USA Union for Reform Judaism is an inspiring and encouraging event

Two dozen Brits from seven communities attended the 6000-person Union for Reform Judaism conference in Washington DC this past December. The most striking difference between ourselves and our American sister movement – apart from sheer scale – was the all-pervasive nature of music . Upwards of 90 per cent of any service was ‘sung’ with the ubiquitous cantors - rather than the numerous rabbis - to the fore.
The Reform Jewish narrative in the US is powerfully centred on social justice. There is huge pride in the work of the Religious Action Center, the Movement’s lobbying and social action arm, which drafted much of the US civil rights legislation and led in the campaigns for women’s reproductive rights and LGBT equality.
The undoubted highlight of the conference was the speech of Barack Obama, who came to tell American Reform Jewry that he could never have been President without it. He quoted Torah, told gags about Bar Mitzvahs and gave a ‘call out’ to NFTY.
So what did we learn from our American cousins?
First, we should be proud of the values of Reform Judaism, which underpin a liberal approach to religion - a model of tolerance, of reason and of passion for tikkun olam the world over.
Second, we share many of the same threats and challenges, and the size of American Jewry means there will be precedents from the US from which we can draw wisdom and apply it in a uniquely British way.
And third, we have grounds for cautious optimism. There is energy, resource, skills and innovation aplenty across the progressive Jewish world. American Reform Jewry is a powerful counterweight to settler extremism in Israel or fundamentalist growth the world over.
There is a powerful, progressive Jewish voice. It is strong and passionate and motivated and we are part of it. And we should be proud of our Movement’s values and achievements, even as we continue our own Jewish journey.

 Ben Rich, Chair, Movement for Reform Judaism