LJ Today September/October 2005

September/October 2005

VOL. XXXII No 5

ljtoday

Make some time and together we can make a difference When Monique Mayer, one of the rabbinic students at Leo Baeck, and the Doroteinu (Generations) committee first came up with the idea of a communitywide volunteering day, I was immediately enthusiastic. I had seen some of the materials produced by our sister movement in America, the Union of Reform Judaism, for their successful ‘Mitzvah Day’ programme, and had wondered whether this might be something we could try. But when I ran the notion past a few people, I was surprised at some of the responses. ‘If altruism ever existed, it’s certainly dead now,’ said one. ‘Volunteering just isn’t on people’s agendas anymore,’ commented another, ‘they are too busy looking for personal fulfilment and spirituality.’

Curiously, instead of dampening my enthusiasm for the project, these remarks made me certain that we should go ahead with it. Clearly, it seems to me, people have forgotten how much fun and fulfilment they can get by giving their time and energy to others. Some of my best friends I have made while volunteering. (I even met my husband, Jon, when he came in to volunteer in the Oxfam shop I was running back in the early 1990s.)

Volunteering is also good for community building. There can be such camaraderie in undertaking a project together, and seeing it through to its realisation. Even short-term projects, like neighbourhood clean-ups, can give

you a real buzz. When was the last time you could actually see the results of your hard labour? As someone who spends too much time on the computer these days, I would love to do something that I could step back and appreciate instead of saving to disc.

This autumn, we are inviting all the Liberal Judaism communities to take part in our movement-wide volunteering day. We are linking it with the 10th annual Make a Difference Day project, run by CSV (Community Service Volunteers), and Liberal Judaism is one of some 200 partners of Make a Difference Day. The day itself is a Saturday, 29th October, with activities taking place one week either side of this date; we are encouraging our communities to organise activities on the Sunday to avoid conflicting with Shabbat. We hope that all our constituent synagogues will take part. Ideas for activities include renovating a room in a children’s home and knitting outfits for premature babies; CSV produces a range of ‘how to’ kits, which provide volunteers with everything they need. Alternatively, the CSV website lists organisations that need volunteers – see under the ‘find an activity’ locator.

For more information, contact Alan Lester on: makeadifference@liberaljudaism.org.

Janet Burden

Four-month-old Sara, daughter of Danny Casson, outgoing director of World Jewish Aid, at the Faith Tent during the Make Poverty History rally in Edinburgh in July. There was almost a carnival atmosphere as the Make Poverty History Jewish Coalition – whose members included Liberal Judaism, Reform Judaism, the United Synagogue and Masorti Judaism – joined more than 200,000 campaigners on the streets of Edinburgh to call on world leaders to act at the G8 summit. Following Erev Shabbat services, the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation Synagogue hosted a meal for all members of the coalition.

Report and more pictures from the Make Poverty History rally: Page 3

In this iss u e : We look at volunteering, social action and Jewish ethical investment

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September/October 2005

Money-saving advice – from a rabbi Mark Goldsmith, who sits on the executive of the International Interfaith Investment Group (3iG), offers a version of Jewishly responsible investment Can you imagine a synagogue holding pornographic magazines in its library, or running a casino in its hall, or keeping guns in the Ark? Of course not, but some Jewish communal organisations come close to doing this if they have no idea what kind of businesses their money is invested in.

In Britain, most Jewish organisations hold their investments in bonds or forms of mutual trust. These investments include burial funds, pension funds, development funds or funds dedicated to particular future purposes. Because the funds are held in this way, little attention is normally paid to the actual companies in which the equity portion of these investments are placed. Rather, the fund manager providing the mutual trust is charged only with investing at low risk to obtain a decent return.

Two Jewish principles make this approach insufficient if a Jewish organisation wishes to exemplify Jewish values in all its operations. The first is that while the making of money is morally neutral in Judaism, the way in which it is made is not. For example, it was unacceptable to use the proceeds of gambling or prostitution to pay money due on a vow in the Temple (see Deuteronomy 23:19); similarly, one was not to make money from lending on interest to the destitute, which was the principle behind the ban on usury in the Torah, such people should be able to obtain a free loan from a fellow Jew. So, too, in our day, a return on investments from companies whose activities run contrary to Jewish values should surely not be seen as a worthwhile return. What might these values be? The Affirmations of Liberal Judaism summarises the primary Jewish ethical values as ‘reverence for life, respect for persons and property, love of neighbour, practical kindness (g’milut chasadim) and charity (tzedakah), social justice and peace, the conservation of nature, and the humane treatment of animals’.

One way to ensure that investments are responsible in terms of Jewish

values is to seek to invest in the Ethical or Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) funds offered by fund managers. In the long term, most surveys have shown that there will be little or no difference in the financial return achieved by well run examples of these funds, which commonly exclude companies which are involved in military, tobacco, alcohol, pornography or gambling businesses.

Indeed, there is a gathering body of opinion, supported by the growth of pension and other institutional funds managed according to SRI principles in the UK to more than £100 billion by 2001, that for long-term investments it may be prudent to avoid the volatile ‘sin’ sectors.

The second way, and one which might be considered to be especially appropriate for a Jewish fund, is to engage with businesses to encourage the companies in which we discover that we are shareholders to diversify out of the sectors which are contrary to the ethical values that Jews hold, and indeed often share with people of other religions. In this way of investing a number of tactics are used. These include placing an activity screen upon one’s investments – if more than 10 per cent of a company’s profits is derived from a business that is contrary to one’s religious values, then it is not invested in. For those which are under the threshold and in which you hold shares either directly or indirectly through a mutual fund, you

Nigel Cole, chairman of Liberal Judaism, Rabbi Danny Rich, its chief executive, together with the honorary officers and staff send their warmest greetings to all members of Liberal Judaism congregations for the coming year of 5766.

engage with the management of the company through a coalition of other concerned shareholders to encourage them to move out of the sector.

Similarly, if you discover within a company in which you are invested activities of which you cannot approve, you join with other shareholders through your fund manager to protest, engaging with the management first, then filing shareholder resolutions and similar and finally threatening disinvestment.

