LJ Today July/August 2015

July/August 2015 VOL. XLII No. 4

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

www.liberaljudaism.org

ljtoday

‘Hope is a mitzvah’ A SUCCESSION of speakers at Liberal Judaism’s Day of Celebration urged British Liberal Jews to get more involved in Israel.

Rabbi Miri Gold – the ‘poster girl’ of the fight to recognise non-Orthodox rabbis in Israel – and Anat Hoffman, executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center, both stressed how important the support of the Diaspora was to those fighting for religious pluralism and human rights inside of the country.

Keynote speaker Miri said that support from the UK greatly helped as she battled to become the first Progressive rabbi to have her salary paid by the Israeli government, as well as in the continuing fight for equality for non-Orthodox Jews.

She poignantly added: “I remind myself that hope is a mitzvah, a commandment, and one which sustains me.”

Anat, who is also a founding member of Women of the Wall, then urged British Jews to write to Israeli Ministers and the Embassy to add to the growing pressure for a pluralistic, open and inclusive Israel.

Responding to the issues raised, Rabbi Charley Baginsky said: “Israel and the Diaspora need to seek a new relationship that has at its core mutuality. A sense not only that we need each other but that this relationship has the potential to be mutually beneficial and creative.”

Three hundred people from more than 30 communities gathered at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) for the Day of Celebration. It was the first ever Liberal Judaism event to be streamed over the internet, with members watching via a live feed in America, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic and all around the UK. Guest presenters from Israel included Reut Michaeli, the CEO of the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, and Gusti Yehoshua-Braverman and Nir Cohen from the World Zionist Organisation.

Liberals elected to key positions

Rabbi Danny Rich continues his global role

Anat Hoffman at the Day of Celebration 2015

Other speakers included Liberal Rabbis Harry Jacobi, Shulamit Ambalu, Sandra Kviat and Alexandra Wright, as well as representatives from the New Israel Fund, UK Task Force, Yachad, JW3, UJIA, the Centre for the Study of Jewish Culture at Durham University, Leo Baeck College and the Movement for Reform Judaism.

An engaging, educational and fun youth programme, run by LJY-Netzer, saw young Liberals enjoy ‘Israel Tour in a Day’, while Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community were celebrating after their cheder won the LAFTAs competition for best short film.

Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich said: “This was Liberal Judaism at its best. A sizeable but friendly crowd came together to discuss an issue, the Israel/Diaspora relationship, that can be divisive and controversial, but which we all agree needs to be examined.

“As a result of this day, Liberal Judaism’s policy towards Israel will continue to be supportive but nuanced, principled and occasionally critical.”

• Pages 6/7: Picture special

LIBERAL JUDAISM chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich and Liberal Jewish Synagogue member Stuart MacDonald have been voted into key roles in world Jewry. Danny was re-elected to the Executive Board of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), while Stuart has been elected as treasurer of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Stuart said: “The Board of Deputies is the primary public voice of the Jewish community in Britain. Its activities encompass areas as diverse as interfaith work, defending against antisemitism, opposition to the campaign to delegitimise Israel by boycott and other means, the promotion of women and support for smaller communities.

“The voluntary communal levy that appears on our annual synagogue subscriptions is not paid by all Liberal congregants. Equally, not every Liberal community takes up its full rights to send representatives. If we want to have appropriate influence within the Board, it is essential that these gaps are filled.”

The WUPJ serves 1,200 Progressive congregations with 1.8 million members in more than 45 countries. Danny was re-elected to its operational, decisionmaking body, at the WUPJ’s Connections 2015 conference, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There will be a full report in the next issue of lj today.

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News

July/August 2015

Patrons praised at Lords dinner

Progressive rabbis at the House of Lords and special guest speaker Baron Finkelstein of Pinner. Pictures by John Bernard and Abigail Jacobi

EIGHTEEN Progressive rabbis joined the Patrons of Liberal Judaism at the House of Lords, where they were entertained

by The Times columnist and Newsnight regular Baron Finkelstein of Pinner.

Guests at Liberal Judaism’s 11th annual Council of Patrons’ Dinner also heard from the movement’s chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich, president Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, chair Lucian J Hudson, deputy chair Simon Benscher, Rabbis Lea Mühlstein and Charley Baginsky and event host Lord Haskel.

Addressing the gathering, Danny said: “When we set up the Council of Patrons, I promised that the funds raised would only be used for three agreed purposes: to increase the profile of Liberal Judaism, for the support and development of new communities and to pioneer new initiatives, particularly with students.

Keep in touch with Liberal Judaism THERE ARE plenty of way to keep up with what is happening in Liberal Judaism, between copies of lj today.

Our e-bulletin goes out via email each week, keeping members informed with news stories and upcoming events from the movement and our communities.

You can subscribe to the e-bulletin by visiting the Liberal Judaism website – www.liberaljudaism.org – which is also regularly updated with news, pictures and even a digital version of lj today.

