Reform Jewish Movement Statement on the 2016 Presidential Election
The people have voted and American democracy is strong. We respect that vote and we extend our hand to President-elect Trump.
URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy's Greg Kellner Receives Prestigious Covenant Foundation Award Honoring Emerging Jewish Educators
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) proudly announces that Greg Kellner is the recipient of a 2016 Covenant Foundation Pomegranate Prize (link), joining four other recipients recognized this year for their tremendous promise, focused leadership, and willingness to take risks in their burgeoning careers.
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs Calls For President-Elect Trump to Respond to Voices of Hate
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), calls on President-elect Donald Trump for his response to voices of hate and bigotry.
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs Responds To Death Threats, Hate Vandalism At Reform Synagogue In Israel
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), issued the following statement in response to personal death threats against him and the Reform Movement in Israel: The vandalism of our Reform congregation in Ra’anana—and murderous threats against me and my Israeli colleagues Rabbi Gilad Kariv and Anat Hoffman—are reprehensible. They are deplorable. But, alas, they are far from surprising.
Six Teen Leaders To Watch: Newly Elected NFTY Board Steers the North American Reform Jewish Youth Movement, Including New Racial Justice Campaign
Six outstanding teen leaders have been elected to serve on the North American Board of NFTY, the Reform Jewish youth movement, for the 2017-2018 program year. Reform Judaism is the largest and most diverse movement in Jewish life, reaching nearly 900 congregations and more than 1.5 million people.
Israeli Government Poised To Walk Away From Agreement To Provide Egalitarian Prayer Space At The Kotel In Jerusalem
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) President Rabbi Rick Jacobs issued the following statement today about the Israeli government's agreement to provide an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:
We have seen the recent reporting that the Israeli government will suspend its plan to move forward with an egalitarian, pluralistic prayer space at the Kotel. Those reports are deeply alarming, but, sadly, not surprising.
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs: Israeli Government's Reversal On Egalitarian Prayer Space At The Kotel In Jerusalem Is "An Unconscionable Insult"
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs: Israeli Government's Reversal On Egalitarian Prayer Space At The Kotel In Jerusalem Is "An Unconscionable Insult"
Reform Movement Cancels Meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu
Rabbi Rick Jacobs: “We cannot go about our scheduled meetings as if nothing has happened. The annulment of the Kotel resolution and the passing of the conversion law have caused an acute crisis between the Israeli government and diaspora Jewry. After yesterday's shameful decisions, we feel that at this moment, after more than four years of negotiations, it is not clear that the current Israeli government honors its agreements."
Reform Movement Leadership on Today's Conversion Bill Postponement
Leaders of the Reform Movement in Israel and North America, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, President and CEO of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, and Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, have issued the following statement:
Today’s decision by the Israeli cabinet to postpone further action on the offensive “conversion bill” is an important rebuke to the aggressive behavior of the ultra-Orthodox toward diaspora Jewry and the non-Orthodox streams. That is why we supported the temporary delay.
URJ's Rabbi Rick Jacobs on Hateful Comments by Jerusalem Chief Rabbi
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the statement below in response to hateful comments about Reform Judaism by Jerusalem's chief rabbi: Although I defend Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar’s right to hold hateful, odious beliefs about me and the Reform Movement, what I find indefensible is that his salary is being paid by the Israeli government.