Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy – the Co-Leads of Progressive Judaism – have written for the Jewish Chronicle, reflecting on the year gone by. They outline how the announcement in April of the creation of one Progressive Judaism for the UK was a moment of hope and excitement – … Read More
A chuppah wedding… 61 years later
18 November 2019 A couple from The Liberal Synagogue Elstree (TLSE) have got married under a chuppah – 61 years after their original civil wedding ceremony. Jack and Mina Kossoff wed at TLSE with children from the religion school making the decorations for the day. The nuptials came about after … Read More
Slovakian Ambassador: ‘NPLS Torah Scroll is an inspiration for unity’
14 November 2019 Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) welcomed Slovakian Ambassador Ľubomír Rehák and press attaché Milan Matlovic to the synagogue for a special event based around the community’s Torah Scroll from the country. NPLS have a Scroll from Spišská Nová Ves, in the east of Slovakia, which survived … Read More
Young Progressive Jews unite for refugee project
22 October 2019 Young Liberal and Reform Jews from the UK have spent a week volunteering in Calais and Dunkirk, as part of a team cooking and serving 2,000 meals each day to the refugees there. Nine volunteers from the LJY-Netzer and RSY-Netzer youth movements joined the Refugee Community Kitchen … Read More
Rabbi Dr David Goldberg: An appreciation
Rabbi Danny Rich 2 May 2019 The Jewish Chronicle Rabbi Dr David Goldberg OBE approached dying as he lived life: with integrity, realism, mischief, intellectual fascination and a degree of planning. He faced his death without self-pity, and, with the support of his wife of nearly fifty years, Carole. His … Read More
Leicester community expands with £140,000 annexe
24 April 2019 Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation (LPJC) was packed to the rafters for the grand unveiling of the community’s new annexe. Representatives from many faiths, local charities and activity groups – all regular users of the synagogue’s facilities – gathered to celebrate the opening of the new addition to … Read More
50th anniversary celebrations begin in Elstree
22 April 2019 The Liberal Synagogue Elstree (TLSE) kicked off its 50th anniversary celebrations with a special Civic Service. The community welcomed the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss; The Mayor of Hertsmere, Councillor Brenda Batten; and the Town Mayor of Borehamwood, Councillor Victor Eni. They were joined for Shabbat … Read More
[Report] Liberal Judaism Shabbat is a huge success
24 January 2019 Liberal Judaism communities across the UK celebrated Liberal Judaism Shabbat, as rabbis swapped pulpits for the weekend. Timed to coincide with the yahrzeit of Lily Montagu, one of our movement’s founders, many of the country’s most senior rabbis took part. Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich, … Read More
The Balkans and its history helps us confront our identity
Elliott Karstadt 24 August 2018 The Jewish Chronicle In his 2012 travelogue, Where the West Ends, Michael Totten talks of citizens of the former Yugoslavia wrestling with national identity in their new reality. When asked, “who are you”, Predrad Delibasic says he made up an answer: “‘I am Jewish!’ I … Read More
The rabbi who went to Bali in order not to speak for a week
Rabbi Rebecca Birk 4 June 2018 The Jewish Chronicle Rabbi Rebecca Birk decided to try something different when she took a sabbatical. At the end of last year, as Chanukah finished, I travelled 7,747 miles not to talk. I attended a silent meditative retreat at the foot of a mountain. … Read More