Union for Reform Judaism
Encyclopedia
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), is an organization which supports Reform Jewish
congregations in North America
. The current President is Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie
, and the Chairman of the Board is Peter Weidhorn.
The origins of the URJ began with the founding of the UAHC by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise
in 1873, based at Cincinnati, Ohio
. At the time it consisted of 34 congregations. In 1950, the UAHC relocated its headquarters to New York City
. In 2003, the UAHC was officially renamed the Union for Reform Judaism by the General Assembly at the organization's Biennial Convention. The former name was dropped because it reflected Wise's unrealized expectation that the whole of American Jewry would eventually affiliate with the Reform movement, and also because it failed to acknowledge the Reform-affiliated congregations outside the United States. Today, the organization is often referred to simply as "the Union." As of 2005, some 900 synagogue
s were affiliated with it.
In 1875, the Union created Hebrew Union College
(HUC) in Cincinnati, the Reform movement seminary to train rabbi
s and later cantor
s and other Jewish professionals. In 1950, the college merged with the Jewish Institute of Religion
, a Reform rabbinical college founded in 1922 by Rabbi Stephen Samuel Wise
, and located in New York City. Rabbis in URJ member temples are members of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
(CCAR).
and KESHER
, for High School and College students, respectively. The Youth Division also runs international travel programs to Israel
and Europe
and administers the URJ camping system.
The political and legislative outreach of the URJ is performed by the Religious Action Center
(RAC), operated in conjunction with CCAR. The RAC advocates policy positions based upon religious values, and is generally associated with political progressivism
.
s throughout North America
. Camp Kalsman, as the most recent addition to the URJ's camping program, had its inaugural summer in 2007 in Washington. An additional four are operated by URJ-affiliated synagogue
s. When not in use as camps, some of these facilities are often used by other community groups, including NFTY events. Many of the camps have long provided the opportunity for high school aged campers to travel to Israel
during the summer.
The summer camps are:
URJ Camps that have closed or are no longer running:
Hava Nashira drawn the prominent modern Jewish musicians, including Debbie Friedman
, Craig Taubman
, Dan Nichols
, and Josh Nelson to lead specialty tracks. Examples of creative tracks offered in previous years: "URJ Camp Songleading" by Dan Nichols and Rosalie Will Boxt, "Repertoire Renewal" by Debbie Friedman, and "Music for Young Children and Families" by Peter and Ellen Allard.
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
congregations in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. The current President is Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie
Eric Yoffie
Eric H. Yoffie is a Reform rabbi, and president of the Union for Reform Judaism , the congregational arm of the Reform movement in North America which represents an estimated 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 900 synagogues across the United States and Canada...
, and the Chairman of the Board is Peter Weidhorn.
The origins of the URJ began with the founding of the UAHC by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise
Isaac Mayer Wise
Isaac Mayer Wise , was an American Reform rabbi, editor, and author.-Early life:...
in 1873, based at Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. At the time it consisted of 34 congregations. In 1950, the UAHC relocated its headquarters to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 2003, the UAHC was officially renamed the Union for Reform Judaism by the General Assembly at the organization's Biennial Convention. The former name was dropped because it reflected Wise's unrealized expectation that the whole of American Jewry would eventually affiliate with the Reform movement, and also because it failed to acknowledge the Reform-affiliated congregations outside the United States. Today, the organization is often referred to simply as "the Union." As of 2005, some 900 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 were affiliated with it.
In 1875, the Union created Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
(HUC) in Cincinnati, the Reform movement seminary to train rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
s and later cantor
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
s and other Jewish professionals. In 1950, the college merged with the Jewish Institute of Religion
Jewish Institute of Religion
The Jewish Institute of Religion was an educational establishment created by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise in 1922 in New York City. While generally incorporating Reform Judaism, it was separate from the previously established Hebrew Union College...
