Rabbi Janet Burden

West Central Liberal Synagogue & Ealing Liberal Synagogue

Rabbi Janet Burden was ordained in July 2002, after completing her rabbinic studies at the Leo Baeck College, London. She was born and educated in the United States, but has chosen to make Britain her home. She holds two masters degrees, one in English and one in Hebrew and Jewish Studies.

Janet came to the rabbinate from a background of social activism. She remains committed to the prophetic vision of global justice and continues to work towards that goal within the Jewish community. Prior to becoming a rabbi, she worked for the development agency, OXFAM. She now acts as Liberal Judaism’s rabbinic advisor on issues of social justice. 

Rabbi Janet enjoys teaching both children and adults, preferring to adopt an experiential approach whenever possible. “People of all ages learn best by doing,” she says. At the Montagu Centre, she offers a regular “Access to Judaism” course, designed for those who are exploring Judaism as a personal spiritual path. It is a rolling course that consists of 26 individual sessions, grouped thematically around the Jewish festival cycle. For more information about joining the Access to Judaism course, please contact her on 020 7636 7627.

Rabbi Janet’s style is informal and intimate. She enjoys supplementing the liturgy of Siddur Lev Chadash with readings gleaned from a wide range of sources. She encourages congregational participation in services, and highly values the involvement of committed lay leadership in all aspects of communal life. She divides her time between two of Liberal Judaism’s smaller communities, the West Central Liberal Synagogue and the Ealing Liberal Synagogue.