LJ Today January/February 2012

January/February 2012 VOL. XXXIX No. 1

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

www.liberaljudaism.org

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Liberal rabbis make history R ABBIS Anna Gerrard and Sandra Kviat have secured their places in the history books, after being inducted by Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community (GLJC) and Crouch End Chavurah.

Anna’s November ceremony was the first formal rabbinic appointment in Gloucestershire since 1952 and she becomes the county’s first ever female rabbi. Sandra - who was inducted by Crouch End a month earlier - holds the honour of being the first, and only, female Scandinavian rabbi.

Anna and Sandra will serve the two new Liberal communities part-time, while spending the rest of their week in outreach and education roles as part of the Rabbinic Team at the Montagu Centre, Liberal Judaism’s head office.

Both ceremonies were overseen by Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich and Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, co-chair of Rabbinic Conference. Danny said: “The induction into part-time rabbinic office of Rabbis Sandra Kviat and Anna Gerrard is both good news and innovative for a number of reasons.

“Our outreach strategy, which began a number of years ago under Rabbi Aaron Goldstein and has been tweaked for differing circumstances since, has provided a number of benefits. At a time when synagogue affiliation is dropping, Liberal Judaism has at least been able to maintain its numbers and even increase membership.

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Rabbis Danny Rich and Aaron Goldstein induct Anna Gerrard and, right, Rabbi Sandra Kviat

“A number of our larger and mediumsized synagogues face geographic and/or demographic challenges, and I knew that if Liberal Judaism was to remain viable then new Liberal communities needed to grow and make contributions. Relative newcomers like Edinburgh and Lincoln already do so, and others will follow.”

Within the short period since affiliating to Liberal Judaism, Crouch End has nearly 80 adult members and a greater number of children – making it Liberal Judaism’s only constituent with more children than adults. Gloucestershire’s membership is not far behind and has been growing steadily since the

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congregation was formed three years ago. GLJC runs a host of activities, including monthly Shabbat services, festival celebrations, adult learning, a religion school and youth club.

Danny added: “The partnership between Liberal Judaism – with its funding from the Council of Patrons – and these newer communities may well form a model for the future. It has enabled not only the creation of a Rabbinic Team at the Montagu Centre, but has also allowed Crouch End to ‘purchase’ 25% of Sandra’s working time and Gloucestershire to fund 20% of Anna’s time.”

Danish-born Sandra combined her induction with a family Simchat Torah, which was also attended by new Leo Baeck College principal Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris and Dr Laliv Clenman, lecturer in rabbinics. The mayor of Cheltenham, Barbara Driver, and local MP Martin Horwood were among the 75 guests at Anna’s ceremony.

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News

January/February 2012

Week in the life of Rabbi Danny Rich

Rosy future for Edgwarebury

Liberal Judaism’s chief executive opens his diary

WHEN I commenced my position as the new Edgwarebury Joint Burial Board (EJBB) cemetery director in August 2011, I had a number of written and unwritten objectives in place. One of the unwritten goals I set myself was to make Edgwarebury and Hoop Lane the Jewish cemeteries par excellence.

That was quite a target to set but from the start one thing was clear – I had one month to make sure the grounds were in the best possible condition for everyone who would visit before the Yom Tovim.

Going by the number of positive comments and, believe it or not, thank-you cards we received, I am pleased to say that this was a success.

As I write this now, looking through my office window at the rain coming down, the grass has been cut for the last time and the roses deadheaded but the work doesn’t stop for the winter. In November we had more than 200 rose trees arrive, as well as work starting on our extension.

One of many enhancements undertaken recently was the project to lay green

MONDAY morning begins with a visit to Jewish prisoners in HMP Coldingley in Surrey. In the afternoon I lead a session for Liberal and Reform youth workers on the Liberal Jewish attitude to status and identity before heading to a meeting with the burial officers of the 13 communities who are part of the Edgwarebury and Cheshunt Cemetery Scheme.

Tuesday morning brings Rabbinic Conference where some 25 colleagues come together to create policy in religious and ritual matters, share good practice and seek collective advice. In the afternoon I serve with two other rabbis on the Beit Din, welcoming new Liberal Jews whose stories are moving and commitment humbling. In the evening I speak on Jesus the Jew to a local branch of the Council of Christians & Jews (CCJ).

Wednesday is Montagu Centre day and – in addition to drafting and attending meetings – I try to meet with each of Liberal Judaism’s 16 or so staff members. The evening is rather special as I am to be introduced to Her Majesty the Queen in my capacity as a president of the CCJ.

By Paul Van der Hulks

rubber bark as the ground covering in the Liberal Judaism rose garden area, opposite the prayer hall. Work also continues all year round on improving the appearance of the cemetery, replacing damaged plaques, renovating stones and undertaking annual maintenance.

People ask me how I can work in a cemetery and the truth is that it is a wonderfully sociable role. I meet so many fascinating people and hear so many wonderful tales; for example, how many people know that there is the stone of a Titanic survivor in Hoop Lane?

There will be some more major projects and work undertaken in Edgwarebury over the coming months, all to help enhance the cemetery and aid our visitors.

Comments, suggestions and ideas are always welcome and if anyone would like to dedicate a rose tree, have a memorial renovated or take out an annual maintenance contract on a stone then please do get in touch. My door is literally always open when I am on site and you can also contact me on 0208 958 0090 or director@ejbb-jbc.org.uk

Join our Sleepout A remarkable book Thursday is my day off (when possible) and so I do a bit of research for the book I am writing with Pam Fox on The Life and Work of Rabbi Israel Mattuck.

Friday and Saturday mean Shabbat.

Although I miss the depth of relationships I built being a congregational rabbi, I am still usually away two weekends a month preaching and teaching in Liberal constituents. Recent trips have taken me to Dublin, Southgate, Gloucestershire, Finchley, Northwood and Bet Tikvah.

