July/August 2010

VOL. XXXVII No. 4 ljtodayLiberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism

In this issue

Leo Baeck College feature 2

News around the movement 3, 6200 years of ProgressiveJudaism 4-5

LJY-Netzer Youth news 7

‘We won’t divide the community over schools’ As the Board of Deputies presses ahead with its efforts to overturn a Supreme Court decision on admissions to Jewish schools, Liberal Judaism and the other non-orthodox movements have issued a joint statement expressing their opposition to any change in the law.

In December, the court found against JFS when it ruled that a school may not select pupils on the basis of ethnic origin. The ruling opened the door to a Jewish education for any child considered Jewish by any of the Jewish movements. The BoD is seeking a return to the status quo ante and has given warning of a ‘threat to welfare provision and even possibly religious services’. Liberal Judaism sees no foundation to such concerns.

Rabbi Danny Rich says: ‘Liberal Judaism does not seek to prevent the United Synagogue – or any other organisation – from running institutions in accord with its ethos but neither will we collude in legal, parliamentary or other acts which divide rather than unite the Jewish community.’

Biennial 2010 A four-page pullout section on the Biennial Weekend is enclosed

For 17 years Northwood synagogue’s Bereavement Support Group has helped members and their families at one of the most difficult times in their lives, an extension of the ethos of the congregation, one of the movement’s largest, where the bonds of care have grown as the membership has expanded. Now the group has been awarded the 2010 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, described in official literature as the MBE for volunteer groups.

The support group was founded in 1993 by Hazel Shestopal and Sharon Goldstein, since when it has helped more than 700

individuals. It consists today of nine trained volunteers, supervised by Northwood and Pinner member Leezah

Hertzman, a psychotherapist, and Jackie Goodman, care co-ordinator. Five of the nine volunteers have been members since the group’s inception.

The award will be presented to the group in September by a representative of the Queen at a special reception at the synagogue.

Richard Conradi, the leader of the group, says: ‘This award recognises the work our volunteers have done for so many years.’

Bereavement group wins ‘MBE’

Forget the World Cup Elstree walk away with trophy two years in a row

Elstree’s captain David Steinberg, right, is on home turf as he receives Liberal Judaism’s inter-synagogue quiz trophy. Next year’s contest will take place south of the river thanks to runners-up Kingston (pictured above), because a community forgoes the honour of hosting the following year’s quiz if it wins two years running

Michael Shaw

Page 2 LJ Today July/August 2010

There were more kippot than kilts but there was no doubting the importance of the occasion, and its joy, as Rabbi Mark Solomon was formally welcomed as rabbi at Sukkat Shalom, the Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community. The induction ceremony, attended by more than a hundred members and friends, was the first for a Liberal rabbi in Scotland.

In his address at the ceremony in April, Rabbi Solomon reflected on how he travelled from his native Australia to study for the rabbinate in London, and, having been visiting rabbi in Edinburgh for more than four years – on loan from The Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s Wood – he would now be travelling on the East Coast line once a month at least to Edinburgh, as well as on the West Coast line to Manchester, where he has recently taken up a second part-time appointment as rabbi. Rabbi Solomon also acts as interfaith consultant to Liberal Judaism.

The Edinburgh synagogue, founded six years ago, had in its early days support from Rabbi Pete Tobias, then of Glasgow New, and his successor, Rabbi Nancy Morris, and subsequently from Rabbi Aaron Goldstein. Rabbi Mark Solomon has ministered to the community for the past four and a half years.

Rabbi Danny Rich, who performed the induction, gave an address in which he talked about the balance required for leadership. Successful leadership required ‘a balance between the charisma of the leader and the support of the people, between rabbinic authority and communal structure’, he said. ‘But it is most about transforming moments with the people.’

Referring to Sukkat Shalom itself as a travelling congregation, Rabbi Solomon added: ‘We would like a home of our own and will work towards that goal.’

Mark Solomon embraces his roving role

The ‘travelling rabbi’ is inducted in Edinburgh

Appointment of Israel officer points to closer engagement Liberal Judaism is building on its policy of constructive, critical engagement with Israel with the appointment of the movement’s first Israel and diaspora officer.

Daniel Needlestone, co-chair of Pro-Zion and founder and chair of the UK Jewish Teachers Association, joined Liberal Judaism’s Board of National Officers in May.

Liberal Judaism is planning a conference on Israel and the diaspora; at this, members of Liberal congregations can take stock of the movement’s contribution to strengthening relationships with partners in Israel and explore the policy issues. For more information,

July/August 2010 LJ Today Page 3

representing 10 countries. Scholarships are available for UK students and others who commit to a minimum of five years’ service in UK Progressive congregations.

