Westminster Synagogue is delighted to offer an access fund for Jewish learning opportunities.

This fund is designed to provide full or partial funding towards the cost of attending Torah learning - for instance, travel to and from experiences offered by progressive/egalitarian institutions such as Limmud, Azara, Pardes, the Conservative Yeshiva, Hadar, and the Queer Yeshiva.

This fund has been made possible by the generosity of West Central Liberal Synagogue and Rabbi Dr Jackie Tabick. We developed a friendship with WCLS during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which they held Shabbat services at Kent House. Upon WCLS’s dissolution, they kindly offered to endow Westminster Synagogue with this fund, in order to enable progressive Jewish learning for people in our community and beyond.

We are keen to hear from people of all Jewish backgrounds who would like to develop their knowledge of Torah, Talmud, kabbalah, chasidut, tefillah, halacha, and/or Jewish philosophy, and who have identified a particular opportunity for which they are seeking financial support.

In return, all we ask is a love of learning and a commitment to bring some of the knowledge gained back to Westminster! Recipients of funding will be asked to contribute to our community’s learning via means such as writing a piece for our weekly or quarterly publications, giving a dvar Torah or a sermon, or teaching a class or lunch-and-learn. We are happy to work with applicants on a case-by-case basis to make arrangements.

The fund is administered by a panel of Westminster Synagogue rabbis and lay leaders. We offer grants of between £75 and £300, but would be glad to hear from candidates who are seeking a different specific amount, on the basis that a higher amount corresponds to a greater commitment to bringing learning back to the shul.

We review applications on a rolling basis and aim to get back to each application within two weeks. You can apply for the fund via the form below. If you have any queries about the fund, please contact our Director of Community and Adult Education, Yael Roberts, at yael@westminstersynagogue.org.