LJ Today September/October 2008

September/October 2008

VOL. XXXV No. 5

ljtoday

A constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism

Passport scheme for young adults launched New-style membership caters for a mobile generation Liberal Judaism has launched a ‘passport’ membership for young adults.

The scheme will give previously unaffiliated Jews the opportunity to join Liberal Judaism as a movement, instead of having to decide which synagogue to choose as their home congregation.

The scheme, approved by Liberal Judaism’s council in March, is open to any Jewish person between the ages of 20 and 35. Launched during the approach to the High Holy Days, the ‘passport’ gives the holder the opportunity to attend services at any Liberal synagogue.

Nigel Cole, Liberal Judaism’s chairman, says the scheme recognises that many young people have Former LJY-Netzer worker Jenny Walton, 25, of Northwood, is the first to sign up to the scheme Photo: Phil Stone

to relocate frequently because of their careers, or simply want the flexibility to be involved in a number of Liberal communities. ‘If we offer a sense of connection now, these young adults are far more likely to join communities, particularly Liberal communities, as their lifestyle and needs change over the years,’ he adds.

The ‘passport’ is likely to prove attractive to many in Liberal Judaism’s community for young adults, ‘tent: the meeting place’, which offers Shabbat services in London and the regions, Jewish cultural activities, large-scale events for festivals and residential trips.

Young adults will remain welcome to attend ‘tent’ services and events on a non-membership basis but will now have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits the scheme brings.

These include discounts at some Liberal Judaism and ‘tent’ events, access to all Liberal communities and free tickets to High Holy Day services.

Rabbi Aaron takes on ‘Dad’s job’ Confidence, pride and perhaps above all gratitude were in the air when Northwood and Pinner held a triple induction ceremony last month.

Retiring as senior rabbi, 43 years after arriving to serve the congregation, Dr Andrew Goldstein, 65, was made emeritus rabbi; Aaron, 38, succeeded

the man he referred to on the bimah as ‘Dad’; and Hillel Athias-Robles, 28, was inducted as assistant rabbi.

Rabbi Goldstein senior said: ‘I am immensely proud of what we have achieved and to see Aaron take over as our senior rabbi is a dream fulfilled.’

Andrew’s vast legacy, pages 6-7

Rabbi Danny Rich and Mohammed Amar, youth co-ordinator at Luton Central Mosque, with visitors from the mosque and Chalutzim (15-year-old ‘pioneers’) at Liberal Judaism’s Kadimah summer camp. The group of 13 young Muslims spent a day with the Jewish participants at the site in West Sussex, eating and playing together and taking part in a lively discussion about their different faiths.

Full report, page 11

In this issue News & community round-up 2 Going green Our task

4

Honey Why Bet Tikvah’s buzzing 8 Conversion Enough bickering 9 Spotlight on the LJS

10

On the website Thought for the Week; Ask the Rabbi; forthcoming events; and more www.liberaljudaism.org

Page 2 LJ Today

September/October 2008

‘tent’ community launches music CD Members of the young adults community ‘tent: the meeting place’ have had a busy summer – especially its musicians, who have been in the recording studio.

The singers and instrumentalists invite everyone to the launch of ‘tent’s’ music CD, at 6.45pm on 26 September at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue.

The CD features ‘tent’ favourites, recorded by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, student rabbi Anna Gerrard, Avivit Katzil, Noa Marom and Jon Fiber. It will be available free to anyone who would like to bring the ‘tent’ spirit into their living

rooms (donations towards production costs are gratefully received).

Earlier in the summer, the crosscommunal Tikkun Leyl Shavuot event had workshops by folk band Oi Va Voi and singer Judith Silver, shiurim led by Reform and Liberal rabbis, massage, fabulous food and a number of creative activities. Of the 150 who came, 50 were there for Shacharit.

A few weeks later, ‘tent’ joined with EuroJews, a Progressive young adults group, for a Friday night service on Hampstead Heath followed by supper.

Save the dates – and your money for: • ‘tent’ trip to Brighton, Saturday 13 September • European seminar: Lech Lecha – Jewish Journeys (presented by ‘tent’, Jung und Jüdisch and TaMaR), Berlin, 6 to 9 November • ‘tent’ at the WUPJ convention, in Israel, 18 to 23 March 2009 • ‘tent’ trip to Argentina – Sukkot 2009 For details of these events, contact young adults worker Avivit on a.katzil@ liberaljudaism.org or 07866 501787.

Six new Progressive rabbis A touch of

Hollywood in Edinburgh

Rabbinic studies graduates of Leo Baeck College at their ordination at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue.

From left: Larry Becker, who is to work at Sukkat Shalom Reform synagogue in Essex; Matt Durbin, who has been head of the religion school at Ealing Liberal; Charley Baginsky, who continues as full-time rabbi at Kingston Liberal; Hetty Groeneveld, who is to work for the Brabant community, Brussels; Richard Jacobi, now rabbi at Woodford Liberal; and Nathan Alfred, who has served Nottingham Progressive for the past year and is planning to work as a rabbi for the International Jewish Centre in Brussels.  Rabbi Dr Michael Shire, vice-principal of the college, takes over as director of its Department of Education from 1 October. Jo-Ann Myers becomes head of the department, responsible for operations and management

The ultimate guide for students Liberal Judaism has partnered Jeneration, an initiative for Jewish young adults backed by the Movement for Reform Judaism, in the publication of a new guide for university students.

Called The Ultimate Guide to Student Survival, it gives details of the main Jewish societies on campuses and has advice on a range of topics from accommodation to exams.

The guide includes contact information for all 34 Liberal communities, as well as Reform and Masorti synagogues. It is

being distributed free via J-Soc stalls at freshers’ fairs and through the Union of Jewish Students. Copies are also being sent to Liberal synagogues. ‘The idea is that it is as freely available as possible,’ says Sheldon Mordsley, student fieldworker at Jeneration. Next year the Liberal and Reform movements hope to work together even more closely to build on this project.

If you would like a copy of the guide, please contact students@jeneration.org.

A former rabbi of Temple Israel of Hollywood who has extensive teaching and pastoral experience in America is among the 14 rabbis and student rabbis who will lead High Holy Day services at Liberal Judaism communities.

Rabbi Haskell Bernat, who has served for more than 20 years as senior rabbi of congregations on the East and West coasts and has now several academic roles, is to lead services in Edinburgh.

Other communities will have English accents on the bimah. Rabbi Danny Rich will lead services in Lincoln, Rabbi Harry Jacobi at Reading, Rabbi Miri Lawrence at Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, Rabbi Michael Standfield at South London and Rabbi Michael Shire at the Oxford Jewish Community.

