The Influence of Progressive Judaism in Poland—an Outline

In the historiography of Judaism in the Polish lands the influence of Reform Judaism is often overlooked. The opinion is frequently cited that the Polish Jews were tied to tradition and did not accept ideas of religious reform coming from the West. This paper fills the gap in historiography by giving some examples of activities of progressive communities and their leaders. It focuses mainly on eminent rabbis and preachers such as Abraham Goldschmidt, Markus Jastrow, and Izaak Cylkow. Supporters of progressive Judaism in Poland did not have as strong a position as representatives of the Reform or Conservative Judaism in Germany or the United States. Religious reforms introduced by them were for a number of reasons moderate or limited. However, one cannot ignore this movement in the history of Judaism in Poland, since that trend was significant for the history of Jews in Poland and Polish-Jewish relations.