Reform Judiasm

The following principles distinguish Reform Jews from other streams of Judaism:

• Reform Jews are committed to the principle of inclusion, not exclusion. Since 1978, the Reform Movement has been reaching out to Jews-by-choice and interfaith families, encouraging them to embrace Judaism. Reform Jews consider children to be Jewish if they are the child of a Jewish father or mother, as long as the child is raised as a Jew.
• Reform Jews are committed to the absolute equality of women in all areas of Jewish life. We were the first movement to ordain women rabbis, invest women cantors, and elect women presidents of our synagogues.
• Reform Jews are also committed to the full participation of gays and lesbians in synagogue life as well as in society at large.