Representatives of many world faiths this year set up the International Interfaith Investment Group (3iG) to create a forum for engagement with businesses worldwide. Liberal Judaism is one of the founder members of 3iG. Current halachic opinion, as analysed by Meir Tamari (The Challenge of Wealth, 1995, p.96), the world’s foremost authority on Jewish Business Ethics, has it that a corporation should be considered as equivalent to a coalition of partner shareholders. A Jew is not permitted to disown responsibility for its activities if he or she has the power to do anything to change them. Through Socially Responsible Investing Jewish communal organisations can take a lead that could be followed by individual Jewish investors, perhaps leading to the creation of a Jewish Ethical Investment Fund. Leviticus 19:17 charges us to reason with one another when we see things going on that we cannot approve of, not to turn a blind eye. This surely must be the case within business as much as within social life.

Rabbi Goldsmith, the minister at Finchley Progressive Synagogue, will be talking on Socially Responsible Investment – a Jewish Perspective, at a LBC-CJE Lunch & Lunch City Shiur on Wednesday 14th September, 12.45-2pm at a venue in London, W1.

For details and to reserve a place (limited to 20), please telephone: 020 8349 5608 or email: Arlene.rose@lbc-cje.ac.uk.

September/October 2005

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Jewish coalition campaigners march through the city beneath the Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community banner, and a banner made by our Brighton and Hove congregation

Coalition creates impact in Edinburgh As one of the partners of the Make Poverty History Jewish Coalition, Liberal Judaism showed a strong presence at the rally in Edinburgh during the G8 summit in Gleneagles.

Members from congregations across the country marched with the message that they want action to end debtmaking poverty in Africa and other countries weighed down by debt.

Under the Liberal Judaism Logo, a message from Rabbi Danny Rich was put up on the giant screen at the rally: ‘Liberal Judaism endorses the goals of Make Poverty History: debt relief, fair trade and more and better aid. Liberal Judaism believes in righting injustice with sensitivity for the recipient’s selfrespect.’

Following morning services on Saturday 2nd July, members of the coalition joined together for kiddush.

In the afternoon, they began their walk towards the Meadows, in the heart of Edinburgh. Everyone wore white, with many in their Make Poverty History

kipot. (At the World Union of Progressive Judaism convention in Moscow, MPH kipot were also being worn – to show solidarity with what was going on at that moment in Edinburgh.)

A highlight came when the Jewish community hosted a Shabbat afternoon Oneg of singing, dancing and storytelling, for close to 200 Jewish and non-Jewish rally participants in the ‘Contempl8tion Tent’.

Rabbi Julia Neuberger, addressing rally participants from the main podium, began: ‘When Nelson Mandela spoke at the great rally in London to launch Make Poverty History, he stressed that “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity; it is an act of justice.”

‘Standing here to day, speaking for the Jewish coalition for Make Poverty History, one tiny cog in this huge coalition, from all of civil society, I want to tell you that Jews do not

believe this is about charity either, any more than Muslims do. This is about justice. And our word for social justice means giving charity of a kind – but it’s not about generosity of spirit. Instead, it’s about a sense of duty, of obligation.

We have a duty to give tzedakah, what Muslims call zaka’at, because it means social justice. It evens things up. It is fair. It is just.’

A camaraderie and friendliness threaded itself through the weekend.

And the serious message, that none of us will tolerate injustice and needless poverty, was delivered in a unique and memorable way.

The campaign continues actively until the end of the year, and the Jewish Coalition is now concentrating on education. A cross-communal MPHJC workshop will be held in Birmingham on Sunday 9th October, to include lunch and children’s activities.

For further information, email Elsbeth Mendes da Costa: emdl19562@blueyonder.co.uk

Special ceremony for Shulamit Ambalu North London Progressive Jewish Community celebrated its induction of Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu on 12th June. Rabbi Danny Rich, who conducted the ceremony, said: ‘Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu is a real eshet chayil, a woman of great vigour, who combines so many of the skills required for the professional rabbinate. In partnership with her creative community, NLPJC, she and it will undoubtedly provide a

spiritual, caring and decent home for those who seek a modern expression of Judaism.’

The induction ceremony reflected the theme of partnership between the rabbi and the community. Rabbi Ambalu and Roberta Harris Eckstein, a community co-ordinator, exchanged Torah scrolls, a gesture that represented the traditions and learning brought by both sides to the partnership.

Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu: partnership

September/October 2005

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Personal thoughts about Shlichut Gili Tzidkiyahu reflects on her 12 months with Liberal Judaism Almost a year has gone since I left my life in Israel behind to go on Shlichut (Shlichut: mission, representation) to go on this adventure that involves not just a transformation of my everyday routines, but also a change in my professional and ideological priorities.

From being a rabbinic student and educator, working with Israelis to strengthen the involvement in progressive Judaism, to working with progressive Jews to strengthen their involvement with Israel, from being an independent and free student to being an official representative of the Jewish Agency and the state of Israel, from being a member in organizations for social change, to being a Zionist educator.

This can be seen as a shift, but also as different dimensions of the same things – Being an active part of a living and evolving Jewish world, and finding different ways of being involved in the Israeli society. Being part of dialogues held in different parts of the Jewish world trying to tackle questions that move from the personal identity to Tikkun Olam.

In my shlichut I do different things, facilitating in cheders, conducting adult education sessions, working with LJY-Netzer and more. But the thing that most of all ties the ropes together is working with LJ groups in Israel – letting my professional identity relax (or stimulate!) on a familiar ground.

On 1st May, I was part of the leading team of the LJ-Community tour to Israel, and on 1st June I was part of leading the Bogrim (students) of LJYNetzer on their yearly Mazkirut tour.

For me it was a very meaningful experience – being able to expose the participants to different dilemmas and challenges, and then meet with people and organizations who engage in social and political change – trying to create a better society for all. With the community tour there was quite a lot of travelling, seeing and loving – enabling me to feel like I am part in opening the gate to meaningful experiences.

With the LJY-Netzer Bogrim tour there was so much political stuff going on around us and in the programme – that I was surprised how much I learned myself.

Almost a year has gone, and over a year is left. If on my first year I was still ‘new’, trying to find my way around Liberal Judaism, so in the second year I hope to feel a part of the community and the organisation, to be part of what goes on in the different synagogues and to support you all in making Israel a part of it too.

Until we meet,if you want to be part of the email-based mailing list for Zika (the Israel action group) or to find out more, please mail me at shlicha@liberaljudaism.org, or ring me on 020 7631 9823.

