LJ Today November/December 2004

November 2004 Formerly ULPS News

VOL. XXXI No 6

ljtoday

Welcome to our new congregations Beit Klal Yisrael in London and Sukkat Shalom Edinburgh have voted to join Liberal Judaism. Here we introduce these synagogues, and look at the background behind each congregation s decision to affiliate

BKY, a synagogue that welcomes everybody , formally joined last month. The 14-year-old community, led since its inception by Rabbi Sheila Shulman, meets in west London and has for many years been an associate member of the Reform movement.

It applied for affiliation to Liberal Judaism after what Rabbi Shulman says was nearly a year-long process of discussion within the community, and a lot of real consultation .

Unusually, BKY (klal: complete or whole), many of whose members are gay and lesbian, does not serve a particular geographical area; it meets in the premises of a Unitarian church in Notting Hill on alternate Fridays and Saturdays, and a typical Friday night s congregants will come from right across London.

In every newsletter, BKY publishes what amounts to its creed: BKY welcomes everybody, but especially: lesbian and gay Jews; Jewish women who want to work out an independent and challenging relationship to Judaism; Jewish men and women who may not think of themselves as formally religious, Jewish women

and men whose partners, though not Jewish, wish to take part in the life of the congregation; patrilineal Jews; and people on their own, whose individual presence is truly valued.

The shul has its own siddur, which includes transliterations of many of the prayers and songs, and has a chavurah meal after every service; erev shabbat services are often followed by a discussion or a talk.

The Liberal movement s ideological basis and commitment to inclusivity were two of the points seen by many BKY members as attractive. After the Reform movement asked the congregation to become formally affiliated a very fair request as Rabbi Shulman points out the synagogue began to look more closely at where in the organised Jewish community it belonged, and eventually the vote was held in June.

Rabbi Shulman, who is originally from Brooklyn but has lived in Britain for more than 30 years, says BKY was founded not only as a religious community but with a strong desire to include Jews who identify themselves as secular , and

PHOTOGRAPH: CAROLE BELL, COPYRIGHT 2004

New home for Beit Klal

Rabbi Sheila Shulman: real consultation

its essential character has remained unchanged. Yet the synagogue has also given birth to a large number of rabbis five ordained at the last Continued on page 2

November 2004

Page 2 LJ Today Continued from page 1

count something of which Rabbi Shulman admits she is quite proud , adding wryly: ... Though it does mean our Shabbat morning services are smaller, and I ve had to teach our modular Access to Judaism course on my own, since our Rabbis are all serving other congregations now.

BKY is not a community that counts its members in terms of families.

Rabbi Shulman says: We are one of the rare congregations where people who are not partnered are really at home. We take seriously the language of totally valuing each person.

Of the future, she says: I would like us to grow. At the moment a very small group of people is doing most of the work. I d like there to be enough people so that other types of work, ideologically coherent with who we are, can be taken up. But, while I welcome diversity, I want the shul s ethos to remain.

Rabbi Shulman with members of BKY at the chavurah lunch following this year s Rosh Hashanah service. A shared meal is held after after every service, and erev Shabbat services are often followed by a discussion or a talk

In 1990, Sheila Shulman, a newly qualified rabbi following a career in academia and publishing, was considering setting up a gay chaplaincy. She discussed the idea with Rabbi Lionel Blue, who encouraged her to be more ambitious and set up a shul.

She admits that at first she thought the idea meshuggah, but says she found herself discussing it with a couple of friends one day. The ex-pat Catholic lesbian friend I was talking to handed me a cheque for fifty quid and said, Take this, you ll need some stationery, Rabbi Shulman says. That made it real. It was a click of the kaleidoscope.

Another friend offered to be the accountant, and a founding group of six or seven lesbian feminists, one or two of whom were not Jewish but partners of Jewish women, took the idea forward.

Fourteen years later, BKY, a warm, energetic and very individual community, is still going strong.

