LJ Today November/December 2013

November/December 2013

VOL. XL No. 6

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

www.liberaljudaism.org

ljtoday

Investing in our future Pathway

Liberal Judaism’s young adult and student chaplain Rabbi Leah Jordan with her parents

L

IBERAL JUDAISM has strengthened its ties on campus and outreach to young adults with the creation of a brand new role. Rabbi Leah Jordan has joined the team at the Montagu Centre, Liberal Judaism’s head office, as young adult and student chaplain. Her responsibilities include working with Jewish students at universities around the UK and Ireland and running Routes, the programme of exciting events for those in their 20s and 30s.

Leah, who was born in Kansas, USA, and now lives in London, was ordained as a rabbi in July. She trained at Hebrew Union College in the US and Leo Baeck College in the UK, taking on a number of youth community roles and student rabbi positions during that time.

Leah told lj today: “I’m so excited to be starting this job. I have always had a passion for working with students and young adults – and that passion has only grown and developed throughout my years of rabbinic training. I am looking forward to journeying around the country, promoting a flourishing and dynamic Liberal Judaism on campus.

“I am already very passionate about Routes, having attended half a dozen events as a participant. I love the welcoming vibe and look forward to continuing the process of growing Routes sideways and down, meaning that more events will be led by participants themselves and we can expand the amount of things going on.”

Leah will build on the strong foundations laid by Rabbis Ariel Friedlander and Benji Stanley, who had previously worked with students and young adults on a part-time basis.

Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich said: “This role was created in response to feedback we received from parents, who wanted to make sure we were supporting and giving confidence to all Liberal Jews on campus. The significance of Leah’s appointment cannot be underestimated. All the other Jewish university chaplains are orthodox and male, so the difference is obvious in so many ways. We hope that all interested parties will assist Leah by passing details of their students to her.”

LJY-Netzer movement worker Tom Francies added: “Leah’s appointment gives us the opportunity to engage with Liberal Jewish students and young adults more than ever before. Working together we will be able to provide a more meaningful Jewish experience for those at university and beyond.”

If you wish to contact Leah, please email l.jordan@liberaljudaism.org

to success

By Rabbi Sandra Kviat

Educators enjoy the first Learning Network

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 29 saw the launch of the LJ Learning Network. Educators from more than 10 communities gathered at the Montagu Centre to meet, learn and share ideas on how to use our new ‘Jewish Pathways’ curriculum.

There was a great buzz throughout the day, with sessions on getting the most from the curriculum, alternative ways to be creative and teaching the ultimate lesson. There was also a head teachers’ forum and time for individual communities to sit down and begin planning the year ahead.

An unexpected early outcome of the Learning Network was the decision to ‘freecycle’ unwanted books and materials between communities, resulting in the first resource-match between two congregations. Any unwanted educational or creative materials can be posted on the ‘Liberal Judaism Learning Network’ Facebook group and shared with others.

The next seminar will be held on December 15 at the Montagu Centre. If you have any questions or wish to join the LJ Learning Network, contact me on s.kviat@liberaljudaism.org

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Chairman’s Actions

November/December 2013

Renewing our radical tradition Lucian J Hudson on the major challenge facing Liberal Judaism and how we should respond RABBI DR DAVID J GOLDBERG’S sermon delivered at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue on Kol Nidre reminded us that Yom Kippur is about honesty. True to his word, David was then brutally honest as he considered the question of Liberal Judaism’s role in the Jewish future.

I took David’s main challenge to be that Liberal Judaism needs to rediscover its radicalism and differentiate itself more clearly. Otherwise it risks irrelevance and decline. As he told a packed LJS sanctuary: “We can rattle off where Liberal Judaism is now similar to the rest of Anglo-Jewry; but it is far harder to pinpoint where we are different and why, therefore, we should remain as an indispensable separate organisation rather than merge into one big Progressive movement.”

He continued: “It was Goethe who wrote that those who have a ‘why’ to survive will always find the ‘how’. Liberal Judaism needs to rediscover its ‘why’, one that is fresh, ethically universal and, above all, theologically credible in today’s world.”

David ended his sermon by throwing the gauntlet down to “begin the work of reconstruction urgently”.

The task for our rabbis and leaders is to agree a vision that not only speaks to our current membership, but prospective supporters too Our movement is currently working on a Strategic Plan, under the admirable leadership of Pam Fox and Gillian Merron. It will articulate what makes Liberal Judaism distinctive and be clearer about our priorities so that we can have more impact. This is an organisation that finds taking big decisions difficult but, when it does, it advances with renewed defiance and determination. No other movement can quite compete with us.

If I and others are to pick up Goldberg’s gauntlet, we need to work on solutions, not just a diagnosis of our ills.

Our rabbis are invariably insightful, fluent and scholarly in interpreting afresh the Torah and other texts. But sermons alone do not constitute a strategy.

The task for rabbis and lay leaders is to agree a vision that not only speaks to our current membership, but prospective supporters too. We are missing the opportunity of bringing on thousands of new members because we can be too introspective and fearful of change.

We need to shift the centre of gravity from tradition, and how best to refresh it, to modernity itself, and how Liberal Judaism is a great response to it.

