EUPJ-Newsletter-2018
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European Union for Progressive Judaism July/August 2018 Newsletter © European Union for Progressive Judaism Our future in the European Union Following the Brexit referendum, it became clear and believe the European Union to be essential to that the EUPJ should send a signal to its members the future of European Jewry. By taming destructive and the rest of the world that it is not just a UK- national demons, the Union has secured peace on based organisation. An a previously fractious important step is the creation continent. The EU is the EUPJ Foundation, embodies respect for based in Amsterdam. It was human dignity and established officially in May human rights, freedom, and ensures our institutional democracy, equality and legal presence outside and the rule of law. the UK. Today, however, Last year, the EUPJ populists of both left and decided to open an office in right are putting these Brussels and asked me to values under siege. become involved. Our goals The European project’s in Brussels include obtaining success or failure will EU funding, fighting for do much to determine equality for Progressive Judaism in Europe, and whether Jews may live comfortably in Europe. making sure that our progressive voice is heard Not everyone within EUPJ will agree. At our recent in the corridors of European power. Eventually, we meeting in Prague, some members criticised the EU aim to generate enough funding to hire staff and pay calling it a bureaucratic monster; others have for work done by member synagogues throughout wondered whether it gobbles up identities, including the region. our Jewish identity. I have lived in Brussels for more than two decades Continued on page 2 Creating a fairer world Chairman’s Message: Last week, my husband Eventually, she told and I went hiking for a few days and, as usual, we me that she was took our four greyhounds with us. On the first waiting for her brother evening, recovering from a long tour in blistering and father to return heat, we were joined by a very bubbly young girl from a bike trip across who didn’t wait for our permission to talk to the dogs the Alps and that until and engage with them, which she did expertly. then not much was It turned out that she was six years old and had going to happen. just completed her first year at primary school. By that time, this Utterly striking were her language, vocabulary, fantastically gifted girl social skills, knowledge and total ease at interacting had grown miserably with adults. Being familiar with the national bored and frustrated curriculum, my guess was that she had to be at with her first-ever least three years ahead of her peers. summer break. Very sweetly, she sort of adopted us and over the Now, I may very well next days joined us whenever possible. I thoroughly not know the whole story and am most definitely in enjoyed her company, but when I cautiously no position to form an opinion on this family’s plans inquired about her days, it seemed she was not but what really got to me was the girl’s resigned doing much more than zooming around on her acceptance of the fact that her break was on hold bicycle and rather desperately trying to find and that no alternative activities were offered to her someone to talk to. Continued on page 2 EUPJ Newsletter July/August 2018 1 EUPJ EUPJ European Office cont... I disagree, and so does the EUPJ Management Another project created Committee. The present European Commission by the EUPJ’s European has done much more to protect and promote Union Office aims to Judaism than any of its predecessors. In speech tackle online hate speech. after speech, European Commission Vice The hope is to leverage President Frans Timmermans underlined how only the many EUPJ local a Europe with Jews can fulfil the goal of a liberal, communities around tolerant multi-ethnic and multi-national Europe. Europe, winning funds to “There is no Europe without the Jewish community,” support their activities. is something that Timmermans repeats often. Another aim of the William (Bill) Echikson He has taken a series of important and concrete European Union Office is actions to support these words, including appointing to represent EUPJ communities to the EU and to the first-ever European co-ordinator against anti- help them address Europe-wide issues. Please Semitism. He has pressed Internet companies to contact us if you need support in raising an issue in combat online anti-Semitism. He calls out countries Brussels or want help from the EUPJ in addressing for trying to rehabilitate Holocaust war criminals national or local issues of concern. and minimise their own guilt. And he has unlocked The official opening of the office is scheduled for millions of euros in grants to fight anti-Semitism November 10 as part of the EUPJ’s Executive Board and finance interfaith