Lilys Legacy - Voices & Visions of Liberal Judaism

In this series you will hear the voices of Liberal Jews as they share their experiences, views and visions. This first episode explores participants’ family background and how they encountered Liberal Judaism. It includes some of the stories about where they came from and the personal appeal of Liberal Judaism. As you will hear, Liberal Jews come from many places; some are refugees or immigrants, some are born into Liberal Jewish families, others are Jews by choice. All are united in finding a home within Liberal Judaism. Following Lily Montagu’s personal legacy, they all contribute to Liberal Judaism’s rich and varied heritage.
For more interviews and oral histories visit: https://lilyslegacyproject.com

One of Lily Montagu’s major achievements was the foundation of the West Central Jewish Girls Club in 1893. Since that time Liberal Judaism has been committed to the needs and future of its young people. As well as clubs run by the movement, a number of synagogues founded their own youth clubs. In this episode Liberal Jews reminisce about the clubs they formed and attended. Listen to memories that date back to Lily’s lifetime as well as perceptions from our current young members.

For more information about what you’ve just heard, do visit the exhibition website, https://lilyslegacyproject.com/

Equality and inclusion are key values for Liberal Jews. Liberal Judaism welcomes all Jews, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. In this episode Liberal Jews from all walks of life share their stories about acceptance.

You will hear that some people feel that their needs have been accommodated, whilst others feel these are yet to be addressed. Although these voices record diverse experiences, the overwhelming message is that Liberal Judaism offers a place of belonging and acceptance - where everyone is welcome.

For more information about what you’ve just heard, do visit the exhibition website, https://lilyslegacyproject.com/

From its very foundations, Liberal Judaism has championed gender equality. Liberal Judaism’s prime founder Lily Montagu herself led services. Liberal Judaism made a significant departure from traditional Orthodox worship allowing men and women to sit together in synagogue. Today men, women - and in fact all sexes and genders- are engaged in all aspects of synagogue life. Women hold leadership positions in communities and the Liberal movement. The upcoming new prayer book aims to be even more radical through feminising some of the Hebrew, and using both masculine and feminine imagery. Listen as congregants and rabbis reflect on the ways in which Liberal Judaism has pioneered gender equality.

For more information about what you’ve just heard, do visit the exhibition website, https://lilyslegacyproject.com/

Liberal Judaism champions social justice. In this episode Liberal Jews share some their experiences in the search for social justice, locally and globally.  Many of the activities described here are in partnership with other faith groups and non-faith groups and look beyond the needs of the Jewish community. At the same time participants debate whether the fight for social justice has been at the expense of Jewish learning and worship. To what extent is social action an integral part of being Jewish? In recent years, Liberal Jews have been involved in lobbying parliament about a number of campaigns - should Liberal Jews be involved with politics?

For more information about what you’ve just heard, do visit the exhibition website, https://lilyslegacyproject.com/

This series of podcasts and the exhibition of which it is part, honours the contribution of Lily Montagu to the foundation of Liberal Judaism. Lily founded the movement with Claude Montefiore and Israel Mattuck - together they were known as the three M’s. In this episode participants pay tribute to the three M’s, as well as other pioneers and influential figures. For over a century Liberal Jews have been indebted to the dedication of a number of Liberal rabbis and lay leaders. Some of them are remembered and honoured in this episode.

For more information about what you’ve just heard, do visit the exhibition website, https://lilyslegacyproject.com/

Lilian Helen Montagu was born in 1873. She was a British social worker, magistrate, writer, and religious organizer. Along with Claude Montefiore and Israel Mattuck she formed the Liberal Jewish movement in England. In this episode, Liberal Jews remember Lily and the legacy she has created. For some this is deeply personal; Lily was instrumental in bringing Jews from Germany to safety in England to flee Nazi persecution in the late 1930s. Some of the voices here speak of owing their very lives to her. Others remember Lily, along with her sister Marion, as the leader of the West Central Club. ‘Lily’s girls’ as they were called, were working class Jewish girls. They received lessons at the club and the opportunity to worship and socialise.  Others remember Lily attending or leading religious services. Participants pay tribute to Lily’s deep spirituality and her innovative decision to move Sabbath services to the afternoon. Lily died in 1963, so many project participants did not meet her. And yet as these stories show, liberal Jews feel indebted to her and are inspired by her pioneering work as a social reformer- even if they never met her in person.

For more information about what you’ve just heard, do visit the exhibition website, https://lilyslegacyproject.com/

. In this episode Liberal Jews of all ages recall aspects of the synagogue service and the way it continues to change. The memories recorded here describe recent innovations such as the new prayer book. Others remember the early years of Liberal Judaism. Recollections include the preferences of individual synagogues, particularly in relation to the style of music at services. In addition to these differences over time and between congregations, individual Liberal Jews also express their personal preferences in terms of their faith, belief in God and feelings about inclusivity. Participants also consider how Lily Montagu might regard Liberal Jewish worship as it is practiced today. Their voices reflect the diversity and dynamic nature of Liberal Judaism which is often at the forefront of change, and refuses to stand still.

Liberal Judaism welcomes sincere converts to Judaism. Liberal Judaism also recognises the Jewish status of children brought up as Jewish, whether they are of matrilineal or patrilineal descent. Sometimes a person may even discover that they are Jewish and would like to affirm their Jewish identity. In this episode, a number of liberal Jews discuss their search for acceptance of their Jewish status and their conversion to Judaism. They also share narratives of mixed faith marriages and the importance of welcoming non-Jewish partners into the community. Often the acceptance of Liberal Jewish congregations is particularly valued if there have been rejections from other branches of Judaism.

For more information about what you’ve just heard, do visit the exhibition website, https://lilyslegacyproject.com/

During the oral history interviews for this project, all of the participants were asked about what they considered to be Lily’s Legacy. They were also asked about their hopes and dreams for the future of Liberal Judaism. Responses were diverse, with many confident about the future. Others expressed the need for ensuring the survival of Liberal Judaism, which remains a comparatively small movement. Connected to this concern is a discussion about whether Liberal Judaism should merge with the Reform movement and some of these views are reflected here. Whilst many participants discussed the legacy in broad terms, such as adaptability and inclusivity, others described specific aspects of Lily’s work. Although the majority of participants did not know Lily Montagu, they nonetheless share a sense of legacy and a vision of the years to come.

For more information about what you’ve just heard, do visit the exhibition website, https://lilyslegacyproject.com/