The Ark Synagogue held its annual communal baby blessing, with Rabbis Aaron Goldstein and Lea Mühlstein asking God to bless the congregation’s babies and toddlers and their families. What made this year’s ceremony even more special was the involvement of Ark member families in Yorkshire, Northern Ireland, and Tamil Nadu in … Read More
Progressive Advisory Board Chair releases new book
Dr Ed Kessler (pictured) – the Chair of the Path to Progressive Judaism Advisory Board – has released a new book that provides one of the most comprehensive ever insights into Jewish-Christian relations. Together with Neil Wenborn, he has edited A Documentary History of Jewish-Christian Relations: From Antiquity to the … Read More
Historic joint adult B’nei Mitzvah service at Mosaic
Mosaic Reform Synagogue hosted what is believed to be the first ever joint Liberal and Reform adult B’nei Mitzvah. Four members of Mosaic Reform – Toria Bacon, Gillian Goldsmith, Jeff Highfield and Beth Kingsley – joined Shaan Knan of Mosaic Liberal Synagogue on the bimah in a single, unified service. … Read More
York Liberal Jewish Community celebrates 10th anniversary
York Liberal Jewish Community (YLJC) held a special civic interfaith Shabbat service to celebrate the community’s 10th anniversary. The service was one of of celebration, reflection and gratitude – commemorating a decade of Jewish rebirth in the city and looking to the community’s future. Led by YLJC’s Rabbi Elisheva Salamo, … Read More
EcoJudaism Award presented at Three Counties Shabbat
Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community (3CLJC) was presented with an EcoJudaism Award during a special eco-themed Shabbat service. 3CLJC received EcoJudaism Silver Status earlier this year, in recognition of the community’s work towards an environmentally responsible future. A certificate was presented by Dr Simon Opher, the Labour MP for Stroud … Read More
Tributes for beloved LJS member and Holocaust educator Bob Kirk
Bob Kirk – a key figure in the life of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue and wider UK Jewish community – has died, aged 99. Bob was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1925. After Kristallnacht in 1938, he travelled to the UK alone on the Kindertransport. He met wife Ann – … Read More
Education Hub 2025: Explore the history of Progressive Judaism
Join us for the Progressive Judaism Education Hub 2025 – a unique online series that will delve into the rich history and core values of Liberal, Reform and Progressive Judaism in the UK. SIGN UP HERE – tinyurl.com/EducationHub2025 Over 10 weekly hour-long Zoom sessions, starting on Thursday 2 January 2025, … Read More
Students team up in Nottingham to lead Kabbalat Shabbat
Nottingham Liberal Synagogue enjoyed what congregants described as “an amazing Kabbalat Shabbat to remember” – when Progressive Jewish students from Sheffield and Nottingham joined together to lead a lively, musical, spiritual and fun service. The synagogue’s Wendy Prestney said: “The two groups of young people, who had only met on … Read More
Highlights from the EUPJ Shabbaton in Vienna
The 2024 European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ) Shabbaton in Vienna brought together over 30 participants from 10 countries — Italy, Spain, France, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Israel, Austria and the UK. With many young adults taking part, the weekend was inspiring, drawing on the wisdom of the past … Read More
LJS to host Multi-Faith pre-Chanukah Celebration
Former MP Dame Karen Buck DBE will be the guest speaker at the The Liberal Jewish Synagogue’s annual Multi-Faith pre-Chanukah Celebration. This popular event brings together diverse faith communities in unity and festivity at a special time of year. The event will be held on the afternoon of Wednesday 11 … Read More