July/August 2014 VOL. XLI No. 4
Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
www.liberaljudaism.org
ljtoday
A transformative experience T HIS YEAR’S Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend was the biggest and best in our movement’s history. It saw more congregations get actively involved and more first timers among the record 305 delegates than ever before. However, it was not just the numbers that made this year’s conference a success. It was the fact that Biennial 2014, in the words of many who attended, was a transformative experience. The conference was titled ‘Radical Roots, Relevant Responses / Relevant Roots, Radical Responses.’ Its aim was to challenge attendees to recall the words and actions of the founders of Liberal Judaism and use them as a springboard for individuals and communities to examine different ways of responding to their own future and that of the world around them. This aim was accomplished through a series of inspiring workshops, delivered by rabbis and leaders, which challenged and excited the participants. The most common feedback was that the choice of sessions was so extensive, many people struggled to decide which to attend. The keynote speaker Rabbi Jonah Pesner – vice president of our sister movement in America, the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) – spoke passionately about his own life story and how it had inspired him and the URJ to get involved in major social action projects. He completely drew in the audience, stirring a very British crowd of Jews to applaud, call out and talk one-on-one with each other in a very American way. His speech was described as “energising and totally intoxicating”. Others to enthuse the Biennial with their words included Liberal
Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich, chairman Lucian J Hudson, president Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein and chair of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Charley Baginsky. Many members of the conference were also lucky enough to attend one of the sessions led by Fania Oz-Salzberger, professor of history at the University of Haifa and co-author with her father, Amos Oz, of Jews and Words. Fania brought new ideas and vision to the Biennial and formed a dream team with our own Rabbi Dr David J Goldberg. She said: “Not only did I have a wonderful time, but I felt at home with a community of like-minded people.”
One key goal of Biennial 2014 was a determination not to be locked into the past, nor to spend time visioning without learning from the present. Time was specifically dedicated to sharing the real issues within our communities and the promotion of Liberal Judaism’s Resource Bank and Philosophy of Co-operation. Each community also created their own door to display at the Biennial, allowing congregations a chance to celebrate and share the work they do and provide a means to inspire others. Perhaps the most significant innovation of this year’s event was the launch of the Emerging Leadership Network (ELN), bringing together future leaders from each community to meet, support each other and attend bespoke sessions. Rabbi Charley Baginsky – chair of the Biennial organising committee – said: “While I wanted to help create a conference that would be an inspiring weekend, a weekend is simply a moment. Liberal Judaism can celebrate a conference that helped people transform their moments on Biennial into actions that will create continual moments within their home communities.” The final session, run by Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk, brought together the feeling that ran throughout the weekend that the radical and relevant responses of Liberal Judaism had been reinvigorated. These were then transformed into individual commitments to take the Biennial’s work home to all those that had not had the privilege of attending. Biennial 2014 may have been a moment, but it was a moment of which Liberal Judaism can be truly proud. Find out more in our Biennial Weekend Special on pages 4-7.
Page 2 LJ Today
News
July/August 2014
Unique Mosaic A remarkable story in Europe By Alan Solomon MARCH 2 marked a milestone for Progressive Judaism in north-west London and the formalisation of a unique partnership in Anglo Jewry. After years of discussion and planning, members of Harrow & Wembley Progressive Synagogue (HWPS) joined with those of Middlesex New Synagogue (Reform) and Hatch End Masorti Synagogue in formally agreeing to become part of a pluralist Jewish association. The Mosaic Jewish Community was born. We at Harrow & Wembley took a leap of faith in 2011 when, facing falling numbers and financial uncertainty, we decided to sell our building at Preston Road and accept the offer that had been made to us by Middlesex New Synagogue to share their premises in central Harrow. The three years since that move have shown that any previous concerns that the differences between our two strands of Judaism might cause difficulties were unfounded. A very close relationship has been formed. While we preserve our own identity and ethos, continue to have our own rabbi, hold separate services and retain control of our own finances, the leadership of the two synagogues works closely together. Members of both congregations join together for kiddush after our separate Shabbat morning services, all our adult education, cultural and social activities are open to everyone and we share the expenses of running the building. We have now taken matters a stage further. Mosaic is unique. It is an overarching body within which we can share so many of the religious and social activities of synagogue life. Equally importantly, the children of all three synagogues, together with those from Kol Chai Hatch End Jewish Community (Reform), learn together at HaMakom (The Place) in the first Progressive pluralistic cheder in the United Kingdom. At the same time, the HWPS community continues with ‘traditional’ Liberal services and carrying out care work among our members, which is such a big part of what we do. The search is now on to find a site in the local area for a building that will house all three congregations, each continuing to hold their own services but able to co-operate even more closely in other areas and forming a community that proves attractive, welcoming and relevant to Jews from both traditional and Progressive backgrounds, and neither. We all look forward to the future with great excitement.
