LJ Today May/Jun 2023

Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism

www.liberaljudaism.org

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Progressive Judaism - united at last!

LIBERAL Judaism and The Movement for Reform Judaism are working together to create one single unified Progressive Jewish movement for the UK.

This historic announcement was greeted with excitement and delight by rabbis, communities and members across both our movements, as well as leaders from the wider Jewish world – as you can read on page 3.

Liberal Judaism CEO Rabbi Charley Baginsky will lead the project in partnership with incoming Reform Judaism CEO Rabbi Josh Levy.

She said: “Liberal and Reform Judaism believe the same things – for example our fully egalitarian services and welcome of mixed faith families. We are as one on everything, from campaigning for same-sex marriage to training rabbis and educators to offering provision for students and young people.

“In recent years we have grown together, hand in hand and organically. This is now the next natural step for us both and I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead it alongside a colleague and friend in Josh.”

Crucially our 80+ Liberal and Reform communities will preserve their individual names, services and practices. Likewise, our two youth movements – LJY-Netzer and RSY-Netzer – will retain their identities. All will now benefit from an influx of new ideas, enhanced resources and a greater level of support.

In regards to Jewish status and lifecycle, Liberal and Reform Judaism have identical or very similar policies on conversion, equilineal descent, LGBTQI+ inclusion and the embrace of mixed faith couples and families. Liberal Judaism members have always been welcomed in Reform communities and vice versa. Both movements are members of the World Union for Progressive Judaism.

Rabbi Josh Levy has been Principal Rabbi of Alyth (North Western Reform Synagogue) since 2008. He is also a lecturer at Leo Baeck College.

He said: “Reform and Liberal Judaism share the same core values and outlook.

“This is an important moment for Progressive Judaism and I now look forward to working with movement staff, lay leaders, members and clergy and in deep partnership with Charley.”

Liberal and Reform Judaism have been separate for more than 100 years. This advance to unite into one Progressive movement will bring the UK into line with most other countries.

Progressive Jews together make up around 30% of those who are affiliated to synagogues in the UK.

Liberal Judaism Chair Ruth Seager and Paul Langsford, Co-Chair of Reform Judaism, along with the Boards of both movements, have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.

They said in a joint statement: “Our lay leadership and clergy are clear that the future for Progressive Judaism is to have one shared movement to represent all of Britain’s Progressive Jews.

“Coming together will mean that our reach, our voice and ultimately our Judaism will be stronger.”

Liberal Judaism CEO Rabbi Charley Baginsky with Reform Judaism CEO Rabbi Josh Levy

‘This is an idea whose time has come’

Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy on their vision for Progressive Judaism

THE uniting of Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism into one Progressive movement is a change to over 100 years of history and yet feels like the most natural step in the world.

As a unified movement, we will be stronger and our voice will be clearer and louder. We will be able to make an even bigger contribution to the wider Jewish community both in the UK and beyond our shores. We can better support our communities and enable our rabbis and cantors to work more sustainably and powerfully. We can raise up each other’s voices, promote our shared values and help more people live rich and vibrant Jewish lives. And, most importantly of all, we will leave this inheritance to our children, grandchildren and future generations of Progressive Jews.

So, as we’ve been asked countless times since the announcement, why didn’t it happen sooner?

It’s true that since Progressive Judaism first emerged in the 19th century, Britain has been one of the only countries in the world without one united movement.

Things could have been different when both movements were established or as our communities grew side by side throughout the country. Unsuccessful talks were held throughout the 1970s and 1980s about coming together. An ‘Alliance’ was formed a decade ago, but was limited to a few areas.

The truth is that in the past there were some substantial differences between our movements and there was also a lack of urgency and will.

By Ruth Seager and Paul Langsford

AS Chairs of Liberal and Reform Judaism, we had felt the moment was right to create one single unified Progressive Jewish movement, but the response has been more positive than we could ever have hoped for.

It feels as though we are amid a simcha – everyone joyous and celebrating the happy couple – but we know we need to plan for the following day when the music stops, and we all return home.

The next step is to take the thrill of our new union and turn the vision into a Progressive Judaism that continues to combine Jewish traditions with modern values and lifestyles.

The personal arguments of yesteryear are long gone and, most importantly, so too are many of the theological and cultural ones.

Our two movements share the same values – for example our welcome of mixed faith couples and families, samesex wedding ceremonies, bat and bar mitzvah celebrated in the same way and so on. Our rabbis and educators train together at Leo Baeck College.

The last major difference fell in 2015. Since that date both our movements have been able to recognise the Jewish status of those with one Jewish parent, without asking them to undergo conversion, irrespective of the gender of the parent.

“What is the difference between Liberal and Reform Judaism” has therefore become a question that our rabbis, cantors, lay leaders and even PR people struggle to answer.

But, as with everything, a spark was needed to set things in motion – and that spark was the pandemic, or rather how we all felt afterwards. When we looked back at that Covid period, as difficult and filled with loss as it was for so many of us personally, we saw a renewal of our Progressive Judaism.

