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 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 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 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. of community will be doubled.

Please send us details of all the virtual We want to make sure that everyone can things happening in your community to add access our resources in this time. If you can to our Liberal Judaism At Home web pages. afford to, please donate and help us keep this Email them to [email protected] free at www.liberaljudaism.org/fundraising May/June 2020 LJ At Home LJ Today Page 3 Take part in our Biennial Weekend At Home

Liberal Judaism will be bringing its flagship Biennial Weekend directly into people’s homes. Using the latest cutting- edge technology, we will give members and their families three days of services, seminars and socialising. The Biennial Weekend At Home will be held from Friday 22 until Sunday 24 May 2020. The event will be entirely free for all those wishing to take part. Full details – including the speaker line-up and youth activities – will be released over the coming weeks on www.liberaljudaism.org/biennial The physical Biennial that was set to take place on those dates, at the De Vere Staverton Estate in Daventry, has been moved to 2021 (30 April – 2 May 2021). Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy and partnerships, said: “A bit like one is not supposed to have favourite children, I am guessing I am not supposed to have a favourite moment in the Liberal Judaism calendar – but I do and it is Biennial. “More than ever we need those Charley added: “If ever there was a “Over the years our Biennial Weekend moments of movement collaboration, of theme more apt for a conference, and has grown and developed into this joining together in prayer and thought more needed, then I have not heard it! incredible opportunity to showcase our and even to socialise. That is why we “This weekend will be a real rabbis and members, the work they do are unbelievably proud to announce the Collaboratory - sharing and exploring and the deep thinking they invest in it. Biennial Weekend At Home.” the best that Liberal can offer in “As it became increasingly obvious that The Biennial Weekend will retain its this time, and also examining how all our Biennial could not happen in its usual theme of Liberal Judaism: Collaboratory internal and external partnerships can form this May, we turned our minds to – providing an open space and a creative thrive and push us into new spaces and how we can still have this time together. process where partners work together. new relationships.” The rabbinic view on lockdown Read extracts from three leaders writing on our Liberal Judaism At Home pages Rabbi Sandra Kviat: Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich: Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel:

WHILE we might have stocked up, or feel I WALKED through IN THE Talmud (Berakhot 4b), King David good ourselves, our focus should be on my local park is praised by the rabbis for being able how we can also support others in the a few days ago to say that he doesn’t have an answer community: those who might have to and took some to an important question about his own self-isolate; those who might not have a pictures (left). I behaviour. Is he really righteous? I don’t large network; those who are vulnerable; have not been for know, he replies. those who may just appreciate a friendly a walk there for Being able to express one’s doubt phone or video call. about five years. allows people to take responsibility and One idea is to develop a skills register I believe it is to accept that sometimes there is no easy and use that to arrange phone trees, important for us answer, nor foreseeable solution. food/medicine drop offs and other needs to focus people on these kinds of silver This current crisis is entirely out of within the community as they arise. A linings of the situation we are now in. our control. We too need to accept this simple willingness to help is a skill. We are living through challenging times uncertainty. This relieves the pressure on This is a worrying time for many, indeed - but this is also an opportunity for our shoulders, and allows us to build for especially as there is so much us to re-connect to ourselves, each other the here and now. uncertainty, but we should not lose sight and to generations of our ancestors who So let us embrace this new reality with of the importance of helping each other, came before us and went through slavery, the assurance that there is a community of being kind, and that coming together expulsions, pogroms and the Holocaust. here to look after our needs, and that we to celebrate and support each other is We may ask how did they do it? It was have more power in our hands than we vital, even if it now has to be virtually. through the strength of their spirits. would have thought before. Page 4 LJ Today In Memory May/June 2020 Tributes to Rabbi Neil Kraft Dr Alex Keller

