The Union for Reform Judaism (formerly
the Union of American Hebrew Congregations) is a religious and
cultural organization dedicated to furthering the principles of
Reform Judaism. Central to its mission is the belief in one God.
Reform Judaism insists that creativity and progress are essential to
religious life - that each generation must seek to bring
contemporary relevance to the beliefs and practices of its religious
tradition.
The
Union serves congregations throughout the United States and Canada
and is the oldest organization of its kind in North America.
Founded in Cincinnati in 1873 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, it had an
initial membership of 34 congregations located in 34 cities. In
1950 the headquarters of the URJ moved to New York, where it still
is today.
The
Union for Reform Judaism is the patron body of the Hebrew Union
College - Jewish Institute of Religion, the institution that trains
Reform Jewish rabbis, educators, cantors, and communal service
professionals. The College has campuses in New York, Cincinnati,
Jerusalem, and Los Angeles.
Services are provided by the URJ to its member congregations through
both regional organizations and the national office. The Religious
Action Center in Washington, D.C. is the social action clearing
house and lobbying body for Reform Judaism and Jewish issues in
general. The URJ seeks to support work in most areas of
congregational concern.
The URJ
opened its first camp in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin in 1951.
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