July/August 2008
VOL. XXXV No. 4
ljtoday
A constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
Gathered to give thanks Three hundred people attend a joint service at the LJS for Israel’s 60th
John Rifkin
Rabbis and congregants from synagogues across central London attended a Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration for Israel at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue. At the service, in May, guest preacher Rabbi Michael Boyden described the rebirth of the Jewish state as a 'miracle'. A graduate of Leo Baeck College, Rabbi Boyden made aliyah in 1985 with his wife and two children and has founded two communities in Israel. He said: ‘For me to be able to live out my life there is a privilege. It isn’t perfect, the dream of Yerushalyaim shel mala [Jerusalem on high] is yet to be achieved, but it is on its way.’ Organisations represented at the service included: Liberal Judaism; the Movement for Reform Judaism; Leo Baeck College; and West London, Belsize
Rabbi Michael Boyden (centre front) is flanked by Rabbi Mark Solomon and Rabbi Alexandra Wright of the LJS and surrounded by others who took part in the Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration
Square, Westminster and New London Synagogues. Clerics from other faiths also took part: Imam Abduljalil Sajid, of the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony, and the Reverend Elizabeth Griffiths, of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Rabbi Boyden said of Israel: ‘Out of the ashes of the Holocaust we have developed a country in which, for the first
More competitive than a test match It is summer and the air in St John’s Wood Road, home to Lord’s Cricket Ground, is thick with pre-match tension. Each team longs to lift the hallowed trophy. The sound this June afternoon though was not leather on willow but silver on china: teas were being stirred, cakes nibbled and pencils gnawed at this year’s inter-synagogue quiz, hosted by 2007 winners The Liberal Jewish Synagogue. Seventeen communities took part. The
LJS exhausted much of its competitive energy on making and serving tea – a situation appreciated by the other teams – and after three hours of conferring and kvetching Finchley emerged as top scorer, winning the Geoffrey Davis cup (left), with Harrow in second place. Man of the match: Rabbi (and MC) Mark Solomon. Mazal tov: to all the teams for their ruach (spirit).
time in history, Jews, Christians and Muslims can live side by side together... When Israel F16s flew over Auschwitz five years ago during the [educational programme] March of the Living, I felt proud and thankful that as a people we are no longer helpless.’ Rabbi Boyden dedicated his address to his son, Yonatan, who was killed on active service in Lebanon 15 years ago.
In this issue News and ‘Around the Communities’
2-3
‘Chuppahs only for weddings’ Responses to Rabbi Berry 4-5 Disaster stations By Paul Anticoni, World Jewish Relief
8
35 years of the 35s
9
Book reviews
10
Page 2 LJ Today
July/August 2008
Movement unites Liberal and Orthodox It all began at a UJIA (United Jewish Israel Appeal) dinner. The klezmer group Shir were playing at the event, organised jointly by Ealing Liberal Synagogue (ELS) and the local United shul, in Grange Road. When a group of ELS women jumped on to the dance floor, they were joined by a few of the Grange Road women. Afterwards, the Liberal women were approached by two of those from the United shul, who asked if they had an Israeli dance class. The answer was no,
Carole Orgell-Rosen on the Ealing Israeli dance group so members from ELS and women from Grange Road joined forces to create one. From their simple love of dancing came something special: the Ealing Israeli Dance Group. They found a wonderful teacher, Annette Leon, and began to meet weekly, alternating classes with practice
Shofar blasts show the way by Orlando de Lange Five Liberal Jews blew the five shofarim that kicked off the Journey to Justice event in Birmingham on Shabbat Behar (15 May/12 Iyar). The Torah portion outlines the obligations of the Israelites that occur every 50 years with the Jubilee year: all property and land must be restored to original owners and all debts must be forgiven. Rabbi Janet Burden, rabbi of West Central and Ealing synagogues, and many members of Birmingham Progressive were among the 1,000 or so campaigners at the event at Birmingham International Conference Centre. According to the Torah, the Jubilee should be heralded with the blast of the
shofar, and indeed the mighty blasts resounded around the conference centre. So, too, we called on our government and other Western governments to cancel the unfair and crippling debts being carried by developing countries. Among the speakers was Steve Miller, who was chair of the Make Poverty History Jewish Coalition. There were video messages from Gordon Brown and Archbishop Desmund Tutu. The total external debt of the very poorest countries was £180 billion in 2005. In that year, these countries paid £64 million a day to the rich world in debt service. These payments hold back spending on healthcare and education. To find out more about the Debt Crisis and what you can do, visit www. jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk.
SOCIAL ACTION DAY Sunday 13 July at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue: The Midlands Centre for Liberal Judaism Bishopsgate Street, Roseland Way, Birmingham B15 1HD This will be a day of film, workshops and discussion, 10.30am to 4.30pm Keynote speaker: Shahid Malik, minister for international development Contact Rabbi Margaret Jacobi at office@ bps-pro-syn.co.uk or the Montagu Centre to book travel from London
Two new officers are elected Two new officers of Liberal Judaism were elected at the Council meeting in June: Leon Charikar and Jackie Richards. Leon is a former chair of Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation. Jackie
is the recently retired co-ordinator of North London Progressive Jewish Community. At the same meeting, Nigel Cole was re-elected as chairman.
sessions. Some two years on they still learn new dances and practise together; some members have even been inspired to attend Machol Europa, the Israeli Dance Institute's fantastic summer event. Of course warm friendships, too, have formed between women from the two shuls. While there may be differences between their expressions of Judaism, their shared love of their culture and religion, and of Israeli dance in particular, knows no differences.
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July/August 2008
Gloucestershire group hits the ground running
The annual meeting of Friends of Progressive Judaism in Israel and Europe will be held at the Montagu Centre on Sunday 13 July at 3pm. After the brief formal meeting, there will be a break for tea and cakes following, which Paul Usiskin will speak. Paul chairs British Friends of Peace Now and British Friends of Rabbis for Human Rights, and co-chairs of Peace Now-UK. He is a board member of The Abraham Fund Initiatives - UK. All are welcome.
Torah L’Am Liberal Judaism hopes to host two Torah L’Am (‘Torah for everyone') courses in the autumn, at the Montagu Centre and at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue: The Midlands Centre for Liberal Judaism. Please contact contact Yael (020 7631 9830 or y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org) if you are interested in these courses.
Daytimers group A genealogy workshop is to be held at the Montagu Centre on 23 September from 10am to 1.30pm. It will look at how to start researching family history and what resources are available to trace your roots to eastern Europe and elsewhere. It will be led by members of the Jewish Genealogcal Society of Great Britain. The date will also be the official launch of Liberal Judaism's Daytimers programme. To register an interest in the workshop, please contact Lina Fajerman: lina.fajerman@ntlworld.com or 020 8504 3125.