PHOTOGRAPH: CAROLE BELL, COPYRIGHT 2004

Birth of a synagogue

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Edinburgh opts in Sukkat Shalom Edinburgh is a vibrant, fast-growing community that has been meeting in a formal way for the past seven years. It voted last month to affiliate to Liberal Judaism.

It began as an east-coast group nurtured by Rabbi Pete Tobias, when he was minister at Glasgow New Synagogue. When Rabbi Tobias moved to Hertsmere (now the Liberal Synagogue Elstree) last year, ties with the Glasgow congregation were amicably severed. It was the right time for us to cut loose, says Stephanie Brickman, a member of Sukkat Shalom s council. The group began to look at the options for formal affiliation and eventually made its decision.

Maurice Naftalin, Sukkat Shalom s chairman and a former member of Glasgow New Synagogue, describes how the group began to hold Shabbat services. We then started having services for Purim and Chanukah and gradually felt we were gaining confidence. We knew how much work there would be in becoming independent [from GNS] but when people are really enthusiastic about something, it just gets done.

An important watershed for the community has been the acquisition of its own Torah scroll. After looking at buying a scroll, and investigating the import complications of getting one from America Customs classes them as religious works of art the group contacted a sofer, Marc Michaels, who found a suitable scroll that he could restore. In just six months the group raised the £5,000 needed. Everyone in the community has worked hard to get our scroll and we re tremendously proud of it, says Brickman. The siyyum, the ceremony of completion, held on 12th September was a wellattended and moving occasion.

Sukkat Shalom has a lot of young children, but also has congregants from across the generations: the oldest member is 90. With Edinburgh being home to three universities, the group is fairly cosmopolitan, with quite a few north Americans. Several members of the community are Jews by choice.

Of the decision to join Liberal Judaism, Brickman says: In practice,

PHOTOGRAPH: DAVID HENRIE

Sukkat Shalom, a young, cosmopolitan community, is like a big family

Marc Michaels, the sofer, parades Sukkat Shalom s new scroll at the siyyim in Edinburgh s Old Town, surrounded by members of the community

the differences between the Reform and Liberal movements wouldn t be huge. The differences are intellectual ones and, for me personally, particularly as a Jew by choice, these are important.

Services are usually led by Nick Silk, a member of the community, though Brickman points out that the group was very lucky that Rabbi Aaron Goldstein travelled north to lead the high holyday services.

As Scotland s only Liberal community, Sukkat Shalom has

developed its own individual character.

As Brickman puts it: It always feels like a family gathering when we meet up.

First service for Manchester group On Friday 19th November, the Metropolitan Liberal Jewish Congregation of Greater Manchester will hold its inaugural service. If you know of someone who would be interested in attending, please contact: James Shearer-Bromfield on 0161 745 9395 or e-mail: mljcong@onetel.net.uk

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Liberally Speaking LJToday is starting a new column where a Liberal Jew informs, explains, airs views or takes a stand. Here, Flora Hoori, a member of Northwood and Pinner synagogue, talks about her job as London fieldworker for the Union of Jewish Students In my job, I help to support the Jewish Society activity on campuses and to develop Jewish activity, from University College London to Middlesex, King s and City.

I grew up as a member at Harrow and Wembley, where I was Kabbalat Torah in 1998. As a 15-year-old, I found it enriching to learn about ethical and moral issues from a Liberal Jewish perspective, particularly to absorb more open-minded views on sexuality and issues around dating and marriage. When my family moved from Wembley to Pinner, we moved to a more local synagogue in Northwood. I m particularly impressed by the Holocaust Memorial Day and blood donation drives together with Northwood United, the Three Faiths Forum and the Just Action group, which speaks volumes to me about our faith in action.

While social action on its own is not distinctively Jewish, it is important that we are taking a leading part in the fight against racism, intolerance and injustice.

How can we expect the world to stand up against Antisemitism if we aren t speaking out against Islamophobia and other types of discrimination?

