13 December 2016

Guests from all of the region’s faith groups helped Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community (PLJC) celebrate its 25th anniversary on Saturday.

Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich, led a specially tailored service – explaining the origin and significance of the various aspects of Shabbat. It was followed by a Kiddush, allowing interfaith guests to sample a range of traditional Jewish foods.

Invited guests from local civic and faith organisations included Nav Malik, assistant chief constable of Cambridgeshire, Jawaid Khan, Peterborough City Council’s community cohesion manager and representatives from Peterborough’s interfaith communities including friends from the Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Christian faiths and PLJC venue hosts, the Quakers.

They were joined by community members, family and friends, Liberal Judaism chair Simon Benchser, officer Ruth Seager and members of Liberal communities in Leicester, Norwich, York, Woodford and London.

PLJC’s communications officer Di Nicholas said: “As a very small community, this Shabbat service was a wonderful opportunity for us to build on our commitment to interfaith partnerships in the city, and strengthen our links with other Liberal Judaism congregations.

“We also plan to take part in, and host more, activities over the coming year as we continue to raise the profile of the PLJC. We hope that anyone locally who identifies as Jewish, but isn’t currently connected with a community for whatever reason, will get in touch when they see that there is a friendly, welcoming, modern community here in the area.

Di added: “Our guests had a great time at, what was for many, their first ever Jewish service. They made the most of the opportunity to learn something new and enjoy enquiring conversations.”

For more information on Liberal Judaism in Peterborough, please visit www.pljc.org.uk.

[Photo: Liberal Judaism’s Senior Rabbi Danny Rich, Jaspal Singh, Chair of Peterborough Interfaith Council, Di Nicholas-PLJC Communications Co-ordinator, Zahid Akbar]