DOCSLIB.ORG

November-December 2016 Newsletter

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
November-December 2016 Newsletter European Union for Progressive Judaism November-December 2016 Newsletter © European Union for Progressive Judaism President’s Message Jewish religious rights prevail We have all lived through some tumultuous events in recent months. My new year’s resolution (a little early, I know) is never to predict with any certainty future events. I, as many others did, confidently predicted that Jeremy Corbyn would never be elected leader of the UK Labour party, and that the UK would never vote in a referendum to leave the European Union and that, most Gordon Smith certainly, Donald Trump would never be elected the next President of the A successful Progressive Jewish march at the Kotel United States. Oh, how wrong I was! But the people have spoken and we must all remember that, thankfully, all the countries within On Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, Tuesday November 2, the European Union as well as Israel and the United the World Union represented global voices of Reform States are democracies. I am reminded of the and Progressive Jews at the Kotel to march for statement made by Winston Churchill that Jewish religious rights. “Democracy is the worst form of government, except "It was an exhilarating moment," reflected Rabbi for all those other forms that have been tried from Daniel H Freelander, President of the World Union time to time." So let us be grateful that we still live in for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ). "To march with democracies and accept that sometimes decisions more than a dozen Torah scrolls through security are taken through the ballot box with which some of and towards the Wall," he continued, "and then to us may not agree. pass those scrolls to the Women of the Wall was an The EUPJ Executive Board meeting scheduled for inspiring and reaffirming moment. This is why we December 4 in Lyon will discuss the EUPJ Strategic work so hard - to bring together the global voices Plan 2017/18. The last time the EUPJ held a of Progressive Judaism to stand together for detailed strategic review was in 2012. The new recognition and validation of all Jews of all streams Strategic Plan considers the considerable progress of Judaism." made in the last five years, and we think that in most Read more from Haaretz, ARZA and JPost. countries Progressive Judaism is stronger than it was five years ago. We believe that the EUPJ has Lyon weekend is fully booked played a positive role in this achievement by direct Many thanks to all who have registered for the EUPJ initiatives, as a catalyst, and by providing weekend and EUPJ Strategy Meeting and Executive international institutional legitimacy. However, we Board in Lyon from December 2 to 4. The registration still have many challenges ahead including tasks is now closed, and we look forward to seeing so begun but not yet completed, new initiatives and many of you. Deborah Grabiner, Administrator things that need to be fixed. Our esteemed treasurer, David Pollak, will have to November~December Contents make a number of judgements of Solomon in order to juggle our somewhat meagre annual resources 1-2 EUPJ 9 Spain between all the deserving causes. We will also 3 Netherlands, Italy, 10 Germany have to look at additional and different forms of 4 Switzerland 11 Belgium fundraising to try to maximise our efforts in order to 5 Poland 12-13 France, Sweden help our constituents achieve their worthy goals. 6 Hungary, 14-16 UK Gordon Smith, President 7 Portugal, Denmark 17 WUPJ 8 Portugal, Spain Next issue mails January 12 EUPJ Newsletter November~December 2016 1 EUPJ EUPJ Honorary Officers A new holiday and Staff 2016 On the 7th of Mar- Cheshvan, we celebrated Honorary Life Presidents Diaspora Israel Day – a Leslie Bergman new holiday which marks Ruth Cohen the connections between Jeffery Rose Jewish congregations all President around the world. See the Gordon Smith original invitation here. Vice-Presidents Go to our website to Alex Dembitz download the festive Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein holiday tractate in Rabbi Dr Walter Homolka various languages at Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris www.DiasporaIsraelDay.org Jonathan Lewis Chag Same'ach, Chairman Rabbi Nir Barkin and Smadar Bilik Miriam Kramer DOMIM-aLike Vice-Chairmen Stéphane Beder And an