RJ INSIDER’S GUIDE TOWORLD JEWISH TRAVEL
REFORM JUDAISM WORLDWIDE
B
ack in 1926, when the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) was established in London to serve as an international movement of Progressive Judaism, the world map of Reform (also known as Progressive or Liberal) congregations looked quite different than it does today. Outside of the U.S., there were but a handful of Progressive/Reform congregations in the UK, Germany, and France. The WUPJ began sending young, dynamic Reform rabbis to the far corners of the world to plant the seeds of this modern Jewish movement, and by the 1930s, Progressive congregations were established in Australia, South Africa, Latin America, and the land of Israel. The renewal of Jewish life in the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe since the late 1980s has given rise to nearly 100 new congregations affiliated with the World Union. In Spain, the newest frontier for Progressive Judaism in Europe, numbers of Anusim (forced converts) are looking to the World Union for their way back to Jewish life. And who in the 1920s could have predicted a growing Reform Movement in Asia, including congregations in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the newest Asian Reform congregation in Shanghai. Today’s map of the World Union testifies to just how far we have come.
−› First congregation: New Israelite Temple Society, European Union for Progressive Judaism:
28 Canada
NORTH
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1
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1 1
Union for Progressive Judaism (Australia, New Zealand, and Asia): First congregation: Temple Beth
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1
1
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Israel, Melbourne, Australia, 1929. Today: 22 congregations in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, India, and Singapore.
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1
OCEAN
1
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1
Union for Reform Judaism (North America):
South Carolina, 1824. Today: 864 congregations.
ATL ANTIC
United States
OCEAN
Hamburg, Germany, 1817 (before the European region was established). Today: 148 congregations.
−› First congregation: Beth Elohim, Charleston,
NORTH
836
PACIFIC
9 Peru
Brazil
South African Union for Progressive Judaism: 3
First congregation: Temple Israel, Johannesburg, 1936. Today: 10 congregations.
−› First congregation: Congregação Israelita Paulista, World Union-Latin American Region/UJCL:
Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1936. Today: 48 congregations. Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism: First congregation: Har El Congregation, Jerusalem, 1958. Today: 41 congregations throughout Israel. Former Soviet Union (FSU): First congregation: Congregation Hineini, Moscow, 1990. Today: 43 congregations in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
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SOUTH
Ch Ch hiile Arrg Arg A rgent e ina
19
PACIFIC OCEAN
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Rabbi Joel Oseran, VP, International Development, WUPJ
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2/19/14 8:32 PM