Reform Judaism (United Kingdom)
Encyclopedia
Reform 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.
is more traditional in its practices than the Reform Judaism of North America. Known until recently as "Reform Synagogues of Great Britain", in 2005/6 it had 43 congregations and 16,570 member households. All of their synagogue
s are autonomous, which means that they are owned and financed by their members, who also hire their own local rabbi. All Rabbis for these congregations are members of the "Assembly of Rabbis", which publishes Reform siddur
s and maintains a "Reform Beth Din
", which is located at the Sternberg Centre
in London
. The Reform Beth Din's decisions are recognised worldwide by Reform and Liberal movements as valid.
Reform Jews in the UK have a wide variety of traditions and practices, although most synagogues share some basic similarities, including these:
British Reform is often said to correspond to American Conservative Judaism
in beliefs and practices. The American Reform is more akin to the UK Liberal Movement.
.
in London
requested the introduction of such alterations and modifications as were in the line of the changes introduced in the Reform synagogue in Hamburg and other places. The congregation conceded and took steps to insure greater decorum at the services. In 1839, they made a second request, advocating a diminution in the length and number of prayers, a more convenient hour of service on Sabbaths and holy days, sermons in English, a choir, and the abolition of the second days of the holy days. This request was ignored. The British reformers then requested permission to open a branch Synagogue in the West End, near their homes. The leadership of Bevis Marks refused on the ground of an askama (rule) of the congregation, forbidding within a radius of six miles of the synagogue the erection of any house of prayer or the holding of any service not of a domestic nature. These reformers however went ahead with their plans, in which they were joined by some Ashkenazi Jews
, and established an independent congregation, the West London Synagogue of British Jews
, on 15 April 1840. The new Synagogue's leadership then took steps to make the reforms in the ritual which were refused by the leadership of Bevis Marks. The West London Synagogue reformers are the ancestors of the modern British reform movement, the Movement for Reform Judaism
.
An Act of Parliament
was passed in 1856, which empowered the minister of the West London Synagogue of British Jews to register marriage ceremonies. This act established the full autonomy of the congregation and ensured its equality before the law with the Orthodox congregations.
Rabbis train and receive their Rabbinical ordination
from Leo Baeck College
in London
, which is funded by both movements.
Well-known British Reform Rabbis include:
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...
found in the United Kingdom, the other being Liberal Judaism. Reform Judaism is both historically earlier and more traditionalist than Liberal Judaism.
British Reform Judaism today
The Movement for Reform JudaismMovement for Reform Judaism
Movement for Reform Judaism is the main organizational body of the Jewish Reform community in Great Britain....
is more traditional in its practices than the Reform Judaism of North America. Known until recently as "Reform Synagogues of Great Britain", in 2005/6 it had 43 congregations and 16,570 member households. All of their synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s are autonomous, which means that they are owned and financed by their members, who also hire their own local rabbi. All Rabbis for these congregations are members of the "Assembly of Rabbis", which publishes Reform siddur
Siddur
A siddur is a Jewish prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. This article discusses how some of these prayers evolved, and how the siddur, as it is known today has developed...
s and maintains a "Reform Beth Din
Beth din
A beth din, bet din, beit din or beis din is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Biblical Land of Israel...
", which is located at the Sternberg Centre
Sternberg Centre
The Sternberg Centre for Judaism, in East End Road, Finchley, London, is a campus hosting a number of Jewish institutions, built around the 18th-century Finchley manor house....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The Reform Beth Din's decisions are recognised worldwide by Reform and Liberal movements as valid.
Reform Jews in the UK have a wide variety of traditions and practices, although most synagogues share some basic similarities, including these:
- To pronounce the prayers, using the modern Hebrew pronunciation is generally used, and that is the pronunciation used in the SiddurSiddurA siddur is a Jewish prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. This article discusses how some of these prayers evolved, and how the siddur, as it is known today has developed...
. - Men and women sit together in the synagogue, and a minyan includes women and men.
- Equality of the sexes in that girls can have Batmitzvahs at 13 which are identical to that of Barmitzvahs and women can be not only ordained as rabbis but allowed to be congregational leaders on their own.
- It generally takes a shorter time to convert to Reform Judaism than to Orthodox Judaism, although the willingness of reform rabbis to accept converts varies.
- The Reform movement has a tendency to be more socially liberal than many Orthodox congregations, with a more relaxed attitude being taken towards homosexualityHomosexualityHomosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and other controversial issues, as well as strongly encouraging interfaith dialogue. - A supportive stance is generally taken towards IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and ZionismZionismZionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
, although not all individuals agree with all of Israel's policies or actions. - Shabbat is kept but some specific restrictions are not.