We are not a single issue movement, whether it is same-sex marriage, climate change, legal aid, poverty, assisted dying, domestic violence, mental illness or anything else. But these issues are symptomatic, if not paradigmatic, of the crisis – and let us not shirk from using this word – that our society faces around deeper issues of identity, relationships, commitment, divided communities, living longer and custodianship of our planet.

Some challenges have been with us from time immemorial, but others are distinctly modern. Religion, whether it is fundamentalist or more sophisticated, will fail unless it recognises these challenges as new and complex, not lending themselves to easy solutions.

Liberal Judaism has never existed in isolation from the social, economic and political trends of the day. It is a spiritual and cultural response to an increasingly fragmenting society. We are a movement that brings people together in the face of social change, by remembering that change is best managed when we adapt to it, inwardly as well as outwardly, while staying true to our values and appreciating our common human destiny.

We need to reclaim Judaism, not just Liberal Judaism, as a movement that recognises that while our tradition is particular to a people, it is universal in its values and promise. Our Judaism must speak truth to power: in politics, at work, at home or, as David deftly showed, in our own communities.

Liberal Judaism can more than meet David’s challenge if rabbis and their communities make the most of the consultation on the Strategic Plan and participate in our 2014 Biennial Weekend.

The Biennial is aptly focused on our roots, and our response. I hope to see many of you there to continue this conversation.

Lucian J Hudson is chairman of Liberal Judaism. You can contact him by emailing l.hudson@liberaljudaism.org

Community news

RABBI HARRY JACOBI joined the congregation at Woodford Liberal Synagogue (WLS) for Simchat Torah.

Harry bestowed the honour of Kallat Torah (bride of the Torah) on longtime WLS member Alice Alexander.

MEMBERS aged from one to 80+ came together to build the sukkah at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS). The sukkah then hosted a special sleepover as nine BPS teenagers, along with cheder headteacher Joel Drapkin and Rabbi Margaret Jacobi, raised money for St Basil’s, a charity that helps prevent youth homelessness.

THE LIBERAL JEWISH SYNAGOGUE is observing the centenary of its cemetery in Willesden, London, with a special guided tour and exhibition.

When the cemetery was established in 1913 it made a major break with orthodox tradition by becoming the first Jewish cemetery in England where provision was made for both burials and cremations. Nowadays, in another break with orthodox practice, non-Jews can be buried along with their Jewish partners.

Youth

November/December 2013

Empowering, impassioning and educating young people

By Sam Grant

Sam Grant surrounded by young Liberal Jews

THIS TIME last year, I wrote an article for lj today detailing the importance of the role I had just taken on as Liberal Judaism’s inaugural communities youth coordinator and outlining what I hoped to achieve in the job. So now, 12 months later, it’s time to look at what has been accomplished and where the role is heading as we move into 2014.

During the last year, I carried out more than 100 separate visits to 20 different Liberal communities providing leadership training for teenagers, running youth clubs, organising trips and leading cheder sessions. It has been great getting to see all the work that happens in our communities and I have certainly learned as much as I have contributed. I have also been working hard at providing a better connection between our communities and Liberal Judaism’s superb youth movement, LJY-Netzer. The role is having a positive effect on LJY-Netzer with a record attendance for Machaneh Aviv (spring camp) and increased numbers on Machaneh Kadimah (summer camp).

LIBERAL JEWISH youth have been heavily involved in the formulation of the LJ Strategic Plan, writes Pam Fox. A questionnaire circulated via the LJY-Netzer network has had an enthusiastic response and there were successful sessions run at Kadimah, discussing what our young people want from Liberal Judaism and how they see the movement’s future. In addition, a large number have signed up to attend a follow-up focus group to be held in October. Rabbi Leah Jordan, Liberal Judaism’s new student and young adult chaplain, is also already turning her attention to how we can engage young people further in this process.

There have been two particular highlights for me during the last year. The first is that we’ve got a new scheme up and running, where every single Liberal Jew now receives a voucher for a future Israel Tour on the occasion of their barmitzvah or batmitzvah. This project not only recognises people completing an important stage in their Jewish lives, but also creates a link to every other young person in our movement going through the same process. Further, it starts them thinking about what can be another formative and unique event in their Jewish lives - LJY-Netzer’s Israel Tour.

My other standout moment was the inaugural LAFTAs (Liberal Academy of Film and Torah Awards), which premiered at the Day of Celebration in May. This short-film project will continue into the future and has the potential to re-ignite a connection between Liberal Jewish communities, regardless of geography.

There will also be a slightly different project focused on social justice for next year’s Biennial Weekend.

I wrote in my article a year ago that: “We all share a passion to make sure that our young people are being energised and having positive Jewish experiences, whether this be through cheder, youth clubs or LJY-Netzer events… educating and invigorating our youth is essential to a strong, passionate and ideological Liberal Judaism.” This year has only served to reinforce those opinions and demonstrate to me how important it is to empower, impassion and educate our young people.

If you would like to know more about my role, please call 020 7631 9825 or email me on samg@liberaljudaism.org The wider summer consultation on the Strategic Plan was very fruitful.

