July/August 2021 VOL. XLVIII No. 4
Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
www.liberaljudaism.org
ljtoday
Leading the way on social change again
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IBERAL JUDAISM has become a founder member of the new Religious Alliance for Dignity in Dying, a collection of multi-faith groups, leaders and lay people calling for a change in the law on assisted dying. Liberal Judaism, as a movement, has long supported the right for terminally ill people, who are mentally competent, to determine how, when and where they die alongside high-quality end of life care. A private member’s bill on assisted dying has been introduced to the House of Lords by Baroness Meacher, Chair of Dignity in Dying, paving the way for the first debate on prospective legislation in Parliament in more than five years. Assisted dying is different from suicide or euthanasia and there are a number of safeguards in place.
Liberal Judaism Chief Executive Rabbi Charley Baginsky said: “Liberal Judaism has a proud history of being at the forefront of progressive societal change and speaking up Rabbi Charley Baginsky for much-needed liberal reforms with compassion at their heart. “Much like votes for women or equal marriage – rights which now seem unchallengeable – assisted dying is a right we are proud to champion for people nearing the end of their life.”
The Alliance, which is chaired by Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, also has the support of a wide variety of other faith groups and leaders including Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. A major driving force in Liberal Judaism’s campaigning on the issue has been former Chief Executive and current Vice President Rabbi Danny Rich. Danny said: “I have long been an advocate of the right of terminally ill individuals, subject to appropriate safeguards, to decide the manner and timing of their own deaths. “That dying people are still forced to contemplate dying by suicide as an alternative to a traumatic or prolonged death by their disease is shameful. This is why Liberal Judaism is calling for true choice and control at the end of life.” LIBERAL JUDAISM’S Baroness (Gillian) Merron has taken her seat in the House of Lords. A member of both the South London Liberal Synagogue and Lincolnshire Jewish Community, she was previously the MP for Lincoln, a Government Minister and then Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies. In her maiden speech in the Lords, she said: “My parents grew up in the East End as children of Jewish immigrants forced to flee to Britain by pogroms that killed Jews and destroyed communities. “If my grandparents – who I was born too late to know – were told that their granddaughter, not even their grandson, would one day serve as a member of Her Majesty’s Government, Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies and now as a Life Peer, they would not have believed it. “For myself, I could only have dreamed of this honour.”