Liberal Jewish Congregation Amsterdam
The LJG Amsterdam is a dynamic and growing Jewish community with over 1,800 members. As the largest of the ten liberal Jewish communities in the Netherlands, the LJG Amsterdam offers a wide range of services and programmes.
There are also many social activities and cultural programmes for all ages and groups such as Café LJG, concerts, art programmes, lectures, tours, youth activities and trips, an annual football/soccer tournament and much more. In addition, there is also a monthly (Oneg Shabbat) after the early service on Friday evening, Erev Shabbat members come all come together for a lovely Shabbat dinner.
Shabbat and holiday services as well as the celebration of life cycle events are at the heart of the LJG Amsterdam. The rabbis, cantor, and others all contribute to making these moments inspiring and meaningful.
In addition, the community provides a great number of educational programmes for all ages: via its popular Study Centre, its excellent weekly Religious School (Talmud Torah), its monthly lunch and learn programme for 20-30 somethings, weekly member-led Shabbat study group as well as other series and events .
LJG Amsterdam believes strongly that as a community, it must do what it can to engage in tikkun olam, making the world a better place. As such, the community plays an active role in the inter-religious dialogue in the city. The award winning programme “get to know your neighbour” brings post secondary school students from all backgrounds and faiths to the synagogue to learn about Judaism and to meet Jewish people. The LJG also participates in the City of Amsterdam’s anti-discrimination campaign. Furthermore, it participates in the World Union for Progressive Judaism’s Mitzvah Day and have an active tikkum olam committee that regularly engages the community in this mitzvah.
LJG Amsterdam is proud of its new award winning building. The premises, which were inaugurated by the Crown Prince of the Netherlands on 1 August 2010, contains not only a beautiful inspiring sanctuary, it also has fine meeting and event spaces, classrooms, a Judaica shop, a lending library, offices and a fully equipped catering kitchen.