Sundays can be a day off although functions often call. First I am wanted to speak at the East London Mosque, then I am called for a photo shoot for Mitzvah Day before conducting the first ever wedding in Shenfield.

Conclusion - no day, never mind week, is typical but I consider myself very privileged to be both a rabbi and the chief executive of Liberal Judaism.

LIBERAL JUDAISM and World Jewish Relief (WJR) have teamed up for a unique event that will raise money for some of the world’s poorest people. We are seeking 100 Liberal Jews to join us at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) on the evening of Saturday January 28 to take part in a Sleepout.

The event will start at 8pm and see those taking part sleeping in the NPLS garden and car park, either rough or in tents. This event is FREE to enter and we ask each participant to raise £100 in sponsorship. Breakfast will be provided.

WJR’s Emma Segal said: “All the money raised will go to our Operation Winter Survival Campaign, which helps families, older people and children in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, for who the bitterly cold winter is about the struggle to stay alive. Sleeping out for one night really could save someone’s life.”

For more information please call 01923 822 592 or email admin@npls.org.uk

By Bryan Diamond The recently published Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History is a fairly comprehensive guide to key people and events in the life of British Jewry, stretching from 1656 to the present day.

Costing £133 it contains nearly 3,000 entries, most of which cannot be found anywhere else. One of the book’s editors believes: “It is the most substantial single volume non-autobiographical compilation of a Diaspora country’s Jewry’s collective biography ever published.”

The dictionary contains an article on Liberal Judaism and at least 20 entries on people who are, or were, active in the movement including Rabbi Israel Mattuck, Claude Montefiore, Lily Montagu and Israel Abrahams, as well as Rabbis Leslie Edgar, David Goldberg, John Rayner and David Goldstein. Some errors have been noted but it is a remarkable and very useful resource.

News

January/February 2012

LJ Today Page 3

Rabbis retreat for annual Kallah

LIBERAL JUDAISM’S Kallah is an annual residential gathering of the movement’s rabbis, usually over two nights. The purpose is a blend of study, renewal and a review of working practice. The Kallah dates back to around the sixth century, when rabbis would go away for two months of every year and use the time to compose huge collections of rabbinic literature, including the Babylonian Talmud. Below, the co-chairs of Liberal Judaism’s Rabbinic Conference describe this year’s event.

Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu writes: I ADMIT I was sceptical. “What’s God got to do with it?” How can a focus on God help me to renew and deepen my own rabbinic work? I expect that sounds shocking and it turns out I was wrong. At this year’s Kallah, a two-day retreat from our everyday congregational work, I truly discovered how a focus on God can be the driver for crucial questions about our future.

My rabbinic colleagues possess a range of ideas – subtle, varied, highly nuanced – very little, if any, dogmatic certainty and

a lot of questions. This leads to a demand for new kinds of language and so we studied radical new Jewish theology.

But that was just the beginning. This kind of thinking also demands that we get to grips with what we really think about our real world Jewish practice.

How, for example, might or should a Liberal Jew celebrate Shabbat? These central questions also show that just as our theology shapes our practice, our practice can mould our identity, both collectively and as individuals. So a gentle pencil line that begins with notions of God, ends its journey back with us.

I came back from the Kallah ready to teach a little of what I had learned.

I feel more equipped to really respond to our deepest scepticism: the lack of meaning that the old-fashioned notions of God hold for so many people today. I also return grateful for my colleagues’ support and very glad for space to think.

Rabbi Aaron Goldstein writes: LIBERAL JUDAISM has been blessed with some outstanding rabbis serving its congregations.

Question Time at the LJS

MORE THAN 300 people attended a very special Question Time at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) in November.

Based on the popular TV programme, the LJS attracted an outstanding line-up of panellists including Liberty’s Shami

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Chakrabarti, author Sir Max Hastings, finance expert Martin Lewis, theatre critic Libby Purves and Sir Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre.

Television and radio broadcaster Nick Ross was in the chair.

Topics for discussion during the lively debate included everything from the Occupy London protest at St Paul’s to the cost of the London Olympics to whether the Palestinians should have a seat at the United Nations.

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If the Kallah illustrated one thing above all else, it was a depth of knowledge and erudition that bodes well for our future thought.

Some colleagues traded thought from Crescas and Levinas, passages from Tanakh and Talmud – all readily available through smartphone apps – and considered responses stimulated by the discussions. Others drew upon the ensuing ideas and then reflected on their application to social action and justice programmes, in cheder and adult learning environments and in cultural events. We also experimented with different models of prayer services and were enriched by music, word and space for silent meditation.

The rich tapestry woven by our colleagues, able to share experiences and thought among peers, left me looking forward to the 2012 Biennial Weekend when we shall further explore and share our heritage, traditions and ideas for the future with those from our congregations.

I left this Kallah, honoured to be co-chair of Liberal Judaism’s Rabbinic Conference with Shulamit and confident in our shared approach for the future.

‘I’m Jewish, My Partner Isn’t’ IF YOU ARE part of a mixed faith couple then you may wish to attend this seminar, which offers the opportunity to talk about your situation, discuss issues that you may face and explore the various options open to you. Taking place on January 15 from 2.30pm at the Sternberg Centre, 80 East End Road, Finchley, N3 2SY, it is led by Liberal Judaism’s Sheila King Lassman and Reform Judaism’s Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain.

Entry costs £5 and is open to all – whether or not you are synagogue members – and is for both Jewish and non-Jewish partners alike. For more details, email rabromain@aol.com

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History

January/February 2012

‘Liberalism is the search for truth’ Rabbi Danny Rich examines the inaugural sermon of Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck RABBI DR ISRAEL MATTUCK, Britain’s first ever Liberal rabbi, was born in Lithuania in 1883. After emigrating to America with his family and graduating from Harvard, Mattuck was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 1910 and took up a pulpit in Far Rockaway, New York.

