The new Liberal Judaism lectionary for 5782/83 is available now and can be read/downloaded by clicking here. The lectionary – compiled by Louise Freedman with help from Rabbi David Hulbert – is a guide to the recommended Torah and Haftarah readings for Shabbat, festivals and special shabbatot. This latest version runs … Read More
The Akeidah Project – Calling all artists, poets and musicians!
29 July 2020 In the light of COVID-19, the High Holy Days are going to be rather unusual this year. But out of this is emerging a wonderful creativity, and the Akeidah story (Binding of Issac – Genesis 22:1-19) is fertile ground for this. Liberal Judaism want to create some … Read More
[Blog] Don’t stone the blasphemer: Theology in times of crisis
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein 12 May 2020 Leviticus 24:1-14 The lampstand, the shewbread and the blasphemer: Sounds like the beginning of a joke and what an odd combo, as our Sages throughout time have noted. What is the connection, the rationale for being placed in this order, particularly following the central, … Read More
[Blog] Daf Yomi with Rabbi Aaron Goldstein – Part 3
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein 1 April 2020 Shabbat 21b The Sages taught in a baraita: The basic mitzvah of Hanukkah is each day to have a light kindled by a person, the head of the household, for himself and his household. And the mehadrin, i.e., those who are meticulous in the … Read More
[Sermon] Shabbat in the Coronavirus Crisis
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah 21 March 2020 Shabbat Shalom. The physical congregation that usually inhabits the synagogue is absent and the hum of people gathering to celebrate Shabbat has been replaced by silence. And yet, hinneinu, here we are, sharing this sacred moment across the ether. Before we begin our … Read More
[Blog] Daf Yomi with Rabbi Aaron Goldstein – Part 2
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein 17 March 2020 Berachot 62a “The Gemara relates: There was a particular eulogiser who went to eulogise an important person in the presence of Rav Nachman. Of the deceased, he said: This man was modest in his ways. Rav Nachman said to him (the eulogiser): did you … Read More
[Blog] Daf Yomi with Rabbi Aaron Goldstein – Part 1
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein 13 February 2020 Moses was up Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights, Noah was cooped up in an Ark while it rained for 40 days; and the ancient rabbis (Pirkei Avot 5) understood 40 to denote an age of wisdom. So it seemed appropriate to count … Read More
[Sermon] Working well together for a better society – Human Right Shabbat 2019
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein 7 November 2019 Laban, Rebekah’s brother, Jacob’s uncle says to him after a month’s stay, “Just because you are my brother, should you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” (Gen 29:15) René Cassin was a French-Jewish jurist, law professor and judge. He … Read More
Join our Liberal and Reform Judaism teacher training day
21 November 2019 Do you want to learn how to teach your cheder/religion school students about the Holocaust in a sensitive way? Or maybe you wish to know more about using games as a teaching tool or introducing mindfulness into the classroom? Then make sure to register for the next … Read More
[Sermon] Avodah – Sacred Service (AJEX Shabbat)
Rabbi Lea Mühlstein AJEX Shabbat Al shlosha d’varim ha-olam omed: al ha-torah, v’al ha-avodah v’al g’millut chasadim I’m sure many of you are familiar with these words from the Mishnah, from Pirkei Avot – The Ethics of our Fathers. This statement by Shimon the Righteous anchors the existence of the … Read More