Four new vice-presidents Liberal Judaism has four new vicepresidents: Louise Freedman and David Goldberg were elected as vicepresidents, and Corinne Oppenheimer and David Pick as honorary vice-presidents.

Louise is a past chairman of South London Liberal Synagogue and served as an officer of Liberal Judaism for many years. She now chairs AJWO (the Association of Jewish Women’s Organisations in the UK).

David Goldberg is rabbi emeritus of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue,

chaired the Rabbinic Conference twice and is a past vice-chairman of the European Region of the World Union of Progressive Judaism. He chaired the Liberal Judaism Patrons Committee last year. He was awarded an OBE for services to inter-faith relations in June 2004.

Corinne Oppenheimer, a member of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, is a past chairman of the Provincial Group, and David Pick is the past chairman of Liberal Judaism and a member of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue

Help for Haifa The Friends of Progressive Judaism in Israel and Europe has agreed that proceeds from this year’s High Holy Day appeal will continue to support the work with underprivileged children undertaken by the Leo Baeck Education Centre in Haifa.

The other project to receive major support will be the production of Russian/Hebrew Haggadahs for families in the Former Soviet Union.

Party with a purpose Southgate Progressive Synagogue’s bar/bat mitzvah class has raised more than £1,300 with a Bar Mitzvah Party. The funds will enable three children in Rabbi Dan Prath’s bar/ bat mitzvah classes at the Leo Baeck Education Centre in Haifa, who come from an impoverished background, to have a bar/bat mitzvah, a kiddush and a siddur. If your synagogue is interested in helping more children become bar/ bat mitzvah, please contact Jane Greenfield on 020 8440 3538.

Sheltering Jews The Jews’ Temporary Shelter was founded in 1885 to provide temporary accommodation for Jewish immigrants, transmigrants and homeless. Now known as JTS, the charity is still working among Jews in Britain, though it is little known to the public as it is selfsufficient and not dependent on donations.

The JTS grants committee allocates funds to Jewish families or persons in need of housing assistance, provided that the resulting situation is viable in the long term. Grants are made, for example, for deposits, basic furniture, removal expenses and other essentials. Grants do not cover funding for daily living expenses or where the needs can be met by statutory benefits.

The JTS welcomes applications for grants, but only from recognised agencies, which may include rabbis or welfare officers of a synagogue, not individual applicants.

For further details you should contact the administrator at JTS, 1-2 Endsleigh Street, London WC1 ODS. Tel/Fax 020 7387 7447

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Volunteering: Beatrice Sayers looks at members of Liberal communities who are giving help where it is needed Carol Hurst (below) is co-ordinator of the welfare committee at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree. All eight longstanding members (Carol has been involved for more than 20 years) try to provide whatever help congregants need. As well as supporting and befriending people, they take them to hospital appointments, cook for them and even babysit in an emergency.

Most of the group’s work is with the older generation, though they have

also helped young families – in one instance finding someone to help take children to school as a stopgap.

They have an annual summer outing, which is welcomed especially by those who are less mobile. The group has funded a hearing loop for the synagogue, and purchased a wheelchair.

Corinne Oppenheimer (above right), a trained nurse, runs the Care Group at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue.

The group, which has been going in some form for 20-25 years, has as its main objective the provision of a befriending service to congregants and

Frilled to bits Five women from our Nottingham community showed what they’re made of – all for charity. Wearing only bras on their top half, they took part in a 13-mile ‘moonwalk’, starting in Hyde Park, London, at 11.30pm. The five, who were supported by their loyal husbands, raised more than

friends. Rabbi Margaret Jacobi and six others – all of whom are nurses, doctors or social workers – make up the group. Recently, it has befriended a family of asylum seekers: a mother, her two sons and two nieces. The group has been helping them to find accommodation and sources of assistance. Corinne says the group tries to know its limitations, directing people to other forms of aid where appropriate.

Cassie Williams, from Finchley, is a member of Rabbi Aaron Goldstein’s tent community. She spent five months in Rwanda last year working for the Streets Ahead Children’s Centre Association (Sacca), which reintegrates Rwandan street children back into society and, where possible, back into their families. She is currently in Rwanda on a second trip, as a researcher this time, but still organising for ‘her’ kids to go to an end-of-term disco and have a special meal to mark them finishing their exams. Cassie says many Rwandans say they feel empathy with Europe’s Jews, and have asked her why Jews £2,000 for breast cancer charities at the event in June. Describing the walk as great fun, they finished in four and a half hours – and say they’re looking forward to doing it all again next year.

Right: the walkers after their halfmarathon… from left: Paula Scott, Michelle Hillary, Sue Sokal and Roz Bott. Not pictured: Catherine Strauss

tent sponsors a child

Members of Rabbi Aaron Goldstein’s ‘tent’ community have clubbed together to provide funding to support a Ukrainian child in an orphanage for a year. Fifteen-year-old Sergei Kozakov (above) was accepted into the orphanage in 2001. His mother is divorced from his father; before entering the orphanage, Sergei used to roam the streets looking for food or jobs. He spent a few years in a state orphanage, where he was abused. He now feels at home in the orphanage and has learnt to trust the staff. He is starting to catch up in his studies and he likes to spend time with his friends.

The orphanage keeps a close eye on his behaviour as his early years cannot easily be forgotten; he has spent a lot of time with counsellors. But he is looking forward to the rest of his life.

have been so successful in rebuilding their lives. Of her trip last year, she says: ‘I know I was doing something genuinely useful. Because of my input, children have changed from angry boys into happy, excitable teenagers.’

September/October 2005

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Liberally Speaking

Goodbye to Rachel Hudson

Henry Gee sees parallels between radical Islam and Orthodox Judaism, and looks at what the case of Helen Sagal tells us about halacha and religious tolerance

Rachel Hudson, who has been Liberal Judaism’s PR officer for the past two years, departed at the end of her contract in August to pursue other challenges. A successor was being recruited at the time of going to press.

The London attacks of 7 July have, inevitably, been followed by an examination of the Muslim community in Britain. Most British Muslims find the mentality of suicide bombers utterly incomprehensible. Yet many commentators agree that whatever the cause, and even if we don’t grasp what it is, there must be something up with Islam, such that its young adherents seek to sacrifice themselves for any cause.

