November/December 2021
VOL. XLVIII No. 6
Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
www.liberaljudaism.org
ljtoday
Building Homes for the next 120 years By Rabbi Charley Baginsky, CEO of Liberal Judaism
I
N 2022, our movement will be 120 years old and, like Moses at that age, we find a Liberal Judaism whose eyes are not dimmed and whose energy is unabated. This landmark anniversary, and the events we have planned, will allow us not only to celebrate all we have achieved, but to ask ourselves what is next. Over the last 120 years, Liberal Judaism’s achievements are numerous. I have been asking people for their favourites and their answers have ranged from our groundbreaking events to the development of new communities to how we empower our young people. Members mostly take pride in how our movement has been pioneering from the start. That its founders included a young woman, Lily Montagu, was unheard of in 1902 and we have continued to lead the way on inclusion from there.
From the early days of praying partly in English, holding fully egalitarian services and welcoming children of both Jewish mothers and fathers, to our recent successes on same-sex marriage, assisted dying and the inclusion of mixed faith families, Liberal Judaism has lived up to its motto as ‘The Home for Your Jewish Story’. The last two years, in the shadow of the pandemic, have been especially challenging - but there have been glimpses of light through the cracks. One of the major sources of light has been the way in which our communities have come together to collaborate and share, to challenge and support and to care and lift up. As we look forward, I am clear that not only does there remain an essential place for Liberal Judaism in the Jewish community, but that we are actually needed more than ever. This is our moment to reassert who we are.
In our 120th anniversary year we will present a new strategic vision, hold a Day of Celebration (Sunday 1 May) and continue with our incredible collaborative services and education offerings. In February, to mark 120 years from the first ever Liberal service, we will host a huge fundraising campaign. Together with our communities, we will try to raise £300,00 so that we can enact the next steps needed to build the Homes for even more Jewish Stories. This will be a key moment for our movement and I will be calling on you all to help. In his 120th year, Moses stood on the edge of the Promised Land and refused to abandon his ideals. We know too that it can be hard to change even the smallest thing. But as Liberal Jews we have always been committed to making our world a little better because we are in it. Now is the moment to recommit and create the Liberal Judaism that can continue to lead into the next generation. GEORGINA BYE, the CEO of Mitzvah Day, was a very special guest at the Liberal Judaism Community Briefing. Georgina, fresh from launching the day of social action in Parliament (pictured left), was excited to hear about all the plans our communties have. Meanwhile, The South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS) put on an early Mitzvah Day project by tidying their section of Streatham Park Cemetery. Rabbi Nathan Godleman of SLLS said: “A cemetery requires tending, of course, and it was very pleasing to see a dozen members and friends turn out to do just that, on a bright Sunday morning, for what will become a regular event.” Mitzvah Day takes place on Sunday 21 November. Go to mitzvahday.org.uk to get your T-shirts and merchandise.