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82-621: URJ or urj may refer to: Union for Reform Judaism , the congregational arm of Reform Judaism in North America URJ, the IATA code for Uray Airport , Russia urj, the ISO 639-3 code for Uralic languages Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title URJ . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change

164-478: A d'var Torah at the end of the service. Some Modern Orthodox girls give aliyot at women's services, with fewer than ten men (so as not to constitute a minyan ). In Orthodox circles, the occasion is sometimes celebrated during a weekday service that includes reading from the Torah, such as a Monday or Thursday morning service. Some communities or families may delay the celebration for reasons such as availability of

246-530: A theistic , personal God ; continuous revelation, with the view that scripture was written by divinely inspired humans. The Reform movement upholds the autonomy of the individual to form their own Jewish beliefs, and to be the final arbiter of their own spiritual practices. At the same time, Reform Judaism stresses Jewish learning in order to gain insights into the tradition and make informed choices. The Reform movement also encourages its members to participate in synagogue and communal Jewish life. Reform Judaism draws

328-462: A Shabbat during which no other celebration has been scheduled, or to allow family members to travel to the event. However, this does not delay the onset of rights and responsibilities of being a Jewish adult which comes about strictly by virtue of age. The obligation to lay tefillin begins when a boy reaches bar mitzvah age. The common custom is for the bar mitzvah boy to begin putting on tefillin one to three months before his bar mitzvah. This way, by

410-504: A bat mitzvah is celebrated when a girl reaches the age of 12. The majority of Orthodox and some Conservative Jews reject the idea that a woman can publicly read from the Torah or lead prayer services whenever there is a minyan ( quorum of 10 males) available to do so. However, the public celebration of a girl becoming bat mitzvah in other ways has made strong inroads into Modern Orthodox Judaism and also into some elements of Haredi Judaism . In these congregations, women do not read from

492-428: A distinction between the moral and ethical imperatives of Judaism and traditional ritual requirements and practices, which, it believes may be altered or renewed to better fulfill Judaism's higher function. Another central tenet of Reform Judaism is the belief that it is the universal mission of Jews to spread God's message, to be a light unto the nations. Reform Judaism foresees a future Messianic Age of peace, but without

574-605: A dog's coming of age , as in the Jewish traditional bar and bat mitzvahs. The term has been in use since at least 1958, when Beverly Hills couple Janet and Sonny Salter held a bark mitzvah for their 13 year old dog, Windy. Bark mitzvahs are sometimes held as an adjunct to the festival of Purim . Bar or bat mitzvah celebrations have become an occasion to give the celebrant a commemorative gift. Traditionally, common gifts include books with religious or educational value, religious items, writing implements, savings bonds (to be used for

656-816: A factor. In 1836, the reunified congregation hired Gustavus Poznanski as cantor . He spent time in Hamburg and knew the rite of the Hamburg Temple . Traditional at first, Poznanski soon followed a different course. In 1843 he attempted to abolish the Second Day of Festivals and later published his own version of the Maimonides' Creed , which lacked reference to Resurrection of the Dead and the Messiah. He also instituted various ritual reforms. Supported by many of

738-512: A girl's coming of age in eastern Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, the former in Warsaw (1843) and the latter in Lemberg (1902). The occasion was marked by a party without any ritual in the synagogue. There are documents that record an Italian rite for becoming bat mitzvah, known as an "entrance into the minyan" ceremony, in which boys of thirteen and girls of twelve recited a blessing, since

820-656: A member of the Israel Campus Coalition and sponsored the Argentina Ambassadors trip. KESHER also hosted a Leadership Training Seminar during the spring semester, coordinated by members of the KESHER Student Leadership Council. This council was made of 6-7 junior and senior students who applied each year for one or two terms (a school year). Through its website, the group disseminated many documents describing

902-541: A more pressing challenge. The massive immigration from Eastern Europe, bringing over two million Jews who had strong traditional sentiments in matters of religion even when personally lax, dwarfed the UAHC constituency within a generation. In the 1910s and 1920s, the CCAR rabbis gradually reintroduced many elements once discarded in an effort to appeal to the newcomers. The influx, and the growth of interwar antisemitism, also brought

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984-415: A more rationalistic, universalist view of religious life. "New Reform", from the 1937 Columbus Declaration of Principles and onwards, sought to reincorporate such elements and emphasize Jewish particularism, though still subject to personal autonomy. Concurrently, the denomination prioritized inclusiveness and diversification. This became especially pronounced after the adoption of "Big Tent Judaism" policy in