initiatives. meeting that weekend. We look forward to seeing Given this support, the EUPJ is moving forward many of you in the European capital this autumn. – with its EU ambitions. We have already applied William Echikson for EU funding and have been wait-listed for an interfaith project, Emouna, bringing together rabbis, William Echikson a former Bureau Chief of Dow priests, imams and other religious leaders to fight Jones Newswires and Senior Manager at Google, extremism and promote tolerance. is the Director of the EUPJ’s EU Office in Brussels. Chairman’s Message cont... while her brother was enjoying an exciting trip. their very structures and provide equal opportunity It is one of Progressive Judaism’s greatest to every single member. strengths that it is synonymous with full equality, As we all enjoy our summer breaks and start embraces every individual’s right to fully unfold and reflecting on this Jewish year, which is nearing its develop one’s talents and potential. end, may I invite us all to devote a moment to The experience from our trip reminded me that this considering what each and every one of us in our is not a matter of course and that it requires active daily lives can contribute to making this world a little effort and commitment to create families, teams and fairer, a little more egalitarian. With all good wishes. congregations that have these ideals woven into – Sonja Guentner Getting to know your rabbis Last month, we introduced a new column entitled EUPJ Newsletter Deadlines “Rabbinic Ruminations” to enable readers to find out a little about the EUPJ rabbis who serve our MONTH COPY/PHOTOS PUBLISH communities. This is not a column for the parsha of the week September Wed 22/08/2018 Thu 06/09/2018 or religious studies. It is a way to get to know the October Mon 08/10/2018 Thu 18/10/2018 various rabbis across Europe. If you would like to contribute to this column, Nov/Dec Wed 14/11/2018 Thu 29/11/2018 please email me at [email protected]. Read this month’s issue on page 4 Please note: These dates are subject to change. July/August 2018 Contents 1 EUPJ’s EU Office 6 France 11 Spain 1 Chairman’s Message 7 Germany 12 Israel & Europe 3 Editor’s Note 9 Poland 12 United Kingdom 4 Rabbinic Ruminations 10 Italy 5 Belgium 10 Switzerland EUPJ Newsletter July/August 2018 2 EUPJ Editor’s Note While Israel’s controversial Nation State Law calendars. implemented ahead of Tisha B’Av illustrates how As August is divided the country has become, it has also shown traditionally a how united the non-Orthodox world remains in its quiet period in determination to find a more pluralistic and Europe, we will egalitarian path for all Jews. not have a The fact that Tu B’Av, the festival of love and newsletter next acceptance follows the mourning of the destruction month. of the Temple gives us hope that the status quo will However, even change if we constantly work together to achieve though many of these goals. you will be Internationally, the EUPJ’s European Union Office taking a break in Brussels will go a long way to ensuring equality and your among the different Jewish streams in Europe and communities we wish Bill Echikson and the EUPJ all the best in may not be achieving the EUPJ’s goals through this innovative planning events, we hope that you will still send us move. news that we can include in the next issue, which We hope that the official opening in Brussels in will be published just before Rosh Hashanah at the November will see representation from the WUPJ beginning of September. and all communities within the EUPJ. It promises to May you return refreshed and ready for a month of be a landmark event so don’t forget to keep the reflection, repentance and celebration. – Darryl Egnal weekend of November 9 marked off in your ([email protected]) Please Note: While every effort is made to provide accurate information and correct spellings of names in this newsletter, sometimes gremlins step in and mistakes appear. This is not intentional and we apologise in advance if we have offended or upset anyone. Who’s who at the EUPJ? Honorary Life Presidents Vice-Chairman: Israel Leslie Bergman & Twinning Ruth Cohen Michael Reik Jeffery Rose Education and Interfaith President Rabbi Menno ten Brink Gordon Smith EUPJ Rabbinic Assembly Vice-President Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein Chairman Chairman European Beit Din Sonja Guentner Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, Administrator Chairman Deborah Grabiner Vice-Chairman: Governance Rabbi Dr Jackie Tabick, [email protected] John Cohen Convener Newsletter Editor Vice-Chairman: Finance EUPJ’s European Union Office Darryl Egnal, Israel David Pollak Bill (William) Echikson, Director [email protected] EUPJ Newsletter July/August 2018 3 European Rabbinic Assembly Rabbinic Ruminations Sitting in my home in Jerusalem and reflecting back aspects of Jewish life in the city.