July/August 2009
VOL. XXXVI No. 4
Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
ljtoday
So much to celebrate What do you get if you cross a Day Limmud with a Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend? A Day of Celebration of the movement, filled with discussion, debate, schmoozing, creativity, music, singing, laughter and food. On a rainy Sunday in May, nearly 300 people from across Britain descended on the Midlands Centre for Liberal Judaism in Birmingham. Among the highlights was a keynote session with Rabbi Julia Neuberger, in which she set out her view of Liberal Judaism’s strengths and weaknesses, and her ‘lay-across-the-railway-line’ principle. Report and pictures, pages 6-7
Baroness Neuberger (left), Rabbi Danny Rich and Rabbi Margaret Jacobi at the event in Birmingham
Spread our message of inclusivity Danny Rich asks you to consider becoming a representative of the movement When I was appointed chief executive some four years ago, I promised that I would seek to increase the visibility of Liberal Judaism, not for its own sake but because I believed – and still believe – that the British Jewish community needs to hear the voice and to appreciate the unique values and contribution of Liberal Judaism. I trust you will forgive me if I suggest that we have had some successes. Liberal Judaism’s inclusive policies, our views on a wide range of current ethical and political issues, and the good work being done daily in many of our constituent communities is now more widely known than perhaps ever before. It is no longer unusual to have our spokespeople quoted prominently in the Jewish Chronicle, our local community activists appear more regularly than
many in the ‘spotlight’ columns, and our central activities, such as the annual Patrons’ dinner, are glamorously reported. Nevertheless, and despite the media coverage, I want to suggest that something more important has happened. At meetings and functions of, or about, the British Jewish community, a Liberal Jewish presence is expected; and where we were or are not present, we receive invitations to be so. Thus, for example, our chairman, Nigel Cole, plays a leading role at the Jewish Leadership Council and lights a candle at the Yom HaShoah commemoration at Logan Hall. Similarly, I take part in the Yom HaShoah Service at Hyde Park, am expected at the annual dinner of the
President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and will, following my recent appointment, join the presidents of the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) at their annual meeting in Lambeth Palace. All these efforts and many more have a cost: a financial one and, more importantly, a time one. The time given by our senior officers, chairman and vice-chairman, Joan Shopper, is more already than we can expect from volunteers, who have businesses to run and families to attend to – and this is where I am seeking your help. As Liberal Judaism creates more opportunities for its voice to be heard and as we receive more invitations to take part in communal organisations, it is no longer possible for our officers and continued on page 2
In this edition: News, 2-3; Books, 8; Inter-synagogue quiz, 9; Spotlight on Edinburgh, 10; LJY-Netzer, 11
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July/August 2009
Your time could make a real difference continued from page 1 the chief executive to ‘cover all the bases’. It has been pleasing to report the recent election of Stuart MacDonald (of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue) as a Liberal Judaism deputy to the Board, to hear that Mark Reed (Kingston) has volunteered to be secretary of the Jewish Committee for HM Forces, and to acknowledge the work of Hana Schlesinger (Harrow & Wembley), who has recently retired as Liberal Judaism’s representative on the Exodus committee for Jews of the former Soviet Union. We must also recognise the sterling work done by school governors Jeremy Jessel (Southgate) – for Akiva primary – and Josie Kinchin (Finchley) – for JCoSS, the new Jewish Community Secondary School – and the consistent efforts of Steve Griffiths (Lincolnshire) and Sidney Moss (Northwood), both of whom chair active, local branches of the CCJ. These are just seven of so many Liberal Jews who either directly represent Liberal Judaism or indirectly give a
specific Liberal Jewish flavour to their voluntary work. Yet there are still vacancies. Three vacancies remain for delegates to the Board of Deputes; we have not yet replaced Hana; the World Union of Progressive Judaism seeks our nominees to its international assembly; JCoSS seeks further Liberal Judaism trustees and governors; Leo Baeck College ought to have one more Liberal Judaism officer; and the list goes on. What am I asking for? I am hoping that you will join a register of Liberal Jews prepared to consider the various communal vacancies that occur from time to time. The process will be simple. You will be asked to register your name, congregation, interests and available time and I will try to offer you something that will be of both service to Liberal Judaism and interest to you. Liberal Judaism needs you; the British Jewish community needs you. To register your interest, please email montagu@ liberaljudaism.org and a form will be sent to you.
Fond farewell Two honoured to Laurence Laurence Miller, financial accountant for Liberal Judaism for 15 years, retired in May. A farewell tea party was held at the Montagu Centre, at which officers of the movement and work colleagues paid tribute to Laurence’s dedication and Laurence Miller at his hard work. In a retirement party in June speech, Laurence recalled the many changes he had seen centrally, from temporary offices in Clipstone Street to the Maple Street headquarters, and from typewriters to a networked computer system. Laurence is succeeded by Sofia Ahmetova, finance officer, who has extensive experience as an accountant in the private sector. Sofia will be working four days a week, Monday to Thursday.
Dr Henry Cohn and Stanley Fink were elected as vice-presidents of Liberal Judaism at the movement’s council meeting in June. Henry, emeritus reader in history at the University of Warwick and a former vice-chairman of Leo Baeck College, is the president of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue. Stanley, a member of Northwood and Pinner and former chairman of Man Investments, has been chairman of Liberal Judaism’s Council of Patrons since its inception more than five years ago.
Biennial 2010 Booking for Liberal Judaism’s next Biennial Weekend is under way. The keynote speakers will be Baroness Neuberger and Lord Dholakia, the Liberal Democrats’ deputy leader in the Lords and spokesman for communities. The Biennial takes place at Tortworth Court Hotel, near Bristol, from 16 to 18 April 2010. See the advert on page 9, and visit www.liberaljudaism.org/biennial.
