22 July 2019 East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue (ELELS) concluded its cheder year with a special family Shabbat service spanning the generations and including guests from as far afield as the USA. Rabbi Richard Jacobi led the fun-filled service, in which the children read the prayers – some of … Read More
Rabbi David Hulbert retires after 30 glorious years
10 July 2019 Rabbi David Hulbert, the longest serving rabbi in Redbridge, has retired after three decades in the pulpit. A special service was held at East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue (ELELS) to mark the occasion, where it was standing room only as rabbis and faith leaders from around the … Read More
More than 150 attend ‘best ever’ Pride Shabbat at FPS
10 July 2019 A Pride Shabbat service at Finchley Progressive Synagogue (FPS) honoured the trailblazers of LGBTQI+ rights in the Jewish community and around the world. More than 150 people attended the service, which was themed l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation) and led by Rabbi Rebecca Birk, Cantor Tamara Wolfson, Student … Read More
Anne Frank commemorated by Three Counties community
2 July 2019 Members of Liberal Judaism’s new Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community came together in June to honour Anne Frank with a special Shabbat service to commemorate what would have been her 90th birthday. The annual memorial has become a tradition at Herefordshire Jewish Community, with prayers and readings … Read More
So, what’s going to be in the new Siddur?
Rabbis Lea Mühlstein and Elli Tikvah Sarah 27 June 2019 So, what’s going to be in the new Liberal Judaism Siddur? Since the draft Shabbat morning service was first circulated more than a year ago, we – that is, the editors – have been asked that question many times. After … Read More
Syrian refugees enjoy Shabbat at Kingston Liberal Synagogue
18 June 2019 Syrian refugees spoke about their experiences of settling in England at a special Shabbat service at Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS). Journalist and Arabic teacher Hasnaa Omar left Syria in 2013 and arrived in London in 2016. She was subsequently able to bring her husband, an IT manager, … Read More
[Sermon] Anne Frank Shabbat 5779
Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein 15 June 2019 Herefordshire Jewish Community There are many sights worth seeing in Amsterdam but, if you are there on a Shabbat I do recommend you go to the Amsterdam Liberal Synagogue. I think it is the most beautiful modern synagogue building in Europe. It was … Read More
Liberal rabbis attend European Shabbaton and Kallah
27 May 2019 A number of Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism rabbis from the UK attended the European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ) Shabbaton and European Rabbinic Assembly (ERA) Kallah in Rome. The ERA is chaired by Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel, who represented Liberal Judaism along with Rabbis Dr Andrew … Read More
A year of anniversaries in South London
23 May 2019 By Rabbi Nathan Godleman On Shabbat, South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS) celebrated 80 years since its consecration service at Prentis Road. The sermon was given by Liberal Judaism president, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, who commented on the special place SLLS occupies in the movement. With four Liberal … Read More
[Blog] Rabbi Danny Rich on Disability Awareness Shabbat
8 May 2019 By Rabbi Danny Rich “You shall not place a stumbling block before the blind”, which appears in this week’s Parsha Kedoshim, appears so obvious that it hardly seems worth a mention in Torah. In a similar way the demand to implement practical means to prevent the exclusion … Read More