Jewish Denominational Diversity in America

Prepared for Thursday Night Cholent presentation on 8/2/2012

Jewish Denominational Organizations

Reform Conservative Orthodox

Congregational Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC)

United Synagogue of America

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (UOJCA or “OU”)

Educational Hebrew Union College (HUC)

Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)

Rabbi Isaac Elhanan Theological Seminary (RIETS)

Rabbinical Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)

Rabbinical Assembly (RA)

Rabbinical Conference of America (RCA)

Reform PracticesReform Conservative (JTSB) Orthodox

Denationalized prayer book

yes no no

Mixed choir yes yes - Non-mixed no

Family pews yes Yes by Cons. no

No second-day holiday

yes yes no

Liturgical organ yes yes no

Abbreviated liturgy yes yes ?

Vernacular prayers yes No; some translation

no

Sermon in Vernacular

yes yes yes

No head covering yes no no

Late Friday evening services

yes Yes by Cons. ?

Pittsburgh Platform-1885

Isaac Mayer Wise

Stephen Wise; Free Synagogue

Mordecai Kaplan

Solomon Schechter

Rabbi Jacob Joseph (RJJ)

Henry Pereira Mendes

Moses Zevulun

Margolies (Ramaz)

Joseph Lookstein