World Union for Progressive Judaism

The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) is an international group that brings together different kinds of Reform, Liberal and Progressive Judaism, as well as Reconstructionist Judaism. It has offices in 40 countries and works with over 1,200 synagogues. The WUPJ says it speaks for about 1.8 million people who share its beliefs.

The WUPJ began in London in 1926 and later moved its main office to Jerusalem in 1973. It has regional offices in London, Moscow, and New York City. The group tries to help Jewish people find ways to practice their faith that feel modern but still true to tradition. It also works for fair treatment and fairness in society.

As of 2021, the leader of the WUPJ was Rabbi Sergio Bergman. Past leaders have included well-known figures such as Claude Montefiore and Rabbi Leo Baeck.

Mission statement

The World Union for Progressive Judaism works to help Jewish people find meaningful ways to live their faith today. It supports synagogues and schools, trains leaders like rabbis and teachers, and creates resources in many languages.

The organization also runs programs for young people and leaders, helping communities grow while blending old traditions with modern life. It brings together people who share similar beliefs, giving them strength from each other.

Regional affiliates

North America

Main articles: Union for Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism

The Union for Reform Judaism, also known as URJ, is the largest part of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. It was started in 1873 by German immigrants and rabbis who brought their beliefs to America. It has many members in the U.S. and some in Canada.

North America is also home to the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, which joined the WUPJ in 1990 as an observer. It is the only non-Reform group in the WUPJ.

United Kingdom

Main article: Progressive Judaism (United Kingdom)

In 1902, Claude Montefiore started a group called Liberal Judaism. In 2025, Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism joined together to become the Movement for Progressive Judaism.

Israel

Main article: Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism

The first group in Israel started in Jerusalem in 1958. The group became official in 1971. Because of the local customs in Israel, this group follows some more traditional ways.

South Africa

Main article: South African Union for Progressive Judaism (SAUPJ)

The group in South Africa began in 1931. Most Jewish people in South Africa follow more traditional beliefs, but some belong to this group.

Australia, New Zealand, and Asia

Main article: Union for Progressive Judaism

The group started in Melbourne in the 1930s. Like in South Africa, most Jewish people there follow more traditional beliefs, but some are part of this group.

Continental Europe

Main articles: Union of Progressive Jews in Germany and Nederlands Verbond voor Progressief Jodendom

Reform Judaism began in Germany. After World War II, it grew slowly. The first new groups started in 1995, and the Union of Progressive Jews was founded in 1997.

The first group in the Netherlands started in 1931. In Spain, the group has been growing quickly. By 2016, there were six groups, up from just one a decade earlier.

Latin America

The WUPJ opened an office in Buenos Aires in 1963. In 2019, the group in Latin America changed its name to the Union for Reform Judaism - Latin America. It supports groups in several countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.

Other

The WUPJ also supports groups in many other places, like Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the Former Soviet Union. There are also special groups for young people and for those who support both progressive beliefs and Zionism.

Rabbis, cantors and communal leaders

Rabbis, cantors, and other leaders for the worldwide progressive Jewish movement learn their skills at one of eight special schools. These schools are Leo Baeck College, Abraham Geiger College, Hebrew Union College, the Institute for Modern Jewish Studies in Moscow, the Iberoamerican Institute for Reform Rabbinical Education, the École Rabbinique de Paris, the Levisson Institute Amsterdam, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.

Each school has its own special focus. Leo Baeck College in the United Kingdom prepares leaders for the UK Reform and UK Liberal communities. Abraham Geiger College helps communities in Germany and Central and Eastern Europe. Hebrew Union College, with schools in the United States and Israel, trains leaders for North American Reform and Israeli Progressive groups. It also offers a special program in Israel for students from Leo Baeck College and Abraham Geiger College. The Moscow school focuses on Russian-speaking communities, the Paris school on French-speaking communities, and the Amsterdam school on Dutch-speaking communities. The Iberoamerican Institute serves Latin America and Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities with online learning and short in-person meetings twice a year. The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College prepares leaders for the Reconstructionist Movement.

Netzer Olami

Netzer Olami is the global youth movement linked to the World Union for Progressive Judaism. The name "Netzer" stands for 'Reform Zionist Youth' in Hebrew, and Netzer Olami means 'Global Netzer'.

Today, over 16,000 members are active in different groups across many countries, including Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Costa Rica, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, North America (NFTY), Panama, Russia, South Africa, France, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. The main office of Netzer Olami is located in Jerusalem.

Each year, members meet in a big forum called the Netzer Veida Olamit to share ideas and make decisions. Every group has an equal say in shaping the movement's beliefs, which are outlined in the Netzer Olami Platform, last updated in 2016.

The Netzer symbol was created in Melbourne, Australia, by Daniel (Danny) L. Schiff.