Liberal incentives to bring in younger generation
LIBERAL JUDAISM is planning to extend its reach over the coming year with the launch of a new education resource and incentives for young adults to join the movement.
At the organisation’s 14th dinner for patrons at the House of Lords on Tuesday, Rabbi Charley Baginsky, LJ’s director of strategy, highlighted its need to have a sense of mission.
“We know the two growing groups in British Jewry are the secular and the Charedim,” she said.
“I believe within the secular group within British Jewry we will find Liberal Jews who do not yet know they are Liberal Jews.”
It was the movement’s responsibility to “reach out and provide a home” for them.
A key initiative in the pipeline is for a multi-media educational hub at LJ’s central London headquarters which would be “properly resourced and technologically advanced”, Rabbi Baginsky explained.
The movement also wanted to find ways to provide “reasonable and affordable” membership to young adults.
The JC understands this would include discounted membership for young people, enabling them to join the movement directly rather than having to belong to an individual congrega- tion. The patron scheme has provided Liberal Judaism with financial support for its work.
Bronze membership is £1,000 annually; platinum is £25,000.
LJ is looking to increase fundraising by holding its first appeal dinner in recent times later this year.
Guest of honour at this week’s event was Robert Voss, the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire — the only Jew to hold such a position, he believes, since Lord Rothschild in the 19th century.
A member of Northwood and Pinner Synagogue, he spoke about his family history as the child of refugees from Nazi Germany, his role as the Queen’s representative in the county and the need to encourage young entrepreneurs.
Within the secular group we will find members’