1066-499: A more traditional bar mitzvah celebration. Among some Jews, a man who has reached the age of 83 will celebrate a second bar mitzvah, under the logic that in the Hebrew Bible it says that a normal lifespan is 70 years, so that an 83-year-old can be considered 13 in a second lifetime. This ritual is becoming more common as people live longer, healthier lives. A bark mitzvah is a pseudo-traditional observance and celebration of

1148-405: A prayerbook in which they completely excised any mention of the Messiah, restoration of sacrifices, and return to Zion . It was published in 1830. Far more moderate alterations along these lines, in the first liturgy considered Reformed, caused an uproar at Hamburg in 1818. The Society, numbering several dozens, dissipated and merged back into Beth Elohim during 1833, but they did not cease being

1230-659: A publishing arm and oversees various committees, such as those focusing on Ritual, Responsa, and Prayerbooks. Synagogue prayers are conducted mainly by members of the CCAR and of the American Conference of Cantors. The political and legislative outreach of the URJ is performed by the Religious Action Center based in Washington D.C. The RAC advocates policy positions based upon religious values, and

1312-514: A renewed stress on Jewish particularism and peoplehood , ritual, and tradition. In contrast with the coolness toward Zionism expressed by Classicists – emanating both from their rejection of old Messianic belief, involving a restoration of the sacrificial cult in Jerusalem, and commitment to emancipation – many new clergymen, like Abba Hillel Silver and Stephen Wise , were enthusiastic and influential Zionists. These tendencies were codified in

1394-516: A result of the 13-year-old being a "man", as required in Numbers 6:2 . (For one year before this age, the vows are conditionally valid, depending on whether the boy or girl has signs of physical maturity. ) Other sources also list thirteen as the age of majority with respect to following the commandments of the Torah, including: The term "bar mitzvah" appears first in the Talmud , meaning "one who

1476-437: A single roof. In 1875, Wise also founded Hebrew Union College . Yet his attempts to maintain a moderate façade failed. In a famous incident, on 11 July 1883, during the banquet celebrating the first graduation from HUC, non-kosher food such as shrimps and crabs was served. The so-called trefa banquet , while apparently the decision of the Jewish caterer and not of Wise himself (who observed dietary laws), prompted protests from

1558-714: A smaller celebration than a wedding. Bar and bat mitzvah parties among wealthy Jewish families in North America are often lavish affairs held at hotels and country clubs with hundreds of guests. The trend has been mocked, most notably in the movie Keeping Up with the Steins . These lavish parties were also heavily featured in the film You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah . In the 1950s, Rabbi Harold Saperstein of New York described them as too often being "more bar than mitzvah". Rabbi Shmuley Boteach says that over-the-top bar mitzvah parties were already common when he

1640-422: A synagogue ceremony performed upon the boy's reaching age thirteen: Later on are references to a festive celebration on this occasion: The Bible does not explicitly specify the age of 13. Passages in the books of Exodus and Numbers note the age of majority for army service as twenty. Machzor Vitri notes that Genesis 34:25 refers to Levi as a "man", when a calculation from other verses suggests that Levi

1722-526: A synagogue. The 2013 Pew survey assessed that 35% of Jews in the United States consider themselves Reform (the 2001 AJC poll cited 38%); based on these figures, Steven M. Cohen estimated there were 1,154,000 identifying non-member adults in addition to those registered, not including children. There are further 30,000 affiliated congregants in Canada. Citing those findings, the URJ claims to represent

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1804-458: A third of adult American Jews , including many who are not synagogue members, state affinity with Reform, making it the largest Jewish denomination. The UAHC was a founding member of the World Union for Progressive Judaism , of which the URJ is the largest constituent by far. Reform Judaism , also known as Liberal or Progressive Judaism, embraces several basic tenets, including a belief in

1886-507: A total of 2.2 million individuals. NFTY exists to supplement and support Reform youth groups at the synagogue level. About 750 local youth groups affiliate themselves with the organization, comprising over 8,500 youth members. The URJ Camp & Israel Programs is the largest Jewish camping system in the world, comprising 14 summer camps across North America, including specialty camps in science & technology, creative arts, and sports, and programs for youth with special needs. Many of

