URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs: “We Vehemently Oppose Israel’s ‘Nation-State’ Bill”
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism: "We vehemently oppose the ‘nation-state’ bill being debated in the Knesset."
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs Statement on Israel’s Nation-State Law
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the statement below about Israel’s controversial Nation-State law:
This is a sad and unnecessary day for Israeli democracy. The damage that will be done by this new Nation-State law to the legitimacy of the Zionist vision and to the values of the state of Israel as a democratic—and Jewish—nation is enormous.
Reform Movement Protests Israeli Police Interrogation of Israeli Rabbi Dov Haiyun
From Rabbi Rick Jacobs and Rabbi Joshua Weinberg: We are astonished, angered, and outraged by the interrogation by Israeli police of Rabbi Dov Haiyun yesterday morning. We stand in solidarity with the thousands of protesters who have raised their voices against this attack on religious freedom.
Reform Jewish Movement Calls on Senate to Reject Nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh
Today, the Reform Jewish Movement adds its voice to those calling on the Senate to reject the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
URJ Youth Department Announces New Leadership Role: Michelle Shapiro Abraham Promoted to Director, Learning and Innovation
Reflecting recent growth in the quantity and quality of year-round youth engagement, and to ensure that the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) continues its leadership engaging the next generation in powerful, meaningful, and fun Jewish experiences, URJ Vice President of Youth Miriam Chilton announced today that Michelle Shapiro Abraham, MAJE, RJE has been promoted to Director, Learning and Innovation. The URJ’s Youth engagement initiatives incorporate 60 immersive programs reaching more than 23,000 youth, teens, and young adults.
URJ President Responds To Supreme Court Kotel Statement
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), issued the following statement today in response to Israel's Supreme Court statement addressing the Israeli government's failure to implement its earlier decision to create an egalitarian prayer space for non-Orthodox worship at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
URJ to Launch New Specialty Jewish Summer Camp Dedicated to Creative Arts, URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) announced today the creation of the premier non-profit Jewish specialty camp for creative arts. The new URJ camp, called URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy, will open in the summer of 2018 in the mid-Atlantic region, and serve several hundred campers in grades 4-11.
Statement Of URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs On The Death Of Shimon Peres
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), released the following statement after learning of the death of former Israeli President Shimon Peres:
Shimon Peres understood that the greatness of Israel lies in its embrace of our better selves, and he spent his life challenging himself and others to reach for the impossible. Often, he achieved it.
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs: Illegal Settlement Legislation A "Lose-Lose" Policy
We are disheartened, concerned, but, alas, not surprised that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government today voted to “legalize” illegal Israeli settlements that are built on privately owned Palestinian land. This action makes more difficult the achievement of a two-state solution and significantly undermines Israeli democracy. It is a lose-lose policy.