May/June 2014 VOL. XLI No. 3
Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
www.liberaljudaism.org
ljtoday
Transforming social care
Rabbi Danny Rich (right) with Norman Lamb MP, Minister of State for Care and Support
By Alex Ben-Yehuda
L
IBERAL JUDAISM chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich joined Government Minister Norman Lamb and other faith leaders to sign up to the Citizens UK social care charter at a cross-communal tea party in Parliament Square. The Care in the Square event, which took place on March 31, saw Danny campaign alongside representatives from many different faiths and organisations including Jewish Care and Nightingale Hammerson. Also in attendance were the senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism, Jonathan Wittenberg, representatives from Finchley Reform Synagogue and Charlotte Fischer, Citizens UK’s organiser for the Jewish community. The charter aims to transform the system of social care in this country, and was developed in consultation with adult social care experts and those in receipt of care. Over the past year, volunteers trained by Citizens UK have had faceto-face conversations with thousands of people in and around their communities.
The volunteers heard story after story of people who are worried, frustrated and angry about the poor quality care that their parents or neighbours are receiving and a growing insistence that all carers should be paid a living wage. The campaign is an important one as Liberal Judaism heads towards the Biennial Weekend, which takes place from May 9-11 and is previewed on page 3 of this issue of lj today. A key plank of the charter is about securing proper conditions, including wages and education, for carers, who are overwhelmingly female. In an echo of today’s fight, Liberal Judaism founder Lily Montagu campaigned for better conditions for women in the factories of London more than 100 years ago, as did the first Liberal rabbi – Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck. The theme of the Biennial is the radical roots of Liberal Judaism, as represented by Montagu and Mattuck in particular, and relevant responses to today’s world. Therefore this campaign will represent an important thread running through the programme. Danny, who co-chaired Care in the Square, said: “The issue of the pay of carers is first a personal one, as my late aunt was a recipient of care. Which one of us has not depended on the kindness of other people for either themselves or a relative? But more importantly this is a matter of prophetic justice.”
Jewish services return to York
Youngsters in York take part in Mitzvah Day
LIBERAL JUDAISM is to launch its first community in York, bringing regular services back to the city for the first time since its Orthodox synagogue closed in 1975. York Liberal Jewish Community will be formally launched with a Friday night supper in May. Fortnightly Shabbat morning services will start in June, with children’s activities and Hebrew lessons also planned. Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich attended an explorative supper in February at the home of founding member Ros Clayton, which attracted 20 people. He will also lead the first York service in June. Liberal Judaism will provide other rabbis to take future services throughout the year. Ben Rich, the former chief executive of the Movement for Reform Judaism – who recently moved to York with his family and is supporting the initiative – said: “There is huge potential to build a vibrant community, with over 200 residents self-identifying as Jewish and no doubt many more associated with the city’s two universities and teaching hospital. “For some time there has been an annual Passover Seder and Chanukkah party here and now the York Liberal Jewish Community aims to add to what is already on offer, by providing regular services and a friendly Jewish home to any residents, students and visitors to the City of York who identify as Jewish.” To contact the York community or find out more, email york@liberaljudaism.org
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Comment
May/June 2014
What makes us Jewish? Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein on the things that help us bond as Jews, families and communities HAVING JUST CELEBRATED Pesach, I can’t believe that our ‘new’ Liberal Haggadah is already four years old. Recently I had cause to reflect on a piece in our ‘old’ Haggadah that we decided not to include in the new Haggadah B’chol Dor Va’dor. This was a rabbinic comment on the phrase “there he became a great nation”. The entry read: “The fact that it says ‘nation’ shows that they remained distinctive. On the strength of four virtues were the Israelites redeemed from Egypt: they did not change their names; they did not change their language; they did not speak evil; and they did not give up their moral standards.” As I re-read this, I wondered how true a statement it has been through the ages? Names, we have often changed. Sometimes by order of the civic authority, but from the late 19th century and early 20th of our own free will. My grandfather arrived in South Wales in 1907 on board an empty coal ship – he deserted from the Russian army during the RussoJapanese War – with the surname Vernik, and we are not sure why and when it was changed to Goldstein. My wife’s father changed his name before joining the army in the Second World War, from Spegelstein to Stone. But he is a Cohen, so how and when that morphed into Spegelstein I am sure we will never know. Many reading this will also have experienced family name changing. When it comes to language – after more than 30 years travelling and teaching all over Europe, I still only speak English. Many of the Jews I meet speak Czech or Slovak, and Hungarian and German, and increasingly all speak English. But then I am typically British and “have not changed my language”. Of course, the Midrash was referring to Hebrew as the language that has kept the Jewish people distinct. But the Jews of Central and Eastern Europe, still emerging from decades of oppression under Communist rule, have barely an alef or bet in their vocabulary. It was not names or language that helped them survive, sadly it was often antisemitism itself, hopefully it was something else.