Rabbi Margaret Jacobi reports on the EUPJ Biennial
Rabbi Harry Jacobi gives the opening prayer at the EUPJ Biennial. Picture by Tobias Tanzyna
WHILE DEBATE continues to rage over Britain’s place in Europe, there is no doubt about the role of British Progressive Judaism in the European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ). Jews from the British Liberal and Reform movements are involved in its leadership and work closely with communities across the continent. I was privileged to attend the EUPJ Biennial Conference in Dresden, Germany, and it made me appreciate just how remarkable the story of Progressive Judaism in Europe is. It is nearly 20 years since I last attended an EUPJ Conference. Some of the participants were the same and I was glad to meet old friends, but many were from communities that hadn’t even existed two decades ago. There were delegates from as far north as Copenhagen and as far south as Barcelona, as well as Warsaw, Krakow and other Eastern European cities. Meeting in Dresden, we were particularly aware of the revival of Progressive Judaism in Germany. Our opening ceremony was held at the magnificent Kurländer Palais, where we were welcomed by local dignitaries from Saxony, all of whom expressed their regret for the past and their desire to support the Jewish community. Our services were held in the recently rebuilt synagogue in Dresden, on the site of the one destroyed on Kristallnacht in 1938. Progressive does not necessarily mean the same in Germany. The congregation we visited is an ‘Einheitsgemeinde’, not affiliated to a single movement, and the normal custom was for men and women to be separated and women not to be called up to the Torah. For our event, these restrictions were lifted. The morning service was led in part by students from the Abraham Geiger College, the German Progressive rabbinic training college. They were egalitarian, but led a far more traditional service than is usual in Britain – in fact, we would consider it closer to Masorti.
Whatever our differences in style of service, in the workshops we discovered how much we had in common in our diverse communities. I attended a session on the future of the synagogue and found that congregations across Europe face the same difficulties in membership and involvement. In another workshop, speakers discussed pluralism, diversity and its limits. Many people, from Poland to Spain, will approach a community having discovered that a grandparent, or even more distant ancestor, was Jewish. What criteria should we use in deciding whether to accept them as Jewish or ask them to convert? There is no uniform view but Rabbi Jackie Tabick, in her role as convenor of the European Progressive Bet Din, described how she tried to welcome people into Judaism while defining boundaries. Friday afternoon was full of thoughtprovoking speeches and debate. Delegates heard from experts on a number of topics including the bleak economic situation facing much of Europe and the fight for egalitarian rights and against racism in Israel. There is always much to think about on visits to Germany, and even more so in Dresden, where so many civilians were killed during the bombings in World War II. Jews had been saved as a result of the bombings and one of the speakers at the opening ceremony reflected on the moral questions that were raised. We could not but be aware of the fate of Dresden’s Jews. Yet it was an inspiration to see Ruth Shire and my father Rabbi Harry Jacobi, who had been refugees from Nazi Germany, participating in the EUPJ Conference alongside a generation of young people who had grown up in Germany and were rebuilding Jewish life. The Biennial was not all serious. On Saturday night there was a lively cabaret, with performances from the cantorial students at the Abraham Geiger College and Leo Baeck College’s Nathan Godleman, also from Harrow & Wembley. From the same congregation, Paul Zatz amused us with his comic songs. But even more important than the workshops, speeches, prayers and entertainment, was the sense of joy in being together at the EUPJ Conference, along with a sense of common purpose and commitment. As we met old friends and made new ones, we were aware that much had been achieved in the 20 years and there was much more to do in the future, in rebuilding Progressive Judaism.
News
July/August 2014
LJ Today Page 3
Ambassador addresses Patrons Liberal Jew is new Board of Deputies chief
His Excellency Mr Emil Brix, above with Lord Fink, spoke of his connection and continued relationship to European Jewry at Liberal Judaism’s Patrons’ Dinner at the House of Lords
LIBERAL JUDAISM’S Patrons, rabbis, national officers, vice presidents and community chairs gathered at the House of Lords in late April for the annual Patrons’ Dinner, chaired by Liberal Judaism president Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, hosted by Lord Fink and organised by Joan Shopper. Guests were addressed by His Excellency Mr Emil Brix, Austrian Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s.
