How Camps Can Better Welcome People of All Sexualities and Gender Identities
Our camps are not always welcome places or even designed to be inclusive of individuals who identify within the LGBTQIA community. But the good news is that our camps are trying to navigate a path of change, and a panel discussion that took place in May is evidence of the beginning of change.
Can God "Disturb" You Enough to Go Vegan?
God’s first dietary instructions to us, given in Genesis 1:29, were to eat plants and only plants. In other words, we were commanded to be vegetarians, or even vegans. Only after humanity had sunk into a state of spiritual depravity did God grant us limited permission to kill animals for food, in Genesis 9.
Today, the treatment of animals in modern industrial agriculture is so abhorrent that no ethical system, especially ours, can justify it.
5 Questions (and Answers!) about New Measures of Congregational Success
Congregations have a tendency to measure success by counting the number of heads in the room – but if they want to become stronger, this is actually the number-one habit congregations need to break.
Change Your Congregational Culture by Changing How You Measure Success
We need to shift from only considering traditional measures of success (these include attendance, whether we met budget, whether we ran out of food, number of complaints received, and whether staff seemed on-task) to adding measures that go further. These new measures must address the whole of congregational life, and revolve around what matters most to our members.
Automatic Voter Registration Gaining Momentum
While much recent attention has rightly been focused on the concerning trend of new voter suppression measures around the country, there is another, more positive, development in voting
The Reform Movement Mourns the Victims of the Tel Aviv Shooting Attack
As news reports with more details came in from Tel Aviv last night, we are shocked and horrified at the sight of two gunmen, dressed as ultra-Orthodox Jews, who opened fire at diners in the Sarona Market.
How My Son Helps Me See Creation in a New Light
Waiting for our first child to be born, I had plenty of time to reflect on the amazing and holy process taking place as our long-awaited hope first appeared as a speck in a picture, then developed miniscule human features, and finally emerged into the world. A healthy beautiful boy now nestled in our arms.
Infographic: A Look at Our Youth Programs By the Numbers
Our URJ Youth programs are cornerstones of the Reform Movement's youth engagement efforts.
The Power of a Movement: 3 Lessons Learned When Our Torah Was Detained at the Kotel
During a crisis, we collaborated with Reform leadership on aspects of our response from diplomacy and communications to social media and public relations. Every one of the 900 North American Reform congregations should recognize and value the range of expertise and resources available within the URJ’s congregational network.
BDS Faces Setbacks in Faith and Academic Organizations
For a number of years, activists seeking to damage Israel’s legitimacy and standing in the world have mounted a campaign to boycott, divest from and sanction the Jewish state.