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A Reform synagogue with mixed seating and equal participation of men and women.

Reform Judaism is a phrase that refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere.^[1] In general, Reform Judaism maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and compatible with participation in the surrounding culture. Many branches of Reform Judaism hold that Jewish law should be interpreted as a set of general guidelines rather than as a list of restrictions whose literal observance is required of all Jews.^[2][3] Similar movements that are also occasionally called "Reform" include the Israeli Progressive Movement and its worldwide counterpart.

Reform Judaism in North America[link]

Reform Judaism is one of the two North American denominations affiliated with the World Union for Progressive Judaism. It is the largest denomination of American Jews today.^[4][5] With an estimated 1.1 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.

Official bodies of the Reform Movement in North America include the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Reform Judaism in Britain[link]

UK Reform and Liberal Judaism are the two Progressive movements in the UK. For details on the relationship between the two progressive movements, see Progressive Judaism (United Kingdom).

Progressive Judaism in Israel[link]

After a failed attempt in the 1930s to start an Israeli movement, the World Union for Progressive Judaism tried again in the 1970s and created the movement now known as the Israeli Progressive Movement. Because the first rabbis in the 1970s were trained in the United States, the Israeli press and public often refers to the Israeli Progressive Movement as "Reform".

Reform movement in Judaism[link]

Along with other forms of non-orthodox Judaism, the North American Reform, UK Reform, UK Liberal Judaism and Israeli Progressive Movement can all trace their intellectual roots to the Reform movement in Judaism.^[6][7][8] Elements of Orthodoxy developed their cohesive identity in reaction to the Reform movement in Judaism.^[7]

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,^[9][10][11] and Progressive Israeli movements,^[12] along with the North American Conservative movement and Masorti Judaism, occupy the more conservative end of the non-orthodox Judaisms.

See also[link]

• Beliefs and practices in Progressive Judaism
• Liberal Judaism
• Progressive Judaism
• Cantor in Reform Judaism
• Reform Judaism (magazine)

References[link]

External links[link]

Official Sites[link]

• Union for Reform Judaism
• RJ.org: Official news site of the Union for Reform Judaism
• World Union for Progressive Judaism
• Central Conference of American Rabbis
• Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion

Other Resources[link]

• Research and articles about Reform Judaism on the Berman Jewish Policy Archive @ NYU Wagner
• Reform Judaism FAQ on Soc.Culture.Jewish Newsgroups