Among the student rabbis will be Judith Rosen Berry, leading services at Beit Klal Yisrael; Anna Gerrard at the Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia; Marc Neiger at Eastbourne; Monique Meyer at Leicester; Janet Darley at Manchester; Elana Sondel at North London; Tanya Sakhnovich at Nottingham; and Sandra Kviat at Peterborough.

Kristallnacht The Liberal Jewish Synagogue is holding a service at 5pm on Sunday 9 November to mark the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht. For details, please email kristallnacht70@googlemail.com or telephone Yael Shotts on 020 7631 9830 All are welcome to attend.

LJ Today Page 3

September/October 2008

Two synagogues; two exciting musical experiences

Jeff Klepper thrills FPS The leading American cantor Jeff Klepper – author of the melodies to Shalom Rav and Oseh Shalom used throughout the movement – entertained and inspired an audience of more than a hundred at Finchley Progressive Synagogue.

Among those at the concert were Liberal and Reform rabbis, Jewish educators, choristers, families with children and people who have sung Jeff’s music on summer camps.

FPS’s new director of education, EJ Cohen, acted quickly after receiving a message from Jeff that he was coming to London for a few days. It was his first visit to Britain for about 10 years and EJ suggested the concert as a gift to her new employers and to raise money for the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ. The event, which included

Jeff Klepper with Rabbi Neil Janes, left, and EJ Cohen

brunch, took place just 12 hours after Jeff landed at Heathrow.

Jeff said: ‘The concert was splendid, with lots of singing, laughter and a real feeling of spirit in the room.’ Nearly £300 was raised for IMPJ, with Liberal Judaism providing matching funds.

A couple of days later Jeff spent a day at the Kadimah summer camp.

Pianist’s present to Brighton Joanna Macgregor, the internationally renowned classical, jazz and contemporary pianist, has offered to play a benefit concert for Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue, writes Betty Skolnick. This will take place on Wednesday 22 October at 7.45pm at Brighton College.

The programme will reflect Joanna’s wide-ranging musical interests. A selection of preludes and fugues by Bach

and Shostakovich will be followed by music from some of Brazil’s best known composers, ending with selections from The Gershwin Songbook.

Joanna has been a Friend of BHPS for several years, studying Hebrew and taking part in festivals whenever her hectic concert and recording schedule allow. Since 2005 she has also been artistic director of the Bath International Music Festival.

New education consultant starts Liberal Judaism welcomes Elana Sondel as its new education consultant, based at the Montagu Centre. Elana, pictured, has just completed her third year of rabbinic training at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio; for part of this time she has served as student rabbi at two congregations, in Louisiana and West Virginia.

A native of Wisconsin, she is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. She says: ‘Serving as student rabbi was a wonderful experience for me as

I really began to see how exciting and diverse the rabbinic role can be.’ She adds that her big passion is children:’I find that I learn so much from teaching.’

Judy Thwaites, who steps down as education consultant in September, is to continue her work for the movement as a member of the education action group.

Liberal Judaism has bid farewell to three others staff members: LJY-Netzer worker Lauren Dubell takes up the post of youth director at Westminster Synagogue; young adults worker Anna Gerrard will be in Israel for her third year of rabbinic studies; and outreach director Aaron Goldstein is now senior rabbi at Northwood and Pinner.

Around the Communities Bedfordshire Liberal Judaism’s president, Baroness Neuberger, was guest of honour at a celebration of the community’s 40th anniversary. Others present included the Mayor of Luton, the local MP, the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire and representatives from local Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Quaker communities.

Edinburgh Five teenagers – the community’s first Kabbalat Torah graduates, tutored by Rabbi Mark Solomon – led a Shabbat morning service. In another first for the community, a small group climbed their first Munro together, reaching the summit of Ben Vorlich, by Loch Earn, Perthshire.

Finchley The synagogue has appointed EJ Cohen, a worldrenowned Jewish educator and ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter, as its new director of education.

Bristol and West Beryl Schapiro, 86, has received the Armed Forces Veterans’ Badge in recognition of her service in the Waaf (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) from 1942 to 1946.

Beryl worked at the ministry war rooms in Whitehall, monitoring bombers on missions to Germany.

Elstree Members queued to try their luck at the Dunk the Rabbi attraction, to which Rabbi Pete graciously surrendered, at the religion school’s summer fete, helping to raise £500.

Nottingham More families with under-fives are taking part in Torah Tots, with alternate services being extended into ‘stay and play’ sessions with lunch.

North London Dr Brian Klug, a co-founder of Independent Jewish Voices, gave a talk entitled ‘Next Year in Hackney: Reclaiming the Jewish Future’ following an Erev Shabbat service.

Southgate More than £600 was raised for charity at the annual quiz supper.

Kingston Father Patrick Shanahan, founder of Street Child Africa, was guest preacher at a Shabbat morning service in August.

September/October 2008

Page 4 LJ Today

As God’s stewards of the natural world, we must take better care of it, writes Danny Rich, especially when we know that climate change affects the poorest most

The earth is ours only on loan The Babylonian Talmud (Ta’anit 23a) tells of a miracle worker, Honi, who lived in the first century BCE. Honi saw a man planting a carob tree and asked him how long it took to bear fruit. When the man answered, ‘Seventy years,’ he said to him, ‘Are you certain you will live another 70 years?’ The man replied, ‘As my ancestors planted for me, so do I plant for my children.’

In June, I presented to Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment, a petition in the form of a photograph taken at the recent Biennial Weekend of Liberal Judaism. A session at the Biennial had been devoted to a debate on climate change and was addressed by a rabbi, a senior researcher from the oil industry and an academic, and at its end those participants who wished to gathered for the photograph.

The photograph called for two major provisions in the Climate Change Bill: that the level of carbon emission reduction should be 80 per cent – and not the original 60 per cent, which is based upon dated science – and that action and its reporting by industry should be mandatory.

Liberal Judaism’s representatives made such a demand knowing that every one of us would have to pay a price, not because it is fashionable but because our tradition teaches us that the natural world is ‘loaned’ to humanity to exploit but not to destroy.

This concept of ‘stewardship’ arises

from the creation story itself in the Book of Genesis; is affirmed in the Levitical concepts of sabbatical, where the field lies fallow and of jubilee, when the land is returned to its original owners; and declared by the Psalmist in 24:1 ‘The earth is the Eternal God’s and all that is within it.’

If that were not enough, one of the clearest signs of a lack of climate care is rising sea levels, which affect most the poorest and most vulnerable of the world’s inhabitants – those who live in flimsy housing by the coast and rivers of, for example, Bangladesh.

Leviticus 19:16 reads: ‘Do not stand over (profit by) the blood of your neighbour.’ This verse has been interpreted in many ways. Perhaps it

means that one should not be inactive when one’s neighbour’s life is in danger.

