Irene Lancaster's Diary

The GAFCON CONFERENCE: 'NEXT YEAR in JERUSALEM'

A senior member of the Church of England has responded to my positive blog about the GAFCON conference

http://irenelancaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/a-new-reformation-for-members-of-the-the-anglican-church-meeting-as-pilgrims-in-jerusalem.html

 with the thought that most of those present would have been replacement theologians and/or Messianic Jews with an agenda, and therefore no friends of the Jewish people. He also pointed out that support for Israel is not the same as support for the Jewish people.

I am not sure about this. Although it is quite true that some, or maybe many, Christian supporters of Israel would like us to convert to Christianity as soon as possible, there are many who don't. And as Ruth Gledhill has pointed out in this truly superb blog report on the whole conference, the Israeli tourism people are thrilled with the Jerusalem event, which will apparently be repeated in two years time:

http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2008/06/gafcon-a-longer.html

 For those of us who have worked very hard for the last three or four years to counter the adverse effects of the words and actions of former Anglican Bishop Riah of Jerusalem and his western supporters on truly good relations between Jews and members of the Church England, which culminated in the decision of Anglican Synod to divest from Israel only two years ago, this turn-around is amazing - and most be inspired by God.

As for the role of Israel in Jewish aspirations, although it is to be hoped that the Jewish diaspora will continue to flourish, many believe, as do I, that the future of the Jewish people is ultimately in Israel. What is more, even for those remaining in the diaspora, Israel will always represent the pinnacle of their dreams and aspirations, as we intone every year at the Pesach Seder service, and in the many Psalms and other parts of our ancient synagogue liturgy.

So for Jews and Christians alike, may it be

Next year in Jerusalem!

http://www.shma.com/nov03/shimon_felix.htm

A 'new reformation' for members of the the Anglican Church meeting as pilgrims in Jerusalem

Around this time last year, I was asked to address a congregation at a synagogue in Jerusalem. The Bible reading that Shabbat was the stories of the spies who were sent out to spy out the land of Canaan, but came back with tall tales and exaggerated stories. Sound familiar?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIY6g92H4dM&feature=related

I suggested that rather than coming as 'spies' (meraglim), Israel should be visited in the spirit of pilgrimage (olei-regel). There is thus a pun in Hebrew on the words 'spies' and 'pilgrims', implying that through a change of heart enemies can become friends.

Here is the English translation of that synagogue address:

http://irenelancaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/06/sermon_at_sicha.html

So it is very gratifying indeed to read about the tremendously successful GAFCON conference which has just taken place in Jerusalem. Some of the world's leading members of the Church of England have attended and many regard this as one of the most significant events in the history of the Anglican Church.

And it is also very good for Jewish-Christian relations.

Here is George Conger's take on the whole thing:

http://geoconger.wordpress.com/category/anglican-communion/events/gafcon/

And here is Ruth Gledhill in today's Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4221723.ece

As someone at the conference said: Jews and Christians should and can work together towards a better world and a greater understanding of both God and the Bible and this conference has surely contributed towards this goal.

The BBC celebrates Israel's 60th

Local BBC radio is celebrating Israel's 60th with an online piece about the forthcoming party in the park. This event has been organized by the Manchester Jewish community and takes place on Sunday June 29th in Prestwich's Heaton Park, in conjunction with a simultaneous event in London's Trafalgar Square.

The ties between Manchester and Israel were forged by Chaim Weizmann, who at that time worked at Manchester University, and was friendly with the editor of the Manchester Guardian, as well as with the prominent British politicians who went on to grant the Jewish people their homeland. He went on to become Israel's first President.

http://www.jewishmag.com/60mag/weizmann/weizmann.htm

Read all about the Sunday events here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2008/06/23/290608_manchester_jews_salute_feature.shtml

Alderley Edge and the Blessing of the Sun

An amazing thing happened yesterday. Friends came round and took me to visit the woods in Alderley Edge, one of England's finest beauty spots..

