ljtodayLiberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism

www.liberaljudaism.org

September/October 2013VOL. XL No. 5

Welcoming a new president

RABBI DR ANDREW GOLDSTEIN has been elected as the new president of Liberal Judaism. Here Rabbi

Dr David J Goldberg OBE explains why his friend, colleague and occasional sparring partner is the perfect person for the role:

A FEW YEARS AGO, at a European Region conference of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), a group of old codgers ordained in the 1970s – Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein and I among them – were elected Fellows of Leo Baeck College. We shuffled sheepishly while excessively generous laudations about us were read out to the audience.

I remember that Andrew’s, after listing his many achievements, described him as “the rabbis’ rabbi”, which struck me as a particularly apt assessment. Whereas some of us have sought rabbinic fulfilment in scholarship or writing, and others in becoming media personalities or communal machers, Andrew is admired by all for being the supreme example of an outstanding congregational leader, builder and nurturer.

Andrew was still a Leo Baeck rabbinic student when assigned to what was then the embryonic Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) in 1965, becoming its first rabbi in 1970. Along with his ideal partner Sharon, he built NPLS up into the largest, most successful, dynamic and innovative of the new Liberal congregations. He and NPLS were synonymous – one simply could not imagine Andrew in any other pulpit, or any other congregation bestowing such love and appreciation on its rabbi.

Andrew somehow also found the time to create the Kadimah youth summer camp, head Liberal Judaism’s education department for 20 years, research a PhD on Sir Moses Montefiore, sit on the International Council of Christians and Jews and co-edit our two prayer books Siddur Lev Chadash and Machzor Ruach Chadashah, as well as the Passover Haggadah and sundry other publications.

Even retirement hasn’t slowed him down. Andrew has built on the special relationship he established with Jewish Czechoslovakia to embrace all of continental Progressive Jewry in his

role as chair of the European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ). He also sits on the executive of the World Union, devoting the same hard work and meticulous planning to these offices as he did to being a congregational rabbi, while enjoying the opportunity it affords him and Sharon to indulge their passion for travel and visiting outposts of the worldwide Progressive Jewish family.

I know that Andrew was thrilled, but genuinely humbled, when he was mooted as the next president of Liberal Judaism. “I’m not ennobled, or a major scholar, or a national figure” he said to me, mentioning some of the illustrious names that have preceded him in the post. Perhaps so, but not one of them brought more dedication to the cause of Liberal Judaism than Andrew has, and will continue to do.

Andrew is a thoroughgoing, dyed in the wool Liberal Jew. Occasionally we have our theological disagreements – for example, I can’t get my head round the former Rabbinic Board, at Andrew’s initiative, being renamed the Liberal Beit Din, in spurious imitation of halachic Orthodoxy. But his principles are firmly rooted in the teachings of Liberal Judaism’s founders and won’t be compromised to court easy popularity with either the Reform movement or wider Anglo-Jewry.

The officers and members of Liberal Judaism chose wisely in electing Andrew as our new president. Keyn yirbu – long may he flourish!

Rabbi Dr David J Goldberg OBE is rabbi emeritus of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue

• Read Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein’s New Year’s message on page 7.

Liberal Judaism’s new president Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein speaking at the WUPJ Conference

Page 2 LJ Today September/October 2013News

A radical and relevant BiennialBy Rabbi Charley Baginsky

IN THE LAST edition of lj today you will have seen our ‘save the date’ for Liberal Judaism’s Biennial Weekend 2014. The flagship event of our movement, it is an opportunity for Jews from all over the country and beyond to gather together to study, discuss and share ideas.Our theme for Biennial 2014 is Radical Roots, Relevant Responses / Relevant Roots, Radical Responses.

Taking place from May 9-11, it will tackle some of the challenges which affect us as individuals, as Jews, as communities and as citizens. Sessions will cover issues as varied as finance, the Frankenburger and fracking, as well as exploring theology, Torah and Talmud.

Liberal Judaism has never been a movement to shy away from presenting a vision for a better world, but it has always combined it with a grounding in reality and practical and innovative solutions. Using this model, we will explore issues with a combination of inspirational keynote speakers, community rabbis and professionals.

This year we move to a fantastic new venue, Wokefield Park in Reading. It is an impressive location that combines a mansion house hotel – complete with spa, pool and golf course – with a well-equipped and modern conference centre.

To complement the full and exciting programme on offer, there will be a professional crèche for young children and a fun educational programme for youngsters between five and seven. Due to the phenomenal success LJY-Netzer

had at our last Biennial Weekend, they will be running their own parallel event onsite for those aged eight to 16-years-old.

We are very pleased to be able to offer a reduced rate for those who book before Friday January 31 of £260 per adult. This

price includes two nights’ full board in the hotel and all programme materials. For those who can’t make the whole weekend, a day pass is just £75 including meals, refreshments and materials. We offer the opportunity to pay in instalments and some financial assistance is available for those who would like to attend but have concerns about the cost.

For more information, contact Yael Shotts on y.shotts@liberaljudaism.org

Join the LJ Learning NetworkBy Rabbi Sandra Kviat

THE NEED to network and share resources and materials has long been top of the wishlist for many of our Liberal Judaism chedarim and religion schools. Head teachers and teachers alike have expressed a wish to meet, discuss ideas and create working relationships with others in the same position.

So I’m pleased to announce that we are launching the LJ Learning Network on Sunday September 29. These termly education seminars, for everyone involved in children’s learning, will be suitable for all levels of teaching experience. The other dates for your diary are Sunday December 15 and, going into next year, Sunday March 30 and Sunday July 6.

Each seminar will have a different theme, with the first one looking at how to make our new online Liberal Judaism curriculum work for your community.

This curriculum can be used by anyone who wishes to teach Jewish studies from a Liberal point of view. Within it, you will find individual lesson plans with different activity ideas, resources, web links and pictures. Everything is included for you to teach and it can also be used as a tool to create or enhance your own curriculum and lesson plans. It covers Torah, Israel, festivals, lifecycle, morality and more.

The seminars also encourage networking between religion schools, as well as providing a structured opportunity for teachers to have an ideas marketplace and a facilitated group for heads.

