LJ Today Jan/Feb 2019

January/February 2019 VOL. XLVI No. 1

Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism

www.liberaljudaism.org

ljtoday

Fundraising dinner shows a bright future

M

ORE than 140 people attended the first Liberal Judaism fundraising dinner for a generation as our movement seeks to build for the future.

Guests were able to enjoy the splendour of Goldsmiths’ Hall and a fascinating insight into leadership from guest speaker Julia Middleton, CEO and founder of Common Purpose, a British charity that runs leadership programmes around the world.

But even more importantly, they were able to celebrate the long history of Liberal Judaism’s youth movement with members and leaders from throughout the decades mingling, swapping anecdotes and enjoying the photos and stories placed around the venue.

The evening raised £32,000 for the LJYNetzer bursary fund – which helps young people attend Liberal Judaism youth events whatever their financial situation – and the new Liberal Judaism education hub, which will launch in January.

Seventeenyear-old Mia Bogod gave an emotional speech telling how LJYNetzer helped her find a home for her Jewish story, saying: “I now hope to inspire and empower the next generation Guest speaker Julia Middleton with LJY-Netzer members at the dinner of Liberal Jews, giving them the experience I am so lucky to have had.” pride and pleasure to see so many young The room was also addressed by LJYpeople who will be our future leaders.

Netzer movement worker Ellie Lawson, “The need to preserve and expand our Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Liberal Jewish identity is as necessary Danny Rich, chair Simon Benscher and as ever, maybe more so, in this confused director of strategy and partnerships world. We need to keep the heart and Rabbi Charley Baginsky. soul of Liberal Judaism alive and flying to Making the night’s appeal, Liberal give us a present and a future.”

Judaism president Rabbi Dr Andrew To read more, including how you can Goldstein said: “It gives me such great donate, please turn to page 5.

THERE was a double birthday bash at Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community (GLJC) as the congregation and Mitzvah Day celebrated turning 10 together... with a litter pick.

Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich, joined GLJC to lead an anniversary Shabbat service and take part in their AGM and social action events the following day.

Danny said: “Mitzvah Day is a vital opportunity to express the best of our Jewish values - and those of other faiths - and share them with the wider community. I was delighted to take part in an anniversary litter pick initiated by two teenage members of this growing Liberal community.”

See more good deeds in our Mitzvah Day picture special on pages 6-7.

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Remembrance

January/February 2019

After the war is over Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein looks to the past to help us with the uncertain times that lie ahead THE LAST 12 months have seen many remembrances: a century since the Balfour Declaration was delivered; 70 years of the State of Israel; 80 years since the Kindertransport; and the centenary of the end of the First World War. As president of Liberal Judaism, and in my private capacity, I have attended several connected events. The most curious was on 11 November as I sped across the Belgian countryside, where much of the fighting in World War I took place, on my way to a European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ) meeting in Brussels. Travelling at 150mph on Eurostar they announced: “We will now ask you to observe 2 minutes silence”… and in my carriage everybody did!

The First World War was remembered in lots of ways - many of them innovative and most effective. The publishing of digitally coloured photographs and film of life in the trenches gave a vivid reminder of the horrors of that war in which my grandfather was one of the millions killed. It was declared as the “war to end all wars”, but of course it didn’t.

What came next? One of my favourite TV series of late has been Peaky Blinders.

I love the accents and several aspects of the stories I can verify from my childhood in inner city Birmingham. But the series also brought home to me factors I was not aware of in my youth.

So many of the surviving soldiers of the ‘Great War’ returned to find there was little reward for their valour.

• EVENTS to commemorate the anniversaries of Kristallnacht, the Kindertransport and the end of the First World War took place at Liberal communities all over the country.

• AT Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue (BHPS), members took part in discussions throughout Shabbat on Kristallnacht and the Nazi terror.

Speakers included BHPS member Margarete Mendelsohn who was a witness to Kristallnacht.

Instead many were without a job and left shell-shocked and mentally and physically disabled.

What came next? After each of the key events I mentioned at the start there came pain and difficulty for many, as well as rejoicing, and our country and people survived the difficult times.

Now we find ourselves in another crucial moment in our history. So what comes next?

I write days before the outcome of the Brexit negotiations is clear. By the time you read this, we may still not understand exactly where this country’s future lies.

But whatever the position, it seems clear that we will enter a period of economic uncertainly and general confusion. We can only hope that this phase is short and passes without undue trouble and that we can enter the country’s new international situation with renewed optimism.

We Jews are an international people and, as well as keeping up to date with Liberal Jewish events in this country through reading lj today, please do subscribe to the newsletter of the EUPJ (www.eupj.org) to remind yourself that despite Brexit we are a key part of a flourishing European movement.

Just as you are welcome to visit any Liberal or Reform congregation in this country, you will always be welcome to visit Progressive Jewish communities across Europe and the world.

In uncertain times our community and our synagogues have been a refuge and a place of support. That is why Judaism, and Liberal Judaism, can play an important role in our personal lives in the months ahead.

When you don’t know what happens next, it can be comforting to belong to an inspiring past and let this point a way into the future.

• Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein is president of Liberal Judaism

• MEMBERS of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) in St John’s Wood walked 10,000 steps from the LJS to Liverpool Street station. The distance was selected in honour of the 10,000 children on the Kindertransport.

