(Most) Frequently Asked Questions

What is driving this change, and why now?

This proposal is driven by a vision of a thriving, well-supported, emboldened, vocal, ambitious Progressive Judaism for the UK. The role of the new movement is to help to deliver that vision, building an infrastructure to underpin and support the work, amplifying our voices in the wider world, and delivering those aspects that we best do collectively.

Importantly, this vision is being proposed from a position of strength. Both movements are financially stable; we have shared values and many shared practices; our clergy bodies are supportive and are inspiring in their ability to hold and respect diversity; our two movements represent close to 30% of synagogue-affiliated Jews in the UK; together we make up the largest synagogue body by number of communities with congregations across the breadth of the UK and Ireland.

Despite this strength, operating as two separate entities we often punch below our weight. We believe that we can achieve more by doing the work together and that this is the time to do it.

Why a legal combination instead of just working together?

Since the start of this process, LJ and MRJ have worked closely together in a new way. We have seen the difference that this makes, especially in our external representation, where we have seen the benefits of speaking together.

However, as two separate entities, the current collaboration is complex and not the best use of resources. We experience duplication, complex organisational issues (such as IT systems and keeping data separate), and challenges of governance and oversight.

By its nature, this model is also fragile and lacks a formal underpinning. It is not a long-term solution. We can be more effective together, consolidating our resources and working strategically across the country.

The bringing together of our movements is also an act of tikkun, of repair, of making good something in the world that needs fixing. The existence of two Progressive movements is rooted in the history of Reform and Liberal Judaism in the UK. We now have the unique opportunity to bring ourselves into the future as one organisation.

What will the name of the new Movement be?

Since the beginning of this process, we have been using the phrase Progressive Judaism.

Progressive Judaism (in Hebrew, Yahadut Mitkademet) already existed as the umbrella term in world Jewry that encompasses both Reform and Liberal Judaism, and was therefore the best and most widely understood term for what we are – especially for external stakeholders such as media and government.

We wrote about the history, usage and opportunity of this name in the information booklet sent to communities in late 2024. You can read the article here.

One of the pieces of feedback that we have received was the importance of differentiating between the denominational identity (Progressive, Reform, Liberal) and the organisational identity. This is important for several reasons, including advice from legal experts about organisational clarity.

It also reflects our expectation that communities will choose to keep their current names, with their different denominational descriptors, while being clear their affiliation is to the ‘umbrella’ of Progressive Judaism.

The proposal is therefore that while the wider brand may become known as Progressive Judaism, the company name will be The Movement for Progressive Judaism.

What happens if the proposal does not get consent?

This course of action is not a fait accompli. We believe that it is the right thing, but it cannot happen without the consent of our member communities.

If the vote is not in favour, to the level required, then the combination will not take place. We would retain separate identities and infrastructures. We would return to being two distinct organisations with different strategic futures.

Can our community vote against the merger and still join if it happens?

Yes. If the proposal is approved, all current members of LJ and MRJ that sign a membership agreement will automatically become members of the new entity on the day of transfer. The draft of the membership agreement has been sent to communities.

No congregation will have to join but all will be automatically entitled to do so, however they voted in the EGM.

What is the membership agreement?

In the new organisation, the relationship between movement and communities, and the rights and responsibilities of membership, will be made clearer through a membership agreement. We heard very strongly that members will welcome a document that clarifies and encodes this relationship, as well as laying out a dispute resolution process (which we hope will never be needed!)

A copy of the proposed membership agreement is in the information pack sent to communities and posted online here.

How will my community have a say in the work of the new movement?

The new Movement is an opportunity for all of us to shape something new together. The proposed governing arrangements include a quarterly meeting, to be called the Forum of Members, at which representatives of every member community and associate member, clergy, and representatives of our youth movements, will be invited to come together to discuss the work of the developing Movement. This will be especially important in the first few years.

More formally, every member community will continue to vote at general meetings and be able to nominate people to the Trustee Board, the elected body which has responsibility for the legal, financial and operational management of the organisation.