While everyone enjoyed the view over the River Thames, some were also lucky enough to take a tour of the House of Lords accompanied by Lord Fink. Next year’s Patrons’ Dinner will be held on the later date of Tuesday June 9, with Lord Finkelstein as the guest speaker. If you would like to find out more about the Liberal Judaism Patrons’ Scheme, then please contact Rabbi Danny Rich on d.rich@liberaljudaism.org
Dates for your diary
Rainbow Jews leaves a legacy
June 29 (7.30pm) Daniel Cainer in Concert The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, NW8 7HA Frankie Gruzd on 020 7625 1265 July 8 (6.45pm) Liberal Judaism AGM The Montagu Centre, London, W1T 4BE July 4 (6.30pm) Pride Seder South London Liberal Synagogue, SW16 office@southlondon.org July 6 (11am-4pm) Learning Network Seminar
The Montagu Centre, London, W1T 4BE a.jacobi@liberaljudaism.org July 12 (6pm-10pm) Liberal Judaism Inter-Synagogue Quiz
Finchley Progressive Synagogue, N12 8DR quiz@fps.org
July 20 (11am-4pm) Sunday Seminar – Not Just for Choirs
The Montagu Centre, London, W1T 4BE a.jacobi@liberaljudaism.org August 14 - 27 LJY-Netzer Machaneh Kadimah Sandroyd School, Wiltshire
By Surat Knan LIBERAL JUDAISM’S LGBT oral history project Rainbow Jews will be drawing to a close this summer, yet its legacy lives on. After a well-received stint at the Biennial, the Rainbow Jews exhibition is due to go to West London Synagogue for Pride 2014. Brighton and Liverpool have also shown interest in hosting it. Thanks to community leader David Walsh and Leicester’s Reni Chapman, Leicester LGBT Centre and Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation have even embarked on a crowd-funding campaign to make sure all costs are covered. The grant received from the Heritage Lottery Fund to run the project for almost two years is coming to an end. Another May highlight was the Rainbow Jews Archive launch at The London Metropolitan Archives, opened in front of an enthusiastic crowd by Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich. Find out more, including how to host the exhibition, at www.rainbowjews.com
GILLIAN MERRON – a member of Lincolnshire Jewish Community and Liberal Judaism’s Board of National Officers – is to become the next chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Gillian takes up her role in July, with key responsibilities including addressing issues of concern to the community, managing the Board’s anticipated move to new offices and playing a lead role in negotiations with the Jewish Leadership Council to promote closer collaboration. Gillian said: “I am proud to be taking up the exciting challenge of working with the Board to defend and promote the interests of the Jewish community.”
Leading the way on food poverty THREE Liberal rabbis have raised £1,500 for charity by living on just £1 a day. Rabbis Aaron Goldstein, Janet Burden and Pete Tobias took on the task – in which they could spend no more than £1 on food and drink for five days – to raise awareness of the plight of those in abject poverty across the world. The rabbis completed the Live Below the Line challenge for Tzedek, a charity that works to involve the Jewish community in reducing extreme poverty through education and example. Rabbi Pete blogged: “This was an opportunity to raise my own awareness and hopefully that of others into recognising how fortunate I am to be living in a country where there is an abundance of food, from the basics to luxury items. And to recognise that for the vast majority of people in our world, such options are simply not available.”
Quaker conference RABBI SHULAMIT AMBALU was a keynote speaker at the Quaker Lesbian & Gay Fellowship one-day conference on Spirituality and Sexual Ethics for Today. Rabbi Shulamit spoke alongside Ruth Hunt, the acting chief executive of Stonewall UK, at the interfaith event, which took place in Manchester. Topics discussed included equal marriage, homophobia, transgender rights and engaging with other faith groups.
Page 4 LJ Today
Chairman’s Actions
July/August 2014
Award winners influence by example Lucian J Hudson honours those who have made outstanding contributions to Liberal Judaism I INAUGURATED the Chairman’s Awards at the Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend in 2010, because I wanted to honour the dedication of those outstanding individuals in our communities who make our movement so vibrant. Continuing the tradition at this year’s Biennial, every Liberal congregation was asked to enter a nomination with a panel of judges – led by Rosita Rosenberg and including Rabbi Pete Tobias and Sam Grant – then making a final recommendation, which Rabbi Danny Rich and I wholeheartedly approved. Every single nominee was excellent and the panel found it extremely difficult to single out this year’s Award winners. Highlighting their contribution inspires each of us to do more, to be more. This fits with what Rabbi Charley Baginsky describes as our movement’s Philosophy of Co-operation. It is only when individuals work together, selflessly giving their skills and their time, that we will all truly thrive. Birmingham Progressive Synagogue is home to one of the most indefatigable Liberal Jews, Loretta Cohn, who leads services in the rabbi’s absence. She instituted the runaway success of chavurah-style Pesach Seders. She leads inspiring visits of local school groups. She continually deepens her knowledge of Judaism by taking courses at Leo Baeck College, as well as elsewhere.
From Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein: IN THE last issue of lj today, I wrote about a visit to Upton House in Warwickshire, the National Trust property once the home of the Samuel/ Bearsted family. In the article, I made the wrong assumption on seeing no visible signs of Jewish life in the house and noting their passion for hunting: that the family seemed no longer particularly Jewish. Two readers have informed me that various branches of the family lead an active Jewish life and are members of various synagogues.
Pearl Phillips from Southgate Progressive Synagogue has done so much in almost 60 years of membership that I almost do not know where to start. Organising mitzvot for High Holy Days services, chavurah suppers, choirsinging, cross-communal events and numerous committee roles. Above all, she has always stood out for her courage in standing up for Liberal Jewish values. Dr Alex Keller of Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation has served his community for four decades. A distinguished university lecturer, he brought his educational skills to the youngest of his community, captivating spellbound cheder pupils. He has served as chairman, bulletin editor, cheder headmaster, lay leader and president, as well as representing his community on the local Council of Faiths and Council of Christians & Jews. Peter and Mavis Hyams from Bristol & West Progressive Jewish Community are a dynamic couple who, through chutzpah and hard work, founded a thriving congregation. They even took to looking through the local phone directory to find Jewish-sounding names in order to recruit new members. That was over 50 years ago and they, and the community, are still going strong today. Robin Moss from Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, and a member of Liberal Judaism’s Board of National Officers, is a most popular choice. Youth worker, educator and intellectual, Robin is one of our most gifted and promising young leaders who always goes the extra mile in contributing to community life. Suzanne King from Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community has been a veritable catalyst. Her list of credits includes working on Holocaust Memorial Day, a regional Shabbaton, a Jewish music extravaganza, Rainbow Jews,
Should they have read my article, I apologise to them. I wrote about name changing to hide identity, but the continuing family names of Cohen and Samuel should have alerted me to fact that allegiance to Judaism takes on different forms. We live at a time when “cultural Judaism” is on the increase and religious observance waning, we Liberal Jews above all must value the necessity of inclusion, of counting in all who wish to express a connection to Judaism or the Jewish people, at whatever level this takes.