At the invitation of Claude Montefiore, Mattuck visited England and first preached at The Liberal Synagogue (LJS) in June 1911. Encouraged by Lily Montagu, among others, he returned six months later to begin a distinguished career of Liberal Jewish ministry that lasted until his death in 1954.

Copies of Mattuck’s sermons are available in a number of archives including Leo Baeck College and the London Metropolitan. Many are typed – possibly by a long-serving teacher at the LJS, the late Marjorie Moos – but the early ones present a challenge to decipher Mattuck’s own flowing but difficult hand.

His inaugural sermon ‘What is Liberal Judaism?’ is typical of the style and content of his preaching. It begins with a definition of Liberalism which is described more conservatively than some might expect. He preached: “Liberalism, in general, is a manner of thinking. It is an attitude of mind. It is essentially… the search for truth and… the practice of it…

It is... [not] limited or largely contained by tradition… going… far beyond it.”

Mattuck contrasts Liberalism with “that form of radicalism which in constant protest against traditions, rather thoughtlessly throws them all

• CALLING all members of small and medium-sized communities for a Shabbaton – a Torah breakfast, Shabbat service, delicious lunch and afternoon of interesting and enjoyable sessions on topics relevant to your congregation.

This day is the perfect chance to catch up with old friends and share ideas with new ones. LJY-Netzer will be running a full programme for young people, meaning that families and children are welcome, as well as adults on their own.

The Shabbaton will be on January 14, from 10am, at Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GN1 1NS, and costs £20 for adults and £10 for children under 13. Places are very limited so please contact Debi Penhey on 020 8349 5632 or debi.penhey@lbc.ac.uk to book.

overboard,” before declaring that Liberal Judaism “must be freedom (with) no creeds, nor set of dogmas for (dogmas) immediately (lay) a constraint upon the subscriber”.

In rhetorical but pragmatic mode, Mattuck then answers the question he has posed to his listeners. “What unites Liberal Jews” is “this very attitude of mind”, by which he means the absence of creed added to “hope, purpose and common aim”. The common aim is “to interpret the spirit of Judaism in the light of the age in which we live – to embody Judaism in forms acceptable to that age”.

Mattuck asserts that Judaism has been “deadened” by institutions, customs and observances, which have been deprived of their spirit by a concentration upon “the letter”.

Speaking in a vocabulary rarely heard in Liberal pulpits today, Mattuck describes the spirit of Judaism which is reflected for him in Biblical (particularly prophetic) literature and in the Sabbath, as “love of God and love of man”, two “distinct” but ultimately inseparable “commands”.

Thus for Mattuck, faith and ethics are at the heart of a “spiritual” Judaism.

Mattuck understands faith as a “trust” in the “good God”. He continues: “Faith, then, means strength, strength of the individual. It is his one fortification against the mighty currents of life that he cannot control. This is the light that pierces the thickest darkness – and the beacon that guides to lands unknown.

And he who has faith in his heart stands

• A MOVING SERVICE was held at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue to dedicate the community’s new Ner Tamid. The Ner Tamid had been donated

by Eva Jahn in memory of her mother Lilli, a kind and courageous doctor who was murdered in Auschwitz and whose letters were published in 2004 in the book My Wounded Heart.

• WOODFORD LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE celebrated the return of one of its precious Sifrei Torah, after a lengthy and challenging restoration under the direction of scribe Aviel Barclay. The community came out in strength for the siyum ha-sefer, in which the final letters of the scroll were completed and it was reunited with the congregation.

like a mighty Gibraltar amidst the raging and surging mass of life. Lashing against him they shall exhaust their force.”

Conscious of the progress of (scientific) knowledge, Mattuck proposes that the Liberal Jewish answer is: “Accept only that of tradition which you can honestly and sincerely accept as valid – study it as a fact of history – but eliminate it from religion when it has no significance for life.” Nevertheless he is not unsympathetic to “ceremonies and rites” when they inspire “holiness”, by which he means the “love of God and man”.

Mattuck concludes his sermon with a call for an honest and clear message in order that “our Judaism might appeal to the straying”. He actually ends thus: “Judaism is greater than all ceremonies – all rites – and all laws. It is a revelation of the Divine. It is part of His Spirit, His truth and, like Him, abides although all else changes.”

Notes: 1. I am grateful to Lionel King Lassman, who was not only personally acquainted with Israel Mattuck but has acted as the researcher for his sermons, and to Rabbi Professor Marc Saperstein (Leo Baeck College and Harvard) for his skill and patience.

2. I am collaborating with Dr Pam Fox – whose A Place to Call My Jewish Home: Memories of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue 1911-2011 has just been released – on a biography of Israel Mattuck, which will be published in 2013.

• RABBI JANET DARLEY led the annual Remembrance Day service at Streatham War Memorial this year, attended by 350 people including members of South London Liberal Synagogue. Synagogue president, Jeromé Freedman, laid a wreath on behalf of the congregation.

• COMIC Ivor Dembina stars at Beit Klal Yisrael’s Chanukkah celebrations on December 20, in a fundraising evening that also features music, doughnuts and latkes. For tickets go to www.bky.org.uk • TRIBUTES have poured in for famed writer Emanuel Litvinoff, who died in September aged 96. Emanuel’s family are members of Liberal communities in Bedfordshire and North Herts.

Biennial

January/February 2012

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What is TroubleStep into an ancient world at the Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend Making Judaism?

