LJ Today January/February 2009

January/February 2009

VOL. XXXVI No. 1

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

ljtoday Faith in a new secular year

When the going gets tough...

By Nigel Cole, chairman of Liberal Judaism Photo: Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer

Rabbi Danny Rich, holding cheques, and Rabbi Pete Tobias, to his right, with other Liberal rabbis

... the rabbis’ Pe’ah Fund spreads hope How have Liberal rabbis responded to the fear and constraint flowing from the country’s, and the world’s, economic problems? By dipping into their pockets to help people in need and encouraging other Liberal Jews to do the same.

The rabbis have given one per cent of their annual salaries to a new

fund, which will make one-off payments to individuals or groups who are hit by the credit crunch and cannot get help elsewhere. The Pe’ah Fund is named in reference to the commandment in Leviticus not to reap all the way to the corners (peyot; singular pe’ah) of one’s field, but to leave them for the poor.

In this issue Dedicated to helping refugees 3 Spotlight on Elstree As the shul celebrates its 40th anniversary 6

On the website Upcoming events, and much more www.liberaljudaism.org

Rabbi Danny Rich says: ‘In times such as these, it’s tempting to tighten our belts, but we can’t tighten our charitable belts.’ He adds: ‘It’s about changing the mood, and about people who are in work spreading hope.’

The fund reached £4,000 as LJ Today went to press. www.lj-peah.blogspot.com

Napoleon and the Jews ‘Was Napoleon good for the Jews?’ was one of four sessions Rabbi Danny Rich presented at the annual Limmud winter conference in Warwick. A big team of Montagu Centre staff, including Avivit, Ben, Benjy, Elana, Noa, Orlando and Sophie, presented or helped at the event in December.

January brings a welcome transition from the long nights and grey days of December that seemed to heap bad news upon bad news as our mainstream media wallowed in the misery of the credit crunch. A Liberal response, however, is to get to grips with challenges. As well as encouraging giving, the Pe’ah Fund (see left) is a call to action. A website, www. lj-peah.blogspot.com, brings together the practical aspects of the initiative.

In this edition of LJ Today you will read how Liberal Jews continue to focus on responding to need. Actions always speak louder than words.

Our communities themselves have many reasons to celebrate. Exemplifying how an investment in education is an investment in the future, two graduates from Leo Baeck College were inducted recently: Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Richard Jacobi were installed in filledto-capacity synagogues, at Kingston and Woodford. West Central unveiled a new Ten Commandments plaque, taking pride of place above its ark. Southgate marked 65 years as a community. And Liberal Judaism’s generous Patrons joined the movement’s lay leaders and rabbis at a reception hosted by Westminster Synagogue, where they were treated to a private tour of the newly reopened Czech scrolls exhibition.

So we look forward to 2009 with renewed optimism, tinged with realism.

It may not be an easy year but Liberal Judaism will continue, in Jeremiah’s words, to give ‘a future and a hope’.

A light to the nation, page 5

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January/February 2009

At last, Fairtrade reaches all of British Jewry For several years Liberal Judaism has been a leader in the Fairtrade synagogue movement. Liberal Jewish activists have tried a lot of tasty food produced without the injustices of conventional trade and made a lot of noise with their campaigning. Happily, it seems, they have been heard by British Jewry.

The Jewish Social Action Forum, on which Liberal Judaism’s social action

assistant Orlando de Lange sits as a delegate for the movement, has chosen to bring the Fairtrade issue into every part of British Jewry – from synagogues to kosher caterers and shops.

As part of this campaign, a crosscommunal booklet has been produced: a much beefed-up version of the Synagogue Action Guide, with extensive ideas and resources. The new guide will

Kingston gives its rabbi the warmest of welcomes Ruth Foster reports on the induction service at KLS The recently extended sanctuary at Kingston Liberal Synagogue was packed for the induction service of Charley Baginsky as full-time rabbi.

At the service in November, Danny Rich, emeritus rabbi at KLS and chief executive of Liberal Judaism, passed one of the synagogue’s Czech Torah scrolls to Rabbi Baginsky to symbolise the handing over of the pulpit.

Rabbi Rich, who was KLS’s first full-time rabbi, said Rabbi Baginsky’s skills and dynamism would enable her both to provide spiritual leadership and to work in partnership with the rest of the community. Rabbi Baginsky’s partner, Steve Rogers, read the Haftarah. Among others who read were her brothers, Ben and Abe, and Ora Warren, her former primary school teacher. Edward Davey, MP for Kingston and Surbiton, joined several local councillors in the congregation.

