Progressive Judaism (United Kingdom)
Encyclopedia
Progressive Judaism
in the United Kingdom consists of two organizationally distinct denominations - Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism
and Manchester
in the 1840s and 1850s.
Since 2005 the movement has been organised as the Movement for Reform Judaism
, also called British Reform. The first organizational body of Reform Judaism in the United Kingdom was formed in 1942, with membership of six Reform Jewish congregations, as Associated British Synagogues, which in turn evolved into the more nation-focused Associated Synagogues of Great Britain, and in 1958 into Reform Synagogues of Great Britain, a name which would last until 2005.
The movement takes a traditionalist position and greatly resembles the Conservative Judaism
of the United States
. Its stated aim is to revitalize Jewish community involvement among British Jews, with particular focus on children, teenagers and families where one member of the couple is not halachically Jewish
.
and Lily Montagu
, and did not intend itself to be a separate denomination. Rather, synagogues affiliated with the JRU were interested in developing a form of authentic Judaism that was responsive to changes going on in the modern world, without going down the path of classical German Reform
. Many of its members were inspired by Claude Montefiore's 1903 book "Liberal Judaism - An Essay". In 1909 the JRU changed its name to the Jewish Religious Union for the Advancement of Liberal Judaism. In 1944 the name changed again to the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues, more commonly known as the ULPS. In 2003 it changed its name to Liberal Judaism
, which has always been the main term used for the movement.
Although the Liberal movement does not identify itself as British Reform, its beliefs and practices are sufficiently similar to American Reform
that Americans habitually refer to British Liberal Judaism as a Reform movement. British Liberal Judaism is considered to be in practice much closer to American Reform than is British Reform.
in London, "the premier centre for Progressive Jewish learning" according to the college's website.
Most Reform and Liberal
rabbis in Britain train and receive their rabbinical ordination
from Leo Baeck College.
, there has also been a move towards more traditional elements in Liberal services than a generation earlier - i.e. more use of Hebrew, more wearing of tallit
and kippot
, more enjoyment of Purim
and other traditional minor festivals. But Liberal Judaism is still distinctly more progressive than Reform. Examples would include more readily recognising as Jewish without conversion the child of a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother, http://www.liberaljudaism.org/lj_wherewestand_liberaljudaism.htm, or in Liberal Judaism's readiness to celebrate homosexual partnerships in synagogues with more of the traditional symbolism associated with Jewish weddings http://www.liberaljudaism.org/news_lliturgy.htm.
Progressive Judaism
Progressive Judaism , is an umbrella term used by strands of Judaism which affiliate to the World Union for Progressive Judaism. They embrace pluralism, modernity, equality and social justice as core values and believe that such values are consistent with a committed Jewish life...
in the United Kingdom consists of two organizationally distinct denominations - Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism (United Kingdom)
Reform Judaism in the United Kingdom in one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Liberal Judaism. Reform Judaism is both historically earlier and more traditionalist than Liberal Judaism....
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism in the United Kingdom commenced in West LondonWest London Synagogue
The West London Synagogue of British Jews was established on 15 April 1840. It is one of the oldest synagogues in the United Kingdom and the oldest Reform synagogue in the UK.-History:...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in the 1840s and 1850s.
Since 2005 the movement has been organised as the Movement for Reform Judaism
Movement for Reform Judaism
Movement for Reform Judaism is the main organizational body of the Jewish Reform community in Great Britain....
, also called British Reform. The first organizational body of Reform Judaism in the United Kingdom was formed in 1942, with membership of six Reform Jewish congregations, as Associated British Synagogues, which in turn evolved into the more nation-focused Associated Synagogues of Great Britain, and in 1958 into Reform Synagogues of Great Britain, a name which would last until 2005.
The movement takes a traditionalist position and greatly resembles the Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its stated aim is to revitalize Jewish community involvement among British Jews, with particular focus on children, teenagers and families where one member of the couple is not halachically Jewish
Who is a Jew?
"Who is a Jew?" is a basic question about Jewish identity and considerations of Jewish self-identification. The question is based in ideas about Jewish personhood which themselves have cultural, religious, genealogical, and personal dimensions...
.
