The Movement for Progressive Judaism

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Progressive Jewish umbrella movement operating across the UK and Ireland since January 2026

The Movement for Progressive Judaism

Logo The Movement for Progressive Judaism logo.png
Type Synagogue movement; registered charity and company limited by guarantee
Founded 1 January 2026
Registration ID 1214734 (Charity Commission); company 16501951
Headquarters The Sternberg Centre for Judaism, 80 East End Road, London N3 2SY
Area served United Kingdom and Ireland
Registration England and Wales
Key people Dr Edward Kessler (chair); Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky (co-leads)
Website https://progressivejudaism.org.uk/

The Movement for Progressive Judaism (MPJ) is the umbrella movement formed by the operational union of The Movement for Reform Judaism (MRJ) and Liberal Judaism on 1 January 2026. It is a separate charitable company, incorporated on 6 June 2025 as company 16501951 and registered on 29 August 2025 as charity 1214734.[1][2][3]

The operational union did not dissolve the predecessor charities. MRJ’s 2025 report says that it continues to receive residual legacies and donations; Liberal Judaism’s separately issued report says that its burial scheme remains outside the operational transfer and that its charity also continues to receive residual legacies and donations.[4][5] MPJ’s own first report independently describes the 1 January 2026 transfer of funds, assets, liabilities and activities, with the Liberal burial-scheme exception.[1]

MPJ describes itself as the largest synagogal body in the UK and Ireland by number of communities, representing around 30% of synagogue-affiliated Jews. Its directory describes “around 80” communities across the UK and Ireland; that geographic scope is not a count of UK congregations alone.[6][7] Its co-leads are Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky, who signed its 1 September 2026 statement in those roles.[8]

History

The Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism announced an intention to unite in April 2023, according to JCR-UK. The member communities voted for unification at parallel extraordinary general meetings on 18 May 2025.[9][10] The May announcement distinguished the vote from the further work of legal formation; MPJ’s account says that more than 95% voted in favour at each meeting.[10][6]

The new company was incorporated on 6 June 2025 and the separate charity registered on 29 August 2025. Its first report describes the period to 31 December 2025 as dormant, with no transactions; the operational transfer occurred on 1 January 2026.[2][3][1] These are separate dates for the vote, corporate formation, charity registration and operational union, rather than one legal-completion date.[10][1]

Affiliation and governance

JCR-UK records membership of the World Union for Progressive Judaism from formation. It describes 77 extant predecessor communities at the time of the union, two overseas affiliates in the Netherlands and Denmark, and subsequent additions and changes; this is a differently dated and scoped description from MPJ’s current UK-and-Ireland directory.[9][7]

The Charity Commission identifies MPJ as an umbrella or resource body operating throughout England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Its governing document is the memorandum and articles incorporated on 6 June 2025, as amended that day. Its objects are to promote, advance and foster Judaism and charitable purposes furthering the welfare of Jewish people in the UK, Israel or elsewhere in the world.[3] Companies House lists the company as active and as limited by guarantee without share capital, with exemption from using “Limited” in its name.[2]

Charity, officers and accounts

The registered institutional address is The Sternberg Centre for Judaism, 80 East End Road, London N3 2SY.[3][2] The Charity Commission lists 13 trustees. The table records its names and appointment dates.[3]

Charity trustees listed on 7 November 2026
Name as recorded Appointment Role Source
Dr Edward Kessler 6 June 2025 Chair [3]
Richard Reuben 1 January 2026 Trustee [3]
Rabbi Lev Taylor 1 January 2026 Trustee [3]
Jack Lubner 1 January 2026 Trustee [3]
Jonathan Lewis 1 January 2026 Trustee [3]
Rabbi Paul Freedman 1 January 2026 Trustee [3]
Tommer Spence 1 January 2026 Trustee [3]
Tania Townsend 1 January 2026 Trustee [3]
Nigel Cole 16 June 2025 Trustee [3]
Noeleen Cohen 16 June 2025 Trustee [3]
Michele Saffer 16 June 2025 Trustee [3]
Paul Langsford 6 June 2025 Trustee [3]
Karen Newman 6 June 2025 Trustee [3]