Liberal and Reform rabbis and communities learned from each other and inspired each other. We changed, adapted and innovated. Our online services were vibrant, volunteers were everywhere.

Then last December, we looked at what we achieved together and wondered why we were doing this separately.

We are conscious that we are part of a long line of people who have tried to make this happen over the last 50 years, and we are grateful and respectful for their invaluable contribution. We are proudly standing on the shoulders of those who came before us.

Today’s world is very different from that of the 1970s. The liberalisation of society as a whole has helped remove the gap between the two movements and align our values and practices.

Our movements share so many practices such as whole families sitting together and prayers recited and sung in both English and Hebrew so that everyone of us can feel part of the service and join in.

There are the shared values Charley and Josh talk about above.

This is an idea whose time has come. Both movements feel like truly equal partners and we can finally put in place the move that people have talked about for decades.

Led by our Boards and our rabbinates, this isn’t a merger or a takeover but the formation of a brand new movement, Progressive Judaism.

Together we have 40,000 members –around 30% of those who are affiliated to synagogues in the UK – and know there are many more unaffiliated people we can now reach.

Key to our vision is not only what will change, but what will stay the same.

Our 80+ Progressive communities up and down the country will retain their individual identities, names, services, prayer books and practices. No two Liberal or Reform synagogues or services are the same… and long may that continue. We embrace the diversity.

Our two wonderful youth movements, LJY-Netzer and RSY-Netzer, will currently stay separate, offering different experiences to cater to different audiences. Going forward, they will now benefit from an overarching movement that will provide better resources and stronger support to improve the lifechanging experiences our children and young people enjoy.

So as we stand on the edge of our promised land, and with it having taken us three times longer than it did Moses, we can look back with pride at our past and look forward with excitement towards Progressive Judaism’s future.

And as we look deeper, even more similarities emerge.

We use technology to improve the Shabbat experience to allow those at home – whether because of distance, disability, ill health, family or simply because they prefer it – to take part.

And there is the acknowledgment that for many being Jewish is not just about prayer, but about being in a Jewish space, volunteering or social action.

As we reflect on how we got here, and the support we have received, we know every one of us has a role to play in this new chapter for Progressive Judaism and has ownership of its future.

This is not only the right thing to do, but the next link in the ever progressing chain that has kept Judaism alive for thousands of years.

A warm welcome from all quarters

“This is a remarkable and breathtaking achievement. The creation of this new movement will bring a renewal of spirit and ideas to Progressive Judaism. While there have been attempts to bring our two movements together over many years, I believe that this new creation will work because it conceives of our joint and shared endeavours in a completely innovative and different way. And it will work because of a leadership that has steadfastly pushed forward this new vision, gathering grassroots support as well as support from partners.”

Rabbi Alexandra Wright President of Liberal Judaism

“It has always been one of the great mysteries of British Jewry as to why we have two Progressive movements. We not only share the same values and largely have the same practices, but our rabbis are trained at the same institution and many of them have served congregations in both movements. Progressive Judaism mixes the best of the traditions of the past with the realities of today. There has been talk of combining into a new entity for many years and the arguments for doing so are now overwhelming. I am sure we will look back and ask why on earth did it take us so long?”

Rabbi Jonathan Romain Maidenhead Synagogue

“As the chair of Arzenu, the Zionist movement to which both Reform and Liberal Judaism are affiliated, I very much welcome the announcement that the two movements are pursuing plans to create one single unified Progressive Jewish movement for the UK. I have seen first-hand how the impact of our movements can be amplified when we work together closely as we have been doing regarding our relationship with Israel and our joint concerns about some proposals of the current Israeli government. As a Liberal rabbi, who previously worked in a Reform synagogue, I look forward to supporting this important process and hope to contribute to a successful outcome.”

Rabbi Lea Mühlstein Chair of Arzenu

“We are deeply sad that Rabbi Josh Levy is leaving our community, but are enormously excited for the future of Progressive Judaism and the commitment both movements are making to this new project.”

Justin Wise Chair of Alyth

“The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) celebrates and enthusiastically supports this Liberal/ Reform union, which will strengthen our entire global movement. The WUPJ was founded by British Progressive Jewish leaders and now, as we move towards the 100th anniversary of that moment, we are delighted to see them leading the way again. This is a real display of a different type of leadership; one that is collaborative and unified, while at the same time committing to diversity and difference – an example to imitate in other countries and regions.”

Rabbi Sergio Bergman President of the WUPJ

“B’sha’ah tovah - which means ‘at a good hour’ - is the traditional greeting on hearing news of forthcoming great joy. From everyone at Leo Baeck College, we wish Liberal Judaism and The Movement for Reform Judaism - Rabbis Charley Baginsky (LBC class of 2008) and Josh Levy (LBC class of 2007) - b’sha’ah tovah! We look forward to working in close partnership over the months and years to come to co-create the next chapter in Progressive Jewish life in the UK.”

Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris Principal of Leo Baeck College

“Congratulations to our friends in the The Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism on this exciting news. We wish them luck on this journey and look forward to continuing to work together to bring modern values to the British Jewish community and beyond.”

