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How Do Reform Jews Understand Tishah B’Av?
The observance of Tishah B’Av (literally the 9th day of the month of Av) poses some interesting questions for Reform Jews. The day is one of fasting and mourning, for the destruction of both the First and the Second Temple in Jerusalem is said to have taken place on that day. While other tragic events in Jewish history may have coincided with the ninth of Av, it is the Temple’s destruction (churban habayit) that dominates the day’s ritual and liturgy. Reform theology has not generally looked upon the loss of the Temple and the expulsion of the people of Israel from its land as a catastrophe to be lamented by liberal Jews.
Do Reform Jews Believe in the Messiah?
In the Jewish prayer book, the siddur, there are references to an “end of days”: the Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt, the dead who were righteous will be resurrected, and a figure known as the Messiah, or in Hebrew the Moshiach, will restore Israel to new-found glory.
What is the Reform position on clergy officiating at the wedding of a Jew to a person brought up in a different faith?
I’m Jewish and my partner is not. We’d like to have a Jewish wedding and plan to raise a Jewish family. Will a Reform rabbi or cantor officiate at our wedding?
If a Jewish man marries a woman brought up in a different faith, and they have a child, would the Reform Jewish community consider their child to be Jewish?
Historically, since the Rabbinic period (post 70 CE), Jewish status was passed down by the mother.