Focus groups were held in Birmingham, London and Brighton, a dedicated Facebook group set up, a questionnaire circulated to all LJ congregations and one-to-one interviews arranged with people who are less involved with their communities. The Strategic Plan has also been given a high profile in all Liberal Judaism communications.

It is still early days and consultation will continue over the next few months, but some common issues are beginning to emerge from the various discussions. These include empowering younger members, our relationship

LJ Today Page 3

LJY-Netzer is not just for summer

By Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk THIS SUMMER my two oldest children went off to LJY-Netzer’s Machaneh Kadimah. Waving your children off to camp is a bittersweet experience, but it helped me learn a very important lesson, which is that having your children going away from you can actually be some of the best parenting you can do. It’s a wellresearched fact many of our offspring’s inspirational experiences will be without us and it’s therefore better to help them into which experiences those might be.

I admire LJY-Netzer hugely. It is a dynamic and thoughtful youth movement that commits to ideas with integrity. This is my second year as a Kadimah parent and I was very impressed with how they took last year’s feedback and ran with it, to make this summer’s event better and stronger than before. I’m grateful as a parent, but proud as a Liberal rabbi that our youth movement is so self-reflective.

I hope LJY-Netzer continues to grow and improve and that all our Liberal congregations investigate what they offer to us and our children and integrate it into our community work.

It’s also important to note that LJYNetzer is not just for summer. The 2014 Biennial Weekend will, for the first time, have a parallel youth event running along with it. Our synagogues could be using the training and confidence LJYNetzer offers to guide and develop our religion school assistants and teachers.

My synagogue, Finchley Progressive, is fortunate to have Sam Grant working in our community, as well as offering support to many others.

It’s a cliché but so true that our future depends on our young people. with the Reform movement, how Liberal Judaism might be financed and organised in the future and how to increase our profile and membership.

There are widely differing views on each of these issues and it is clear that some tough decisions will need to be made in order to determine a way forward for Liberal Judaism.

Further progress reports will be given in future issues of lj today but if you, or your community, have not yet got involved then please do get in touch.

If you would like to know more about the process or would like to express your views, please contact me on pamfox@virginmedia.com

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Biennial

November/December 2013

‘There is a warmth that emanates from every angle’ Simon: It’s definitely a big coup to have Rabbi Jonah Pesner speak, along with entertainment from the superb comedienne Rachel Mars. I also know our youth members are looking forward to their own parallel Biennial, which will be run on site by LJY-Netzer.

Ed Herman and Simon Benscher in conversation about Liberal Judaism’s Biennial Weekend

LIBERAL JUDAISM’S Biennial Weekend 2014 will be taking place from May 9-11 in Reading. Below, Liberal Judaism vice chair Simon Benscher, a veteran of many Biennials, and communications officer Ed Herman, who has never been before, discuss the upcoming event: Simon: I’d like to start this conversation with a question to Ed. You have been involved with Liberal Judaism since you were a child. So why have you never been to a Biennial Weekend before?

Ed: You’re right, Simon, Liberal Judaism has played a big part in my life. I was heavily involved with LJY-Netzer, including being a movement worker. But I guess the Biennial never seemed as accessible as it does now and the subject matter didn’t quite appeal to me. Also, the cost was a barrier – especially when I was in my 20s. It was the price of a short holiday and I would think: “Can I afford to go along?” I was actually planning on attending in 2012 but I had already been invited to a wedding, so was unable to.

Simon: Well, the first piece of good news is that we’ve been able to reduce the cost. Part of the reason for the price is that delegates stay in a top class hotel.

For 2014, we’ve found a new venue which makes it more accessible cost-wise, without compromising on the comfort of the hotel or its facilities. I would also urge anyone who finds the cost prohibitive to contact their community or Liberal Judaism for assistance.

To answer your other reservation, I think everyone will enjoy the programme we have lined up – no matter what their age or level of involvement in Liberal Judaism. Through the fantastic leadership of Rabbi Charley Baginsky and the support of the organising committee – which we are both a part of – the Biennial is going to be truly inspirational and the subject matter will really grab people.

Ed: That is very true. I’m now in my mid-30s with a young family and part of the reason I became involved with the organising committee was to make sure the theme appealed to people like me, especially those who have never attended a Liberal Judaism conference before. Our theme for Biennial 2014 is Radical Roots, Relevant Responses / Relevant Roots, Radical Responses and that, for me, is what Liberal Judaism is all about. I love that idea of taking tradition and adapting it to the realities of modern life, without losing the key elements of that tradition.

I have a question back for Simon. As a Biennial regular, what is so special about the weekend that you keep coming back?

Simon: The simple answer for me is that the Biennial is the ultimate opportunity to meet like-minded Liberal Jews. As a Liberal Jew, I tend to spend a lot of my time explaining and even justifying what we do. So it’s nice to be in an environment where you don’t have to do that. It is also an amazing social experience to be among up to 300 people, who I instinctively feel so close to. There is a warmth that emanates from every angle.