Each theme will be based on what communities need, so if you have an idea or a topic that you would like us to consider, please contact me with your suggestion. For more information or to receive a sample session, please email s.kviat@liberaljudaism.org or call me on 0207 6319 826.

LJ Resources

By Rabbi Anna Gerrard

AFTER a year of development and consultation, the new LJ Resources website was previewed at the Liberal Judaism Day of Celebration in June. The site, which has been partially funded by a grant from the NLPS Trust, is an easy way to share resources within our 38 communities, many of whom offer similar programmes and facilities.

The website has three parts: leadership, learning and library. The leadership section will include advice about every aspect of running a community, as well as template documents for changing forms, policies or contracts. There is also PR advice and online versions of Liberal Judaism’s Sunday Seminars and leadership training programme.

In the learning section, you will find the brand new Liberal Judaism cheder curriculum developed by Josh Newham, head teacher at Woodford Liberal Synagogue, and Rabbi Sandra Kviat, who gives more detail in the article below left. There is also space for rabbis and educators to share community programmes for Shabbat and festivals, and the Outreach Catalogue containing details of seminars that we can come and run in your community.

Finally, the library section is a guide to using the new resource room at the Montagu Centre. There are book boxes that you can borrow to augment or be your congregation’s library for a few months; Jewish and Israeli DVDs for a community film club; a reference library, with an emphasis on Jewish education that any member of an LJ community can come and use; and an ever-growing collection of musical recordings, showcasing different melodies for the prayers that are in Siddur Lev Chadash, as well as the Machzor and the Haggadah.

All in all, this really is going to be a fantastic resource for our movement and communities. With your help and sharing of community resources, we can ensure that it is a useful and usable one-stop shop for all things Liberally Jewish. The leadership of every Liberal Judaism community will receive a username and password just before Rosh Hashanah so that we can all enjoy this new platform in 5774.

LJ Today Page 3September/October 2013 News

Rainbow Jews goes global

RAINBOW JEWS – Liberal Judaism’s ground-breaking oral history project – has spread internationally, after project manager Surat Rathgeber Knan attended the 21st World Conference of the World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Jews in Winnipeg, Canada, in July.

Surat – who also participated in the organisation’s annual Board of Directors meeting, pictured above – returned to London enthused. Surat told lj today: “I felt extremely privileged to be given the opportunity to connect with more than 100 international delegates and take part in extremely engaging and thought-provoking debates. Notably, I was the only European participant – so I felt like some kind of ambassador.”

The World Congress of GLBT Jews is made up of member organisations in 14 countries with the shared goal of nurturing an environment where GLBT Jews can enjoy free and fulfilling lives. The 21st World Conference was titled Keshet l’dor v’dor: Rainbow of Pride from Generation to Generation. The programme featured a first-class line-up of local, national and international speakers, entertainers and guests.

Surat said: “From the Board meeting and World Conference through to the amazing hospitality of Winnipeg’s Jewish community, it was a truly empowering experience. I am inspired more than ever to share my enthusiasm and passion to create inclusive, cohesive and diverse communities – here in the UK and all over the world. I appreciate the support I have received from the JHub Micro Grants Programme. Also, without Liberal Judaism’s support and a scholarship from 21st World Conference of GLBT Jews this trip wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you all.”

Arthur Blankstein, the event’s co-chair, added: “Surat was definitely a breath of fresh air with a demeanour, knowledge, point of view and radiant smile that brought life into our meetings and World Conference. The weekend had unification, spirit, religious flavour and, above all, simcha. We made friends for life.”

Surat also gave a well-received presentation on the role of progressives in a diverse changing society at the Human Rights Conference in Antwerp, Belgium, in August. The event was part of the World Out Games and saw Surat sit on a panel of international experts.

Leading Liberal honoured

NORTHWOOD & PINNER LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE (NPLS) member Daniel Finkelstein has been appointed to the House of Lords.

Daniel – who is associate editor of The Times newspaper and a columnist for the Jewish Chronicle – was made a Conservative working peer in August. He is an active member of Liberal Judaism and was a guest speaker at the 2011 Day of Celebration.

Liberal Judaism chairman Lucian J Hudson welcomed the news, saying: “We are delighted when our political institutions benefit from strong Jewish voices. I am thrilled for Daniel, whose success reflects well on Liberal Judaism and his community at NPLS.”

Meet AbigailABIGAIL JACOBI has joined Liberal Judaism as outreach coordinator, a brand new full-time position. Below, Abigail introduces herself and outlines what she hopes to achieve this year:

Tell us a bit about yourself - what did you do before taking this job?Before joining the Liberal Judaism team, I was studying at Durham University. I have just graduated with a degree in Education Studies and Psychology, and wrote my dissertation about the purpose and relevance of Holocaust education for young people in the UK. I grew up in Reading Liberal Jewish Community, before moving to Woodford Liberal Synagogue and teaching at cheder there.

What does an outreach coordinator do?I am based in the Liberal Judaism office, providing support to the other members of the Outreach Team in order that all of our great youth, student, education, music and community projects can run smoothly. I am also responsible for a number of initiatives myself, including the brilliant new LJ Resources website, which you will have read about on page 2.

How are you spending your first months in this new role?I am listening really carefully to the rest of the team and trying to learn as much as possible about all of the amazing things that Liberal Judaism does or is involved in. My biggest initial tasks are fine-tuning LJ Resources and planning another set of Sunday Seminars, following the success of the first series.

What are you most looking forward to about working at Liberal Judaism?I am really excited to be working with such a dynamic Outreach Team, as well as all the amazing rabbis, officers, staff and members who are the lifeblood of our movement. Everyone in the office is committed to making sure that Liberal Judaism is the best it can be for all our communities, and the upcoming outreach projects are going to be another great way of consolidating that goal.

Page 4 LJ Today September/October 2013Communities

Musical harmony in BirminghamJoe Seager on a concert powered by youth and featuring members of all ages

YOUNG ENTERTAINERS displayed a range of talents in a concert that hit all the right notes at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS).

The live show was devised and directed by 18-year-old Ilana Davis, who was also one of the performers. Ilana began by forming a vocal group for children attending BPS cheder classes and then bridged the generation gap by turning it into a full-scale community event.

