While the last year has seen many setbacks for those with Progressive values, Liberal Judaism as a movement has enjoyed another 12 months of growth – with strengthening communities, enhanced social action work and a louder voice in Anglo-Jewry, Britain generally and, indeed, the rest of the world. Below we … Read More
Chanukkah at Christmas time in 2016
23 December 2016 While much of the country is preparing for Christmas this Saturday evening, Jews will be declaring ‘Goodbye to Shabbat –the Sabbath- and Welcome Chanukkah!’ Chanukkah is an eight day Jewish festival which falls somewhere between mid-November and late December – and this year its beginning coincides with … Read More
Interfaith guests help celebrate 25 years of Peterborough
13 December 2016 Guests from all of the region’s faith groups helped Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community (PLJC) celebrate its 25th anniversary on Saturday. Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich, led a specially tailored service – explaining the origin and significance of the various aspects of Shabbat. It was followed … Read More
Statement on Government’s definition of antisemitism
Rabbi Danny Rich, Senior Rabbi of Liberal Judaism 12 December 2016 Today’s attempt by the British Government, with cross-party support, to clarify a working definition of antisemitism is a welcome one. However, definitions of antisemitism have existed before and failed to assist those who have suffered from it, while some … Read More
Faith leaders unite in passionate call for UK Government to get aid into East Aleppo
28 November 2016 A broad group of 15 UK faith leaders have come together to urge the UK government to take immediate action to deliver aid to civilians in besieged Aleppo. The plea—from Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh faith leaders—comes as humanitarian organisations warn that supplies of food … Read More
Rabbi Danny Rich becomes first Liberal Judaism leader to address the UK Board of Deputies
22 November 2016 On the 20 November, Rabbi Danny Rich became the first leader of Liberal Judaism (Chair, Senior Rabbi and/or Chief Executive) to address the UK Board of Deputies. In the meeting he highlighted the historical relationship between Liberal Judaism and the Board – key moments including the 1949 … Read More
A tribute to Shimon Peres
28 September 2016 It will be with undoubted sadness that Liberal Jews will learn of the death overnight of Shimon Peres, who died in the early hours of this morning, surrounded by his family. Peres suffered a stroke two weeks ago and, despite significant improvement, his condition rapidly deteriorated yesterday. … Read More
We are not at liberty to abstain from the Jungle
Rabbi Danny Rich 16 September 2016 The Jewish News Until a fortnight ago, I resisted many invitations to visit the ‘Jungle’ in Calais, primarily because I was not sure of what use I could be other than to observe in a voyeuristic sense. But a combination of anger, and the possibility of … Read More
Jewish schools: End of 50 per cent cap is a bad idea
Rabbi Danny Rich 16 September 2016 The Jewish Chronicle Leadership is sometimes about the difficulty between principle and practice, the balance between maintaining one’s pure values and the pragmatism of working with others to achieve the possible. The question of faith schools for the Liberal Jew may be such a scenario. … Read More