1968-527: A total of 35 regional communities, comprising groups of local congregations; 34 are in the United States and one represents all those affiliated with the Canadian Council for Reform Judaism. The URJ is led by a board of trustees, consisting 253 lay members. This board is overseen by the 5,000-member General Assembly, which convenes biennially. It was first assembled in Cleveland on 14 July 1874, and

2050-427: Is Hebrew for 'commandment' or 'law'. Thus, bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah literally translate to 'son of commandment' and 'daughter of commandment', respectively. However, in rabbinical usage, the word bar means 'under the category of' or 'subject to'. Bar mitzvah therefore translates to '[one] who is subject to the law'. Although the term is commonly used to refer to the ritual itself, the phrase originally refers to

2132-648: Is associated with political progressivism , as part of the vision for Tikkun Olam . Tikkun Olam in Hebrew means “repairing the world.” The denomination is also supported by the Women of Reform Judaism (formerly, the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods). The URJ has an estimated constituency of 850,000 in the United States, 760,000 Jews and further 90,000 non-converted gentile spouses. A greater number identifies with Reform Judaism without affiliating with

2214-520: Is subject to the law", though it does not refer to age. The term "bar mitzvah", in reference to age, cannot be clearly traced earlier than the 14th century, the older rabbinical term being "gadol" (adult) or "bar 'onshin" (one legally responsible for own misdoings). Reaching the age of bar or bat mitzvah signifies becoming a full-fledged member of the Jewish community with the responsibilities that come with it. These include moral responsibility for one's own actions; eligibility to be called to read from

2296-464: Is that shortly after a boy turns 13, they are called up for an aliyah , the ceremony of reading a portion of the Torah section of the day. On the Sabbath, there are seven main sections, plus an eighth, known as maftir, which is also connected to the reading of that day's haftorah section. It is most common to give the child the maftir reading. In most synagogues, a designated officiant,

2378-408: The ba'al korei , reads all of the Torah portions, and the people receiving each aliyah only say the blessings before and after their portion is read. A bar mitzvah boy may learn to act as the ba'al korei , either for the entire service, for just his aliyah, or any range in-between. He may also be ba'al korei for the haftorah portion if he receives the maftir, or may only be ba'al korei for

2460-536: The Civil Rights Movement , women's equality and gay rights. Another key aspect of American Reform, which it shares with sister movements in the WUPJ, is its approach to Jewish identity. Interfaith marriage, once a taboo – the CCAR penalized any involvement by its clergy in such ceremonies by ordinances passed in 1909, 1947 and 1962 – were becoming more prevalent toward the end of the 20th Century. In 1979,

2542-957: The National Community Relations Advisory Council , opposed the Rosenberg Committee , believing them to be a Communist group. In 1953, the council issued a statement that the Rosenberg Committee's accusation that the Rosenberg trial was motivated by antisemitism was causing public panic within the Jewish community. In 1990, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and other major Jewish-American organizations asked that Nelson Mandela clarify his pro-Palestinian views prior to his visit to New York City. The UAHC's senior vice president Albert Vorspan said that "We are hoping to clear

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2624-465: The Torah and lead or participate in a minyan ; the right to possess personal property and to legally marry on one's own according to Jewish law ; the duty to follow the 613 laws of the Torah and keep the halakha ; and the capacity to testify as a witness in a beth din (rabbinical court) case. Many congregations require pre-bar mitzvah children to attend a minimum number of Shabbat prayer services at

2706-424: The bat mitzvah celebration as "meaningless", and of no greater halakhic significance than a birthday party. However, he reluctantly permitted it in homes, but not synagogues, as the latter would be construed as imitating Reform and Conservative customs; in any case, they do not have the status of seudat mitzvah . Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef holds that it is a seudat mitzvah. There were occasional attempts to recognize

2788-740: The 1937 Columbus Declaration of Principles, influenced by rabbis Samuel S. Cohon , Solomon Freehof and others from Eastern Europe. Anti-Zionist Reform rabbis broke away during WWII to found the American Council for Judaism , which declined in activity following the Six-Day War . In 1950, HUC merged with the Jewish Institute of Religion , a Reform rabbinical college founded in 1922 by Rabbi Stephen Wise. The selective "return to tradition" encouraged many Americanized Eastern-European-descended Jews to flock to Reform congregations in

2870-439: The 1970s. Old ritual items became fashionable again, as were ceremonies, such as ablution . The liturgy, once abridged and containing much English, had more Hebrew and traditional formulae restored, though not due to theological concerns. In contrast with "Classical", "New Reform" abandoned the drive to equate religious expression with one's actual belief. Confirmation ceremonies in which the young were examined to prove knowledge in