Liberal Judaism resonates with me because I care about equality and egalitarianism. In the Aseret Yamei Teshuvah, the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we often make attempts to do teshuvah, to return, to change ourselves without really thinking about how to apply our new-found idealism in our daily lives. It is my hope that we can take our inertia and motivate ourselves with simple actions.

I am currently working on These Hands Don t Hurt, a UJS project

Flora Hoori: interest in faith in action

together with Jewish Women s Aid. In the run-up to IDVW, the International Day against Violence against Women, on 25th November, we are mounting a high-profile student-led campaign. There will be social events, meals with educational content; we will collect towels, toys and toiletries for the JWA refuge; and people will be staffing stalls in their student unions, selling white ribbons and asking people to make hand prints, to declare these hands don t hurt and that they won t use their hands for violence.

This campaign works on the principle that success is the result of the combined efforts of simple actions undertaken collectively. The great thing about this initiative is that everyone can incorporate these things into their lives. Buy a white ribbon, print your hand, donate toiletries, discuss the Jewish issues around domestic violence. Make your voice heard.

As Abraham Joshua Heschel said, To be is to stand for. To my mind, being a Liberal Jew, in fact to be a human in the truest sense of the word, is to choose what you stand for and fight for it.

For more information about UJS, please call 020 7380 6594 or email flora@ujs.org.uk

Giving, liberally Daniel Casson, director of World Jewish Aid, says the response to its Sudan appeal has been impressive When World Jewish Aid launched its appeal for Sudan, we had been waiting for the right time, as the appeal has to made at the point when it will get the most publicity.

Attacks by troops and Arab militia in Darfur, in western Sudan, had forced about 1.2 million people, mostly black villagers, from their homes. Many had gone to live with families in other parts of Darfur, and about 130,000 had fled across the border into Chad. Some 30,000 have died in violent raids over the past year and reports continue of massacres, rape, torture and looting.

We made the call to our supporters through the Jewish press, our mailing list and the synagogue groupings.

Within three hours of our releasing the details of the appeal to the Montagu Centre, Liberal Jewish donations started coming in. Aaron Goldstein had been at Maple Street when our call for donations went out, and immediately forwarded our email to his powerful contacts list. The donations included several three-figure sums from members of the tent Friday night gatherings, as well as many others from individuals and congregations within Liberal Judaism.

The appeal has so far raised £55,000, and the first disbursements have been made working with the International Rescue Committee to provide immediate shelter and with the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief where we have pooled Jewish resources with those of North American organisations. Our response still continues as there is much work to do in Darfur immediately and in the medium-term.

Thank you to everyone who has given so generously.

Take a look at our new website The Liberal Judaism website has been relaunched, and should be up and running in the next few weeks.

Visit us at: www.liberaljudaism.org

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MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: MICHAEL SCHOGGER / THE JEWISH NEWS

A truly moving occasion

Rabbi Frank Dabba Smith (left) and Alan Solomon, chairman of Harrow and Wembley s development committee, in the lobby of the synagogue at the service of dedication. Right: the new building

Harrow and Wembley s new building (right), the first in the movement for over a decade, was formally dedicated on 5th September. We had a full house, Alan Solomon, chairman of the development committee, said of the service, which was the culmination of more than four years work.

Rabbis Harry Jacobi and David Goldberg, both former Harrow & Wembley ministers, opened the ark at the service, which was led by Rabbi Frank Dabba Smith, and the project s architect Malcolm Kemp gave a talk about the building.

There was an almost seamless move

from the old building demolished in mid-September to the new one: the final Shabbat service before the new building was ready, during a spell of particularly good weather, was held in the garden of one of the congregants.

Student Shabbat: A Saturday morning service leads Rachel Hudson, Liberal Judaism s PR officer, to reflect on her own experience as an undergraduate I recently attended a Student Shabbat at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, organised by Rabbi Alex Wright. Several current university students, as well as graduates, took part.

