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RAC-CA Issue Research Teams
About Issue Research Teams RAC-CA has six issue research teams covering climate change, criminal justice, immigration, health care, housing, and gun violence prevention.
RAC-CA Governance
RAC-CA seeks to build our collective power to create the California of our dreams. Our structure includes professional staff, a statewide leadership team, issue research groups, and congregational social justice teams.
Urgency of Now Initiative
In 2017, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism launched the Urgency of Now Initiative on behalf of the Reform Jewish Movement Developing a strong network of active and empowered congregations is imperative to the sacred work of תקון עולם (tikkun olam), repairing the world.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah – Mishpatim: When Judaism Calls Us to Speak Out Courageously
Parashat Mishpatim presents a full catalog of laws, rituals, observance, and obligations that guide us in living a Jewish life of moral depth and courage. But, Rabbi Rick Jacobs asks, how do we, as liberal Jews regard these laws – which of them are we obligated to observe, and how?
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Stories We Tell: The Grandfather, the Granddaughter and the Donkey
An old grandfather and his young granddaughter go for a walk, leading a donkey by its reins. All is well, until they meet a stranger who wonders why they walk in the manner that they do. What happens next, in this story retold by Cantor Ellen Dreskin, teaches the grandfather and granddaughter a valuable lesson about what it means to take advice and please the people around them.
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Stories We Tell: The Prince Who Thought he was a Rooster
When a prince wakes up one morning and decides that he is actually a rooster, his father, the king, does not know what to do. Nothing that the king does can make the prince stop behaving like a rooster, until he seeks out the rabbi who has an interesting solution. This story, retold by Rabbi Marc Katz, explores themes of empathy, and what it means to meet people where they are.
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On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - Sh’lach L’cha: Judaism on the Fringes
What does it mean to be on the fringes of Judaism? Does Judaism allow for creativity, allowing those on the fringe who want, to be brought toward the center? Is Judaism open to different forms of expression?
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Why Reform Judaism Opposes the Death Penalty
The Bible prescribes the death penalty for at least 36 transgressions, from intentional murder to cursing one’s parents, but the practice essentially ended when the rabbinic sages of the Talmud imposed preconditions and evidence requirements so rigorous as to make capital punishment a rarity. Jewish tradition essentially follows the position of Rabbis Tarfon and Akiba: never to impose capital punishment (Mishna Makkot 1:10).
Resources for Contacting Elected Officials
Use these resources with your congregation, youth group, or community. They will help you contact your local, state, provincial, or federal elected officials to communicate your thoughts about a social justice issue or piece of legislation important to you.
A Quick Guide to Pronouns
The URJ is dedicated to representing individuals across the gender spectrum, including those who are transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming. An important component of this involves respecting others’ pronouns. If you’re not sure about where to start, here are a few frequently asked questions about pronouns, their relation to gender, and how to properly use them.