2952-559: The Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations and The Workers Circle —encourage the youngsters to select any topic that interests them and relates to the Jewish part of their identities. The kibbutz movement in Israel also encouraged the celebration of the bar mitzvah. All those coming of age in the community for that year would take on a project and research in a topic of Jewish or Zionist interest. Today many kibbutz children are opting for

3034-631: The Jewish-American establishment, expressed appreciation for South African Jews who opposed apartheid, praised certain Israeli leaders, and agreed that the State of Israel had a right to exist. KESHER (from Hebrew קשר 'linkage', 'connection') is the now-defunct college outreach arm and campus student organization for Reform Judaism . It was formally disbanded in 2009, though it continued to operate Taglit Birthright Israel trips, under

3116-452: The Messiah and Resurrection was denied. Michael Meyer regarded the document as the denominational "declaration of independence." The need for religious divorce ( get ) was also annulled, and civil divorce confirmed as sufficient, one of the first steps towards abandonment of most ritual traditions. While American Jews, even the nominally Orthodox, were scarcely observant, Reform began to officially dispose of practices still upheld. Its doctrine

3198-479: The Torah or lead prayer services, but they occasionally lecture on a Jewish topic to mark their coming of age, learn a book of Tanakh , recite verses from the Book of Esther or the Book of Psalms , or say prayers from the siddur . In some Modern Orthodox circles, bat mitzvah girls will read from the Torah and lead prayer services in a women's tefillah . Rabbi Moshe Feinstein , a prominent Orthodox posek , described

3280-511: The UAHC for abandoning traditional Judaism. A series of heated exchanges between him and Reform's chief ideologue, Rabbi Kaufmann Kohler , encouraged the latter to convene an assembly which accepted the Pittsburgh Platform on 19 November. Embodying the spirit of "Classical Reform", it added virtually nothing to the theoretical foundation of the movement but elucidated it clearly. It was declared that "to-day we accept as binding only

3362-484: The URJ adopted a policy of embracing the intermarried and their spouses, in the hope the latter would convert. In 1983, in the United States, it recognized Judaism based on patrilineal descent, affirming that offspring of a single Jewish parent (whether father or mother) would be accepted as inheriting his status if they would demonstrate affinity to the faith. Children of a Jewish mother who will not commit to Judaism were not to be considered Jewish. These measures made Reform

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3444-602: The age at which children must begin to participate in the ritual of fasting on Yom Kippur as 13 for boys and 12 for girls. The age of b'nai mitzvah roughly coincides with the onset of puberty . The bar / bat mitzvah ceremony is usually held on the first Shabbat after the birthday on which the child reaches the eligible age. Bar ( בַּר ‎) is a Jewish Babylonian Aramaic word meaning 'son' ( בֵּן ‎, ben in Hebrew), while bat ( בַּת ‎), in Hebrew, means 'daughter'. Mitzvah ( מִצְוָה ‎)

3526-697: The air and defuse the situation so that Mandela's visit...is what it ought to be: a great welcome for a liberation hero without a lot of marginal controversy." In a meeting in Geneva that included representatives from the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Anti-Defamation League , the American Jewish Committee , the American Jewish Congress , and other organizations, Mandela apologized for offending

3608-419: The bar and bat mitzvah. Many b'nai mitzvah also receive their first tallit from their parents to be used for the occasion and tefillin where this is appropriate. Jewelry is a common gift for girls at a bat mitzvah celebration. Another gift for the bat mitzvah girl is Shabbat candlesticks because it is the duty and honor of the woman to light the candles. While the traditional age to hold a bar or bat mitzvah

3690-491: The bar/bat mitzvah. At one time, this ceremony was on the verge of extinction in Reform congregations. Most of them preferred to replace bar/bat mitzvah with confirmation, which they considered a more enlightened and appropriate ceremony for modern Jews. Yet the enduring popularity of bar/bat mitzvah prevailed and today, in our communities, bar/bat mitzvah is 'virtually universally observed' by Reform Jews." In 2012, concern about

3772-525: The brand "URJ Kesher" for several more years. There are no longer any official college programs run by the URJ. Its directors included Paul Reichenbach (–1995), David Terdiman (1995–1997), Rabbi Jonathan Klein (1997–2000), Rabbi Andrew Davids, Rabbi Marc Israel, Lisa David (–2006); Nicole Rand was the latest acting director. There had been two program associates and an Israeli shaliach . KESHER worked with organizations like Hillel to create Reform Jewish programs on campuses across North America. They were

