26 September 2016 A new Liberal Judaism community for East London and West Essex will be formed, after members of its two existing synagogues voted overwhelmingly to unify. In parallel EGMs on Sunday September 25, members of Bet Tikvah and Woodford Liberal Synagogues voted in favour of the dissolution of … Read More
LJ’s Surat-Shaan profiled by best-selling magazine
Liberal Judaism’s Twilight People project manager, Surat-Shaan Knan (pictured), has been profiled by Attitude Magazine. He featured in a lengthy article in the UK’s best-selling gay publication, looking at LGBTQI+ people of faith. Speaking about coming out as trans, he told the magazine: “I’m very, very blessed because I’m a … Read More
Letter telling women how to dress is ‘unacceptable’
Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Charley Baginsky (pictured) has criticised a letter sent by an ultra-Orthodox rabbi to 5,000 Jewish women, which stated that it is a sin to wear fitted blouses, short skirts or bright colours. Charley, Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy and partnerships, said: “In the month of Elul we are called … Read More
Rabbis welcomed at South Bucks and York
20 September 2016 Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Student Rabbi Deborah Blausten have been welcomed at South Bucks Jewish Community (SBJC) and York Liberal Jewish Community (YLC). South Bucks inducted Charley in a moving Shabbat service on Saturday, which was attended by dignitaries including Cheryl Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham, and … Read More
Rabbi Rebecca Birk ‘one of London’s most influential’
19 September 2016 Finchley Progressive Synagogue’s Rabbi Rebecca Birk has been named as one of London’s most influential people. Rebecca was featured in The London Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list, praised by the newspaper for leading a campaign to persuade Barnet Council to take in refugees. Rebecca said: “I am … Read More
Rabbi Charley Baginsky to lead global Shabbat
16 September 2016 Rabbi Charley Baginsky – Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy and partnerships – will lead the Shabbat service at next year’s World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) conference. Held in Jerusalem from May 17-20, the Connections 2017 event promises to be an exciting and inspiring gathering of the … Read More
[Radio] Senior rabbi takes refugee fight to the airwaves
13 September 2016 Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich, has made a number of media appearances this week calling on the British Government to do more to reunite refugee families. Danny has been interviewed by BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC World Service and BBC … Read More
“Whoever saves a single human life, it is as if they have saved a whole world”
Rabbi Richard Jacobi, Co-Chair of Rabbinic Conference of Liberal Judaism 9 September 2016 This famous statement, from the second century Mishnah (Sanhedrin 4:5) occurs in the context of ensuring witnesses in the trial of someone accused of a capital crime. There its purpose is to demand that any such witnesses … Read More
Liberal rabbis take lead on refugees
6 September 2016 Liberal rabbis have been at the forefront of a campaign to speed up the arrival of lone refugee children to the UK – visiting Calais, holding a memorial event at the Home Office and delivering a letter to the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd. Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, … Read More
Mayor of Redbridge attends Bet Tikvah service
5 September 2016 The Major of Redbridge, Councillor Gurdial Bhamra, enjoyed a Shabbat morning service at Bet Tikvah. The mayor, who is Sikh, has been visiting many different religious places of worship in the London Borough of Redbridge to promote his message that “we are all one community”. On his … Read More