The principal, Rabbi Professor Marc Saperstein, is a source of inspiration and thoughtful critique in my efforts to develop my own, and the movement’s, thought leadership. Rabbi Saperstein warns: ‘One of the ongoing challenges of the

rabbinic programme is to find the balance between the academic component that will produce the mastery of Jewish texts, and the development of practical rabbinic skills that are necessary for a rabbi’s effectiveness within communities.’

The modern rabbinate is a special vocation in which three traditional roles are usually identified: prayer leader, prophet and pastor; quite a demanding list. With all the challenges that come from leading and serving communities, I would argue for a fourth p: professional. As with all institutions, professions will this century come under renewed scrutiny both to preserve what is best about their ethos, and to adapt to change. This means being even more driven by demand, and listening to what communities are asking for, and might not even yet realise they need.

The college’s rabbinic programme is unique in combining a particularly European approach to rabbinic formation within a British higher education system. The curriculum is built on intellectual, personal and spiritual development.

If our education in synagogues, community centres, schools and homes is the lifeblood for current and future generations, Leo Baeck College is the nerve centre. This July we celebrate 200 years since the birth of Progressive Judaism. Leo Baeck College is the crown jewel of our educational achievement across the Progressive movements, but in my view we do not do nearly enough to polish that jewel or showcase it.

A steady stream of home-grown rabbis is not produced by magic or by accident, but by a dedicated team, custodians and conduits for an enlightened Jewish education. And it is an education which does not stop with rabbis, even though the training of rabbis is at its heart.

As student rabbi Sandra Kviat puts it, ‘Leo Baeck College is a place of exploration, where you are given the space to explore Judaism the way you want and need to.’ At the recent highly successful annual fundraising dinner, Sandra offered eloquent praise of her teachers, bringing out the distinction between a good and an inspired teacher: ‘A good teacher knows their subject area well; an inspiring teacher can use their own life experience to bring a subject to life. Though it might seem obvious that we learn from everyone, my experience is that we are all teachers to each other and all learners together.’

The college serves as the intellectual, religious and professional development

centre of the Reform and Liberal Jewish movements in the UK. Its cosmopolitan character is a source of strength. More than 160 rabbis have been trained in 50 years and serve in 15 countries, particularly in Australia, Canada, South Africa, western and eastern Europe, the USA and Israel. In the past decade, the college has taken the initiative of training rabbis from the FSU to return to their countries of origin.

At present there are 18 full-time rabbinic students at the college,

Intellectual powerhouse on ourLucian J Hudson on the opportunities provided by Europe’s foremost Progressive

More than 160 rabbis serving in 15 countries have been trained by the college

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIONS

doorsteprabbinic training college

Rabbi Dr Michael Shire, vice-principal and director of the Department of Jewish Education (DJE), provides dynamic leadership. He looks back with pride at the development of a centre of excellence: innovation of family education; three new day schools; scores of professionally trained head teachers; published research and policy surveys; and an important resource to the Liberal and Reform movements and their congregations.

Jo-Ann Myers promotes the exciting new developments in the DJE, particularly online learning and resources. Irit Burkeman leads the highly successful and long-standing interfaith dialogue work, especially with Muslims, and the current courses in Islam and Arabic. Dr Annette Boeckler, librarian and lecturer for Bible and Jewish liturgy, speaks enthusiastically about recent acquisitions to enrich the college’s holdings of Progressive Jewish liturgy and archives. Rabbi Judith Levitt has

captured the hearts and minds of many Liberal and Reform communities in highlighting the promising growing number of recruits to the rabbinate from our own congregations and youth movements.

At a time when closer collaboration between the Progressive movements is again much talked about, Leo Baeck College serves as a catalyst for Liberal and Reform communities working together for a common purpose.

Rabbi Shire adds: ‘We are very privileged in this country to have a rabbinic school on our doorstep which provides a unique role in solidifying Progressive Judaism in Britain and in the rest of Europe. It is the anchor for our theology, liturgy, belief and practice. It is also the intellectual and religious face of Progressive Judaism to the higher education sector and the seminaries in this country.’

Lucian J Hudson is the chairman of Liberal Judaism

contact Daniel Needlestone at d.needlestone@liberaljudaism.org.

The movement also welcomes two new workers for its youth department, LJY-Netzer. Adam Francies and Josh Dubell. Yszi Hawkings joins Liberal Judaism as a student worker.

