Who are we?
Sukkat Shalom / Progressive Judaism in Stockholm is the progressive branch (liberal, reform, reconstructionist) of Judaism within the Stockholm Jewish Community. Progressive Judaism in Stockholm (PJS) was formed in the spring of 2005 as a non-profit and politically independent association, to respond to the need for a progressive alternative in Jewish Stockholm. At the same time, it was a way of reconnecting to the orientation that the Great Synagogue had from its inauguration in 1870 right up to the post-war period. A couple of years ago we decided to use the title Sukkat Shalom for the association’s activities, while the formal name is still Progressive Judaism in Stockholm. In 2023, for the first time, we will have our own, permanent half-time rabbi. Her name is Rebecca Lillian and she looks forward to meeting all members, new and old.
With religious services, adult education studies, joint celebrations of Shabbat and other holidays, we aim to develop Jewish life and Jewish traditions, strengthen Jewish identity and promote a feeling of Jewish community. For the greater part of the year, we hold services twice a month, with lots of music and singing followed by socializing over a simple kiddush or a potluck dinner. In addition to services, we offer adult studies and torah discussions, under the guidance of our rabbi and other leaders/educators, several times a month.
We use our own progressive siddur, Kol Haneshama, a prayer book with the texts in Hebrew, transliteration and Swedish and with many explanatory texts. It can therefore serve as an introduction to Judaism. Sukkat Shalom is consistently egalitarian, we do not differentiate between women and men, both participate in services on equal terms. Both women and men are included in the minyan and can be called to the Torah. Being a Jew is considered equally from either the mother or the father and we welcome families in so-called mixed marriages.
