Statement of Union for Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs Responding to the Mass Shooting in El Paso, TX
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs: “Israel’s Decision To Bar U.S. Representatives Is Wrong. Democracies Do Not Hide.”
URJ President on United Methodist Church Rejecting BDS
This week’s clear decision by the United Methodist Church rejecting the efforts of those who misguidedly sought to draw the Church into the boycott, divestment, sanctions campaign to delegitimize Israel is a welcome step in support of peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
URJ Launches JewV’Nation Fellowship: An Interfaith Outreach Incubator for Emerging Jewish Leaders
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) today launched the JewV’Nation Fellowship, an innovative year-long project incubator and leadership development program supporting emerging Jewish leaders and creative interfaith outreach initiatives. The program, which will begin in early 2017, is supported in part with a Jewish Funders Network grant from Avenues to Jewish Engagement for Intermarried Couples and their Families, in honor of 2015 Genesis Prize Laureate Michael Douglas.
The JewV’Nation (pronounced “juvination”) Fellowship program will be led by April Baskin, URJ’s Vice President of Audacious Hospitality, and seeks to engage a new generation of leadership by valuing the perspectives and insights of the younger members of the community and supporting them with resources and strategies to bring their best ideas to life. The fellows themselves will define and create exciting and contemporarily relevant Jewish programming.
A Crucial First Step for Our Environment, Our Economy, and Our Health
Saperstein: "Passage of this vital bill shows that we can tackle climate change in a way that protects our planet and the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, in our nation and around the world."
Reform Movement Commends Report on Prison Rape, Calls for Action
Saperstein: "These numbers, likely underreported, serve as an alarming reminder of the scourge of prison rape and the immediate need for preventative programs, treatment, and investigation."
Reform Movement Condemns Repressive Violence, Mourns deaths of Iranian protesters
Saperstein: "Above all, we mourn the senseless deaths, condemn the violent repression of the rights of free assembly, speech, and dissent, and urge that these human rights violations cease immediately."
Hate Crimes Bill Would Give Nation "The Ability to Respond"
"Hate crimes are nothing less than attacks on those values that are the pillars of our republic and the guarantors of our freedom. They are a betrayal of the promise of America."
On Anniversary of Caputre, Reform Movement Prays for Release of Gilad Shalit
Pelavin: "We hope and pray that a renewed effort and diplomatic ingenuity can, at last, help deliver Gilad home safely"
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At Interfaith Service, Saperstein Stresses Urgent Need for Health Care Reform
"Universal means universal: for the rich and the poor, for the old and the young, for the chronically ill and the disabled, and it must focus on preventative and primary care, saving lives while containing cost."