For those on social media, you can join the hundreds following Liberal Judaism on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ LiberalJudaism and via @LiberalJudaism on Twitter.

“Let me begin with students, where for two years, supported by Patrons’ funds, we have provided the only Progressive student chaplaincy resource on campus.

Rabbi Leah Jordan, working with volunteers and staff from the Reform and Masorti movements, has supported egalitarian minyanim, Jewish societies and individual students in campuses up and down the country.

“The greatest tribute to pioneering work is when others follow and I am delighted to report that, under the new Alliance banner, Liberal Judaism with the Movement for Reform Judaism and the West London Synagogue have this week placed an advert for a second Progressive Jewish chaplain to work alongside Leah.”

Danny then discussed how Liberal Judaism’s profile has been raised with a weekly page in The Jewish News and

• BREAKING NEWS 1: The Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend will take place from July 1-3, 2016, with the theme Thinking Outside The Book.

• BREAKING NEWS 2: Rabbis Alexandra Wright and Richard Jacobi have been elected as cochairs of Liberal Judaism’s Rabbinic Conference. They will take over from Rabbi Charley Baginsky this summer.

• BRYAN DIAMOND is gathering material for a biography of Claude Montefiore, one of the founders of Liberal Judaism. Bryan will investigate archival sources, so if you know of any material not featured in previous works about Montefiore, email bryan@bjdiamond.plus.com

regular coverage in The Jewish Chronicle, as well as a multitude of national newspaper, radio and TV appearances.

He also celebrated a new community affiliating to Liberal Judaism in eight of the last nine years – all “founded by charismatic Liberal Jews with a few friends and the support of our outreach department” and all now growing fast.

Danny concluded: “Friends, you are leaders of Liberal Judaism and none of this would have been possible without your emotional and practical support, the work of our Board of National Officers, the dedication of our staff and the generous funding of the Patrons.”

The Council of Patrons dinner was organised by Joan Shopper. To find out more about becoming a Patron of Liberal Judaism, please contact Yael Shotts on y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org

Shabbaton heads to the South West AFTER the incredible success of the Midlands Regional Shabbaton last November, with almost 100 participants from seven Liberal communities, we are pleased to announce that the 2015 Shabbaton will be held in the South West.

Taking place on Saturday November 28, at the Jurys Inn in Swindon, the day is open for anyone to attend. It will be jointly hosted by the Bristol & West, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Reading, Oxford and Wessex Liberal communities.

The day will include study sessions led by rabbis, lay leaders and educators, a Shabbat service and a youth programme run by LJY-Netzer. There will be full details in the next issue of lj today.

Chairman’s Actions

July/August 2015

LJ Today Page 3

The spirit and character of Liberal Judaism Lucian J Hudson pens his final column as chair of LJ and looks back at his six years in the role IN MY FINAL article for lj today as Liberal Judaism chairman, I would like to focus on how holding office has informed my spiritual journey as a Liberal Jew, and thank all those who have worked with chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich and me to build on our success as a movement.

Together we are tackling some of the many challenges we face as an integral part of the Jewish community, in the UK and internationally. We sometimes fail, but that’s good: we should fail more often, rather than not try at all.

I am more of a Liberal Jew now, than when I took on the role six years ago.

I am more appreciative of the breadth and depth of commitment and ideas in Liberal Judaism, and our collaboration with the rest of UK Jewry generally and the Movement for Reform Judaism (MRJ) particularly. I am very proud of the closer working relationship we have formed with Reform’s leadership, and the crossfertilising of ideas among rabbis of both movements and our youth movements.

We are non-party political as a religious organisation. The term “liberal” can be a barrier, as well as a lever, in our communication. Whatever the future of the Liberal Democrats, liberal, progressive values have never been more important. Liberty is not just one of many values: it is a prerequisite to our understanding of ourselves as exercising different degrees of freedom and embracing our responsibility to use it well. There is no quality I value more in people than generosity of spirit.

Generosity derives from a vision of one humanity accepting that life never stands still. Being a Liberal Jewish chairman has taught me the benefit of being open to unforeseen challenges and opportunities, yet learning from tradition and experience.

Equality and fraternity (I am not being gender-specific) work with liberty in combination. The French Revolution hijacked that spirit of the enlightenment to give those values a republican flavour, but the values of liberty, equality and fraternity permeate our civil society, and the four nations of the UK.

Liberal Judaism is political with a lower case ‘p’, working in a new political landscape across the UK, ensuring the voice of our movement is heard and contributes to building a tolerant, cohesive and sustainable community, in which our type of Judaism can flourish for generations to come.

There are those who say that the difference between Liberal Judaism and Reform is so minimal on doctrine that other differences are negligible. They therefore argue that merger is necessary and right. I disagree.

Maybe it has taken a relative outsider such as myself to notice – I converted to Judaism only 10 years ago – but doctrine alone, especially in the context of a British empiricist tradition, is only part of the mix.

It is healthy to be business-like and I hope a bit of this has rubbed off in my approach to leading a civil society organisation. Too many internal issues arise from members not accepting or appreciating the importance of fulfilling defined roles and managing boundaries.

