Is there anyone out there...?

Today I found myself involved in a long conversation with a member of my congregation. Like me, they are in their late 20s/ early 30s and find themselves wondering about Jewish expression as a person in their late 20s / early 30s. When we were children and teens Jewish identity was, in many ways, easy. If religion was not our thing there were social events, if social events were not our thing there were sports activities and if sport activities were not our thing then were study sessions... and all within a Jewish context. Today it is much harder, especially if you live south of the river.

I have to be honest, as much as I would love it not to be true I do not see that many people of my age in the synagogue unless they have children. Now I love mixing with people of different ages, circumstances and beliefs but at the same time I cannot help feeling that we are not catering enough for what has constantly been called our 'missing demographic'. By no means is this community alone I hear my colleagues voice similar concerns. But the problem is we very rarely hear from those people we would love to attract. So here is a challenge, if you are reading this and are in that group or know someone in that age group who is looking for some sort of Jewish connection get in touch and let me know what you would like to see happening in the synagogue – or outside the synagogue for you. Please be as inventive and creative as possible and perhaps we can get a discussion going…