Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with
the Reform Jewish movementThe Reform movement in Judaism, originally named Reformed Society of Israelites, for Promoting true Principles of Judaism, according to its Purity and Spirit, is a historic and on-going religious and social movement that originated simultaneously in the early nineteenth century in the United States...
in
North AmericaReform Judaism is the largest denomination of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.5 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.- Reform Jewish theology :Rabbi W...
,
the United KingdomReform Judaism in the United Kingdom in one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Liberal Judaism. Reform Judaism is both historically earlier and more traditionalist than Liberal Judaism....
and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that
JudaismJudaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the surrounding
cultureCulture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
. Many branches of Reform Judaism hold that
Jewish lawHalakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
should be interpreted as a set of general guidelines rather than as a list of restrictions whose literal observance is required of all Jews. Similar movements that may also be called "Reform" include the
Israeli Progressive MovementProgressive Judaism is the Israeli equivalent of Reform Judaism.The Reform Judaism's growth in Israel is limited because of political pressure from the ultra orthodox people and parties. Reform Jews are being discriminated by the ultra orthodox parties, for example Israel's Interior minister, Eli...
and
its worldwide counterpartProgressive Judaism , is an umbrella term used by strands of Judaism which affiliate to the World Union for Progressive Judaism. They embrace pluralism, modernity, equality and social justice as core values and believe that such values are consistent with a committed Jewish life...
.
Reform Judaism in North America
Reform JudaismReform Judaism is the largest denomination of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.5 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.- Reform Jewish theology :Rabbi W...
is one of the two North American denominations affiliated with the
World Union for Progressive JudaismThe World Union for Progressive Judaism describes itself as the "international umbrella organization for the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements." This overall Jewish religious movement is based in about 40 countries with more than 1,000 affiliated synagogues...
. It is the largest
denominationJewish religious movements , sometimes called "denominations" or "branches", include different groups which have developed among Jews from ancient times and especially in the modern era among Ashkenazi Jews living in anglophone countries...
of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.1 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with
Progressive JudaismProgressive Judaism , is an umbrella term used by strands of Judaism which affiliate to the World Union for Progressive Judaism. They embrace pluralism, modernity, equality and social justice as core values and believe that such values are consistent with a committed Jewish life...
worldwide.
Official bodies of the Reform Movement in North America include the
Union for Reform JudaismThe Union for Reform Judaism , formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations , is an organization which supports Reform Jewish congregations in North America. The current President is Rabbi Eric H...
, the
Central Conference of American RabbisThe Central Conference of American Rabbis , founded in 1889 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the principal organization of Reform rabbis in the United States and Canada, the CCAR is the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in the world....
, and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
Reform Judaism in Britain
UK ReformReform Judaism in the United Kingdom in one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Liberal Judaism. Reform Judaism is both historically earlier and more traditionalist than Liberal Judaism....
and
Liberal JudaismLiberal Judaism , is one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Reform Judaism. Liberal Judaism, which developed at the beginning of the twentieth century is less conservative than UK Reform Judaism...
are the two
ProgressiveProgressive Judaism , is an umbrella term used by strands of Judaism which affiliate to the World Union for Progressive Judaism. They embrace pluralism, modernity, equality and social justice as core values and believe that such values are consistent with a committed Jewish life...
movements in the UK. For details on the relationship between the two progressive movements, see
Progressive Judaism (United Kingdom)Progressive Judaism in the United Kingdom consists of two organizationally distinct denominations - Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism-Reform Judaism:...
.
Progressive Judaism in Israel
After a failed attempt in the 1930s to start an Israeli movement, the
World Union for Progressive JudaismThe World Union for Progressive Judaism describes itself as the "international umbrella organization for the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements." This overall Jewish religious movement is based in about 40 countries with more than 1,000 affiliated synagogues...
tried again in the 1970s and created the movement now known as the
Israeli Progressive MovementProgressive Judaism is the Israeli equivalent of Reform Judaism.The Reform Judaism's growth in Israel is limited because of political pressure from the ultra orthodox people and parties. Reform Jews are being discriminated by the ultra orthodox parties, for example Israel's Interior minister, Eli...
. Because the first rabbis in the 1970s were trained in the United States, the Israeli press and public often refers to the
Israeli Progressive MovementProgressive Judaism is the Israeli equivalent of Reform Judaism.The Reform Judaism's growth in Israel is limited because of political pressure from the ultra orthodox people and parties. Reform Jews are being discriminated by the ultra orthodox parties, for example Israel's Interior minister, Eli...
as "Reform".
Reform movement in Judaism
Along with other forms of non-orthodox Judaism, the
North American ReformReform Judaism is the largest denomination of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.5 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.- Reform Jewish theology :Rabbi W...
,
UK ReformReform Judaism in the United Kingdom in one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Liberal Judaism. Reform Judaism is both historically earlier and more traditionalist than Liberal Judaism....
, UK
Liberal JudaismLiberal Judaism , is one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Reform Judaism. Liberal Judaism, which developed at the beginning of the twentieth century is less conservative than UK Reform Judaism...
and
Israeli Progressive MovementProgressive Judaism is the Israeli equivalent of Reform Judaism.The Reform Judaism's growth in Israel is limited because of political pressure from the ultra orthodox people and parties. Reform Jews are being discriminated by the ultra orthodox parties, for example Israel's Interior minister, Eli...
can all trace their intellectual roots to the
Reform movement in JudaismThe Reform movement in Judaism, originally named Reformed Society of Israelites, for Promoting true Principles of Judaism, according to its Purity and Spirit, is a historic and on-going religious and social movement that originated simultaneously in the early nineteenth century in the United States...
. Elements of Orthodoxy developed their cohesive identity in reaction to the
Reform movement in JudaismThe Reform movement in Judaism, originally named Reformed Society of Israelites, for Promoting true Principles of Judaism, according to its Purity and Spirit, is a historic and on-going religious and social movement that originated simultaneously in the early nineteenth century in the United States...
.
Although North American Reform, UK Reform, UK Liberal Judaism and Israeli Progressive Judaism all share an intellectual heritage, they have taken places at different ends of the non-orthodox spectrum. The North American Reform movement and UK Liberal Judaism reflect a more radical end. The UK Reform, and Progressive Israeli movements, along with the
North American ConservativeConservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
movement and
MasortiThe Masorti Movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in Israel and other countries outside Canada and U.S. Masorti means "traditional" in Hebrew...
Judaism, occupy the more conservative end of the non-orthodox Judaisms.
See also
- Beliefs and practices in Progressive Judaism, for more about the platforms of the different denominations of Reform Judaism
- Liberal Judaism
Liberal Judaism , is one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Reform Judaism. Liberal Judaism, which developed at the beginning of the twentieth century is less conservative than UK Reform Judaism...
- Progressive Judaism
Progressive Judaism , is an umbrella term used by strands of Judaism which affiliate to the World Union for Progressive Judaism. They embrace pluralism, modernity, equality and social justice as core values and believe that such values are consistent with a committed Jewish life...
- Cantor in Reform Judaism
The cantor in the Reform movement is a clergy member who fills a diverse role within the Jewish community. Cantors lead worship, officiate at lifecycle events, teach adults and children, run synagogue music programs, and offer pastoral care...
- Reform Judaism (magazine)
Reform Judaism is the official magazine of the Union for Reform Judaism. Its print edition has a quarterly circulation to 300,000 households, synagogues, and other Jewish institutions.- Awards and academic recognition :...
Official Sites
Other Resources