Rabbi Rebecca Birk 4 June 2018 The Jewish Chronicle Rabbi Rebecca Birk decided to try something different when she took a sabbatical. At the end of last year, as Chanukah finished, I travelled 7,747 miles not to talk. I attended a silent meditative retreat at the foot of a mountain. … Read More
Liberal Judaism to hold AGM during Biennial Weekend
4 June 2018 Liberal Judaism will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) during the movement’s Biennial Weekend. The AGM will take place at 2pm on Sunday 1 July 2018 at The St Johns Hotel, Solihull. It will include the election of officers to Liberal’s Judaism Board, the presentation of financial … Read More
‘Stronger’ Leo Baeck maintaining its supply of rabbis
Simon Rocker 1 July 2018 The Jewish Chronicle Students at the Progressive academy are making an impact in the UK and beyond. Leo Baeck College is “stronger than ever”, its new chairman Jill Todd told guests at its annual dinner. Since the Progressive rabbinic academy opened in 1956, more than … Read More
Liberal rabbi is new chair of European Rabbinic Assembly
31 May 2018 Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel is the new chair of the European Union for Progressive Judaism Rabbinic Assembly (ERA). René, a French-born rabbi who serves Kingston Liberal Synagogue, was voted into the position when more than 40 ministers from across the continent came together for the … Read More
Leo Baeck College announces new student rabbi intake
29 May 2018 Leo Baeck College (LBC) has announced its latest intake of Progressive Judaism student rabbis, which will include the first Polish-born Jew to study for the Progressive rabbinate since the fall of communism in Poland and a former LJY-Netzer leader. Two students will start on LBC’s acclaimed five-year … Read More
Liberal Judaism welcomes new Board of Deputies president
14 May 2018 Liberal Judaism has welcomed Marie van der Zyl, who serves on the management board of West London (Reform) Synagogue, as the new president of The Board of Deputies of British Jews. Liberal Judaism’s Stuart MacDonald, a member of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, was also re-elected unopposed as … Read More
LJS hosts progressive Board of Deputies hustings
2 May 2018 Last night the Liberal Jewish Synagogue proudly hosted the Progressive hustings for the election for the new President of the Board of Deputies. The event was chaired by the convenors of the Progressive Deputies, Karen Newman and Tony Seymour. The four candidates were Marie van der Zyl, … Read More
Board of Deputies CEO Gillian Merron to speak at Biennial Weekend
26 April 2018 Gillian Merron, the chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, will be one of two keynote speakers at the upcoming Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend. Gillian will be tackling contemporary issues facing Jews in Britain, including the disturbing rise in antisemitism and the recent #EnoughIsEnough … Read More
Liberal Judaism: This is Corbyn’s last chance saloon
27 March 2018 Members of Liberal Judaism, led by Liberal Judaism chair Simon Benscher, gathered in Parliament Square in Westminster yesterday evening to join other members of the Jewish community in calling on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to face up and tackle the antisemitism within his party. Our movement also … Read More
LJY-Netzer’s Lauren wins award for outstanding leadership
21 March 2018 LJY-Netzer leader Lauren Keiles has won the Joy Cohen Award for Outstanding Young Leadership by a Woman. Lauren received the honour at the UJIA (United Jewish Israel Appeal) Ladies Night event, held on Monday night at London’s Grosvenor House. She was praised by judges for her leadership … Read More