European Union for Progressive Judaism October 2016 Newsletter © European Union for Progressive Judaism Chairman’s Message The chagim inaugurating 5777 are past and we can now resume our focus on the tasks ahead. The last EUPJ strategy plan was put together some five years Still waiting, still hopeful ago and the Management (A WUPJ message modified for October) Committee has begun This past January, Prime Minister Netanyahu made the process of devising a a commitment to the entire Jewish people. His new one. A draft will go government passed a resolution to include all forms out shortly to Executive of Jewish worship at the Western Wall, with detailed Board members for plans to build an egalitarian prayer space that would Miriam Kramer comment and then be administered by a pluralistic group including the document will be rabbis from our movement. For the first time in the discussed, and I hope approved, at our Executive history of the Jewish state, Progressive rabbis would Board meeting in Lyon on Sunday December 4. join an official government-supported religious body. In addition to the meeting on the Sunday Keren Or, It was a great shared victory. our community in Lyon, is hosting EUPJ members Unfortunately, in the months since, the Israeli for the whole weekend. In addition to Friday night government has successfully avoided implementing and Shabbat morning services we are promised its own commitment. Before Rosh Hashanah the hospitality and a visit to at least one site of Jewish WUPJ and leadership of the Reform Movement interest. I urge you all attend for the whole weekend, submitted a joint message asking the Israeli which should be most enjoyable, as well as for the leadership to fulfil their commitment to make meeting on Sunday. A reasonably-priced hotel, Judaism's holiest site a home for all Jews. Mercure Charpennes, is a few minutes’ walk from the We hope that 5777 will be the year our joint victory synagogue. Miriam Kramer at the Kotel is complete and Israel really is a home to all Jews. We believe that, with your help, by this Editor’s Message time next year we will hear the shofar blast from a The Book of Life for newsletter submissions is Western Wall that represents the best of our values always open. The EUPJ desires to report news from and diversity. as many of our communities as possible. In this Rabbi Daniel Freelander, WUPJ President October issue we have stories from more or less Carole Sterling, WUPJ Chair regular contributors from 12 of our 18 member Gordon Smith, EUPJ President countries, which is great with definite room for Miriam Kramer, EUPJ Chairman improvement. To make sure your country or community appears in the EUPJ news, appoint one person to be October Newsletter Contents responsible for sending stories and photos every month. Just a picture with a caption is enough. We 1 EUPJ 11 Belgium, France can translate and edit your texts as well as crop and 2 EUPJ 12 France touch up all photos, so just write and send - we’ll do 3 Shimon Peres 13 UK the rest. 4 Lyon Weekend 14 UK 5777 has only just begun, so there is still plenty of 5 Lyon Weekend 15 High Holy Days time to make a New Year’s resolution to submit news 6 Switzerland 16 WUPJ to [email protected] on a regular basis. Your 7 Hungary, Spain community’s events will be publicised across the 8 Poland, Denmark globe. Your unique activities could start a world wide 9 Italy, Germany trend, and your regular events can serve as an 10 Germany inspiration. Begin today, and both our readership and you will be glad. Arthur Buchman EUPJ Newsletter October 2016 1 EUPJ EUPJ Honorary Officers Come to the EUPJ weekend in Lyon and Staff 2016 We are delighted to share with you the details of the weekend of December 2-4 and present a brief programme Honorary Life Presidents overview and some travel information. More information is on Leslie Bergman pages 4 and 5. All services and meetings will take place at: Ruth Cohen Keren Or – Synagogue Libérale de Lyon Jeffery Rose 15 Rue Jules Vallès, 69100 Villeurbanne, France President Our Chairman, Miriam Kramer, has asked me to draw your Gordon Smith attention to a vital meeting of the Executive Board on the Vice-Presidents Sunday morning prior to the Board meeting to review the Alex Dembitz new EUPJ strategic plan. The timings on December 4 are as Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein follows – Strategic Plan Meeting from 10.00 to 12.30 and Rabbi Dr Walter Homolka then, following lunch, the Executive Board will meet between Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris 13.30 and 15.30. Jonathan Lewis Keren Or have extended an invitation to all members of Chairman EUPJ to join them for Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat begins at Miriam Kramer 19.15 on Friday, December 2 and will be followed by a Vice-Chairmen