Rabbi Rick Jacobs

Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him) is the president of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the largest Jewish movement in North America, with almost 850 congregations and nearly 1.5 million members. An innovative thought leader, dynamic visionary, and representative of progressive Judaism, he spent 20 years as the spiritual leader of Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, NY. Deeply dedicated to global social justice issues, he has led disaster response efforts in Haiti and Darfur.

Learn more about Rabbi Rick Jacobs.

On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - The Blessing of Blessing One Another Naso

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

Parashat Naso, the longest of all the Torah portions, features a famous blessing – but what does it mean for us to bless one another? Is it a power reserved for clergy, or is it something any of us can do?

COVID-19

Pandemic Passover, Take Two: The Long Journey through the Wilderness

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

March 2, 2021

Last Passover began the urgent quest to reinvent much of Jewish life, highlighting that some of the ways we “do” Judaism needed to be updated. This year has been a powerful catalyst to shifts in how we perform our holy work.

Top of Washington Monument against a blue sky with pink cherry blossoms blooming in the foreground

d’var Torah

Awakening to the Moral Imperatives of this Moment

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

January 8, 2021

This is a moment that requires extraordinary courage to do the hardest and most transformative social change work. It is for all Americans of conscience to build a more just and compassionate future by facing the truth of our history and our present.

Shoes standing on either side of a red line as if divided or separated

Israel

A Tishah B’Av Teaching: We Can Change the Status Quo of Our Divided People

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

July 28, 2020

Trying to endure loss in isolation is more than painful; it puts our lives at risk. Rambam understood that when he described the consequences of not being connecting to Am Yisrael at times of trauma, including our fast days.

Screenshot of Rabbi Rick Jacobs and Dr John Eaves appearing on an Israeli news program

Social Justice

American Reform Jews Remember the Late Rep. John Lewis

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

July 21, 2020

Rep. John Lewis’ memory inspires us to work harder and be more courageous as we join with millions of our fellow Americans to further his prophetic vision for our country.

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