Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Janet Darley appeared on BBC2’s Sunday Morning Live this week. In a special edition based around refugees, Janet looked at the moral dimension and faith response to the current crisis and opposition to current Government plans that will no longer guarantee many refugees safety in the UK. … Read More
Statement on the Gender Recognition Act and trans rights
17 June 2020 In 2018, Liberal Judaism urged its members to participate in the consultation for reforms of the Gender Recognition Act to ensure vital new rights for trans (including non-binary) and intersex people. This would including simplifying the process of changing one’s legal gender and extending that right to … Read More
Statement on family reunion rights for child refugees
10 January 2020 Liberal Judaism is dismayed by the government’s failure to guarantee protection for the right of vulnerable child refugees to be reunited with aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, parents or grandparents who are in the UK. If this safe and legal route is closed, we fear lives will be … Read More
Liberal rabbis lobby Government on refugees and LGBTQI+ inclusion
12 August 2019 Liberal Judaism’s rabbis have called on the UK Government to take action on offering sanctuary to more refugees and the promotion of LGBTQI+ inclusion. An open letter on refugees, organised by Safe Passage and covered in The Guardian, was signed by 100 faith leaders including Liberal Judaism’s … Read More
Syrian refugees enjoy Shabbat at Kingston Liberal Synagogue
18 June 2019 Syrian refugees spoke about their experiences of settling in England at a special Shabbat service at Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS). Journalist and Arabic teacher Hasnaa Omar left Syria in 2013 and arrived in London in 2016. She was subsequently able to bring her husband, an IT manager, … Read More
Liberal rabbis attend European Shabbaton and Kallah
27 May 2019 A number of Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism rabbis from the UK attended the European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ) Shabbaton and European Rabbinic Assembly (ERA) Kallah in Rome. The ERA is chaired by Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel, who represented Liberal Judaism along with Rabbis Dr Andrew … Read More
Liberal Judaism supports a real Living Wage
5 November 2018 Liberal Judaism’s leadership and rabbis have reinforced our movement’s call for a real Living Wage, as part of Living Wage Week which begins today. Our movement and synagogues are Living Wage employers for both employees and contractors and will be implementing today’s increase to £9 an hour … Read More
Rabbi Janet Darley leads blessing at PinkNews Awards
19 October 2018 Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Janet Darley was one of four clergy to lead an interfaith blessing at this year’s PinkNews Awards. Janet was joined on stage by Bishop of Buckingham Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Manchester David Walker and Imam Mohamed Patel. She said: “It was a privilege … Read More
Kingston ‘Pride Seder’ attracts guests from all over London
23 July 2018 Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS) held a special ‘Pride Seder’, attracting 30 people from all over London to a celebratory Friday night service and dinner. A joyous occasion – led by Rabbis Dr René Pfertzel and Janet Darley – it saw KLS members joined by friends and guests … Read More
Lord Dubs issues urgent refugee plea at Kingston talk
30 April 2018 Lord (Alf) Dubs made an impassioned plea to the British Government to help bring more vulnerable child refugees to safety, as he spoke at the Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS) AGM. The Labour peer urged support for his ‘Dubs Amendment’, which helps unaccompanied refugee children come to live … Read More