• RAPHAEL QASSIM – the 11-year-old son of Rabbi Rebecca Birk – was named as one of the winners of the ‘Our Turn’ schools letter competition run by Safe Passage to support today’s refugees on the anniversary of the Kindertransport.

‘A poignant and special day’ Theresa Villiers MP and Rabbi Danny Rich were among the dignitaries in Southgate

SOUTHGATE PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE celebrated its 75th anniversary with a combined Civic and Remembrance Day service. Nearly 80 people attended the event, including Theresa Villiers MP, the Mayor of Enfield, the Deputy Mayor of Barnet, local priest Brian Ball and Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Danny Rich and Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein.

The service began with a speech by synagogue chairman Robert Dulin explaining the history of how, in 1943, a group of like-minded Jews got together to discuss whether a Liberal synagogue in the Southgate area was a possibility.

From humble beginnings, Southgate and District Liberal Synagogue was formed.

Seventy five years later the synagogue is still in existence serving the needs of its community, spiritually and pastorally.

Robert’s second theme was what the founding fathers would have made of today’s rise in antisemitism and the high levels of security now required.

The next speaker was synagogue life president Pearl Phillips who talked about her memories of synagogue life and some of the past influential people who made the community what it is today.

The morning ended with a Remembrance Day service during which Rabbi Yuval Keren spoke about Kristallnacht and its consequences.

Member Janis Bendel then read extracts from her grandmother and greatgrandmother’s recollections about life during the First World War. Robert said: “It was a poignant and special day for everyone involved.”

In his letter, addressed to a child refugee arriving in Barnet, the Finchley Progressive Synagogue member wrote: “My previous generations have suffered but so far I’ve had no bad luck because I was born into a safe environment and am fortunate enough to be safe in my home. I can’t imagine what it feels like to live in a war zone, where my parents can’t assure my safety.

But I can guarantee you that you will be welcomed in and loved by your new diverse neighbourhood.”

Remembrance

January/February 2019

LJ Today Page 3

Rabbis commemorate Kristallnacht in Germany A personal reflection by Rabbi Nathan Godleman I AM WRITING this article on a flight to Heathrow from Berlin, having spent the last seven days as a guest of the German foreign office. One of five UK-based rabbis – including Rabbi David Hulbert of East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue and former Leo Baeck College principal Rabbi Professor Marc Saperstein – we joined a group of ten Canadians on a tour entitled ‘Jewish Life in Germany’.

The occasion was the 80th anniversary of the pogrom which swept through Germany and Austria on the night of Wednesday 9 November 1938, commonly known as Kristallnacht.

So many thoughts and feelings. So many memories to process. A cell block in Dachau, which once housed political opponents and prisoners of conscience.

An exhibition on Nazism next to the site of the former Gestapo headquarters in Berlin. Listening to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel promise ‘never again’ in a huge rebuilt synagogue.

Meeting young German Jews and Israelis settled in Berlin, enjoying life and looking

Rabbis Marc Saperstein, David Hulbert and Nathan Godleman at the Brandenburg Gate

forward to the future. Spending Shabbat morning in the midst of a living, breathing Jewish community in the heart of the capital. Stepping over memorials to Jews deported by the Nazis, set in the pavement outside our hotel.

Germany is a country where the past is ubiquitous; a land which may have done more than any other to acknowledge the crimes committed by its soldiers and policemen, its civil servants and citizens.

I stood in the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Berlin this morning on the centenary of the Armistice in 1918, surrounded by the graves of young airmen shot down in the Second World War. As someone whose parents’ and grandparents’ lives were irrevocably affected by war with Germany, there was a certain irony to be in that place on this day. There was sadness and loss. There was hope, too, as soldiers from today’s German armed forces solemnly handed wreaths to waiting dignitaries to place on a memorial to former enemies. ‘Shalom’ was offered as a greeting on our way into the cemetery, as elsewhere throughout our stay.

How tempting for Germany to unburden itself of the past; to lift the weight from the shoulders, especially, of the young, who can hardly bear responsibility for what happened between 1933 and 1945.

The fact that it has chosen not to do so is to its credit. Nations and individuals are all the products of history. The trick is to keep learning from the past, without feeling that one is living in it.

• Rabbi Nathan Godleman is rabbi at South London Liberal Synagogue

Yesterday’s refugees urge support for today’s

By Ruth Selo A THOUSAND people – including many Liberal Judaism rabbis and members – packed into the Quaker Friends’ Meeting House in London not only to celebrate the safe arrival, 80 years ago, of 10,000 Jewish child refugees on the Kindertransport, but also to call on the British Government to do more to help today’s child refugees.

The ‘Our Turn’ campaign - led by the refugee charity Safe Passage, Lord (Alf) Dubs and Barbara Winton, and supported by many who were among the Kinder aims to bring 10,000 present day child refugees to the UK to give them the same life chances. Liberal Judaism vice president Rabbi Harry Jacobi MBE – who twice fled the Nazis and arrived in Britain as a child refugee – is a leading voice in the campaign as is Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich.

The audience at the event was made up of 50 of the Kinder, now in their 80s and 90s, 400 of their descendants, presentday refugees and leading figures from charities, religious bodies, Parliament, the arts and all sectors of society.

