Rabbi René Pfertzel 22 August 2016 Le Blog Français, The Jewish Chronicle The views of a group of French Jews who are now living in London As you know, French people love a good controversy. Sometimes, it is funny, sometimes tiring, but it is also sometimes worrying. The latest in … Read More
I cried over Brexit – but Israeli friends couldn’t understand my devastation
Rabbi Leah Jordan 10 August 2016 Over the last five years as an American living in Britain, I’ve learned that one of the worst things an immigrant can experience is when something upsetting happens ‘back home’ and you’re not there for it. Whether that’s a natural disaster, a political event … Read More
‘Intermarriage is not only inevitable, it can be a blessing’
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein 14 July 2016 The Jewish Chronicle Intermarriage in the UK is broadly stable at just over a quarter of the Jewish population and those that marry non-Jews are less likely to bring up their children as Jewish than those that marry Jews. These are the headline findings of the … Read More
German and French rabbis lament Brexit, call for unity
Rabbis Lea Mühlstein & René Pfertzel 29 June 2016 The Forward Is this still a place we can call home? Had you asked us just a week ago, we wouldn’t have had to think twice – but after last Thursday’s vote in favour of Brexit, we cannot but feel … Read More
Brexit: Now we must avoid narrow nationalism
Rabbi Danny Rich 24 June 2016 The Jewish Chronicle Whether you were a Brexiter or part of the large minority who voted Remain, you participated in an historic moment – certainly in the story of the United Kingdom, and possibly of greater significance for the future structure of Europe. … Read More
Jews and the EU referendum
Dr Ilan Zvi Baron 13 June 2016 On June 23rd, we will be voting on the future of the United Kingdom and its relationship not just with Europe but with the rest of the world. As Jews we have some special reasons why we should vote to remain in the … Read More
Young Voices: How politics looks, sounds and feels
Josh Pugh 10 June 2016 The Jewish News I think I’ve always been political. Even before I really understood parties or campaigns, I was curious about why society is the way it is. This curiosity took various forms, most notably at the age of nine, when I got into an … Read More
We will mark Royal Shabbat with joy and hope
Rabbi Danny Rich 10 June 2016 The Jewish News As a student of both the Bible and English history, I am not an instinctive advocate of hereditary leadership. In the priesthood of Israel and the monarchy of England, there are lessons as to why the succession of the children of … Read More
Why anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism – but criticising Israel isn’t
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah 1 May 2016 The Labour Party has become embroiled in a row about anti-Semitism. Why the row? After all, the Labour Party is committed to challenging racism and anti-Semitism – which is a particular form of racism. It’s a row because the anti-Semitism in question … Read More
Closing our hearts and minds to refugee children are not the actions of a world-leading moral country
Rabbi Harry Jacobi 27 April 2016 Huffington Post UK It was with great upset that I watched the debate and votes in the House of Commons on Monday night, where MPs defeated an amendment to allow 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees into Britain. Like so many people in this country – … Read More