LJ Today May/June 2005

May 2005VOL. XXXII No 3 ljtodayDuring our trip in February, our group of 13 ministers and lay members came face to face with some of the most painful realities of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. But we also had some very refreshing experiences.

At Congregation Or Chadash in Haifa, we looked around the building following the Shabbat morning service. It was a large, beautiful well-equipped synagogue with a staff of 25, including kindergarten and youth club facilities. Rabbi Edgar Nof, an energetic fundraiser for his congregation, which has just celebrated its 40th anniversary, took us on a tour between barmitzvahs. He conducts four individual b’nei mitzvah services every Shabbat – that’s how popular Progressive Judaism has become amongst ‘secular’ Israelis.

There are so many Israels to visit when you go to Israel. In just under a week, we glimpsed several fragments: progressive Jewish Israel; orthodox Jewish Israel; the Israel of Jewish-Arab co-existence; the Israel of a new Arab-Jewish shared existence; the Israel that occupies the West Bank; the Israel that challenges the harassment of Palestinians; the Israel that works together with Palestinians to reach a just settlement.

As well as visiting progressive synagogues in Tel Aviv and Haifa, our group – which included an imam from south London – went to the Leo Baeck Education Centre in Haifa and saw projects it supports. One of these is the Clore

Neighbourhood Centre in Ein Ha’yam, one of the few areas of Haifa where Arabs and Jews live in the same neighbourhood. A lovely building refurbished by the Vivien Duffield Foundation, it includes a games room, an internet café, a dance studio and a football area. The Jewish Israeli co-ordinator, a woman in her thirties, and a younger Muslim social worker talked about the activities at the centre – in particular, those for young people. Because the Arab children are already fluent in Hebrew as well as Arabic, the organisers are planning a programme in street Arabic for Jewish Israeli youngsters, for whom Arabic is only compulsory up to the 7th or 8th grade.

It wasn’t all as uplifting as this, though. We visited Palestinian areas in East Jerusalem, and saw where houses had been demolished by the army because the owners did not have the necessary building permits that are virtually impossible to obtain. We listened to the director of Rabbis for Human Rights, orthodox rabbi Arik Ascherman, relating the many instances of army harassment he had witnessed. But then we met Saab Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, at his

headquarters in Jericho, and heard him speak about his unshakable commitment to the peace process; and Yasser Abed Rabbo, head of the Palestinian Peace Coalition, in Ramallah, speak about the ongoing Palestinian effort to achieve an independent Palestinian state by peaceful means.

Our visit was fascinating, inspirational and challenging. From an external vantage point, all you see when you look at Israel is the conflict between two peoples, Israelis and Palestinians. But when you visit, it becomes clear just how diverse Israeli society is – and not just Jewish diversity: 1.2 million Palestinians live in Israel – the Palestinians who remained in their villages and towns in 1948. These Palestinian Israelis – who until recently have been called ‘Arabs’ – have no intention of going to live in the state of Palestine when it is established. Their attachment is to the place where they have lived for generations. What they want is to receive equal treatment as Israeli citizens within Israeli society.

It makes sense. It sounds simple. But ensuring full equality for Israel’s Palestinian citizens will be far more difficult to achieve than creating a Palestinian state.

Fascinating, inspirational and challenging

INSIDE: Liberal Judaism and Israel • Zika – our new action group • Frustration at the checkpoint • Netzer Veidah in Jerusalem

We encountered so many different Israels on our Liberal Judaism-Rabbis for Human Rights visit, writes Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah

This article is an excerpt from a sermon delivered by Rabbi Sarah at Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue, and which can be read in full on the Liberal Judaism website.

Page 2 LJ Today May 2005

Help us form linksLJ-Zika, Israel Action Group, (zika: connection, interdependency) is a new Liberal Judaism community initiative formed to serve the needs of the movement’s constituent synagogues and progressive communities. Its mission is to promote awareness and knowledge of Israel: its people, history, science, culture, religion, and its wider role in the community of nations; and work towards strengthening the connection and commitment to Israel within Liberal Judaism, its communities and its individual members.

More specifically, LJ-Zika’s aims are to:

• develop, design and deliver educational and informative events, programmes, and publications relating to Israel;

• support and empower each Liberal Judaism local community to connect with Israel and increase the community’s awareness of Israel-related issues by providing opportunities for constructive debate;

• build contacts and relationships with Israel-focused movements, communities, organisations and institutes in Israel, the UK and internationally;

• represent Liberal Judaism and its views regarding Israel in a coherent and responsible fashion within the UK Jewish community and beyond.

