Union for Reform Judaism

The Union for Reform Judaism is the umbrella group for the Reform movement in the US and Canada incorporating 'nearly 850 congregations in the U.S. and Canada'. The movement is formally Zionist, though only two of its constituent groups (Association of Reform Zionists of America and NFTY (Reform Jewish Youth Movement)) are member of the American Zionist Movement. Of course its membership of the World Union of Progressive Zionism also connects it directly to the World Zionist Organisation.

Movement organisations

Description from the URJ website.

• Advancing Temple Institutional Development (ATID) Fostering professional connections and sharing resources to strengthen financial resource development in congregations across North America.
• American Conference of Cantors (ACC) With almost 600 members, the ACC, through its support for and cultivation of excellence among ordained and certified cantors, strengthens Reform Jewish life in North America. ACC cantors are equipped to be attentive to the joys and challenges that members within a congregation face in their lives, using their unique calling to music and prayer as well as their shared responsibilities to offer congregational spiritual leadership. ACC members help lead their congregations and, by extension, the Reform Jewish movement in North America, to a bright future.
• Association of Reform Zionist of America (ARZA) ARZA strengthens and enriches the Jewish identity of Reform Jews in the United States by ensuring that a connection with Eretz Yisrael is a fundamental part of that identity.
• ARZENU, International Federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists ARZENU is the umbrella organization of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists. Founded in 1980 as an ideological grouping in the World Zionist Organization, ARZENUA uses its political strength in the National Institutions of Israel to advocate for Reform Jewish values in Israel's government.
• Association of Reform Jewish Educators (ARJE) As the professional organization of Jewish educators of the Reform Movement, ARJE serves a wide variety of Jewish organizations by working to strengthen Reform Jewish religious education.
• Brit Milah Program of Reform Judaism and NOAM (National Organization of American Mohalim) The Brit Milah Program of Reform Judaism, under the supervision of HUC-JIR in Los Angeles, trains physicians and nurse midwives to become Reform mohalim. NOAM is the professional organization that provides support and continuing education to Reform mohalim. Their mission is to make the age-old practice of Brit Milah available to Jewish families as a meaningful and relevant Jewish lifecycle ritual.
• Canadian Association of Reform Zionists (ARZA Canada) Comprising more than 6,000 members, ARZA Canada strives to connect with Reform communities throughout Canada, foster connections and strengthen ties to the Reform Movement in Israel, and works to realize the vision of Reform Zionism.
• Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) The oldest and largest rabbinic organization in North America, the CCAR strengthens the Jewish community by providing religious, spiritual, ethical, and intellectual leadership and wisdom to the 2,200 rabbis who serve more than 2 million Reform Jews throughout the world.
• CCAR Press The primary publisher of the Reform Movement and a division of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, CCAR Press is the source for Reform liturgy, commentaries, and Jewish scholarship, with print books, ebooks, apps, CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly, and Visual T’filah™.
• Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ) Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ) was founded to foster a dynamic community of vibrant early childhood professionals and stakeholders whose pedagogy and practice are firmly rooted in Reform Judaism. ECE-RJ provides exclusive access to forums, webinars, and resources to support its members in strengthening their early childhood programs, congregational programming, curriculum, supervision and professional development. Members of the ECE-RJ community support and inspire each other to grow professionally, developing the tools to build deep relationships and connections between and among families with young children, the congregations, and the greater Jewish community. All Director, Assistant Director and Teacher members who work in a URJ Congregational early childhood center can participate in valuable financial security programs such as a 403(b)-retirement plan, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance through the Reform Pension Board.
• Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) Founded in 1875, HUC-JIR is the largest Jewish seminary in North America for Jewish studies, preparing rabbis, cantors, leaders in Jewish education, Jewish nonprofit professionals, pastoral counselors, and scholars to apply their knowledge, commitment, vision, and expertise to strengthen and transform the Jewish community and larger world.
• Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) The public and legal advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel, IRAC was founded in 1987 with the goals of advancing pluralism in Israeli society and defending the freedoms of conscience, faith, and religion.
• Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) IMPJ is the umbrella organization of all the Reform communities and institutions in Israel.
• Men of Reform Judaism (MRJ) On January 23, 1923, eighty-nine Reform Jewish brotherhoods and men’s clubs from across the United States came together at the Hotel Astor in New York City to form the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods (NFTB), now called Men of Reform Judaism (MRJ). The mission was “to encourage local Brotherhoods to engage in projects and activities that would provide meaningful services to their congregation, to sponsor and promote vitally important nation-wide, community-building projects and to give local Brotherhood members the opportunity to explore and celebrate fellowship.” Men of Reform Judaism is that place where intellect, vision, matter, and spirit meet. It is this place because our members recognize their obligation to our Jewish heritage and values.
• National Association for Temple Administration (NATA) Founded in 1941, NATA is the professional organization for more than 400 members from North America and Australia who serve synagogues as executives, administrators, or managers.
• NFTY – The Reform Jewish Youth Movement NFTY is the Reform Jewish religious youth movement, fostering leadership at the national, regional, and congregational level. For more than 75 years, NFTY has offered thousands of young people the opportunity to explore and live Reform Judaism through teen-powered weekends and engaging social justice ventures.
• Program and Engagement Professionals of Reform Judaism (PEP-RJ) Founded in 2001, PEP-RJ supports the professional development of full- and part-time synagogue professionals whose main responsibilities center on programming, engagement, communications, membership, outreach and similar areas.
• The Reform Jewish Community of Canada (RJCC) The Reform Jewish Community of Canada (RJCC) is the umbrella organization for the Reform Movement in Canada. More than 30,000 Canadians are affiliated with the 25 URJ-affiliated Reform congregations across Canada. The Reform Movement of Canada also includes affiliate organizations such as URJ Camp George (the only Reform Jewish camp in Canada) and Leo Baeck, our Reform Jewish day school.
• Reform Pension Board (RPB) The RPB has been serving the congregations, institutions and professionals of the Reform Movement since 1944, responding to the needs and concerns of participating organizations and their professionals.
• Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) For more than 50 years, the RAC has been the hub of Jewish social justice and legislative activity, serving as the Reform Movement's voice in Washington, D.C.
• Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Founded by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise as the Union for American Hebrew Congregations in 1873, the URJ is a dynamic network of congregations, lay leaders, clergy and professionals across North America.
• Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) Established in 1913, WRJ strengthens the voice of women worldwide and empowers them to create caring communities, nurture congregations, cultivate personal and spiritual growth, and promote progressive Jewish values.
• World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) WUPJ is the international umbrella organization of the Reform, Liberal, Progressive, and Reconstructionist movements, serving 1,250 congregations with 1.2 million members in more than 50 countries.