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.
Faith Groups Anticipate Federal Action to Protect American Muslims & Religious Freedoms
Rabbi Saperstein: "Securing the right of religious freedom and ensuring that we, and our neighbors, are able to follow the dictates of our conscience, free of fear, is an issue of urgent importance in America. "
Reform Movement Condemns Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Inflammatory Comments
Rabbi Saperstein: "Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's comments about the Palestinian people saying that, "Abu Mazen and all these evil people should perish from this earth," are morally reprehensible.
Start of Peace Talks Brings New Hope for Peace and Security to Middle East
Start of Peace Talks Brings New Hope for Peace and Security to Middle East Saperstein: "Today's announcement brings new hope that the New Year may be, indeed, a year of peace."
Reform Movement Urges House Action on Child Nutrition Reauthorization
Pelavin: "Hunger does not affect family members in isolation; we must not address the needs of children by depriving their families of critical assistance."
Reform Jewish Movement Congratulates Justice-Designate Elena Kagan
Pelavin: "We know that [Justice-Designate Kagan's] wit, intellect, and experience will certainly serve her well as she takes on the awesome responsibility of pursuing justice on our nation's highest court."
Reform Jewish Movement Welcomes Approval of Cordoba House Mosque and Community Center
Yoffie and Saperstein: "The principle of religious freedom on which the United States was founded has demonstrated that our nation is strengthened by the faith of its citizens and the houses of worship in which they gather."