Is Passover 7 or 8 days?
When does Pesach end? Why do some calendars say it ends after seven days and others after eight? Most Reform Jewish communities celebrate Passover for seven days, but the history is complicated.
Should a couple getting married be tested for Jewish genetic diseases?
We are planning our wedding. We are not convinced of the need to get tested for Jewish Genetic Diseases before we get married.
How do I bring Jewish values into a secular holiday like Halloween?
Just because Halloween is non-religious does not mean that we should check our Jewishness at the door. Rather, we have the opportunity to bring Jewish values to heart for that festival evening.
Why do Jews put small stones on tombstones when visiting the cemetery?
The earliest graves may have been covered by a mound of stones.
What, if anything, can be done with the etrog after Sukkot?
The etrog is the citron fruit used as a component in the arba minim , the four species.
How can I observe Sukkot if I do not have a sukkah?
It is a mitzvah to build a sukkah and to celebrate in a sukkah.
Does one wear a tallit to services the night of Yom Kippur (Kol Nidrei)?
In the book of Numbers (15:38-39), we read that the Israelites were instructed to "make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments…that they shall look at it and recall all the commandments of the Eternal and observe them..."
Do Reform Jews Celebrate One or Two Days of Rosh HaShanah?
Most Reform congregations in North America celebrate Rosh HaShanah for one day
Where does the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass at a wedding originate?
The origins of breaking a glass at a wedding are unclear. Many cultures share the practice of breaking something, such as a plate, upon the confirmation of a contract.
I have wanted to convert to Reform Judaism for several years now. However, I have heard that Reform Jewish converts will not be accepted by all denominations as "officially Jewish" unless they convert to Orthodox Judaism. Is this true?
Judaism is not a monolithic religion.
What is Reform Judaism's position on allowing terminally ill people who are mentally competent to request medication from doctors to allow them to end their own lives?
Jewish tradition holds that since life is a gift from God, it is to be cherished until its last moments.