old holiday Sonja Guentner Michael Reik Honorary Secretary John Cohen Honorary Treasurer David Pollak EUPJ Rabbinic Adviser Rabbi Ruven Bar-Ephraim Administrator Deborah Grabiner [email protected] Newsletter Editor Arthur Buchman [email protected] EUPJ website update EUPJ’s website was hacked into in September and was temporarily closed by Google. We apologise for the inconven- ience. Following this incident we accepted advice to withdraw the website effective immediately while we build and launch a brand new site for the spring of 2017. Deborah Grabiner, Administrator Synagogues everywhere Progressive congregations and Shabbat services can be found nearly Letters everywhere during your travels. Click on a Greetings from Belgium and thanks again for a newsletter full blue link to find a synagogue near your of inspiring information on our communities across Europe. destination: Europe — Worldwide Brian Doyle The EUPJ congratulates: Mazal Tov to Leslie Bergman and Dee Lehane on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Benjamin on November 12. Mazal Tov to Miriam and Stephen Kramer on the marriage of their son. Please support Friends of Progressive Judaism in Israel and Europe. They support us. Beit Emunah - Oviedo, Spain www.fpjie.org.uk EUPJ Newsletter November~December 2016 2 Netherlands, Italy Dutch Netzer group visits London Beth Shalom Milan news On Saturday November 26, Rabbi David Whiman once again conducted services at the Hotel de la Ville. His sermon, Something to Die for was extremely interesting. Fred Serra and his mother Gabriella kindly provided the Kiddush following Dutch Netzer group at London Bridge services to celebrate their conversions which took place in London at the Beit Din last June. Our Netzer group in The Netherlands visited London from October 20-23. We visited the old Jewish district of Whitechapel, Bevis Marks synagogue and Golders Green, a North London district where many Jews live. We also received a warm welcoming reception at the sukkah and a Shabbat dinner at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in the neighbourhood of St John's Wood, that made us feel that we all belong Referendum debate at Lev Chadash to one family and one people, Am Echad. Lev Chadash, Italian Association for Progressive During our stay we meet youth workers of the RSY Judaism, headquartered in Piazza Napoli 35, Milan Netzer and LJY youth movements and strengthened held a fascinating debate on Thursday, November 24 our relationship with Progressive Judaism in Europe. at 21.00: The reasons for Yes and the reasons for We of course visited tourist attractions, and we went No with Daniel Pludwinski and Ivan Assael. to the award-winning musical The Lion King. [NB: A constitutional referendum will be held in Italy The trip was an unforgettable experience for all of on Sunday December 4. Voters will be asked us! whether they approve of amending the Italian We would like to thank EUPJ and the Jewish agency Constitution to reform the appointment and powers of for helping make this trip happen. the Parliament of Italy, as well as the partition of Tal Branitzky-Schramm powers of State, Regions, and administrative entities. Youth leader Netherlands – Sjlicha Jewish Agency Read more here. -Editor] Beth Hillel Roma offers new conversion course Beth Hillel Roma is pleased to inform you that registration is open for a new course of Conversion to Judaism in Italian conducted by Rabbi Leigh Lerner. We started on November 20 and will continue with lessons partly on Skype and partly in Rome. Rabbi Leigh Lerner Daniel Pludwinski on Italian television On Skype: November 27, In the best Talmudic tradition, Messrs Pludwinski and December 4 & 18, January 8. Assael presented their different views and In Rome: January 29, February 12 & 26, March 3 answered questions from the public, moderated by & 19, April 2 & 16. The dates of additional meetings the president of Lev Chadash, Carlo Riva. Daniel will be communicated as soon as possible. Pludwinski, 40, is a company director and graduated The course fee is €250. in economic policy at Bocconi. He is a member of the Inquiries to [email protected] will be Milan coordination for the Yes in the referendum. confirmed after interviews with community leaders Ivan Assael, 43, is a labour law attorney, graduated from Beth Hillel and Rabbi Lerner. from the University of Milan and supports the No. EUPJ Newsletter November~December 2016 3 Switzerland 5777 