During the month of June (2018), I spent about 15 days in
Spain, first in Madrid and a longer period in Barcelona, leading religious services
and lecturing on Jewish topics at the main two Reform congregations of the
country. This is not the first time I went to Spain. In the past, I spent more
time in Barcelona, and visited Madrid as a tourist. But now I had the pleasure
of meeting the leaders and many members of Madrid’s Reform group. I was very impressed by what I saw in both
places, and am encouraged by the progress that each congregation is making.
Madrid has a small group of liberal Jews, led by its
energetic president, Yael C. Madrid, called “Comunidad Judia Reformista de
Madrid” (No Hebrew name yet). On Friday
night, June 1, my wife and I attended the Kabbalat Shabbat service that began
at 8 pm. There was a great camaraderie among all the participants. I gave the
sermon. The service was followed by a congregational dinner attended and catered
by all the participants. There are many Jews in Madrid, and the potential of attracting
some of them to the Reform group is great. While in the capital, I also had the
opportunity to give a lecture on “Jewish God Concepts” at the prestigious
Centro Sefarad, and was interviewed by the local Jewish radio on my activities
in Spain.
From Madrid we moved to Barcelona by train, and set
ourselves for a longer stay in order to be part of Bet Shalom, the Reform
Jewish group ably led by Jai Anguita and Maria Prieto Manzanares. Here we met
old friends, and quickly became part of the congregation’s life, teaching and
lecturing on Reform Judaism. The high point occurred at the Friday night service (on
June 8) conducted in Hebrew and Spanish by lay people. I gave the sermon. It
was followed by a huge congregational dinner that was catered by members.
During the week, I met with prospective converts and discussed the future with
the leaders of the synagogue. I saw more people at the synagogue this time that
I had ever seen before. Jai, the president, is working hard to keep things together, and promised
me to get help from others in his enormous job.
Jews were expelled from Spain in1492, and spread all over
the Mediterranean basin. But now a newer generation of Spanish Jews is emerging
through the return of some North African Jews and the conversion to Judaism by
many sympathizers. Right now, most Jews are affiliated with the Orthodox but
many are seeking a liberal interpretation of Judaism. Reform Jews of the world
need to pay attention to this development and support its growth. (I tried to
bring a Torah scroll to the Madrid’s Reform Synagogue that has a temporary one
given to them by British Jews, but failed to find one in the States.) Both
congregations need a new prayerbook, help setting up youth activities and
religious schools. I began the process by contacting my congregation, Beth
Shalom of Needham, MA, where I am the Rabbi Emeritus, and put in touch our respective
professional staff for consultation and exchange of educational material. This
effort should be duplicated by many other synagogues in the States, and I hope
it will happen soon. There is also the possibility of “adopting” these two synagogues
as “sisters” institutions.
I left Spain exhilarated by the new energy I felt in a few
days in a country that had one of the great Jewish centers of the world. Will you help me?
Rabbi Rifat Sonsino, Ph.D
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA
Framingham State University
