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EUPJ Shabbaton in Vienna


Shabbat service Or Chadasch Vienna*
Shabbat service Or Chadasch Vienna*

By Veronica Lederman -- Last month I represented Belgium at the EUPJ Shabbaton in Vienna. It was the first in-person meeting since Covid. That is a long time ago… and so many things have happened since then.


I have represented Belgium’s Beth Hillel and IJC since 2023. Bringing Progressive Judaism, a Judaism for the 21st century to as many Jews as possible, was my late husband Gilbert Lederman’s mission. When Marc Neiger became Rabbi at Beth Hillel, he introduced us to the network of Progressive Judaism that existed outside Belgium.  This made our world suddenly much larger and richer and far less isolated,  given that there are so few liberal Jews in Belgium. My husband became a member of EUPJ and later was invited to the WUPJ. We went to many meetings in Europe – in London, Prague, Rome, Amsterdam, Jerusalem. I was the ‘plus 1’ then. Now I am  taking an active role in the EUPJ myself as an executive board member.


Keynote lecture with Arzenu
Keynote lecture with Arzenu

It was a delight to finally meet all the other board members in person after all those Zoom meetings! These gatherings are open to all EUPJ affiliated synagogues, so several members of the Or Chadash synagogue who hosted us in Vienna were also present. My husband and I went to these gatherings even before he became a board member of EUPJ.


This was a deeply emotional weekend for me, feeling my husband everywhere in what was so important to him, wanting him to be proud of me. But I also felt a deep personal sense of belonging with these people on a mission.


Apart from to the executive board meeting, we had brainstorms with all Shabbaton participants. Themes like how to nurture our communities and being stronger together were discussed together.    


Activities such as a visit to the Jewish Museum and city walks with Jewish interests are always on the program. This is a good reason to join me next time for an enriching and warm Shabbat with other Progressive liberal community members. Let’s meet up soon!




*(L-R) Rabbi Tobias Divack Moss - Or Chadasch Rabbi, Miriam Kramer (EUPJ President), Rabbi Lea Muhlstein (EUPJ Chair), Eric Fry - Or Chadasch President

 


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