RJ Blog

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), [...]

Editor’s note: This is the as-prepared text of Rabbi Jacobs’ closing plenary address this afternoon at Jewish Federation of North America’s General Assembly. You can also watch his address below, courtesy of JLTV.com; he starts about two thirds of the way through the video. It’s too simple to think of the world as beginning with our families and ending with those who think, pray, and vote as we do. That isn’t how Jewish tradition views the world, and that isn’t what it means to be part of something larger, more inspiring and more challenging called the Jewish people. For 15 [...]

by Dolores Wilkenfeld On behalf of my Houston community, I want to express deep gratitude for the Shutafim/Partners recognition we received at the Biennial from the Union for Reform Judaism and its Synagogue-Federation Relations Committee for exemplary collaboration and cooperation between the Federation and the synagogue community.  I also appreciate this opportunity to share with you some of my thinking about the institutional relationships in our communities.

by Larry Kaufman The resumption of religious school and the advent of the High Holy Days make this shul-shopping season at synagogues everywhere. But the congregational selection process was facilitated this year for potential joiners in the Springfield, MA area, thanks to a joint get-acquainted open house organized for the community with the help and support of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts.

by Larry Kaufman In the days before GPS, my father used to tell a story about a man who stopping several times to ask directions to the synagogue, where he wanted to find Ginsburg, the president of the congregation.  Each time, he was asked why he wanted to see that no-goodnik, that low- life, that gonif (thief).  When he and the president finally connected, he asked, “Tell me, Mr. Ginsburg, do you get paid for this job?” And Ginsburg replied, “Of course not. I do it for the koved (glory).” Anyone who has been a temple president knows that the [...]

by Larry Kaufman Arguably, over the last hundred years or so, the two most important institutions in American Jewish communities have been the synagogue(s) and the Jewish Federation. Today, just a few minutes in the Jewish blogosphere will lead to dozens of articles claiming that each is in crisis, and that both need to revision themselves and their national organizations. (Note that my use of the word national is meant to encompass, not to forget or exclude, the Jewish communities of Canada.)   The reasons given for the crisis are many – the economy, a generational shift (and the attendant transfer [...]