27 May 2016 Last Shabbat saw a series of special events and services at South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS) to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. The Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday used special liturgy compiled by Rabbi Janet Darley, minister at SLLS, on the theme of mental health. … Read More
Kindertransport survivors urge Government to bring children to UK in time to start school in September
Citizens UK 20 May 2016 Press Release Lord Alf Dubs and Rabbi Harry Jacobi, who were given sanctuary in Britain when they fled Nazi-occupied Europe as children, travelled to Calais this week to meet child refugees. In a show of support to children who have a legal right to … Read More
Sir Keir Starmer MP visits LJ for assisted dying meeting
6 May 2016 Sir Keir Starmer MP visited Liberal Judaism’s head office, the Montagu Centre, to take part in an interfaith meeting on assisted dying. Keir who represents the constituency of Holborn and St Pancras – in which the Montagu Centre is based – met a number of faith leaders … Read More
‘We welcome Government decision on refugees – but our work continues’
Rabbi Danny Rich 6 May 2016 Along with our partners at Citizens UK, and activists and politicians from across the political spectrum, Liberal Judaism welcomes the Government’s acceptance of the amendment by Lord Dubs to allow unaccompanied refugee children into the UK. This is a big change in principle and … Read More
Senior rabbi calls for 3,000 refugee children to come to England
25 April 2016 The Jewish News One of Britain’ most prominent Rabbis and a refugee from Nazi Germany has called for 3,000 unaccompanied children to be allowed into the UK. Rabbi Harry Jacobi, 90 called for a greater intake of refugee children, whilst backing an amendment to a refugee bill … Read More
Observing Transgender Day of Remembrance
19 November 2015 Surat-Shaan Knan, a UK trans activist and founder of Liberal Judaism’s pioneering project Twilight People, urges rabbis and community leaders to include Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) observance in their Shabbat services. The TDoR is commemorated annually on 20 November, Surat-Shaan appeals to rabbis and service-leaders to light … Read More
Stonewall select leading Liberal Jewish campaigner for new trans advisory group
22 October 2015 Liberal Judaism’s Rainbow Jews and Twilight People project manager Surat-Shaan Knan has joined Stonewall’s new Trans Advisory Group.The group will support the integration of trans equality across all of Stonewall’s campaigns and programmes. It was put together following an extensive application and recruitment process.Members reflect a diverse range … Read More
An amazing and engaging way to educate the young
Simon Rothstein 15 October 2015 Simon Rothstein is editor of LJ Today Like any parent with young children, I don’t know where to begin when it comes to teaching them about the Holocaust. How can you explain such horror and evil on such a huge scale? How do you try … Read More
Barnet Council to resettle 50 refugees after FPS action
7 October 2015 Finchley Progressive Synagogue and Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk hosted a successful Barnet Citizens action over Sukkot, which saw Barnet Council agree to resettle 50 Syrian refugees. As part of Liberal Judaism and Citizens UK’s Sanctuary campaign – which began last Sukkot – the event was hosted in … Read More
We will rise again to help refugees
Rabbi Danny Rich 17 September 2015 On Yom Kippur afternoon, the Torah reading in all Liberal synagogues is the Holiness Code (Leviticus 19) in which congregants will hear: Lo ta-amod al dam ray’echa (verse 16). Like all Biblical verses, it is likely that its original meaning is lost in antiquity … Read More