This is my first formal opportunity to introduce you to our new CEO, Rabbi Josh Levy.
The MRJ Board is delighted to appoint Josh. We value his considerable community knowledge and experience, coupled with his strategic vision and operational and team management skills.
Josh is currently Principal Rabbi at Alyth (North Western Reform Synagogue) in north west London, which he joined 15 years ago. We are very grateful to Alyth for releasing him so he can work for MRJ on a part-time basis until he takes on his full-time role in November.
As you may now know, our plan is to develop a unified Progressive Judaism in partnership with our friends at Liberal Judaism. The Board has asked Josh to focus primarily on this goal and he will lead this initiative with Rabbi Charlie Baginsky, CEO of Liberal Judaism.
Our announcement last week to build a new Progressive Movement has been met with universal approval and support. Nonetheless, we recognise our synagogues, and you, the lay leaders, clergy and congregants, are still processing what this means for you and your synagogue.
Please let me reassure everyone that we will not be making any changes to the customs and practices of our 42 Reform synagogues.
In fact, we all have an opportunity to participate in building the best kind of Movement and we want to make sure everyone’s voice and input is heard as part of this process.
Therefore, working together, Josh and Charley will undertake a series of meetings over the coming months, not only to outline the plans in more detail but to listen to your thoughts and address any concerns, as we prepare to take this major step into the future.
We want everyone to be in unison because together we are stronger. Together we can deliver a wonderful Progressive Jewish future for ourselves and importantly for the generations to come.
To this end, I would like to invite you to meet Josh in an open Zoom call next Thursday 4th May 2023 at 6.30pm to hear more about our plans and how you can be involved moving forward.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83696553616
Meeting ID: 8369 6553 616
Paul Langsford