Company officers

Companies House lists 13 active directors and four resigned directors. Company-office dates are recorded separately from the charity register.[11]

Directors of company 16501951, checked 7 November 2026
Name as recorded Appointed Resigned / status Source
Noeleen Cohen 16 June 2025 Active [11]
Nigel John Cole 16 June 2025 Active [11]
Paul David Freedman 1 January 2026 Active [11]
Edward David Kessler 6 June 2025 Active [11]
Paul Anthony Langsford 6 June 2025 Active [11]
Jonathan Clive Lewis 1 January 2026 Active [11]
Jack Morrie Lubner 1 January 2026 Active [11]
Karen Melanie Newman 6 June 2025 Active [11]
Richard Maurice Emile Reuben 1 January 2026 Active [11]
Michele Ruth Saffer 16 June 2025 Active [11]
Tommer Shalom Davis Spence 1 January 2026 Active [11]
Lev Benson Taylor 1 January 2026 Active [11]
Tanya Chanelle Anita Townsend 1 January 2026 Active [11]
Nicholas Paul Bendeth Aleksander 16 June 2025 1 January 2026 [11]
Penelope Beral 16 June 2025 1 January 2026 [11]
Rachel Crasnow 16 June 2025 1 January 2026 [11]
Colin Eimer 25 September 2025 1 January 2026 [11]

The charity register spells Tania Townsend’s forename “Tania”, while the company officers page records “Tanya Chanelle Anita Townsend”. The company officers page records Colin Eimer’s appointment as 25 September 2025, whereas MPJ’s first report gives 16 June 2025; both record resignation on 1 January 2026.[3][11][1]

Accounts

MPJ’s first company filing, approved on 9 September 2026 and filed on 25 September, covers the dormant period ending 31 December 2025. It says that no transactions took place and reports net assets of £0. It is not an account of MPJ’s operational income or expenditure during 2026.[1][12]

Company 16501951: first financial period
Period ended Income / expenditure disclosure Net assets (£) Source
31 December 2025 No transactions; separate income and expenditure statement not presented 0 [1]

The charity register states that accounts and annual returns are not yet required for the newly registered charity; this does not mean that no company accounts have been filed.[3][12] The predecessor MRJ and Liberal Judaism annual results are separate entities’ pre-transfer accounts, not MPJ income.[4][5]

Relations with Israel

MPJ’s organisational policy page describes it as “a Zionist movement – committed to there being a Jewish, pluralist and democratic State in the historic homeland of Israel”. It supports “two safe and secure states – Israel and Palestine” and describes work alongside the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism. The same page says that a detailed framework is still being formulated and explicitly welcomes a diversity of views among its members.[13]

On 25 February 2026 MPJ’s co-leads opposed a Knesset bill that would give the Chief Rabbinate of Israel sole control of the Western Wall, including its egalitarian section, in occupied East Jerusalem.[14] Their statement described the bill as a threat to religious pluralism and urged opposition to it.[15]

On 10 June 2026 Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky, writing as MPJ co-leads, welcomed targeted UK sanctions against those financing, enabling or committing settler violence in the occupied West Bank. They opposed settlement expansion and annexation, distinguished settlements from Israel, and stated that the movement did not support BDS or broad boycotts.[16]

In their 1 September 2026 statement they described the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank 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”. They stated: “We defend Israel’s security, condemn Hamas and reject BDS”, while opposing occupation, dispossession and settler violence. They called for any government measures to be lawful, targeted and effective, and to distinguish Israel from settlement activity.[8]

Member communities

MPJ’s directory, retrieved on 7 November 2026, contains 77 community headings: 76 in the UK and one in Ireland. Its introduction says “around 80” communities across the UK and Ireland, without publishing a Reform/Liberal breakdown. The tables distinguish directory listings and predecessor heritage; they are not a certification of present legal membership or charitable identity.[7] JCR-UK supplies the heritage designations and separately identifies overseas affiliates and unaffiliated Progressive congregations.[9]

