The LJS to host UK’s first ever Bollywood Klezmer event

10 October 2016 Multicultural musical event Bollywood Klezmer will be held in the UK for the first time, when it comes to The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, St John’s Wood, on Saturday November 19. The musical features a selection of Bollywood film songs fused with the Jewish Klezmer music of Central … Read More

[Blog] Twilight People at Trans*studies in Arizona

Surat-Shaan Knan in Arizona

9 October 2016 Liberal Judaism’s Surat-Shaan Knan presented a paper on our movement’s pioneering Twilight People project at the University of Arizona in September. The American institution was hosting Trans*studies, the first international transdisciplinary conference on gender, embodiment and sexuality. Shaan blogs: It was very inspiring to talk about Twilight … Read More

How your religion school can enter the LAFTAs

4 October 2016 Every two years, at the Day of Celebration, Liberal Judaism’s religion schools take part in a short film competition. The LAFTAs (Liberal Academy for Film and Torah Awards), see our youth make films, of a few minutes long, on a Jewish topic. They are then judged on … Read More

Rabbis welcomed at South Bucks and York

20 September 2016 Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Student Rabbi Deborah Blausten have been welcomed at South Bucks Jewish Community (SBJC) and York Liberal Jewish Community (YLC). South Bucks inducted Charley in a moving Shabbat service on Saturday, which was attended by dignitaries including Cheryl Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham, and … Read More

Rabbi Charley Baginsky to lead global Shabbat

16 September 2016 Rabbi Charley Baginsky – Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy and partnerships – will lead the Shabbat service at next year’s World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) conference. Held in Jerusalem from May 17-20, the Connections 2017 event promises to be an exciting and inspiring gathering of the … Read More

LJ playwright scores another critical success

30 August 2016 A play written by Liberal Judaism staff member Aaron Abraham, and starring Beit Klal Yisrael’s Paul Bloomfield, has won rave reviews from the critics. Screens – which runs at London’s Theatre 503 until Saturday – focuses on a Turkish-Cypriot family barely treading water, clinging onto a sense of … Read More

Twilight People archive launches

Twilight People Archive Launch

22 August 2016 Liberal Judaism’s ground-breaking Twilight People project has launched its archive collection, a detailed history of transgender and faith identities including photographs, video, audio, memorabilia and ritual objects. A ‘bubbly reception’ took place on Thursday at the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA), which will host the collection. An education … Read More

Liberals spur Midlands Limmud to roaring success

8 August 2016 Members of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS) played a prominent part in the success of the first regional Limmud in the city. Limmud Birmingham WM was held in the education centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, with BPS members taking up key roles on the organising committee. Some … Read More

Woodford Shabbat accessible to all

7 August 2016 Woodford Liberal Synagogue (WLS) has held its fourth Shabbat Shelanu, an inclusive Saturday morning service, accessible for people with learning disabilities and welcoming to all. Led by Rabbi Richard Jacobi, Shabbat Shelanu services provide an opportunity to celebrate Shabbat in a relaxed and friendly environment, through music, … Read More

Second Scarborough service is a success

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