7th September 2015 The pictures and news of the last few days have shocked the world and left many asking “what can I do to support those refugees who need urgent help?” A million Syrian children are languishing in refugee camps. Thousands of people have died. We are facing Europe’s … Read More
Liberal Rabbis join Syrian refugee on BBC News
4th September 2015 Rabbis Harry Jacobi and Danny Rich were interviewed for BBC News today alongside inspirational Syrian refugee Milad. Liberal Judaism Chief Executive Danny called on the UK to take a minimum of 20,000 more refugees, while Harry told how he himself was a refugee to Britain – fleeing … Read More
Rabbi Danny Rich: We must offer sanctuary
3rd September 2015 By Rabbi Danny Rich, Senior Rabbi and Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism The month of Elul and the coming Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days) are a time of reflection for Jews – demanding not only personal introspection, but requiring an examination of collective neglect. The image of … Read More
Empathising with Christian plight
Elliot Steinberg 1 September 2015 Taking its title and inspiration from Hillel’s famous question, the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) chose August, and indeed the beginning of Elul, to launch our If Not Now When initiative – to highlight and reflect upon the persecution of Christians in the Middle … Read More
The spirit and character of Liberal Judaism
Lucian J Hudson 1 September 2015 The Guardian In my final commentary as Liberal Judaism chairman, I would like to focus on how holding office has informed my spiritual journey as a Liberal Jew, and thank all those who have worked with chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich and me to … Read More
Spare a Thought – September 2015
Simon Benscher 1 September 2015 As we speed swiftly towards our High Holy Days, I wonder if during our hours of communal spiritual refreshment we could give some consideration to the near 40 chairs of our Liberal congregations who would have probably spent days preparing what, for many of them, … Read More
St John’s Wood community offers lifeline to asylum seekers
The JC 27 August 2015 Member of a Liberal Jewish community have spent the past year offering legal, financial and practical help to hundreds of asylum seekers. Here they explain why. It was a Sunday and inside the usually quiet St John’s Wood Liberal Jewish Synagogue members were franticly organising … Read More
Leo Baeck College praises Liberal attitudes to rabbinical life
The JC 27 August 2015 A career in the Progressive rabbinate is increasingly appealing, with “a real increase” in both the number and quality of applicants for the Leo Baeck College training scheme, says its principal, Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris. The north London college this year received nine applications for … Read More
Liberal Judaism on Jewish status and equilineal descent
Rabbi Alexandra Wright 21 July 2015 Liberal Judaism recognises equilineal descent: namely, that individuals born of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother should be treated in exactly the same way as individuals born to a Jewish mother and non-Jewish father. The Affirmations of Liberal Judaism state that children of mixed … Read More
Gloucestershire wins the LAFTAs
8 June 2015 Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community (GLJC) has won the prestigious Liberal Academy of Film & Torah Awards (LAFTAs). The cheder/religion school of every Liberal community was tasked with producing a three-minute film on the theme ‘A Day in the Life of Israel’. GLJC fought off stiff competition to … Read More