LJ Today May/June 2013

May/June 2013 VOL. XL No. 3

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

www.liberaljudaism.org

ljtoday

This year in Jerusalem

By Lucian J Hudson Chairman of Liberal Judaism

I

T IS AN honour and a joy to be representing Liberal Judaism at the 36th World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) Biennial Conference, which is being held in Jerusalem from April 29 to May 5. Our movement will have a large presence at the event, where I will be joined by Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich, co-chair of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu, Rabbis Harry and Richard Jacobi, Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk, Rabbi Andrew and Sharon Goldstein and LJY-Netzer’s Robin Cooke.

Jerusalem is the home of the WUPJ, the international organisation serving 1,200 congregations with 1.8 million members. We can expect representatives from most of the WUPJ’s 45 member countries, all coming together to celebrate and to learn. Delegates will take part in workshops, discussions, site visits and an exchange of ideas. There will also be an opportunity to celebrate our achievements, forge closer links and shape our future. The main idea is that we connect and reconnect – hence the event’s title, Connections 2013.

This year’s theme is ‘Being the Difference’. Not just making a difference but, with a distinct echo of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘being’ the difference we seek.

Any effective change has to come from within, so that we can influence with integrity and impact.

The conference aims to draw out the importance of being Progressive Jews with a commitment to repairing this broken world, Tikkun Olam, through our concerted and collaborative actions. I will be chairing the text study session on the very topic of Tikkun Olam, which I hope will prove one of the highlights of the week.

The number 36 has significance in Jewish mystical folklore, as it is said that at any one time, 36 righteous people save the world from itself. I have more modest ambitions for this conference, but would not underestimate how farreaching a successful event can be when participants put their minds to it.

A book for Shavuot ACCORDING TO tradition, all generations of Jews stood at the foot of Mount Sinai to hear God speaking. We recall that moment at the festival of Shavuot.

But what if you couldn’t hear? The latest children’s book from Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Pete Tobias, The Voice of the Shaking Mountain, tells the story of what it was like to be a young hearingimpaired girl standing at Sinai. Through her explanation of how it is possible to hear the voice of God in many different ways, we might also learn to appreciate that there is a difference between hearing and really listening.

The Voice of the Shaking Mountain is available from Liberal Judaism and all good online bookstores at a cost of £4.99.

NORTHWOOD & PINNER LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE (NPLS) held a very special civic service in March, attended by a large number of local dignitaries. The Mayors of Hillingdon and Harrow, the chair of Three Rivers District Council and local MP Nick Hurd joined Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, pictured above centre, along with representatives from the local NATO base, interfaith leaders and school teachers.

The service was led by NPLS’s latest graduates of Liberal Judaism’s Ba’alei Tefillah lay leadership training programme. Lily Aarons, Stephen Herman and Leo Hodes took the majority of the service before being ‘ordained’, as Liberal Judaism chairman Lucian J Hudson and chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich, pictured above far right, handed them their Ba’alei Tefillah certificates.

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Chairman’s Actions

May/June 2013

Pope Francis: the Tikkun Olam Pope?

Lucian J Hudson welcomes Pope Francis and his commitment to social justice, faith and reason THE ELECTION of Pope Francis has been warmly received by Jewish communities.

Regardless of its particular traditions and allegiances, humanity stands to gain from effective spiritual leaders who have a positive vision of the future and can make the world a better place – especially when they can set a personal example.

The leadership of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) – of which Liberal Judaism is a vital part – said that the Pope’s election was a strong indication of the changing dynamics within the Catholic Church. In common with other observers, the WUPJ highlighted his personal qualities as a sign of how he might carry out his new role, saying: “This humble priest brings sincerity and hope to Christianity and all people of faith.”

Israel’s President, Shimon Peres, went a step further, saying: “We need, more than ever, a spiritual leadership and not just a political one. Where political leaders may divide, spiritual leaders may unite. Unite around a vision, unite around values, unite around a faith that we can make the world a better place to live.” Not surprisingly, Pope Francis has already been invited to visit Israel.

As Dr Ed Kessler of the Woolf Institute wrote in the Jewish Chronicle, Pope Francis is likely to further strengthen relations between Catholics and Jews.

He predicted: “Whatever changes he is intending, the important gains in Catholic-Jewish relations since Nostra Aetate in 1965, and especially since the election of Pope John Paul II, are not in danger.” One of his earliest decisions was to write to Riccardo di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome, expressing his desire to work together.

Pope Francis’ commitment is already there to see. As a cardinal, he showed compassion to Argentina’s Jewish community and demanded justice after the bombing of the Jewish Community Centre in Buenos Aires. He supported the erection of a memorial to that bombing and to the victims of the Holocaust.

Pope Francis is not from the left. As Dr Kessler and others have explained, he will appeal to both conservatives and moderates. One Argentinian contact remarked that whatever his politics, his personal ethic is powerful, not least because of the humility with which he demonstrates it. He told me: “He was preoccupied with having ‘consistency’ between what he says and how he acts.

He never wanted to live in the bishop’s house. He travelled by bus.”

