The Movement for Progressive Judaism

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UK synagogue movement formed in 2026 by the union of Reform and Liberal Judaism


The Movement for Progressive Judaism

Type Synagogue movement; registered charity and company limited by guarantee
Founded 1 January 2026
Registration ID 1214734 (Charity Commission); company no. 16501951
Headquarters The Sternberg Centre for Judaism, 80 East End Road, London N3 2SY
Area served United Kingdom
Registration England and Wales
Key people Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky (co-leads)
Website progressivejudaism.org.uk

The Movement for Progressive Judaism (MPJ) is the synagogue movement formed by the union of The Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism, which took effect on 1 January 2026.[1] It is a registered charity (no. 1214734), registered on 29 August 2025.[2] According to JCR-UK it is the largest synagogal body in the United Kingdom and Ireland by number of communities, and represents around 30% of synagogue-affiliated Jews.[1]

The MPJ lists 77 communities in the United Kingdom, 49 of Reform heritage and 28 of Liberal heritage.[3] Its co-leads are Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky.[4]

History

The Movement for Reform Judaism (charity no. 1139806)[5] and Liberal Judaism (charity no. 1151090)[6] announced in April 2023 their intention to merge into a single movement. On 18 May 2025, at two parallel extraordinary general meetings, members of both movements voted to unite. 'The Movement for Progressive Judaism' was incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee (company no. 16501951) on 6 June 2025, and the union came into effect on 1 January 2026. The new movement took in all 77 congregations and communities of the two movements, together with two affiliated communities abroad, in the Netherlands and Denmark. Its head office is the Sternberg Centre for Judaism in Finchley, and it has been a member of the World Union for Progressive Judaism since its formation.[1]

Relationship with Israel

The MPJ describes itself as 'a Zionist movement – committed to there being a Jewish, pluralist and democratic State in the historic homeland of Israel'. It states that it is 'committed to two safe and secure states – Israel and Palestine' and works alongside the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism.[7] In February 2026 its leaders opposed a Knesset bill to give the Chief Rabbinate sole control over the Western Wall, including its egalitarian section.[8] In June 2026 the co-leads welcomed UK government sanctions against those responsible for settler violence in the West Bank, while stating that the movement does not support BDS.[9] In September 2026 they described Israeli plans for the E1 area as 'part of an explicit project, led by Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, to establish permanent Israeli control and make a viable Palestinian state impossible', and stated: 'We defend Israel's security, condemn Hamas and reject BDS.'[4]

Member communities

The table lists the 77 UK communities in the MPJ's directory, with the movement each belonged to before the union.[3][1] A dash in the charity column means that no registered charity number is recorded for the community in the sources cited.[10][11]