3854-553: The camps have long provided the opportunity for high school pupils to travel to Israel through the program Yallah! Israel during the summer. The Union offers various Israel programs for seminarians and students. Including a youth convention every other year. Reform-like ideas in the United States were first expressed by the Reformed Society of Israelites, founded in Charleston, South Carolina , on 21 November 1824. It

3936-427: The catering team to emcees , DJs , entertainers, and dancers (also called "motivators") to encourage the guests to dance or play games. Today many non-Orthodox Jews celebrate a girl's bat mitzvah in the same way as a boy's bar mitzvah. All Reform and Reconstructionist , and most Conservative synagogues have egalitarian participation, in which women read from the Torah and lead services. In Orthodox communities,

4018-508: The celebrant is given a certificate. In some times and places, local Jewish leaders have officially limited the size and elaborateness of mitzvahs. For example, only ten men were permitted to attend the party in 1730 in Berlin , and music was banned at these parties in 1767 in Prague . These rules were usually meant to avoid offending non-Jewish neighbours, and to maintain the rule that it be

4100-471: The child's college education), gift certificates, or money. Gifts of cash have become commonplace in recent times. As with charity and all other gifts, it has become common to give in multiples of 18, since the gematria , or numerical equivalent of the Hebrew word for "life", (" chai "), is the number 18. Monetary gifts in multiples of 18 are considered to be particularly auspicious and have become common for

4182-574: The coming of an individual Messiah or the restoration of the Third Temple and sacrificial cult in Jerusalem. Reform Judaism rejects the notion of bodily resurrection of the dead at the end of days, while affirming, at most, immortality of the soul. During its "Classical" era, roughly between the Civil War and the 1930s, American Reform rejected many ceremonial aspects of Judaism and the authority of traditional jurisprudence ( halakhah ), favoring

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4264-422: The community, the bar mitzvah boy delivering on this occasion a learned discourse or oration at the table before the invited guests, who offer him presents, while the rabbi or teacher gives him his blessing, accompanying it at times with an address. Some Jews celebrate in other ways such as taking the bat or bar mitzvah on a special trip or organizing some special event in the celebrant's honour. In many communities,

4346-550: The connection between Reform Judaism and North American Jewish youth. Bar and Bat Mitzvah A bar mitzvah ( masc. ), or bat mitzvah ( fem. ) is a coming of age ritual in Judaism . According to Jewish law , before children reach a certain age, the parents are responsible for their child's actions. Once Jewish children reach that age, they are said to "become" b'nai mitzvah , at which point they begin to be held accountable for their own actions. Traditionally,

4428-483: The faith, once ubiquitous, were mostly replaced by Bar and Bat Mitzvah , yet many adolescents still undergo Confirmation (often at Shavuot ) between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. A unique aspect of Reform was its interpretation to the old rabbinic concept of Tikkun Olam (Repair of the World); it became a rallying cry for participation in various initiatives pursuing social justice and other progressive agendas, like

4510-492: The father of a bar or bat mitzvah offers thanks to God that he is no longer punished for his child's sins. In Orthodox communities, boys become bar mitzvah at 13 and girls become bat mitzvah at 12. In most Reform, Reconstructionist, and Conservative communities, the milestone is 13 regardless of gender. After this point, children are also held responsible for knowing Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics, and are able to participate in all areas of Jewish community life to

4592-402: The few American traditionalists, like Sabato Morais , who remained outside the UAHC. Several conservative members later claimed to have exited the room with repulsion, though little is factually known about the incident. It was the arrival of Rabbi Alexander Kohut in 1885 which forced an unambiguous stance. Kohut, a follower of Zecharias Frankel and his Positive-Historical School , attacked

4674-485: The first time in known synagogue history (by random, when his congregation bought a church) in Albany on Shabbat Shuvah , 3 October 1851. His attempts to forge a single American Judaism motivated him to seek agreement with the conservative Isaac Leeser . Relations between them, wrought with suspicion from the beginning, were terminated after Wise agreed to Leeser's demands in the 1855 Cleveland Synod and then retracted when