Rabbi Pete Tobias reveals what awaits us in April WHAT WAS IT like to be standing at turning points in Jewish history? To have listened to the speeches of Jeremiah, predicting the Babylonians’ assault on the walls of Jerusalem? To have heard him plead with those being taken into exile not to forget their heritage and their God? To have seen the walls of the Temple consumed by flames?

What if we had witnessed the full horror of Roman military might and brutality turned against that same city several centuries later? To have studied at the academy established by Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai who, having escaped from the ruins of Jerusalem, ensured the continuity of the Jews’ relationship with God and the Torah?

What might our attitude to our heritage be had we lived through the torment of the Crusades, which ripped the heart out of Europe’s medieval Jewish communities and filled them with terror?

Or if we had dwelt in southern Spain experiencing Jewry’s ‘Golden Age’ of poetry and philosophy, of political and social achievement, only to suffer the horrors of the Inquisition?

How might our Jewish lives have been had we lived at the start of the 19th century in a city like Berlin or Prague, enjoying the opportunities offered to us by the Emancipation, the granting of freedoms that enabled us to bring our Judaism out of the ghettoes and shtetls and allow it to mingle with, influence and benefit from the wisdom of the Enlightenment?

And there are so many other critical moments in the history of Judaism, such as its story of survival against all odds in so many troubled places, and its triumphs and successes in countless others. How might it have felt to have read newspaper reports of the first Jewish Member of Parliament being elected and allowed to take his seat, to have been present when the full horrors of Auschwitz were being realised, when the Israeli flag was first raised in the new State or when the first female rabbi in this country was ordained?

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At Liberal Judaism’s 2012 Biennial Weekend – which takes place on April 20-22 at Tortworth Court Hotel, Bristol – all these historic moments will be considered, the experiences of those who went through them relived and the consequences and effects of them on us discussed and evaluated.

We too are living at a critical moment in Jewish history, as members of a global society that is crying out for a religious voice – a prophetic vision. Perhaps, in the future, the Liberal Judaism that emerged in the second decade of the 21st century will come to be seen as a pivotal moment in the ever-unfolding story of our ancient heritage, with its unique ability to reinvent itself ever anew.

We too are standing at a turning point in Jewish history. Come to the 2012 Biennial Weekend in April to explore those past turning points and be ready to make your contribution to this one.

Further details are in the box below – and there’s a special early-bird discount for those booking before the end of January.

Can you afford not to be there?

Book your place IF YOU’RE planning on coming to the Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend 2012, then make sure to buy your tickets now for an exclusive discount.

We’ve frozen the early-bird rate from 2010, meaning that anyone who books before January 31 will pay £295, a saving of £55. This price includes two nights’ full board accommodation and all materials. The price for children up to five sharing with their parents is £50, and £80 for those over five.

When booking your place, there is an option to pay by instalments. Some financial assistance is available for those who would like to attend but are concerned about the cost.

For further information contact Yael on y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org or go to www.liberaljudaism.org/biennial

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By Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah FROM the prophets who admonished the leaders and people of Israel for their ethical misconduct through to the rabbis who troubled the Torah to make meaning for Jewish life, Judaism has long been engaged with troubling and trouble-making. Trouble-making is about challenging and disrupting the status quo. It is also about being troubled and troubling our Jewish texts and inheritance to adapt and change in response to the lives of Jewish individuals, families and communities here and now.

My book Trouble-Making Judaism (ISBN 09780954848293) is published on February 1 and has been a long time in the making. It is both a summation of my work and experience as a rabbi and an expression of a particular way of living, which is exemplified by Liberal Judaism.

The book falls into four parts.

Beginning with an exploration of some trouble-making precedents, I go on to explore the struggle for equality and inclusion, ways of engaging to foster Jewish life today and the challenge to acknowledge both Israel and Palestine.

Trouble-making, being troubled and troubling our Jewish inheritance, involves engaging with our Jewish teachings and narratives. It involves taking issues which have been pushed to the periphery because they are so difficult and making them the centre of our concerns. It involves celebrating family life in all its diverse expressions and making space for those who are single, childless and childfree. It involves acknowledging and affirming heterosexual people and relationships and lesbian and gay people and relationships – as well as those who are bisexual and/or transgender.

It involves welcoming those who are Jewish in different ways and those who are Jew-ish, as well as non-Jews. It involves taking steps to ensure that our congregations welcome all those who wish to participate and celebrate the myriad gifts which people bring.

Above all, it involves transcending our preoccupation with either/or binary oppositions, and embracing the complexity and the stories of others that we may not see as our own.

In essence, trouble-making is what Liberal Judaism is all about.

• Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah will be talking about Trouble-Making Judaism at 3.30pm on February 19 at Jewish Book Week.

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January/February 2012

Around the communiti

Members of Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue spent a sunny day volunteering at the Moulsecoomb Forest Garden, a project for disaffected teenagers from the local council estate

Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation worked with St Philip’s Centre and Christian, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim groups on Mitzvah Day to show how an idea rooted in one faith has meaning for all

After a month long Collect-a-thon, children and adults at Finchley Progressive Synagogue celebrated Mitzvah Day with a charity Packa-thon, Gift-a-thon and, in true Jewish style, Feed-a-thon

Enthusiastic children and parents from the Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation cheder collected much needed funds for the local homeless organisation Dublin Simon Community

The children at Southgate Progressive Synagogue’s religion school made Chanukkah cards for elderly Jewish residents of local nursing homes and wrapped presents for children in nearby hospitals

South Bucks Jewish Community cheder made Chanukkah cards for local elderly residents, door signs for the refuge run by Jewish Women’s Aid and planted trees with the Woodland Trust

The community at Oxford Jewish Congregation undertook various projects including knitting for World Jewish Relief, making soup for the homeless, planting trees and filling care boxes for needy kids