Around the Communities Kent Four generations of the Bishop family helped Hazel Bishop, chairman of Kent since 2002, celebrate her batmitzvah. From left: Hazel’s daughter Sarah with partner Darren, Hazel, ba’alat tefillah Beverley Taylor, granddaughter Abigail, husband Roger and mother-in-law, also Hazel. Leicester The synagogue has two new Torah mantles, one depicting fire and one running water, donated by the Dolby family to mark their daughter Emma’s batmitzvah. The mantles, embroidered by Leicester member Jane Hewison, were dedicated at a service led by Rabbi Irit Shillor. Southgate has sent messages of support to the Or Chadash synagogue in Feodosiya in the Crimea, which has had neo-Nazi graffiti daubed on its building. Southgate Progressive is twinned with the Feodosiya community. Kingston The synagogue hosted a seminar on depression as part of a venture, organised primarily by Kingston Liberal and North West Surrey Reform synagogues, to bring Jewish mental health teams into local communities. Seminars on cancer, drug and alcohol abuse will follow. Woodford The Yachdav girls, a group of cheder pupils under the supervision of head teacher Josh Newham, raised £1,438 for the charity Shelter following a year-long project of tzedakah events in the synagogue. Josh and 13-year-olds Jodie Simmons (left) and Hannah Jacobi are pictured with their cheque. Isabella Goldstein also played a big part in the project. North London A group joined the Strangers into Citizens march – calling for a one-off regularisation of longterm illegal migrants – through central London, with a banner emblazoned with the word ahavah (solidarity).
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July/August 2009
Three new rabbis take up posts in Liberal communities Of this year’s eight graduates from Leo Baeck College’s rabbinic programme, three are to start work at Liberal communities. Janet Darley is to take up a part-time post at South London. Janet was an economics lecturer before starting her studies at Leo Baeck College and has been an intern at South London in her final year at the college. Judith Rosen-Berry will be part-time rabbi for Beit Klal Yisrael (BKY). Judith worked as a social worker before starting her studies at Leo Baeck College and has a PhD in theology; she worked with the Manchester Liberal Jewish Community during her fourth year at the college and was awarded this year’s Rabbi John Rayner prize for excellent work at MA level. Tanya Sakhnovich is, initially, to work full-time for the Nottingham community. Tanya, a native of Belarus, has been an intern at Nottingham Progressive Synagogue in her final year. Rabbi Danny Rich said: ‘Our communities are fortunate to have secured these three rabbis, each of whom I am sure will prove to be inspiring leaders.’
This year’s ordinands are the largest ever group of graduating rabbis, all of whom are staying in Britain. Six of the eight come from Liberal and Reform congregations in this country. Leo Baeck College has places available on its rabbinic programme from 2010. The programme, which includes an MA in Jewish Studies in partnership with King’s College London, leads to rabbinic ordination, s’michah, recognised worldwide. Rabbi Dr Michael Shire, vice-principal of the college, describes the programme as a ‘spiritually warm experience, which takes place in an intimate learning environment’. It can be adapted to an individual’s particular skills and qualifications. For an information pack and details of rabbinic recruitment events, please contact Rabbi Shire: 020 8349 5600 or info@lbc.ac.uk. A Canadian, Laliv Clenman, has been appointed lecturer in rabbinic literature at Leo Baeck College. Laliv has recently completed a PhD at the University of Toronto; her dissertation was on intermarriage and personal status in rabbinic literature. She takes up her position in London in the autumn.
Rabbi Danet Darley
Rabbi Judith Rosen-Berry
Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich
At last, Israel supports pluralism In a ground-breaking case just a few weeks ago, the Israeli High Court of Justice awarded equal funding to Reform and Conservative Jewish conversion programmes. The Israel Religious Action Centre (IRAC), the legal advocacy arm of Progressive Judaism in Israel, had argued that the state’s policy of funding only Orthodox conversion programmes was discriminatory and the High Court agreed. While this case was ostensibly about conversion, it was not really about conversion at all. It does not confer recognition of non-Orthodox converts or give them full rights as Jews in Israel. This case was really all about money. Although Israel is often referred to as the Jewish state, it should actually be called the Orthodox state because it formally recognises only Orthodox Judaism. As a result, significant amounts of money are allocated each year to Orthodox religious services, education, and rabbinic salaries. Progressive and Masorti communities must rely on individual donations and membership dues, something that very few, if any,
Anat Hoffman explains why a high court decision on funding is so far-reaching Orthodox congregations require. This remains one of the biggest obstacles in the life of non-Orthodox Judaism in Israel. Without government funding, Progressive Judaism remains marginalised. Today, I think more about money than a banker. Government funding confers legitimacy. I am willing to spend two shekels to get even one shekel from the state. Every shekel that Progressive Judaism receives from the government brings greater acceptance and equality. In this case, we for the first time secured government funding for our religious services, which could later imply rabbinic salaries.
The money is the medium. It appears that through budget lines, Progressive Judaism will finally earn its rightful place in Israeli society. In the Talmud, we read that a person is measured by three things: their kiso (pocket/ spending), their koso (drinking) and their kaso (temper). The way we spend our money provides an accurate reflection of our values. By financially supporting Progressive Judaism, the state of Israel becomes more just, pluralistic and egalitarian. The High Court’s verdict was truly moving, calling the state’s practice of favouring only one Jewish stream discriminatory and contradictory to its responsibility of ensuring freedom of religion. However, the true victory of this legal action is to be found in the call for action. The judges asserted that ‘the duty of the state to pluralism is not only a passive duty, but an active one as well’. In this case, it is all about the money.
