On Wednesday 21 May at 7pm, Rabbi Josh Levy will host an Education Hub session on Jewish Law and Progressive Values.
Progressive Judaism, in both its main forms in the UK, has always been deeply connected with the full breadth of our textual inheritance, and this includes rabbinic writings. According to Claude Montefiore, writing in 1909, “We recognise the spirit of God in the Talmud as well as in the Bible… the Talmud also contains many good and true words, and what is good and true has its source in God”.
At the same time, we also recognise the limitation of a system of religious law in the post enlightenment age, in which we acknowledge our personal and communal autonomy. Progressive Judaism stresses the primacy of Jewish values and moral conviction in our decision making. As Harold Reinhardt put it in 1930, “For us the teachings of the past have authority in so far as they are able to convince us and to find justification in our own conscience. But the authority for ultimate decision is the voice of God in our own hearts”.
So how do we understand our relationship with our legal tradition? What authority does it have in Progressive Jewish decision making, and what we do when Jewish law and our Progressive Jewish values find themselves in tension?
Join Rabbi Josh Levy, as we explore these questions together.
REGISTER HERE: www.tinyurl.com/EducationHub2025s2
At the Progressive Judaism Education Hub, some of the UK’s most senior clergy will be looking at our Progressive beliefs, values and ideologies – examining how they originated, their development through history and where we stand today.
Taking place on Wednesday nights at 7pm, and open to everyone, the Education Hub is an incredible free resource to learn more about the history and values of Progressive Judaism.
Whether you’re new to Jewish studies, seeking to deepen your understanding or just interested in finding out more about the 200+ year history of Progressive Judaism, this series will illuminate the shared ideals and transformative journeys that have shaped the Judaism we know and love today.
Sessions take place on Wednesday nights via Zoom. They are open to all – and you can take part in as few or as many as you wish. This season of the Progressive Judaism Education Hub (sponsored by the NLPS Trust) explore the Principles of Progressive Judaism.
Season 1 covered the lives and legacies of 10 the Pioneers of Progressive Judaism and can be watched on our brand new YouTube channel. The full list of dates, topics and educators for Season 2 can be found below:
| Date | Topic | Educator |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 30 April at 7pm | Israel and Zionism | Rabbi Lea Mühlstein |
| Wednesday 7 May at 7pm | ‘Marrying In’ and Mixed Faith Families | Rabbi Rebecca Birk and Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen |
| Monday 12 May at 7pm | Equal Marriage and LGBT+ Inclusion | Rabbi Danny Rich |
| Wednesday 21 May at 7pm | End of Life and Funerals | Rabbi Alexandra Wright and Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers |
| (Half term break) | ||
| Wednesday 4 June at 7pm | Jewish Law and Progressive Values | Rabbi Josh Levy |
| Wednesday 11 June at 7pm | Creativity and Ritual | Rabbi Miriam Berger and Rabbi Anna Gerrard |
| Wednesday 18 June at 7pm | God and Belief | Rabbi Richard Jacobi |
| (Half term break) | ||
| Wednesday 2 July at 7pm | Progressive Prayer and Liturgy | Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah and Rabbi Paul Freedman |
| Wednesday 9 July at 7pm | Inherited Status and Conversion | Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE and Rabbi Mark Solomon |
| Wednesday 16 July at 7pm | Equality and Egalitarianism | Rabbi Anna Wolfson and Rabbi Kath Vardi |
Sign up now and be part of this inspiring learning experience.