The idea for this article came during a recent visit to a fine National Trust property near Banbury – Upton House. It was the home of the second & third Viscount Bearsted - a large place filled with a great art collection and restored inside and out to give you the experience of a 1930’s English country house. The first Viscount Bearsted was Marcus Samuel, the founder of Shell Oil, who became a multimillionaire. From the many family photographs around the house you would know they looked Jewish, but I could find only one Jewish artefact - a silver memento given to the first Lady Bearsted to mark her laying the foundation stone of a Manchester synagogue. However, beyond the great collection of art, the dominant theme of the house was the family’s devoted interest in field sports: shooting, fishing and hunting. Paintings, photographs and ephemera abounded of their involvement in these “English country” pastimes. Quintessentially English… but hardly typically Jewish! And looking at the later family tree, I suspect there aren’t too many members who identify with and are actively involved in Judaism today. We change our names, we speak the local language and adopt the local customs: what is left that keeps us Jewish? It would be nice to think that it is “because we did not speak evil or give up our moral standards.” But is this enough? Many times, those wishing to convert to Judaism tell me one of their reasons is: “Because of your Friday evening meals, your Passover Seder, your close family life”. Going back to the Midrash, I would add that one of the features that keeps us Jewish and keeps us distinctive is our home rituals of meals around the table, with the added colour that our traditional ceremonies bring to them. They are a force that not only maintain our Jewish identity, but are also a factor in keeping close family or friendship bonds. Those who skip Pesach Seder or abandon Friday night meals and stop lighting candles stand to lose more than their Jewish identity. Such rituals maintain our membership of the clan and bless our personal and family lives. Though they are still months away, time flies; so before you book your autumn break, note that this year Rosh Hashanah is on September 25 and Yom Kippur on October 4. Last year the Jewish holidays were early, this year late – don’t miss out.
Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein is president of Liberal Judaism
Dates for your diary May 9-11 Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend Wokefield Park, Reading y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org June 19 (7.30pm) The Big Living Wage Debate JW3, London, NW3 6ET a.jacobi@liberaljudaism.org June 29 (11am-4pm) Sunday Seminar – Tending the Flock
The Montagu Centre, London, W1T 4BE a.jacobi@liberaljudaism.org July 6 (11am-4pm) Learning Network Seminar Day
The Montagu Centre, London, W1T 4BE a.jacobi@liberaljudaism.org July 20 (11am-4pm) Sunday Seminar – Not Just for Choirs
The Montagu Centre, London, W1T 4BE a.jacobi@liberaljudaism.org August 14 - 27 LJY-Netzer Machaneh Kadimah Sandroyd School, Wiltshire tom@liberaljudaism.org
Campaign of firsts By Sam Grant LIBERAL JUDAISM’S Living Wage campaign is a campaign of firsts. We are the first UK synagogal movement to become accredited as Living Wage Employers and, in February, rabbis from seven Liberal Jewish communities met with Methodist and Catholic ministers to discuss plans for the Living Wage to be rolled out across faith communities. Working with Citizens UK, we are trying to convince Tottenham Hotspur to become the first Premier League football club to go Living Wage and are co-operating with our partners to put pressure on specific retailers to pay their cleaners a dignified salary. The issue is gathering momentum across the political spectrum and we should be proud that we are leading the way. Many of our communities have gained their employer accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation, including South London Liberal Synagogue and Woodford Liberal Synagogue, who were first and second respectively to achieve this. This is just the start. In the words of one of our rabbis, this campaign is about more than getting a shiny plaque, it is about how we can take this issue forward, lead on it and create a fairer society for everyone. To get involved, please email me on sam@liberaljudaism.org
Biennial
May/June 2014
Are you ready for the Biennial? Rabbi Charley Baginsky previews LJ’s flagship event THE FINAL countdown to the Biennial Weekend has begun. With nearly 300 people signed up and one of the most exciting line-ups in Liberal Judaism’s history, it is not surprising that the atmosphere surrounding the preparation for our movement’s flagship event is already electric. Taking place from May 9-11 at Wokefield Park in Reading, a beautiful new venue is not the only addition for 2014. The entire focus of the Biennial programme is based around thinking how we can take Liberal Judaism, as a movement, onwards into the future, without losing those founding principles that make us Liberal Jews. Like Liberal Judaism itself, this conference wants to ensure that it is not just visionary but also provides practical tools for individuals and communities to take back into their home congregations. With this in mind there will be specific spaces to meet and question Liberal Judaism staff, rabbis and lay leaders throughout the weekend. The final session, titled Sunday Afternoon Take Away, will then provide boxes for each congregation to take home with them. There are four sets of workshops over the course of the weekend. The first examines the roots of Liberal Judaism and features sessions such as Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, the president of Liberal Judaism, looking at Jewish education and asking whether there are lessons and ideas from the past that might instruct its future development. Alternatively, you might choose the session run by Charlotte Fischer of Citizens UK entitled ‘Living Wage: the campaign – from Lily Montagu to Martin Luther King and back to Liberal Judaism’, which will examine the idea that a fair wage was being called for by Liberal Judaism founder Lily Montagu more than a century ago. The second set of sessions focuses on how current communities are responding to the issues of the day. A dynamic concert from three of the shining musical stars of Liberal Judaism – Cantor Gershon Silins, Dean Staker and Franklyn Gellnick – is one option. Alternatively, you may wish to listen to Adam Ognall, director of New Israel Fund UK, talk about why a vibrant civil society is key for Israel’s future as a Jewish state. There’s also the chance to meet author and professor Fania Oz, who will be talking about the new book, Jews and Words, she co-authored with her father Amos Oz.