Liberal Judaism has said goodbye to Anwen Grant, who has resigned as Rabbinic Board and community services

administrator, and Tamara Schmidt, social action assistant, who has decided to concentrate on finishing her degree.

Tim Bergman continues as social action assistant. He can be contacted at tim@liberaljudaism.org.

Staff, students and former students of Leo Baeck College at Liberal Judaism’s Biennial Weekend

Whispered wishes: Rabbi Solomon at his induction receives the scroll from Rabbi Rich

Daniel Needlestone

Most of Marc Neiger’s friends were surprised when he told them he was going to study to be a rabbi. It was a decision he reached after becoming involved in his local congregation in Toulouse, France, but it can also be seen as a long, slow process, which followed an 18-year career in IT.

Now in year four of the five-year course

at Leo Baeck College, Marc (pictured) concedes that the

work has been demanding, but the

rewards have been greater than he had ever

expected. ‘It’s been really, really enriching and exciting,’ he says.

In Toulouse, he was using what he calls the ‘mediocre barmitzvah toolkit’ he had at the time. ‘I had absolutely no knowledge of praying but I worked at that and got to know a bit more by the time I reached the point of entering the college.’ Choosing to come to Britain to study was simple, says Marc: ‘Leo Baeck College had an established reputation.’

While he usually has his head in a book, he is also looking forward to his fifth-year placement with a community, where he can become involved in teaching and pastoral work.

Reflecting on his previous career, he adds: ‘It is more interesting dealing with people than computers.’

My decision to study for the rabbinate

Joe Goldblatt

Page 4 LJ Today July/August 2010 July/August 2010 LJ Today Page 5

After Israel Jacobson’s attempts at reforming Jewish worship in Seesen, others took up the call for change. Space limitations allow brief mention of only a few of these, so I have chosen to focus on some lesser known, but still significant reformers.

Though many of Jacobson’s changes to worship seemed to be based on aesthetic considerations, other reformers had concerns about some of the ideas underlying traditional liturgy. One of these was the prominent Berliner David Friedlander (1750-1834), who viewed Jacobson’s changes as woefully inadequate. Instead, he argued, only radical reform would stem the tide of conversion among the city’s Jews. Though avowedly a disciple of Moses Mendelssohn, he went far beyond him by rejecting any divine authority behind ritual laws. In contrast to moderate reforms, such as

eliminating repetitions of the liturgy to shorten it and the institution of sermons in the vernacular, he sought to remove from the liturgy all references to the Jews as strangers, and those later additions to the prayers which

he saw as being born out of persecution and alienation. Medieval lamentations should give way to new songs of gratitude and joy. He argued that prayers for a return to Jerusalem or for a rebuilding of the Temple and a reinstatement of the sacrificial cult were anathema to the

integrity of a modern Jew and so should be eliminated from the liturgy.

It is tempting to focus on Germany to the exclusion of voices for change elsewhere in Europe who supported those early German reformers. One of these was the Hungarian Aaron Chorin, who was one of four rabbis to sanction the reforms introduced in 1818 in the worship services in the home of Jacob Herz Beer, sometimes called the Beer Temple. Favouring reform by responsa rather than by historical development, Chorin introduced modifications into the religious service in his own synagogue based on his conviction that Jews should regard Christians as their ‘brothers’. These changes included a prohibition on spitting at the mention of gentiles in the Aleinu prayer, pounding on the floor at the mention of Haman’s name during the reading of the Scroll of Esther on Purim, and the chanting of Kol Nidre at Yom Kippur since the abrogation of vows contained in its text was sometimes taken by non-Jews as evidence of Jewish untrustworthiness. His elimination of headcoverings during worship was based on his argument that in

the west we show respect by removing our hats, rather than donning them.

Chorin also addressed the language of prayer in a couple of his responsa. He did not oppose the use of Hebrew, but argued that the preliminary service could and

should be in the vernacular. In part, this was based on his views on women. He claimed that ‘the barbaric days are gone when the stronger half of humanity sought to lord it over the nobler half, when it was regarded as sinful to place the woman on the same level as the man’ (quoted in Meyer, 1990:55). He argued that as the prayer service had to appeal to both men and women, and since fewer women than men had been taught

Hebrew, use of the vernacular in prayer was necessary. He and other reformers argued for the Sephardic pronunciation, suggesting that it was the more authentic.

Religious reform spread from Europe to the United States, where it soon became the dominant form of Judaism. Though Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise is generally thought to be the father of the American Reform movement, and his attempts to build a distinctly American progressive movement certainly bore fruit, the more radical reformer David Einhorn (1809-79) should not be overlooked.

