ByJonathan Kalmus, Jonathan Kalmus
Ten up and coming Manchester Jewish community leaders were given a reading list by the Chief Rabbi during a weekend in London when they met top communal personalities.
Manchester UJIA United Jewish Leadership Group members spent Shabbat with Rafi Zarum, head of the London School of Jewish Studies, hearing how he had helped to turn around the former Jews' College.
The group then split between Masorti's New North London Synagogue, Finchley Synagogue and the North Western Reform Synagogue in Golders Green.
It was on Sunday that they got their suggested reading list from Lord Sacks. They also met Louise Jacobs, deputy chief executive of the London Jewish Cultural Centre.
Participant Jude Moryoussef said the weekend had fired up the group for leadership involvement in Manchester.
"The Chief Rabbi was definitely worth waiting for. I just wish I had time to read all those books he suggested."
The weekend was part of a one-year course, after which participants commit to taking on local leadership roles.