EHRS Trips
Prague - 2025
13 of us travelled to the Czech Republic for the weekend of National Holocaust Memorial Day. It became one of the most memorable Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations I have been to. Mostly because it was a celebration of the present and the future of Czech progressive Jewish life, rather than mourning the past.
One of the most emotional highlights for our group was visiting the Spanish Synagogue in Prague. It was built in 1868 as the Reform Synagogue in place of what was believed to be the oldest Synagogue in Prague called Aultshul (meaning old synagogue in German). We went there in the morning as tourists admiring the beauty of the Moorish revival style. We came back in the evening for a Friday night service and were overwhelmed with emotions. The sense of connection to previous generations of our ancestors in such a beautiful and grand place and to so many great people who used to sit – maybe! – in the same seats was uplifting and cathartic.
The same two emotions were present with us for the next two days when we went to Liberec to join the Reform community there for Shabbat morning service and the following day attending the opening ceremony for an exhibition titled The Story of Czech Scrolls at Prague Castle, in Mladotův dům to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Both were truly historic events for us for different reasons.
The Synagogue in Liberec is very modern in style yet traditional in spirit. The Jewish community moved into a new building, which was built on the place of the building destroyed during krishtallnacht, in 2000. Before the service we were introduced to Pavel, the oldest member of the community, who remembered going to the destroyed Synagogue as a child. The sense of continuity and connection to both our tradition and with the members of Liberec community was uplifting and liberating.
The culmination of our emotionally colourful weekend was on Sunday, when we joined VIP guests at the Czech scroll exhibition at Prague Castle. It was created in cooperation with the Progressive Jewish Community Ec chajim, the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, the Memorial Scrolls Trust, the World Union for Progressive Judaism, and the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic. This pioneering for the Czech Republic project also received support from the Czech Bishops’ Conference and the Ecumenical Council of Churches, with the Terezín Initiative Institute granting its patronage. The exhibition is hosted by the Metropolitan Chapter of St. Vitus.
Many of us had tears in our eyes hearing prayer El Male Rachamim sung by Rabbi David Maxa in the Mladotův House, a little chamber next to the Castle, followed by Kaddish. The Czech scroll N41 from Uhříněves is there now on display for the Castle visitors to see it. What a special and a positive way to remember 6 million of our people. We left the Czech republic the following day feeling positive and hopeful for our Jewish future and feeling part of a big global family. עם ישראל חי!
Israel - 2024
In December Rabbi Mark and Rabbi Aaron Goldstein led a combined group of Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue (EHRS) and Ark Synagogue members on a trip around Israel.
We met people of diverse backgrounds – Jewish, Druze, Christian, and Muslim Palestinian citizens of Israel – in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and the Gaza Envelope.
Everyone we spoke to expressed their appreciation for our presence, shared serious questions about current Israeli Government policies and their deep concern for the return of all the hostages.
What became clear is that we have had too few conversations with those people who are ‘us in Israel’. Progressive Jews, Jews who want to bring solutions and to work with their Arab neighbours. The way to a clear understanding of the situation and what we can do to contribute is to be part of the conversation – and to start we need to be in Israel.
This appreciation began at Tel Aviv University where we spoke to students Maharan, Laura and Dan (Druze, Cuban Olah and Sabra). They shared what this country means to them.
We travelled to the devastated Kibbutz Azza, right on the border with Gaza, together with a group of Israeli Progressive Jews from Pardes Hanna. Singing Oseh Shalom together, within a kilometre of Northern Gaza, aware that shelling was continuing, was an extraordinary experience and builds our resolve that peace must come soon.
To then stand in prayer at the memorial for Jake Marlowe z’’l – a young adult of EHRS who was murdered on 7 October 2023 – among the hundreds at the Nova Music Festival site gave us space to recognise the deep trauma among all in Israel.
There is also a struggle continuing within Israel which needs our support. This was so clear when we visited the Supreme Court and the Knesset with the Israel Religious Action Center. The Basic Laws which protect the rights of all in Israel – Jews, Palestinians and all minorities such as LGBTQI+ people and refugees – are under threat.
We visited six Progressive synagogues nationwide, and the Leo Baeck High School, where we were welcomed with such delight.
This trip showed that Israel needs us to be there. Israel needs our care and participation. Israel can be a place of meeting and co-existence for Jews and Arabs, for right and left – and we can go and help by visiting and strengthening the millions who share our vision.
