Sermons

2007 High Holyday Sermons from Liberal Rabbis - 5767 - 5768: Click here

Including sermons by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah, Rabbi Alexandra Wright, Rabbi Danny Rich, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, Student Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, Rabbi Neil Janes, Rabbi Frank Hellner and Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi.

Sukkot, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah sermons by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah:

Remembering the battle of Cable Street

Beyond Tribalism

A Prison Lesson for Yom Kippur

Living Now

Responding to Israel As Liberal Jews

Erev Rosh Hashanah Sermon by Rabbi Danny Rich
Shanah Tovah oom’tukah: A Good and a Sweet Year; Ramadhan kareem v’mubarak: A Holy and Blessed Ramadhan.

Rosh Hashanah Erev Sermon – 26 September 2006
This evening, a new year begins in the dark of the new moon of Tishri...

Rosh Hashanah Morning Sermon – 26 September 2006
A few weeks ago – it was an afternoon during the first week of September as I recall – I was sitting at my desk, eyes focussed on the PC screen before me, when, slowly...

Yom Kippur Erev – 26 September 2006
During my summer break I read a wonderful, heart-breaking book: A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz – arguably the greatest contemporary Israeli writer...

Yom Kippur Morning – 26 September 2006
hat are we all doing here today? I’m sure there are as many answers to that question as there are individuals sitting in this Sanctuary...

Sermon by Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi on Erev Rosh Hashana at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue
This Rosh Hashanah should have been one of special joy for the Jewish community of Britain...

The Current Crisis in the Middle East and the perils of taking sides by Rabbi Elli Tikvah-Sarah, 05 August 2006
Do you remember the winter of 1978 to 1979 – known as the ‘Winter of Discontent’; a time of mass strikes against the pay policy of the Callaghan-led Labour government? I don't...

The Current Crisis and a brief history of Israel: Sermon by Rabbi Elli Tikvah-Sarah, 22 July 2006
Do you remember the winter of 1978 to 1979 – known as the ‘Winter of Discontent’; a time of mass strikes against the pay policy of the Callaghan-led Labour government? I don't...

Shabbat Bemidbar: Sermon by Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu – 2 June 2006
I used to think that Biblical genealogies were boring. These were parts I skipped.

Shabbat Beha’alotecha: Sermon by Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu – 16 June 2006
It’s not difficult to find a connection between this week's Parashah and the World Cup!

Dr. Laura’s law on slaves: Sermon by Rabbi Pete Tobias - 20 May 2006
There is a broadcaster by the name of Dr Laura Schlesinger who….

Who is Happy?: Sermon by Rabbi Elli Tikvah-Sarah – 27 May 2006
A few weeks ago the news was full of the latest research about ‘happiness’

Living on the borders: Sermon by Rabbi Elli Tikvah-Sarah – 13 May 2006

At this time last Shabbat I was participating in the biennial conference of Liberal Judaism…

Celebrating Pesach as Liberal Jews” by Rabbi Elli Tikvah-Sarah

Lincoln Cathedral - 23rd April 2006

“On this day song will be sung in Judah: we have a strong city/ Open the gates so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in…in peace because they trust You.”

Liberating God as well as ourselves: Sermon by Rabbi Elli Tikvah-Sarah - 13 April 2006

Jewish observance is not the preserve of the Orthodox: while Orthodox daily practice is Orthodox, Liberal daily practice is Liberal.

Sermon by Rabbi Danny Rich at the European Region Conference - Shabbat morning service, Saturday 18th March 2006
Meine Damen und Herren, Chavurot v’ Chaverim; friends, ladies and gentlemen…

Prayer for Re-Admission Shabbat by Rabbi Elli Tikvah-Sarah, March 2006
Tzur Yisrael, Rock of Israel, as we celebrate the 350th Anniversary of the Re-admission of the Jews to these shores….

Homophobia, the Civil Partnership Act, and Liberal Judaism by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah - 10th December 2005

What a difference a word makes:  Our portion today, the parashah, Vayeitzei, begins: Vayeitzei Ya’akov, ‘Jacob went out’ (Genesis 28:10)....   

Read the full Sermon here

Many Israels by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah - 5th March 2005
At this time two weeks ago, I was with the fellow-members of a Liberal Judaism/Rabbis for Human Rights Mission led by LJ Chief Executive, Rabbi Danny Rich, at Congregation Or Chadash in Haifa.

Read the full Sermon here

From Commandment to Commitment by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah - 5th February 2005
Each week, in addition to teaching, pastoral visits, meeting with members or friends of the synagogue to discuss issues related to their personal lives, the odd meeting connected with the running of the shul, writing emails and making phone calls, I also meet with people, who have contacted the synagogue for a variety of different reasons, and asked to talk with ‘the Rabbi’. 

