Page 8 LJ Today
History
January/February 2022
Liberal Judaism at 120 Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein on how researching our movement’s past will help build a brighter future GENEALOGICAL research seems to be an increasing interest and, for some, an obsession. The possibility of finding facts through the internet and DNA testing, along with the popularity of TV programmes such as Who Do You Think You Are?, have combined to increase the possibility of real results. But I do wonder if, as you get older, there might be more time to ponder one’s past and the possible years you have left. Maybe it’s always been like that? Moses in his final oration to the Israelites says: “Remember the days of old, consider the years of ages past. Ask your parents who will inform you, your elders who will tell you” (Deuteronomy 32:7). Like me, I suppose many of you will respond that we never asked our parents while they were alive and, now that they are dead, we must search the internet for scraps of information. Well, Liberal Judaism is about to celebrate its 120th birthday. When our movement turned 100, the late Rabbi Laurence Rigal and Rosita Rosenberg researched our history and published Liberal Judaism: The First Hundred Years. The innovative heritage project Lily’s Legacy has continued this fine work and recorded many memories of our movement - from visual oral histories to memorabilia from Liberal Jews across communities and from all walks of life. Now, as we enter this special year, we might consider what we have achieved in our congregations, in our movement and in our lives. A year of activities is being planned for 2022 and it struck me that, though I have been a Liberal Jew since childhood and a rabbi for over 50 years, there is much I don’t know about our past. The thought arose when I came across a poem by Amy K Blank. I had heard her name before but knew little about her. I found out that she was of the founding generation of Liberal Judaism. Born in London in 1898, her father Karl Kirchberger was a wealthy import-export businessman and early member of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS).
The Kirschbergers became close friends of Liberal Judaism’s founding rabbi, Rabbi Israel Mattuck. Amy was the first secretary of the Alumni Society for young people at the LJS and studied with Mattuck. She became his helper and got deeply involved in the development of Liberal Judaism. She wrote and searched out poetry that Mattuck used in his prayer books. He included one of her poems in Volume I, which she read at his funeral. In 1925 there was a visiting rabbi at the LJS from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati – Rabbi Sheldon Blank, who was to become a leader of Reform Judaism in America. He and Amy fell in love and were married in 1926. She moved to Cincinnati where she became a much-loved and integral part of College life and American Reform Judaism.
Poet and significant Liberal Jew Amy K Blank
All along she wrote poetry and had six books published between 1919 and 1981. She also composed a children’s Haggadah. I must further research her life and influence on Liberal Judaism. One of my activities in this coming year will be to explore the lives of a number of people who made valuable contributions to our movement in the past. We often talk of the ‘Three Ms’ – Liberal Judaism founders Lily Montagu, Claude Montefiore and Rabbi Israel Mattuck – but many others have helped our movement grow and flourish over the years. The Torah tells us that Moses died at 120 “his eyes undimmed and his vigour unabated”. Liberal Judaism is thankfully full of life as it celebrates its 120th year. I hope this anniversary will see us look back to record our past, not just for nostalgia, but to re-affirm our values and build on them. This way we can ensure that we face our future with eyes undimmed and full of energy. • Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein is president of Liberal Judaism
Association of Jewish Libraries By Alison Turner, Archivist LIBERAL JUDAISM is now in the directory of the American-based Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL). The AJL have a map-based directory of Jewish collections from all over the world. They are particularly interested in reaching out to institutions outside of the United States to provide a fuller picture of the many Judaica collections available around the globe. The directory is available to view at www.jewishlibraries.org and any congregation that has a Judaica collection, library or archive is welcome to contact them or me for further information on joining this directory or indeed the Association itself. The AJL is the leading authority on Judaic librarianship. It promotes Jewish literacy through enhancement of libraries, library resources and professional leadership. It fosters access to information, education and research on Jews, Judaism and Israel. There are events, podcasts and publications, including Holiday Highlights - their picks for the best Jewish holiday books for children. A particular highlight is their Love Your Neighbour series of book lists. These allow both Jewish and non-Jewish young readers to grow their understanding of the Jewish religion and people. The lists feature books on the Black Jewish experience, standing up for each other, ritual and clergy. I found them all to be very useful resources. • If you’d like to find out more about the Association of Jewish Libraries, contact Alison on a.turner@liberaljudaism.org
KT classes unite
The Kabbalat Torah class from Nottingham Liberal Synagogue welcomed their peers from Finchley Progressive Synagogue for a weekend stay. The weekend included a visit to Beth Shalom – the National Holocaust Centre and Museum – during which they heard powerful survivor testimony.