Reform Movement Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Racial Justice, Condemn Movement for Black Lives Platform Language on Israel
In response to the release of the Movement for Black Lives Policy Platform, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, ARZA: The Association of Reform Zionists of America, the American Conference of Cantors, Men of Reform Judaism, and the North American Federation of Temple Youth. "We reject wholeheartedly the notion that effective anti-racism work can only be done by denouncing and excoriating Israel."
URJ President To Israel: Protect The Village Of Susya
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), sent the following letter today in response to reports of Israel's plans for the destruction of the Palestinian village of Susya:
Dear Ambassador Dermer:
I am writing on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism with concern about and opposition to reports of plans for the destruction of the Palestinian village of Susya.
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.
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs: Republican Jewish Coalition Leaders Must Ask Candidates Today about Gun Violence in America
An Urgent Open Letter to the Leadership of the Republican Jewish Coalition: RJC Leaders Must Ask Candidates about Gun Violence on America
URJ Leadership: President Obama Must Take Action to End Gun Violence in America
Contact: Lauren Theodore at 212-650-4154
December 3, 2015
21 Kislev 5776
President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Reform Movement Leadership Meets with MK Ayman Odeh, Leader of the Joint List in Israel's Knesset, A Day After Trump’s Reprehensible Anti-Muslim Proposal
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), and Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson, senior rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in New York City, hosted a group of area rabbis and lay leaders from the Reform Movement on December 8 for a discussion with Member of Knesset Ayman Odeh, head of the Joint List, the third largest party in the Knesset.
Statement by Rabbi Rick Jacobs on MK Ayman Odeh's Decision to Not Meet in the Offices of the Jewish Agency
The Union for Reform Judaism is committed to dialogue for equality and dialogue between Jewish and Arab Israeli citizens. This week, we invited MK Ayman Odeh to speak to Reform Jewish leaders. This was an opportunity for us to engage in the complexities of the issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the internal Jewish-Arab issues in Israel.
URJ Board Adopts New Resolutions on Paid Leave, Immunizations and Predatory Lending
The Union for Reform Judaism North American Board this week overwhelmingly adopted new resolutions on Paid Family Leave, Mandatory Immunizations and Predatory Lending. The resolutions’ adoption concludes a consultative and inclusive process that began before the recent Biennial assembly held in November 2015 in Orlando, FL. The resolutions add to the canon of hundreds of URJ resolutions adopted over more than a century and which outline the URJ’s values and priorities.
URJ President: We're Opposed to Israeli Legislation on NGOs
In response to attacks against human rights NGOs in Israel, including the advancement of a “Transparency Bill” in the Knesset, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), issued the following statement.