Progressive Judaism launches unified movement with £2.2m raised at inaugural dinner

The newly formed Movement for Progressive Judaism (MPJ) has launched with a £2.2 million fundraising boost, marking one of the most significant structural shifts in British Jewish life in decades.

More than 350 supporters gathered at a West End hotel on Sunday night for the movement’s inaugural dinner, celebrating the formal coming together of Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism ahead of the merger taking effect early next year.

Co-leads Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy described the launch as “a moment of history” and “ a moment when the vision, courage and optimism of so many people come together to create something bold, hopeful and essential”. They told guests the new body would champion “dignity, inclusion, justice, compassion and intellectual honesty”, insisting these values “must shape the world” rather than sit as “slogans for evenings like this”.

They also emphasised the symbolism of the movement’s newly unveiled logo, in which the letters P and J lock together to form a shin, the Hebrew letter associated with shalom, shalem, and shekhinah. “It is more than branding,” they said, describing it as a visual statement of unity, shared purpose and the beginning of a new communal chapter.

The pair paid tribute to the clergy, volunteers, youth leaders and staff whose work had sustained both former movements through two and a half years of transition, and offered particular thanks to the outgoing Chairs of Reform and Liberal Judaism, Paul Langsford and Karen Newman, for steering the merger process “with courage, humour and stamina”.

The night opened with the Shehecheyanu prayer and a shofar blast. A short film showcased the movement’s impact across communities, youth engagement and public advocacy, while a clergy choir led musical interludes throughout the dinner.

During the appeal, MPJ chair Dr Ed Kessler MBE announced that the unification process had already attracted £1.75 million in early major gifts, including several six-figure donations and a significant multi-year seven-figure commitment. The latter will fund a three-year young leadership programme, provide targeted support for Progressive Jewish students on campus, contribute to refurbishment plans for the Montagu Centre and begin building a long-term endowment.

A further £450,000 was pledged on the night, bringing the total to £2.2 million.

Kessler described the launch as “a rare, perhaps unique moment” to strengthen Progressive Judaism’s voice in the UK and Ireland, warning of “intemperance, abrasiveness and aggressiveness in society” and the dangers of “chauvinistic nationalism, political demagoguery and religious fundamentalism”.

He also addressed rising antisemitism, saying, “I am not one of those people who sees antisemitism everywhere. As a Progressive Jew, I refuse to be intimidated by it,” but stressed the importance of building alliances with Christian and Muslim partners. “We must not be left to fight antisemitism on our own,” he told guests. “It cannot be done. The hated cannot cure the hate. The victim cannot cure the crime.”

He urged the room to help “co-create a startling new voice” that advocates for “the powerless, the homeless and the stranger”, arguing that a unified Progressive movement could “hold power accountable to truth” and reassert “the moral passion” at the heart of Jewish life.

One of the evening’s most anticipated moments was the on-stage conversation between Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer KC and Rabbi Rebecca Birk, exploring leadership, justice and the moral dilemmas facing public figures. Hermer, who grew up in Progressive communities and was active in RSY-Netzer, was introduced as “one of the most respected legal voices in the country”.

The launch also saw confirmation of MPJ’s new launch board, bringing together lay leaders, clergy and representatives from both legacy movements to guide the transition into 2026.

Messages printed in the event programme included congratulations from the Prime Minister, who praised the movement’s commitment to inclusivity, and from the Leader of the Opposition, who described the merger as “a truly significant moment for the Jewish community and our nation as a whole”.

Guests described the turnout as unusually high for a fundraising event of this nature and pointed to the atmosphere in the room as evidence of widespread enthusiasm for the new national structure.