Masorti Judaism

“This moment feels ripe with possibilities. When I was an LJY-Netzer Movement Worker, almost 15 years ago, I always saw the Reform Movement as the ‘other’ which had made different choices around Jewish identity. When I sought to return to the UK last year, I found a Reform Judaism aligned with Liberal Judaism on every important issue, and became rabbi of a Reform synagogue seeking to be an increasingly welcoming community. The ideological space between our movements has evaporated and now we are standing at the cusp of something truly exciting. I already feel part of a larger movement with our voices starting to become stronger, together.”

Rabbi Jordan Helfman

South West Essex and Settlement Reform Synagogue

“What an exciting time to live in! The prospect of building together a stronger Progressive movement, bringing together a third of the British Jewish community, is for me a dream come true. We have so much to offer to the world: a vision of an inclusive society; our positive values for a community and a world rooted in diversity; openness and togetherness; an approach to the Jewish tradition that is inquisitive, questioning and yet filled with respect. I am very much looking forward to the next steps.”

Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel

Co-Chair of the Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors

“Not only will I be reunited with my former classmates from Leo Baeck College, who now work in Reform synagogues, but creating a new Progressive entity will be an exciting challenge. The values that Liberal and Reform Jews hold dear won’t be going anywhere, but instead will together form the foundations of what we now build.”

Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber

Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue

“The planned unification of The Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism is a rare instance of sense triumphing over turf. All too often, organisations which perform almost exactly the same function cling to a separate existence for no reason other than sentiment and self-preservation. The example Progressive Judaism has set should be followed by others. Unity is, after all, needed now more than ever in our community, and this would be a good place to start.”

Jewish Chronicle Editorial

The leaderships of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and Leo Baeck College (pictured) have given their strong backing

York memorial for the 150

Success at Southgate

By Howard Duckworth

THE 7 Nisan 4950 was one of the darkest days in the history of Jews in England. It was when York’s Jewish community of 150 men, women and children were chased into Clifford’s Tower by an antisemitic mob.

They were promised safety if they converted to Christianity; the ones who left the Tower to do so were immediately murdered. Those who remained inside decided that it was better to die by suicide. Parents killed their children, then each other and the ones left took their own lives in a final act of desperation.

I recently asked around if anyone had ever conducted a Jewish memorial service for the 150 and the answer was no - there had never been one. There have been various commemorations over the years, including to mark the 800th anniversary in 1990, but not, to the best of our knowledge, a service similar to the ones held for victims of the Holocaust.

Student Rabbi Rafe Thurstance and I had the idea that we could use the private chapel inside Clifford’s Tower, which we were given with the kind permission of English Heritage. There was no question for us as to when this should happen. The obvious date would be 7 Nisan 5783, 833 years since the massacre.

Rafe said: “We came to the realisation that those who lost their lives in this massacre would never have had a funeral and conversations with several people led us to realise that there was a feeling that in some way that needed to be recognised. So it felt fitting to us that, despite several public events to commemorate and mark the events of 1190, there should be a small yizkor service without any elaborate ceremony dedicated specifically to the lives and memories of those who perished here.”

By Sue Jessel

THERE was an excellent attendance at Southgate Progressive Synagogue (SPS), and on online streaming platforms, for the fourth in the series of lectures in memory of Southgate’s late Emeritus Rabbi Harry Martin Jacobi.

Local dignitaries, representatives of Liberal Judaism and other Progressive congregations, members and friends were there to hear an inspirational and thought-provoking talk from Harry’s son, Rabbi Richard Jacobi.

A pre-recorded opening prayer was given by Harry’s daughter, Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi, who was in Adelaide, Australia, at the time of the lecture.

In his talk, entitled Why Progressive Judaism Must Restore Kindness, Richard explained that in the Torah, one of the 13 attributes of God is chesed, which is often translated as kindness.

Harry Jacobi, in a childhood escaping from the Nazis, benefitted from kindness that kept him safe and he repaid that, in adulthood, many times over.

Richard suggested that today, in wider society, kindness has been relegated to an approach associated with weakness or softness, which does not chime with the market sentiments of capitalism or the social sentiments of individual autonomy.

He argued that it is time we Progressive Jews restored divine status to kindness, to be practised by all in a manner that respects all people as b’tzelem Elohim (in the image of God) and nurtures the planet that humanity has abused.

This promoted much food for thought which was continued with many small discussions at the tea which followed.

The next lecture will be given jointly by Margaret Shepherd and Dr Ed Kessler on Sunday 7 April 2024 with the title Jewish:Christian Relations.

KINGSTON Liberal Synagogue (KLS) was transformed into a circus when a team of performers visited to tell the story of a German Jewish circus family through narrative, performance and music.

The event was the brainchild of Rabbi Miri Lawrence (pictured), from Ealing Liberal Synagogue, who has a keen interest in the history of Jewish circus families and performs as a circus artist in her spare time.

