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Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Reform Judaism (10/12) Previous Document: Question 18.1.3: Is a Jew affiliated with Reform Judaism less "religious" than one affiliated with another movement? Next Document: Question 18.1.5: How is Reform Judaism structured in the rest of the world? See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge
Answer:
In North America, the principal organization for Reform Jewry is the
[5]Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) ([6]http://www.urj.org). URJ was
founded in 1873 as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC)
by Rabbi Isaac Meyer Wise, and serves as the umbrella organization for
Reform Synagogues throughout North America. It was renamed Union for
Reform Judaism in November 2003.
URJ funds a seminary system for Reform Judaism: the [7]Hebrew Union
College--Jewish Institute for Religion ([8]http://huc.edu). HUC was
founded in 1875, and it now has [9]campuses in Cincinnati, Ohio (+1
513 221 1875); New York City, New York (+1 212 674 5300); Los Angeles,
California (+1 213 749 3424); and Jerusalem ISRAEL (+972 2 232 444).
See [10]http://www.huc.edu/campuses.html for specifics.
URJ works with a number of professional organizations:
* CCAR. The CCAR or [11]Central Conference of American Rabbis
(founded in 1889) [[12]http://ccarnet.org]. Its members are the
body of rabbis who consider themselves and are considered to be
the organized rabbinate of Reform Judaism. Its members consist of
Reform Rabbis ordained at the [13]Hebrew Union College (HUC), as
well as Reform Rabbis ordained at liberal seminaries in Europe,
and some rabbis who joined the Reform movement sometime subsequent
to ordination (most of these were ordained either at Conservative
Judaism's [14]Jewish Theological Seminary or [15]University of
Judaism, or at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College). Note
that not all HUC graduates are CCAR members; some leave for
ideological reasons or because they have joined a different
movement. The CCAR publishes a quarterly rabbinic journal called
[16]CCAR Journal.
* ACOC. [17]American Conference of Cantors ([18]http://rj.org/acc/).
The ACC is the professional organization of over two hundred fifty
invested and/or certified cantors. Responsible for raising the
professional standards of synagogue musicians, the ACC offers
continuing education programs in conjunction with HUC-JIR School
of Sacred Music and professional development opportunities for its
members. Members of the ACC have special expertise in the music of
the Jewish people and serve synagogues and communities in
pastoral, worship, programming, and educational roles. The ACC
sponsors an annual convention and publishes Koleinu, a monthly
newsletter. It also offers placement services to its members and
UAHC congregations through the Joint Cantorial Placement
Commission.
* NATA. [19]National Association of Temple Administrators
([20]http://rj.org/nata/). The National Association of Temple
Administrators is the professional organization founded in 1941
for those who serve Reform Synagogues as executives,
administrators, or managers. The title does not reflect the
international make up of the organization, currently there are
more than 400 members from the United States, Australia, Canada
and Great Britain.
* NATE. [21]National Association of Temple Educators
([22]http://rj.org/nate/). NATE. is the professional organization
of Educators serving congregations of the Reform Movement as
Directors of Education, Principals, Department Heads, Preschool
Directors and Family Educators. Many NATE. members also serve on
the professional staff of Bureaus and Central Agencies of Jewish
Education. A growing number of NATE. Educators direct Reform or
Community Jewish Day Schools.
URJ works with a number of special-interest groups:
* WRJ. [23]Women of Reform Judaism (formerly National Federation of
Temple Sisterhoods) [[24]http://www.rj.org/wrj/]. Women of Reform
Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, representing
100,000 women in 600 local Sisterhoods throughout the United
States, Canada, and thirteen other countries, is the women's
agency of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the central
body of Reform Judaism in North America.
* NFTB. [25]National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods
([26]http://www.rj.org/nftb). NFTB is a coalition of over 250
affiliated brotherhoods with 30,000 members across North America,
dedicated to tikkun olam, 'repairing the world', through the
practice of Brotherhood. NFTB members are actively involved in
youth education, adult education, social action, and fellowship
activities which contribute to the enrichment of their synagogue
community.