Staff members at the Montagu Centre, Liberal Judaism’s London head office, headed to Trafalgar Square to take part in ‘Feeding the 5,000’ – a special event to raise awareness about food wastage

January/February 2012

LJ Today Page 7

ies - Mitzvah Day 2011

The Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation joined the Nottingham Hebrew Congregation and Nottingham JSoc to collect food and household items for local homeless and refugee charities

The congregants of Woodford Liberal Synagogue collected 350 food items for Jason Lee House, formerly Redbridge Night Shelter, while the children also made cards to send to British and Israeli soldiers

It was a busy Mitzvah Day for South London Liberal Synagogue as members of all ages participated in FOUR events, including a CitySafe walk in conjunction with South London Citizens

Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue’s Kabbalat Torah class teamed up with the local Catholic confirmation class to collect food for distribution through Northwood Live at Home Scheme

Mitzvah Day came early for Kent Liberal Jewish Community. Their project, organised by Megan Farmer, was to tidy up the play area and sensory garden at Aylesford Primary School back in October

Batmitzvah and barmitzvah students Abigail, Hannah and Dean, of the Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community, raised £600 for Norwood, The Meningitis Trust and Cheltenham Animal Shelter

Members of The Liberal Synagogue Elstree’s Our Space youth group had a great time with the residents of Abbeyfield Belmont Lodge, in Bushey, as part of their contribution to Mitzvah Day 2011

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue’s Kabbalat Torah class cleared leaves at the LJS Cemetery in Pound Lane, while other members collected shopping to donate to homeless charity Doorstep

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Chairman’s Actions

January/February 2012

Snatching a glimpse of ankle Lucian J Hudson on what we can learn from the Book of Judges about leadership and vulnerability A BIG highlight in the run-up to the Liberal Judaism 2012 Biennial Weekend is the very successful Rabbinic Kallah, which this year tackled theology and is covered on page 3 of this copy of lj today.

The world is not just split between those who believe and those who do not. There is positive theology where God provides all the answers and negative theology, which recognises the unknown and unknowable. I find something inspiring about the existential traditions in different religions because they wrestle with this phenomenon.

Much as I am enthralled by the twists and turns of Biblical protagonists, who

have an explicit relationship with God, I relate more to those stories where we only snatch a glimpse of ankle. Either we do not know or we cannot be sure. Yet we act despite, or because of, the knowledge we have.

When I read the Book of Judges, I find a people just getting on the tug-ofwar of life, winning some battles and losing others, regularly messing things up and crying for divine intervention.

Underpinning most stories is a cycle of sin, punishment and rescue. But a recurring theme is quality of leadership.

It is a focus on the human.

The Judges – better described as Chieftains – are interesting because they are defined as much by their limitations as by their potential. Yet they are the means by which God invariably intervenes. Character becomes destiny.

What a great bunch they are, with great names: Barak, Samson, Gideon, Ehud, Shamgar, Jephthah, Othniel; Samuel and Deborah are prophets; but all are tribal leaders, delivering their people from oppression.

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Some commentators read the Book of Judges as a critique of the Chieftains as a political establishment, paving the way to a monarchy, a much more stable institution. But I like the unsettling dynamism of the Book of Judges, which provides a suitable template for our changing times. Do we not have similar issues with our own leaders’ imperfections? Yet how much do we step back to reflect that their weaknesses are our own? Is that not what really disturbs?

The psychoanalyst Melanie Klein distinguished two states: paranoid and depressive. Paranoid involves dividing up the world into good and bad; depressive means seeing good and bad in the same thing. The tolerance that is enshrined in Liberal Judaism is partly about being receptive to this dual reality. Yes, we can and should discern what is good and what is not – hence the injunction to justice.

Yet we should also seek to understand before seeking to be understood – hence compassion. Revealingly, the root for that word is not “passion” but “compass”, it is about getting one’s bearings right.

That stance will infuriate those who live by black-and-white answers, but that is the precious space Liberal Judaism holds in today’s debates on Israel, social justice and human rights. Every time we consider our response to a burning question we should remind ourselves of that Kleinian insight.

There is certain humility in vulnerability and not quite knowing.

Confidence is not the same as false certainty. In fact, confidence is what you have when you are not sure, yet nevertheless persevere.

Most leaders do not make enough of vulnerability until it is too late and they are a mere spectacle. The military commander, Barak, is often seen as weak by some Book of Judges commentators when he defers to the prophetess Deborah. But the lesson of that episode is that Barak, Deborah and Jael do not achieve success on their own. Each plays a critical part and contributes to an unfolding and divine plan.

Through Google Alerts, I have been tracking use of the word “collaboration” for the past three years. It is a word that is fast acquiring real and positive meaning and gives a fresh twist of what it is to be a co-worker in God’s design.

• Lucian J Hudson is chairman of Liberal Judaism and author of The Enabling State: Collaborating for Success (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 2009)

Routes

January/February 2012

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The Routes of Liberal Judaism ON Thursday December 22, Liberal Judaism launches a new programme for young adults called Routes. Led by Rabbi Anna Gerrard – a member of the Montagu Centre’s Rabbinic Team – it is a response to several recent studies into the ‘lost’ Jewish generation. Below, Anna tells us all about Routes and how you can help – whatever your age: So what is Routes?

It is a programme of monthly events in central London for the young Jewish community. Routes events will be varied, offering a cultural, social, learning and spiritual space that connects to Judaism in a way that is relevant, thought-provoking and enjoyable. Routes participants will also have the opportunity to run their own one-off or regular events, which we will promote under the umbrella name Grass Routes.

Who might be interested in Routes?

Routes is aimed at young Jews in their 20s and 30s, as well as their non-Jewish friends and partners. It is an open and

non-judgemental space for all young adults, regardless of their background, involvement, knowledge level or beliefs.