Enfield Councillor Ruby Sampson, Enfield Southgate MP Bambos Charalambous, Rabbi Richard Jacobi, Deputy Mayor of Enfield Councillor Suna Hurman and Deputy Mayor of Barnet Councillor Nagus Narenthira at the fourth Rabbi Harry Martin Jacobi Memorial Lecture

Student Rabbi Rafe Thurstance and Howard Duckworth lead the Clifford’s Tower service

A double celebration for Mosaic

Alan Solomon on two special events for the former Wembley Liberal Synagogue

READERS of lj today with good memories may recall an article in the September/ October 2022 issue in which we outlined the 75 year history of Mosaic Liberal Synagogue (formerly Wembley Liberal Synagogue and then Harrow & Wembley Progressive Synagogue).

This anniversary was to be marked with a celebration tea in October 2022 in our new building in Stanmore, with its state-of-the-art facilities, which is now the home of the Liberal, Reform and Masorti synagogues that make up Mosaic Jewish Community, a unique partnership in Anglo-Jewry.

But, as so often in the construction industry, the target completion date proved somewhat optimistic and the celebration had to be postponed.

And so it was that, in April, we finally welcomed around 150 current and past members, guests and representatives of Liberal Judaism, along with our friends from the Reform and Masorti congregations, to an entertaining afternoon and wonderful tea.

Three of us, each covering 25 years, gave a potted history of the synagogue including personal recollections and how membership of the community had played such a large part in our lives.

Around the hall were displays of old photographs, shul magazines, service booklets produced for special occasions over the years and other memorabilia.

There were also photos of a number of current movers and shakers dating from their childhood, for guests to try and identify, and a loop showing clips from a DVD taken when we left our original home in Preston Road, Kenton, in 2011, having occupied three different buildings in our 57 years there.

The 1950s and early 60s saw a very popular Youth Club at the former Wembley Liberal Synagogue in Preston Road. So successful was the club that many life-long friendships formed, plus there were a number of marriages between members.

There have many get togethers over the years and the latest was held in Devon, when 31 former members and partners enjoyed dinner together at a local farm, a boat trip on the River Exe, a country walk and lots of chat about those club days from over 60 years ago.

Moving speeches were given by Mosaic Liberal Synagogue’s Rabbi Rachel Benjamin and Rabbi Anna Wolfson, Development Rabbi for Mosaic Jewish Community, who spoke of their hopes for the future. They talked about how all three communities continue with plans to make this wonderful new building a centre of Jewish life in our area of North West London. The afternoon then concluded with a song session led by these two very musical rabbis.

Rabbi Anthony Lazarus-Magrill (Mosaic Masorti), Rabbi Andrew Goldstein (Liberal Judaism Vice President), Rabbi Kathleen Middleton (Mosaic Reform), Ruth Seager (Liberal Judaism Chair), Rabbi Rachel Benjamin (Mosaic Liberal), Karen Newman (Liberal Judaism Deputy Chair), Leslie Moss (Liberal Judaism Treasurer) and Rabbi Anna Wolfson (Mosaic Jewish Community Development Rabbi) at the celebration tea

Mosaic members and friends raise a toast

Wembley Youth Club reunion on the River Exe

LJY-Netzer Machaneh Shamayim

By Joe Shotton Movement Worker, LJY-Netzer

LJY-NETZER’s Machaneh Shamayim spring camp was a huge success!

It was the usual mix of kef (fun), chinuch (informal education), mamaadim (prayer) and friendship, in beautiful surroundings. We ran chuggim (projects) for our kids. In vegan baking they made cupcakes and in drama they crafted an award winning ‘Last Night Show’.

In sports, they tried their hand at welly tossing, while engineering led to a crazy Rube Goldberg machine and lava lamps. With half of this year’s camp falling during Pesach, we saw off the festival with a last night Seder.

We started with a dramatic reenactment of the Passover story, followed by a meal together and some prayers.

LJY Netzer’s Theme of the Year (TOTY) is Solidarity and we told the Passover story through that lens.

We made links to modern slavery and talked about how non-Jewish midwives saved baby Moses.

Now we set our sights on Machaneh Kadimah, our upcoming summer camp. Join us there for all sorts of classic LJY activities. Find out more and book your place on our website www.ljy-netzer.org

We can’t wait to see you soon!

Shamayim 5783 in pictures

Contact LJY-Netzer: Sophie Leapman (s.leapman@liberaljudaism.org ), Jess Mindel (j.mindel@liberaljudaism.org), Joe Shotton (j.shotton@liberaljudaism.org) and Director of Youth - Rebecca Fetterman (r.fetterman@liberaljudaism.org)

Honeycomb Project

By Rabbi Eryn London

THE Honeycomb Project is a joint initiative between Liberal Judaism and The Movement for Reform Judaism to increase volunteer training and wellbeing resources across the movements.

Since its start in September 2021, it has led volunteer training courses, bereavement support courses, a peer support group for volunteer care coordinators and has created Jewish holiday and wellbeing materials.

Having most programs on Zoom allows for people to be able to participate no matter where they might be located in the country and no matter how large or small their community might be.

The courses are there to help upskill community members in the amazing work that they are already doing, and allow people to connect and learn best practices in the ways in which we help care for our communities. It has also allowed for congregations to share resources in ways that they are able to use to offer support to their members.