Our very informality can be as much of a curse as a blessing. I hope whoever revises our Siddur in years to come creates enough space for silence and the mysterious, recognising private and collective worship.

Our community is made up of individuals who need to travel at their own pace in their own way. Liberal Judaism should work at every level of the human spirit. This is not universally recognised. We do little to find out why members do not participate and leave.

Lucian J Hudson says farewell to Liberal Judaism members at the LJ Day of Celebration

More important is the character of Liberal Judaism, partly constructed and partly lived out, consciously and unconsciously. When appropriate, we need to continue to home in on the big issues of the day, and communicate a distinctively Liberal Jewish perspective.

British Jewry’s stance on Israel has shifted in the six years I have been chairman, partly because voices like mine have challenged the binary choice of either keeping quiet or delivering kneejerk criticism.

From the many conversations I have had, I know some of our members have a problem with authority in its different guises, and sometimes see opportunities to challenge or differentiate themselves from the status quo. I am pragmatic about the status quo: sometimes it serves us well – at other times it needs to be confronted and challenged.

How radical have I been as a leader? A gentle, tenacious wind often achieves more over time than sudden or ostentatious change. Practical, deliberate steps are enduring: legal incorporation has refocused all our trustees to understand their roles and responsibilities, and hold our chief executive to account more systematically.

We are historically tasked with being innovative as a movement, but this does not mean change for the sake of change.

Liberal Judaism at its best thinks through the consequences. We need to resist our tendency to follow fads or to rest on our laurels. Our leadership on same-sex marriage, the Living Wage, asylum and palliative care are examples of where we have led from the front, and rightly so. We should not lead just from the head or the heart, but the two in concert.

Finally, God. I am unabashed in adopting the Book of Esther approach to God. We need not mention God at every twist and turn to acknowledge the power of God in our lives. That power emerges when we engage creatively with the world, especially when it feels daunting to do so. What we do working with and through others can make the difference, whatever the frustrations.

Thank you, everybody, for helping me be the leader I have become. These six years have been a truly memorable and meaningful time of my life.

Lucian J Hudson has been chairman of Liberal Judaism since 2009, serving two full terms. You can write to him at l.hudson@liberaljudaism.org

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Communities

July/August 2015

Barmitzvah boy makes history Back to ‘Liberal’

The celebration of the 70th anniversary of VE Day was a very successful Mosaic event

By Alan Solomon

A BARMITZVAH CELEBRATION has taken place in Ipswich for the first time in 140 years. On Saturday May 9, Jon Emlyn made a little piece of history by reading from the Torah in a special service held under the auspices of the Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community.

In the 19th Century Ipswich had its own synagogue, but the community began to move away in the 1850’s and the synagogue was demolished in 1877. The Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community was formed by four people in 2005. It affiliated to Liberal Judaism in 2014.

The barmitzvah boy’s mother grew up in New York and his father is from Wales.

Family members from both locations, and other guests, joined the congregation for the service.

Beverley Levy, one of the founding members of the community, said: “We don’t have our own premises and we don’t have a Sefer Torah. So we hired a small local theatre and borrowed a Torah from our good friends in the Colchester and District Jewish Community.

“There was a lovely atmosphere, we had lots of visitors and we hope it was a good showcase for Liberal Judaism. We look forward to more families coming to Suffolk and giving us other opportunities like this.”

A joint celebration in Norwich

REGULAR READERS of lj today may recall my article in the July/August 2014 issue when I reported that Harrow & Wembley Progressive Synagogue had joined with Middlesex New Synagogue (Reform) and Hatch End Masorti Synagogue in formally agreeing to become part of a pluralist Jewish association in our area, to be known as the Mosaic Jewish Community.

Each synagogue has preserved its own identity and ethos and holds separate services, but we all work closely together; we have a joint cheder, the Liberal and Reform congregations join together for kiddush and our adult education, cultural and social activities are open to everyone.

Following the precedent set by Middlesex New Synagogue, which changed its name to Mosaic Reform Synagogue, we decided at our AGM to revert to the name ‘Liberal’ - we were originally Wembley Liberal Synagogue – and show our pride in being a constituent synagogue of Liberal Judaism and all that the movement stands for. So we’re now Mosaic Liberal Synagogue catering for Liberal Jews living in north west London.

York joins up

ON THE SAME DAY that Jon became Suffolk’s first barmitzvah boy in 140 years, there were also mazel tovs elsewhere in East Anglia – as Rabbi Leah Jordan led a barmitzvah ceremony and three Kabbalat Torah confirmations at Norwich Liberal Jewish Community.

Leonie Reintjes, 15, Ollie Joseph, 15, Lily Whear, 14, and barmitzvah boy Sam Barker (pictured from left to right, above, with Rabbi Leah) were joined by family and friends. Chair Annie Henriques said: “It is great to have so many committed young people who value their Judaism.”

