With support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, our new project Lily’s Legacy: The Radical History and Heritage of Liberal Judaism in Britain will research, document, map and showcase more than 115 years of Liberal Judaism by means of oral history, photography, film, publications and digital media.
The project examines how the vision of our founders – Lily Montagu, Claude Montefiore and Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck – is being lived today. You can watch a short clip introducing the project here.
And there are two ways YOU can help:
1. Lily’s Legacy is hoping to record all aspects of Liberal Jewish history and heritage in the UK. Do you have materials you can contribute?
We are looking for a range of items that tell a story about Liberal Jewish life past and present including recordings and transcripts, congregational archives, photographs, leaflets, posters, letters, emails, banners, badges, videos, ritual objects, artwork and any other memorabilia.
At the moment we just want to find out what you have to offer. After we have a better idea of what materials we have available we will contact you to discuss how your items can be included, displayed and credited.
We are not necessarily looking to acquire these items. We would just like to take a look and can then discuss (digital) display. We may ask you to fill in a consent form that allows Lily’s Legacy to use the digital heritage content for free, educational purposes such as exhibition and booklet.
Even the smallest item can be a fantastic addition to the project – nothing is too insignificant – so please do get in touch whatever you may have.
We invite you to take part in a short ‘LJ Heritage Mapping Survey’ here. (Note: You will be asked to sign in using a google account in order to upload images etc…)
2. We are keen to capture Liberal Jewish voices from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds, including but not exclusively people who have – themselves or one their family members – met one of our founders or pioneering rabbis or escaped/experienced the Holocaust.
While seeking to record the past, we are equally mindful of ‘history in progress’. Lily’s Legacy would therefore also love to hear other diverse stories from, for example, youth movement members, ‘Jews by choice’, patrilineal Jews, mixed faith families and LGBTQI+ people. In the style of Lily Montagu we are also seeking to amplify women’s voices.
All these stories and materials will form a permanent record at the London Metropolitan Archives and other national heritage institutes, thus creating a lasting legacy for present and future generations.
Please email project manager Shaan Knan on lilyslegacyproject@liberaljudaism.org if you can help.