The talented teenager proved she has all the qualities needed to become a community leader. Ilana has set out on that course by working with World ORT, a Jewish organisation serving the needs of young people in many countries. The next stage of her training programme will take her to Israel.

At the concert, the latest of many BPS ventures, Ilana’s 11-year-old brother Joshua gave his first public solo

performance as the youngest singer on stage. At the other end of the age spectrum two BPS members in their 80s, Ena Cheshire and I, joined the cast. Birmingham’s Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi and her two children, Tali and Yoni, also made effective vocal and instrumental contributions.

The concert ended with a well-deserved and prolonged round of applause and standing ovation.

Yoni Ehrlich, Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi, Tali Ehrlich, Joshua Davis, Joe Shotton, Ilana Davis, Miriam Noons and Rebecca Bowen perform at BPS

A £1,000 bike ride

NORTHWOOD & PINNER LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE’S Rabbi Aaron Goldstein and his friend Joel Wolchover raised more than £1,000 for World Jewish Relief with an epic 102 mile bike ride from their synagogue to Liberal Judaism’s Day of Celebration, held in Birmingham.

Aaron said: “I love a challenge and, while my backside hurt a lot afterwards, it is really important to enjoy life and through that enjoyment to also help others who are in need.”

Mixed cricket

MEMBERS of Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue took part in a unique cricket competition in July. The Bishop’s Cup tournament saw mixed-faith teams battle it out in the glorious sunshine. Each side had to contain players of at least three different religions – with no more than four members of the same faith – as well as a mix of men and women.

Bedford lost to Luton in the semi-finals, with Watford beating St Albans and then Luton to lift the cup.

Honouring LilyDR ELLEN M UMANSKY will be delivering a lecture to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Lily H Montagu – one of the founders of Liberal Judaism. Entitled Lily H Montagu: Religious Mission, Social Justice and Modern Jewish Identity, the event will take place on Thursday November 14 at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, 28 St John’s Wood Road, London, NW8 7HA, from 7pm.

The lecture is being organised by the London Society of Jews and Christians (LSJC) and will be preceded by the LSJC AGM at 6.30pm. All are welcome to both events. A donation of £5 is requested from non-members of the Society.

Dr Umansky is professor of Judaic Studies at Fairfield University in Connecticut. Her published works include two books on Lily H Montagu.

LJ Today Page 5September/October 2013 Communities

70 years of Ealing Liberal SynagogueTracy Posner on a special day at a community formed in the shadow of the Nazis

NINETEEN FORTY-THREE was the middle of the Second World War. Some notable events that year included the Allied invasion of Italy, a crush killing 183 people in London caused by panic at the sound of new anti-aircraft rockets, the infamous ‘Dam Buster’ raid and the selection of the Bevin Boys to work in the UK mines.

Against this background, a small group of Jews – some of whom had escaped the Nazis – were inspired by the inclusive ethos and progressive values of Liberal Judaism and started a community in West London. Initially they met in one another’s homes, before eventually raising the money to buy a ‘Tin Tabernacle’ in Ealing which they converted into a house of Jewish prayer.

Some of these same founding members came together this summer to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Ealing Liberal Synagogue.

They were joined by the generations they nurtured and who, under their guidance, created and maintained a thriving community.

Because of the significance of the occasion, the event was attended by some notable members of the wider community of west London including local MP Angie Bray, London MEP Marina Yannakoudakis and several Conservative councillors for Ealing. Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich and other members of the national movement also joined the celebrations.

After a moving and sentimental service led by the community’s Rabbi Janet Burden, Rabbi Danny Rich addressed the congregation, as did its president emeritus Cyril Levene OBE. Both Danny and Cyril shared stories and memories of pivotal landmarks in the life of the synagogue, culminating in this 70th anniversary.

After a kiddush to make any Jewish community proud, there was a packed afternoon of activities designed to showcase some of the many cultural groups which make up the synagogue. There was Israeli dancing, a virtuoso violin performance, a lively discussion on what makes Jewish literature, a kids’ craft project and a play written and performed by the religion school children.

Ealing Liberal Synagogue is now considered the local community for Progressive Jews who live or work in west London. Its members come from a wide catchment area of Kew, Chiswick, Hammersmith and beyond, and include young families, working singles, couples and retirees – the full range of ages and stages of life who come together to form an extended family.

For more information on the community, please visit our website at www.ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk

Prominent local politicians and Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich joined anniversary celebrations at Ealing Liberal Synagogue

MANCHESTER LIBERAL JEWISH COMMUNITY (MLJC) joined together with neighbouring Reform synagogues Jackson’s Row and Shaarei Shalom for a Concert of Cantorial and Popular Music in July.

Rabbi Mark Solomon and MLJC treasurer Phyllis Alden took active roles, pictured left, and a wonderful evening was had by all.

Page 6 LJ Today September/October 2013

A radical mainstream Judaism

AS LIBERAL JUDAISM develops its Strategic Plan, it will be articulating just why and how its voice is original and authentic. As chairman, I want to make the case that we represent ‘radical mainstream Judaism’. Liberal Judaism should not just be one legitimate expression of Judaism but its best, because it is both deeply anchored in tradition and gives that tradition a cutting edge, contemporary force.

As the late Rabbi John Rayner said in his 1977 Yom Kippur sermon, our founders “reformed Judaism in order to preserve it”. Rayner pleaded then for a “bigger” Liberal Judaism, a “more excellent Judaism”, both conservative and radical.

I belong to a generation for whom tradition is no longer the problem: modernity is. Liberal Judaism can make a valuable contribution to contemporary challenges because it appreciates that we have to manage both continuity and change. Change for us is to be embraced, not merely accommodated. One of our young leaders, Robin Moss, was taken by a recent conversation he had with Rabbi Charley Baginsky: we are neither Judaism-lite nor Liberalism-lite – we are Liberal Jewish, a distinctive yet increasingly relevant religious and cultural movement.

The same-sex marriage debate demonstrated that even though ours is just one voice, we can and do have the capability to punch well above our weight. We cannot underestimate that liberal, progressive values are striking more of a chord with more of the mainstream, even if many religious, political and economic institutions have yet to catch up.