Another contact said that Pope Francis can be unorthodox in his conduct of services, adding: “After a terrible train accident with many fatalities, he held a special mass. While he was preaching, one of the relatives was so upset and overwhelmed, she wept loudly. He stopped what he was doing, went into the congregation and comforted her.”

His simplicity reflects a quiet confidence in being part of the world, not apart from it. He is a leader who knows exactly his place and how to make the most of it. He wanted the top job, and now he has it. He will make allies through humour and warmth, not through intellectual bombardment. Yet his Jesuit training will mean that his reason, as well as his faith, will be fully engaged. These are early days, but if his commitment to social justice indicates where he hopes to find common ground with other leaders, then Pope Francis could be the 21st Century’s Tikkun Olam Pope.

Lucian J Hudson is chairman of Liberal Judaism. He was brought up a Catholic and went to a French Jesuit school

Researching Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck “LIBERAL JUDAISM is not just Orthodox Judaism diluted, with the measure of dilution variable according to circumstances. It is a positive interpretation of historic Judaism in ideas that are tenable and practices that are spiritually significant.”

So wrote Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck in 1951. Not enough is known about the life and work of this inspirational rabbi who was the founder of Liberal Judaism in this country, along with the other two ‘Ms’ Claude Montefiore and Lily Montagu.

Israel Mattuck’s tenure at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue spanned most of the first half of the 20th Century – a period of worldwide tumult and social change.

His sermons are a commentary on so much history through two World Wars, the General Strike and the establishment of the State of Israel. They also deal with major social issues including education, contraception, human rights and political matters such as nationalism, fascism, the fate of the Jews of Germany and the British Mandate in Palestine. Many in the Anglo-Jewish establishment during this period were afraid to rock the boat. These sermons show that Mattuck had no such qualms and was often ahead of his time.

Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich has just spent a month at St Aidan’s College in the University of Durham, reading some 400 of Mattuck’s

sermons to contribute to a book he is working on with Dr Pam Fox. The volume will be published in 2014 to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Mattuck’s death.

Danny observed: “The principal and staff of St Aidan’s responded openly and kindly to my chutzpadik request and offered me meals and accommodation while I did my research.

“I now understand why both my late father and Rabbi John Rayner describe being inspired by Mattuck’s preaching. He was a polymath with a great command of the English language and an ability to use it well. Although small in physical stature I am told he was a large, dramatic presence in the pulpit.”

Day of Celebration

May/June 2013

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Be part of the future of Liberal Judaism Rabbi Charley Baginsky looks forward to this year’s Day of Celebration on June 9 ON SUNDAY JUNE 9, between 10am and 4pm, I will be at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue. If I was going on my own it would cost me a very reasonable £20, but as I am taking my family I will be there on the special £40 family ticket (maximum two adults and unlimited children). This will include lunch and refreshments and I have booked my place, as you can, online at www.jewi.sh/doc2013 or by calling Liberal Judaism on 020 7580 1663. As there is subsidised transport on offer for synagogues from Liberal Judaism, I have persuaded my congregation to cancel religion school and all other activities and hire a coach so we can all travel to Birmingham together.

But why, I hear you ask? For what?

For Liberal Judaism’s Day of Celebration of course. This day is our movement’s flagship event of the year, a chance to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. But far more importantly, it is an opportunity to be part of the future of Liberal Judaism.

I am often asked, by those both within and outside of Jewish circles, what makes Liberal Judaism distinctive. This question allows me to address their preconceptions and assumptions, and enlighten them as to the ideological nuances that have previously separated us from other branches in the complex Jewish tree.

In the last few years we have, in many ways, watched the fruits of Liberal Judaism’s labours being reaped, as other movements have accepted and put into practice our policies of equality, egalitarianism, inclusivity and pluralism.

Of course, that is not to say that our work is done, but it should also provide us with the impetus to think where our next challenge lies.

It is with this idea in mind that the team behind last year’s Biennial Weekend began to explore the roots of Liberal Judaism and debate what the founding principles on which we built our identity were, and what we must not lose as we move forward.

It was a testament to how successful the Biennial was that the main critique we received following it was: “OK, what now?” In other words people were inspired to begin thinking about how we could create a movement of the future that would be as inspirational, ideological and creative as the movement our predecessors began. It was from this seed of a question that this year’s Day of Celebration sprouted.

For me the challenge that Liberal Judaism has always set itself has been an ambitious one, but one which has as much importance today as it did when Lily Montagu revolutionised Shabbat services – to create a Judaism that is simultaneously relevant and adapted to today’s society, as it is rooted deeply in a prophetic idealism. We have aspired to deliver a Day of Celebration that brings both these aims together.

The event will be determinedly pragmatic, launching the new Liberal Judaism resource bank. This will be an invaluable accumulation of information which has emerged from requests from communities who want to share materials and information with each other. It includes everything from contracts to databases and from curricula to festival resources. At the launch session there will be a chance to examine some of the resources and discuss the multiple ways you can use them, as well as meet the Liberal Judaism Outreach team. There will also be an opportunity to chat to people from other communities and discuss the real issues that face so many of our constituents.

