Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the superiority of its ethical aspects to its ceremonial ones, and belief in a continuous revelation which is closely intertwined with human reason and not limited to the Theophany at Mount Sinai. A highly liberal strand of Judaism, it is characterized by little stress on ritual and personal observance, regarding Jewish law as non-binding and the individual Jew as autonomous, and by a great openness to external influences and progressive values.
A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It has a place for prayer where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as weddings, b'nai mitzvah, choir performances, and children's plays. They also have rooms for study, social halls, administrative and charitable offices, classrooms for religious and Hebrew studies, and many places to sit and congregate. They often display commemorative, historic, or modern artwork alongside items of Jewish historical significance or history about the synagogue itself.
Communauté Juive Libérale d'Île-de-France (CJL) is a Jewish community led by the Rabbi Pauline Bebe, the first woman rabbi in France. The community belongs to the Reform movement. The CJL is part of the World Union for Progressive Judaism which unites more than 1000 communities worldwide.
David Feuerwerker was a French Jewish rabbi and professor of Jewish history who was effective in the resistance to German occupation the Second World War. He was completely unsuspected until six months before the war ended, when he fled to Switzerland and his wife and baby went underground in France. The French government cited him for his bravery with several awards. After the war, he and his wife re-established the Jewish community of Lyon. He settled in Paris, teaching at the Sorbonne. In 1966, he and his family, grown to six children, moved to Montreal, where he developed a department of Jewish studies at the University of Montreal.
Liliane Aimée Ackermann (1938–2007) was a French microbiologist, Jewish Community pioneer, leader, writer, and lecturer.
The Union Libérale Israélite de France (ULIF), commonly referred to as the rue Copernic synagogue, is a Liberal Jewish synagogue, located in Paris, France. Inaugurated on the first of December 1907, it is the oldest Reform synagogue in France.
A Jewish consistory was a body governing the Jewish congregations of a province or of a country; also the district administered by the consistory.
The Grande synagogue de Lyon is a synagogue located at 13 quai Tilsitt in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon. This neo-Byzantine Jewish place of worship was built between 1863 and 1864 and renovated for the first time in 2014. It was classified as a monument historique in 1984.
Samuel Jacob Rubinstein was a 20th-century French orthodox Chief Rabbi independent from the Consistoire central. He was born in Poland.
The Grand Synagogue of Paris, generally known as Synagogue de la Victoire or Grande Synagogue de la Victoire, is situated at 44, Rue de la Victoire, in the 9th arrondissement. It also serves as the official seat of the chief rabbi of Paris.
Pauline Bebe is the rabbi of Communauté Juive Libérale, a Progressive Jewish congregation in Paris. She was the first female rabbi in France, and the first female rabbi to lead a synagogue there. As of 2018 France has only four women rabbis, Bebe, Célia Surget, Delphine Horvilleur. and Floriane Chinsky.
The Liberal Jewish Movement of France or MJLF is a Jewish liberal cultural and religious association affiliated with the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Founded in 1977, the movement promotes Jewish religious and cultural life through its two synagogues. The MJLF was created in June 1977 by fifty families under the leadership of Rabbi Daniel Farhi, first President Roger Benarrosh, and Colette Kessler, head of education. Many rabbis have contributed to the development of MJLF, including Daniel Farhi (1977-2009) Stephen Berkowitz,, Oren Postel, Pauline Bebe (1990-1995), Gabriel Farhi (1995-2007), and Célia Surget. Three rabbis currently provide the leadership for the movement: Floriane Chinsky, Yann Boissière, and Delphine Horvilleur.
The Or Thora Synagogue is a former synagogue in the 1st arrondissement of Marseille, France. Established by pieds-noirs in 1962, it was scheduled to become a mosque by summer 2016.
On 30 March 2002, a group of masked men rammed two cars through the courtyard gates of a synagogue in the La Duchere neighbourhood of Lyon, France, then rammed one of the cars into the prayer hall before setting the vehicles on fire and causing severe damage to the synagogue.
Francis Lyon Cohen VD was an English Orthodox rabbi, author and expert on Hebrew music, being the music editor of The Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–06). The Jewish Lads' Brigade was his brainchild. He was the first Jewish chaplain in the British Army, a position he held from 1892 to 1904 when he was succeeded by Rev Michael Adler. Cohen ended his career as Chief Minister of the Great Synagogue in Sydney, Australia.
The Israelite Seminary of France also known as the Central Rabbinical School of France , is a Rabbinical school that trains Orthodox rabbis in France. Founded in Metz in 1829 as the Central Rabbinical School of Metz, it moved to Paris in 1859, where it is based in the city's 5th arrondissement. The school is connected with the Israelite Central Consistory of France, one of the major bodies of Orthodox Judaism in France.
Keren Or Synagogue is a Reform Jewish Synagogue which serves as the synagogue for the Liberal Jewish Community of Lyon. It is located at 15 Rue Jules Vallès in Villeurbanne.
The Great Synagogue of Marseille is a synagogue on Rue Breteuil in the 6th arrondissement of Marseille. It is classed as a monument historique since 2007.
