22 January 2017 The oldest male member of Tikvah Chadasha (Shenfield, Brentwood & Districts Synagogue) has celebrated his second bar mitzvah – with slightly more time to prepare than for his first. Eighty-three year-old Bernie Jackson was evacuated during the war, and upon returning home, at age 12, was thrust … Read More
Southgate’s Gerald awarded British Empire Medal for his Holocaust education work
16 January 2017 Gerald Granston, a long-standing member of Southgate Progressive Synagogue, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for his work in Holocaust Education Gerald, a Holocaust survivor, travels around the country speaking to schools and youth clubs about being a young child in Nazi Germany. He talks about … Read More
Rabbi Anna Gerrard painting to be featured in ‘Faith’ exhibit
15 January 2017 A painting of Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Anna Gerrard will hang in Gloucester Cathedral throughout January and February, as part of an exhibition entitled ‘Faith’. Artist Russell Haines (pictured with Anna and her portrait) has spent the last 18 months producing 37 large portraits for the exhibition, which … Read More
First services held by new East London community
11 January 2017 East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue (EL&ELS) enjoyed a “wonderful” turnout for its inaugural Shabbat services this weekend. The new community formed on January 1, after members of Bet Tikvah and Woodford Liberal Synagogues voted to unite. It will operate over the two sites, while a search for a … Read More
Birmingham’s Joyce honoured with British Empire Medal
6 January 2017 Joyce Rothschild, of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. Joyce received the honour as a result of her remarkable annual quiz, which has been running for 20 years and has raised more than £120,000 in the fight … Read More
Seven faiths unite to help Leicester’s homeless
4 January 2017 Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation, also known as Neve Shalom, has teamed up with other faiths in the area for a unique project to help the city’s homeless. A night shelter – providing overnight bed, board and support for 10 homeless men – will rotate between the synagogue, … Read More
Last day of Chanukah is last day for Woodford
3 January 2017 Woodford Liberal Synagogue held its final service, on the last day of Chanukah. The special inclusive service – which is welcoming of all and caters for many forms of disability – marked the last for the community, which has now united with Bet Tikvah to form the … Read More
Nottingham welcomes Austerlitz scroll after 50 years
3 January 2017 The congregation at Nottingham Liberal Synagogue (NLS) have welcomed a Torah scroll from Austerlitz, in the Czech Republic… finally putting a 50-year mix-up to an end. The community was founded in 1965 as Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation and immediately applied for, and received, a Torah from the … Read More
Enter our Music Composition Competition
By Graham Carpenter (pictured) 30 December 2016 Are you a musician in a Liberal Jewish community? Have you ever composed music for use in your place of worship? If you have, then keep reading – if you haven’t, then this is your chance! We are extremely lucky to have a growing … Read More
Liberal Judaism’s Top 5 Landmarks in 2016
While the last year has seen many setbacks for those with Progressive values, Liberal Judaism as a movement has enjoyed another 12 months of growth – with strengthening communities, enhanced social action work and a louder voice in Anglo-Jewry, Britain generally and, indeed, the rest of the world. Below we … Read More