PRAISE has Jonny Benjamin, mental health DR ALEX KELLER - poured in campaigner: “I’m heartbroken. Neil was university professor, from around the kindest, warmest soul you could author and core the Jewish meet. He was a rock to my family at member of Leicester community for times. I just can’t believe he’s gone.” Progressive Jewish Rabbi Neil Kraft, Community (LPJC) - the beloved Derek Aarons, former chair of South has died. Progressive Liberal Synagogue: “Neil will Speaking at his minister who be remembered particularly as an funeral, LPJC’s Rabbi died just a few enthusiastic educator. He had a natural Mark Solomon said: “Tall, wise, funny and days before he liking for and understanding of children, endlessly kind, Alex was a fixture in your was due to retire. and his enthusiasm stimulated all those lives. Yet now we have to say goodbye. Neil was rabbi of Edgware and Hendon he taught in our religion school.” “How poignant that Alex should have Reform Synagogue, where he served for left us just after celebrating his 88th 17 years. Before then, he was rabbi at Rabbi Emily Reitsma-Jurman, Edgware birthday, and just before Pesach. That’s Woodford Liberal Synagogue (now part of & : “It was when the family would thrill to his East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue) obvious that every interaction he had with energetic narration of the Passover story in the 1980s and South London Liberal his congregants came from a deep love and above all to his rousing rendition of Synagogue between 1990 and 2000. for people. One thing Neil didn’t have was Chad Gadya, the closing song. More than 1,300 people watched Neil’s a desire for public recognition. For him, “In the last couple of years, the legend funeral service online. The thoughts of helping people was its own reward.” that was his Chad Gadya moved beyond everyone at Liberal Judaism are with his the family circle to our communal Seders. widow, Susannah, and their two sons Elie Rabbi Mark Goldsmith, Edgware & “Chad Gadya ends with God putting an and Oscar. We have published some of Hendon Reform Synagogue: “Neil was end to death itself. Right now, the angel the tributes to Neil below. the pastor’s pastor, who cared deeply for of death is stalking the land – the world – colleagues and student rabbis. He went with particular menace. Rabbi Richard Jacobi, East London & the extra mile to support congregants in “But there is something about Alex’s Essex Liberal Synagogue: “Friendships distress and this was the foundation of spirit that defies death. Death means Neil made in Woodford back in the 1980s his rabbinate. So many people have let obliteration, but a neshamah (soul) like continued to this day. He was unique. I’ve us know how much his care at their bar/ Alex’s cannot be obliterated. seen him described as ‘a rogue rabbi in a batmitzvah, wedding, during an illness or “His words, his voice, his smile, his million’. I think he’d have liked that.” bereavement meant to them.” unfailing kindness live on.”

In memory of those we have lost Rabbi Charley Baginsky shares a reflection for all who are mourning loved ones

I ONCE heard We cover our mirrors, we stop washing It can seem trite in these times to talk a teacher of and shaving, stop caring about how we of new rituals. But there are many people mine refer to look – as no amount of looking better who have told me how touched they were the Jewish can make us feel better and nothing can by the way their rabbi was able to lead a traditions replace a life lost. Loss makes us shrink meaningful ceremony without mourners that surround into ourselves, close off and shut down. and how their online shiva allowed family death and And yet, today, death and mourning across waters to connect. mourning as a and every ritual we have ever held on We are already working with our rabbis ‘reality-based to in order to guide us through these and communities to think of new ways to approach’. moments, has changed. mark stone settings and yahrzeits. At a Jewish funeral there is no effort to During the last weeks we, as the The world will have changed for ever try and cover up the finality of death. We Liberal Jewish family, have seen so many when our physical isolation comes to an do not embalm or preserve: we bury or deaths. There are very few within our end and many of you will be taking steps cremate in a plain wooden box. community who have not been touched by along that new road without a loved one The traditional idea has been that the death of someone we knew and loved. by your side. nature will take its course and restore the I also know that there are many, many We will work to make their memories a body back to the earth from which it was of us who have not been present at their blessing not only through remembering taken. The mourners will pour earth into funerals, who have attended shivas by everything about them that we are the grave, with a thud of reality coursing Zoom and who have not been able to grateful for, but in never forgetting to be through their veins that their loved one reach out and hold someone shaken by thankful for the lives and freedoms that has really gone. loss and offer the comfort we would have we have. As the author Thornton Wilder When a loved one dies we tear at our offered without a thought - that of simply advised: “The highest tribute to the dead garment - ripped clothes, ripped hearts. our own presence and warmth. is not grief, but gratitude.” May/June 2020 News LJ Today Page 5 Liberal Judaism chair retires Jeremy’s new role