Rabbi John Rayner’s Affirmations of Liberal Judaism is an outstanding document which continues to resonate. Core to its vision is its opening sentence: “Liberal Judaism is the dynamic, cutting edge of modern Judaism.”

Rayner aimed to identify both the common ground across all strands of Judaism, placing Liberal Judaism firmly within the Jewish mainstream, and the distinctive nature of our movement: “gladly welcoming all advances in human knowledge”; “responding constructively to changing circumstances”; and valuing “truth above tradition”.

On the one hand, Rayner argues: “Judaism has never stood still. It has always moved forward, sometimes slowly, sometimes faster.” This positioning argues that Liberal Judaism should set out to lay claim to mainstream Judaism, to attract the widest possible support and speak as the legitimate voice on behalf of much of the Jewish community.

On the other hand is Rayner’s assertion that Liberal Judaism “values truth above tradition, sincerity above conformity and human needs above legal technicalities”. This expression lays claim to Liberal Judaism’s role as a radical voice, in a prophetic tradition. We question and go beyond tradition in the face of science or rational argument. This goes well beyond the “balancing act” of tradition and modernity.

At its most effective, Liberal Judaism is assertive and influential, whether it is publishing its Affirmations or speaking in support of equality and the betterment of society, even when this might produce disagreement with our own members or other parts of the Jewish community. It is exactly this assertiveness which gives Liberal Judaism its “cutting edge” and allows it to go “beyond”. But it is assertiveness blended with being able to inspire, inform and influence. We need to win people, as well as win the argument.

We must not seek controversy “for the sake of it”, nor should we fear success or failure. At his ordination in 1953, Rayner said: “To fulfil the task of Liberal Judaism in our time, we must, in many ways, resist the tendencies, and swim against the currents, of our time.”

Under the joint leadership of Rabbi Danny Rich as chief executive, Rabbi Charley Baginsky as chair of Rabbinic Conference, Rabbi Andrew Goldstein as newly elected president and I as chairman, we are a responsible national organisation, pushing and renegotiating the boundaries. To do otherwise would fail Judaism and fail Liberal Judaism. Liberal Judaism should speak out when others do not. We should reclaim the prophetic Jewish voice, but not be outside the community.

Coupled to this is the opportunity for Jews to be themselves, think for themselves and reach their own decisions. Liberal Judaism’s role is to provide a framework for Jewish thinking, education and information, yet be respectful of decisions that people take for themselves.

Just as Liberal Judaism is a legitimate expression of Judaism, so a defining element of Liberal Judaism must be to recognise each member’s interpretation of their own Judaism as valid and meaningful.

The Protestant existentialist theologian Paul Tillich summed up “the courage to be” as the courage to be part of a larger whole, the courage to stand alone and the courage to accept the fact that we are carried by the creative power of being in which every creature participates. Liberal Judaism unapologetically takes the best ideas where it finds them, and offers some of its own.

Lucian J Hudson is chairman of Liberal Judaism. You can contact him by emailing l.hudson@liberaljudaism.org

This is the first article of a two part series. In the next issue of lj today, Lucian will articulate what it means for Liberal Judaism to be a post-modern movement.

Lucian J Hudson on why Liberal Judaism keeps pushing and renegotiating the boundaries

We need to win people, as well as win the argument

Liberal Judaism’s role is to provide a framework for Jewish thinking, education and information, yet be respectful of decisions that people take for themselves

Rabbi John Rayner, whose words still inspire

Comment

LJ Today Page 7September/October 2013

A New Year and a new chapter

IT IS AN immense honour to be elected president of Liberal Judaism. I think of those who went before me and I am humbled: Claude Montefiore, perhaps the intellectual founder of Liberal Judaism; Lord Cohen, a leading law lord; Lord Goodman, advisor to Harold Wilson; Baroness Neuberger, my famous predecessor. And then there was Rabbi John Rayner, my teacher and mentor, the quintessential Liberal Jew. Like him I have been, from childhood, an active Liberal Jew, culminating in involvement in editing our liturgy. I could do no better than modelling my presidency on John.

The first Liberal service I can recall attending was in Birmingham when I was about six. I rushed home afterwards to tell my grandfather about it, especially that they had an organ. My grandfather was Orthodox and no longer able to get to shul. My grandmother tried to shut

me up, fearful that my account of this heretical service would upset my ailing grandfather but, no, he seemed intrigued and wanted all the details.

Birmingham Liberal Synagogue was then led by Rabbi Bernard Hooker who taught me until confirmation; there was no barmitzvah in those days. It was a very liberal community. Services were mostly in English and tallit were worn by men going up to open the Ark, but removed as soon as they came down. When the weekly Torah portion seemed to contain material not worthy to be read at a Liberal synagogue – for example lists of animal sacrifices or morally questionable episodes – the Torah would be dutifully taken out of the Ark, but not read. Instead Bernard would read a more edifying passage from a book and use that as a basis for his sermon.

I suppose I turned out very much like Bernard Hooker, an organiser rather than an intellectual and an educator rather than an academic, and I am immensely grateful for his influence on me.

It was Bernard’s successor, Rabbi Dr Phillip Rosenberg, who actually inspired me to become a rabbi. In his all too brief tenure in Birmingham he radically changed the services and atmosphere in the synagogue and began to change the face of our movement too.

That change was carried on effectively by my final mentor Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto. It was Sidney who brought me to Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue in 1965 as a student rabbi and I am still there as emeritus – it has been the basis of my almost lifelong service to Liberal Judaism. I have been so fortunate that my job was my hobby and my hobby my job.

As I write, I realise that soon I must get down to compiling my 50th set of High Holy Day sermons. The first time was in Leicester and then for 43 years it was at NPLS. Does anybody reading this article, recall any of these 200 or so sermons?

The first year after ‘retiring’ from Northwood I enjoyed the High Holy Days in Perth, Australia. Then, for the past four years, it has been Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation and my wife Sharon and I very much look forward to returning there this year.

And mentioning Sharon, I can record that she has been with me all through these many years of service to Liberal Judaism. We have been a team and any honour given to me I must share with her.