Is Islam that different from any other faith? Perhaps because of boredom or dissatisfaction with our materialistic culture, there is a trend among young people towards overenthusiastic adherence to one faith or another. This is all very well, you might say, but devout young Christians and Jews have not adopted the creed of the suicide bomber, perhaps because the sanctity of life in Christianity and Judaism are paramount.

Oh, really? Christian ‘pro-lifers’ in America are willing to kill adults to prevent abortion of foetuses. And Jewish extremists are prepared to kill, or at least assault, those who offend their religious sensibilities, whether the offence is a Gay Pride march in Jerusalem, a politician overwelcoming of the rights of non-Jews, or an Israeli soldier denying them their self-indulgent illusion of Greater Israel, no matter that there were Arabs there already.

Thankfully, no commentator I have read has drawn unwelcome parallels between radical Islam and Orthodox Judaism – yet. However, any dispassionate outsider can’t fail to notice similarities: the dietary laws; the fondness for uniforms derived from costumes of yesteryear; the unequal treatment of women; above all, the intolerance to anything that deviates from revealed scripture, no matter how inhuman the consequences.

At first there seems no connection between Islamic extremism and the case of Helen Sagal, whose conversion to Judaism in Israel was recently overruled by Chief Rabbi Sacks, by

Welcome to the world Rabbi Aaron and Tammy Goldstein have a new daughter, Shaya (Hebrew meaning Gift), who arrived on 11 July. She is a sister to Liora, who by the evidence of the picture below – is delighted. Mazal tov to all.

Henry Gee: ‘Beware converts to orthodoxy’

extension denying her son a place at a Jewish school. To be fair, the chief rabbi was put in a difficult position, and was right, from his particular perspective, to deny Mrs Sagal’s claim to be Jewish for no other reason than she led an avowedly secular life. Mrs Sagal might say (although she did not) that such laxity is commonplace among parents of children at Jewish schools.

However, in communities of any faith, particularly in the West, lay members are, on the whole, far less uptight about religious observance than their religious leadership – and for that we must be thankful. In this regard, the generally pragmatic attitude of most British Jews is precisely that of most British Muslims.

For it is among the sincere converts to strictly orthodox variants of any faith that one is most likely to find religious intolerance – and this is as true for once-secular British Jews who see the light following a spell at an ultraOrthodox yeshiva in Israel as it is for girl-chasing, beer-drinking British Muslims who find inner meaning after attending a madrassa in Pakistan. It is the converts to religious orthodoxy of whom we must beware – and that applies as much to Judaism as it does to Islam.

Henry Gee is a science writer and a member of Bet Tikvah Synagogue

Farewell Doroteinu, hello Generations Doroteinu has changed its name to Liberal Judaism Generations.

Its email address will be: Generations@liberaljudaism.org

Memorial services The Liberal Judaism annual memorial services will be held on Sunday, 25th September. The service at the Cheshunt cemetery is at 10.30am; the service at Pound Lane Cemetery, Willesden, is at 12.30pm and the officiant will be Rabbi Mark Solomon; and the service at Edgwarebury Lane Cemetery, Edgware, is at 3pm and the officiant will be Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein.

LJS women are honoured Two members of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue received awards in the Queen’s birthday honours. Jenny Nathan, who runs the synagogue’s Out and About Club, was awarded an MBE for her charitable services. Suzy Menkes, fashion editor of the International Herald Tribune, was awarded an OBE for services to journalism, and receives the Legion d’Honneur.

September/October 2005

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From chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich Because of the copy date for LJ Today, I am required to write a Rosh Hashanah message at the beginning of sunny but stormy August.

It is not only the weather that has been stormy; all of us, from our congregation in Eastbourne to our congregation in Edinburgh, have in some sense been a part of the atrocities inflicted on residents of and visitors to London on 7th July. Beyond the anger and outrage, we witnessed courage and dignity, kindness and decency.

Liberal Judaism – and Liberal Jews – must redouble their efforts to engage with the Muslim community, both to stand firmly with it against ignorant prejudice and to encourage and work with the moderate voices therein. Liberal Judaism has been at the forefront of Jewish/Muslim work, as Bet Tikvah’s Rabbi David Hulbert’s role in the East End Inter Faith Forum, Rabbi David Goldberg’s cooperation with Sheikh Zaki Badawi and my own partnership with Imam Shahid Hussain indicate, and that work is now more important than ever.

Traditionally, Jews read the story of the expulsion of Ishmael on the first morning of Rosh Hashanah and the binding of Isaac (the Akedah) on the second morning. Since our movement’s earliest years, Liberal Jews have kept only one day and therefore Liberal Jews have tended to read the Akedah.

The new machzor includes the alternate reading of the expulsion of Ishmael and his mother Hagar, which may provide an appropriate backdrop for this year’s Rosh Hashanah The differing ordeals of Isaac, the Jewish patriarch, and Ishmael, the forefather of the Muslim peoples, reminds us that, beyond our differences, humanity has a common challenge and a joint responsibility: to use our hands, our hearts and our minds to make the world a better place.

What better start to 5766 could there be than a Liberal Judaism resolution to enhance our impact and spread our influence to achieve Tikkun Olam: a repairing and repaired world.

A time to look back, and to look ahead It was in 1955, exactly 50 years ago, that I conducted my first Liberal High Holy Day Services in the De Montfort Hall for the Leicester Community. We used Volume II of the Liberal Jewish Prayer Book, which comprised 284 pages, with an additional 27 pages of supplementary readings in English. The services were comparatively brief and necessitated a long break. As I insisted on staying in the synagogue for the whole day of Yom Kippur, the break was filled with a Children’s Service and a Shiur/ Discussion on a relevant theme. A year later, in Southgate, we issued Supplementary Readings for the High Holydays, which included many traditional prayers, such as Kol Nidre and Ma Tovu, that had been regrettably missing from Vol.II. The publication of Gate of Repentance in 1973, comprising 412 pages, made an enormous difference. It included much more of the traditional liturgy as well as many significant innovations. This machzor was so comprehensive and satisfying that the new machzor, Ruach Chadashah, published last year, required only minor changes and improvements.

In line with all our other liturgies, the translations had to be gender-inclusive, and this was done with great care.

Our Liberal Jewish liturgy is undoubtedly our greatest achievement and a most valuable contribution to contemporary Jewish life across all movements.

