A few years ago a member of a Progressive community in north London put a new idea to it. She was happy to turn up to synagogue on Saturday, but worship didn't do it for her. High choral or happy-clappy guitar, she wasn't searching for any kind of service, but she did have a serious interest in Jewish study.
So she suggested starting a monthly literary group on a Shabbat morning. It might look at a piece of Amos Oz or the prophet Amos. But whereas many synagogues these days offer an alternative minyan in parallel to the main service, this was not a minyan. The rabbi supported the experiment, but other members felt it divisive and it ran only briefly - although it continued outside as a private group.
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