What's in a Name

Well, quite a lot as it happens. Anyone who sees the name, ‘Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue’, learns three critical things about the entity concerned straight away: Where it is; who is involved; and what it stands for. Of course, the name alone cannot encapsulate the complexity behind it: The building is located in the eastern section of Hove, but the congregation extends many miles, North, East and West; the congregation is mainly Jewish, but also includes many non-Jews; the ‘Progressive’ label identifies the Jewish stance of the congregation as dynamic and modern, but doesn’t indicate what this actually means in practice.

A single name can’t say it all. At our ‘Open Morning’ for unaffiliated Jews on September 9th, sixty people turned up. Going around the huge circle, it became clear that the vast majority of those present had not previously been aware of the congregation’s existence. They were there because they had come across the publicity we created ahead of the event. Most had seen the advert in the local papers, ‘Are you Jewish or Jew-ish?', and/or had heard me on BBC Southern Counties Radio on the previous Friday morning, and/or had seen the article in the ‘Weekend Argus’, and got the message that we are an open, inclusive, egalitarian congregation. When people walked through the doors they were not disappointed. They talked, they listened and they picked up every ULPS and BHPS leaflet. Three new people joined the synagogue within a week.

Of course, we don’t have the resources to organize Open Mornings every Sunday. And so we have to find other ways of communicating our Progressive Jewish message. A single name cannot say it all. We need a ‘by-line’ which conveys the essence of what we’re about, and a ‘logo’ which makes this essence come alive. In other words, we need a Hebrew name, translated into English, with an accompanying image - and we are asking everyone - aged 3 to 93 - to submit ideas for consideration by the Synagogue Council at its next meeting. The deadline for submissions is 23rd. October. The successful name and design will be emblazoned on our newsletter, our synagogue leaflet, our web-site, our letter-head, and any future adverts.

Sukkot begins on October 1st. Sukkot reminds us of our responsibility to welcome strangers and share our blessings with them. May the festival inspire us to reach out and to communicate…

Chag Sameiach!