We are currently talking to all our communities to find out what Liberal Judaism needs. Congregations are invited to contact either Gili Tzidkiyahu or me through the Montagu Centre about any specific Israel-related activities that would promote their members’ awareness of Israel related issues.

We are in the process of forming a library of modern films produced by students of a Jerusalem-based film academy. These films will be loaned free to member congregations to promote discussion and debate on religious and secular issues facing Israeli society today.

We are also working on developing a web-based community that will provide information on resources available to congregations and members.

Next year we aim to hold a big community event to coincide with Ha’Atzmaut. Please get involved early and come planning with us!

Mikko Arevuo, chair, LJ-Zika, Israel Action Group

The group on the Liberal Judaism-Rabbis for Human Rights visit hoped to plant trees on land belonging to Palestinian farmers – the other side of the separation barrier – as a way demonstrating sympathy for their cause. But it was not to be.

To reach the land, the group needed to accompany the farmers across a checkpoint in the village of Baka. Dressed in digging gear, the group waited with the farmers while the army

Frustration at the checkpoint

Forced to wait: Arik Ascherman with the Palestinian farmers at Baka

deliberated about whether to open the gate. In the end – after three and a half hours – the army refused.

The visitors’ disappointment was huge. But this frustration highlighted the fact that thousands of ordinary Palestinians have to spend hours every day waiting on either side.

Arik Ascherman, of RHR, assured the group that the funds it offered would indeed be used to buy trees; and that the trees would be planted.

For some years, it has been increasingly difficult to teach about modern Israel in the cheder. Stirring events like the Six Day War and Entebbe are becoming distant history. Once one could dwell on the altruism of the kibbutz and the fine examples of practical application of Jewish ethics they seemed to illustrate. But the kibbutz is no longer what it was, and Jaffa oranges have been replaced by plastic bottle factories.

Israel Counts set out to fill this void, and in many ways succeeded. It was initiated by Eran Shafrir, a former shaliach at Liberal Judaism, was developed at the Lokey International Academy of Jewish Studies in Haifa.

The concept is based around the seven fruits mentioned in Deuteronomy 8: 7-8 as blessing the land of Israel: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Around each of the seven fruits a large amount of teaching

How we’ve made Israel countideas has been created. The biblical and modern significance of each fruit, its agricultural importance and its place in Jewish ritual and a Jewish concept is explored.

At Northwood & Pinner, we cancelled last summer term’s curriculum for the whole cheder and all classes joined in studying Israel Counts. It led us to create the inside of an El-Al jet one week (with tickets, meals and Israel videos), which we turned into an Egged bus the next and a spaceship the third week. We tasted the seven fruits; planted several – including a date pip, which grew into a small palm tree. And all seven appeared as food or drink for everyone to taste.

An excellent curriculum, repeated every third year or so, it would boost a cheder, large or small, and adult education. The next innovative project by the Lokey Academy is eagerly awaited.Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein


Despite the declaration: ‘We affirm our commitment to the state of Israel, our duty to seek its security, aid its development, support its absorption of immigrants, and further the fulfilment of the high ideals set out in its Proclamation of Independence” (Affirmations of Liberal Judaism (London: ULPS, 1992), Affirmation No.3), I still encounter people who express surprise that Liberal Judaism is now seen – and sees itself – as an active partner in the engagement between British Jewry and the people, land and state of Israel. Indeed, for its size, Liberal Judaism’s three missions to Israel this year (rabbinic in February, community in May and tent in the autumn) show an impressive level of commitment.

To be fair to the doubters, perhaps it was not always so. In the early years of the Jewish Religious Union (now Liberal Judaism), its founders, like the majority of British Jews, were hardly Zionist. Claude Montefiore, the Union’s intellectual spokesperson, was an outspoken critic of the Zionist endeavour, which makes it even more remarkable that ‘Theodor Herzl hoped to make (him) his lieutenant in this country’ (J. Rayner, Progressive Zionism and the State of Israel (London: LJS, 1983), p. 8). As Lucy Cohen (Some Recollections of Claude Goldsmid Montefiore 1858-1930 (1940) p. 226) records, “We (Herzl and Montefiore) walked slowly down Marble Arch. By every possible means, by flattery, cajolery, argument, threat, he sought to gain his end. And I admit, so charming was the man, so powerful and winning his personality, that I had to pull myself together in order to keep straight and to refuse him.”

