Want to join our dynamic and growing community? We’d love to have you!
At most synagogues, “members” are people who pay a joining fee and are entitled to things like attending High Holy Days free of charge, and having their funeral taken care of.
Makor Hayim offers this too, but we go a step further. We are a community of Builders: people who come together from all backgrounds and walks of life to create something remarkable together. You can build community by simply turning up to Shabbat in person or online, and letting your presence be a source of joy and strength to those around you. Or you can get stuck in – and many of us do – with leading services, sharing expertise, pitching in as volunteers, or championing social justice. And if that sounds daunting, our longstanding Builders will be glad to welcome you, help you find your feet, and discover a way of doing Jewish community you didn’t know was possible.
Sound like the place for you? Click the button below to fill out our application form. You won’t pay anything just yet; once we receive your application we’ll be in touch to arrange a welcome meeting with you.
FAQ
I’m not Jewish / my partner isn’t Jewish. Is Makor Hayim the right space for me?
Yes! We are proud to welcome non-Jewish Ally Builders as fully-fledged members of our community. This means you and/or your partner will be right at home regardless of your religious affiliation, faith (or lack of), and upbringing.
All our members (unless you opt out) are enrolled with JJBS regardless of their Jewish status; this means mixed families can all be buried together in Reform Jewish cemeteries.
We endeavour to make our services as accessible as possible, whatever your familiarity with Jewish tradition. If you’re interested in learning more about Judaism as part of your Buildership journey, you might want to check out our Navigating Judaism programme. And if you’re interested in conversion, that’s a conversation we can have. If not, you’re still equally welcome at Makor Hayim!
Does Makor Hayim accept [insert category of person here]?
Yes! We make it our mission to be inclusive and welcoming of everyone who wants to be part of our community. We believe everyone brings something unique to the table, and we’d love to share our community with you. Our membership includes mixed heritage families, Jews of colour, LGBTQIA+ Jews, Jews with neurodiversity, single Jews, old Jews, young Jews, Jews with disabilities, secular and religious Jews, people who were brought up with Judaism and people who weren’t – as well as non-Jewish Allies who for various reasons have a stake in our community.
If you have a specific access requirement, please feel free to get in touch so we can be sure to accommodate it.
I can’t afford the fees, can you help?
There are many ways to contribute to a community besides financially, and we would never want to exclude someone from our community for financial reasons. If you feel you would have difficulty with the fees, please get in touch and we’ll talk you through options.
Can I come along to a service/event before committing?
Absolutely! All our upcoming dates are published on Eventbrite – simply register your attendance and we’ll be in touch with more details. Alternatively if you’d like to speak to us first, feel free to reach out!