Liberal Judaism Congregations
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May/June 2015 VOL. XLII No. 3 Liberal Judaism is a constituent of the World Union for Progressive Judaism www.liberaljudaism.org ljtoday Collaborate, contemplate, celebrate By Ed Herman IBERAL JEWS from all across the country will gather in London on LSunday June 7 for our movement’s biggest event of the year – the Day of Celebration 2015. Tickets are still available for this fascinating and unique conference, which will explore our relationship with Israel. Whether you embrace Israel Rabbi Miri Gold and Reut Michaeli are coming from Israel to speak at the LJ Day of Celebration wholeheartedly, or are grappling with her policies and your relationship to the prophets, food, dance and Israeli We are privileged that The Liberal Jewish State, the wide-ranging agenda liturgical music. See page 4 for more Jewish Synagogue (LJS) in St John’s has something for everyone. information on this packed programme. Wood, Liberal Judaism’s oldest and Our keynote speaker is Rabbi Miri Gold, The day will close with a special largest community, will be hosting this the first non-Orthodox rabbi in Israel to ceremony, at which the coveted year’s Day of Celebration. The LJS is a have her salary paid by the government. Liberal Academy of Film and Torah fully accessible building. We are also We will also welcome Leo Baeck Awards (LAFTAs) will be awarded. This delighted to announce that Liberal Education Center’s Rabbi Ofek Meir, Reut project encourages children within our Judaism will be subsidising travel for Michaeli of the Hotline for Refugees and communities to produce a film of 2-3 those living outside the M25, see page 4 Migrants in Israel, a senior Israeli VIP and minutes envisioning life in Israel in all its for details on how to apply. rabbis and leaders from Liberal Judaism. varieties and diversities. The Day of Celebration guarantees The Day of Celebration offers a huge The Day of Celebration is truly inter- fascinating conversation and a range of workshops, delivered by generational. Our youth movement, celebration of what makes Liberal outstanding educators, Liberal rabbis LJY-Netzer, is closely connected to Israel Judaism unique – all in just one day, all and charities from both Israel and the through its ideology. Its amazing team of in great company and all for only £25 UK. Delegates will have a chance to take leaders will be running an event in which (children are £12, with family tickets for part in two workshops, and a lunchtime young people can experience Israel in two adults and up to four kids for £50). taster session, from a choice of 25. Topics a day - exploring the desert, kayaking 10,000 Liberal Jews. 40 Communities. 1 include the history of the State of Israel, the Jordan River, soaking up Tel Aviv’s Day. Will you be there? the Israeli political landscape, Hebrew culture and discovering what Judaism poetry, Israeli film, the Israel conflict in really means to them. Activities will • Book your Day of Celebration tickets the media and Jewish community, the be split, with school years 1-4 and 5-7 at www.tinyurl.com/LJDoC2015 - or by anti-Zionism of early Liberal Jews, the grouped together (older year groups will contacting Yael Shotts on 020 7631 9824 Liberal Jewish values of the Hebrew be able to attend the main conference). or [email protected] LORD CAREY, the former archbishop of collapsed in the face of the reality of Canterbury, used a meeting at Liberal needless suffering”. Judaism’s head office to reveal why he Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi came to change his mind on assisted Danny Rich - pictured left with Lord dying. Speaking at the regular interfaith Carey and Rabbi Romain - said: “Lord Dignity in Dying group meeting, Carey was very moving and instructive convened by Reform Judaism’s Rabbi in reminding all of us that it is possible Jonathan Romain, he explained that – and sometimes right – to change ones “the old philosophical certainties have long-held and steadfast views.” Page 2 LJ Today News May/June 2015 Meet Liberal Judaism’s Mazel tov... new director of youth • GABRIEL WEBBER, Abigail Jacobi and Miriam Steiner were named by The Jewish News as three of the people set to “define Anglo Jewry in the decades to come”. LJY-Netzer bogeret (graduate) Miriam was ranked at 13 in the newspaper’s ’25 under 25’ list, while Liberal Judaism outreach coordinator Abigail was placed 11th. The paper praised Abigail’s work at Limmud, especially in making the conference accessible for participants with learning difficulties and other special needs. LJY-Netzer movement worker BECCA FETTERMAN has joined Liberal Tell us a little about yourself - both Gabriel, pictured above, was named Judaism as the movement’s