Following Montefiore’s death in 1938, the Shoah and the foundation of the state of Israel, Liberal Judaism, its ministers and its constituents made quicker or slower progress in ideological and practical support for the State of Israel, but it was so by 1967 the publication of Service of the

Rabbi Danny Rich with Yasser Abed Rabbo, head of the Palestinian Peace Coalition, in Ramallah in February

‘We support Israel’s efforts to develop the land for the benefit of all its inhabitants’Danny Rich looks at how Liberal Judaism’s position has developed

Heart (London: ULPS) saw the first known example of a prayer book containing a creative liturgy for Israel Independence Day.

The Six Day War of June 1967, the tenure of Zionist-leaning Rabbi Sidney Brichto as the executive director of the ULPS (1964 to 1989), the employment of schlichim from 1978, the Zionist ideology and activities of the youthful ULPSNYC-Netzer, and the growth of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism were all factors that led Rosita Rosenberg, successor to Brichto and co-editor of Liberal Judaism: The First Hundred Years (London: Liberal Judaism, 2004 see particularly pp. 217-230), to conclude: “…Israel and Zionism will remain most firmly on the Liberal Jewish agenda.” (Rosenberg, Ibid p.230).

If that is a snippet of the history of Liberal Jewish attitudes to the state of Israel, where is Liberal Judaism today? Liberal Judaism seeks to combine the promotion of Liberal Jewish values with a love for, and an appreciation of the

reality and experience of life in, the State of Israel. Thus Liberal Judaism supports the efforts of Israelis and their institutions to provide a secure environment, to facilitate the absorption of immigrants, and ‘to develop the land for the benefits of all its inhabitants’. Liberal Judaism demands that Israel does these things in accord with the values of Liberal Judaism: the autonomy of the informed conscience and religious freedom in contrast to state and religious coercion, social justice for all inhabitants of the State regardless of nation, race, colour, gender or sexuality, and universalism which implies there must be a compatibility between solidarity with Israel and the obligation to seek a just solution to the grievances of the Palestinians.

It is possibly true to say that as British Jewry may need the state of Israel for its physical well-being, Israel needs the values of Liberal Judaism for its spiritual and moral well-being.


The Make Poverty History Jewish Coalition delivers a giant postcard to 10 Downing Street, supporting the worldwide campaign initiated last year, and urging the UK and other western governments to pursue Make Poverty History goals in three key areas: trade, debt and aid. Among the delegation, in March, is Rabbi Danny Rich (far left of picture), chief executive of Liberal Judaism, and Danny Casson, the director of World Jewish Aid and a member of North London Progressive Jewish Community.

Among Liberal Judaism’s

Southgate hosts afascinating talkThe Friends of Progressive Judaism in Israel and Europe held a successful speaker evening at Southgate Progressive Synagogue.

Rabbi David Wilfond, director of outreach projects at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem, gave a fascinating talk. Wilfond, who spent two years in Kiev working with the progressive Jewish communities of Ukraine, continues to work with progressive communities in the former Soviet Union.

Rabbi Frank Dabba Smith will speak at the next Friends evening, planned for Thursday 15th September, at Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue.

New team bounceto the topSouthgate table tennis club’s league players are on target to end their very first season not only as division champions, but as winners of the division knockout cup too.

The club, formed by Gordon Greenfield last June, competes in the North Middlesex League. It meets twice weekly and has more than 30 members, but is always on the lookout for more good players. Contact: [email protected]

Liberals sign upas student rabbisTwo Liberal Jews have been offered places on the rabbinic studies course at Leo Baeck College. Janet Darley, of Kingston, and Anna Gerrard, of Birmingham Progressive, are due to begin in the autumn.

Dorothy Edgar 1914-2005Dorothy Edgar, the second child of Israel Mattuck, first rabbi of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, and the wife of Leslie, its second rabbi, died in February, a few days short of her 91st birthday.

Her death marks the end of an era, and the severance of the last active link with the founders of the Liberal Jewish movement in Britain. She is survived by an older brother, Robert, and by her children, Gillian and Robert.

