August 12, 2025 - This past weekend in London, Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy, co-leads of Progressive Judaism, spoke at a Jewish community-wide rally calling for the release of the hostages. The event’s focus was on raising awareness of the hostages’ suffering.
When Rabbis Baginsky and Levy began to speak, some members of the crowd booed. Before the rabbis could finish their remarks, they were forcibly removed from the stage by the event’s organizers. This occurred despite the rabbis having shared an outline of their remarks in advance with the organizers and their words keeping with what is said at weekly hostage rallies in Israel.
As leaders of the worldwide Reform and Progressive Jewish Movement of almost 2.5 million Jews, we are outraged by the disrespect shown to these rabbinic leaders and to our Movement in the UK. Particularly at a time when the Jewish people are experiencing so many challenges from beyond our community, we are especially pained by such offensive and intolerant behavior from fellow Jews. There is more than one way to be Jewish, more than one way to love Israel, and more than one way to achieve the goal of fulfilling the mitzvah of pidyon sh’vuim.
Reform and Progressive Judaism is grounded in our love for the Jewish people, the State of Israel, for Judaism itself, and the belief that all human beings are created in the image of God. We have always stood with and for the hostages and their families. We condemn – without hesitation – the evil of Hamas exemplified by its acts of terror on October 7, its ongoing attacks, and its exploitation of its own citizens. We call for the immediate release of all hostages, an urgent and sustained flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and an end to the war.
We also hold the Israeli government to account. Their decision to further expand the war in Gaza endangers the lives of the hostages, prolongs the war, and prevents humanitarian aid for civilians in need. We condemn violence and settler extremism in the West Bank, recognizing the harm it causes to both Israelis and Palestinians and the damage it does to the hope for peace. We recognize the unequivocal need for Palestinian leadership that rejects violence. Our Judaism compels us to pursue a vision for Israel that is democratic, inclusive, and at peace with its neighbors. We are committed to pursuing a just and peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that ensures dignity and security for all.
As Pirkei Avot teaches, “In a place where there are no human beings, strive to be a human being.” Our deep love for the Jewish people, Judaism, and commitment to Zionism remain unarguable and unwavering. We call upon the leadership in Israel and throughout the Diaspora, across all streams and affiliations, to engage with one another in a spirit of respect and tolerance. We must all understand that there is more than one way to express Zionism and support the State of Israel. We must also understand that disagreement must never lead to silencing, harming, or denying the fundamental right to free expression. Our shared future depends on our ability to hold our differences with dignity, to listen even when we disagree, and to remain in relationship despite our divisions.
Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism
Yair Lootsteen
Board Chair
Anna Kislanski
CEO
Movement for Progressive Judaism
Dr. Ed Kessler
Chair of Path to Progressive Judaism
Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky
Co-Leads for the Movement for Progressive Judaism
Union for Reform Judaism
Shelley Niceley Groff (she/her)
North American Board Chair
Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him)
President
World Union for Progressive Judaism
Phyllis Dorey, OAM
WUPJ Board Chair
Rabbi Sergio Bergman
President
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