Stanmore women meet in shul at last

An Orthodox women's prayer group will congregate for the first time on synagogue premises this Saturday after having to meet elsewhere for 18 years.

The Stanmore Women's Tefilah Group - now known as Women's Learning Experience - was banned from holding women-only Shabbat services in the synagogue by Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks.

Stanmore Synagogue vice-chair Jackie Rudolph said they could now meet

More..

Progressive plea on advocacy

The joint vice-chairman of Manchester Jewish Representative Council has asked for assurances that the Progressive community will enjoy equal participation in the Israel advocacy conference due to take place in November.

Mike Samuels - a member of the Orthodox South Manchester Synagogue - expressed concern at the possibility that the Reform movement might be "sidelined" at the Big Tent for Israe

More..

Rabbi runs gay dating website

If you ask avowedly Orthodox Rabbi Arele Harel what he thinks about marriage between homosexuals, you may be surprised by his answer. Not only is he in favour, but he will play matchmaker.

However, there is a twist. The marriages that he brokers are indeed between gays - but one gay man and one lesbian.

More..

A yeshivah launching - in Kent?

Princess Diana went to boarding school there and it boasts one of the oldest cricket grounds in the land.

But could Sevenoaks in Kent be about to have a new claim to fame: as the south-east's answer to Gateshead?

A new yeshivah for boys of 16 and 17 has opened about three miles from the centre of town.

More..

Sheikh Salah thanks the Neturei Karta

Islamic political activist Raed Salah has met leaders of the strictly Orthodox anti-Zionist Neturei Karta sect, to thank them for their support.

The meeting, in London on Tuesday, came after the group backed Sheikh Salah in his fight against deportation from Britain.

More..

A Canterbury tale - with a difference

Police were called to a strictly Orthodox holiday camp in Kent last month after the appearance of a stranger aroused suspicion.

A bareheaded man, not wearing Orthodox dress, entered the marquee which served as the camp's temporary synagogue at Kent University, Canterbury, one evening.

According to Levi Yitzchok Schapiro, a Jewish community activist from Stamford Hill, north London, when the

More..

Health trust's dedicated role

NHS Salford is hiring its first dedicated Jewish support worker to improve the uptake of mental health treatments among the community.

It is hoped the primary care trust-sponsored one-year position will spread awareness of self-help techniques to tackle depression and anxiety and facilitate more intensive treatments for conditions such as schizophrenia.

More..

School gets shock: it needs £90,000

Strictly Orthodox schools in Greater Manchester are fearing chaos as the second largest Charedi school is threatened with closure following a £90,000 electrics bill.

More..