* [27]PARDeS. The Progressive Organization of Reform Day Schools
([28]http://www.rj.org/pardes). PARDeS brings together days
schools and professional and lay leaders committed to advancing
the cause of full-time Reform Jewish Education. PARDeS fosters
Jewish identity, literacy and continuity through Jewish education
in Reform Day Schools...Promotes a life-long covenant with the
heritage of Judaism...And, advocates for excellence in education,
(secular and Jewish).
* ARZA/World Union. Association of Reform Zionists of America/World
Union ([29]http://www.rj.org/arzawuna) The mission of ARZA/WORLD
UNION, North America is to further the development of Progressive
Judaism in Israel and throughout the world. ARZA/WORLD UNION,
North America strives to strengthen Jewish communities by
encouraging Jewish solidarity, promoting religious pluralism and
furthering Zionism. ARZA/WORLD UNION, North America is working to
strengthen the relationship of North American Reform Jews with
Progressive Jewish communities in Israel and throughout the world
and to educate and inform our constituency on relevant matters of
Jewish importance. ARZA/WORLD UNION, North America is the
representative of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and an
affiliate of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
* NFTY. [30]North American Federation of Temple Youth
([31]http://www.rj.org/nfty/). NFTY is the youth arm of the Union
of American Hebrew Congregations, and is comprised of over 450
Temple Youth Groups (TYGs) throughout the United States and
Canada. The overall purposes of NFTY are to instill Jewish
identity, foster commitment to the ideals and values of Reform
Judaism, and increase synagogue participation in high school
youth, pursued in a framework that emphasizes the development of
personal and leadership skills in a wholesome, social, Jewish
environment.
* [32]KESHER. Reform Jewish Student Organization
([33]http://www.keshernet.com). KESHER is the college movement of
North American Reform Judaism, an affiliate of the Union for
Reform Judaism that connects college-aged Reform Jews, Reform
college groups, and college campuses to each other and to the
Reform movement, in order to promote continuous involvement in
Reform Judaism.
* Berit Mila Board ([34]http://www.rj.org/beritmila/). A joint
project of HUC, CCAR, and URJ. An organization of Reform Judaism
whose goal is to train mohelim.
At the political level, Reform Judaism in the US is respresented by:
* RAC. [35]Religious Action Center ([36]http://rj.org/rac/). The
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) has been the hub
of Jewish social justice and legislative activity in the nation's
capital for over 35 years. It has educated and mobilized the
American Jewish community on legislative and social concerns as an
advocate in the Congress of the United States on issues ranging
from Israel and Soviet Jewry to economic justice and civil rights,
to international peace and religious liberty. The RAC is the
Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the
Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), representing 1.5
million Reform Jews and 1,800 Reform rabbis in 870 congregations
throughout North America.
In Canada, Reform Congregations are members of the Canadian Council
for Reform Judaism ([37]http://www.uahcweb.org/regs/cc/). CCRJ
represents approximately 9000 households in 24 affiliated
congregations from Montreal to Calgary. The CCRJ is the Canadian
region of the Union for Reform Judaism.
The CCRJs mandates are:
1. To promote the aims and objectives of member congregations
2. To promote and assist in the formation of new liberal
congregations in Canada
3. To represent the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in Canada
4. To promote and represent liberal Judaism in Canada
At the International Level, Reform Judaism is represented by the
following:
* WUPJ. World Union for Progressive Judaism
([38]http://www.rj.org/wupj). The World Union for Progressive
Judaism was founded in London in 1926 as the international
organization to promote and sustain liberal Judaism, its practices
and ideas. Over 1.5 million Reform, Liberal, Progressive, and
Reconstructionist congregations are affiliated with the movement
in over 35 countries and on six continents. From its central
office in Jerusalem, the World Union brings back Judaism to
countries where former Nazi and communist tyrannies sought to
stamp out Jews and Judaism forever. It also introduces disaffected
Jews in many parts of the world to an open and questioning
expression of Judaism to which they can relate.
* ARZENU. International Federation of Reform and Progressive
Religious Zionists ([39]http://www.irac.org/arzenu/).
* IRAC. The Israel Religious Action Center
([40]http://www.irac.org/)
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Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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