Union for Reform Judaism
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) until 2003, founded in 1873 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the congregational arm of Reform Judaism in North America. The other two arms established by Rabbi Wise are the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and the Central Conference of American Rabbis. The current president of the URJ is Rabbi Rick Jacobs.
| Union for Reform Judaism | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | URJ |
| Theology | Reform Judaism |
| President | Rabbi Richard Jacobs |
| CCAR President | Rabbi Ron Segal |
| Associations | World Union for Progressive Judaism |
| Region | United States and Canada |
| Headquarters | 633 Third Avenue, New York City |
| Founder | Isaac Mayer Wise |
| Origin | July 8, 1873 Melodeon Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Congregations | 831 |
| Members | ~880,000 affiliates 600,000–1,150,000 identifying |
| Official website | www |
The URJ has an estimated constituency of some 880,000 registered adults in 831 congregations. It claims to represent 2.2 million, as over a third of adult American Jews, including many who are not synagogue members, state affinity with Reform, making it the largest Jewish denomination. The UAHC was a founding member of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, of which the URJ is the largest constituent by far.