Anat Hoffman is executive director of the Israel Religious Action Centre
July/August 2009
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The night a synagogue put the Ten Commandments on trial Gemma Thomas on how leading lawyers did battle at a Tikkun Leyl Shavuot
FOR THE PROSECUTION Rabbi Helen Freeman and Lord Justice Etherton
Photograph: Harmit Kambo
In the dock stood the defendant, Mr T Commandments. The judge, Rabbi Malcolm Cohen, presided over the two legal teams: Rabbi Helen Freeman and Sir Terence Etherton for the prosecution, and Rabbi Dr Michael Shire and Edward Cross for the defence. The jury was a little larger than in a normal court of law: it consisted of a full sanctuary at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue. At other times, Sir Terence sits as a judge in the Court of Appeal and Mr Cross is a district judge in Reigate. This was the Tikkun Leyl Shavuot event organised by Liberal Judaism’s ‘tent’ community and West London Collective (the Reform synagogue’s young adults group). The night of study, reflection and entertainment, entitled Order From Chaos and hosted by the LJS, had as its opening event ‘The Ten Commandments on Trial’. The charge was that they are restrictive, arbitrary and an oversimplification; the defence team argued that they provide a fundamental and accessible moral code for all ages. The Ten Commandments, aged 3,300, were ably and eruditely played by Rabbi Mark Solomon, of the LJS. They retained dignity and composure as the prosecutors laid in. Rabbi Freeman (of West London Synagogue) declared that in this case 10 is an arbitrary number, as the first commandment is a statement and there
FOR THE DEFENCE Rabbi Dr Michael Shire and District Judge Cross
Sir Terence Etherton at the mock trial
are in fact 613 commandments in total. They were an oversimplification of Jewish life, enriched as it is by Talmud and Mishnah. Lord Justice Etherton made the point that the Ten Commandments were an inadequate legal framework for how we should live our lives. For the defence, Rabbi Shire argued that the commandments were not a simplification, rather a set of principles. Mr Cross pointed out that they had a fundamental, innate Jewish realism to them, and it was unfair to judge them by today’s moral and ethical standards. A question from the jury: ‘Can we as jurors keep some and ditch some of the others?’ ‘Ditch is a strong word,’ was the judge’s response. He suggested to the jurors that they might find the defendant
guilty of over-simplification but, after deliberation, the jury acquitted Mr Commandments on all charges. At this good-humoured trial, love of Torah and profound engagement with intellectual debate were mixed to enjoyable effect with unashamed silliness, and the jurors emerged from the LJS sanctuary buoyed up for the long night ahead. Future ‘tent’ events include: • ‘tent’ at Limmud Fest: 27 to 31 August 2009 • ‘tent’ Argentina trip: 29/30 September to 12 October 2009 •’ tent’ at Young Adults European Seminar in Berlin: 5-8 November 2009 Contact Avivit, young adults worker: 07866 501787 or a.katzil@liberaljudaism.org
LJS choirs join Mendelssohn celebration The Liberal Jewish Synagogue featured prominently in BBC Radio 3’s Mendelssohn Weekend, part of bicentenary celebrations of the German composer’s birth. The synagogue’s three choirs – children’s, members’ and professional – joined more than 100 choirs throughout the UK taking part in the weekend by including Felix Mendelssohn’s motet ‘O, For The Wings of a Dove’ at its morning service on 9 May. In her sermon, Rabbi Alexandra Wright looked at the composer’s life and work, and the influence of his Judaism on his music. Max Loble, 13, Twins Max, left, and Harry Loble
was treble soloist for the motet. He received supportive smiles from his twin, Harry, who was singing with the full choir, and from Rabbi Wright: the boys are her nephews. Rabbi Mark Solomon, who has a much admired tenor voice, led the service. The conductor was Cathy Heller-Jones, director of music at the LJS. Earlier in the service, the alto soloist Caroline Stormer, a member of the professional choir, sang ‘O, Rest in the Lord’ from Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah. Radio 3 sent a correspondent to the LJS to conduct interviews and record the choir rehearsing. Music from the synagogue and an interview with Cathy Heller-Jones were broadcast the following day as part
of Aled Jones’s weekly programme, The Choir, on Radio 3. In her sermon, Rabbi Wright reminded the congregation that the great Enlightenment thinker Moses Mendelssohn, Felix’s grandfather, translated the five books of Torah into German. The composer’s Jewish parents, Abraham and Leah, had their four children baptised, and were later baptised themselves. But after his father’s death, Felix studied the Hebrew texts of the bible and expressed regret at not having met his grandfather, who died before the composer was born.
