The Reform Judaism blog, RJ.org, is the place to get the News and Views of Reform Jews from around North America and the world. Filled with facts and opinions, action items, regular posts from Movement leaders and interesting tidbits from the greater Jewish world, this site is the platform where Reform Jews come together to chat, opine, kibbitz and learn in an online community.

RJ.org is operated for the Reform Movement and its institutions by the Union for Reform Judaism, under policy guidelines established by its Editorial Board, a volunteer body appointed by the Chairman of the Board of the URJ.  The URJ is not responsible for the accuracy of the content of anything posted here other than posts signed in their official capacities by members of the URJ staff.

The URJ reserves the right to edit or remove postings that it considers inappropriate for this site, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions of Use.

RJ.org accepts submissions for consideration. Send your posts to rjblog@urj.org. Please include biographical information, including any affiliation with a Reform congregation or institution.

RJ.org Editorial Board

Co-chair: Laurence (Larry) Kaufman is a member of Beth Emet, the Free Synagogue, in Evanston IL.  A long-time Reform movement activist, he serves on the North American Board of URJ, the North American Council of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, the Board of ARZA, and is a past president of Temple Sholom of Chicago.  In his day job, he is a marketing communications consultant.

Co-chair: Jim Ball is a member of the URJ North American Board; he also chairs the Board’s Marketing & Communications Committee and is a Bridgebuilder. Jim attends Congregation Beth El of Sudbury, MA, and lives in Newton, MA with his wonderful wife, the writer Anita Diamant, their dog Buddy and too many Jewish books.

William Berkson is author of Pirke Avot: Timeless Wisdom for Modern Life (Jewish Publication Society 2010), He is Director of the Jewish Institute for Youth and Family, www.mentsh.com, and lead developer of its Becoming a Mentsh courses on Jewish values for teens. He is also designer of the typeface Williams Caslon Text (Font Bureau, 2010)

Donald C Cutler

Emilia Diamant is the Principal and Youth Director at Temple Beth Or in Raleigh, NC. She will be published in Jewish Lights’ upcoming book on Torah texts for teens.

Marge Eiseman
Marge Eiseman describes herself as The Jewish Peddler and is involved in an array of organizations and activities from radio show host and itinerant Jewish teacher and performer to making music, cooking, reading, writing, storytelling and traveling. She is a member of Congregation Sinai in Milwaukee, WI.

Jay Geller

Rabbi Edwin Goldberg

Rabbi Paul Kipnes is the spiritual leader of Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas, CA. He teaches Pastoral Counseling in the Rabbinical School and serves as a member of the Rhea Hirsch School of Jewish Education clinical faculty at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. He serves as Rabbinic Dean at Camp Newman in Santa Rosa and co-chair of the revenue enhancement committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Rabbi Kipnes co-edited a national CCAR Journal issue on New Visions for Jewish Community. Rabbi Kipnes blogs here and at Or Am I?. He tweets @RabbiKip.

Rabbi Peter Knobel

Carol Kur

Taylor Lyles

Cantor Sally Neff

Jane Rips is a member of the URJ Board and a past president of her synagogue, Temple Israel, Omaha, Nebraska. She has spent the past 30 years as a dedicated community volunteer, chairing numerous fund raisers and events. She is a married to Harlan (whom she met in NFTY)  and the mother of two 20-something daughters.

Rabbi Richard Sarason

Rabbi Phyllis Sommer is the associate rabbi at Am Shalom in Glencoe, Illinois, and the mama of four sweet little people who give her a lot to write about on her blog, Ima on and off the Bima.