Liberal Judaism on Jewish status and equilineal descent

Rabbi Alexandra Wright 21 July 2015 Liberal Judaism recognises equilineal descent: namely, that individuals born of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother should be treated in exactly the same way as individuals born to a Jewish mother and non-Jewish father. The Affirmations of Liberal Judaism state that children of mixed … Read More

[Speech] Citizens UK’s Day for Civil Society

Rabbi Danny Rich 2 May 2011 Note: This speech was originally given by Rabbi Danny Rich, the senior rabbi of Liberal Judaism, at Citizen UK’s Day for Civil Society which took place at the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster Friends, members of many faith communities, followers of no religious tradition: What … Read More

Death need not disorient us

Lucian J Hudson 6 March 2010 Around 70% of people say they want to die at home, yet around 60% currently die in hospital. Why is there such a discrepancy between hope and reality? The speed of life in the 21st century creates a momentum that makes us oblivious to … Read More

Shabbat – the Heart of Jewish Life

Rabbi Janet Burden 14 December 2006 The New Statesman The rabbi explains the sabbath – a day of rest and worship Ethical monotheism is indisputably the foundation of Judaism, its intellectual core. No matter how pure and grand that concept is, however, I do not believe that it alone would … Read More

Jewish Beliefs and Practice

Rabbi Janet Burden 13 December 2006 The New Statesman   What Jews believe and how the rules of Judaism get applied in practice.   Having been invited to write these pieces as a religious Jew, you may be wondering why I have said so little about Jewish beliefs in my … Read More

Reflections on Jewish Identity

Rabbi Janet Burden 12 December 2006 The New Statesman How Jews are not simply a race or a religion – they are an extended family with all that implies. The word used for people who change their religions is ‘convert.’ I prefer the term ‘Jew-by-choice’ to describe my own identity. … Read More