These workshops will be followed by two more sets, focusing on the future and including Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah exploring the idea that we live in a binary world which fails to embrace and celebrate gender diversity and complexity. UJIA’s Robin Moss will explore how Israel can be both a difficult and divisive educational topic as well as an inspiring and identity building one, while Daniel Cainer, the bard of Anglo-Jewry, teams up with Rabbi Pete Tobias to push the boundaries of what music in communities might look like in the coming years. Many of our members will also want to hear Liberal Judaism’s chief executive and chairman – Rabbi Danny Rich and Lucian J Hudson – combine to discuss the future of membership of synagogues. Another innovation for 2014 is the Emerging Leadership Network, which centres on identifying and supporting future leaders of our communities and movements. They will have four workshops designed specifically for them over the weekend, led by Liberal Judaism’s outreach director Rabbi Anna Gerrard, Robin Moss and our keynote speaker Rabbi Jonah Pesner, from America’s Union for Reform Judaism. This is but a small taster of a packed programme in which comedienne Rachel Mars will challenge many of your preconceived ideas about Jewish identity while making you laugh, Colin Heyman of the Hineni Project will talk about how we capture the stories of Jewish communities and individuals and writer/broadcaster Judi Herman will use Commedia dell’arte to find characters and plots to create a futuristic sci-fi scenario for Liberal Judaism. Squeezed in between all of this will be a sermon from Rabbi Andrew Goldstein, the keynote from Rabbi Jonah Pesner, speeches from Rabbis Danny Rich, Lucian J Hudson and me, the Chairman’s Awards, a variety of services and plenty of socialising with friends old and new. And if you’ve not already booked your place on the Biennial Weekend, then don’t worry because it is never too late. The cost is £310 per adult, £100 for children aged 5-16 and £50 for under 5s. This includes two nights’ full board accommodation – with access to the spa, pool and golf course – and all programme materials. There are also day passes available and the chance to stay on. For full details, please contact Yael Shotts on y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org or visit our website www.liberaljudaism.org
LJ Today Page 3
LJY-Netzer’s Biennial Bonanza By Graham Carpenter HERE at LJY-Netzer, Liberal Judaism’s youth movement, we consider ourselves very, very lucky. This spring, not only have we run the fantastic five-day spring camp Machaneh Aviv – see page 11 for the full details and photos – but we also get to go on the Biennial Weekend. Rabbi Charley has previewed the main programme on the left, but did you know that LJY-Netzer will be running our own parallel youth programme? Our schedule is full to bursting and includes: • Engaging informal sessions with key members of our worldwide Progressive Jewish community, including The Liberal Jewish Synagogue’s Rabbi Neil Janes, Charlotte Fischer and, most excitingly, Rabbi Jonah Pesner. • Evenings spent unravelling a time-travelling mystery through the history of Liberal Judaism and beyond to save our future… Doctor Who style. • A family service on the Saturday morning that will show Liberal Judaism congregants of all ages how a classic LJY-Netzer service runs, and which will allow parents to join their children in prayer. We will be using our own inclusive prayer books, song leading, practices and tunes, plus some themed quotes to set the mood. • An inclusive and atmospheric Havdalah for the whole conference on Saturday evening, run by the members of LJY-Netzer. • A classic LJY party to wrap things up, before we all drop in on the main conference at the end to make sure they have not forgotten about us. We have a great mix of year groups already signed up for our Biennial programme and are especially happy for the people that could not make Aviv, but are coming to the Biennial instead. The most important thing though is that there are still places left and we would love to see you all come and join the party!
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News
May/June 2014
Getting away from it all
LIBERAL JUDAISM’S young adult community, Routes, threw its first ever getaway over Purim weekend, staying together for two nights at a lodge among Lee Valley’s beautiful lakes and forest, just outside London. The group of 20/30-somethings, pictured above, celebrated Shabbat with song, prayer, meals and study, before getting into their fancy dress to recount the story of the Purim. There was also the small matter of an epic three-hour Shabbat hike around Lee Valley. Liberal Judaism’s young adult and student chaplain Rabbi Leah Jordan, who organised the weekend along with outreach coordinator Abigail Jacobi, said: “This was a wonderful chance to really gel the Routes community, which meets regularly for Shabbat and evening events, over a whole weekend together. It was a truly lovely group of people, many of whom were getting to know each other
well for the first time. The weekend was full of two key things – lots of laughter and plenty of interesting discussions.” Barry Bryce, a regular Routes-nik, added: “What an amazing weekend and a wonderful way to bond with everyone. Thank you so much to all who came away for making it so good. Now, I can’t wait for the next time!” The energy from the weekend is already being channelled into additional events on the Routes calendar, beyond the regular monthly get-togethers, which will be hosted by Routes-niks themselves. Explore and Reflect, a new fortnightly dinner giving the chance to study and eat together, held its first event on April 3, with the next on April 24 and more to follow after that. Anyone can host an evening, with food subsidised and study provided by Routes. To find out more, or to get involved, please email Leah on leah@liberaljudaism.org
• MEMBERS OF Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS) are mourning the death of David Blain. David, who died aged 80, served BPS as president and chairman, sang in the choir, regularly welcomed visitors and played a leading part in planning the building of the synagogue. At the funeral service, Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi paid tribute to his dedication and loyalty. David and his widow, Neva, had been married for more than 50 years.
• SOUTH LONDON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE may now have the youngest council in the country, after electing five new synagogue council members all under the age of 35. Rabbi Janet Darley said the election results showed that younger Jews were prepared to get involved in Jewish life, despite fears to the contrary. She added: “I am looking forward to the next few years with this committed, knowledgeable and energetic council.”
• MORE THAN 70 members and friends of Woodford Liberal Synagogue gathered for a delicious tea and musical entertainment from Hannah Jacobi, Rabbi Richard Jacobi’s daughter, and Chris South, the community’s regular organist. Hannah and Chris performed well known pieces of jazz from the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s, as well as some modern theatrical treats.