Einhorn had a yeshiva education, earning his rabbinical diploma at age 17. The liberal environment he later encountered at university influenced him away from the strict traditions of Judaism. He advocated abandoning ceremonial laws as cumbersome and preached in German. He also sought to eliminate prayers for the restoration of the Temple and for the return to Zion. Consequently, Einhorn was initially barred from the German rabbinate. At the

Frankfurt Reform Rabbinical Assembly in 1844, he staunchly argued for the above reforms. Finding himself out of step with his Mecklenburg community, he left Germany for Hungary in 1851 and then went to the United States in 1855.

Again, he attracted controversy as an outspoken opponent of slavery from his Baltimore pulpit. Though staunchly believing that the Mosaic Law contained true and lasting principles, it was the moral aspects of it that interested him and not the wearing of tefillin, observance of kashrut and the requirement to refrain from the 39 types of work proscribed on Shabbat. In 1856, Einhorn published his prayer book, Olat Tamid, which deemphasised the chosen status of Israel. Unlike Wise’s prayer book, Minhag America, Einhorn’s work was more than just a shortened version of the existing service. It was a creative articulation of universal human values that served as a model for the original Union Prayer Book.

Janet Darley is the rabbi at South London Liberal Synagogue

Some unsung heroes of the move to a more meaningful form of worship

Eliminating headcoverings, Chorin argued that we show respect by removing our hats rather than donning them

Pomp, ceremony – and honesty

Continuing our series of articles marking 200 years since the firstthe development of a modern Judaism, its origins as a day school

One of the policies of Britain’s coalition government is to promote ‘free schools’: free, that is, from local authority control. Two hundred years ago, the Jewish community in Germany had founded several ‘free schools’, but the term had a different meaning, indicating that those whose parents could not afford the fees could have a free place.

The first Jewish Free School was founded in Berlin in 1778 to give children from modest backgrounds an education broad enough to enable them to obtain office work among the new German middle class. The school was guided by principles laid down by Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786), who promoted the idea that Jews could learn secular subjects and Judaism side by side. Such a form of education, which seems obvious to us, was totally new at the time, when German Jews were only beginning to be admitted to the wider society.

The Jewish Free School movement soon

The account of an anonymous witness to the service of dedication of Israel Jacobson’s temple at Seesen in Westphalia, Germany, on 17 July 1810 appeared in a contemporary journal, Sulamith. Hundreds of guests were present, among them no fewer than 40 clergymen – Jewish and Christian – scholars, businessmen, the mayor and other public officials. At 9am they began a procession from the adjacent school hall into the temple. A cantata, composed for the occasion, was performed by 60 to 70 musicians and singers.

Jacobson was the chief officiant during the ceremony. The Torah scrolls were taken from the ark and carried around the temple seven times, preceded by boys holding lighted candles.

‘Several chapters of the Pentateuch were read, first in Hebrew and at once in German, publicly and with a loud voice,’ the witness says. ‘Then came a chorale accompanied by organ and full orchestra, and this was sung first in Hebrew and then also in German.’ After the service, we are told, Jacobson elaborately

entertained nearly 400 people.In an address, Jacobson said: ‘Be it far

from me that I should have any secret intention to undermine the pillars of your faith, to diminish our old and honoured principles through the glitter of new opinions, or that, because of some hidden vanity, I should become a traitor to both our religion and you. You know my faithful adherence to the faith of my fathers. I need not protest it. My actions will witness for me more than my words.

‘But if I do seek here first some rapprochement between you and our Christian neighbours, I would ask more for your gratitude and honest help than for your criticism or even opposition. For your true and progressive enlightenment depends upon this rapprochement. On it depends the education of your spirit for true religiosity and, at the same time also, your future greater political welfare.’

Jewish schools central to reform

Progressive service in Europe, we look at the key personalities inmovement – and what actually happened on 17 July 1810

As fewer women than men had been taught Hebrew, use of the vernacular in prayer was necessary

spread to Breslau, Dessau, Seesen and other towns, and gives us an important part of the background to the origins of Progressive Judaism. Israel Jacobson (1768-1828) paid for the building of the Seesen Temple and for all the guests to come to the opening ceremony.

The temple was adjacent to the Seesen Jewish Free School, founded in 1801, and was undoubtedly used as the school’s synagogue. The new ceremony of confirmation, which we know as Kabbalat Torah, was originally a graduation ceremony for boys from the Free Schools. Unlike barmitzvah, confirmation was meant to stress the young person’s

He added: ‘On all sides, enlightenment opens up new areas for development. Why should we alone remain behind?

