Do Reform Jews observe Jewish traditions?
We observe those that have meaning for us in the modern world. Different Reform congregations may stress different traditions. It is the same with individual Jews. Where does Reform Judaism stand regarding head coverings for men and women? Among ancient and medieval Jews, covering the head was taken as a sign of humility, especially in worship. In the early days of Reform Judaism, the late 1700’s and early to middle 1800’s, the reformers opted to follow the general convention of removing one’s hat as a sign of respect. Nowadays, very few Reform congregations forbid covering the head. Most of them, such as Temple Beth Sholom, leave the choice up to the individual. For example, our Rabbi chooses to keep his head covered during worship, while most congregants elect to go bareheaded. Head coverings are available for those who wish to use them. What is the attitude of Reform toward keeping kosher? The origins of kashruth are very obscure. Since Jewish dietary laws are of a ritual rather tha
