RJ Blog

In a new policy statement adopted by the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Reform Jewish Movement addressed the full array of issues flowing from the decision of the UN to upgrade the official status of the Palestinians. The statement, adopted overwhelmingly after a full debate by more than 200 board members at yesterday’s meeting of the Union of Reform Judaism’s North American Board of Trustees, “Condemn[s] the Palestinian Authority for the unilateral decision to seek upgraded status at the United Nation as counterproductive to the cause of peace, and express[es] … deep concern [...]

The United Nations voted yesterday to accept Palestinian non-member observer state status at the UN. In response to this vote, Rabbi Rick Jacobs today issued a statement on behalf of the Reform Movement: We are deeply disappointed in the results of the vote in the United Nations yesterday to accept Palestinian non-member observer state status. We believe this decision will undercut incentives for a final  agreement that must be negotiated by the two impacted parties directly. We are also concerned about the potential for this decision to enable the Palestinians to challenge Israel, both diplomatically and legally, in the international [...]

Every congregational website should have – and post in a conspicuous place – a privacy policy that clearly states how information gathered on the site is used and how visitors may contact the congregation for further information. Your congregation’s webmaster should be able to give you the technical information that is unique to your congregation. The information that follows is for guidance only, and the Union for Reform Judaism recommends that any policy be reviewed by an attorney.

If you’re a fan of Top 40 music, you’ve probably had Fun.’s “Some Nights” stuck in your head at some point or another. This Hanukkah season, a cappella group StandFour has come up with a Jewish twist on this radio favorite and others. Check out “Eight Nights,” below, and leave a comment below letting us know what your favorite Hanukkah parody song is! Does this one rank among favorites like the Maccabeats “Candlelight” and Adam Sandler’s classic “Hanukkah Song”?

URJ President Rick Jacobs’ solidarity visit with members of the Israeli Reform community during Operation Pillar of Defense took him Kibbutz K’far Aza, on the Gaza border, where he visited with with kibbutz resident Chen Abrahams. Please visit urj.org/israel for ongoing updates on Rabbi Jacobs’ trip and the situation in Israel.

This afternoon, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the URJ, lead a conference call/webinar with more than 100 participants from across the Reform Movement, briefing listeners on his recent visit to Israel with the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations. A recording of that call is available on YouTube and below for those who were unable to join the live event. Please visit urj.org/israel for ongoing updates on Rabbi Jacobs’ trip and the situation in Israel.

For those geographically removed from the East Coast, it may seem as though, in the four weeks that have passed since Hurricane Sandy hit, normalcy has returned to life in coastal New York and New Jersey. This piece by Chavie Lieber for JTA, published just before Thanksgiving, tells a very different story. Lieber writes, in part, Some three weeks after Sandy washed ashore, power has been largely restored in the tristate area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and, for most people, life has gradually returned to normal. But for some, normal has been forever redefined. “The history of our temple is now [...]

Rabbi Rick Jacobs has just returned from Israel, which he visited during the Thanksgiving holiday with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. In this video, Rabbi Jacobs meets with teenage participants in the Israeli Reform Movement’s Mechina Project, a post-high school, pre-military year of service and community. One of the participants speaks of the group’s experience in a bomb shelter in Beersheva, the largest city in Southern Israel. See photos from Rabbi Jacobs’ trip and stay tuned for additional updates. We also invite you to join us today at 3:00pm ET for a conference call/webinar with Rabbi [...]

In response to Israel’s military efforts to stop the barrage of rockets fired from Gaza, and the subsequent escalation in violence, today the arms of the Reform Movement, representing 1.5 million Jews in North America, as well as numerous professional organizations and affiliates, are joining together, calling for spiritual, political, and financial support for Israel. The Reform Movement has long been an unwavering voice for Israel and today we reaffirm our staunch support for Israel in this moment of crisis. Our Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) has been in touch with the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), [...]

These days, congregations, clergy, and congregants alike maintain blogs related to the Jewish world, whether to share divrei Torah (Biblical commentaries), to clue members into synagogue goings-on, or to postulate on the state of the Jewish world. (For a great list of Jewish blogs to get you started, take a look at our blogroll on the right-hand side of this page.) But writing can be tough work – what should you say, how should you say it? Fret not: Blogging is a lot more fun than any day-to-day writing you’re used to! Blog posts are meant to convince, mobilize, energize, [...]

In response to Israel’s military efforts to stop the barrage of rockets fired from Gaza, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the following statement today: “We have long made clear our distress at the barrage of rocket fire from Gaza targeting Israelis, and just a few weeks ago called on the international community to pressure Hamas to bring an end to the attacks. Instead, the rocket fire from Gaza has increased, necessitating Israeli military action. We are, as ever, greatly saddened by the loss of innocent lives – Israeli or Palestinian – and hope that [...]

Yesterday’s New York Times included a powerful, painful piece by Sharon Otterman titled “For Congregation Leaders, Hurricane is Taking a Toll.” It profiles four houses of worship badly damaged when Hurricane Sandy hit land two weeks ago, including West End Temple in Neponsit, N.Y., located in the Rockaways section of Queens. When the storm hit, it brought four feet of water and debris into the first floor of this Reform synagogue, destroying the congregation’s Torah and prayerbooks and causing significant damage to the building. To stay safe, volunteers have to wear masks in order to work inside the building. Otterman [...]

The GA is almost here! URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs will serve as scholar-in-residence this weekend at the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly (GA) Nov. 11th through 13th in Baltimore. Thousands of Jews from across North America and around the world will gather at the GA to network, conceive new ideas, and examine the issues facing the Jewish philanthropic world. Jewish Life TV (JLTV) will be broadcasting the GA plenaries live on JLTV, and teaming up with JFNA to webcast the plenaries live on JewishFederations.org. Catch Rabbi Jacobs’ speeches at the opening plenary on Sunday, Nov. 11th at [...]

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it still make a sound? More importantly, does the sound it makes matter? Such is the case with social media. Active, fantastic social media accounts are nothing without followers and fans. Here are a few tips for driving traffic to your online presence(s): Add your social media account info to the bottom (or top!) of all printed congregational communications, including brochures, FAQs, and other handouts. Ask your clergy and staff to include a uniform message to their e-signatures with links to your online presence. [...]