So as we prepare to enter another Jewish year and I start my presidency of Liberal Judaism, Sharon joins me in wishing all of our members a good, healthy and satisfying 5774 and many years to come.

Rabbi Andrew Goldstein on his teachers, mentors and lifelong service to Judaism

The place where visions are made

I AM AWARE that for most normal people the idea of 30 rabbis confined to one space might be the stuff of nightmares. However, once a month this is what happens. Rabbis from all the different Liberal congregations, and none, gather to spend time with their colleagues.

Rabbis Aaron Goldstein and Shulamit Ambalu have just completed their two-year term as co-chairs of this auspicious meeting known as Rabbinic Conference. Under their leadership, it has been developed and strengthened. Their contribution has been phenomenal

and it is with much trepidation that I am tentatively stepping into their shoes.

I am also the rabbi of Kingston Liberal Synagogue. This makes me acutely aware that most rabbis are first and foremost committed to the hardworking communities they lead. However, I still believe that Rabbinic Conference can and should play a unique role in providing a voice for Liberal Judaism as a movement.

The reality is that 30 rabbis in one room can actually be the stuff of which dreams, or at least visions, are made. We are lucky to have some of the brightest and most creative minds of British Jewry round the table when Rabbinic Conference meets. This can provide the stimulus for fantastic debate, inspirational ideas and innovative philosophies and theologies.

The challenge for us, I believe, is how we are able to present this to the communities of Liberal Judaism and beyond. Rabbinic Conference should be the place where rabbis are able to develop themselves and their ideas

collegiately, and the results should ultimately benefit the movement - both on a congregational and national level.

Of course the old joke of two Jews but three opinions still stands, however I don’t believe that anyone is asking for us to constantly speak with one voice, for the dynamism and creativity of Liberal Judaism has always been in its multiplicity of voices. There is most certainly the need for rabbis to provide fuel and support for one another, to have a space to learn from their peers and to use all of this to provide a multitude of resources and responses for our communities. Also, we must provide a strong voice whether it is over an issue such as the removal of legal aid from vulnerable people or the articulation of a theology appropriate for a new siddur!

There will be, no doubt, challenges and opportunities ahead, but I am looking forward to embracing them and hope that I can help Rabbinic Conference remain an integral part of Liberal Judaism.

Rabbi Charley Baginsky on her election to the post of chair of LJ’s Rabbinic Conference

Comment

Page 8 LJ Today September/October 2013News

Strategic planningBy Gillian Merron

I AM DELIGHTED to be chairing Liberal Judaism’s Strategic Plan working group, charged with the focussed responsibility to ‘deliver an effective and working Strategic Plan by March 2014’.

The group brings together a creative and diverse selection of people from across our movement to work with each other, and our communities and members, to establish an action plan that will strengthen LJ for the future. Why? Because if we don’t know where we’re going – we won’t get there.

We are particularly interested in hearing from YOU. Why did you become involved in Liberal Judaism and what do you like about being a Liberal Jew? What room for improvement is there? And what hopes and aspirations do you have for the movement in the years ahead?

Our next steps include reaching out to particular groups within our synagogues, including young people and those who don’t participate at all.

Please do get in touch with your views, or to suggest how we can reach out into communities, by emailing Pam Fox on pamfox@virginmedia.com or searching for the ‘Liberal Judaism Strategy’ group on Facebook.

Employment adviceBy Stewart Rose, Resource

UNEMPLOYMENT is as much of a problem among the Jewish community as any other. However constructive help is at hand through Resource – the non-profit Jewish employment advice centre based in Finchley, with satellite services in Redbridge and Stamford Hill.

The Resource team of 40 professionals provides practical advice, support and training to over 400 Jewish clients a year, directly helping more than 60 per cent of those into new employment.

Clients come to Resource for a variety of reasons. Most simply need help in resuming their current profession. Others may be considering a change of career, or want to develop skills that have lain dormant for years. Many are looking to return to the workplace after a prolonged absence, such as looking after a family.

The service is free to any member of the Jewish community, regardless of background, experience or educational qualifications. If you would like further information or wish to make an appointment please call 020 8346 4000 or visit www.resource-centre.org

‘The weekend that changed my life’PARTICIPANTS on Liberal Judaism’s Ba’alei Tefillah lay leadership training course – led by Rabbis Richard Jacobi and Sandra Kviat, along with Robin Samson – took part in a residential weekend at Barnes Close, a Quaker retreat near Birmingham, in June. Below, four members give their reports:

I confess to approaching the weekend with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. The programme started with an introductory session, followed by services and a late night sing-along for those still able to keep their eyes open.

Saturday’s programme included a Torah discussion, Shabbat services and Havdalah, as well as individual tutorials, group feedback and a much needed break. Saturday evening proved to be the highlight for me, both in terms of fun and learning. Robin Samson – a former Ba’alei Tefillah graduate who is also involved in the acting profession – led a workshop on presentation. This required us all to read out to the assembled group, who made helpful comments on our style.

Those who had sat up until the early hours appeared a little bleary-eyed at Sunday breakfast but we all made it to morning prayers. After the service we had the opportunity to read out our pre-prepared d’var Torah (commentaries on the portion) in small groups, with feedback from the team. After our final goodbye session, we journeyed back to our congregations to reflect on an exhausting but thoroughly worthwhile experience, which we will hopefully soon be putting into practice.Tina Shaw, Elstree

People tell you that the Ba’alei Tefillah course will change your life. I now have no doubt this is true, at least for me, and nothing has affected me more than the part of the course called ‘the weekend intensive’. Despite the shockingly low June temperature, this was a most amazing weekend which has definitely changed me… I hope for the better!

The most valuable part of the three days, believe it or not, is the criticism each of us received from other trainees and the rabbis. We had to do many things in front of others, including leading parts of the different services, delivering a sermon and reading aloud looking at the congregation. All criticism was constructive and I realised, in my case, correct. I look forward now to completing the course and hope I can use my newfound knowledge and confidence for the benefit of my community.Terry Wolfe, North Herts

The calm and remote setting of Barnes Close, pictured above, provided the perfect environment for a weekend of reflection, learning and sharing. The schedule was mainly based around the different Shabbat services, which were led by the Ba’alei Tefillah ourselves. And what a pleasure it was to share traditions, practices and music with people from different communities within the Liberal Judaism family.