As I listened to their mostly positive experiences of Judaism at university, I started to recall my own encounters.

During my first term at Edinburgh University, I went to J-Soc s bagel lunch. The first thing I was told was that the kosher butcher from Glasgow visited once a month, so I could place my order with him. The second thing I found out, after a debate about Liberal Judaism, was that a member of the

group felt that I was a lazy Jew who would continue the destruction of the Jewish people started by the Nazis .

I left.

In second year, I decided to try again. I visited the J-Soc stall with my boyfriend, who isn t Jewish. The person on duty was very friendly and apologised for my previous experience.

Our conversation was going well and I began to feel more relaxed. Then came the killer line. Is that your boyfriend? Is he Jewish? the J-Soc member asked.

Would he like to talk to someone about conversion? I said goodbye and had no contact with J-Soc again.

I ended up having a wonderful time at university, regularly inviting friends for shabbat dinner, jointly prepared by myself, a Jew from north-west London, and my two flatmates, a Hindu and a Palestinian Catholic.

Now that I am back in London, I can see that what my initially negative experience has done is to reaffirm my commitment to Liberal Judaism.

Whether or not I go to synagogue regularly, or keep kosher, or marry a non-Jew, I shall always remain a Liberal Jew.

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Kayitz brings history alive Just back from having led a group of 17-year-olds r ound Europe, student rabbi Charley Baginsky assesses how the tour helps young Jews to see themselves in relation to the past Fancy a free, all expenses-paid-trip to Prague, Budapest and Berlin? Only one catch: you have to take forty 17year-olds with you, travel by coach and tour-guide each city. This was the proposal put to me a few years ago.

After careful consideration I agreed, despite at times questioning my own sanity. What is perhaps more a cause of concern is that, having done it once, I came back for more and led the trip again this year.

Kayitz-Netzer is a programme for 17year-olds in Europe. The idea is to try to bring 2,000 years of Jewish history alive through experiencing the sights of Europe. It is a unique Jewish travel experience as it incorporates nonJewish sites as well as Jewish sites into its programme, to contextualise the Jewish narrative within the larger story of European history.

This year s trip was a phenomenal success, the madrichim (leaders) were fantastic and the chanachim (participants) were enthusiastic and dedicated. It was the first programme for LJY-Netzer to bring the participants together with the Reform youth of RSY. However, this year, as well as having an Israeli madricha, we also had five Israeli chanachim, who gave the trip another perspective, new songs and different traditions.

We left on 11th August and made our way, by coach, to Prague. We travelled overnight through France and Germany and eventually arrived in Prague. In the

city, our themes included the medieval Jewish community and the similarities between the Czech and Jewish struggle for freedom. Our activities were diverse from a Friday night service at the Altneu Synagogue the oldest functioning synagogue in Europe to listening to jazz in a little club, from stories of the Golem at night outside the old Jewish cemetery to looking out over Prague in all its glory from its castle.

From Prague we travelled to Budapest. The city amazed us with its Dohany Synagogue, which dominates the skyline, and the powerful image of the Danube, which splits the two cities of Buda and Pest. Here we studied the love affair of the Jews with Hungary and began to look at the history of the Shoah in Europe and particularly in Hungary. For relaxation, we took a boat trip down the Danube at night and bathed in traditional Turkish baths.

The youth movement, like our adult movement, believes strongly in active tikkun olam. Therefore, before we went to Berlin, we travelled back to the Czech Republic to its third biggest city, Olomouc. Liberal Judaism has had contacts with this Progressive community for a long time, and it has been a tradition on Kayitz to visit the graveyard, where we donate money to help the community to buy tools and then spend several hours cleaning the gravestones. It was an amazing experience, and we all felt a strong

connection to this small community.

We spent a peaceful shabbat in Olomouc, but soon it was time for another long coach journey, to Berlin.