Rabbi Baginsky, 30, previously headed KLS’s religion school and spent part of her training there as a student rabbi.

She said: ‘KLS is a particularly special community, which welcomes the new with open arms and makes them feel like old friends.

It is an inspiring and exciting place to work, both within the community and reaching out to the other communities around us.’

LJ Today hopes to report further happy news in March: Rabbi Baginsky was eight months pregnant as Charley this edition Baginsky after went to press. the service

Celebrating Liberal Judaism Liberal Judaism’s Day of Celebration will take place on 17 May 2009 at the new Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, home of the Midlands Centre For Liberal Judaism, in Bishopsgate Street, in the heart of the city.

Starting at 10am, the day will offer fascinating sessions and activities for everyone – families, community groups and individuals. There will be an ‘In conversation with Baroness Neuberger’, panel discussions on Liberal Judaism in the 21st century, workshops on living Liberal Judaism; and food, creativity, leadership and music, as well as activities and events for young people.

Reserve tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Costs are £6 for adults and £1 for children, young people and those in full-time education.

Delicious vegetarian lunches and snacks will be available to buy during the day. Subsidies are available on application, partially to cover group travel to the event. Please email w.glassman@liberaljudaism.org for tickets and enquiries.

be released during Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 (25 February–9 March) and distribution will include all Liberal communities. Liberal Judaism encourages as many communities as possible to hold an event during Fairtrade Fortnight.

To find out more about the guide, contact Orlando: o.delange@ liberaljudaism.org. www.fairtrade.org.uk

Around the Communities Finchley Musicians from Finchley Progressive’s Shabbat Resouled experience flew to Zurich to take part in services and lead workshops for the Jewish community there; they are also to play at a service at Edgware and District Reform Synagogue. FPS’s next Resouled is on 16 January, at 6.30pm.

Birmingham Mohammed Fahili, founder and director of the Jewish– Arab Community Centre in Akko, gave two talks explaining how his experience led him to set up the centre. He was particularly pleased at the good Muslim attendance at BPS as in the past he had found it hard to reach out to the Muslim community.

Brighton Renowned pianist Joanna MacGregor’s recital at Brighton College in October raised more than £2,000 for Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue.

Southgate Local MPs Theresa Villiers and David Burrows were among those who attended the synagogue’s annual civic service, part of its Open Weekend on 21-23 November.

West Central The Mayor of Camden, Nurul Islam, is pictured with Baroness Neuberger (left) and West Central’s Rabbi Janet Burden after the unveiling of the synagogue’s new representation of the Ten Commandments. During a special service in November, Baroness Neuberger read and commented on the commandments, hand-carved on a wooden plaque by artist Terry Jones.

LJ Today Page 3

January/February 2009

As Kindertransport children mark 70 years since the Act of Parliament that let them into Britain, Beatrice Sayers talks to Liberal Jews dedicated to helping refugees

A remarkable gathering An impressive array of speakers and presenters addressed a reunion of Kindertransport refugees in London in November. As well as special guest Prince Charles, there was the historian Sir Martin Gilbert, the former Tory minister Edwina Currie and the film director Lord Attenborough. But the most remarkable people in the room were the Kinder. They were gathering on the 70th anniversary of the Act of Parliament that let them and 10,000 other children into Britain to escape the Nazis. Most arrived in London at Liverpool Street station carrying only a suitcase. Most never saw their parents again.

This reunion, for mainly first and second, and some third generation Kinder, was organised by the Association of Jewish Refugees, as were larger reunions for the 50th and 60th anniversaries. Founded in 1941 by refugees from central Europe, the AJR has an impressive history. Essentially a self-help organisation, it has developed expertise in social care provision and in the area of reparation and compensation.

In the years ahead, it looks likely to evolve and support more educational work.

Ludwig Spiro, a 30-year-old engineer from Trier who had fled Germany five years earlier, contacted the AJR in 1942.

‘Things were very difficult then,’ Ludwig, now 96, recalls. ‘In the early days our problems were labour permits, getting permission for people to stay in this country, and getting British nationality.’

Since that time, Ludwig has devoted himself to helping the AJR: he was

Joint Shabbaton in Lincoln Despite the first foggy and freezing weekend of the year, representatives from Kent, London, Leicester, Sheffield, Newcastle and Birmingham attended the Communities’ Shabbaton in Lincoln.