Bristol The synagogue held a ceremony to dedicate its library to Joachim (Jo) Shapiro, a founder member of the community, who has recently stepped down as librarian. Jo worked tirelessly for many years to organise and catalogue the library’s books. Northwood and Pinner The synagogue’s rebranded Annual Members Evening (formely its AGM) attracted the largest ever gathering. An Italian-style supper was provided by Northwood’s Bagel Boys.
at the MONTAGU CENTRE
Friends invited
Around the Communities
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, front, with (from left) Wendy Neubauer, Sue Naydorf, Vernon Renshaw, Richard Neubauer, Allison Hyman, Joan Lazeris and Veronique Renshaw, following the inaugural service
Bet Tikvah Mazal tov to Dr Hedwig Striesow, a Holocaust surivivor, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Elstree A major attraction at the Religion School summer fete being held on 6 July at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree is the 'Dunk the Rabbi' stall.
Liberal Judaism has a new community in Gloucestershire, which is meeting regularly and looking forward to holding High Holy Day services in the autumn. The group’s first service, in Cheltenham in May, was led by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, community development director at Liberal Judaism, who has been advising the group. It was held at the home of co-founders Sue and David Naydorf. Allison Hyman, secretary and co-founder, describes the first service as ‘outstanding’. She adds: ‘There hasn’t been a rabbi in Cheltenham since just after the Second World War. People loved Aaron – and his singing and guitar. At one stage David, who was sitting next to me at the time, said, "I can't believe that all this is happening in my home!' “ A lot of Jews had been getting in touch, Allison adds. ‘It shows there was a great need for something like this.’ As well as monthly Shabbat services, they
hold weekly Hebrew classes, taught by an Israeli, Chaya Douglas. The idea of forming a group came after Allison – who has been in Britain less than a year and is originally from Pretoria, South Africa – met Joan Lazeris, a friend of the Naydorfs and the other cofounder. While some of the founders were already members of Liberal synagogues, they wanted a local community. The Cheltenham group now attracts congregants from as far afield as Forest of Dean, Newent and Cirencester. Some services are being led by visiting rabbis, including Rabbi Margaret Jacobi from Birmingham and student rabbi Monique Mayer; Rabbi Miriam Lawrence is to lead High Holy Day services. Various cultural and social activities are in the pipeline. Allison concedes that getting a new community up and running requires real dedication. ‘It’s very hard work,’ she says. ‘But Joan and I are both retired so we’ve got the time to work.’
A triple induction
Harrow and Wembley, This Is Your Life
Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue is holding an induction service for three rabbis on Saturday 9 August. Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, who is retiring as senior rabbi, will be inducted as emeritus rabbi, his son Aaron Goldstein will be inducted as senior rabbi and Hillel Athias-Robles will be inducted as assistant rabbi. All are welcome to attend. Please email admin@npls.org.uk to let the synagogue know that you will be coming.
by Senga Coburn Harrow and Wembley became an A-list – or perhaps a J-list – celebrity for an evening when it featured in a ‘This Is Your Life’ event. Chairman Alan Solomon put Eamonn Andrews, Michael Aspel and Trevor McDonald in the shade as he encouraged shul congregants past and present to share their memories at the event, held
Dublin The Ma Nishtanah was recited in English, Irish, French and Russian, and beautifully sung in Hebrew at Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation's communal seder. Kingston The synagogue now has a fully-fledged online presence, at klsonline.org. The website was technically designed by Abe Baginsky (brother of student rabbi Charley) and Marga Arrom-Biblioni. South London Members of the Liberal community are among those organising a one-day Limmud, to be held at Bromley College on Sunday 13 July.
at the synagogue as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations. Milcie Dobson, the sole surviving founding member, started the ball rolling; Henry Clifford told the story of the Iraqi scrolls; and Geoffrey Davis related tales of Rabbi Friedlander’s introduction to English football. The evening ended with Rabbi Frank saying how encouraged he was by the contribution the synagogue was making to the wider community in Brent.
July/August 2008
Page 4 LJ Today
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In the May/June edition of LJ Today, Rabbi Ron Berry help older couples who felt unable to marry – by offering them a form of chuppah union. The article, which represented Rabbi Berry's personal opinion, prompted a
Chuppahs should only be used RABBI BERRY (‘A chuppah without a civil ceremony?’, LJ Today, May/June) proposes helping Jewish couples who ‘take into account tax and inheritance law which makes many of them shy away from the prospect of formal union'. This proposal is not Liberal Judaism’s stated policy. A Jewish marriage in a Liberal synagogue is made up of two elements, civil and Jewish, the one inextricable from the other, and a ceremony that omits either part is not a Jewish marriage. Liberal Judaism has chosen to be at the vanguard of welcoming and finding ways to celebrate loving relationships between mixed-faith and same-sex couples. We are proud that our rabbis, recognising the diversity of relationships in our society, conduct, and our synagogues host, ceremonies that recognise and add a religious element to the legal expression of love between two people who wish to commit to each other. Each of these ceremonies adds another level of strength to the family – the cornerstone of community – and the home the family makes together.