Perhaps it is to be understood as a prohibition on conspiring to take the life of one’s neighbour. Perhaps it is to be interpreted that it is forbidden to pursue one’s own livelihood in a manner that endangers the life of another. Whatever the nuance of interpretation, it is probably true that how each of us conducts his or her life – and, more urgently, what we do not do in terms of our individual and collective contribution to environmental protection – may have a debilitating and even life-threatening impact on people in other parts of the globe.

Rabbi Danny Rich is the chief executive of Liberal Judaism

How you can help

Rabbi Danny Rich presents the petition to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn

Reduce waste Make full use of local recycling facilities. Try to buy products that do not include waste packaging.

Reuse plastic shopping bags. Try to use energy-saving lightbulbs.

Travel Try to investigate local trains and buses; consider travelling by bicycle Local causes Is there an environmental issue in your area? Contact your council to see how you can get involved.

Source: the Noah Project; www.noahproject.org.uk

Greener throughout, and far more colourful July/August 2008

VOL. XXXV No. 4

ljtoday

A constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism

Gathered to give thanks Three hundred people attend a joint service at the LJS for Israel’s 60th Rabbis and congregants from synagogues across central London attended a Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration for Israel at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue.

At the service, in May, guest preacher Rabbi Michael Boyden described the rebirth of the Jewish state as a 'miracle'.

A graduate of Leo Baeck College, Rabbi Boyden made aliyah in 1985 with his wife and two children and has founded two communities in Israel. He said: ‘For me to be able to live out my life there is a privilege. It isn’t perfect, the dream of Yerushalyaim shel mala [Jerusalem on high] is yet to be achieved, but it is on its way.’

Organisations represented at the service included: Liberal Judaism; the Movement for Reform Judaism; Leo Baeck College; and West London, Belsize

John Rifkin

Every two months Liberal Judaism prints more than 7,000 copies of LJ Today. When we decided that the July edition would be published in colour for the first time, we realised that by negotiating with a new printer we could move from two-colour to full-colour printing and reduce our overall costs, while also embracing more fully the environmental principles of the movement.

LJ Today is now being printed on paper that is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), an international, nongovernmental body that was founded in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC paper is sourced only from managed forests where the trees used

Rabbi Michael Boyden (centre front) is flanked by Rabbi Mark Solomon and Rabbi Alexandra Wright of the LJS and surrounded by others who took part in the Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration

Square, Westminster and New London Synagogues. Clerics from other faiths also took part: Imam Abduljalil Sajid, of the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony, and the Reverend Elizabeth Griffiths, of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Rabbi Boyden said of Israel: ‘Out of the ashes of the Holocaust we have developed a country in which, for the first

More competitive than a test match It is summer and the air in St John’s Wood Road, home to Lord’s Cricket Ground, is thick with pre-match tension. Each team longs to lift the hallowed trophy.

The sound this June afternoon though was not leather on willow but silver on china: teas were being stirred, cakes nibbled and pencils gnawed at this year’s inter-synagogue quiz, hosted by 2007 winners The Liberal Jewish Synagogue.

Seventeen communities took part. The

LJS exhausted much of its competitive energy on making and serving tea – a situation appreciated by the other teams – and after three hours of conferring and kvetching Finchley emerged as top scorer, winning the Geoffrey Davis cup (left), with Harrow in second place.

Man of the match: Rabbi (and MC) Mark Solomon. Mazal tov: to all the teams for their ruach (spirit).

time in history, Jews, Christians and Muslims can live side by side together... When Israel F16s flew over Auschwitz five years ago during the [educational programme] March of the Living, I felt proud and thankful that as a people we are no longer helpless.’

Rabbi Boyden dedicated his address to his son, Yonatan, who was killed on active service in Lebanon 15 years ago.

In this issue News and ‘Around the Communities’

2-3

‘Chuppahs only for weddings’ Responses to Rabbi Berry 4-5 Disaster stations By Paul Anticoni, World Jewish Relief 35 years of the 35s Book reviews

8 9 10

are grown and felled responsibly.

Furthermore, the printing company we are using has attained ‘chain of custody’ certificiation with the FSC, which means that all forest products used are traced through the supply chain all the way from source through to the end-consumer. We have chosen a printer that has a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint by putting energy-saving measures in place; it also strives to minimise waste and ensure the safe storage and disposal of chemicals and emissions.

LJ Today is also available online, by clicking on the link from the front page of Liberal Judaism’s website: www.liberaljudaism.org.

LJ Today Page 5

September/October 2008

Lambeth walk Rabbi Danny Rich addressed a seminar at the Lambeth Conference, in what is thought to be the first time a Liberal rabbi has addressed the 140-year-old gathering of Anglican bishops. He also took part in the Lambeth Interfaith Walk, to remind world leaders of their ‘millennium goals’ pledges to tackle poverty and other ills.

The audience at the seminar on Christian–Jewish relations included a female bishop from Canada and bishops from Japan and the Phillipines.

Museum purchase Four distinctive wedding rings made by silversmith Mila Griebel have been bought by the Jewish Museum in New York.

They are to be shown in an exhibition there in autumn 2009.

A feature on Mila, a member of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, including a photograph of three of the rings, above, which open to reveal tiny rings and goblets, appeared in January’s LJ Today.

Genealogy day Liberal Judaism’s new Daytimers’ Group is holding a Genealogy Workshop, for beginners and advanced researchers, on Tuesday 23 September, 10.30am-2.30pm.

The workshop, at the Montagu Centre, is presented by Judith Diamond and George Rigal, both members of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. It costs £10, to include lunch and a donation to the society. At 10.30am, Rabbi Danny Rich will welcome participants and formally launch the Daytimers’ Group.

For details of the workshop, please email Judith: jrd@bjdiamond.plus.com.

Aubrey Milstein Aubrey Milstein, emeritus vice-president of Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue, died suddenly in July, aged 86.

Since moving to Brighton with his wife Yetta in 1976, Aubrey worked tirelessly for the synagogue, serving as lay leader when the congregation was without a rabbi. He worked with the city council, the police and the black and ethnic minority community to foster harmony.

In 2005, the congregation instituted the Aubrey Milstein Community lecture.

Aubrey gave the first lecture.

Do you want prayer or just ‘tefillatainment’?

Don’t be a spectator, says Richard Jacobi.

Those who open up and involve themselves in High Holy Day services gain more benefit On 3 July 2008, I invented a new word. It is a word that will probably offend many of you when you read it, and I have to admit that I wrote it with a mixture of fun and horror. The word I wrote was ‘tefillatainment’. It summarised part of a discussion held by a group I was in, which was about trends within Judaism.