Read the full Sermon here

Holocaust Memorial Day and the Forgiveness Project by Rabbi Alexandra Wright - 22nd January 2005
Mi chamocha ba’elim Adonai! Mi kamocha ne’dar ba’kodesh.  Nora tehillot oseh fele!  “Who is like You, Eternal One, among the gods people worship?  Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in splendour, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15.11) 

Read the full Sermon here

Fashionable Fundamentalism by Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah - 6th April 2004

Cinemas across quite a bit of the globe are going to be packed this Pesach/Easter holiday. They always are, of course – but this year, a very particular group of people will be flocking in droves to see a film depicting scenes of horrifying, sadistic violence.

Read the full Sermon here

Compelling Commitments by Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah - 17th March 2004

It gives me great pleasure to be here tonight.  I recall that the last time I stood here on this bima was in 1985, when I was a second year rabbinic student at Leo Baeck College, undertaking a short apprenticeship during the summer term with Rabbi Frank Hellner, who treated me with the utmost kindness and courtesy, and whose thoughtful feedback proved invaluable.

Read the full Sermon here

Avinu Malkeynu by Rabbi Andrew Goldstein - 6th October 2003

What a beautiful summer it has been - at least in Britain. In France, far too hot with thousands dying of the heat, and in other parts of the world hurricanes and storms and raging forest fires.

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Memories by Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah - 6th October 2003

A question for those of you of a certain age: Do you remember where you were and what you were doing thirty years ago today, on October 6th 1973 ? I’ll give you a clue, the Jewish date was the 10th of Tishri 5734 – it was Yom Kippur.

Read the full Sermon here

Revelation by Rabbi Stephen Howard - 4th October 2003

This morning we are poised between Yom Hadin, the Day of Judgement, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Today is Shabbat Shuvah, Sabbath of Repentance. We have explored three points of Franz Rosenzweig’s Star of redemption.

Read the full Sermon here

Faith and Spirituality by Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah - 27th September 2003

When I began working as Director of Programmes for the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain in October 1994, and took responsibility for managing seventeen different programmes, from Social Action through Music to Medical Ethics, involving eleven variously part-time members of staff, I was given the task of creating a new initiative on ‘Faith and Spirituality.’

Read the full Sermon here

The Jewish Religious Union a Hundred Years On by Rabbi John D. Rayner - 20th October 2002

'We have met here for a solemn and sacred purpose.' With these words Claude Montefiore began his address at the first service of the Jewish Religious Union on 18th October, 1902.

Read the full Sermon here

Doroteinu Shabbat by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein - 2nd March 2002

Moses was not a happy man. For a moment when he let himself go in song at the Sea of Reeds in celebration of their great escape from slavery and persecution in Egypt, he had thought that the worst was over.

Read the full Sermon here

Small Communities Shabbaton by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein - 2nd February 2002

The locust swarm has always been one of the worst scourges to afflict humanity. An area of one km can contain 50 million such insects, which in a single night can devour as much as 100,000 tons of vegetation. Their mass multiplication is fostered by heavy rains and unusually moist conditions.

Read the full Sermon here

Sermon given at the 10th Anniversary of the rebuilt Liberal Jewish Synagogue and 25th Anniversary of Rabbi Goldberg's ministry at the LJS by Rabbi David J. Goldberg - 13th January 2001

How quickly time passes, when one reaches a certain age. Astonishing to think that it is already ten years since we dedicated this re-built sanctuary.

Read the full Sermon here

Noach by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein - 20th October 2001

I had a dream. I was on a stage with lights and the sounds of rabid excitement all around me. My hair was long and wet, tangling with the full beard on my face.

Read the full Sermon here

Sacred Gift by Rabbi Dr Charles H. Middleburgh - 2th December 2000

The genesis of a sermon can come at any time, in any circumstances, but the writing itself is usually predictable, at home or the office in front of the computer.

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Extremism by Rabbi Dr Charles H. Middleburgh - 20th November 1999

There is a midrash which says that when Jacob dreamed his famous dream of the stairway connecting earth and heaven what he actually saw were the guardian angels of the nations that would oppress his descendants going up and coming down.

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Induction address by Rabbi Mark Goldsmith - 13th November 1999

Finchley Progressive Synagogue, despite its forty six years of existence is one of the least experienced in the Union of Liberal & Progressive Synagogues at holding Induction Services for new Rabbis.

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Values by Rabbi John D. Rayner - 20th September 1999
As we look back on the past year - and the past century - many salient facts stand out and they are not all bad. Human knowledge has grown, science has advanced, technology has made life easier.

Read the full Sermon here