They heard Lord Dubs, who came from Prague at the age of six, call for action to help child refugees from today’s war and conflict zones. He pointed out that many of the Kinder from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland who came to Britain in 1938 and 1939 went on to make outstanding contributions to this country in medicine, politics, science, business and education and that the present-day refugees, given the opportunity, might well go on to do the same.

We were invited because my husband is the son of one of the 669 children brought to the UK in 1939 by the late Sir Nicholas Winton. When Dame Esther Rantzen asked all the Kinder and their families to stand up it was brought home to the audience how few the 10,000 were, compared with those who perished in the European Holocaust, and yet how many they had become.

Lord Dubs urged the audience to support Safe Passage, which helps child refugees reunite with family in the UK and Europe. He spoke about how moved and shocked he had been by the conditions in the former ‘jungle’ camp at Calais and reception camps on Lesbos.

The Archbishop of Canterbury chats to Rabbi Harry Jacobi MBE. Picture by Dinendra Haria

He concluded by asking for the UK Government to commit to taking 10,000 child refugees, which only amounted to three a year for each local authority. Many local authorities have already agreed, after cross-faith campaigns, as reported in the last issue of lj today.

Safe Passage hopes to increase its efforts both in working with child refugees in Greece, Italy and France and in boosting its legal work to challenge barriers and provide representation.

To find out more on this important campaign, visit www.safepassage.org.uk • Ruth Selo is treasurer of Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community

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Communities

January/February 2019

Liberal Judaism officer Jane is an Unsung Hero

JANE DRAPKIN – the Liberal Judaism Officer with responsibility for social action – was presented with an Unsung Hero Award by the charity Remembering Srebrenica in a special ceremony.

The awards evening brings together volunteers, from around London and the South East, to celebrate their significant achievements in fighting back against racism and bigotry and to remember the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, in the former Yugoslavia.

Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) member Jane won the prize for Best New Event for organising a service at NPLS where Kaddish prayers were said for the victims of Srebrenica.

Jane – who was motivated by a visit to the site of the genocide earlier this year – gave a powerful sermon during the service on tolerance and understanding.

She was presented with the award by Remembering Srebrenica chairman Dr Waqar Azmi OBE (pictured), who said: “As someone so experienced in Holocaust education, it is a privilege for us to work with Jane on the lessons we can learn from Srebrenica. Her work to spread the message of understanding and tolerance to our communities across London and the South East is vital.

“In the wake of increasing hate crime, Jane’s work to remind people what we can learn from the past and stress the importance of focusing on what we have in common is more needed than ever.”

Jane added: “Having grown up in a Jewish community in the UK I have long been aware of the horrors of the Holocaust, but the visit to Srebrenica brought home to me just how easily prejudice and hatred can spread in any society, at any time.

“It is a huge honour to receive this award. I believe that the work that Remembering Srebrenica does in investing in Community Champions to raise awareness of what happened, and to pass on the responsibility to all of us to tackle prejudice and hatred wherever we find it, is vital.”

An uplifting day of music

JEWISH communities from across London gathered at Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS) for a day of song.

Led by Rebekka Wedell, director of music for KLS, the event saw members of congregations, including South London, Wimbledon and North West Surrey, join together to learn music from a variety of Jewish traditions, culminating in a concert and a ‘Big Sing’.

Kingston choir member Rebecca Singerman-Knight said: “It was a really enjoyable and uplifting day. We had the opportunity to meet with members of other synagogues, share our favourite songs with them and learn new tunes together... and also eat lots of cake!

“It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday and we all hope that this will now become an annual event.”

Mantle honours Oxford couple

Marian Roiser and Ruth Cohen present a new mantle in memory of their parents

A BEAUTIFUL new Torah mantle has been dedicated at the Oxford Jewish Congregation (OJC) to honour the memory of the couple who were instrumental in starting nonOrthodox Jewish services in the city.

Pamela and Michael Cross moved to Oxford in 1976, having previously been long-standing members of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue. They were made welcome and included by the friendly OJC, but neither felt that the Shabbat or High Holy Days services met their needs.

The membership of OJC - with their open-minded, liberal and inclusive attitude - agreed that alternative Jewish religious services could be held within the Oxford Jewish Centre alongside the Orthodox service. The Progressive group started very small in numbers but soon grew thanks to Pamela and Michael, with the support of Jeremy and Gwen Montagu and Alan Curtis.

By the early 1990s, the group started to hold Progressive High Holy Days services at the home of Kathy and Richard Shock. These are now so popular that there were more than 80 participants this Rosh Hashanah and it was also live streamed.

After the deaths of Pamela in 1985 and Michael in 2008, many other members of OJC have stepped forward to take a part in arranging and leading Progressive prayers.

Pamela and Michael’s children - Marian Roiser, Edward Cross and Ruth Cohen - obtained and donated the mantle to mark their parents’ contribution to Liberal and Progressive Judaism in Oxford.

Marian said: “This will provide a practical and beautiful symbol of the enduring influence of our parents.”

January/February 2019

Fundraising

LJ Today Page 5

How your money creates a home for all Liberal Judaism leaders on the ways we will use your funds to invest in the future Rabbi Charley Baginsky Director of Strategy and Partnerships

Rabbi Danny Rich Senior Rabbi and Chief Executive

OVER the last year Liberal Judaism has promoted itself as ‘The Home for Everyone’s Jewish Story’.