Ed: I am very excited by the atmosphere Simon has just described. For me, it sounds like the togetherness I treasured at LJY-Netzer events. The other thing I am really thrilled about right now is that Rabbi Jonah Pesner, the senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), will be coming to speak to us about life at the helm of our American sister movement. He will be really thought-provoking and the things he has achieved for the URJ in America are really quite staggering, especially when it comes to social justice. At a point in time where Liberal Judaism is looking at its strategy, there is a lot to be gleaned from hearing about his experiences and how Progressive Judaism in America is both relevant and radical.

Ed: There are also a few smaller things we’re doing to make sure everyone has a great all-round experience. For example, the Sunday of the Biennial is also the last day of the Premier League season. So at 4pm, when the Biennial has finished and the matches are about to kick off, we’ll have TV screens set up for anyone who wants to stay on and watch the football.

Simon: The key for me is that every community is involved in the Biennial Weekend. It’s not just the attendees themselves, but their whole congregation who will benefit. The Biennial is a resource for the entire community and an opportunity for delegates to widen their field of vision and see what Liberal Judaism really does have to offer.

For anyone reading, I’d like to say that if this conversation hasn’t convinced you, then we’d love to provide for someone from Liberal Judaism to visit your congregation and do a presentation on the Biennial and its benefits. If you wish to arrange this, please contact Yael Shotts on y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org

ARE YOU READY for 48 hours of undiluted learning, prayer, food, laughter and schmoozing? Then book your place on Liberal Judaism’s Biennial Weekend 2014 today. The flagship event of our movement will take place from May 9-11 at Wokefield Park hotel in Reading.

Liberal Judaism is offering a reduced rate for those who book before Friday January 31 of £260 per adult, £75 for children aged 5-16 and £35 for under 5s. This includes two nights’ full board accommodation in the mansion house hotel – complete with spa, pool and golf course – and all programme materials. For those who can’t make the whole weekend, a day pass is £75 and includes meals, refreshments and materials.

There is the opportunity to pay in instalments and some financial assistance is available for those who would like to attend but have concerns about the cost.

Find out more and book your place by visiting www.liberaljudaism.org

News

November/December 2013

Resource Bank wins rave reviews THE NEW Liberal Judaism Resource Bank website launched this summer, offering communities an easy way to share resources. Split into three parts – leadership, learning and library – the site contains everything from template documents and song sheets to cheder curriculum and online training. The leadership of every community has now received a username and password for www.ljresourcebank.org and the feedback so far has been fantastic.

Norman Conroy, chair of Ealing Liberal Synagogue, said: “I believe the LJ Resource Bank will prove a very valuable resource to all Liberal Jews. I was pleased to see the Autumn Outreach Catalogue was in the learning section, detailing seminars that Liberal Judaism’s Outreach Team can come and run in our community. I also found the singing of various prayers and blessings in the library section very inspiring and this should be a great aid and encouragement to service leaders.

“I hope that all communities contribute to the Resource Bank, as there are still some parts that need to be developed and fleshed out.

“In the leadership section, I will be proposing that my community submit our constitution and premises letting contract, as these are areas where I feel we could learn from others.”

Michael Hart, chair of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, added: “I had seen the prototype of the site at the Day of Celebration and was keen to explore the initial content, which is now available online for all congregations. I found the site easy to navigate and can already see the potential benefits of this new facility.

“Among the resources I’ve looked at so far, there are downloadable clips of music from our prayer books, a complete religion school curriculum, a modular Jewish learning programme for adults and imaginative posters that can be personalised and ordered. There are still lots of sections under construction but the list of what is still to come shows the great potential of the LJ Resource Bank.

Those of us who take on responsibilities in congregations will welcome this important new initiative” For more details on the Resource Bank, please contact Abigail Jacobi on a.jacobi@liberaljudaism.org

LJ Today Page 5

100 years of lj today NEXT YEAR marks the centenary of lj today. This publication, which is sent to all members of Liberal Judaism, began life as the JRU Bulletin in 1914. It was established by Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck, the first rabbi of the Liberal Jewish movement (which was originally known as the Jewish Religious Union).

Mattuck founded the JRU Bulletin, which after 17 years became the Liberal Jewish Monthly, as a means for increasing the profile of our movement.

Mattuck’s biographer Pam Fox notes that: “The content of the JRU Bulletin was largely written by Mattuck himself. In every edition there was a lengthy article on a faith issue and several pages of commentary on topical events, both in Britain and abroad, all documented in scrupulous detail.”

We will be publishing extracts from these historic Liberal Jewish publications - alongside commentary from today’s Liberal rabbis and leaders - in issues of lj today throughout 2014.