To hear Max Loble singing ‘O, For the Wings of a Dove’ at the service, visit www.ljs.org and click on ‘music’
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July/August 2009
Take two steps forward to trade justice I was inspired by my recent meeting with Hadas and Samia, the two women who run Sindyanna of Galilee, a Fairtrade association, on their visit to London to meet trade union officials. Sindyanna is run jointly by Jewish and Arab women to employ and empower Arab women workers in Israel, who are some of the most disadvantaged people in the country. They believe in trade justice, and work to build dialogue on social problems in Israel and how to solve them. Among the produce they sell is olive oil from small family co-operatives in the Galilee. The oil is sold in the UK through Zaytoun, a community interest company. Sindyanna wants to widen distribution and spread the word about what it does. It’s easy to help: first, find out more about Sindyanna and about the situation of Arab women within Israel (visit www. sindyanna.com), then educate friends, family and community. Why not get together a few friends and buy a batch of olive oil to sell in your community? To find out about how to buy or distribute the oil, visit www.zaytoun.org, which also tells you where other fair-trade Palestinian products are sold. Sindyanna also has 2010 fairtrade calendars for sale, with artwork by six Jewish and six Palestinian artists from Israel. It can be seen at www.sindyanna. com/9337. Another idea that caught my eye were the beautiful Fairtrade cotton kippot made by a co-operative in India and being sold by the Jewish Social Action Forum. They are available in black, white, blue and pink – with coloured trimming – for £5. To order the kippot to give as presents or to have them individualised for a simchah or for yourself, contact fairtrade@jhub.org.uk. Orlando de Lange Liberal Judaism’s Social Action Assistant
An unnecessary divide in the name of religion Mikey Franklin on the rise of homophobic groups aimed at ‘curing’ gays During the debate surrounding Proposition 8 (the California referendum passed in the November 2008 general election and banning gay marriage in the state), a right-wing Christian lobby released a television advert entitled ‘A storm is gathering.’ It sought to portray the struggle for marriage equality as one facet of a growing threat to religious freedom and, in doing so, contributed towards Proposition 8’s eventual passage. That prediction was correct: a storm truly is gathering. A cabal of well-funded, almost exclusively religious groups who seek to cure what they call ‘same sex attraction disorder’ is increasing in size and scope. Whilst these homophobic groups have long been propagating their pseudo-science in America, two months ago a group of them came to a conference in the UK. Members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community, and particularly LGBT people of faith, were less than thrilled at this prospect, and a range of groups and individuals including the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, the Queer Youth Network, the Gay Activists Alliance, members of the London Gay Men’s Chorus and members of Liberal Judaism’s youth movement, LJY-Netzer, used the networking website Facebook to organise a protest. More than 200 people attended, including Photograph: Nicolas Chinardet
Protesters at the Anglican Mainstream conference
several of Liberal Judaism’s staff and LJY-Netzer madrichim (leaders). It would be easy to imagine that the ‘ex-gay ministries’ – groups that attempt to make LGBT people become heterosexual – are solely the preserve of right-wing Christians. But the conference in April, organised by Anglican Mainstream, was billed as Judeo–Christian, and one of the keynote speakers was a representative of the American group Jonah (Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality). Like all the other ‘ex-gay ministries’, Jonah uses a variety of psychological techniques, and clings to convoluted theories about paternal relationships and their link with homosexuality. Many of the people Jonah sees are teenagers and young adults, often from strictly Orthodox communities. After summoning up the courage to come out to their families and communities, they are pushed into costly, lengthy and damaging ‘therapies,’ which force them to suppress the sexual identity in which they feel comfortable. It is these people – isolated and scared teenagers - who need the most support and acceptance from those around them, but are instead subjected to ‘treatment’ from organisations which, by attempting to ‘cure’ homosexuality, and by describing it as a ‘disorder’, create an artificial divide between LGBT young people and their peers, and create feelings of inferiority. ‘That some people feel uncomfortable about their sexuality is undeniable,’ said Nicolas Chinardet, one of the protest’s organisers. ‘However, the reason for this is to be found in the hateful rhetoric of the “ex-gay ministries”, and those who support them.’ Thankfully, Jonah and its Christian counterpart, Exodus, appear to be mistaken in their claims to be international movements. There are still groups inside the Christian community advocating these treatments, and many homophobic clergy remain, but the leadership of the Church of England recently spoke out against ‘ex-gay ministries’. Similarly, whilst the battle for LGBT equality is far from over in the Jewish community, thanks to inclusive policies from groups like Liberal Judaism and LJY-Netzer, LGBT people can build meaningful spiritual lives in the Jewish community, regardless of their sexuality.
Mikey Franklin is a member of LJY-Netzer
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Day Of Celebration
The new Birmingham Progressive Synagogue/Midlands Centre for Liberal Judaism building was filled to capacity on 17 May and, after a short official opening, the vast building, occupied by the congregation for barely a year, truly became a homely space that functioned beautifully. At the first main panel session, Rabbi Danny Rich welcomed – one by one, and with a cheer each time – representatives from almost every Liberal community. In the session, Baroness Neuberger talked about her life’s journey, linking the personal with the world at large in an open conversation about where we had come from and where we were going as a movement. Further stimulating panel sessions followed, ‘Liberal Judaism and the Wider World’ and ‘God and Science’. In the workshop and discussion sessions, rabbis and lay leaders led stimulating and interesting debates on a range of topics including: enriching small communities; Progressive communities in Israel; social action initiatves; rabbis/ physicians for human rights; and ‘who is a Jew?’
July/August 2009
In the creative workshops, meanwhile, the children were busy recreating the tower of Babel with sculptor Harry Seager, creating a cup of Elijah or a cup of Miriam using glass paints on a wine glass, making felt kippot and generally having fun. In the basement youngsters aged eight to 18 played games and were given a fun introduction to LJY-Netzer thanks to a group of movement workers and helpers from London and Birmingham. At the hub of everything was the constant stream of refreshments and food ably provided by volunteers who by their service to the community gave an example to us all, a scrumptions tasting stall of bread, cakes and biscuits and a Fair Trade Shop. It was a delightful day of seeing new faces and meeting up with old friends. Rabbi Danny Rich, said: ‘The opening of the new Midlands Centre for Liberal Judaism was enthusiastically endorsed by the presence of hundreds of Liberal Jews from all over the country who came to study, pray, share and meet. I am proud to head a confident movement which is spreading throughout Britain.’ I think everyone who attended the Day of Celebration must have been proud, too.
