March/April 2011
VOL. XXXVIII No. 2
Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
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At 100, a synagogue for our times Pam Fox, Brenda Beary and Gaby Wright
More than 900 members, friends and guests of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue attended its Centenary Service on Saturday 5 February, an occasion of joy and pride; and a chance to reflect and to look forward. In her sermon, the synagogue’s senior rabbi, Alexandra Wright, reminded worshippers that the LJS was established in an era of great uncertainty and turbulence. ‘[Its members and leaders] could not have imagined,’ she said, ‘that their dreams of progress would be shattered by the devastating events of the Shoah, or that a sovereign Jewish state would come into existence less than 40 years after the founding of the synagogue.’ The challenge now was to forge a role that would prepare the community for the next one hundred years, so that when our children’s children celebrated the 200th anniversary of the LJS, they would wish to retain the values on which the synagogue and on which Liberal Judaism were sustained. Two thousand years ago, it was taught that the world stood on three things: al ha-Torah, al ha-Avodah, v’al gemilut chasadim, on the Torah, on
The hundredth service: (from top left, clockwise) Rabbi Alexandra Wright with synagogue president Bob Kirk; the centenary kippah; the children process on to the bimah; nearing the end of the sermon; director of music Cathy Heller-Jones; time for kiddush
worship and on deeds of loving kindness. The success of the founders of the LJS was sustained by three ‘significant values, hallmarks of Liberal Judaism’, Rabbi Wright said. Al ha-sh’leimut, v’al
ha-hachlalah, v’al dimyon ha-adam, on integrity, on inclusiveness and on imagination. The celebration was one in which Continued on page 2
Baroness Neuberger takes on rabbinic job Liberal Judaism’s chairman, Lucian J Hudson, has congratulated Baroness Neuberger, the movement’s president, on her appointment as senior rabbi at West London Synagogue, the biggest synagogue of the Reform movement. ‘Both movements should work closely together and, where possible, make the most of their joint impact and influence,’ Lucian said. Baroness Neuberger is taking on the role, her first as a Reform rabbi, in a part-time capacity at first. Following her time as rabbi to South
London Liberal Synagogue, from 1977 to 1989, Rabbi Neuberger has taken on a series of high-level roles outside the Jewish community, including chief executive of the King’s Fund and an adviser to Gordon Brown during his premiership. As centenary celebrations began at Liberal Judaism’s biggest synagogue, the LJS in St John’s Wood, Baroness Neuberger and her husband, Professor Anthony Neuberger, were made honorary members. Baroness Neuberger, whose
five-year term of offfice as president of Liberal Judaism ends in December, is discussing when exactly she will step down. She hopes, however, to retain her close links with the movement and its communities.
Also in this issue
Books 9 Spotlight on Gloucestershire 10 LJY-Netzer 11