1 August 2016 More than 30 people attended the latest Liberal Judaism service to be held in Scarborough. Set up by the York Liberal Jewish Community, the initial Scarborough event took place in March – and was the first Jewish service held in the North Yorkshire Town in living memory … 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
First Jewish group forms in Durham for 60 years
28 July 2016 A group of Liberal Jews has formed the first local Jewish group in Durham since the last synagogue there closed in 1955. “We wanted to reach out to the descendants of the Orthodox synagogues in Bishop Auckland, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, West Hartlepool, Sunderland and Middlesbrough which closed as the collieries and shipping industries dwindled,” … Read More
SLLS honours Rabbi Janet Darley by planning refugee flat
27 July 2016 South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS) gave departing rabbi, Rabbi Janet Darley, the perfect farewell present – a promise to continue her award-winning work with refugees. The community has vowed to convert a space in the synagogue into a two bedroom flat to house a refugee family. Plans … Read More
The benefits of Ba’alei Tefillah
25 July 2016 Liberal Judaism administration manager, and Ba’alei Tefillah graduate, Alexandra Simonon took her first full Torah service this weekend, spending Shabbat with Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community (GLJC). Alexandra – who graduated Liberal Judaism’s lay leadership course with 16 others at the Biennial Weekend earlier this month – led … Read More
Norwich Jews support Romanian arson victims
18 July 2016 Members of Norwich Liberal Jewish Community (NLJC) have played a key role in supporting a Romanian family, whose village shop was firebombed. NLJC chair Annie Henriques – pictured here with the shop owner’s daughter Andrea Abraham – addressed a rally in support of the family. A public appeal … Read More
York cake sale raises £200 for Israel’s food bank
18 July 2016 York Liberal Jewish Community (YLJC) raised £200 for Israel’s national food bank, Leket Israel, by selling ‘hot cakes’ at a local fete. A new venture for the fast-growing community, more 300 baked items were sold in just three hours. They were all donated by YLJC members and friends. … Read More
Heritage Award for Brighton & Hove
11 July 2016 Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue (BHPS) has won a prestigious Sussex Heritage Award for its state of the art building. The synagogue, which recently re-opened after redevelopment, has a new layout and beautifully designed interior to follow the community’s ethos of inclusivity and diversity. The community received … Read More
Leo Baeck College Report to the Liberal Judaism AGM July 2016
Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh 5 July 2016 LJ Communities Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris visited the LJS to lead a Nosh ‘n Drosh and, together with Dr Keith Kahn-Harris, spent a working weekend with the Shir HaTzaphon congregation in Copenhagen. Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh visited Dublin for Pesach and for the … Read More
BoNO Chair Report for AGM July 2016
Simon Benscher 5 July 2016 Someone was once quoted as saying “a week is a long time in politics”. A year as chair of LJ seems to have flown by. I guess the fact that I have enjoyed pretty much every minute of these past 12 months has a … Read More