For many, a trip to Berlin is daunting, but once there we were all moved by the city s attempts to remember the Shoah and yet also re-build. Our education, of course, focuses on the Shoah, but also looks to the future and the role memory and memorials play in our lives. Particularly moving was our trip to the beautiful manor house of Wanssee, where the final solution was planned. It is now an impressive museum and education centre. We also visited the Reichstag and took in the view of the whole of Berlin from its glass dome.

Not only did we see so much and learn so much on this trip, but we met people who live in these cities, who allowed us a glimpse into their lives and shared with us their stories and their love for the places where they live.

Kayitz is an essential trip. It brings history alive in a way that is impossible to do in a classroom, and so helped us all conceptualise our role as Jews in the present.

Eurojews, a virtual community for young European Progressive Jews, is running a weekend in Amsterdam for Chanukah, 17-20 December. For more information, contact Shelley Salter: Tel: 020 8883 6565 Email: s.salter@ljs.org

The Opportunity of a Lifetime, from World Jewish Relief World Jewish Relief s Time for Life overseas volunteer programme is recruiting motivated, charismatic and adaptable university students and recent graduates to support struggling Jewish communities around the world.

The placements, in South Africa, Argentina and Ukraine, last from four to eight months and volunteers are needed for two departures: in June and September 2005. Volunteers will distribute humanitarian aid, teach English and provide welfare support to both youth and the elderly. For the Argentina placement, candidates need

a good level of Spanish; for Ukraine, Russian is required.

Dan Ozarow, 25, a member of Bet Tikvah synagogue in Newbury Park, Essex, co-ordinates the programme. He recently returned from volunteering in Argentina, where the community is still struggling to overcome the trauma of the economic crisis. He said of his experience: The Jewish community in Buenos Aires was so touched that World Jewish Relief had sent a young Jew from the UK to support them in their time of dire need. I was shocked to see people

who were once financially comfortable had lost everything virtually overnight: jobs, homes and livelihoods.

But the programme was incredibly rewarding and the fact that I was doing something important to me and improving my language skills at the same time made it a wonderful experience .

If you want to get involved, contact: Dan at World Jewish Relief Tel: 020 7691 1771 Email: www.worldjewishrelief.org.uk

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Renamed, and raring to go

Veidah

PHOTOGRAPHS: MIKE BERAL

On 19th-22 nd December we ll be holding our annual conference, for 15 to 22 year-old members of LJY-Netzer. The event, at a London venue to be announced, is your major opportunity to help shape the future of the youth movement.

Put the date in your diary now!

The launch of LJY-Netzer, at a barbecue party at the end of August, was a great chance for everyone to get together, reminisce about the summer, and get excited about us starting the coming year renamed LJY-Netzer and saying goodbye to Ulpsnyc-Netzer.

Pictured (above) are LJY members with the new LJY-Netzer logo, and (below) enjoying the launch party.

Shnat-Netzer update

LJY-Netzer s three gapyear students, Josh Lyons, Nellie Vos and Benjy AaronsRichardson, who arrived in Israel on 1st September, have begun to settle in in Haifa, where they are cementing links with the progressive community. As well as doing voluntary work in the local zoo, in a hospital and in a school, they re enjoying Israeli culture especially cinema and going on hikes.

The next step for them is to stay in the progressive Kibbutz Yahel, about 70km from Eilat, where they ll be volunteering, and generally experiencing kibbutz life. A kibbutz family will adopt each participant.

LJY-NETZER The youth movement of Liberal Judaism Contact Sally or Liz at LJY-NETZER

Nechalim weekend

For mid-November we re planning two days of LJY-Netzer fun for 12 to 14 year-olds.

It ll be a chance to catch up with your friends from Kadimah, meet new people and take part in creative activities, as well as being a chance to say what you want out of LJY-Netzer in the future.