I have witnessed many changes during 50 years. Previously, few Liberal Jewish congregants wore headcovering or a tallit. Now the majority, including many women, in nearly all of our communities will wear these. Fifty years ago the services were conducted mainly in English. Most traditional Hebrew prayers have now become familiar and are recited by the whole congregation. The Ba’alei Tefillah scheme, teaching many lay members to conduct services, and also the many local adult education courses, have proved most advantageous.

Fifty years ago, Selichot (Penitential Services before the Holy Days) were not considered at all, and have now become a regular, and most moving, part of the

High Holiday liturgy in our congregations.

Though no prophet or seer, I visualise that in the same way as alternative or parallel Shabbat Services have become popular, such services will also increasingly be offered and included during our High Holy Days. Further, I expect a far greater contribution in the form of congregational responses, and readings by confident, capable, and willing lay readers in our services.

Some things, it seems, may never change. First, there is the ‘exodus’ after the Morning Service on Yom Kippur. The contrast between the synagogue filled to overflowing in the morning and those remaining for the Additional Service is most regrettable. Our Mussaf service is the most uplifting, inspiring and awesome of all our services. Second, there is the contrast between the masses attending the High Holyday Services and the comparatively few coming to our Sukkot Services.

Nehemiah Chapter 8 describes how all of the people came to celebrate Sukkot, joyfully in Jerusalem, and concluded: “Ki Chedvat Adonai hee ma’ooz’chem” – “For the joy of the Eternal is your strength.”

So it is my fervent wish and hope that the majority of our members will also participate on Sukkot rather than just Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The joy of the Eternal, after the contrition of the High Holydays, should really be our strength.

Whatever the coming year may bring, and no doubt it will be eventful, anxious and full of forebodings, I trust we will heed the last words of Moses: ‘Chazak ve-ematz’ – ‘be strong and of good courage’ (Deut 31,23), and realise that ‘the Joy of the Eternal’ will be our strength.

Rabbi Harry M Jacobi Harry Jacobi, rabbi emeritus at South Bucks Jewish Community and a vice-president of Liberal Judaism, is shortly to celebrate his 80th birthday; a special service will be held at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue on the morning of Saturday 5th November, and a tea party at Southgate Progressive Synagogue on Sunday 6th November at 3pm.

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Yom tov tickets for young people Liberal Judaism is organising a scheme jointly with the Reform movement through which young people can join synagogue services of their choice this Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Free tickets for students and reduced price tickets for young professionals are available through the scheme, called Your Next Date. To take part, phone 020 8349 5661 or email info@reformchavurah.org.uk, say which synagogue you wish to attend and your tickets will be posted to you.

For more information, contact Rabbi Aaron Goldstein on a.goldstein@liberaljudaism.org or 020 7631 9821.

This scheme follows a ‘One Night Stand’ study session, at North Western Reform Synagogue, in June, in which 120 people took part in a Tikkun Leyl Shavuot with leading Liberal and Reform rabbis, including Danny Rich and Aaron Goldstein. A session on performance poetry was led by renowned poet Leah Thorn; Jewish educator and previous Liberal Judaism

Misha Kapustin is flanked by his father Boris and Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein (left) following a farewell service at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue for the new rabbi. The NPLS chairman, Brian Sass, presented Misha with engraved silver candlesticks and in turn Misha presented the synagogue with a painting from the Ukraine. Misha will be missed by very many people at Northwood.

Rabbis ordained: Page 12

shaliach, Eran Shafir, flew in from Israel for the event, and Bennett Arron entertained participants with his stand-up comedy.

Education consultant

through a Liberal bequest, she works from the Montagu Centre. She has an advanced diploma in Jewish education and a MA in religious education.

Judy is also administrator for the next Education Action Day, which is on Sunday 20th November, at the Montagu Centre. As well as the usual exchange of ideas and information, a prize draw will take place for all congregations that have returned their questionnaires; the winning congregation will receive £100 of vouchers to spend on books for its synagogue.

The perfect accompaniment Judy Thwaites (pictured above) has been appointed as education consultant to Liberal Judaism, on a six-month contract. Her aim is to review the educational facilities within congregations, and to report back to Danny Rich, chief executive, by the end of the year. She will be looking at family education and adult education as well as at religion schools. As part of her review, she is sending questionnaires to all communities, asking for details of what teaching is on offer.

Judy, a primary school teacher before bringing up her four children, has worked since 1997 as a kesher consultant at LBC-CJE, in the department of professional development. As her work is funded

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue has published its new Musical Companion to Siddur Lev Chadash. Its 92 pages are printed A4 size and contains songs frequently sung at the LJS with transliterations of the texts. The selections are varied and feature examples of both the classical and folk melodies in our liturgy. Some of the tunes, however, may be unfamiliar to other Liberal congregations. The songbook also includes transliterations of our most frequently recited prayers and blessings.

The Musical Companion can be ordered from Marcia Shelley at the LJS on 0207 286 5181 or m.shelley@ljs. org. The cost is: LJS members £8 each, £12 for non-LJS members. If congregations wish to order in bulk, they may pay the £8 LJS member rate.

Postage and packing is £1 for a single copy; if several copies are required, please contact Marcia for a costing.

Danny Rich (left) with Louise Freedman, David Lipman and Nigel Cole at the World Union for Progressive Judaism convention in Moscow. Twentyfive countries were represented at the convention.

A group from the Liberal Judaism Community Israel Tour with a Magen David Adom ambulance at the MDA station in Tiberias. The vehicle was donated by Northwood and Pinner members to mark the synagogue’s 40th anniversary year

September/October 2005

Page 9 LJ Today

Spotlight on our Bristol community When did it all begin?

Back in 1960, when 20 Bristol Jews formed a small group with the purpose of liberating their Jewish lives from the rigidity of the orthodox approach.

Meeting in a hired hall, most were able to lead services, and even make sermons. With the support of the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues, the community received regular help from ‘foster rabbis’.

What happened next?

After 15 years, the community bought and refurbished a former café in the Easton area. In 1988, the premises were combined with the one next door, expanding again in 2003.

Who is the rabbi?

Rabbi Francis Berry serves the community for most of the year, leading services and taking classes for adults and proselytes. He takes a summer break in Brittany, where he and his wife Kathy run a Jewish Study Centre and Multi-Faith Retreat. Rabbi Berry is a torah scribe and has written a complete scroll for the West London Synagogue.

When are services held?