‘Let us be honest, my brothers. Our ritual is still weighted down with religious customs which must be rightfully offensive to reason as well as to our Christian friends. It desecrates the holiness of our religion and dishonours the reasonable man to place too great a value upon such customs; and on the other hand, he is greatly honoured if he can increasingly encourage himself and his friends to realise their dispensability....

‘Let us never despair of the good cause of religion and mankind. Let us not lose heart when new obstacles will be thrust across our path, when we find that any beginning, like the uplifting and enlightenment of a dispersed people, can proceed but slowly and with many difficulties, and can mature only after centuries.’

education towards citizenship and civil responsibilities. Leopold Zunz, who was to become a founder of the Wissenschaft des Judentums (‘science of Judaism’) movement, was one of the first, having his confirmation – instead of barmitzvah – at the Free School at Wolfenbüttel in 1807. Jacobson held the first confirmation in his new temple in 1811, and arranged the first ceremony for girls in Berlin in 1817.

An important aspect of the Jewish Free School movement was the hope that Jewish and Christian children could learn together. Jacobson allowed Christian pupils to attend the Seesen school from the start, and the Berlin school followed in 1806. In spite of the success of these schools, during the 20th century Progressive Jews here and in the USA did not see day schools as a priority. Only now have they become important again, and we should recognise that we are building on the legacy of Mendelssohn, Jacobson and the other far-sighted pioneers.

Dr Michael Hilton is the rabbi at Kol Chai Hatch End Jewish Community

Jacobson’s Temple in Seesen is to the right in this postcard from 1910, behind his school. The temple was destroyed in 1938

200 YEARS Progressive Judaism1810-2010

Leopold Zunz – who was to found the Wissenschaft des Judentums – had a confirmation at the Free School at Wolfenbüttel in 1807

by Janet Darley

by Michael Hilton

July/August 2010 LJ Today Page 7

LJY-Netzer Contact Ben Baginsky, Shira Conradi or Robin Moss: 020 7631 0584 or office@ljynetzer.org

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

Campers take a page out of FacebookWhat do you get if you cross 70 excited young Liberal Jews (aged 8-15) with 25 talented and creative madrichim (leaders), six days of glorious April sunshine and the beautiful Cottesmore School in West Sussex? LJY-Netzer’s annual Machaneh Aviv (spring camp) of course!

Although Aviv is our second biggest camp after Kadimah, in recent years it has grown into an amazing experience all of its own. This year, bonfires were lit, songs sung, wide games played, a last night show performed, dorm time made special with some of the coolest dorm leaders ever (so say the happy chanichim – participants!), delicious vegetarian meals (and plenty of seconds) enjoyed and, of course, classic messy fun had by all.

The theme of the camp was ‘Chalutzim (pioneers) in 200 years of Progressive Judaism’, and each age group did tailored activities that were interesting and fun. The oldest chanichim learnt about some of the key figures in our denomination’s

history and created Facebook pages for them. In this fantasy virtual world, Israel Jacobson’s founding of Progressive Judaism was ‘liked’ by 1.8 million people!

Machaneh Aviv was the biggest ever, with outstanding activities and so much fun had by all. Roll on Kadimah…

Page 6 LJ Today July/August 2010

25 July - 8 August 2010 | Cottesmore School, West Sussex

The Youth Movementof Liberal Judaism

Look out in September’s lj today for a report on LJY-Netzer’s Kadimah summer camp in West Sussex. Last-minute places may be available. Telephone 020 7631 0584

Adam, Josh and Yszi join the teamSummer’s the time when the LJY-Netzer workers begin to hand over to the new team. As we wish good luck to Shira and Ben, who move on to pastures new, we’re delighted to welcome Adam Francies and Josh Dubell, and student worker Yszi Hawkings. They join Robin Moss, who is staying on for a second year.

Adam, 22, below left, and Yszi, 21, have recently completed degrees, Adam in politics at Newcastle and Yszi in biomedical science at Sheffield. Josh, also 22, whose other main passion apart from LJY-Netzer is music, has been managing bands. He joined LJY-Netzer at the age of 14 and says it ‘brought Judaism to life for me’.

All three wanted to work for the movement because of the exceptional experiences it has given them. ‘Being a member of LJY-Netzer has been so much fun,’ says Yszi. Adam agrees: ‘I’ve had a fantastic experience from the age of nine, when I first went on Kadimah. This is a chance for me to influence and inspire.’

