The Movement for Reform Judaism

Join Rabbi Lea Mühlstein and Rabbi Josh Weinberg for a three-part lecture series as we approach one year since the tragedy of 7th October.

The first lecture will take place this Thursday at 7pm UK time (9pm Israel / 2pm EST).

Register by scanning the QR code in the graphic below or clicking here: https://bit.ly/3TromUT

Rabbi Miriam Berger has written for The Jewish News on the latest revival of Fiddler on the Roof and what it can teach us about having a sense of belonging and a commitment to the passing on of tradition:

Leap of faith: why Fiddler doesn’t have an ending Tradition and a sense of belonging will continue our story

UK shul offers support to Ukrainian communities hit by Russian airstrikes Members of The Ark Synagogue are hoping to visit Progressive Jewish communities in Ukraine in November

University Student Send-Off - Thursday 12 September, 18:00
An evening exploring student life, finding community, being Jewish on campus with Sami Berkoff, UJS President. Join your Rabbis and university experts who can support and enrich your time on campus. There will be spaces for students and parents to learn and ask questions together and apart, and a light dinner will be provided. At EHRS, 118, Stonegrove, Edgware - just turn up or contact [email protected] for more information

Nearly 200 attendees – including prominent religious and civic leaders – celebrated the dedication of Mosaic Jewish Community’s new home in Stanmore.

The service was a testament to the Mosaic’s unity and diversity, and how it brings together three different Jewish congregations (Reform, Liberal and Masorti) into a single community under one roof.

The service was led by Mosaic’s four clergy – Rabbi Rachel Benjamin (Liberal), Rabbi Kathleen de Magtige-Middleton (Reform), Rabbi Anthony Lazarus Magrill (Masorti) and Rabbi Anna Wolfson (Mosaic Development Rabbi) – with guests including Rabbi Josh Levy, the Co-Lead of Progressive Judaism.

Harry Grant, Chair of Mosaic Reform Synagogue, said the dedication of the state-of-the-art building was a “major milestone for Anglo-Jewry”.

Read the full story here: https://loom.ly/D_DiOGM

As The Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism work towards coming together as one organisation, we are seeking a skilled, dedicated and experienced Director of Finance to be responsible for finance and risk for MRJ and LJ, as well as providing accounts, budgets and overseeing audits for three other related charities.

Find out more and apply here:

The Movement for Reform Judaism - Movement for Reform Judaism (Progressive Judaism): Director of Finance Cambridge Jewish Community Youth Worker. 8 Hours/week

The best story you will read today:

Twenty-four members of Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue - EHRS and Mosaic completed an emotional trip to Poland.

Their mission: to loan a cherished EHRS Torah scroll to the Bnei Maskilim Progressive Jewish community based in Vilnius, Lithuania.

History was made when the Torah was physically handed over by EHRS's Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich outside the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which is on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto.

It was part of the of the World Union for Progressive Judaism • WUPJ's Torah Exchange programme and the regeneration and rejuvenation of Jewish life in Eastern Europe.

Receiving the Torah, Bnei Maskilim Chair Viljamas Zitkauskas said: “Words cannot fully capture the profound joy and reverence I feel at this moment. This scroll reinforces the bonds between our Progressive congregations. We are stronger together. Thank you, from the depths of my heart, for this extraordinary gift.”

Read the full story here: https://www.reformjudaism.org.uk/a-extraordinary-gift-ehrs-passes-cherished-torah-to-vilnius-community/

Pictures by Suzi Fields

Read a reflection from Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky, the Co-Leads of Progressive Judaism, on their recent meetings with the British government and the decision to suspend some arms export licenses to Israel:

The Movement for Reform Judaism - Reflection from Co-Leads of Progressive Judaism on meetings with UK government A reflection from Progressive Judaism Co-Leads Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy: As leaders of Progressive Judaism, alongside senior leadership from across the Jewish community, we met yesterday with the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, and the Attorney General, Richard Hermer, following t...

Mazel tov to Rabbi Anna Wolfson, who has been appointed as The Liberal Synagogue Elstree's Director of Community Development.