However, a Jewish marriage in the United Kingdom always accompanies the legal expression of the relationship. Why? Because the binding legal nature of the civil marriage reinforces the seriousness of the step that the couple are taking; the religious ceremony adds a divine element. So hard is it to separate the parts that the word chuppah itself has come to imply the whole. Diluting this symbiosis between the civil and the religious, the secular and the divine, undermines the principle of the ceremony. Separating the two for the excuse of tax or inheritance laws seems to be among the feeblest of reasons. The wedding canopy, the broken glass and the sheva brachot are not rootless symbolism, separable at will from the formality of a legally recognised wedding or partnership; they are at the heart of a Jewish wedding, the whole of a Jewish wedding, not the parts that are palatable, the rest being made unpalatable by a lack of fiscal engineering. Nigel Cole Chair, Liberal Judaism
‘LOVE AND MARRIAGE,’ so Frank Sinatra tells us, ‘go together like a horse and carriage.’ He goes on to advise us that ‘you can’t have one without the other.’ The same has to be said about civil marriage and chuppah, the latter literally referring to the marriage canopy, but generally taken to mean the Jewish wedding ceremony. The words that are exchanged and the vows that are taken beneath the Jewish wedding canopy represent and indicate a solemn commitment between two people. If this commitment is challenged by or unable to withstand the financial pressures that the couple might encounter were they to become civilly married, then how strong a commitment is it? Surely any such financial issues could be addressed in a pre-nuptial agreement rather than used as an excuse not to have a civil marriage? After all, Jewish marriage was first and foremost a financial transaction – a fact that is still reflected in traditional ketubbot (the archetypal pre-nuptial agreement!). It is an inevitability of Diaspora that
Jews live in lands governed by civil laws and there is a moral and legal duty for us to abide by them. It seems to me that were Liberal Judaism to offer a Jewish wedding ceremony without the accompanying civil marriage simply because the Jewish couple is uncomfortable with some of its legal and financial consequences, we would effectively be undermining some of those laws. Quite apart from the ramifications of this for the unmarried couple who would then share a ketubbah, such an action might damage the fortunate and unique position in which we Jews find ourselves in being authorised to conduct religious weddings that are recognised by the civil authorities. We are lucky indeed to be able to invite our congregants to begin their married lives in this way; it would be foolhardy to jeopardise this by detaching the chuppah from its civil anchor. Or, as Frank would say, ‘It’s an institute you can’t disparage.’ Rabbi Pete Tobias Chairman-elect, Rabbinic Conference
RABBI BERRY'S ARTICLE does not represent Rabbinic Conference policy and there is no intention of us conducting a Jewish wedding without a civil ceremony. The question was raised and debated at one of our meetings because a request had been received. It is important, in line with the principles of Progressive Judaism, for us to consider our policy from time to time in the light of changing circumstances. In writing his article, Rabbi Berry has given others the opportunity to think about an idea which has been raised by a member of one of our synagogues. This does not mean that we will necessarily make changes, and in this case we will not, but only by airing new ideas can we think through fully those which are appropriate for our movement and those which are not. Rabbis Margaret Jacobi and Rachel Benjamin Outgoing Chairs, Rabbinic Conference I AM CONFUSED and worried by Rabbi Berry’s proposal. A proper Jewish ceremony between two Jews without it encompassing a legal marriage contract or without it following a civil wedding would be a grave error, perhaps even illegal. If in the case of separation the couple were to row over property, one of them might say that they were not legally married and the other maintain that the Jewish ceremony was as valid as a civil one. It would lead to the bringing of Jewish practice into the law courts. The idea that we should change our practice for the economic convenience of a couple seems to contradict their desire for a spiritual dimension to their union, i.e. ‘We want a chuppah, but not if it leads to paying more taxes or financial loss when we are dead.’ Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto Letters for publication are welcome. Write to: The Editor, LJ Today, The Montagu Centre, 21 Maple Street, London, W1 4BE, or email ljtodayeditor@liberaljudaism.org. Please give a telephone number. Letters may be edited.
LJ Today Page 5
July/August 2008
suggested that Liberal Judaism might ceremony as a way of consecrating their large response from readers
‘tent’ intent on having fun
for weddings
It’s been a busy few months for ‘tent: the meeting place’ following its fun Spring Getaway in conjunction with Liberal Judaism's Biennial Weekend. It has organised two regional services, in Birmingham and Edinburgh, outings to concerts and art exhibitions and a Shabbat picnic on Hampstead Heath (pictured below). In Edinburgh, on a beautiful May evening, high on the Mound, with views
I WAS SADDENED and somewhat appalled to have read the proposal by Rabbi Berry. I do not question Rabbi Berry’s stated motive in wishing 'to bring an awareness of God into human affairs' but thereafter I must part company with him absolutely in his proposal. Let me first dispose of a minor irritant in terminology and use the accepted transliteration chuppah . The word chuppah is used almost universally by both orthodox and non-orthodox Jews to describe the religious and legal solemnisation of marriage between a man and a woman, both being of the Jewish faith. The fact that this word means 'the wedding canopy' does not in my view in any way alter its understood meaning or significance. The Marriage Act 1949 together with The Marriage (Secretaries of Synagogues) Act 1959 empower in English law the appointment within Liberal Judaism of persons authorised to certify the solemnisation of Liberal Jewish marriages. The celebration of a
chuppah is the celebration of a binding contract and to propose anything to the contrary questions the validity and legality of the wedding ceremony. Surely it is not proposed to have two distinct versions of a chuppah, one legally binding and one not? Would not such an action demean and diminish the importance and sanctity of the marriage ceremony, as well as invite ridicule, with severe damage to the reputation and self-esteem of Liberal Judaism amongst British and maybe worldwide Jewry? I would support the wishes of any couple, perhaps late in life with a new partnership as the article suggests, who might want to sanctify their partnership with a religious ceremony and there are undoubtedly ways to achieve this; the ceremony of a chuppah cannot possibly be one of them. I would urge Rabbi Berry to think again or at least show that he has clear support from a substantial majority of his colleagues. Jeromé Freedman
Room for a new ceremony RABBI BERRY ASKS asks whether the Rabbinic Conference should agree to a chuppah for a couple who could be married by a rabbi but do not wish to be. His article is thought-provoking, containing both legal and ethical problems. It appears to me that it is not legally possible for the situation he describes to happen. If a couple go through a chuppah ceremony containing all the elements of a traditional Jewish wedding – the giving or exchange of rings; ketubbah (marriage contract); witnesses; declaration (“You are consecrated to me, through this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel"); a chuppah; wine and breaking a glass (in the presence of a secretary for marriages) – then they are married in accordance with English law, and the marriage secretary is obliged to register. Some rabbis might form the view that not all of this is required – and that the
couple are still married. The risks of accidental marriage in this are apparent, and we should not expose them to this risk. In any case, it appears to me to be contradictory for a couple to be prepared to exchange rings, make the declaration and sign a ketubbah – and say they don’t want to be married. As Rabbi Berry indicates, there may be couples who wish to live together later in life, maybe widowed or divorced, maybe with families of their own, and who for family or fiscal reasons do not wish to be married. Why should we not give them an opportunity for their partnership and happiness to be blessed? Personally I see no reason why we should not create a ceremony akin to a same-sex commitment or mixed faith blessing for them – and maybe the blessing could be given under a chuppah, the symbol of a couple sharing a home. Tony Sacker
