Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
March/April 2017
VOL. XLIV No. 2
www.liberaljudaism.org
Liberal Judaism youth at camp in 2016 (left) and conference in 1956 (above right), and Rabbi Lionel Blue at a World Union youth event in 1957
ON January 19, 1947 a meeting was held BBC presenter Jo Coburn: “I joined when like-minded young people. It was very
that would establish a national Liberal I was 12 years old and it was a formative rewarding to see the growth of an exciting
Jewish youth movement. Although it part of my growing up. The religious youth movement and eventually seeing
has gone through many variations and side of all the youth activities was more many of my contemporaries fulfil their
names, the movement now known as of a backdrop to a vibrant social and promise by becoming the leaders of
LJY-Netzer has had a profound influence cultural scene. I cut my teeth debating congregations and of Liberal Judaism.”
on thousands of lives. Here, four Liberal politics, religion, social affairs and other
Jewish leaders give their reflections: issues with my peers on weekends away, Current LJY-Netzer movement worker
summer camps and educational trips to Hannah Stephenson: “Our members and
Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Liberal Israel. I learnt how to run conferences, volunteers constantly inspire me to make
Judaism’s director of strategy and put together charitable campaigns and the change I want to see in the movement
partnerships: “So much of where I am become a reasonable public speaker… and the world. As a movement, for the
today began with what was then called preparing me well for later life. I made last 70 years, we have been unafraid to
ULPSNYC Netzer. It was my first taste friends for life, had many memorable make bold choices and live a life through
of what it meant to be Jewish 24/7. It experiences and learnt the importance of the lens of our Liberal Jewish values.
gave me friends, rabbis and teachers. building a community. Most of all, I had a We have also played a key role in the
Dynamic leaders taught me about Jewish bloody great time.” global Progressive youth movement. We
philosophy, theology and practice in are now going to spend 2017 celebrating
ways which were accessible, relevant Walter Woyda, the first chair of the first this wonderful anniversary – with alumni
and exciting and made me want to know Liberal youth movement, writing in events and programmes at our camps.”
more. But even more than all of that it 1997: “What effect did it have on me? It
made me understand why I was a Liberal certainly helped to give me confidence • Thanks to Bryan Diamond and Rosita
Jew and committed me to wanting to be in public, to gain leadership experience Rosenberg for their help securing archive
part of an inspiring movement.” and to meet and work with many fine, material and photos for this article.
THE CONGREGATION at Nottingham The community spent decades visiting rude shock! However, through our links
Liberal Synagogue (NLS) have welcomed Austerlitz and forging links with the with another ‘Austerlitz community’ in
a Torah scroll from Austerlitz, in the town’s people. Ruth Matiovska, the one the United States, we discovered that
Czech Republic, finally putting an end to a remaining Jewish resident, even became there was another scroll of undoubted
50-year mix up. an honorary member of NLS. provenance. A big thank you is due to the
The community was founded in 1965 However, one year ago, the community Memorial Scrolls Trust, whose strenuous
as Nottingham Progressive Jewish discovered that their Czech scroll was efforts led to the retrieval of this second
Congregation and immediately applied actually number 887; not from Austerlitz, scroll, from Leeds University, and its
for, and received, a Torah from the but the small Moravian town of Kamenice placing in our safekeeping.”
Westminster Synagogue Czech Memorial nad Lipou, about 80km to the west. The community are planning to visit
Scrolls Trust, on permanent loan. Neil Pike, a member of the NLS both Austerlitz and Kamenice nad Lipou
They were given scroll number 886 Austerlitz group, said: “It emerged that in the summer of 2018.
– of the 1,564 that survived the Nazis – back in 1964, two scrolls were inscribed Neil added: “We will ensure that the
which was believed to have originated in with the same number, 886, and the memory of those who once used these
Austerlitz, now known as Slavkov. number 887 was omitted. This came as a scrolls will always be honoured.”
cathedral exhibition
Any Questions
FIVE of the country’s leading Progressive
rabbis – representing Liberal, Reform
and Masorti Judaism – took part in a
special panel debate to mark the 60th
anniversary of Leo Baeck College (LBC).
JOYCE ROTHSCHILD, of Birmingham Gerald, a Holocaust survivor, travels Liberal Judaism was represented by
Progressive Synagogue, and Southgate around the country speaking to schools Rabbi Richard Jacobi, who was joined by
Progressive Synagogue’s Gerald Granston and youth clubs about being a young LBC principal Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-
were awarded British Empire Medals in child in Nazi Germany and the state Harris, Rabbi Michael Foulds OBE and
the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. persecution he suffered. Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE. The
Joyce received the honour as a result of Gerald said: “British schools have very panel was chaired by Rabbi Larry Becker.
her annual quiz, which has been running little knowledge of what life was like for The discussion lived up to its title of
for 20 years and has raised more than Jews from 1933 to 1945. I emphasise ‘Any Questions’ with topics including
£120,000 in the fight against cancer. that the students listening to me are the LBC’s remarkable history and fundraising
She said: “I am very honoured, but feel future of our country and how essential it needs, Jewish schools, interfaith work
my many loyal helpers also deserve a is for them to stand up and fight prejudice and the relationship between Progressive
medal for making this possible.” wherever it raises its head.” and Orthodox Judaism.
Page 10 LJ Today Obituaries March/April 2017
Contact LJY-Netzer: Sam Alston (sam@liberaljudaism.org), Anna Craven (annac@liberaljudaism.org) and Hannah
Stephenson (hannah@liberaljudaism.org); Director of Youth - Rebecca Fetterman (r.fetterman@liberaljudaism.org)
Page 12 LJ Today March/April 2017