Rabbi Danny Rich preached the Shabbat morning sermon at Lincoln Cathedral and led a shiur during the weekend of discussion and study, held at the cathedral’s education centre and jointly organised by the Liberal and

Prince Charles with Ludwig Spiro, 96, president of the AJR, at the anniversary gathering in London

responsible for the initial creation of its core social work provision (in addition to forging a brilliant career as an engineer – an expert on steam turbines; he finally gave up consultancy work only in his late eighties). A member of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, he was elected honorary president of the AJR on his 75th birthday.

Ludwig spent some time talking to Prince Charles at the gathering. ‘I made it clear that we were doing our best to keep the Kinder in contact with each other... We are trying to compensate them for earlier sufferings,’ Ludwig says.

As an organisation that exists to help all refugees from and survivors of Nazi persecution who live in Britain, the AJR is perhaps relatively little known by the community at large. Its director, Gordon Greenfield, is also a Liberal Jew – an active and longstanding member at Southgate Progressive Synagogue – as are many of its members. Gordon is proud that the AJR makes no distinction between different types of Jews. ‘We

Reform movements. Other speakers were Rabbi Dr Michael Shire, viceprincipal of Leo Baeck College, and Laura Miller, of North London Progressive Jewish Community.

Annual meetings In December, the Montagu Centre hosted annual meetings of Liberal communities’ treasurers and of their burial officers.

At the treasurers meeting, the group agreed to re-examine the basis on which affiliation fees are paid.

encompass the entire range, from remote to devout,’ as he puts it.

Gordon was particularly pleased that Prince Charles attended the November reunion. It was, he says, a way of honouring the work of the AJR, which as well as providing direct help also channels compensation: last year it distributed $3m to needy survivors, money granted to the AJR by the Claims Conference in New York in support of its work.

While the AJR still has 3,200 members, as the number falls it is using its funds in different ways. It is supporting a new exhibition at the Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre in Nottingham aimed at 8- to 13-year-olds, as well as Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue’s annual Holocaust Memorial Day Event. The AJR also has its own, unique testimony project. Refugee Voices consists of 150 audio-visual recollections by refugees and survivors. The fully time-coded and transcribed testimonies average four hours each.

As the official charged with overseeing grants to members, Gordon comes across some amazing case records. ‘I hear stories every day,’ he says quietly.

Such work is, of course, emotionally demanding; it is also a vocation. ‘I love what we do here,’ Gordon adds. ‘It’s so constructive.’

This gathering of Kinder will probably be the last big one. But it looks certain that the organisation behind it will continue to put its hard work and expertise to good use for many years to come. www.ajr.org.uk

An education in red tape News in September’s LJ Today of the arrival of Liberal Judaism’s new education consultant, Elana Sondel, from the United States was somewhat exaggerated. When the student rabbi arrived at Heathrow a problem with her visa emerged and she was turned away. She finally made her way through UK immigration in December and we hope to report on her initial activities in the March edition.

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Books

January/February 2009

Pomposity and point-scoring FAITH AGAINST REASON: Religious Reform and the British Chief Rabbinate 1840-1990. By Meir Persoff Vallentine Mitchell, 476pp, cloth £50.00, paper £19.95 Review by DAVID GOLDBERG This is an exhaustive, well-written and admirably balanced history of five United Synagogue chief rabbis from Nathan Marcus Adler to Immanuel Jakobovits, and their turbulent relations not only with the Reform and Liberal movements, but even more so with their own clergy and lay leaders.

Reading the book left me with two abiding impressions. First, how smug, small-minded and pompous all the incumbents were, or became, typified by the chutzpah of Jakobovits in paraphrasing Winston Churchill in his induction sermon: ‘I have not become Anglo-Jewry’s First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of British Judaism.’ And second, how convinced they were that their divine mandate was to set themselves against any glimmerings of religious reform from within or without.

Zealous for a traditional Judaism that fewer and fewer of their congregants were observing, they strenuously resisted pressure from their lay officers for modest innovations like shortening Sabbath services or compromising over Progressive representation at the Board of Deputies. Inevitably, that forced them into ever closer embrace with the Orthodox far right. The logical

conclusion of such an alliance was reached in 2002, when the current chief rabbi (Jonathan Sacks) was made to go cap in hand to the dayyanim in Manchester and humiliatingly rewrite sections of his book that had already been serialised in the Times.