• DOES Liberal Judaism agree that those who are terminally ill and suffering greatly should be allowed to end their life under medical supervision? Find out by joining the public debate, open to all, at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, London, NW8 7HA, on Thursday April 24 at 7.30pm. For further details, please visit www.ljs.org
Suffolk steps up By Beverley Levy IT ALL BEGAN 10 years ago, when a few of us were standing in Colchester Synagogue on Rosh Hashanah. It struck us that we had all travelled from Ipswich to attend, so the suggestion was maybe we could start a small group in Ipswich for cheesecake, kalooki, prayer and chat. We contacted Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, who was then the outreach director of Liberal Judaism, and he got us started with a Tu Bishvat celebration in Felixstowe on a windy grey Sunday. We soon became a developing congregation under the auspices of Liberal Judaism, and I’m very pleased to report that last month Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community became an associate member of LJ. We have monthly Shabbat services and also celebrate major festivals. We are currently supported by Rabbi Sandra Kviat, who visits four times a year. We also have an experienced local lay leader, Nick Feldman, who leads prayers if we do not have a visiting rabbi. We do not have a fixed base and hold services in local churches and village halls. Jewish people who come to live in Suffolk generally arrive not expecting to be able to practice their religion. Our nearest synagogues are more than an hour away. There is evidence of a Jewish community being here in the 19th century, but the last local synagogue was demolished in 1877. Most Jewish people who do live here are in a mixed faith relationship and children are brought up predominantly with secular values. From our beginning we have been supported by Liberal Judaism. The steady stream of student rabbis and rabbis visiting us from the movement has energised our congregation. This support has helped us feel a lot less isolated in our Jewishness and provided a feasible model for a fragmented community. Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community is very friendly and keen to welcome new members. If you, or someone you know, lives in the area please contact me on sjc@liberaljudaism.org or 01473 250797.
THE CHOIR from Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue enjoyed an ‘away day’ in Kent, which included singing for Kent Liberal Jewish Community.
Equality
May/June 2014
LJ Today Page 5
How we won the struggle for equal marriage Alex Ben-Yehuda on the culmination of almost two decades of LJ campaigning SATURDAY MARCH 29 was a historic day for our movement and our country. It was the day that finally saw the culmination of a long struggle for equality, when the first same-sex couples were able to get married in England and Wales. Liberal Judaism has played a significant part in this fight for equal marriage, which can be traced back to the pioneering sermons of Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah in 1996. These led to the formation of Liberal Judaism’s same-sex couples working party, which included Rabbi Danny Rich (now chief executive of Liberal Judaism), as well as Rabbi Elli and Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi. In 2005, Liberal Judaism became the first denomination in the UK to publish official liturgy for blessing same-sex partnerships. Brit Ahava (Covenant of Love) is a suggested service full of readings, both traditional and modern, that couples could choose from in order to build a meaningful ceremony to celebrate their love and commitment. Later that year, the UK legalised civil partnerships, which were a tentative halfway house between discrimination and full equality. Under the Civil Partnership Act, Jewish couples wishing to avail themselves of this institution would have to undergo two separate ceremonies in two separate locations, since religious language and symbols were banned at civil partnership ceremonies. This frequently involved the couple becoming civilly-partnered at a town hall, before travelling to a different venue for the chuppah. Liberal Judaism found this situation unacceptable and discriminatory, because it denied the right of same-sex couples to be legally wed under the religious auspices to which they adhered. Moreover, it prevented clergy who believed in equality from fully exercising their religious freedom, because they were banned from officiating over marriages where both parties were of the same sex. In 2010, the fight for equality moved a small step further with the introduction of the Equality Act, which among many other things paved the way for civil partnership ceremonies to take place on religious premises. This new provision was a step in the right direction, but it still represented an inadequate and, above all, unequal halfway house. During this period, Lynne Featherstone MP launched a consultation with religious groups, inviting them to give their views on these changes.
Tania Ward and Nicola Pettit enjoy the first dance at the wedding party after their ceremony
Needless to say, Liberal Judaism was involved heavily at this stage, propelled by the fearless commitment of then joint-chair of Rabbinic Conference, Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, who attended several consultation meetings and argued strongly in favour not only of his own religious freedom as a rabbi, but of the rights of all couples and all religions to marry according to their own tradition. It was during this period that we began to form a close working relationship with the Quakers and Unitarians, the two other faith groups in the country that supported equal marriage at that time. In March of 2012, Rabbi Aaron published a stunning comment piece in the Pink News, in which he said that: “Britain must stop fudging its way to equality and let religions marry gay couples.” It seemed, finally, that the Government was beginning to listen to what Liberal Judaism, the Quakers and Unitarians were saying. The Government had just launched its consultation on ‘Equal Civil Marriage in the UK’, and LJ was again vociferous in pleading for equal religious marriage too, for those religions for whom equality mattered. Rabbi Danny Rich gave passionate evidence at the committee stage of the Bill, arguing above all that equal marriage is “a matter of justice”. The Movement for Reform Judaism soon announced it too now supported equal marriage and the collective cry for equality that our four religious movements raised was finally heard in July 2013 when the Government announced that it would be bringing in equal marriage, with provision for faith groups who believed in equality to be able to officiate at such marriages. The first same-sex marriages took place in England and Wales on March 29, 2014. They are expected to begin in Scotland in the autumn of this year, but there is currently no such provision in place for Northern Ireland.
The first marriage involving Liberal Jewish elements also took place on March 29, when Nicola Pettit, who is Jewish, married Tania Ward, who is not. The couple had a civil marriage ceremony at a town hall and then had a religious ceremony officiated by Rabbi Janet Darley, who stood in for Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah due to the latter’s ill health. The story was reported very widely in the local, Jewish, national and international press, with well over 30 mentions of Liberal Judaism including in the Daily Telegraph, Independent, Jewish Chronicle, Jewish Daily Forward and Haaretz, among many others. Rabbi Janet said: “It was an incredible privilege to officiate at a blessing for this couple on this historic day. Every chance we have to signal that we value and respect loving, committed relationships makes a difference in society and supports those who themselves may still be facing difficult times with family acceptance or struggling to accept and value themselves. “When Vince and I married, we spilled out some of the wine from the Kiddush cup and offered this prayer: ‘Blessed are you Eternal One our God, Source of Life, who enables us to strive toward the devotion of Jonathan and David, the life-sharing of Ruth and Naomi and the commitment of Jacob and Rachel. May the time come soon when the voices of all lovers, the music of all friendships, will rise up to be heard and celebrated in the gates of all the cities of the world. May the time come soon when all can drink a full cup of joy.’ We have now taken another step closer to that time.” Rabbi Danny Rich added: “I was surprised how moved I was – and how proud of the Liberal Judaism contribution too – when I realised that this piece of legal history meant so much to so many. This social change is symbolic of a society which celebrates loving relationships, and does so without prejudice.”
