News and commentary
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Statement on “Zionism is Racism”
As a group of left-wing Jews, we feel that dissent is crucial. Our own reactions to the Green Party motion and its fallout are varied. No statement could hope to encapsulate all of our opinions, but we are proud to be able to respectfully disagree! What follows is an incomplete attempt to summarise the conversations…
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Shanah tovah!
We’ve had a busy and inspiring holiday period. Thank you to everyone who came along, organised, and fed us! While we had the privilege to choose to fast, our Kol Nidrei appeal raised ยฃ800 for hot meals in Gaza. At Rosh Hashanah we pulled together a moving participatory service, complete with shofar, and filled the…
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แธคillul Hashem: what is it and why are we bothered?
by Benny Ross This article uses some Hebrew and Aramaic terms. There is a glossary at the end. Many people know a few Hebrew phrases such as โtikkun olamโ. This one is less well-known, but itโs very relevant to our stance as Jews who take seriously our heritage of argument, dissent, and careful analysis of…
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How we got here
Jews are a minority. Many, perhaps most of us, have little or no involvement with โorganised religionโ. And among those who do observe religious rituals, there are many who keep rigorously silent about Israelโs crimes, whether out of embarrassment or because they genuinely support Netanyahuโs apartheid regime. Despite all this, a minority of the minority…
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Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre Vigil, August 2026
by Lin James The Hassockfields / Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre opened for business in December 2021, set up to house up to 80 women held in indefinite detention after being refused the right to remain. This isolated Centre is just one link in a chain of such centres housing people who are being shuttled around,…
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Parshat Shof’tim 15/8/26
After saying chatsi kaddish we realised we were one down from a minyan, thanks to several holidays and sicknesses. Which made us appreciate that we have been able to take a minyan for granted so far!Fortunately we have it on the good word of Rabbi Halafta of Kefar Hanania that although โwhen ten sit together…
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Progressive Rabbis share platform with the Far Right
by Lin James [Originally presented at the AGM of a local reform synagogue, 07/06/2026] I was wondering how to explain why I think itโs vitally important to have this discussion today, and then came across this quote from Joseph Weizenbaum talking about civil courage in 1976. โEvery individual must act as if the whole history…