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November/December 2013

LJY-Netzer Machaneh K

Each morning started with a wake-up sing-along, game or activity

Services were held outside, inside and even in the swimming pool

LJY Netzer’s flagship summer camp Machaneh Kadimah, held at Sandroyd School in August, saw more than 130 passionate Liberal Jews aged 8-15 and

A huge camp-wide paint fight was a definite highlight for everyone

There were day trips to the beach, aquarium, zoo and Stonehenge

November/December 2013

LJ Today Page 7

Kadimah 2013 in pictures

A record 53 nechalim (school years 7-8) attended this year’s camp

A game of laser quest saw each age group battle it out dorm v dorm

d a team of youth leaders and movement workers have the time of their lives, while learning about social action, Liberal Judaism, Israel and more

Every day ended with something fun - like this Great Gatsby disco

LJY-Netzer’s movement workers celebrate another great Kadimah

Page 8 LJ Today

Comment

November/December 2013

A new Chief Rabbi brings new hope

‘An enormous privilege’

of the Jewish community. There was Rabbi Dr Andrew talk of “strengthening bonds with other faith groups” but not specifically with Goldstein on Progressive or Masorti Jews. My memory the promising tells me he was more open in the spoken sermon, so maybe the United Synagogue signs at the removed these phrases. He did reveal installation of that his hero was Yisroel Salanter, the Ephraim Mirvis founder of the Mussar movement that stressed the importance of ethical behaviour. He also spoke passionately about tikkun olam, so we can only hope MY FIRST OUTING as the new president of Liberal Judaism was to the installation for a new agenda in the United Synagogue of Ephraim Mirvis as Chief Rabbi of which will bring us closer together. the United Hebrew Congregations of For me the greatest symbol of change the Commonwealth. I was that the service joined Liberal Judaism included six Bible chairman Lucian J readings in English by Hudson near the front senior pupils of Jewish of St John’s Wood day schools. Two were Synagogue - the read by boys and four Orthodox not the Liberal by girls, young women, one. We sat in row three, standing in front of the behind two rows of nonark of the leading United Jewish clergy. Our other Synagogue. Maybe representative, Rabbinic changes will come and a Conference chair Rabbi new emphasis on equality Charley Baginsky, did for women, ethics and have a front row seat… tikkun olam – three key but of course in the strands of Progressive women’s balcony.

Judaism – will be brought I found it an inspiring New Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis to the rest of Anglo-Jewry. service with three contrasting chazzanim • DID YOU WATCH the and the Shabbaton choir singing in a BBC series The Story of the Jews, devised variety of styles, all musically interesting. and presented by Simon Schama? The That said, the final Adon Olam, which was first programme featured West London Synagogue with Rabbi Lea Mühlstein set to a sort of West End musical medley, – now assistant rabbi at Northwood & was a bit bizarre. Prince Charles, in his Pinner Liberal Synagogue – chanting royal kippah, seemed to be enjoying the from the Torah. service though I noticed that the massed The second included part of a service ranks of ultra-Orthodox rabbis didn’t in Jews Court, the supposed synagogue seem to join in singing the National of the pre-Expulsion Jewish community Anthem, nor Hatikvah, but their thick in Lincoln. Prayers were led by Cantor beards made it difficult to be certain.

Gershon Silins, for it is our Liberal Jewish Rabbi Mirvis’ sermon was fascinating. community that holds services in this Firstly because he spoke for more than historic building. The episode ended 30 minutes without a single note, yet with Schama in the Liberal synagogue was still able to get in all the references in Rue Copernic in Paris, where Arnold and thanks needed for such an address.

Schoenberg reconverted to Judaism.

There were flashes of humour too, for During the series, we also saw Temple example when he remarked on how the world had changed since his predecessor Emanuel in New York, which Schama praised for its magnificence.

Jonathan Sacks was inducted 20 years It is intriguing that he should feature previously, for then “Arsenal were still largely Progressive synagogues in his winning trophies”. series – a reminder that we are a historic Reading the later published version of movement that has played, and continues his sermon, I could find no references to play, a significant role in the global to a definite intention of seeking to story of the Jewish people. work with the non-Orthodox sections

OBJECTIVELY SPEAKING, it seems like an odd and slightly cheeky thing to do – to travel to an unfamiliar part of the country, enter a community you have never met before and then lead their High Holy Days services. But each year this is what student rabbis go and do – and this year I was paired with Manchester Liberal Jewish Community.

It was an interesting experience writing sermons for people I didn’t really know, so I talked about the things that were important to me and hoped they would chime. Reading from a strange Torah scroll is always slightly nerve-wracking too. But in the end all went well.

The congregation in Manchester were brilliant – musical, focused, engaged and willing to participate. I had led individual services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur before but running the whole thing, particularly on Yom Kippur, was a very different experience. The days have an energy of their own which, in a sense, I felt I just had to harness. It was an enormous privilege to be entrusted with leading services at such an important time and I am already looking forward to next year.

By Student Rabbi Naomi Goldman

Finchley at 60

By Lionel Lassman SIXTY ‘glorious years’ of Finchley Progressive Synagogue were celebrated in style throughout 2013. We trawled the archive and set up an exhibition, where wedding photographs of the founder members jostled with likenesses of their progeny. We saw people travel from all over the UK to pay homage at our Founders’ Tea, marvelling at what those who set up our community and their successors achieved. There was also a three tenors concert, Grandparents’ Day and weekend away at Hothorpe Hall, plus we’ve still got our celebratory dinner at the Royal Academy to look forward to.

Throughout all these events we celebrated our special building, a succession of much-loved rabbis, an education fabric which reaches all corners of the congregation, a reputation for inclusivity, services that are second to none and the respect and regard of the wider local community. What a heritage, what a memorial and what a future.

