29 August 2017 A 12 minute movie about The Liberal Jewish Synagogue’s projects to help those with dementia has won a top international award. Memory Songs, produced by Lucy Kaye (pictured), picked up the Grand Jury Prize at the prestigious Rhode Island International Film Festival. The film covers the incredible … Read More
Liberal Judaism rabbi advises BBC Holby City storyline
22 August 2017 Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Charley Baginsky has been advising hit BBC One show Holby City with its recent Jewish storyline. Charley, who is the movement’s director of strategy and partnerships, contributed to scripts featuring the character Sacha Levy. The doctor, played by Bob Barrett, rediscovers his Judaism on … Read More
Ruth reads from the Torah for the first time… aged 96
21 August 2017 Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS) member and Holocaust survivor Ruth Shire read from the Torah for the first time, at the age of 96, in front of a packed BPS sanctuary. In a moving D’var Torah, in front of a packed synagogue, Ruth explained how she had not … Read More
Is the Kotel argument reflective of how Progressive Judaism is viewed in Israel?
Rabbi Danny Rich 14 July 2017 The current situation in Israel certainly reflects a dangerous view – the view that some Jews are not Jewish enough, or not even Jews at all. It was just over 50 years ago when the Israeli Army captured the Old City of Jerusalem and … Read More
‘Fundamentalism is bad for British Jewry. We need to be more inclusive’ – says Liberal Judaism Senior Rabbi
5 July 2017 Responding to the JPR’s Report ‘Synagogue Membership in the UK in 2016’ Senior Rabbi and Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism Danny Rich has said: “Liberal Judaism’s membership remains broadly stable, although there is no room for complacency. “The massive growth in the strictly Orthodox sector – at … Read More
Finsbury Park attack: Roses for Ramadan worshippers
Lipika Pelham 20 June 2017 BBC Magazine Website Journalist Lipika Pelham lives close to the Finsbury Park mosque, is a member of the local synagogue, and is accustomed to seeing girls in hijabs acting in the Nativity Play at her children’s school. On Monday evening, nearly 24 hours after the … Read More
Liberal Jews stand side by side with Muslim brothers and sisters
20 June 2017 Liberal Jews including the movement’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich (pictured), took part in a vigil last night – held outside the Finsbury Park mosque. The event took place around the corner from the scene of Sunday’s terrorist attack and saw people of all faiths, ages and … Read More
York cheesecake competition featured on the BBC
7 June 2016 BBC Radio York covered a Shavuot cheesecake competition at York Liberal Jewish Community. The station’s Jonathan Cowap judged the event (pictured above), which was won by Yara Nuuman (junior) and Catriona Munster (senior). Almost 40 members attended the evening, which was held at the home of York … Read More
Senior Labour figures fear party’s Jewish vote may have collapsed
Harriet Sherwood 3 June 2017 The Guardian Suspension of Ken Livingstone for allegedly antisemitic remarks and perception of failure to root out racism leads to ‘certain amount of stick on the doorstep’ After a year of torrid headlines and the suspension of Ken Livingstone over allegedly antisemitic remarks, senior Labour … Read More
Landmark Kotel service at WUPJ Conference
19 May 2017 British Liberal and Reform Judaism rabbis and members took part in a landmark service at the Kotel – which included a Torah reading with all genders participating. The senior rabbis of both movements, Rabbis Danny Rich and Laura Janner-Klausner, carried the scrolls during the service (pictured), which … Read More