Rabbi Anna will take up the newly-created role in November, as part of TLSE’s ambitious plans to become a leading community centre for Progressive Judaism in South Hertfordshire.

She will work alongside Rabbi Gershon Silins – as well the synagogue’s trustees, staff and volunteers – to further grow and develop the thriving and vibrant TLSE community, in a region that has Europe’s fastest-growing Jewish population.

Synagogue chair Leigh Renak said: “Anna is one of Progressive Judaism’s most recognised young Rabbis and will bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to TLSE as we plan a truly exciting future."

Read the full story here: https://www.liberaljudaism.org/2024/09/rabbi-anna-wolfson-joins-tlse-as-director-of-community-development/

Progressive Judaism - Liberal Judaism and The Movement for Reform Judaism - mourns the murder in captivity of Ori Danino, Almog Sarusi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Carmel G*t and Eden Yerushalmi.

Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones and the thousands of us across the world who brought their pictures and stories into our homes and communities daily. May their memory be a blessing.

Our thoughts are also with the other hostage families and our friends, family and colleagues in Israel who ask us to continue to amplify their voice.

These six hostages, kidnapped alive on 7th October, were later murdered while in captivity.

Today, the Hostages Families Forum call on the Israeli public to join a massive demonstration, demanding a complete halt of the country and the immediate implementation of a deal to release the hostages and bring them home.

We stand with you.

Sign ups for RSY-Netzer Choref winter camp are now live.

Choref is a special environment where chaverimot (friends) of all ages can spend time together as part of a welcoming and inclusive community of young Progressive Jews.

They will engage in creative education and prayer, develop their passions and interests, explore their Jewish identity, make new friends and have lots of kef (fun).

Find out more, and sign up, here: www.rsy-netzer.org.uk/our-events/choref/

Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky, the Co-Leads of Progressive Judaism, host their online Open House every month.

The next will take place this Thursday (5 September).

This is your chance to ask Rabbis Josh and Charley any questions you have in an informal and relaxed environment. It’s also a chance to get to know other members of Progressive Judaism and learn about the successes and initiatives of other communities, both Liberal and Reform.

Email [email protected] to take part.

Progressive Judaism wholeheartedly supports this important memorial, with Co-Lead Rabbi Josh Levy praising Lisa and Michael Marlowe’s "courage, dignity and commitment to honour the memory of all those killed in the atrocity of October 7."

Parents of October 7 victim call for a permanent memorial to be built in Britain Lisa and Michael Marlowe are leading the search for a location for a memorial to those killed in Israel on October 7

With the start of university term around the corner this September, as well as the High Holy Days not far behind in October, Progressive Jewish Students UK (PJS) is here for all needs on campus and beyond.

Read how PJS can support you and your family here: https://www.reformjudaism.org.uk/going-to-university-contact-progressive-jewish-students/

Email [email protected] to get in touch.

Focus on diversity as Jewish Living Experience comes to Salford Liberal Judaism Officer Owen Power and community campaigner Pete Simms brought the Jewish Living Experience Exhibition to Salford, in Greater Manchester. The Board of Deputies’ mobile travelling roadshow helps to educate non-Jews about the Jewish…

Leadership Nominations for the Governing Board and Leadership Council of the World Union for Progressive Judaism • WUPJ close tomorrow.

You can nominate yourself, or someone else, at https://wupj.org/news/2024/08/60616/wupj-seeks-leadership-nominations-for-its-governing-board-and-for-its-leadership-council/

Living as a Jew in modern About In the spirit of our belief that it is better to talk to, not about, faith communities, it is important to ask Jewish people directly what their experiences of living in Britain are. We will be asking our panel of Jews from across Britain to share their stories of living in Britain and discuss...

Read about the amazing journeys of two of our newest Progressive Rabbis.

Newly ordained rabbis - LBC's Rabbi Martina Loreggian and Rabbi Nicola Feuchtwang - reflect on studying rabbinics later in life, in this week's The Jewish Chronicle

https://www.thejc.com/community/newly-ordained-rabbis-reflect-on-studying-rabbinics-later-in-life-oy6ail2b

Arzenu-UK – the UK arm of the worldwide political voice of Progressive Jews within the World Zionist Organisation – will be holding a three-part lecture series as we approach the anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks of 7th October.

