23 October 2015 Progressive students will be fully equipped for Shabbat on campus thanks to new kits provided by Liberal Judaism. The kits contain a special Kabbalat Shabbat siddur, a £50 food voucher, Kiddush wine, candles, yeast and a challah recipe, and a havdallah set. Liberal chaplain Rabbi Leah Jordan … Read More
The spirit and character of Liberal Judaism
Lucian J Hudson 1 September 2015 The Guardian In my final commentary as Liberal Judaism chairman, I would like to focus on how holding office has informed my spiritual journey as a Liberal Jew, and thank all those who have worked with chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich and me to … Read More
Liberal Judaism on Jewish status and equilineal descent
Rabbi Alexandra Wright 21 July 2015 Liberal Judaism recognises equilineal descent: namely, that individuals born of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother should be treated in exactly the same way as individuals born to a Jewish mother and non-Jewish father. The Affirmations of Liberal Judaism state that children of mixed … Read More
Gloucestershire wins the LAFTAs
8 June 2015 Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community (GLJC) has won the prestigious Liberal Academy of Film & Torah Awards (LAFTAs). The cheder/religion school of every Liberal community was tasked with producing a three-minute film on the theme ‘A Day in the Life of Israel’. GLJC fought off stiff competition to … Read More
Bienvenue à Finchley!
11 December 2014 The Jewish Chronicle Finchley Progressive Synagogue has appointed its first assistant rabbi. Rene Pfertzel joins Rabbi Rebecca Birk in a job share at the growing shul which now counts 330 households as members. “It’s quite a big step for the shul, and reflects the view that our … Read More
Offering a third way for Judaism
Lucian J Hudson 16 May 2014 The Jewish Chronicle The growth of the Charedi and secular sections of our community identified by the recent JPR community survey has been much remarked upon. Much less noted has been growth by almost a third of those identifying as progressive. These figures hide … Read More
[Speech] Citizens UK’s Day for Civil Society
Rabbi Danny Rich 2 May 2011 Note: This speech was originally given by Rabbi Danny Rich, the senior rabbi of Liberal Judaism, at Citizen UK’s Day for Civil Society which took place at the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster Friends, members of many faith communities, followers of no religious tradition: What … Read More
Liberal chief hits out at religious ‘anti-democracy’
6 May 2010 The Jewish Chronicle Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich condemned religious coercion and sectarianism in his address to the movement’s biggest biennial conference, held in Gloucestershire. Addressing an audience of over 300, he said that some religious followers have “declared in both word – and frequently … Read More
Shabbat – the Heart of Jewish Life
Rabbi Janet Burden 14 December 2006 The New Statesman The rabbi explains the sabbath – a day of rest and worship Ethical monotheism is indisputably the foundation of Judaism, its intellectual core. No matter how pure and grand that concept is, however, I do not believe that it alone would … Read More
Jewish Beliefs and Practice
Rabbi Janet Burden 13 December 2006 The New Statesman What Jews believe and how the rules of Judaism get applied in practice. Having been invited to write these pieces as a religious Jew, you may be wondering why I have said so little about Jewish beliefs in my … Read More