The Day of Celebration of Liberal Judaism attracted nearly 300 delegates from across the country and was a forum for debate, discussion, creativity, and much more
LJ Today Page 7
Left: Rabbi Danny Rich addresses the delegates in a closing session of music and readings
Pictures on this page, clockwise from left: new friends Freyde, seven, and Zoe, five; shlicha Noa Marom and her Israeli dancers; glass painting; the tireless kitchen workers; making felt kippot
The atmosphere was indescribable. It was just so friendly. Carole Schomberg, from Woodford
The keynote sessions tackled difficult issues head-on, writes Beatrice Sayers
Neil Souter reports on the Day of Celebration in Birmingham
Memories of a superb event...
Day Of Celebration
July/August 2009
Congratulations to the organising committee: Jessica Glaser, William Glassman, Amanda Grant, Margaret Jacobi, Elsbeth Mendes da Costa, Corinne Oppenheimer, Rosita Rosenberg, Sophie Stern
The title of the discussion was ‘Liberal Judaism in the 21st Century’ and Rabbi Julia Neuberger didn’t mince her words. Liberal Judaism as an idea had three important strengths: it was intellectually honest; it embraced patrilineality as well as matrilineality; and it welcomed in everyone, including gays and those seen as having different lifestyles. But it was the second point that was what she called her ‘lie-across-the-railway-line’ issue. Expanding on this, Rabbi Neuberger said: ‘I am right on the edge about who we should accept as Jews. I’m more liberal than very many of my rabbinic colleagues.’ She felt that for those with a Jewish background who want to be Jewish, we should not see difficulties. ‘We should welcome everyone in. We should be easier on questions of status even than we are.’ Lightening her tone, she said we must open our arms wide and say: ‘You must be mad but you are welcome.’ Other sometimes difficult issues were also confronted head-on. Rabbi Neuberger conceded that we were not always good at dealing with other strands of Judaism and that ‘liberal’ was not always ‘tolerant ‘Judaism. Liberal Jews also needed to be more tolerant of Orthodox Jews, though in some areas relationships between the two streams of Judaism were much better. To applause, she said: ‘The question is not how the
Orthodox treat us but how we treat them.’ The responsibility to behave correctly whatever the situation applied both to the community and to individuals. This also applied to the rehabilitation of ex-offenders, both at a communal and personal level, an area in which she said we did not excel. Turning to interfaith matters, it was unacceptable for people to make negative comments about Muslims; she described islamophobic comments she sometimes heard as ‘the most disturbing of the lot’. ‘Getting out and talking to Muslim communities and really befriending is absolutely key.’ That sentiment was echoed by Dr Ed Kessler in the following discussion panel, which centred on interfaith work. Asked how anti-semitism among Muslim school pupils should be handled, he said: ‘In the end it’s about ignorance. We need to organise encounters between Muslim and Jewish kids.’ In the final panel session, Rabbi Pete Tobias chaired a discussion between Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi, of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, Rabbi David Goldberg and Professor Jack Cohen. Where Rabbi Goldberg took the view that ‘to pray to a God of perfect justice, mercy and compassion is hypocrisy’, Rabbi Jacobi saw the siddur as a challenge to its readers. What’s that phrase I’m reminded of... two rabbis, three opinions?
It’s the first time I’ve ever heard Julia Neuberger speak, except for on television, and I thought she was brilliant. Jon Bloom, from Birmingham
I’ve enjoyed making glasses and making a kippah. It feels good to be here.
Micah Shire-Plumb, aged seven
I did some arts and crafts and I did some glass painting. It was cool. Hannah Stanton, aged 10
Photographs by John Bernard, Michael Gerrard and Alexandra Ben-Yehuda. Design by Jessica Glaser
Books
July/August 2009
A bridge to the Muslim world NOT THE ENEMY: ISRAEL’S JEWS FROM ARAB LANDS By Rachel Shabi Yale University Press, hbk £18.99, ISBN-10: 0300122756. Review by ROSS BRADSHAW herself of Iraqi parentage, seems to share this view. Shabi rehearses the arguments, some old, some new, about discrimination against the Mizrahim; reminds the reader of Ben Gurion’s comment that Oriental Jews were ‘without a trace of Jewish or human education’ and, coming up to date, points out that the Mizrahi guttural accents are rarely heard on television save for adverts for low status items, like mobile phones. There is no doubt that Oriental Jews were treated badly by the Ashkenazi Labour elite – see Eli Amir’s novel The Scapegoat for example. This resulted in the Zionist Left having little support among Mizrahim. That treatment continues with the population of the poor development towns (Sderot being an example) being largely Mizrahi. Not true, reply the critics, there are some Russians in the development towns. Yes, replies Shabi, but look at their origins and you’ll find that ‘More often than not, the former Soviets [in development towns] come
from the “stans” of Central Asia – Muslim states.’ While the current situation of hostility between Israel and the Arab states continues it is hard to see that, except for the actions of a few individuals, the Mizrahim will operate as a ‘bridge’ to the Arab world. At one time the Israeli Black Panther organisation took on this role, speaking to the PLO before anyone else would. But the Black Panthers were off the streets by the mid-1970s. Yet Mahmoud Abbas, the current Palestinian leader, said of the Mizrahim, ‘They are an organic part of our culture, of our Arab Muslim society, a part of our history and our memory. We must renew our memory and our common culture in order to overcome our present and plan our future.’ For the moment, all one can say is good luck with that.
