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
Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend report
4 July 2016 Liberal Judaism promises ‘to keep pace with modernity’ with discussion on new siddur and innovative services at Biennial Nearly 300 Liberal Jews, from 39 different communities, saw a confident movement looking to the future at the Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend. The conference included themed services covering the … Read More
[Sermon] Two thousand years of Jewish prayer in two hours
Rabbi Pete Tobias 2 July 2016 Liberal Judaism biennial conferences have a reputation of being rather breathless and exciting, but I think the opportunity to encounter more than two thousand years’ worth of how our people have prayed through the ages adds a new dimension to that. I hope you … Read More
[Sermon] It’s all about trust
Rabbi Pete Tobias 18 May 2016 This past week I have been feeling particularly anxious. It’s a common feature of my life; according to my therapist it has to do with issues of trust and confidence. When it gets particularly bad, as it has done in these past few days, … Read More
We must help child refugees find their families
23 April 2016 The Telegraph Sir – We were shocked by the entirely preventable death of Muhammad Hassan, a 17-year-old asylum-seeker. He died on April 1 while trying to reach his uncle in Manchester. Despite having a legal right to join his family while his asylum claim was processed, he … Read More
Liberal rabbis give Yom Kippur advice
20th September 2015 Working with The Jewish Telegraph, we asked four Liberal rabbis for their tips on ‘how to survive Yom Kippur’. Below, they give their advice from both a spiritual and fasting point of view. Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk (Finchley Progressive Synagogue): Despite what you may imagine, Yom Kippur … Read More
Rabbi appears via video-link
Jay Grenby 14 October 2010 The Jewish Chronicle A little matter like the 5,000 miles temporarily separating Rabbi Pete Tobias from his religion school pupils at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree wasn’t going to stop him taking the weekly service. Despite his absence from Hertfordshire on a visit to his son … Read More
[Response] For Pete’s sake…
Rabbi Pete Tobias 30 September 2010 Response to JC article of 29/9/2010 (see below) Judaism has always placed great significance on names – and, in many cases, changes to names. Many biblical characters have had their names changed, either by divine instruction, as in the case of Abraham and Sarah, … Read More
Writer pens Etrog mystery for Succot
Jay Grenby 21 September 2010 The Jewish Chronicle Prolific author and broadcaster Rabbi Pete Tobias has made a first foray into the realm of children’s books with the publication of The Secret of the £5 Etrog, in time for Succot. The paperback, illustrated by cartoonist Paul Solomons, is aimed at … Read More