About the Rabbi
Rabbi Janet Burden who lives with her husband in Hammersmith, was ordained in July 2002, after completing her studies at Leo Baeck College, the Centre for Jewish Education in North London. She was born and educated in the United States, but has chosen to make Britain her home. She holds two masters degrees, one in English and a second (with distinction) in Hebrew and Jewish Studies.
Prior to becoming a Rabbi, she worked for the development agency, OXFAM. She is also a founder member of the Jewish environmental group, the Noah Project. She is also joint convenor of the Liberal Judaism social action committee ‘Just Action’.
Rabbi Janet particularly enjoys teaching both children and adults, preferring to adopt an experiential approach whenever possible. “People of all ages learn best by doing,” she says. She runs a regular “Access to Judaism” course, designed for those who are exploring Judaism as a personal spiritual path. It is a rolling course that consists of 25 individual sessions, grouped thematically around the Jewish festival cycle.
Rabbi Janet’s style is informal and intimate. She enjoys supplementing the formal readings with those gleaned from a wide range of sources. She encourages congregational participation in services, and highly values the involvement of committed lay leadership in all aspects of communal life.