Questions tagged [reform-judaism]
Reform Judaism is a liberal and progressive denomination of Judaism. In America, it is the most popular denomination. It generally does not follow traditional Jewish law.
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How do members of a given denomination understand what happens on events from other denominations?
I watched a UsefulChart video on Jewish denominations, which I found very educative as an atheist interested in history.
It was not clear however whether the various denominations can share/understand ...
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Where can I find polemics between Reform and Orthodoxy?
I am looking for polemics between Reform and Orthodoxy.
Surprisingly, despite spending some time searching on Google, I didn't find anything online.
(Preferably not a book that I would have to buy in ...
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Do the non-traditional branches of Judaism claim to be rejecting the original foundations and replacing it with something superior?
R Dovid Gottlieb made the following claim to me:
"The non-traditional branches (Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist) of Judaism claim to be rejecting the original foundations and replacing ...
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"Reverend" as title for a Rabbi?
I came across a Chumash Rashi with the supercommentary of Dr. Silbermann and "Rev." Rosenbaum.
Does this abbreviation mean "Reverend"? Am I correct to assume that Dr. Rosenbaum was ...
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Does this prayer "Lord we thank you for your gift of hope" that a British Reform synagogue does on Shabbat morning, exist in Orthodox Siddurim?
What is this prayer "Lord we thank you for your gift of hope, our strength" that a Reform synagogue does first thing on a Shabbat morning?
(As in, where is this prayer from. I wonder if I've ...
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What siddur is used by Reform communities in Israel?
Understood, Reform Judaism is not as widespread in Israel as it is in America. Nevertheless, what siddur do Reform Jewish communities in Israel use? In America, Mishkan T'fila is popular (or the older ...
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How does Reform Judaism regard converts who leave Judaism?
I've come to understand over time that if an Orthodox convert leaves Judaism/stops practicing all or some of Judaism, the status of their Jewish identity is decided on a case-by-case basis by the ...
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Is Reform conversion recognized by the Conservative movement?
Are people who have converted to Reform Judaism recognized as Jews by the Conservative movement?
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Reform wedding ceremony changes
I saw a video of a Reform wedding ceremony, and noticed many differences between theirs and a traditional Orthodox ceremony.
Sheva Berachos were recited before Kiddushin (the giving of the ring)
No ...
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Did Reform add anything new vis-a-vis responsa?
Teshuvot, or responsa, are the way much halacha has been settled since the Talmudic era. When the Reform movement started, did it continue this tradition of leading rabbis writing teshuvot, or did it ...
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Do Reform Jews believe in a theistic God?
By "theistic God", I mean a God who is omnipotent and omnibenevolent and expressed himself through the Tanakh, or at least as powerful as say, Apollo was believed to be in ancient Greek religion.
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Is there an authoritative source on the similarities and differences of the denominations? [closed]
Background
After asking a similar question on Christianity.SE, I was curious about the equivalent phenomenon in Judaism.
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Is there a chart, or graph, or other resource that accurately ...
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Why are women not allowed to read from the Torah in conservative Judaism? [duplicate]
I'm not Jewish myself, but my wife is and per my understanding of Jewish tradition, this means our children are as well. My wife's preference is for either Reconstructionist or Reform denomination ...
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Considerations for an Orthodox to teach in Reform/Conservative school
There is a question for an Orthodox Jew to teach Torah in a Reform or Conservative school. What are the two sides of the question?
Does Rav Moshe Feinstein or other poskim in print address it?
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Can one sign as a witness on a Conservative/ Reform Ketubah?
Was at a Conservative friend's house the other day, and noticed the Ketubah from their wedding on their wall. I went to look at it and saw 4 witnesses had signed it: 2 men & 2 women.
If an ...
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Is adding the "Immahot" (matriarchs) to the Amidah permitted?
Many non-traditional congregations have modified the Avot prayer opening the Amidah, to add the Immahot. For example:
(Form Shabbat Siddur of the First Reform Minyan in UC Berkeley 2003)
What is the ...
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Why does the Reform Siddur cut out most of Krias Shema?
I noticed recently that for Krias Shema, Reform Jews only say the first paragraph (V'ahavta) and the last couple verses of the third paragraph
(for an example: scroll down to page 18).
I know the ...
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Reform Wedding No Ketubah
What is the status of children born to parents that had a Reform wedding without a ketubah prior to their birth?
Are these children considered the product of unmarried parents?
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Does Reform Judaism recognize children of Jewish father as Jews?
Does Reform Judaism recognize children of Jewish father as Jews (under conditions that father is Jewish both from mothers and fathers side). If so, that person does not have to go through conversion ...
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Birkat Hamazon: Chaverai vs Rabotai
When chanting Birkat Hamazon, I always thought it started Chaverai n'varech, but I have recently attended a Conservadox Bar Mitzvah, where they used Rabotai n'varech. Here are some images; I found the ...
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Is it true that on Shabbat Purim, one holds a mock service instead of a real one?
My Reform synagogue held a joke service (with familiar melodies, but silly or parodying lyrics) on the Shabbat following Purim. While a few Shabbat traditions were kept, most were parodied or skipped. ...
