15 February 2017 Liberal Judaism has long recognised the importance of providing a truly inclusive religious home for its members. It draws no distinction between people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, be they congregants or Rabbis. We offer our support and thoughts to the Church of England … Read More
[Blog] Empowering Progressive Jewish youth worldwide
Hannah Stephenson 7 February 2017 This year I travelled to Israel for Netzer Veidah, along with LJY-Netzer movement worker and my long-time best friend Hannah. Netzer Veidah is a space for 14 sniffim (branches) from around the globe to come together and discuss the next steps for the worldwide Progressive … Read More
[Blog] We must keep talking about mental health
Helen Goldhill 6 February 2017 This weekend saw the start of a brilliant initiative, Mental Health Awareness Shabbat. More than 60 synagogues and communities, across all denominations, took part. It was coordinated by Jami UK, the mental health service for the Jewish community. The aim of the Shabbat was to … Read More
Statement on Government’s definition of antisemitism
Rabbi Danny Rich, Senior Rabbi of Liberal Judaism 12 December 2016 Today’s attempt by the British Government, with cross-party support, to clarify a working definition of antisemitism is a welcome one. However, definitions of antisemitism have existed before and failed to assist those who have suffered from it, while some … Read More
Our prayers are with those who face intolerance and intimidation
The thoughts of the rabbis, staff and congregants of Liberal Judaism are very much with Israel. We are thinking of all those who have had to leave their homes and work places due to the fires spreading through parts of Israel. We recognise how devastating it must be to watch … Read More
Influencing others: 60 years of Leo Baeck College
Rabbi Charles Wallach 11 November 2016 With the whole of Progressive Judaism using this week, and indeed this year, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of Leo Baeck College (LBC), it perhaps is worth recalling aspects of the College – the Progressive Jewish education institute for training rabbis … 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
[Blog] Twilight People at Trans*studies in Arizona
9 October 2016 Liberal Judaism’s Surat-Shaan Knan presented a paper on our movement’s pioneering Twilight People project at the University of Arizona in September. The American institution was hosting Trans*studies, the first international transdisciplinary conference on gender, embodiment and sexuality. Shaan blogs: It was very inspiring to talk about Twilight … 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