21 March 2016 Woodford Liberal Synagogue was full to capacity on Shabbat for the baby blessing of Rabbi Richard Jacobi’s first grandchild. Family, friends and congregates gathered for a Purim family service and the ceremony for baby Zachary, whose great-grandfather, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, carried out the blessing. The community’s youth … Read More
Wandering scroll finds its way to Crouch End
21 March 2016 The community at Crouch End Chavurah have welcomed a ‘new’ Torah scroll that is more than 100 years old and travels around the world. Canadian-born sofer Avielah Barclay – the first female Torah scribe for 250 years – visited the community at Shabbat and revealed many interesting … Read More
Liberals help plan Birmingham’s first one-day Limmud
8 March 2016 Three members of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS) are helping to organise the city’s first one-day Limmud. The full-scale celebration of Jewish learning and culture will take place at Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s educational facility on Sunday July 10, 2016. A programme of sessions will be presented by prominent … Read More
Jewish history made in Scarborough
7 March 2016 More than 50 people turned out for the first Jewish service in Scarborough in living memory this weekend. Held at Albermarle Baptist Church, the service was organised as part of an outreach programme by York Liberal Jewish Community (YLJC) and led by their Student Rabbi Daniel Lichman. … Read More
Behind the headlines as LJS makes history
Jeanne Myers 15 February 2016 You may have seen some of the recent media coverage about The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) holding Friday evening services in French. ‘Sacrebleu’, you might have thought… what’s all this about?! Around a year ago, it occurred to me that, with the large number of … Read More
One big Friday night dinner
8 February 2016 The Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community (GLJC) gathered most of its members together in January for a simultaneous Friday night dinner party. Eighty people united in nine houses around Gloucestershire, enjoying home cooked food contributed by those taking part. Members were grouped together into convenient geographical locations to … Read More
Liberal Judaism welcomes first Scandinavian member synagogue
2 February 2016 Shir Hatzafon synagogue – ‘The Song of the North’ – has become the first Scandinavian member of Liberal Judaism, increasing the movement’s number of members to 42 communities over five countries. Started informally in 1998, Shir Hatzafon was officially recognized by the Danish Government in 2004. Today, … Read More
South Bucks – an emotional farewell
11 January 2016 South Bucks Jewish Community (SBJC) held a special Shabbat service to say farewell (but decidedly not goodbye) to their rabbi of nine years – Rabbi Rachel Benjamin The service was created and led by the current, and three retired, chairs the community, who also gave their own … Read More
Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue opens its doors after redevelopment
16 December 2015 The community at Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue are embarking on a new adventure with the opening of their redeveloped, state of the art building. The synagogue has been their home since 1937, but long in need of modernisation. It was four years ago that the BHPS’ … Read More
Eight centuries after the pogrom, pride flickers again in York’s Jewish community
13 December 2015 The Guardian / Observer Liberal Judaism has given the city’s Jews a chance to uphold their faith while accepting the realities of modern life. In March 1190, the entire Jewish community of York – about 150 people – barricaded themselves inside the castle as antisemitic riots raged … Read More