We have an active Facebook page, where we not only share Honeycomb Project events and publications, but also try to spread the word about other public events and articles around topics of care and communities. Please follow us.

We have just restarted our volunteer care coordinator support group. This takes place monthly at 7:30pm on a Wednesday. To register, please visit www.tinyurl.com/carecoordinatorsupport

The Honeycomb Project is also very excited to host Care Conference 2023, which will be taking place on 11 June at Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue.

This day-long conference is open to all and will be a wonderful event full of learning and skill development in areas around care. We have a great line up of speakers including our keynote Barbara Altounyan, who is the founder of Stories for Life. Other workshops will include Jenny Patterson on loneliness and isolation in older adults; Jewish Care presenting on chronic and long-term illness; Bette Fraser and Bobbi Reisel speaking about communal bereavement support; Liz Wise from APNI speaking about perinatal mental health; and much more! To register, please visit www.ti.to/MRJ/mrj-lj-honeycomb-careconference-2023

Please also keep an eye out for more upcoming Honeycomb Project events and programmes over the coming months. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please send us an email at honeycomb@liberaljudaism.org

Tikkun olam and litter picking

THE Ark Synagogue participated in the Great British Spring Clean with a litter picking event led by the community’s Rabbi Aaron Goldstein and member Judi Herman (pictured). Read Judi’s sermon, given about the project and its background, below:

IT’S November 2020 and I am done wringing my hands and raging at the appalling volume of litter ‘decorating’ our streets, grass verges and hedgerows.

My beloved husband Steve has bought us his ’n’ hers litter-pickers for our 45th wedding anniversary(!) and we take on the role of joint leaders of a new ‘litterati’.

Steve begins by finding some wonderfully official-looking ‘no litter’ notices online and fixing them to the fence at the entrance to an alleyway that is often ankle deep in rubbish. Meanwhile, I deftly clear the alley with my new weapon.

Our daily lockdown walks now have a new purpose. We still look at the stars, but we cast our eyes downwards to the gutters too, to clear them from bottles and cans, baby wipes, takeaway boxes… and face masks – then a new addition to the detritus that folk seem to have lost the will to bin or take home.

On our walks round our corner of suburbia we pick up everything we spot. As time passes, though there’s still plenty to fill a bag, the volume drops substantially, especially down our alley. We are often greeted by local residents who want to thank us.

Fast forward to 2023. I’m still litter picking daily, but now sadly without Steve who died in June 2022. But I am at least accompanied by my pretty little Bedlington Terrier sidekick Biba, whom I’ve now dubbed ‘The Litter Hound’.

Back in 2021 I made a podcast for Jewish Renaissance, the magazine and website where I’m Arts and Podcast Editor, tracking Steve and me – and our grandkids Alys and Dylan – as we did our bit with litter pickers and stout 30-litre rubbish bags.

The children became particularly intrigued when we explained how well litter picking chimes with the Jewish concept of tikkun olam (repairing the world), as we trash collectors do our bit to restore fields, verges and hedges to their pristine state, rather than leaving them strewn with all those unsightly and unhygienic cardboard cups, plastic lids and cans. I also wondered how come consumers of cans of energy drink then don’t have the ‘energy’ to carry them home for disposal afterwards.

When we explained how we’re also helping prevent wildlife being tangled up, often fatally, in carelessly abandoned items such as face masks, which have been found attached to birds as far afield as Antarctica, their righteous indignation and enthusiasm was off the scale.

Keep Britain Tidy, who were tagged in the podcast, picked up on it and were equally intrigued by the concept of tikkun olam. They invited Jewish Renaissance to become involved and we were announced as Keep Britain Tidy’s official ambassadors to the Jewish community. We were proud to take on that role once again with this year’s Great British Spring Clean - which ran from Friday 17 March until Sunday 2 April.

The challenge for each of us, all over the country, was to fill a chosen number of rubbish bags – be that one or 101.

The Ark Synagogue and our rabbis were right behind it too, in supremely practical ways.

This year, as well as the everincreasing impact on wildlife –particularly birds – from discarded plastic, another modern threat is vaping.

The Wildlife and Countryside Link reported that disposable vape use increased a whopping 44% last year compared to 2021. These break down into dangerously small parts that maintain the sweet vape scents – something that attracts wildlife, and dogs especially, and can be fatal if eaten.

So now I invite you to join me, to make this into a country-wide activity, a friendly and fulfilling way to get together for walks where, armed with litter-pickers and bags, we can share the fulfilment –and the fun - of giving our local areas a clean sweep to help fulfil the mitzvah of tikkun olam

Ealing Liberal turns 80

The rich and varied service also included readings from members of the congregation.

The synagogue’s President William Glassman reflected on the community’s many achievements and joined others in looking forward to the next 80 years. The service was followed by a kiddush, lunch and champagne reception thanks to donations from members and friends.

