16th May 2025 –
A Community That Dares to Try
Back in December 2024, we organised our very first Friday night service. It could have stopped there—but it didn’t. Sixteen people showed up. Dan led a simple, meaningful service, we shared our first communal meal, and we ended the evening singing Hatikvah together.
At the end of that night, Ben, Dan, Karen and I looked at each other and smiled. We knew something special had begun. It wasn’t just a service—it was the foundation of a new community.
Since then, Kehillat Or Tzion has gone from strength to strength. Our leadership team has grown: Anne, and then Harry, joined us—both working tirelessly to build KOT. Ben bravely took on the triple role of Treasurer, Secretary, and Website Designer. (If I had told him last year that he’d be doing all this now, he might not have believed me.)
Dan, as Head of Religious Services, has built a team to ensure we can run services regularly and beautifully whilst working really hard to find us a siddur that will work for us. Harry is now our Community Engagement and Visibility Officer, helping us connect online and amplify our voice in the wider Jewish world. Anne is our Outreach Officer, building relationships with other faith communities and with the Board of Deputies. Karen, our Safeguarding Officer, ensures we remain a safe and caring space for everyone while keeping us grounded in reality.
KOT only works because of them—and others like them. They’re not just Board Members; they’re community builders.
KOT isn’t just a new community; we are a family. We are traditional, open to the world, egalitarian, and Zionist. We are Jewish and proud.