Rabbi Janet Burden

West Central Liberal Synagogue & South Bucks Jewish Community

Rabbi Janet Burden was ordained in July 2002, after completing her studies at Leo Baeck College – Centre for Jewish Education, London. She was born and educated in the United States, but has chosen to make Britain her home. She holds two masters degrees, one in English and a second (with distinction) in Hebrew and Jewish Studies.

Janet came to the rabbinate from a background of social activism. She remains committed to the prophetic vision of global justice and continues to work towards that goal within the Jewish community. Prior to becoming a rabbi, she worked for the development agency, OXFAM. She is also a founder member of the Jewish environmental group, the Noah Project. She is joint convenor of the Liberal Judaism social action committee, “Just Action,” with Rabbi Margaret Jacobi of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue.

Rabbi Janet enjoys teaching both children and adults, preferring to adopt an experiential approach whenever possible. “People of all ages learn best by doing,” she says. At the Montagu Centre, she offers a regular “Access to Judaism” course, designed for those who are exploring Judaism as a personal spiritual path. It is a rolling course that consists of 25 individual sessions, grouped thematically around the Jewish festival cycle. For more information about this, please contact her on 020 7636 7627.

Rabbi Janet’s style is informal and intimate. She enjoys supplementing the liturgy of Siddur Lev Chadash with readings gleaned from a wide range of sources. She encourages congregational participation in services, and highly values the involvement of committed lay leadership in all aspects of communal life. She divides her time between two of Liberal Judaism’s smaller communities, the West Central Liberal Synagogue and the South Bucks Jewish Community. Both congregations are growing!