March/April 2007
VOL. XXXIV No. 2
ljtoday
New Midlands Centre for Liberal Judaism Birmingham Progressive Synagogue’s dream of a new home is becoming a reality, with work having begun on the foundations of a building in Bishopsgate Street. BPS erected its first synagogue building in 1938, in Sheepcote Street, which was demolished last year. The new building, designed to meet the needs of the expanding community, is on a site not far from Sheepcote Street. The building will be much more than just a synagogue: it will also house the Midlands Centre for Liberal Judaism, where Jews of all backgrounds, from
across the region and beyond, can share common ground. It is hoped that the centre will be a hub of artistic and cultural events and a place for interfaith dialogue and activities. Plans drawn by the BPS chairman, Keith Reynolds, an architect, were used as a basis for the finished designs. The building will have a fully equipped function room and areas for both cheder and adult education. In addition to a large sanctuary, there will be a second, adaptable area for smaller services. Invitations to tender for the design of a new ark and bimah are opening exciting
Sixteen survivors gave talks during the sixth annual Holocaust Memorial Day Event run jointly by Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue and Northwood Synagogue. One of the survivors, Josef Perl, 76 – who was in eight camps – said: ‘Today we hand over the future of the world to you young people. You can do what you like with it – we beg you not to make the mistakes of the past, but to make the world a better place in which all people can live in freedom and without fear.’ The four-day event was set up by the rabbis of the two synagogues, Dr Andrew Goldstein and Dr Naftali Brawer. This year, Kingston Liberal Synagogue also ran an event jointly with a United synagogue. Telling the children, page 6
Rabbi Danny Rich, right, with BPS chairman Keith Reynolds at the Bishopsgate Street site in January
possibilities to create a truly beautiful space. The community hopes to move in by mid-2008. Spotlight on Birmingham, page 9
Three new staff
Sharon Green
Six years of joint remembrance
Frank Maxwell
Lucy Tobias reports on Birmingham’s building project
Pupils light memorial candles at the opening of the four-day Northwood HMD Event
Liberal Judaism welcomes three new members of staff to work in newly created posts. Student rabbi Richard Jacobi joins as social action co-ordinator, Josh Watts-Lassman is youth clubs outreach fieldworker and Anwen Grant is administrator, chief executive’s office. All three posts have been funded from outside of congregation affiliation fees. The youth club post is part-funded by the Jewish Youth Trust, which acknowledged the work Liberal Judaism is doing with young people excluded by halachah or geography. The rest of the post and the other two posts are funded by the Council of Patrons. Rabbi Danny Rich said: ‘The appointment of Richard Jacobi is significant in that, if the movement is to fulfil its commitment to prophetic Judaism, it needed to expand its work in bringing the Liberal Jewish voice to the problems of the world.’