As a parent of young children, and a parent of children who may be the only Jewish students in their future school, I am very excited about the parenting track. Pioneered by Rabbi Sandra Kviat, this track brings together rabbis and educators with years of experience in this field and innovative ideas which should inspire all who have children, are thinking about starting a family or work with families in a Jewish setting.

No Liberal Jewish event would be complete without study and learning and this year’s Day of Celebration is no exception. Headed by Rabbi Pete Tobias, this track will take you on a journey through the Prophetic roots of Judaism and how they can signpost our way into a new future. It will aim to prioritise our future ethical goals and mission, while grounding them firmly in our ‘prophetical’ texts – both Biblical and modern.

Headlining this conference is our art and music track, which is being led by Cantor Gershon Silins. The conference will open with music from the Kol Kinor choir and the choir of Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue.

The aim is not only to grant us the opportunity to encounter a phenomenal music experience, but also to trigger conversations about the place of art and music within our communities.

We’ll also have Liberal Judaism’s chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich and a stall of rotating rabbis on hand to answer all those questions you have never had a chance to ask; a place to share memories of challah; and short taster sessions on Jewish food, art and study.

This is an event designed for all the family to enjoy with a professionally staffed crèche, dynamic activities for children of all ages and the first ever LAFTA ceremony that will see our cheders and religion schools competing in a short film competition.

I am not unrealistic - in a few short hours we can only begin the discussion about the future of Liberal Judaism, but Liberal Judaism is YOU. It is you who sits on council; it is you who has just joined a synagogue to give your child a Jewish identity; it is you who wants to learn more and study with the rabbis; it is you who has a great idea to share; it is you who wants to be inspired. It is all of you and without you the conversation cannot begin and so is incomplete. So what are you waiting for? Log on to www.jewi.sh/ doc2013 and book your place today.

Rabbi Charley Baginsky, minister of Kingston Liberal Synagogue, is chair of the Day of Celebration committee

Stay up to date with all the very latest Day of Celebration news and announcements by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Just go to: www.facebook.com/LiberalJudaism www.twitter.com/LJ_DoC

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News

Liberals and Orthodox unite in Eastbourne SIXTY PEOPLE from 11 different Liberal communities – including Hereford in the Welsh borders – came to the Kings Conference Centre in Eastbourne for a small communities’ Shabbaton on Saturday March 2. They were joined by members of the town’s Orthodox synagogue, who attended for lunch and lectures in the afternoon.

Seminars were led by Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich, Liberal Judaism outreach director Rabbi Anna Gerrard, Rabbi Sandra Kviat, Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah and Student Rabbi Emily Jurman.

The event was an opportunity for people to renew and refresh their connections to Judaism and explore new avenues on their Jewish journeys. There was also a lot of fun to be had, including a dance seminar led by Jackie Richards.

Participants at the Shabbaton study the Torah

Organiser Suzanne Paginton said: “We are extremely pleased that the Shabbaton was so successful and received some tremendously positive feedback. We had the opportunity not only to network with other Liberal congregations across the regions, but also to welcome the wider Eastbourne Jewish community – who turned out to support the event.”

Rabbi Anna Gerrard added: “Liberal Judaism is committed to bringing its services to Jews all over the country.

The Shabbaton in Eastbourne brought together people from many different backgrounds and gave participants the chance to learn from each other, as well as from Liberal rabbis.”

May/June 2013

Rainbow Jews at major LGBT History Conference

The Rainbow Jews core team spread the word

LIBERAL JUDAISM’S Rainbow Jews, a pioneering LGBT Jewish oral history project, was presented to an audience of 200 delegates at the 10th annual LGBT History, Archives and Culture Conference at the London Guildhall in February.

The project, which is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, is run by Surat Knan.

Surat gave a well-received five minute pitch at the Conference, showcasing the project and urging attendees to get involved. She told lj today: “I was so happy to see that people outside the Jewish community wanted to engage. Even highprofile authors and journalists such as Paul Burston and VG Lee came to shake my hand.”

The dedicated Rainbow Jews core team were on location to help run an information stall. Volunteer Greg Reisman added: “Listening to some of the challenges faced by archival institutions made me realise that Rainbow Jews will not only help to give a voice to a relatively unheard history, but that it can also facilitate a celebration of LGBT Jewish history and culture, providing a connection to previous generations.”

A key goal of the project is firmly to place LGBT Jewish history in the wider context of British history, Jewish history and LGBT history. To achieve this, the project will be shared online, in booklets and educational materials. Two major archives – the London Metropolitan Archives and the LSE Hall Carpenter Archives – have already committed to safeguarding the collection for future generations.

Rainbow Jews unearths and canonises the stories of LGBT Jews from across the religious spectrum, and thereby offers a priceless window onto a history whose struggles, victories, and, of course, love stories demand to be heard.

If you know of someone whose life story belongs in the history of LGBT Jews, please contact s.knan@liberaljudaism.org - Surat is particularly keen to hear from those who have lived their lives away from the Jewish or LGBT mainstream.

