25 June 2018 Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS) held a special Shabbat service to honour five of its members who have served, or who have recently been elected, as councillors for all four major English political parties. Kingston members Andrée Frieze (Green Party), Jo Humphreys (Liberal Democrat), Steve Farrer (Conservative Party) … Read More
Liberal Judaism Patrons’ Dinner looks to the future
21 June 2018 Liberal Judaism has pledged to build an education department and develop its student and young adult programming . Speakers at this year’s Liberal Judaism Patrons’ Dinner talked of the need to raise funds in order to invest in these much-needed projects. Held at the House of Lords, … Read More
Rabbi Charley Baginsky’s Patrons’ Dinner Speech
Rabbi Charley Baginsky 19 June 2018 Liberal Judaism Patrons’ Dinner “I want to begin by thanking Robert for his incredible words tonight. His involvement in communal life and his journey to the commitment to making an impact on society is inspiring. I know too that he is in much demand … Read More
South London Liberal Synagogue appoints full-time rabbi
18 June 2018 Nathan Godleman, who has served South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS) as its student minister for the last two years, has been appointed as the synagogue’s full-time rabbi following his ordination. Nathan, a member of Mosaic Liberal Synagogue and a former teacher, began the rabbinic programme at Leo … Read More
Danny returns to welcome new Board of Deputies president
6 June 2018 Rabbi Danny Rich, Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, returned to work early from his current six month sabbatical in order to welcome the new president of the Board of Deputies to the Montagu Centre. Danny met with Marie van der Zyl at Liberal Judaism’s London head office to … Read More
The rabbi who went to Bali in order not to speak for a week
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