URJ President to Spend Night at Synagogue Homeless Shelter He Founded 30 Years Ago
Brooklyn, NY, January 14, 2014 – In 1983, when Rabbi Rick Jacobs was the rabbi at Brooklyn Heights Synagogue (BHS), he had a vision to start a shelter to address the growing problem of homelessness in New York City.
URJ President Rabbi Jacobs Responds to Reports of Murdered Arab Teen
Jerusalem, July 2, 2014 - In response to reports of the death of an Arab teenager in what may be an act of revenge for the murders of Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar, and Eyal Yifrach, Rabbi Rick Jacobs issued the following statement:
Men of Reform Judaism Announce New Strategic Plan
July 15, 2014, New York, NY - The Men of Reform Judaism (MRJ) met recently in New Orleans for their annual convention where they announced significant organizational changes to better advocate for and support compelling strategies to engage and connect the men of Reform Judaism.
URJ Service Corps Program Uses Camp Activities in Congregations to Engage Youth Year-Round
New York, July 31, 2014 -Who says the magic of camp has to end in August?
Statement Of Rabbi Rick Jacobs On The Death Of Elie Wiesel
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, released the following statement after learning of the death of Elie Wiesel.
Open Letter To Donald Trump From Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), sent the following letter to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump today in response to statements attributed to his campaign about foreign policy regarding a two-state solution.
Donald Trump Adviser's Response To Rabbi Rick Jacobs' Questions On Middle East Policy Raises New Concerns
New York, NY; July 7, 2016 -- Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ), wrote an open letter yesterday to the campaign of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in response to comments made to CNN by campaign adviser David Friedman about a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Mr. Friedman's comments about the campaign's views on Israel mark a significant departure from the policies of the governments of both the United States and Israel, as well as the traditional positions of both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Mr. Friedman's detailed reply to Rabbi Jacobs' letter raises additional questions and concerns. The URJ has posted Mr. Friedman's letter in its entirety below. Rabbi Jacobs has written annotations to the letter which are shown attributed to Union for Reform Judaism.
Reform Movement Reacts to Week of Tragic Violence
In response to the police shooting deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile and the deaths of the five police officers in Dallas, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
Citing "Deep Disappointments and Concerns," Western Wall Negotiating Team Tells PM Netanyahu: Legal Action Is At Hand
The following letter was sent yesterday to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the negotiating team supporting implementation of the agreement to create an egalitarian prayer space at the Kotel (Western Wall in Jerusalem) - Yizhar Hess, Masorti Movement; Anat Hoffman, Women of the Wall; Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Union for Reform Judaism; Batya Kallus, Women of the Wall; Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism; Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, The Rabbinic Assembly; and Rabbi Steve Wernick, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Contemporary Translations of Torah Portions Now Available Online at ReformJudaism.org
New York, NY; July 14, 2016 -- ReformJudaism.org, the flagship website of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), has launched the English translations of every Torah portion to benefit the site’s two million annual visitors. The launch of these English translations of the Torah, Judaism’s most sacred text, is a significant achievement on behalf of users who want to read a modern translation.