The Movement for Reform Judaism

So what can be done to improve things? I believe that largely depends on how we behave towards each other. I have been a member of the Redbridge Racial Equality Council almost since its inception, nearly forty years ago, serving for a time on its Executive Committee and as Treasurer. During those years I discovered the level of discrimination that exists in all parts of society. I am also a member of the Management Committee of the Redbridge Faith Forum, which has been working for the past few years to improve relationships between the different religious groups in the area. From my experience, I’d like to suggest four approaches that, if everyone were to adopt them, would make our country a better place in which to live.

The first is respect . All too often people treat each other with a lack of respect, sometimes even with contempt, when the other person is different. The Bible teaches us that we were all created in the image of God, how can we be true to God while not respecting God’s creation? And what gives us the right to think that only we have the truth? There is truth in all faiths, we have much to learn from each other. And that leads to my second approach, which is co-operation rather than conflict . So many issues that religion faces in an increasingly secular society are common to all the religions. We must share best practice, what works for one may well work for another. And together we may be able to solve some of our problems.

My third approach is to do with responsibility . We hear lots about rights: human rights, childrens’ rights, equal rights, but very little about responsibility. Rights carry with them responsibilities, and until we’re able to understand that and not expect everything to be set before us, without our having to do anything in return, then we’ll not have the sort of society that we need. Finally, my last approach is equity , fairness. To my mind, this is far more important than equality, because I don’t actually believe the latter really exists. You can dress me up in the latest kit and put me on the turf at White Hart Lane, but you’re not going to make a footballer out of me! Similarly, my role in the birth of my children was different to that of my wife! Our skills and our abilities are not equal and so we cannot expect to be treated equally; but we certainly should expect to be treated with equity.

Happy New Year!

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