29 April 2021 Jewish News

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Progressive Judaism

Progressively Speaking

The Bible Says What?

Board’s race report calls for action – now is the time to bring about change

‘There’s a hole in The Holiness Code!’ BY RABBI YUVAL KEREN Leviticus contains a section we often refer to as The Holiness Code. It provides us with a legal, ethical and ritual code of conduct beginning with the words: “God spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy (kedoshim), for I, Adonai, your God, am Holy (kadosh).” The Hebrew word kadosh is translated as ‘holy’, but it also means ‘distinct’, ‘separate’ and ‘elevated’. This opening verse of The Holiness Code tells us God is unique, separate and elevated from the world and God’s holiness is a constant presence in the world. All holiness stems from God and everything in creation can assume this holiness of God. Holiness is therefore a conditional state. Nothing can be given the status of holiness unless there is a holy action behind it. The land of Israel is holy if its inhabitants can find the courage to respect and

BY RABBI DEBORAH BLAUSTEN

care for one another. Sabbaths and festivals will be holy if we observe them, celebrate them and actively rest in them. However, there is one great danger in doing just that. Our interpretation of these laws might become faulty if we forget about the rest of the world and think of these rules as applying to a select group of people. We might decide we should not care for the poor of another city, country or continent because we are too busy caring for the poor in our own city. Therefore when we explore our tradition of ethics, we must apply the test of common sense and reason and not accept the sacred text of Torah as perfect, infallible and relevant for all times and in all situations. By applying both tradition and reason, we can bring ourselves nearer to the presence of God.

◆ Rabbi Yuval Keren serves Southgate Progressive Synagogue

14th June 2016 Attention all Prospective

8 – 10 Shirehall Lane, London NW4 2PD Tel: 020 8202 7704 Fax: 020 8202 1605 Email: admin@hasmonean-pri.barnet.sch.uk Web: www.hasmonean-pri.barnet.sch.uk Pre-Nursery, Nursery & Reception Head Teacher: Dr Alan Shaw, BA (Hons), MA, EdD.

Our sages debated the question as to what is greater – study or action? In response, Rabbi Akiva taught that study is greater because it leads to action. I love Akiva’s confidence in the power of learning to move people, but add one cautionary note – when it comes to social change, too often study can feel like inaction. Stephen Bush and the Board of Deputies’ Commission for Racial Inclusivity report represents a charge to us as communities and individuals. The report is full of stories. Every time a report is conducted asking people to speak of their experience of discrimination, it makes an implicit promise: that those who need to hear this will understand and act. Study that does not lead to action is an affront to that which has been taught. A year ago, our community was ‘listening and learning’, acknowledging that speaking out in the name

Virtual Open Evening on

We are pleased to welcome Reception, Nursery & Pre-Nursery Parents to an Wednesday 18thProspective November 2020 from 8–9:30 pm There will be a Zoom presentation by the Headteacher followed by a virtual tour of the school. For security, please contact us with your details so that we may forward you the Zoom details closer to the time.

Open Morning

Attention all Prospective Pre-Nursery, on Tuesday 8 November 2016 from 9.30 – 11.00 am. admin@hasmonean-pri.barnet.sch.uk Nursery &be Reception Parents 2021-2022 There will a presentation by the Headteacher at 9.30 am and followed by a tour of the school. Email

Report author Stephen Bush

of antiracism while continuing to perpetuate harm on members of our own communities made those words empty. There is more learning to do, to enable people to really understand how racism operates, so we can work to dismantle structural racism within our community and be a better ally to other communities that experience discrimination. Learning should not be an obstacle to action and there is much in the report that can be implemented straight away.

