The Movement for Reform Judaism

Reform Movement President, Sir Sigmund Sternberg, in proposing a toast to Raphael Jewish Counselling Service, described it as almost the ‘secret service’ of Anglo-Jewry. Referring to Raphael’s work with individuals stressed or suffering trauma, bereavement or unemployment or all manner of personal distress including family breakdown, he confirmed how difficult it is to create awareness of their work.

Raphael, launched 27 years ago, has grown from its original role as a counselling service for rabbis in the Progressive Movement, to now being ‘a primary instrument of care for almost the entire community’.  Sir Sigmund said that he regretted that Raphael does not have the open support of the ultra-Orthodox community, but that it was indeed inclusive, enjoying the patronage of Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks and Rabbi Dr Abraham Levy.

Responding to Sir Sigmund, the Chair of Raphael, Jack Lynes, referred to Raphael the healer and likened Sir Sigmund’s work with the Three Faiths Forum to that of Raphael.  He longed for the day when, following in the footsteps of cancer, which only recently has ‘come out into the open’, counselling may itself emerge from its ‘hidey hole’.  Describing Raphael as a minnow amongst charities, not requiring millions, he still hoped that the community would support it as the welcome additional client base was proving a strain on limited resources.

The event concluded with a forum discussion on ‘The Rabbi, the Priest and the Couch: Therapists and their Religious Commitments’, led by psychotherapist and Reform rabbi, Howard Cooper,  psychotherapist and Anglican priest, Reverend Maria Schleger, and Rabbi Danny Smith, psychotherapist and Senior Rabbi of Edgware & District Reform Synagogue. 

To contact Raphael Jewish Counselling Service for help, tel: 0800 234 6236 or email: info@raphaeljewishcounselling.org.  

For further details, please contact:
Andrea Newman, Public Relations                                                                                       The Movement for Reform Judaism

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