Fighting poverty, pursuing justice

partners in the coalition are Nativ (UJIA Makor social action), Tzedek (Jewish Action for a Just World), World Jewish Aid, and J-Core (The Jewish Council for Racial Equality). As well as planning a big presence at the G8 summit in Edinburgh in July, the coalition will run educational programmes throughout the year.

The wording that appears on the card, Justice, justice shall you pursue [that you may thrive and occupy the land that the Eternal One your God is giving you], is from Deuteronomy 16:20.

Principles of Jewish Ethicsa new Liberal Judaism publicationThis new booklet, written by Rabbi John Rayner, aims to serve as a ready reference guide to the main principles of Jewish ethics as stated in, or inferred from, the classical sources of Judaism. It is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding more about Jewish values and will be particularly useful for students and teachers and all those engaged in studying Jewish ethical issues.To order a copy, contact the Montagu Centre

The Friends of Progressive

Judaism in Israel and

Europe AGM

will be held on

Sunday 19th June

at 3pm for 3.30pm

at the Montagu Centre


What do you get if you gather people from four continents speaking five different languages into a room in Jerusalem, load them up with Israeli coffee and cake and ask them to discuss and decide the future of their youth movement? The answer is Netzer Olami’s Veidah 5765.

Netzer-niks from across the globe met between 23rd January and 1st February to represent their sniff (branch) of Netzer to discuss the issues central the movement. The theme of the Veidah conference, Netzer in Israel and Israel in Netzer: Bringing Israel Home, enabled the participants to discuss some of the more prominent issues affecting our movement today and provided a great basis for educational sessions to take place.

With representatives from Argentina, Australia, the Baltic Nations, Belarus, Holland, Germany, LJY-Netzer, Noar Telem, RSY-Netzer, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Ukraine and NFTY from North America, the international aspect of Netzer was not only obvious but overwhelming. With the help of two translators, the conference was held predominantly in English.

However, this is something that all the delegates agreed should change. Holding Veidah in our shared language of Hebrew is something which we should not only aspire to do but take active steps towards it happening.

A majority of the week was spent in Beit Shmuel, the headquarters for the World Union of Progressive Judaism in Jerusalem, where we met the staff at Netzer Olami and were welcomed by Uri Regev, the executive director of the WUPJ. A variety of sessions which included looking at our relationship with Israel, how the Israeli political scene affects us as Zionist activists, a drama workshop on Israel’s changing faces and how to teach Israel in the Diaspora enabled the group to not only learn together but realise our common goals.

We spent our Shabbat on Kibbutz Yahel in the Negev, one of the two progressive kibbutzim in Israel. Having spent three months working there during my Shnat year, it was interesting to return and see how the kibbutz and indeed the kibbutzniks have changed.

The theme of progression and change was also a dominant part of

our Veidah. Many of the discussions regarding the future of the movement looked at constructive changes that could be made to benefit the members of Netzer Olami and participants on their programmes, namely the Shnat year course.

Yet, perhaps the most significant decision made during this Veidah was to invite NFTY, the North American Federation of Temple Youth, to become an affiliate of Netzer Olami. Now that the NFTY Convention has accepted, Netzer Olami has become one of the largest international Zionist youth movements in the world. This is no doubt this a watershed moment for Netzer Olami. Overall, it is a very exciting move for everyone involved.

On a personal note, my first experience of Netzer Olami Veidah was both inspiring and overwhelming. Being in Israel with so many incredible people from all around the world sharing the same ideals and passions is certainly something to write home about. As with most LJY-Netzer events, despite lack of sleep, copious amounts of talking and excessive singing and chanting, I feel that my batteries have been fully recharged.

Netzer now truly a worldwide movementClaire Simmons reports from the international Veidah in Jerusalem, where the North American branch was invited to join Netzer Olami

LEFT Liz Green, Liberal Judaism’s education officer, and Claire Simmons of Southgate Progressive Synagogue plant a tree for LJY-Netzer in the Netzer forest, Bet Shemesh, near Jerusalem. RIGHT Netzer Olami invites NFTY to affiliate


Liberally SpeakingWhen a family of refugees from Kyrgyzstan arrived in Britain, the Birmingham congregation ‘adopted’ them, taking them to its heart. Here, Margaret Jacobi describes the family’s experience of abuse and detention, and calls for better understanding of the question of asylum

It is three years since Sonia came to our synagogue with her sons, Yosef, 11, and Khnaize, 12. She didn’t go into the reasons she’d fled Kyrgyzstan, but it was clear that she was terrified of returning. She and her sons soon became a much-loved part of our community, and the barmitzvah of both boys in our synagogue was an occasion of enormous joy.

