Reform Judaism
Throughout history, Jews have remained firmly rooted in Jewish tradition, even as we learned much from our encounters with other cultures. Nevertheless, since its earliest days, Reform Judaism has asserted that a Judaism frozen in time is an heirloom, not a living fountain. The great contribution of Reform Judaism is that it has enabled the Jewish people to introduce innovation while preserving tradition, to embrace diversity while asserting commonality, to affirm beliefs without rejecting those who doubt and to bring faith to sacred texts without sacrificing critical scholarship.
Reform Judaism affirms the central tenets of Judaism - God, Torah and Israel - even as it acknowledges the diversity of Reform Jewish beliefs and practices. We believe that all human beings are created in the image of God, and that we are God's partners in improving the world. Tikkun olam — repairing the world — is a hallmark of Reform Judaism as we strive to bring peace, freedom and justice to all people.
Reform Jews accept the Torah as the foundation of Jewish life containing God's ongoing revelation to our people and the record of our people's ongoing relationship with God. We see the Torah as God inspired, a living document that enables us to confront the timeless and timely challenges of our everyday lives.
In addition to our belief that Judaism must change and adapt to the needs of the day to survive and our firm commitment to Tikkun Olam, the following principles distinguish Reform Jews from other streams of Judaism in North America.
Reform Jews are committed to the principle of inclusion, not exclusion. Reform Judasim reaches out to Jews-by-choice and interfaith families, encouraging them to embrace Judaism. Reform Jews consider children to be Jewish if they are the child of a Jewish father or mother, so long as the child is raised as a Jew.
Reform Jews are committed to the absolute equality of women in all areas of Jewish life. We were the first movement to ordain women rabbis, invest women cantors, and elect women presidents of our synagogues.
Reform Jews are also committed to the full participation of gays and lesbians in synagogue life as well as society at large.
Thu, April 25 2024
17 Nisan 5784
Upcoming Events
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Friday ,
AprApril 26 , 2024
Friday, Apr 26th 7:30p to 8:30p
Erev Shabbat Services most Friday nights at 7:30 in the sanctuary -
Sunday ,
AprApril 28 , 2024
Sunday, Apr 28th 9:30a to 12:00p
Hebrew and Judaics for grades K-7th -
Thursday ,
MayMay 2 , 2024
Thursday, May 2nd 10:30a to 11:30a
Our next book is A multigenerational family saga about the long-lasting reverberations of one tragic summer by "a wonderful talent [who] should be read widely" (Edward P. Jones). We will meet on May 2nd at 10:30 am via Zoom to discuss As Close to Us As Breathing by Elizabeth Poliner. In 1948, a small stretch of the Woodmont, Connecticut shoreline, affectionately named "Bagel Beach," has long been a summer destination for Jewish families. Here sisters Ada, Vivie, and Bec assemble at their beloved family cottage, with children in tow and weekend-only husbands who arrive each Friday in time for the Sabbath meal. During the weekdays, freedom reigns. Ada, the family beauty, relaxes and grows more playful, unimpeded by her rule-driven, religious husband. Vivie, once terribly wronged by her sister, is now the family diplomat and an increasingly inventive chef. Unmarried Bec finds herself forced to choose between the family-centric life she's always known and a passion-filled life with the married man with whom she's had a secret years-long affair. But when a terrible accident occurs on the sisters' watch, a summer of hope and self-discovery transforms into a lifetime of atonement and loss for members of this close-knit clan. Seen through the eyes of Molly, who was twelve years old when she witnessed the accident, this is the story of a tragedy and its aftermath, of expanding lives painfully collapsed. Can Molly, decades after the event, draw from her aunt Bec's hard-won wisdom and free herself from the burden that destroyed so many others? -
Saturday ,
MayMay 4 , 2024
Shabbat, May 4th 10:00a to 11:00a
Monthly Shabbat morning service -
Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024
Sunday, May 5th 9:30a to 12:00p
Hebrew and Judaics for grades K-7th -
Friday ,
MayMay 10 , 2024
Friday, May 10th 7:30p to 8:30p
Erev Shabbat Services most Friday nights at 7:30 in the sanctuary -
Friday ,
MayMay 17 , 2024
Friday, May 17th 7:30p to 8:30p
Erev Shabbat Services most Friday nights at 7:30 in the sanctuary -
Friday ,
MayMay 24 , 2024
Friday, May 24th 5:30p to 6:00p
Our families with children 5 and under are invited to join us for a short Shabbat program, with singing, a story, and of course Challah and Grape Juice! -
Friday ,
MayMay 24 , 2024
Friday, May 24th 7:00p to 8:00p
Join us for a fun and festive Shabbat Service, led by the Religious School! -
Saturday ,
MayMay 25 , 2024
Shabbat, May 25th 4:00p to 8:00p
Our Teens and Young Adults are invited to an afternoon of field games, archery, and a campfire! Cook-out style dinner will be served, and s'mores will be available.
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Ner Shalom in the News
- Washington Jewish Week - September 7, 2023
Year of the Seder!
- Washington Jewish Week - May 20, 2021
CNS Opens First Jewish Preschool in PWC
-Washington Jewish Week - June 30, 2020
CNS Branded Masks Save Lives
- Prince WIlliam Living - September 20, 2019
Annual Patriot Day Shabbat
- Prince William Living - March 20, 2019
- Learning About Jewish Traditions
- Prince William Living - March 18, 2019
- Building an Inclusive & Vibrant Community
- Prince William Living - November 20, 2018
- Coming Together After a National Tragedy
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