Progressive Judaism (United Kingdom)
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| Jews · Judaism · Denominations |
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| Regions |
| 1. North America (Reform, Reconstructionist) |
| 2. United Kingdom (Reform, Liberal) |
| 3. Germany |
| 4. Netherlands |
| 5. Israel |
| Beliefs and practices |
Progressive Judaism in the United Kingdom is split into two organizationally distinct denominations: Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism[1][2][3]
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[edit] Reform Judaism in the UK
The term Reform Judaism in the UK refers to the reform movement that developed in London and Manchester in the 1840s and 1850s. This movement takes a traditionalist stance and greatly resembles the Conservative Judaism of the US. It is represented by the Movement for Reform Judaism.
[edit] Liberal Judaism in the UK
Liberal Judaism is the other half of Progressive Judaism in the UK, dating from 1902. Officially organised as the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues until 2003, in that year the ULPS officially renamed itself Liberal Judaism, which has always been the main term used for the movement it represents.
Although the Liberal movement does not identify itself as Reform (which refers to British Reform, the Movement for Reform Judaism), its beliefs and practices are sufficiently similar to American Reform that Americans habitually refer to British Liberal Judaism as a Reform movement. British Liberal Judaism is in practice much closer to American Reform than British Reform is.
[edit] Cooperation between Liberal and Reform
[edit] Jewish education and professional training
Despite historical and theological differences, since 1964 both the UK Liberal Judaism and Reform Synagogues of Great Britain denominations have, together with the charity UJIA, co-sponsored Leo Baeck College in London, "the premier centre for Progressive Jewish learning" according to the college's website.
In Britain, most Reform and Liberal Rabbis train and receive their Rabbinical ordination from Leo Baeck College in London, which is funded by both movements.
[edit] Ideological rapproachment
In recent years, also similar to North American Reform Judaism, there has also been a move towards more traditional elements in Liberal services than a generation earlier - i.e. more use of Hebrew, more wearing of tallit and kippot, more enjoyment of Purim and other traditional minor festivals. But Liberal Judaism is still distinctly more progressive than Reform. Examples would include more readily recognising as Jewish without conversion the child of a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother, [1], or in Liberal Judaism's readiness to celebrate homosexual partnerships in synagogues with more of the traditional symbolism associated with Jewish weddings [2].
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ What is Progressive Judaism in Great Britain all about? What is it like to be Jewish in Great Britain? How is it different from being Jewish in North America?
- ^ http://wupj.org/Congregations/Europe.asp#UnitedKingdom Congregations Worldwide - United Kingdom] - list includes congregations affiliated with both the UK Reform and UK Liberal movements.
- ^ soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Question 18.1.5: How is Reform Judaism structured in the rest of the world?
