ByNaomi Firsht, Naomi Firsht
1 min read
Brighton and Sussex Jewish Society will host egalitarian minyans in a bid to engage students looking for an alternative to Orthodox services.
The JSoc also hopes to boost its current membership of around 200.
Progressive minyans are the first of a series of new projects that the society's committee has planned to encourage more students to attend.
The first will take place this Shabbat - run by Jeneration, the Reform movement's student arm. The services will then continue every other weekend as an alternative to Chabad.
JSoc vice-president Dario Celaschi said: "The majority of our members don't identify with Orthodoxy. A few of us on the committee are involved with the local Reform synagogue. I think that this will engage a lot more students.
"I think a lot of people move to Brighton to escape the Jewish bubble but they still want some Jewishness."
He added that many Brighton JSoc members were lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) and were more comfortable with Progressive Judaism.
Around 50 students have expressed interest in attending the new minyan.
The services will be supported by Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue rabbi Andrea Zanardo.
JSoc also plans to run Hebrew classes and Sephardi-style Friday night dinners to offer more cultural education.