Don’t react to attacks on freedom by restricting it

Lucian J Hudson 25 January 2015 The Jewish News Reflecting on events in France 200-plus years ago, philosopher and politician Edmund Burke was quoted saying: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Recent events, again in France, bring Burke to mind. Violence … Read More

Bienvenue à Finchley!

11 December 2014 The Jewish Chronicle Finchley Progressive Synagogue has appointed its first assistant rabbi. Rene Pfertzel joins Rabbi Rebecca Birk in a job share at the growing shul which now counts 330 households as members. “It’s quite a big step for the shul, and reflects the view that our … Read More

In the media: The new Alliance for Progressive Judaism

23 September 2014   We have received lots of media coverage this week about the announcement of our launch, with the Movement for Reform Judaism, of an alliance for Progressive Judaism. Jewish Chronicle The Reform and Liberal movements have agreed a formal alliance, pledging greater co-operation in order to strengthen … Read More

Putting the picture together

Lucian J Hudson 28 August 2014 The Jewish Chronicle Leadership in a crisis requires not just skill in responding appropriately in the moment but a coherence and consistency of purpose over time. Whitehall and Westminster’s response has lacked strategy, limiting UK’s influence short and long term, and unleashing an anti-Israel … Read More

Gove is right to push prevent

Lucian J Hudson 12 June 2014 The Jewish Chronicle Some family rows are worth having. After a stormy fortnight in Westminister, we should reflect that Michael Gove and Theresa May may in fact have done the British public a favour by surfacing a genuine tension in our approach to combating … Read More

Offering a third way for Judaism

Lucian J Hudson 16 May 2014 The Jewish Chronicle The growth of the Charedi and secular sections of our community identified by the recent JPR community survey has been much remarked upon. Much less noted has been growth by almost a third of those identifying as progressive. These figures hide … Read More

Renewed call for board/JLC merger after chief executive steps down

Simon Rocker 10 October 2013 Jewish Chronicle The president of Liberal Judaism has called on the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council to renew efforts to unite into a single body. Lucian Hudson said that last week’s decision by JLC chief executive Jeremy Newmark to step down for … Read More

Liberal leader advocates ‘Federation’ with Reform

Simon Rocker 10 November 2011 The Jewish Chronicle Liberal Judaism chair Lucian Hudson has called for a closer alliance with the Reform movement, suggesting they combine forces in a joint federation. Writing in the latest issue of the Liberal newsletter, LJ Today, Mr Hudson said he wanted to go beyond … Read More