URJ Leader: “We call for the immediate release of Lara Alqasem”
Union for Reform Judaism Increases Commitment to Israel and Zionism, Strengthening Israel Education, Engagement, and Activism
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) announces the next evolutionary step in deepening its support for Zionism and love for Israel as core beliefs and central tenets of North American Reform Jewish life.
Statement Of Union For Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs Responding To Shooting At Tree Of Life Congregation In Pittsburgh
Statement Of Rabbi Rick Jacobs On The Death Of Elie Wiesel
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, released the following statement after learning of the death of Elie Wiesel.
Open Letter To Donald Trump From Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), sent the following letter to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump today in response to statements attributed to his campaign about foreign policy regarding a two-state solution.
Donald Trump Adviser's Response To Rabbi Rick Jacobs' Questions On Middle East Policy Raises New Concerns
New York, NY; July 7, 2016 -- Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ), wrote an open letter yesterday to the campaign of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in response to comments made to CNN by campaign adviser David Friedman about a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Mr. Friedman's comments about the campaign's views on Israel mark a significant departure from the policies of the governments of both the United States and Israel, as well as the traditional positions of both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Mr. Friedman's detailed reply to Rabbi Jacobs' letter raises additional questions and concerns. The URJ has posted Mr. Friedman's letter in its entirety below. Rabbi Jacobs has written annotations to the letter which are shown attributed to Union for Reform Judaism.
Reform Movement Reacts to Week of Tragic Violence
In response to the police shooting deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile and the deaths of the five police officers in Dallas, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
Citing "Deep Disappointments and Concerns," Western Wall Negotiating Team Tells PM Netanyahu: Legal Action Is At Hand
The following letter was sent yesterday to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the negotiating team supporting implementation of the agreement to create an egalitarian prayer space at the Kotel (Western Wall in Jerusalem) - Yizhar Hess, Masorti Movement; Anat Hoffman, Women of the Wall; Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Union for Reform Judaism; Batya Kallus, Women of the Wall; Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism; Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, The Rabbinic Assembly; and Rabbi Steve Wernick, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Contemporary Translations of Torah Portions Now Available Online at ReformJudaism.org
New York, NY; July 14, 2016 -- ReformJudaism.org, the flagship website of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), has launched the English translations of every Torah portion to benefit the site’s two million annual visitors. The launch of these English translations of the Torah, Judaism’s most sacred text, is a significant achievement on behalf of users who want to read a modern translation.
Netanyahu Government Subverts Supreme Court to Court Favor with Haredi Parties
Late last night, the Israeli Knesset passed a law instigated by ultra-Orthodox leadership to overturn a recent Supreme Court decision banning discrimination against non-Orthodox converts from state-funded mikvaot (ritual baths), which are integral to the conversion process. The Supreme Court case was brought by the Israel Religious Action Center, on behalf of both the Reform and Conservative movements. This new legislation is expressly meant as an attack on the role of the Reform and Conservative Jewish movements in religious practice in Israel.