Resolution on Private Prisons
A proposed resolution to defining the URJ's stance on private prisons. If adopted, the Union for Reform Judaism resolves to: Call for federal and state governments to phase out any current contracts with private prisons and detention centers; Support legislation banning construction or implementation of new private prisons and detention centers; Encourage congregations and congregants to participate in local, state, and federal efforts to close private prisons; and Continue to work toward a more just criminal justice system overall.
Resolution on Supporting Those Affected by the Opioid Crisis
The causes of the opioid crisis are diverse, including pharmaceutical companies’ aggressive sales tactics, over-prescription of opioids by doctors, the ease of purchasing illicit drugs, stigma associated with seeking help, ongoing economic dislocation, and a broken criminal justice system that prioritizes punishment over treatment.
Resolution on the Study and Development of Reparations for Slavery and Systemic Racism in the U.S.
One means of addressing centuries of entrenched racial discrimination is through reparations. Reparations can take many forms including expressions of remorse, education, monetary compensation, and more.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Tazria: Healing the Spirit
In this week's Torah portion, Parashat Tazria, we learn about tza'ra'at, or leprosy. The weekly Mi Shebeirach prayer asks for healing, and we view prayer and visiting as part of the healing process. But is healing the same thing as a physical cure?
Stories We Tell: The Power of Shabbat
Stories We Tell: Learning About What Matters
Wholly Jewish: Jordan: Black, Jewish, and Bettering the World
Stories We Tell: The Farmer and the Horse
Stories We Tell: God is Missing
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Passover II: Song of Songs
On Passover, it's traditional to read from Song of Songs, with themes of love and spring running throughout. This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs reminds us that the themes in this megillah (scroll) match the themes of Passover - of beauty, renewal, and rebirth are key to the seas