Michigan synagogue that came Under attack Thursday It is part of Reform Judaism, the largest branch of the religion in North America, which emphasizes progressive values such as social justice and gender equality.
According to the Union for Reform Judaism, the Temple Israel denomination is the second largest denomination in the denomination.
The synagogue was founded in 1941 in Detroit and moved to suburban West Bloomfield in the 1980s. The congregation numbers about 3,500 families and more than 12,000 members, according to the temple’s website. It has a calendar full of social, educational and religious activities.
This was the latest in a series of recent events Attacks targeting religious buildings – Which led to intensified fear among religious leaders and worshipers around the world.
Here’s what to know about Michigan’s Jewish community.
The Reform sect, part of broader progressive Judaism, values Jewish traditions along with the use of individual reason and conscience.
Rabbis, leaders, and practitioners often support social and racial justice side by side Gender equality And LGBTQ+ people.
According to Temple Israel’s website, its mission is “to be an inclusive congregation that demonstrates respect for the needs of all,” valuing each person as “created in the image of God.”
Women can become rabbis in Reform communities. In contrast to the rules in more traditional denominations, Reform rabbis are allowed to perform interfaith marriages.
Its roots go back to the Jewish communities of Germany and the United States in the 19th century. The original founders moved away from traditional ceremonies and literal interpretations of the Hebrew Bible and instead emphasized the use of reason and modern science.
However, many congregations incorporate Hebrew worship, and some practitioners adopt traditional practices such as keeping kosher and wearing the kippah, or traditional skullcap.
Reform Jewish leaders have long supported the State of Israel and sent a message of “solidarity with our Israeli brothers” after the outbreak of the Iran war.
At the same time, its leaders did so Criticize specific actions By Israeli leaders, such as the judicial reform proposed by the current government, as well as gender segregation in the prayer site next to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Some Reform rabbis criticized Israel’s handling of the invasion of Gaza and the distribution of food aid there.
Reform Judaism has approximately 850 congregations in the United States and Canada, with more than 1,200 congregations and 2 million members worldwide, according to the Union for Reform Judaism. It also has a small presence in Israel, where many Jews are secular, while most religious people belong to Orthodox communities.
The Union for Reform Judaism is the main organization for Reform congregations, with separate organizations for rabbis, cantors, and political advocacy.
The attack came less than two weeks after shots were fired at a Reform synagogue in Toronto. In January, a vandal targeted another Reform synagogue in the city Jackson, Mississippi.
The Union for Reform Judaism issued a statement Thursday in solidarity with the “heroic, wounded security officer” in Michigan and all those affected.
“The synagogue is meant to be a sanctuary – a place of prayer, learning and community. There is no place for violence and anti-Semitism in our society,” the statement read.
“We stand with the Temple Israel community and with the entire greater Detroit Jewish community, praying for healing, safety and strength,” she said. “In the face of hate, we remain committed to building societies rooted in dignity, justice and peace.”
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