Liberal Judaism
Liberal Judaism in the United Kingdom dates from 1902, when the movement was founded as the Jewish Religious Union (JRU). Two of its founders were Claude MontefioreClaude Montefiore
Claude Joseph Goldsmid Montefiore was son of Nathaniel Montefiore, and the great nephew of Sir Moses Montefiore. Some identify him as a significant figure in the contexts of modern Jewish religious thought, Jewish-Christian relations, and Anglo-Jewish socio-politics.-Education:He was educated at...
and Lily Montagu
Lily Montagu
Lilian Helen "Lily" Montagu, CBE was the first woman to play a major role in Reform Judaism.She was the sixth of ten children born to Ellen Cohen Montagu and Samuel Montagu , a self-made millionaire by the age of thirty, Samuel Montagu was a wealthy banker and bullion broker, a member of the...
, and did not intend itself to be a separate denomination. Rather, synagogues affiliated with the JRU were interested in developing a form of authentic Judaism that was responsive to changes going on in the modern world, without going down the path of classical German Reform
Progressive Judaism (Germany)
Progressive Judaism in Germany is a community reborn from the ashes of the Shoah. It currently has over 20 communities across Germany, belonging to the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany and endorsing the beliefs and practices of Progressive Judaism....
. Many of its members were inspired by Claude Montefiore's 1903 book "Liberal Judaism - An Essay". In 1909 the JRU changed its name to the Jewish Religious Union for the Advancement of Liberal Judaism. In 1944 the name changed again to the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues, more commonly known as the ULPS. In 2003 it changed its name to Liberal Judaism
Liberal Judaism
Liberal Judaism , is one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Reform Judaism. Liberal Judaism, which developed at the beginning of the twentieth century is less conservative than UK Reform Judaism...
, which has always been the main term used for the movement.
Although the Liberal movement does not identify itself as British Reform, its beliefs and practices are sufficiently similar to American Reform
Reform Judaism (North America)
Reform Judaism is the largest denomination of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.5 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.- Reform Jewish theology :Rabbi W...
that Americans habitually refer to British Liberal Judaism as a Reform movement. British Liberal Judaism is considered to be in practice much closer to American Reform than is British Reform.
Jewish education and professional training
Despite historical and theological differences, both the Liberal and Reform movements of Great Britain have since 1964, together with the charity UJIA, co-sponsored Leo Baeck CollegeLeo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College is a rabbinical college and centre for Jewish education located in north London. As well as being the smallest academic college in England, it is also the largest Jewish Progressive University and Rabbinic College in Europe....
in London, "the premier centre for Progressive Jewish learning" according to the college's website.
Most Reform and Liberal
Liberal Judaism
Liberal Judaism , is one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Reform Judaism. Liberal Judaism, which developed at the beginning of the twentieth century is less conservative than UK Reform Judaism...
rabbis in Britain train and receive their rabbinical ordination
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
from Leo Baeck College.
Ideological rapproachment
In recent years, also similar to North American Reform JudaismReform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
, there has also been a move towards more traditional elements in Liberal services than a generation earlier - i.e. more use of Hebrew, more wearing of tallit
Tallit
A tallit pl. tallitot is a Jewish prayer shawl. The tallit is worn over the outer clothes during the morning prayers on weekdays, Shabbat and holidays...
and kippot
Kippah
A kippah or kipa , also known as a yarmulke , kapele , is a hemispherical or platter-shaped head cover, usually made of cloth, often worn by Orthodox Jewish men to fulfill the customary requirement that their head be covered at all times, and sometimes worn by both men and, less frequently, women...
, more enjoyment of Purim
Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther .Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th...
and other traditional minor festivals. But Liberal Judaism is still distinctly more progressive than Reform. Examples would include more readily recognising as Jewish without conversion the child of a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother, http://www.liberaljudaism.org/lj_wherewestand_liberaljudaism.htm, or in Liberal Judaism's readiness to celebrate homosexual partnerships in synagogues with more of the traditional symbolism associated with Jewish weddings http://www.liberaljudaism.org/news_lliturgy.htm.
Reform
- Raymond Goldman - General Secretary of the Movement (1966–1994)
- Rabbi Tony Bayfield - Head of The Movement for Reform Judaism (1994–2009)
- Rabbi Shoshana Boyd-Gelfand - Chief Executive (2008-2010)
- Rabbi Mark Goldsmith - Chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis (2011-Present)
- Ben Rich - Chief Executive (2011-Present)
- Rabbi Laura Janner-Klauner - Movement Rabbi (2012)
Liberal
- Rabbi Danny Rich - Chief Executive
- Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto - Senior Vice President
- Rabbi Pete Tobias - Chair of Rabbinic Conference
External links
- Official website of Reform Judaism in the UK
- http://www.jeneration.org Jeneration is the portal for Jewish life on your terms - backed by the Movement for Reform Judaism with the aim of enriching all of our Jewish lives - however we choose to identify ourselves.