Member communities of the Movement for Progressive Judaism in the United Kingdom (77)
Congregation Town Nation Heritage Charity no. Powerbase
Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue Bedford England Liberal – Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue
Beit Klal Yisrael London (North Kensington) England Reform – Beit Klal Yisrael
Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue, Cambridge Cambridge England Reform CC 1136605 Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue
Birmingham Progressive Synagogue Birmingham England Liberal CC 242057 Birmingham Progressive Synagogue
Blackpool Reform Jewish Congregation Blackpool England Reform CC 1148088 Blackpool Reform Jewish Congregation
Bournemouth Reform Synagogue Bournemouth England Reform CC 1040356 Bournemouth Reform Synagogue
Bradford Synagogue Bradford England Reform – Bradford Synagogue
Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue Hove England Liberal CC 1046457
CC 1149342		 Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue
Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue Hove England Reform CC 1155461 Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue
Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation Bristol England Liberal CC 1191437 Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation
Bromley Reform Synagogue Bromley England Reform CC 1098431 Bromley Reform Synagogue
Cardiff Reform Synagogue Cardiff Wales Reform CC 1144498 Cardiff Reform Synagogue
Cheshire Reform Congregation Manchester (Sharston) England Reform CC 1124560 Cheshire Reform Congregation
Coventry Jewish Reform Community Coventry England Reform – Coventry Jewish Reform Community
Crawley Jewish Community Crawley England Reform – Crawley Jewish Community
Crouch End Chavurah London (Crouch End) England Reform – Crouch End Chavurah
Darlington Hebrew Congregation Darlington England Reform – Darlington Hebrew Congregation
Ealing Liberal Synagogue London (Ealing) England Liberal CC 1037099 Ealing Liberal Synagogue
East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue London (South Woodford) England Liberal CC 232980
CC 1171254		 East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue
Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community Eastbourne England Liberal CC 1115670 Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community
Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue Edgware England Reform CC 1135296
CC 1038116
CC 1172458		 Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue
Finchley Progressive Synagogue London (North Finchley) England Liberal CC 1167285 Finchley Progressive Synagogue
Finchley Reform Synagogue London (North Finchley) England Reform CC 1137557 Finchley Reform Synagogue
Glasgow Reform Synagogue Newton Mearns Scotland Reform OSCR SC052553 Glasgow Reform Synagogue
Harlow Jewish Community Harlow England Reform CC 1186532 Harlow Jewish Community
Isle of Wight Jewish Society Cowes, Isle of Wight England Reform – Isle of Wight Jewish Society
Kehillah North London London (Stamford Hill) England Reform CC 1163562 Kehillah North London
Kehillat Kernow – The Jewish Community of Cornwall Cornwall England Reform CC 1090562 Kehillat Kernow – The Jewish Community of Cornwall
Kent Liberal Jewish Community Maidstone England Liberal CC 1109044 Kent Liberal Jewish Community
Kingston Liberal Synagogue Long Ditton, Surbiton England Liberal CC 270792 Kingston Liberal Synagogue
Kol Chai - Hatch End Jewish Community Hatch End England Reform CC 299063 Kol Chai - Hatch End Jewish Community
Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation Leicester England Liberal CC 238867 Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation
Lincolnshire Jewish Community Lincoln England Reform CC 1190120 Lincolnshire Jewish Community
Liverpool Reform Synagogue Liverpool England Reform CC 1098181 Liverpool Reform Synagogue
Maidenhead Synagogue Maidenhead England Reform CC 1110795 Maidenhead Synagogue
Makor Hayim London (Willesden Green) England Reform – Makor Hayim
Manchester Reform Synagogue (Jackson's Row) Manchester England Reform CC 1205446 Manchester Reform Synagogue (Jackson's Row)
Milton Keynes & District Reform Synagogue Milton Keynes England Reform CC 1058193 Milton Keynes & District Reform Synagogue
Mosaic Liberal Synagogue Stanmore England Liberal CC 251172 Mosaic Liberal Synagogue
Mosaic Reform Synagogue Stanmore England Reform CC 1077299
CC 1159303		 Mosaic Reform Synagogue
Ne've Shalom (Hull Reform) Hull (Willerby) England Reform CC 1080550 Ne've Shalom (Hull Reform)
Newcastle Reform Synagogue Newcastle upon Tyne (Gosforth) England Reform CC 246816 Newcastle Reform Synagogue
North Manchester Reform Congregation Whitefield England Reform – North Manchester Reform Congregation
North West Surrey Synagogue Weybridge England Reform CC 256232 North West Surrey Synagogue
North Western Reform Synagogue London (Golders Green) England Reform CC 1186738
CC 247081		 North Western Reform Synagogue
Norwich Progressive Jewish Community Norwich England Liberal CC 1053565 Norwich Progressive Jewish Community
Nottingham Liberal Synagogue Nottingham England Liberal CC 246773 Nottingham Liberal Synagogue
Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue Newbury Park, Ilford England Reform CC 236663 Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue
Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community Peterborough England Liberal – Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community
Radlett Reform Synagogue Radlett England Reform CC 1161059 Radlett Reform Synagogue
Reading Liberal Jewish Community Reading England Liberal CC 281610 Reading Liberal Jewish Community
Seven Hills Shul Sheffield England Reform CC 1127317 Seven Hills Shul
Sha'arei Tsedek North London Reform Synagogue London (Whetstone) England Reform CC 1171418 Sha'arei Tsedek North London Reform Synagogue
Sinai Synagogue (Reform) Leeds England Reform CC 1149738 Sinai Synagogue (Reform)
South Bucks Jewish Community Amersham England Reform CC 1098078 South Bucks Jewish Community
South Hampshire Progressive Community Southampton area England Liberal CC 1040109 South Hampshire Progressive Community
South London Liberal Synagogue London (Streatham) England Liberal CC 236711 South London Liberal Synagogue
Southend & District Reform Synagogue Westcliff-on-Sea England Reform CC 237616 Southend & District Reform Synagogue
Southgate Progressive Synagogue London (Southgate) England Liberal CC 239096 Southgate Progressive Synagogue
Southport & District Reform Synagogue Southport England Reform CC 227576 Southport & District Reform Synagogue
Stevenage Liberal Synagogue Stevenage England Liberal – Stevenage Liberal Synagogue
Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community Ipswich England Liberal – Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community
Sukkat Shalom (Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community) Edinburgh Scotland Liberal OSCR SC035678 Sukkat Shalom (Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community)
Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue London (Wanstead & Woodford) England Reform CC 1188399 Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue
Swindon Jewish Community Swindon England Reform – Swindon Jewish Community
Thanet & District Reform Synagogue Ramsgate England Reform CC 294859 Thanet & District Reform Synagogue
The Ark Synagogue (Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue) Northwood England Reform CC 1160487 The Ark Synagogue (Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue)
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue London (St John's Wood) England Liberal CC 235668
CC 1159292		 The Liberal Jewish Synagogue
The Liberal Synagogue Elstree Elstree England Liberal CC 1182920
CC 262001		 The Liberal Synagogue Elstree
Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community Gloucester England Liberal CC 1159055 Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community
Tikvah Chadasha (Brentwood Reform Synagogue) Brentwood England Reform – Tikvah Chadasha (Brentwood Reform Synagogue)
Totnes Jewish Community Totnes England Reform – Totnes Jewish Community
Wessex Liberal Jewish Community Bournemouth England Liberal CC 1160082 Wessex Liberal Jewish Community
West Central Liberal Synagogue London (Bloomsbury) England Liberal – West Central Liberal Synagogue
West London Synagogue of British Jews London (West End) England Reform CC 1155821 The West London Synagogue of British Jews
Wimbledon & District Synagogue London (Wimbledon Park) England Reform CC 1150678 Wimbledon and District Synagogue
York Liberal Jewish Community York England Liberal CC 1166145 York Liberal Jewish Community

