Statement on antisemitic incidents over Chanukah

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29 December 2019 Liberal Judaism is shocked and saddened to hear about the recent antisemitic incidents in both London and New York. Chanukah and the festive period is a time for people to come together – no matter your religion or beliefs – and it is heartbreaking to see the … Read More

Sold out Manchester klezmer night gets everyone dancing

Manchester Klezmer Concert

29 December 2019 Manchester Liberal Jewish Community (MLJC) hosted a sold-out Evening of Klezmer to mark World AIDS Day. The concert saw Klezmorim of Manchester – the group which comprises current and former students of Manchester University’s music department – play Vessels of Song: Journeys Through the Worlds of Klezmer … Read More

Faiths unite for Liberal Jewish Synagogue lighting

Liberal Jewish Synagogue interfaith Chanukah lighting

27 December 2019 The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) held a multi-faith Chanukah lighting as part of the community’s ‘Festivals For All’ programme. Individuals and groups representing different local faith communities, schools, charities and organisations attended – all lighting one of eight candles. The keynote speaker was Imam Asif Hafiz OBE, … Read More

Northwood rabbi wins top international award

Rabbi Lea Mühlstein with her WRJ Award

23 December 2019 Rabbi Lea Mühlstein, of Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, was honoured at the first ever Women of Reform Judaism (WJR) Women’s Empowerment Awards Dinner. The event took place during the Biennial of the Union for Reform Judaism – Liberal Judaism’s American sister movement – and recognised the … Read More

Comment: We must be allies in fight against Islamophobia

Rabbi Charley Baginsky

By Rabbi Charley Baginsky The Board of Deputies and many other communal organisations have already condemned the truly appalling article that appeared in the Jewish Chronicle this week by Melanie Phillips. Liberal Judaism adds its voice clearly and strongly to the disgust felt in the Jewish community at this attack … Read More

Lord Mann to give keynote speech at Annual Fundraising Dinner

18 December 2019 Liberal Judaism is delighted to announce Lord (John) Mann as the keynote speaker for the upcoming Annual Fundraising Dinner at Goldsmiths’ Hall on Thursday 6 February 2020. Lord Mann is the Government’s Independent Adviser on Antisemitism. He recently took up his seat in the House of Lords, … Read More

Film Review: Jojo Rabbit (5/5)

Ben Combe 16 December 2019 The Nazi aesthetic is, inherently, stupid. Plenty of ink has been spilled over the Nazi’s appropriations of fantastical, mythical and hyper-masculine imagery. In new movie Jojo Rabbit, director Taika Waititi and his team defame history’s greatest monsters by inviting them out into the cold light … Read More

Liberal Judaism statement on the General Election

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13 December 2019 As Jews we feel a deep responsibility to engage in elections. Many of us see voting as a primary obligation. This election has felt personal in ways that we can never have imagined. We have witnessed the ways in which it has torn people apart and brought … Read More

Reading celebrate rabbi’s PhD with Pink Shabbat

Reading Pink Shabbat organising team

9 December 2019 Reading Liberal Jewish Community (RLJC) held a surprise Pink Shabbat to celebrate the award of a PhD to Rabbi, now Dr, Miri Lawrence. The synagogue was specially decorated and many congregants wore pink, which is Miri’s favourite colour. Cheder children created cards and banners and everyone enjoyed … Read More

El Al crew enjoy Friday night dinner in Northwood

9 December 2019 Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) welcomed four El Al crew members for a Friday night dinner with a twist. In a role reversal, Adar, Anat, Maya and Estie were served the food and drink during their one-night layover in London. Socialising with more than 60 NPLS … Read More