What is Reform Judaism?

Answer 1

Judaism, not unlike Christianity and Islam, has smaller groups within the faith where the practices are different. e.g, While Catholics, Protestants, Jesuits, Methodists, Episcopalians, Evangelicals, Mormons, etc., are all Christians, they are different branches of the Christian faith; similarly, Islam has two major branches, Shia and Sunni.

Judaism has several branches (called movements, or minchag) of its own. These include, but are not limited to, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist. The Orthodox are what people tend to picture when they hear the word "rabbi"- bearded, modestly dressed men with curling forelocks on the sides of their heads. (The forelocks are called payot, by the way.) The Orthodox practice a very strictly applied version of the faith, observing rules many other Jews do not, such as foregoing the use of electricity during shabbat, and following the hygiene laws of niddah. (Niddah is a status of ritual uncleanliness a woman is in during and after her menstrual period.)

Conservative Jews are a bit less rigid, but still quite focused on tradition and the concept of Jewishness as a tribal identity. Both Orthodox and Conservative Jews maintain the view, for example, that the covenant can be passed only through the line of the mother- that someone can only be a Jew through having a Jewish mother (unless they convert).

The Reform minchag is more liberal. Reform Judaism, for example, allows women to become rabbis. Reform Judaism believes that children of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother still count as Jews as long as they are raised within the faith. Reform Jews often keep a lower standard of kashrut (kosher) than do Orthodox or Conservative Jews, and permit more activity on shabbat.

Answer 2

This is just a type or way of being Jewish. You could be Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform. The Reform movement is more gender sensitive, with men and women sitting together during services. Also, the dieting and other worshipping laws are not as strict, and girls are encouraged to have Bat Mitzvah's, not just boys. The Reform movement is relatively new since it began in the 1800's.

Answer 3

A rabbi who practices and teaches Reform Judaism.

Answer 4

There is no alternate name for Reform Judaism. The British equivalent to the US Reform Movement is probably Liberal Judaism, but the movements are not exactly the same.

Answer 5

Reformed Judaism believes that The Bible is the main source for the rules of Judaism