21 October 2016 The Jewish Chronicle When The Liberal Synagogue Elstree’s regular shofar blower was unavailable, Rabbi Pete Tobias asked: “Is there a blower in the house? Everyone shook their heads and I thought we were in trouble.” But 10-year-old Tia Boulton stepped into the breach, having been volunteered by … Read More
[Podcast] The Jewish Views – Rabbi Aaron Goldstein
21 October 2016 The Jewish Views This week’s podcast features a rabbinic thought for the week is from Rabbi Aaron Goldstein about Sukkot and Simchat Torah (from 55:00). Note: All links to external media are correct at the time of publication, but occasionally may be changed or removed by … Read More
[Radio] Aaron tackles topics from Trump to Sukkot in BBC interview
17 October 2016 Rabbi Aaron Goldstein spoke about a myriad of issues as he reviewed the papers on BBC Three Counties Radio. Aaron, who is rabbi at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, discussed topics including Donald Trump, unaccompanied child refugees, Bob Dylan and the use of religious language in secular … Read More
[Blog] There’s a very thin line between exercising power for the sake of the public, and exercising power for its sake
Rabbi René Pfertzel 14 October 2016 Le Blog Français, The Jewish Chronicle In my previous life in Normandy, I used to be a History teacher. Once, I brought my students to the local archives in Evreux, a middle-sized city located south from Rouen. We wanted to study the archives related … Read More
[Radio] ‘Like Ruth: Choosing to Be Chosen’ interview
9 October 2016 BBC Radio Newcastle Liberal congregant Hava Fleming discusses her book ‘Like Ruth: Choosing to be Chosen’ a collection of stories about converting to Judaism with Ingrid Hagemann on BBC Radio Newcastle (starting at 1:45:50). Note: All links to external media are correct at the time of … Read More
LJ’s Surat-Shaan profiled by best-selling magazine
Liberal Judaism’s Twilight People project manager, Surat-Shaan Knan (pictured), has been profiled by Attitude Magazine. He featured in a lengthy article in the UK’s best-selling gay publication, looking at LGBTQI+ people of faith. Speaking about coming out as trans, he told the magazine: “I’m very, very blessed because I’m a … Read More
Rabbi Rebecca Birk ‘one of London’s most influential’
19 September 2016 Finchley Progressive Synagogue’s Rabbi Rebecca Birk has been named as one of London’s most influential people. Rebecca was featured in The London Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list, praised by the newspaper for leading a campaign to persuade Barnet Council to take in refugees. Rebecca said: “I am … Read More
We are not at liberty to abstain from the Jungle
Rabbi Danny Rich 16 September 2016 The Jewish News Until a fortnight ago, I resisted many invitations to visit the ‘Jungle’ in Calais, primarily because I was not sure of what use I could be other than to observe in a voyeuristic sense. But a combination of anger, and the possibility of … Read More
Jewish schools: End of 50 per cent cap is a bad idea
Rabbi Danny Rich 16 September 2016 The Jewish Chronicle Leadership is sometimes about the difficulty between principle and practice, the balance between maintaining one’s pure values and the pragmatism of working with others to achieve the possible. The question of faith schools for the Liberal Jew may be such a scenario. … Read More
[Radio] Senior rabbi takes refugee fight to the airwaves
13 September 2016 Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich, has made a number of media appearances this week calling on the British Government to do more to reunite refugee families. Danny has been interviewed by BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC World Service and BBC … Read More