Just One Week Until Biennial! Here's What You Need to Know
We're less than one week away from the start of the URJ Biennial, and we know you have questions about what to expect in the way of logistics.
The Jewish Job I Accepted After College Changed My Life
I knew I wanted to serve the Reform Jewish community in a professional capacity – but despite encouragement from Reform mentors, I knew the rabbinate wasn’t the right place for me to do so.
Why I View My Career as a Fundraiser as Holy Jewish Work
We live in difficult times, and as a progressive Reform Jew who cares deeply about injustice and human rights, I sit in frustration and horror at the atrocities unfolding daily. I wonder, like so many others, what can I do?
Cantor Barbara Ostfeld: "The Nachson, the Miriam, the Devorah of the American Cantorate"
Editor's note: The text that follows was presented before a live audience at the 2019 URJ Biennial on Wednesday, Dec. 11 as Cantor Barbara Ostfeld, the first woman to be ordained as a cantor, was presented with the 2019 Debbie Friedman Award for Contributions to Jewish Music.
My Jewish Story Starts Within - and I'm Happy to Explore It
Editor's note: The text that follows was presented before a live audience at the 2019 URJ Biennial on Wednesday, Dec. 11 as Sheldon Cole of Vancouver, BC, shared his Jewish story with convention attendees.
"We Love Being Jewish"
"I’ve been amazed, impressed, and inspired by all the ways large and small, that we demonstrate our love for being Jewish."
Op-Ed: As Reform Jews, We Must Consider Reparations for American Slavery
Reform Jews and our institutions must start participating in the dialogue around what a just reparations system looks like and calling on our elected officials to do the same.
"As Numerous as the Stars of Heaven"
There are people out there that are looking for the authentic, meaningful experience that we offer, and as long as I have the great honor of leading our movement, we’re not going to walk away from them. Not now, not ever.
As Numerous as the Stars of Heaven
Did you ever wonder what happened to the 10 Lost Tribes of ancient Israel? In 721 B.C.E., they disappeared. Poof. Gone. Imagine if we could find them today? Our Jewish community could increase to as many as 85 million worldwide.
"For Me, the Personal is Always Political"
Editor's note: The text that follows was presented before a live audience at the 2019 URJ Biennial on Thursday, Dec. 12.