Among the many special guests were James Murray MP, Dr Rupa Huq MP, Mayor of Ealing Councillor Mohinder Midha, leader of Ealing Council Peter Mason and local councillors Tariq Mahmood, Ilyadha Nijhar, Aysha Raza and Ben Wesson.

Mitzvah Day Award wins

EALING Liberal Synagogue (ELS) held a Shabbat service and celebration to mark the 80th year since its foundation. It was led by the synagogue’s Rabbi Dr Miri Lawrence and Liberal Judaism CEO Rabbi Charley Baginsky, with contributions from former ELS leader Rabbi Indigo Raphael and Student Rabbi Rafe Thurstance.

Rabbi Dr Miri Lawrence said: “Our 80th anniversary service encapsulated the spirit of Ealing Liberal Synagogue. It was a day full of warmth, love and friendship which demonstrated the whole congregation’s commitment to our community and Jewish heritage.”

Councillor Aysha Raza, who is the Ealing cabinet member for tackling inequality, added: “It was lovely to celebrate 80 years of Ealing Liberal Synagogue being a key part of our local community.”

Montefiore’s fountain restored

LIBERAL Judaism Vice President Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein spoke as the Heritage of London Trust (HOLT) brought a historic Jewish memorial fountain back to life in Tower Hamlets.

A ceremony was held to celebrate the restoration of the derelict drinking fountain commemorating Jewish philanthropist Leonard Montefiore (1853-1879), the brother of Liberal Judaism founder Claude Montefiore.

The event, organised in association with Tower Hamlets Council and the Jewish

MARTIN SLOWE – a lifetime member and former President of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue died on 17 April 2023 aged 82. He is survived by his two daughters Emily and Hannah, and their families, and his brothers Richard and Peter.

Martin leaves a huge gap in the LJS and beyond. Wise beyond his years, he was always available for sound advice, but he never offered it until asked. He was always concerned about, and coming up with solutions to address, the long-term sustainability of Liberal Judaism in general and the LJS in particular. He was a much loved congregant and President and will be sadly missed. A full obituary will feature in the next issue of lj today

OWEN POWER, the Deputy for York Liberal Jewish Community and a member of the Liberal Judaism Board of National Officers was a winner of the Mitzvah Day Individual Award (pictured).

Owen was honoured alongside six others for their personal contributions to the day of social action. He was part of numerous projects, including the launch event and those organised by LGBTQI+ support group This Is Me Salford.

Owen said: “I love the concept that ‘every day is a Mitzvah Day’ with communities working together to make the world a nicer place all year round!

“I was delighted to be a winner of this award. I love the work we are doing at This Is Me Salford, especially when we bake cakes and serve coffee on special occasions like Mitzvah Day to people attending our support services, such as our HIV Testing Week event.”

Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue and Kingston Liberal Synagogue received runners-up prizes at the ceremony.

Shabbat boxes

THANKS to your donations, Liberal Judaism has been sending out packs so that everyone is able to celebrate Shabbat, even if they are living alone or in a nonJewish care home.

Liberal Judaism Vice President

Rabbi Danny Rich personally took some of these Shabbat boxes to Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community. He said: “This is a great initiative. I was able to visit one of the founding members of what is now Three Counties – and it was reported to me that the kit was used by Rose and Benny on the very evening I delivered it.”

Rabbis Indigo Raphael, Miri Lawrence and Charley Baginsky at the anniversary service

East End Celebration Society, was led by Baroness Rabbi Julia Neuberger.

Shavuot together

A TIKKUN Leyl Shavuot will be hosted by The Ark Synagogue on Thursday 25 May from 6-10pm. It is open to everyone to join online or attend in person.

The Ark’s Rabbi Aaron Goldstein said: “The evening will see us share responses to the call to our ancient Israelite ancestors: Shema Yisrael - Hear O Israel!

“These opening words of the Shema have become the best known in Judaism’s liturgy, but their precise meaning is not clear at all. The ambiguity allows space for a multitude of responses so, to frame our event, we are focussing on just the first two words!”

To receive the Zoom link, please visit www.arksynagogue.org/tikkun-leyl

Biennial programme

THE Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend is almost upon us. Taking place at the gorgeous De Vere Staverton Estate in Daventry, Northamptonshire, from Friday 19 - Sunday 21 May, there are still tickets available from www.liberaljudaism.org

Building on the themes of the past two Biennials – collaboration and inclusion – the conference will look at the burning issues that face our movement.

It will ask where we should put our focus and effort in the years ahead and how best we should work with The Movement for Reform Judaism to enact our vision of creating of one single Progressive Judaism.

Our keynote speakers are Rebecca Soffer, CEO of www.modernloss.com, Rabbi Dr Lawrence Hoffman and Dr Joel Hoffman. You will hear from Liberal Judaism Chair Ruth Seager, CEO Rabbi Charley Baginsky, President Rabbi Alexandra Wright and the Co-Chairs of the Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors, Rabbis Rebecca Birk and René Pfertzel. We are delighted to have sessions run by many of Progressive Judaism’s most inspiring clergy and thought-leaders. Plus there is a full youth programme from LJY-Netzer.

Read the highlights on the right and the full programme on our website.

