| Chairman's Awards 2012 - The Winners |
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Name of Nominee: Adam Francies Nominees Community/Congregation: LJY-Netzer (Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue Reasons for Nomination: (Sam and Anna) Adam has been an incredibly involved member of LJY-Netzer for many years. More importantly, he has been a movement worker for two years and a student worker for one of those. Whoever has met Adam, and come across the work he does, will know the type of person he is. Dedicated, passionate, friendly and willing to go the extra mile. His fervour for what Liberal Judaism stands for is evident for all to see through conversation and more importantly his actions. A chairman award will be a good indication of how appreciated he has been through his tenure as he moves onto other things. Adam has given so much to this movement, and will continue to do so we are sure. A lot of what he does goes under the radar and we believe he should be honoured by receiving this award. (Aaron Goldstein) Adam is an example of one of the most important resources in the present and for the future that we have in Liberal Judaism: young lay leadership. As a lad, Adam was a constant challenge to Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein and all those in Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue's (NPLS) Cheder! Yet in particular with his involvement with LJY-NETZER, he has used every opportunity to understand his own personal Jewish Identity and to correlate that with an understanding of the importance of Liberal Jewish values.
Name of Nominee: Bryan Diamond Nominees Community/Congregation: The Liberal Jewish Synagogue Reasons for Nomination: Liberal Judaism has a long and proud history and Bryan Diamond has contributed significantly to ensuring that the history of Liberal Judaism (and the ULPS) has been recorded for future generations. The Liberal Jewish Synagogue nominates Mr Bryan Diamond for the Liberal Judaism Chairman’s Special Award for 2012 in recognition of In 1999 In 2000 he wrote a first Archive entry for the ULPS Yearbook. In order to create a record of prayer books for the Movement, he searched out many versions of prayer books and had this bibliography published with a paper by John Rayner. Whilst officially ‘retired’ , John W. Gardner said that ‘History never looks like history when you are living through it’. Bryan Diamond’s contribution has been to ensure that the history of Liberal Judaism has been recorded for present and future generations and it is for this reason that he is nominated for the LJ Chairman’s Special Award for 2012.
Name of Nominee: Brenda Dombey Nominees community/congregation: Kingston Liberal Synagogue Reasons for nomination: Brenda is a founder member of KLS and volunteer. She has willingly tackled the tricky task of collecting subscriptions and chasing people up, whilst balancing fairness and firmness, for several years. She works closely with Rabbi Charley, Howard Webber and Chair, Mike Barnato. There is considerable administrative work involved as well as coping with the demands of people who cannot pay and who will not pay.
Name of Nominee: Gerald and Hilary Fox Nominees Community/Congregation: Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue Reasons for Nomination: Gerald and Hilary Fox have been the secular face of our Community and indeed of Liberal Judaism for the last twenty years and more. Gerald has represented us on the Board of Deputies which he has attended assiduously. Gerald and Hilary have organised Holocaust Memorial Day in the town of It is wholly fitting that their good work for the whole community be recognised. Through Gerald and Hilary, Liberal Judaism IS Judaism in
Name of Nominee: Gillian Raab Nominated by: Claudette Hudes and Maurice Naftalin Nominees Community: Sukkat Shalom Reasons for Nomination: Gillian has been a central figure in Sukkat Shalom Edinburgh from its very start. Indeed, she and Charlie hosted many of our early meetings. She has given her time without reservation, beginning as treasurer, then as membership secretary, and for the last three years as our Chairman. This period has been extremely demanding on her time and energy, but she has met these demands with cheerfulness and determination, and the results are shown in the continued growth and good health of our community. She has turned her hand to every task that needs her—organising (and cooking for!) our communal seder, writing our membership management system, updating the website, endlessly negotiating within and outside our community, managing all the diplomatic manoeuvres required to keep a community harmonious, forging a close and constructive relationship with Rabbi Mark, co-ordinating pastoral visits, and who knows what else? ELJC would not be the thriving community it is without her modest presence and tireless work.
Name of Nominee: Nick Silk Nominees Community: Sukkat Shalom Reasons for Nomination: Nick has been our Religious Affairs co-ordinator since the community began, serving before that as Chairman of Glasgow Reform (then New) Synagogue. He does warden’s duties at all our services, which at the High Holy Days are very demanding. He has been the mainstay of our lay service leadership all along—in our early days we simply could not have held services without him and even now, although he does much to encourage other lay leaders, he is an essential resource and encouragement. A wandering community like ours needs an efficient manager of resources, to make sure that everything is at the right place and at the right time, and Nick is quietly perfect in this very laborious role. On top of his formal roles, his quiet wisdom has won him universal respect in the community and given him natural authority and an indispensable role in our collective leadership. It’s impossible to imagine how Sukkat Shalom could have flourished as it has without him. Name of Nominee: Nominee’s Community/Congregation: The Liberal Synagogue Elstree Reasons for Nomination : We recognise that all Liberal Rabbis undertake work and projects for the Movement as well as for their own congregations. We are nominating 1. He has completed three successful years as Chair of the Rabbinic Conference. 2. He has just published a new children’s book for Passover, following a previous children’s book for Sukkot/Simchat Torah as well as two other books “Never Mind the Bullocks” for Religion Schools (published in 2009) and “Liberal Judaism – A Judaism for the Twenty First Century”, for Adults (published in 2007) 3. He co-edited (with Rabbi Andrew Goldstein) the current Liberal Judaism Haggadah, published in 2010. 4. He broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 2 5. He has co-chaired (with 6. He has achieved all the above, which reflect very favourably on his own congregation and the National Movement while ministering to a sizable and active congregation.
Name of Nominee: Phil Stone Nominees Community/Congregation: Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue Reasons for Nomination: Recently he has served the movement by being one of LJ’s official representatives on the Edgwarebury Joint Burial Board. As Treasurer of that Board, he has been responsible for overseeing a complete review of the operation of He has also taken an active part in developing policy though the LJ Burial Officers meeting, and has assisted a number of LJ communities with their Funeral Schemes and databases. Currently Phil is Vice Chair of NPLS and held in the highest regard by our membership. In the last year he has chaired both our Management Committee and Finance Committee. More importantly, he has been our subscriptions officer for 30 years, responsible not only for collection of subscription – but also the difficult task of reaching suitable arrangements with those in financial difficulty. For a large part of the period he has also been our burial officer. His work in both roles is well respected by those who know him – he has as much experience in these roles as anyone else in the Movement. Phil carries out his responsibilities quietly and efficiently – he is one of the tireless workers for LJ and NPLS without whom we would be unable to function. He has the respect, affection and admiration of all who come into contact with him.
Name of Nominee: Reni Chapman Nominees Community/Congregation: Reasons for Nomination: Reni Chapman is a shining example of a “ashet hy-il” a woman of valour. She has made an immense contribution to the development of Leicester Progressive Jewish Community and Liberal Judaism over the past 60 years. Irene Schuller was born in Reni was one of the earliest members of the Leicester Progressive Jewish Community. She joined in the 1950s and has been a mainstay ever since. Her enthusiasm, determination, warmth and charisma have welcomed many generations of Jewish families to our community. Rene has served the community officially as Secretary, Newsletter Reni has welcomed many Rabbis and Student Rabbis to our warm community in For the many years that I have know her, Reni has lived with disabilities which limit her mobility. Reni had always coped admirably and without complaint: a shining example to us all of a Liberal women with strength and determination who has inspired generations of liberal Jews. |