DR JEREMY SCHONFIELD has been appointed as ’s professor of liturgy. Jeremy began his career at the College in 1995, originally as temporary cover for the late Rabbi while he was unwell. He later took over from him LIBERAL JUDAISM chair Simon Benscher “I look forward to seeing and speaking permanently to teach liturgy and prayer. has retired from the role after a period to you all online at the Biennial Weekend Since then he has lectured for more of ill health. One of the most popular and At Home in May.” than 25 years at Leo Baeck College, recognisable people in our movement, Ruth Seager, who has worked and 30 years at the Oxford Centre for Simon has been a committed and very alongside Simon for many years, will Hebrew and Jewish Studies, having a active Liberal Jew for many decades. continue in the role of acting chair until strong influence on successive cohorts of A former chair of Woodford Liberal an election is held at the AGM. We will Progressive Judaism rabbis. He remains Synagogue (now part of East London & have more details and an interview with in touch with many and still advises them Essex Liberal Synagogue) he brought his Ruth in the next edition of lj today. on academic and other queries. passion and zeal for communal work to Liberal Judaism president Rabbi Jeremy’s book Undercurrents of Jewish the national movement. Dr Andrew Goldstein said: “Simon Prayer was a runner up in the National Announcing his decision in lj today, Benscher’s greatest love is his wife and Jewish Book Awards in the category of Simon said: “Some of you might be aware family, but close after that comes his Modern Jewish Thought in 2006. that I have not been in the best of health devotion to Liberal Judaism. This was He is currently in the later stages of recently and, as a result, I have had to shown first at his synagogue; then on the writing a sequel, to be called Why Jews make some changes in my life. Board of National Officers; and finally as Pray. Several papers relating to liturgy, “With a heavy heart I have decided chair of our movement. or to the subject in this book, have that, after being a part of our national “But his considerable presence was also appeared in the journal European movement for more than 20 years, I am not just at the Montagu Centre, because Judaism, published at the College. taking early retirement from the best job Simon has made every effort to attend Speaking about his new appointment, in the world as chair of Liberal Judaism. special events, services and AGMs at Jeremy said: “I am delighted and “It has always been an honour and Liberal congregations all over the country honoured to have my work at Leo a pleasure to serve and represent a and represent our movement at national Baeck College recognised in this way by movement and its members, who I hold ceremonies and events. colleagues whom I respect and admire. I so dearly. The aspect I will miss most “He always made you feel it was his see it as a gesture of esteem.” will be my congregational visits and the honour to be chair of Liberal Judaism College principal Rabbi Dr Deborah invitations to your homes and I hope to be and, though ‘retiring’ from this office, I’m Kahn-Harris added: “When I first moved able to maintain these in some form. sure he will continue to show his devotion to the UK 30 years ago, Jeremy welcomed “I am deeply thankful to all the LJ to LJ whenever and wherever he can. me to life in the UK as my teacher in staff over the years and our inspirational “In Yiddish a ‘benscher’ is the book of Oxford. I am immensely proud that, as rabbis, but my biggest thanks go to the blessing for Grace After Meals. Simon principal, I am now able to welcome him lay leaders and members who have made certainly blessed us for many years with to his new role as professor of liturgy me so welcome in their congregations. his tireless work, long may this continue.” here at Leo Baeck College.”

Before lockdown, many Liberal Judaism communities were able to celebrate Purim including those (pictured clockwise) in Dublin, Essex & East London, Bristol, Kingston, Northwood, , Reading, Ealing, Elstree, the LJS and Southgate. Page 6 LJ Today LJ At Home May/June 2020

THIS YEAR’S Passover Seders were truly different from all other nights. Below we asked two members, one from Liberal Judaism’s largest congregation and another from Pesach 5780 around the communities one of our smallest, to write about their virtual experiences - and on the right we share pictures from all over the UK.

Judith King, The (LJS):

IN YEARS gone by, our LJS Communal Seder, held on the second night of Pesach, has been celebrated with members and friends gathering in the Montefiore Hall next to the Sanctuary, observing the Passover Kehillah North London rituals and enjoying an excellent meal together. This year’s was necessarily different but perhaps created an even stronger community spirit, even if the meal had to be self- service, so to speak, and the delicious Pesach recipes of our regular caterer, Helena Miller, were much missed. Well over 100 people connected via Zoom for the Seder led by our Senior Rabbi, , together with Rabbi Igor Zinkov (pictured). A sweet sense of togetherness was Crouch End Chavurah created as we followed the Haggadah on screen, with special dramatic interludes introduced into the narrative; and could see others members of the community doing the same in their own homes. Everyone showed great enthusiasm as they were invited to take part in different sections, and we all sang along with gusto on those occasions when we were ‘unmuted’ in what might best be described as joyful cacophony. We were impressed with the innovations within the Seder. How could we possibly find the afikoman that Rabbi Alexandra had hidden? Rabbi Igor produced an image on screen at the relevant time, within which the eagle-eyed could indeed locate the virtual matzo he had cunningly positioned within it. What was striking was how meaningful this Communal LJY-Netzer Seder was – it created a real sense of belonging. We ended our celebration of Pesach on a note of hope, as we were invited to consider what positive words conveyed our wish to move closer to ‘a world redeemed’ this time next year.