Party in the Park

Come and meet with all your LJY-Netzer friends and their

families to celebrate the end of the summer. Sunday 22 August,

11am till 2pm, on London’s Hampstead Heath. Tel:

020 7631 0584 for details

A sizzling summer awaitsAll year round LJY-Netzer runs a huge variety of tremendous events. The busy summer kicks off with a Bogrim (18+) trip to Israel for a week in June for older members to do some social action and learning in Israel.

On 16 July our 16-year-olds leave for Israel Tour, an intense month exploring Israel. From 25 July to 8 August it’s Machaneh Kadimah, our camp for ages 8 to 15. And for 17-year-olds there’s Kayitz, our central Europe tour – an educational, cultural and social adventure.

We finish the summer with an

exciting new event, Party in the Park, for all the family. So no matter what age you are, you can get involved with LJY-Netzer this summer! If you’re interested in any of the events, it may not be too late. Contact the movement workers on 020 7631 0584.

Youngsters on LJY-Netzer’s Machaneh Aviv (Spring Camp) in West Sussex

Birmingham celebratesBirmingham Progressive Synagogue continues its 75th anniversary year with a mix of cultural and celebratory events. This follows a series of evening lectures by distinguished rabbis also marking 200 years since the founding of Progressive Judaism.

On Sunday 18 July, the synagogue hosts an evening concert by The Burning Bush, pictured, Lucie Skeaping’s band playing early and traditional Jewish music.

On Sunday 12 September, the synagogue, which also houses the Midlands Centre for Liberal Judaism, will host an Open Day and exhibition of Jewish art, under the auspices of National Heritage Open Day and

European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage. Guided architectural tours of the synagogue building, completed in 2008, will also be on offer.

Baroness Neuberger will be speaking at an anniversary dinner on 30 October, and on 4 December the synagogue is hosting an Anniversary Concert, also celebrating 200 years of Progressive Judaism. The Kol Kinor Choir and the Hepplewhite Trio of the Birmingham Conservatoire will be performing music

by Bertold Hummel, Felix Mendelsohn and others.

Tickets and further information are available from 0121 634 3888 or office@bps-pro-syn.co.uk.

Liberal Judaism hopes to start training a new cohort of lay leaders in the autumn, writes Richard Jacobi

Rabbis gather wisdom for ElulTwo of the rabbis who worked together on Liberal Judaism’s machzor have edited an anthology of readings designed as a support for individuals during the period of repentance and meditation that leads up to Yom Kippur.

High and Holy Days: A book of Jewish wisdom, edited by Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein and Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh and published by Canterbury Press, will offer seven readings for each of the 40 days from 1 Elul. The themes of each day cover subjects appropriate for reading throughout the year, including, hope, belief, self-examination, sin, aging, joy and creation. A book launch will be held on 31 August, 8pm, at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue. All are invited.

Brichto’s Bible is publishedThe translation of the New Testament that Rabbi Sidney Brichto completed shortly before his death in January 2009 has been published in a single volume. The first translations were published singly as part of his People’s Bible project.

The New Testament, which includes a commentary at the foot of each page, is published by Sinclair-Stevenson at £15.

Of the ‘three Ms’ – Israel Mattuck, Lily Montagu and Claude Montefiore, regarded as the founders of Liberal Judaism – two were lay readers. This fact established an important principle to which the movement still adheres: the role of lay people in leading communal prayer is crucial.

Lay readers both complement and supplement the role of the rabbis. Indeed, Lily Montagu was among those who ordained my father in 1961. There is no doubt in my mind that an educated, inquisitive and aspirational laity stimulates a rabbi, as much as, I hope, any rabbi stimulates his or her congregation.

We need capable ba’alei tefillah (prayer leaders) in all our congregations – from the largest to the smallest – so there is adequate cover during a rabbi’s absence. Moreover, in situations where frequent rabbinic support is beyond a congregation’s financial capacity, community members need to be confident that the service leader will be capable and that the service will still be a meaningful religious experience.

Liberal Judaism last trained a cohort of ba’alei tefillah in the late 1980s. Today, Rabbi Monique Mayer and I are developing, with funding support from the North London Trust for Progressive Judaism, a modern-day training programme. This will combine new and traditional learning methods, taught by rabbis and lay people, to develop participants’ skills and confidence. Based on soundings taken at the Biennial Weekend, we expect that a first cohort will begin training this October, and a second in the spring or summer of 2011.

So... do you assist in leading services or are you familiar with the liturgy in Siddur Lev Chadash? Are you reasonably comfortable with prayer-book Hebrew, and perhaps have experience of reading Torah? Do you have some ideas about the range of meaningful prayer experiences a Liberal congregation needs and likes?

