[anapikoros]

Interestingly, reform Jews (aka the most liberal in oh so many ways) do not necessarily face Jerusalem and in fact may have their sanctuaries (temples) set up so the congregation does NOT face east toward Jerusalem (more specifically the Western Wall of the original Temple) while praying.

Not quite - the layout of even the most reform will have the ark containing the Torah facing towards Jerusalem. The congregational seating can be arranged any which way but it is invariably focused towards the ark. In any event many prayers are performed standing and the devout will turn to face the ark at such times regardless of which way their chair may be positioned.

[Optimist]

If you mean that the OPENING of the ark faces Jerusalem, then I am in agreement, which would mean that the BACKS of the congrgation face Jerusalem as they face the bima.

This response does not however disregard the possibility that there are devout Jews who may turn towards Jerusalem at those particular moments when it is most appropriate to do so (call to worship, etc), it's just that many early REFORM temples did not consider Jerusalem, the Holy Temple, or zionism as an important part of the Reform movement, and therefore did not build the structure with any significance to the congrgation facing east.