Ross Bradshaw, a member of Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congreation, runs Five Leaves Publications (www.fiveleaves.co.uk)
Radical amazement still ripe GOD IN SEARCH OF MAN By Abraham Joshua Heschel Souvenir Press, pbk £14.99, ISBN-10: 028563836X. Review by MARCIA PLUMB Abraham Joshua Heschel was one of the great modern thinkers. Raised in a Hasidic dynasty family, he was expected to continue the mantle of rabbinic leadership. He chose, however, to go to university in Berlin and study secular subjects as well as traditional rabbinic literature. He did become a rabbi, but also a professor of philosophy. His love for and wonder at God never ceased, feelings for which he coined the phrase ‘radical amazement’. His God in Search of Man is one of the great philosophical and theological treatises of the 20th century. The book was published in 1955. Why reprint it now? Perhaps the answer lies in the circumstances surrounding the new printing compared with when the book was written. Today, many who see their financial security crumbling are
searching for values that are enduring, and new structures that will give meaning to their lives. We have moved from the belief in the salvation of science, technology and materialism to a yearning for the soul. Heschel points out that ‘The certainty of man’s capacity to find peace, perfection, and the meaning of existence, gained increasing momentum with the advancement of technology.’ There is a belief that ’man is too great to be in need of divine guidance’. He says: ‘We have learned to listen to every “I” except the “I” of God. The man of our time may proudly declare: nothing animal is alien to me but everything divine is.’ And,‘Yet, we have finally discovered what prophets and saints have always known: bread and power alone will not save humanity.’ Heschel suggests that God’s hand can
give us the support we need. He believed that one could not exist without experiencing overwhelming awe at the beauty of creation; radical amazement engenders gratitude and fills our souls. This view of God reminds me of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. God reaches out a hand to us; God is in search of us. For Heschel, ‘The problem of religious thinking is not only whether God is dead or alive, but also whether we are dead or alive to God’s realness.’ Heschel’s certainty that life has meaning, that beyond all being there is Someone who cares, will light a path for many who turn to his ideas today.
Rabbi Marcia Plumb directs the Spiritual Formation programme at Leo Baeck College and is a trained Jewish spiritual counsellor
Cultural and social group gets right mix Daytimers, the Liberal Jewish social activity group that holds morning and afternoon events, is attracting a wide range of participants for its lively mix of outside visits and events held at the Montagu Centre. The most recent success was a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum, where 16 members of synagogues from around the M25 attended a talk on exhibits with a Jewish connection in the museum. The visit was special for our guide as well as for the participants: Marilyn Green, the manager for intercultural programmes, is a former member of ULPSNYC (the forerunner to LJY-Netzer). After the visit, we had lunch in the museum cafe, which was a super opportunity for members of many different synagogues to get together; the lunch lasted until nearly tea time. Previous events have all attracted an equally large and diverse set of participants. People came from Oxford for the Yiddish Day and from Birmingham for the Genealogy Day and all thought their journeys worthwhile – as did those of us who did not have so far to travel! The next event is for those who would like to start writing. ‘You Don’t Have To Be a Writer’ is a half-day workshop, to be held at the Montagu Centre on Wednesday 21 October 2009. The workshop tutor, Anne Aylor, will help participants access memories of family and personal history, which they will then weave into words. The format will be a series of timed exercises to enable people to record their wealth of life experience. There will be an opportunity to read what you’ve written and receive feedback. Like it says on the tin, you don’t need to have written a word to enrol! Anne Aylor is a professional writer and teacher. She has had short stories and poems published by the Arts Council, the Literary Review, London magazine, Fiction magazine, Stand magazine and broadcast on BBC Radios 3 and 4. To book for this fun and action packed session that will send you out full of enthusiasm and talent you didn’t know you had, contact Elana Sondel at the Montagu Centre. The session costs £20, including refreshments. Lina Fajerman
Elstree brains take Liberal Judaism cup John Eidinow reports on the inter-synagogue quiz All human life was there. Or so it sounded for some three hours at Finchley Progressive Synagogue through the afternoon of Sunday 7 June. Sighs and groans, cries of rage and frustration, yells of outrage, snorts of derision, apologetic murmurs and hisses of fury, shouts of laughter and self-congratulatory cheers. Yes, FPS was hosting this year’s Liberal Judaism Inter-synagogue Quiz, which brought together the largest ever number of participants, with 18 teams in all. The quizmaster and question-setter, FPS’s Paul Silver-Myer, found 100 questions that offered something for all ages and interests. Jane Austen’s first novel? The highest check-out at darts? Copernicus’s nationality? URL stands for...? This year’s winner of the Augusta Masters? Of course you know. The answers are just on the tip of the tongue, the edge of the memory, hang on for a moment… A fiendish ‘mini-marathon’, a visual crossword puzzle to be completed by half time, greeted teams: total success would have guaranteed a code-cracking place in Bletchley. With 10 questions per round over 10 rounds, the questions themselves fell into themed groups: The First Time,
Photograph: David Pelham
There are some books which contain something so obvious, so clear, you are astonished it is so seldom articulated. Rachel Shabi’s book is like that, and here’s why. ‘…if Mizrahi Jews and ArabIsraelis were joined together as one group - let’s call them “of Middle Eastern origin” - it would comprise twothirds of the population. The West is in the minority in Israel.’ Go back a few short years before the near one million Russians came and Israel was even more of a Middle Eastern country. So why does Israel feel so much like Europe? A couple of decades ago a (non-Mizrahi) Sephardic friend said he looked forward to the day when his native Israel would be just another Middle Eastern country, a bit rundown, a bit lively, somewhere that was nothing like the European world he had come to know in Britain. Maybe then, he said, Israel would be at peace with its fellow Middle Eastern countries and maybe the West would stop expecting Israel to – and he said this with irony – live up to its standards. Rachel Shabi,
