Gender Equality

Lily Montagu (1873 – 1963) was a founder and President of Liberal Judaism and a tireless campaigner for the rights of women. Lily and her sister, Henrietta Franklin, were founding members of the Jewish League for Woman Suffrage From its very foundations, Liberal Judaism has championed gender equality. Liberal Judaism made a significant departure from traditional Orthodox worship allowing men and women to sit together in synagogue. Lily Montagu was a pioneer in leading synagogue services and delivering sermons. However, it was not until 1975 that women were ordained as rabbis in the UK. Lily’s innovative decision to introduce Saturday afternoon Shabbat services enabled Jewish shop girls to engage in Jewish worship. 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

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“The reason I came and chose Liberal Judaism having grown up in the United Synagogue and tasted some others, is the inclusivity and the opportunity to participate in services. And I will never forget the thrill I had when our lay leader Beverley Taylor gave me the opportunity to come up and read and it was the first time for me ever to do that. And, you know, now just telling that story I have shivers because it was quite something, it really meant a lot to me.“

Janet

PODCAST

This episode explores the theme of women and gender equality

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.

You can read a transcript of the podcast HERE

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Watch

Catherine Myers talks about the influence of a number of women rabbis and lay leader, Renee chapman.

Rabbi Janet Darley talks about her child refugee campaigns and shares a powerful story about Liberal Rabbis going to Calais.

Faye Cohen remembers women as always accepted and involved in Liberal Judaism and recalls some of the women rabbis she has known.

Gallery

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“ As a teenager I did not have a Bat Mitzvah: In those days in the United Synagogue – we attended Kinloss Gardens, young girls studied for a “Bat Chayil” basically we were taught how to pray and how to be a good Jewish wife and mother. Steve and I were married in July 1983. Over the past 33 years that I have been a member of RLJC, I have been Secretary, Chair, Cheder teacher, Newsletter editor and Kabbalat Torah Teacher (at the end of which I took and passed GCSE Religious studies alongside my students). I have led services, Shabbatons and Seders and in December 2019, on the Shabbat before my 60th birthday I read Torah and delivered the D’var Torah. I have also been involved in wider Liberal Jewish activities by being on the organising committee for the 2017 day of celebration and the 2018 Biennial Conference. I am currently on the editorial board for LJ today and am a volunteer on the PR, Marketing and Fundraising committee at Leo Baeck College. I attend LJ Council meetings on behalf of RLJC. ”