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May/June 2014
Around the commun
Woodford Liberal Synagogue had a huge fancy dress party, with the spiel set in a well-known fictitious East End pub - the name of which changed frequently to reflect the changing fortunes of Esther
Nottingham Liberal Synagogue staged The Rocky Challah Purim Show, written/directed by Mike Sacker, featuring 40 members of all ages performing a riotous and humorous musical extravaganza
Purim at Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue truly had something for everyone – activities, songs, a service and Megillah reading, fancy dress and lots of hamantaschen and veggie food
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue’s high energy celebration of Purim began with a Megillah reading, followed by dancing and partying to the ‘greatest band in north west London’ - The Sound of the Suburb
Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue’s 145 cheder children prepared and led the Shabbat Purim service, before engaging in a fancy dress parade and noshing the hamantaschen they had made
The members of Tikvah Chadasha (Brentwood) spent this year’s Purim in pyjamas and onesies. The service was followed by a sleepover, supervised by Natasha Radford and Amanda Burke
The children at Finchley Progressive Synagogue enjoyed a Megillah reading that saw the adults put on their dressing gowns and towels for a new twist on the Book of Esther, as well as a community feast
The Crouch End Chavurah celebrated Purim in style with numerous crafts and food stations, a fancy dress parade with more than 50 children taking part and a Purim spiel acted out “silent movie style”
May/June 2014
LJ Today Page 7
nities - Purim 5774
Members of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue re-enacted the traditional story of Purim, which was followed by jelly and ice cream for all the children (and adults) who came along to join in the fun
Rabbi Lisa Barrett led her final service at the North Herts Liberal Jewish Community, as Purim was celebrated with lots of noise from the congregation, including children from the brand new cheder
The community at the Liberal Synagogue Elstree celebrated Purim in their usual unique fashion with a big sing-along. Children of all ages came in fancy dress outfits to eat, sing and have lots of fun
Manchester Liberal Jewish Community combined fundraising and Purim by auctioning parts of the Book of Esther – with the highest bidder getting to read their chosen part and act out the character
The family service and party at Kingston Liberal Synagogue featured a Purim Parade, hamantaschen baking session, a mammoth game of pass the Purim parcel and even Purim-themed bingo
Sixty people attended the fantastic South London Liberal Synagogue Purim spiel and party, where food was collected for the Brixton food bank and money raised for SLLS’ twinned congregation in Vitebsk
Bet Tikvah Synagogue doubled up on Purim celebrations this year. After Havdalah, on the Saturday night, the community read the Megillah, knocked back the whisky and wildly applauded a totally off-the-wall Purim spiel with the title Tweet the Megillah. On the sunny Sunday afternoon that followed, the synagogue hosted a packed and very raucous Purim party for the children with plenty of delicious hamantaschen
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Books
May/June 2014
A treasure box of the Jewish people THE STORY OF THE JEWS by Rabbi Dr David J Goldberg, Andre Deutsch, £22-35 Reviewed by Rabbi Walter Homolka
YOU WALK INTO the bookshops of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem or the Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv and there it is, right at the entrance in prominent piles – David Goldberg’s The Story of the Jews. It is not a book really, more a treasure box of the Jewish people - in a preciously illuminated slipcase that immediately draws your attention to this festival of the Jewish existence.
The author summarises this miracle of genius and the survival of a remarkable people in 24 cleverly chosen chapters: how in the last 3,500 years we provoked curiosity, stimulated admiration and exerted an influence out of all proportion to our numbers. David Goldberg invites us to come on a most fascinating trip through this history when Jews contributed significantly to every country that permitted them to settle: from Ashkenazic Poland to the Ottoman lands. It is also a tale of prejudice and oppression, culminating in the Nazi Holocaust in which six million perished. David allows the reader to reflect on this, as well as on the re-emergence of the State of Israel as the Jewish homeland. The book presents us with the diversity of Jewish culture and makes us aware of our history in an unprecedented way, by including 15 rare facsimile documents which can be taken out and appreciated in their own right. They include illuminated manuscripts and ancient decrees, a precious ketubah, important letters and
music compositions, diary excerpts and David Ben-Gurion’s original speech to declare the independence of the State of Israel. This gives a unique added value to the book, especially for anybody who would like to teach Jewish history. At the same time, the book is unbelievably elaborate in its illustrations – giving the reader a feast of colours and impressions that make it easy to feel drawn in. This is a sensitive compilation that also accommodates the Liberal Jew, a state of the art book, a treasure box that can make us proud of our achievements and a perfect present for any happy occasion. I bought mine at Yad Vashem – and it actually soothed my pain after being confronted with the Shoa, for I could appreciate that after catastrophe the Jewish people saw hope and glory again.
Rabbi Walter Homolka PhD DHL is professor of modern Jewish thought at the School of Jewish Theology of the University of Potsdam (Germany) and the rector of the Abraham Geiger College
Liberal Judaism, The Montagu Centre, 21 Maple Street, London, W1T 4BE Registered Charity: 1151090
SUNDAY SEMINARS
At the Montagu Centre Sundays 11am - 4pm
June 29
Tending the Flock
Seminars are free to members of Liberal Judaism communities
July 20
Not Just for Choirs
We welcome a £5 donation towards the cost of a light lunch.
