Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism

Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism: Mobilizing for a New Age of Peoplehood

By: Mark S. Anshan
June 2, 2026

The third Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism Conference was held May 27-28, 2026, at the historic Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York City, hosted by my friend, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch.

More than a conference, Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism 2026 became a significant moment of reflection, debate, and visioning for the future of Reform Judaism in North America. The two-day gathering brought together rabbis, cantors, educators, lay leaders, scholars, philanthropists, and communal activists from across the United States and Canada to engage in critical conversations about the movement’s future.

The conference was convened to address major challenges and opportunities facing Reform Judaism in North America, with a focus on Jewish peoplehood, Zionism, education, spirituality, leadership, and communal renewal.

These Conferences did not begin as conferences. The project began as a series of conversations—honest, searching conversations among colleagues and friends—about the state of Reform Judaism in North America, and more importantly, about its future. In those early days of zoom conversations, we asked difficult questions and named real concerns. We refused to settle for easy answers. I invited Rabbi Ammi Hirsch to join our conversations and he suggested that we should have a conference to delve deeply into the issues – he would host it at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and I would organize it as Chair. The first Conference was held in May 2023. Following October 7, Ammi suggested that we have a second Conference to address the impact of the tragedy and war on Reform Jews’ connection with Israel (one of the themes of the first Conference). That Conference was held in May 2024. We decided to hold this third Conference to revisit the issues and engage with our Reform leadership.

We adopted four resolutions related to the plenary themes of the Conference that we are sending to the Reform leadership and hope to make them available to Reform synagogue leaders in North America. These resolutions set out principles and recommendations for concrete action on Jewish Peoplehood, Jewish Education, Spirituality and Jewish Practice and Innovative Models.

We are publishing the proceedings of the first two Conferences (Volumes 1 and 2), and will begin working on Volume 3, the proceedings of this Conference.

A Steering Committee and extensive advisory committee representing diverse voices from throughout the Reform movement helped to organize the conference and suggest speakers and program format to confront the pressing questions facing contemporary Jewish life while identifying pathways toward renewal and growth. The event was organized around the theme of “Mobilizing for a New Age of Peoplehood,” emphasizing the need to strengthen Jewish identity, community, learning, spirituality, and leadership in a rapidly changing world.

The conference agenda reflected a commitment to addressing some of the most consequential issues confronting Reform Judaism, including the relationship between North American Jewry and Israel, the future of Jewish education, synagogue transformation, communal leadership, and the cultivation of Jewish literacy and engagement among younger generations.

The conference featured plenary sessions, workshops, educational forums, and policy discussions covering a broad range of subjects. Participants examined innovative approaches to Jewish education, explored new models of congregational leadership, considered strategies for fostering respectful dialogue on Israel, and discussed how Reform institutions can better engage younger Jews and emerging generations of leaders. Workshops addressed spirituality, music, trauma, community-building, and the role of Jewish values in public life.

A distinguished roster of speakers and thought leaders contributed to the conference’s intellectual depth. Among the highlights was a keynote address by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl (Senior Rabbi, Central Synagogue, NYC) on the future of Jewish spirituality and the role of awe, meaning, and sacred experience in contemporary Jewish life.

Participants also heard from leaders representing major Jewish organizations and institutions, who explored the challenges of maintaining vibrant Jewish communities while adapting to new realities and emerging opportunities.

Rabbi Eric Yoffie presented and moderated a panel on Jewish Peoplehood with three young adult leaders – Adam Louis Klein, Rabbi Ashira Boxman, Julia Jassey – who are leading significant organizations and efforts to engage their cohorts with Israel and fight anti Zionism. Dara Horn and Roya Hakakian presented compelling analyses of the issues facing the Jewish community with suggestions about how to teach on these subjects. Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback (Senior Rabbi, Stephen Wise Temple, LA) and Russell Robinson (CEO Jewish National Fund USA) addressed the challenges faced by synagogues and national organizations in devising and adopting innovative models, renewed structures to meet the needs of synagogue members and supporters of our legacy institutions.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs (President, Union for Reform Judaism) presented his views on the challenges facing the Reform Movement and the strategies required to meet those challenges. Rabbi Jonah Pesner (Vice-President, Union for Reform Judaism and Director of the Religious Action Center) supported the resolutions and noted their importance to setting the stage for continued discussion and action.

Professor Andrew Rehfeld (President, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion), in conversation with Rabbi Denise Eger (a past President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis), shared his views on the issues facing the College and the controversial question of applicants to the College who may not support Israel or see themselves as Zionists.

Rabbi Hirsch opened the Conference with his keynote address. He spoke of the relationship between Reform Judaism, Zionism, and Jewish peoplehood. His remarks sparked vigorous discussion and reflected the Conference’s commitment to engaging with difficult issues directly and thoughtfully. The exchange of ideas throughout the conference demonstrated both the diversity of opinion within Reform Judaism and the shared desire to strengthen the movement’s future.

Particularly noteworthy was the atmosphere of serious engagement and constructive debate that characterized the gathering. Rather than avoiding controversial subjects, conference organizers encouraged participants to wrestle with them openly. Conversations frequently returned to several core questions: How can Reform Judaism deepen Jewish literacy and commitment? How can synagogues remain relevant to younger generations? What role should Israel and Zionism play in Reform Jewish identity? And how can the movement balance tradition, innovation, and inclusivity while remaining rooted in Jewish values?

Participants left with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose, recognizing that the future vitality of Reform Judaism will depend on thoughtful leadership, institutional innovation, meaningful Jewish education, and a renewed commitment to Jewish peoplehood.

As Reform Judaism continues to navigate a period of significant change, Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism 2026 demonstrated that there remains both a strong appetite and a broad constituency for serious conversation about the movement’s future. The Conference’s success reflected the dedication of its organizers, speakers, and participants, and reinforced the importance of bringing together diverse voices to help shape the next chapter of Reform Jewish life in North America.

For many attendees, the conference was not simply an event but the continuation of an ongoing movement—one dedicated to strengthening Jewish identity, renewing communal purpose, and ensuring that Reform Judaism remains a vibrant and compelling force for generations to come.