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.
Reform Jews Recommend Questions for Kagan Hearing
Rabbi Saperstein: "In order to best gauge our community's concerns, we developed a web-based campaign, AskElenaKagan.com, which allowed Reform Jews and others from across the United States to write in with questions . . .
Reform Movement Coordinates Religious Liberty Letter on Kagan Nomination
Rabbi Saperstein: "Although our organizations hold differing views on the nomination of General Kagan and many do not even take positions on judicial nominees, we are all committed to a strong separation of church and state and robust religious liberty for people of all
Reform Movement Condemns Death Threats Against Israeli Arab Knesset Members
Saperstein: "While we may not always agree with the ideas expressed, our deep commitment to Jewish and democratic values requires that we defend the free speech of all Israel's citizens, including its Arab citizens."
Reform Movement Welcomes New International Sanctions Against Iran
Saperstein: "This demonstration of consensus among global leaders sends a clear signal to Iran that its pursuit of a nuclear weapons program remains unacceptable."
Reform Jewish Movement Urges Senate Action On Jobs Bill
Saperstein: "It is crucial that ... the full force of the Congress [is] behind helping those struggling with the recession maintain financial stability."
Reform Jewish Guide for Congregations on the Impact of Health Reform Launches
Yoffie: "Guided by the teachings in our sacred texts, we are committed to the implementation of health insurance reform that provides the highest quality of care for the greatest number of Americans."