The Six-Day War: The Breaking of the Middle East
For Jews of a certain age, June 5, 1967 is and always will be a date as familiar as one’s own birthday. It was on that day that Israel launched a preemptive strike in response to the mobilization of Egyptian forces along the Israeli border in the Sinai Peninsula and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights.
Hank Greenberg in 1938: Hatred and Home Runs in the Shadow of War
In 1938, Hank Greenberg came three home runs shy of eclipsing Babe Ruth’s record of 60 homers in a season.
Testimony of Rabbi David Saperstein Before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on The Johnson Amendment
There are eight compelling reasons why the Johnson Amendment should not be changed and the current restrictions left in place.
Reform Jewish Leader Strongly Condemns Executive Order on Religious Freedom Including Weakening of Johnson Amendment
The Reform Movement condemns President Trump’s executive order on religious freedom issues in the strongest possible terms.
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs Urges Israeli Government to Reject Proposed Conversion Bill
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued a statement today on the proposed conversion bill introduced into the Knesset on May 10th, 2017, by Israel’s Ministry of the Interior, led by Shas MK Aryeh Deri.
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs In Private Audience With Pope Francis: Faith Leaders Share Commitment To Protect The Vulnerable
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) was received in a private audience today by the Holy Father Pope Francis at the Vatican for a 20-minute one-to-one meeting.
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.
Reform Jews, Interfaith Allies Make Moral Call for Gun Violence Prevention at Washington Area Gun Store
Washington, D.C., February 1, 2016 – Tomorrow, February 2, the Reform Jewish Movement will join the Metro Industrial Area Foundation for an interfaith press conference...