4756-412: The former secessionists, he eventually resigned in 1847. A year before that, Isaac Mayer Wise arrived from Europe. In a country where Jewish immigrants lacked an organized and established religious leadership, Wise quickly rose to prominence. While far from traditional belief, he was disinterested in offering a comprehensive new approach, focusing on pragmatic compromises. Wise introduced family pews for

4838-405: The haftorah, without reading from the Torah at all. Any of these undertakings involves a steep learning curve and much practice, possibly taking a year of study, and is an impressive accomplishment. Girls may have an aliyah in Reform, Reconstructionist, and Conservative Jewish synagogues. In Orthodox synagogues, aliyot were and typically still are restricted to boys, with a girl potentially giving

4920-450: The high post-bar/bat mitzvah drop-out rate led the Union for Reform Judaism to launch the B'nai Mitzvah Revolution, an effort to shift Reform congregations away from "the long-held assumption that religious school is about preparing kids for their bar/bat mitzvah" and focus instead on teaching them how to become committed and involved members of the Jewish community. The widespread practice

5002-484: The idea of a bat mitzvah ceremony. As the ceremony became accepted for females as well as males, many women chose to celebrate the ceremony even though they were much older, as a way of formalizing and celebrating their place in the adult Jewish community. Instead of reading from the Torah, some Humanist Jews prefer a research paper on a topic in Jewish history to mark their coming of age. Secular Jewish Sunday schools and communities—including those affiliated with

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5084-458: The latter left. Wise was soon outflanked by the radical Reform rabbi David Einhorn , who espoused a dogmatic, rigid line demanding conformity with the principles of Reform Judaism then formulated in Germany. Many other German rabbis crossed the ocean to the land where their religious outlook, free from state intervention or communal pressures, could be expressed purely. Einhorn gradually gained

5166-508: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=URJ&oldid=1156886046 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Union for Reform Judaism The URJ has an estimated constituency of some 880,000 registered adults in 819 congregations. It claims to represent 2.2 million, as over

5248-569: The meaning of bar/bat mitzvah." In May, 1992, the board of trustees of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now the Union for Reform Judaism), the synagogue arm of the Reform Movement, unanimously passed a resolution decrying "excesses of wasteful consumption...glitzy theme events, sophisticated entertainment...and expensive party favors", calling instead for "family cohesion, authentic friendship, acts of tzedakah (righteous giving), and parties suitable for children." The cost of

5330-842: The mid-19th century. There were also some bat mitzvah rituals held in the 19th century in Iraq. However, it was the American rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan held the first public celebration of a bat mitzvah as we understand it in modern times for his daughter on March 18, 1922, at the Society for the Advancement of Judaism , his synagogue in New York City. Kaplan was unaware of the earlier Italian precedent and learned of them several months later, while on holiday in Italy. Judith Kaplan recited

5412-595: The moral laws, and maintain only such ceremonies as elevate and sanctify our lives." A small group of conservatives withdrew from the UAHC in protest, joining Kohut, Morais, and their supporters in founding the Jewish Theological Seminary . At first unifying almost all non-Reform currents, it developed into the center of Conservative Judaism . In 1889, Wise founded the Central Conference of American Rabbis . "Classical Reform" soon faced

5494-425: The most hospitable to non-Jewish family members among major American denominations: in 2006, 17% of synagogue-member households had a converted spouse, and 26% an unconverted one. These policies also raised great tensions with the more traditional movements. Orthodox and Conservatives rejected the validity of Reform conversions already before that, though among the latter, the greater proclivity of CCAR rabbis to perform

5576-612: The most recent biennial was held in Chicago on 11–15 December 2019. The board directs the Senior Leadership Team, headed by the URJ President. Spiritual guidance is provided by the Central Conference of American Rabbis , which has some 2,300 clergy members who convene annually. Most CCAR members have been trained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion , the Reform movement's seminary. The CCAR has

5658-403: The party depends upon what the family is willing and able to spend. Some families spend tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars on the party. Generally speaking, these celebrations are less costly and elaborate than a wedding in that family. In addition to food and drink for the guests, the money at an elaborate party is mostly spent on renting and decorating a venue and hiring staff, from

5740-571: The person. The modern method of celebrating becoming a bar mitzvah did not exist in the time of the Hebrew Bible , Mishnah , or Talmud . Early rabbinic sources specify 13 as the age at which a boy becomes a legal adult; however, the celebration of this occasion is not mentioned until the Middle Ages (from approximately 500 CE to 1500 CE; see Post-classical history ). Some late midrashic sources, and some medieval sources refer to

