Reform Judaism facts for kids

Interior of Congregation Emanu-El of New York, the largest Reform synagogue in the world.

Reform Judaism is a major branch of the Jewish faith. It is also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism. This movement believes that the Jewish faith can change and grow over time. It focuses strongly on being ethical and doing good deeds. Reform Judaism also teaches that God's messages continue to be revealed. These messages are understood through human reason and intellect, not just from ancient events like the revelation at Mount Sinai.

Reform Judaism is a very open and modern type of Judaism. It places less emphasis on strict daily rituals and personal rules. It sees Jewish Law as a guide, not as rules that must be followed exactly. Each Jewish person is encouraged to think for themselves. The movement is also very open to new ideas and modern values from the world around it.

What is Reform Judaism?

Reform Judaism is a way of practicing the Jewish faith that is flexible and modern. It encourages people to think about their beliefs and how they live.

Key Ideas of Reform Judaism

Reform Judaism has several important ideas:

• Evolving Faith: It believes that Judaism is not stuck in the past. It can change and adapt to new times and new understandings.
• Ethical Focus: Doing good deeds and being a moral person is very important. Sometimes, this is seen as more important than following every traditional ritual.
• Continuous Revelation: Reform Jews believe that God's messages are still being revealed. People can understand these messages through their own thoughts and intelligence. This is different from believing that all revelation happened only in the past.
• Individual Choice: Each person has the freedom to decide how they will practice Judaism. They are encouraged to learn and make their own choices about rituals and traditions.
• Openness to the World: The movement welcomes ideas and values from outside traditional Jewish life. It tries to be a part of the modern world.

What is Tikkun Olam?

A very important idea in Reform Judaism is tikkun olam. This Hebrew phrase means "repairing the world." It is a central motto for Reform Jews. They believe it is their job to work towards making the world a better place. This includes working for justice, equality, and peace for everyone. Many Reform Jews show their faith by being active in social and political causes.

Where Did Reform Judaism Start?

Reform Judaism began in Germany in the 1800s. At that time, many Jewish people wanted to be more involved in modern society. They felt that some traditional Jewish practices were outdated.

Early Leaders

One of the main thinkers behind early Reform Judaism was Rabbi Abraham Geiger. He and others helped create the first ideas and practices of the movement. They wanted to make Judaism more meaningful for people living in a changing world.

Reform Judaism Today

Since the 1970s, Reform Judaism has focused on being very welcoming. It tries to include as many people as possible in its communities. This means being open to different kinds of families and individuals.

Global Reach

Today, the biggest center for Reform Judaism is in North America. However, it is a worldwide movement. Many different regional groups share these beliefs. These groups include:

• The American Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
• The Movement for Reform Judaism (MRJ) in Britain
• Liberal Judaism also in Britain
• The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism

All these groups are part of one international organization. It is called the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ). The WUPJ was started in 1926. It estimates that it represents at least 1.8 million people in 50 countries. This makes Reform Judaism the second-largest Jewish movement in the world.

Related pages

• Orthodox Judaism - a stricter movement within Judaism

Images for kids

• 

  A segment of the 1818 Hamburg prayer book. Stating "accept the uttering of our lips instead of our obligatory sacrifices" and omitting the traditional "O gather our dispersions... Conduct us unto Zion" passage.

• 

  A passage from the Reformed Society's prayerbook, which was mostly in English and theologically more radical than Hamburg's.

• 

  Rabbi Abraham Geiger, circa 1840.

• 

  Rabbi Samuel Holdheim, circa 1850.

• 

  Isaac Meyer Wise.

• 

  Rabbi David Einhorn.

• 

  Rabbi Kaufmann Kohler.

• 

  Claude Montefiore.

• 

  Contemporary Reform service, with some congregants wearing head coverings and prayer shawls.

See also

In Spanish: Judaísmo reformista para niños