Plagim sleepover

There s 24 hours of fun in store for 8 to 12 year-olds in late November. It s perfect for first-timers to LJY-Netzer as it s only one night away, and a chance to see your friends from previous LJY-Netzer events.

Contact Sally or Liz in the office if you re interested in coming along to either this or the Nechalim event.

The Montagu Centre 21 Maple Street London W1T 4BE T:

020 7631 0584

F:

020 7631 9838

E:

s.adams@liberaljudaism.org l.green@liberaljudaism.org

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Liberal Judaism Congregations Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue (Rodef Shalom) T: 01234-218387 E:bedsps@liberaljudaism.org www.bedfordshire-ps.org.uk Beit Klal Yisrael P.O.Box 1828, London W10 5RT T: 020-8960 5760 E: bky@liberaljudaism.org www.beit-klal-yisrael.or g.uk Bet Tikvah Synagogue 129 Perrymans Farm Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG2 7LX T: 020-8554 9682 E: barps@liberaljudaism.org W: www.bettikvah.org.uk Birmingham Progressive Synagogue 4 Sheepcote Street, B16 8AA T: 0121-643 5640 E: bps@liberaljudaism.org www.bps-pro-syn.c o.uk Branch: Leamington Spa T: 01926-421300 Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF T: 01273-737223 E: bhps@liberaljudaism.org www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation Hon. Sec. T: 0117-954 1937 E: bpjc@liberaljudaism.org www.bwpjc.org Crawley Jewish Community T: 01293-534294 Dublin Jewish Progressive Synagogue P.O. Box 3059, Dublin 6, Enquires Hon. Sec. T: 00-3531 4907605 E: djpc@liberaljudaism.org Ealing Liberal Synagogue Lynton Avenue, Drayton Green, W13 0EB T: 020-8997 0528 E: els@liberaljudaism.org www.ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk East Anglia Progressive Jewish Community (based in Norwich) T: 01502-731116 E: pjcea@liberaljudaism.org www.pjcea.org.uk Eastbourne Progressive Jewish Congregation T: 01323 725650 F: 01323 417645 E: epjc@liberaljudaism.org www.epjcong.org.uk Finchley Progressive Synagogue Hutton Grove, N12 8DR T: 020-8446 4063 E: fps@liberaljudaism.org www.fps.org Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue 326 Preston Road, Harrow, Middx HA3 0QH T: 020-8904 8581 E: hwps@liberaljudaism.org www.hwps.org Kent Liberal Jewish Community T: 07952 242432 http://beehive.thisiskentandeastsussex.co.uk/kljc Kingston Liberal Synagogue Rushett Road, Long Ditton, Surbiton, Surrey KT7 0UX T: 020-8398 7400 E: kls@liberaljudaism.org Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation The Synagogue, 24 Avenue Road, Leicester LE2 3EA T: 0116-2708437 Liberal Judaism Hon. Life President Rabbi John Rayner CBE Chairman David Pick Deputy Chairman Nigel Cole Joint Treasurers Peter Ellinger, Tony Kerron Hon. Officers Simon Benscher, Penny Beral, Paul Infield, Jeremy Jessel, Joan Shopper Senior Vice-President Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto Vice-Presidents David Amstell, Jeromé Freedman, Geoffrey Davis, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, David Lipman, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker, Harold Sanderson, Clive Winston Chairperson Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Mark Goldsmith Outreach Director Rabbi Aaron Goldstein PR Officer Rachel Hudson Shlicha Gili Tzidkiyahu Mazkira, LJY-Netzer Sally Adams Education Officer, LJY-Netzer Liz Green Editor of LJToday Beatrice Sayers