Communities

May/June 2013

A new Ark for Bedfordshire

MORE THAN 20 members of Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue (BPS) gathered at Clophill Village Hall in March to inaugurate a portable Ark, specially made for use at services in members’ homes.

The Ark – which was built by Peter Priggen – was dedicated to the late Maurice Rollnick, who began the project.

Those in attendance at the Shabbat morning service and buffet lunch included, pictured from left to right, Naomi Fellerman, Rosie Comb, BPS chairman David Young, Maurice’s widow Pat Rollnick, Hilary Fox, BPS president Geoffrey Ben-Nathan and Liberal Judaism vice chair Simon Benscher.

Nottingham’s Torah auction SEVEN antique Torah scrolls helped Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation (NPJC) raise more than £700 for its rabbinic fund.

The fragments, believed to come from Eastern Europe, were sold at auction for over £100 each.

The scrolls were donated

by NPJC member Philip Cottam, whose family had owned them for several generations.

Philip said: “The scrolls belonged to my great grandfather, who was in the army around the turn of the century, so they may be over 100-years-old.

“He was involved in the Crimean War, so perhaps the scrolls entered his possession during that period. They were then passed to my grandfather, then my father and then to me.

“I do not know exactly where they are from, but experts believe they originated in Poland or Russia. Sadly, I was never able to ask my father about them, but it’s intriguing to think of where they came from and what a story they could tell.

“I was so glad to be able to make something of them and to make sure they have not gone to waste. They have been framed and gone to Jewish homes where they will be displayed on walls, bringing comfort and beauty to those homes, being looked at and cared for.”

“I am elated. I feel a strong connection to NPJC and I wanted to do as much as I could for the community.”

The auction was part an event which raised a total of £1,700 for the fund for the office of rabbi to the community, currently held by much-valued leader Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich. The day also included the sale of bagels specially shipped from Golders Green and new and second-hand Judaica items.

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Gloucestershire induct lay leader

LIBERAL JUDAISM Ba’alei Tefillah graduate Jill Rosenheim, pictured above centre, has been inducted into the position of lay leader for Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community (GLJC). More than 40 people attended a service at the Phoenix Centre in Cheltenham, which was led by Rabbi Anna Gerrard and warmly received by the community. Jill read part of Parashat Mishpatim and gave a sermon, before being presented with a silver yad for use at future services.

Liberal Judaism’s year-long Ba’alei Tefillah programme involved Jill attending a residential weekend, studying a distance learning course and sharing a personal learning programme with 18 other Liberal Jews from different communities around the country. To find out more about future courses, please contact y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org

Tribute to Joan Rich SOUTH LONDON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE (SLLS) will be holding a tribute to Joan Rich on Saturday April 27 at 11am. During a special Shabbat morning service, the community will remember Joan – who played key roles in both SLLS and Liberal Judaism – and dedicate a leaf to her memory on the Tree of Life. SLLS are keen for as many of Joan’s friends and colleagues as possible to attend the service and all are invited to a celebratory kiddush in Joan’s honour afterwards.

Aaronovitchs at LJS THE LIBERAL JEWISH SYNAGOGUE (LJS) Book Club will welcome Ben and David Aaronovitch on Thursday May 2. The event will see Ben – the best-selling author of the Rivers of London series of novels – in conversation with his brother David, the well-known broadcaster and journalist.

The event begins at 7pm and entry is free.

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May/June 2013

Around the communities

The adults and children at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue enjoyed a fun Purim afternoon, including hearing the Megillah, making hamantaschen and taking part in a Purim fair for charity

Eighty members of Crouch End Chavurah got together at the local cricket club for face-painting, shaker-making and a tea for which Sara Silver had handmade more than 500 hamantaschen

Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community enjoyed a raucous Purim party with sketches, cabaret, songs, music, storytelling, fancy dress, audience participation – and lots of lovely food

There was a whole evening of entertainment for those celebrating Purim at Finchley Progressive Synagogue, including a Megillah reading in different languages, spiel and communal supper

Rabbi Pete Tobias was joined by all The Liberal Synagogue Elstree’s children for a huge Purim fancy dress party featuring cats, rabbits, bears, rock stars, pirates and even a little baby Batman

Bet Tikvah Synagogue’s Joe Fajerman and David Forbes concocted their modern day version of the story of Purim with Rabbi David ‘the Rapper’ Hulbert giving a very colourful performance as Haman

South London Liberal Synagogue explored Purim in several ways: from the community’s children making gifts to a discussion about the difficulties posed by certain sections of the Megillah

May/June 2013

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s - Purim & Pesach 5773

Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich led the Passover service at South Bucks Jewish Community and welcomed special guest Reverend Ian Green, minister for Amersham Free Church

Pesach at Woodford Liberal Synagogue had a focus on bringing freedom to others, supporting the Enough Food IF and Swab4Mum campaigns – and registering 17 stem cell and bone marrow donors

Rabbi Aaron Goldstein led the Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue communal Seder, which included a special moment as the congregation’s youngest children sang the Ma Nishtana

