Latest news with #ReformJudaism
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Biggest change in British Judaism since the war' as new Progressive movement forms
LONDON, May 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a history-defining moment, member communities of Britain's Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism have voted to unite into one Progressive Judaism for the UK at two parallel EGMs. Dr Ed Kessler MBE – a leading interfaith thinker, writer and academic – chaired the Advisory Board that has overseen the process. He hailed the decision, saying: "This is the biggest change and most significant development in British Judaism since the Second World War. "For the first time, this country now has a single, unified Progressive Judaism – providing a voice and a space that brings together timeless Jewish tradition with the diversity and values of 21st-century Jewish life." The new Progressive Judaism will be the UK's largest synagogal movement, measured by number of communities (80). It will represent 1/3 of synagogue affiliated Jews with the goal of reaching out to roughly the same percentage of non-affiliated Jews who are known to align with Progressive Jewish values. This is the first ever known unification of two Jewish denominations and the culmination of 250 years of Progressive Jewish history. Rabbi Charley Baginsky, CEO of Liberal Judaism, and Rabbi Josh Levy, CEO of the Movement for Reform Judaism, have led the merger journey. Rabbi Josh Levy said: "We have heard first-hand how Progressive Jews all around the country want to take this once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something new and intentional – a Progressive Judaism that has something to say into the world and that can help more people have more fulfilling religious lives." Rabbi Charley Baginsky added: "We are now seeing the fruition of the next iteration of Progressive Jewish history. Through this vote, our members are both standing on the shoulders of all those who came before us and creating something long and lasting for our children and the generations who come after us." Progressive Judaism differs from Orthodox Judaism in several ways. Services are egalitarian with everyone sitting together. The Progressive clergy is 50% women and 20% LGBTQI+. Progressive communities fully welcome mixed-faith families and hold dual-heritage wedding blessings. The movements campaigned for the introduction of the same-sex marriage law. In a further key difference to Orthodoxy, Jewish status can be inherited from either parent where a child is brought up as Jewish. Liberal Judaism Chair Karen Newman said: "Our new Progressive Judaism will manifest its commitment to a Judaism that is non-dogmatic, inclusive and celebrates diversity in policy, prayer, and practice." Paul Langsford, Chair of the Movement for Reform Judaism, added: "We will now be stronger, our voice will be louder and we will be able to bring even greater benefit not just to our own members, but to the whole Jewish community and wider British society." Photo - View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Biggest change in British Judaism since the war' as new Progressive movement forms
LONDON, May 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a history-defining moment, member communities of Britain's Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism have voted to unite into one Progressive Judaism for the UK at two parallel EGMs. Dr Ed Kessler MBE – a leading interfaith thinker, writer and academic – chaired the Advisory Board that has overseen the process. He hailed the decision, saying: "This is the biggest change and most significant development in British Judaism since the Second World War. "For the first time, this country now has a single, unified Progressive Judaism – providing a voice and a space that brings together timeless Jewish tradition with the diversity and values of 21st-century Jewish life." The new Progressive Judaism will be the UK's largest synagogal movement, measured by number of communities (80). It will represent 1/3 of synagogue affiliated Jews with the goal of reaching out to roughly the same percentage of non-affiliated Jews who are known to align with Progressive Jewish values. This is the first ever known unification of two Jewish denominations and the culmination of 250 years of Progressive Jewish history. Rabbi Charley Baginsky, CEO of Liberal Judaism, and Rabbi Josh Levy, CEO of the Movement for Reform Judaism, have led the merger journey. Rabbi Josh Levy said: "We have heard first-hand how Progressive Jews all around the country want to take this once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something new and intentional – a Progressive Judaism that has something to say into the world and that can help more people have more fulfilling religious lives." Rabbi Charley Baginsky added: "We are now seeing the fruition of the next iteration of Progressive Jewish history. Through this vote, our members are both standing on the shoulders of all those who came before us and creating something long and lasting for our children and the generations who come after us." Progressive Judaism differs from Orthodox Judaism in several ways. Services are egalitarian with everyone sitting together. The Progressive clergy is 50% women and 20% LGBTQI+. Progressive communities fully welcome mixed-faith families and hold dual-heritage wedding blessings. The movements campaigned for the introduction of the same-sex marriage law. In a further key difference to Orthodoxy, Jewish status can be inherited from either parent where a child is brought up as Jewish. Liberal Judaism Chair Karen Newman said: "Our new Progressive Judaism will manifest its commitment to a Judaism that is non-dogmatic, inclusive and celebrates diversity in policy, prayer, and practice." Paul Langsford, Chair of the Movement for Reform Judaism, added: "We will now be stronger, our voice will be louder and we will be able to bring even greater benefit not just to our own members, but to the whole Jewish community and wider British society." Photo - View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Our voice will be louder': two UK Jewish movements to unite as progressive group
Two Jewish movements in the UK have united to form Progressive Judaism, embracing female rabbis, same-sex marriage and mixed-faith couples and representing about a third of British Jews who are affiliated to synagogues. Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism took the historic step of voting to unite at parallel meetings on Sunday. Each vote easily exceeded the required 75% threshold for the move, with about 95% in favour. Ed Kessler, who chaired an advisory board overseeing the merger, said: 'This is the biggest change and most significant development in British Judaism since the second world war.' Progressive Judaism would provide a 'voice and a space that brings together timeless Jewish tradition with the diversity and values of 21st-century Jewish life', he added. It is the first ever merger of two Jewish denominations, and the first in any major religion for more than half a century. Most British Jews are Orthodox, though the progressive tradition has grown over recent decades. Progressive Judaism will differ from the Orthodox tradition in its fundamental commitment to equality. About half its rabbis are women, and one in five are LGBTQ+. Karen Newman, the chair of Liberal Judaism, said the new movement 'will manifest from day one its commitment to a Judaism that is non-dogmatic, inclusive and celebrates diversity in policy, prayer, and practice'. Paul Langsford, chair of the Movement for Reform Judaism, said: 'As a unified movement, we will now be stronger, our voice will be louder and we will be able to bring even greater benefit not just to our own members, but to the whole Jewish community and wider British society.' The merger has taken two years of consultations and negotiations, and will be formally launched in November. Rabbi Charley Baginsky, of Liberal Judaism, said: 'We are now seeing the fruition of the next iteration of progressive Jewish history. Through this vote, our members are both standing on the shoulders of all those who came before us and creating something long and lasting for our children and the generations who come after us.' Rabbi Jonathan Romain, head of the Rabbinic Court of Reform Judaism, said: 'There is so much division in the world, it is incumbent on faith groups to show that coexisting in harmony can be a reality to live out, not just an ideal to pray for. This merger is a great example of showing that differences can be overcome with a mix of commonsense and goodwill.' The Reform and Liberal traditions are both Zionist movements, while believing it is not disloyal to criticise Israel. 'Within Progressive Judaism, diversity of views and voices – including around Israel/Palestine – are welcome and debate is encouraged,' said a spokesperson. Jews made up 0.46% of the population of England and Wales in the 2021 census. More than half live in Greater London.
