By Rabbi Alexandra Wright Co-Chair of Liberal Judaism’s Rabbinic Conference This week is a week of sombre anniversaries: Kristallnacht – the Pogrom of 9 November 1938 when Nazi hoards across cities and towns in Germany and Austria desecrated, looted and burned over 1,200 synagogues, Jewish shops, businesses and homes, when … Read More
Leo Baeck College celebrates 60 years of training Europe’s rabbis
8 November 2016 More than 200 people, including 43 rabbis and student rabbis spanning six decades, attended the 60th Anniversary Service of Celebration for the Leo Baeck College this weekend. Leo Baeck College is a preeminent institution of Jewish scholarship and learning, based in Finchley, Barnet, that is the heart … Read More
Rabbis welcomed at South Bucks and York
20 September 2016 Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Student Rabbi Deborah Blausten have been welcomed at South Bucks Jewish Community (SBJC) and York Liberal Jewish Community (YLC). South Bucks inducted Charley in a moving Shabbat service on Saturday, which was attended by dignitaries including Cheryl Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham, and … Read More
Rabbi Rebecca Birk ‘one of London’s most influential’
19 September 2016 Finchley Progressive Synagogue’s Rabbi Rebecca Birk has been named as one of London’s most influential people. Rebecca was featured in The London Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list, praised by the newspaper for leading a campaign to persuade Barnet Council to take in refugees. Rebecca said: “I am … Read More
Rabbi Charley Baginsky to lead global Shabbat
16 September 2016 Rabbi Charley Baginsky – Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy and partnerships – will lead the Shabbat service at next year’s World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) conference. Held in Jerusalem from May 17-20, the Connections 2017 event promises to be an exciting and inspiring gathering of the … Read More
“Whoever saves a single human life, it is as if they have saved a whole world”
Rabbi Richard Jacobi, Co-Chair of Rabbinic Conference of Liberal Judaism 9 September 2016 This famous statement, from the second century Mishnah (Sanhedrin 4:5) occurs in the context of ensuring witnesses in the trial of someone accused of a capital crime. There its purpose is to demand that any such witnesses … Read More
A response to the massacre in Nice
Rabbi Alexandra Wright 15 July 2016 Just over a week ago, we marked the eleventh anniversary of the July 7th bombings in London. That day is etched deeply forever in the memories of those who live and work in London, especially for those who lost members of their family and community, our … Read More
Liberal Judaism appoints director of strategy and partnerships
12 July 2016 Rabbi Charley Baginsky has been appointed as Liberal Judaism’s first director of strategy and partnerships. Charley, who is also part-time rabbi at South Bucks Jewish Community and coordinator for the Alliance for Progressive Judaism, took up the role this week. Charley will be responsible for completing and … Read More
BoNO Chair Report for AGM July 2016
Simon Benscher 5 July 2016 Someone was once quoted as saying “a week is a long time in politics”. A year as chair of LJ seems to have flown by. I guess the fact that I have enjoyed pretty much every minute of these past 12 months has a … Read More
In the media: Rabbi Danny Rich on Brexit
5 July 2016 Rabbi Danny Rich, Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, has made a number of media appearances over the last few days talking about Brexit and how to respond to the result of the EU referendum. In an interview with Victoria Derbyshire on BBC 2, Danny made a post-Brexit plea … Read More