From “Cornwall to Copenhagen”, the joint leaders of Progressive Judaism will be embarking on an extensive tour of more than 80 different communities under its care later this year to hear feedback and ideas and to share their vision for the future.

Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy, who in April announced the merger of Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism, said the tour was a “once-in-a-generation opportunity for renewal and imagination”.

Rabbi Levy told the JC: “We want to find out what communities are excited about; how we can help them to unlock their potential; what makes them thrive and how they can best benefit from our support.

"And we can best do this by visiting all communities both near and afar, so members of those communities can feel a part of the conversation and the changing face of Judaism.”

The format of the meetings will be “a conversation not a presentation”, Rabbi Levy said. “It is not a selling tour or a lecture of what’s happening in the movement, but rather a genuine dialogue with our members on what the future of Judaism needs to look like.”

The tour, which will reach all of Progressive Judaism’s 83 congregations “from Newcastle to Manchester, Edinburgh to Glasgow, Dublin, and even one in Denmark”, will begin later this year.

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Rabbi Charley Baginsky

“It’s so important that we hear from and support every community, whether it numbers in the thousands in a northwest London mega shul or a fledgling community home to a handful,” Rabbi Levy said.

“It’s not about creating restrictions or homogenising communities, but rather to celebrate their individuality, breadth, and diversity.”

The co-leaders have already visited two locations together, the Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) and Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue.

During the pandemic, many synagogues “really flourished, got creative, and came into their own,” Rabbi Baginsky said. “But it is important that effort is now made to engage physically with communities.

“One important element of this tour is for communities to see Josh and I together, presenting a united front, and to give people the opportunity to ask any questions and the freedom to express any fears and concerns they may have,” she said.

A new website is being created to list details of the tour.