Progressive communities across the country have been holding a series of Havdalah vigils, services and events to stand in support of the hostages being held by Hamas and mourn those who have been murdered. In London, our synagogues recently hosted two important cross-communal moments. Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue held … Read More
Manchester vigil shares message of solidarity and remembrance
In a heartfelt display of unity and solidarity, members of Menorah Synagogue (Cheshire Reform Congregation) joined forces with Orthodox synagogues for a well-attended South Manchester Jewish community service to honour the memory of murdered hostages, including Oded Lifshitz and the Bibas family. Held at Shaare Sedek (Sephardi) Synagogue, the service … Read More
A time to mourn – Progressive Judaism update
This week’s Progressive Judaism newsletter is now with subscribers and can be read here. We wanted to also share the important introductory message: This week’s bulletin comes over 500 days after 7 October 2023. Since that day, and all the days that have followed, we have found ourselves overcome with … Read More
Statement from Progressive Clergy on Donald Trump’s Gaza plan
Progressive Judaism remains committed to a two-state solution to the Israel/Palestinian conflict. We believe that both Israelis and Palestinians have the right and deserve to live within secure and peaceful borders. Our Israeli colleagues, families and friends have suffered tremendously since October 7th, as war and fear have dominated. As … Read More
Hostage Release Vigil: Join us in London this Saturday evening
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum UK – in partnership with Progressive Judaism (Liberal Judaism and The Movement for Reform Judaism) and organisations from across the Jewish community – invites the public to a powerful Hostage Release Vigil this Saturday (25 January) at 8:00pm in North London. This gathering will … Read More
Mosaic Israel debate underscores need for dialogue
A distinguished panel of speakers drew a large audience from the Mosaic Jewish Community in Stanmore as they debated Israel’s wars and the increasing antisemitism in the UK. In front of members from the Mosaic Reform, Liberal and Masorti Synagogue was a panel including Alex Brummer, City Editor of the … Read More
Israeli teenagers in emotional Elstree visit
A group of teenagers from the V’Ahavta Shoham Reform community in Israel spent a week in the UK, strengthening ties with their twinned Progressive synagogue in Elstree and Borehamwood, Europe’s fastest growing Jewish area. It was part of an ongoing relationship between V’Ahavta and The Liberal Synagogue Elstree (TLSE), which … Read More
Ark and EHRS trip shows Israel needs us to be there
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein and Rabbi Mark Goldsmith write about a joint Progressive visit to Israel: This month, we led a combined group of Ark Synagogue and Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue (EHRS) members on a trip around Israel. We met people of diverse backgrounds – Jewish, Christian, Druze, and Muslim … Read More
‘Be their light’ – a Chanukah call to action to support the hostages
This Chanukah, the Board of Deputies of British Jews – in collaboration with the Yellow Ribbon Campaign, the Hostages and Missing Forum UK, and the British Hostage Families – is launching the ‘Be Their Light’ iniaitive. The campaign is urging individuals, families, synagogues, schools and youth movements to light an … Read More
Share your materials with the National Library of Israel
Over the last 12 months, the National Library of Israel (NLI) has led a national and international effort to create a massive archive documenting 7 October and its aftermath. The Bearing Witness project seeks to build a comprehensive, state-of-the-art archive that will be the authoritative historical record of this crucial … Read More