If you have answered yes to some or all of these questions, and your rabbi and community’s leadership will support your nomination, then we want to hear from you. To request an application pack, please email or phone Alex Wakely (a.wakely@liberaljudaism.org, 020 7631 9830). For an informal discussion, contact me at rabbi@woodfordliberal.org.uk or by phone via Alex. Completed applications must be received by 15 August 2010.

Richard Jacobi is the rabbi at Woodford Liberal Synagogue

Could you lead your community in prayer?

Vacancy at Edgware ‘home from home’

Lily Montagu House in Edgware has a vacancy. The house provides supported sheltered living for able-bodied elderly people who might be finding life lonely or for whom shopping, cooking and cleaning have become a chore.

The house has a pleasant lounge and dining room, where residents enjoy home-cooked food, and a beautiful garden. It has a friendly, carefree atmosphere with regular social activities.

Lily Montagu House was started by members of Progressive synagogues and is run by the Abbeyfield Camden Jewish Society. For more information, please phone Jane Kessler on 020 8455 3652, email her at jane@kessler.co.uk or visit www.jewishabbeyfield.org.uk/edgware.htm.

Page 8 LJ Today July/August 2010

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, bky@liberaljudaism.org; www.bky.org.ukBet Tikvah Synagogue, 129 Perrymans Farm Road, Ilford, Essex IG2 7LX; 020 8554 9682; bttkv@liberaljudaism.org; www.bettikvah.org.ukBirmingham 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.orgCrawley Jewish Community, 01293 534294Dublin Jewish Progressive Synagogue, PO Box 3059, Dublin 6, 00 3531 2856241, 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 417645epjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.epjcong.org.ukEdinburgh 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 521468 or 01242 234232 Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue 326 Preston Road, Harrow HA3 0QH; 020 8904 8581; hwps@liberaljudaism.org; www.hwps.orgHerefordshire Jewish Community 01594 530721; hjc@liberaljudaism.org Kent Liberal Jewish Community07952 242432; bulletin.kljc@liberaljudaism.org;www.jewishkent.org.uk/communities/KLJC/kljc.htmlKingston Liberal Synagogue, Rushett Road, Long Ditton, Surbiton, Surrey; KT7 0UX; 020 8398 7400; kls@liberaljudaism.org; www.klsonline.org Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation The Synagogue, 24 Avenue Road, LE2 3EA; 07875 123744; lpjc@liberaljudaism.orgThe Liberal Jewish Synagogue, 28 St John’s Wood Road, London NW8 7HA; 020 7286 5181; ljs@liberaljudaism.org; www.ljs.orgThe Liberal Synagogue Elstree, Elstree High Street, Elstree, Herts WD6 3BY; 020 8953 8889;tlse@liberaljudaism.org; www.tlse.org.uk

Liberal Judaism congregations

MAKE A DATE ...........The Montagu Centre

21 Maple Street London, W1T 4BE

Tel: 020 7580 1663Fax: 020 7631 9838

President The Baroness Neuberger DBE Chair of the Board of National Officers Lucian J Hudson Deputy Chair Amanda Grant Vice-Chairs Simon Benscher and Jackie Richards Treasurer David Pelham Social action and disability officer Leon Charikar Israel and the diaspora officer David NeedlestoneVice-Presidents and Honorary Vice-Presidents David Amstell, Monique Blake, Henry Cohn, Nigel Cole, Geoffrey Davis, 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, Clive WinstonChairman of Rabbinic Conference Rabbi Pete Tobias Chief Executive Rabbi Danny Rich Internal Services Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer PR and Communications Alexandra Ben-Yehuda Education Sandra Kviat Interfaith Rabbi Mark Solomon Shlicha Dana Friedman LJY-Netzer Ben Baginsky, Shira Conradi, Robin Moss

lj today is edited by Beatrice Sayers Deadline for the September edition: 2 August. ljtoday@liberaljudaism.org.

Liberal Judaism is the dynamic, cutting edge of modern Judaism. It reverences Jewish tradition, seeking to preserve the values of the Judaism of the past while giving them contemporary force. Registered charity number 236590.

4 July (Sunday) Sephardi Day at North London Middle Eastern cookery workshop; buffet; concert; storytelling: nlpjc@liberaljudaism.org

4 July (Sunday) Mor Karbasi and Joe Taylor in concert at South London Liberal Synagogue Part of the Streatham Festival, 7pm

18 July (Sunday) The Burning Bush Lucie Skeaping’s band play at Birmingham. Details and tickets: office@bps-pro-syn.co.uk.

