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CCAR Journal - Spring 2026
The Reform Jewish Quarterly: The World Union for Progressive Judaism at One Hundred
Edited by Rabbi Edwin C. Goldberg, Rabbi Daniel H. Freelander and Rabbi Deborah Kahn-Harris
This issue, which celebrates the centenary of the founding of the World Union for Progressive Judaism in 1926, examines the impact of the WUPJ on the growth of Progressive Judaism around the globe. The articles explore the early history of the WUPJ and the creation of rabbinic seminaries, youth movements, and liturgies, as well as key regions of the movement: the United Kingdom, Europe, South Africa, South America, Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand, and Israel. The issue also contains new book reviews and poetry.
THE WORLD UNION FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM
AT ONE HUNDRED
Guest Editors: Rabbi Daniel H. Freelander and Rabbi Professor Deborah Kahn-Harris
From the Guest Editors: At the Gates
Rabbi Daniel H. Freelander and Rabbi Professor Deborah Kahn-Harris
Mattuck, Montagu, and Montefiore: Their Role in the Foundation of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
Pam Fox, PhD
The Training of Rabbis for Progressive Judaism Outside of North America
Rabbi Dr. Michael J. Shire
Netzer at Fifty: Closing the Gap Between Promise and Power
Yonatan Glaser
How We Do Liturgy: One Hundred Years of Prayerful Partnerships
Cantor Sarah Grabiner
The Development and Evolution of Reform and Liberal Judaism in the United Kingdom
Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Romain
Mai D’hava Hava: Progressive Judaism’s European Renewal After the Shoah
Rabbi Lea Mühlstein
A Short History of Progressive Judaism in South Africa
Rabbi Greg Alexander
Progressive Judaism in South America: A WUPJ Historical Chapter on Argentina and Brazil
Rabbi Sergio Bergman
A History of Progressive Judaism in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand
Rabbi Dr. Esther Jilovsky
Not by Might, Nor by Power: The Journey of Reform Judaism in Israel—From the Margins to the Heart of Israeli Society
Anna Kislanski
Book Reviews
Israelite Religion: From Tribal Beginnings to Scribal Legacy, by Karel van der Toorn
Reviewed by Kristine Henriksen Garroway, PhD
Mussar in Recovery: A Jewish Spiritual Path to Serenity and Joy, by Hannah L. with Rabbi Harvey Winokur
Reviewed by Rabbi Daniel K. Alter
Poetry
Sighting
Erev
Molly Kirschner
I Am Black and I Am Beautiful
Amanda Bradley
Missing Marker
Rabbi Dr. Israel Bobrov Zoberman
A Farmer’s Mezuzah
Roger Nash, PhD
At 95 I Look Ahead
Rabbi Norman Hirsh
News From Home
Tova Gannana
Little Gloria
A Dream after My Daughter Went Home
Jessica Greenbaum
Rabbi Edwin Goldberg currently serves as the rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom of The Woodlands, in the Houston area. He received rabbinic ordination and a doctorate in Hebrew Literature from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (in 1989 and 1994, respectively). He has authored several books, including: Midrash for Beginners, Heads and Tales: Stories of the Sages to Enlighten Our Minds, Swords and Plowshares: Jewish Views of War and Peace, Love Tales from the Talmud, Saying No and Letting Go: Jewish Wisdom on Making Room for What Matters Most. He served as the Coordinating Editor of the new Reform Jewish machzor, Mishkan HaNefesh. He also edited a companion commentary, Divrei Mishkan HaNefesh and has published many articles and sermons. Rabbi Goldberg has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami in the department of Religious Studies and Judaic Studies. He is also a graduate of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.
Rabbi Daniel H. Freelander served in Reform Movement leadership roles for over fifty years. A noted musician and consultant, he still believes in the efficacy of organizations and programs that inspire congregational growth and change through exposure to best practices from other entities. He served as president of the WUPJ from 2014 until 2019.
Rabbi Professor Deborah Kahn-Harris is Principal of Leo Baeck College in London, United Kingdom, where she also serves as Professor of Hebrew Bible.
Her most recent book is Polyamory and Reading the Book of Ruth (Lexington Books, 2024).