The keenest of the five for a fight – any fight – was JH Hertz (1872–1946). His fractious relationship with Robert Waley Cohen, long-time president of the United Synagogues, was the stuff of legend.

Small and bellicose, Hertz, in Sir Alex Ferguson’s phrase about another team’s player, ‘could start a fight in an empty room’, or as the author more tactfully puts it: ‘In any conflict, it was said, he would resort to peaceful means if all else failed.’ During his tenure, open warfare with the Progressives was at its height.

Naturally, I am most familiar with the history of the last three and a half decades, coinciding with my own rabbinic career. Here, I think Persoff is too deferential to the reputations of Orthodox and Progressive personalities still around. The fact is that few on either side have covered themselves in glory, more intent on ‘spin’ and point scoring in the columns of the Jewish Chronicle than in reaching a genuine modus

vivendi. Personally I never saw the point of conciliation gestures like the so-called Unterman Committee – so secretive that few knew of its existence until five years after its demise – or the Stanmore Accords. All they ever produced were a few nods towards the ideal of mutual respect and working together on ‘issues of joint concern’, which only ever meant defending Israel or fighting efforts to alter shechitah legislation.

Preferable, it seemed to me, to go our separate ways and remain honest to our founding principles. I do recall reluctantly attending one meeting of Progressive rabbis with Jakobovits in his palatial Hamilton Terrace mansion.

Naturally, he kept us waiting, while Lady Jakobovits, all gracious charm, dispensed refreshments. As she passed my chair she whispered: ‘Do you mind moving? That is the chief’s favourite chair.’ I speedily complied, assuring her that I had no designs on her husband’s seat. As Persoff amply demonstrates, it is no job for a nice Jewish boy wanting to retain probity, dignity, reputation and peace of mind.

Rabbi David J Goldberg is emeritus rabbi at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue

Prayer book resurfaces – with a puzzle A copy of the 1903 prayer book of the Jewish Religion Union (predecessor of Liberal Judaism), annotated by Claude G Montefiore, a founder of the movement, has recently been discovered in the library of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue.

It contains an interesting puzzle that a reader of LJ Today may be able to solve.

Rabbi Lawrence Rigal, who coauthored the history of the movement, has helped in deciphering CGM’s handwriting. The right-hand comment says about the psalms: ‘Versified by Mrs Lucas’ and the hymns as ‘Chiefly by Mrs Lucas’; on the left it says the prayers described as ‘old and new’ were not by her. Alice Lucas was Montefiore’s elder sister and translated a number of Hebrew texts into English metrical

verse. Alice had studied in Berlin with the scholar Solomon Schechter, and from 1900 was president of the Jewish Study Society.

The inscription at the top is difficult; I read it as ‘If you will write a piece on the JRU, you may have several of these books.’

There is then the date, 22 Oct 1903.

The prayer book was the JRU’s second, and was a revision aimed at adding more prayers and hymns; it was entitled: ‘A Selection of Prayers, Psalms and Other Scriptural Passages and Hymns’. The puzzle is, to whom was

this book sent? Montefiore does not use his sister’s first name, and so the recipient was unlikely to have been a close family friend. I imagine it may have been a journalist; but if so, why offer more copies?

Rabbi Rigal comments that it is surprising that the comments are written on the book rather than in an accompanying note.

If anyone has any more ideas or information, I would be glad to hear from them Bryan Diamond, Hon Archivist, the LJS and Liberal Judaism

LJ Today Page 5

January/February 2009

As well as standing up to hatred – the theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day – Liberal Jews are embracing the other values that make theirs a 21st-century faith. Here’s how...

A light to the nation Human Rights Shabbat Liberal communities joined a nationwide initiative of René Cassin – the Jewish Human Rights Network – to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration arose directly from horror at the atrocities committed during the Second World War, not least the murder of European Jews.

In Nottingham, the congregation held a weekend of themed services, workshops and discussions, attended by more than 70 adults and children, on 12-13 December.

In Leicester, student rabbi Monique Meyer led a Shabbat morning service themed on human rights.

Northwood and Pinner had a packed weekend that included three outstanding speakers: Anat Hoffman, of the Israel Religious Action Centre, Sarah Kaiser, of René Cassin, and Ellen Goldberg, of the New Israel Fund. Assistant rabbi Hillel Athias-Robles produced a Friday night service for Human Rights Shabbat (see http://tinyurl.com/56ym4h).

