March/April 2017 VOL. XLIV No. 2
Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
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ljtoday
Refugee plan goes global
A
PROJECT by South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS) to turn part of the shul into a flat to house a refugee family has won attention and support across the UK, Europe and Israel. The community is working hard to raise £50,000 in order to refurbish a disused caretaker’s flat, which will then house a family from Syria. The project is called Abraham’s Tent, recalling the Midrash: “Abraham always kept all four sides of his tent open, for guests to easily enter.” After The Observer ran a story on the plan, SLLS was also featured by publications including The Evening Standard, Haaretz, The Times of Israel, The Independent and Huffington Post, as well as papers in Germany and France.
SLLS chair Alice Alphandary (pictured left) wrote a powerful opinion piece for the euronews website, saying: “Our members have parents and grandparents who themselves were refugees. This motivates so many of the project team, myself included, as my own father was a refugee from Egypt in the 1950s. “One project team member has a grandfather who was a Kindertransport child, put up by Christians in a church in Durham. Another team member has a grandmother who fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s thanks to a Birmingham couple who employed her as a housekeeper. She was later able to arrange safe passage for her brother, who was just a child, and then her parents. “There is a strong sense among us that if Britain had not provided sanctuary to our families, we would not be alive today. And we are now determined to show that welcome to others.” • To donate to this important project, please visit cafdonate.cafonline.org/5968
Rabbi Lionel Blue (1930 - 2016)
LIBERAL JUDAISM is remembering Rabbi Lionel Blue OBE, a pioneering rabbi, teacher and media star. Lionel was a mentor to so many, both through his role lecturing at Leo Baeck College and his own example. As the first British rabbi publicly to come out as gay, in 1980, Lionel paved the way for many others. Rabbi Charley Baginsky said: “Lionel’s courage and pioneering spirit have created a more equal Judaism, and a more equal world.” Picture by Ajamu of fineartphotography
LIBERAL JUDAISM’S senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich (pictured second from right), helped to rededicate a plaque commemorating the Kindertransport in the Houses of Parliament. Danny joined Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, Lord (Alf) Dubs and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, the senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism, at the event, which took place on Holocaust Memorial Day.
• WE APOLOGISE that some communities will be receiving this edition of lj today around two weeks later than planned. This is due to a burst water pipe at Liberal Judaism’s head office, which ruined many copies and meant a reprint was required. We hope you are still able to enjoy the news and views inside. The office will remain closed until Pesach. Staff are working from home and can be contacted via email or mobile. For general enquiries, email montagu@ liberaljudaism.org or call 07375 817 190.