Who we are
Richard JACOBI Judith ROSEN-BERRY Pete TOBIAS
We are three Progressive rabbis who are trying to shape a theology and a direction for Progressive Judaism in a world that is becoming increasingly harsh and unkind. We believe that individuals and communities have the capacity and the intrinsic desire to treat one another with care and compassion. Such kindness can and should be harnessed in a way that sees it become an integral and essential element of human interaction - not just as a random occurrence but as a conscious and deliberate part of human behaviour at every level - individual, communal, national and global.
As rabbis we hope to bring awareness of and discussions about rigorous kindness to members of our congregations and make rigorous kindness an integral component of Progressive Judaism's message and vision.
Rabbi Richard Jacobi...
... currently serves the East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue, where he has been since being ordained in 2008.
Prior to becoming a rabbi, he worked in management and organisation development with an array of customers in the voluntary, public and private sectors. He puts his combined experience to good use when teaching final year rabbinic students at Leo Baeck College about Leadership and Management.
Married for over thirty-five years, he and his wife live in North London. They have three grown-up children and two grandchildren so far, so he seeks to motivate and enable future generations of rigorously kind human beings!
Rabbi Judith Rosen-Berry...
... received s'michah (ordination) in 2009 from Rabbi Sheila Shulman z"l . She worked as the Rabbi of Beit Klal Yisrael for five years, and went on to teach theology and philosophy at Leo Baeck College, London. She currently teaches and lives in Oxford.
Rabbi Pete Tobias...
...was ordained as a Liberal rabbi in 1990. He has served in three congregations in the U.K.: Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (1990-94), Glasgow New (Reform) Synagogue (1995-2003) and The Liberal Synagogue Elstree (2003-21) and has now returned to Glasgow. His publications include ‘Liberal Judaism: A Judaism for the Twenty-First Century’ (2007) and ‘Putting the 'o' in God'’ (2020).
Formerly a regular presenter on BBC Radio 2’s ‘Pause for Thought’ with the late Sir Terry Wogan and Chris Evans, Pete is a faithful supporter of Watford F.C. He lives in Glasgow with his partner and her son.
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