What changes were made?
Services were no longer conducted solely in Hebrew, but in a mixture of Hebrew and English, recognising the fact that for most Jews the vernacular was the main language of communication.

Sections of the liturgy were omitted if they no longer corresponded to what Jews believed. Out went prayers for the restoration of animal sacrifices, perhaps appropriate for Biblical times but not desired by modern Jews.

Most dramatic of all has been the complete equality accorded to women. In Orthodox synagogues women are seated separately from men and do not lead any part of the service when men are present. In Reform synagogues they sit together with men, participate actively in public worship and can now also be rabbis.

Revelation vs interpretation
Whilst these changes are some of the obvious outward signs of Reform Judaism, the key to them all is the question of what happened at Mount Sinai. For the Orthodox, it was the revelation of God given once and for all time. Aspects might be interpreted through oral traditions, but it cannot be altered or negated. Reform adheres to the notion of Progressive Revelation: that the will of God is constantly unfolding and each generation has to hear God's voice in its own time. Mount Sinai was the start, but what held true four thousand years ago for a nomadic group living in the wilderness does not necessarily apply today. Scientific knowledge and modern insights are part of God's revelation too.

One current example might be homosexuality. Described in the Bible as an abomination and regarded as a perversion, we now know that for some people it is their natural orientation. It was not their choice, but God created them that way. Heterosexuals may feel uncomfortable with them, but have to recognise their right to be as they are.

The Bible may be an authoritative text, but it does not have final authority. In the classic formulation of the relationship between past and present, "tradition has a vote, but not a veto".

Reform has also given prominence to the moral commands over the ritual observances. This is not to devalue or abandon rituals, but to emphasise that by themselves they are insufficient unless they are accompanied by ethical conduct. Thus keeping the dietary laws and lighting candles are worthless unless one is also scrupulously honest in business or cares for the downtrodden. Moreover, it is held that the purpose of rituals is to enhance one's religious life and so those that impede it have been jettisoned - such as the ban on driving to synagogue on the Sabbath even if one lives too far away.

Another characteristic of Reform is its attitude to modern life. Instead of seeing it as full of dangers and to be resisted, it is seen as a place of opportunities and to be welcomed. Although it contains unpleasant aspects, they should not prevent one from benefiting from the good it has to offer.

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