For the second year in a row LJY-Netzer took a coach down to Norwood’s Ravenswood Village, a residential centre for adults with learning difficulties, and ran an informal and creative Seder

Staff from the Holocaust Centre in Newark were among 100 guests at Nottingham Progressive Jewish Community’s communal Seder, led by Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich with music by David Bogod

The children of Kingston Liberal Synagogue held a Purim party with all the elements needed to celebrate the festival – games, fancy dress, party food and lots of loud resounding booing of Haman

Liberal Judaism’s newest community in Weymouth enjoyed a first night Seder, led by Rabbi Pete Tobias. Morris Mendoza, the driving force behind the community, hosted the event at his guest house

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Comment

May/June 2013

Twenty years of Community Connections Ann Etkind on the growth of Progressive Judaism in the Former Soviet Union THIS YEAR marks two decades since the rebirth of Jewish life in the Former Soviet Union (FSU). It is also 20 years since the creation of Community Connections, previously known as Exodus 2000, which was originally formed to encourage and assist those who wanted to learn more about Judaism – something that was forbidden by the authorities during Communist rule.

I’m pleased to say that the thriving Progressive Jewish communities we now see in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus have come so far since those early days.

Community Connections has played a role in this revival by setting up and maintaining a twinning program that encourages congregations in the UK to partner with new communities in these FSU countries, so that they are supported by fellow Jews as they rediscover their religious traditions.

The organisation recently marked its 20th anniversary with a celebration tea held at the Montagu Centre, the London headquarters of Liberal Judaism.

Members and friends, old and new, came together to look back at the beginnings of this work supporting newly emerging communities and to reflect on how things have changed and developed.

The Community Connections anniversary tea

Members of Finchley Progressive Synagogue visit the Progressive Centre in Minsk, Belarus

Rabbi David Soetendorp, a former chairman, spoke at the event – recalling “starting in a complete wilderness” when he first became involved. He went on to describe the joy he felt seeing Progressive Jewish communities grow and develop over the years. Student Rabbi Julia Grishenko from Ukraine, now studying at Leo Baeck college, told how she first became aware of Progressive Judaism in the FSU, and gave a perspective from the point of view of these communities today.

Community Connections now supports twinning links in 17 British Liberal and Reform communities. Members at the anniversary tea heard from two groups who had recently visited their twinned communities in Belarus and Ukraine.

Wika Dorosz introduced a DVD of Finchley Progressive Synagogue’s trip to Minsk and Mogilev, while Lynnette Sunderland from the North Western Reform Synagogue (Alyth) described how their link with Kerch in Ukraine has developed since it started 15 years ago.

We hope that more Liberal communities will want to join us in our work during 2013. Links are important to communities on the local, national and international level – and these partnerships help members of small and isolated communities feel part of the wider Jewish world.

Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism both support the work of Community Connections, which is also part of the European Union for Progressive Judaism and the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Rabbi Danny Rich, the chief executive of Liberal Judaism, explained how creating twinning links is important because we are each responsible for every other Jew and can also help our own communities by widening our horizons.

If you’d like to get involved please email exodus2000@eupj.org or visit our website at www.eupj.org/en/exodus-2000

Ann Etkind is Community Connections’ national coordinator

THIS FEBRUARY saw the second sleepout at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue to raise awareness for World Jewish Relief’s Operation Winter Survival campaign. Rabbi Aaron Goldstein rallied a group together, pictured left, to highlight the difficulties faced by those communities in poverty abroad who endure freezing temperatures in dilapidated homes.

The Operation Winter Survival campaign supports vulnerable people, in Eastern Europe and the Ukraine, in desperate need by providing food, fuel for heating, medicines, warm clothes and bedding, as well as home repairs.

Find out more at www.wjr.org.uk

News

May/June 2013

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Strong start for Sunday Seminars New appointment

By Cantor Gershon Silins

ON SUNDAY MARCH 10, I presented the first Liberal Judaism Outreach Team Sunday Seminar. The session, which we called Breaking the Sound Barrier, comprised three parts.

During the first part - entitled What Makes Jewish Music Jewish? - I discussed some of the elements that have contributed to the particular flavour and character of Jewish music over the ages, along with examples of music which reflect that changing picture. I demonstrated the chanting of Torah, Haftarah and the Scrolls, as well as examples of traditional prayer modes, or nusach. We listened to recorded performances by traditional cantors and Sephardic singers, as well as music by the late songwriter Debbie Friedman.

Our second session, Ring Around the Siddur, was an opportunity to go through some of the services in Siddur Lev Chadash and show the varieties of music available for different parts of our prayer services. Dean Staker and I presented this session, and many of the attendees contributed their own tunes. We heard new music from the Americas, as well as songs traditional to Liberal Judaism.

Ruth Colin and Graham Carpenter presented the third session, Getting Them to Sing It, and each of them had very practical suggestions on how to bring new music to our communities, as well as ideas about how different tunes would appeal to different ages and stages. Ruth showed us how a volunteer choir could help introduce music, and Graham taught us a song and discussed the way different kinds of music could target different age groups, particularly the young, in our communities.