AFTER almost a year of holding regular services, York Liberal Jewish Community (YLJC) has been officially accepted as a full member of Liberal Judaism.

Liberal Judaism’s council voted unanimously to accept YLJC as a full member, recognising the great strides that have been made in developing a community in a city that has had no real Jewish identity for more than 40 years.

With Shabbat services held on the second Saturday of each month, festival celebrations, Hebrew lessons and a kids’ club on a Friday afternoon, members of YLJC enjoy a full range of activities.

York chair Ben Rich said: “We look forward to continuing to work with Liberal Judaism to achieve a vibrant Jewish community in York for people of all ages.”

Communities

July/August 2015

LJ Today Page 5

Torah on the streets of Northwood

Pictures by Phil Stone RABBI AARON GOLDSTEIN led more than 250 members of Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS), as they paraded their new lightweight Sefer Torah through the streets, pictured above.

The community danced and marched, supported by local residents and passersby, heading to a car park where a tree had grown from a seed of a tree planted at Theresienstadt deportation camp in 1943 by a courageous teacher and her pupils.

NPLS emeritus rabbi, and president of Liberal Judaism, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein reflected on the lives and tragic deaths of the Jews of Czech and Slovak towns that had once owned the scrolls now residing in Northwood.

He said: “We are the custodians of their scrolls and the legacy of the Jews who once read from them. Let us live, remember and treasure the confidence we have as Jews living in Northwood.”

The procession took place after a moving ceremony, in which members of NPLS guided the quill of the sofer, Bernard Benarroch, as he completed the final words of the new Torah.

Rabbi Lea Mühlstein explained the moment, saying: “It was something truly exceptional. As each of us - the young, the old, men and women - were given the opportunity to guide the scribe’s hand in writing the final letters, we were stirred by emotions.

“It was not simply the physical act of writing but the spiritual dimension of what it means to complete a Torah that made this moment so special and emotional.”

Gershon inducted on anniversary Two rabbis

CANTOR GERSHON SILINS has been inducted as the new spiritual leader of Manchester Liberal Jewish Community (MLJC). The ceremony took place as part of MLJC’s 10th anniversary celebrations on Sunday May 31 with guests including the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Manchester, the Mayor of Bury, Ivan Lewis MP and minister of the St Cross Unitarians, Rev Cody Coyne.

The service was led by Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich, who was assisted by Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich of Nottingham Liberal Synagogue and several community members. Highlights included MLJC treasurer Phyllis Alden joining Gershon for a beautiful version of Bayom Hahu and the world premiere of a meditation set to music by composer Robert Orledge.

Addressing congregants and guests, Gershon, pictured left, said: “As a member of Liberal Judaism’s Outreach Team, I have had the opportunity to visit many communities. And as impressed as I am with our large congregations, I have the greatest admiration for our smaller communities, little beacons of Progressive Judaism, where the DIY attitude keeps Jewish life alive and vibrant – communities exactly like MLJC.”

join the LJS RABBIS Rachel Benjamin and Rene Pfertzel have joined the rabbinic team at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS). They will both be working at the LJS part-time and will fill Rabbi Neil Janes’ current role. He is leaving to take up a new post at the West London Synagogue.

Senior Rabbi Alexandra Wright said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Rabbi Rachel Benjamin and Rabbi Rene Pfertzel to work as part of our rabbinic, educational, musical and pastoral team at the LJS. They bring outstanding skills in teaching, working with people of all ages and spiritual leadership.”

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July/August 2015

Liberal Judaism Day of Ce

Members arrive for Liberal Judaism’s biggest event of the year

Rabbi Miri Gold gives Rabbi Alexandra Wright a present from Israel

Reut Michaeli leads a discussion on the status of refugees in Israel

Pam Fox examines Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck’s views on Zionism

Delegates enjoy a highlight of any Liberal Judaism event - lunch

Liberal youth team up for a very messy sandwich making game

Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community win the LAFTAs shield

Rabbi Danny Rich leads the thanks to the organising committee

July/August 2015

LJ Today Page 7

elebration 2015 in pictures

The audience put questions to keynote speaker Rabbi Miri Gold

LJY-Netzer members have fun making Israeli-themed arts & crafts

Graham Carpenter teaches music, in a session with Sarah Grabiner

Rebecca Daniels explains Yachad’s Kids Court In Conflict campaign

LJ deputy chair Simon Benscher addresses a packed LJS Sanctuary

Anat Hoffman’s session is watched around the world via live steam

THE PICTURES of the Day of Celebration in this issue of lj today were taken by Charles Davis. Charles is a Midlands and London based photographer, specialising in commercial and editorial imagery – capturing an artistic approach with fun and a touch of glamour.

Charles’ photographic work is animated, vibrant and engaging. He combines creative versatility, professional maturity and technical know-how, allowing him to fulfil each assignment with exceptional results.