Every Friday night and Saturday morning and all Jewish festivals. The community reads from two scrolls, one a Czech memorial scroll rescued after the Shoah. The congregation also has regular Shiurim and Friday night Chavurot.

What is there for children?

The cheder meets every Shabbat

Rabbi Ron Berry, and this year’s family weekend away in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire

morning . Here children are offered a variety of Jewish Studies (including Hebrew) culminating in bnei mitzvot and kabbalat torah if required. There’s a poplar annual cheder weekend; this year’s event was at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.

What about disabled congregants?

The building has wheelchair access and a disabled lavatory.

Do our friends in Bristol read?

The community has a library of more than 1,000 books, including the complete Encyclopaedia Judaica, many Hebrew Bibles and commentaries, as well as Talmud, history, siddurim and general titles and music.

How big is the congregation?

It has about 125 members, aged from newborn to 90, plus 25 friends and associates, most living within 30 miles of

the synagogue.

What other activities, services and facilities are there?

Most social activities centre on festivals; recent Chanukah, Pesach and Purim events have broken attendance records.

A lively magazine, Alonim, is published bi-monthly. The synagogue has a Judaica shop and a large modern kitchen, which is vegetarian. The community also has state-of-the art home cinema equipment, which has recently been donated, What about inter-faith work?

The community has a strong presence within the Bristol Interfaith Group, Sacré and CCJ, which meet in their building.

How can I find out more?

Visit their website, www.bwpjc.org, or telephone the synagogue on 0117 9541937.

The Rabbi Dr David Goldstein Memorial Lecture Leo Baeck College graduates, including some rabbis from overseas, joined an audience in the sanctuary of the LJS in June to hear Rabbi Prof Dr Jonathan Magonet deliver the David Goldstein Memorial Lecture, ‘Leo Baeck College – Centre for Jewish Education through the Retrospectoscope’. Among those present were Berry, Rabbi Goldstein’s widow, and their son Ben. Rabbi Magonet began by paying tribute to David Goldstein’s scholarship.

He then surveyed some of the changes that have occurred in the College during his 20 years as principal.

The Rabbinic In-Service Training Scheme supports rabbis in the field,

especially in their early years when the transition from study to the demands of congregational life as a sole practitioner can play havoc with emotional and physical wellbeing. It is particularly helpful in assisting graduates to hone their people skills.

A big development was the admission of lesbian and homosexual students, after many sensitive discussions with the sponsoring movements and the rabbinic bodies. These students have become valued and respected rabbis and teachers at the college.

The fall of the Soviet Union presented a new challenge. There was a clear need to assist emerging communities

in Europe and the FSU; that too needed funding, which was privately underwritten. Long before that, the college had taken a leading part in the establishment of Christian-Jewish dialogue, which grew into an annual conference, held in Germany, between Jews, Christians and Muslims.

Rabbi Magonet ended, with a reference to the motto of the college ‘to give you a future and a hope’ (Jer 29:11), by expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to play a part in the influence that the college has brought to bear on Jewish life.

Ann and Bob Kirk

September/October 2005

Page 10 LJ Today

An intimate history of Berlin At the John Rich Memorial Event, Dr Eddie Kessler, director of the Cambridge Centre for the study of Jewish-Christian Relations, will give a talk on the history of Liberal Judaism. Following that, the audience will hear a selection of music from services in Germany. Paul Mindus offers some programme notes When I came to London in 1990 to work for Reuters, its proximity to Berlin helped me to learn a great deal about my father’s family. As the son of a German Jew who fled Nazi persecution, I could reclaim his ‘patriality’ to get a German passport and live in the European Union.

I often wondered why one set of grandparents – Paul and Johanna Mindus – stayed in Berlin and died in a concentration camp, while the other set – Jakob and Rosa Dymont – left in 1938 and came to the United States.

These things are simple for a child, and more complex for an adult.

Paul and Johanna Mindus were retired, living in a flat in Berlin’s Columbia Damm diplomatic district in the 1930s. The Nazis had awarded him a war pension and an Iron Cross in 1935 for service in the First World War. His children – my father and uncle – had fled Germany as Zionists. My great-grandmother, Nanette Caspari Cohn, was in her nineties, and they wanted to stay with her. As war came, my parents received a postcard from Paul and Johanna in 1940 saying ‘it is five minutes to midnight’. Soon after, they were deported to Riga and died in Auschwitz.

My grandfather on my mother’s side, Jakob Dymont, was a composer and choirmaster of a small synagogue, Adass Yisroel, in Prenzlauerberg. In 1934, he composed a complete Friday Evening Sabbath Service, putting traditional Shabbat prayers to contemporary German and east European melodies. This service was performed in Berlin synagogues after Hitler came to power.

Recently, my mother and I found a dozen frayed press reviews of my grandfather’s music in Berlin Jewish newspapers. What jumped off each delicate piece of newsprint were remarkable accounts of daily life from a vibrant community under siege – classified adverts for flats, goods for

sale, youth sport competitions, marriages, concert reviews, interviews with authors.

Most amazing was a report by a woman named Margarete Goldstein about the World Union of Progressive Judaism, headlined Erwachen und Erwecken (Awaken and Wake Up!) Margarete Goldstein must have been a brave woman. With Hitler in power, she wrote about ‘convulsions’ in the world – meaning Nazis and antiJewish sentiments – and that Jews should be aware of the fact that, not only are they Jews, but they have a religious identity as well.

Many people in Germany had been in a deep slumber for decades, she wrote. Parents no longer taught their children Jewish tradition/religion. But things have changed. ‘Now that convulsions of many shapes and forms have gone through the world, also those circles have suddenly woken up.

It is up to us, who understand ourselves as religious-progressive Jews, to make their awaking a wakeup call. They often stand in front of an abyss … and no longer know what religious Jewry is about.’

I don’t know what has happened to Margarete Goldstein. But at the South London Liberal Synagogue on 11th September, we will focus on Liberal Judaism in two parts: first a talk about Liberal Judaism by Eddie Kessler, head of the Council on Christians and Jews; and second, a concert of my grandfather’s music, and the news clippings that accompanied his reviews.

We hope to talk a bit about Margarete Goldstein and the importance of rekindling one’s selfbelief as Jews in a difficult time. My mother, Lily Dumont Mindus, is a concert pianist and the only surviving child of Jakob Dymont. If her health permits, at age 94, she will come to London for the event. Perhaps you can come.