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The winning team, from left: Val Dickson, David Steinberg, Peter Ellinger, Michael Shaw, Marlene Scott-Norman, Anthony Scott-Norman, Tina Shaw
Nations and Nationalities, Down The Years, Pot Pourri, Middle Names and Initials. The last question before the break: what was Gandhi’s proper first name? A Lucullan tea, then on into Children’s Literature; Sport; Pot Pourri (2); Politics; These Last 10 Days. The final question: the Apprentice finalists (that night)? Elstree finished ahead of the pack with 194 points, and Finchley was second with 177, one point ahead of Harrow & Wembley. First UN secretary-general anyone? Answers: Sense and Sensibility; 170; Polish; Uniform Resource Locator; Angel Cabrera; Mohandas; Kate Walsh and Yasmina Siadatan; Trygve Lie
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Spotlight on Edinburgh Scotland has a Progressive Jewish community? Yes, the Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community (ELJC), also known as Sukkat Shalom Edinburgh, has recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. It began as the Edinburgh group of Glasgow New Synagogue (Reform), with services held in private homes, and became independent in March 2004. It affiliated to Liberal Judaism the following September. Where do the members come from? From across the Scottish capital and beyond. Edinburgh has a smaller Jewish community than Glasgow, but this number is boosted by many Jewish students, and Jews who move to the city. What services are held, and where? There is an erev Shabbat service on the first Friday of the month, often followed by a communal supper, and a Shabbat morning service in the middle of each month. Short, early evening kabbalat Shabbat services take place on weekends when there are no other services. All services are held in one of four venues close to the city centre. The community also holds High Holy Day services, usually with a visiting student rabbi from Leo Baeck College. What rabbinic support does it have? The community has excellent rabbinic support from Rabbi Mark Solomon, rabbi at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London, who visits every six or seven weeks and is available for appointments with individual members at that time.
Clockwise from above: the community celebrating Chanukkah together; doing Tashlich at the Water of Leith; Rabbi Solomon, far right, with the participants at ELJC’s first Kabbalat Torah service last year
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
Kadimah – onwards and upwards As LJY-Netzer’s busy programme of summer camps and tours gets under way, Ben Baginsky and Benjy Aarons-Richardson look at an addition to the Kadimah team that will make a brilliant two weeks even better Members of the community at the summit of Ben Vorlich last year, including current chairman Gillian Raab (front to right) and founding chairman Maurice Naftalin (far left)
Is there a cheder? Yes, a small but enthusiastic one, with children aged aged five to 12, led by Norman Crane and supported by excellent teachers. A collection of children’s books and teaching materials is available for loan to members. A few months ago, the cheder children led a whole Erev Shabbat service themselves, an event appreciated by the whole community.
open to members. In recent months, several members have come forward to lead services for the first time; informal support is available for such initiatives.
What about adult education? During the weekends when Rabbi Solomon visits, he leads discussions of Talmud or other sources. Elementary Hebrew classes, aimed mainly at those attending the Introduction to Judaism classes for prospective converts, are also
What clubs or other activities are there? Trips up Scottish mountains or to the theatre or a restaurant. There is an annual barbecue and occasional ceilidhs.
Is there a funeral scheme? Sukkat Shalom has reserved plots in the new part of the beautiful Dean Cemetery, close to the city centre and the Water of Leith. The community can also arrange cremations through the Co-operative Funeral Scheme and subsequent burial of ashes in one of its cemetery plots.
What is going on further afield? Sukkat Shalom has links with the Edinburgh Jewish Literary Society, the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (ScoJec) – which represents the country’s Jewish community to the government and the Scottish Parliament – and Jewish Care Scotland. A Jewish book group meets monthly in people’s homes, and there are a number of interfaith organisations, which members attend. What do members say? ‘Being an ELJC member makes me feel how nice it is to be Jewish within a community – and our community is really a fantastic one.’ ‘Our community is warm and welcoming, and it is growing rapidly.’ How can I find out more? Telephone 0131 777 8024, email eljc@ liberaljudaism.org or visit www.eljc.org.
A few years ago, LJY-Netzer and Rabbi Danny Rich took a big decision: after years of successful summers under Danny’s directorship, Kadimah – LJY-Netzer’s summer camp – would become the responsibility of the youth movement. This seemingly minor change – after all, most Kadimah madrichim (leaders) were members of LJY-Netzer anyway – had big implications. Now, LJY-Netzer’s movement workers were charged with not only looking after and entertaining 150 young people for two weeks, but with managing all aspects of camp, from outings to budgets. The management switch took place seamlessly and in many ways brought improvements. Though Danny still always visits camp, sharing with us his invaluable experience, the autonomy he conferred on us meant that Kadimah benefited from renewed energy and ideas. This year we are bringing in a further improvement, with a new role: welfare support worker. This is a professional who knows LJY-Netzer and the wider community well but will work independently of the main Kadimah tevet
Photo petition – your picture goes in here!
The Kadimah residential camp, in West Sussex
(staff team). She will help our madrichim and roshim (team leaders) cope with some of the challenges of leadership: make sure that chanichim are eating a balanced diet; suggest strategies for dealing with challenging behaviour; and generally offer help and guidance.
