Reform Judaism to commission independent review into safeguarding culture

Reform Judaism is set to commission an independent review into its safeguarding culture.

Its board of trustees made the announcement in a letter to Reform communities on Thursday.

The synagogue movement pledged to publish a timescale for the review, which it said is to be led by an “organisation with safeguarding expertise that is wholly independent of Reform Judaism and our communities, to actively invite anyone with a safeguarding concern to come forward.”

“We realise that abuse in all its varieties and forms does occur and that the Reform Jewish community is not immune. Abuse is not limited to sexual abuse of children and young people but can occur at all levels and during all types of interaction with members of Reform Judaism and all those that relate to us and each other,” the letter said.

The movement was among several Jewish groups to participate in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse last month, a national investigation into child protection in religious organisations and settings.