News

November/December 2013

Happy birthday Rosita

Rosita Rosenberg celebrates her 80th with TLSE’s Rabbi Pete Tobias. Picture by John Bernard

ONE OF THE leading lights of Liberal Judaism celebrated her 80th birthday in September with a special celebratory Shabbat at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree (TLSE). Rosita Rosenberg is a former director of the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues (ULPS) – the previous name for Liberal Judaism – and has given a lifetime of service to our movement. Senior Liberal Jewish figures queued up to praise Rosita and you can read their tributes below: I first met Rosita Rosenberg more than 50 years ago in the one office ULPS had in the old Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) building. She and the late Greta Hyman were the only paid workers. When ULPS moved to the old Montagu Centre, Greta and Rosita had separate offices but kept their doors open and shouted instructions at each other and the ULPS director at that time, Rabbi Sidney Brichto.

They made a superb team that oversaw the greatest period of growth the ULPS was to enjoy. Sidney came up with the ideas and was the public face; Rosita did all the work. She would also regularly remind the rabbis of what they had to do and, with great tact, what they couldn’t do. She knew everybody in the movement and the peculiarities of every congregation. She was the person you always went to with a query or problem.

Rosita co-authored the definitive history of our movement, but failed to make clear in the book that Rosita Rosenberg was, for decades, the heart of Liberal Judaism – the force that made it tick and the energy that made it thrive.

Liberal Judaism president Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein

I first met – or rather heard – Rosita when I came to the LJS as student rabbi in 1968. She and Greta were incredibly, volubly noisy together. They were both highly intelligent professionals and it is sobering to think that 45 years ago, even in Liberal Judaism, their talents could aspire no higher than the title of joint organising secretary.

Eventually, in 1989, Rosita became director of the ULPS and I grew to admire her abilities even more. During her eight years in the role, Rosita won admiration both within the ULPS family and wider Anglo-Jewry for her tact, diplomacy, energy and efficiency.

Rabbi Dr David J Goldberg Rosita has made an outstanding contribution to Liberal Judaism and, through her commitment, sharp intelligence and enormous personal warmth, she continues to inspire.

Liberal Judaism chairman Lucian J Hudson BET TIKVAH SYNAGOGUE will be holding a special Shabbat service on November 14 to honour life president Joe Swinburne on his 90th birthday.

Rabbi David Hubert said: “Joe founded Bet Tikvah over 32 years ago, as an offshoot from the North London Progressive Synagogue in Stamford Hill. He had already played a leading role at North London for many years and made an inestimable contribution to Liberal Judaism.

Everybody who has known Joe is most welcome to join us for this service, which he will hopefully lead.”

LJ Today Page 9

The story of an exceptional life THE FIRST EVER biography of Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck (1883–1954), Britain’s first Liberal rabbi, has now gone to the publisher, Vallentine Mitchell. It will be released in the UK and US next April.

The book, which has been written by Pam Fox with contributions from Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich, is full of interest.

The story of Mattuck’s life is an exceptional one. He was a man of great contrasts: his insular childhood in an Eastern European shtetl compared to the glittering dinners and other highclass events that were a regular feature of his adult life; his high public profile compared to the closely guarded private time with his beloved family and scholarly pursuits; the very traditional Orthodox Judaism in which he was steeped as a young man compared to the radical form of Progressive Judaism he adopted in America and imported to Britain.

Mattuck’s career was also punctuated by controversies and stormy episodes.

Mystery and unanswered questions still surround some of his opinions and activities.

The biography is divided into two parts. The first and larger section is a detailed chronological description of Mattuck’s personal and professional life.

The second and shorter part of the book provides an assessment of his life and work. It analyses the different phases of his career, the type of man he was, his faith, and concludes with an exploration of his place in history and his legacy.

Meticulously researched over a two year period, the biography is brought alive with extracts from Mattuck’s sermons and other writings. The sermons, which have received little attention in the past, have been read avidly by both Pam and Danny and have now been catalogued to make them accessible for future readers.

Another major source of information for the biography are the letters that Mattuck wrote to his school friend, Archie Hillman, over a 10 year period. As a result of her work on the Mattuck book, Pam has been awarded a prestigious fellowship by the American Jewish Archives at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, to carry out further research on the ‘Letters to Archie’.

Over the next six months, Pam and Danny will be visiting Liberal Jewish communities to talk about Mattuck and their book. Full details of presentations and other promotional events will be given in future editions of lj today.

Page 10 LJ Today

Outreach

November/December 2013

Outreach Team Bulletin Board PAT AND GEOFF RICE are a retired couple who live in Canvey Island.

They have just converted to Liberal Judaism together, with the support of their entire family. They were taught by local teachers and I was privileged to supervise their conversion and officiate at their admission ceremony.

The Rices sought a religion with ethical values at its core and practices compatible with modern living and are now members of Tikvah Chadasha.

I WAS lucky enough to take part in a very hectic Sukkah building morning at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree (TLSE), which saw fruit and greenery flying everywhere, pictured below. I also sat and contributed in a meeting of parents, who were sharing their views on what they want their children to get out of cheder. It was great to hear the passion and desire they had for their kids to learn Liberal Jewish values and create positive memories.