What has happened to Tent, the previous initiative for young adults?

Tent will no longer be running as a programme, but Tent-style services have become so popular that they will continue to run in many communities. They can be a particularly good resource for any community that wants to attract more young adults to their events. Booklets and CDs are available from the Montagu Centre on request.

How can Liberal Judaism members support Routes?

The most important way you can help is to cut out the flyer below and give it to someone who might be interested in Routes. It may not be for you, but perhaps your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews are in their 20s or 30s and might like to get involved. If you are particularly keen to support this project, you may also like to consider sponsoring

one of the monthly events. This will help us keep the costs low for participants and therefore encourage more young people to come along. Please contact me, Anna, on routes@liberaljudaism.org if you would like to discuss this option.

What are your plans for Routes over the next year?

We are launching Routes on Thursday December 22 with a ‘Balkan Beats’ Chanukkah party at the Elixir Bar in Euston. Following that, we have some great events lined up for January and February 2012 including an Israeli film night and a performance by a Jewish singer/songwriter. We will continue to hold varied monthly events throughout the year, including a communal Friday night dinner and an alternative Passover Seder. We will also soon start scheduling Grass Routes events, which will be listed in our monthly electronic mailing and on our website www.ljroutes.org, Facebook page and Twitter feed. All the details are in the flyer below - please remember to cut it out!

Page 10 LJ Today

January/February 2012

Spotlight on Crouch End we’ve been running four classes a week with Rabbi Sandra, for Reception to Year 8, and we’ll shortly be starting our first batmitzvah lessons.

Crouch End Chavurah members on one of their regular Shabbat picnics during the summer

Please introduce yourselves…

Crouch End Chavurah is a friendly new community in north London. Our membership reflects the demographics of the area: British, American, Australian, French, Danish (that’s our rabbi) the welltravelled and the not-so-well travelled.

Within our community we can find you a yoga teacher, write you a script or a comedy show and locate any number of lawyers, although we do seem to be the only Jewish congregation short of an accountant!

How was the community formed?

People had long suspected that there were JICE about – that’s Jews In Crouch End – and school-gate conversations led to some early meetings about forming an active Jewish community of some kind.

There are plenty of well-established and emerging congregations not far from us, covering all branches of Judaism, but we wanted something that reflected the way we lived and was a natural part of our community. One local enthusiast for the Chavurah was Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk, who lives in Crouch End with her family and was recently appointed as full-time rabbi to Finchley Progressive Synagogue. Rebecca continues to be a great friend.

What happened next?

We pottered along attracting more members for about three years, running services ourselves and appreciating the kindness and support of many generous rabbis along the way. We decided to get a bit more serious earlier this year: Sandra Kviat, then in her final year of rabbinic studies, had taken over our children’s classes and had led some services. She was then living locally and her warmth,

intelligence and determination had already won much praise. So with a gulp we decided to join Liberal Judaism, formalise and increase our membership fees and, most importantly, appoint Sandra quarter-time. Leah Jordan, a fourth-year student rabbi at Leo Baeck College, will be running the show while Sandra is on maternity leave, and we are really looking forward to her involvement.

How would you describe the atmosphere at a Chavurah event?

We try to be warm, welcoming and family-friendly. Our core members are fairly diverse and we are lucky to have non-Jewish partners in our midst who are very supportive and, in some cases, extremely active. This contributes to the welcoming, all-embracing atmosphere of the Chavurah.

What sort of events do you hold?

Mostly ones which plunder our membership or community for ideas and support. For example, we recently held a discussion evening with local award-winning author Linda Grant. On Mitzvah Day we held two events. The first was at the local Meadow Orchard, where volunteers worked on an emerging community gardening project. The other involved collecting canned food outside a nearby supermarket for two local charities – FoodCycle, which uses waste food from supermarkets to make into nutritious meals for those not able to cook for themselves, and the local YMCA which also works hard to support people in the area.

How do you cater for young people?

We began three years ago with one class a week for children. Since last September

How do you mark the festivals?

Since Sandra’s appointment we can now hold a Friday night or Saturday morning service on the third week of each month.

Friday nights are informal family services followed by a pot-luck dinner and we’ll occasionally hold a traditional Shabbat service on Saturday morning. We also enjoy celebrating festivals in Liberal style: Tashlich saw us casting off our sins at Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath, throwing duck feed into the beautiful lake; Tu Bishvat is usually a walk and talk in some local woods; and Chavurah twonight camping trips and Shabbat picnics have now become regular fixtures. Also, for the first time this year we offered a full programme of services over the High Holy Days.

Where do you hold services?

We’re wandering Jews. A local cricket club, schools and a community centre are our regular venues on big occasions like High Holy Days or festivals, while for smaller events and services we go to members’ homes. There was the chance to buy a property in the area earlier this year but prices are crazy so we had to decide… a part-time rabbi or bricks and mortar? No contest. Now it’s onwards and upwards!

How do I find out more?

Email info@crouchendchavurah.co.uk or visit www.crouchendchavurah.co.uk

A night time camping trip for the community

Youth

January/February 2012

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

It’s decision-making December

By Adam Francies AS WITH ALL months in the LJY-Netzer calendar, December is a busy one. But it’s certainly no ordinary month, oh no. For this is decision-making December.

There are two very important events running – probably at the same time that you’re reading this page – Kinus (for those in school years 7-10) and Veidah (for those in school year 11 and upwards).

Veidah acts as LJY-Netzer’s Annual General Meeting, where everyone comes together to discuss the movement, what

LJY-Netzer leaders got ready for their busy month at the Hadracha (leadership) Seminar

we have done in the last 12 months and where we are heading over the next year.

