One of the highlights of last weekend’s Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend was the presentation of our Chair’s Awards.

The awards celebrate the contribution of volunteers to our communities and national movement.

On announcing the recipients, Liberal Judaism Chair Ruth Seager said: “This past year, more than ever, we have needed our volunteers. But throughout our history, Judaism has only survived and thrived because of our volunteers.

“Thank you to our winner and all those who give their time, skills, material resources and goodwill to our community for the most altruistic of reasons.”

This year’s winners were:

Jon Burden of Beit Klal Yisrael: Jon has a very important and valued member of Beit Klal Yisrael for well over 25 years, holding positions including Treasurer and Secretary.

He has led Shabbat services and secular Saturday morning sessions, as well as doing all the schlepping!

Jon attends nearly every service and activity and is always there to open up the venue, set up the room, clear and lock up at the end and just make sure everything runs smoothly.

His community said: “Jon is a principled man of integrity and also has a much-needed sense of humour. In a nutshell… BKY love you!

Rosa Slater of LJY Netzer (pictured): Rosa was quite simply amazing during the lockdown period. She agreed to hold the fort, whilst her colleagues were on furlough, and kept working for the sake of continuity rather than sharing the furlough.

She put together a full online program for the movement and created an online camp from nothing.

Her colleagues said: “Rosa truly went above and beyond. She almost single-handedly kept LJY going, gave a place for all toget support and engage.”

Mike Harris of Nottingham Liberal Synagogue: Mike was another lockdown hero – being largely responsible for allowing his community to carry on and to flourish through Zoom services and all sorts of events.

The result is that more people than ever now engage, and get to know each other, during these lonely times.

He even saves lives, as one NLS congregant explained: “Mike saved my life in a very dramatic fashion when my cancer treatment was messed up and the situation became very urgent, but static. The letters, emails and telephone calls that Mike produced like rapid fire, unquestionably saved me from that horrific waiting room that is a cancer gone too far. The man’s a mensch.”

Craig Simmons of Kingston Liberal Synagogue: Craig is an excellent and exceptional Chair, who listens to his congregation and also the rabbi and acts on all sorts of issues.

His workload has substantially increased over the last year, and he has taken on so many tasks in addition to his usual role as Chair.

As his community told us: “Under the leadership of Craig, KLS has gone from strength to strength. We are very lucky to have him!”

Sandra Webber of Kingston Liberal Synagogue: What hasn’t Sandra done? A teacher at the KLS religion school for over 20 years, the organisational leader of HMD workshops for schools, creator and lead interviewer for Shabbat Island Discs, organiser of two community-building mosaic projects, choir member, lay leader and also Student Rabbi Gabriel Webber’s mum!

Sam Borin and Ruth Morris of York Liberal Jewish Community: The husband and wife team who did so much to bring a Jewish community back to York, which hadn’t had one for 40 years.

They have been responsible for Shabbat morning and Friday night services, as well as helping to teach other members of the community how to lead parts of a service.

Sam and Ruth are incredibly knowledgeable and were at the heart of York’s community outreach during the pandemic – changing services from fortnightly to weekly in order to provide spiritual and mental health support.

Josie Kinchin of Finchley Progressive Synagogue: During Josie’s lifelong membership of Liberal Judaism her commitment, involvement and contribution have been exceptional and unflagging.

She has been assuming leadership roles and responsibilities since she was first a supervisor on the Kadimah youth summer camp.

She continues to be a mainstay of Finchley Progressive, which she has served both as Chair and Honorary Secretary – although to list those titles gives no idea of the range and extent of her activities and contributions.

An early adopter of computer technology and something of a technical wizard, in the last year during lockdown at a time when she might reasonably be taking a less demanding role in the community she has once more stepped forward to become an adviser and supporter as the synagogue has transferred its activities online.

She is the regular zoom host for services and events, welcoming participants, managing logistics, and ensuring that online events are secure as well as providing beautiful versions of the weekly Torah portion and other visual elements for our services.

Josie is also a keen and regular participant in LJ Council and was involved in the organising committee for the LJ Biennial and Day of Celebration for a decade.

As Ruth said: “It is so fitting for our Josie to receive this at a Biennial, when she has played such a part in building them.”

FPS added: “The variety and richness of Josie’s contribution to our community life is unparalleled and we simply would not function at the same level without her.”