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Prospective Jews and Shabbat observance
Can someone who is not Jewish but is seriously considering converting observe Shabbat? Here I specifically mean home observance (Kiddush, etc.). Also, can a non-Jew looking into converting pray Jewish ...
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Reform Judaism as an avenue for Ethical Monotheism for gentiles
If Orthodoxy and Halacha do not see the Reform movement as "valid", then is it fair to say that Reform Judaism is permissible for Gentiles to practice (assuming they have no Jewish ancestry ...
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Reform Conversions and Olam Ha-Ba [duplicate]
If a Gentile decides to convert through the Reform movement for the purposes of being ethically monotheistic, practicing traditions relating to Judaism, and having a community, would they be punished ...
user7069
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Attending a Bar Mitzvah at a Reform Synagogue
Do any contemporary Orthodox poskim discuss the matter? What potential problems could arise from attending, or from not attending, if the Bar Mitzvah boy is a close relative?
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How to create a Seder to accommodate a large age/education range?
My family came across an interesting problem at tonight's Seder: My dad, the leader, attempted to write a Seder that attracted everyone at different times, but the actual result ended up as a ...
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Honor a first-time blood donor during shacharit?
I'm a student at a 6-12 Jewish day school in which mandatory shacharit services (but students are given a choice between several denominational options) are held on Mondays and Thursdays. I help run ...
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What should a conversion candidate expect in a Reform three-judge rabbinic court (Bet Din)?
What should a conversion candidate expect in a Reform three-judge rabbinic court (Bet Din)? I was told it was to determine the Jewish knowledge of the conversion candidate, but do you have any ...
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What is the Reform view of the origin of the Torah?
I recently attended a community Torah study hosted by a Reform rabbi. As we were discussing the weekly Torah portion, many of those in attendance (Reform Jews) kept referring to "the men" who wrote ...
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Can an Orthodox Jew go to a reform burial?
Halachically speaking, Can an Orthodox Jew attend a reform or Conservative burial?
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Reform/Liberal Burials
Is there a problem with the way Progressive Judaism carry out their burials according to Orthodox Jewry?
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How should an Orthodox Jew respond to questioning by Conservative/Reform Jews?
If a Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist Jew asks an Orthodox Jew, "What is the difference between Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist and Orthodox Judaism? Who says that Orthodox Judaism ...
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Is a Reform convert considered not-Jewish or safek Jewish?
I am basing this question on something I read somewhere: that a non-Jew is able to accept the Torah and obligate himself in mitzvot independent of the bet din (court) conversion procedure. A non-Jew ...
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Are non-Orthodox marriages recognized by Orthodox rabbis?
Let's suppose a couple was married by a Reform rabbi in a standard reform ceremony (with egalitarian ketubah, and many other modifications to traditional kiddushin). If the couple later become baalei ...
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Reform Shul- going?
Can someone of Orthodox beliefs attend services at a Reform synagogue? If so, please tell some things to expect at a Reform Shul different from an Orthodox.
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Can an unknown Reform Jew be counted for a minyan?
Orthodox Judaism treats someone as a Jew if their mother is Jewish, or they underwent an Orthodox conversion. Reform Judaism will count someone as Jewish even if their only connection is through their ...
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Questions about Conversion to Reform Judaism
I have seen some articles on here about conversion but it seems to me like most of it has to do with the Orthodox movement, whereas I am concerned more with Reform as it seems to hold the same values/...
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Must a Reform convert raise prior children Jewish?
I am contemplating joining a Reform synagogue up the street from where I live. I have been once before and would like to start attending though I'm not sure yet about conversion. I am agnostic but ...
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Gentiles praying in Hebrew
Can a gentile pray in hebrew, and recite the Psalms?
I am a Noahide (Chassidic Gentile) who is interested in going through the conversion process to Reform Judaism. Is it okay for me to pray the ...
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Reform Conversion
I have a friend who is the daughter of a reform gioret (convertess) of conscience. She is very into Judaism. However, we know that, typically at least, a reform conversion process is not valid ...
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Is There a Jewish "Confirmation"?
While browsing some local Temples (Reform Congregations) here in my city, I noticed a site that listed "Confirmation" under the heading of "Life Cycle" on their site. I was puzzled. I know what Bar ...
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Origin of Reform/Conservative "scarf" talleisim
I've noticed that Reform and Conservative often use small "scarf" talleisim (here's an image). Where did this practice originate? (Is there any connection to the scarves that some Christian priests ...
user3318
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Going into a Reform synagogue to take a test
In the following question "Orthodox Visits to Other Denomination Sanctuaries" it discusses whether one may go into a Reform or Conservative synagogue for prayer and/or a wedding. Is one allowed to go ...
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Is it possible for a Reform Jew to break halacha or violate a mitzva? [closed]
Is it possible for a Reform Jew to violate a mitzva in the Torah or break halacha, like breaking shabbos by doing melacha ('labor')? After all, from what I understand, Reform Jews don't believe in a ...
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According to Reform Judaism, should rabbis be allowed to have non-Jewish spouses?
According to Reform doctrine, is it 1. permissible for rabbis to marry non-Jewish spouses, and 2. advisable for them to do so, considering that rabbis are generally seen as role-models of proper ...
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