‘Judaism without Borders?’

Rabbi Janet Burden looks ahead to the 2006 Biennial Weekend Even before I began my studies at the Leo Baeck College, I had long been fascinated with the subject of the sociology of religion. How did religious communities define themselves? How did they decide between who was counted ‘in’ – and who was clearly ‘out’? Was the deciding factor self-understanding?

Belief? Practice? Or was it some combination of these and other factors?

I suppose it is inevitable that such questions would particularly interest me, as someone who made an active choice to join the Jewish people. I am one of those who had to cross some sort of border to be where I am today. Yet I know that I am far from unique. Others I know have crossed different borders: between a secular understanding of Jewish identity to a religious one, for example. Inevitably, the act of crossing borders sensitises one to the power of these social constructs.

Thus I was delighted at the topic for the Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend next May. The subject will afford us a wonderful opportunity to consider how and where, as Liberal Jews, we draw various boundaries.

Just some of the questions we will be considering are: Is ‘Humanist Judaism’ beyond the Pale? How, and to what extent, do we include interfaith families in our communities? How do attitudes towards gender and sexuality affect our understanding of borders?

The conference committee is busily working on the programme, which is already looking exciting. If you would like to be involved in this important planning work for the programme or feel you have something else to offer in organising the weekend, please get in touch with the joint chairs, Penny Beral (p.beral@liberaljudaism.org) or Rabbi Kathleen Middleton (k.middleton@ljs.org). Otherwise, just put the date in your diaries for a Biennial Weekend not to be missed: 5th-7th May 2006, in Cheltenham.

September/October 2005

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Machaneh Kadimah Kadimah Summer Camp

As we go to press, our team of dedicated volunteer leaders are busy preparing for two weeks of fun, informal education, creative prayer, drama, sport, art and more crazy sessions. By the time you read this, the chanichim (participants) will have got to grips with the theme of ‘Mitzvot bein Adam l’Chavero’ – mitzvot between a person and their friend; applying Liberal Jewish values to their own lives. We all hope they have had a fantastic time and have made lasting friendships in the unique Kadimah community.

Handover New team gets to work As the new Jewish year begins, so does another year in the life of LJY-Netzer, and a new team of movement workers come into office.

The movement says farewell to Sally Adams and Liz Green, our Mazkira and Education Officer, who have staffed the office for the last two years. They have seen LJY-Netzer through significant change; in name, structure and responsibility. We say thank you and wish them luck and success for the future.

We welcome in the new office team: Jess Herman and Jenny Walton as Mazkira and Social Action Officer (including responsibilty for education), both from Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue. We look forward to seeing how they guide the movement, and the exciting new ideas they bring to it over the coming year. Good luck!

Our leaders are ready for the annual fortnight of fun

Israel tour Our 16-year-olds are having an unforgettable experience in Israel. They are learning, laughing, partying, hiking, praying and bonding for a month of the summer. They are getting a lot out of being in Israel at this interesting time, exploring their connection to this weird and wonderful country. The participants are forming great friendships and building excitement for their Judaism and Zionism; getting ready to take on the challenge of leadership within LJY-Netzer in the coming year.

Kayitz Netzer The madrichim (leaders) and educators for Kayitz Netzer are also busy planning and preparing the two-week tour around Europe that our 17-yearolds will embark on for the last two weeks of August. They will be joining young people from our sister movement, RSY-Netzer on a journey discovering their Jewish roots. They will also get an opportunity to sample the culture and nightlife of five very beautiful European cities.

Shnatties depart We say farewell and b’hatzlecha (good luck) to our four intrepid gap year participants. Shira Conradi, Yuriko Friedmann, Cat Green and Charlotte Mawdsley head off on Shnat Netzer – our 10-month gap year programme in Israel. They are embarking on a series of exciting experiences, from volunteering in social action projects in the north to a progressive Kibbutz in the desert and living, studying and volunteering for four months in Jerusalem. We wish them lots of luck!

Jess, Jenny, Liz and Sally

LJY-NETZER

The youth movement of Liberal Judaism Contact Jess or Jenny at LJY-NETZER, The Montagu Centre 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE T: 020 7631 0584 F: 020 7631 9838 E: j.herman@liberaljudaism.org or j.walton@liberaljudaism.org

September/October 2005

Page 12 LJ Today

Liberal Judaism congregations Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue, (Rodef Shalom), 01234-218387, bedsps@liberaljudaism.org, www.bedfordshire-ps.org.uk Beit Klal Yisrael, P.O.Box 1828, London W10 5RT 020-8960 5760, bky@liberaljudaism.org www.beit-klal-yisrael.or g.uk Bet Tikvah Synagogue, 129 Perrymans Farm Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG2 7LX 020-8554 9682, barps@liberaljudaism.org www.bettikvah.org.uk Birmingham Progressive Synagogue 4 Sheepcote Street, B16 8AA, 0121-643 5640 bps@liberaljudaism.org, www.bps-pro-syn.c o.uk Branch: Leamington Spa, 01926-421300 Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF 01273-737223, bhps@liberaljudaism.org www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.uk Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation, Hon. Sec. 0117-954 1937 bpjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.bwpjc.org Crawley Jewish Community 01293-534294 Dublin Jewish Progressive Synagogue P.O. Box 3059, Dublin 6, Enquires Hon. Sec. 00-3531 2856241, djpc@liberaljudaism.org Ealing Liberal Synagogue Lynton Avenue, Drayton Green, W13 0EB 020-8997 0528, els@liberaljudaism.org www.ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk East Anglia Progressive Jewish Community (based in Norwich), 01502-731116 pjcea@liberaljudaism.org, www.pjcea.org.uk Eastbourne Progressive Jewish Congregation 01323 725650 fax: 01323 417645 epjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.epjcong.org.uk Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community, 07891 439646, eljc@liberaljudaism.org, www.eljc.org Finchley Progressive Synagogue Hutton Grove, N12 8DR 020-8446 4063, fps@liberaljudaism.org, www.fps.org Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue 326 Preston Road, Harrow, Middx HA3 0QH 020-8904 8581, www.hwps.org Kent Liberal Jewish Community, 07952 242432 bulletin.kljc@liberaljudaism.org, www.jewishkent.org.uk/communities/KLJC/kljc.html Kingston Liberal Synagogue Rushett Road, Long Ditton, Surbiton, Surrey KT7 0UX, 020-8398 7400, kls@liberaljudaism.org Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation The Synagogue, 24 Avenue Road, Leicester, LE2 3EA, 07875 123744