Owen Power, Manchester Liberal Jewish Community (MLJC):

THE IRONY of celebrating our festival of liberation in lockdown, as we protect ourselves from a 21st century ‘plague’, has not been lost on any of us. On the first night of Passover I and other MLJC members had the pleasure of ‘attending’ and participating in Rabbi Birmingham Progressive Synagogue Mark Solomon’s Seder… and what a poignant one it was. Mark led the Seder in his usual warm unique style. Many of us were largely Zoom virgins feeling our way, but we had no blips to speak of. Mark’s deed of loving kindness is very much in the spirit of our movement’s founders and I am sure herself would give him a high five! I am buzzing thinking of all the ways to use this technology - and can’t wait for the Biennial Weekend At Home in May.

• Liberal Judaism sends a special thank you to Leo Mindel. Leo has gone above and beyond in helping our movement, and many of our communities, fulfil our online potential by guiding us in all of the wonderful things we can do virtually. Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue May/June 2020 LJ At Home LJ Today Page 7 Pesach 5780 around the communities

South London Liberal Synagogue Nottingham Liberal Synagogue

Norwich Liberal Jewish Community Kingston Liberal Synagogue

Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation, Edinburgh Liberal East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue Jewish Community and Manchester Liberal Jewish Community

Southgate Progressive Synagogue The Liberal Synagogue Elstree

Reading Liberal Jewish Community Lincolnshire Jewish Community Stevenage Liberal Synagogue Page 8 LJ Today Comment May/June 2020 Edgwarebury Your movement needs you! Cemetery Robin Moss on becoming a Liberal Judaism officer THIS SUMMER, drainage issues discussed in the article By John Abramson after six years on the left - to the philosophical and on Liberal prophetic, for example whether and in BY NOW I have heard all the gags. Judaism’s what way to speak out on any of the great “It’s in the dead centre of town” and Board of issues of the day. Meetings are lively and “Do you have a skeleton staff?” National debate is encouraged, but decisions are Since September 2019, I have Officers, I will reached and tempers rarely flare! been the chair of the EJBB, the be stepping In addition, the typical month for an Edgwarebury Joint Burial Board, down. Liberal officer might also include meetings which is the governing body of Judaism’s with staff, representing Liberal Judaism Edgwarebury Cemetery. rules give at external events and contributing to The cemetery - established in 1972 officers three- between-meeting discussions on email. in its current location - is owned year terms A highlight for all of us is visiting Liberal by four different communities with before they have to seek re-election and I Judaism’s communities - even if those four very different traditions: S&P have decided that, after two terms, I wish visits currently have to be made via Sephardi Community, West London to stand aside. Skype or Zoom. Each officer is ‘linked’ to Synagogue, Liberal Judaism and But doing so requires someone else to specific communities to act as a two-way my own community, Belsize Square step in, step forward and step up. That is channel of communication. Synagogue. The four share the why I want to encourage you – yes, you – As with any voluntary role, the more facilities and also the expenses. It is to consider becoming an officer. one puts in, the more one gets out the ultimate co-operative. Liberal Judaism is legally a charity and, depending on the rest of one’s The cemetery is governed by the and a company limited by guarantee. life, different officers have different EJBB Board, which meets quarterly Therefore, on the most basic level, the capacities. Over my six years, I have and comprises three representatives officers are the trustees of the charity always had a full-time job and never from each of the four communities. and the directors of the company. found it hard to manage both. Many members have been on the But Liberal Judaism is also a The officers are a relatively diverse Board for some time - giving us religious movement and a community bunch at the moment – we are slightly a wealth of experience to draw of communities, and in that respect the more female than male, range in age upon. There is also an operations officers represent the fourth ‘corner’ from our 20s to 70s and come from nine committee, which is similarly drawn of the Liberal Judaism organisational different communities. Any Board needs from each of the communities. structure - the other three being Council a range of backgrounds, perspectives and The cemetery is run by the (representing our communities), the life-experiences to be effective. As such, cemetery director and the operations Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors this year we conducted an audit of where manager. We also have three office and the professional staff team. we are currently less well represented. staff and six full time cemetery The officers are the ‘lay leaders’ of There are three areas where we would operatives, many of whom have the movement and our role is primarily actively welcome interest (though if the advanced horticultural qualifications strategic – to provide direction to the election for officers is contested, it is and experience which enable us to professional team, to plan and prioritise, ultimately in Council’s hands to decide): beautify and maintain the grounds. to exercise prudent oversight and to offer The Board gets to consider constructive challenge. • Communities – We would ideally like genuinely interesting issues. For In practice therefore, officers serve an officer from Southgate Progressive example, we currently have a two functions: the first, as individuals, Synagogue, The Liberal Synagogue drainage issue after a particularly is to bring our skills, knowledge, time Elstree and/or a non-London community wet winter. Some years ago, we and energy to support and serve Liberal started investigating installing Judaism; the second, as a collective, is to • Skills – We have less developed skills in subterranean pipes to move excess provide governance. the area of marketing/communications. water away from the site - a sizeable Each officer has a specific portfolio, project now coming to fruition. with the aim of covering all major • Interests – We would like an officer We have recently been challenged areas of Liberal Judaism’s activities. with a particular interest in Leo Baeck by the implications of Covid-19 and Most, therefore, have one or a group of College, and another with a focus on adapting to the restrictions that have members of staff with whom we work community development. been imposed. This has drawn on closely. For instance, I am the officer for many different resources as we have strategy so my natural partner on the If any of these sound like you, then had to think about things that we staff team is Rabbi Charley Baginsky - please do get in touch by emailing never wanted to think about. We are our director of strategy and partnerships. [email protected] learning as we go along. The officers meet as a group every Being an officer is immensely The cemetery fulfils a vital and month or so to consider reports from the rewarding, not overly onerous and you constant need for the communities professional team and/or other officers. get to play a small part in shaping and that own it and does so with care They deliberate and decide on issues as strengthening our movement. If you care and pride. I am proud that the Board they arise and also think long-term. about Liberal Judaism, there is really no plays a key role in ensuring this. Agenda items range from the prosaic better or more meaningful way to engage and practical - such as the cemetery than getting involved. May/June 2020 Comment LJ Today Page 9 Exploring my family’s heritage Introducing Becca Fetterman on two trips to discover her roots René Cassin By Moses Seitler

