Reform Judaism outreach
Encyclopedia
Reform Judaism outreach refers to those organization
al and education
al efforts by the Reform Judaism
, Progressive Judaism
and Liberal Judaism
Jewish denominations
meant to reach out and attract Jews and non-Jews, often the spouses and children in cases of Jewish intermarriage, to Judaism
and to synagogue
attendance.
A number of organizations are geared for these efforts:
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
al and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al efforts by the Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
, Progressive Judaism
Progressive Judaism
Progressive Judaism , is an umbrella term used by strands of Judaism which affiliate to the World Union for Progressive Judaism. They embrace pluralism, modernity, equality and social justice as core values and believe that such values are consistent with a committed Jewish life...
and Liberal Judaism
Liberal Judaism
Liberal Judaism , is one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Reform Judaism. Liberal Judaism, which developed at the beginning of the twentieth century is less conservative than UK Reform Judaism...
Jewish denominations
Jewish denominations
Jewish religious movements , sometimes called "denominations" or "branches", include different groups which have developed among Jews from ancient times and especially in the modern era among Ashkenazi Jews living in anglophone countries...
meant to reach out and attract Jews and non-Jews, often the spouses and children in cases of Jewish intermarriage, to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and to synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
attendance.
A number of organizations are geared for these efforts:
Organizations
- KESHERKESHERKESHER is the college outreach arm and campus student organization for Reform Judaism.Its directors have included Paul Reichenbach , David Terdiman , Rabbi Jonathan Klein , Rabbi Andrew Davids, Rabbi Marc Israel, and Lisa David...
is the college outreach arm and campus student organization for Reform Judaism. - Netzer OlamiNetzer OlamiNetzer Olami is the worldwide youth movement of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and is affiliated to Arzenu . "Netzer" is an acronym in Hebrew for Reform Zionist Youth , and Netzer Olami means 'Global Netzer'...
(an acronym in HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
for "Reform Zionist Youth" (נוער ציוני רפורמי), and Netzer Olami means "Global Netzer".) Together with its affiliate organizations it has approximately 12,000 members worldwide, is affiliated with the World Union for Progressive JudaismWorld Union for Progressive JudaismThe World Union for Progressive Judaism describes itself as the "international umbrella organization for the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements." This overall Jewish religious movement is based in about 40 countries with more than 1,000 affiliated synagogues...
and ArzenuArzenuArzenu is an organization for the political representation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionist communities in Israel and fourteen other countries. It was founded in 1980 as a Brit Olamit in the World Zionist Congress, and is affiliated with the Netzer Olami youth organization....
(the Zionist arm of the World Union) and is based in Jerusalem. - North American Federation of Temple YouthNorth American Federation of Temple YouthThe North American Federation of Temple Youth is the organized youth movement of Reform Judaism in North America. Funded and supported by the Union for Reform Judaism, NFTY exists to supplement and support Reform youth groups at the synagogue level...
(NFTY) is the organized youth movement of Reform Judaism in North America. Funded and supported by the Union for Reform JudaismUnion for Reform JudaismThe Union for Reform Judaism , formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations , is an organization which supports Reform Jewish congregations in North America. The current President is Rabbi Eric H...
, 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.
See also
- Conservative Judaism outreachConservative Judaism outreachConservative Judaism outreach refers to those organizational and educational efforts by the Conservative Judaism and Masorti Jewish denominations meant to reach out and attract Jews and non-Jews, often the spouses and children in cases of Jewish intermarriage, to Judaism and to synagogue...
- Orthodox Jewish outreach
- Baal teshuva movementBaal teshuva movementThe Baal Teshuva movement is description of the return of secular Jews to religious Judaism. The term "baal teshuva" is a term from the Talmud literally meaning "master of repentance". The term is used to refer to a worldwide phenomenon among the Jewish people...
- Conversion to JudaismConversion to JudaismConversion to Judaism is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community. A Jewish conversion is both a religious act and an expression of association with the Jewish people...
- Repentance in JudaismRepentance in JudaismRepentance in Judaism known as teshuva , is the way of atoning for sin in Judaism.According to Gates of Repentance, a standard work of Jewish ethics written by Rabbenu Yonah of Gerona, if someone commits a sin, a forbidden act, he can be forgiven for that sin if he performs teshuva, which...