History of the Reform Movement

The first Reform temple opened in Seesen, Germany on July 17, 1810.

When German reformers immigrated to America, they brought Reform Judaism with them.  The first American Reform Jewish religious group in the United States, the Reformed Society of Israelites was organized in 1824 in Charleston, SC.

Isaac Mayer Wise, the organizer of the American Jewish Reform Movement, came to the United States from Bohemia.

Isaac Mayer Wise wrote Minhag America.  Including both Hebrew text and English translations, it was the first siddur specifically edited for American worshippers.

The Union of American Hebrew Congregations was established in Cincinnati.  Its founders hoped to embrace all American synagogues. 

The Union of American Hebrew Congregations published the first census of American Jewry.  Estimate: 250,000.

Reform rabbis adopted the Pittsburgh Platform.  Written by Kaufmann Kohler (1843-1926), the platform articulated the tenets of American Reform Judaism, calling for Jews to adopt a modern approach to the practice of their faith. Those who wished to conserve the old way of life seceded and established the Jewish Theological Seminary Association, which 15 years later was reorganized as the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Henry Berkowitz founded the Jewish Chautauqua Society, modeled after the Chautauqua movement, which popularized adult education. 

At the Union's first biennial council meeting following Herzl’s creation of a movement for political Zionism, the Reformers adopt an anti-Zionist statement.

Stephen S. Wise founded the Jewish Institute of Religion, training rabbis (mostly for Reform congregations) with a more traditional orientation than that given by Hebrew Union College.

The World Union for Progressive Judaism, the international umbrella organization of the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements was founded.

The North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) was launched as a way for Reform Jewish college-age youth to engage in synagogue life.  Today’s NFTY comprises 750 Temple Youth Groups (TYGs) in 19 NFTY regions throughout the United States and Canada, engaging thousands of high school students in meaningful Reform youth experiences based on Jewish principles.

Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath became president of the UAHC.  During his tenure of more than three decades, Eisendrath more than doubled the number of congregations in the Union.

Hebrew Union College merged with the Jewish Institute of Religion.

The UAHC opened Union Institute in Oconomowoc, WI, its first overnight summer camp.  Today, the URJ operates 14 camps across the continent and serves more than 10,000 campers from throughout North America and beyond each summer.

The National Association of Temple Educators (NATE), the professional organization of Jewish educators of the Reform Movement, was founded.

As part of the RAC’s dedication ceremony, Rabbi Maurice Eisendrath presented President Kennedy with a Torah scroll that had belong to Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise.

Reiterating its call for a cease fire in 1965, the Union’s General Assembly adopted a resolution urging the U.S. government to direct an immediate cease fire in Vietnam and the withdrawal of the entire U.S. military presence no later than December 31, 1970, from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries used in support of the Vietnam War.  The General Assembly also called on the government to recognize the moral obligation to bring aid and relief to the people injured in the war.

The first issue of Reform Judaism was published.  An outgrowth of a publication for synagogue Brotherhoods, Reform Judaism originated as a black and white newspaper published eight times a year. It was not the first publication of the Union for temple leaders and members, however. Earlier incarnations included American Judaism and Dimensions in American Judaism.

Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler, one of the most influential American Jewish leaders of his day, was elected president of the UAHC.  Among the hallmarks of his 23-year tenure as president was his stance in favor of patrilineal descent, and his call for synagogues to integrate into Jewish life intermarried couples and their children, as well as unaffiliated Jews and non-Jews interested in converting. Learn more.

Reform rabbis adopted the San Francisco Platform.  Known as the Centenary Perspective because it was adopted 100 years after the founding of the UAHC and HUC-JIR, the platform expressed a sense of unity within Reform Judaism, as well as reflections on Jewish survival, the Holocaust and the birth of the State of Israel.  It was largely the work of HUC-JIR Professor Rabbi Eugene Borowitz (b. 1924).

The Plaut Torah Commentary, which became North America's popular Torah commentary, was published by the UAHC. 

Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie was selected as the third president of the UAHC.  During his 16-year tenure he encouraged Torah study, Jewish literacy, and observance of Shabbat among Reform Jews.

Seeking larger and more modern office space, the UAHC moved from 838 Fifth Avenue, its home in New York City for nearly 50 years, to 633 Third Avenue, an office condominium in midtown Manhattan.

The Program Engagement Professionals of Reform Judaism (PEP-RJ), originally known as the Program Directors of Reform Judaism (PDRJ), became an affiliate of the URJ. The organization comprises program and membership directors, and other professionals who coordinate and manage programs, membership, outreach, and/or education within URJ congregations.

The Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ), which met for the first time in 2001, was approved by the URJ Board of Trustees as an affiliate organization.

Women of Reform Judaism and URJ Press published The Torah: A Women's Commentary, which comprises commentary written by leading Jewish female Bible scholars, rabbis, historians, philosophers and archaeologists. It was awarded the top prize in the oldest Jewish literary award program, the 2008 National Jewish Book Awards.

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion renamed its School of Sacred Music in memory of singer and songwriter Debbie Friedman, whose music rejuvenated modern Jewish worship.

Reform Judaism in North America—with more than one million members and 860+ congregations—is the largest, fastest growing stream of Judaism, as well as the largest population of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.

A new machzor for the Reform Movement, Mishkan HaNefesh, makes strides towards a multi-vocality that creates a space for all to inhabit, offering a multiplicity of different approaches, including gender-inclusive language, contemporary poetry and alternative readings, study texts, and rich commentary.

Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman, of Congregation B’nai Israel in Sacramento, has served on the URJ Board since 2003 in a variety of roles across all of the organization’s efforts, including as chair of the Commission on Social Action and chair of the Resolutions Committee.