Rabbi Rebecca Birk 4 June 2018 The Jewish Chronicle Rabbi Rebecca Birk decided to try something different when she took a sabbatical. At the end of last year, as Chanukah finished, I travelled 7,747 miles not to talk. I attended a silent meditative retreat at the foot of a mountain. … Read More
‘Stronger’ Leo Baeck maintaining its supply of rabbis
Simon Rocker 1 July 2018 The Jewish Chronicle Students at the Progressive academy are making an impact in the UK and beyond. Leo Baeck College is “stronger than ever”, its new chairman Jill Todd told guests at its annual dinner. Since the Progressive rabbinic academy opened in 1956, more than … Read More
Liberal Judaism president leads prayers at Commonwealth Service
14 March 2018 Liberal Judaism president Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein was one of the religious figureheads leading prayers at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, which was attended by Her Majesty The Queen and Prime Minister Theresa May. Andrew was the only Jewish minister to play a role in the … Read More
[Podcast] BBC Radio 3 Counties – Rabbi Aaron Goldstein
13 March 2018 BBC Radio 3 Counties Rabbi Aaron Goldstein from Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue reviews the Sunday papers with Mike Naylor. Broadcast on Sunday Breakfast on BBC Three Counties Radio on Sunday 11th March 2018. Note: All links to external media are correct at the time of … Read More
In The Media: First gender-neutral B’nei Mitzvah
05 March 2018 Take a look at some of the fantastic press coverage of the first Liberal Judaism gender-neutral B’nei Mitzvah, which took place at York Liberal Jewish Community in February 2018: UK Jewish Media Jewish News: “This teen had a gender neutral b’nei mitzvah” Jewish Chronicle: “Torah and togetherness … Read More
The Jewish parents cutting out the bris
Stephen Oryszczuk 28 February 2018 Jewish News A movement called a ‘brit shalom’ is gaining ground with parents in the UK who don’t like the idea of circumcising their newborn boy. We hear the pros and cons. British rabbis this week began to address a new Jewish ceremony originating in … Read More
[Blog] Celebrating diversity in LGBT History Month – a personal perspective
Karen Newman 23 February 2018 Board of Deputies website I joined the Jewish Gay and Lesbian Group (now Jewish LGBT+ Group) in 1999. I was reasonably secure in both identities, although I had never felt the need to manifest both in the same nano-second – I joined together with my … Read More
Torah and togetherness – a gender-neutral bnei mitzvah
Miriam Taylor Thorpe 21 February 2018 The Jewish Chronicle We live in Otterburn, Northumberland and the [gender-neutral] bnei mitzvah took place at York Liberal Jewish Community, at the Quaker Meeting House. It was such a big day, not just for us but also for our community. When Esther read the … Read More
As a young Jewish woman, I want my voice heard
Lauren Keiles 14 February 2018 The Jewish News As a young, Jewish, women, with a deep passion to take an active part in our vibrant Jewish community, having the opportunity to become a Deputy for Liberal Judaism was something I was extremely eager to take on. Being a cheder teacher … Read More
[Blog] Our new siddur strikes a blow for inclusivity
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah 15 February 2018 The Jewish News Liberal Judaism has created a new siddur, with a draft morning service already piloted in some congregations. A question being asked of me, and my co-editor Rabbi Lea Mühlstein, is ‘why’? The answer is that Liberal Judaism has published a … Read More