Sing-a-long with Liberal Judaism

By Ruth Colin

TECHNOLOGY came up trumps over the last few years – enabling us to grow as a movement and bring our synagogues and rabbis into congregants’ homes and then, thankfully, back through our doors again. However it never did solve the communal singing aspect.

As hard as we tried, smoothly passing the baton of mute/unmute buttons over Zoom calls did not achieve anything comparable to the sense of community, joy and wellbeing that singing together as a congregation brings.

It was therefore so wonderful that at the LJ120 closing event in February we could form a scratch choir to sing legacy and current music from across Liberal Judaism. It gave us new drive to create further events.

Next year we hope to hold a full music conference, but to get us started Mosaic Liberal Synagogue are hosting an afternoon of singing on Sunday 11 June.

We will be singing in parts, sharing favourite songs and introducing new ones. Open to everyone, it will be a joyous afternoon of singing with Rabbis Rachel Benjamin, Anna Wolfson, Gershon Silins and Igor Zinkov joined by myself, Joseph Finlay and more to be announced soon.

Tickets are by donation (£5 suggested, but please pay what you can) and include a bagel lunch and refreshments. To book, visit www.tinyurl.com/singalongwithlj

Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend - the highlights

The future of Progressive Judaism - Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy

In the wake of Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism’s historic joint announcement, join Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy, the CEOs of the respective movements, as they discuss their thoughts for the future of Progressive Judaism.

God, how do we move on from here? Thinking through the contradiction that is Liberal Judaism - Rabbi Dr Judith Rosen-Berry and Rabbi Lea Mühlstein (pictured right) Rabbi Dr Judith Rosen-Berry teaches modern Jewish thought/theology at Leo Baeck College, London, and in Oxford where she lives. Rabbi Lea Mühlstein is a Senior Rabbi at The Ark Synagogue and International Chair of Arzenu UK. Join these two prominent rabbis as they explore how, although being Liberal and Jewish is often seen as a contradiction, it is in fact the source of Liberal Judaism’s ongoing dynamic and unique identity.

The Board of Deputies and Liberal Judaism - Michael Wegier, Board of Deputies CEO Michael Wegier has worked as a Jewish educator, strategic planner and CEO for Jewish organisations in the UK, Israel and the United States. He has been the Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews since 2021. Join him to discuss the relationship between Liberal Judaism and the Board, and how his organisation approaches balancing a multiplicity of voices under one ‘roof’.

Re-imagining Ruth (and Naomi and Boaz) - Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris

What’s the difference between polyamory and polygamy and why might either of those terms be relevant to reading the Book of Ruth? Just ahead of Shavuot, come along to study together a wholly new, 21st century approach to reading this story with Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris - Principal of Leo Baeck College, where she has taught Hebrew Bible, particularly the Megillot, for more than 15 years.

Remembering the Holocaust in the modern day - panel discussion

We are getting ever closer to losing the last of our eyewitnesses to the Holocaust. Join a panel featuring representatives from Kick It Out, the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) and Kingston Liberal Synagogue’s Sandra Webber - organiser of her area’s Holocaust Memorial Day educational activities - as they discuss the challenges of remembering the Holocaust in a meaningful way in the modern world.

Building a broad yet effective movement for social change - Amos Schonfield, Deputy Director of HIAS+JCORE

HIAS and JCORE, two Jewish organisations with long histories of supporting refugees and asylum seekers, have recently merged to form one organisation with greater capacity to support their existing programmes and more. Join the new organisation’s first Deputy Director, Amos Schonfield, to discuss how we build an effective movement for change, bringing people together for maximum impact.

More than keynotes!

Rabbi Dr Lawrence Hoffman (pictured left) and Dr Joel Hoffman will not only be delivering rousing keynotes for us… they’ll actually be with us for the whole weekend. You will be able to catch them in any of our four session slots on the following topics.

Rabbi Dr Lawrence Hoffman:

- Not ‘who is a Jew’ but ‘when is a Jew’: Judaism as a conversation

- ‘Here I Stand’: Developing a personal ‘Shema statement’; what matters to me most

- Haggadah to High Holy Days: particularism and universalism, the ultimate messages of our holiday cycle

- How Jewish prayer began, what it became, and where it is going today

Dr Joel Hoffman’s sessions:

- The Bible doesn’t say that!

- Ancient answers to good and evil that were cut from the Bible

- 3,000 years of Jewish continuity as seen through 3,000 years of Hebrew

- Prioritising a meaningful Judaism: Hidden gems from the prayerbook

Liberal Judaism congregations

The Ark Synagogue (Northwood and Pinner)

T: 01923 822 592

E: admin@arksynagogue.org

W: arksynagogue.org

Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue

T: 0845 869 7105

E: info@bedsps.org.uk

W: bedfordshire-ps.org.uk

Beit Klal Yisrael (London)

E: admin@bky.org.uk

W: bky.org.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: info@bhps-online.org

