Reform Judaism (1800s - Present) - Religious Group
Religious Family: JudaismReligious Tradition: Judaism
Description: Beginning at the time of the European Enlightenment in the 18th century, Jewish leaders began to search for a form of Judaism more attuned to modern culture. German Reform leaders began to articulate a way of being fully religious as a Jew that both fit into modern cultural and intellectual expectations and which emphasized the more universal affirmation of Judaism and abandoned what were seen as mere ancient cultural attributes. The reform movement found its organizational unity through Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (1873). Reform Jews practice a Judaism that is open to change and adaptation with the times. They view the Torah as divinely inspired (but a product of human hands), are committed to the equality of men and women, ordain women rabbis, and accept gays and lesbians into all areas of Jewish life. Globally, they are a minority movement, though they maintain a signficant presence in North America.
Official Site: Not available
Connections: Reform Judaism
Group (Active) | Group (Defunct) | Other |
Maps: Reform Judaism1
Adherence Rate per 1,000 (2020)
Congregations (2020)
Top 5 Reform Judaism States (2020)1 [View all States]
Rank | State | Congregations | Adherents | Adherence Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | District Of Columbia | 3 | 11,248 | 16.31 |
2 | Massachusetts | 38 | 33,489 | 4.76 |
3 | New York | 95 | 94,354 | 4.67 |
4 | Connecticut | 19 | 16,017 | 4.44 |
5 | New Jersey | 45 | 38,762 | 4.17 |
Top 5 Reform Judaism Counties (2020)1 [View all Counties]
Rank | County | Congregations | Adherents | Adherence Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dukes County, MA | 1 | 950 | 46.12 |
2 | St. Louis city, MO | 5 | 12,056 | 39.98 |
3 | Pitkin County, CO | 1 | 675 | 38.89 |
4 | Blaine County, ID | 1 | 540 | 22.25 |
5 | Des Moines County, IA | 1 | 826 | 21.23 |
Top 5 Reform Judaism Metro Areas (2020)1 [View all Metro Areas]
Rank | Metro | Congregations | Adherents | Adherence Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vineyard Haven, MA Micro Area | 1 | 950 | 46.12 |
2 | Hailey, ID Micro Area | 1 | 540 | 21.30 |
3 | Burlington, IA-IL Micro Area | 1 | 826 | 18.24 |
4 | Pittsfield, MA Metro Area | 3 | 1,642 | 12.73 |
5 | Heber, UT Micro Area | 1 | 778 | 10.08 |
Sources
1 The 2020 data were collected by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) and include data for 372 religious bodies or groups. Of these, the ASARB was able to gather data on congregations and adherents for 217 and on congregations only for 155. [More information on the data sources]