By Rabbi Mark Goldsmith On Sunday 2 June, an estimated 40,000 people marched from Lincoln’s Inn Fields to the open space opposite Downing Street to support the families whose loved ones have been held captive by Hamas in Gaza for 240 days, since the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 … Read More
Jerusalem Interfaith March gives ‘hope for the future’
Progressive Judaism Co-Leads Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky took part in the Jerusalem Interfaith March for Human Rights and Peace. Rabbis Charley and Josh joined hundreds of people of all faiths and backgrounds – including colleagues from the Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism and the Israel … Read More
Liberal Judaism Vice President part of King’s Coronation Roll
Liberal Judaism Vice President Baroness Gillian Merron, and her history-making role as the first representative of the Jewish faith involved in a British Monarch’s Coronation, are featured as part of King Charles III’s Coronation Roll. Stretching for 21 metres, the hand-stitched manuscript and illustrated record was written by calligrapher Stephanie … Read More
Progressive values put into action at Mayoral Assembly
Rabbi Rebecca Birk (pictured) of Finchley Progressive Synagogue (FPS) Co-Chaired the London Citizens Mayoral Accountability Assembly, which was addressed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. More than 2,000 people attended the event, where the Mayor was invited onstage to commit to pledges on work and wages, migration and housing. His election … Read More
Community united at Downing Street vigil for the hostages
More than 1,500 people from across the Jewish community, and beyond, came together in a vigil to support the 133 hostages still held captive in Gaza. Taking place opposite Downing Street, crowd members were visibly moved as the families of those taken and murdered by Hamas spoke about the pain … Read More
Progressive Judaism Co-Leads join Mayor for Trafalgar Square Iftar
Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy, the Co-Leads of Progressive Judaism, joined London Mayor Sadiq Khan for a large scale open-air interfaith Iftar held in Trafalgar Square. Despite bad weather, thousands gathered for the Ramadan fast-breaking event. Rabbis Josh and Charley were joined by many others from the Jewish community … Read More
A reflection six months on from 7 October
By Rabbis Josh Levy and Charley Baginsky Co-Leads of Progressive Judaism In October of last year, together with other communal leaders, we produced a set of principles about how to respond to the emerging crisis in Israel and Gaza. It was called ‘Our Jewish Values’ and spoke for many in our … Read More
Cantor Zöe Jacobs to lead clergy team at Finchley Reform Synagogue
Finchley Reform Synagogue (FRS) has appointed Cantor Zöe Jacobs as its new Senior Clergy, replacing outgoing Senior Rabbi, Miriam Berger. The appointment marks a ground-breaking new model of congregational leadership and the next stage of a personal journey for Cantor Zöe. Cantor Zöe grew up in the FRS community – … Read More
NLS member is first ever Jewish High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
The first Jewish appointee to the office of High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire was installed in a history-making ceremony at Nottingham Liberal Synagogue (NLS). Nick Rubins – one of the synagogue’s most active and dedicated members – has taken on the role, which is the oldest secular office under the Crown. … Read More
Rabbi Anna Gerrard welcomed back as Three Counties’ Lead Rabbi
Faith leaders from across Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire joined together to celebrate the return of Rabbi Anna Gerrard as Lead Rabbi of Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community (3CLJC). It was a case of ‘welcome back’ for Rabbi Anna (pictured) – who had previously served 10 years in the post, before … Read More