The particular conversation concerned the experience being sought by people when they come to synagogue and the suggestion contained in my new word is that people are increasingly wanting to have an experience when they come to shul. Behind that idea lurks another and, I believe, vitally important debate.

When we come to synagogue, are we spectators who form part of an audience or are we part of the prayer experience?

Are we each willing to open up and give a part of our inner self to the congregation, or do we remain closed, outside, watching? These questions are relevant to every service throughout the year, but their significance is amplified at the High Holy Days, when so many more members of every congregation gather. Somehow, in my experience, a congregation of 70 souls who wish to be there on, for example, a Shabbat morning, will seem to generate a louder volume when reading together than 370 on Rosh Hashanah morning. This is not something I can put down to the acoustics of the larger halls many communities use for their High Holy Day services. I think it has more to do with those who want to take part, who want to enter into the spirit of the service, who really want to be there.

A theme of the High Holy Days, and especially of the Yom Kippur confessions, is the use of the first person plural – ‘we have sinned, we have transgressed’.

Collectively, we have committed every sin,

as is reflected by the alphabetic acrostic of the Ashamnu or short confession.

Isaac Luria went as far as to suggest that all Israel is one body, and each individual Jew is a limb of this body. Whenever our neighbouring ‘limb’ commits a sin, it is as if we have committed that sin.

Moreover, one person’s sin is often compounded by the complicity of other people. We each exert an influence on each other, for good or for ill.

Typical of this form is one of the central and usually sung prayers of the High Holy Days: the Shema Koleynu. In it we ask God to hear our prayers with compassion and mercy. The word in Hebrew for ‘our prayers’ is tefillatainu and it was constantly in my mind before I devised my new word. There is such a little difference between positioning ourselves to be tefillatained (if you don’t mind me verbing my new noun) or taking part and including ourselves in those whose prayers we ask God to hear. My resolve, and I hope it may be yours too, is to be part of creating meaningful prayer experiences by adding my voice and my soul to what happens in synagogue.

My firm belief, as a congregant, parent and, latterly, as a rabbi is that those who get involved actually gain more benefit. It is they who feel part of the ‘family’ – caring and being cared for, sharing simchas, softening blows. My plea: don’t seek tefillatainment this year, make sure the prayers really are tefillatainu.

Oh, and remember, the Shema Koleynu prayer appears in the daily Tefillah (Siddur Lev Chadash page 24).

Don’t get involved just on one day – get involved every day!

Richard Jacobi is the rabbi of Woodford Liberal Synagogue

Nigel Cole, chairman of Liberal Judaism, Rabbi Danny Rich, its chief executive, together with the honorary officers, vice-presidents and staff send their warmest wishes to all members of the movement and its congregations, and to their families, for the coming year of 5769

September/October 2008

Page 6 LJ Today

Andrew Goldstein leaves a As Northwood’s senior rabbi steps down, Sidney Brichto looks at a remarkable educator’s contribution to the work of Liberal Judaism The demands made on a congregational rabbi are so enormous that it is remarkable for one to rise above them to be creative beyond the synagogue walls.

What is especially impressive is that Andrew Goldstein achieved so much while building a small congregation into one of the largest and proudest in the movement.

On his ordination, his talent as an educator became apparent and he was appointed as a consultant in this area to the ULPS, as it was then known. Thus began an incredible spate of activities. He implemented a new curriculum for children, which taught that to be more Jewish was not to be less but more human – the more we knew about our roots and traditions, the more we would be exploring our humanity. This theme was the focus of the Yahdav (‘being together’) programme, which led to the production of interactive workbooks on

INTERFAITH

Andrew in action at Kadimah, the summer school he and Sharon founded and ran for 19 years, and recovering together; below, a Kadimah group including three future rabbis – Pete Tobias (standing, second left) Mark Goldsmith (second row, third right) and Aaron, babe in arms

Roots, Jewish Identity, Jerusalem and Israel.

Interaction rather than lecturing as the most effective method of teaching was further developed by Andrew through the movement-wide Project Competition and Orbit Club. The Kadimah Summer Holiday School, in partnership with his wife, Sharon, was in the minds of many his greatest achievement. To this day, those who attended the ‘Goldstein years’ at Kadimah recall it with joyous nostalgia.

The emphasis on Jewish experience was transmitted to adult education as Andrew and Sharon, on their retirement

after 19 years from directing Kadimah, organised visits to Jewish Europe and Israel. Goldstein Tours were more than sightseeing visits to the past glories.

Members of the group united in prayer with the local Jewish communities which were once so vital but now needed to have a new spirit of hope breathed into them. Each visit felt, for the participants, like a pilgrimage; it was as if a person had performed a mitzvah by joining the tour.

Andrew and Sharon employed the same philosophy to the organisation of the Biennial weekends, fostering the interaction and total involvement of

Gift for dialogue is recognised

Andrew’s dedication extends from local to international level, says Sigmund Sternberg Andrew Goldstein may be retiring as NPLS rabbi but not from his dedication to dialogue and encounter both in this country and at international level: he is vice-chairman of the Hillingdon Branch of the Council of Christians and Jews and has recently been re-elected to the executive board of the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ).

In July, I presented Andrew with the ‘Three Faiths Forum Interfaith Gold Medallion – Peace Through Dialogue’ for his interfaith activities. Andrew has a modesty and a unique gift of creating genuine dialogue not only between different faith communities, but also at intra-religious level – always supported by his wife, Sharon. Leadership with a truly liberal heart and mind.

His journey into interfaith dialogue began some 25 years ago when he met the late Rev Bill Simpson, the cofounder of the CCJ and the ICCJ. He has discovered on the way one of the prime conditions: the need to understand the language of the other; not only the other’s national tongue, but the nuances and narrative pictures depending on culture, history and personal experience each brings to dialogue.

Meetings at major ICCJ conferences in diverse countries have given him, as a Liberal Jew, a unique platform and opportunity to discuss and share thoughts with orthodox Jews with whom contact at home was almost impossible.

In the course of this dialogue encounter he has had the occasional deeply moving religious experience, such as an audience with Pope John Paul II in 1997,

when the already frail pontiff made time to greet each of the 200 participants of the ICCJ Rome conference in their own languages and with affectionate respect for their religious traditions.

Andrew is chairman of the ICCJ Theology Committee, which is at present engaged in a renewal in 21st century terms of the 1947 Appeal to the Churches generally known as The Ten Points of Seelisberg. New ways of dialogue, of joint action in relation to difficult economic and social conditions prevailing in the world, are needed to comprehend fully the meaning of the prophet Malachi’s words: ‘Has not one God created us all.’

