8 November 2016 More than 200 people, including 43 rabbis and student rabbis spanning six decades, attended the 60th Anniversary Service of Celebration for the Leo Baeck College this weekend. Leo Baeck College is a preeminent institution of Jewish scholarship and learning, based in Finchley, Barnet, that is the heart … Read More
BHPS celebrates longest standing members
29 July 2016 The community at Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue (BHPS) honoured some of their longest serving members at a special Shabbat service to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Brighton Jewry. Led by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah, the service demonstrated BHPS’s inclusive approach to Jewish life, with participation from … Read More
Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend report
4 July 2016 Liberal Judaism promises ‘to keep pace with modernity’ with discussion on new siddur and innovative services at Biennial Nearly 300 Liberal Jews, from 39 different communities, saw a confident movement looking to the future at the Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend. The conference included themed services covering the … Read More
[Sermon] What makes a siddur ‘Liberal’?
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah 2 July 2016 What makes a siddur ‘Liberal’? Having published several siddurim for over 100 years, Liberal Judaism in Britain can readily provide answers to this question. Our first answer emerges from the simple fact that LJ has published several siddurim – or to be more … Read More
[Sermon] Fear eats the soul
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah 25 June 2016 For the past few months, Britain has been caught up in the EU referendum campaign. During the debate, campaigners on both sides stirred up our deepest fears: on the ‘Leave’ side, the fear of a continuing and unstoppable tide of migrants from … Read More
LJ Rabbinic Conference goes on the road
18 June 2016 Liberal Judaism’s Rabbinic Conference – the monthly meeting where LJ’s rabbis discuss pressing issues, learn from each other and provide collegiate support – is now being held around the UK. The first meeting in this new initiative took place at Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue … Read More
[Sermon] Remain or Leave: A question of values
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah 28 May 2016 Four weeks from today we will know results of the European Union referendum, and whether the UK electorate has voted to remain in the EU or to leave. Believe it or not, this is a Jewish issue. It is a Jewish issue, not … 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