The Edinburgh congregation used a 28-page service, with one of the declaration’s 28 rights appearing on each page, written by community member Lauren Fox. As well as marking Human Rights Shabbat with a special prayer and sermon, the LJS hosted a talk by Baroness Neuberger on Rights of the Elderly.

Making sure we never forget Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS), together with the local United synagogue, is organising its eighth annual Holocaust Memorial Day Event to coincide with national HMD on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Northwood’s 2009 event takes place from 26 to 29 January and will be themed around Kristallnacht. Children from 30 secondary schools will hear talks by survivors and refugees, several of whom are NPLS members.

Kingston Liberal Synagogue is to hold its third annual HMD event, with children from four schools visiting the synagogue over three days, 3-5 February, to hear survivors and refugees.

The synagogue is also involved in two events to which it invites all who are interested: a Holocaust commemoration event on 25 January in Kingston, with superb speakers including a Rwandan survivor, and a screening of The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas at the Kingston Odeon on 21 January, for which tickets are being sold at £2. For details, email Rabbi Charley Baginsky: rabbiKLS@inbox.com.

Many Liberal synagogues across the country will also be taking part in services and events.

standingupfor

our beliefs

Improving interfaith relations Rabbis and lay members across Liberal Judaism are involved in interfaith work.

Most recently, Rabbi David Hulbert, of Bet Tikvah Synagogue, Barkingside, together with an imam and a Catholic priest co-led a group of pilgrims from the East London Three Faiths Forum to Israel and the Palestinian territory.

Twenty-three of the 26, pictured above, who went were Muslim and the tour is thought to be the first organised tour of Israel and Palestine by a group of ordinary British Muslims.

Taking part in Mitzvah Day A number of Liberal Jewish communities took part in the annual Mitzvah Day on 16 November, organised by the independent charity Mitzvah Day UK. Woodford’s talented musical youth put on a gala performance of music and song for its senior members and previous Friendship Club members, followed by a lunch.

Young adults from Liberal Judaism’s ‘tent’ community collected some 200 grocery donations from shoppers in Golders Green, which were distributed to local families in need and charities. The LJS’s social action committee asked shoppers at the O2 Centre in Finchley Road to gift an item to the Doorstep Homeless Project, which dispenses basic food necessities.

Birmingham held a lunch in aid of World Jewish Relief, with Dr Stephen Smith, director of the Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre, as the main speaker.

Northwood held a packed day of activities which ended with a piano concert – with the renowned Nelly Ben-Or Clynes and her student Laurie Blundell – and reception to thank the synagogue’s tireless volunteers.

Liberal Jews from the Oxford community helped the cheder children make soup for the homeless, design wrapping paper and wrap gifts for a Norwood Chanukkah party. Adults and teenagers wrote to MPs about the plight of asylum seekers.

And LJY-Netzer also had a whole weekend of social action; see page 7.

Mitzvah Day 2009 is on 15 November.

January/February 2009

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LJ Today Page 7

January/February 2009

Spotlight on Elstree Where is it based and when was it founded?

The Liberal Synagogue Elstree, TLSE for short, makes its home in a converted Victorian school building on Elstree Hill, Hertfordshire, bought and renovated by shul members in the mid-1970s.

Founded in 1969 as the Stanmore Liberal Jewish Congregation, it grew rapidly. With the shift of the local Jewish population, services became centred on the Elstree area; the name changed to Hertsmere Progressive Synagogue when the congregation moved to its present site. In 2004. the name changed once again, to The Liberal Synagogue Elstree.

Who is the rabbi?

Rabbi Pete Tobias, who grew up in the Elstree area, attending Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Boys. Having trained at what was then Wall Hall College, he worked as a primary school teacher before beginning his rabbinic studies. He graduated from Leo Baeck College in 1990 and served Birmingham Progressive Synagogue and Glasgow New Synagogue (Reform) before joining TLSE full-time in September 2003.

Hmm, that name sounds familiar...

Not surprising, as Rabbi Pete is a sought-after broadcaster and author. He currently broadcasts with Terry Wogan and Aled Jones on Radio 2. His book Liberal Judaism: a Judaism for the 21st century was published by Liberal Judaism in 2007.

Rabbi Pete has extensive experience working with young people in Britain and north America. A book based on the experience of bar/batmitzvah, Never Mind the Bullocks, is due out in February.