Shabbat services, local interfaith and cross-communal projects, social media management, Mitzvah Day blood drives, planting trees in Israel and, who could forget, Torah on the Beach. There are some people to whom only the word “mensch” comes close to describing and that is precisely how the nominators summed up Derrick Silk from Nottingham Liberal Synagogue. A dearly loved member of more than 40 years, Derrick has served as treasurer, chairman and president of his community, as well as chairing the national provincial committee. One of the most important miztvot is that of visiting the sick. Kingston Liberal Synagogue is truly blessed to have Jenny Osorio as a founding member and former chair, for Jenny has set a stellar example in this area. As well as visits and helping those with mobility needs, she also coordinates transport for people in need on the peripheries of her community and organises tea parties for older members. In some months she will visit up to 15 individuals or, to put it another way, one person every two days. The final award goes to Lionel and Sheila King Lassman, who have served their synagogue “with alacrity” for longer than I have been alive. They’ve done everything from ferrying in a greenhorn American rabbi from the airport to feeding the shul’s fish. Together they have served as chair, gardener, president, book club convenor and many other important roles. Their attitude and contribution has been fundamental to the robust health and vitality of Finchley Progressive Synagogue. Let’s hold up these Chairman’s Award winners as an example of the very positive influence that an individual (or couple) can bring to bear on their community. Mazel tov!
THE BEST example of Liberal Judaism’s Philosophy of Cooperation is the LJ Resource Bank – an online platform for sharing best practices and resources between communities. The website has a login for every community so that they can access template documents, curricula, posters, music recordings and DVD and library catalogues. Our hope is that, with your help, the Resource Bank will continue to grow. So please send your favourite activities and/or template documents to a.jacobi@liberaljudaism.org today.
Biennial
July/August 2014
LJ Today Page 5
Youth light up Biennial Weekend Planning ahead By Rabbi Charley Baginsky
By Tom Francies FOR THE first time ever, Liberal Judaism’s youth movement LJY-Netzer ran our own parallel event alongside the Biennial. I’m pleased to report that LJYNetzer’s Biennial Bonanza was amazing. We had a programme that rivalled the main conference… and even stole keynote speaker Rabbi Jonah Pesner for a bit. It started off with classic name games on Friday afternoon, before we joined with the adults for an evening activity based around LJY-Netzer’s ideology, combining the concentric circles of tikkun with popular maths game Tower of Hanoi.
The next day featured everything from swimming, football and crazy golf to creative services and sessions run by Rabbis Jonah Pesner and Leah Jordan. And when a day ends with LJY-Netzer members running Havdalah for the whole conference, pictured above, what more could anyone want? Sunday was another action-packed day, which ended with all the adults and youth coming together for a closing ceremony where LJY-Netzer members were blessed by Rabbi Harry Jacobi. It was a brilliant end to a fantastic weekend, where the whole of Liberal Judaism saw just how special LJY-Netzer really is.
Emerging Leaders to the fore By David Walsh OVER the past few years I have been to my fair share of seminars on community engagement, young adults and leadership, often coming up with a number of great ideas but not quite having a plan to make them happen. That all changed at the Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend. I was delighted to be nominated as a member of the Emerging Leadership Network (ELN) by Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation. Through the ELN, Liberal Judaism is looking to go beyond identifying issues and galvanise community leaders into action through increased co-operation. The most effective way this can be done is by enabling emerging leaders from across our congregations to network with each other, Liberal Judaism as an organisation and the wider community.
We often discuss the future of synagogue membership, partnerships between small communities and the position of Liberal Judaism within the wider community. All of these were important themes of a number of seminars at the Biennial. Through the ELN track, organised by Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Robin Moss, we shared examples of practice and started to come up with concrete ideas for projects and plans of action. The ELN track supplemented the excellent programme of the Biennial itself. I was particularly inspired by Rabbis Tanya Sakhnovich and Shulamit Ambalu, who touched strongly on engagement. As for me, I am already working on two exciting projects with determined enthusiasm following the Biennial and look forward to seeing the results over the coming months.
