Reform rabbis open new possibilities for patrilineal Jews

People with a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother will be granted Jewish status without the need for a full conversion, the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK has announced.

The new proposals mean individuals who live a Jewish life but are only patrilineally Jewish will be confirmed as Jewish through an “individual process”.

Rabbis would then take decisions on a case-by-case basis confirming Jewish status.

Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, Senior Rabbi to Reform Judaism, said of the proposed new methods: “We are enabling more people to claim their Judaism with a process that has integrity.”

Rabbi Paul Freedman, Chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK said: “We are proud to offer these new ways of welcoming people to our communities, just as we were proud to lead on equal marriage and on calling women to the bimah. The Assembly has stayed true to our core values, treasuring both Jewish tradition and Judaism’s ability to evolve in response to the contemporary world, as being inclusive and egalitarian.”

Robert Weiner, Chair of Reform Judaism, said: “I welcome the result of our rabbis’ deliberations and look forward to discussing how we can implement them in our communities.”