I have been overwhelmed at how this campaign has touched the essence of what it means for many of us to be Liberal Jews. There is something particularistic about being a Liberal Jew: at its heart is the idea that we nurture a Judaism within our congregations that welcomes all those who wish to be part of a Jewish community.

We do not simply hold it up as an ideal but challenge ourselves to carry out this mission in every area of our work.

‘The home for your Jewish story’ is far more than a nice tag line. It symbolises the central role we have played in so many people’s lives – just look at the stories we displayed at our Biennial Weekend and fundraising dinner and on our website.

Yet we are ambitious. We believe we can be doing more. We believe we should be doing more. We want to ensure we really are a home for everyone’s Jewish story and in order to achieve this ambition we need your support. Please give generously and be a part of writing a whole new generation of stories.

HAVING been involved in Liberal Judaism all my life, I have seen first hand the positive impact of our youth movement LJY-Netzer for individuals and the community.

LJY-Netzer has always been able to provide a creative and fun way for children to engage with their Judaism and to learn. Our alumni have done and continue to do great acts of tikkun olam (repairing the world) in our community and beyond.

We never want to turn someone away from an LJY-Netzer camp, event or tour because of financial reasons. By making a donation, you can help us to ensure that we have a bursary fund that allows us to tell every young person that LJY-Netzer and Liberal Judaism can be a home for their Jewish story.

And with our new education department, we will equip and empower more Liberal Jews with the knowledge and skills to take on and enact Liberal Jewish principles and values.

With your support we can become the centre for Progressive Jewish education and enable LJY-Netzer to continue their great work inspiring the next generation.

Simon Benscher Chair of the Board of National Officers

Ellie Lawson LJY-Netzer Movement Worker

OF ALL the work I undertake as chair, there is nothing that gives me more joy than my annual visit to LJY-Netzer’s Machaneh Kadimah summer camp Seeing the next generation of Liberal Jews taking those formative steps, under the stewardship of our fantastic and professional youth team, is one of the major driving factors behind my involvement in Liberal Judaism.

The most remarkable thing about LJY-Netzer is how they manage to include everyone, regardless of needs or financial situation. This is done through our bursary scheme, which already helps so many but could help many more.

We are also raising money for a new education department.

Education is key to the informed decision making that Liberal Judaism champions. I think we have all been educated by Liberal Judaism at some point in our stories and it is our responsibility to continue educating long into the future.

I hope you feel inspired to support the incredible work that our colleagues and young people are delivering.

ALTHOUGH my Liberal Jewish story began at cheder at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue when I was four, I personally only joined LJY-Netzer when I was 16 years old for Israel Tour.

I can’t say that the idea of travelling across Israel on a truly Progressive tour was what made me want to go, rather the chance to be with my friends and away from my parents for a month was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.

I ended up having the most formative experience of my life so far. I can honestly say that Israel Tour was the first time I truly considered my Jewish identity and relationship with Israel.

Today, as a movement worker, I see the need to grow and develop so we can impact the lives of even more young people.

I think how many would benefit from additional resources and support, how much more creative and knowledgeable we could be with an education hub, and how much more expansive our opportunities would be with a developed technological base.

I am excited to continue my journey within Liberal Judaism, but I am more excited to see what we can achieve together.

To make a one-off or regular donation to Liberal Judaism please visit www.bit.ly/LJBTMyDonate There are also many other ways to contribute to the work our movement does, including becoming a friend of Liberal Judaism, joining our patrons’ scheme or through legacies. Visit www.liberaljudaism.org/what-we-do/ fundraising to find out more.

Page 6 LJ Today

January/February 2019

Mitzvah Day 20

East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue, Nottingham Liberal Synagogue, Oxford Jewish Congregation and Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community took part in the nationwide interfaith #ChickenSoupChallenge. A record 2,500 portions of soup were made to feed the homeless

Youngsters at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, The Liberal Synagogue Elstree and Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue took part in various activities. These included a tots’ Shabbat in Northwood and collections for the homeless and refugee children in Elstree and Brighton

January/February 2019

LJ Today Page 7

018 in pictures

York Liberal Jewish Community, Crouch End Chavurah, Dublin Progressive Jewish Congregation and Southgate Progressive Synagogue held collections with items going to local foodbanks, shelters and The Liberal Jewish Synagogue’s monthly drop-in for asylum seeker families

Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community joined with other Jewish denominations to support Syrian refugees via Edinburgh Direct Aid

Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue knitted hats and bonding squares for the premature baby units at their local hospital

Beit Klal Yisrael hosted a special meeting of the Community of Jews and Muslims (COJAM) where they shared ideas, songs and food

LJY-Netzer members helped renovate and tidy at ToastLoveCoffee, a community cafe in Leeds that is part of the real junk food project

Page 8 LJ Today

News

January/February 2019

Launching Lily’s Legacy LIBERAL JUDAISM’S latest oral history project will examine the revolutionary heritage of our movement, from its inception in LJ founder Lily Montagu the early 1900s to today.

Lily’s Legacy: The Radical History and Heritage of Liberal Judaism in Britain will research, document, map and showcase more than 115 years of Liberal Judaism by means of oral history, photography, film, publications, digital and other interactive media.