Sir Sigmund Sternberg is a Patron of the ICCJ and co-founder of the UK Three Faiths Forum

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September/October 2008

vast legacy to the movement

Left: With Sir Sigmund Sternberg after being presented with the Three Faiths Forum Gold Medallion; with Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto and Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, his son, in August following father and son’s induction as emeritus rabbi and senior rabbi at Northwood; being made an honorary senator of Abraham Geiger college in Vienna in March

rabbis and lay people. What may be less well known is Andrew’s role in the formation of the Council of Patrons. Much of its success was due to the introductions he made and consequent cash injection without which Liberal Judaism’s development could not have been possible.

Andrew’s horizons went beyond the parochial and even national Liberal Jewish interests. He thoroughly enjoyed his involvement in the International Council of Christian and Jews and in mentoring the ordination of Misha Kapustin and Tom Kucera and his support of them in the Ukraine, Germany and Prague.

LITURGY

All rabbis can learn a lesson from Andrew. He kept his career vital and exciting by making Judaism and not just his synagogue his life. He understood that his happiness in his work could not be limited to the success of his congregation but required his own development as a student and a scholar, such as in the life and work of Moses Montefiore, for which he earned his doctorate, and in his work on Jewish liturgy. Even now he is researching the history of Richard Feder, the rabbi of Kolin, the community his synagogue has adopted, as well as creating an anthology on ‘Jews and

Railways’. He would want to acknowledge that in his path towards self-fulfilment, the encouragement and support he had from Sharon and the officers of his synagogue were invaluable.

Personally, if I am ever asked about my own achievements during 25 years as Liberal Judaism’s first director, I say that spotting the talent of Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein is close to the top. We are all fortunate that he will remain active in the affairs of the movement, his first retirement position being the chairmanship of the Rabbinic Board. Long may we enjoy the benefits of his inspiring leadership.

How a holy task became a labour of love

Charles Middleburgh reflects on Andrew’s contribution to Liberal Judaism’s prayer books Andrew and I joined the Anthology Committee, charged with searching for creative new material for the siddur that was to replace Service of the Heart, in the early 1980s. When the work on the siddur actually began, he was asked to chair the editorial committee, bringing discipline and energy to his colleagues and keeping John Rayner and Chaim Stern, z”l, as far as was humanly possible, to necessary deadlines.

That 12-year process of creating Siddur Lev Chadash was an apprenticeship served at the feet of a liturgical master, from which Andrew and I learned a great deal and which equipped us with the confidence to edit the companion volume that became Machzor Ruach Chadashah.

Working on the machzor was a labour of love, as well as a holy task,

sifting through a vast amount of material, reading a range of contemporary and classical High Holy Day prayer books, and meeting on an almost weekly basis over eight years until the final text was ready for publication. The greatest reward for Andrew was a letter from John praising the work we had done, and the machzor we had edited, a benediction that filled us both with relief and pride.

Since the publication of Ruach Chadashah, Andrew has been asked by a number of continental communities to offer his opinion on their own prayer books; he has worked with colleagues in

Liberal Judaism on a new Haggadah for the movement; and together we have produced a small liturgy for illness, death and bereavement, Tefillot veTachanunim, and an anthology of readings for Ellul and the High Holy Days, which we hope to get published soon.

During nearly 30 years of working closely with Andrew on liturgy, I have come to know, respect and love him dearly; he has an instinctive feel for what works and what doesn’t as well as a true understanding of what will move and uplift ‘the Jew in the pew’.

Andrew’s work on liturgy is a key part of his rabbinic legacy, and I have no doubt that it will be spoken of for decades to come.

Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh is a former executive director of Liberal Judaism

September/October 2008

Page 8 LJ Today

As we dip our apples in honey this Rosh Hashanah, beekeeper David Hulbert looks at Jewish associations with d’vash and traces production back to biblical times

The sweetest of traditions Honey – d'vash – is mentioned countless times in the Bible as one of the most highly prized products of the Promised Land. Jacob tells his sons to give a gift of ‘a little honey’, typical of ‘the choice fruits of the land’ to the great leader of Egypt, who turns out to be his own son, Joseph (Gen. 43:11). At the Burning Bush, Moses is promised that God will bring the Hebrew slaves in to ‘a land flowing with milk and honey’ (Ex. 3:17), and this familiar description appears 16 times in the Torah.

Right at the end of Torah, in Moses’ final visionary Song, he poetically describes God feeding the people of Israel ‘honey out of the rock’ (Deut.

32:13). What might this mean? Probably that when they settled in the Land, the Israelites would find delicious rich food in the most barren of places – wild honeycomb hanging in fissures and caves in the rocky landscape.

The next book of the Bible, Judges (14:14), tells how Samson propounded a riddle to the Philistine young men: ‘Out of the strong shall come forth sweetness.'

Only Samson knew the answer, that on his way down to Timna, he had killed a full-grown lion with his bare hands.

Passing along the same road a year later, he discovered that wild bees had hung their sweet combs from bones inside the animal’s corpse. The Book of Samuel (14:27) relates how Jonathan takes honey from the comb to eat, disobeying his father King Saul, who has commanded his army to fast before battle.

There are occasional mentions of honey in Siddur Lev Chadash. In Shabbat Morning Service 2 (p. 115), we read Psalm 19, which declares that words of

Torah ‘are sweeter than honey running from the comb’. On this verse is based the old tradition that on their first day in cheder, little boys were allowed to lick off the letters of the alephbet, written in honey on their slates.

Then, during the Shabbat Evening Service on page 78 of the siddur, we sing Yedid Nefesh, a beautiful poem whose author declares that God’s love for us ‘is sweeter than the taste of honey’. The poet was Elazar Azikri, one of the mystics who lived in Tsefat, in the Galilee, in the 16th century.

So there are many associations between wild honey and Eretz Yisrael.

Yet the Bible never tells us that beekeeping and honey production were part of agricultural life in ancient Israel. This is surprising, since there are many tomb paintings that show us details of the

Archaeologists think there was an apiary of about 100 hives, right in the middle of the city honey industry in ancient Egypt, stretching way back to 2,400 BCE. Rural farmers in modern Egypt keep bees in almost exactly the same way today. But last September, Professor Amichai Mazar of the Hebrew University (nephew of one of Israel’s greatest archaeologists, Professor Binyamin Mazar) revealed an astonishing discovery at Tel Rehov, near Bet She’an. His team had found 30 beehives that dated from

the 10th century BCE, the days of King Solomon. These hives constitute the earliest apiary known in the entire Middle East. They were intact, in wonderful condition, with old comb, honey and even dead bees inside. The archaeologists think that the hives were part of an apiary of around 100 hives, right in the middle of the city, that might have yielded half a ton of honey per year.

So not only was honey always regarded as a precious product of the Land, but it is now confirmed that the people certainly did know how to look after bees and produce on a large, commercial scale, probably for export as well as domestic consumption.

