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
Empathising with Christian plight
Elliot Steinberg 1 September 2015 Taking its title and inspiration from Hillel’s famous question, the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) chose August, and indeed the beginning of Elul, to launch our If Not Now When initiative – to highlight and reflect upon the persecution of Christians in the Middle … Read More