A group of teenagers from the V’Ahavta Shoham Reform community in Israel spent a week in the UK, strengthening ties with their twinned Progressive synagogue in Elstree and Borehamwood, Europe’s fastest growing Jewish area. It was part of an ongoing relationship between V’Ahavta and The Liberal Synagogue Elstree (TLSE), which … Read More
Read January/February 2025 edition of LJ Today
The first LJ Today of 2025 is out now. Liberal Judaism’s bi-monthly magazine – covering news from both Liberal and Reform communities – is available in print and online formats. The front page looks at how our leadership represented Progressive Judaism and our values on the national stage this Chanukah … Read More
Ark and EHRS trip shows Israel needs us to be there
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein and Rabbi Mark Goldsmith write about a joint Progressive visit to Israel: This month, we led a combined group of Ark Synagogue and Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue (EHRS) members on a trip around Israel. We met people of diverse backgrounds – Jewish, Christian, Druze, and Muslim … Read More
LJS Multi-Faith lighting celebrates spirit of unity
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s Wood was full for its annual Multi-Faith Pre-Chanukah Celebration. Dame Karen Buck DBE was this year’s principal guest speaker. She delivered an inspiring speech on the theme ‘Let this Sanctuary be a place of gathering and conversation’ – with her words highlighting the … Read More
An ‘incredible’ week of civic activity at ELELS
More than 400 schoolchildren, the Deputy Mayor of Redbridge, several local councillors and other dignitaries visited East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue (ELELS) during a week of civic activity. The synagogue hosted the Board of Deputies Jewish Living Experience Exhibition, which ran from Monday to Friday. Pupils from six different … Read More
Historic joint adult B’nei Mitzvah service at Mosaic
Mosaic Reform Synagogue hosted what is believed to be the first ever joint Liberal and Reform adult B’nei Mitzvah. Four members of Mosaic Reform – Toria Bacon, Gillian Goldsmith, Jeff Highfield and Beth Kingsley – joined Shaan Knan of Mosaic Liberal Synagogue on the bimah in a single, unified service. … Read More
York Liberal Jewish Community celebrates 10th anniversary
York Liberal Jewish Community (YLJC) held a special civic interfaith Shabbat service to celebrate the community’s 10th anniversary. The service was one of of celebration, reflection and gratitude – commemorating a decade of Jewish rebirth in the city and looking to the community’s future. Led by YLJC’s Rabbi Elisheva Salamo, … Read More
EcoJudaism Award presented at Three Counties Shabbat
Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community (3CLJC) was presented with an EcoJudaism Award during a special eco-themed Shabbat service. 3CLJC received EcoJudaism Silver Status earlier this year, in recognition of the community’s work towards an environmentally responsible future. A certificate was presented by Dr Simon Opher, the Labour MP for Stroud … Read More
Tributes for beloved LJS member and Holocaust educator Bob Kirk
Bob Kirk – a key figure in the life of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue and wider UK Jewish community – has died, aged 99. Bob was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1925. After Kristallnacht in 1938, he travelled to the UK alone on the Kindertransport. He met wife Ann – … Read More
Students team up in Nottingham to lead Kabbalat Shabbat
Nottingham Liberal Synagogue enjoyed what congregants described as “an amazing Kabbalat Shabbat to remember” – when Progressive Jewish students from Sheffield and Nottingham joined together to lead a lively, musical, spiritual and fun service. The synagogue’s Wendy Prestney said: “The two groups of young people, who had only met on … Read More