September 7
Finding the Flocks
Booking in advance is essential.
November 9
When We Talk About Israel
January 11
People not Programmes
Contact Abigail Jacobi to confirm your place or for further information a.jacobi@liberaljudaism.org
Helping and caring for each other is an important part of community - avoid this becoming a burden on a handful of people by creating and maintaining a structured care team within your Synagogue. Explore music written for choirs but great for any size of singing congregation. Familiar and completely new pieces - try them out and learn to use choral music to enrich your community. We all want our communities to grow and we know there are unaffiliated Jews around who might love our Judaism, so how do we get the word out and the people in? How do we discuss the difficult and emotive subject of Israel in our communities without losing our heads? Learn and discuss how to introduce meaningful and respectful dialogue on the Jewish State.
Use the tools of ‘Community Organising’ to affect change in your community - strengthen the relational power of the leadership, engage others in decision making and encourage action!
Chairman’s Actions
May/June 2014
LJ Today Page 9
The shooting of Stern and the birth of Israel Lucian J Hudson reports on his illuminating chat with the author and historian Patrick Bishop BECAUSE OF my experience at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, as well as my engagement with Israel as the chairman of Liberal Judaism, I was invited to interview Patrick Bishop at April’s Oxford Literary Festival. Patrick is a critically acclaimed military historian and author, who was also the Middle East correspondent for the Daily Telegraph. He is best known for his fast-paced books Fighter Boys, 3 Para and Target Tirpitz, which depict danger and bravery. As well as his eye for detail and rigorous research, what I most enjoy about Patrick’s books is how he conveys motivation and emotion with restraint and even-handedness. His latest work is a compelling factual account of the fatal police shooting of the militant Zionist Avraham Stern in 1942. The Reckoning tells the story of this controversial encounter that hastened the end of British rule and turned Stern, who had become a pariah even in the eyes of other hardline Zionists, into a martyr.
Stern was wanted by the authorities as the leader of a murderous gang that bore his name. He was responsible for a series of armed robberies. He even tried to forge alliances with Mussolini’s Italy and Hitler’s Germany to get them to send their unwanted Jews to Palestine, so as to form an army to fight the British. From an early age, Stern saw himself as a man of destiny, though there was little to indicate at first he would face such a bloody end. He was a talented linguist, poet and scholar. He was also a dandy, with a penchant for silk socks even when on the run from the police. Under the lead of assistant superintendent Geoffrey Morton, a highly regarded member of the Palestine Police, detectives finally hunted down Stern in 1942, discovering him hiding in a flat in a poor part of Tel Aviv. Because the facts of his shooting were disputed – did he evade arrest or was he shot in cold blood? – Stern was to prove even more dangerous dead than alive. Although not immediate, reaction to his shooting added to a growing hostility to the authorities, especially in their clinical implementation of tight immigration rules that kept out Jewish refugees from war-torn Europe. Hardline Zionists, who included future Israeli Prime Ministers Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir, gathered support in their violent opposition to British rule.
Alongside other political and diplomatic efforts, this eventually contributed to an exhausted Britain ending its mandate and handing over to the United Nations. During our interview, Patrick told me that his experience as a journalist had exposed him to the reality of battle. It had made him understand fear, how people react under pressure and how groups come to enjoy a spirit of camaraderie. He described himself as an “old school” Daily Telegraph journalist. Reporting the facts was paramount, and opinions were not encouraged. He said the functions of journalists and historians are similar... to strive for objectivity. Interviewing Patrick made me reflect on this thought ahead of our movement’s Biennial Weekend. The liberal tradition with a small “l” owes much to a reverence for truth and appreciation of different perspectives. Empathy is different from sympathy: one can learn from truly trying to understand others without necessarily taking sides. Liberal Judaism will often have to take sides, but not at the expense of exercising critical judgment. Justice and compassion can coexist. There lies better understanding of the human condition, and the possibility of progress.
Lucian J Hudson is chairman of Liberal Judaism and the former director of communications at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Celebrating a decade of giving IT IS now more than 10 years since North London Progressive Synagogue closed, after a history of 80 years. Virtually all of its 400 members, who were scattered around and beyond London, transferred to another Liberal Judaism community. Following the closure, a trust was set up with the same objective as that of the former synagogue - the advancement of Progressive Judaism - and was named the NLPS Trust for Progressive Judaism. Every six months, in spring and autumn, the trustees meet to consider applications for grants, nearly all from UK applicants but occasionally also from continental Europe or the Former Soviet Union (FSU). Their experience of the first few years convinced the trustees that the NLPS Trust’s objective would most effectively be met by supporting Progressive Judaism over an extended period, rather than distributing the whole fund rapidly.