The votes will include a weighted voting system. The model being proposed for the initial three years is a relatively ‘flat’ system, in which only the small number of very large communities will receive additional votes, reflecting that they represent a very large number of Progressive Jews in this country.

The nature of the model reflects that we all have a shared investment in the creation of the new organisation. The weighted voting system is included in a review that will take place after the first three years.

What will be the relationship of the new Movement to my community?

The main organising principle for the new Movement will be the same as for the two existing movements, LJ and MRJ. It will be a membership organisation, made up of autonomous communities, most of which are themselves independent charities. As is the case now, membership will be open to communities rather than individuals.

Our communities are diverse in make-up, size, location, resources, culture, liturgy and religious practice. This diversity, and the freedom of communities to develop in different ways, is central to the richness and beauty of Progressive Judaism in the UK. Each autonomous community has its own Board of Trustees (or other governing body), responsible for running their own community.

In the new organisation, the nature of the relationship between movement and communities, and the rights and responsibilities of membership, will be made clearer through a membership agreement (which has been sent to congregations).

We have heard very strongly that members will welcome a document that clarifies and encodes this relationship, as well as laying out a dispute resolution process which we hope we won’t need to use!

Will my community need to change?

No!

The diversity of communities and their freedom to develop in different ways is central to the richness and beauty of Progressive Judaism in the UK.

We are absolutely committed to communities retaining their individual identities, services and practices. There won’t be changes to prayer books or congregational minhag (customs and practices) and we certainly won’t be asking any community to remove Liberal or Reform from their name.

This is also built into the nature of the relationship between movement and communities, as articulated clearly in the membership agreement.

What are the financial implications for my community?

The financial contribution made by each community towards the cost of the infrastructure of the movement is one of the more complex aspects of the proposal. In both movements, this amount is currently calculated as a percentage of subscription income.

Over a number of years, MRJ communities have been through a process of reducing the percentage of their subscription income allocated to the movement, whereas LJ communities have remained at a constant.

We are proposing a process of equalisation over the first three years of the new entity, during which current MRJ communities will pay the same percentage of NRSI (Net Relevant Subscription Income) as they currently do, while current LJ communities have a staggered reduction to match the process MRJ has already been through.

After the first three-year period, there will be a review which will include the method by which community contributions are calculated.

More detail can be found in the information packs here.

What about the two CEOs of the current movements?

The new Movement’s Board will ultimately decide on the composition of its senior team after the legal combination.

In the meantime, we believe the leadership of the two CEOs will be essential in the early years of the new Movement and will ensure continuity and stability.

They will also continue to bring their complementary skills to the huge amount of work ahead, with new divisions of responsibility and role.

What will be the implications for clergy training?

Reform and Liberal rabbis in the UK have always trained together at Leo Baeck College and many of our clergy have served both movements.

From the beginning of this conversation, it has been clear that there is a shared commitment to high quality clergy training taking place in the UK and that this is vital to ensure a thriving Progressive Jewish community.

How will this impact on the two Youth Movements?

Our two Youth Movements – LJY-Netzer and RSY-Netzer – currently have different offerings at different times of the year and cater to different audiences. It would make no sense to disrupt this.

Both LJY-Netzer and RSY-Netzer are semi-autonomous and the decision about their future belongs to them.

What we can do, as one Movement, is ensure that they benefit from better resources and a shared infrastructure that increases their welfare and logistical support, while allowing their output to continue to be separate. This also means a larger offering and greater presence in all our communities.

What about issues of Jewish status and inclusion?

On issues of conversion, Jewish status, the welcome of mixed-faith families and LGBTQI+ inclusion, Liberal and Reform communities and the clergy bodies already have strongly shared values and very similar procedures and policies.

Over the last 20 years, our two movements have become even closer on matters of status and inclusion and while there are, of course, some small differences in procedures – this diversity can be retained within our shared values.

As members of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, our two movements recognise the status and conversion decisions of the other and will continue to do so whether we merge or not.

Put simply… if you are a Liberal Jew, then you are also a Reform Jew and a Progressive Jew – and every combination!

How can I get an audio version of the this FAQ?

For those who require, or prefer, an audio version of the FAQ, please click here.