Why I Am a Reform Jew

A rabbi traces the history of the Reform movement from a personal perspective, chronicling his grandfather's settling in Winnepeg, his father's move to New York, and his own appreciation of the values of Reform Judaism

Although Syme offers a concluding chapter on his reasons for choosing Reform Judaism over other branches and gives colorful background on the history of Reform, his earnest, plodding autobiography is essentially a fleshed-out curriculum vitae taking the reader through his boyhood, bar mitzvah, summer camp, trips to Israel, campus ferment, rabbinical training and professional career. Vice-president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), he writes about his family's roots in Winnipeg and the molding influence of his father, product of an Orthodox home, who nevertheless became a Reform rabbi in New York and Detroit. Syme's bout with cancer while in college crystallized his decision to become a rabbi. He believes Reform represents the best chance for Judaism to thrive in a pluralistic society. We also learn about UAHC's educational reforms, youth program and Outreach drive targeted at persons with no religious preference.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Rabbi Syme (himself the son of a Reform rabbi) traces his spiritual history from early youth to young manhood, when he committed himself to becoming a Reform rabbi after he survived a harrowing illness. Through the prism of his life story, the reader sees an intimate picture of the development and growth of American Reform Judaism during the last three decades, with its emphasis on theological liberalism and its concerns for social justice, political activities, and civil and feminist rights. Despite Syme's simplistic style, most readers, especially young adults, will find this spiritual odyssey a useful introduction to Reform Judaism in America.
- Robert A. Silver, Shaker Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.