The Trust’s investment policy was developed to support this aim and has so far succeeded in increasing both income and capital at least in line with inflation. To date, 138 grants have been awarded amounting in total to more than £500,000. The smallest grant has been under £200 and the largest £27,000. The average grant given is £2,500. Each of the six current trustees - the Trust Deed allows a maximum of seven - is a member of a different Liberal community and, to avoid bias, may not participate in any decision relating to an application from his/her own synagogue. Four trustees are from the London area and two from the provinces. A trustee is expected to serve for a term of three
years and may be invited to serve for a maximum of three successive terms. Any new appointment requires the unanimous approval of the other trustees. Because the Trust Deed limits the number of years a trustee may serve, new trustees need to be appointed from time to time. Collectively, the present trustees have expertise in law, finance, business, education, architecture and medicine and experience of working in synagogue management, Liberal Judaism and the European Union for Progressive Judaism. If you are interested in becoming a trustee, or you feel that there is a member of your community who would be keen, please get in contact by emailing admin@nlpstrust.org.uk
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Outreach
May/June 2014
Outreach Team Bulletin Board TO ADD something special to our young people’s Seders this year, we sent out 160 Pesach packs to members aged 18-25, pictured below. Each pack included a beautiful new Haggadah, some chocolate frogs and greetings from LJY-Netzer and Rabbi Leah, Liberal Judaism’s student and young adult chaplain. To enrich the social justice themes of the Pesach story, the pack also included an insert about Liberal Judaism’s commitment to the campaign for a Living Wage. The Montagu Centre
FOR THE last year, I have been visiting Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation. It has been a time of great transition for this busy community, who said goodbye to their former rabbi, Charles Middleburgh, more than two years ago. As I come towards the end of my own very enjoyable term, I am excited to be working with the community on a recruitment plan that may even see a ‘live-in’ rabbi on the Emerald Isle. Rabbi Anna a.gerrard@liberaljudaism.org
I PARTICIPATED in Broadmoor Hospital’s 150th Anniversary event in February, taking part in the dedication of a time capsule, together with representatives from other faiths, staff, patients and visitors. It was inspiring to meet other chaplains and to talk with patients, who were being transferred to lower security institutions. It was a very different congregation than I am used to, but one full of hope and promise. Rabbi Sandra s.kviat@liberaljudaism.org
IN A welcome departure from the norm, the younger members of Norwich Liberal Jewish Community – all aged between 13 and 17 – took the main parts of a Shabbat service. They had spent two months together practicing and preparing the Hebrew, often at home with their families and sometimes one on one with me. Seeing them take the service, as the next step in their Jewish life, made it an especially joyful Shabbat. Rabbi Leah l.jordan@ liberaljudaism.org
IT HAS BEEN another busy period, packed with community visits. The Purim activities at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue stand out as showing how the festival should be celebrated. A group of young leaders I have been training ran an activity called ‘Project Esther Runway’, which involved kids racing against time to claim the title of Shushan’s top fashion designer using bin bags, cardboard and masking tape, pictured below. Sam s.grant@ liberaljudaism.org
I TOOK services at the Lincolnshire Jewish Community this month. We had a very well attended Kabbalat Shabbat, which continued on into the night with a wonderful array of food, and a fun Saturday morning service with both regulars and new faces. I’ll be back in Lincoln on July 18-19, for a special musical Shabbat featuring Cantor Lisa Levine, a cantor, composer, author and worship artist known throughout the United States. Cantor Gershon g.silins@liberaljudaism.org
Youth
May/June 2014
LJ Today Page 11
LJY-Netzer is Liberal Judaism’s Zionist youth movement. It gives young people the opportunity to develop a strong Progressive Jewish identity, make lasting friendships and have loads of fun
Postcard from Aviv WOW! So that was Machaneh Aviv 5774. What a week we’ve had - everything from paint fights to film nights, with lots of learning, prayers and campwide games in-between. When the coaches arrived at spring camp EARLY, for the first time ever, we knew we were off to a great start. As always, Aviv began with ice-breaker games, mingling and getting to know friends old and new, before everyone snuggled up with popcorn and sleeping bags for this spring’s special LJYNetzer movie premiere. The next few days were a blur of activity. Wednesday saw camp wide sessions including swimming, friendship bracelet making and superhero appreciation, with members also breaking off into year groups for painting, den-making and song-writing. Thursday saw a real Aviv highlight, as we formed teams for a huge game where you only had water balloons to defend your bases. There was also cookery, musical improvisation and
discussions on our theme of the year ‘Ani va’ata neshaneh et ha’olam’ (‘you and I shall change the world’). Friday was spent preparing for Shabbat, with everyone praying together that evening in a beautiful Kabbalat Shabbat service, before eating a delicious dinner. We ended the evening in traditional LJY-Netzer fashion – by singing at the top of our voices to celebrate Shabbat. Saturday again saw the year groups split up and undertake a diverse range of activities covering sport, history, philosophy and a space-themed game of astronauts and crosses. The traditional last night show – featuring singing, comedy and piano-playing – and disco followed. Onto the last day and a wonderful ceremony brought Machaneh Aviv 5774 to a close. Emotions were high as we waved goodbye to all our friends but then we remembered it’s the nearly the summer and that can only mean one thing… MACHANEH KADIMAH!
MACHANEH AVIV is over, but don’t let that get you down as LJY-Netzer has many more events coming up. First up in May is the LJY-Netzer Biennial Bonanza, which you can read all about on page 3. Then it’s onto the summer and the Bogrim Tour to Barcelona and S.O.S for our older members, our largest Israel Tour in years, our Europe Tour for 17-year-olds and, of course, the eternal Machaneh Kadimah summer camp. To find out more, check out www.ljy-netzer.org or get in touch, our e-mails are below.