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 JCR-UK, Movement for Progressive Judaism, United Kingdom, JewishGen, accessed 29 October 2026.
  2. ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Movement for Progressive Judaism – charity 1214734, Register of Charities, registered 29 August 2025, accessed 29 October 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Movement for Progressive Judaism, Find a Community, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, accessed 29 October 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Josh Levy and Charley Baginsky, Statement on the possibility of UK action on settlement expansion, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, 1 September 2026, accessed 29 October 2026.
  5. ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Movement for Reform Judaism – charity 1139806, Register of Charities, registered 12 January 2011, accessed 29 October 2026.
  6. ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, Liberal Judaism (ULPS) – charity 1151090, Register of Charities, registered 5 March 2013, accessed 29 October 2026.
  7. ↑ The Movement for Progressive Judaism, Our Relationship with Israel, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, accessed 29 October 2026.
  8. ↑ The Movement for Progressive Judaism, Progressive leaders speak out against Kotel control bill, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, 25 February 2026, accessed 29 October 2026.
  9. ↑ Josh Levy and Charley Baginsky, Statement welcoming targeted sanctions against settler violence, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, 10 June 2026, accessed 29 October 2026.
  10. ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, Register of Charities, Charity Commission, public register data extract dated 13 October 2026, accessed 29 October 2026.
  11. ↑ Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Scottish Charity Register, OSCR, accessed 29 October 2026.
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