Middle East Eye
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Former Shin Bet chief backs criticism of Gaza war by Board of Deputies members
A former head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency has intervened in support of members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews facing disciplinary action for speaking out against the Israeli government and its war on Gaza. Writing in The Guardian newspaper on Tuesday, Ami Ayalon said the 36 board members were 'true friends of Israel' who had 'expressed the exact concerns and sentiments' as those voiced during weekly anti-government protests attended by thousands in Israel. Ayalon, a former Israeli navy admiral and a longstanding critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said: 'It is not easy to speak out and I commend them for their bravery. I know that they will now face a backlash. However, so many of us leading the struggle in Israel wish that more of our friends in the diaspora would follow their lead.' He said that to support Israel now meant 'to speak out against this extremist government, not to sit on the sidelines in silence or, worse still, conduct a business-as-usual relationship, meeting government officials and presenting an image of a global Jewry united behind the Israeli government'. His comments come after board president Phil Rosenberg met Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in London last week and wrote on social media: 'Jewish leadership is standing up for peace & security in Israel & the Middle East… Unity is strength. Division serves only our enemies.' New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Board leaders last week launched disciplinary action against 36 deputies who signed a letter published in the Financial Times in which they accused the Israeli government of 'extremism' and called for an end to the war in Gaza, as well as condemning violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Rosenberg noted that the signatories made up just 10 percent of board members, while board chief executive Michael Wegier accused them of 'misrepresenting our community'. But the board's response prompted further statements of support for the signatories, and condemnation of the Israeli government. UK: Rabbis condemn Israel in latest show of Jewish opposition to Gaza war Read More » On Friday, 30 Jewish religious leaders in the UK, including prominent figures within Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism, said in a letter also published in the Financial Times that they were 'horrified' by the war on Gaza and called on Israel to uphold international law and allow aid into the besieged enclave. In a separate letter published by Jewish News, 40 prominent Israelis including former soldiers, ambassadors and members of the Knesset, said the signatories of the letter to the Financial Times had taken a 'righteous stance'. Ayalon headed Shin Bet between 1996 and 2000. He is also a former commander-in-chief of the Israeli navy and a former Knesset member for the Labor Party. He is among other former military and security chiefs who earlier this month accused Netanyahu and his far-right coalition of waging a 'political' war in Gaza and demanded an end to the conflict in a statement published in Israeli newspapers. Writing in the Guardian, Ayalon said Israel was facing an "existential" crisis. "Silence is a show of support for the Israeli government," he said. "I call on our allies - governments and diaspora Jewish communities - to hear the plea of the Israeli public and in particular the hostage families, who are demanding an end to the war and a new dawn for Israel."
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Which churches in the Cincinnati area have classic organs?
Antique pipe organs can still be found – and heard – in a few area churches. Cincinnati master organ builders Johann Heinrich Koehnken and Gallus Grimm cornered the local market from about 1860 to 1896. They made just about every organ for Catholic churches in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, as well as one prominent synagogue – Plum Street Temple – which still has one of the few original Koehnken & Co. instruments in the area. Here are a few notable church organs from the 19th century still around. One of the finest examples of a Koehnken pipe organ is found in the Isaac M. Wise Temple, also known as Plum Street Temple, Downtown, built at the request of Rabbi Wise for the Byzantine-Moorish-styled temple in 1866. Organs were not typically used in synagogues, but Wise felt organ music should be a key part of Reform Judaism worship. Built by Koehnken shortly after he took over the business from master organ maker Matthias Schwab, it cost $9,000 at the time (about $180,000 today). The organ stopped working about 1993 due to age, but in 2005 it was carefully restored by organ maker Fritz Noack at a cost of $385,000, paid for by the Rockwern Foundation. Holy Family Catholic Church in East Price Hill has a Koehnken and Grimm organ that's older than the church. The organ was built in 1888 for Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sedamsville. After a century, the small parish merged with Holy Family in 1989, and the antique organ was relocated to the Price Hill church, built in 1916. The church raised funds for much-needed repairs on the historic organ in 2019. The Covington Diocese also enlisted Koehnken and Grimm to make the organs for its churches. Mother of God Church, a Covington landmark on Sixth Street, features an 1876 pipe organ installed in the choir loft. The organ inside Holy Cross-Immaculata Church in Mount Adams is one of the last built by Koehnken and Grimm. It had been installed in Holy Cross Monastery when the church was completed in 1895. A few years after the church closed in 1970, it was moved to the nearby Immaculate Conception, whose organ had fallen into disrepair. The restored organ was dedicated in 1973 and is still played today. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Classic organs in Cincinnati-area churches
