Hindsight: thinking about your past.
A series of interviews with members of Bet Tikvah by Lina Fajerman

Interview Two: Joe Swinburne, aged 86 FounderChairman&HonPresident

 When my son and grandchildren were born and watching their lives develop as you had hoped. A sense of pride at being involved in the founding of the synagogue. My second Barmitzvah was very special and I was very appreciative of the way the community responded. I count myself fortunate.

I spent many years heavily involved in the administration of North London Progressive Synagogue in its heyday.  That ended when, with others, I helped set up its Group at Barnados and helped in its running for some 5 years.       Then in 1981 came all the excitement, optimistic expectation and hopeful promise in the creating of a new Synagogue.    That, and the gradual development of BPS/Bet Tikvah, brought into my life a new element of responsibility and involvement that made my Judaism more and more meaningful.     I also feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to help in bringing the active practice of Progressive Judaism into the lives of others.

Family deaths, each one a blow and also particular community members deaths. The war fatalities at Hughes Mansions. Firstly Julie’s mother in 1941 and then, almost exactly four years later, the rocket attack that killed 127 people, among whom were my many friends and their families. Dreadful events that haunt me still.

I also experienced disappointment at the way the shul developed after its founding in 1981. I had hoped the shul and its building would be a focal  point for Progressive Jewish activity but that has not happened to the extent of my hopes. And, although our numbers grew from 100 to 450 members, too many are inactive and invisible.

Events that give happiness change over one’s life. I am more content in my outlook. As you grow older, you learn better how to cope with situations. I have found that an actual event rarely measures up to the anticipation of it both for the good or bad. I have a strong belief that things will happen for the best.

I am sure that my generation is happier than my parent’s generation. My parents’ life would in no way measure up to life today.

I find it very hard to put myself back in the past. Even my war service seems to have happened to another person

Life is so different for a youngster now. I have never been discouraged by young people’s ability to cope. I have no memory of drugs and alcohol as a problem in my youth. Young people today have to develop abilities that were not needed in previous generations.

I would never use that phrase – its pointless. One should not indulge oneself. One makes decisions one considers to be right at the time and if the decision is wrong, nothing can be done.

I worked in local government all my life and although it was not originally well paid there were good fringe benefits. In my late 20s someone at work was opening his own business and offered me a post as company secretary. Although they raised the offer from 20 shillings to 30 shillings a week. I decided not to move. I was conditioned to the security aspect of my job. Within 5 years the business expanded with branches all over London and the person who took the company secretary role had become the director. Nevertheless my decision was right for me at the time and I never regretted it.

However when there was a local government reorganisation in 1965 I got a substantial promotion and was always happy in my job.

I would have loved to learn to play a musical instrument.

I only became involved in Jewish affairs at the age of 35 when I moved house and lived across the road from, and joined North London Progressive synagogue. I learnt more about Judaism in my first 3 years there than I had in the whole of my previous life.

My involvement in Jewish communal affairs has been a massive part of my life and I am very grateful for that

 My wife Julie has been, and continues to be, a constant and firm support in all my activities…and that has been vital in all that I have been involved in.