The incredible impact made by our Liberal and Reform communities and members on Mitzvah Day, and all year round, was celebrated at the annual Mitzvah Day Awards. Southgate Progressive Synagogue (top image) were presented with the Outstanding British Mitzvah Day prize, after holding a month of activities with 140 charitable … Read More
Birmingham Interfaith tree-planting strengthens interfaith bonds
In a display of unity and community spirit, Jews, Muslims and Christians from Birmingham joined with the area’s asylum seekers to celebrate Tu Bishvat by planting 10 fruit trees in a local park. The event, organised by Birmingham Progressive Synagogue’s Tikkun Olam Group in collaboration with local charity Fruit and … Read More
Interfaith peace vigil brings Birmingham communities together
Members of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue helped to organise the city’s Peace Together interfaith vigil. Held at St Anne’s Catholic Church, the event was attended by more than 100 people – including Jews, Muslims, Christians, Bahai and people of other faiths and none. Together, they shared prayers for peace from different religions, … Read More
Maidenhead and Birmingham win at Mitzvah Day Awards
Two Progressive communities won prestigious Mitzvah Day Awards for their interfaith social action on the day… and all year round. Maidenhead Synagogue picked up the Outstanding British Mitzvah Day prize with Birmingham Progressive Synagogue walking away with Outstanding Interfaith Partnership. Other communities receiving nominations included North West Surrey Synagogue, Menorah … Read More
Birmingham Progressive hosts Friday Night Iftar for asylum seekers
Birmingham Progressive Synagogue hosted an interfaith ‘Friday Night Iftar’ – in partnership with a number of local mosques and community groups – to focus on bringing people together in Birmingham and welcoming asylum seekers to the city. It combined a traditional Jewish Friday night dinner, to mark the start of … Read More
Joyce’s quiz breaks new record in support for Macmillan
Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS) member Joyce Rothschild has produced a record breaking result with her annual quiz in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. This year’s outing raised a mammoth £23,861 – its most yet – taking the running total to £275,058 for cancer charities. Having now taken place for 27 … Read More
Birmingham Progressive launches asylum seeker project
Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS) launched a major new project to support asylum seekers with an interfaith tree planting in a local park. The synagogue – which one of the largest Jewish communities in the Midlands – has been awarded funding by Birmingham City Council to run a series of interfaith … Read More
Tu BiShvat around our Progressive communities
Tu BiShvat was celebrated by Progressive Jews all around the country with a series of meaningful services, Seders, plantings and events. Every generation had a chance to get involved at Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue (EHRS). EHRS events included a Nagila Nursery tree planting, bird feeder making, learning with the … Read More
Birmingham shines a light on refugees during Chanukah
Members of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS) have produced a collection of readings for Chanukah, centring the refugee story within the Festival of Lights. The collection features eight diverse accounts of refugees who made their home in the UK, one for each night of candle lighting. The stories featured in the … Read More
[Blog] Judaism and Accessibility
By Annie Talbot Religious perspectives on disability have often been confusing, conflicting, and complicated. Whilst each religion has a unique approach to understanding disability, there are often contradictions within a single religion’s approach to disability – conflicting messages within religious texts, or different interpretations of disability by scholars. Whilst these … Read More