at Migwan GIL live-streaming of services The Communauté Juive Libérale de Genève GIL is proud to join the on-line community of con- gregations around the world that are streaming their services live on the internet. The GIL is The Shofar being blown at Migwan by Suzan LeVine, the only congregation US Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein in Switzerland to offer The New Year has already brought us lovely streaming and one of moments and big changes. We celebrated wonderful the first in continental Rosh Hoshanah and Yom Kippur services led by Europe. The streaming Rabbi Bea Wyler with the participation of many initiative has been members followed by a a great success wonderful Sukkot service with more than and kiddush (twice) in 125 views on-line Rabbi François Garaï Migwan's own Sukkah. during the Yom on camera at GIL 5777 brings challenges Kippur Neilah service as well as opportunities, in addition to the and one of those is that approximately 900 people attending at the GIL. Rabbi Wyler is leaving Shabbat services are streamed each week. At this us.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • LJS Newsthe NEWSLETTER of the LIBERAL JEWISH SYNAGOGUE
    March 2019 Adar I/Adar II 5779 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE LIBERAL JEWISH SYNAGOGUE LJS News New stained glass window in the Rabbi John Rayner Prayer Room Rabbi John Rayner z’’l was uppermost in our thoughts at the Shabbat service on 9 February. Inside this issue John and Jane Rayner’s grandson, Lev Taylor (pictured), who is studying to be a rabbi at Leo Rabbi Alexandra Wright on 2 Baeck College, gave the sermon to a packed Echoes of Contempt Sanctuary. He reflected with great affection on Shabbat Services and Festivals 3 John as a grandfather – and avid collector of jokes! Council Report 4 We left the Sanctuary for the dedication service for Forthcoming Events 5 the stained glass window panel created by Ruth Notes from the Rabbis’ Desks 6 Kersley and now in position in the John Rayner Ruth Kersley on the 7 Prayer Room. Rabbi Elana Dellal read from a Stained Glass Window Panel sermon by Rabbi Rayner reflecting on a rabbinic The Tu Bi’Sh’vat Shabbaton 8-9 saying about never praying in a room without The Learning Circle 10-12 a window. Rabbi Alexandra Wright’s dedication Bernie Bulkin’s new book: prayer included a passage about performing Solving Chemistry 13 mitzvot by creating beautiful ritual objects and Community Events 14 places of worship. Igor Zinkov, our student rabbi, Young LJS 15 then read a blessing before everyone marvelled Purim Celebrations at the LJS 16 at the new stained glass panel and enjoyed the The LJS Communal Seder 16 sumptuous Kiddush Jane Rayner provided for this special occasion.
    [Show full text]
  • The Liberal Jewish Synagogue the Learning Circle Classes in Jewish Studies and Hebrew 2017 - 2018 / 5778
    The Liberal Jewish Synagogue The Learning Circle Classes in Jewish Studies and Hebrew 2017 - 2018 / 5778 And do not say, sure, I will study. Perhaps you will never have leisure Avot 2:4) 1 Welcome to The Learning Circle At the centre of the life of our synagogue here at the LJS lies its educational programme: the LJS Nursery for children aged 2½ - 5 years old, Rimon Religion School from 3½ to 15, and a full programme of learning and engagement for adults. There is nothing more fulfilling and stimulating than reading a text, listening to a piece of music, looking at a painting, engaging in discussion or learning something new. This prospectus provides a gateway to lifelong learning about Judaism and Jewish cultural identity. For the beginner, Exploring Judaism provides a weekly exploration of Jewish life, history, belief and observance with time to reflect on living a Jewish life. Festivals offer times to delve more deeply into their significance and practice. Lunchtime gatherings on Shabbat have proved a popular way for the congregation to come together to listen to first-class speakers. Art, poetry and music feature in our programme as well as discussions about Israel and Jewish identity. We are delighted to be collaborating once again with Spiro Ark with a full programme of Hebrew and Yiddish classes. In addition, on offer for the first time is a programme of classes at Leo Baeck College. We hope that there will be something that will draw you over the threshold and help to deepen Jewish knowledge and wisdom and enhance our spirituality and Jewish identity.
