Rabbi Rebecca Birk has been appointed as Senior Rabbi of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS), taking up her post when Rabbi Alexandra Wright retires at the end of the year.
The announcement was made today by the LJS President, Chairman and Council with Sue Head, LJS Council Chairman, saying: “We are thrilled that Rebecca has accepted the post and will be joining as our new Senior Rabbi in early 2027. We are very much looking forward to working with her. This is a new era for the LJS, and we are very excited about it.”
Sue paid tribute to Rabbi Alexandra Wright, adding: “We would like to thank Alex for all that she has done for the LJS over the last 22 years. We are grateful to her for her dedication, leadership and guidance and wish her joy in gaining new experiences and having the freedom to pursue her interests.”
Rabbi Rebecca Birk will move from her role at Finchley Progressive Synagogue, where she has been the rabbi since 2011. She brings a wealth of experience, deep connections and a passion for relational Judaism, and is looking forward to working with the LJS rabbinic team, staff and members of the congregation.
She and Rabbi Igor Zinkov of the LJS have a long acquaintance working together through Liberal Judaism, and now in the new Movement for Progressive Judaism, and will form a combined strong voice for the synagogue.
Rabbi Rebecca Birk said: “I’m delighted and honoured to be joining The Liberal Jewish Synagogue as their Senior Rabbi and to be following in the footsteps of Rabbi Alexandra Wright and all the extraordinary rabbis who have shaped and guided this remarkable synagogue over more than a century.
“The LJS is at the heart of The Movement for Progressive Judaism and I look forward to working with the fabulous clergy team here to further raise its profile both within our Jewish community and the wider world.
“Of course this is a moment of mixed emotions, as it also means leaving Finchley Progressive Synagogue – a community I have so loved and have such immense gratitude for all that we have shared together.”