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| Jews · Judaism · Denominations |
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| Regions |
| 1. North America (Reform, Reconstructionist) |
| 2. United Kingdom (Reform, Liberal) |
| 3. Germany |
| 4. Netherlands |
| 5. Israel |
| Beliefs and practices |
Reform Judaism in the United Kingdom in one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Liberal Judaism. Reform Judaism is both historically earlier and more traditionalist than Liberal Judaism.
Contents |
The Movement for Reform Judaism is more traditional in its practices than the Reform Judaism of North America. Known until recently as "Reform Synagogues of Great Britain", in 2005/6 it had 43 congregations and 16,570 member households. All of their synagogues are autonomous, which means that they are owned and financed by their members, who also hire their own local rabbi. All Rabbis for these congregations are members of the "Assembly of Rabbis", which publishes Reform siddurs and maintains a "Reform Beth Din", which is located at the Sternberg Centre in London. The Reform Beth Din's decisions are recognised worldwide by Reform and Liberal movements as valid.
Reform Jews in the UK have a wide variety of traditions and practices, although most synagogues share some basic similarities, including these:
British Reform is often said to correspond to American Conservative Judaism in beliefs and practices. The American Reform is more akin to the UK Liberal Movement.
The use of Reform in the UK is sometimes confusing in that the reform movement in Britain did not directly evolve from that described above originating in Germany by the classical reformers. However, both UK Reform and the German classical reform movement both came forth from a period of reformation and reaction to traditional practices and are accepted as part of wider Progressive Judaism.
In 1836, several members of the Synagogue of Bevis Marks in London requested the introduction of such alterations and modifications as were in the line of the changes introduced in the Reform synagogue in Hamburg and other places. The congregation conceded and took steps to insure greater decorum at the services. In 1839, they made a second request, advocating a diminution in the length and number of prayers, a more convenient hour of service on Sabbaths and holy days, sermons in English, a choir, and the abolition of the second days of the holy days. This request was ignored. The British reformers then requested permission to open a branch Synagogue in the West End, near their homes. The leadership of Bevis Marks refused on the ground of an askama (rule) of the congregation, forbidding within a radius of six miles of the synagogue the erection of any house of prayer or the holding of any service not of a domestic nature. These reformers however went ahead with their plans, in which they were joined by some Ashkenazi Jews, and established an independent congregation, the West London Synagogue of British Jews, on 15 April 1840. The new Synagogue's leadership then took steps to make the reforms in the ritual which were refused by the leadership of Bevis Marks. The West London Synagogue reformers are the ancestors of the modern British reform movement, the Movement for Reform Judaism.
An Act of Parliament was passed in 1856, which empowered the minister of the West London Synagogue of British Jews to register marriage ceremonies. This act established the full autonomy of the congregation and ensured its equality before the law with the Orthodox congregations.
In Britain, most Reform and Liberal Rabbis train and receive their Rabbinical ordination from Leo Baeck College in London, which is funded by both movements.
Well-known British Reform Rabbis include: