What is Reform Judaism's position on cremation?
It is considered a mitzvah to bury the dead with all proper respect.
On Shabbat, why is the challah covered with a decorative cloth?
There are two popular explanations for this custom.
Why is the Sabbath considered a day of rest?
The requirement that we rest on Shabbat is explained by the Torah according to two broad themes.
What is Reform Judaism's position on allowing terminally ill people who are mentally competent to request medication from doctors to allow them to end their own lives?
Jewish tradition holds that since life is a gift from God, it is to be cherished until its last moments.
I am familiar with a Passover seder, but what is a Tu BiShvat seder?
Tu BiShvat (Hebrew for the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shvat) is the new year of the trees.
What role have Jews historically played in the civil rights movement?
Jews in the United States have a long and proud history of advocating on the behalf of others. Our own history has taught us about the importance of respecting the fundamental rights of all people.
Why is the Jewish Sabbath observed on Saturday?
Genesis, Chapter 1 provides the basis for the Jewish week and the understanding of its days.
What is the Reform Jewish perspective on abortion?
Due to our fundamental belief in the sanctity of life and the Jewish value of kavod ha’briyot, respect for human dignity, Reform Judaism holds that abortion is both a medical and spiritual decision that should be made by the individual within whose body the fetus is growing.
Is it true that you cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery if you have a tattoo?
While the Jewish community might still be divided over tattoos, the prohibition against burying a tattooed person in a Jewish cemetery is a myth. Caring for the body after death is also a mitzvah, and we don't exclude people in our communities from that care simply because of markings on the skin.
I have a Jewish mother and a Christian father. What am I?
As you may know from watching the news, the issue of who is a Jew is a hotly debated one nowadays. There is no simple answer.