Prayer for the formation of Progressive Judaism

As we gather together to mark this moment, may this new chapter be marked by compassion and kindness, openness and respect, scholarship and joy.

Baruch she’natan Torah l’amo Yisrael.
Blessed is the One who gave Torah to a people who are willing to wrestle with it.
We stand, like those at Sinai in a moment of covenant – of promise to God and to each other about what we will build.
This is a moment of opportunity, and anticipation of what is possible. We do not stand alone, but together in the creation of religious life. May we seize this moment together.

Modim anachnu lach.
We give thanks to You, joining together in gratitude for all that has brought us to this moment.
We give thanks for the generations who came before us: the builders, the dreamers, the quiet stewards of tradition and change. Those who, in their time, took brave steps in search of Progressive Jewish life.
We honour their legacy by continuing their work— by building a home for Torah that is inclusive and evolving, rooted in learning and bound by sacred responsibility.

Sh’ma koleinu, Adonai Eloheinu.
May each of us raise our voice Adonai, our God that You may hear it.
May Progressive Judaism be a house of study and a house of welcome, a Movement that values both tradition and transformation, where ancient words meet contemporary voices, and where difference is not feared but celebrated.
May our voices be heard by God and in the world.

Va’ani tfilati l’cha.
May we be as prayers to You in our sacred work.
May we be students of Torah and seekers of justice, guardians of ritual and creators of new meaning.
May we hear the Bat Kol, the divine echo, not only in books, but in each other.
May the words we write now be worthy of those who came before us, and inspiring to those who will follow.
As we step forward into this new sacred time, we say together the ancient blessing that binds past to present in marking new moments:

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higi’anu lazman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Eternal One, who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this moment of becoming.

Amen

Prayer written by Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy
Sunday 18 May 2025

The concept of Oneness and Unity in Judaism begins with our faith in One God – a God of all humanity, a God who encompasses the universe and all creation. Humanity is created in the image of One God. The Mishnah teaches: ‘When a person stamps coins with a single seal, they all appear identical to one another. But God has stamped all human beings with the seal of the first human being and not one of them is similar to another (mSanhedrin 4:5). We are unique, different, unalike; we have been given our own name by God, by those who have come before us, by our communities and their individual cultures, by their liturgies, their aspirations, by the people who belong to them.

Now with this momentous vote to create a new Movement for Progressive Judaism, we give thanks to those whose vision, dedication and sheer hard work has brought us to this day.

The leadership of our movement has toured the country, speaking to each congregation where possible, fielding their questions, listening to their doubts, encouraged by their enthusiasm.

When Ezekiel envisioned the joining together of two sticks – of Judah and the Israelites associated with him, and of Joseph – the stick of Ephraim – and all the House of Israel associated with him – he saw in their symbolism the unification of Israel and Judah. Bring them close to each other, said the prophet, so that they become one stick, joined together.

Although Ezekiel’s prophecy was an idealised vision for Judah and the kingdom of Israel, the Northern Kingdom that no longer existed, our own determination to create a stronger, more deeply resourced, energised and influential progressive Jewish movement is rooted in the existence of vibrant, active, spiritual and reflective communities with their own vision of a world in which all human beings embrace justice, equity, truth and peace.

May we be true to the vision of the founders of Liberal Judaism. Let us not lose sight of their spiritual aspirations to be faithful to the God of truth, the God of all humanity. Let us raise the banner of freedom for all God’s people and be part of this new movement with an open heart, generosity of spirit and patience; willing to listen and learn, to honour and respect one another. Let us rejoice over the things we share and embrace with curiosity and understanding what is diverse and different. We come together in ‘reconciled diversity’, mindful of difference, but rejoicing that our two movements will be brought together as one, faithful to the words spoken by Moses to the children of Israel:

Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai Echad –
‘Hear O Israel, the Eternal One is our God, the Eternal God is One.’
Zeh ha-yom asah Adonai, nagilah v’nis’mecha vo –
‘This is the day that the Eternal One has made, let us exult and rejoice on it.
Baruch attah Adonai, Eloheynu melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu, v’kiyyemanu, v’higgiyanu la’z’man ha-zeh.

Prayer written by Rabbi Alexandra Wright
Sunday 18 May 2025

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד׃

Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
Hear, O Israel: The Eternal One is our God, the Eternal God is One.

Judaism stands on the fundamental idea of the unity of God. God has many names, attributes and sides and yet God is One. This serves as a powerful metaphor for our own community. Just as God is one, yet has many dimensions, we, too, must strive to be united yet be respectful to our diversity.

The Midrash teaches: A single reed is easily snapped, but a bundle of reeds cannot be broken. So too with us. Alone, we are vulnerable. Together, we are strong. As we write the new chapter in the history of our Movement, let us grow together as one and learn from other.

וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶךָ׃ וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל־לְבָבֶךָ׃

Ve’ahavta et Adonai Elohecha, b’chol l’vavcha u’v’chol nafsh’cha u’v’chol me’odecha. Vehayu hadevarim haele asher anochi metzavecha hayom al levavecha

You shall love the Eternal One your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your being.

We begin this new chapter with love, not fear. In our Progressive Jewish community, we balance justice with love, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and included, where people can be themselves and not feel compelled to conform to one template. May the new movement be a space where people can bring themselves and be a part of Judaism that is an influence for good for all humanity.

וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ׃

V’shinantam l’vanecha v’dibarta bam, b’shivt’cha b’veitecha u’vlecht’cha vaderech, u’v’shochb’cha u’v’kumecha.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.

We do this not only for ourselves, but for future generations. May they see their life fulfilled and may their Judaism be an inspiration, not a soleless history, support, not a burden. Our task is to ensure that our children inherit a world which values integrity, diversity, and walks the path of justice and righteousness, the path of compassion and peace in all aspects of human existence.

וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת עַל־יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ׃

U’kshartam l’ot al yadecha, v’hayu l’totafot bein einecha.
Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be symbols between your eyes.

Let us be proud of who we are. By articulating and visibly embodying Progressive Jewish values in our actions, by speaking about them in public, we know that we will make a difference in this imperfect world and that many others will join us.

וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזוּזֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ׃

Ukhtavtam al mezuzot beitecha ubishearecha
Put them on the doorsteps of your house and your gates.

Together we are building a new home for our family. Such is nature – things change, one generation changes the other. With any change comes the sense of hope, but also some loss. The Midrash tells us that as Jacob lay on his deathbed, surrounded by his sons, he feared they might turn away from his path. But instead, they gathered and proclaimed: Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad – Hear, O Israel, The Eternal One is our God, the Eternal God is One. And Jacob, reassured, whispered in reply: Baruch shem kevod malchuto l’olam va’ed—Blessed be God’s glorious name forever.

So too may we honour the generations before us—their faith, their courage, their vision. We are here because they carried their Judaism, their truth, and integrity forward. And now, it is our turn. With hearts full of gratitude and eyes lifted to the future, it is our turn to build and renew. May we be worthy of the legacy we inherit, and may our children one day say the same.

Prayer written by Rabbi Igor Zinkov
Tuesday 20 May 2025