IN THE short space available, I want to tell you about an individual and an organisation called René Cassin. Monsieur René Cassin was an extraordinary Jewish jurist and one of the co-drafters of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the wake of the Holocaust. Having lost 26 members of his family, he helped shape the international community’s commitment that – in the words of the Declaration’s preamble – never again would “disregard and contempt for human rights result in barbarous acts that Liberal Judaism’s Becca Fetterman and her family have been visiting their ancestral homes outrage the conscience of mankind”. Seventy-two years later, in his OVER THE last two years I have, with my floorboards with a hole to see the town name and out of a small office in family, visited the homes of my paternal square. We all went silent thinking about Golders Green, René Cassin: The great grandfather in Lithuania and my our family and how, once, they could have Jewish Voice For Human Rights is maternal granny in Germany… and the been hiding there. committed to making real that same trips couldn’t have been more different. There were some positives. The town principle - never again. This means The first, to Vilnius and Butrimonys in Mayor officially welcomed us as the first running campaigns across a range Lithuania, was eye-opening for me and Jews returning to their village and hosted of human rights issues and bringing extremely shocking. My dad had been an exhibition in our honour. But we did awareness and advocacy skills to working with a Lithuanian historian to feel more of a curiosity than neighbours. the Jewish community. We do so research our family history and had found Our second trip to Leipzig in Germany for the specific reason identified by out a lot about our great grandpa - so he couldn’t have felt more different. We our namesake, because as he said: organised for most of my family to visit travelled with our children for the “Human rights are an integral part of and explore his findings. Stolpersteine (stumblestone) ceremony the faith and tradition of Judaism.” We had an incredible long weekend, outside my granny’s childhood home. René Cassin also runs workshops, learning about the story of the Litvak From the minute we landed, every person training sessions and campaign Jews, meeting a Vilna Ghetto survivor we spoke to was so happy we were there, events, many of which have been in and spending time together as a family. thanked us for coming and asked us all collaboration with LJY-Netzer. We However, it was also very harrowing. about our family. have worked together on everything, The artist Gunter Demnig has made from bringing social action into commemorative brass plaques to be our classrooms and synagogues to placed in the pavement outside the last enacting positive change for refugees address of victims of the Holocaust. This and asylum seekers. was a story of unbelievable survival. We have been inspired by the My granny and her family moved to desire of every member of LJY- England, with my aunt then going on to Netzer to make a difference to the America. In both countries they gave life world around them. René Cassin’s to strong and enduring Jewish families. work is fuelled by their enthusiasm, A group of school students had been but there is some way to go. researching my family for a year and We are looking for more Liberal spoke at the ceremony about how Jews to join us in our campaigns and Exploring mass Jewish graves in Lithuania amazing my great grandpa was and what programmes, so please email me on his descendants have achieved. [email protected] We visited mass graves and sites of I had previously never wanted to visit We are coordinating the Jewish unbelievable cruelty. The thing that was Germany and have always thought of it community’s response to the most upsetting was meeting Lithuanians as a place of antisemitism. This trip was disgraceful treatment of Uyghur who still talk about ‘the Jews’ as other. healing. We received a warm reception Muslims in China. We are fighting Not their people. everywhere and were even followed by a hate crime in Britain. We are looking We went to a ‘Jewish home’ in university radio crew, who were making a for young people to be our inaugural Butrimonys (where our ancestors had documentary about the stones. Human Rights Ambassadors. And, lived) and the owner told us that when I would happily return to Germany any above all, we are inviting you to join they moved in they found the most time and feel that an inherited trauma us in saying that never again is now. amazing thing: a hiding place under the has, in some ways, been healed. Page 10 LJ Today Books May/June 2020 A key addition to the Shoah canon Bitter Reckoning: Israel Tries Holocaust Survivors as Nazi Collaborators by Dan Porat (ISBN: 9780674988149) REVIEWED by Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh

