Central Conference of American Rabbis
Much has changed in the Jewish world since the Central
Conference of American Rabbis issued its Centenary
Perspective 100 years after the founding of the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations and the Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Then as now we have
been a movement of varying beliefs and practices,
strengthened by our diversity yet increasingly in search of
common themes that can deepen the life of the Reform
community. We do not attempt to legislate a code of belief
or conduct for Reform Jews, nor presume to advocate a single
mode of religious expression for all. As Reform Jews we are
open to the entirety of our tradition, commanded to engage
in the study and practice that will embody that tradition in
a manner appropriate to our different situations. Large
numbers of Reform Jews find fulfillment in their present
religious lives, while others are in search of different
modes of religious expression. The Central Conference of
American Rabbis offers these Principles to the Reform
Movement in the spirit of Reform's historic openness to
change and growth, blending creativity and tradition as we
seek to deepen our relationships with God, with Torah, with
the Jewish people and with the land of Israel.
Bluethread responds: The Preamble is an admirable summary of current Reform identity. We especially like the phrases "open to the entirety of our tradition" and "commanded to engage in the study and practice in a manner appropriate to our different situations." However, the very appropriate position, "We do not attempt to legislate" is not always followed in the specific principles below, some of which come across as policy, rather than guidelines for Reform Jewish behavior and thought. Within the entire document, there is no uniformity of flexibility of approach.
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3/18/99
Ten
Principles copyright © 1998, Central Conference of
American Rabbis
Most recent update 11 Dec 1998
Bluethread ©Rosemarie E. Falanga, Cy H. Silver