The seminar was well attended, with Kingston Liberal Synagogue, Beit Klal Yisrael, South London Liberal Synagogue, North Herts Liberal Jewish Community, Eastbourne Progressive Jewish Congregation, West Central Liberal Synagogue, Woodford Liberal Synagogue, Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue and Southgate Progressive Synagogue

all represented. There was a lovely lunch and lots of music and laughter. I’d especially like to thank Liberal Judaism’s Yael Shotts for her great support.

The feedback afterwards was very positive. One attendee said: “I enjoyed myself. I liked the music and the speakers were excellent. I hope you will repeat this kind of event.” Another described the session as: “Wellorganised, congenial, comfortable, welcoming and with presenters who were well prepared. It was informative and engaging.” Suggestions for going forward included producing a document listing the music sources/resources for downloading sheet music, which we will now aim to provide in the future.

This event was part of a range of music initiatives that are in process at Liberal Judaism. We will soon have an online resource of recorded music for songs and prayers in Siddur Lev Chadash, with old and new music available for members of communities to listen to and learn. In the longer term, there will be more formal recordings and printed materials as well.

These projects will help us build our communities, as well as strengthening the larger community of Liberal Judaism throughout the country.

The Outreach Team Sunday Seminars are a great way to learn and share best practices and new ideas, and to get to know members of other Liberal communities. You can find out more information on forthcoming Sunday Seminars in the box below.

Liberal Judaism’s Sunday Seminars take place monthly at the Montagu Centre from 11am-4pm. They are free to all members of Liberal communities. We welcome a £5 donation towards the cost of a light lunch. Upcoming sessions are listed below. To book, contact Yael Shotts on y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org May 12 - Governance Explore the process of becoming a company limited by guarantee with advice from experts and leaders.

June 16 - Safeguarding In line with recent legislation, review model policy for protecting children and vulnerable adults.

July 14 - Getting the Word Out Gain practical advice on making sure people know about your community, from the traditional to the modern.

for Leo Baeck

LEO BAECK COLLEGE (LBC) has appointed its first head of vocational studies, a post which has been named in honour of the College’s founder, the late Rabbi Werner Van der Zyl. The part-time role will be filled by Rabbi Maurice Michaels, pictured above, a long term member of the College’s vocational faculty, as well as a highly experienced rabbi and former lay chair of both the Reform Movement and LBC. Rabbi Dr Charles H Middleburgh, director of Jewish studies at LBC, said: “Rabbi Michaels brings a range of skills and experience which we believe will be enormously helpful to our rabbinic students in their training and to the College as a whole.”

FPS enjoy a weekend away

Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk, Dean Staker and the members of FPS perform a fun sketch

MORE THAN 70 members of Finchley Progressive Synagogue (FPS) enjoyed a weekend away in Leicestershire, as part of the community’s 60th anniversary celebrations. Entitled STORIES, the event included songs, discussions and a sketch on the Jewish History of the World.

Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk said: “The event gathered families and members of all generations to celebrate FPS. It was a great weekend away and crystallised our community’s commitment to content, inclusion and action.”

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Outreach

May/June 2013

Outreach Team Bulletin Board IN FEBRUARY I attended the much anticipated Grow Tatzmiach training weekend, pictured below, which was jointly run by the Board of Deputies and Oxfam. The aim of the training was to equip the participants – who came from all spectrums of Jewish life and organisations – with the skills to create projects about food and justice for their communities. The working title for the Liberal Judaism project is currently ‘Just Loaves’ and it will be launched in the autumn.

AT THE invitation of Tara Dein, I turned up at Hillel House in Birmingham on a snowy evening to find a reasonably packed hall of students who wanted to hear some sensible views about the Israel-Palestine issue. After the event, a number stayed behind to talk to me about Liberal Jewish attitudes to scripture and revelation. The presence of Liberal rabbis on campus is vitally important, which is why we are looking forward to having a fulltime student chaplain next year.

I WAS very lucky to visit a packed and vibrant Woodford Liberal Synagogue in March and get involved in their Red Nose Day fundraiser appeal. There was a cake sale and multiple activities for the children to get involved with, from guessing the amount of sweets in a jar to pinning the red nose on the rabbi, pictured below. Combined with the baby blessing of Miles Rothstein and a quiz night, it was a very busy day which raised a lot of money for a great cause.

Rabbi Sandra

Rabbi Danny

Sam

A HIGHLIGHT for me in March was presenting a workshop on Jewish music at Herefordshire Jewish Community’s AGM. The members were very welcoming and contributed their ideas and experiences. During the workshop, I discussed and demonstrated the wide variety of musical elements that make up the distinctive character of Jewish music - both worldwide and at home. I sang some examples and played recorded music from a variety of sources.

Cantor Gershon

AFTER an enjoyable Friday night with the students of the Oxford University J-Soc, I was delighted to be able to spend Saturday with the Liberal group of the Oxford Jewish Community.

