Elliott Karstadt 24 August 2018 The Jewish Chronicle In his 2012 travelogue, Where the West Ends, Michael Totten talks of citizens of the former Yugoslavia wrestling with national identity in their new reality. When asked, “who are you”, Predrad Delibasic says he made up an answer: “‘I am Jewish!’ I … Read More
[Blog] Nation State Law is a dangerous political gesture
Rabbi Danny Rich 12 August 2018 As the summer really took hold in Israel, the temperature in the Knesset rose dramatically as ‘Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People’ (INSJP) became part of the Israel’s effective constitution by 62 votes to 55. On the surface, it appears to … Read More
[Blog] Preserving the power of testimony
Helen Stone 31 July 2018 When my phone rang one evening last February the voice was anxious and the tone urgent. The caller was one of the organisers of Northwood Holocaust Memorial Day Events educational sessions. “Our speaker is unwell,” they explained. “Can you take her slot tomorrow morning?” As … Read More
Rabbi Gilad Kariv responds to Israel’s Nation State Law & Tisha B’Av
Rabbi Gilad Kariv 19 July 2018 Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism In a few days, the Jewish people will mark exactly 1948 years since the second destruction of Jerusalem. The historians of the time left us with powerful descriptions of the political and military struggle between the … Read More
Share your story – Celebrating 70 years of the NHS #NHS70
5 July 2018 Seventy years ago today, the National Health Service (NHS) was created and has played a vital role in the lives of everyone in Britain ever since. Find out more about what the NHS is doing to celebrate this big birthday at https://www.nhs70.nhs.uk. Liberal Judaism is joining with … Read More
Why your kids (and you) will love Kadimah
Judi Herman 1 July 2018 LJ Today For Ed and Jess Herman (pictured), LJY-Netzer’s Machaneh Kadimah summer camp was more than just the highlight of the school holidays. Judi Herman asks them to explain why – then she and husband Steve add some parental memories: Ed says… The thing about … 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
[Blog] Mental Health Awareness Week
Rabbi Alexandra Wright 15 May 2018 Two weeks ago, the Liberal Jewish Synagogue held its annual Kabbalat Torah service – one of the highlights of our year and always a source of great pride for any Liberal Jewish congregation. The class of nine fifteen year olds led the Friday evening … Read More
Liberal leaders contribute to René Cassin parashiot project
23 March 2018 Liberal Judaism rabbis and officers have contributed to a unique project offering communities a human rights commentary on each weekly Torah parasha. Put together by René Cassin – the human rights NGO that draws on Jewish experiences and values – the free resource offers 54 thoughts written … Read More
Why I had to walk out of the Zionist Federation’s dinner
Rabbi Lea Mühlstein 13 March 2018 The Jewish Chronicle “With no opportunity to voice my opposition to the guest speaker’s comments on asylum-seekers in Israel, I was left with no choice.” Sometimes enough is enough. I am a deeply committed Zionist and I believe that British Jewry must take a … Read More