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-alderleyedge/

We arrived at a particular spot with a view of the Peak District. A feeling of deja vue.

It dawned that this was the very spot where, nearly 28 years earlier, our family had celebrated the Jewish festival, known as the Blessing of the Sun,

http://www.shalomctr.org/node/1400

together with a rabbi and another close friend.

After our dawn experience, we had taken our 6-year old daughter back to school  - somewhat late - and explained to the teacher, who was most understanding. 'What a lovely way for a child to start the day', she had said.

The 28-year cycle comes round again next year and will be celebrated on Tuesday April 8th, just before Pesach.

Tuesday is the fourth day of creation - the day on which, according to Genesis, God created the sun:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation_according_to_Genesis

The Moral Maze: Do Science and Religion have anything to say to each other?

An excellent edition of the Moral Maze on BBC Radio 4 came from the Cheltehnham Science Festival and dealt with the limits of science and the role of religion:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/religion/moralmaze.shtml

All four panellists were on fine form.

Michael Portillo reminded us of the dangers of religion in political life:

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/129475

Claire Fox was concerned about the growth of 'scientism', where science thinks that it actually has all the answers:

http://skepdic.com/scientism.html 

Clifford Longley spoke about the dangers of science, as in the experiments carried out by Hitler's lackeys during the Holocaust:

http://history1900s.about.com/od/nazidoctors/Nazi_Doctors_and_Nazi_Medicine.htm 

And Melanie Phillips talked about Maimonides and the distinguished rabbinic track-record in absorbing science into religious discourse. In fact, Maimonides said that you couldn't understand the biblical text without an understanding of secular subjects, including science!

http://mosesmaimonides.com/

The process of absorbing scientific thought into biblical interpretation has  been going on in Judaism since time immemorial. What wasn't mentioned on the programme (perhaps surprisingly) was the Muslim contribution to this discourse. But it did exist - in the glorious Middle Ages - during which time many of their works were translated by their Jewish subjects into languages accessible to Christians:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2501/is_3_20/ai_53286324

The panellists were well balanced, and the scientists who professed to be atheists, if not convinced, at least listened to the arguments.

The BBC should put on more of these type of intelligent programmes. Because, as someone said, science looks at facts, but cannot explain how it all got there. So there is a place for religion after all. As long as it knows its place and science knows its place. And neither thinks that it is the be-all and end-all. For we only really know what we don't know, and ultimately there is nothing new under the sun after all, as the good book says:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes

Bach as Midrash

We've just finished celebrating the festival of Shavuot:

http://www.ou.org/chagim/shavuot/

So what better way to get us in the right frame of mind than an impromptu decision to pop down to the Bridgewater Hall on Sunday morning and listen to Canadian pianist, Angela Hewitt:

http://www.angelahewitt.com/index.php

 play the entire first book of Bach's 24 Preludes and Fugues:

http://www.angelahewitt.com/record.php?record_id=31&PHPSESSID=2rn22o9jpimrk3stvmfk43jaa0 

Sheer magic. And midrash.

http://www.headcoverings-by-devorah.com/WhatIsMidrash.htm

For Angela played Bach like Chopin, with rubato and Mozart, with the lightest of touches. Possibly the three most pianistic composers of all time. And appeared to meditate herself into her playing and give it all sorts of meanings that are only possible on a modern piano played by a consummate artist.

Straight after that, our synagogue held a children's play session themed around Shavuot and I offered to help. So it was cutting out flowers, as well as the cake (it was somebody's birthday) and making sure everyone was involved and no-one was jealous.

On the way home, I popped over to Broughton House for Retired Service Personnel, which were holding a jumble sale for Veterans' Day. The beautiful warmth of the day helped, and my friend, Marian, was attending to one of the stalls.

http://www.bizwiki.co.uk/care-homes/1239936/broughton-house.htm

Yes, a glorious and busy day for the eve of Shavuot, the festival which commemorates the handing down of the Jewish religion to all the children of Israel - men, women and children.