The family was sent by the authorities to Dudley, where they were subjected to verbal abuse, their front door was beaten down and both boys were assaulted. Their application and subsequent appeal for asylum were turned down, but after the initial shock we became complacent.

Then, last September, as the boys were about to leave for school, they and Sonia were taken to Oakington Detention Centre. There, Sonia was assaulted at Heathrow prior to a first attempt to deport her, which was aborted. Two weeks later, she was put on a flight to Kyrgyzstan, but the authorities there refused to accept her, and put her on a flight back to Britain. So Sonia, Khnaize and Yosef are still with us, officially stateless. But they are severely traumatised and the future is uncertain.

All that Sonia – a trained choreographer in Russian dance – wanted was to live in safety and to give something back to the country that gave her refuge, by becoming a nurse. Instead, she was subjected to abuse, assault and imprisonment. Her experience is that of thousands of asylum seekers in this country.

Myths and misconceptions about asylum seekers abound. One is that most are economic migrants. But the top 10 refugee-producing countries in 2003 all have poor human rights records or are places of war. Another myth is that all refugees have chosen to come to Britain. But this country is home to less then 2% of the world’s refugees.

The complaint is often heard that

asylum seekers are a ‘burden on the state’. Yet they are not allowed to work. The support they receive is set at 30 per cent below normal income support. Once their appeal has failed, or if they fail to apply for asylum immediately on arrival, they are not eligible for any support at all.

Asylum seekers would like nothing better than to be independent. In desperation, some take the jobs that no one else will, living in fear that if they are found out they will be deported. Others are qualified in professions in which we have difficulties recruiting, for example medicine.

Our tradition commands: ‘You shall care for the stranger, for you know the heart of the stranger.’ Many of us, or our forebears, came to this country as refugees. We are obliged to remember our past and to care for those who are now strangers. We are called on to help the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. Asylum seekers fall into this category. Let us do what we can to support them.

The Refugee Council website is at www.refugeecouncil.org.uk‘Closing the door? Immigrants to Britain 1905-2005’, an exhibition to mark the centenary of the 1905 Aliens Act, is at The Jewish Museum, Camden Town, until 21st August. Telephone 020 7284 1997 for information

Our education bulletin board is buzzing with ideasThe Liberal Judaism Education Discussion Forum – an internet bulletin board enabling educators from across our communities to chat online – is now up and running, and buzzing with ideas. Within days of its starting, in March, members were exchanging views and information, and finding answers to questions.

The forum is designed to help anyone involved in education within Liberal Judaism – with our religion schools, adult education or life-long learning programmes.

Bulletin boards work in a similar way to email. Instead of writing individual messages, users post their messages on a central server. All users can read the messages and respond to them, and post their own messages.

The aim of setting up such a facility is to provide a mechanism for individuals in one community to ‘talk’ regularly to those in others. Just a few examples of what the “forum” is already being used for are: asking questions on curricular issues; asking what worked well on a particular topic; requesting a lesson plan on a certain topic; asking for reference material and sources; exchanging ideas on best practice; asking for ideas; posting reference copies of materials that others may be able to use or adapt; swapping thoughts.

The forum’s success will depend on the number of people who use it. CJE/DEPD (the Centre for Jewish Education-Department of Education & Professional Development) will be a regular contributor, and we hope that, over time, the number of users will keep growing. So if you are a teacher or involved with adult education, go to www.liberaljudaism.org, then follow the link to the forum website, register and starting posting.

If anyone has ideas about how we can improve forum, please post them for everyone to see. Let’s make this a great success!

David Kirk, co-chair, Education Action GroupMike Beral, forum administrator

Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi

Page 7 LJ Today

LJY-NETZERThe youth movement of Liberal Judaism

Contact Sally or Liz at LJY-NETZER, The Montagu Centre

21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE

T: 020 7631 0584 F: 020 7631 9838E: [email protected] or [email protected]

May 2005

Kadimah’s callingYes, it’s that time of year again. Places are already beginning to fill up for this summer’s Machaneh Kadimah. The venue this year is in the Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire - at a brilliantly equipped school called Bramcote Lorne. No need to worry about travel if you’re coming from London as we’ll be putting on coaches.