A personal highlight, aside from the delicious food, was the chance to get to know a terrific group of people and gain a sense of some of the wonderfully talented lay leaders within our movement. By the end of a packed weekend, our ‘lay leading compasses’ had been de-aligned and re-aligned, but so joyfully and masterfully that there’s no doubt they were now pointing more strongly than ever in the right direction. Nick Young, Woodford

This was my first ever totally full-on Jewish weekend and I was totally swept up by it all. During the retreat, we were encouraged to participate in the various services, which also included reading a few verses from the Torah scroll. We also spent time on presentation skills and were all allotted a one-to-one tutorial, to go over previous modules and tasks and find ways to refresh our approach to areas which may need more attention.

These sessions were not only extremely helpful, but dare I say a lot of fun too. Richard, Sandra and Robin put together a programme that was both constructive and organic, the kind of timetable and approach that allowed the group to put aside any concerns about ability.

Sunday morning’s session was the one which gave me sleepless nights. I am not the most confident person when it comes to expressing thoughts on paper and then imparting these writings to others, so I was dreading delivering a d’var Torah. However this experience turned out to be the unexpected surprise of the weekend. The whole structure put in place, and the observant guidance from the rabbis and my peers, turned a fear stricken Scot into a person who now believes he could maybe, just maybe, pull this off.Ricky Hogg, Edinburgh

LJ Today Page 9September/October 2013 Quiz

Rabbi Pete’s High Holy Days crosswordRABBI PETE TOBIAS has compiled a special crossword for the High Holy Days, with every answer being a month of the Hebrew calendar. Try it with your family and see who got the most answers correct by turning the back page of this issue of lj today upside down.

ACROSS1 Fast day on the 17th of this month (6)4 We plant trees in this one (6)5 The month when Chanukkah starts (6)6 The one between Pesach & Shavuot (4)8 The month for Pesach (5)10 Sad day on the 9th of this month (2)11 The month when Chanukkah ends (5)12 Extra leap year month (4,5)

DOWN1 Yom Kippur, Sukkot etc in this one (6)2 No festivals or fasts in this month (7)3 The final month (4)7 What all these months make (4)9 Shavuot falls in this month (5)10 The month for Purim (4)

Pete Tobias is rabbi at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree

Tony releases first novel

CELEBRATED film-maker and Woodford Liberal Synagogue member Tony Klinger has released his first novel The Butterfly Boy. The book has already won acclaim for its inspiring account of lead character Arnie’s triumph over polio, and praise for Tony’s decision to donate a percentage of the profits to the British Polio Fellowship.

The Butterfly Boy follows Arnie’s journey from a small child who loses the use of his arms, through the horrors of his treatment in Nazi Germany, to becoming a worldwide success as an artist. The book can be purchased from www.tinyurl.com/LJButterfly

Tony – whose numerous film credits include producing the rockumentary The Kids Are Alright about legendary British band The Who – told lj today: “I hope my debut novel is a ‘good read’ and will therefore have the widest possible appeal to all audiences.

“The story of a young Jewish boy struggling to overcome all manner of prejudices in Nazi Germany will I’m sure resonate with friends, colleagues and members of Liberal Judaism – especially those who still personally remember that terrible time.

“The Butterfly Boy is however a quintessentially joyful story; one of enduring hope and triumph over adversity, about a boy’s relationship with his father and his mother, and with more than a few twists along the way.”

Tony, pictured above left, added: “The story was inspired in many ways by my beliefs anchored in Liberal Judaism. If the book helps those of all faiths access some of the issues surrounding the Holocaust in a new and different way, and ensures that in the future more join ‘the few that are right’ rather than ‘the many that are wrong’, that would be my proudest achievement of all.”

Elli’s new bookBRIGHTON & HOVE PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE’S Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah has teamed up with Rabbis Howard Cooper and Colin Eimer to edit a new book celebrating Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

Entitled Welcome to the Cavalcade: A Festschrift in Honour of Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet, it is a series of essays – by Jews, Christians and Muslims – reflecting Jonathan’s innovations in liturgy, creativity in poetry and song, commitment to interfaith explorations and the ways in which he has fostered individual and original voices who have added to the richness and complexity of religious life today.

The book combines academic essays with more personal reflections from scholars and friends and contains a full bibliography of Jonathan’s published work, as well as an overview of his achievements.

Copies can be purchased as a paperback, hardback or eBook from www.tinyurl.com/LJCavalcade. A full review will appear in the next lj today.

Page 10 LJ Today September/October 2013Outreach

Outreach Team Bulletin Board In the last month, Liberal Judaism and LJY-Netzer sent 100 barmitzvah and batmitzvah cards to young Liberal Jews, which included vouchers for a future Israel Tour. Rabbi Danny Rich also personally presented two of them at Northwood & Pinner, pictured below, and Gloucestershire. This is an exciting project that creates a link between all Liberal Jews going through this important life event and gets them thinking about the future.

Sam s.grant@ liberaljudaism.org

The Just Loaves project is going very well with Liberal Jews around the country – including in our head office – making challah and so far donating more than 40 to charities dealing with local poverty and hunger. Just take a look at the picture below to see some of the delicious bread that has been baked. The reason for the project is because, according to the Trussell Trust, 13 million people in Britain live below the poverty line with foodbanks feeding 346,992 people in 2012/13.

Outreach Team

I joined Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation for a Shabbaton in Burton upon Trent. There were lots of people there, covering a wide range of ages and different Midlands Jewish communities. Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich and I took services on Friday night and Shabbat morning, and I also presented a workshop on Jewish music and how it can preserve and enrich community by providing opportunities to learn and teach.

Cantor Gershon g.silins@liberaljudaism.org

At the end of July, I co-led a session for the new youth leaders of LJY-Netzer on how to create innovative, spiritually uplifting and meaningful services. Student Rabbi Hannah Kingston and I guided the group of more than 40 young people and the resulting ideas were inspired, engaging and daring. I now look forward to hearing how their plans are translated into original and enriching services at Kadimah summer camp.