of the castle and Arthur's Sea, tentniks celebrated Kabbalat Shabbat with the Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community. There were plenty of Scots and North Americans and the combination was particularly tuneful. The previous weekend, in London, more than 30 tentniks descended on Highgate Boating Pond and spent a sunny afternoon singing, socialising, playing badminton – and eating. As well as all the regular services and outings this summer, there will be two special trips: to Tunisia (9-20 July) and, less exotically but by popular demand, to Lee Valley, for a Summer Getaway on the last weekend in August. Booking is open. ‘tent’ services are open to everyone and its activities are for those in their twenties and thirties (or thereabouts) so if you know of someone who might be interested, do put them in touch with Avivit Katzil, a.katzil@liberaljudaism.org or 07866 501787. Save the dates – and your money – for: ‘tent’ Summer Getaway Lee Valley , 29 to 31 August 2008 ‘tent’
& TaMaR Olami present: European Region Seminar for young adults Berlin , 6 to 9 November 2008 ‘tent’
at Connections (World Union for Progressive Judaism conference) Israel, 18 to 23 March 2009 ‘tent’ Trip to Argentina September 2009
July/August 2008
Page 6 LJ Today
How we built our bright and airy, eco-friendly synagogue As council members at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue saw the amount of redevelopment – new office, retail and leisure projects – taking place around the site of their building in Sheepcote Street it became clear that it would be only a matter of time before the vacant site next to BPS was purchased and the shul would have been forced to move. BPS took the initiative, however, and entered into talks with a developer which culminated in the construction of our new synagogue in Bishopsgate Street, a short distance from Sheepcote Street. A site was offered to the synagogue which seemed to satisfy its needs, with ample open space. But the synagogue would have been required by the council’s planning department to build on the whole site, up to the pavement. This would have been too expensive, so in partnership with the developer the synagogue retained about a third of the site and agreed that flats would be built on the other two thirds. Schedules of accommodation were prepared, discussed and revised until the final brief was reached. All the rooms, including a large sanctuary, had to fit on a site measuring about 30 metres by 18 meters. It became clear that the building would have several
Architect Keith Reynolds on designing a building that spans four levels levels – four, it turned out – and accordingly the design evolved. As the sanctuary had to be an open area, free from any internal columns, it could only be at the top level. Similarly the function room needed an area clear of obstruction together with easy access for social functions and easy access for the delivery of goods. This, therefore, is at ground floor level. It only left the first floor to accommodate the offices and classrooms, which planned in very well. Access from the road to the basement provided the means to have seven parking spaces. The basement part of the building was used for two big stores for the archives; the youth club area was also planned here with its own lavatories and shower facilities. The main room also included a small kitchen. As well as the function room – with space for seating 120 for a social dinner – the ground floor accommodates the main reception area, cloakrooms and lavatories, catering facilities and stores. The first floor houses the classrooms, offices for the rabbi and administrator, a
library, small kitchen and meeting rooms. The classrooms were designed to be flexible, having folding partitions. The sanctuary, on the second floor, offers seating for 250, and has an impressive central lantern light, which is a one-off design. There is direct access on to the sukkah from the sanctuary. During planning and construction we received a lot of support from Rabbi Danny Rich and Nigel Cole and I am very pleased that our discussions have led us to provide a base for the movement, which will be known as the Midlands Centre for Liberal Judaism, which will be beneficial to both parties. The building is now finished and the synagogue is in the process of overseeing the fit-out of the sanctuary. Construction is to a high standard, with consideration given to efficient zoned heating systems, as well as air conditioning to the function room, low-wattage light fittings with censor-active switches all add up to an eco-friendly synagogue. If any interested party would like to see inside the new building, please contact me on 0121 233 3080 and I will only too pleased to arrange a visit.
Keith Reynolds, chairman of BPS, was the architect for the design and planning of the new synagogue building
Birmingham celebrates this year’s other big 60th As Jews mark the creation of the modern state of Israel, Mandy Ross reminds us of another significant birth in 1948 – that of the NHS. This is an excerpt from a d'var Torah she recently gave at the synagogue What a year 1948 must have been. Ruth Shire [widow of Dr Heinz Shire], who had qualified earlier as a nurse, described it like this: ‘It was three years after the war – people were slowly recovering from the terrible damage, physically and psychologically, and eager to build a new world, and the Health Service was part of that. We were lucky to be part of it, a new surge, building a new, decent society.’ How is the NHS Jewishly significant? Many of the young Jewish women refugees who fled Nazi Germany
trained as nurses because it was the only professional training that paid a salary. A substantial proportion of this synagogue’s members work for, or have worked for, the NHS. But Jewish participation in the NHS is only part of its Jewish significance. I would say that the NHS is a symbol of the best of what makes us human. Through it, our society cares collectively for all its members. We pay collectively so that we can all benefit. And community values run through Judaism. In the Mishnah we read: ‘If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I?’ Of course the NHS, as a very human institution, is flawed. Some of us have experienced it when it is substandard, or inflexible. I suspect that it is much
better resourced for acute treatment than it is for long-term care. I’ve been working on a celebration of the NHS’s 60th anniversary and I am constantly reminded of Rabbi Bunam’s teaching: ‘In our right pocket there should be a piece of paper saying, “For my sake was the world created,” and in the left, “I am but dust and ashes.” ‘ Humans contain multitudes, and opposites can be true simultaneously. The NHS is both precious and flawed, both inadequate and wonderful. It is wasteful and monolithic, and it saved my life. For generations, Jews have prayed ‘Baruch atah adonai rofeh ha’cholim – I praise You, O God, the Source of healing’. For the past 60 years, here in Britain, the NHS has been the main conduit of the Source of healing.’
LJ Today Page 7
July/August 2008
Margaret Jacobi recalls the first service at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue’s new building as Jo Elijah reports on the BPS/Liberal Judaism Community Tour of Israel
First service is symbol of hope The service for the first day of Pesach is not known for large attendances. But this year at Birmingham more than 80 people were present. It helped that the service, being on a Sunday, coincided with our cheder. But the most significant reason was that this was the first service in our new synagogue, which had been eagerly awaited for years. Until the last minute, it had been uncertain whether we could use the building, but as our usual venue, a Friends’ Meeting House, was not available, we had an incentive to set a date. The upstairs sanctuary was not yet ready, but the function room was transformed into a temporary sanctuary. Blinds had been installed just two days before, and helped to give the room an atmosphere of warmth and subtle light. The cupboard ark we had been using during our time without a building was curtained and set at the front and the menorot from our old synagogue were set either side. As the service was being combined with cheder, we had a special childfriendly service. We began with a heartfelt shechechiyanu to give thanks for arriving at the long-awaited occasion. All ages took part. The children read poems
Rabbi Margaret Jacobi and Keith Reynolds in the temporary sanctuary with the portable ark currently in use
about spring and were blessed in front of the ark, under a tallit (prayer shawl) they had made. Before and after the service, people wandered round exclaiming at the building, which most of them were seeing for the first time, and particularly at how spacious and light it was. The children played hide and seek
in the newly-discovered classrooms. Pesach represents a new beginning, and for us this was a beginning which symbolised what we hope the future will bring: young and old coming together and celebrating, praying and learning in joy.
