Community
Vote on new Progressive Judaism movement on May 18
If successful, it would become the largest synagogue organisation in the UK
April 25, 2025 18:44
If successful, it would become the largest synagogue organisation in the UK
April 25, 2025 18:44Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism have announced two parallel Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs), on May 18, where constituent member synagogues will be able to vote on whether or not to go ahead with the proposed new joint movement – Progressive Judaism.
For the unification to come into effect, a 75 per cent majority vote will be required.
If successful, the new organisation would become the UK’s largest synagogue body, made up of over 80 individual communities and 30 per cent of synagogue-affiliated Jews in the country.
While Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism would come under the umbrella of Progressive Judaism, congregations would not be expected to make any changes to prayer books or religious practices, nor would communities be asked to remove “Reform” or “Liberal” from their name.
An official new movement would be the culmination of two years’ preparation, which has already seen significant collaboration between the movements and Rabbi Charley Baginsky, the head of Liberal Judaism and Rabbi Josh Levy, the head of Reform, working together as co-leads of Progressive Judaism.
A newsletter sent out on Friday to members on behalf of Progressive Judaism said: “Both the LJ and MRJ Boards, unanimously and unequivocally, are recommending this merger as in the best interests of our movements and of Progressive Judaism in the UK. We have also had extensive support from our clergy and professionals.”
On Wednesday, all Reform and Liberal communities were sent the formal calling notice. This included the EGM resolution, as well as information on the nomination of a proxy.
Writing in support of the creation of a new movement in the newsletter, Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger, the second female rabbi to be ordained in the UK and the former senior rabbi of West London Synagogue, said: “I am a huge fan of the proposed merger. It will allow variation and difference in style to flourish, and being a new vibrancy to the Progressive, prophetic Jewish voice for us all.”
Also backing the new movement was Rabbi Dr Michael Shire, who grew up in the Liberal movement, was ordained at Leo Baeck College, has worked in communities in the UK and Ireland and is now based in the States. He said that the formal creation of Progressive Judaism would mean that “Judaism in the UK will be served in a whole new way, bringing vitality, creative spirit and contemporary religious experience to Jews, those Jewishly adjacent and the searching non-Jew.”