Can Reform Jews Still Worship Together?
Recently, an Anglican Church member made a stinging statement about the Evangelicals in England. He said: They have the distressing…habit of trying to get people emotionally involved. His biting comment could well be expressed by those of us in our congregation who were raised and rooted in the tradition of Classical Reform Judaism. Classical Reform Judaism focuses on the mind and not on the heart. Let me give you some examples. When our Temple was built in 1927, the foyer was made small. Most likely, the plan was to discourage socializing. The Temple was a place to commune with God, not to visit with friends and neighbors. The Temple was not to be a social center. In addition, congregational singing here, even in English, was minimal. A professional choir alone rendered almost all of the music. Ceremonies that involved too much bodily movement were considered bad form. Swaying the body or bending the knees in worship was taboo. Touching or kissing the Torah was out-of-bounds. Furthe