To find out more or to book Charles for your event, visit www.professionalphotography.me.uk Rabbis Lea Mühlstein and Charley Baginsky receive a thank you gift

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Social Action

July/August 2015

Liberals Living Below The Line

By Rabbi Aaron Goldstein

LJY-Netzer movement worker Tom Francies’ £5 shop and one of his repetitive daily meals

By Tom Francies THIS YEAR all three LJY-Netzer movement workers – Gabriel Webber, Tamara Silver and me – decided to take part in Live Below The Line. We had to spend no more than £5 each on food and drink over five days, mirroring the fact that 20% of the world’s population live off £1 a day for food and drink, as well as housing, education, health and all the other necessities we take for granted.

Raising awareness of the 1.2 billion people living in these conditions was one goal; the other was to raise money for Tzedek – the Jewish community’s response to such extreme poverty.

I went in blind. I didn’t do any research or look up any recipes, and this was a mistake. I spent more than an hour walking around the supermarket taking items from shelves, putting things back and thinking about potential meals and combinations. In the end this is what I bought: 1 x loaf of bread (40p), 2 x baked beans (48p), 1kg long grain rice (45p), vegetable stock cubes (30p), 0.3kg red onions (25p), 0.5kg baking potatoes (49p), chopped tomatoes (34p), 10 eggs (£1) and 1kg frozen mixed vegetables (£1).

I didn’t think I did too badly, but while shopping came my first moral conundrum – the eggs. These were Tesco Value eggs, working out at 10p each. Let’s be honest, there is no way these were from free range, organic, happy chickens.

Normally I would pay a bit more, as I truly believe in ethical consumerism, but this shop I couldn’t… or could I? Should I have devised a shopping list of under £5 then bought the most ethical version of each product? I asked more and more people about this, and I got varying answers – none of which has made it any clearer in my mind.

My other dilemma was free food. No not a mate going “what if I pay for your pizza” – some people just don’t get

it – but the sort that is offered in the workplace. Every meeting I go to has some sort of food and, if it’s not eaten, it gets thrown away. Should I be standing on a kind of moral high ground raising money for the less privileged, while I watch perfectly good food slip into the bin. Food waste is a terrible disease of modern society and should I be contributing to it out of pride and fear of accusations of “cheating”?

As well as the dilemmas there were some major challenges. Hunger was obviously the main one. No more snacking during the day, having to plan where and when to eat every meal so as not to go too long without food and being unable to eat or drink when socialising with friends were also all more difficult than I imagined.

The variety of food I ate was not vast.

For breakfast some combination of eggs and toast, plus the occasional serving of baked beans. It was rice or potatoes most days for lunch/dinner, often with vegetables, chopped tomatoes or a few more baked beans. This was the first, and only, time I took photos of my food for the internet, but they were just the same over and over and over again.

But even more than food, I missed being able to choose what to drink. Water is all I consumed for a week. I didn’t have enough money for even one different drink. But looking back, I was actually privileged to be able to drink clean water from a tap in my kitchen. More than 750 million people around the world live without safe water, while 1,400 children die every day from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.

So that was it – a hard, thoughtprovoking week. But I did it and, with the rest of my LJY-Netzer colleagues, raised nearly £1,000 for a very worthy cause. Don’t worry if you haven’t donated yet, you still can, just go to www. livebelowtheline.com/team/ljy-netzer

AMONG the thousands of people Living Below The Line, spending just £1 a day, were many Liberal Jews, my wife Tammy and I included.

While some are cynical – after all we could still heat our home, use transport and enjoy unlimited ‘free’ drinking water from our taps – I strongly believe campaigns such as this have a role, especially after trying it myself.

Living Below The Line is about raising awareness; reminding ourselves that around the corner, in our neighbourhood, and yes, in our community, there are those who live week in week out with poverty – not just for five days.

It also raised my awareness of the effect on my body of being food poor.

Had it not been for our relationship with the local greengrocer, who twice gave us a box for £1 with fruit and veg that was going off, we would have had no fresh produce. Yet I, who never has headaches, was afflicted during those five days. My legs became full of pain and I resorted to taking pills – even though I don’t like taking them. Of course, I could afford them and I can see how addictions to dull pain can result – a vicious cycle.

And the second time I asked for a handout, I had an inkling of what ‘shame’ might feel like.

All of this takes its toll on the physical and mental health of the individual. It also makes no sense for any country to allow its citizens to live in such a state. Real people allowed to be unproductive, at a ridiculous cost to us all. Such extreme poverty is a disgrace to our country, to any land.

I know I have a part to play in not being gluttonous, in supporting others, in not wasting. I know it’ll be our pressure that will change our society so we do not allow the land to be depraved.

Small things help. Most Progressive Jewish communities support a local food bank and I urge members to donate products or visit.

When we have eaten and been satisfied, may we be responsive to the needs of others and to listen to their cry for food: to share God’s gifts and help remove hunger and want from the world.

Social Action

July/August 2015

A different and challenging trip

By Gordon Smith IT WAS WITH some trepidation that we joined a trip to the South Hebron Hills organised by Yachad during Pesach of this year. I come from a family of Zionists and lived in Israel from 1948 to 1956.

