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Liberal youth movement is thriving at 70
A meeting held on January 19, 1947 established Liberal Judaism's youth movement, now known as LJY-Netzer.
January 24, 2017 13:51
A meeting held on January 19, 1947 established Liberal Judaism's youth movement, now known as LJY-Netzer.
January 24, 2017 13:51Seventy years on, its famous alumni include Board of Deputies chief executive Gillian Merron, BBC Daily Politics presenter Jo Coburn, actor and producer David Thwaites and former UK Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould.
A clutch of prominent clergy, the late Rabbi Lionel Blue among them, also came through the LJY-Netzer ranks.
Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy and partnerships, says “so much of where I am today began with the youth movement. It was my first taste of what it meant to be Jewish 24/7 and gave me friends, rabbis and teachers.
“Dynamic leaders taught me about Jewish philosophy, theology and practice in ways which were accessible, relevant and exciting and made me want to know more.
“But, even more than all of that, it made me understand why I was a Liberal Jew and committed me to wanting to be part of a movement which felt so inspiring.”
Today, LJY-Netzer has 320 active members covering the major London and Hertfordshire centres and smaller communities such as Bristol, Birmingham, Leicester, Hereford, York and Dublin.
Movement camps and weekends help those from small congregations to broaden their social circle. “Without LJY-Netzer, I would never have had contact with other young people from the rest of Liberal Judaism,” says Ben Combe of Norwich, and formerly Bedfordshire.
Dan Smith of Oxford credits LJY-Netzer for “opening my Jewish horizons and allowing me to participate in events and camps that smaller communities such as mine would never have the numbers to run on their own. I’ve also been able to engage with modern forms of prayer.”
Beyond Liberal Judaism, the movement promotes tikkun olam, youth empowerment and Progressive Zionism, “encouraging our members to develop a personal relationship with Israel”.
It offers one month or 10 month programmes in Israel and endeavours to provide “a balanced view by welcoming those of all opinions and being critical of Israel where we see appropriate”.
LJY-Netzer’s newest movement worker, Hannah Stephenson, says its members and volunteers “constantly inspire me to make the changes I want to see in the movement and the world.
“For 70 years we have been unafraid to make bold choices and live a life through the lens of our Liberal Jewish values.”