Commercial honey production continues on a major scale in modern Israel, and there is hardly a kibbutz or a moshav without its stand of hives in a shady wood.

David Hulbert is rabbi of Bet Tikvah Synagogue in Barkingside

The synagogue that’s self-sufficient in honey of my family – and two hives, of 60,000 bees – to supply the needs of the congregation.

This year, Nigel Cole, the chairman of Liberal Judaism, has chosen to continue this wonderful tradition, which stretches back to Jacob and Moses, Samson and Jonathan, and has installed his first hive at the back of his beautiful garden in Potters Bar,

Hertfordshire. In the middle of August, I helped him to extract the first honey from the honeycomb in his hive: it yielded some 25lb. At the same time, I extracted 60lb from my two hives.

Let’s hope that Nigel continues to find his bees as productive and hard-working as Liberal Judaism’s Officers, and that he will be able to do a little to sweeten the lives of Liberal Jews.

David Hulbert

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

From the hives in the garden of their home in east London, on the edge of Epping Forest, Bet Tikvah Synagogue members Joe and Lina Fajerman used to supply all the honey the community needed every Rosh Hashanah.

Then, about seven years ago, Joe passed his equipment and his expertise over to me, and I continue with the help

LJ Today Page 9

September/October 2008

Groucho would be proud of us When Groucho Marx said he would not care to belong to any club that would have him as a member he probably wasn’t making a reference to his Jewish status. Nevertheless, his words have some relevance to the latest round of bickering about who is a Jew; a situation that would be every bit as comical as many of the films he and his brothers gave to the world were it not for the fact that it is the source of so much hurt.

It is tiresome to hear repetitions of statements asserting that to be halachically Jewish, either your mother has to be halachically Jewish or you have to have converted according to the halachah alongside comments about ‘Jew-maker-lite’ programmes. Even Charles Golding, author of a recent unhelpful contribution in the Jewish Chronicle to the seemingly endless ’Who is a Jew?’ argument, concedes that those who devise and oversee such

Pete Tobias on the latest round of bickering about Progressive conversions programmes are the ones who acknowledge the status of those who complete them.

Exactly the same could be said of the Supreme Rabbinical Court in Israel, which has now decided to dismiss the person responsible for overseeing conversions under its auspices for the past 20 years and declare all those conversions to be invalid. In the end, the issue is not ‘Who is a Jew?’ but rather ‘Who decides who is a Jew?’ and even ‘Who decides who decides…’ and so on.

Groucho would be proud of us.

It would seem that being a Jew is like belonging to a club. It just so happens that I qualify to be a member of the

Gentleness amid pain Liberal Judaism has published a new guide to Death and Mourning, intended to help bereaved people Liberal Judaism has published a new booklet for bereaved people. While it was originally intended to be an updated version of the previous ‘Where we Stand’ booklet on death and mourning, it developed into an extended pamphlet to help the bereaved at a time when they often feel shocked and disoriented.

As well as guiding people through the rituals, decisions and practicalities that surround a death, the booklet discusses concerns that often arise. It answers questions relating to mourning a non-Jew, the ritual of k’riah (the tearing of a garment as a symbol of grief); organ donation; the burial or cremation of someone who has taken their own life; and the death of a child, a stillbirth or a miscarriage.

The booklet was written by Alexandra Wright, senior rabbi of the LJS. Rabbi Wright says: ‘As a rabbi, you are constantly dealing with bereaved families. You want to make things less severe and painful for them. Of course, nothing removes the sadness of loss, but it is possible to make things easier and

more gentle.’ Rabbi Wright’s work at the North London Hospice, where she was the Jewish volunteer chaplain in the 1990s, helped her to understand the concerns that the dying and their relatives have.

At a funeral the strength of a community coming out to support a family or individual can often be felt, says Rabbi Wright. ‘I am very moved by that support – and the place of the synagogue in Jewish life,’ she adds. The shiva that follows need not be peremptory or miserable. ‘Standing or sitting in someone’s sitting room, allowing relatives and close friends to speak about the person who has died is very powerful.

If you can allow an informal conversation to take place, then the personality of the deceased is brought to life and this can bring comfort to those who grieve.’

On Death and Mourning, A Guide is available free of charge from the Montagu Centre

Orthodox Jewish branch. My mother is Jewish so I am halachically Jewish.

Well, I thank the halachic authorities who in my childhood extended to me the invitation to be a member of their club, access to which is denied to so many.

But I’m happy to take Groucho’s position and politely decline. Not because that club would have me as a member but because its rules of admission are based on something that has apparently been genetically transmitted, and entrance to it requires no more than a certificate bearing details of my mother’s marriage.

I am more comfortable in a club whose Judaism is defined not by what is in its members’ blood but rather by what is in their hearts.

Pete Tobias is rabbi of The Liberal Synagogue Elstree and chairman of Liberal Judaism’s Rabbinic Conference

Workshops kickstart action

by Kathy Shock Two of us from the Oxford community attended Liberal Judaism’s Social Action Day in Birmingham in July. It was wonderful to meet others who are starting to take social action seriously. It was a privilege, too, to have a tour of Birmingham’s new building – the Midlands Centre for Liberal Judaism.

This year Oxford is hoping to focus on refugees and asylum, so the sessions on asylum and on human rights particularly interested me. I found out about the René Cassin group (www.renecassin.org) and am pleased that its Human Rights Shabbat in December may tie in well with our synagogue’s plans.

More help came from Laura Marks, the founder and chair of Mitzvah Day UK (www.mitzvahday-uk.org): our community is planning its second Mitzvah Day, in November.

The Officers Group would welcome the addition of an individual to lead Liberal Judaism’s Social Action group. Please email n.cole@liberaljudaism.org

September/October 2008

Page 10 LJ Today

Spotlight on the LJS What does LJS stand for?

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, which is located in St John’s Wood, north London (opposite Lord’s cricket ground). It is the largest synagogue within Liberal Judaism, with some 1,900 members and friends over 15 years of age.

Who are the rabbis?

The senior rabbi is Alexandra Wright.

Rabbi Wright has served as part of the multi-faith chaplaincy team at the North London Hospice and is committed to enabling all members of the LJS to take part in services, educational and social events.

Mark Solomon has been rabbi at the LJS since 2000. He has a special interest in interfaith dialogue and is a trustee of the London Ecumenical Aids Trust.

Dr David Goldberg, who retired in 2004 as senior rabbi of the LJS, is the synagogue’s rabbi emeritus.

What kind of community is it?

It is open, inclusive and welcoming, with a special interest in building good relationships with local faith communities as well as other local synagogues of all denominations.

What religious services does it hold?

Services are held every Friday at 6.45pm and every Saturday at 11am, as well as for all festivals and fast days.

What is there for children?