Contact the LJY-Netzer team: Graham Carpenter (graham@liberaljudaism.org), Tom Francies (tom@ liberaljudaism.org) and Bethany Stone (bethany@liberaljudaism.org); office telephone 020 7631 0584
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May/June 2014
Liberal Judaism congregations Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue T: 01234 218 387 E: bedsps@liberaljudaism.org W: bedfordshire-ps.org.uk
Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community T: 0131 777 8024 E: info@eljc.org W: eljc.org
Beit Klal Yisrael (Notting Hill) E: bkymailing@gmail.com W: bky.org.uk
Finchley Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8446 4063 E: fps@liberaljudaism.org W: fps.org
Bet Tikvah Synagogue (Barkingside) T: 020 8554 9682 E: bttkv@liberaljudaism.org W: bettikvah.blogspot.co.uk Birmingham Progressive Synagogue T: 0121 634 3888 E: bps@liberaljudaism.org W: bpsjudaism.com Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue T: 01273 737 223 E: bhps@liberaljudaism.org W: bhps-online.org Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation E: bwpjc@bwpjc.org W: bwpjc.org Crouch End Chavurah E: info@crouchendchavurah.co.uk W: crouchendchavurah.co.uk Crawley Jewish Community T: 01293 534 294 Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation E: djpc@liberaljudaism.org W: djpcireland.com
Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community T: 01242 609 311 E: shalom@gljc.org.uk W: gljc.org.uk Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8864 5323 E: hwps@liberaljudaism.org W: hwps.org Herefordshire Jewish Community T: 01594 530 721 E: hjc@liberaljudaism.org W: herefordshirejc.org Kehillah North London T: 020 7403 3779 E: knl@liberaljudaism.org W: nlpjc.org.uk Kent Liberal Jewish Community T: 07952 242432 E: kljc@liberaljudaism.org W: tinyurl.com/kentljc Kingston Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8398 7400 E: kls@liberaljudaism.org W: klsonline.org
Ealing Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8997 0528 E: els@liberaljudaism.org W: ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk
Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation T: 0116 271 5584 E: lpjc@liberaljudaism.org W: lpjc.org.uk
Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community T: 01323 725 650 E: eljc@liberaljudaism.org W: eljc.org.uk
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (St John’s Wood) T: 020 7286 5181 E: ljs@liberaljudaism.org W: ljs.org
The Montagu Centre 21 Maple Street London, W1T 4BE T: 020 7580 1663 E: montagu@liberaljudaism.org W: liberaljudaism.org
Liberal Judaism is the dynamic, cutting edge of modern Judaism. It reverences Jewish tradition, seeking to preserve the values of the past, while giving them contemporary force. Charity Number: 1151090
lj today is edited by Simon Rothstein Send your news to ljtoday@liberaljudaism.org Printed by Precision Printing. www.precisionprinting.co.uk
The Liberal Synagogue Elstree T: 020 8953 8889 E: tlse@liberaljudaism.org W: tlse.org.uk Lincolnshire Jewish Community T: 01427 628 958 E: ljc@liberaljudaism.org W: lincolnshirejc.co.uk Manchester Liberal Jewish Community T: 08432 084 441 E: mljc@liberaljudaism.org W: mljc.org.uk North Herts Liberal Jewish Community (Stevenage) T: 01438 300 222 E: northhertsljc@gmail.com W: northhertsljc.org Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue T: 01923 822 592 E: npls@liberaljudaism.org W: npls.org.uk Norwich Liberal Jewish Community E: nljc@liberaljudaism.org W: pjcea.org.uk Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation T: 0115 962 4761 E: npjc@liberaljudaism.org W: npjc.org.uk Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community T: 020 7631 9822 E: pljc@liberaljudaism.org W: pljc.org.uk Reading Liberal Jewish Community T: 0118 942 8022 E: rljc@liberaljudaism.org Shenfield & Brentwood Synagogue T: 01277 888 610 E: tikvahchadasha@gmail.com W: roshtikvah.com
South Bucks Jewish Community T: 0845 644 2370 E: sbjc@liberaljudaism.org W: sbjc.org.uk South London Liberal Synagogue (Streatham) T: 020 8769 4787 E: slls@liberaljudaism.org W: southlondon.org Southgate Progressive Synagogue T: 020 8886 0977 E: sps@liberaljudaism.org W: sps.uk.com Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (Ipswich) T:01473 250 797 E: sjc@liberaljudaism.org Wessex Liberal Jewish Community (Bournemouth) T: 01202 757 590 E: info@wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk W: wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk West Central Liberal Synagogue (Central London) T: 020 7636 7627 E: wcls@liberaljudaism.org W: wcls.org.uk Woodford Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8989 7619 E: info@woodfordliberal.org.uk W: woodfordliberal.org.uk Developing communities The Liberal Jewish Community of Weymouth, Portland and West Dorset E: wpwd@liberaljudaism.org York Liberal Jewish Community E: york@liberaljudaism.org Affiliated congregations Beit Ha’Chidush (Amsterdam) T: 00 31 23 524 7204 E: bhc.informatie@gmail.com W: beithachidush.nl Oxford Jewish Congregation T: 01865 514 356 W: ojc-online.org
President Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein Chairman Lucian J Hudson Vice Chairs Simon Benscher and Jackie Richards Finance David Pelham Israel and the Diaspora Tamara Schmidt Communications Ed Herman Social Justice Amelia Viney Youth and Education Robin Moss National Officers Dr Howard Cohen, Rosie Comb, David Hockman, Gillian Merron and Ruth Seager Vice Presidents Monique Blake, Henry Cohn, Nigel Cole, Geoffrey Davis, Lord Stanley Fink, Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, Sharon Goldstein, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, Jeremy Jessel, Willie Kessler, David Lipman, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker, Harold Sanderson, Joan Shopper, Beverley Taylor and Clive Winston Chair of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Charley Baginsky Chief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Outreach Director Rabbi Anna Gerrard Communities Youth Coordinator Sam Grant Outreach Coordinator Abigail Jacobi Student & Young Adult Chaplain Rabbi Leah Jordan Education Rabbi Sandra Kviat Music Cantor Gershon Silins Interfaith Rabbi Mark Solomon Operations Director Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer PR Alexandra Ben-Yehuda Archivist Alison Turner LJY-Netzer Movement Workers Graham Carpenter, Tom Francies and Bethany Stone