RJ Blog

Welcome to Consultation on Conscience 2013! We are thrilled to welcome lay leaders and clergy from across North America for three days of public policy workshops, Jewish learning and social justice. Not able to join us? Don’t worry – you can follow along from the comfort of your own home! Check out our great line up of speakers, including: U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice Sister Simone Campbell of NETWORK and Rabbi Sharon Brous of IKAR Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers Rep. Joe Kennedy (MA) Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD) Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC)

The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School has had a profound effect on the national conversation about gun violence prevention. There was something about those 20 children, something about that tight-knit community, some way that Americans from all backgrounds recognized that this tragedy would be the straw that broke the camel’s back. And more than anyone, it has been the faith community that has maintained the moral drumbeat essential to ensuring that the Administration and Congress implement gun violence prevention. As pieces of legislation begin to be introduced, we must not alleviate the pressure on our nation’s lawmakers. On Friday, [...]

Happy New Year! While our Jewish New Year happened months ago, we can use this “secular” new year as an opportunity to set some goals for ourselves, recommit ourselves to the issues that we deem most important and focus on our relationships with our loved ones. How can the RAC help you achieve your goals in 2013? My resolutions (besides my annual vow to not eat as much chocolate, which I’ve already broken) include holding my representatives accountable to all of the issues that I care about – not just the ones that I think are likely to move in [...]

As a D.C. resident who lives in the Virginia media market, it seems as though the only ads on TV right now are political – and understandably so. Presidential, Senatorial and Congressional elections (along with local elections and proposed amendments) are among our most obvious and consistent opportunities to make our voices heard. This election season, the Reform Movement has been vocal on key issues: voter suppression and mobilization. And, after the debates are over and the pundits have had their say, on November 6 millions of American Jews will join their fellow citizens in heading to the polls to [...]

Late last night, a Jewish community building in Malmö, Sweden was attacked. Although, thankfully, no one was injured, Rabbi Saperstein reminds us, “Last night’s attack serves as a bitter reminder of the anti-Semitism that has plagued that community for too long.” Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of the Malmö community, who have known too many incidents of violence directed at its members and institutions. Read Rabbi Saperstein’s full statement here.  

Nuclear negotiations with Iran are “dead in the water,” experts say. The demise of talks comes during the same week that Iran has unveiled plans for a new air defense site and the announcement of its new short-range missile with a range of 180 miles and upgraded hardware. This also comes within days of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s plan to announce a new report, which will indicate that Iran is more and more focused on increasing its enriched uranium to 20% (the “magic number” that nuclear experts claim will allow Iranian nuclear scientists to develop a bomb). In anticipation [...]

This fall, Minnesotans will have the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment that would ask: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage in Minnesota?” If this amendment succeeds, Minnesota would join the 30 states that have constitutional bans on marriage equality, effectively writing discrimination into its state constitution.

This past weekend, a large group of Jewish Israeli teens attacked three Arab teens in Jerusalem’s Kikar Zion (Zion Square) while an even larger crowd of Israelis looked on. This attack was reported within hours of a firebombing of a Palestinian taxicab outside the Gush Etzion settlement of Bat Ayin. This pattern of violence reflects alarming and disturbing trends in Israeli society that threaten to tear the nation apart; erode the values of democracy, tolerance, and equal rights; and threaten the Zionist endeavor.

In September 2011, the Associated Press began its investigation of the New York Police Department’s specific targeting of American Muslims. Members of the NYPD were found to have spied on Muslim religious centers, workplaces and student associations at local colleges (some of which were not even in New York City), often without any evidence of wrongdoing. Upon learning of these privacy breaches, national religious leaders wrote a joint letter to Mayor Bloomberg under the coordination of the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Campaign, encouraging an investigation into the activities of the NYPD.

Each year 100,000 Americans are injured or killed because of gun-related crimes. In recent weeks, too many horrific incidents of gun violence have captured national attention, reflecting the worsening ideological divisiveness, anger and intolerance in our nation, all of which must end. The fact remains that this trend of violence threatens us all and violates the values of respect for others that must be paramount in American civic and political life.

Last week we suggested that congregations spend Shabbat memorializing the tragic incidents in Oak Creek, WI and Joplin, MO. We encouraged all URJ congregations to remember those killed as a result of hate crimes, include prayers of healing for the wounded, prayers of support for the families and communities affected, and prayers of healing for our nation. And you delivered. So many of you shared with us your plans to commemorate the victims of these attacks. You told us how you brought conversations about bigotry and group-based hatred into the walls of your synagogue, learning from and healing with each [...]

Low-level diplomatic talks between world powers and Iran have failed, according to Israeli officials. Sunday on Israel Radio, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon suggested that, if all world powers involved in the talks would collectively declare failure, “it will be clear that all options are on the table.” This comment, referring directly to the threat of a preemptive attack on the Iranian nuclear program, has amplified the rumors that Prime Minister Netanyahu has all but made the final decision to attack Iran unilaterally in the coming months.

The tragic shooting at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, WI last weekend that resulted in seven deaths and scores of injuries has horrified us all. Acts of  violence fueled by ethnic hatred, including what may be an act of arson against a mosque in Joplin, MO this week, have no place in our society and are particularly heinous to us as Jews, in light of our history as the quintessential victims of religious hatred and persecution. Reform rabbis and congregants in the greater Milwaukee area have made clear their support of the Sikh community by reaching out directly to [...]

Last Friday, President Obama signed the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Cooperation Act, which was strongly supported by the Administration and passed by overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress. Just days later, Governor Romney (presumptive Republican Presidential nominee) visited Israel and gave a widely publicized speech in Jerusalem. Rabbi Saperstein commented on the actions and statements from these two leaders, noting that they are a “powerful expression of America’s enduring commitment to Israel’s well-being and security as being vital to U.S. values and interests.” Rabbi Saperstein also commented on the fact that this bill was passed with such bipartisan support as being especially encouraging. [...]