Right, top: TLSE’s grade II listed building; the community celebrating Simchat Torah

LJY-Netzer is Liberal Judaism’s Zionist youth movement. It gives young people the opportunity to develop a strong Progressive Jewish identity whilst enjoying friendships and having fun. Visit www.ljynetzer.org

What else does the rabbi do for the synagogue?

He has revitalised the Religion School, of which he is principal. He also runs regular adult education classes, hosts family Shabbat suppers once a month and runs the bar/batmitzvah classes and Kabbalat Torah programme, as well as leading services, officiating at life cycle events and being available to advise congregants and potential members.

When are services held?

Services take place on Erev Shabbat, Shabbat mornings plus evening and morning of all festivals. They offer the ‘traditional’ Liberal mixture of Hebrew and English readings, along with a variety of musical accompaniment ranging from organ to guitar and saxophone. There is a monthly Tots’ Shabbat morning service and a very popular chavurah supper on the first Friday evening of every month. TLSE’s services are open to all and participants enjoy their warmth and informality.

TLSE hosts a communal seder at Passover and special events for festivals such as Simchat Torah, Purim and Chanukkah.

What else is on offer?

Every two months TLSE opens its doors for its Community Days (previously known as Sunday Fundays). Those who attend can play computer games on the Wii, table tennis or pool, board games or just read the papers with coffee and a bagel. Each of these days incorporates an informal educational element for everyone to share.

TLSE also hosts a monthly Lunch Club for its more senior members.

We’ve frozen our Israel Tour prices Left: Rabbi Pete Tobias, who is also an author and broadcaster; above, with stained glass artist Roman Halter, who made Elstree’s ark doors

Tell me about the Religion School It is enjoying great success. In particular the bar/batmitzvah class is popular: at least one bar/batmitzvah a month is celebrated.

Kabbalat Torah is also back on the synagogue calendar. As well as an annual KT service at Chanukkah, the KT group lead the Yom Kippur Additional service and enjoy an annual trip to Berlin.

What does Elstree get involved with?

It is twinned with a Progresive Jewish community in Lutsk, in north-west Ukraine. Two groups of Elstree members have visited and the synagogue has raised funds for Hebrew classes for the Lutsk community.

What else is new?

Last year the upstairs rooms of the synagogue were redeveloped to create ‘Our Space’, an area primarily for young people, with the latest technology to allow large-screen video presentations, internet access and what Elstree describes as ‘the funkiest room in any synagogue anywhere’.

Founded in 1969... that makes it 40!

Yes, this month marks the start of TLSE’s 40th anniversary celebrations, with a huge variety of events planned for throughout 2009.

How can I find out more?

Visit the TLSE website www.tlse.org.uk or telephone 020 8953 8889.

Despite threats from foreign exchange rates, LJY-Netzer has kept the price of Israel Tour 2009 the same as last year’s.

We hope this exciting news will make the tour affordable to more people, and enable more young people than ever to join this unique summer experience.

Every year, LJY-Netzerniks spend a month on ‘Tour’, exploring Israel and building a community. In 2007 and 2008, LJY-Netzer had its biggest tours ever, with 40 and 39 participants.

LJY-Netzer is not alone in this cost-cutting initiative.

With the help of UJIA Israel Experience, every movement has pledged to stick with 2008 prices, a fact that illustrates the importance of the tour not only to Liberal Judaism but to the entire British Jewish community. In fact, Britain’s youth movements run Israel Tours for more than 50 per cent of Jewish 16-year-olds,

and more teenagers are sent to Israel by British youth movements than by those in any other country.

So, what actually is ‘tour’? On arrival the group will journey to the desert, snorkel in the Red Sea, hike through the wilderness and shop in Eilat. From there to the Galil, home to green hills and lush Lake Kinneret. Next, to cosmopolitan culture in Haifa and Tel Aviv. Finally, Jerusalem, a city that needs no introduction. Plus four weeks of fun with your friends, great interactions with Israelis and super social action projects.

In short, Tour 2009 is too good to miss!

Ben and Benjy

Phone 020 7631 0584 or mail office@ ljy-netzer.org for an information pack and application form. Sign up ASAP to avoid disappointment.

Bursaries are available.

