7 March 2017 Finchley Progressive Synagogue has been running a coffee club on Friday mornings, in order to help some of the Syrian families being resettled by Barnet – welcoming them into the Borough, their new homes and their new lives. They club alternates between sessions for families, usually parents … Read More
Liberals take action as Calais camp closes
25 October 2016 Liberal Jewish rabbis and members were part of a number of important Citizens UK actions for refugees over Sukkot. Liberal Jews, working alongside those of all and no faith, were seeking to ensure that unaccompanied children would continue to arrive from France, despite the clearance of the … Read More
Hear an orchestra like no other in Finchley
16 October 2016 As part of In Conversation, a series of monthly family-friendly Havdalah evenings, on December 10, Finchley Progressive Synagogue (FPS) will present a unique programme featuring the Symphonova Orchestra and its conductor and inventor Shelley Katz. Led by Rabbi Rebecca Birk, the evening will combine a Havdalah service … Read More
How your religion school can enter the LAFTAs
4 October 2016 Every two years, at the Day of Celebration, Liberal Judaism’s religion schools take part in a short film competition. The LAFTAs (Liberal Academy for Film and Torah Awards), see our youth make films, of a few minutes long, on a Jewish topic. They are then judged on … 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
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
Barnet Council to resettle 50 refugees after FPS action
7th October 2015 Finchley Progressive Synagogue and Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk hosted a successful Barnet Citizens action over Sukkot, which saw Barnet Council agree to resettle 50 Syrian refugees. As part of Liberal Judaism and Citizens UK’s Sanctuary campaign – which began last Sukkot – the event was hosted in … 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