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A response to the brutal murder of Jo Cox MP
Rabbi Alexandra Wright 17 June 2016 For Liberal Jews, the Torah portion this week opens with the instruction to light the seven-branch candlestick, the menorah ‘to give light at the front of the lampstand.’ In the wake of the brutal and horrific murder of Jo Cox Member of … Read More
The woman who died without mourners
Lianne Kolirin 16 June 2016 The Jewish Chronicle Liberal rabbis have launched a campaign to recruit a minyan for the stone-setting of a woman who died with no next of kin. Rita Fishman was buried three years ago with no mourners present at her funeral. Little is … Read More
Parashat Naso 5776
Of blessings and prayers The Chavurah in Crouch End has developed an interesting bnei mitzvah ritual; at the end of the Torah service, after the student has read their portion and explained it, and are finally breathing again, we ask them to come once again before community. Standing in a … Read More
Jews and the EU referendum
Dr Ilan Zvi Baron 13 June 2016 On June 23rd, we will be voting on the future of the United Kingdom and its relationship not just with Europe but with the rest of the world. As Jews we have some special reasons why we should vote to remain in the … Read More
Nottingham interfaith kitchen celebrates anniversary
6 June 2016 Nottingham’s Salaam Shalom (SaSh) Kitchen celebrated its first anniversary last week, with the event covered by local TV. The unique project – a collaboration between Nottingham Liberal Synagogue (NLS) and Muslim charity Himmah – provides a hot meal every Wednesday to around 100 people in … Read More
Parashat B’midbar 5776
The Resilience of Unaccompanied Children On Tuesday, 17th May 2016, together with Rabbis Janet Darley and Margaret Jacobi, I completed a quartet of Liberal rabbis in a pilgrimage to ‘The Jungle’ in Calais. Our leaders were my father, Rabbi Harry Jacobi MBE, and Lord Alf Dubs, a Labour Peer and … Read More
Parashat Bechukkotai 5776
When one consciously makes a vow, offering themselves to the Eternal according to your valuation (Lev 27:2)… To understand this passage from Bechukotai, where an individual pledged a donation to the Temple system according to a fixed valuation in silver, we need to appreciate that there was a time when … Read More
[TV Appearance] Rabbi Charley Baginsky on The Big Questions
28 May 2016 BBC One Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Charley Baginsky took part in this weekend’s edition of The Big Questions on BBC1. Charley, who is rabbi at South Bucks Jewish Community, was part of a panel discussing the topic “did man create God?” The other panelists were Francesca Stavrakopoulou, professor of ancient religion at … Read More
[Sermon] Remain or Leave: A question of values
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah 28 May 2016 Four weeks from today we will know results of the European Union referendum, and whether the UK electorate has voted to remain in the EU or to leave. Believe it or not, this is a Jewish issue. It is a Jewish issue, not … Read More