Dear Friends,
 
What a great and interesting April we’ve had, beginning with the visit from Rabbis Charley Baginsky (LJ) and Josh Levy (RJ) who invited us to imagine what we might see with the coming together of our two Jewish movements into one Progressive movement with shared core values which supersede any differences we may have.

Charley and Josh have been making the rounds and already say they are seeing a difference, and by mid-2025 hope to see a new movement with 80+ congregations, both small and large, on a shared Progressive path, with access to family education, on campus support for students, services, expanded rabbinical access, and with a reach and a voice beyond the Jewish community.   

There were lots of questions for our guests and lots of lovely food provided by Julia.   Keep an eye out for updates in the Newsletter.

Our annual Pesach Seder was a resounding success, with well over 40 people in attendance!  There were the usual suspects among us, as well as some new faces, who we hope to see again.

Hannah did a magnificent job, explaining why and how we tell our story and significantly, making it relevant to what is happening in the world and how we are not alone in our experience of enslavement, displacement, and journey to freedom.  Paul Robeson would have applauded Bob’s “Go Down Moses”.

Olivia did a terrific job with “Ma Nishtana”, everyone brought something and loads of folks helped to set up and clean up.  But most of all we owe a huge thank you to Julia Ward who made our seder such a success, dealing with forms, food, coordination and so much more.  Todah Rabah! Thank You, Julia.   Next year in Norwich!

In other news, our own Rosie Anfiligoff has won The Guardian Foundation’s Hugo Young Award 2024 (19-25 category).  All will be shared later in this Newsletter.   And, Chaim of Drayton (aka Philip Lawrence) has some more Yiddish You Can Use! 

We’ve also thought it would be a good idea to offer some training for security, tech and Torah.   We on Council very much hope that many of you will opt to take advantage of what’s on offer and which we believe will be of benefit to you and to the Community.  Details on what’s coming up and where to get in touch in the newsletter.

On a more personal note, on Wednesday 1st May, the Community paid their respects and said good-bye to long time member and a remarkable friend and woman, Joanna Strangwayes-Booth. 

Joanna was an extraordinary woman, who, I have to admit, frightened me a bit in the beginning.  Going to see Joanna was like going to visit the Queen.  What does one bring?  Flowers were always appreciated, and I learned much later, Mrs. Elwood’s Haimisha Gherkins would earn you the royal seal of approval.

One of the things that really made me think of the Queen and was a bit intimidating for me, as an American, was her voice and speech.  Almost on a par with Winston Churchill’s, “We shall fight them on the beaches…We shall never surrender”.  And of course, she never did.

We didn’t always see eye to eye on everything.  This remarkable woman who was an anti-apartheid activist and freedom fighter and was once part of a group of activists who attempted to blow up an electricity pylon, rather unsuccessfully, (I’m reliably informed it just went a bit wonky) somewhere along the line made a right turn, politically.  But that didn’t matter.  The great thing about Joanna was you could agree to disagree.
 
Joanna was a freedom fighter, activist, journalist, author and a strong voice against anti-Semitism, a committed Jew, but most of all a loving wife, mother, grandmother and a good and loyal friend to many. 
 
I am honoured and privileged to have been her friend.  Kol Hakavod.  All the respect to a great lady.  I will miss her and will always think of her when I bite into a Mrs. Elwood’s Haimisha Gherkin.
 
Linda

I write with two hats on now – that of Chair of Council, and Editor of the NLJC Newsletter.  For those who attended the Community’s 34th AGM (yes, we’ve been going awhile) you’ll have heard most of this, so please have patience.

I’d like to begin by saying that becoming Chair is as daunting as it is an honour, especially as I pick up from Annie Henriques, who is, I’m sure you’ll agree, a hard act to follow.  She has given so much to our Community over the years, and rest assured, she has promised to support me (I’ve got a lot to learn), and us.

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome onto Council newcomers, Helen Hodson, our Honorary Secretary, Jo Abel, our able shofar blower, and Rosie Anfilogoff, our kiddush coordinator, Zoom administrator and WhatsApp organiser.   Welcome back to Steve Pruner, our Vice Chair, Donna Frankel our Honorary Treasurer, Eric Marcus (tech man), and Julia Ward, our seder coordinator extraordinaire.   We are your representatives and will be introducing ourselves to you in the coming issues of the Newsletter.  Better yet, why not drop in to services, or fill in those forms for our second night seder on the 23rd of April at the Chantry and meet us, in person.

Moving forward, these are challenging and exciting times for us at NLJC and for Progressive Judaism as we look forward to the ‘merger’ of Liberal and Reform, which means a bigger footprint for Progressive Judaism in the UK.  And also, as we explore the idea of a more formal alliance or relationship with our friends at SLJC (Suffolk Liberal) and PLJC (Peterborough Liberal); a bigger footprint, and so a bigger voice and choice for Jews in East Anglia.

Of course, NLJC has always made having a rabbi a priority.  We on Council are working very hard with support from Alexandra Gellnick at LJ to replace Hannah when sadly, she must leave us in June.  I have to be honest, it isn’t easy.  Rabbis and rabbinical students, it seems, don’t grow on trees.  And Hannah, like Annie, is a hard act to follow.  Fortunately, we have secured the service of Nick Young for all of the High Holy Days.  Many of you will remember the terrific job he did last year when he joined us for Yom Kippur.  And opportunities are starting to present themselves.

Putting on my other hat… In this issue Bob Hobbs, our intrepid cub reporter, chanteur, etc. etc. shines a light on Jewish Giants of French Opera, Chaim frum Drayton (AKA Philip Lawrence) returns with ‘Yiddish You Can Use’, and we’re reprising a Pesadik recipe from Joni.

I look forward to seeing you on screen for our Kabbalat service on 12 April and in shul & on Zoom on Shabbat, 13 April and please, please do make an effort to join us for the very important visit from Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy to learn about the ‘merger’ between Liberal and Reform into one Progressive movement on Sunday the 14th, to be followed by a lovely nosh, and our 2nd night Seder at the Chantry on the 23rd.

Best wishes, Linda