ALMOST What may be less well known is that Law; Preliminary Court Examinations; everyone among the survivors of the Shoah, who Weighing the Actions of Jewish who knows got to Israel after the war, there were Collaborators; Did Jewish Kapos Commit anything about those who had served on Nazi-created Crimes against Humanity?; The First the Holocaust Jewish Councils in the ghettos and others Doubts about the Kapo Trials; Judging will know the who had been Jewish policeman and a Nazi and Reframing Collaboration; name of Adolf kapos in the concentration camps. Absolving Ordinary Functionaries. Eichmann, and As individuals were identified, often by This is an extremely well-researched the fact that he those who had suffered grievously at their and highly readable book, telling an was tried by an hands, and denounced to the authorities, important story about how the Israeli Israeli court it was necessary for laws to be created authorities acted in the immediate post- for genocide, under which these individuals were tried war period, and especially the immensely convicted and for having colluded with the Nazis in their high standards of the judges who then executed. destruction of the Jewish people. presided over very challenging cases. It was an event of the utmost This story is told in Bitter Reckoning. It also highlights the challenge to any significance for native born Israelis, or Author Dan Porat details events across democracy when some of its citizens, in earlier immigrants, who knew little about eight chapters with an introduction and another time, place and context, acted in the suffering of Jews in the Shoah and epilogue: From Revenge to Retribution in ways that would have been intolerable in couldn’t understand how little their co- Nazi Europe; Tensions among Survivors their new national home. religionists had done to make the Nazis in Mandatory Palestine; The Nazis Dan Porat’s work is an important work harder to achieve their evil aims. and Nazi Collaborators Punishment addition to the Shoah canon. More than just a word Iconic photos FORMER Ghetto: The History of a Word by Daniel B Schwartz Fleet Street (ISBN: 9780674737532) photographer and FOR ME, and the Holocaust and finally the ghetto in Liberal Jewish others of the post-war America. Community baby boomer He tracks the metamorphoses of member generation, the ghetto, from place of containment Stuart the word influenced by the Catholic Church, to a Goodman has Ghetto is place of growing persecution culminating a new book irredeemably as a staging post to extermination. out full of linked to the But there is also the appropriation by stunning black and white photography of ghettoes Jewish immigrants of the term – which an iconic era in the history of London. imposed on continues to this day – in an almost Titled One Saturday in 82 on Broadway Jews by the affectionate way to describe an area Market (ISBN: 9781916052338), the book Nazis during of a town or city where a majority of captures a day in the lives of shoppers the Second the residents are Jews. Finally, there and shop owners in Hackney. Stuart’s World War is the adoption of the word by African- photos candidly recall the market in in countries Americans with a similar connotation. the depth of its degeneration, when the occupied by The value of a focused history such as emergence of large supermarkets led the Germans. this is immense: it enables the reader to to it being threatened with demolition, Those Ghettoes became places of go into an apparently well-understood a plan against which Stuart helped to overcrowding, disease, starvation and term or issue, revealing along the way organise successful protests. death, the most terrible incarnation of the how much more to it there is than one After years of neglect, the market re- ghetto in human history. knew or imagined. opened in 2004, but is now very different Daniel Schwartz’s Ghetto is, however, It teaches in a very comfortable with upmarket stalls and cafés. about much more. Starting with the way a skein of Jewish history of some Stuart, who both lived and worked in institution of the Venice Ghetto, the importance, explaining the peculiar the market, said: “I miss the place. Not original and its successor, he proceeds longevity of a term that began in Venice the squalor, the outside loo, the wasps, to the transformation of the Ghetto in and arguably should have stayed there. the cold… but the people, the community the 19th century, the ghetto’s translation and, somehow, the optimism. There to America with waves of Jewish • Review by Rabbi Dr Charles wasn’t a gastro pub in sight and who had immigration to the USA, the ghettoes of Middleburgh, Dean of Leo Baeck College ever encountered a buffalo burger?” May/June 2020 Youth LJ Today Page 11

