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.
Senate Failure to Vote on Goodwin Liu Deeply Disappointing
Rabbi Saperstein: "Jewish tradition teaches of the importance of a fair and just judiciary, and there is nothing fair nor just about the obstruction that plagued Professor Liu's nomination."
START Treaty Ratification Strengthens Senate's Commitment to Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Rabbi Saperstein: "Today, we welcome the Senate's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and reaffirm our own pledge of working towards a nuclear free world."
Concerns Remain on Impact of Tax Cut Compromise on Working Families
Rabbi Saperstein: "This compromise cannot distract from the need to address urgent structural challenges.
Reform Movement Leader Hails Historic Vote to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Pelavin: "The strong support for repeal reflects the great strides our nation has made since the policy's inception in 1993 and demonstrates the now-widespread understating that every individual, gay and straight, is created in God's image and deserving of dignity
House Vote to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" A Welcome Step
Pelavin: "We appreciate the efforts of those members of Congress who are working diligently to ensure that this congressional session does not conclude without an end to this unfortunate chapter of military policy."
Time Running Out for Senate Action on American DREAM Act
Rabbi Saperstein: "Throughout more than 350 years of Jewish immigration to America, we have been actively engaged in the struggles of new immigrants and in the development of a just and compassionate immigration policy."