Purim 5785 around our Reform and Liberal communities

Purim image

This Purim saw our synagogues and community buildings once more jam-packed for a series of celebratory events. See below the best pictures and stories from Purim 5785. If your community is missing, please email your picture to SimonR@progressivejudaism.org.uk so we can add them. North West Surrey Synagogue families joyfully celebrated … Read More

BHPS kick off anniversary celebrations with eco event

The Real Junk Food Project

Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue (BHPS) kicked off a series of special events for the community’s 90th anniversary with an eco-lunch to mark the shul’s incredible EcoJudaism achievements. The day featured live Klezmer music, a quiz, guest speakers and a plant-based feast catered by The Real Junk Food Project Brighton … Read More

NLS member’s new children’s book highlights survivor’s story

Ruth with debbie in 2009

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Holocaust educator and author Debbie Moss has released Angel’s Teeth, a new book designed to be a sensitive and gentle way to introduce children to the most difficult of subjects. The book is a captivating retelling of the true story … Read More

Elvis Shmelvis unites Mosaic Jewish Community in rock ‘n’ roll

Elvis Shmelvis

Mosaic Jewish Community (MJC) rocked to the sound of Elvis Shmelvis with a packed audience in their Stanmore Hill home. MJC showed what a rock ‘n’ roll star can do, by bringing the three strands of Judaism at Mosaic – Liberal, Reform and Masorti – together, with some Orthodox friends … Read More

Manchester vigil shares message of solidarity and remembrance

Dr Laura Cohen at Manchester vigil

In a heartfelt display of unity and solidarity, members of Menorah Synagogue (Cheshire Reform Congregation) joined forces with Orthodox synagogues for a well-attended South Manchester Jewish community service to honour the memory of murdered hostages, including Oded Lifshitz and the Bibas family. Held at Shaare Sedek (Sephardi) Synagogue, the service … Read More

Tu Bishvat 5785 around our communities

Tu Bishvat montage

Tu Bishvat – the festival where we celebrate the environment and the start of spring – was marked across our communities with services, sedarim, tree plantings and other events

Nottingham Liberal Synagogue celebrates its Diamond Jubilee

Civic leaders and MPs at NLS anniversary celebration

Nottingham Liberal Synagogue marked its 60th anniversary with a celebratory event that drew more than 50 civic and community leaders from Nottinghamshire, including James Naish MP, Lilian Greenwood MP, Nadia Whittome MP, Michael Payne MP and the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire Nick Rubins. Among the distinguished guests were also Liberal … Read More

North Herts’ Friday Night Siddur combines best of Progressive traditions

Rabbi Paul Freedman with his prayer book

Rabbi Paul Freedman has produced a joint Progressive prayer book on behalf of North Herts Progressive Jewish Community (NHPJC). NHPJC is the umbrella grouping of Stevenage Liberal Synagogue and Rabbi Paul’s Radlett Reform Synagogue – and the new Friday Siddur blends the best elements from each tradition. It includes Hebrew, … Read More

Birmingham Interfaith tree-planting strengthens interfaith bonds

Interfaith tree planting

In a display of unity and community spirit, Jews, Muslims and Christians from Birmingham joined with the area’s asylum seekers to celebrate Tu Bishvat by planting 10 fruit trees in a local park. The event, organised by Birmingham Progressive Synagogue’s Tikkun Olam Group in collaboration with local charity Fruit and … Read More

Beloved LJS member and Holocaust educator Ann Kirk mourned

Ann Kirk

Ann Kirk BEM – a deeply loved member of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue and one of Britain’s most dedicated Holocaust educators – has died at the age of 96. Together with husband Bob, who passed away just a few weeks ago, Ann helped teach thousands of young people about the … Read More