    [Show full text]
  • Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of The
    Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the members of Liberal Judaism (ULPS) - known as Council, held on Tuesday 2nd July 2019 at The Montagu Centre, 21 Maple Street, London, W1T 4BE Subject to sections 26-32 of the Memorandum and Articles of Liberal Judaism (ULPS) PRESENT PRESIDENT/ Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, Joan Shopper VICE PRESIDENTS OFFICERS Simon Benscher (Chair), Graham Carpenter, Ruth Seager, Robin (DIRECTORS) Moss, Karen Newman, Jane Drapkin, Amanda McFeeters, Jackie Richards RABBIS Charley Baginsky, Janet Burden, Danny Rich COUNCIL Geoffrey Ben-Nathan (Beds), Janet Berkman (Peterborough), Gerard Geneen (South Bucks), Jane Greenfield (Southgate), Bob Kamall (ELELS), James Krikler (SLLS), Frank Maxwell (Ind.), Richard Stevens (ELELS), David Silver (Oxford), Alan Solomon (Mosaic) IN ATTENDANCE Becca Fetterman, Shelley Shocolinsky-Dwyer, Tom Rich, Rafe Thurstance (minutes), Alexandra Simonon, Bryan Diamond (LJ Hon. Archivist), Paul Silver-Myer, Helen Goldhill, Simon Rothstein 1 OPENING PRAYER ● Rabbi Danny Rich opened with a prayer of remembrance and a moment of silence in memoriam of Devra Freelander, daughter of Rabbis Danny and Elyse Freelander, who had been killed in an accident that morning. ANNUAL REPORT/AGM 2 WELCOME AND APOLOGIES ● The Chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting, and a traditional special welcome was given to Gerard Geneen, Chair of SBJC, for his first attendance to Council/AGM. ● APOLOGIES were received from: Stuart McDonald, Ros Clayton, Robin ​ Samson, Louise and Jeromé Freedman, Margaret Jacobi, Nick
    [Show full text]
  • Simon Benscher (C
    MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MEMBERS OF LIBERAL JUDAISM (ULPS) – KNOWN AS COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 1st May 2018 AT THE LIBERAL JEWISH SYNAGOGUE SUBJECT TO SECTIONS 26 -32 OF THE MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF LIBERAL JUDAISM (ULPS) PRESENT PRESIDENT / Jeromé Freedman, Louise Freedman, Rabbi Harry Jacobi VICE PRESIDENTS OFFICERS Simon Benscher (Chair), Graham Carpenter, Amanda McFeeters, (DIRECTORS) Jackie Richards, Ruth Seager, AmeLia Viney, Karen Newman, Ros CLayton RABBIS Richard Jacobi, CharLes MiddLeburgh, CharLey Baginsky, Pete Tobias COUNCIL Frank MaxweLL (Birmingham), WiLLiam GLassman (EaLing), Sam Eastmond (EaLing), Ruth SeLo (Eastbourne), Bob KamaLL (ELELS), Richard Stevens (ELELS), Josie Kinchin (FinchLey), ALison Turner (Herefordshire), Peter LobLe (LJS), ALan SoLomon (Mosaic), Jane GreenfieLd (Southgate), Stuart MacDonaLd IN Davina Bennett (Operations Manager, ELstree), Becca Fetterman, ATTENDANCE ELLie Lawson, Simon Lovick, SheLLey ShocoLinsky-Dwyer, ALexandra Simonon, Hannah Stephenson, Rafe Thurstance (minutes). OPENING PRAYER Rabbi CharLey Baginsky WELCOME AND APOLOGIES SB weLcomes everyone to the LJS, thanks the LJS for their hospitaLity. Attendees are notified that the meeting wiLL be recorded for the sake of the minutes, and asks peopLe to state any objections - none are recorded. Those in attendance are asked to state who they are before speaking. Sam Eastmond (EaLing), Davina Bennett (ELstree), ELLie Lawson (LJY-Netzer), Ruth SeLo (Eastbourne) are weLcomed to their first meeting. Apologies were received for Aaron GoLdstein, Andrew GoLdstein, Sharon GoLdstein, Nick SiLk, Peter Gordon, ALice ALphandary, Robin Moss, Lucian J. Hudson, Janet Berkman, Graham Berkman, Jennifer Lennard, Tamara Joseph, Cathy Burnstone, Ed Herman, Corinne Oppenheimer, Robin Samson, Lea MuehLstein, Joan Shopper, Nick BeLkin, and Rosie Ward. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 2017 AND MATTERS ARISING The minutes were signed as an accurate record.