The National Lottery funded project takes its name from Lily Montagu (1873 - 1963), one of the three founders of our movement and a tireless campaigner for the rights of women.

Liberal Judaism has always been at the cutting edge of modernity, inclusivity and equality, providing a home for everyone’s Jewish story. This project will examine how the vision of our founders – Lily Montagu, Claude Montefiore and Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck – is being lived today.

Lily’s Legacy is generously supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and will be managed by Surat-Shaan Knan, who previously ran the Rainbow Jews, Twilight People and Rainbow Pilgrims projects.

The project will provide opportunities for a wide range of people to participate and engage. Calls for participation will commence in January with the project scheduled to be completed by May 2020.

We are looking for members of Liberal Judaism to donate their oral histories, photographs and memorabilia.

We also need volunteers to record this history and help put together our exhibition and education materials. This is a skill-sharing project so those taking part will receive free training in oral history, archive and curator skills and learn about digital interpretation.

The collection will be deposited with the London Metropolitan Archives.

Other partners include the Wiener Library, Parkes Institute/University of Southampton, Woolf Institute, Faith and Belief Forum, Board of Deputies and Jewish Museum London.

To take part or find out more, email Shaan on s.knan@liberaljudaism.org

Safeguarding training details RESPONDING to requests from our communities and members, Liberal Judaism is working alongside Reform Judaism to offer safeguarding training.

Initial training events were held at the end of November and attended by representatives of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, Ealing Liberal Synagogue, Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue, Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue, Mosaic Liberal Synagogue and Wessex Liberal Jewish Community.

The training – which is designed to ensure best safeguarding practices for both adults and youth and includes a discussion of policy development and safeguarding strategy – received overwhelmingly positive feedback.

New online resources were also launched and provided, via a secure Google Drive, to all those who attended.

The next training events are scheduled for February 2019 in Manchester and London; and via Zoom video conferencing for those unable to attend either location.

To find out more details about the training events, please email Becca Fetterman on becca@liberaljudaism.org

A double date with the Prince of Wales

RABBI DANNY RICH and Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi joined other faith leaders in presenting an especially commissioned card to celebrate the 70th birthday of Prince Charles.

Danny and Margaret formed part of a delegation from the National Council of Imams and Rabbis of the Joseph Interfaith Foundation at St James’s Palace (pictured above).

Canon Paul Wright, the Sub-Dean of Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal, received the card on behalf of the Prince of Wales at the interfaith reception.

The card, handwritten by a professional scribe, is in the form of triptych and measures 1.5 meters by over 1 meter.

As well as Biblical and Qur’anic quotes, it also highlights the Prince’s four areas of commitments and interest – service, charity, humanity and beauty.

Danny, Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, said: “The Queen and Prince Charles represent two important aspects of British society: stability and openness.

“Faith communities thrive best in societies which are stable and open.”

St James’s Palace also hosted a special lunch to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport.

Here the Prince of Wales heard the stories of Jewish people who came to the UK as child refugees, including LJS members Bob and Ann Kirk (pictured right).

Eighty Kinder, all members of the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), attended the event which saw serious conversation about learning lessons from the past mixed with joking about agerelated health problems and swapping stories and photos of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

AJR chief executive Michael Newman said: “It was hugely symbolic and a truly special occasion for the Kinder to meet Prince Charles, someone who personifies the country that gave them refuge.”

News

January/February 2019

LJ Today Page 9

‘We had more services than Yom Kippur, less sleep than Shavuot’ Ariel Chalklin on the Ba’alei Tefillah lay leadership course residential weekend We all had the opportunity to lead various parts of services on the Friday evening, Shabbat and Sunday morning. Some brave people even read a few verses from the Torah scroll.

This got us all into the swing of leading parts of the service Ariel Chalklin (left) and Rafe Thurstance prepare to deliver a d’var Torah whether ready or LIBERAL JEWS from communities all not, confident or not. I am now beginning over the UK have been gathering for to get much more used to standing learning days - where they have been up and speaking Hebrew and I now studying modules (some more than know what to do to prepare, despite my others) and struggling with their Hebrew difficulties with the language.

- in aid of becoming capable lay leaders We were also coached in presentation of services. As part of this course, which technique: how to deliver a text, be it a is known as Ba’alei Tefillah, a residential prayer, a translation of Torah or a d’var weekend was held in Birmingham using Torah (the introduction to the verses read the Birmingham Progressive Synagogue from the portion for that week).

(BPS) for our services and seminars.

We started by each doing the same BPS has a large and vibrant community exercise in turn. We were asked to stand and they made us feel very welcome. We still in front of everyone for a minute and were invited to the Friday night dinner do… absolutely nothing. It is surprisingly and lunch on Shabbat. We stayed in hard. We then all practiced reading an a hotel round the corner, which was English text by memorising a phrase and comfortable and convenient. speaking it looking at the audience.

The purpose of these exercises was to help build a connection with a congregation. They will prove very useful when delivering a d’var Torah or sermon.

Finally, we had an opportunity to deliver our own d’var Torah in front of a small group. I had prepared a brief one on a few verses of Lech Lecha. I spoke about the actions of Sarah as a powerful participant in the stories of the sojourn in Egypt and her suggestion that Hagar should sleep with Abraham in order to provide an heir.

These stories are not as straightforward as they might seem.

