Nottingham Liberal Synagogue’s new rabbi, Gili Zidkiyahu, has brought a global outlook to the Midlands congregation, which is celebrating its 50th year in its building.

Rabbi Zidkiyahu hails from an Israeli family with roots in Jerusalem, Hebron, Riga and Iraq.

She is no stranger to Liberal Judaism, having served as a Jewish Agency emissary to the movement from 2004 to 2006.

During that period, she also attended the rabbinic training programme at Leo Baeck College and was ordained by Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem in 2008.

She subsequently served for five years as rabbi to a developing community in Even Yehuda — where she focused on engaging young families — and as interim minister at a more established Haifa congregation. Other rabbinic and teaching roles followed.

She said that “after working for four summers with UK student and youth movement groups in Israel and being a shlichah for two years, I feel a connection to Anglo-Jewry.

“Personally and professionally, it is a privilege to have this opportunity to become part of Nottingham Liberal Synagogue — a committed congregation that has its stories and traditions but is also open, diverse and adapting to change.”

At her new synagogue, Rabbi Zidkiyahu was joined by Liberal Judaism CEO Rabbi Charley Baginsky to lead a service dedicated to the shul’s founding members and those who are continuing their vision.

A display of archive materials also featured in the event — part of Liberal Judaism’s 120th anniversary Open House Shabbat initiative.

These included a photo of the original dedication service led by Rabbi Sidney Brichto, then director of ULPS (now Liberal Judaism) and Rabbi David Goldberg.

Having attracted a number of new recruits during the pandemic, the shul currently has around 180 individual members and 20 associates with a growing number of young families.