May/June 2020 VOL. XLVII No. 3 Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism www.liberaljudaism.org ljtoday Hold a second Seder Liberal Judaism delivered to you once this is all over IBERAL JUDAISM has declared that “During a Pesach Sheini (Second Pesach) the invasion Lwill take place once this period of Jerusalem of uncertainty and physical isolation/ in the 2nd distancing, due to the coronavirus, ends. century BCE, Passover this year was celebrated in the Jewish a very different manner – with online resistance, platforms such as Zoom and Facebook led by Judah Live used to conduct many of our family Maccabee, and communal Seders. You can see the wasn’t able wonderful pictures from our communities to celebrate on pages 6-7 of this edition of lj today. Sukkot So much hard work, effort and properly. They LIBERAL JUDAISM, our communities and ingenuity went into this virtual Pesach, were living in Seder led by Student Rabbi youth movement LJY-Netzer are offering including a unique audio broadcast of the mountains Gabriel Kanter-Webber something for everyone throughout this 16 Liberal Judaism rabbis singing and and fighting period… every day of the week. teaching about the Seder for those not in for their lives. So what did they do? Our entire movement has moved a position to use video technology. As soon as they cast off the invaders, online, from streamed Shabbat services However, there is something even they celebrated a late Sukkot… around and adult education classes to fun more magical and joyful when people are December and for eight days. Sounding activities and virtual check-ins. Our physically together to retell the story of familiar? It’s Chanukah. flagship Biennial Weekend will now be the Exodus from Egypt and enjoy all those “It’s even happened before with Pesach. held entirely online from May 22-24. You familiar tastes, smells and melodies. The Book of Numbers tells the story of will even be reading this copy of lj today That is why, following precedent set in a group of Israelites who were unable to on your computer, phone or tablet. our Bible, Liberal Judaism is declaring observe Pesach at the right time because Everything you need can be found on that a Second Seder will be held once the they were busy doing essential work. our Liberal Judaism At Home web pages public health authorities say it is safe to “Moses took their case to God, and God - www.liberaljudaism.org/lj-at-home do so – whether that be in June, August, decided: do it later. If, for good reason, There you will see details of streamed October or whenever. you can’t mark Pesach at the right services from around the country, as After all, to paraphrase God’s words to time, mark it at the wrong time. Nobody well as all our prayerbooks and liturgy, Moses – if you can’t mark Pesach at the should miss out on our right and duty to rabbinic commentary, poetry and music. right time, mark it at the wrong time. celebrate the joy of freedom. Plus there are live LJY-Netzer sessions to Student Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber “When things settle down, Liberal keep our youth educated and entertained. came up with the initiative, working Judaism will declare a Pesach Sheini, Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy alongside Rabbi Aaron Goldstein – chair just like our ancestors did in the Book and partnerships Rabbi Charley Baginsky of the Conference of Liberal Rabbis and of Numbers; just like the Maccabees said: “Liberal Judaism has always tried Cantors – to produce a resource pack did with Sukkot. We are not giving up on to be the home for everyone’s Jewish that can be found on Liberal Judaism’s the experience of us all sitting down, in story and now, in these times, we have website (see story on the right). person, and celebrating our freedom. a responsibility to help people find new Gabriel said: “This might seem a “At the right time for Pesach, we used ways to connect to that story at home.” strange time to think about Sukkot, but video feeds. But at the wrong time, we its history suggests a way forward. will gather together and have our Seder.” • Page 3: Biennial Weekend at Home Page 2 LJ Today LJ At Home May/June 2020 Keeping our young people safe online By Becca Fetterman, Liberal Internet safety There are some key things LJY-Netzer Judaism Director of Youth are doing. We have created a sign up form Our children, especially our younger to get the link to our Zoom channel - so AS WE have heard from so many people, ones, have been thrown into an online it is not open access. On the form we this is an unprecedented time that no one world where all of a sudden they are seek parental permission, as we would foresaw and for which educationally we meeting their friends, teachers, youth when engaging at any other time. We were not ready. groups and synagogues online. In the also explain that, like all LJY events, our Liberal Judaism and its youth last week my eight-year-old has set up covenant of mutual respect is in place. movement LJY-Netzer are working two social media accounts and taken part Finally, we have set up these rules: hard to adapt and meet the needs of our in five online classes. At the start of the young people as quickly and fully as we year, I probably wouldn’t have considered • Private chat functions are turned off. can. We are offering increased online her being old enough to do any of this. programming, with multiple daily live As parents we need to balance the risks • No one can take any pictures, videos or events, and making back up plans for against the gains. We also need to give screen shots of the Zoom call. the summer holidays. Safeguarding and our children a chance to learn the tools to youth mental health are also key. assess these situations for themselves. • The child must be in a room with an There are lots of resources out there open door, and ideally not their bedroom. Support at home to help you and your children make decisions. The www.thinkuknow.co.uk • Young people should use a parent or Families are currently locked together website is my favourite with videos guardian’s Zoom account or, alternatively, in their houses with no clear end date. appropriate for every age group. one under their parents’ control. All existing tensions are exacerbated and I have created online accounts with my people are being stretched in every way. daughter and tweaked the privacy and • Surnames should not form part of the Meanwhile social media is full of security settings with her, discussing participant’s Zoom screen name. images of other ‘perfect’ families doing what they mean and writing out rules for amazing things. Few are posting about using the different platforms. I am also • Everyone must turn their camera on for the reality of parents trying to juggle making sure I am in the room when she is the start of the call, at least, so we can looking after their children, their day doing her online classes. check who they are. jobs, financial concerns and their own mental and physical health. What Liberal Judaism is doing As more people turn to online video If things are getting too much in your calls and streaming services, others try home, social care are seen as essential The key question that our movement to work out ways to interfere with them. workers and are still there to help and and communities face right now is what We all need to be following safety advice support you. Please also start sharing are our responsibilities in terms of and ensuring we know how to protect with your friends how tough this really is. engaging with our young people online? ourselves. As a movement, we will keep If you are worried about another family, Many youth organisations have put out posting updated safeguarding information especially where domestic violence or new safeguarding guides but none, that on the Liberal Judaism website. child abuse may be taking place, then I have seen, have gone through how to Most of all, please look after yourselves please call your local MASH (Multi Agency make things 100% safe. So we need to and your children and keep informed in Safeguarding Hub). share best practice as it emerges. these changing times. Our sense of community will be doubled By Rabbi Aaron Goldstein What we can do for mourners is Technology is going to greatly increase express the incredible warmth and love the number of people attending simchas, THIS is a topsy turvy world where they can receive. It’s not a physical hug - funerals and shivas in the future. It’s everything is different; so it will be a but it is a sense of connection and contact going to bring lifecycle events to people topsy turvy year where we’re going to do which they would never have dreamt they who otherwise wouldn’t experience them. things differently to how we are used to. would experience. Likewise, I think there will be a huge In the past weeks, I’ve been able to We can commemorate life and, most outburst of appreciation for physical conduct funerals and shivas online - and importantly, comfort the bereaved, rather contact when we can meet up. Our sense they have given great comfort. than keep focusing on what we can’t do.