As with all Ba’alei Tefillah intakes, there are those who have been leading services for years and those who are much less advanced. The residential weekend gave us the opportunity to chat informally about our own experience or lack of it. I knew a couple of people from before I started Ba’alei Tefillah and got to know more through the course, all of which led to an atmosphere of support and understanding.

Finally the leadership of Rabbi Sandra Kviat, Alexandra Simonon, Richard Greene and Robin Samson were all highly supportive. Not only did they lead sessions, give tutorials and help us get the best out of the course, they also managed to ensure we had enough to eat!

It was an enjoyable and instructive weekend that I would highly recommend.

Lehrhaus next Janet leads in South London LGBT blessing SOUTH LONDON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE will be the next to host Leo Baeck College’s Lehrhaus on the Road series – as Europe’s preeminent institution of Jewish learning brings its adult education programme into synagogues.

Theologian and Biblical scholar Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet will be running a four week course entitled ‘Some Foolish Men and a Feisty Woman in the Biblical Early Prophets’.

It will run on the four Sundays in February 2019 from 11am until 12.30pm.

The special sponsored price is just £35.

To find out more and book your place, please visit www.lbc.ac.uk

LIBERAL JUDAISM’S Rabbi Janet Darley was one of four clergy to lead an interfaith blessing at this year’s PinkNews Awards.

Janet was joined in prayer by Bishop of Buckingham Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Manchester David Walker and Imam Mohamed Patel.

She said: “It was wonderful see the work that has been done in so many areas and to celebrate victories. The evening also served to remind me that there is still much to do and that working for LGBTQI+ rights is everyone’s responsibility. Together we can build a world of inclusion where people are not victimised for being who they are.”

A NEW book offering a collection of favourite Jewish recipes from West Central Liberal Synagogue is out now. Buy it in paperback or on Kindle from www.amzn.to/2OVUWKI

Page 10 LJ Today

History

January/February 2019

‘I can’t believe the coincidence’

By Alison Turner Liberal Judaism Archivist

He also enclosed a copy of his cousin Ian Bachrich’s memoirs. Ian had spent happy days in Austerlitz as a boy and survived Terezín, Auschwitz, Dachau and Kaufering - before returning to Prague and later moving to Israel.

These memoirs were unsuitable for the archive, so I put them aside, unsure where they should be. About a year ago I took them to a workshop in Worcester about preparing an event to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. Someone there suggested I offer them to Yad Vashem, through Yad Vashem UK, but when I looked on their website that did not seem like a suitable route.

I researched further online and contacted The National Holocaust Centre and Museum in Newark and asked if they would like them. Collections assistant Kate Sinclair replied that: “The memoirs sound very interesting and would be a great resource for our collection.” I duly sent them by recorded delivery.

I can’t believe the coincidence of what happened next. Kate wrote to me, saying: “We had some guests on site today who have turned out to be the daughter and son-in-law of Eric Strach, who wrote one of the letters and translated the memoir for his cousin. Luckily I received your parcel before they left the site, realised it was the same family and was able to reunite them with the items.

“They said the manuscript was a document they knew existed but that all copies had been lost, so it is amazing that it has come to light.”

During further discussions, Kate added: “The last time this particular family visited was over 10 years ago, when Erich was still alive, so it really is against all odds. They have taken the items with them for now, but they are going to take a copy and send them back to us.

“Erich Strach was known to the Smith family who founded our museum. The Smiths still live next door and they often host second generation survivor families, so this is why the family were visiting us today – though I didn’t make the connection until your parcel arrived. It really is such a coincidence.”

It was even a chance event that I sent the package in the first place. I had already done my hours for that month but I had to be in London for another purpose. A colleague is applying for a grant for some of his work so I went in to talk to him about it, and while I was there I thought I may as well send it off.

I am stunned both by the coincidence of my sending it to what was evidently the correct place and the further chance that I sent it at the precise time that the family were there, especially as it had sat on my desk so long. I am pleased to have helped write the final chapter in this story.

Suffragettes celebrated

Robert is EUPJ representative

THIS is a remarkable story from the archives... of war-time memoirs returned to the family that wrote them.

Vanessa Wolfman of Rye, East Sussex, phoned me offering books and papers from her late father, Mr J Wolfman of Liverpool. There were a few books on Progressive Jewish subjects, which I added to the archive, and there was a Holocaust memoir from Ian Bachrich, which had been translated from Czech into English by his cousin Dr Eric H Strach, also of Liverpool.

There were letters from Dr Strach to Mr Wolfman and from Neil and Sandra Pike of Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation (now Nottingham Liberal Synagogue) to Dr Strach from 1991. In the Liverpool shul magazine, they found to their great pleasure Dr Strach’s article ‘Return to Austerlitz’ - a subject they had been researching for the last two years.

Nottingham has a Torah scroll from Austerlitz and they had contacted people in the USA, UK and Israel looking for information on the Jewish community but with no luck. Dr Strach wrote to Mr Wolfman that he was preparing a memoir of some Jewish families in Austerlitz (now called Slavkov) and was contacting family members for more information.

as having the opportunity to be at the vote counts.

Cecily told how, when she moved to the UK from America, she was unable to vote for 30 years and finally had to renounce her American Benita Wishart and Dr Cecily Gale spoke at the service in Birmingham citizenship in A SPECIAL service was held at order do so. She has since made sure to Birmingham Progressive Synagogue vote every time she has had the chance.

