How do we know that we are Reform Jews?                                                                                

 I’d like to begin with what for me are two ‘given’ assumptions:                                                        

One is that Reform Judaism is religious Judaism.                                                                                         

The second that Reform Judaism is multi-dimensional. 

So:-

Reform Judaism is Communal as well as Individual.                                                                              

Reform Judaism is Universal as well as Particularistic.                                                                      

Reform Judaism is Traditional as well as radically Transformational.                                                 

Reform Judaism is Political as well as Spiritual. 

Reform Judaism has essential core meanings which we create and share, and at the same time there is no central system of control – modern Reform Judaism emerges from the relationships between the meanings we agree and share. This multi-dimensional view gives us both a direction in which to grow, and also a boundary.  We cannot make our decisions based only on one morality or ethic but always have to find a balance for the moment.  We always have to search for the meaning, rather than mechanistically to follow one fixed ideology.  In Reform Judaism every generation must challenge, must connect and re-connect perpetually.  Every generation must recreate tradition for itself.