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.
Do Reform Jews Celebrate One or Two Days of Rosh HaShanah?
Most Reform congregations in North America celebrate Rosh HaShanah for one day
How do Reform congregations commemorate Kristallnacht?
Kristallnacht, which literally means, “the night of broken glass,” occurred on the night of November 9, 1938, and marks the beginning of the Holocaust. On Kristallnacht, Jewish homes, synagogues, and businesses were destroyed by the Nazis and the streets in Germany and Nazi-occupied Europe were covered with glass from the shattered windows of synagogues, Jewish homes, and businesses.
Do Reform Jews Believe in the Messiah?
In the Jewish prayer book, the siddur, there are references to an “end of days”: the Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt, the dead who were righteous will be resurrected, and a figure known as the Messiah, or in Hebrew the Moshiach, will restore Israel to new-found glory.