Muslim - Jewish Drama Group 

Noam has five branches that form our unique and dynamic ideology. The branches were devised at the first ever Noam Veida (annual conference) in the early 1990s and have been added to and revised ever since. The most sweeping changes came at Veida 2003 and Veida 2005 - at those two Veidot all five branches were completely rewritten to reflect the current members' views.

MASORTI JUDAISM - December 2005

i. Noam is the youth movement of Masorti Judaism. We operate in the Halachic framework as laid down by Masorti Rabbis.

ii. Torah and Halacha comprise the backbone of Judaism and we recognise our obligation to follow them.

iii. We also believe Judaism must engage with the challenge of modernity, contemporary scholarship and Moral Imperatives. We all inherit the tradition and believe that it is a living and dynamic system.

iv. We seek to imbibe our members with the knowledge and skills to develop a love for Jewish practice and learning. We aim to provide educational opportunities for all our members such as the opportunities that are offered at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

v. Noam believes in personal autonomy and opposes religious fundamentalism and coercion.

vi. Noam is an egalitarian Masorti Kehila (community) and believes that men and women are both equally obligated in all areas of Jewish practice.

vii. Noam seeks to be an engaged, literate, questioning, observant, vibrant and caring Kehila, that is the driving force behind the Masorti Community and its future.

viii. Through Noam each member is able to embark upon their own Jewish journey and engage with our own unique tradition.

ZIONISM December 2003, amended December 2004

i. Noam is the Zionist Youth Movement of the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues.

ii. Noam supports both the Jewish and Palestinian right to self determination to form an enduring peace.

iii. We promote and support the vision of Israel living within secure borders and at peace with her neighbours.

iv. We believe in the necessity for interaction between Israel and the Diaspora.

v. Aliyah is the highest expression of Zionism a Noam member can make. Aliyah will be encouraged and supported. With this we value, respect and encourage all forms of Zionism in the Diaspora.

vi. Noam will provide the opportunity for its members to spend time in Israel in order to develop a love for the land, people and culture and religion; we will further foster this relationship in the UK through our machanot and other activities.

vii. Hebrew is the language of the Jewish people. Noam will teach and use it wherever possible.

viii. Through Noam's actions in Israel we strive to create a 'chevra l'mofer' (ideal society) based on Noam's pillars, which include Tikkun Olam and democracy.

ix. Noam will advocate Israel's cause as outlined above and provide its members with the tools to accomplish this.

x. Noam promotes engagement for its members with the democratic system in Israel and the issues related to it.

xi. Noam is committed to providing its members with a detailed, historical understanding of the emergence of Modern Zionism and the State of Israel. (2004 amendment)

xii. Noam supports Israeli efforts to encourage the upholding of human rights and will act upon this belief in our actions. 

DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY December 2011

i. Noam strives to foster an inclusive and secure environment for all its members.

ii. Noam is a pluralist community which welcomes all, regardless of gender, race, socio-economic background, political persuasion , sexual orientation or ability

iii. Noam is a feminisit youth movement.

iv. Noam believes in democracy as an effective process for communal decision making. Assefot (on Veida and at other times) are the formalised enactments of this belief

v. Noam upholds its right as a community to make autonomous decisions and act upon them

vi. Noam invites its members to engage regularly with the movement through the events and structures provided throughout the year. The Mazkirut will empower members of Noam to bring about change within the community

vii. Noam seeks to develop bonds with other Masorti communities across the world. Noam Olami and other individual initiatives will facilitate this.

HAGSHAMA December 2011

i. The responsibility and independence given to leaders on  Noam events fosters Hagshama (personal growth)

ii. The process of education  is a crucial step towards self-development, thus Noam seeks to include this in all its endeavours

iii. Noam aims to be innovative in its education, pushing the boundaries of both formal and informal education, in order to stimulate creative thought.

iv. Noam aims to create a safe and open environment for debate on all issues within a supportive and informed framework.

v. We aim to promote and foster high standards of Hadracha through training programmes and experience. We believe in the centrality of feedback to this process

vi. By striving to live out our ideology we aim to become a Dugma Ishit (Role Model) and an Or L'Tnua (light onto our movement). Positive Dugma is the best way to pass Noam's ideology on to its members.

vii. Through Hadracha we aim to promote, educate and live out Noam's other four pillars.

viii. Noam is committed to tracking the progress and achievements of all its Madrichim, in order to provide its members with individually focused skills and training throughout their time in the movement.

TIKKUN OLAM December 2010

i. Noam believes that every individual and the movement as a whole has the obligation of Tikkun Olam (healing the world), advancing equality, peace and justice. This obligation is moral and halachic. Tikkun Olam should be carried out through Gemillut Hasadim (acts of loving kindness) and Tzedakah (justice and charity).  

ii. Noam believes that the world is imperfect and that it is the duty of every individual to improve the world around them. 

 iii. Noam believes that we should end every day having left the world a better place that the one in which we woke up.  

iv. Noam has a duty to take a stand against any form of genocide or severe abuse of Human Rights where injustice occurs. Apathy is no option.  

v. Noam values and encourages all Social Action endeavors that its members engage in and support in their daily lives.  

vi. Noam should unite its  members to fight for causes in order to have a positive impact on our society and the wider world.  

vii. Noam believes that practical engagement in Tikkun Olam should run alongside Chinuch and Hadracha development. Fostering a safe, inclusive and caring environment for young people is an act of Tikkun Olam in itself.