Margaret Jacobi is the rabbi of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue
From Haifa to Petra – truly unforgettable What an experience! Our group of 30 plus Rabbi Margaret Jacobi and Noa Marom (Liberal Judaism’s shlicha – Israeli emissary) led by our knowledgeable guide, Ya’akov, spent 10 days exploring different facets of Israel. Starting in the north, we visited the Bahai Gardens in Haifa, the ancient port of Akko, the Tel Dan Nature Reserve and the Sir Charles Clore Jewish-Arab Community Centre, where they are trying to integrate the two communities. We also visited the Leo Baeck Education Centre, which as a teacher I found fantastic. The most emotional days were those spent in Jerusalem – my first visit. It was extremely moving to be at Yad Vashem on Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day), and
to see and experience the sorrow all around. From the sadness of that day we moved to the joy of the following, Yom Ha’atzmaut, celebrating Israel’s 60 years of independence. It was wonderful to party with our guide’s community in Har Adar, just outside Jerusalem. (This area, originally named Givat Haradar, or Radar Hill, was formerly the location of a British radar station). During our time in Jerusalem we toured parts of the West Bank with a member of Rabbis for Human Rights. For me, the visit served to emphasise how many issues of contention there are. In Tel Aviv, we visited the Museum of the Diaspora (Beth Hatefutsoth) and Independence Hall, where 60 years earlier David Ben-Gurion had proclaimed Israel’s independence, before joining Noa’s community, Tzur
Hadassah, for a Shabbat service and dinner. We went on facinating trips: to Qum’ran and the Dead Sea, Masada, Kibbutz Yahel, the first Reform kibbutz, and Petra. What a beautiful country Jordan is and how encouraging is the co-existence between the countries. Rabbi Danny Rich led us on a visit to Kibbutz Lotan, where we met members of LJY-Netzer hard at work. This kibbutz has an interesting ecological programme; it also farms goats for making cheese and yogurt – a highlight was meeting a one-hour old kid! We returned to Jerusalem and did some last-minute present shopping before making a timely departure at midday, just missing President Bush’s arrival! This was a trip we will never forget.
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Page 8 LJ Today
Dealing with disaster Paul Anticoni, chief executive of World Jewish Relief, unravels the contrasting responses to the cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) and the earthquake in China The enormity of suffering brought on by the cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) and earthquake in China, both in May, remind us of the power of our natural world and the vulnerability of many of the people in it. Climatic change is leading to more frequent and more severe natural disasters, while demographic trends and a desire for quick economic gain mean more marginal people live in areas of the world increasingly at risk from such hazards. All my working life I have been in the midst of humanitarian tragedy. I lived in Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Cambodia and Bosnia during the 1980s and 1990s and then managed the Red Cross’s disaster response for 12 years, where I led responses to earthquakes in Turkey, India and Iran, to hurricanes in central America and the Caribbean, floods in Bangladesh, famine throughout Africa and the great tsunami of 2004. Working in harsh environments, I have seen the impact humanitarian interventions can make and the risks aid agencies take to reach the most vulnerable. I have seen, too, the even more remarkable resilience, dignity and pride that recipient communities show in the midst of despair. Of course the humanitarian world is not only made up of angels and helpers but is buffeted by foreign and military policy, influenced by our media, and, at rare times, corrupted by greed and personal gain. I spent the first weeks of May launching World Jewish Relief’s Myanmar Cyclone Appeal and discussing the effectiveness of the response; the contrast between responses to the cyclone and to the earthquake in Sechuan province, China, are lessons in themselves. The two governments, one a military junta and the other a communist oligarchy, are both traditionally suspicious of outside intervention. In China, the Government has mobilised rescue workers, the army and volunteers in response to this mammoth quake in a way that only China can do. While welcoming offers of foreign assistance, the Chinese have demonstrated the scale of resources that they are able to find, and international assistance has by and large not been required. In Myanmar, the tidal surge that killed
tens of thousands in its wake and affected millions also brought salt water into rice paddy areas that have traditionally formed Myanmar’s rice basket. From the outset the military regime allowed in only a small percentage of the relief experts who were needed to assess the devastation and set up supply routes to reach survivors. Journalists, usually welcomed in such circumstances so that the world knows what is happening, had to slip in incognito. Immediate offers of airlifts and naval support from as far afield as the United States were greeted with hesitation. Even when shipments were grudgingly accepted, government spokesmen at first insisted that while aid was welcome, foreign aid workers were not and the Burmese army could manage without them. Yet the immensity of the tragedy seemed to be far beyond the means of the Burmese themselves. In both disasters, though, we must not underestimate the effectiveness of local responses. More people have been saved by family members or local volunteers in both disasters than by search and rescue crews sent in – it just doesn’t make such good television footage. WJR has been fortunate to partner four local Burmese agencies present in the Irawaddy Delta for the past two decades. Utilising WJR’s assistance to purchase urgent supplies in Yangon, they have been able to bypass the challenges of bringing in international supplies into the country and ensure goods reach those that require it immediately. We are now looking at ways in which we can work with rural communities to rebuild their livelihoods in a sustainable way. But such recovery work takes time, needs to be sensitive to local needs and be conscious of building community preparedness to potential future disasters which will inevitably strike this part of the world again some day. World Jewish Relief is the UK’s leading disaster response agency on behalf of British Jewry: www.wjr.org.uk
Paul Anticoni is a member of Finchley Progressive Synagogue
A report by the NLPS Trust
Funds being put to best use Since LJ Today last published an article about the NLPS Trust for Progressive Judaism, there have been important developments. The decision a year ago by the four original trustees that the trust should be ongoing rather than wound up within a few years had of course major implications for its management and development. It became necessary to provide for continuity in the management of the trust and maintain – and if possible enhance – the real value of the trust’s capital and its future income without too much of an immediate loss of income. First, three additional trustees were appointed to provide both an improved age profile and a greater range of abilities and experience. Second, and more recently, a firm of fund managers was chosen and given the task of meeting financial objectives which the trustees had laid down for them. There are now six trustees (David Bild, one of the original trustees, having made aliyah and consequently resigned).They are: Derek Sharp, chairman (Finchley), Paul Kanas (Birmingham), David Lipman (Nottingham), Phil Stone (Northwood and Pinner), Ken Teacher (the LJS) and Judy Thwaites (Kingston). Since its formation in 2004, the trust has approved nearly 50 grants ranging in amount from £300 to £27,000 and averaging £6,000. It has supported projects in a variety of areas, including community development, education, chaplaincy and rabbinic training, provided a number of scholarships and assisted in the purchase of religious artefacts and refurbishment of buildings. Because the grants applied for in these and other areas exceed the available funds, the trustees at their bi-annual meetings spend much time determining what projects in their view will make the most effective use of these funds bearing in mind the charitable objectives of the trust. With its current limited resources, the trust cannot be the primary source of finance for major projects and the trustees need to see what efforts applicants have made to raise funding from members, in the case of a synagogue, and from other organisations. In time, it is hoped that the trust will grow and it will then be able to provide more support across the whole Progressive Jewish community.