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

Join us online for LJY-Netzer At Home LJY-NETZER is first and foremost a We will primarily be community. Although we are deeply using Zoom, which we saddened by the loss of our programmes have modified to ensure this year, we will continue to bring the we maintain a high level kef (fun), chinuch (informal education) of safety and privacy and ruach (spirit) of LJY into the homes for our members. In of our Chanchimot (participants) through order to participate in the Ofakim Hadashim (New Horizons) the online sessions, initiative. With online-only programming parents/guardians will tailored for our different shikvot (age have to sign each child groups), and ranging from art sessions up. The sign up form and schedules are We hope as many LJY-Netzer members to debate club, there really is something on our website and social media. as possible will join us each week, so that for everyone. Each week we will have We will also be livestreaming every we can continue our vital role in engaging a slightly different programme with a morning on our Facebook page with and inspiring our wonderful community variety of fun games and activities. dances, services, storytelling and more. of young Liberal Jews. This is not the end of Shnat Perach We created lifelong I experienced spirituality and Judaism bonds in an atmosphere like never before, while other people of excitement, learning connected to Israel for the first time. and adventure. Our time We all were truly discovering this multi- together has already faceted country with an intense and rich influenced us all so culture. Our Shnat was just a beginning. much and will continue The news that our gap year was ending to change our lives early came as a shock and a blow. Grief forever. and uncertainty followed as I realised I am lucky to have that these people I had come to know and been surrounded by love would once again be separated by the most brilliant and thousands of miles. inspirational people I Since arriving home we have all By Guy Morad have ever met. To have shared so many been on Zoom calls incessantly. For life-altering experiences with them. To the last fortnight, Orit has arranged for THE chaos and bustle of normal life has have them in my life. our educators to give us some sense all but ceased. My kehila kedosha (holy Where else but in Israel can you hear of completion of our various courses. community) is another victim of Covid-19. the Palestinian narrative in the Israel- Perach will continue to work towards Our Shnat Netzer gap-year programme Palestine conflict, while overlooking hagshama (living out our ideology) - was amputated. Our premature departure the Old City? Where else can you bow Shnat has given us the ability to do so. means that our wonderful tzevet (staff) to the Bar’chu while having a view of This situation has shown us the Orit, Omer and Noa have lost their jobs or David’s Tower? Where else can you have mobility of Judaism and Jewish life. face unpaid leave. ideological discussions about how we We’ve been tuning into webinars and Yet our year group, which we named should pray while being surrounded by services from across the world. I still Shnat Perach, are lucky. Despite not Jerusalem stone? tear up during the services. Netzer South reaching the completion of our gap year The frenzy of learning, laughing and Africa services are a particular favourite, in Israel, we all started a journey within arguing opened each of us up to new and along with Nava Tahila in Israel and even ourselves and together. different things. our very own local LJY-Netzer offering.

Contact LJY-Netzer: Fran Kurlansky ([email protected]), Rosa Slater ([email protected]) and Jacob Swirsky ([email protected]); Director of Youth - Rebecca Fetterman ([email protected]) Page 12 LJ Today May/June 2020

