ABSTRACT

The American Reform Movement in Judaism arose amongst Jews who were open to modern intellectual currents and were willing to make changes in their faith in the light of their understanding of American conditions. In effect such changes were also an attempt to bridge the differences in experience and outlook between the immigrant generation and their American-born children and grandchildren. This did not mean a wholesale abandonment of tradition but it did entail reception of some of the norms of religious worship in the larger culture such as organ music and the sermon. Philipson traces this process historically through the lives and ideas of its early leaders.