14th June 2016 Parents

Email admin@hasmonean-pri.barnet.sch.uk

Applications for in September 2021 to Pre Nursery must Forentry security, please contact us with theNursery names of&attendees. be received by Wednesday 9th December 2020. _________________________________________________________________ -------------------------Applications for entry in September 2017 to Pre Nursery & Nursery must be received by Applications for the Reception Class in September 2021 must be Friday 2nd December received by the School AND Barnet by Tuesday 2016. 12th January 2021 for which you will need to complete two separate forms: Applications for Reception September 2017 in must be received by the School AND Barnet  The Common Application Form to be returned to the London on Sunday 15th January 2017. Borough of Barnet (online)  OurThe Hasmonean Primary Supplementary Information (on our Admissions Policy and Application Forms are available fromForm the School or our website website) to be returned to the School www.hasmonean-pri.barnet.sch.uk

Due to ‘lockdown ending’ and most of our school opening up, we are pleased to announce that we now have a few spaces available in our Pre Nursery, Nursery & Reception groups for September 2021-2022. Applications entry in September 2021 Forms to any of the above A copy offor the Governors’ Admissions Policy and Application are available on request from the School Office or on the school website. Our Privacy Policy is also on our website. should be sent in as soon as possible as we will operate on a . first come, first served basis. Please email admin@hasmonean-pri.barnet.sch.uk and request an application form which should be scanned back to us by return. A copy of the Governors’ Admissions Policy and Application Forms are available on request from the School Office or on the school website. Our Privacy Policy is also on our website.

When raising issues around racism in the community, too often members are told: ‘Be patient’, ‘Things take time’, ‘This is complicated, let’s not upset people’, ‘This is a religious space, so we stay away from controversial issues’. Let’s be clear, the only thing those answers do is uphold a status quo that is unacceptable. Last week, a BBC documentary reported that in the past 35 years there have been 20 reports into racism in the Church of England, each in its own way lamenting the lack of progress on routinely identified issues. Our community has just conducted its first. It is on us to learn from the journeys of others and ensure the Jewish community does not end up trapped in a similar toxic cycle of inaction. ◆ Rabbi Deborah Blausten serves Finchley Reform Synagogue

Attention all Prospective

Parents

Virtual Open Evening on

Open Morning Required for September 2021

on Tuesday 8 November 2016 from 9.30 – 11.00 am. admin@hasmonean-pri.barnet.sch.uk FULL-TIME TEACHER OF LIMMUDEI KODESH Email

There will be a presentation by the Headteacher at 9.30 am and followed by a tour of the school.

Applications for in September 2021 to Pre Nursery must Forentry security, please contact us with theNursery names of&attendees.

Hasmonean a friendly, successful Orthodox Jewish be Primary received by is Wednesday 9 December 2020. _________________________________________________________________ Primary School in Hendon labelled by OFSTED as a “high attaining -------------------------Applications for entry in September 2017 to Pre Nursery & Nursery must be received by school in which their learning.” Applications for the pupils Receptionenjoy Class in September 2021 must be Friday 2ndKodesh December receivedwhere by the School AND Barnet by Tuesdayis2016. 12 January 2021 for We are a school Limmudei valued equally by which you will need to complete two separate forms: Applications for Reception September 2017 in must be received by the School AND Barnet school, pupils and parents and as Pikuach observed – it is a school  The Common Application Form to be returned to the London onenjoyment Sunday 15th January 2017. where pupils express their of Kodesh lessons. Borough of Barnet (online)  Our The Hasmonean Primary Supplementary Information Form (on our Admissions Policy and Application Forms are available from theteach School or our website So, if you are enthused by teaching and want to Torah website) to be returned to the School to children who are equally www.hasmonean-pri.barnet.sch.uk enthused by learning, then we are A copy of the Governors’ Admissions Policyfor andyou. Application Forms are available on request looking th

from the School Office or on the school website. Our Privacy Policy is also on our website.

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, inspiring LK teacher to join our friendly, supportive team. Our curriculum requires a teacher with a background in yeshivah/seminary. Please apply by submitting a CV to admin@hasmonean-pri.barnet.sch.uk Closing date for applications, midday 05/05/2021 Interviews will be held Week beginning 10/5/2019 This post is subject to safer recruitment procedures.

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