OPINION: Together, Liberal and Reform Judaism stands on the edge of the promised land

The uniting of Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism into one Progressive movement is a change to over 100 years of history and yet feels like the most natural step in the world.

As a unified movement, we will be stronger and our voice will be clearer and louder. We will be able to make an even bigger contribution to the wider Jewish community both in the UK and beyond our shores.

We can better support our communities and enable our rabbis and cantors to work more sustainably and powerfully.

We can raise up each other’s voices, promote our shared values and help more people live rich and vibrant Jewish lives.

And, most importantly of all, we will leave this inheritance to our children, grandchildren and future generations of Progressive Jews.

So, as we’ve been asked countless times this week, why didn’t it happen sooner?

It’s true that since Progressive Judaism first emerged in the 19th century, Britain has been one of the only countries in the world without one united movement.

Things could have been different when both movements were established or as our communities grew side by side throughout the country. Unsuccessful talks were held throughout the 1970s and 1980s about coming together. An ‘Alliance’ was formed a decade ago, but was limited to a few areas such as student chaplaincy and social justice.

The truth is that in the past there were some substantial differences between our movements and there was also a lack of urgency and will.

The personal arguments of yesteryear are long gone and, most importantly, so too are many of the theological and cultural ones.

Our two movements share the same values – for example the welcome of mixed faith families and services being fully egalitarian. We have worked in partnership on everything from campaigning for same-sex marriage to training rabbis and educators.

The truth is that in the past there were some substantial differences between our movements and there was also a lack of urgency and will.

The last major difference fell in 2015. Since that date both our movements have been able to recognise the Jewish status of those with one Jewish parent, without asking them to undergo conversion, irrespective of the gender of the parent.

“What is the difference between Liberal and Reform Judaism” has therefore become a question that our rabbis, cantors, lay leaders and even PR people struggle to answer.

But, as with everything, a spark was needed to set things in motion – and that spark was the pandemic, or rather how we all felt afterwards.

When we looked back at that Covid period, as difficult and filled with loss as it was for so many of us personally, we saw a renewal of our Progressive Judaism.

Liberal and Reform rabbis and communities learned from each other and inspired each other. We changed, adapted and innovated. We grew together organically and hand-in-hand. Our online services were vibrant, volunteers were everywhere.

Then last December, we looked at what we achieved together and wondered why we were expanding our energy and efforts to do this separately.

This is an idea whose time has come. Both movements feel like truly equal partners and we can finally put in place the move that people have talked about for decades.

No two Liberal or Reform synagogues or services are the same… and long may that continue, we embrace the diversity.

Led by our Boards and our rabbinates, this isn’t a merger or a takeover but the formation of a brand new movement, Progressive Judaism.

Together we have 40,000 members – around 30% of those who are affiliated to synagogues in the UK – and know there are many more unaffiliated people we can now reach.

Key to our vision is not only what will change, but what will stay the same.

Our 80+ Progressive communities up and down the country will retain their individual identities, names, services, prayer books and practices.

No two Liberal or Reform synagogues or services are the same… and long may that continue, we embrace the diversity.

Likewise our two youth movements, LJY-Netzer and RSY-Netzer, will currently stay separate, offering different experiences to cater to different audiences. Going forward they will now benefit from an overarching movement that will provide better resources and stronger support to improve the life-changing experiences our children and young people enjoy.

So as we stand on the edge of our promised land, and with it having taken us three times longer than it did Moses, we can look back with pride at our past and look forward with excitement towards Progressive Judaism’s future.