In the past, Veidah has made decisions on a range of diverse issues covering

LJ staff tie themselves in Notts

Liberal Judaism’s university chaplain Ariel Friedlander (far right) and student worker Adam Francies (fifth from right) visit undergraduates in Nottingham

everything from vegetarianism to Reform Zionism and from prayer to music festivals.

Kinus is just like Veidah, only for our younger members. It gives those who may want to go to Veidah in the future a taste of what it involves and how they can shape and change their movement. Every motion that passes at Kinus directly feeds into Veidah and the decisions that LJYNetzer makes.

LJY-Netzer proudly empowers Liberal Judaism’s youth, and December shows this like no other month.

• LJY-NETZER is proud to launch Israel Tour 2012, a life-changing 26 days in the Holy Land. Guided by experienced LJY-Netzer leaders and local experts, the trip takes in all that Israel has to offer, from the rolling hills of the North to the desert of the South. Publicity and application forms should have arrived through your letter box, however if you have not received these, or if you would like more information about any part of the trip, please contact Sam Grant on s.grant@liberaljudaism.org • THOSE of you who have already logged onto www.ljy-netzer.org will have seen the dates for our two biggest UK-based events: Machaneh Aviv (spring camp) and Machaneh Kadimah (summer camp).

Machaneh Aviv takes place from March 31 to April 5 and will again be at Cottesmore School in West Sussex. Kadimah is slightly later than in previous years, due to the London Olympics, and runs from August 13 to 27. Our flagship summer camp will also be moving to a new site in Wiltshire, so stay tuned for details!

Contact the LJY-Netzer team: Adam (a.francies@liberaljudaism.org), Sam G (s.grant@liberaljudaism.org), Sam C (s.cohen@liberaljudaism.org) and Anna (a.posner@liberaljudaism.org) or telephone 020 7631 0584

Page 12 LJ Today

January/February 2012

Rabbi Pete’s quick quiz

Liberal Judaism congregations

Chairman Lucian J Hudson Vice Chairs Simon Benscher and Jackie Richards Treasurer David Pelham Social Action and Disability Leon Charikar Israel and the Diaspora Vacancy Other National Officers Dr Howard Cohen Vice Presidents and Honorary Vice Presidents David Amstell, Monique Blake, Henry Cohn, Nigel Cole, Geoffrey Davis, Stanley Fink, Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, Sharon Goldstein, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, Jeremy Jessel, Willie Kessler, David Lipman, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker, Harold Sanderson, Joan Shopper, Beverley Taylor and Clive Winston Chairs of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Aaron Goldstein and Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu Chief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich University Chaplain Rabbi Ariel Friedlander Education Rabbi Sandra Kviat Outreach Rabbi Anna Gerrard Music Cantor Gershon Silins Operations Director Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer Interfaith Rabbi Mark Solomon Shlicha Adva Sapir LJY-Netzer Sam Cohen, Sam Grant, Anna Posner and Adam Francies (Student Worker)

lj today is edited by Simon Rothstein The deadline for the next edition is February 1.

Please email your news to ljtoday@liberaljudaism.org Printed by Precision Printing. www.precisionprinting.co.uk

Associated congregations

Beit Ha’Chidush Postbus 14613, 1001 LC Amsterdam, Netherlands, 00 31 23 524 7204; bhc.informatie@gmail.com; www.beithachidush.nl Oxford Liberal Jewish Services: 01865 515584 or 01865 765197; www.ojc-online.org Wessex Liberal Jewish Group (Bournemouth) info@wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk; 01202 757084

Developing communities

North Herts Liberal Jewish Community (based in Stevenage) 01438 300 222; nhljc@ liberaljudaism.org; www.northhertsljc.org The Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (based in Ipswich) 01473 250797; sjc@liberaljudaism.org

Make a date ...........

2012 January 14 (Saturday) I’m Jewish, My Partner Isn’t event at the Sternberg Centre, 80 East End Road, Finchley, 2.30pm-5.45pm.

January 15 (Sunday) Communities’ Shabbaton at Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, 10am-5pm.

January 22 (Sunday) Routes January Jam at Elix Bar, London, 2pm-5pm.

How much do you know about the festival of Chanukkah?

1. How many candles do you need for all eights days of Chanukkah?

2. According to the Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 21a), why do we celebrate Chanukkah for eight days? * 3. According to the Books of Maccabees (eg 2 Maccabees 10:1-8) why do we celebrate Chanukkah for eight days? * 4. What do the four Hebrew letters - nun, gimmel, hei, shin - on the sides of a dreidel stand for?

5. Where would you find the Hebrew letter peh in place of the shin on a dreidel? Why? 6. What foods are traditionally associated with Chanukkah? * Answers to these questions (if you don’t already know them) are in the Chanukkah section of Siddur Lev Chadash.

Pete Tobias is rabbi at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree

Sidney’s bridge magic Try these bridge teasers, all with very magical answers…

1. As a result of a misunderstanding with your partner, you have ended up in a contract with only five trumps between you, split three-two. What is the greatest number of tricks you can make?

2. What is the maximum number of calls – including pass, double and redouble – that can be made in the bidding process?

3. Which of these is the most unlikely hand to be dealt? (a) A-8-4 Spades, K-9-2 Hearts, J-10-2 Diamonds, Q-8-7-4 Clubs (b) 13 cards in the same suit (c) 13 black cards

Sidney Barrat is bridge teacher at Woodford Liberal Synagogue

For more information on any of these events please email montagu@liberaljudaism.org Liberal Judaism is the dynamic, cutting edge of modern Judaism. It reverences Jewish tradition, seeking to preserve the values of the Judaism of the past while giving them contemporary force.

Registered charity number 236590.

