the learning, social action and communal activities that members should expect from a multi-faceted community centre — this need not be at the expense of prayer.

When we are intentional in creating meaningful, joyful, innovative services and open about the theological challenges that we all face, we find that there is still real appetite for communal prayer. Rabbi Josh Levy Principal Rabbi, Alyth London NW11

It is encouraging to read more opinions urging a re-think of long-standing synagogal structures which continue to unnecessarily factionalise and, by extension, weaken Anglo-Jewry.

In my own family, we start from the simple premise that we are all proud, identifying Jews notwithstanding that we belong to three different denominations within practicing Judaism. Unsurprisingly, we meet often (not so much at present) and are buoyed by those life-enhancing familial qualities in which we Jews take such pride. Where and how we pray does not, nor ever will, come into the equation. The rest is commentary. And so it should be within Anglo-Jewry as a whole.

It must surely be time for our shul buildings, many vastly under-used, to be places where every and any Jew can meet other Jews for recreation, education, cultural activity and, very importantly, socialising. I have not, of course, forgotten prayer, without which the very foundations of the community’s structure would be totally undermined. The latter will cater for those who want prayer and all that is associated with it, whilst the rest will enjoy the huge benefits of an all-embracing Jewish community life from which no one need be excluded. Utopian? I think not. A practical and restorative approach to early 21st century Jewish community wellbeing? I think yes. This debate must continue. Michael Lazarus. Northaw EN6