15 February 2016 Liberal Judaism’s Surat-Shaan Knan has been selected as a Stonewall ‘role model’ for LGBT History Month. Celebrated every February, the aim of the month is to celebrate the lives and achievements of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people from the past and present. The theme this year … Read More
Behind the headlines as LJS makes history
Jeanne Myers 15 February 2016 You may have seen some of the recent media coverage about The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) holding Friday evening services in French. ‘Sacrebleu’, you might have thought… what’s all this about?! Around a year ago, it occurred to me that, with the large number of … Read More
One big Friday night dinner
8 February 2016 The Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community (GLJC) gathered most of its members together in January for a simultaneous Friday night dinner party. Eighty people united in nine houses around Gloucestershire, enjoying home cooked food contributed by those taking part. Members were grouped together into convenient geographical locations to … Read More
Liberal Judaism welcomes first Scandinavian member synagogue
2 February 2016 Shir Hatzafon synagogue – ‘The Song of the North’ – has become the first Scandinavian member of Liberal Judaism, increasing the movement’s number of members to 42 communities over five countries. Started informally in 1998, Shir Hatzafon was officially recognized by the Danish Government in 2004. Today, … Read More
Historic deal allows men and women to pray together at Western Wall
31 January 2016 The Guardian Israel approves official separate area for mixed gender praying that will be registered in country’s Law of Holy Sites. A battle lasting more than a quarter of a century over the Western Wall, the religious site revered by Jews all over the world, has resulted … Read More
Rabbi Charley Baginsky appointed to Alliance role
21 January 2016 The Alliance for Progressive Judaism, a partnership of Reform and Liberal Judaism, has appointed Rabbi Charley Baginsky as its part-time coordinator whose remit is to develop projects that the two movements will work on jointly to advance Progressive Judaism, its principles and ethos in the UK. … Read More
An insight into faith in prison
12 January 2016 Rabbi Danny Rich, the senior rabbi of Liberal Judaism and a prison and hospital chaplain, has given an insight into prison life for people of faith. Delivering a speech to the Council of Christians and Jews, and then to Limmud, Danny discussed what prison chaplaincy, as he … Read More
South Bucks – an emotional farewell
11 January 2016 South Bucks Jewish Community (SBJC) held a special Shabbat service to say farewell (but decidedly not goodbye) to their rabbi of nine years – Rabbi Rachel Benjamin The service was created and led by the current, and three retired, chairs the community, who also gave their own … Read More
Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue opens its doors after redevelopment
16 December 2015 The community at Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue are embarking on a new adventure with the opening of their redeveloped, state of the art building. The synagogue has been their home since 1937, but long in need of modernisation. It was four years ago that the BHPS’ … Read More
Eight centuries after the pogrom, pride flickers again in York’s Jewish community
13 December 2015 The Guardian / Observer Liberal Judaism has given the city’s Jews a chance to uphold their faith while accepting the realities of modern life. In March 1190, the entire Jewish community of York – about 150 people – barricaded themselves inside the castle as antisemitic riots raged … Read More