27 FEBRUARY 2020 - 2 ADAR 5780
PARASHAT TERUMAH

[Blog] Inside the Leo Baeck Education Centre

Jewish West bring Bristol communities together for Purim

Northwood teenagers sleep out to raise homeless awareness

Biennial Weekend keynote speakers announced

Read the March/April issue of LJ Today here.

This week's Jewish News Rabbi Pete Tobias takes a look at the Torah portion that suggests Pharaoh was God's puppet.

Click here to read the latest Jewish News issue.

Sign up for The Jewish News daily email here.

NLPS TRUST APPLICATIONS OPEN

Liberal Judaism communities across the UK and Europe (and affiliated communities) are now welcome to apply for the next round of applications

Visit www.nlpstrust.org.uk to apply

Deadline: Friday 13 March

LJY-NETZER MACHANOT

Sign up today!

Machaneh Aviv:
14 - 19 April
A six-day Spring camp, perfect for reuniting with old friends, or for those who have never been on LJY-Netzer before!

Machaneh Kadimah:
10 -23 August
The flagship two week summer camp is the biggest event of our calendar, bringing together hundreds of Liberal Jews in one place!

Visit the website
www.ljy-netzer.org/application-page
to sign up today

7 March
Short History of Yiddish @ WCLS
9 March
In Pursuit of Justice @ LJS
10 March
Jewish West Purim Carnival
12 March
All Aloud Inclusive
Sing-a-long @ JW3
13 March
NLPS Trust Deadline
13-14 March
LBC Shabbat
13-15 March
Hebrew Crash Course Weekend
22 March
Inter-Community Cyber Quiz
1 April
Hot Potatoes: Circumcision
5 April
Singing & Music Session @ FPS
13 April
Shabbat Shelanu
15-17 May
Terezin-Prague Bike Ride
22-24 May
Biennial Weekend
11 June
Hot Potatoes Debate
13 June
Shabbat Shelanu
14 June
LBC Garden Party

CIRCUMCISION -
A CUT TOO FAR?

Wednesday 1 April

Join us for the next in our Hot Potatoes series where our diverse panel of experts will be chaired by Ros Clayton to share and discuss their opinions on the topic.

Panellists will be announced shortly.

Location: The Montagu Centre, W1T
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Cost: £8 (£5 concessions)
Book your tickets online

EDUCATION HUB

Wednesday 4 March

Introduction to Judaism & Biblical Hebrew
Rabbi Janet Burden

This class is perfect for those who want to learn about Judaism and its traditions. The first half of the class will cover basic Hebrew, and the second half will look at different Jewish principles, holidays and traditions.

No previous knowledge or experience required.

Putting the 'O' in God
Rabbi Pete Tobias

This 5 week course is based on a recently published book written by Rabbi Pete Tobias. Entitled ‘Putting the ‘O’ in God’, it looks at how, having recognised the presence of a power greater than themselves that organised the world around them, humans then constructed a series of inaccurate and damaging ways to approach and communicate with it.

**EXTRA CLASS FOR THIS WEEK ONLY**
When Shammai's Students Killed Hillel's Students
Student Rabbi Gabriel Webber

There used to be another fast day in the Jewish calendar: the Ninth of Adar, “when controversy arose between Beit Hillel and the Beit Shammai: it was as difficult as the construction of the Golden Calf”. On the evening of this year’s Ninth of Adar, we’ll gather to learn about what happened on the fateful day when there was a massacre in the study hall. Hillel and Shammai are always depicted as being the best of friends; what went wrong and how should we remember it? Observing the Ninth of Adar dropped out of custom centuries ago. This year, we’ll dust it off and see what to make of it in the 21st century.

Location: The Montagu Centre
Time: 6:30pm - Ma'ariv | 7-9pm - Class
Cost: £5/class or £20/term (A light pescetarian supper is provided)
Click here to register online

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday 7 March

A Short History of Yiddish from Medieval Yudentaytsh to 21st Century "YidLife Crisis"

West Central Liberal Synagogue invite you to join them for a shabbat lunch lecture by Professor Glenn Levine.

The presentation will trace the history of the Yiddish language from its origins in Medieval Germany to its development as a flourishing culture in Eastern Europe and the US, as well as considering its possible future.

Location: West Central Liberal Synagogue, W1T
Time: 1pm
Cost: £6

RSVP: Email admin@wcls.org.uk

Monday 9 March

In Pursuit of Justice

To celebrate Purim the LJS invite you to hear from a panel of 5 wonderful speakers on the personal journeys that have led them to pursue justice.