We have a home in Tel Aviv, where our daughter lives with her family having made Aliya some 20 years ago.

We left our comfortable Tel Aviv bubble to join another 20 participants on a coach journey to a small Palestinian village called Susiya in the southern-most tip of the West Bank.

There, we were welcomed by the villagers under a large shady tree near their makeshift tents and cave dwellings.

They had no permanent homes due to the complex bureaucracy of the Israeli administration, which either forbade the building of homes or demolished them for arbitrary reasons. We were also taken to see beautiful ‘legal’ and not so legal Israeli settlements with water, sewers, electricity lines and power, none of which was available to those in Susiya.

We stopped at a makeshift barrier erected by the IDF across the only road out of the village to the nearest main Palestinian town, Yatta. It was locked, thereby depriving the villagers access to medical facilities or shops. We were told that this barrier had been erected for security reasons for the whole of Pesach.

We stopped at an Israeli settlement on a hill, from which rocks had been hurled onto Palestinian school children - necessitating a daily protection by the IDF of the children walking to school.

We were guided by a young IDF officer, belonging to the organisation Breaking the Silence, who told us of some of his experiences while serving, which made very sombre hearing.

We certainly saw and heard a side of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank rarely aired. All in all it was a very thought-provoking day. I challenge anyone to do a similar trip and not be moved what they see and hear.

However, I am glad I went as I firmly feel that you can never justify your own beliefs until you have stood in the shoes of the other. Clearly, Yachad are trying to achieve just that. So if you are going to Israel soon, and want to take part in a different and challenging trip while there, go to www.yachad.org.uk - where you can find out how more about their educational day tours and extended visits to East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

LJ Today Page 9

Jews and Muslims unite to help Nottingham’s poor

Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich and Himmah’s Sajid Mohammed launch the Salaam Shalom Kitchen

NOTTINGHAM LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE has teamed up with Islamic social justice group Himmah to launch a weekly service providing hot meals and volunteer support for some of the city’s most vulnerable people. The joint JewishMuslim project is thought to be the only one of its kind in Britain.

The Salaam Shalom Kitchen (SaSh) runs every Wednesday from 6-8pm with a team of 40 volunteers to help anyone who wants to pop in, as well as those referred by other services. It is open for access to anyone of all religions and none.

Good Citizens MEMBERS OF LIBERAL JUDAISM were among the 2,200 participants, supporters and guests at the Citizens UK General Election Accountability Assembly – an afternoon of political action driven by the Citizens UK People’s Manifesto, which took place before the 2015 election.

Director of Citizens UK, Neil Jameson, said: “I was proud to be part of a packed, diverse room who were enthusiastic, disciplined and engaged around an agenda. We are a non-partisan alliance, made up of 350 institutions; what binds us together is a desire to seek social justice and work for the common good.

“The politicians who spoke – Sajid Javid, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband – will, I’m sure remember our warm welcome but also our determined negotiations on the Living Wage, ending indefinite detention, the creation of a Community Finance Foundation and improving standards in social care.”

Himmah co-founder Sajid Mohammed said SaSh was also about addressing the rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism.

He said: “We felt that now is the right moment to give hope and demonstrate our communities’ values of compassion, dignity and care to others.”

Nottingham Liberal Synagogue’s Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich added: “By serving food together and offering a hand of friendship to other members of the local community, it gives us a safe place to start building personal relationships of trust and respect for each other.”

• ON JULY 19, The Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s Wood will host An Inconvenient Mitzvah: Jewish Environmental Action for 2015 and Beyond. Ahead of the most important climate summit of the decade, taking place in Paris in November and December, this event will see attendees grappling with the question ‘what should a Jewish response to climate change look like?’ alongside seminal ecological thinker Rabbi Lawrence Troster. For more information and to book your place, contact oilvayuk@gmail.com • ON THE OCCASION of the annual Pride celebrations, Ritual Reconstructed is teaming up with South London Liberal Synagogue to film a Pride Seder on Friday June 26.

Everyone is invited to join this event, which will be led by Rabbi Janet Darley. For full details, please email ritualreconstructed@gmail.com

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Comment

July/August 2015

A council that spans generations ‘We must speak about Israel’

By Daisy Bogod

WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ranging from 29 to 75 years-old, a vibrant and active community and a brand new Siddur created by the religion school, South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS) has a lot to be proud of. Here chair Alice Alphandary tells lj today what is happening south of the river.

How does the diverse age range of the council (pictured above) bring benefit to your community?

I think we’re really fortunate as our council represents all the different sections of our community - young professionals, people with families of all different ages and people who have finished their main career so have plenty of time to engage with SLLS. As a young chair, I really appreciate having a supportive group of officers with a range of different life experiences that I can bounce ideas off.

Why do you think so many people in their 20s and 30s are getting involved?

It’s an exciting community to be involved in - we are lucky to have members of the founding families with us, but they are also very willing to see the community evolve. It’s very much a case of if you have a suggestion and the enthusiasm to run a new activity, go for it. I also think that people appreciate the active form of Judaism members are encouraged to engage with. For example, we are members of London Citizens which has seen several congregants get involved in a range of social justice projects, such as an action on a payday lender.