director of personally and professionally. as the seventh most important youth. Below, in an exclusive interview young Jew in Britain. Noting his with lj today, Becca talks about her My experiences in Progressive Jewish “uncompromising Liberal Zionism” background, passion for working with youth movements inspired me in so many and rhetorical skills, the paper young people and hopes for the job: ways, not least in my career choice. I praised Gabriel for successfully studied youth and community work at fighting for both Yachad’s inclusion at Can you tell our members about the role university and have been a professional the Board of Deputies and the defeat of director of youth and what your job youth worker since 2000. I have worked of a motion to boycott Israel at the will involve? in a variety of settings, most recently University of Sussex. managing the targeted youth work team It is my job to support the movement for Buckinghamshire County Council. I workers in Liberal Judaism’s youth group also met my husband Andrew through LJY-Netzer to be able to do what they do being involved in youth movements and best: delivering innovative and inspiring we have two girls Noa and Tali. experiences. I will also be looking strategically at all the youth, student What are your hopes and goals for this and young adult provision within Liberal new job over the next year? Judaism and ensuring continuity and developments within that provision. I am really excited to be working somewhere that fits both my personal When did you first get involved with Progressive Jewish values and my • JOYCE ROTHSCHILD, pictured Progressive Jewish youth movements? passion for empowering youth work. above, was honoured by The Jewish At the moment I am getting to know Chronicle as one of Britain’s Top 10 Before I was born! My parents met the LJY-Netzer team with the goal of Menches, thanks to a remarkable through YASGB, the forerunner to Reform using my professional experience and fund-raising drive for Macmillan Judaism’s youth movement RSY-Netzer. skills to support them in delivering their Cancer Support. The charity has My older brother and sister, and all my programs with all the same excitement, now received £100,000 from the cousins, went on camp, so I couldn’t wait fun, passion and professionalism that proceeds of an annual quiz Joyce to be old enough to attend. I attended my LJY-Netzer is known for. devised in gratitude for cancer- first RSY-Netzer event at the age of nine beating treatment she was given and absolutely loved it. The madrichim Finally how can young Liberal Jews and at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth (leaders) were, in my eyes, so cool and their parents get more involved? Hospital in her early 40s. so passionate about real things. I was Joyce, a member of Birmingham completely inspired and pretty much LJY-Netzer has a full program of events Progressive Synagogue, has been never missed an event from then on. I for Liberal youth of all ages, including the running the event for 18 years with took part in the Shnat Netzer gap year amazing Machaneh Kadimah summer teams and competitors coming from programme in Israel and then became a camp. See www.ljy-netzer.org or email all over Britain and abroad. movement worker. me on [email protected] May/June 2015 Communities LJ Today Page 3 Purim and Pesach in pictures Elstree Woodford South London Bet Tikvah Crouch End York Finchley Southgate Brighton & Hove Norwich Liberal Jewish Synagogue Birmingham Manchester Northwood & Pinner Eastbourne Stevenage Bedfordshire Gloucestershire Page 4 LJ Today Day of Celebration May/June 2015 Something for everyone ‘We must engage’ WHETHER you think about Israel every We will close the event with a special day, or not at all. Whether you fully ceremony, including a screening and support the Jewish State or are worried presentation of the coveted LAFTAs. This about the direction the Government is a project which encourages children is taking. Liberal Judaism’s Day of within our communities to engage with Celebration 2015 has something for you. the Day of Celebration (see page 10 for We guarantee fascinating conversation more details). The prize for the best and a celebration of what makes Liberal film, of a trophy and £50 for the winning Judaism unique – all in great company. religion school, will be awarded by our Charley Baginsky and Ilan Baron in Israel The programme looks like this: special guest Israeli VIP, who will also speak as part of the closing ceremony. By Rabbi Charley Baginsky 9:30–10:30 Arrival and registration For the first time ever, those in school 10:30–11:30 Welcome and keynote years 8 and above will be able to take MUCH COMMENT has been made in speech by Rabbi Miri Gold part in the main Day of Celebration.