The Progressive Judaism movement in Poland has alleged that it is under threat of being taken over by the country’s main Orthodox group.
The creation of a new Progressive synagogue, Ec Chaim, under the auspices of Union of Jewish Religious Communities (UJRC), is perceived by some as a guise by the Orthodox community to help dissolve Beit Polska, a national umbrella group for Polish Progressive congregations.
Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak, senior rabbi for Beit Polska, said that the UJRC was “attempting to maintain an Orthodox monopoly” over Polish Jewish life.
Leslie Bergman, president of the European Union for Progressive Judaism, said: “We are concerned that the government may grant monopolistic funding to one part of the community.”