, a Reform rabbinical college founded in 1922 by Rabbi Stephen Samuel Wise
Stephen Samuel Wise
Stephen Samuel Wise was an Austro-Hungarian-born American Reform rabbi and Zionist leader.-Early life:...
, and located in New York City. Rabbis in URJ member temples are members of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Central Conference of American Rabbis
The 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....
(CCAR).
Youth
The URJ Youth Division funds and organizes two youth wings, NFTYNorth American Federation of Temple Youth
The North American Federation of Temple Youth is the organized youth movement of Reform Judaism in North America. Funded and supported by the Union for Reform Judaism, NFTY exists to supplement and support Reform youth groups at the synagogue level...
and KESHER
KESHER
KESHER is the college outreach arm and campus student organization for Reform Judaism.Its directors have included Paul Reichenbach , David Terdiman , Rabbi Jonathan Klein , Rabbi Andrew Davids, Rabbi Marc Israel, and Lisa David...
, for High School and College students, respectively. The Youth Division also runs international travel programs to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and administers the URJ camping system.
Political Outreach
Religious Action Center
The Religious Action Center is the political and legislative outreach arm of Reform Judaism in the United States. The RAC is operated under the auspices of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, a joint body of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Union for Reform Judaism...
(RAC), operated in conjunction with CCAR. The RAC advocates policy positions based upon religious values, and is generally associated with political progressivism
Progressivism in the United States
Progressivism in the United States is a broadly based reform movement that reached its height early in the 20th century and is generally considered to be middle class and reformist in nature. It arose as a response to the vast changes brought by modernization, such as the growth of large...
.
Camps
The URJ owns and operates 12 summer campSummer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
s throughout North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Camp Kalsman, as the most recent addition to the URJ's camping program, had its inaugural summer in 2007 in Washington. An additional four are operated by URJ-affiliated 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. When not in use as camps, some of these facilities are often used by other community groups, including NFTY events. Many of the camps have long provided the opportunity for high school aged campers to travel to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
during the summer.
The summer camps are:
- URJ Kutz Camp
- URJ Joseph Eisner Camp
- URJ Camp George
- URJ Camp Harlam
- URJ Camp Coleman
- URJ Crane Lake Camp
- URJ Camp Newman
- URJ Camp Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI)
- URJ Myron S. Goldman Union Camp-Institute (GUCI)
- URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp (HSJ)
- URJ Greene Family Camp
- URJ Camp Kalsman
- URJ 6-Points Academy - a specialty sports camp
URJ Camps that have closed or are no longer running:
- URJ Camp Swig - closed in 2008
Hava Nashira
Hava Nashira is an annual Jewish songleading workshop held every spring at URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute camp. The workshop is open to URJ camp songleaders as well as to temple music specialists and all those with a serious interest in Jewish songleading and music.Hava Nashira drawn the prominent modern Jewish musicians, including Debbie Friedman
Debbie Friedman
Deborah Lynn "Debbie" Friedman was an American composer and singer of songs with Jewish religious content. She was born in Utica, New York but moved with her family to Minnesota at age 5. She is best known for her setting of “Mi Shebeirach”, the prayer for healing, which is used by hundreds of...
, Craig Taubman
Craig Taubman
Craig Reid Taubman is an American singer/songwriter and music producer based in Los Angeles, California. Through his independent label/production office, Craig 'N Company, he has produced 11 albums...
, Dan Nichols
Dan Nichols
Daniel Nichols is a Jewish rock musician and founder of the band, E18hteen.-Biography:Dan Nichols was born in 1969 in Indiana. He attended Pike Township Schools in Indianapolis. He and his parents converted to Judaism when he was 7, and he attended Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation and camped at...
, and Josh Nelson to lead specialty tracks. Examples of creative tracks offered in previous years: "URJ Camp Songleading" by Dan Nichols and Rosalie Will Boxt, "Repertoire Renewal" by Debbie Friedman, and "Music for Young Children and Families" by Peter and Ellen Allard.