    [Show full text]
  • A Reflection and Celebration of the Life and Work of Rabbi John D
    AN INTRODUCTION TO ‘A REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF RABBI JOHN D. RAYNER’ Alexandra Wright* Rabbi John Rayner was born in Berlin on 30 May 1924. He died in London on 19 September 2005, having made a significant contribution to the cause of Liberal Judaism in Great Britain. As Senior Rabbi of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) for nearly thirty years, and Emeritus for nearly sixteen years until his death, his influence on the congregation which he served was immeasurable. He was the leading exponent of Liberal Judaism in Great Britain, seeking throughout his life to strengthen and reconstruct the Liberal Jewish movement in Britain that had been founded by Claude Montefiore and Lily Montagu and led by Rabbi Israel Mattuck, the LJS’s first rabbi. He was born Hans Sigismund Rahmer, the younger child of Ferdinand and Charlotte Rahmer, and was fifteen when he said goodbye to his parents and boarded what was to be one of the last of the Kindertransport trains to England. He lived, at first, with Will and Muriel Stannard and their sons, and then with Hugh and Elizabeth Wilkinson, both men ordained Christian clergy. In his memoir Before I Forget, published for his family and friends in 1999, he wrote: ‘From them I learnt much about religion at its best, but was never persuaded by Christian doctrine, and remained loyal to Judaism inwardly and, when opportunity occurred, outwardly’ (Rayner 1999: 36). In witnessing a liberal kind of Christianity, particularly at Durham School where he was a pupil, he ‘wished that there was a liberal version of Judaism that had all the virtues of liberal Christianity without the Christianity’ (Ibid.: 37).
    [Show full text]
  • Happy Birthday Harry
    January/February 2016 VOL. XLIII No. 1 Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism www.liberaljudaism.org ljtoday Happy birthday Harry Mitzvah Day NE OF Liberal Judaism’s most The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) Award for NPLS beloved, and senior, rabbis service was taken by two of Harry’s Ocelebrated his 90th birthday with children, Rabbis Dr Margaret and Richard special services and kiddushim held at Jacobi, along with LJS senior rabbi, communities all over the UK. Rabbi Alexandra Wright. Harry gave the Rabbi Harry Jacobi was joined by sermon. Others in attendance included friends, family and Liberal Judaism Simon Benscher and Rabbi Danny Rich, members at events at The Liberal Jewish the chair and senior rabbi of Liberal Synagogue, Woodford Liberal Synagogue, Judaism, Rabbi Rachel Benjamin and Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg. Southgate Progressive Synagogue, At the end of the service, Harry was Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue visibly moved as his young granddaughter and South Bucks Jewish Community. Tali presented him with a Festschrift Harry, who was born as Heinz Martin written in his honour. The book, reviewed Hirschberg in October 1925, and grew on page 10 of this issue of lj today, was up in Auerbach, Germany, twice fled the edited by Rabbi Danny Rich and features Nazis to become one of Britain’s most contributions from leading Progressive NORTHWOOD & PINNER LIBERAL respected and inspiring religious leaders. Jewish rabbis and thinkers. Another SYNAGOGUE (NPLS) won this year’s granddaughter, Abigail, Mitzvah Day Award for Interfaith wrote the biography Partnership of the Year.