A Shabbat morning service, filled with lively debate, was followed by a delicious bring and share lunch at the home of one of the members. And then the best bit, a study session on my pet passion – Beauty and Sexuality in the Book of Esther - which brought new ideas and perspectives.

WE ARE currently putting the finishing touches to our next Outreach Catalogue, which will be arriving in synagogues very soon. The Sunday Seminars are proving very successful, so do let us know which topics you would like to see covered in the future. We are also all looking forward to the Day of Celebration, at which we will launch the Resource Bank – a one-stop ‘shop’ for all your religious, educational, musical, publicity, governance and administrative needs!

Rabbi Anna

Outreach Team

Youth

May/June 2013

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

Hands up if you enjoyed Aviv!

LJY-NETZER’S spring camp, Machaneh Aviv, saw more than 100 young people join together at Cottesmore School in West Sussex for six days of fun, games, informal education and creative prayer.

Aviv was a resounding success, with a record 81 participants, 23 dedicated volunteer youth leaders, a team of fulltime movement workers and an on-site medic. There was a distinctive and varied programme, including sessions in the swimming pool, art room and adventure playground.

Camp began on a chilly Tuesday with ‘getting to know you’ games and dinner, followed by a whole camp extravaganza that took participants on a tour of the Progressive Jewish world – stopping off in Spain, Brazil, Russia and America, before arriving back in time for bed.

Wednesday and Thursday saw an abundance of inspired and inspiring sessions. The youngest participants, Ananim (school years 3-4), dressed up as Egyptians, covered the site in posters and banners, explored the role of young people in justice and discussed what they liked and disliked about being children.

Plagim (school years 5-6) debated weighty issues ranging from crisp flavours to the revelation on Mount Sinai,

made their own tie dye T-shirts and then donned robes, broomsticks and pointy hats as they roamed the site, performing magic worthy of Hogwarts.

Nechalim (school years 7-8) wrote ‘gangsta poetry’, played group bonding games and debated what LJY-Netzer means to them. The oldest members, Yamim (school years 9-10), had fun with zombies, discussed Zionism over ‘elevenses’ and then explored peaceful solutions to the Middle East conflict through the medium of chair formations.

Friday arrived with a buzz as Machaneh Aviv got ready for Shabbat. Rabbi Danny Rich, chief executive of Liberal Judaism, visited camp and tweeted: “An inspiring afternoon on the biggest Aviv ever!

Education, sport, music and art were superb. A big thank you to all involved.”

Participants then took a break from puppet-making, benchball-playing and guitar-strumming to prepare the site and themselves ahead of a scrumptious Friday night dinner, spiritual Kabbalat Shabbat service and sing-along oneg.

Saturday saw even more camp activity, with all four age groups joining together for a morning service before an afternoon of social action. After making cards, gifts and posters for LJY-Netzer’s social action

partner – Norwood’s Ravenswood Village – there was still time for drama games, human flowcharts and sessions such as Putting the US in JUSTICE and What Can I Take Home From LJY? Saturday ended with a spectacular last night show and disco featuring a plethora of talented young people singing, dancing, making origami swans and having a good time.

Sunday morning arrived too soon and many tears were shed during an emotional closing ceremony. There was a silver lining though, as the movement workers reminded everyone that Machaneh Kadimah, LJY-Netzer’s flagship summer camp, will be upon us very soon.

• MACHANEH KADIMAH will be back with a bang at Sandroyd School in Wiltshire. You can join us from August 10-23 for the best two weeks of your summer in the English countryside. We are expecting record numbers again so secure your place by booking online at www.ljy-netzer.org/applyonline LJY-Netzer does not want any child to miss out on Machaneh Kadimah. For information about bursaries and other support in strictest confidence, please contact r.cooke@liberaljudaism.org

Contact the LJY-Netzer team: Robin Cooke (r.cooke@liberaljudaism.org), Sam Cohen (s.cohen@liberaljudaism.org) and Anna Posner (a.posner@liberaljudaism.org); telephone 020 7631 0584 or email office@ljynetzer.org

Page 12 LJ Today

May/June 2013

Rabbi Pete’s quick quiz

Liberal Judaism congregations

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 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, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, Sharon Goldstein, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, Jeremy Jessel, Willie Kessler, David Lipman, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker, Harold Sanderson, Joan Shopper, Beverley Taylor and Clive Winston Chairs of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Aaron Goldstein and Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu Chief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Outreach Director Rabbi Anna Gerrard University Chaplain Rabbi Ariel Friedlander Education Rabbi Sandra Kviat Music Cantor Gershon Silins Interfaith Rabbi Mark Solomon Operations Director Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer PR Alexandra Ben-Yehuda Student Coordinator Benji Stanley Community Youth Coordinator Sam Grant LJY-Netzer Sam Cohen, Robin Cooke and Anna Posner

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

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

Shavuot is traditionally known as z’man matan torateinu, the season of the giving of our Torah. Below are characters from the Torah in groups of four. Can you arrange each group into the order in which their names appear in the Torah?

