LJ Today September/October 2015

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September/October 2015 VOL. XLII No. 5

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

www.liberaljudaism.org

ljtoday

All change at Liberal Judaism S IMON BENSCHER has been unanimously elected as the new chair of Liberal Judaism. He was voted in by the movement’s communities, rabbis and officers at the Liberal Judaism AGM in July. Simon - a former chair of Woodford Liberal Synagogue who has held many positions in the national movement - takes over from Lucian J Hudson. After a very successful six year term, Lucian will now serve as deputy chair, after also being unanimously elected to the position at the AGM. Other key changes during the summer saw Rabbis Richard Jacobi and Alexandra Wright elected by their peers as the new co-chairs of Liberal Judaism’s Rabbinic Conference (see page 3) and Sam Alston, Anna Craven and Tom Francies take over as the new LJY-Netzer movement worker team (see page 11). Rabbi Danny Rich has become Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, combining the brand new position with his current role as chief executive. Speaking to lj today after his election, Simon said: “It is with some trepidation, but enormous pride, that I step into the chair of a movement that I have been a part of for five decades. “My aims are to build upon the extraordinary legacy that Lucian has left and the massive impact he made, by taking Liberal Judaism in someways backwards. That’s not a contradiction, it’s an acknowledgment that a large part of our recent successes, and I believe our future, is in the enormous strength that we have in our communities and their members. Going back to our grassroots is a big part of our way forward. “We are also blessed with the most inspirational rabbis who have taken on an enormous and exciting task in exploring a new prayer book, and I’m also looking forward to being a part of that process.”

Lucian added: “I am thrilled to be handing over to Simon. He will take Liberal Judaism to new heights, with his deep understanding of our movement and extraordinary dedication. “I might have changed Liberal Judaism, but Liberal Judaism has also changed me. It’s been a great honour being chair and seeing an expansion in our number of communities, an increased profile, the creation of the Alliance with the Movement for Reform Judaism and legal incorporation as a civil society organisation. Liberal Judaism has gained in confidence, been very innovative and given an ethical and strategic direction on critical issues. “None of this could Lucian J Hudson (left) and Simon Benscher at LJ’s head office have been achieved without the support of an David Pelham, who has served Liberal exceptional Board of National Officers, Judaism as an officer for many years, including Simon and Jackie Richards. I including in the role of treasurer, was am particularly grateful to Rabbi Danny Rich, our outstanding chief executive, and elected as a vice president. Rabbi Richard Jacobi opened the AGM Rabbi Charley Baginsky, who has just by commemorating the anniversary finished her term as a phenomenal chair of 7/7, as well as paying tribute to two of our Rabbinic Conference.” Liberal Judaism’s AGM also saw the re- prominent Liberal Jews who died in the election of officers Howard Cohen, Amelia last year - former youth director Tony Halle and vice president Jeremy Jessel. Viney, Ed Herman, Tamara Schmidt, Those in attendance at the meeting David Hockman and Ruth Seager, as included Liberal Judaism president Rabbi well as the creation of a new music and Dr Andrew Goldstein, Leo Baeck College IT standing committee, which will be led principal Rabbi Deborah Kahn-Harris and by former LJY-Netzer movement worker visiting Israeli Rabbi Oded Mazor. Graham Carpenter.


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