And then there's the cheese cake of course ....

http://www.aish.com/holidays/shavuot/

Labour Betrays Christianity

Ruth Gledhill of The Times has scored a remarkable success. Her article on the Labour Party betraying the Church, which appears on the front page of today's paper

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4083979.ece

is followed by a further report and an analysis of the same subject. Plus a Leader as well.

Not content with this great achievement, Ruth also manages a hilarious account of her holiday with son Arthur at Central Parks, where phone and internet access appear to be in short supply:

http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/news/article4074342.ece

Well the holiday doesn't seem to have done her any harm. The articles are humdingers.

It is true, for instance that the government appears to be far more interested in Islam than in Christianity. And it is also true that the Church does not receive the praise it deserves. In the Greater Manchester diocese alone, vicars perform the herculean task (for inadequate pay) of helping all members of society, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or creed. Personally I think that rabbis could learn a thing or two from some of the clergy in their area. Where do they find all the hours of the day to do this work in? When do they sleep? How do their spouses manage? What about their children?

And in between tending to the dead, dying, depressed, ill and abandoned (as well as to happier events, such as weddings) they also have to find the time to attend meetings, write a new and interesting sermon every week, and worry about their retirement, when they will have to finance their own living accommodation in an area outside the parish (so as to allow the new incumbent to make their own mark).

Yes, it is a vocation - but who said vocations were easy?

Ruth should be heartily congratulated for getting this news item onto the front page, and The Times should be congratulated for giving her the space to do so. 

David's Deli: an Oasis of Culinery and Good-Neighbourly Delights

Manchester hasn't been getting a very good press of late. There's the football hooliganism:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/15/justice.gordonbrown?gusrc=rss&feed=football

the Universities' Union vote to boycott Israel (yet again), taken at Manchester University: 

http://irenelancaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/why-the-ucu-motion-is-antisemitic-letter-to-ucu-general-secretary-from-anthony-julius.html

and the fact that Liverpool, its neighbour and rival, is threatening to overshadow it as European City of Culture:

http://www.visitliverpool.com/

So, it's great to be able to relate a story of kindness, which reflects the true spirit of Manchester.

At the moment it's the run-up to Shavuot,

http://kosherfood.about.com/od/shavuot/a/shavuot_menu.htm

so I visited David's Deli, which had been recommended by a friend (who works there). A simple non-descript place in the heart of Orthodox Broughton Park, the smell of fishballs, gefilte fish, fried fish, and fresh cooked salmon just hit you as you walked in (with bike)

http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/worship/worship7.html:

I ended up buying practically our whole Shavuot lunch there (or at least the main course).

But on arriving home, I found that two latkes were missing,

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/POTATO-LATKES-104406

so I phoned up and was asked to pick them up later at the owner's home. I did this and was offered a fabulous home-made ice-cream on arrival - the sort that reminds you of idyllic childhood:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream_cone

And stayed for a chat.

Scrumptious!

Why the UCU motion is antisemitic: letter to UCU General Secretary from Anthony Julius

Anthony Julius spells out in his letter to UCU Secretary General, Sally Hunt, why their May 28th motion to boycott Israeli academics, carried in Manchester UK,  is antisemitic:

http://www.spme.net/cgi-bin/articles.cgi?ID=4119

Myth of the 'Jewish lobby' 'laced with just the faintest hint of the world's oldest hatred'

Excellent article in The Times by their US editor.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4053816.ece?Submitted=true

The Jewish lobby is a myth. This article should be read by people working at the BBC, the Guardian and Independent newspapers, trendy leftish vicars and -most of all - so-called British academics. All of these have peddled this myth at one time or another.

As Gerald Baker says, this theory/myth/fairty tale is:

laced with just the faintest hint of the world's oldest hatred