In what they described as a “landmark moment,” the member communities of Britain’s Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism have voted at two simultaneous extraordinary general meetings (EGMs) to unite under a single banner: Progressive Judaism for the UK.
The newly formed Progressive Judaism will become the UK’s largest synagogal movement by number of communities, uniting 80 congregations across the country. It will represent one-third of synagogue-affiliated Jews in the UK, with a vision to engage a similar proportion of unaffiliated Jews who share Progressive Jewish values.
What are Progressive Jewish values? The Union for Progressive Judaism explains:
“Judaism is built on the history and laws set out in the Torah (Five Books of Moses). It emphasizes ethical behavior and prescribes a way of life, telling us how to behave, work, rest, eat, celebrate, and much more. Progressive Judaism embraces all these traditions and works to make them meaningful parts of contemporary life.”
Also:
“Progressive Jews believe that the Torah comes to us from God, but it is our task to apply its teachings to our times. Halacha, Jewish law, is not a static set of decisions made by past rabbis, but a vital process requiring continuing engagement with our core beliefs in the context of our current world.”
No idea where they got the notion that rabbinic Halacha is static – are they not aware that Halacha has been evolving from one generation to the next and that the new and current connection between a person and his or her halachic teacher is prized most by the Torah, and the myriads of commentaries that follow?
There’s this, too:
“Individuals are responsible for developing a personal understanding of what God wants of them. This means Progressive Judaism emphasizes education, requiring each person to engage with Jewish texts and traditions.”
And, naturally:
“In line with contemporary understanding, men and women are equal partners. There is no division of seating in our synagogues, and women participate equally in services, including serving as rabbis.”
Good for them. Since they don’t follow Jewish law to begin with, it doesn’t matter whether a given “rabbi” is male or female. Let’s just hope that they’ll succeed in retaining their next generation as Jews, or at least keep their youths from demonstrating against Israeli “war crimes” in Gaza.
Their press release defined the difference between them and Orthodox Jews thusly:
- Services are egalitarian, with everyone sitting together.
The Progressive clergy is 50% women and 20% LGBTQI+. - Progressive communities fully welcome mixed-faith families and hold dual-heritage wedding blessings.
- The movements campaigned for the introduction of the same-sex marriage law.
- In a further key difference to Orthodoxy, Jewish status can be inherited from either parent, where a child is brought up as Jewish.
In other words, give these folks one more generation and they’ll probably become complete goyim.
This historic merger marks the first known unification of two distinct Jewish denominations and stands as the culmination of 250 years of Progressive Jewish development, which began with the emancipation of Jews in France and Germany.
The unification has been jointly led by Charlotte (Charley) Baginsky, CEO of Liberal Judaism, and Josh Levy, CEO of the Movement for Reform Judaism.
For a rare opportunity to grasp everything about Ms. Baginsky’s religious world view, watch her personal share about her tattoos. Trust me, it’s worth your 2:24 minutes:
Like I said, we wish them good luck. We’re not particularly optimistic, but you know, wishing is free.
