World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) President Rabbi Sergio Bergman met with Britain’s Progressive Jewish leadership as part of his first trip to the UK in the role.

In a day spent at Leo Baeck College, Rabbi Bergman and WUPJ Chair Carole Sterling met with Baeck College Principal Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris, Dean Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh and Acting Chair Mimi Konigsberg, as well as Liberal Judaism CEO Rabbi Charley Baginsky and director of youth Becca Fetterman.

Rabbis Bergman and Kahn-Harris discussed the global need for well-trained high-quality rabbis and lay leaders and the vital role LBC plays within this.

Rabbi Bergman also got to attend a service and speak with the College’s rabbinic students. He said: “It was very special to see first-hand how the College educates and trains the next generation of our global Progressive Jewish leaders.”

He added: “Our visit to the leaders of the Progressive movements in the UK was informal and with the intention of deepening the local needs of the Reform and Liberal movements, their associated institutions, volunteer, youth and professional leaders.

“This is just the beginning of a program of collaboration sustained over time, which will also include a visit to government officials, other movements and interreligious dialogue that are part of our worldwide agenda.”

Rabbi Bergman met a number of other rabbis and leaders during in his trip, including Michael Harris – a co-chair of the Movement for Reform Judaism. He attended synagogue services including at Finchley Reform, Alyth, West London and The Liberal Jewish Synagogues.

The WUPJ is the umbrella organisation for Liberal, Reform and other Progressive Jewish communities in more than 50 countries around the world. To find out more, please visit www.wupj.org.