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.
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