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
22/23 July: Birmingham Progressive Synagogue Open House Shabbat
Liberal Judaism’s series of 120th Anniversary Open House Shabbats continues this Friday and Saturday with two special services at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS). An alternative Kabbalat Shabbat service begins at 6.30pm on Friday 22 July and will be followed by a chavurah supper where everyone brings a dish to share. … Read More
Another Birmingham simcha as Olivia and Ilana marry
By Joe Seager Ilana Davis, of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS), and her partner, Olivia Dyke, have given the community another reason to celebrate by getting married. The two first met when they were students at the University of Birmingham in 2013, with their friendship growing into love. They said: “We … Read More
Birmingham’s bumper toast to mainstay Frank
By Joe Seager A landmark birthday kiddush for Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS) President Frank Maxwell was held… a year after it was meant to happen. Plans to celebrate Frank’s 85th birthday last year were side-lined by Covid-19, with restrictions preventing services being held in shul. So, instead, a celebration took … Read More
Birmingham Progressive Head among LBC graduates
Four graduates received their MA in Jewish Educational Leadership award at Leo Baeck College’s first in-person ceremony for more than two years. Adela Kobic (Head Teacher at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue), Frankie Gruzd (Head Teacher at Bromley Reform Synagogue), Avi Marco (a member of Finchley Reform Synagogue Council) and Oren Giorno … Read More