JCR-UK marks The Ark Synagogue, Beit Klal Yisrael, Crawley Jewish Community, Crouch End Chavurah, Kehillah North London, Lincolnshire Jewish Community and South Bucks Jewish Community as Liberal heritage. Conversely, South Hampshire Reform Jewish Community, called South Hampshire Progressive Community in MPJ’s directory, describes MRJ membership on its own website and is marked Reform by JCR-UK.[9][17][7]

MPJ’s directory still uses Harlow Jewish Community, whereas its 4 February 2026 announcement records the formation of Harlow and Chelmsford Jewish Community from Harlow and Chelmsford Jewish Community. Makor Hayim remains directory-listed, but its 2025 report announced expected closure by 31 May 2026; that prospective statement does not establish completion or an asset recipient.[7][18][19]

Reform-heritage directory listings

Reform-heritage directory listings; checked 7 November 2026
Community Heritage Directory / affiliation qualification Source
Alyth (North Western Reform Synagogue) Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue, Cambridge Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Blackpool Reform Jewish Congregation Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Bournemouth Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Bradford Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Bromley Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Cardiff Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Menorah Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Coventry Jewish Reform Community Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Darlington Hebrew Congregation Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Finchley Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Glasgow Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Harlow Jewish Community Reform Reform predecessor; merged Harlow and Chelmsford community announced February 2026 [7][9][18]
Isle of Wight Jewish Society Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Kehillat Kernow – The Jewish Community of Cornwall Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Kol Chai – Hatch End Jewish Community Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Liverpool Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Maidenhead Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Makor Hayim Reform Listed in directory; closure announced for May 2026, completion not established [7][9][19]
Manchester Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Milton Keynes & District Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Mosaic Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Ne’ve Shalom Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Newcastle Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
North West Surrey Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue (previously SWESRS) Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Radlett Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Seven Hills Shul (Sheffield) Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Sha’arei Shalom Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Sha’arei Tsedek (North London Reform Synagogue) Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Sinai Synagogue, Leeds Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
South Hampshire Reform Jewish Community Reform Listed by MPJ as South Hampshire Progressive Community [17][9][7]
Southend & District Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Southport & District Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Swindon Jewish Community Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Thanet & District Reform Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Tikvah Chadasha (Brentwood Reform Synagogue) Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
Totnes Jewish Community Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]
The Wimbledon Synagogue Reform Listed in MPJ directory [7][9]

Liberal-heritage directory listings

Liberal-heritage directory listings, checked 7 November 2026
Community Geographic scope Qualification Sources
Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Beit Klal Yisrael (London) UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Birmingham Progressive Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Crawley Jewish Community UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Crouch End Chavurah UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation Ireland Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Ealing Liberal Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Eastbourne Liberal Jewish Community UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Finchley Progressive Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Kehillah North London UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Kent Liberal Jewish Community UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Kingston Liberal Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Lincolnshire Jewish Community UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Mosaic Liberal Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Norwich Progressive Jewish Community UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Nottingham Liberal Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Reading Liberal Jewish Community UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
South Bucks Jewish Community UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Southgate Progressive Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Stevenage Liberal Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (Ipswich) UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Sukkat Shalom (Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community) UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
The Ark Synagogue (previously Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue) UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (St John’s Wood) UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
The Liberal Synagogue Elstree UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
The South London Liberal Synagogue UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
Wessex Liberal Jewish Community (Bournemouth) UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]
York Liberal Jewish Community UK Listed in MPJ directory; Liberal heritage [7][9]

Oxford and differently scoped listings

MPJ’s directory uses Oxford Jewish Congregation, whereas JCR-UK uses Oxford Progressive Group and the retained Liberal community list uses Oxford Liberal Jewish Services. These source labels do not establish that the entire cross-communal congregation and the different Progressive service/group names are one legal entity.[7][9][20]

Other source-specific listings
Community Source-specific status Sources
Oxford Jewish Congregation UK directory entry; the directory does not state predecessor heritage [7]
West London Synagogue of British Jews Reform heritage; JCR-UK records MRJ membership suspended in 2020 and lapsed February 2023; currently listed as unaffiliated and absent from MPJ directory [9][7]
West Central Liberal Synagogue JCR-UK lists the chavurah as unaffiliated; absent from MPJ directory [9][7]
Beit Ha’Chidush (Amsterdam) Overseas affiliate in JCR-UK; not a UK/Ireland directory entry [9]
Shir Hatzafon (Copenhagen) Overseas affiliate in JCR-UK; not a UK/Ireland directory entry [9]