The panel will feature: Lord Alf Dubs, Dr Eliane Glaser, Dame Vivien Rose, Graham Carpenter & Rabbi Jeffrey Newman.

Location: The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, NW8
Time: 7pm - Megillah 7:30pm - Light supper 8pm - Panel
Cost: £7 donation requested if attending for supper

RSVP by Wednesday 4 March to rabbispa@ljs.org

Tuesday 10 March

Jewish West Purim Carnival

Jewish West – the non-denominational social group for people in Bristol and surrounding areas – is planning its biggest event to date… a Purim Carnival!

The Carnival will include live music, vegetarian food, and a purim costume competition.

Location: Alchemy 198, Bristol
Time: 7:30pm
Cost: £7

Book online

11, 18 & 25 March

Jewish Womens' Aid 'Ask Me' Training

Don't miss the last chance to become a Jewish Womens' Aid Ambassador!

The 12 hour training is free, and will enable you to raise awareness and break down barriers around domestic violence and abuse.

You will need to attend all 3 sessions

Location: Borehamwood
Time: 5:30-9:30pm
Register: online

Thursdays from 12 March

All Aloud Inclusive Sing-a-long

JW3 and JWeb are excited to be launching their new weekly, inclusive sing-a-long. Suitable for friends, family, outliers, all ages and all abilities - everyone is welcome to join for an hour of singing and half an hour of refreshments

Location: JW3
Dates: Thursdays during term time
Time: 6:45-8:15pm
Cost: £1 contribution

No need to book in advance.
Disabled parking available.

Friday 13 - Sunday 15 March

Hebrew Crash Course Weekend

Join Rabbis Aaron Goldstein & Lea Mühlstein for the annual Hebrew Crash Course. Learn to read or improve your fluency and understanding of Hebrew in a weekend in a stimulating community atmosphere.

Location: Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue
Time: Friday 6-10pm | Saturday 9:30am-4pm | Sunday 10am-3pm
Cost: £100 synagogue members | £150 non-members
Cost includes all sessions, study materials, and meals
Click here to book your place online

Sunday 5 April

Singing & Music Session

Rabbis Rachel Benjamin and Cantor Gershon Silins invite all Liberal Jewish musicians and singers to join them for an afternoon of singing, sharing passover songs, and discussing Liberal Jewish music.

Please bring your instruments with you if you would like.

Location: Finchley Progressive Synagogue
Time: 2:30-4pm
Please RSVP by email to Rabbi Rachel Benjamin

UPCOMING TRIPS

Lviv

4-7 June 2020

Join Rabbi Aaron Goldstein on a trip to Ukraine to visit Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue's twin community.

The trip will include a Jewish tour of the community, visits to community members who are supported by World Jewish Relief, a service with Teiva Progressive Congregation, and a visit to Janowska concentration camp.

Cost: £450 - Flights & hotel not included
Register your interest: Email Rabbi Aaron

Crossing the Jordan River: Water Scarcity and Environmental Peacemaking

25 October - 1 November 2020

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue with Ecopeace invite you to join their cross-community trip from Jordan to Tel Aviv.

Suitable for all ages, the trip is a unique opportunity to spend time in the Jordan Valley engaging with the ecology and people of the area.

Cost: £1,195 based on two people sharing - Flights not included
Deposit: £350 per person on booking
Click here for more information including an itinerary
Book: Download the booking form here

VACANCIES - CST

The Community Security Trust have multiple positions available including; Programming Analyst, IT Assistant, Security Co-ordinator, Buildings Manager, Project Administrator and Fundraising Executive.

To find out more and to apply please visit their website.

LAST WEEK AT
LIBERAL JUDAISM

Each week we share some insight into what our staff and rabbis have been doing over the last seven days

Rabbi Danny Rich

Visited Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community and Lincolnshire Jewish Community.
Undertook pastoral duties at a prison.

Senior Management Team

Rebecca Fetterman attended the Reshet Annual Conference.
Rabbi Charley Baginsky has been looking at rabbinic placement for next year and High Holy Days, working on the changes to the vocational programme at Leo Baeck College, considering possibilities for Progressive Army Chaplaincy, and discussing possible partnership projects with the Reconstructionist movement in America.

LJY-Netzer

Fran and Jacob ran a successful SPY weekend for the youngest age groups in the movement at NPLS.
Rosa co-hosted a community campaigning event with Hope Not Hate and Yachad.
The team have been promoting Machaneh Aviv, getting in touch with parents to let them know that there will be an inflatable assault course!

Lily's Legacy

Visited Manchester Liberal Jewish Community to record members' stories.

LJ IN THE MEDIA