Liberal Judaism The Montagu Centre, 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE, 020-7580 1663 Fax: 020-7631 9838 montagu@liberaljudaism.org, www.liberaljudaism.org Youth Department: 020-7631 0584 Fax: 020-7631 9838 Hon. Life President Rabbi John Rayner CBE Chairman Nigel Cole Chief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Vice Chairman Joan Shopper Treasurer Tony Kerron Hon. Officers Mikko Arevuo (LJ Zika); Simon Benscher (community development); Penny Beral (communications); Roz Bott; Amanda Grant (youth); Paul Infield; David Kirk (education); Michael Romain (regions) Senior Vice-President Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto Vice-Presidents Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, David Lipman, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker Hon. Vice-Presidents David Amstell, Geoffrey Davis, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Harold Sanderson, Clive Winston Chairperson Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Mark Goldsmith Outreach Director Rabbi Aaron Goldstein Shlicha Gili Tzidkiyahu Mazkira, LJY-Netzer Jess Herman Social Action Officer, LJY-Netzer Jenny Walton Liberal Judaism promotes the religious and cultural traditions of our faith within the framework of progressive thinking and ethics. Donations to support our work are always welcome.

Liberal Judaism is a registered charity, number 256390 LJ Today is edited by Beatrice Sayers. The deadline for the November 2005 issue is Friday 30 September. Send articles or letters for publication to: ljtodayeditor@liberaljudaism.org Typeset by JJ Copyprint and printed by Freedman Bros.

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, 28 St John’s Wood Road, London NW8 7HA, 020-7286 5181, ljs@liberaljudaism.org, www.ljs.org The Liberal Synagogue Elstree, Elstree High Street, Elstree, Herts WD6 3BY, 020-8953 8889 tlse@liberaljudaism.org, www.tlse.org.uk Lincolnshire Jewish Community 01427-628958 ljc@liberaljudaism.org Liverpool Progressive Synagogue, 28 Church Road North, Liverpool L15 6TF, 0151-7335871 North London Progressive Jewish Community Enquiries: 020-8340 5513 nlpjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.nlpjc.org.uk Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue Oaklands Gate, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 3AA 01923-822592, npls@liberaljudaism.org www.npls.org.uk Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation Lloyd Street, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 4BP 0115-9624761, npjc@liberaljudaism.org www.npjc.org.uk Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community 01733-358605 Reading Liberal Jewish Community www.rljc.org 0118-375 3422, rljc_mail@yahoo.co.uk South Bucks Jewish Community 01494-431885 sbjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.sbjc.org.uk South London Liberal Synagogue, PO Box 14475, London SW16 1ZW, 020-8769 4787 slls@liberaljudaism.org, www.southlondon.org Southgate Progressive Synagogue, 75 Chase Road, London N14 4QY, 020-8886 0977 sps@liberaljudaism.org, www.sps.uk.com West Central Liberal Synagogue, 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE, 020-7636 7627 wcls@liberaljudaism.org, www.wcls.org.uk Woodford Progressive Synagogue Marlborough Road, George Lane, London E18 1AR 020-8989 7619, wps@liberaljudaism.org www.woodfordprogressive.org.uk

Rabbis ordained Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet, retiring principal of Leo Baeck CollegeCentre for Jewish Education, gave the address at the ordination service when Rabbis Misha Kapustin, 25, and Neil Amswych, 30, were ordained at the West London Synagogue in July.

As part of their training, Misha was placed in his last year at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue and Neil at Southgate Progressive Synagogue.

Rabbi Kapustin will serve the communities of the Eastern Ukraine, based in the city of Kharkiv. Rabbi Amswych will serve Bournemouth Reform Synagogue.

At the ceremony, Rabbi Dr Michael Shire recalled the memory of Rabbi Dr Albert Friedlander, who had given the final blessing at last year’s ordination, and of student rabbi Andreas Hinz, a classmate of Rabbis Kapustin and Amswych, who was murdered three years ago.

Six of the best

Associated Congregations: Herefordshire Jewish Community Enquiries: 07789 218823 Oxford, for details of Liberal Jewish Services: 01865-515584 or 01865-765197 www.oxford-synagogue.org.uk Or Chadash Liberal Jewish Community of Luxembourg 00 352 31 65 94 lljc@liberaljudaism.org

DIARY DATES.......

11th September (Sunday)

John Rich Memorial Event, starts 7pm.

For information, ring SLLS on 020 8769 4787.

15th September (Thursday)

‘Our twin in Kyiv’, words and pictures by Rabbi Frank Dabba Smith, an ‘evening with’ organised by the Friends of Progressive Judaism in Israel and Europe.

Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue, 7.45pm. All welcome.

27th September (Tuesday)

Liberal Judaism Council Meeting and AGM, 6.45pm at the Montagu Centre, W1.

5th November (Saturday)

Inspirational singer and composer Danny Mesang plays at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue. Tickets £15, students £10. For details, contact Monique Blake.

6th to 13th November

tent’s Israel Trip. To book, or to request details, email a.goldstein@liberaljudaism.org or text him on 07764 192696.

20th November (Sunday)

Education Action Day, at the Montagu Centre

5th to 7th May 2006 (Friday to Sunday)

Biennial Weekend, in Cheltenham ‘Judaism without borders?’ For further information, or to join the organising committee, contact Penny Beral on 01923 855367 or email: p.beral@liberaljudaism.org, or Rabbi Kathleen Middleton: k.middleton@ljs.org.

Dr Charles Middleburgh, rabbi of Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation, with Maurice Epstein, Graham Bloomfield, Benjamin Epstein, Joanna Shenker, Blake White and Jonathan Epstein following the community’s first Kabbalat Torah service for many decades. The youngsters, all bar or bat mitzvah within the past two years, had approached Rabbi Middleburgh with a request that they continue their studies. Rabbi Middleburgh said the six had taken their studies very seriously, adding: ‘I am delighted that at least two of them will be moving to our Cheder as teachers in the new year.’ At the end of the service, a presentation was made to the Kabbalat Torah graduates by the synagogue’s president, Dr David Abrahamson.