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 The Movement for Progressive Judaism, Trustees’ report and financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2025, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, 9 September 2026, pp. 1–5; filed 25 September 2026, accessed 7 November 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Companies House, The Movement for Progressive Judaism (16501951): overview, Find and update company information, accessed 7 November 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Movement for Progressive Judaism: full register record, Register of Charities, accessed 7 November 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Movement for Reform Judaism, Trustees’ annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, The Movement for Reform Judaism, 22 July 2026, pp. 1–5, 7–11, 16–18, accessed 6 November 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Liberal Judaism (ULPS), Annual report and financial statements, 31 December 2025, Liberal Judaism, 22 July 2026, pp. 1–10, 15–16, accessed 6 November 2026.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Movement for Progressive Judaism, What is The Movement for Progressive Judaism?, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, accessed 7 November 2026.
  7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 7.32 7.33 7.34 7.35 7.36 7.37 7.38 7.39 7.40 7.41 7.42 7.43 7.44 7.45 7.46 7.47 7.48 7.49 7.50 7.51 7.52 7.53 7.54 7.55 7.56 7.57 7.58 7.59 7.60 7.61 7.62 7.63 7.64 7.65 7.66 7.67 7.68 7.69 7.70 7.71 7.72 7.73 7.74 7.75 7.76 7.77 7.78 7.79 7.80 7.81 7.82 7.83 7.84 The Movement for Progressive Judaism, Find a Community, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, accessed 7 November 2026.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Josh Levy and Charley Baginsky, Statement on the possibility of UK action on settlement expansion, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, 1 September 2026, accessed 7 November 2026.
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 9.25 9.26 9.27 9.28 9.29 9.30 9.31 9.32 9.33 9.34 9.35 9.36 9.37 9.38 9.39 9.40 9.41 9.42 9.43 9.44 9.45 9.46 9.47 9.48 9.49 9.50 9.51 9.52 9.53 9.54 9.55 9.56 9.57 9.58 9.59 9.60 9.61 9.62 9.63 9.64 9.65 9.66 9.67 9.68 9.69 9.70 9.71 9.72 9.73 9.74 9.75 9.76 9.77 9.78 9.79 9.80 9.81 9.82 9.83 9.84 JCR-UK, Movement for Progressive Judaism, JewishGen, accessed 7 November 2026.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 The Movement for Reform Judaism, History made as Progressive Judaism forms, The Movement for Reform Judaism, 18 May 2025, accessed 6 November 2026.
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 Companies House, The Movement for Progressive Judaism (16501951): officers, Find and update company information, accessed 7 November 2026.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Companies House, The Movement for Progressive Judaism (16501951): filing history, Find and update company information, accessed 7 November 2026.
  13. ↑ The Movement for Progressive Judaism, Our Relationship with Israel, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, accessed 7 November 2026.
  14. ↑ United Nations, Yearbook of the United Nations 1997: Middle East (excerpts), United Nations, “Occupied territories” and General Assembly resolution ES-10/2 (25 April 1997), accessed 7 November 2026.
  15. ↑ The Movement for Progressive Judaism, Progressive leaders speak out against Kotel control bill, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, 25 February 2026, accessed 7 November 2026.
  16. ↑ Josh Levy and Charley Baginsky, Statement welcoming targeted sanctions against settler violence, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, 10 June 2026, accessed 7 November 2026.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 South Hampshire Reform Jewish Community, About SHRJC and how to contact us, South Hampshire Reform Jewish Community, accessed 6 November 2026.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Movement for Progressive Judaism, Harlow and Chelmsford unite and create new combined community, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, 4 February 2026, accessed 6 November 2026.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Makor Hayim, Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 Makor Hayim, pp. 2–3, accessed 6 November 2026.
  20. ↑ Liberal Judaism, Communities List, Liberal Judaism, accessed 6 November 2026.
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