Reform Jewish Movement Responds to School Shooting in South Florida
Reform Movement leadership statements in response to yesterday’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which left at least 17 people dead and many more injured.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs: Israeli Ministers Must Stop Their Hate Speech
Union for Reform Judaism Establishes Presidential Fellowship on Millennial Engagement
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) is launching a new high-level fellowship to strengthen its engagement with millennials. The first Fellow will be Evan Traylor, 21, of Edmond, Oklahoma. Traylor, who will graduate from the University of Kansas in May, will work alongside URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs and leaders of the Reform Movement to develop a toolkit for engaging millennials as partners in creating a more just, whole, and compassionate world.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs: Ultra-Orthodox MKs Must Learn the Torah of Respect
Statement by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ):
MK Israel Eichler’s comments yesterday are yet another example of the extreme intolerance of the ultra-Orthodox religious establishment. Clearly they feel a seismic shift in their decades-old monopoly on Judaism in Israel. Their stranglehold on Judaism is being loosened, and their response is desperate and pathetic.
It is hard to imagine what twisted Torah MK Eichler studies when he characterizes the largest Movement in Jewish life as “mentally ill.” Our Torah teaches us the values of pluralism and of tolerance - and it teaches us not to use phrases like “mentally ill” as an epithet.
Wisconsin Rabbis Defend Workers' Rights with Faith
Wisconsin Rabbis: "In keeping with the values of Wisconsin's Jewish community, and in the spirit of our state's motto -- forward -- we urge you to preserve the right of state employees to collectively bargain."
Black-Jewish Relations to be Fostered by Kovler Microgrants
Rabbi Saperstein: "We are excited to be able to make this new funding stream available and encourage you to work with your congregations, and African American partners to develop programming that will help strengthen relationships between the African American and Jewish comm
Vice President Al Gore to Give Opening Address at Consultation on Conscience: Session Will Kick off the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Religious Action Center
Rabbi Saperstein: "As the leading activist on sustainability and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy on climate change, we couldn't ask for a better activist than Vice President Gore give the opening address."
DOJ Decision to Stop Defending the Discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act Long Overdue
Pelavin: "The stamp of the Divine is present in each and every human being. Loving, committed couples deserve the opportunity to celebrate their relationships and have them validated in the eyes of the law."
House Deals Severe Blow to Family Planning Services
House Deals Severe Blow to Family Planning Services Pelavin: "Today's vote is an attack against Planned Parenthood and its more than 820 clinics nationwide; it is a huge blow to the millions of women and men who rely on Planned Parenthood's services -- many of whom would oth
RAC and JFNA Host Congressional Staff at Disability
Rabbi Saperstein: "We gather to affirm the Jewish community's determination to work on disability issues and to stand with the entire disability rights community to achieve our legislative priorities." William Daroff: "People living with disabilities contribute si