More than 90 people attended Friday night dinners all over Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire as part of a pioneering initiative organised by members of Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community (3CLJC).

Rabbi Anna Gerrard and Karen Reynolds are behind the annual project – this year placing community members at nine different homes on the same Erev Shabbat.

Karen said: “We’ve been organising this for a while, but this was undoubtedly our best year. We mixed it up this time so that southern members went north, eastern travelled west and so on. It meant we all met new people along the way. Our hosts were wonderful, and all the guests said how welcome they were made to feel.”

Maggie was one of those taking part, she said: “A Friday night dinner of good food, good company, flowing conversation, meeting new people, what more could one ask for?”

Another attendee, Josephine, added: “It was so good to get together with kiddush, songs, delicious food, friends old and new. Many thanks also to those from 3CLJC who had the idea and dealt with all the admin for everyone who got involved.”