There are family services and a tiny tots service, usually held on the first Shabbat of the month at 11am. There is also a full complement of children’s services and activities on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and on other festivals.

The synagogue’s religion school, held on Shabbat mornings, teaches children aged three to 14; on Sunday mornings, the rabbis teach a Kabbalat Torah Class for ages 14-15 years; and there is a twoyear programme in Jewish Studies GCSE. The synagogue also has leadership training for 14- 18-year-olds.

The LJS has an Ofsted-registered nursery, which has a strong Progressive Jewish ethos. Children aged two and a half to six (the Reception group) play and learn in the synagogue’s three purposebuilt classrooms and enclosed outside space. The nursery warmly welcomes children of all faiths.

And for young adults?

The LJS holds popular ‘tent’ services for

The exterior of the synagogue; participants in the Service of Thanksgiving for Israel’s 60th; Rabbi Alexandra Wright and Rabbi Mark Solomon Photographs by John Rifkin and Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer

young adults on the fourth Friday of every month. These are followed by dinner in a local restaurant.

The rabbis keep in touch with students.

What adult education is on offer?

The Learning Circle comprises a wide variety of courses, from Jewish history to Israeli dancing. These courses, on Tuesday evenings, are open to members, friends and visitors. The Learning Circle also holds courses before the service on Shabbat mornings.

Tuesday Texts is held every Tuesday morning for a group wishing to discuss texts from the Bible to contemporary sermons.

How musical is the LJS? Very. Singing during the main services is led by either the professional or members’ choir, accompanied by the organ or by professional soloists.

Musical styles range from both the choral and chazanut traditions to contemporary folk.

There is a vibrant children’s music group, which meets before Religion School on Shabbat at 9.15am. It is open to all children interested in contributing to the musical life of the synagogue.

What goes on socially?

Once a month there is a Friday evening chavurah supper with speaker. The Social and Cultural Group organises concerts, art exhibitions and lectures.

Is the synagogue genuinely inclusive and accessible?

The building has ramps for wheelchair users, a lift and WC facilities for the disabled. There is a loop system for the hard of hearing in both the sanctuary and the meeting hall.

From time to time the LJS holds

Crystal Clear Services, which have large-print texts, a lipspeaker (someone trained to make their speech easier to lip-read), signing and a screen on to which the words of the service and sermon are projected.

What is the building like?

In the late 1980s it was rebuilt, with a new sanctuary and community centre being opened in 1991. The interior was designed by Israeli architects Kantor Schwartz; the sanctuary is lined with Jerusalem stone and the ark doors are a mesh of metals set in frames of bronze.

A Holocaust memorial in polished black limestone, by the sculptor Anish Kapoor, is in the front foyer.

What about caring for others?

The Keep in Touch, Phone a Member and Bereavement groups keep in contact with those in need. Restaurant Tuesday provides a monthly lunch for senior members. There is also a monthly Tea and Video gathering and an Out and About Club, for elderly and disabled Westminster residents .

Looking outwards, the synagogue’s Social Action Group engages in a variety of work, including working on behalf of refugees and homeless people and running interfaith projects.

The LJS is a Fair Trade synagogue.

Tell me about burial facilities The LJS operates its own cemetery in Pound Lane, Willesden. Space is available for burials and interment of ashes for members and non-members of the LJS. How do I find out more?

Telephone 020 7286 5181 during office hours (Monday to Thursday, 9am-5pm; Friday, 9am-1pm) or visit www.ljs.org

LJ Today Page 11

September/October 2008

LJY-Netzer is Liberal Judaism’s Zionist youth movement. It gives young people the opportunity to develop a strong Progressive Jewish identity whilst enjoying friendships and having fun. Visit www.ljynetzer.org

A Jewish–Muslim encounter A new interfaith experience was just one part this year’s Kadimah success story Twenty-five youngsters sat on chairs in a circle on a hot afternoon in a playing field in West Sussex. Half were Muslim, half were Jewish. The questions came thick and fast, roughly alternatively from the two groups of boys. Is there any specific dress in Judaism? Are you allowed to drink alcohol – what, not even at weddings? What’s it like having a barmitzvah? What are the Five Pillars of Islam? What is the Jews’ holy book called? Is there a head imam? Do girls have a barmitzvah?

The process of asking, and answering, was challenging and enriching. The visitors got their tongues round the words halachah and tzedakah, and the Jewish teenagers learnt the importance of al-Moussa (Moses) and the prophets in Islam.

The Muslims, from Luton Central

Two faiths meet: Mohammed Babao, Ben Leibowitz, Haider Khan and Jack Miller Mosque, were visiting Kadimah for a day, invited by Rabbi Danny Rich. He and Shaykh Manawwar Ateeq, of the Luton mosque, have spent the past year studying together at the Cambridgebased Centre for the Study of Jewish– Muslim relations.

Elsewhere at the camp, held for the first time at Cottesmore School, near Crawley, the chanichim (participants) were having as good a time as always – the camp is in its 38th year.

An inspiring Israel Room, decorated by

What a show!

Kadimah was transformed into a drama academy on the final Thursday of camp as chanichim put on a show to mark Israel’s 60th anniversary, writes Alexandra Mankowitz.

Entitled ‘The Search for Netzer’, it was the culmination of a vision by Lauren Dubell, the youth movement’s rekezet tochniot (programmes co-ordinator), and was sponsored by UJIA. Highlights included Plagim’s (ages 7-11) reenactment of the Declaration of Independence;

LJY-Netzer

Noa Marom, Liberal Judaism’s shlicha (Israeli emissary) featured a floor-size map of the country and hosted discussions and workshops on Israel; the youngsters went on hikes in the surrounding countryside and day trips to Chessington World of Adventures; and veterans and newcomers alike said they were having a wonderful camp.

Participants from France, Israel, Italy, Spain and Switzerland joined those from Liberal synagogues across Britain.

A group of Nechalim (12-13 age group) hang out during a free time session

the exploration by Chalutzim (15-year-olds) of the years 1978–88 through an ingenious parody of This is Your Life; and Noa Marom’s moving account of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination. It concluded with an impassioned affirmation of the power of youth to change the world for the better.

Israel’s three big Eurovision hits featured, and had chanichim on their feet and dancing; outgoing mazkir Victor Kaufman performed Dana International’s Diva to a standing ovation.

In a speech, Rabbi Danny Rich said: ‘I’m tremendously proud to be chief executive of Liberal Judaism – and one of the departments I’m most proud of is LJY-Netzer.’