YOU can’t keep all of the people happy all of the time – and that is certainly true of Jews! So South London Liberal Synagogue decided to try out an innovative idea that is popular in some of the large American communities – the Synaplex, offering a choice of ways to celebrate Shabbat.

Rabbi Ariel Friedlander led a study service, Rabbi Janet Burden led a chanting service and I led a movement service. It was truly invigorating.

Rabbi Danny d.rich@liberaljudaism.org

Sam s.grant@ liberaljudaism.org

Rabbi Anna a.gerrard@liberaljudaism.org

I BEGAN my third year working with the Lincolnshire Jewish Community by taking part in a Shabbat service over Sukkot, featuring special prayers, songs and readings. As always on Shabbat morning, the service was held in the medieval Jews Court building, dating from the 12th Century and thus combining an ancient synagogue with a Liberal Jewish community which is only two decades old.

Cantor Gershon g.silins@liberaljudaism.org

A HIGHLIGHT of my first month working for Liberal Judaism was leading the Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia for the High Holy Days. We celebrated the New Year with apples and honey, before metaphorically tossing our sins away in the River Wensum, the river that flows through Norwich. Finally, we observed the entire Day of Atonement together: fasting and studying Torah before tucking into bagels and soup.

DURING the weekend of Sukkot, I went camping with Crouch End Chavurah. Saturday morning was spent hiking and gathering greenery.

Back at camp we made bread and began assembling the sukkah, pictured above. That’s when we discovered that, by pure coincidence, members of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue had pitched up next to us.

We promptly joined up for some lulavshaking and a sunset Havdalah.

Rabbi Leah l.jordan@ liberaljudaism.org

Rabbi Sandra s.kviat@liberaljudaism.org

Youth

November/December 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

A very special summer Tom Francies on four inspiring Netzer experiences

LJY-Netzer’s 16 year-olds made lifelong friends and experienced all Israel has to offer

THE LJY-NETZER summer started off in style. As you will have read in the last issue of lj today, our trips to Morocco and Israel were a great success.

Twenty-one of our bogrim (18-25 yearolds) joined Muslim youth from Salaam Shalom – a Bristol-based interfaith social media trust – for the Morocco trip, taking in both Jewish and Muslim sites in Marrakesh and Fez. After eight days of focusing on similarities and not differences, the two groups bonded as one. More than 30 teenagers took part in Israel Tour, talking Zionism, Liberal Judaism, conflict and coexistence in an unforgettable month.

LJY-Netzer’s galim bet (17 yearolds) were lucky enough to spend their summer on Kayitz Netzer, a two week Europe tour discovering Jewish history in the diaspora. Exploring London, Prague, Budapest and Berlin, they investigated their heritage and uncovered how the past has affected us as modern Jews.

When they weren’t delving into themes of identity, belonging and freedom, the group rode pedal boats on the Vltava in Prague, bathed in the famous Turkish Baths in Budapest, hung out in Berlin’s coolest public squares and revelled in the independence of spending free time in Europe’s most exciting cities.

Machaneh Kadimah, held at Sandroyd School, was full of learning and laser tag, praying and partying. As shown in the pictures in the centre spread of this issue, everyone enjoyed precious time away from their parents and it truly was a summer camp to go down in history.

All in all, this summer was one to remember for everyone in LJY-Netzer and while we are sad that it is over, we’re also excited for what the next year is going to bring.

Tom Francies is a movement worker for LJY-Netzer

A fun-filled few months ahead AS SUMMER turns to autumn and then winter, don’t let your LJYNetzer spirits drop – as we have some fantastic events coming up.

First up is APOW (Ananim and Plagim October Weekend) for school years 3-6 and NOW (Nechalim October Weekend) for school years 7-8. Taking place at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS), these events run from October 25-27 and will be packed with fun, games, creative services and informal education. YESSS (Yamim Extra Special Social Saturday) for school years 9-10 will join us at the LJS, before heading out for an afternoon of bowling.

We are pleased to introduce our new Hadracha Course, running from November 1-3, where chanichim (participants) will transform before our very eyes into madrichim (leaders). This seminar is available to schools years 11-13, so sign up and find out and what it’s all about.

From December 6-8 we have Kinus, where nechalim and yamim get their chance to influence the whole of our youth movement by bringing motions, debating and then voting on all the things they are passionate about in LJY-Netzer.

All motions passed at Kinus are then brought to Veidah, our main decision making body. Everyone from galim aleph (school year 11) to our oldest bogrim are welcome at Veidah, which takes place from January 2-5, to discuss the direction that LJY-Netzer should be heading.

What a fun-filled few months to look forward to. Please contact the LJY-Netzer team, using the details below, for more information.

