28 March 2017 Are you LGBTQI+ and born outside of the UK? Do you consider yourself to be a migrant or a refugee/asylum seeker? If so, then Rainbow Pilgrims want to hear your stories as part of Liberal Judaism’s latest project. Rainbow Pilgrims is a landmark archive project seeking to … Read More
Liberal elected to Leeds University Union position
28 March 2017 LJY-Netzer member Lauren Keiles has been elected as the new Leeds University Union faith rep. Lauren will join the 2017/2018 activities executive after a hard fought campaign in which she promised to ‘listen, learn and lead’. Lauren said: “I want to lead our Union developing campaigns opposing … Read More
Join Liberal rabbis to explore the Torah’s LGBTQI+ themes
21 March 2017 Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Dr René Pfertzel will be part of a panel discussion tomorrow (Wednesday 22nd March) entitled The Queer Torah: Exploring LGBTQI+ Themes in the Bible. They will be joined by Liberal Judaism’s LGBTQI+ project manager Surat-Shaan Knan and activist Zach Polanski, as they discuss … Read More
Archbishop of York outlines the ‘voice of religion in the 21st century’ at inaugural Lionel Blue Memorial Lecture
Leo Baeck College 20 March 2017 More than 230 people packed into the North Western Reform Synagogue (Alyth) in Barnet to hear the Rt Rev & Rt Hon Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, deliver the first Lionel Blue Memorial Lecture. The event was part of the 60th anniversary celebrations for … Read More
The best Purim pictures from our communities
14 March 2017 From children walking the walls of York to a Cockney Megillah reading in Finchley, Purim 5777 was an action packed one in Liberal Jewish communities. Liberal Judaism’s newest congregation at East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue celebrated their first Purim, with our oldest, The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, … Read More
[Blog] Why today’s Liberal Jews have reclaimed Purim
Rabbi Leah Jordan 13 March 2017 It’s hard to imagine now – with our synagogues full of spiels, fancy dress and hamantaschen – but for much of our movement’s early history, Liberal Judaism downplayed the festival of Purim. The reason is because the Book of Esther, the Megillah, ends in … Read More
[Sermon] It’s a Topsy Turvy World!
10 March 2017 As published in the Crouch End Chavurah magazine Purim (meaning ‘lots’) falls this year on the evening of Sunday 12 March. The biblical book of Esther is the source of Purim. Although lacking any historicity, the Book of Esther tells of a Persian King, Achverosh, his Jewish … Read More
[Blog] Why rabbis and imams have united to fight hate
Rabbi Danny Rich, Senior Rabbi of Liberal Judaism 21 February 2017 Last weekend the Joseph Interfaith Foundation’s National Council of Imams and Rabbis held a meeting at St John’s Wood United Synagogue, hosted by the shul’s senior rabbi, Dayan Ivan Binstock. The National Council of Imams and Rabbis, consisting of … Read More
More than 100 attend LJ’s first ever Northern Service
20 February 2017 The first ever combined service of Liberal Judaism’s northern communities has taken place in York, attended by around 120 people. Liberal Judaism members and friends from as far afield as Cumbria, Northumbria, Nottingham, Durham and Manchester gathered for the service, which was led by Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich … Read More
Join us for morning prayers on Monday (27 Feb)
17 February 2017 Liberal Judaism will hold its second monthly Monday morning services and Tuesday lunchtime study sessions for its staff, members and friends this Monday (27 Feb). The service will take place at 17 Lyonsdown Avenue, EN5 1DU due to the unexpected closure of the Montagu Centre after a … Read More