Dear members and friends, 

It has been a week of planning, preparing, coordinating, and organising in the CCJ office this week, and I am sure in branches around the country. With Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations behind it has been exciting to see  future plans begin to take shape.

An image of God's guiding and leading occurs early in the parashah, or Torah portion, which will be read in many synagogues tomorrow. A pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire guides the Israelites day and night through the desert after their deliverance from Egypt (Exod 13:21-22). Although the desert experience will be challenging, God promises to lead and provide. Jews and Christians have many interpretations of these famous pillars, and of course not all of them the same. As an American, I think of the witness of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, who fought segregation and racism in the US the 1960s, and whose birthday was marked two weeks ago in the US. One volume in a Pulitzer-prize-winning history of Dr King has the title 'Pillar of Fire: America in the King Years, 1963-65'. The story of the Exodus has served as a template of hope, struggle, and divine guidance for generations of African-Americans, and indeed for countless peoples around the world. It's an apt image for us today as we plan for the coming year, whether we are Jewish or Christian. 

As we all plan and look ahead, the experience of the Israelites in the desert reminds me that the way before us will not always be easy. This week all of us, I am sure, were discouraged by the Community Security Trust's report on antisemitic incidents in 2019, which found that these horrible incidents continue to rise in the UK, as they have done in recent years (please take a moment to read our statement below). As we plan for the year, we are reminded that we must stand together as Jews and Christians against antisemitism and all forms of racism. The work of Dr King and the need for his witness did not end with his murder in 1968. May the pillars of cloud and fire still lead our respective communities in different ways and in shared ways, even today.

Tu Bishvat, the Jewish celebration of 'New Year of the Trees', begins at sundown Sunday, and we are pleased to have a thoughtful blog written for CCJ by Rabbi Margaret Jacobi below. And please read on to find details of upcoming events around the country.

Wishing you a restful weekend,

Nathan Eddy
Deputy Director, CCJ

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Last week I was invited to attend The Refugee Solidarity Summit: a two day conference which brings together non-profit organisations, activists, volunteers, community organisers and NGOs working in the areas of refugee support in the UK and across Europe. The summit was made up of a combination of discussion groups, seminars and training workshops, and topics ranged from the UK asylum process to local community engagement.  Meeting with the hundreds of dedicated activists who had come together to share knowledge and ideas on how we can better support refugees served to me as a source of hope and inspiration; that at this time of growing divide and polarisation there are many passionately striving to bring healing, and justice.
 
Supporting the rights of refugees has been an intrinsic part of CCJ’s work since its very formation in 1942 and now more than ever the continuation of this work is crucial. Through dialogue, education and social action we shall continue to promote an ethos of united humanity in which the rights of all human beings are respected and upheld: including the rights of those seeking refuge today. 
 
Esther Sills
Programme Manager

Pictured: Lord Alf Dubs address at The Refugee Solidarity Summit: “we have a responsibility to try and give people hope”

 

Below is a blog post kindly written for us by Rabbi Dr. Margaret Jacobi (Birmingham Progressive Synagogue and Birmingham CCJ) about Tu Bishvat and it's relevance today: 

Tu Bishvat is a festival whose time has come. Originally, it was simply a date for determining the age of trees and when their fruit could be eaten.  In 16^th century Safed the ritual of theTu Bishvat seder developed as a mystical celebration of the land and its produce.  After the establishment of the State of Israel it became a day for planting trees.  In our time it has evolved again, into a day to raise awareness of the environment and the role of trees in particular.  With ever growing awareness of the climate emergency its celebration has taken on a new importance and relevance...

You can read Rabbi Jacobi's piece in full by clicking here.

 

This week I was pleased to visit St Edmundsbury Cathedral for their continuing commemorations of Holocaust Memorial Day. Organised by cathedral curate, the Revd Sarah Geileskey, an alumna of CCJ’s Yad Vashem seminars, the event featured poetry, history, and personal reflection on the Holocaust. I spoke about my MA research into the experiences of Christian army chaplains at the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. The Revd Manette Crossman spoke about her Dutch family who were named by Yad Vashem as Righteous among the Nations for their part in saving the lives of hundreds of Dutch Jews during the Holocaust. The Revd Mark Hunt reflected on visiting Auschwitz and interspersing these presentations, the Revd Lucy Dallas, Vice Principal of the Eastern Region Ministry Course and another alumna of the Yad Vashem seminars, shared poetry written in response to the Holocaust. It was a powerful evening of remembering the Holocaust and reflecting on how we as individuals and communities respond to such memories.
 
Rob Thompson
Senior Programme Manager

Pictured: Revd Manette Crossman with an image of her great-uncle Revd Jacobus Overduin, holding his chalice.

From 16 – 20 March The Wiener Holocaust Library in London will host the travelling exhibition James Parkes and the age of intolerance. This exhibition—which CCJ has been proud to help bring to a number of cathedrals in the UK—reflects on the life and legacy of the Revd James Parkes, a key personality in the founding of CCJ and one of the leading thinkers, writers, and campaigners in twentieth century Jewish-Christian relations. You can find out more about the exhibition here. On Thursday 19 March 18.30-20.00 our Senior Programme Manager Rob Thompson will join a panel to discuss the work of James Parkes. Alongside Rob will be speakers Prof Tony Kushner, Marcus Sieff Professor in Jewish/non-Jewish relations at the University of Southampton, and Dr Barbara Warnock, Senior Curator and Head of Education at The Wiener Holocaust Library. Please do join us to reflect on Parkes’ extraordinary legacy and the repercussions of his work in contemporary issues as well. You can sign up for this free event here.

Applications open for 2020 Yad Vashem Seminar
 

Applications are now open for CCJ’s annual seminar at the International School of Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. The seminar—which will take place Monday 12 to Thursday 22 October 2020—is open to ordained Christian clergy and lay church leaders. Now in its 14^th year, the seminar is a unique opportunity for church leaders to learn about the Holocaust, pre-war Jewish European life, and post-Holocaust theology from the world’s leading experts. In doing so, participants will become part of our active network of over 250 "alumni" across the UK, committed to passing on Holocaust learning in their churches and communities, championing Christian-Jewish relations, and challenging antisemitism.
 
For more information on the programme and how to apply, please contact Senior Programme Manager, Rob Thompson, at rob.thompson@ccj.org.uk