Women of Reform Judaism

by Cherie Half At the core of Parashat Acharei Mot is the question of change. This week’s Torah parashah discusses the foundation for laws affecting sexual relations and the separation of women, which is termed the “holiness” code of Leviticus.

Yesterday six of the group headed from their plane to Rosh Hanikra at the Lebanese border. Following their cable car ride to the sea, they then learned about the caves cut out by the British. They headed back to Tel Aviv but not before having lunch at the Tishbi Winery, which include a wine and [...]

WRJ made this statement today: For the past few weeks we have all been affected, either physically or emotionally, by the devastating destruction of Hurricane Sandy. The Reform Movement immediately mobilized its resources to address the needs of our congregations and others affected by the storm. As part of these efforts, NFTY has launched a [...]

The YES Fund (Youth, Education, and Special Projects) represents the collective financial efforts of our member sisterhoods and donors to strengthen the institutions of our Reform Movement and ensure the future of Reform Judaism. Together we are able to achieve what no one individual or sisterhood could accomplish alone. Through the YES Fund, WRJ is [...]

This Shabbat is Shabbat Shuvah – The Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, in the midst of our High Holy Days. These are the ten days in which we are on a higher spiritual plane – having begun our reflections of our deeds in the past year and leading to a plea [...]

As a new(ish) staff member, WRJ’s national board meeting two weeks ago served as an exhilarating experience. I loved meeting everyone and hearing the passionate speeches that recounted where WRJ has been during the past year, and summarized the goals we are working towards for the coming year. One of those goals for 2012-13 is [...]

As we all know (I hope!), our thirteen Reform camps offer the most inspiring Judaism our children can experience. More than 10,000 youngsters had a taste of a Reform Jewish summer in 2011, and this year’s registration numbers are even better. I have the pleasure of serving as the Chair of the URJ Camp Harlam [...]

by Peter Radvanszki I spend the last year of my studies in Toulouse, France, where I have a full-time placement in the Liberal Jewish Community of Toulouse, which allows me to help develop the community in several ways. Besides the usual rabbinic tasks of leading services and teaching, I started a cantillation course, in order [...]

“You shall be holy for Adonai your God is holy” are words so important that they are read from the Torah two times during the year; this week in Parashat Kedoshim and on Yom Kippur afternoon. Not only does God command us to be holy, but what follows, often called the Holiness Code, is a [...]

By Liz Piper-Goldberg As a student in the Rabbinical Program of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, I am supported by a generous scholarship from the Women of Reform Judaism. I am deeply honored to be the beneficiary of an organization that does such important and significant work for our movement and our congregations. [...]