’LJY-Netzer is the best thing that has ever happened to my children. It has made them more confident and sociable, taught them leadership skills and helped them develop a strong sense of spiritual wellbeing’ Lee Dein Finchley Progressive Synagogue
Some 14,000 people, from Eritrea, Congo, Sudan and the Ivory Coast, are currently in Israel seeking asylum. Two LJY-Netzer Shnatties (participants on our gap-year programme), Matt Schmidt and Rachel Gordon, have been working with Amnesty International’s Israel branch to help protect these asylum seekers’ rights. As well as helping the asylum seekers directly, they are petitioning the Israeli government to provide them with shelter, freedom of movement and education.
This year, the welfare support role will be shared between two people, each with a wonderful set of skills. In the first week, we will have Rabbi Charley Baginsky, of Kingston Liberal Synagogue, and in the second week Claire Samuel, a secondary school teacher in west London and a former LJY-Netzernik. Charley and Claire are excellent additions to an already excellent team. The decision to introduce a welfare support worker to Kadimah was not an easy one. LJY-Netzer puts all its madrichim through a rigorous and high-quality three-year leadership training course. It could be argued that the support worker would undermine our leaders. We think it will do the opposite. The welfare support worker is not there to run programmes or to do the 24/7 caring that is the responsibility of the madrichim. She is there as a back-up, to ensure that the experience we provide is of the very highest quality. Kadimah camp returns this year for all eight to 15-year-olds between 26 July and 9 August. Places are filling fast but some still remain. To book a place, call us today! 020 7631 0584.
Rachel, Matt and the other Netzerniks ask you to join Amnesty’s photo petition. The target is to get 30,000 people to stand up and be counted by putting their photo in an Amnesty frame (see left), above the strapline ‘Because we were strangers’; acknowledging that the history of the Jewish people is tied to our experience of displacement. All photos will be forwarded to the Israeli government. To support this project, please contact the movement workers.
LJY-Netzer Contact Benjy Aarons-Richardson or Ben Baginsky: 020 7631 0584 or office@ljynetzer.org
July/August 2009
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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 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 07789 218823; hjc@liberaljudaism.org 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
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.enquiries@pjcea.org.uk, 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 ........... 3-4 July Birmingham Shabbaton A weekend of services, discussions, food and networking. sophie@liberaljudaism.org; 0121 634 3888
President The Baroness Neuberger DBE Chairman Nigel Cole Vice Chairman Joan Shopper Treasurer David Pelham Officers Simon Benscher, Leon Charikar, Amanda Grant, Lucian Hudson, Jackie Richards and Paula Scott Vice-Presidents and Honorary Vice-Presidents David Amstell, Monique Blake, Henry Cohn, Geoffrey Davis, Stanley Fink, 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 Alexandra Ben-Yehuda 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
15 July-10 August Israel Tour, for 16-year-olds
LJ Today is edited by Beatrice Sayers Articles and letters are welcome. The deadline for the Sept/Oct 2009 issue is 3 August. Please email: ljtoday@liberaljudaism.org
12-14 March Hebrew Crash Course at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue
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. Printed by Precision Printing. www.precisionprinting.co.uk
24-26 July Singing weekend at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue 26 July-9 August LJY-Netzer’s Machaneh Kadimah summer camp, for ages 8-15 30 September-12 October ‘tent’ trip to Argentina for young adults; a.katzil@liberaljudaism.org 21 October ‘You Don’t Have to be a Writer’ Morning workshop organised by Liberal Judaism’s Daytimers group. e.sondel@ liberaljudaism.org 5-8 November ‘tent’ at young adults’ European seminar in Berlin a.katzil@liberaljudaism.org 14 November 80th Anniversary Service South London Liberal Synagogue 2010
16-18 April Liberal Judaism’s Biennial Weekend at the Tortworth Court Hotel, Glos
Memorial services Liberal Judaism’s annual memorial services will be on Sunday 13 September, as follows: 11am at Edgwarebury (service led by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein); 1pm at Cheshunt (service led by Rabbi Stephen Howard); 3.30pm at Pound Lane (service led by Rabbi Alexandra Wright). A service will also be held at the Golders Green Crematorium.
£80k for college The annual Kaufmann Memorial Lecture and dinner, hosted by Leo Baeck College and held at the Inner Temple in London, raised more than £80,000 for the college and the future of Progressive Judaism. A total of 126 guests attended the event, sponsored by anonymous donors and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. The lecture, ‘Israel, Iran and the United States: Thirty Years After the Revolution’, was given by Sir Lawrence Freedman, professor of war studies and vice-principal at King’s College London. The lecture is in memory of Dr Arthur Kaufmann, an eminent jurist who came to Britain from Leipzig and who enjoyed a warm friendship with Rabbi Leo Baeck.
Three-wheeling Lianna Hulbert, 24, daughter of Rabbi David Hulbert of Bet Tikvah Synagogue, and her fiance, Simon Etkind, also 24, of The Liberal Synagogue Elstree, will be making a world record attempt during July, pedalling 1,000 miles across Britain, from west to east – from Land’s End to Lowestoft – in a cycle rickshaw. The pair are raising money for Action Village India. To read more or to donate, visit: www.rickshaw-odyssey.org.
Bagels galore The Bagel Boys, the all-male group of caterers at Northwood and Pinner, who provide a free service for some of the synagogue’s functions, are now available for hire. Founder Neville Price says: ‘Now I have retired, it seemed a good time to turn a hobby into a business.’ Email thebagelboys@btinternet.com.
For the record... Mazal tov to Alison Turner, formerly Behr, archivist to Liberal Judaism, who married Marc Turner in a ceremony at Northwood conducted by Rabbis Shulamit Ambalu and Aaron Goldstein.