W: bhps-online.org

Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation

T: 0117 403 3456

E: info@bwpjc.org

W: bwpjc.org

Crawley Jewish Community

T: 01293 534 294

Crouch End Chavurah

E: naomi@crouchendchavurah.org

W: www.crouchendchavurah.org

Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation

E: djpc@liberaljudaism.org

W: djpcireland.com

Ealing Liberal Synagogue

T: 020 8997 0528

E: admin@ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk

W: ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk

East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue

T: 0208 989 7619

E: administrator@elels.org.uk

W: elels.org.uk

Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community

T: 07376 916 920

E: eljc.contact@gmail.com

W: eljc.org.uk

Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community

T: 0131 777 8024

E: info@eljc.org

W: eljc.org

Finchley Progressive Synagogue

T: 020 8446 4063

E: fps@liberaljudaism.org

W: fps.org

Kehillah North London

T: 07706 354 602

E: info@kehillah.org.uk

W: kehillah.org.uk

Kent Liberal Jewish Community

T: 07384 993 553

E: enquiries@kljc.org.uk

W: kljc.org.uk

Kingston Liberal Synagogue

T: 020 8398 7400

E: kls@liberaljudaism.org

W: klsonline.org

Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation

E: chair@lpjc.org.uk

W: lpjc.org.uk

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (St John’s Wood)

T: 020 7286 5181

E: ljs@ljs.org

W: ljs.org

The Liberal Synagogue Elstree

T: 020 8953 8889

E: office@tlse.org.uk

W: tlse.org.uk

Lincolnshire Jewish Community

W: lincolnsynagogue.com

Mosaic Liberal Synagogue (Stanmore)

T: 020 8864 0133

E: office@mosaicliberal.org.uk

W: mosaicliberal.org.uk

Norwich Liberal Jewish Community

E: nljc@liberaljudaism.org

W: norwichljc.org.uk

Nottingham Liberal Synagogue

T: 0115 962 4761

E: info@nottinghamliberalsynagogue.com

W: nottinghamliberalsynagogue.com

Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community

T: 07561 331 390

E: info@pljc.org.uk

W: pljc.org.uk

Reading Liberal Jewish Community

E: readingliberaljewishcommunity@ gmail.com

W: readingljc.org.uk

Shir Hatzafon (Copenhagen)

E: shir@shirhatzafon.dk

W: shirhatzafon.dk

South Bucks Jewish Community

T: 07377 157 261

E: info@sbjc.org.uk

W: sbjc.org.uk

Southgate Progressive Synagogue

T: 020 8886 0977

E: office@sps.uk.com

W: sps.uk.com

The South London Liberal Synagogue (Streatham)

T: 020 8769 4787

E: office@southlondon.org

W: southlondon.org

Stevenage Liberal Synagogue

T: 01438 300 222

E: stevenageliberalsynagogue@gmail.com

W: stevenageliberalsynagogue.org.uk

Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (Ipswich)

T:01473 250 797

E: sljc@liberaljudaism.org

W: suffolkljc.co.uk

Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community (Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire)

T: 07900 612 058

E: info@3cljc.org.uk

W: 3cljc.org.uk

Wessex Liberal Jewish Community (Bournemouth)

T: 01202 757 590

E: secretary.wljc@gmail.com

W: wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk

York Liberal Jewish Community

T: 0300 102 0062

E: info@jewsinyork.org.uk

W: jewsinyork.org.uk

Developing and affiliated

Beit Ha’Chidush (Amsterdam)

E: info@beithachidush.nl

W: beithachidush.nl

Oxford Jewish Congregation

T: 01865 515 584

E: connections@ojc-online.org

W: ojc-online.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. Please send news to s.rothstein@liberaljudaism.org

Chair Ruth Seager

Deputy Chair Karen Newman Treasurer Leslie Moss Youth Hannah Stephenson

Communities and Social Justice Owen Power Inclusion Alexandra Boyd Strategy Alex Kinchin-Smith

Education and Complaints Susanne Szal Legal Governance and Small Communities Ros Clayton President Rabbi Alexandra Wright Vice Presidents Simon Benscher, Monique Blake, Nigel Cole, Lord (Stanley) Fink, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, Sharon Goldstein, Jane Greenfield, Lucian Hudson, Dr Edward Kessler MBE, Josie Kinchin, Ann Kirk BEM, Bob Kirk BEM, David Lipman, Frank Maxwell, Baroness (Gillian) Merron, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Rabbi Danny Rich, Tony Sacker, Joan Shopper, Phil Stone and Beverley Taylor

Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors Chairs Rabbi Rebecca Birk and Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel

Chief Executive Officer Rabbi Charley Baginsky

Chief Operating Officer Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer

Director of Youth Becca Fetterman

Director of Development and Membership Alexandra Gellnick Fundraising & Events Tom Rich

Executive Assistant Tanya Garfield Finance Janet Manderson Lifecycle Administrator Lisa Godsal

Media & Communications Coordinator Sophie Stern PR Simon Rothstein Archivist Alison Turner

Fundraising Executive Katie Price Honeycomb Project Coordinator Rabbi Eryn London

Student Chaplain Rabbi Leah Jordan LJY-Netzer Sophie Leapman, Jess Mindel and Joe Shotton