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July/August 2008
Thirty-five (or so) years of The 35s Margaret Rigal was one of a remarkable group of women who fought tirelessly to free Soviet Jews. She explains how The 35s are still helping those in need In 1971, Jews in Britain became aware that there were still many Jews in the USSR facing discrimination. A silent march was organised in London and a petition handed into the Soviet Embassy. Later, when nothing more appeared to happen, a group of women, mainly members of Orthodox congregations in north-west London, got together to take action. At about this time a 35-year-old librarian from Odessa, Raisa Palatnik, was arrested because she had some Hebrew books in her bookcase. Her parents could not discover where she had been taken. The leaders of the activists in Moscow were in touch by telephone with London and they asked for help on Raisa’s behalf. A 24-hour hour protest was held by the women on the corner of Bayswater Road outside the Soviet Consulate and each hour a telephone call
‘Our overriding aim was that no Jew should be ignorant of the plight of Soviet Jewry’ was made to the media, telling them that 35 women, aged about 35, were demonstrating on behalf of a 35-year-old in Odessa. The press featured them and called them 'the 35s'. The next day, Raisa’s parents were called in by the KGB and shown their daughter, who had been moved into a modern prison cell. ‘Go away,’ they were told, ‘and tell those women in London to shut up.’ After that success the 35s felt impelled to continue. I met some members of the 35s a few weeks later and became involved when they acquired their first office (two basement rooms with a constant drip into a bucket from the lavatories above), and changed from a casual bunch of friends to a well-organised pressure group. Each of us was given a specific area in which to work; two others and I were allotted the politicians and we made a large card index with a card for each parliamentary constituency. Our first experience was in 1974, when there were two general elections, and we learnt what we needed on each card and how we should tackle our job. We
telephoned any Jewish organisation or household we could discover in the more distant or rural areas and eventually had a contact in every constituency, who would write to their MPs on matters affecting Soviet Jewry. We organised personal visits to the House of Commons and were able to rely on many MPs to support our efforts. We wrote to every MP regularly, giving information – which we were careful to double-check – and asking for their help in ways that they would not find too difficult; so they signed petitions, signed Early Day Motions and asked questions of ministers. Some came with us to the Soviet Embassy and would publicly support our demonstrations. We became a strictly non-violent demonstrating force and were recognised as a non-governmental organisation (NGO). We were equally persistent and successful with the trade unions, schools, churches and, of course, the media. We were fiercely independent. We did what the Jews in the Soviet Union asked: when they wanted publicity, we made sure that they received it, and when they asked for privacy we were equally careful to keep quiet. We opposed holding the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980, much to the horror of some of our sports-mad supporters; and we campaigned for Sharansky even when he was less than popular with the authorities. Our overriding aim was that no Jew living in the West should be able to claim ignorance of the plight of Soviet Jewry. When the Berlin Wall came down and any Soviet Jew who wished could emigrate to Israel or elsewhere, we felt that we were observing a miracle. We hailed it as the Second Exodus and I know that I am truly blessed to have seen such a happening in my lifetime. However, as one of our most energetic and successful workers in New York, Lynne Singer, used to say: ‘No good deed goes unpunished.’ In the joy and excitement of the moment we forgot the Biblical account of the First Exodus, when the children of Israel left Egypt accompanied by a 'mixed multitude'. We, too, have a mixed multitude entering Israel, with all the difficulties involved. So the 35s have reorganised and here and, more importantly, many in Israel
are helping the new immigrants to make a success of their new life. We are somewhat older and not quite so many as in the past, but we are doing our best to organise two charities to help them and many others in the 21st century. The first is the Jewish Aid Committee. We give individual grants to new immigrants with particular needs, mainly the elderly, sick or families with ill children. Unfortunately, the pensions and invalid allowances in Israel were cut a few years ago owing to financial difficulties and have not been reinstated. They are now insufficient to cover the rent, food and medical expenses of those most in need, with the result that many amass debts or fail to eat properly. We help as far as we can but do not have the resources to do as much as we would wish. We also support cross-community
‘We hailed it as the Second Exodus. I feel blessed to have seen this happen in my lifetime’ children’s organisations bringing Israeli Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Bedouin and Druze together in many parts of Israel. We specialise in responding swiftly with the least possible red tape while keeping our expenses to a minimum. Our second charity, the One to One Children’s Fund, supports children in need in South Africa, Kosova and south India (following the 2004 tsunami). Our latest initiative is a weekly programme at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn, north London, for 20 Jews and Muslims aged between 14 and 25 to develop their drama skills and build trust and understanding. This scheme is being encouraged by the Home Office and forms the basis of an education pack to be distributed to up to 5,000 schools. Changing needs have demanded changing responses, but there seems to be no end to the problems faced by the less fortunate in many countries and we will try to help so far as we can.
Margaret Rigal is a member of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue
July/August 2008
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July/August 2008
Moscow’s secrets exposed FOR THE LIBRARY
LJY-Netzer is the Zionist youth movement of Liberal Judaism. It provides an opportunity for young people to develop a strong Progressive Jewish identity whilst enjoying friendships and having fun
FOXBATS OVER DIMONA: The Soviets’ Nuclear Gamble in the Six-Day War Isabella Ginor and Gideon Remez, Yale University Press, £18.99 Review by FRANK HELLNER
Just when we thought that we had read the definitive work on the June 1967 Arab–Israeli war in Michael Oren’s Six Days of War, along come Isabella Ginor and Gideon Remez with their groundbreaking Foxbats Over Dimona. While their book does not diminish Oren’s comprehensive contribution, it does open up another window which attempts to solve the mystery of the origins of the Six-Day War. While all historians of that period recognise some involvement by the USSR in that war, Ginor and Remez present us with an intriguing argument suggesting much greater Soviet collusion than previously believed. The husband and wife team argue that far from being just one of the interested parties, the Soviets had actually devised a scheme to bomb Israel’s facility at Dimona, thereby eliminating Israel’s nuclear aspirations and by instigating a war which none of the parties desired. Moscow was determined not to allow any nuclear weapons positioned within range of its southern regions. The authors seek to unravel the mystery of why the USSR turned from its anti-Zionist repression at home to support Jewish statehood during the UN partition vote in 1947. Moscow was, after all, the second country to have recognised the Jewish state de jure. The Soviets thus sought to extend its sphere of influence in the Middle East through
the Jewish state. When, however, it became clear that Israel had become a client of the United States, Moscow turned its patronage toward the Arab countries. A defeat of Israel by Moscow’s Arab allies would be seen as an expansion of the USSR’s influence in the Arab world. The Soviets reasoned that playing the nuclear card with an attack on Dimona was least likely to evoke America’s ire as it, too, was unhappy about Israel’s nuclear programme and was, in any event, bogged down in Vietnam. Like a detective story, the authors weave together their arguments culled from extensive research of declassified material and newspaper articles meticulously gathered over many years. They present us with proof that the Soviets did indeed begin to hatch their plan with MiG-25s (‘Foxbats’) reconnaissance overflights of Israel’s main nuclear facility prior to the 1967 war. A year before, the Baath party had come to power in Syria. General Hafez al-Assad, a graduate of the Soviet Air Academy, was installed as acting defence minister, a coup which planted Damascus firmly in the Soviet camp. Ginor and Remez argue that the Soviets then deliberately instigated the war through disinformation and incitement, convincing the Syrians that Israel was massing its troops on its northern border and advising Nasser to remove the UN buffer force from the Sinai and
block the Straits of Tiran to Israeli ships, thus fomenting a war situation. This, the Soviets had hoped, would lure Israel into war, providing them with a pretext to knock out Dimona and together with Syria, Egypt and Jordan destroy the State of Israel. Israel did launch the preemptive strike as the Soviets had anticipated, but what the Soviets had not accounted for was the speed with which Israel defeated its Arab neighbours. This victory put paid’to the Soviet scheme, which after the Bay of Pigs debacle left Moscow with no alternative than to cover up any involvement in the war. But the terrible results of that war, fomented by the Soviets, are still being felt today more than 40 years later. Foxbats is not a page-turner or an easy read although this may be more of an indictment of the reviewer than the book. There is much supposition, but the thesis presented by the authors – members of Kehillat Mevakshei Derech, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism – is so intriguing and fascinating that it is well worth persevering. It may be that the book is more intended for scholarly research than as a casual read, but I would highly recommend it to any student interested in Middle East studies. It is a valuable contribution to the history of modern Israel.
