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
Liberal Judaism supports organ donation consultation
18 January 2018 The British Government has begun a consultation over its plans to change the way organs are donated by introducing an ‘opt-out’ system. Under current rules in England, a person who has died can only be an organ donor if they have agreed to it when they were alive, usually by … Read More
Jewish sexual ethics for the 21st century
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah 31 December 2017 The Jewish Chronicle Understanding the Torah can help us find a contemporary code of sexual ethics Sexual harassment has been in the news in the past few weeks, and the #MeToo campaign in social media has revealed just how widespread it is. Of … Read More
[Blog] My gap year volunteering in Calais
Jessica Baker, LJY-Netzer member 7 December 2017 I’m watching the sun rise as we drive to the warehouse. I’m measuring 3.5 litres of oil into eight huge pots to start the process of cooking 160kg of rice. I’m crying as I watch two small boys play in a carpark. I’m … Read More
A year on from the Calais Jungle
24 October 2017 The Jewish News Imagine being your 14-year-old self again. Imagine being alone, frightened, sleeping rough. Imagine being hit by pepper spray from riot police. Now look at your own children, your nephews and nieces, your friends’ children. Imagine them suffering the same abuse. Unimaginable? Not for hundreds … Read More
[Blog] Celebrating the High Holy Days as a community
Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein 19 September 2017 As Liberal Jews around the UK prepare for our High Holy Days, this is a time for reflection. Mine begin by looking back to the summer and a holiday we enjoyed in Gozo, Malta – a beautiful island where the towns and villages … Read More
[Blog] Antisemitism must not come to define us
Rabbi Charley Baginsky 13 September 2017 The latest study from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research – with its headline statistic that more than a quarter of British people hold at least one antisemitic view – is already causing a stir. Antisemitism has preoccupied our British Jewish community for quite … Read More
[Blog] A window into the wonderful world of Kadimah
Robin Moss, Liberal Judaism Officer for Youth and Education 25 August 2017 I’ve just spent the weekend on Machaneh Kadimah, LJY-Netzer’s summer camp, now in its 70th year. Celebrating this special anniversary, this year’s Kadimah featured the largest gathering of young Liberal Jews in recent memory. While professionally, as Head … Read More
In Charlottesville, the Local Jewish Community Presses On
Alan Zimmerman 14 August 2017 www.reformjudaism.org At Congregation Beth Israel in Charlottesville, VA, we are deeply grateful for the support and prayers of the broader Reform Jewish community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Heather Heyer and the two Virginia State Police officers, H. Jay Cullen and … 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