Steps on the path to leadership One of the most fantastic this year’s tour. The project things about Israel Tour is was a huge success, with how well it fits into the more than 50 LJY-Netzer LJY-Netzer hadracha members involved in a (leadership) structure. two-part weekend of Overcoming challenges as changing the world. a group during four intense Southgate Progressive weeks can really build a Synagogue kindly hosted The Mario Bros (aka Benjy strong community – and a us for a charity ball as we and Ben) with shlicha Noa team that will go on to lead raised awareness and Marom at the ‘Do the Do’ do on summer camps and funds for JCore (the Jewish other events. This year’s Council for Racial returning tourniks gave a glimpse of Equality). In the morning we were part of their potential at our Social Action Chain two Mitzvah Day projects: at Kentish Reaction on 15-16 November, a project Town Community Farm and at Clore co-ordinated and overseen by an Manor Jewish Care home in Hendon. enthusiastic group of participants from Thank you to everyone who was involved!

LJY-Netzer

What’s coming up in 2009…

16-18 February Plagim Mid-Weekend at Elstree synagogue, years 3-6/ages 8-11 16-18 February Galim Hiking Weekend, years 11, 12 and 13/ ages 16, 17 and 18 27 February-1 March Yamim Barging Trip, years 9 and 10/ ages 14 and 15 14-19 April Machaneh Aviv 26 July-9 August Machaneh Kadimah, ages 8-15 15 July-10 August Israel Tour, for 16-year-olds 16-30 August Kayitz Netzer Europe Tour, year 12/age 17

For more information, please contact LJY-Netzer

Spring and summer camp bookings We’re taking bookings now for our superb Spring Camp (Machaneh Aviv) and Machaneh Kadimah summer camp – see above for dates.

Kids under 18? What do you want from us?

Look out in your post for Liberal Judaism’s survey on its youth provision. Send it back to LJY-Netzer and you’ll be entered into a draw for an iPod or one of five iTunes vouchers.

If you’d prefer to complete the survey online or by email, visit www. liberaljudaism.org/youthsurvey or email v.kaufman@liberaljudaism.org.

Contact Benjy Aarons-Richardson or Ben Baginsky: 020 7631 0584 or office@ljynetzer.org

January/February 2009

Page 8 LJ Today

Liberal Judaism congregations Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue (Rodef Shalom), 01234 218387, bedsps@liberaljudaism. org, www.bedfordshire-ps.org.uk Beit Klal Yisrael, PO Box 1828, London W10 5RT, 07505 477459, bky@liberaljudaism.org, www.bkylondon.org.uk Bet Tikvah Synagogue, 129 Perrymans Farm Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG2 7LX, 020 8554 9682, bttkv@liberaljudaism.org, www.bettikvah.org.uk Birmingham Progressive Synagogue Bishopsgate St, Roseland Way, Birmingham B15 1HD, 0121 634 3888, bps@liberaljudaism.org, www.bpsjudaism.com Branch: Leamington Spa, 01926 421300 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 Crawley Jewish Community, 01293 534294 Dublin Jewish Progressive Synagogue, PO Box 3059, Dublin 6, 00 3531 2856241, 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, eljc@liberaljudaism.org, www.eljc.org Finchley Progressive Synagogue Hutton Grove, N12 8DR, 020 8446 4063, fps@liberaljudaism.org, www.fps.org Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue 326 Preston Road, Harrow HA3 0QH, 020 8904 8581, hwps@liberaljudaism.org, www.hwps.org Herefordshire Jewish Community, Enquiries: 01594 530721, http://members.lycos.co.uk/herefordjc/ Kent Liberal Jewish Community 07952 242432, bulletin.kljc@liberaljudaism.org, www.jewishkent.org.uk/communities/KLJC/kljc.html 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, 07875 123744, 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 The Liberal Synagogue Elstree, Elstree High Street, Elstree, Herts WD6 3BY, 020 8953 8889 tlse@liberaljudaism.org, www.tlse.org.uk

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

www.liberaljudaism.org President The Baroness Neuberger DBE Chairman Nigel Cole, Vice Chairman Joan Shopper Treasurer David Pelham Officers Leon Charikar, William Glassman, Amanda Grant, Jackie Richards, Paula Scott and Stephanie Thwaites Senior Vice-President Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto Vice-Presidents and Honorary Vice-Presidents David Amstell, Monique Blake, Geoffrey Davis, 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, Beverley Taylor, Clive Winston Chairman of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Pete Tobias Chief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Internal Services Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer PR/Communications Alexandra Mankowitz Education Elana Sondel Shlicha (Israeli Emissary) Noa Marom LJY-Netzer Benjy Aarons-Richardson and Ben Baginsky Community Youth Projects Manager Victor Kaufman Midlands Development Worker Sophie Stern

LJ Today is edited by Beatrice Sayers Articles and letters are welcome. The deadline for the March 2009 issue is 2 February. Please email: ljtodayeditor@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 256390.