MANY PEOPLE reading this article will remember when our movement rebranded itself in 2002, changing from the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues into Liberal Judaism – introducing a new name, logo, look and feel. I remember many discussions happening in different forums as to whether there was any relevance for us, ostensibly a religious movement, undertaking such a process. Now, several years on we can see what a remarkable difference a clear name and identifiable logo has made to our public presence. Similarly, as we approach another important period of change, the word ‘strategy’ can cause people to take a sharp intake of breath, either confused as to what it means, bemused as to whether or not it really means anything or concerned that it is a waste of limited resources. But just as our rebranding enabled us to be clearly recognised and identified, the new strategy we are developing aims to be a summary and articulation of Liberal Judaism’s distinctive nature in its present form and examine how this character can direct future work. Of course, it would not be a Liberal Judaism strategy if it were not ideological, visionary and aspirational, but neither would it be a Liberal Judaism strategy if it were not grounded in the practical, achievable and necessary. Furthermore while the strategy may be being written up centrally, its content has to be driven by and reflective of all its constituent parts. At www.liberaljudaism.org/strategy you can find a green paper, which is the result of stage one of this strategic process, and a chance to give us your feedback. As we move into stage two, your comments are vital. It will take you some time to read and respond, but you can do this over a period of time by clicking ‘save’. The document is long because it covers all the areas of Liberal Judaism’s work and we want you to be able to have a say on every aspect. Liberal Judaism is a movement. It must develop and grow. It must set itself aims and objectives for the future. But all of this is only relevant if it reflects you, its members.
Page 6 LJ Today
July/August 2014
Liberal Judaism Biennial W
Rabbi Danny Rich welcomes delegates during Friday night dinner
Rabbi Pete Tobias, Tammy Rich and Emma Rich at music rehearsal
Keynote speaker Rabbi Jonah Pesner with Rabbi Charley Baginsky
Charlotte Fischer’s session on the history of Living Wage campaigns
‘Nameless Trio’ of Dean Staker, Gershon Silins & Franklyn Gellnick
Daniel Cainer entertains on Saturday night, following Rachel Mars
Northwood & Pinner celebrate being the largest Biennial delegation
The Biennial committee together (absent - Graham Carpenter)
July/August 2014
LJ Today Page 7
Weekend 2014 in pictures
Rabbi Richard Jacobi introduces the Ba’alei Tefillah graduates
Ba’alei Tefillah graduating class of 2014 collect their certificates
Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein at his workshop on Jewish education
The LJY-Netzer movement workers during their Biennial Bonanza
Surat Knan presents Rainbow Jews: Uncovering a hidden history
LJ chairman Lucian J Hudson welcomes guest presenter Fania Oz
We hope you’ve enjoyed all the amazing Biennial Weekend 2014 photos that appear throughout this edition of lj today. They were taken by Liberal Judaism’s PR/ communications officer Alex Ben-Yehuda. A full gallery of more than 400 photos, covering all aspects of the event, is available online. Pictures can be viewed at www.liberaljudaism.zenfolio.com/p361192328 If you would like to download a photo for personal use, or to showcase in your community’s newsletter/website, then email Alex on a.ben-yehuda@liberaljudaism.org and she will provide the password required to download. The young members of LJY-Netzer close the conference with a song
Page 8 LJ Today
Books
July/August 2014
A captivating introduction to a great rabbi ISRAEL MATTUCK: THE INSPIRATIONAL VOICE OF LIBERAL JUDAISM by Rabbi Danny Rich, £4.99 Reviewed by Rabbi Professor Marc Saperstein RABBI DANNY RICH begins his wonderful introduction to the life and thought of Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck by outlining his personal connection with the subject: Danny is a third generation Liberal Jew; his father, John Rich, and his teacher, Rabbi John Rayner, were both profoundly influenced by hearing Mattuck’s preaching; the values Mattuck treasured are an integral part of Danny’s heritage. Somewhat to my surprise, reading the booklet made me appreciate my own unexpected personal connection with Mattuck: as an American citizen who relocated for an important leadership position in London; as an undergraduate at Harvard, who went on to study at the Hebrew Union College leading to ordination as an American Reform rabbi; as someone who grew up
History lesson A NEW BOOK which aims to provide a bridge between lessons learned from the Holocaust and the problems faced in modern-day Britain has won glowing praise from Liberal Judaism’s outreach director Rabbi Anna Gerrard. Girl with a White Dog by Anne Booth (£6.99) tells the story of Jessie, whose gran gets a white Alsatian puppy. It’s the start of a downward spiral of strange behaviour, that brings to mind what Jessie is studying at school. The young girl and her classmates are learning about the Nazis’ rise to power, showing Jessie some uncomfortable truths about the way people can treat those they see as different. She starts noticing worrying parallels around her and then a longburied connection to another girl and another white dog. Rabbi Anna said: “This book very cleverly helps children to connect their own experiences of today’s world to the important lessons of history. I would certainly use it as part of a Holocaust education curriculum that went beyond learning about the past and looked at our current concerns and responsibilities.”
