September/October 2012 VOL. XXXIX No. 5
Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
www.liberaljudaism.org
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A new team for the New Year By Rabbi Anna Gerrard
It is for this reason that we have created an Outreach Team for 5773 that I will lead as Liberal Judaism’s new N THE front page of our website, outreach director, and will act as central we introduce ourselves to the resource for the whole movement. world by saying “Liberal Judaism This new group draws on the existing is the dynamic, cutting edge of modern Rabbinic Team of Rabbi Ariel Friedlander, Judaism.” It is a bold statement, but what Rabbi Sandra Kviat and Cantor Gershon does it mean in practice? Looking back Silins, and brings in our Israeli shlicha over 5772, we can be proud of many ways Adva Sapir, Sam Grant as community we have lived up to this claim – both as youth coordinator and a national movement Student Rabbi Benji and as 37 independent, Stanley, who joins as unique and vibrant our student and young Liberal Jewish adult coordinator. communities. Crucially, this new In fact, there are structure will allow so many ways in us to open the lines which we are being of communication the cutting edge of and address the modern Judaism that ways in which the it is difficult to define movement can that edge at any one support communities, moment or in any one communities can place; and that is what support the movement makes it dynamic! But and communities can there is another secret support each other. to our dynamism and To this end, I would that is the special like to visit all 37 and interconnected Liberal communities relationship between in the coming months the movement and the The Outreach Team includes (left to right) Sam Grant, Rabbi Anna Gerrard, Rabbi to have open and frank communities. Sandra Kviat, Rabbi Danny Rich, Cantor Gershon Silins and Rabbi Ariel Friedlander discussions about One of my favourite how we can better Midrashim is not fulfil our potential particularly politically Putting aside royal orchards, fruit together, standing before our maker correct, but presents a great model for theft and disabled guards, what can this as one unit, knowing that we are taking working together that transcends its Midrash teach us about our movement? joint responsibility for being the dynamic, awkward analogy. A king has an orchard cutting edge of modern Judaism. of fine fruit trees and employs two guards Every one of our communities, each of our Rabbis and every Montagu Centre Looking forward to this opportunity, I to protect it, one blind and one lame, employee has so many talents, insights wish us all a collaborative, innovative and thinking that neither will be capable of and nuanced ways to be that cutting edge fruitful New Year. stealing his produce. The guards work of modern Judaism. Perhaps the only out that they can have their fill of fruit thing we need to do better is to join the Rabbi Anna Gerrard is Liberal Judaism’s if the lame one sits on the blind one’s dots; combine body and soul, so to speak. outreach director shoulders but when the king accuses
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them of theft, each claims innocence based on their disability. The king is wise to their game and declares that he will punish them as one unit. We are told the story represents the way that God will judge us, our body and our soul, as one unit. It serves as a reminder that we are responsible for all of our actions, be they physical, emotional or spiritual.