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Synagogues: spaces to be shared? Two workshops are being held to explore how Jewish communities engage with their local populations and the ways in which the physical space within a Synagogue is used. You are warmly invited to join us for light refreshments and a conversation on either: SUNDAY 11th June 2017 (2pm for refreshments; 2.30-5pm workshop) at the West London Reform Synagogue, 33 Seymour Place, London, W1H 5AU (http://www.wls.org.uk/contact/), or MONDAY 3rd July 2017 (6pm for refreshments; 6.30-9pm workshop) at the Montagu Centre/Liberal Judaism’s Headquarters. 21 Maple St, London W1T 4BE (http://www.liberaljudaism.org/where-we-are/the-montagu-centre/). These informal workshops will bring together representatives (Rabbis, community activists/organisers; council members; diverse congregants) from different London-based Jewish denominations and communities to explore how our visible physical ritual spaces (synagogues) shape our faith practices, and how the design of our places of worship influences our interactions, both within our own communities and also with local people, organisations and other faith groups. In particular we are interested in hearing your thoughts on the following issues (and any others that arise):

• How does the physical form of our synagogues reflect and influence our faith rituals?

• Does the need to protect our sacred spaces affect our ability to invite

others to share our places of worship? [for example wheel-chair accessibility; hearing loop provision etc as well as more ‘intangible’ ways of being accessible or presenting barriers to some individuals or groups]

• Can our buildings support social action and community activities for

people who do not share our faith practices? If so, are there any physical changes to the building required to support those different uses?

• Could thinking differently about the design of your place of worship unlock

potential for the building to do more for your community and for others?

• How might the views of your faith community differ from those of another faith group?

Join the discussion, learn from the experiences of others, and consider new ways to share your places of worship with your own and the wider communities. To reserve a place and receive further information please contact VERA HALE vera.hale@open.ac.uk; mobile: 07751496387 indicating your preferred venue/date.

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ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS The workshops are being designed and facilitated by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the Empowering Design Practices and Ritual Reconstructed collaborative research projects funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The reflections we gather from participants will help us identify some of the key issues around how we shape and use our religious spaces, and to explore how different faith groups and practices could better use design to unlock the potential of their places of worship. Empowering Design Practices (EDP) is a research project that explores how community-led design can help empower those who look after historic places of worship to create more open, vibrant and sustainable places that respect and enhance their heritage. The project aims to build on and develop tools, resources and training to support community-led design practice in this context, and across the built environment. EDP is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and is a collaboration between multiple organisations, including The Open University, The Glass-House Community Led Design, Historic England, Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Religious Buildings Alliance. http://empoweringdesign.net Ritual Reconstructed (RR) is a project which has explored the ways in gender identity and sexual orientation impacts on how Jewish people who do not identify as heterosexual (LGBT members of the community) experience their faith, the potential challenges to engaging in traditional religious practice and how religious practice and theological interpretation can be ‘reconstructed’ to create a more inclusive environment in both public places of worship and in the home. http://ritualreconstructed.com/