March/April 2021 VOL. XLVIII No. 2
Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
www.liberaljudaism.org
ljtoday
Remembering Rosita New rabbi for Elstree T RIBUTES have poured in from around the Jewish world for Rosita Rosenberg, who died in February. Rosita was a leading figure in Liberal Judaism for many decades, including serving as our movement’s Executive Director from 1989-1997 – the first woman ever to hold the role. During that time, she helped to establish Liberal communities in Peterborough, Lincolnshire, Norwich, Kent and Herefordshire, as well as The Liberal Synagogue Elstree (then known as Stanmore Liberal Synagogue) of which she became an active member. Before then, during the 1960s, Rosita managed Liberal Judaism’s Development Committee that also helped to establish communities in Beds-Herts and Kingston. Rosita’s entire life was spent completely immersed in every aspect of Liberal Judaism, its congregations, events and partner organisations such as Leo Baeck College. Even after stepping down as Executive Director, she still remained deeply involved – serving as a Vice President of Liberal Judaism and inspiring and supporting many new generations of leaders and members. She also co-wrote the definitive history of our movement, Liberal Judaism: The First 100 Years, along with Rabbi Lawrence Rigal. Liberal Judaism’s current Chief Executive Officer Rabbi Charley Baginsky said: “Rosita was an inspiration, a mentor and a confidante to me and so many others. She was loved by all who knew her and will be deeply missed. Her achievements for Liberal Judaism still stand and inspire to this day.” At the Biennial Weekend in 2016, Rosita was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award to acknowledge her deep devotion to Liberal Judaism.
Speaking to Liberal Judaism’s Lily’s Legacy Project in 2019, Rosita described why she was so passionate about the movement. She said: “My whole life, from when I was around 18 years old, has been lived within the Liberal Jewish framework. I’m very proud that I’m Jewish. But if I hadn’t discovered Liberal Judaism, I think I would have been an opted-out Jew; a cultural Jew only. “I’m now nearer the end of my life than the beginning. And it’s been a life which has been very much touched and guided by Liberal Judaism and by Liberal Jews.” In memory of Rosita and as a means to ensure her legacy continues, we are creating, with the support of her family, a fund in her name. The fund will help support young people to grow and develop into a new generation of Liberal Jewish leaders through their attendance at LJY-Netzer activities. To find out more and to make a donation, please email montagu@liberaljudaism.org • Pages 2-4: Tributes to Henry Cohn, Howard Shopper, Abi Jay, Peter Benscher and Rosita Rosenberg
RABBI TANYA SAKHNOVICH is heading to Hertfordshire to succeed Rabbi Pete Tobias at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree. Tanya will leave her role at Nottingham Liberal Synagogue to take up the Elstree pulpit in September. She told lj today: “I am delighted to be joining such a warm and welcoming community and am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity. But I will dearly miss Nottingham Liberal Synagogue and its wonderful members. “It is a little daunting to be taking over from Pete who is so well-loved in Elstree and an inspiration to my generation of Liberal Rabbis. It is an honour to be chosen as his successor and to have the opportunity to build on his legacy and lead the community on a new journey.” Pete, who served Elstree for 18 years, leaves the community in June. He will be moving to America to live close to his son and family there. He said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Tanya will be taking up the reins at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree. Tanya is thoughtful, wise and charming. I wish her and TLSE all the very best for the future: I think it’s a great match.” • Page 9: Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich chats about TLSE and her time in Nottingham
Page 5: How you can get involved with Biennial 2021