Liberal Judaism’s leaders vowed to expand and enhance our movement’s inclusion agenda, even when it rouses passionate opposition, at the flagship Biennial Weekend.

Held online with the theme of Breaking Down Walls, a succession of speakers from both within and outside the movement looked at the issue of inclusion from all angles.

Chair Ruth Seager opened the conference by laying out the many areas in which Liberal Judaism has been a trailblazer – from the introduction of non-gendered liturgy to being at the forefront of the campaign for equal marriage to last year’s decision to allow blessings under the chuppah for couples creating Jewish homes but where only one partner was Jewish.

Ruth – who also delivered a session on living in a mixed faith marriage alongside non-Jewish husband Andrew (pictured above) – said: “These were all moments of true pride and made a significant difference to those who felt included as a consequence.

“It is the case that, after any of these changes, we look back, and find that the barrier or wall that we had perceived, has disappeared leaving us wondering what, exactly, all the fuss had been about.

“I have come to realise that issues can look very different from different sides of the same wall. On the inside we may not even be able to see the problem, but from the outside we find it quite hurtful.”

Ruth then told how Liberal Judaism still has a way to go, especially in being fully inclusive for Black Jews and Jews of Colour, including those from Sephardi and Mizrachi backgrounds.

She added: “We do not have enough representation in positions of responsibility and, even in the imagery we use and the stories we tell, these Jews have felt marginalised.

“We need to get our own house in order and, to that end, Council created a committee for Black Jews and Jews of Colour in Liberal Judaism to bring recommendations and learning to Liberal Judaism. That work is still ongoing.

“I expect there will be further walls to break down that I haven’t seen them yet because I may be the wrong side of them; but I am always here to learn.”

Liberal Judaism’s Chief Executive Officer Rabbi Charley Baginsky (pictured above left) echoed Ruth’s sentiments – admitting that she too had discovered how much she didn’t know about inclusion over the last year.

Charley said: “The more we collaborate and work together, the more work we have to do to ensure everyone feels part of the movement we have put so much love and attention into developing.

“I cannot promise you that we will never make mistakes, in fact I know that we will and that there is a lot more learning to do yet. But I can promise you that when we say Liberal Judaism is a home for everyone’s Jewish story, we know that it is still aspirational and that we are committed to bringing it into reality.”

The keynote sessions at the Biennial Weekend included Stephen Bush (pictured right), the Chair of the Board of Deputy’s Commission on Racial Inclusivity in the Jewish Community, in conversation with Finchley Progressive Synagogue Chair Tamara Joseph and a rousing address from Rabbi Benay Lappe, the Founder and Rosh Yeshiva of SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva – as well as Leo Baeck College Principal Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris and Reconstructing Judaism President Rabbi Deborah Waxman and discussing the future of the Progressive seminary in a fascinating session chaired by Revd Dr Nathan Eddy, Interim Director of the Council of Christians & Jews.

There was also groundbreaking anti-racism training delivered by Citizens UK’s Charlotte Fischer and Glitch CEO Seyi Akiwowo, a talk by Combatants for Peace and various interfaith, cross-communal and international panels.

A full programme of youth events was run by LJY-Netzer, with Liberal Judaism’s rabbis teaming up for beautiful and cutting-edge online Shabbat services put together by Rabbi Igor Zinkov of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue.

The Biennial Weekend ended with a Dragon’s Den style judging panel picking the winner of Liberal Judaism’s Inclusion in Action award – a £3,000 grant to fund an inclusion project. The winning community was Kehillah North London.

Please check back later this week for full stories on the Inclusion Award and the Liberal Judaism Chair’s Awards.

Rabbi Leah Jordan, who Co-Chaired the Biennial’s organising committee with Owen Power, said: “This weekend showcased how our movement creates space for the most diverse and interesting sort of Jewish community, built on the values of progressivism and inclusion that have been at the heart of Liberal Judaism since its founding almost 120 years ago.

“In true Jewish fashion, we also held ourselves to account to do better, to continue to push that horizon and build sustainable change within our Jewish spaces for the 21st century.”

• Liberal Judaism Biennial: Breaking Down Walls was made possible thanks to a grant towards technology from the NLPS Trust.