Liberal Judaism is to explore the movement’s “revolutionary heritage” through a history project which has received “generous” backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Lily’s Legacy: The Radical History and Heritage of Liberal Judaism, will research and document more than 115 years of Liberal Judaism via oral history, photography, film, publications, digital and other interactive media. The collection will be deposited with the London Metropolitan Archives.

The project takes its name from Lily Montagu (1873–1963), one of the three founders of Liberal Judaism and a women’s rights campaigner.

“Liberal Judaism has always been at the cutting edge of modernity, inclusivity and equality, providing a home for everyone’s Jewish story,” explained the movement’s senior rabbi, Danny Rich.

“This project will examine how the vision of our founders — Lily Montagu, Claude Montefiore and Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck — is being lived today.”

Lily’s Legacy will be managed by Surat-Shaan Knan, who previously ran Liberal Judaism’s Rainbow Jews, Twilight People and Rainbow Pilgrims projects.

Some early finds include the only known existing photograph of the three Liberal Judaism founders together. The movement hopes that a wide range of people will take part.

“We are looking for members to donate their oral histories, photographs and memorabilia,” Mr Knan said. “We also need volunteers to record this history and help put together our exhibition and education materials. Anyone wishing to take part should email me [s.knan@liberaljudaism.org].”

One long-time member who will be contributing to the project is Rosita Rosenberg, a former Liberal Judaism executive director who has spent her entire adult life involved in the movement.

She recalled that “returning to South London in 1951 aged 18 — after leaving it as a five-year-old evacuee — I had no local Jewish friends. My parents’ solution was that I should join ‘a nice Jewish youth club’.

“Obediently, I trawled around several nearby groups, only to find them unfriendly or boring. Someone suggested I try the Liberal synagogue in Streatham. I had never heard of Liberal Judaism, but I went. That walk down the stairs to the Lily Montagu Hall was a walk into my Liberal Jewish future.”

Although active in the youth movement, she initially resisted involvement in the shul. “But inevitably it drew me in with its inclusivity, its poetic liturgy, its emphasis on social action and its inspiring ministers.

“I took my mother to a service at South London when, as was the custom then, Rabbi John Rayner recited the priestly blessing at the end of the service by stretching his hands out over the congregation. She was visibly moved and talked about it frequently afterwards.”

Mrs Rosenberg added that she had been “privileged” to know Lily Montagu, who with her sister Marian, attended every major Liberal Judaism youth activity, expressing support and interest.