By Sarita Robinson, MRJ Director of Community Partnership and
Alexandra Gellnick, LJ Director of Development and Membership
In April 2023, when the Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism announced our plans to unite into one single Progressive movement, it opened many new opportunities for our synagogues and our members.
Almost immediately, Reform communities were invited to be part of existing Liberal events and initiatives and vice versa. As those were proving a huge success, we began to work on the creation of brand new joint programming too.
An early achievement was when the Northern Network – the group of Reform communities and clergy in the North of England and Scotland – invited Liberal congregations to join.
It has proved a huge positive, not just for the Liberal communities now benefiting from the sharing of best practice and development support, but also the existing Northern Network being joined by new faces and ideas.
Indeed, it has been so successful that one of our first joint projects has been the creation of the new South West Network – based on the same model. Watch this space for South West Progressive Chagigah (a weekend of learning, relaxation and prayer), which will mirror MRJ’s long-held Northern Chagigah.
Education, both internal and external, is something else that has greatly benefitted from the added resources and ideas that come from working in collaboration.
Teacher training, an annual education conference, safeguarding sessions, and upcoming joint classes and discussion groups all bring huge benefits to our communities and are made possible by our partnership.
In schools, especially those with few or no Jewish pupils, it’s important that when children learn about Judaism, they learn about our entire community – not just the practices and policies of Orthodox Judaism.
That is why, supported by the Board of Deputies, we have started a joint network of school visit volunteers – providing them with the training and tools they need to teach pupils about the true diversity of the Jewish community and the variety of ways we live our lives as Jews today.
Our members and congregations come together as Progressive blocs at communal events. These have included the important work of calling for the return of the hostages (pictured), and celebratory events such as when our communities won a number of Mitzvah Day Awards.
Liberal communities have benefitted from the HR support that those in the Movement for Reform Judaism already enjoy. This has included safer recruitment training, a monthly meeting for synagogue HR administrators, and the opportunities to promote job vacancies through all our movement channels.
The Liberal Judaism Open House – an informal and relaxed online meeting space where members could chat with Liberal CEO Rabbi Charley Baginksy – has been rebranded and expanded. It’s now just called Open House, and we are delighted that Reform CEO Rabbi Josh Levy has joined, giving members the opportunity to chat to both Progressive Co-Leads as well as getting to know, and build friendships with, other Progressive Jews from all over the UK.
Likewise, the Reform monthly leadership check-ins are now joint check-ins. Aimed at those in leadership positions within their communities, they offer the chance to learn from each other, share ideas, problem solve and look at areas of future collaboration and cooperation.
These are just a few of the examples of the ways we are already working together as two organisations in collaboration. We are looking forward to seeing all that is possible when we are one united movement.