You have established new initiatives from Torah breakfasts to a film club, can you talk a bit more about them?

The film club was set up by one of our members with an interest in Israeli films, after I sent out a call for suggestions for ideas of what we could offer as a community. It’s another great example of someone taking an initiative. The Torah breakfasts were established when a few

of us were talking about how we would appreciate the chance to participate in ongoing study. We now all turn up for an hour of study and bagels once a month before the Shabbat morning service - and have called on friends to teach or learn with us. If anyone reading this article would like to come and speak to us, please do get in touch by emailing the SLLS office on office@southlondon.org What is the inspiration behind your new Siddur?

The Siddur Gesher l’Tefilah is illustrated with artwork by our Gesher (religion school) pupils, all of whom received a personalised copy for use at home.

In terms of the inspiration, I think our amazing head, Jackie Ashton, put it best when she said: “This Siddur is the culmination of an extensive exploration of prayer through art by the children and teachers of Gesher. It could not have occurred without the inspired guidance of Gesher’s teachers and the enthusiasm and artistic talent of our children.”

What has the feedback to the Siddur been and how can other communities get copies?

It’s proved a hit. The Walker family very kindly sponsored the costs of production of the Siddur in memory of Philip Walker z’’l, our former president and chairman who passed away last year. Our students enjoy having their own special Siddur and it’s also proved popular with people in our access to Judaism class, who are in the process of learning Hebrew, as each Hebrew word appears with its transliteration directly underneath which makes it easy to follow the Hebrew and the transliteration at the same time.

Anyone interested in having their own copy should get in touch with the SLLS office, as we are selling them for £10.

What are your hopes for the next year?

More new members! We know that more Jews are starting to live south of the river and so would love to see them at SLLS.

WITH THE Day of Celebration now behind us, it is essential that Progressive Jews of ALL ages keep talking about Israel. This is why, at the event, there was an entire youth programme focused around the country called ‘Israel Tour in a Day’.

Reform Zionism is one of LJY-Netzer’s pillars as a youth movement, so obviously we educate on Israel. Trying to pinpoint why, beyond that, it is necessary for young people to engage with Israel education is more complex.

If, as Day of Celebration speaker Anat Hoffman says, “love is what remains after you know the truth”, the only way we can truly love Israel is if we engage with it from a critical perspective, and then actively try and make it a better place in line with the values of peace, justice and freedom for all citizens laid out in Israel’s Declaration of Independence.

Israel is one of those topics that everyone seems to have an opinion on, regardless of their nationality, religion, personal involvement or indeed any actual knowledge about the facts and history of the country.

Informed decision making is a big part of both LJY-Netzer and Liberal Judaism, and this must mean educating about both the good and bad of Israel.

We want to prepare our young people to educate others, and determine when it is appropriate to defend Israel and talk about how amazing a country it is. They also shouldn’t be afraid of standing up to people, whether Zionists or not, and saying that Israel does make mistakes, and we should hold it to the same moral standards as we hold ourselves.

We are a movement of Liberal Jews who have chosen to have a relationship with Israel, who self-define as Zionists, and it would be going against everything we believe in to blindly adopt this title without teaching ourselves and our members what this means.

Daisy Bogod is a leader in LJY-Netzer, the youth movement of Liberal Judaism • ARE YOU a student who would like to be part of a Progressive Friday night? For the next academic year (2015/16), Liberal Judaism will be sending Shabbat kits to campuses containing service booklets, learning, wine, candles, a challah recipe, Havdalah spices and candle and a £50 food voucher. To find out more, please email ljstudents@liberaljudaism.org

Youth

July/August 2015

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

Spend your summer with LJY-Netzer

Two of the many highlights of last summer, as young Liberal Jews of all ages had fun in Britain, Europe and Israel with LJY-Netzer

DO YOU WANT to have the best summer of your life? Then join one of our LJYNetzer events this July and August. Our summers are always legendary with multiple options, covering everyone aged from five to 25 and giving you the chance to engage with Judaism in a positive and life-affirming way. Here are 10 reasons why we think you should spend the summer with LJY-Netzer – and if you agree just drop us a line using the contact details at the bottom of this page:

1

Make amazing friends that will stay with you for your whole life. You may only see them once or twice a year, but they will always be some of your best mates.

2

Discover that there are young Liberal Jews beyond your community and they are just as fun as you are.

Nottingham? Bristol? London? We’ve got young Liberal Jews from everywhere.

3

Learn that being Jewish isn’t just about dusty books and cheder classrooms. Learning about how to change the world? That’s Jewish. Helping to end the stigma surrounding mental health? That’s Jewish too. There are so many things you do in your everyday life that are Jewish and that’s cool.

4

Spend time in amazing places, be it Israel, Eastern Europe or the Kadimah swimming pool.

