RJ Blog

by Zachary Rolf You can teach kids from books, show them documentaries, bring in guest speakers, and so on, and so on. But the learning – the real life learning – that takes place when you put a group of kids together in (supervised/controlled) intense immersion-like programming is unmatched. We know how tremendously impactful Jewish summer camps are. As Jewish professionals, it’s on us to create experiences like that year-round. Two years ago, 20 teens from Central Synagogue in Manhattan explored the streets of Prague. Last year, 30 discovered Berlin. This year, 38 teens traveled with us to Amsterdam in [...]

Have you ever wondered which world nations have the largest Reform Jewish populations? In the new issue of Reform Judaism magazine, out now, you’ll find a list of The Top World Nations With Jewish Populations & Their Reform Congregations. The list includes 43 countries, the size of their Jewish populations, and the number and location of their Reform congregations. Because the term “Reform” is primarily used in North America, the list also names each country’s preferred terminology. So which countries make the list? Here’s a peek at the top 10:

by Ashley Hufford I was raised Jewish.  I went to Hebrew pre-school, then a bi-weekly Hebrew school. I had a bat mitzvah and even a confirmation, but I never considered myself that Jewish. I always said “I’m Jewish with a focus on the ‘ish.’” It often garnered a laugh, but I also thought it was a pretty great description. When I thought about going to Israel, I didn’t think it would have such an impact on my life. I figured it would be, well, a free trip—which is why the whole experience took me by surprise. I was incredibly nervous [...]

by Rabbi Danny Burkeman When I flew back to England, to visit with friends and family, during the summer, people offered the usual comments to a person going on holiday. Among the standard greetings I received, I was told to “have a good time,” “have a great holiday,” “enjoy your trip.” Beyond wishing me a “safe flight,” no one seemed in the least bit concerned about my impending travel plans. People do not worry about another person going for a visit to London. This has been in stark contrast to the greetings and wishes I have received before departing on [...]

Read about how KESHER Birthright alum Alexis Drattell found a home for herself in Israel, then carried her experiences with her as she discovers Reform Jewish life in Milan, Italy.

I just had the privilege of traveling almost 12 hours from my suburban home in Princeton, N.J., to trek deep into the Rocky Mountains. I had been told that the last six miles of the journey would be on a narrow dirt road up the side of the mountain. I didn’t know that the dusty yellow school bus I was traveling in would have to halt, creep inch-by-inch in reverse, and perch itself precipitously on a ledge in order to allow a truck to squeeze by. That is when I felt the full magnitude of agreeing to be a “Kivun” [...]

By Jason Levine “Rabbi Hanina taught: ‘I have learned much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, but from my students I have learned most of all.’” A few days ago, I had the honor of serving as a staff member for a group of 40 college students from the Hillel Foundation at Miami University and UConn Hillel on a whirlwind 10-day journey with Taglit-Birthright Israel. While the students had a tremendous time, I want to assure them and all others that they taught me far more than they realize. “May it be your will, our God and God of [...]

by Melissa Stoller I started planting the seeds of an intergenerational visit to Israel several years before my oldest daughter, Zoe, became a bat mitzvah. By the time I finished, my husband and I and our three girls, Zoe (13), Jessie (10), and Madeleine (4), together with my mother and in-laws, all were on board for our first trip to Israel, a special post-bat mitzvah journey to make connections in our family and to connect us, both spiritually and physically, to the land that we had read about and studied for years.

I have just returned from eight days touring the sites of Judaism in Central Europe with six teenagers and one soon-to-be HUC student. When I first interviewed at my current congregation, I was asked, “Rabbi, what do you think about our Confirmation trip to Europe?” As I had looked at the synagogue website before the interview and noticed that it highlighted two things – the Confirmation trip and the Adult Education program – I knew that this was an important question. I started with, “I’m not sure why the trip doesn’t go to Israel…” When a murmur ran around the [...]

by Missy Goldstein Last fall, as a junior attending the University of Florida (UF), I was considering all the possibilities for the upcoming spring break.   I know that typical UF students spend their spring breaks on cruises and at beaches, drinking and getting awkward tanlines.  I was not excited by the prospect of getting sunburned or putting myself in a bathing suit.  Sure I could visit my parents in Texas, but since it was a recent relocation, there would be no friends there for me and sitting on the couch all week just sounded boring. I thought about my Jewish [...]

By Melissa Beiser Israel was that man that my parents were trying to set me up with for years that I’ve been avoiding planning a date with. Israel is that friend that I always wanted to meet but we always seemed to move in different social circles. Israel is that remedy that all of my classmates raved about the healing properties of but I always neglected to ask for a prescription or even a free sample of. Most of all though, Israel is a gift. I was told all about how it is a gift by Hillel members, Chabad goers, [...]