URJ Receives $5 Million Gift From Heller Family To Enhance Transformational NFTY-EIE High School in Israel Program
New York, NY, October 19, 2016 – The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) announced today that the Heller family of Scotch Plains, NJ, has made an endowment gift of $5 million to fund the NFTY-EIE High School in Israel Program, which is being renamed URJ Heller High: Isaac and Helaine Heller EIE High School in Israel. This is the largest gift in EIE history, and the URJ’s largest non-capital gift.
The Union for Reform Judaism's Camp Newman Dedicates $4 Million Koret Conference Center Serving Northern California Jewish Community
On November 5, the Union for Reform Judaism’s Camp Newman will dedicate the Koret Conference Center at URJ Camp Newman, a sacred new space for the Northern California Jewish community to enjoy immersive year-round Jewish experiences. The Koret Conference Center’s completion is a critical phase in the major development project completing the Jewish retreat center at URJ Camp Newman.n November 5, the Union for Reform Judaism’s Camp Newman will dedicate the Koret Conference Center at URJ Camp Newman, a sacred new space for the Northern California Jewish community to enjoy immersive year-round Jewish experiences. The Koret Conference Center’s completion is a critical phase in the major development project completing the Jewish retreat center at URJ Camp Newman.
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.
On World AIDS Day, Reform Jewish Leader Calls for Increased Access to Treatment
Pelavin: "Let us recommit to honoring the memory of HIV/AIDS victims in the most meaningful way - by eradicating this deadly, and preventable, disease."
Reform Movement Condemns Iran's Disregard for International Diplomacy
Pelavin: "We join the nations of the world in this definitive statement of international resolve to stem Irans nuclear threat."
Contact: Kate Bigam or Liz Piper-Goldberg
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Senate Health Care Bill Must Protect Women's Reproductive Health
Saperstein: "The Senate must pass health insurance reform that meets the needs of all Americans and repudiate dangerous anti-choice amendments that restrict access to reproductive health care services."
Reform Jewish Leader Calls on Rev. Robertson to Retract Anti-Islamic Remarks
Pelavin: "How disappointing to see a religious leader stoop to this level, attempting to delegitimatize one of the worlds great faiths based on the actions of someone who perverts its teachings."
Reform Jewish Movement Welcomes Passage of Health Care Bill, Expresses Concerns About Anti-Choice Provisions
Rabbi Saperstein: "In the current crisis of health care coverage and access, todays vote moves us closer to the principles of reform that we as Reform Jews have long advocated."
Union for Reform Judaism Endorses Health Care Bill
Dr. Gutmann: "We recognize that the House bill is not perfect, and we will continue our Movements decades of work to provide comprehensive and quality health care to all Americans."