(BPS) to celebrate the centenary of Birmingham’s Rabbi Dr Margaret women gaining the vote in Great Britain Jacobi said: “It seemed appropriate to and Ireland. More than 50 people mark the occasion because of Liberal attended with members Benita Wishart Judaism’s long history of equality for and Dr Cecily Gale speaking about what women and our founder Lily Montagu’s having the vote meant to them. involvement in the Jewish League of Benita talked about her work at Women’s Suffrage. Also it was a victory Birmingham City Council and how she for justice and freedom, which are had got to know the councillors, as well important values for Liberal Judaism.”

ROBERT WEINER has been announced as the first joint representative for Reform and Liberal Judaism to the European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ).

Robert has stepped down from his role as chair of the Alliance For Progressive Judaism, in which the Liberal and Reform movements work together in partnership on matters of common concern.

Liberal Judaism chair Simon Benscher and Reform Judaism chair Geoffrey Marx noted Robert’s role in creating the Alliance project after serving as chair of Reform Judaism. They thanked him for “all of the diligence and dedication” he has given to the Alliance, overseeing the creation of the Israel Desk and working towards the joint-chaplaincy project now serving Progressive Jewish students.

The two movements will now appoint members from their boards to take on a joint role overseeing the Alliance.

Youth

January/February 2019

LJ Today Page 11

LJY-Netzer is Liberal Judaism’s Zionist youth movement. It gives young people the opportunity to develop a strong Progressive Jewish identity, make lasting friendships and have loads of fun

Join the trip of a lifetime The leaders

of the future

LJY-NETZER invites you to experience the trip of a lifetime this summer.

School year 11 usually means stress, hard work and exams, so why not have something to look forward to afterwards?

LJY-Netzer’s Israel Tour is a chance to get away to a beautiful country with a group of your peers and friends.

LJY-Netzer’s Israel Tour is a three and a half week trip down the length and breadth one of the most fascinating and complicated countries on the planet.

Explore your Jewish identity while riding camels and rafting down the

Jordan River. Visit the beach in Tel Aviv, the Old City in Jerusalem and the Bahai Gardens in Haifa. And, above all, meet amazing and inspirational people from every corner of Israeli society.

Israel Tour is a once in a lifetime chance to celebrate your success and effort with friends old and new. Whether you’ve been in LJY since you were eight years old, or you’ve never attended before, all are welcome on Israel Tour.

Contact b.combe@liberaljudaism.org or visit www.ljy-netzer.org/israel-tour to sign up today.

Inspiring the next generation

DURING the autumn half term, we ran our fantastic Ananim and Plagim October Weekend (APOW).

The weekend, for school years 3-6, is often the start of many of our members LJY-Netzer journeys.

And this APOW was certainly one to remember. With an under the sea theme, the participants played sharky sharky sharky, made sushi and enjoyed many more aquatic activities. It was also a first chance for many of our leaders to put their training (see right) to the test.

The weekend was a huge success and all participants and leaders left Southgate Progressive Synagogue raring to go on our spring camp Machaneh Aviv.

AT THE END of October, LJYNetzer’s best and brightest gathered at Skeet Hill House for a week of training and learning on Machaneh Hadracha. LJY’s outstanding leadership training event has been a key step in the journeys of all of LJY’s great leaders and this year’s crop were no different.

Look for these outstanding young people on all of LJY-Netzer’s residential events over the rest of this academic year and beyond.

LJY-Netzer’s Machaneh Hadracha is open to all LJY-Netzer members in school years 11-13, as well as any cheder teachers at Liberal Judaism communities. Look for information about next year’s Machaneh Hadracha over the summer.

• CONGRATULATIONS to LJYNetzer leader Lauren Keiles who was named as one of the 21 most inspiring individuals, aged under 40, who are increasing dialogue and breaking down barriers between the three Abrahamic faiths. The list of winners was drawn up by The Jewish News, British Muslim TV, The Church Times and Coexist House.

Contact LJY-Netzer: Ben Combe (b.combe@liberaljudaism.org), Helen Goldhill (h.goldhill@liberaljudaism.org) and Ellie Lawson (e.lawson@liberaljudaism.org); Director of Youth - Rebecca Fetterman (r.fetterman@liberaljudaism.org)

January/February 2019

Page 12 LJ Today

Liberal congregations Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue T: 0845 869 7105 E: info@bedsps.org.uk W: bedfordshire-ps.org.uk

Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community T: 0131 777 8024 E: info@eljc.org W: eljc.org

Beit Klal Yisrael (London) E: bkymailing@gmail.com W: bky.org.uk

Finchley Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8446 4063 E: fps@liberaljudaism.org W: fps.org

Birmingham Progressive Synagogue T: 0121 634 3888 E: bps@liberaljudaism.org W: bpsjudaism.com Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue T: 01273 737 223 E: info@bhps-online.org W: bhps-online.org Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation T: 0117 403 3456 E: bwpjc@bwpjc.org W: bwpjc.org Crawley Jewish Community T: 01293 534 294 Crouch End Chavurah E: info@crouchendchavurah.co.uk W: crouchendchavurah.co.uk Dublin Progressive Congregation E: djpc@liberaljudaism.org W: djpcireland.com

