Natasha – Rites & Practices

Welcome to the website of Brentwood Reform Synagogue A.K.A Tikvah Chadasha.  I had the honour of being the first Chair of Tikvah Chadasha, a role that passed to Amanda, then Karen onto Geoff & to our current Chair Judith.  I am also the community’s lay leader, responsible for rites and practices.

I’d like to tell you a little bit about myself. I have been married to James for over 29 years; we have been blessed with three lovely children and one adorable Grandson. Our eldest, Alice, served as the Shul’s Youth representative for some time but gave the role up when she embarked on her B.S.C which she finished in May 2022. I am a qualified primary school teacher, have a MA in children’s literature and have just finished my PHD around Autism. I was the assistant head at a Newham school for many years.  I now run our independent children’s bookshop and tuition centre, The Chicken & Frog (kosher chicken of course) in Brentwood. We have an after-school tuition centre based at the shop; these days my teaching is in the form of tuition at the centre. All in all, I’m pretty busy most of the time!

Our Hebrew name of Tikvah Chadasha (New Hope) is perfect, as my hope is that it will continue to be a place for all Jewish people and their families (Jewish or not) to come together and celebrate our cultural heritage.