profoundly moved and inspired by my father’s rabbinic sermons, my parents’ commitment to social justice and by the Union Prayer Book, which moulded the approach to Progressive Jewish liturgy that Mattuck incorporated into his liturgical works for Liberal Judaism in England. These were based on the principle, as Danny points out, that the prayers used in the synagogue should be intelligible to the worshippers and reflect what they actually believe. Danny has provided an important service for those interested in Progressive Judaism by presenting Mattuck’s religious thought based on books that he wrote and – even more importantly because the material is not readily accessible – on the texts of the sermons he delivered during his almost 40 years as rabbi of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue. Some of this material represents positions that were understandable at the time but seem rather dated today, especially his repudiation of Zionism and any element of national Jewish identity. Mattuck’s universalism appears to have
• THE LIBERAL JEWISH SYNAGOGUE (LJS) is opening a Family Asylum Dropin Centre for destitute asylum seekers. It will take place at the LJS, 28 St John’s Wood Road, London, NW8 7HA once a month on a Sunday afternoon from 2-4pm. The first two dates are June 29 and July 27. If you would like to volunteer or donate please email Rabbi Alexandra Wright on a.wright@ljs.org • THE YOUNG members of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue have created a council katan (little council). The bold and forward-thinking initiative will see the cheder students work alongside their teachers, for a trial period, to discuss issues that are important to them and look to how they can make an even bigger contribution to the community when they are older. • FRIENDS OF PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM IN ISRAEL AND EUROPE (FPJ) are holding their AGM at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue on July 22 at 7.30pm. All are welcome and there is no need to book. A talk by Rabbi Danny Rich will follow the meeting.
trumped the balance between Jewish religion and Jewish peoplehood that most Progressive Jews today cherish. I found the material on prophetic social justice especially captivating and compelling, including several sermons responding to strikes by miners (in 1920 and 1926). This was, as Danny puts it, Mattuck at his finest, preaching on topics that he knew would be risky, as many of his congregants identified more with management than with workers, while others simply did not want to hear their rabbi preach about social, economic or political issues. But Mattuck insisted that it was his duty to address such issues, as “the aim of worship is not to make us forget the world but to illumine it, not to obscure the problems of life but to help find a solution for them”. Danny’s booklet is a fine introduction, which I hope will whet the appetite for readers to learn more about this great Liberal rabbi. • You can order copies of the book and read the full text of the sermons referenced in it at www.israelmattuck.org
• RABBI DR MARGARET JACOBI has hailed the role played by Rabbi Mark Solomon in Liberal Judaism’s long and successful campaign for same-sex marriage. Rabbi Margaret told lj today: “I am grateful to Alex Ben-Yehuda for mentioning me as a member of the working party on same-sex partnerships in her excellent article in your last issue. However, a much greater role was played by Rabbi Mark Solomon, who was also a member of the working party. He compiled and wrote the Brit Ahava, a remarkable work of scholarship and sensitivity, which steered a narrow line at the time when equal marriage was not yet permitted. His scholarship has played an important part from the beginning.” • IF YOU are a fan of klezmer music, then head to South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS) on Sunday July 13 at 7pm. SLLS will once more be participating in the Streatham Festival by hosting a performance of Klezmer Klub. Tickets cost £10, £8 concessions, and are available on the door or by contacting office@southlondon.org
July/August 2014
Communities
LJ Today Page 9
Passover 5774 in pictures
Most of the membership of the Lincoln Jewish Community turned out for a “super and satisfying Seder” held at Jews’ Court
Rabbis Aaron Goldstein and Lea Mühlstein led the adults and children in prayer at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue
Rabbi Sandra Kviat engaged Liberal Judaism’s staff in discussions about everything from the story of Passover to the best charoset
More than 70 people attended South London Liberal Synagogue’s communal Seder, which featured a festive meal and original songs
The Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue Seder was held on the first night this year, in a hall in the brand new village of Wixam
Pesach at Manchester Liberal Jewish Community included prayer, food, thought and Rabbi Mark Solomon singing Who Knows One?