Rabbi Sandra s.kviat@liberaljudaism.org

After a last-minute rush, Liberal Judaism’s Community Outreach Consultation is now complete. In the last two months I have enjoyed meeting with the leadership of communities in Redbridge, Wessex, Peterborough, Northwood, Manchester, Bedford, Norwich, Crouch End, Shenfield and Kingston. Although there are still a handful of visits that I hope to make in the Jewish New Year, after 34 fantastic conversations with 34 fantastic communities, we are ready to complete a report that will be published in September.

This document will give us all an insight into the nature of Liberal Judaism’s affiliates, their greatest successes, their biggest struggles and how they would like Liberal Judaism’s national office to best support them. I am confident this is going to be a fascinating report that will really help us to fine tune how the Outreach Team functions and ensure that we are making the most of our time and resources to help your community.

Rabbi Anna a.gerrard@liberaljudaism.org

LJ Today Page 11September/October 2013 Youth

Contact the LJY-Netzer team: Graham Carpenter (g.carpenter@liberaljudaism.org), Tom Francies (t.francies@liberaljudaism.org) and Bethany Stone (b.stone@liberaljudaism.org); office telephone 020 7631 0584

LJY-Netzer is Liberal Judaism’s Zionist youth movement. It gives young people the opportunity to develop a strong Progressive Jewish identity, make lasting friendships and have loads of fun

Breaking down artificial walls in MoroccoBy Sam Cohen

THIS SUMMER LJY-Netzer teamed up with Salaam Shalom Media, an interfaith youth group based in Bristol, to run a nine day tour of Morocco. Our group, made up of Jewish and Muslim young people, looked at the rich history the country has of positive relations between our faiths.

We were based in Marrakesh and visited many Jewish and Muslim sites, including the old synagogue and ancient Muslim graves. We then travelled south into the Sahara where we trekked on camels and slept under canvas. From there we headed back up north, stopping en route at the second tallest waterfall in North Africa surrounded by beautiful forests and wild monkeys.

Our next city was Fez, far more European than Marrakesh, where we saw the house of Moses Maimonides as well as the Sephardi synagogue. Lastly, we headed back to Marrakesh for a few more days of group bonding.

In total there were 26 of us and it was fascinating to learn about each other. We had a variety of sessions on interfaith dialogue including one in which we compared passages from the Quran and the Torah. There were many intense and often difficult discussions, but what was amazing was looking at the similarities between our faiths and challenging our preconceptions of ‘the other’.

By the end of the tour we had fully bonded as a group and learned a lot about each other. Morocco, with its history of tolerance, provided the perfect backdrop. I think that programmes such as this are crucial in breaking down the artificial walls which often separate our communities, as the only way in which we can move forward is through regular and positive dialogue.

‘The best time I could ever have imagined’By Zac Davies

LJY NETZER Israel Tour can be summed up in one word – amazing! From the moment we touched down at Ben Gurion airport to the last few minutes before heading back to England, I had the best experiences of my life.

When I first decided to go on Israel Tour, I was worried about a few aspects of the trip, especially travelling with people I didn’t know to locations I was not familiar with. However, the pre-Israel Tourientation session eased those fears and introduced me to all the fantastic people I would be with for 25 days.

In Israel itself, I had the best time I could ever have imagined, what with the snorkelling, camel riding, hiking, volunteering, shopping, socialising, dancing through the night and, especially, winning chant wars against other tours. I could have done without an hour in a coach with broken air conditioning, but the incredible group of people I was travelling with even made that fun.

Israel Tour has really boosted my confidence in a number of ways. I now feel more comfortable meeting new people, going on long trips away from home and reading Hebrew without vowels. I also feel a slightly stronger connection to Israel, especially after visiting Yad Vashem [Holocaust museum].

I miss everything about Israel Tour – the heat, the company, the food, the #TopQualBants and even our coach driver Itzic. However I did bring back some great souvenirs including memories of the sessions and locations, photos of every place we visited, Israelis (baggy trousers) and other bits and bobs from the markets. Most importantly of all, I returned with a lifelong set of friends.

Page 12 LJ Today September/October 2013

Liberal Judaism congregations

Printed by Precision Printing. www.precisionprinting.co.uk

MAKE A DATE ...........

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 236590.

The Montagu Centre 21 Maple Street

London, W1T 4BE Tel: 020 7580 1663

Fax: 020 7631 9838

President Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein Chairman Lucian J HudsonVice Chairs Simon Benscher and Jackie Richards Finance David Pelham Israel and the Diaspora Tamara Schmidt Communications Ed Herman Social Justice Amelia Viney National Officers Dr Howard Cohen, Rosie Comb, David Hockman, Gillian Merron and Ruth SeagerVice Presidents Monique Blake, Henry Cohn, Nigel Cole, Geoffrey Davis, Lord Stanley Fink, Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, Sharon Goldstein, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, Jeremy Jessel, Willie Kessler, David Lipman, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker, Harold Sanderson, Joan Shopper, Beverley Taylor and Clive WinstonChair of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Charley BaginskyChief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Outreach Director Rabbi Anna Gerrard Outreach Coordinator Abigail Jacobi University Chaplain Rabbi Leah Jordan Education Rabbi Sandra Kviat Music Cantor Gershon Silins Interfaith Rabbi Mark Solomon Operations Director Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer PR Alexandra Ben-Yehuda Community Youth Sam Grant LJY-Netzer Graham Carpenter, Tom Francies and Bethany Stone

lj today is edited by Simon Rothstein The deadline for the next edition is October 1.Please email your news to ljtoday@liberaljudaism.org

Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue (Rodef Shalom) 01234 218387; bedsps@liberaljudaism.org; www.bedfordshire-ps.org.uk Beit Klal Yisrael c/o The Montagu Centre, 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE; 07505 477459, bkymailing@gmail.com; www.bky.org.ukBet Tikvah Synagogue 129 Perrymans Farm Road, Ilford, Essex IG2 7LX; 020 8554 9682; bttkv@liberaljudaism.org; bettikvah.blogspot.comBirmingham Progressive Synagogue 1 Roseland Way, Birmingham B15 1HD; 0121 634 3888; bps@liberaljudaism.org; www.bpsjudaism.com Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue 6 Lansdowne Road, Hove BN3 1FF;01273 737223; bhps@liberaljudaism.org;www.brightonandhoveprosynagogue.org.ukBristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation 43-45 Bannerman Road, Easton, Bristol BS5 0RR bwpjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.bwpjc.orgCrouch End Liberal Jewish Chavurah info@crouchendchavurah.co.uk; www.crouchendchavurah.co.ukCrawley Jewish Community 01293 534294Dublin Jewish Progressive CongregationPO Box 3059, Dublin 6, www.djpcireland.com;djpc@liberaljudaism.orgEaling Liberal Synagogue Lynton Avenue, Drayton Green, W13 0EB; 020 8997 0528; els@liberaljudaism.org; www.ealingliberalsynagogue.org.ukEastbourne Progressive Jewish Congregation01323 725650; fax: 01323 417645eljc@liberaljudaism.org; www.eljc.org.uk Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community0131 777 8024; info@eljc.org; www.eljc.orgFinchley Progressive Synagogue Hutton Grove, N12 8DR; 020 8446 4063; fps@liberaljudaism.org; www.fps.orgGloucestershire Liberal Jewish CommunityEnquiries: 01242 609311 or 01242 231877; shalom@gljc.org.uk; www. gljc.org.ukHarrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue 39 Bessborough Road, Harrow HA1 3BS; 020 8864 5323; hwps@liberaljudaism.org; www.hwps.orgHerefordshire Jewish Community 01594 530721; hjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.herefordshirejc.org Kehillah North London 020 7403 3779; knl@liberaljudaism.org; www.nlpjc.org.ukKent Liberal Jewish Community 07952 242432; kljc@liberaljudaism.org; http://tinyurl.com/kentljcKingston 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; 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;tlse@liberaljudaism.org; www.tlse.org.ukLincolnshire Jewish Community01427 628958; ljc@liberaljudaism.org Manchester Liberal Jewish Community 08432 084441; mljc@liberaljudaism.org; www.mljc.org.uk North Herts Liberal Jewish Community (based in Stevenage) 01438 300 222; northhertsljc@gmail.com; www.northhertsljc.orgNorthwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue 01923 822592, npls@liberaljudaism.org; www.npls.org.ukNottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation Lloyd Street, Sherwood NG5 4BP; 0115 9624761; npjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.npjc.org.ukPeterborough Liberal Jewish CommunityEnquiries: 020 7631 9822The Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia www.pjcea.org.uk; enquiries@pjcea.org.ukReading Liberal Jewish Community 0118 942 8022; rljc@liberaljudaism.org; www.rljc.orgShenfield, Brentwood & Districts Synagogue (Tikvah Chadasha) 01277 888610; tikvahchadasha@gmail.comSouth Bucks Jewish Community PO Box 826, Amersham, HP6 9GA; 0845 644 2370; sbjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.sbjc.org.ukSouth London Liberal Synagogue PO Box 14475, London SW16 1ZW; 020 8769 4787;slls@liberaljudaism.org; www.southlondon.orgSouthgate Progressive Synagogue75 Chase Road, London N14 4QY; 020 8886 0977;sps@liberaljudaism.org; www.sps.uk.comWessex Liberal Jewish Group (Bournemouth) info@wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk; 01202 757084West Central Liberal Synagogue21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE; 020 7636 7627;wcls@liberaljudaism.org; www.wcls.org.ukWoodford Liberal Synagogue Marlborough Road, London, E18 1AR; 020 8989 7619; info@woodfordliberal.org.uk; www.woodfordliberal.org.ukAssociated congregationsBeit Ha’Chidush (Amsterdam) 00 31 23 524 7204; bhc.informatie@gmail.com; www.beithachidush.nlOxford Liberal Jewish Services: 01865 515584 or 01865 765197; www.ojc-online.org

Developing communitiesThe Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (based in Ipswich) 01473 250797; sjc@liberaljudaism.orgWeymouth, Portland and West Dorset lordmorris01@hotmail.co.uk; jcomweymouth.com

High Holy Days infoLIBERAL JUDAISM’S communities will once more be opening their doors to ALL Jewish students over the High Holy Days, even if they are not members of a Progressive synagogue. Those wishing to take up this offer need to contact their chosen congregation in advance for security reasons and present an NUS card, or other student ID, on the day.

Liberal Judaism is also delighted to again be taking part in the World Union for Progressive Judaism initiative that allows any member of a Liberal, Reform or other Progressive community, either in the UK or abroad, to attend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services with their nearest Progressive congregation. Ideal for those away from home, it is reciprocal all over the world, meaning Liberal Judaism members can take part in services whether they’re in North Herts, New York, Nassau or Natanya.

If you wish to attend a service at a different community then you must contact them in advance and take along the ticket, or equivalent, for High Holy Days services at your home synagogue.

A list of Liberal communities and their contact details can be found in the box to the left. Services will be taken by the synagogue’s rabbi, although Liberal Judaism is proud to have made the following High Holy Day shidduchim:

East Anglia – Rabbi Leah JordanEastbourne – Student Rabbi Adam FrankenbergLincoln – Student Rabbi Peter PhillipsManchester – Student Rabbi Naomi GoldmanNorth Herts - Rabbi Lisa BarrettOxford (Rosh Hashanah) – Rabbi Charles WallachWeymouth, Portland & West Dorset – Rabbi Alan Mann

Rabbi Danny Rich is on duty for the World Union in Pretoria, South Africa.

Crossword solution

September 1 (Sunday) Annual Memorial Services at Edgwarebury Cemetery (10.30am), LJS Cemetery, Pound Lane (midday), Western Cemetery (1.00pm) and Golders Green Crematorium (3.00pm).

September 29 (Sunday) LJ Learning Network at the Montagu Centre, W1T 4BE.

November 9 (Saturday) Kristallnacht: Remembrance and Commemoration at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, NW8 7HA, 6.30pm.

November 17 (Sunday) Mitzvah Day 2013. A Jewish-led day of social action.

2014

May 9 (Friday) - May 11 (Sunday) Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend at Wokefield Park, Reading. See page 2 for more information.

For more information on any of these events please email montagu@liberaljudaism.org