Liberals get bigger

Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich reported a three per cent rise in membership to the movement’s annual patrons dinner, held at the House of Lords.

For the third successive year, there was also the addition of a new community, this time North Herts Progressive.

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Janner-Klausner 'wrong' over Thatcher funeral

Liberal Judaism chairman Lucian Hudson has said Reform rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner was wrong not to attend the funeral of Baroness Thatcher.

Rabbi Janner-Klausner said that she could not honour the former Prime Minister because she had been "a cataclysm for the fabric of Britain".

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Two UK teens arrested in Kotel protest

Two young British women were detained in a Jerusalem police station after taking part in a Women of the Wall religious rights protest last Friday.

The 18-year-olds, currently on RSY-Netzer’s Israel gap-year programme, were detained for four-and-a-half hours after morning prayers at the Western Wall.

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Liberal gain in Herts

Stevenage-based North Herts Liberal Jewish Community has become a full constituent member of Liberal Judaism.

The congregation was given “developing community” status in 2010, including rabbinic and financial support. As a result of its progress, Liberal Judaism’s council voted unanimously on Sunday to upgrade it.

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Bristol rabbi inducted

American-born Rabbi Monique Mayer has been inducted as the Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation minister.

The service was led by Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich and also featured emeritus minister Rabbi Francis Berry, who has been part of the community for more than 30 years.

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Liberals send prayer books to Mumbai

A consignment of Liberal Judaism’s High Holy-Day prayerbooks were dispatched to the community in Mumbai in time for Rosh Hashanah.

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Liberals expand outreach team

Liberal Judaism is expanding its outreach team to meet what movement chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich describes as “overwhelming demand from existing communities and unaffiliated individuals and groups”.

The team of five will be augmented by student rabbi Benji Stanley, who will focus on students and young adults, and youth co-ordinator Sam Grant.

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Shenfield and Brentwood Liberals' landmark celebrations

A landmark bar- and batmitzvah ceremony at Shenfield and Brentwood Liberal Synagogue attracted a congregation of more than 200. Jamie Levy and Alice Radford were the celebrants and it was the first time a bar- or batmitzvah had been held by the congregation, founded less than three years ago.

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In Nigeria, Shabbat is sung in with an African beat

It’s Friday evening in Nigeria and a large number of people have gathered inside the quaint building that sits on Habakkuk Nwafor’s property on the outskirts of Abuja.

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