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue 28 St John s Wood Road, London NW8 7HA T: 020-7286 5181 E: ljs@liberaljudaism.org www.ljs.org The Liberal Synagogue Elstree Elstree High Street, Elstree, Herts WD6 3BY T: 020-8953 8889 E: tlse@liberaljudaism.org www.tlse.org.uk Lincolnshire Jewish Community T: 01522-851439 Liverpool Progressive Synagogue 28 Church Road North, Liverpool L15 6TF T: 0151-7335871 North London Progressive Jewish Community Enquiries: 020-8340 5513 E: nlpjc@liberaljudaism.org www.nlpjc.org.uk Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue Oaklands Gate, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 3AA T: 01923-822592 E: npls@liberaljudaism.org www.npls.org.uk Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation Lloyd Street, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 4BP T: 0115-9624761 E: npjc@liberaljudaism.org www.npjc.org.uk Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community T: 01733-358605 South Bucks Jewish Community T: 01494-431885 E: sbjc@liberaljudaism.org www.sbjc.org.uk South London Liberal Synagogue PO Box 14475, London SW16 1ZW T: 020-8769 4787 E: slls@liberaljudaism.org www.southlondon.org Southgate Progressive Synagogue 75 Chase Road, London N14 4QY T: 020-8886 0977 E: sps@liberaljudaism.org www.sps.uk.com Sukkat Shalom Edinburgh T: 07891 439646 E: sse@liberaljudaism.org www.ssedin.org Thames Valley Progressive Jewish Community T: 0118-375 3422 West Central Liberal Synagogue 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE T: 020-7636 7627 E: wcls@liberaljudaism.org www.wcls.org.uk Woodford Progressive Synagogue Marlborough Road, George Lane, London E18 1AR T: 020-8989 7619 E: wps@liberaljudaism.org www.synagogue.demon.co.uk Associated Congregations: Hereford Jewish Community Enquiries: 07789 218823 Oxford For details of Liberal Jewish Services: T: 01865-515584 or 01865-765197 www.oxford-synagogue.org.uk Or Chadash Liberal Jewish Community of Luxembourg T: 00 352 31 65 94 E: lljc@liberaljudaism.org How to contact us The Montagu Centre 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE T: 020-7580 1663 F: 020-7631 9838 E: montagu@liberaljudaism.org www.liberaljudaism.org Youth Department T: 020-7631 0584 F: 020-7631 9838 E: s.adams@liberaljudaism.org E: l.green@liberaljudaism.org

LJToday is designed by Tammy Kustow, typeset by JJ Copyprint Ltd and printed by Freedman Bros. Ltd. The deadline for the January 2005 issue is: Monday 22 November Send your copy to ljtodayeditor@liberaljudaism.org

Northwood opens its doors More than 50 non-Jews visited Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue during the European Day of Jewish Culture and Heritage, on Sunday 5th September. They came for a special choral service and to hear about NPLS s particular connection with the Czech and Slovak republics.

There were lectures and a display of the large amount of archive material that NPLS has from the five towns from where its Torahs came, including Kolin, 50km east of Prague in the Czech Republic, and Spisska Nova Ves in Slovakia.

During the Ten Days of Repentance, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein returned to Kolin which he has visited many times because of the shul s links with the town and its work to keep alive memories of the town s Jewish population to give a lecture on and dedicate a memorial to its last rabbi, Dr Richard Feder. A concert in the historic synagogue of 1696 was an occasion to remember the Jewish community of the town destroyed in the Holocaust, and featured works conducted by the Israeli composer Kopytman, and because this Jewish memorial concert was being sponsored by Toyota, which has just opened a car plant in Kolin by a Japanese composer too.

Eastbourne steps up Eastbourne Progressive Jewish Congregation has moved from associate to full membership of Liberal Judaism. The shul, founded three years ago, holds fortnightly services at the town s Friends Meeting House and shares a cheder with Eastbourne Hebrew Congregation.

Among the social activities on offer are a cultural society and friendship club, and a small theatre group. And, says Andrew Jay, the synagogue s chairman and lay reader: We may be the only one to have held a communal Kol Nidre supper.

Fifty years of bliss Southgate Progressive Synagogue held a special service to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of two of its vice-presidents, Pearl and Cyril Phillips.