Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
www.liberaljudaism.org
ljtoday March/April 2022 VOL. XLIX No. 2
Become an Ambassador Solidarity for Liberal Judaism Shabbat By Rabbi Charley Baginsky CEO of Liberal Judaism
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VER the last 120 years of Liberal Judaism’s history we have created homes for an untold number of Jewish stories. Each one of you reading this today has your own story to tell. I know this because whenever I am in your communities, I hear about another unique journey. Some are beautiful, some heartbreaking, some pragmatic and some accidental. There are those of you who simply knocked on the door of the only community nearby and suddenly found yourselves part of our wonderful extended family. There are those of you who sought out a community where you could be yourself, where same-sex marriage was embraced and equality enshrined. There are those of you who found that Liberal Judaism was the only place that made you and your family welcome, fully including non-Jewish partners in all aspects of community and Jewish life. There are those of you whose children found a home in LJY-Netzer and those of us who found our own homes there back when it was known as ULPSNYC. There are those of you who found us standing next to you on calls for social justice, campaigning for the rights of refugees or the vulnerable or unheard.
You needed a home for your Jewish story and together we built communities for them to rest in. Now we need your help, because we have more to do. In this 120th year of Liberal Judaism we have to think about nurturing and securing a Liberal Judaism for the future. We are asking for you to volunteer and become Ambassadors for Liberal Judaism. For 36 hours, beginning on Sunday 19 June, we will seek to raise £500,000. In order to do this we need you to become LJ Ambassadors, telling your Jewish story to friends, family or anyone who’ll listen, and asking if they can help support Liberal Judaism become the home for the next generation of Jewish stories. Through your help we can continue to present new and inclusive ways to practise Judaism, we can preserve our tradition while radically interpreting it, we can ensure new generations stay connected to their Jewish identity and we can raise up the prophetic voice to campaign widely for social justice. Please remember your story matters. In telling it not only will we be able to ensure other stories can be told, but you never know who will hear it and know they are not alone, that there is a home for their Jewish story too. • To become an LJ Ambassador, please visit www.bringingjudaismhome.org
By Judith King ON 18 February, The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) hosted an Erev Shabbat service, broadcast worldwide, to show solidarity with the Ukrainian Jewish Community. It was organised by Rabbi Igor Zinkov (pictured), whose personal circumstances are closely bound up with both Ukraine and Russia. Rabbi Igor’s introduction outlined how Progressive Judaism in Ukraine goes back to the late 18th century. After a major decline, there was a renaissance following the break-up of the Soviet Union, largely thanks to the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ). The guest speaker was Rabbi Julia Gris, who serves the Progressive Community in Odessa, Shirat ha-Yam. She told us how the hundreds of letters of support she has received from congregations all around the world mean a great deal to her. Julia expressed her deep gratitude and ended her moving talk with a prayer for international understanding. The service also included heartfelt contributions from Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel and WUPJ President Rabbi Sergio Bergman. Those wishing to help can donate to the Ukraine Crisis Fund, set up by the WUPJ, at www.wupj.org/give/ukraine • Page 5: A prayer for Ukraine