Ealing Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8997 0528 E: admin@ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk W: ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue T: 0208 989 7619 E: eastlondonandessexliberal@gmail.com W: eastlondonandessexliberal synagogue.org Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community T: 07497 401 280 E: eljc.contact@gmail.com W: eljc.org.uk

Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community T: 01242 260 497 E: shalom@gljc.org.uk W: gljc.org.uk Herefordshire Jewish Community T: 01594 530 721 E: hjc@liberaljudaism.org W: herefordshirejc.org Kehillah North London T: 020 7403 3779 E: megillah.northlondon@yahoo.co.uk W: nlpjc.org.uk Kent Liberal Jewish Community T: 07952 242 432 E: enquiries@kljc.org.uk W: kljc.org.uk Kingston Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8398 7400 E: kls@liberaljudaism.org W: klsonline.org Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation T: 0116 271 5584 E: chair@lpjc.org.uk W: lpjc.org.uk The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (St John’s Wood) T: 020 7286 5181 E: ljs@ljs.org W: ljs.org The Liberal Synagogue Elstree T: 020 8953 8889 E: office@tlse.org.uk W: tlse.org.uk

The Montagu Centre 21 Maple Street London, W1T 4BE T: 020 7580 1663 E: montagu@liberaljudaism.org W: liberaljudaism.org

Liberal Judaism is the dynamic, cutting edge of modern Judaism. It reverences Jewish tradition, seeking to preserve the values of the past, while giving them contemporary force.

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Lincolnshire Jewish Community T: 01427 628 958 E: ljc@liberaljudaism.org W: lincolnshirejc.co.uk Manchester Liberal Jewish Community T: 0161 796 6210 E: mljc@liberaljudaism.org W: mljc.org.uk

South London Liberal Synagogue (Streatham) T: 020 8769 4787 E: slls@liberaljudaism.org W: southlondon.org Stevenage Liberal Synagogue T: 01438 300 222 E: stevenageliberalsynagogue@gmail.com W: stevenageliberalsynagogue.org.uk

Mosaic Liberal (Harrow) T: 020 8864 5323 E: office@mosaicliberal.org.uk W: mosaicliberal.org.uk

Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (Ipswich) T:01473 250 797 E: sljc@liberaljudaism.org

Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue T: 01923 822 592 E: npls@liberaljudaism.org W: npls.org.uk

Tikvah Chadasha Synagogue (Shenfield) T: 01277 888 610 E: tikvahchadasha@gmail.com W: tikvahchadasha.com

Norwich Liberal Jewish Community E: nljc@liberaljudaism.org W: norwichljc.org.uk

Wessex Liberal Jewish Community (Bournemouth) T: 01202 757 590 E: info@wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk W: wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk

Nottingham Liberal Synagogue T: 0115 962 4761 E: nls@liberaljudaism.org W: nottinghamliberalsynagogue.com

Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community T: 07561 331 390 E: info@pljc.org.uk W: pljc.org.uk Reading Liberal Jewish Community T: 0118 942 8022 E: readingliberaljewishcommunity@ gmail.com

W: readingljc.org.uk Shir Hatzafon (Copenhagen) E: shir@shirhatzafon.dk W: shirhatzafon.dk South Bucks Jewish Community T: 0845 644 2370 E: sbjc@liberaljudaism.org W: sbjc.org.uk Southgate Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8886 0977 E: sps@liberaljudaism.org W: sps.uk.com

West Central Liberal Synagogue T: 020 7636 7627 E: office@wcls.org.uk W: wcls.org.uk York Liberal Jewish Community T: 0300 102 0062 E: info@jewsinyork.org.uk W: jewsinyork.org.uk

Developing and affiliated Beit Ha’Chidush (Amsterdam) T: +31 23 524 7204 E: bhc.informatie@gmail.com W: beithachidush.nl Lancashire & Cumbria Liberal Jewish Community W: www.northwestjews.org Oxford Jewish Congregation T: 01865 515 584 E: progressive@ojc-online.org W: ojc-online.org

President Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein Chair Simon Benscher Deputy Chair Ruth Seager Vice Chair Karen Newman Treasurer Rosie Ward Secretary Amanda McFeeters Israel and the Diaspora Graham Carpenter Data Ed Herman Social Justice Jane Drapkin Strategy Robin Moss National Officers Ros Clayton and Jackie Richards Vice Presidents Monique Blake, Henry Cohn, Lord Fink, Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, Sharon Goldstein, Lucian Hudson, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, Willie Kessler, David Lipman, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker, Harold Sanderson, Joan Shopper, Beverley Taylor and Ken Teacher Chair of The Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors Rabbi Aaron Goldstein Senior Rabbi and C hief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Director of Strategy and Partnerships Rabbi Charley Baginsky Community Partnerships Rabbi Sandra Kviat Music Cantor Gershon Silins Interfaith Rabbi Mark Solomon Operations Director Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer Director of Administration Alexandra Simonon Events and Fundraising Thomas Rich Strategy and Communications Project Manager Yszi Hawkings PR Simon Rothstein Archivist Alison Turner Office Coordinator Rafe Thurstance PA to Senior Rabbi Daisy Bogod Director of Youth Becca Fetterman LJY-Netzer Ben Combe, Helen Goldhill and Ellie Lawson