Local night shelter leader speaks at Kingston Liberal

Sophie Mayor with Rebecca Singerman-Knight and Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel at Kingston Liberal Synagogue

20 January 2020 Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS) welcomed Sophie Mayor from The Haven – the area’s winter night shelter for the homeless – for a special service and talk. Sophie is the night shelter coordinator for the charity Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness, which runs The Haven during the winter … Read More

Learn to speak Hebrew at East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue

Hebrew Ulpan course at ELELS

16 February 2020 Thinking of your resolutions for 2020? How about learning to speak Hebrew? This is the opportunity being offered by East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue. In a first for the region, the community – based in South Woodford – will be opening an Ulpan class running for … Read More

Statement on family reunion rights for child refugees

LJ Statement Logo Star

10 January 2020 Liberal Judaism is dismayed by the government’s failure to guarantee protection for the right of vulnerable child refugees to be reunited with aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, parents or grandparents who are in the UK. If this safe and legal route is closed, we fear lives will be … Read More

More than 100 attend ‘fantastic’ teacher training conference

9 January 2020 More than one hundred Reform and Liberal Judaism cheder and religion school teachers gathered at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue for the organisations’ flagship annual teacher training event. Participants had the opportunity to deepen a range of skills, with sessions selected based on teacher requests and specific development … Read More

Last chance to share your Jewish story with Lily’s Legacy

Oral History Interviewing for Lilys Legacy

8 January 2020 Our Lottery Heritage Fund supported oral history and archive project – Lily’s Legacy: The Radical History and Heritage of Liberal Judaism – is soon entering its next phase, meaning this is the last chance to share your story or object. We’re still looking for a range of … Read More

Volunteering award for Rainbow Pilgrims team

Rainbow Pilgrims JVN Award win

7 January 2020 The Rainbow Pilgrims team were named as Liberal Judaism’s Volunteer Team of the Year at the JVN Celebration of Volunteering Awards event. They were also selected from 42 potential nominees as one of three finalists for JVN’s overall Outstanding Volunteer Team of the Year Award, with a film shown … Read More

Rabbi Cantor Gershon Silins inducted in Norwich

Rabbi Cantor Gershon Silins inducted by Rabbi Danny Rich in Norwich

1 January 2020 Members of the East Anglian Jewish population packed the Old Meeting House in Norwich to see Rabbi Cantor Gershon Silins inducted as the new rabbi of the Norwich Liberal Jewish Community (NLJC). Gershon – who was ordained as rabbi in July after graduating from Leo Baeck College … Read More

Statement on antisemitic incidents over Chanukah

LJ Statement Logo Star

29 December 2019 Liberal Judaism is shocked and saddened to hear about the recent antisemitic incidents in both London and New York. Chanukah and the festive period is a time for people to come together – no matter your religion or beliefs – and it is heartbreaking to see the … Read More

Sold out Manchester klezmer night gets everyone dancing

Manchester Klezmer Concert

29 December 2019 Manchester Liberal Jewish Community (MLJC) hosted a sold-out Evening of Klezmer to mark World AIDS Day. The concert saw Klezmorim of Manchester – the group which comprises current and former students of Manchester University’s music department – play Vessels of Song: Journeys Through the Worlds of Klezmer … Read More

Faiths unite for Liberal Jewish Synagogue lighting

Liberal Jewish Synagogue interfaith Chanukah lighting

27 December 2019 The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) held a multi-faith Chanukah lighting as part of the community’s ‘Festivals For All’ programme. Individuals and groups representing different local faith communities, schools, charities and organisations attended – all lighting one of eight candles. The keynote speaker was Imam Asif Hafiz OBE, … Read More