Creation of Progressive Judaism
From the outside, Judaism appears as a single homogenous entity. In truth, as with other religions, there are different strands, ranging from hard-line ultra-Orthodox to progressive liberals.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Philip Goldenberg (Member of the Jewish Faith)
5/19/20252 min read
In England, the over-riding public Jewish voice has been that of the Orthodox strand. No longer! On Sunday 18 May 2025, in a history-defining moment, member communities of Britain’s Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism have voted to unite into one Progressive Judaism for the UK.
This is the biggest change and most significant development in British Judaism since the Second World War. For the first time, this country now has a single, unified Progressive Judaism – providing a voice and a space that brings together timeless Jewish tradition with the diversity and values of 21st-century Jewish life.
The new Progressive Judaism will be the UK’s largest synagogal movement, measured by number of communities (80). It will represent 1/3 of synagogue affiliated Jews with the goal of reaching out to roughly the same percentage of non-affiliated Jews who are known to align with Progressive Jewish values.
This is the first ever known unification of two Jewish denominations and the culmination of 250 years of Progressive Jewish history. It is also the first UK merger of any two religious streams since the Presbyterian and Congregational Christian groupings formed the United Reformed Church in 1972.
Progressive Judaism differs from Orthodox Judaism in several vital ways.
Progressive Judaism understands that the religion’s formative texts are not the literal word of God, but the divinely inspired work of human beings. It believes in Progressive revelation and the overriding importance of values and ethics in defining how we behave.
In practical terms, Progressive Judaism’s fundamental principle is equality. 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.
The new Progressive Judaism will have four key missions: to strengthen, support and connect its communities; to promote, amplify and embolden Progressive values and forms of Jewish life; to inspire and nurture the next generations of Progressive Jews; and to foster inclusion, provide resources and pave the way for those seeking to join.
Philip Goldenberg
Member of the Jewish Faith