Linnea Hawkings 18 April 2017 Passover, Pesach, what does it really mean beside the evident celebration and retelling of the exodus from Egypt? Currently living outside of London I am not only the token Jew among my friends; for many of my colleagues and people I meet aged 22 to … Read More
Join a Liberal Jewish communal seder
3 April 2017 Liberal Jewish synagogues and congregations around the UK will be holding Communal Passover Seders next Monday (10 April) and Tuesday (11 April). The Seders vary in format, food and price, but all promise an inclusive, educational and fun experience, led by rabbis and lay leaders and steeped … Read More
The best Purim pictures from our communities
14 March 2017 From children walking the walls of York to a Cockney Megillah reading in Finchley, Purim 5777 was an action packed one in Liberal Jewish communities. Liberal Judaism’s newest congregation at East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue celebrated their first Purim, with our oldest, The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, … Read More
[Blog] Why today’s Liberal Jews have reclaimed Purim
Rabbi Leah Jordan 13 March 2017 It’s hard to imagine now – with our synagogues full of spiels, fancy dress and hamantaschen – but for much of our movement’s early history, Liberal Judaism downplayed the festival of Purim. The reason is because the Book of Esther, the Megillah, ends in … Read More
[Sermon] It’s a Topsy Turvy World!
10 March 2017 As published in the Crouch End Chavurah magazine Purim (meaning ‘lots’) falls this year on the evening of Sunday 12 March. The biblical book of Esther is the source of Purim. Although lacking any historicity, the Book of Esther tells of a Persian King, Achverosh, his Jewish … Read More
Liberal youth raise hundreds for refugees
15 February 2017 LJY-Netzer’s Yamim (school years 9-10) have raised £240, and counting, to help young refugees as part of their annual charity weekend. The Liberal youngsters set up a fundraising page for RefugeeYouth.org – a charity that provides a happy and welcoming environment for refugees who have entered the … Read More
Join us for Shabbat Resouled’s 10th birthday
15 February 2017 Liberal Judaism members and friends are invited to Shabbat Resouled’s 10th birthday party on the third Friday of April at Finchley Progressive Synagogue (FPS). The band was formed in 2007 with the combined talents of Dean Staker and Rabbi Neil Janes, along with a bunch of the … Read More
Liberal Jews get muddy for Tu Bishvat mitzvah
13 February 2017 Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue members, including Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, braved bitter sleet and wicked thorns for a special Mitzvah Day project on Tu Bishvat. The group helped support the Friends of Croxley Common Moor clearing scrub and tidying the common. A very muddy Aaron said: “It … Read More