5

Make all your friends from home jealous: who else gets to cram so much fun into such a short time? While they are sitting at home bored, you’ll be running around, singing your heart out and having water fights.

6

Do wacky things that you would never get to do at home. Build a fort out of cardboard, see how many grapes you can fit in your mouth, do yoga, make a tie dye T-shirt… even with two weeks at summer camp, you will wonder how we can fit that much fun in.

7

Begin an LJY-Netzer journey that will keep you going until you’re 25.

You are not just there for one summer, you become part of a community that, like you, grows, changes and adapts. A community that you shape and will shape you as you get older.

8

When you’re in Year 11, cash in your barmitzvah/batmitzvah voucher, claim your £50 discount and have the time of your life on Israel Tour. Enjoy a life-changing experience, exploring your connection to the Jewish homeland.

9

When you’re in Year 12, become a globetrotter visiting enough countries to leave your head spinning. Go on a European tour around Bosnia, Croatia and Austria with your best friends learning about their Jewish journeys while discovering your own.

10

When you’re in Year 13, become a leader on Machaneh Kadimah summer camp and help start the cycle again for a new generation. Now is the time to step up and inspire, educate and develop the expectant participants - who are all like you were once.

B’Shamayim Day Camp Date: TBC Age range: 5–11 Machaneh Kadimah Summer Camp Dates: August 11 – 24 Age range (participant): 8–15 Age range (leader): 18+ Israel Tour Dates: July 12 – August 5 Age: 16 years old Kayitz Netzer Europe Tour Dates: August 16 – 26 Age: 17 years old

Contact the LJY-Netzer team: Tom Francies (tom@liberaljudaism.org), Tamara Silver (tamara@liberaljudaism.org) and Gabriel Webber (gabriel@liberaljudaism.org); office telephone 020 7631 0584

Page 12 LJ Today

July/August 2015

Liberal Judaism congregations 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

Manchester Liberal Jewish Community T: 0161 796 6210 E: mljc@liberaljudaism.org W: mljc.org.uk

Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community T: 01242 609 311 E: shalom@gljc.org.uk W: gljc.org.uk

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

Herefordshire Jewish Community T: 01594 530 721 E: hjc@liberaljudaism.org W: herefordshirejc.org

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

Kehillah North London T: 020 7403 3779 E: knl@liberaljudaism.org W: nlpjc.org.uk

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

Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation E: bwpjc@bwpjc.org W: bwpjc.org

Kent Liberal Jewish Community T: 07952 242 432 E: enquiries@kljc.org.uk W: www.kljc.org.uk

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

Crouch End Chavurah E: info@crouchendchavurah.co.uk W: crouchendchavurah.co.uk

Kingston Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8398 7400 E: kls@liberaljudaism.org W: klsonline.org

Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community T: 020 7631 9822 E: info@pljc.org.uk W: pljc.org.uk

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: info@bhps-online.org W: brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk

Crawley Jewish Community T: 01293 534 294 Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation E: djpc@liberaljudaism.org W: djpcireland.com Ealing Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8997 0528 E: els@liberaljudaism.org W: ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community T: 01323 725 650 E: eljc@liberaljudaism.org W: eljc.org.uk

Lincolnshire Jewish Community T: 01427 628 958 E: ljc@liberaljudaism.org W: lincolnshirejc.co.uk

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

Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation T: 0116 271 5584 E: lpjc@liberaljudaism.org W: lpjc.org.uk The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (St John’s Wood) T: 020 7286 5181 E: ljs@liberaljudaism.org W: ljs.org The Liberal Synagogue Elstree T: 020 8953 8889 E: tlse@liberaljudaism.org W: tlse.org.uk

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

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

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W: nottinghamliberalsynagogue.com

Reading Liberal Jewish Community T: 0118 942 8022 E: readingliberaljewishcommunity@ gmail.com W: www.readingljc.org.uk

Shenfield & Brentwood Synagogue T: 01277 888 610 E: tikvahchadasha@gmail.com W: roshtikvah.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 Stevenage Liberal Synagogue T: 01438 300 222 E: stevenageliberalsynagogue@gmail.com W: stevenageliberalsynagogue.org.uk 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 York Liberal Jewish Community T: 07922 683 787 E: york@liberaljudaism.org W: jewsinyork.org.uk Developing communities and 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 515 584 E: progressive@ojc-online.org W: ojc-online.org

President Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein Chairman Lucian J Hudson Deputy Chair Simon Benscher Vice Chair Jackie Richards Treasurer Rosie Ward Israel and the Diaspora Tamara Schmidt Communications Ed Herman Social Justice Amelia Viney Youth and Education Robin Moss National Officers Dr Howard Cohen, David Hockman, David Pelham and Ruth Seager Vice Presidents Monique Blake, Henry Cohn, Nigel Cole, Geoffrey Davis, Lord Fink, Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, Sharon Goldstein, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, 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 Archivist Alison Turner Director of Youth Becca Fetterman LJY-Netzer Tom Francies, Tamara Silver and Gabriel Webber