31 May 2018 Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel is the new chair of the European Union for Progressive Judaism Rabbinic Assembly (ERA). René, a French-born rabbi who serves Kingston Liberal Synagogue, was voted into the position when more than 40 ministers from across the continent came together for the … Read More
Liberal Judaism Biennial – one month to go!
30 May 2018 There is just one month to go until Liberal Judaism’s flagship event – the Biennial Weekend. Taking place from Friday June 29 until Sunday July 1, just outside of Birmingham, the Biennial promises to be a fantastic weekend of stimulating discussion, prayer and music. The theme for … Read More
Leo Baeck College announces new student rabbi intake
29 May 2018 Leo Baeck College (LBC) has announced its latest intake of Progressive Judaism student rabbis, which will include the first Polish-born Jew to study for the Progressive rabbinate since the fall of communism in Poland and a former LJY-Netzer leader. Two students will start on LBC’s acclaimed five-year … Read More
Biennial Book Club: The Periodic Table by Primo Levi
24 May 2018 Liberal Judaism will launch the first ever Biennial Book Club, as one of the evening activity sessions on offer at our movement’s flagship event of 2018. Led by Kingston Liberal Synagogue member and cheder teacher Sandra Webber, the book club will read and discuss The Periodic Table … Read More
French Liberal Jews visit East London community
24 May 2018 East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue (ELELS) received a very special visit from 14 members of the French Liberal congregation Keren Or Lyon. After a warm welcome from Rabbi Richard Jacobi, in both French and English, a Shabbat service took place taken from the draft of Liberal … Read More
Bringing Holocaust education into primary schools
21 May 2018 Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) has teamed up with The National Holocaust Centre and Museum to bring the Centre’s education programme for 9-11 year olds into schools for the first time. The ‘Journey Exhibition’ is part of an immersive programme at the Centre, which is based … Read More
[Opinion] Why we must continue to speak out on Israel
Rabbi Charley Baginsky 17 May 2018 It is Thursday afternoon and 24 hours since I, along with our youth movement worker Simon Lovick, wrote an open letter criticising the Board of Deputies statement on the current situation on the border between Israel and Gaza. This is the first chance I … Read More
Barbara Winton to deliver refugee session at Biennial Weekend
17 May 2018 Barbara Winton will speak about how we can build on her father’s legacy at Liberal Judaism’s Biennial Weekend, via a live Skype link from Athens where she will be visiting a refugee camp. Barbara is the daughter and biographer of the late Sir Nicholas Winton (1909-2015), who … Read More
Open letter to the Board of Deputies president and president-elect
16 May 2018 On Sunday, at the hustings to be the next president of the Board, every one of the candidates pledged to seek to speak on behalf of the whole community. Every one of the candidates said they wanted to reflect the full range of opinion across the community. … Read More
Israel and the US need a strategy for peace says Rabbi Charley Baginsky
15 May 2018 Commenting on the tragic violence and deaths in Gaza over the past 36 hours in the wake of the opening of the new American Embassy in Jerusalem, Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Liberal Judaism’s Director of Strategy and Partnerships, says: “The tragedy here is that neither the current Israeli … Read More