Rabbi Julie Zupan

Rabbi Julie Zupan (she/her) is the Director of Jewish Engagement and Learning for Congregational Engagement and Leadership Experiences at the Union for Reform Judaism, where her work focuses on supporting newcomers to Judaism and Jewish community. She was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and is a member of Temple Sinai of Sharon, MA.

Lessons from Charoset During a Year of Pandemic

Rabbi Julie Zupan
As we enjoy this year’s sweet charoset, let us cherish and express our gratitude for the essential workers, medical professionals, everyday heroes, and others who provided the sweetness that helped temper the bitters we tasted this year.

What is the Jewish expression to refer to someone who has died?

Rabbi Julie Zupan
In Judaism, when someone has died, it is customary to add the expression, “May their memory be for a blessing” after mentioning the deceased by name. In Hebrew, the expression is “ zichrona livracha” (feminine), “ zichrono livracha” (masculine), or “ zichronam livracha” (plural or gender-neutral) and is typically abbreviated