Rabbi Frank Hellner is rabbi emeritus at Finchley Progressive Synagogue
We’re proud of our partnership UJIA (the United Jewish Israel Appeal) is proud to have worked for many years with Liberal Judaism, investing in young people through informal and formal education, writes Simon Margolis. Israel Experience – the three-week programme in Israel, which UJIA runs in conjunction with the Jewish Agency for Israel – connects young Liberal Jews with their heritage. UJIA acts as tour operator for the Shnat (gap-year) programme which six LJY-Netzer members have taken part in this year. UJIA gives financial support to individuals, according to need: of the
39 LJY-Netzer participants who travelled to Israel last year on a dedicated programme, nine received a UJIA Israel Experience bursary. Victor Kaufman and Lauren Dubell, LJY-Netzer’s full-time movement workers for the past year, have taken advantage of seminars in leadership and informal education offered by UJIA’s Jewishlife Education Centre; these range from public speaking to sex education and crisis management. UJIA supported Liberal Judaism's educator-in-residence programme in April, when Shelley Kedar, of the Leo Baeck Education Centre – Haifa, led a
series of seminars for communities. UJIA supports the Leo Baeck College, in 2006 providing significant funding towards its expansion. The campus renovation currently under way includes the building of a large primary school and a new library. For more information on UJIA’s work in the UK or Israel, please visit www. ujia.org or contact me at simon. margolis@ujia.org or on 020 8369 5058.
Simon Margolis is a community fundraiser at UJIA
A whole way of life... Forty 16-year-olds are packing for a month in Israel, a bunch of 17-year-olds are preparing to tour eastern Europe and more than a hundred young people are getting excited about Kadimah camp. Here, the bogrim (graduates) leading these activites explain how LJY-Netzer has shaped their thinking and given meaning to their lives
Introducing Ben and Benjy
ORLANDO DE LANGE Rosh (head) of ages 8-11 on Machaneh Kadimah
LJY-Netzer has taught me many things that I've tried to apply to my daily life – helping others and being aware of how each individual can affect another’s life. LJYNetzer has fuelled my interest in social action. Through participating on Shnat [Liberal Judaism's gap-year programme] I've developed a long-lasting link to Israel. LJY-Netzer has encouraged me to have a non-biased view of many issues, especially when looking at Israel.
CHARLOTTE MAWDSLEY
Madricha (leader) for Israel tour LJY-Netzer is very big in my life just now as I'm working towards leading Israel tour. I have close friendships with people I met on events when I was very young and socialise with them a lot. I'm also regularly in contact with Netzer members all around the world. I like the way informed decision-making is such a crucial part of the movement’s ideology. I talk to my non-Jewish friends about the movement and explain who we are and what we do.
ROBIN moss Madrich (leader) of
Kayitz-Netzer (tour of eastern Europe) At university I am involved in lots of social action projects and do a great deal of fundraising for charities. I strongly believe in LJY-Netzer’s belief of inclusion for all its members, and try to bring this to my relationships with other people. LJY-Netzer is about valuing people for who they are, not who we think they should be and I try to follow these guidelines in my own life.
They may be supporting Israel in this picture – taken at the match against England last year – but from now on their team is LJY-Netzer. Meet Benjy Aarons-Richardson (left) and Ben Baginksy, who join Victor as full-time movement workers in September. Ben and Benjy, who are both 22, will make a great team, having formed a firm friendship through participation in LJY-Netzer activities, including a Shnat-Netzer (gap-year trip) together in Israel. They have both just finished studying for degrees at Leeds University, Benjy in philosophy and Ben in cultural studies. At Leeds they worked with synagogue youth clubs and worked part-time for RSY-Netzer. Benjy, who's been involved with LJY-Netzer since the age of 14, says: 'I'm really looking forward to doing this job next year. It's a chance for me to put something back.' Ben adds: 'LJY-Netzer is the most precious asset Liberal Judaism has. It's a really exciting responsibility to be able to serve the whole Liberal Judaism community.' Though the pair have so much in common, there is one important difference: Benjy supports Spurs and Ben supports Watford. For the sake of harmony, perhaps they will just concentrate on Israel matches in future.
