What is The Movement for Progressive Judaism?
The Movement for Progressive Judaism is the UK and Ireland’s largest synagogal body – with the vision that Jewish life can be vibrant, inclusive and forward looking, rooted in tradition yet alive to the needs of today and the hopes of tomorrow.
On Sunday 18 May 2025, at around 11.40am, the member communities of Britain’s Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism voted to unite into one Movement for Progressive Judaism for the UK and Ireland.
This history-defining moment was the first ever known unification of two Jewish denominations and the culmination of 250 years of Progressive Jewish history.
The decision was made at two parallel Extraordinary General Meetings with the number of votes in favour at each exceeding 95%. The result was announced by the leaders of the unification project – Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Rabbi Josh Levy, Paul Langsford, Karen Newman and Dr Ed Kessler – on the steps of the Sternberg Centre.
This day marked the birth of both a new Movement and a new chapter – one rooted in shared values, diverse voices and a deep commitment to inclusion and equality.
The Movement for Progressive Judaism that then formed is the UK and Ireland’s largest synagogal body, measured by number of communities. It represents around 30% 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.
The goal of the Movement for Progressive Judaism is to support more people in more places to lead rich and fulfilling Jewish lives. It seeks to provide a voice and a space that brings together timeless Jewish tradition with the diversity and values of 21st-century Jewish life.
The vision of the Movement for Progressive Judaism is that Jewish life in the UK and Ireland can be vibrant, inclusive and forward looking, rooted in tradition yet alive to the needs of today and the hopes of tomorrow.
The work of the Movement for Progressive Judaism is guided by four core missions:
To strengthen, support, and connect communities
Creating networks of learning, care, and collaboration that help every community thrive.
To promote, amplify, and embolden Progressive Jewish values and rich forms of Jewish life
Ensuring that the voices of equality, inclusion, and justice are heard clearly within Jewish life and in society beyond.
To inspire, connect, and nurture the next generations of Progressive Jews
Empowering young people, students, and emerging leaders to imagine and build the Judaism they want to inherit.
To foster inclusion, provide resources, and open the way for all who seek connection to Jewish life
Ensuring that belonging is never conditional, and that everyone has a place within our story.
These missions are a blueprint of action, ideas, and hope. Together they will help us build a Movement of possibility, purpose and pride… a home for Progressive Jews today, and for generations yet to come.