The Balkans and its history helps us confront our identity

Elliott Karstadt 24 August 2018 The Jewish Chronicle In his 2012 travelogue, Where the West Ends, Michael Totten talks of citizens of the former Yugoslavia wrestling with national identity in their new reality. When asked, “who are you”, Predrad Delibasic says he made up an answer: “‘I am Jewish!’ I … Read More

Yad Vashem Auschwitz exhibition brought to the Lake District

22 August 2018 Liberal Judaism is supporting a new and compelling exhibition in the Lake District entitled ‘Auschwitz: A Place on Earth – The Auschwitz Album’. The exhibition was put together by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. It runs at the Lake District Holocaust Project (LDHP) … Read More

How you can live stream your services and events

Leo Mindel 15 August 2018 At this year’s Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend you may have noticed something very different in addition to the amazing sessions and speakers… three people sitting at the side behind a couple of cameras. That’s because the Biennial was being live streamed, out to the world, … Read More

Leo Baeck College takes learning on the road

7 August 2018 Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Mark Solomon led the first step in a new and unique programme from Leo Baeck College. The College’s adult learning programme, the Lehrhaus, has proved hugely popular over the last few years and has now gone ‘on the road’… with Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue … Read More

A spectacular dinner to fund our future

3 August 2018 Following on from the success of the Biennial Weekend, we are proud to present ‘101 Reasons to Celebrate Liberal Judaism’ – our movement’s first ever fundraising dinner. The evening will provide the chance to share stories and memories from the last 70-something years of our Liberal Jewish … Read More

Finchley mark Tisha B’Av with powerful play

30 July 2018 More than 70 people were wowed by a performance of Hyam Maccoby’s play The Disputation, staged by members of Finchley Progressive Synagogue (FPS). The play is a powerful re-enactment of the Barcelona Disputation of 1263, when Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (later known as Nachmanides) was pitted against … Read More

Chuppah protest highlights call for equality in Israel

24 July 2018 Liberal Judaism rabbis came together with Reform and Masorti colleagues to erect a chuppah outside of the Israeli Embassy in Kensington to protest last week’s detention of an Israeli Conservative (Masorti) rabbi for performing non-Orthodox weddings. The British rabbis smashed a glass – the symbolic ritual that … Read More

Kingston ‘Pride Seder’ attracts guests from all over London

23 July 2018 Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS) held a special ‘Pride Seder’, attracting 30 people from all over London to a celebratory Friday night service and dinner. A joyous occasion – led by Rabbis Dr René Pfertzel and Janet Darley – it saw KLS members joined by friends and guests … Read More

Big numbers at small Reading community’s big birthday

19 July 2018 The Reading Liberal Jewish Community proudly celebrated its 40th birthday with a special Shabbat service and celebratory lunch. The small community’s numbers were swelled for the event as current members were joined by old friends, officers and dignitaries of Liberal Judaism and no less than seven rabbis. … Read More