    [Show full text]
  • Liberal Judaism Congregations
    March/April 2015 VOL. XLII No. 2 Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism www.liberaljudaism.org ljtoday The only response to closed minds is open doors HE LEADERSHIP of Liberal Judaism Rabbi Danny Rich made the same Progressive or Orthodox, than they has taken to the airwaves and strong case in his appearances on ITV’s usually would be. As a chaplain, that Tnewspapers to reassure members, Good Morning Britain, BBC2’s Daily makes me angry. We are dealing with and all Jews, in the wake of reports of Politics Show and Channel 4 News, while real evil. These terrorists are making the rising antisemitism in the UK, fear among Liberal Judaism’s student and young world darker and more frightening. You our community and people planning on adult chaplain Rabbi Leah Jordan was can’t turn a blind eye to that, but also leaving Britain for Israel. featured on ITV News and NBC News you must continue to live your life. This is In a letter to The Guardian, Liberal in America. Liberal leaders were also something we have to fight, both as the Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny quoted extensively in the Jewish press, Jewish community and society. We have Rich, chairman Lucian J Hudson and with Leah, Lucian and Bedfordshire to show that we are not afraid.” Rabbinic Conference chair Rabbi Charley Progressive Community president She concluded: “The simple truth is Baginsky responded to an article in the Geoffrey Ben-Nathan all penning that we live in one of the best places to same paper by reporter Robert Booth commentary pieces for The Jewish News.
    [Show full text]
  • 2015 Liberal Judaism (Ulps)
    Charity Registration No. 1181090 Company Registration No. 08281223 (England and Wales) LIBERAL JUDAISM (ULPS) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2015 LIBERAL JUDAISM (ULPS) LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Trustees Lucian Hudson Simon Benscher Jackie Richards Ruth Seegar Dr Howard Cohen Amelia Viney Ed Herman Tsmars Schmidt Rosie Ward David Hockman Robin Moss Graham Carpenter (Appointed 7 July 2015) Benjamin Herman Secretary Dr Howard Cohen Charity aumber 1151090 Company nutuber 08281223 Principal address The Montagu Centre 21 Maple Street London W1T 4BE Auditor HW Fisher ter Company Acre House 11-15William Road London NW1 3ER United Kingdom Bankers National Westminister Bank Pic Baker Street Branch PO Box 2BA 69 Baker Street London W1A 2BA United Kingdom LIBERAL JUDAISM (ULPS) CONTENTS Page Trustees report 1-10 Statement of trustees' responsibilities Independent auditor's report 12-13 Statemeut of financial activities 14 Balance sheet 15 Statement of cash flows 16 Notes to the accounts 17-31 LIBERAL JUDAISM (ULPS) (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEESREPORT FOR THE YEAR ElVDED 31DECEAfBEE 2015 The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the LK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015). Structure, governance and management Liberal Judaism (ULPS) is established as a charitable company limited by guarantee and is a registered charity with the Charity Commission (No.
    [Show full text]
  • Leo Baeck College ~»\ Library 2
    g IDIZ THE SPIRIT OF ISRAEL MATTUCK This year of 1992, still so young and so cold, and especially this first quarter of it, is a season of anhiversaries. 0n the world stage, it recalls, most notably, what happened 500 years ago in Spain. For it was on 2nd January, 1492, that Ferdinand and Isabella entered Granada and so ended nearly 800 years of Muslim rule in the peninSula. In the same month they received Christopher Columbus’s demands for the voyage which was to take him to the New World. And on 3Lst March they issued the infamous decree of expulsion which sent about 200,000 Jews scurrying across the seas in search of a friendly home: the decree which will be finally and formally rescinded by the Spanish Government on the day of its 500th anniversay this year. Of the refugees, about 10,000 made it to Italy. They included a family called Montefiore who landed at Ancona and later settled in Leghorn, otherwise known as Livorno. In the course of the 18th century they came to England, and some of them were among_ the founders of the West London Synagogue, which dedicated its first house of worship, in Burton Street, 150 years ago, on 27th January, 1842. Claude Montefiore, who grew up in that Congregation, had a brilliant career at Oxford, and there, in 1892, delivered the Hibbert Lectures on "The Origin and Growth of Religion as illustrated by the Religion of the Ancient Hebrews". It was an event the centenary of which deserves a mention. For by these nine lectures, which, as subsequently published, run to 552 pages, Montefiore established himself as a major Bible scholar and the first Jew in this country to think through the implications of modern Bible scholarship for Judaism.