Quiz answers: 1. 44 2. One day’s worth of oil lasted for eight days 3. They celebrated a belated Sukkot festival 4. A great miracle happened there 5. In Israel. Shin stands for ‘sham’ (there), so in Israel they change it to peh which stands for ‘po’ (here): ‘A great miracle happened here’ 6. Doughnuts and potato latkes

The Montagu Centre 21 Maple Street London, W1T 4BE Tel: 020 7580 1663 Fax: 020 7631 9838

The Liberal Synagogue Elstree Elstree High Street, Elstree, Herts WD6 3BY; 020 8953 8889; tlse@liberaljudaism.org; www.tlse.org.uk Lincolnshire Jewish Community 01427 628958; ljc@liberaljudaism.org Manchester Liberal Jewish Community 08432 084441; mljc@liberaljudaism.org; www.mljc.org.uk North London Progressive Jewish Community 020 7403 3779; nlpjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.nlpjc.org.uk Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue Oaklands Gate, Northwood, Middx HA6 3AA; 01923 822592, npls@liberaljudaism.org; www.npls.org.uk Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation Lloyd Street, Sherwood NG5 4BP; 0115 9624761; npjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.npjc.org.uk Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community Enquiries: 020 7631 9822 The Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia (based in Norwich); www.pjcea.org.uk Reading Liberal Jewish Community 0118 942 8022; rljc@liberaljudaism.org; www.rljc.org Shenfield, Brentwood & Districts Synagogue 01277 888610; info@roshtikvah.com; www.roshtikvah.com South Bucks Jewish Community PO Box 826, Amersham, HP6 9GA; 0845 644 2370; sbjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.sbjc.org.uk South London Liberal Synagogue PO Box 14475, London SW16 1ZW; 020 8769 4787; slls@liberaljudaism.org; www.southlondon.org Southgate Progressive Synagogue 75 Chase Road, London N14 4QY; 020 8886 0977; sps@liberaljudaism.org; www.sps.uk.com West Central Liberal Synagogue 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE; 020 7636 7627; wcls@liberaljudaism.org; www.wcls.org.uk Woodford Liberal Synagogue Marlborough Road, George Lane, London E18 1AR; 020 8989 7619; wps@liberaljudaism.org; www.woodfordliberal.org.uk

Bridge answer: 1. Amazingly, all 13! Say declarer has A-Q-J Spades, A-K-Q-5 Hearts, 4-3-2 Diamonds and 4-3-2 Clubs, and dummy has K-2 Spades, 4-3-2 Hearts, A-K-Q-5 Diamonds and A-K-Q-5 Clubs. If both opponents’ hands are 4-3-3-3 (with four Spades), declarer can win all the tricks, even after a trump lead. So a grand slam with only five trumps.

2. 319! The ridiculous auction begins P, P, P, 1 Club, P, P, Dbl, P, P, Rdbl, P, P, 1 Diamond… and ends 7 NT, P, P, Dbl, P, P, Rdbl, P, P, P. 3, It is (a), because that is one specific hand. Note that ‘13 cards in the same suit’ comprises four specific hands, hence it is four times more likely, and ‘13 black cards’ comprises millions of hands.

Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue (Rodef Shalom) 01234 218387; bedsps@liberaljudaism. org; www.bedfordshire-ps.org.uk Beit Klal Yisrael c/o The Montagu Centre, 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE; 07505 477459, bky@liberaljudaism.org; www.bky.org.uk Bet Tikvah Synagogue 129 Perrymans Farm Road, Ilford, Essex IG2 7LX; 020 8554 9682; bttkv@liberaljudaism.org; www.bettikvah.org.uk Birmingham Progressive Synagogue 1 Roseland Way, Birmingham B15 1HD; 0121 634 3888; bps@liberaljudaism.org; www.bpsjudaism.com Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF; 01273 737223; bhps@liberaljudaism.org; www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation 43-45 Bannerman Road, Easton, Bristol BS5 0RR bwpjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.bwpjc.org Crouch End Liberal Jewish Chavurah info@crouchendchavurah.co.uk; www.crouchendchavurah.co.uk Crawley Jewish Community 01293 534294 Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation PO Box 3059, Dublin 6, 00 3531 2856241; djpc@liberaljudaism.org Ealing Liberal Synagogue Lynton Avenue, Drayton Green, W13 0EB; 020 8997 0528; els@liberaljudaism. org; www.ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk Eastbourne Progressive Jewish Congregation 01323 725650; fax: 01323 417645 epjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.epjcong.org.uk Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community 0131 777 8024; info@eljc.org; www.eljc.org Finchley Progressive Synagogue Hutton Grove, N12 8DR; 020 8446 4063; fps@liberaljudaism.org; www.fps.org Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community Enquiries: 01242 609311 or 01242 231877; shalom@gljc.org.uk; www. gljc.org.uk Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue 39 Bessborough Road, Harrow HA1 3BS; 020 8864 5323; hwps@liberaljudaism.org; www.hwps.org Herefordshire Jewish Community 01594 530721; hjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.herefordshirejc.org Kent Liberal Jewish Community 07952 242432; kljc@liberaljudaism.org; http://tinyurl.com/kentljc Kingston Liberal Synagogue Rushett Road, Long Ditton, Surbiton, Surrey; KT7 0UX; 020 8398 7400; kls@liberaljudaism.org; www.klsonline.org Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation The Synagogue, 24 Avenue Road, LE2 3EA; lpjc@liberaljudaism.org The Liberal Jewish Synagogue 28 St John’s Wood Road, London NW8 7HA; 020 7286 5181; ljs@liberaljudaism.org; www.ljs.org

January 28 (Saturday) WJR Sleepout at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue.

February 18 (Saturday) - February 26 (Sunday) Jewish Book Week at Kings Place, London April 20 (Friday) - April 22 (Sunday) Liberal Judaism’s 2012 Biennial Weekend at Tortworth Court Hotel in the Cotswolds.