Rabbi Lea Mühlstein, immediate past Chair of Arzenu, will be leading the series and will be joined by Rabbi Josh Weinberg, a leading expert on the history of Zionism and the State of Israel. It has been organised by Progressive Jewish lay leaders Rebecca Singerman-Knight and Owen Power.

The first session looks at the historical context to these events, the second at 7th October and the Israel/Gaza war, and the final lecture at the ‘day after’ and the options for what happens next.

Register here: https://loom.ly/uKXoPXE

A lovely tribute to the wonderful Rabbi Rodney Mariner in this week's edition of The Jewish Chronicle:

Rodney Mariner, beloved former rabbi of Belsize Square Synagogue and convener of the Beit Din, dies aged 83 Mariner was rabbi of Belsize Square Synagogue for some three decades and convener of the Reform Beit Din for 22 years

Rabbi Rodney Mariner - former Convener of the Beit Din of the Movement for Reform Judaism - has died.

Renowned for his wisdom, compassion and tireless commitment to Progressive Judaism, he played a pivotal role in guiding countless people through conversion and lifecycle events.

Read our tribute here: https://loom.ly/AY5KPuQ

The Movement for Reform Judaism - Obituary: Remembering Rabbi Rodney Mariner Rabbi Rodney Mariner, a respected Rabbi and former Convener of the Beit Din of the Movement for Reform Judaism, has died at the age of 83. Born in Australia in 1941, he changed course after successful initial careers in both engineering and teaching – dedicating his life to Jewish education and sp...

📻 Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen gave the Thought for the Week on BBC Manchester, tackling the questions clergy get asked about belief in God and the answer that may surprise people.

Listen here (from 00:18:30): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jbh7kr

A lovely piece in this week's edition of The Jewish Chronicle on the RSY-Netzer / HIAS + JCORE card-writing project to refugees and asylum seekers - plus other actions from Progressive communities to support those being targeted by the far right:

The power of words: young people write messages of support to refugees ‘As a Jew, I know what it is to be scapegoated’

Janine Clements, Vice President of Alyth Synagogue, took part in a solidarity event at Finchley Mosque, hosted by Barnet Multi-faith Forum - where people of all faiths stood together against division and reaffirmed a shared commitment to peace and community cohesion.

The relationship was first built through the interfaith Iftar which Alyth hosted earlier this year.

Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue held the region’s first ever public reading of Megillat Eichah on Tisha B'Av.

The cross-communal event took place in Hove, near to the Memorial to the victims of 7th October.

Rabbi Dr Andrea Zanardo read Eichah and those gathered shared thoughts and stories from 7th October.

Rabbi Andrea said: “I wanted to offer to the community an opportunity to observe together this day of mourning in these sad times.”

Tonight from 8.30pm, we are holding an online Progressive Judaism evening of commemoration, study and exploration for Tisha B'Av.

Many Reform and Liberal members from across the country will be taking part in this event, made even more poignant as we not only reflect on the tragedies of the past but also the most recent of 7th October.

Register to join us here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpceCprTsrE9yrarnF5BNpamRLhXaknq8p #/registration

Teenagers on our RSY-Netzer Shemesh summer camp have been writing cards of support for asylum seekers and refugees.

The action came as part of a session – run for the Reut and Atid groups (14-15 year olds) – on the recent far right riots and attacks on minorities.

RSY-Netzer Movement Worker Jack Frohlich said: “We spoke about what has been happening and the different ways of being an ally to minority groups, as a minority group ourselves.

“We ended the sessions by writing notes of support to asylum seekers and refugees in a time where they are being specifically targeted.”

The cards will be distributed through the HIAS + JCORE JUMP programme – which gives young unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees a safe space to gain the skills and confidence they need to settle and build their new lives in the UK.

A lovely story in The Jewish Chronicle from Maidenhead Synagogue.

It's never too late to have a Bar/Bat/B Mitzvah - just speak to your local Progressive Rabbi or Cantor!

My 54-year-old bat mitzvah Why I opted for a mid-life bat mitzvah – and the ‘rabbis’ who helped me get there