5822-401: The postwar years, rapidly swelling the membership ranks of the UAHC. This factor, along with the URJ's commitment to Outreach, diversity ("big tent Judaism"), and a welcoming attitude labeled "Audacious Hospitality" by URJ president, Rabbi Richard Jacobs, have all contributed to the Reform Movement's emergence as the largest Jewish religious denomination in North America. The HUC, as a member of

5904-443: The preliminary blessing, read a portion of that week's Torah portion in Hebrew and English, and then intoned the closing blessing. Mordecai Kaplan, an Orthodox rabbi who joined Conservative Judaism and then became the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism , influenced Jews from all branches of non-Orthodox Judaism, through his position at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America . At the time, most Orthodox rabbis strongly rejected

5986-404: The process under halachic standards allowed for many such to be approved. Patrilineal descent caused a growing percentage of Reform constituency to be regarded as non-Jewish by the two other denominations. The URJ incorporates 846 congregations in the United States and 27 in Canada. The Union consists of four administrative districts, West, East, South and Central, which in turn are divided into

6068-559: The same extent as adults. In some Jewish communities, men's and women's roles differ in certain respects. For example, in Orthodox Judaism, once a boy turns 13, it is permitted to count him for the purpose of determining whether there is a prayer quorum , and he may lead prayer and other religious services in the family and the community. Bar mitzvah is mentioned in the Mishnah and the Talmud . Some classic sources identify

6150-462: The synagogue, study at a Hebrew school , take on a charity or community service project and maintain membership in good standing with the synagogue. In addition to study and preparation offered through the synagogue and Hebrew schools, bar mitzvah tutors may be hired to prepare the child through the study of Hebrew, Torah cantillation and basic Jewish concepts. According to Rabbi Mark Washofsky, "The Reform Movement in North America has struggled over

6232-400: The time he is obligated in the commandment, he will already know how to fulfill it properly. As the first mention of a party associated with a synagogue bar mitzvah was in the 13th century, hosting some sort of party is traditional and frequently considered necessary. Bar mitzvah festivities typically include a joyous seudat mitzvah , a celebratory meal with family, friends, and members of

6314-458: The upper hand, though the conflict-laden synergy between him and Wise would lay the foundation of American Reform. The Philadelphia Conference of 3–6 November 1869 saw the radicals' victory, and the adoption of a platform which summarized the theory concocted in Germany in the previous decades. Priestly privileges were abolished, as the rebuilding of the Temple was no longer anticipated; belief in

6396-527: Was aged 13 at the time. The age of thirteen is mentioned in the Mishnah as the time one is obligated to observe the Torah's commandments : "At five years old one should study the Scriptures , at ten years for the Mishnah, at 13 for the commandments..." Elsewhere, the Mishnah lists the ages (13 for boys and 12 for girls) at which a vow is considered automatically valid; the Talmud explains this as

6478-729: Was growing up in Miami in the 1970s. In 1979, the Responsa Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis addressed the Reform attitude toward bat/bar mitzvah: "Every effort should be exerted to maintain the family festivities in the religious mood at the bar/bat mitzvah. Some of the efforts of early Reform in favor of confirmation [and] against bar mitzvah were prompted by the extravagant celebration of bar mitzvah, which had removed its primary religious significance. We vigorously oppose such excesses, as they destroy

6560-608: Was led by Isaac Harby , Abraham Moise, and David Nunes Carvalho, who represented the younger, Americanized, and religiously lax generation in the Congregation Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim . Standing in opposition to a more stringent establishment, formed from English-born immigrants, Harby and his followers were mainly concerned with decorum. They demanded English-language sermons, synagogue affairs handled in English rather than Early Modern Spanish (as

6642-519: Was prevalent among Western Sephardim ), and so forth. However, they also arrived at more principled issues. On their first anniversary, Harby delivered an oratory in which he declared Rabbinic Judaism a demented faith, no longer relevant, and that America was "the Promised Land of Scripture." They fully seceded by their second anniversary, after continued rebuffs on the part of the wardens, forming their own prayer group. The three leaders authored

6724-538: Was well received by the immigrants and especially their assimilated children. Of 200 synagogues in the United States in 1860, there were a handful of Reform ones. Twenty years later, almost all of the existing 275 were part of the movement. On 8 July 1873, representatives from 34 congregations met in Melodeon Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio , and formed the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) under Wise's auspices. The name reflected his hope to unite all Jews under

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