URJ Responds to Accusations Reportedly Made By Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
Union for Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs issued the following statement reacting to reports of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ invocation of the classic anti-Semitic canard of water poisoning:
It is deplorable that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas engaged in spreading libelous accusations against Israeli rabbis in his remarks to the European parliament today. This persistent lie dates back thousands of years and is no more true today than it was in medieval ages.
URJ Responds To UUA Rejection of Divestment From Israel
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), issued the following statement today reacting to a vote taken on June 25th at the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association defeating a resolution to support Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel:
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs Responds To Nomination Of David Friedman To Be U.S. Ambassador To Israel
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs Asks President-Elect Trump About Comments By David Friedman
URJ Commends Prime Minister Netanyahu For Commitment To Aleppo's Wounded Civilians
In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that Israel will find ways to assist wounded civilians from Aleppo, Syria, Union for Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs issued the following statement: In these darkest days of the year, we applaud and are heartened by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s bold decision to help alleviate the devastating scale of human suffering by, according to news reports, seeking ways to expand Israel’s medical assistance to the civilian casualties of the Syrian tragedy, specifically in Aleppo.
Statement of URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs On Proposed U.N. Resolution On Israeli Settlements
The Union for Reform Judaism, representing the largest segment of American Jewry, has a long-standing policy of opposition to the Israeli settlements in the West Bank. At the same time, we stand firmly against any U.N. resolution that would dictate the way forward on this complicated issue. The United Nations has a long and troubling record of hostility to Israel, and it has proved itself incapable of playing a constructive role.
URJ's Rabbi Rick Jacobs on Knesset's New Mikvaot Bill
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) President, commented today on a new bill being promoted by the Haredi parties in the Israeli Knesset. The bill seeks to overturn a recent Israeli Supreme Court decision to allow Reform and Conservative conversions in state-controlled mikvaot (ritual baths).
Reform Leader Condemns Horrific Attack on Orlando Nightclub
In response to the tragic violence in Orlando, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism issued the following statement:
The horrific violence in Orlando shakes us to our very core. The staggering loss of life, yet again facilitated by a military-style weapon that has no place on the street, causes us deep pain. We pray for those who were murdered, for healing of body and soul for the injured, and for comfort to the families of all who were present in Pulse nightclub.
We are grateful to law enforcement, the first responders, and all those volunteers who are helping during this crisis.
URJ's Rabbi Rick Jacobs On Today's Prayer Service At The Western Wall's National Plaza
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) President, issued the following statement:
“Today’s prayer service, 500 strong, at the National Plaza adjacent to the Kotel represents simply the legitimate right of the Jewish people to gather in prayer as we have done in that holy place for millennia. The National Plaza, especially, must be a place where all Jews are treated equally and no stream of Judaism has a monopoly."