Visiting a shul in Fez on the Morocco trip

Contact the LJY-Netzer team: Graham Carpenter (g.carpenter@liberaljudaism.org), Tom Francies (t.francies@ liberaljudaism.org) and Bethany Stone (b.stone@liberaljudaism.org); office telephone 020 7631 0584

Page 12 LJ Today

November/December 2013

Liberal Judaism congregations Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue T: 01234 218 387 E: bedsps@liberaljudaism.org W: bedfordshire-ps.org.uk

Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community T: 0131 777 8024 E: info@eljc.org W: eljc.org

Beit Klal Yisrael (Notting Hill) E: bkymailing@gmail.com W: bky.org.uk

Finchley Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8446 4063 E: fps@liberaljudaism.org W: fps.org

Bet Tikvah Synagogue (Barkingside) T: 020 8554 9682 E: bttkv@liberaljudaism.org W: bettikvah.blogspot.co.uk Birmingham Progressive Synagogue T: 0121 634 3888 E: bps@liberaljudaism.org W: bpsjudaism.com Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue T: 01273 737 223 E: bhps@liberaljudaism.org W: brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation E: bwpjc@bwpjc.org W: bwpjc.org Crouch End Chavurah E: info@crouchendchavurah.co.uk W: crouchendchavurah.co.uk Crawley Jewish Community T: 01293 534 294 Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation E: djpc@liberaljudaism.org W: djpcireland.com

Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community T: 01242 609 311 E: shalom@gljc.org.uk W: gljc.org.uk Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8864 5323 E: hwps@liberaljudaism.org W: hwps.org Herefordshire Jewish Community T: 01594 530 721 E: hjc@liberaljudaism.org W: herefordshirejc.org Kehillah North London T: 020 7403 3779 E: knl@liberaljudaism.org W: nlpjc.org.uk Kent Liberal Jewish Community T: 07952 242432 E: kljc@liberaljudaism.org W: tinyurl.com/kentljc Kingston Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8398 7400 E: kls@liberaljudaism.org W: klsonline.org

Ealing Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8997 0528 E: els@liberaljudaism.org W: ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk

Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation T: 0116 271 5584 E: lpjc@liberaljudaism.org W: lpjc.org.uk

Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community T: 01323 725 650 E: eljc@liberaljudaism.org W: eljc.org.uk

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (St John’s Wood) T: 020 7286 5181 E: ljs@liberaljudaism.org W: ljs.org

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 Judaism of the past while giving them contemporary force.

lj today is edited by Simon Rothstein Send your news to ljtoday@liberaljudaism.org Printed by Precision Printing. www.precisionprinting.co.uk

The Liberal Synagogue Elstree T: 020 8953 8889 E: tlse@liberaljudaism.org W: tlse.org.uk

South Bucks Jewish Community T: 0845 644 2370 E: sbjc@liberaljudaism.org W: sbjc.org.uk

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

South London Liberal Synagogue (Streatham) T: 020 8769 4787 E: slls@liberaljudaism.org W: southlondon.org

Manchester Liberal Jewish Community T: 08432 084 441 E: mljc@liberaljudaism.org W: mljc.org.uk North Herts Liberal Jewish Community (Stevenage) T: 01438 300 222 E: northhertsljc@gmail.com W: northhertsljc.org Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue T: 01923 822 592 E: npls@liberaljudaism.org W: npls.org.uk Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation T: 0115 962 4761 E: npjc@liberaljudaism.org W: npjc.org.uk Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community T: 020 7631 9822 E: pljc@liberaljudaism.org W: pljc.org.uk The Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia E: enquiries@pjcea.org.uk W: pjcea.org.uk Reading Liberal Jewish Community T: 0118 942 8022 E: rljc@liberaljudaism.org Shenfield & Brentwood Synagogue T: 01277 888 610 E: tikvahchadasha@gmail.com W: roshtikvah.com

Southgate Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8886 0977 E: sps@liberaljudaism.org W: sps.uk.com Wessex Liberal Jewish Community (Bournemouth) T: 01202 757 084 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 Associated congregations Beit Ha’Chidush (Amsterdam) T: 00 31 23 524 7204 E: bhc.informatie@gmail.com W: beithachidush.nl Oxford Jewish Congregation T: 01865 514 356 W: ojc-online.org Developing communities The Liberal Jewish Community of Weymouth, Portland and West Dorset E: wpwd@liberaljudaism.org Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (Ipswich) T:01473 250 797 E: sjc@liberaljudaism.org

President Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein Chairman Lucian J Hudson Vice Chairs Simon Benscher and Jackie Richards Finance David Pelham Israel and the Diaspora Tamara Schmidt Communications Ed Herman Social Justice Amelia Viney National Officers Dr Howard Cohen, Rosie Comb, David Hockman, Gillian Merron and Ruth Seager Vice Presidents Monique Blake, Henry Cohn, Nigel Cole, Geoffrey Davis, Lord Stanley Fink, Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, Sharon Goldstein, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, Jeremy Jessel, Willie Kessler, David Lipman, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker, Harold Sanderson, Joan Shopper, Beverley Taylor and Clive Winston Chair of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Charley Baginsky Chief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Outreach Director Rabbi Anna Gerrard Communities Youth Coordinator Sam Grant Outreach Coordinator Abigail Jacobi Student & Young Adult Chaplain Rabbi Leah Jordan Education Rabbi Sandra Kviat Music Cantor Gershon Silins Interfaith Rabbi Mark Solomon Operations Director Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer PR Alexandra Ben-Yehuda Archivist Alison Turner LJY-Netzer Movement Workers Graham Carpenter, Tom Francies and Bethany Stone