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Lincolnshire Jewish Community 01427 628958, ljc@liberaljudaism.org Manchester Liberal Jewish Community, 08709 917327, mljc@liberaljudaism.org, www.mljc.org.uk North London Progressive Jewish Community, 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 Or Chadash Liberal Jewish Community of Luxembourg, 00 352 31 65 94 lljc@liberaljudaism.org Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community Enquiries: 020 7631 9826 The Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia (based in Norwich), 01508 538666 pjcea@liberaljudaism.org, www.pjcea.org.uk Reading Liberal Jewish Community www.rljc.org 0118 375 3422, rljc@liberaljudaism.org South Bucks Jewish Community 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 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, George Lane, London E18 1AR 020 8989 7619, wps@liberaljudaism.org, www.woodfordliberal.org.uk

Associated congregations Beit Ha’Chidush, Postbus 14613, 1001 LC Amsterdam, Netherlands, 00 31 23 524 7204 info@beithachidush.nl, www.beithachidush.nl Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community Enquiries: 01242 521468 or 01242 234232 Oxford Liberal Jewish Services: 01865 515584 or 01865 765197, www.ojc-online.org

Developing communities The Suffolk Jewish Community 01473 250797, sjc@liberaljudaism.org

‘tent: the meeting place’ for young adults Avivit Katzil 07866 501787

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

17-23 March WUPJ International Convention in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Theme: Our Heart, Our Soul, Our World. Visit: www.wupj.org 11-18 March ‘Insights to Israel’ Liberal Judaism’s trip for educators 20-22 March (Friday-Sunday) Hebrew Crash Course at Northwood Telephone 01923 822592 14-19 April LJY-Netzer’s Machaneh Aviv (Spring Camp) Telephone 020 7580 1663 3 May LJS Israel Tour Seven-day trip, led by Rabbi Mark Solomon and open to all. Contact Carol Roberts via the LJS office on 020 7286 5181 or email carol.a.roberts@gmail.com 17 May (Sunday) Day of Celebration for Liberal Judaism in Birmingham. Speaker: Baroness Neuberger. w.glassman@liberaljudaism.org 21 June (Sunday) FPJ (Friends of Progressive Judaism) AGM at the Sternberg Centre 26 July-9 August LJY-Netzer’s Machaneh Kadimah summer camp, for ages 8-15 15 July-10 August Israel Tour, for 16-year-olds 2010 16-18 April Liberal Judaism’s Biennial Weekend at the Tortworth Court hotel, Glos

‘tent’ connects across the globe Having made connections with Progressive Jewish young adults from across Europe in Berlin, members of Liberal Judaism’s ‘tent: the meeting place’ community are planning to visit Connections 2009, the biennial meeting of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. ‘tent’ will be leading panel sessions and prayer services at the conference, which takes place in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in March.

Sixteen ‘tentniks’ enjoyed the Lech Lecha seminar in Berlin in November, jointly organised with Jung und Jüdisch and TaMar Olami.

Young adults dates for your 2009 diary • Purim 10 March • Connections 17-24 March • Tikkun Leyl Shavuot at the LJS 28 May • ‘tent’ trip to Argentina 30 September12 October Contact Avivit: a.katzil@liberaljudaism.org

‘I’m Jewish, my partner isn’t’ A seminar for all who say: ‘I’m Jewish, my partner isn’t’ takes place on Sunday 11 January 2009. Led by members of Community Outreach, a joint Reform and Liberal project, it offers an opportunity to talk about any issues you may face.

The seminar is from 2.30 to 5.45pm at the Sternberg Centre, Finchley. Entry is open to all, and is for both the Jewish and non-Jewish partner. Cost: £2.50 per person. A parallel workshop will be held for parents whose children are in mixedfaith relationships.You are welcome just to turn up on the day, although it helps if you phone or email in advance: 01628 671058 or rabromain@aol.com.

If you are in a mixed-faith relationship and want at any time to speak to a Liberal rabbi, please contact Rabbi Aaron Goldstein on a.goldstein@ liberaljudaism.org or 07764 192696.

Ruth Weyl honour Ruth Weyl, 84, a member at Northwood and Pinner, was presented with the German Order of Merit by President Horst Köhler at his official residence, Schloss Bellevue in Berlin. The award is in recognition of her work over many decades for the International Council of Christians and Jews.