LJY-Netzer is at www.ljynetzer.org. Contact Vic Kaufman or Lauren Dubell 020 7631 0584 or office@ljynetzer.org
July/August 2008
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Liberal Judaism congregations Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue (Rodef Shalom), 01234 218387, bedsps@liberaljudaism. org, www.bedfordshire-ps.org.uk Beit Klal Yisrael, PO Box 1828, London W10 5RT 07505 477459, bky@liberaljudaism.org www.bkylondon.org.uk Bet Tikvah Synagogue, 129 Perrymans Farm Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG2 7LX, 020 8554 9682, bttkv@liberaljudaism.org, www.bettikvah.org.uk Birmingham Progressive Synagogue Jericho House, 196-198 Edward Road, B12 9LX, 0121 446 5273, bps@liberaljudaism.org; www.bpsjudaism. com. branch: Leamington Spa, 01926 421300 Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF 01273 737223, bhps@liberaljudaism.org www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation 43-45 Bannerman Road, Easton, Bristol BS5 0RR bwpjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.bwpjc.org Crawley Jewish Community, 01293 534294 Dublin Jewish Progressive Synagogue, PO Box 3059, Dublin 6, 00 3531 2856241, djpc@liberaljudaism.org Ealing Liberal Synagogue, Lynton Avenue, Drayton Green, W13 0EB, 020 8997 0528, els@liberaljudaism. org, www.ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk Eastbourne Progressive Jewish Congregation 01323 725650, fax: 01323 417645 epjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.epjcong.org.uk Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community 0131 777 8024, eljc@liberaljudaism.org, www.eljc.org Finchley Progressive Synagogue Hutton Grove, N12 8DR, 020 8446 4063, fps@liberaljudaism.org, www.fps.org Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue 326 Preston Road, Harrow HA3 0QH, 020 8904 8581, hwps@liberaljudaism.org, www.hwps.org Herefordshire Jewish Community, Enquiries: 01594 530721, http://members.lycos.co.uk/herefordjc/ Kent Liberal Jewish Community 07952 242432, bulletin.kljc@liberaljudaism.org, www.jewishkent.org.uk/communities/KLJC/kljc.html Kingston Liberal Synagogue, Rushett Road, Long Ditton, Surbiton, Surrey KT7 0UX, 020 8398 7400, kls@liberaljudaism.org, www.klsonline.org Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation, The Synagogue, 24 Avenue Road, LE2 3EA, 07875 123744 lpjc@liberaljudaism.org The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, 28 St John’s Wood Road, London NW8 7HA, 020 7286 5181, ljs@liberaljudaism.org, www.ljs.org The Liberal Synagogue Elstree, Elstree High Street,
Liberal Judaism The Montagu Centre, 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE, 020 7580 1663 Fax: 020 7631 9838 montagu@liberaljudaism.org, www.liberaljudaism.org Youth Department 020 7631 0584 www.ljynetzer.org President The Baroness Neuberger DBE Chairman Nigel Cole Vice Chairman Joan Shopper Treasurer David Pelham Officers Leon Charikar, William Glassman, Amanda Grant, Jackie Richards, Paula Scott, Stephanie Thwaites Senior Vice-President Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto Vice-Presidents Monique Blake, Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, Jeremy Jessel, David Lipman, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker, Beverley Taylor Hon. Vice-Presidents David Amstell, Geoffrey Davis, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, Willie Kessler, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Harold Sanderson, Clive Winston Chair of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Pete Tobias Chief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Community Development Rabbi Aaron Goldstein Internal Services Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer Communications and PR Alexandra Mankowitz Shlicha Noa Marom LJY-Netzer Victor Kaufman and Lauren Dubell Liberal Judaism promotes the religious and cultural traditions of our faith within the framework of progressive thinking and ethics. Registered charity number 256390. LJ Today is edited by Beatrice Sayers Articles and letters are welcome. The deadline for the Sept/Oct issue is 3 August. Please email: ljtodayeditor@liberaljudaism.org
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Elstree, Herts WD6 3BY, 020 8953 8889 tlse@liberaljudaism.org, www.tlse.org.uk Lincolnshire Jewish Community 01427 628958, ljc@liberaljudaism.org Manchester Liberal Jewish Community, 08709 917327, mljc@liberaljudaism.org, www.mljc.org.uk North London Progressive Jewish Community, 020 7403 3779, nlpjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.nlpjc.org.uk Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Oaklands Gate, Northwood, Middx HA6 3AA, 01923 822592, npls@liberaljudaism.org, www.npls.org.uk Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation Lloyd Street, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 4BP 0115 9624761, npjc@liberaljudaism.org www.npjc.org.uk Or Chadash Liberal Jewish Community of Luxembourg, 00 352 31 65 94 lljc@liberaljudaism.org Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community Enquiries: 020 7631 9826 The Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia (based in Norwich), 01508 538666 pjcea@liberaljudaism.org, www.pjcea.org.uk Reading Liberal Jewish Community www.rljc.org 0118 375 3422, rljc@liberaljudaism.org South Bucks Jewish Community 0845 644 2370 sbjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.sbjc.org.uk South London Liberal Synagogue PO Box 14475, London SW16 1ZW, 020 8769 4787 slls@liberaljudaism.org, www.southlondon.org Southgate Progressive Synagogue 75 Chase Road, London N14 4QY, 020 8886 0977 sps@liberaljudaism.org, www.sps.uk.com West Central Liberal Synagogue 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE, 020 7636 7627 wcls@liberaljudaism.org, www.wcls.org.uk Woodford Liberal Synagogue, Marlborough Road, George Lane, London E18 1AR 020 8989 7619, wps@liberaljudaism.org, www.woodfordliberal.org.uk Associated congregations Beit Ha’Chidush, Postbus 14613, 1001 LC Amsterdam, Netherlands, 00 31 23 524 7204 info@beithachidush.nl, www.beithachidush.nl Oxford Liberal Jewish Services: 01865 515584 or 01865 765197, www.oxford-synagogue.org.uk Developing communities The Gloucestershire Jewish Community Enquiries: 01242 521468 or 01242 234232 The Suffolk Jewish Community 01473 250797, sjc@liberaljudaism.org
Make a date ........... 13 July (Sunday) Liberal Judaism’s Social Action Day in Birmingham. With Shahid Malik (international development minister), film and workshops: socialaction@liberaljudaism.org 27 July to 10 August Machaneh Kadimah LJY-Netzer’s unbeatable summer camp for ages 8-15. Details: 020 7631 0584 9 August (Saturday) Induction of Three Rabbis at Northwood and Pinner. Please email admin@ npls.org.uk if you would like to attend 29 to 31 August 'tent' Summer Getaway in the Lee Valley. Contact: a.katzil@liberaljudaism.org 13 September (Saturday) Small Communities' Shabbaton Contact: debi.penhey@lbc.ac.uk 21 September (Sunday) Liberal Judaism’s Annual Memorial Services Tel: 020 7580 1663 23 September (Tuesday) Genealogy workshop at the Montagu Centre Tel: 020 8504 3125 23 November (Sunday) John Rich Memorial Day at South London, with Rabbi Professor Marc Saperstein, principal of Leo Baeck College 2009 March Liberal Judaism Educators’ Trip to Israel. Contact Yael Shotts: y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org 17 May (Sunday) Day of Celebration for Liberal Judaism Contact: w.glassman@liberaljudaism.org
Israel in spring A Liberal Judaism Educators’ visit to Israel is being planned for March 2009. The subsidised trip, postponed from this year, is open to all those interested in education in their community. For further information, contact Yael Shotts: y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org.
Silver leaves
These are the new rimmonim (Torah finials) made for one of the Bristol and West congregation’s two scrolls by artist and designer John Weiss. The silver trees have fruits of Bristol blue and Bath aqua glass and are an interpretation of the synagogue’s Hebrew name, kehillah k’doshah, eitz chayim (Holy Community, Tree of Life). Pictured on their keep, made by Rabbi Ron Berry, the rimmonim are dedicated to the memory of Professor Robert Eisenthal, a longstanding member of the congregation.
Shabbat in Lincoln The next Small Communities' Shabbaton will take place in Lincoln on Saturday 13 September. This is chance to meet and spend Shabbat with members and leaders from Liberal, Reform, Masorti and independent small communities. The Shabbaton is jointly sponsored by Liberal Judaism, Leo Baeck College and the Movement for Reform Judaism. Email debi.penhey@lbc.ac.uk for details.
Betty Winston Betty Winston, a longstanding member of Finchley Progressive Synagogue, died in May, aged 84. She is deeply mourned by her husband, Clive, an honorary vice-president of Liberal Judaism, and by their daughters, Penny and Wendy.