17 October 2016 Rabbi Aaron Goldstein spoke about a myriad of issues as he reviewed the papers on BBC Three Counties Radio. Aaron, who is rabbi at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, discussed topics including Donald Trump, unaccompanied child refugees, Bob Dylan and the use of religious language in secular … Read More
[Blog] There’s a very thin line between exercising power for the sake of the public, and exercising power for its sake
Rabbi René Pfertzel 14 October 2016 Le Blog Français, The Jewish Chronicle In my previous life in Normandy, I used to be a History teacher. Once, I brought my students to the local archives in Evreux, a middle-sized city located south from Rouen. We wanted to study the archives related … Read More
Join the Human Rights Shabbat Programme
2 October 2016 A dozen Liberal communities have already signed up to take part in the René Cassin Human Rights Shabbat Programme for 5777. René Cassin – a charity working to promote and protect universal human rights, drawing on Jewish experience and values – has run the project for the … Read More
A tribute to Shimon Peres
28 September 2016 It will be with undoubted sadness that Liberal Jews will learn of the death overnight of Shimon Peres, who died in the early hours of this morning, surrounded by his family. Peres suffered a stroke two weeks ago and, despite significant improvement, his condition rapidly deteriorated yesterday. … Read More
Jewish schools: End of 50 per cent cap is a bad idea
Rabbi Danny Rich 16 September 2016 The Jewish Chronicle Leadership is sometimes about the difficulty between principle and practice, the balance between maintaining one’s pure values and the pragmatism of working with others to achieve the possible. The question of faith schools for the Liberal Jew may be such a scenario. … Read More
[Radio] Senior rabbi takes refugee fight to the airwaves
13 September 2016 Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich, has made a number of media appearances this week calling on the British Government to do more to reunite refugee families. Danny has been interviewed by BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC World Service and BBC … Read More
[Speech] Rabbi Danny Rich urges Government to reunite refugee families
Rabbi Danny Rich 12 September 2016 Note: This speech was originally given by Rabbi Danny Rich, the senior rabbi of Liberal Judaism, at the LJS with multi-faith leaders calling on the government to revise legislation to reunite refugee families “In the Hebrew Bible the Children of Israel are admonished a … Read More
Two ways to help welcome refugees
1 September 2016 Liberal Judaism is supporting two key upcoming actions to welcome refugees coming to the UK. The Welcome Summit – powered by Citizens UK, Christian Aid, Refugee Council and Refugee Action – will take place this Saturday (September 10), from 11am–4pm, in Birmingham. It is a chance, one … Read More
[Blog] When it comes to the future of our multi-cultural, multi-faith societies we are at a crossroads
Rabbi René Pfertzel 22 August 2016 Le Blog Français, The Jewish Chronicle The views of a group of French Jews who are now living in London As you know, French people love a good controversy. Sometimes, it is funny, sometimes tiring, but it is also sometimes worrying. The latest in … Read More
I cried over Brexit – but Israeli friends couldn’t understand my devastation
Rabbi Leah Jordan 10 August 2016 Over the last five years as an American living in Britain, I’ve learned that one of the worst things an immigrant can experience is when something upsetting happens ‘back home’ and you’re not there for it. Whether that’s a natural disaster, a political event … Read More