Stevenage Liberal Synagogue Liberal Judaism congregations T: 01438 300 222 E: [email protected] Bedfordshire Progressive Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Mosaic Liberal (Harrow) W: stevenageliberalsynagogue.org.uk Synagogue Community T: 020 8864 5323 T: 0845 869 7105 T: 0131 777 8024 E: [email protected] Suffolk Liberal Jewish E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: mosaicliberal.org.uk Community (Ipswich) W: bedfordshire-ps.org.uk W: eljc.org T:01473 250 797 Northwood and Pinner Liberal E: [email protected] Beit Klal Yisrael (London) Finchley Progressive Synagogue Synagogue E: [email protected] T: 020 8446 4063 T: 01923 822 592 Three Counties Liberal Jewish W: bky.org.uk E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Community (Gloucestershire W: fps.org W: npls.org.uk and Herefordshire) Birmingham Progressive T: 07900 612 058 Synagogue Kehillah North London Norwich Liberal Jewish E: [email protected] T: 0121 634 3888 T: 020 7403 3779 Community W: 3cljc.org.uk E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: bpsjudaism.com W: kehillah.org.uk W: norwichljc.org.uk Tikvah Chadasha Synagogue (Shenfield) Brighton and Hove Progressive Kent Liberal Jewish Community Nottingham Liberal Synagogue T: 01277 888 610 Synagogue T: 07952 242 432 T: 0115 962 4761 E: [email protected] T: 01273 737 223 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: tikvahchadasha.com E: [email protected] W: kljc.org.uk W: nottinghamliberalsynagogue.com W: bhps-online.org Wessex Liberal Jewish Kingston Liberal Synagogue Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community (Bournemouth) Bristol and West Progressive T: 020 8398 7400 Community T: 01202 757 590 Jewish Congregation E: [email protected] T: 07561 331 390 E: [email protected] T: 0117 403 3456 W: klsonline.org E: [email protected] W: wessexliberaljudaism.org.uk E: [email protected] W: pljc.org.uk W: bwpjc.org Leicester Progressive Jewish West Central Liberal Synagogue Congregation Reading Liberal Jewish T: 020 7636 7627 Crawley Jewish Community T: 0116 271 5584 Community E: [email protected] T: 01293 534 294 E: [email protected] T: 0118 942 8022 W: wcls.org.uk W: lpjc.org.uk E: readingliberaljewishcommunity@ York Liberal Jewish Community Crouch End Chavurah gmail.com T: 0300 102 0062 E: [email protected] The Liberal Jewish Synagogue W: readingljc.org.uk E: [email protected] W: crouchendchavurah.co.uk (St John’s Wood) T: 020 7286 5181 Shir Hatzafon (Copenhagen) W: jewsinyork.org.uk Dublin Progressive Congregation E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: ljs.org W: shirhatzafon.dk W: djpcireland.com Developing and affiliated The Liberal Synagogue Elstree South Bucks Jewish Community Ealing Liberal Synagogue T: 020 8953 8889 T: 0845 644 2370 Beit Ha’Chidush (Amsterdam) T: 020 8997 0528 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: +31 23 524 7204 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: tlse.org.uk W: sbjc.org.uk W: ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk W: beithachidush.nl Lincolnshire Jewish Community Southgate Progressive East London & Essex Liberal T: 01427 628 958 Synagogue Lancashire & Cumbria Liberal Synagogue E: [email protected] T: 020 8886 0977 Jewish Community T: 0208 989 7619 W: lincolnshirejc.co.uk E: [email protected] T: 0777 531 0944 W: northwestjews.org E: [email protected] W: sps.uk.com W: eastlondonandessexliberal Manchester Liberal Jewish synagogue.org Community South London Liberal Oxford Jewish Congregation T: 0161 796 6210 Synagogue (Streatham) T: 01865 515 584 Eastbourne Liberal Jewish E: [email protected] T: 020 8769 4787 E: [email protected] Community W: mljc.org.uk E: [email protected] W: ojc-online.org T: 07497 401 280 W: southlondon.org E: [email protected] W: eljc.org.uk

The Montagu Centre President Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein 21 Maple Street Acting Chair Ruth Seager London, W1T 4BE Vice Chair Karen Newman Treasurer Paul Silver-Myer Secretary Amanda McFeeters T: 020 7580 1663 Strategy Robin Moss Israel and the Diaspora Graham Carpenter Social Justice Jane Drapkin E: [email protected] Youth Hannah Stephenson Fundraising Ros Clayton W: liberaljudaism.org Vice Presidents Monique Blake, Henry Cohn, Lord Fink, Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Sharon Goldstein, , David Lipman, Corinne Oppenheimer, David Pick, Rosita Rosenberg, Tony Sacker, Harold Sanderson, Joan Shopper, Phil Stone, Beverley Taylor and Ken Teacher Liberal Judaism is the dynamic, cutting edge Chair of The Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors Rabbi Aaron Goldstein of modern Judaism. It reverences Jewish Liberal Judaism Senior Management Team: Director of Strategy and Partnerships Rabbi Charley tradition, seeking to preserve the values of the Baginsky Operations Director Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer Director of Administration Alexandra past, while giving them contemporary force. Simonon Director of Youth Becca Fetterman Charity Number: 1151090 Interfaith Rabbi Mark Solomon Archivist Alison Turner Fundraising and Events Thomas Rich PA to the Senior Management Team and Outreach Rafe Thurstance Strategy and Communications lj today is edited by Simon Rothstein Project Manager Yszi Hawkings PR Simon Rothstein Reception Ben Combe [email protected] LJY-Netzer Fran Kurlansky, Rosa Slater and Jacob Swirsky

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