25 July-8 August Machaneh Kadimah (summer camp) for school years 3-10; telephone 020 7631 0584 for details or to book

31 August (Tuesday) High and Holy Days Book launch at Northwood and Pinner, 8pm

5 September (Sunday) Liberal Judaism’s annual memorial services

12 September (Sunday) Open Day at Birmingham Exhibition of Jewish art as part of European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage, 11am-4pm

10 October (Sunday) The Leonora Ensemble perform a benefit concert at Brighton and Hove

4 December (Saturday) Anniversary Concert at Birmingham The Kol Kinor choir and the Hepplewhite Trio. Tickets: 0121 634 3888

Lincolnshire Jewish Community01427 628958; ljc@liberaljudaism.org Manchester Liberal Jewish Community, 08432 084441; mljc@liberaljudaism.org; www.mljc.org.uk North London Progressive Jewish Community 020 7403 3779; nlpjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.nlpjc.org.ukNorthwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Oaklands Gate, Northwood, Middx HA6 3AA; 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.ukOr Chadash Liberal Jewish Community of Luxembourg, 00 352 31 65 94; lljc@liberaljudaism.orgPeterborough Liberal Jewish CommunityEnquiries: 020 7631 9822The Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia (based in Norwich); www.pjcea.org.ukReading Liberal Jewish Community 0118 942 8022; rljc@liberaljudaism.org; www.rljc.orgShenfield, Brentwood & Districts Synagogue 01277 888610; info@roshtikvah.com; www.roshtikvah.comSouth Bucks Jewish Community 0845 644 2370; sbjc@liberaljudaism.org; www.sbjc.org.ukSouth London Liberal SynagoguePO 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.comWest Central Liberal Synagogue21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE; 020 7636 7627;wcls@liberaljudaism.org; www.wcls.org.ukWoodford Liberal Synagogue Marlborough Road, George Lane, London E18 1AR; 020 8989 7619; wps@liberaljudaism.org; www.woodfordliberal.org.uk

Associated congregationsBeit Ha’Chidush, Postbus 14613, 1001 LC Amsterdam, Netherlands, 00 31 23 524 7204;info@beithachidush.nl, www.beithachidush.nlOxford Liberal Jewish Services: 01865 515584 or 01865 765197; www.ojc-online.org

Developing communitiesNorth Hertfordshire Liberal Jewish CommunityFor information, telephone 020 7580 1663The Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (based in Ipswich), 01473 250797; sjc@liberaljudaism.org

‘tent: the meeting place’ The community for young adults Contact Avivit: email a.katzil@liberaljudaism.org or telephone 07866 501787

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www.liberaljudaism.org

Cemetery appeals after extension plan is rejectedLiberal Judaism owns 25 per cent of Edgwarebury Cemetery, the remainder of which is owned by West London Synagogue and the Spanish and Portuguese Community. Owing to Liberal Judaism’s inclusive definition of who is a Jews, and its distinctive policies on burial, its section is being used up at the fastest rate. Planning permission for an extension to the cemetery was refused last October by the Borough of Barnet. As lj today went to press, an appeal against that decision was due to be heard.

We hope to report on the outcome of the appeal in the next edition.• Liberal Judaism’s annual memorial services take place on Sunday 5 September 2010 as follows: 11am at Edgwarebury Cemetery, officiated by Rabbis Aaron Goldstein and Harry Jacobi; 1pm at Western Cemetery, Cheshunt, officiated by Rabbi Stephen Howard; and 3pm at Golders Green Crematorium, officiated by Rabbi Frank Hellner; 2pm at Pound Lane, Willesden, officiated by Rabbi Alexandra Wright.

New rabbi for FinchleyRabbi Neil Janes is to leave his post at Finchley at the end of September to take up an opportunity to study for a PhD in Jewish history and thought at Haifa University. The decision had, he said, been difficult because he and his wife, Michelle, love the FPS community and have made friendships that they hope will last throughout their lives.

However, FPS is looking forward to welcoming Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk in January 2011 when she will lead the congregation, building on Rabbi Janes’s achievements and bringing her own warmth, style and experience to the community. Rabbi Qassim Birk is currently rabbi educator at Westminster Synagogue and previously served Woodford for more than four years, following her ordination at Leo Baeck College in 2001.

Connections 2011 Connections 2011, the 35th biennial conference of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, will be held in San Francisco, USA, from 7 to 13 February. To pre-register, e-mail 2011@wupj.org.il.