Rabbi Richard Jacobi led 100 members and friends of Woodford Liberal Synagogue, as three generations joined together for Pesach
Pesach at Bet Tikvah including a very appropriate discussion on Ethiopian Jews who want to emigrate to Israel to join their families
Page 10 LJ Today
Outreach
July/August 2014
Outreach Team Bulletin Board CROUCH END CHAVURAH celebrated its first Tikkun Leyl Shavuot with adult study and blind cheese tasting. It was a wonderful evening, with 20 people discussing the connection between Shavuot, cheese, honey and Torah from historical, anthropological and spiritual angles. The night ended with an Italian cheese taste-off after three members correctly guessed 6/10 cheeses in the blind tasting competition, pictured below. Rabbi Sandra s.kviat@liberaljudaism.org
OVER THE last few months, I have been working regularly at Liberal Judaism’s Midlands office in Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS). This has put me in touch with people, activities and events at BPS, as well as providing a meeting spot in the Midlands for those in our community for whom it is more convenient. Our aim is to encourage collaboration and co-operation among our communities in the region. Cantor Gershon g.silins@liberaljudaism.org
THINKING outside the box is what Reading Liberal Jewish Community (RLJC) does best. So being invited to lead RLJC’s first ‘Shabbaton: Shabbat Around the Kitchen Table’ event was both an honour and a delight. With Shabbat songs, prayers and kiddush mixed with conversations about Jewish food and discussions inspired by the Biennial Weekend, it was a perfect way to capture the essence of Shabbat and a wonderful initiative. Rabbi Anna a.gerrard@liberaljudaism.org
THE MONTAGU CENTRE hosted 15 people for the second ever Shabbat service and dinner of London Egal Students – the grouping of Progressive Jewish students at London’s various universities. The idea is to provide a Progressive Kabbalat Shabbat service, delicious food and spiritual relief in a central location. Next autumn, London Egal Students hopes to return for regular events at the Montagu Centre. Rabbi Leah l.jordan@ liberaljudaism.org
I JOINED a large crowd, including members of The Liberal Synagogue Elstree, at a special morning service at Wessex Liberal Jewish Community to celebrate the birthday of Pat Cravitz, pictured below with her husband Geoffrey and me. After my sermon – which introduced the community to the Liberal Jewish view on mitzvot by drawing upon the teachings of Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck – everyone enjoyed kiddush and cake. Rabbi Danny d.rich@liberaljudaism.org
LAST MONTH we bid a fond farewell to our fantastic communities youth coordinator Sam Grant, who will be sorely missed after three years working for both LJY-Netzer and Liberal Judaism. Sam did a tremendous job inspiring young Liberal Jews at youth clubs and chedarim up and down the country, using text study, discussion, campaigns and lots of games to bring the values and principles of Liberal Judaism and LJY-Netzer to life. The Montagu Centre
Youth
July/August 2014
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
Inspired Shnatties return from Israel
SHNAT NETZER is a unique eight-month leadership training programme for young adults in Israel. Below, Naomi Lane and Francesca Kurlansky report back on their experience as Shnatties: IT IS NOT possible to talk about our journey with Shnat Netzer without first looking back to our previous experience on LJY-Netzer’s Israel Tour. Having never been to Israel before, we were shocked at the connection we felt. This was combined with the growing development of our ideological commitments to Progressive Judaism, youth movements, Reform Zionism, tikkun olam and the ability to make informed decisions. LJY-Netzer has always provided a feeling of community. Until we came on Shnat, we could not harness the feeling that was evoked at Machaneh Kadimah (summer camp). But now, as we return to the UK after living within a Netzer community for eight months, we realise that this feeling was one of belonging.
We are proud to be part of a worldwide movement of young Progressive Jews, who share rituals, traditions, ideals and, most of all, a common goal in the bettering of the State of Israel. And that, along with the drive to pass this goal to future pioneers of Netzer, is the single most powerful thing in our lives. Shnat Netzer is about creating a group of people who eat, sleep, learn, talk, cry and laugh together, at all hours of the day. This is important because it creates bonds between Netzer sniffim (branches) and allows for the realisation that Netzer is worldwide and we are all interconnected, not only as human beings, but as a movement. It is about the actualisation of Netzer’s three pillars: Reform Zionism, Progressive Judaism and tikkun olam. During Shnat, you live and breathe Netzer for eight months. Everything you do is spurred by the ideology. Whether it is working on Kibbutz, volunteering in society or planning and running
ma’amadim (creative services) for each other, you are constantly surrounded by and implementing Netzer’s ideology. Moreover, it is about intellectual stimulation. Your opinions and viewpoints are constantly challenged through your classes, as well as through conversations had over meals, early in the morning and late into the night. Lastly, it is about growth as a young adult as you learn to cook for 19 people at a time, keep your living space tidy, make sure you have enough clean clothes and figure out how to travel in an unknown country. We feel as though the power of the Liberal Jewish movement in the UK is flying below the radar. We have some of the most dedicated Jewish leaders and youth leaders from all across the UK – and definitely some of the most dynamic. The bogrim (graduates) of LJY-Netzer are extremely active and will shape the future of our religion and society. We have a duty to create members with the education and hadracha (leadership) skills to pass down the essence of our movement to younger generations. Shnat Netzer is a year of immersing and living out a Progressive Jewish ideology in one of the most important and controversial places on earth for us. It has taught us more than we could ever have hoped. MAKE SURE to book your place today for Machaneh Kadimah, LJY-Netzer’s flagship summer camp. Open to all those who will be finishing school years 3-10, Kadimah will take place from August 14-27 at Sandroyd School in Wiltshire. Full of friends, fun, informal learning, water fights and prayer, it really is the best way for young Liberal Jews to spend their summer holiday. To find out more, please use the contact details below.