As usual, we’re planning a range of creative and sporting activities, with plenty of drama and music thrown in. The theme will be ‘Mitzvot’. This really is a huge opportunity for all our eight- to 15-year-olds to enjoy a big Liberal Jewish experience. So whether you’re an old hand or are thinking of trying out our wonderful, magnificent, life-changing summer camp for the first time, call Sally or Liz to talk it over, or to book your place: 020 7631 0584.

Spring successLoads of fun was had at this year’s Machaneh Aviv - Spring Camp - learning about ‘Mitzvot and Israel’. Even when we weren’t learning, we managed to enjoy ourselves! One of the highlights was our very own Top of the Pops on Saturday afternoon, when everyone ran around, got wet and had the time of their lives.

Fun and friendship at the last-night disco

The participants on this summer’s Israel Tour had an interesting Mifgash (Encounter), when a group of 15 youngsters from Haifa came to Britain for a taste of diaspora life, and our young Brits got a chance to find out what Israelis are really like.

Joe Rich, one of the participants, says everyone was a bit awkward at first, but after a getting-to-know-each-other session early on, everything got more comfortable.

What surprised Joe was the Israelis’ relative lack of observance. ‘Most of them don’t feel they have to go to synagogue,’ he commented. But the visitors had a lot in common with the Brits, he added: ‘We all expected them to be different from us. But they’re the same, with the same interests.’

By the end of the week, Joe, who had three Israelis living at his house, and his friend round the corner, who was also hosting three Israelis, were meeting up in the evenings as a big group. They plan to keep in touch, courtesy of MSN messenger.

At the Israeli update session for 12- to 15-year-olds, participants turned into TV presenters, with the help of improvised screens

Page 8 LJ Today

Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue(Rodef Shalom)T: 01234-218387E:[email protected] Klal YisraelP.O.Box 1828, London W10 5RTT: 020-8960 5760E: [email protected] g.ukBet Tikvah Synagogue129 Perrymans Farm Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG2 7LXT: 020-8554 9682 E: [email protected]: www.bettikvah.org.ukBirmingham Progressive Synagogue4 Sheepcote Street, B16 8AA T: 0121-643 5640 E: [email protected] o.ukBranch: Leamington SpaT: 01926-421300Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FFT: 01273-737223 E: [email protected] www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.ukBristol and West Progressive Jewish CongregationHon. Sec. T: 0117-954 1937E: [email protected] www.bwpjc.orgCrawley Jewish CommunityT: 01293-534294Dublin Jewish Progressive SynagogueP.O. Box 3059, Dublin 6, Enquires Hon. Sec. T: 00-3531 2856241E: [email protected] Liberal SynagogueLynton Avenue, Drayton Green, W13 0EBT: 020-8997 0528E: [email protected] Anglia Progressive Jewish Community(based in Norwich)T: 01502-731116E: [email protected] www.pjcea.org.ukEastbourne Progressive Jewish CongregationT: 01323 725650 F: 01323 417645E: [email protected] Liberal Jewish CommunityT: 07891 439646E: [email protected] Progressive SynagogueHutton Grove, N12 8DR T: 020-8446 4063E: [email protected] and Wembley Progressive Synagogue 326 Preston Road, Harrow, Middx HA3 0QHT: 020-8904 8581www.hwps.orgKent Liberal Jewish CommunityT: 07952 242432www.jewishkent.org.uk/communities/KLJC/kljc.htmlKingston Liberal SynagogueRushett Road, Long Ditton, Surbiton,Surrey KT7 0UX T: 020-8398 7400E: [email protected]

Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation The Synagogue, 24 Avenue Road, Leicester LE2 3EA T: 07875 123744The Liberal Jewish Synagogue28 St John’s Wood Road, London NW8 7HAT: 020-7286 5181E: [email protected] www.ljs.orgThe Liberal Synagogue ElstreeElstree High Street, Elstree, Herts WD6 3BY T: 020-8953 8889E: [email protected] www.tlse.org.ukLincolnshire Jewish CommunityT: 01427-628958 E: [email protected] Progressive Synagogue28 Church Road North, Liverpool L15 6TFT: 0151-7335871North London Progressive Jewish CommunityEnquiries: 020-8340 5513E: [email protected] www.nlpjc.org.ukNorthwood and Pinner Liberal SynagogueOaklands Gate, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 3AAT: 01923-822592E: [email protected] Progressive Jewish Congregation Lloyd Street, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 4BPT: 0115-9624761E: [email protected] www.npjc.org.ukPeterborough Liberal Jewish CommunityT: 01733-358605Reading Liberal Jewish CommunityT: 0118-375 3422South Bucks Jewish CommunityT: 01494-431885E: [email protected] www.sbjc.org.ukSouth London Liberal SynagoguePO Box 14475, London SW16 1ZW T: 020-8769 4787E: [email protected] Progressive Synagogue75 Chase Road, London N14 4QY T: 020-8886 0977E: [email protected] Central Liberal Synagogue21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BET: 020-7636 7627E: [email protected] www.wcls.org.ukWoodford Progressive SynagogueMarlborough Road, George Lane, London E18 1AR T: 020-8989 7619E: [email protected] www.synagogue.demon.co.uk

Associated Congregations:Herefordshire Jewish CommunityEnquiries: 07789 218823OxfordFor details of Liberal Jewish Services:T: 01865-515584 or 01865-765197www.oxford-synagogue.org.ukOr Chadash Liberal Jewish Community of LuxembourgT: 00 352 31 65 94E: [email protected]

Liberal JudaismHon. Life President Rabbi John Rayner CBEChairman Nigel ColeChief Executive Rabbi Danny RichVice Chairman Joan ShopperJoint Treasurers Peter Ellinger, Tony KerronHon. Officers Simon Benscher, Penny Beral, Paul Infield, Jeremy JesselSenior Vice-President Rabbi Dr Sidney BrichtoVice-Presidents David Amstell, Geoffrey Davis, Jeromé Freedman, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, David Lipman,Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker, Harold Sanderson,Clive WinstonChairperson Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Mark GoldsmithOutreach Director Rabbi Aaron GoldsteinPR Officer Rachel HudsonShlicha Gili TzidkiyahuMazkira, LJY-Netzer Sally AdamsEducation Officer, LJY-Netzer Liz Green

How to contact usThe Montagu Centre21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BET: 020-7580 1663 F: 020-7631 9838 E: [email protected]

Youth DepartmentT: 020-7631 0584 F: 020-7631 9838E: [email protected]: [email protected]

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 July 2005 issue is Sunday 29 MaySend your articles/letters to: [email protected]

Typeset by JJ Copyprint and printed by Freedman Bros.

Liberal Judaism Congregations

May 2005

Rich rewardRabbi Danny Rich, chief executive of Liberal Judaism, received a Community Award from the Mayor of Kingston at a ceremony in March. The awards recognise the supreme effort or achievement of those who have given up their own time and, without prompting, helped others or the community. Danny, who remains minister of Kingston Liberal Synagogue until the summer, said: ‘I will miss working in the borough but I shall continue to live here and to work with the community.’

Quiz timeIt’s time to pit your wits against your fellow Liberals at the Liberal Judaism Intercongregational Quiz. Harrow & Wembley, last year’s winners, are hosting the contest, on Sunday 5th June at 7pm.

More information from Monique Blake: email [email protected], or phone 020 7631 9826.

Magonet lectureRabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet will deliver the 2005 Rabbi Dr David Goldstein Annual Memorial Lecture on Thursday 16th June. The title is ‘To give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11), Leo Baeck College-Centre for Jewish Education through the Retrospectoscope.’

The lecture is at 8pm, at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue. Afterwards, light refreshments will be served. More information from Monique Blake: email [email protected] or phone 020 7631 9826.

Rabbi Magonet will be retiring from his position as principal of the Leo Baeck College-CJE in July. He intends to concentrate on his inter-faith work and his writing, including the new edition of the Reform Judaism siddur. Rabbi Magonet has taught at the college since 1974 and has been its principal since 1985. He will continue to teach courses on Bible as Emeritus Professor of Bible and serve on the Academic Board.

Baby for SéverineCongratulations to Rabbi Séverine Haziza-Sokol, of Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation, and Neal Sokol on the arrival of their daughter, Mazal Fortunée. She was born on 3rd February. Séverine and Neal wish to thank their friends in Liberal Judaism for their love and support.

Documents

LJ Today May/June 2005