    [Show full text]
  • Hold a Second Seder Once This Is All Over
    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.
    [Show full text]
  • Western Europe
    Western Europe Great Britain National Affairs T\wo PIVOTAL DATES IN 1992 were April 9, the date of the general election, which resulted in a close Conservative victory; and September 16 ("Black Wednesday"), when the pound sterling was forced out of the fixed-rate European Monetary System. In April the Tories, led by Prime Minister John Major, returned to power, defying the predictions of the pollsters but with a much reduced overall majority of 21. Neil Kinnock resigned as Labor leader, to be replaced by John Smith. The campaign was marked by successful and sustained Conservative attacks on Labor's alleged tax-and-spend policy. Much was also made of signs of the onset of economic recovery, but this did not materialize, and the continuing high level of interest rates (barely reduced from 10.5 percent to 10 percent in May) squeezed the life out of the faint revival in consumer spending. In fact, unemployment increased by 35,000 in the first 11 months of 1992, and manufacturing output at year-end was almost no higher than in 1979, when the Tories first came to power. The summer was spent trying to reconcile the need of the domestic economy for a looser monetary policy with the constraint imposed by membership in the Euro- pean system. This precarious balance was upset by several events: the Danish rejection of the Maastricht treaty in a referendum on June 2, a further increase in German interest rates in July, and the unilateral devaluation of the Italian lira by 7 percent early in September. The pound sterling meanwhile sank to the bottom of its permitted level against the deutsche mark.
    [Show full text]
  • 02-Annual-Report-Final.Pdf
    EUROPEAN UNION FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM Annual Report 2015 for the European Assembly at Holiday Inn – Kensington Forum London United Kingdom 17th April 2016 Honorary Officers, Office Holders and Staff 2015 Honorary Life Presidents Ruth Cohen Jeffery Rose President Leslie Bergman Vice-Presidents Alex Dembitz Rabbi Andrew Goldstein Sonja Guentner Rabbi Walter Homolka Rabbi Deborah Kahn-Harris Jonathan Lewis Félix Mosbacher Gordon Smith Chairman Miriam Kramer Joint Vice-Chairmen Stéphane Beder Michael Reik Honorary Secretary John Cohen Honorary Treasurer David Pollak Board Members Rabbi Danny Rich Rabbi Ruven Bar-Ephraim (Rabbinic Adviser) Rabbi Mark Goldsmith Andrew Hart (Legal Adviser) Leo Hepner z”l Deborah Hofer Rabbi Lea Muehlstein WUPJ Representative Rabbi Joel Oseran Administrator Deborah Grabiner Newsletter Editor Arthur Buchman 2 Contents Page 2 Honorary Officers, Office Holders and Staff 2015 Page 3 Contents Page 5 EUPJ Report Page 7 WUPJ Report Page 8 European Beit Din Page 9 Austria – Or Chadasch Page 10 Belgium – Beth Hillel, Brussels Page 11 Belgium – IJC, Brussels Page 12 Czech Republic – Bejt Simcha, Prague Page 13 Czech Republic – ZLU Hatikvah, Prague Page 14 Denmark – Shir Hatzafon, Copenhagen Page 15 France – AJLT, Toulouse Page 16 France – AJTM, Paris Page 16 France – Communauté Juive Libérale, Dauphiné Grenoble (Beit haOr) Page 16 France – Communauté Juive Libérale, Montpellier Page 16 France – Communauté Juive Libérale, Paris Page 17 France - Kehilat Gesher, Paris Page 18 France- Kehilat Kedem, Montpellier Page 19 France
    [Show full text]