Liberal Judaism (United Kingdom)

Liberal Judaism (formerly known as the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues (until 2002) and the Jewish Religious Union) was one of the two WUPJ-affiliated Progressive Jewish denominations in the United Kingdom.

In 2025, a vote confirmed that Liberal Judaism would unite with the Movement for Reform Judaism into one Progressive Judaism for the UK and Ireland.

Liberal Judaism began to form in 1899. A first service took place at Marylebone’s Great Central Hotel in 1902, with The Liberal Jewish Synagogue founded in 1911. Many people played a role in its creation, with the key founders known as the ‘three Ms’ – Claude Montefiore, Lily Montagu and Rabbi Dr Israel Mattuck.

It was originally smaller and considered to be more radical in comparison with the Movement for Reform Judaism, however differences between the two evaporated in the 21st century with Reform - previously seen as the more traditional - modernising, and Liberal Judaism re-adopting some discarded traditions. Both denominations came to very similar positions on principle and practice, "seeking to marry the traditions of the past with the realities of the present".

Before the merger, Liberal Judaism was the fourth largest Jewish religious group in Britain, with 8.7% of synagogue-member households. Post-unification, as one Progressive Judaism, it is now part of the second largest, with roughly 30% of synagogue affiliated Jews as members.