Contact the LJY-Netzer team: Graham Carpenter (graham@liberaljudaism.org), Tom Francies (tom@ liberaljudaism.org) and Bethany Stone (bethany@liberaljudaism.org); office telephone 020 7631 0584
Page 12 LJ Today
July/August 2014
Liberal Judaism congregations Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue T: 01234 218 387 E: bedsps@liberaljudaism.org W: bedfordshire-ps.org.uk
Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community T: 0131 777 8024 E: info@eljc.org W: eljc.org
Beit Klal Yisrael (Notting Hill) E: bkymailing@gmail.com W: bky.org.uk
Finchley Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8446 4063 E: fps@liberaljudaism.org W: fps.org
Bet Tikvah Synagogue (Barkingside) T: 020 8554 9682 E: bttkv@liberaljudaism.org W: bettikvah.blogspot.co.uk Birmingham Progressive Synagogue T: 0121 634 3888 E: bps@liberaljudaism.org W: bpsjudaism.com Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue T: 01273 737 223 E: bhps@liberaljudaism.org W: brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation E: bwpjc@bwpjc.org W: bwpjc.org Crouch End Chavurah E: info@crouchendchavurah.co.uk W: crouchendchavurah.co.uk Crawley Jewish Community T: 01293 534 294 Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation E: djpc@liberaljudaism.org W: djpcireland.com
Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community T: 01242 609 311 E: shalom@gljc.org.uk W: gljc.org.uk Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8864 5323 E: hwps@liberaljudaism.org W: hwps.org Herefordshire Jewish Community T: 01594 530 721 E: hjc@liberaljudaism.org W: herefordshirejc.org Kehillah North London T: 020 7403 3779 E: knl@liberaljudaism.org W: nlpjc.org.uk Kent Liberal Jewish Community T: 07952 242432 E: kljc@liberaljudaism.org W: tinyurl.com/kentljc Kingston Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8398 7400 E: kls@liberaljudaism.org W: klsonline.org
The Liberal Synagogue Elstree T: 020 8953 8889 E: tlse@liberaljudaism.org W: tlse.org.uk Lincolnshire Jewish Community T: 01427 628 958 E: ljc@liberaljudaism.org W: lincolnshirejc.co.uk Manchester Liberal Jewish Community T: 08432 084 441 E: mljc@liberaljudaism.org W: mljc.org.uk North Herts Liberal Jewish Community (Stevenage) T: 01438 300 222 E: northhertsljc@gmail.com W: northhertsljc.org Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue T: 01923 822 592 E: npls@liberaljudaism.org W: npls.org.uk Norwich Liberal Jewish Community E: nljc@liberaljudaism.org W: www.norwichljc.org.uk Nottingham Liberal Synagogue T: 0115 962 4761 E: npjc@liberaljudaism.org W: npjc.org.uk Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community T: 020 7631 9822 E: pljc@liberaljudaism.org W: pljc.org.uk
Ealing Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8997 0528 E: els@liberaljudaism.org W: ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk
Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation T: 0116 271 5584 E: lpjc@liberaljudaism.org W: lpjc.org.uk
Reading Liberal Jewish Community T: 0118 942 8022 E: readingliberaljewishcommunity@
Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community T: 01323 725 650 E: eljc@liberaljudaism.org W: eljc.org.uk
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (St John’s Wood) T: 020 7286 5181 E: ljs@liberaljudaism.org W: ljs.org
Shenfield & Brentwood Synagogue T: 01277 888 610 E: tikvahchadasha@gmail.com W: roshtikvah.com
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. Charity Number: 1151090
lj today is edited by Simon Rothstein Send your news to ljtoday@liberaljudaism.org Printed by Precision Printing. www.precisionprinting.co.uk
gmail.com
South Bucks Jewish Community T: 0845 644 2370 E: sbjc@liberaljudaism.org W: sbjc.org.uk South London Liberal Synagogue (Streatham) T: 020 8769 4787 E: slls@liberaljudaism.org W: southlondon.org Southgate Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8886 0977 E: sps@liberaljudaism.org W: sps.uk.com Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (Ipswich) T:01473 250 797 E: sjc@liberaljudaism.org Wessex Liberal Jewish Community (Bournemouth) T: 01202 757 590 E: info@wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk W: wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk West Central Liberal Synagogue (Central London) T: 020 7636 7627 E: wcls@liberaljudaism.org W: wcls.org.uk Woodford Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8989 7619 E: info@woodfordliberal.org.uk W: woodfordliberal.org.uk Developing communities The Liberal Jewish Community of Weymouth, Portland and West Dorset E: wpwd@liberaljudaism.org York Liberal Jewish Community E: york@liberaljudaism.org Affiliated congregations Beit Ha’Chidush (Amsterdam) T: 00 31 23 524 7204 E: bhc.informatie@gmail.com W: beithachidush.nl Oxford Jewish Congregation T: 01865 514 356 W: ojc-online.org
President Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein Chairman Lucian J Hudson Vice Chairs Simon Benscher and Jackie Richards Finance David Pelham Israel and the Diaspora Tamara Schmidt Communications Ed Herman Social Justice Amelia Viney Youth and Education Robin Moss National Officers Dr Howard Cohen, Rosie Comb, David Hockman, Gillian Merron and Ruth Seager Vice Presidents Monique Blake, Henry Cohn, Nigel Cole, Geoffrey Davis, Lord Stanley Fink, Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, 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 Chair of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Charley Baginsky Chief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Outreach Director Rabbi Anna Gerrard Outreach Coordinator Abigail Jacobi Student & Young Adult Chaplain Rabbi Leah Jordan Education Rabbi Sandra Kviat Music Cantor Gershon Silins Interfaith Rabbi Mark Solomon Operations Director Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer PR Alexandra Ben-Yehuda Archivist Alison Turner LJY-Netzer Graham Carpenter, Tom Francies and Bethany Stone