Pittsburgh Platform
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
This defining document of American Reform Judaism was signed by eighteen rabbis at the Concordia Club near here, November, 1885. The 8-point statement encouraged ecumenical dialogue, emphasized the progressive nature of Reform Judaism, and identified Judaism as a religion.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
In November 1885, eighteen rabbis gathered at Pittsburgh's Concordia Club and hammered out an eight-point statement that would define American Reform Judaism for decades. The Pittsburgh Platform framed Judaism as a progressive, evolving religion and encouraged dialogue across faiths. It became the guiding creed of the Reform movement in the United States.
Why it matters
This document shaped how a growing American Jewish community understood itself, marking a distinctly American reworking of an ancient tradition.
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