Reform Judaism

Reform Judaism. A modern post-Enlightenment interpretation of Judaism. Initially there was an attempt to make Judaism more relevant by abbreviating the traditional liturgy and introducing choral singing and prayers in the vernacular (see JACOBSON, I.). As a result of various rabbinical conferences in the middle years of the 19th cent., many aspects of the liturgy were reformed, but these changes were justified by reference to the Talmud and the Codes (see CODIFICATIONS OF LAW). In Great Britain, the Reform movement initially distinguished between the Bible and the Talmud, regarding only the former as authoritative. Subsequently it became more traditional, and a more radical movement, entitled ‘Liberal Judaism’, was founded in 1901. In Germany, reform liturgies became widespread, but the congregations generally remained theologically conservative. In the USA, the reform platform was established at Pittsburgh in 1885.

This position was modified in Columbus in 1937, and the Reform movement has since abandoned its anti-Zionist stance. Reform congregations are united in the World Union for Progressive Judaism, and rabbis are trained at the Hebrew Union College in the USA and the Leo Baeck College in the UK. Reform Judaism has no official status in Israel (though it has a few congregations and kibbutzim), because only Orthodox rabbis are recognized; and the Orthodox repudiate such Reform innovations as the ordination (semikhah) of women as rabbis. See also CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM; RECONSTRUCTIONISM.