A little kvell: What you said about our High Holy Days

The High Holy Days are behind us, the feedback is in, and we're kvelling!

21 of you filled in our feedback survey, and nearly everyone rated the experience Good or Excellent. We read every comment, and one thing came through again and again: you felt at home. We wanted to share some of what you said, because it's a celebration of all of us.

A community that chooses to be there

Warm, inclusive, relaxed and non-judgemental were the words that kept coming up. Several of you said Kehillat Nashira felt unlike anywhere else you'd been. People said they could feel that everyone there wanted to be there, and that everyone joined in, whatever their age or how long they'd been coming.

The davening, the singing and the sermons

Rabbi Miriam's sermons and explanations were frequently praised. Plus, one person told us it was the first time they'd actually enjoyed Musaf! You loved the singing, and the tunes stayed with people long after the chag.

In true Kehillat Nashira style, both women and men led parts of the services, including Kol Nidrei, and for the first time our children led 'Vayeetayu', which is not an easy piyut. They did brilliantly, and you noticed. People also appreciated the booklets and English summaries, which helped everyone follow along.

Families taken care of

Parents told us how much the children's programme meant. On Yom Kippur there was a children's service, talks for tweens and teens, a magic show, soft play, and lunch and dinner, which one parent said made the day so much easier for them. Fidget toys and packed lunches went down well, and so did the playground on Rosh Hashana.

What parents mentioned most was the atmosphere. Children moving around in the service, and babies being themselves, were welcomed, not frowned upon. One parent said they felt confident taking their baby in and out of the service without any judgement, and that's exactly how we want everyone to feel.

The little things that added up

Coffee and breakfast on Rosh Hashana morning, the Tashlich walk, snacks at the end of the service, and the care taken with dietary needs. These are the details people noticed, and they told us it made them feel looked after.

And as you know, we also ran services across two very different venues: a school and a cinema. Some of you found the cinema surprisingly comfortable, and one person said it made for a more contemplative feeling because you couldn't tell what time it was outside. And when something unexpected happened on the second day of Rosh Hashana, our community responded calmly and with care, and the service carried on. Several of you told us how proud you were of the way everyone pulled together.

Thank you, volunteers

None of this happens by itself. Behind every service, meal, activity and quiet bit of tidying up were volunteers giving their time so everyone else could simply turn up and feel welcome. Thank you. Your work was noticed, and it made a real difference to a lot of people.

We also received some really helpful ideas for where our services and provision can be even better, and our team will be working through these over the coming weeks.

We'd love to hear from you. What was your favourite moment of the High Holy Days? Send it to us, and tell us whether we can share it. We'll feature some of your stories in the next "little kvell".