26 February 2019 Dame Margaret Hodge and Jean Gaffin OBE will present the keynote session at this year’s Liberal Judaism Day of Celebration. Our flagship event of 2019 takes place on Sunday 23 June at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS). The theme is ‘If I am only for myself…’, and … Read More
Double ninetieth birthday celebrated at Wessex
26 February 2019 Wessex Liberal Jewish Community has celebrated the 90th birthdays of two of its founder members. Nat Roseman reached the milestone in November and then his wife, Joan, this month. The couple marked their joint celebration with a 180th party for their far-flung family. Michael Hart, a recently … Read More
Liberal Judaism appoints Progressive Jewish Students fieldworker
18 February 2019 Francesca Kurlansky has been appointed as Liberal Judaism’s Progressive Jewish Students fieldworker, where she will help provide community building, learning and programming for young adults. Francesca, a member of South London Liberal Synagogue, joins the Alliance for Progressive Judaism’s student provision, which also includes Maya Skaarbrevik and … Read More
Join our ‘Labour and Antisemitism’ panel discussion
6 February 2019 Liberal Judaism will be hosting a panel discussion on ‘Labour and Antisemitism’, as the first in a new series of dialogue events entitled ‘Liberal Judaism’s Hot Potatoes’. The aim of the series is to cover some of the most hotly debated issues within the Jewish community, while … Read More
LJS members in bid to honour 13th century pioneer
14 February 2019 Two members of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) are part of an exciting bid to erect a statue of Licoricia of Winchester and her son Asser in the centre of the city. Licoricia was England’s most prominent Jewish businesswomen in the 13th century. She was a pioneering … Read More
LJY-Netzer announces 2019-2020 movement worker team
13 February 2019 Liberal Judaism’s youth movement, LJY-Netzer, has announced its new team of movement workers. Francesca Kurlansky of South London Liberal Synagogue, Jacob Swirsky of Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue and Rosa Slater of Finchley Progressive Synagogue will all take up their posts at the start of August. Movement … Read More
Mayoral approval for Liberal Judaism’s social action
12 February 2019 London Mayor Sadiq Khan joined Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich, officer Jane Drapkin and social justice worker Charlotte Fischer (not pictured) to speak about our movement’s social action. The Mayor stopped by to chat while the three were at City Hall discussing Liberal Judaism’s community … Read More
Northwood’s Memory Matters wins major care award
5 February 2019 Memory Matters – the club run by Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) for people suffering from memory loss and associated difficulties – has won a major award from Jewish Care. NPLS was named the ‘Outside Organisation That Makes a Significant Contribution to Jewish Care’ at the … Read More
Righteous gentiles
Originally written for the Birmingham Jewish Newsletter This week’s sidra is named after Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. It begins with Jethro advising Moses on how to set up a system of courts of law so that the people do not have to stand all day waiting for Moses to … Read More
[Sermon] Antisemitism and the Chosen People
Tevye the milkman, in Fiddler on the Roof, said, “I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But once in a while, can’t You choose someone else?” It is not easy to be God’s chosen people, as we are especially aware as we commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day this … Read More