communal dinner. On Saturday the service begins at 10.30 Stéphane Beder and will be followed by a generous Kiddush. In the afternoon Sonja Guentner there are several options and more details are available on Michael Reik the attached flyer. In the evening we will all have dinner Honorary Secretary together in a restaurant. John Cohen If you would like to spend the weekend in Lyon with board Honorary Treasurer members, then we recommend the Mercure Charpennes David Pollak Hotel, which is reasonably priced and very close to the EUPJ Rabbinic Adviser synagogue and suggest you reserve your room as soon as Rabbi Ruven Bar-Ephraim possible. The address of the hotel is – Hotel Mercure Administrator Charpennes, 7 Place Charles Hernu, 69100 Villeurbanne . Deborah Grabiner [email protected] Should you require any further information, please do not Newsletter Editor hesitate to inform Deborah ([email protected] ) or Celia ([email protected]). Arthur Buchman [email protected] We look forward to seeing you in Lyon EUPJ website update Deborah Grabiner, Administrator EUPJ’s website was hacked into in September and was temporarily closed by Letters Google. We apologise for the inconven- Another stunning copy of the Newsletter. It makes it sound so ience. Following this incident we accepted good in the EUPJ...and yes it is good...as my car says, Ki advice to withdraw the website effective Tov! Rabbi Andrew Goldstein immediately while we build and launch a As usual, I enjoy reading the EUPJ Newsletter “cover to brand new site for the spring of 2017. cover”. Austin Beutel Deborah Grabiner, Administrator Just wanted to say this is a really wonderful newsletter. Fun to read and makes me feel like I know what’s going on… Synagogues everywhere which is a lot. Rabbi Cliff Kulwin Progressive congregations and Shabbat Many thanks for the latest newsletter - lovely photo on page services can be found nearly 7! (I mean the one at the bottom.) Rabbi Walter Rothschild everywhere during your travels. Click on a blue link to find a synagogue near your destination: Europe — Worldwide Thank you, Gillian The EUPJ leadership and editorial team thank Gillian Alfredsson for her many months as Assistant Editor of this newsletter. She needs to avoid time at the computer and we hope that her back will soon permit her to rejoin the team. Gillian is a skilled editor and writer and was very helpful putting translated texts into proper English. Arthur Buchman, Editor Please support Friends of Progressive Judaism in Israel and Europe. They support us. ULIF Copernic, Paris www.fpjie.org.uk EUPJ Newsletter October 2016 2 EUPJ, WUPJ In Memoriam Shimon Peres It is with great sadness that the European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ) and World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) joins the world in mourning the passing of Shimon Peres. His many titles befit a legend who is now no longer - former President of Israel, former Prime Minister, one of the youngest Defence Ministers in Israel's history, founding father of Israel, statesman, politician, activist, advocate and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Shimon Peres was a man of extraordinary vision, great passion, and great eloquence who brought much honour and respect to each of his roles and to the country of Israel. His love for Israel and of all Israelis, no matter their background or faith, knew no bounds. His genuine belief in peace, stemming from mutual respect between warring parties, led to his shared Nobel Prize for his work on the Oslo Peace Accords. Mr Peres was, in his own words, a dreamer, who foresaw in Israel's technological innovations its chance to bridge peoples and nations, in the Middle East and around the world. He devoted over 70 years of his life to Israel and Jewish communities around the world, advancing economic, defence, cultural and social platforms through his various initiatives in the private and public sectors In 2009, the World Union had the privilege of Shimon Peres at the World Union honouring Shimon Peres with its International CONNECTIONS 2009 in Israel Humanitarian Award (IHAD) at the celebratory closing gala of its CONNECTIONS international convention. This World Union honour celebrates an individual's extraordinary contribution to advancing Progressive Judaism and its values. Presented by former Chairman of the World Union, Austin Beutel, the award recognized Mr Peres' "lifelong vision and leadership in building the State of Israel and [his] commitment to peace, humanitarian causes and the timeless values of democracy, pluralism and freedom". Rabbi Richard Hirsch, Honorary President of the World Union and close friend of Mr Peres, reflected: "Shimon Peres was the premier statesman of the State of Israel, and the vibrant symbol of the highest values of the Jewish people.