Contact Ben Baginsky or Benjy Aarons-Richardson: 020 7631 0584 or office@ljynetzer.org

September/October 2008

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, PO Box 1828, London W10 5RT 07505 477459, bky@liberaljudaism.org www.bkylondon.org.uk Bet Tikvah Synagogue, 129 Perrymans Farm Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG2 7LX, 020 8554 9682, bttkv@liberaljudaism.org, www.bettikvah.org.uk Birmingham Progressive Synagogue Bishopsgate St, Roseland Way, Birmingham B15 1HD, 0121 446 5273, bps@liberaljudaism.org, www.bpsjudaism.com 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 43-45 Bannerman Road, Easton, Bristol BS5 0RR bwpjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.bwpjc.org Crawley Jewish Community, 01293 534294 Dublin Jewish Progressive Synagogue, PO Box 3059, Dublin 6, 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 Eastbourne Progressive Jewish Congregation 01323 725650, fax: 01323 417645 epjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.epjcong.org.uk Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community 0131 777 8024, 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 HA3 0QH, 020 8904 8581, hwps@liberaljudaism.org, www.hwps.org Herefordshire Jewish Community, Enquiries: 01594 530721, http://members.lycos.co.uk/herefordjc/ 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, www.klsonline.org Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation The Synagogue, 24 Avenue Road, LE2 3EA, 07875 123744, lpjc@liberaljudaism.org 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 The Montagu Centre 21 Maple Street London, W1T 4BE Tel: 020 7580 1663 Fax: 020 7631 9838 www.liberaljudaism.org President The Baroness Neuberger DBE Chairman Nigel Cole, Vice Chairman Joan Shopper Treasurer David Pelham Officers Leon Charikar, William Glassman, Amanda Grant, Jackie Richards, Paula Scott and Stephanie Thwaites Senior Vice-President Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto Vice-Presidents Monique Blake, Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, Jeremy Jessel, David Lipman, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker and Beverley Taylor Hon. Vice-Presidents David Amstell, Geoffrey Davis, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, Willie Kessler, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Harold Sanderson, Clive Winston Chairman of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Pete Tobias Chief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Internal Services Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer Communications and PR Alexandra Mankowitz Shlicha (Israeli emissary) Noa Marom LJY-Netzer (Youth Department) Ben Baginsky, Benjy Aarons-Richardson and Victor Kaufman

LJ Today is edited by Beatrice Sayers Articles and letters are welcome. The deadline for the Nov/Dec issue is 2 October. Please email: ljtodayeditor@liberaljudaism.org Liberal Judaism is the dynamic, cutting edge of modern Judaism. It reverences Jewish tradition, seeking to preserve the values of the Judaism of the past while giving them contemporary force. Registered charity number 256390.

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tlse@liberaljudaism.org, www.tlse.org.uk Lincolnshire Jewish Community 01427 628958, ljc@liberaljudaism.org Manchester Liberal Jewish Community, 08709 917327, mljc@liberaljudaism.org, www.mljc.org.uk North London Progressive Jewish Community, 020 7403 3779, nlpjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.nlpjc.org.uk Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Oaklands Gate, Northwood, Middx HA6 3AA, 01923 822592, npls@liberaljudaism.org, www.npls.org.uk Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation Lloyd Street, Sherwood NG5 4BP 0115 9624761, npjc@liberaljudaism.org, www.npjc.org.uk Or Chadash Liberal Jewish Community of Luxembourg, 00 352 31 65 94 lljc@liberaljudaism.org Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community Enquiries: 020 7631 9826 The Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia (based in Norwich), 01508 538666 pjcea@liberaljudaism.org, www.pjcea.org.uk Reading Liberal Jewish Community www.rljc.org 0118 375 3422, rljc@liberaljudaism.org South Bucks Jewish Community 0845 644 2370 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 Liberal Synagogue, Marlborough Road, George Lane, London E18 1AR 020 8989 7619, wps@liberaljudaism.org, www.woodfordliberal.org.uk Associated congregations Beit Ha’Chidush, Postbus 14613, 1001 LC Amsterdam, Netherlands, 00 31 23 524 7204 info@beithachidush.nl, www.beithachidush.nl Oxford Liberal Jewish Services: 01865 515584 or 01865 765197, www.oxford-synagogue.org.uk Developing communities The Gloucestershire Jewish Community Enquiries: 01242 521468 or 01242 234232 The Suffolk Jewish Community 01473 250797, sjc@liberaljudaism.org ‘tent: the meeting place’ for young adults Avivit Katzil 07866 501787

Make a date ...........

14 September (Sunday) Simcha on the Square 1pm-7pm; www.simcha.org.uk.

19-21 September (Friday-Sunday) Hebrew Crash Course Jointly organised by Liberal Judaism, held at the Multi-Faith Centre, University of Derby. Details 01332 591285 21 September (Sunday) Liberal Judaism’s Annual Memorial Services Tel: 020 7580 1663 23 September (Tuesday) Genealogy workshop at the Montagu Centre Details: 020 8504 3125 9 November (Sunday) Service at the LJS at 5pm to mark the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht Email kristallnacht70@googlemail.com for details or telephone Yael Shotts on 020 7631 9830 23 November (Sunday) John Rich Memorial Day at South London, with Rabbi Professor Marc Saperstein, principal of Leo Baeck College 2009 17-23 March WUPJ International Convention In Jerusalem and Tel Aviv; www.wupj.org 20-22 March (Friday-Sunday) Hebrew Crash Course at Northwood Telephone 01923 822592 March Liberal Judaism Educators’ Trip to Israel 17 May (Sunday) Day of Celebration for Liberal Judaism Contact: w.glassman@liberaljudaism.org

We salute you...

Liberal Judaism shared a float with Reform Judaism and Masorti Judaism at the Salute to Israel parade through central London at the end of June.

Peter Liss, CBE Among those recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honours were Professor Peter Liss, chair of the Royal Society’s global environmental research committee.

Peter, an oceanographer and professor at the University of East Anglia, was awarded a CBE. Peter and his wife, Ruth, are founder members of the Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia.

Hebrew weekend Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue will be hosting a second Hebrew Crash Course on Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March 2009.

More information from admin@npls.org. uk or 01923 822592.

Memorial services Liberal Judaism’s annual Memorial Services will take place on 21 September at the following times: 10:30am at Western Cemetery, Cheshunt; 11:30am at Edgwarebury Cemetery; 3pm at Golders Green Crematorium; 3:30pm at Pound Lane Cemetery.

Please contact Selina if you would like further information: s.o’dwyer@ liberaljudaism.org or 020 7631 9835.

Girl for Shulamit Shulamit Ambalu, rabbi at North London Progressive Jewish Community, and Rebekka Wedell are delighted to announce the safe arrival of Lina Miryam Osher, a sister for Chanya. Lina was born on 11 June, weighing 8lb 5oz.

Rabbi Cliff Cohen, rabbi at Thanet and District Reform Synagogue, is covering Rabbi Shulamit’s maternity leave.