1) Moses, Sarah, Aaron, Balaam 2) Joshua, Abel, Cain, Bezalel 3) Miriam, Japeth, Zipporah, Joseph 4) Potiphar, Korach, Isaac, Zillah 5) Rachel, Dinah, Rebekah, Leah, 6) Og, Nadab, Hoglah, Ithamar

Pete Tobias is rabbi at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree

Sidney’s bridge magic

Associated congregations

Beit Ha’Chidush Postbus 14613, 1001 LC Amsterdam, Netherlands, 00 31 23 524 7204; bhc.informatie@gmail.com; www.beithachidush.nl Oxford Liberal Jewish Services: 01865 515584 or 01865 765197; www.ojc-online.org

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

South is in the contract of 6 Spades. West wins with the Ace of Hearts and then tries the Queen of Hearts, which you ruff low. You have no further losers in Clubs, Diamonds or Hearts – so what’s the problem? It must be in trumps. How do you play to avoid a possible trump loser without knowing your opponents’ hands?

May 1 (Wednesday) - May 5 (Sunday) World Union for Progressive Judaism Connections 2013 Convention, Jerusalem, Israel.

Sidney Barrat is bridge teacher at Woodford Liberal Synagogue. Send your feedback to sidney.barrat@ntlworld.com

Developing communities

The Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (based in Ipswich) 01473 250797; sjc@liberaljudaism.org

May 5 (Sunday) - May 13 (Monday) Liberal Jewish Synagogue trip to Israel 2013.

May 12 (Sunday) Sunday Seminar: Governance at the Montagu Centre, W1T 4BE, 11am-4pm.

June 2 (Sunday) Liberal Judaism Quiz at Woodford Liberal Synagogue, E18 1AR, 3pm.

June 9 (Sunday) Liberal Judaism’s Day of Celebration 2013 at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue. See page 3 for more information.

August 10 (Saturday) - August 23 (Friday) LJY-Netzer Machaneh Kadimah (Summer Camp) at Sandroyd School, Wiltshire. See page 11 for more information.

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

Registered charity number 236590.

Quiz answers: 1) Sarah, Moses, Aaron, Balaam 2) Cain, Abel, Joshua, Bezalel 3) Japeth, Joseph, Zipporah, Miriam 4) Zillah, Isaac, Potiphar, Korach 5) Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Din 6) Ithamar, Nadab, Og, Hoglah

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

The Liberal Synagogue Elstree Elstree High Street, Elstree, Herts WD6 3BY; 020 8953 8889; tlse@liberaljudaism.org; www.tlse.org.uk Lincolnshire Jewish Community 01427 628958; ljc@liberaljudaism.org Manchester Liberal Jewish Community 08432 084441; mljc@liberaljudaism.org; www.mljc.org.uk North Herts Liberal Jewish Community (based in Stevenage) 01438 300 222; northhertsljc@gmail.com; www.northhertsljc.org North London Progressive Jewish Community (Kehillah North London) 020 7403 3779; nlpjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.nlpjc.org.uk Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue Oaklands Gate, Northwood, Middx HA6 3AA; 01923 822592, npls@liberaljudaism.org; www.npls.org.uk Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation Lloyd Street, Sherwood NG5 4BP; 0115 9624761; npjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.npjc.org.uk Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community Enquiries: 020 7631 9822 The Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia www.pjcea.org.uk; enquiries@pjcea.org.uk Reading Liberal Jewish Community 0118 942 8022; rljc@liberaljudaism.org; www.rljc.org Shenfield, Brentwood & Districts Synagogue (Tikvah Chadasha) 01277 888610; tikvahchadasha@gmail.com South Bucks Jewish Community PO Box 826, Amersham, HP6 9GA; 0845 644 2370; sbjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.sbjc.org.uk South London Liberal Synagogue PO Box 14475, London SW16 1ZW; 020 8769 4787; slls@liberaljudaism.org; www.southlondon.org Southgate Progressive Synagogue 75 Chase Road, London N14 4QY; 020 8886 0977; sps@liberaljudaism.org; www.sps.uk.com Wessex Liberal Jewish Community info@wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk; 01202 757590 West Central Liberal Synagogue 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE; 020 7636 7627; wcls@liberaljudaism.org; www.wcls.org.uk Woodford Liberal Synagogue Marlborough Road, London, E18 1AR; 020 8989 7619; info@ woodfordliberal.org.uk; www.woodfordliberal.org.uk

Bridge answer: This is quite a simple problem – but well worth considering.

As in last month’s problem, you make a ‘safety play’, which guarantees the contract irrespective of the positions of the outstanding cards. The only suit which might be problematic is Spades, and only if one of the opponents holds all four outstanding ones. If they are distributed 2-2 or 3-1, then just playing the top three without thought draws them all.

So it is the 4-0 distribution that might get you down – and will, if you start off with the Ace, as the Jack with West will be bound to make. So you simply start off with the King (or Queen). If both opponents follow, the remaining two can be easily drawn. If East ‘shows out’ (leaving West with three to the Jack), lead to dummy and finesse the Jack. If West ‘shows out’ (leaving East with three to the Jack), lead to the Ace and finesse the Jack on the way back. Just a moment’s thought and such a simple play!

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