British Reform is often said to correspond to American Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism
Conservative 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,...
in beliefs and practices. The American Reform is more akin to the UK Liberal Movement.
Use of the word Reform
The use of Reform in the UK is sometimes confusing in that the reform movement in Britain did not directly evolve from that described above originating in Germany by the classical reformers. However, both UK Reform and the German classical reform movement both came forth from a period of reformation and reaction to traditional practices and are accepted as part of wider Progressive JudaismProgressive 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...
.
History
In 1836, several members of the Synagogue of Bevis MarksBevis Marks Synagogue
----Bevis Marks Synagogue is located off Bevis Marks, in the City of London. The synagogue, affiliated to London's historic Spanish and Portuguese Jewish community, is the oldest synagogue in the United Kingdom still in use...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
requested the introduction of such alterations and modifications as were in the line of the changes introduced in the Reform synagogue in Hamburg and other places. The congregation conceded and took steps to insure greater decorum at the services. In 1839, they made a second request, advocating a diminution in the length and number of prayers, a more convenient hour of service on Sabbaths and holy days, sermons in English, a choir, and the abolition of the second days of the holy days. This request was ignored. The British reformers then requested permission to open a branch Synagogue in the West End, near their homes. The leadership of Bevis Marks refused on the ground of an askama (rule) of the congregation, forbidding within a radius of six miles of the synagogue the erection of any house of prayer or the holding of any service not of a domestic nature. These reformers however went ahead with their plans, in which they were joined by some Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
, and established an independent congregation, the West London Synagogue of British Jews
West London Synagogue
The West London Synagogue of British Jews was established on 15 April 1840. It is one of the oldest synagogues in the United Kingdom and the oldest Reform synagogue in the UK.-History:...
, on 15 April 1840. The new Synagogue's leadership then took steps to make the reforms in the ritual which were refused by the leadership of Bevis Marks. The West London Synagogue reformers are the ancestors of the modern British reform movement, the Movement for Reform Judaism
Movement for Reform Judaism
Movement for Reform Judaism is the main organizational body of the Jewish Reform community in Great Britain....
.
An Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
was passed in 1856, which empowered the minister of the West London Synagogue of British Jews to register marriage ceremonies. This act established the full autonomy of the congregation and ensured its equality before the law with the Orthodox congregations.
Notable Reform Rabbis
In Britain, most Reform and LiberalLiberal 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...
Rabbis train and receive their Rabbinical ordination
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
from Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College is a rabbinical college and centre for Jewish education located in north London. As well as being the smallest academic college in England, it is also the largest Jewish Progressive University and Rabbinic College in Europe....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, which is funded by both movements.
Well-known British Reform Rabbis include:
- Rabbi Lionel BlueLionel BlueLionel Blue is a British Reform rabbi, journalist and broadcaster. He was the first British rabbi publicly to declare his homosexuality. Born in the East End of London, he was the son of a master tailor....
(b. 1930) - Rabbi Hugo GrynHugo GrynHugo Gabriel Gryn was a British Reform rabbi who was a popular broadcaster and a leading voice in interfaith dialogue....
(1928-1996) - Rabbi Jonathan MagonetJonathan MagonetRabbi Jonathan Magonet is a British Jewish theologian, Vice-President of the World Union of Progressive Judaism, and a biblical scholar. He is highly active in Christian-Jewish dialogue, and in dialogue between Jews and Muslims...
(b. 1942) - Rabbi Dr. Tony Bayfield CBETony BayfieldRabbi Dr Tony Bayfield CBE is a Reform rabbi and President of the Movement for Reform Judaism.He was born in Ilford, Essex UK in 1946. Educated at the Royal Liberty Grammar School in Romford and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He read law, had a doctoral place at the Cambridge Institute for...
(b. 1946) President of the Movement for Reform Judaism - Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Romain, MBEJonathan RomainJonathan Anidjar Romain is a rabbi, writer and broadcaster, minister of Maidenhead Synagogue in Berkshire. He has a PhD in the history of British Jewry. He writes for The Times, The Guardian and The Jewish Chronicle and appears on radio or television...
- Rabbi Nancy MorrisNancy MorrisNancy Morris is a Reform rabbi and was appointed to Glasgow Reform Synagogue, formerly known as Glasgow New Synagogue, in October 2003, making her the first female rabbi in Scotland....
(b. 1961) First female rabbi In Scotland - Rabbi Helen Freeman, Rabbi at West London Synagogue
- Rabbi Morris Michaels, Rabbi Emeritus at South West Essex Reform Synagogue (SWESRS)
- Rabbi Jackie Tabick, first female rabbi in United Kingdom