At an Extraordinary General Meeting on Sunday 16 September 2001, a resolution was passed unanimously adopting “The Way Forward”, thus paving the way for a more inclusive community with the aim of making the Chatham Memorial Synagogue the centre for Judaism in North Kent.

“The Way Forward” is the beginning of a process which will develop over the next few years and will, in the view of the trustees and the management committee, form the basis for ensuring the future survival of the community and the beautiful synagogue which is its home.

The most immediate change resulting from the EGM is that membership of the community is now open to all those who are Jewish either by birth or by any recognised form of conversion. Any man who is eligible for membership of the community will be counted as part of a minyan.

Many detailed aspects of “The way Forward” still need to be discussed, but one thing that you can be sure of, is that there will be no change to the Kashrut rules in the kitchen.

As part of “The Way Forward”, we have been having discussions with the Kent Liberal Jewish Community and have agreed to set up a joint working group with five members from each community. The aim of this working group will be to arrange joint social events and to discuss other items of mutual interest, including religious and educational matters. We have agreed to publish details of each other’s events to which all are welcome.

I hope that we can work together in order that we may build a successful community for the next generation.