Top 5 Highlights of the URJ Board Leadership Mission to Israel
Earlier this month, I joined URJ president Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Director of Israel Engagement Rabbi Yehudit Werchow, and nearly 50 URJ leaders for an incredible four days in Israel on the URJ Board Leadership Mission. It was a working visit, and it's difficult to boil down such an intense trip into five highlights moments, but here goes:
- Spending Shabbat in Israel is always meaningful, but on this trip, we could truly feel the impact of the Reform Movement. Friday night we attended services at IMPJ communities across the country, and during a Shabbat lunch with HUC-JIR students. Meeting dynamic, indigenous leaders we experience the strength of the Reform Movement in Israel - and could see it is growing stronger.
- Throughout the trip, Israeli leaders affirmed the importance of Reform Judaism. It was clear through our meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, and Cabinet Secretary Avichai Mandelblit that the Reform Movement is taken seriously and greatly respected in the halls of government in Israel.
Reform Jewish Leader Supports First Muslim Member of Congressí Right to Take Oath of Office Using Koran
In Response to today's column by Dennis Prager and the ensuing criticism of Repersentative Keith Ellison's request to take his oath of office on the Koran, Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
URJ and Ramah Camps in First-Ever Program Partnership to Build Specialist Staff Training
Reform Leader Condemns Rocket Fire in Israel
In response to the barrage of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Be'er Sheva, Tel Aviv and Ashdod in recent days, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President-elect of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
URJ Campaign for Youth Engagement Launches B'nai Mitzvah Revolution and Revamps Conference for Youth Practitioners
June 27, 2012, New York, NY -- Since the Union for Reform Judaism's Campaign for Youth Engagement was launched at the URJ Biennial in December, URJ professionals, lay leaders and Movement-wide partners have
Reform Movement Mourns the Loss of Terror Victims in Bulgaria
URJ OSRUI Camp Celebrates 60 Years of Reform Jewish Camping
WHAT: 60 Years of Ruach - Concert, Dinner and Celebration at Camp
WHEN: Saturday, July 21, 2012, doors open at 4 pm
WHERE: URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI)
Rabbi Rick Jacobs Named as 2012 GA Scholar-in-Residence
URJ to Expand Campaign for Youth Engagement with New Programming and Grants
October 3, 2012, New York, NY - With a continued goal of increasing the level of Jewish teen engagement within its Movement, the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) today announced expansion of its national Campaign for Youth Engagement.
Reform Movement Joins Communal Israel Terror Relief Fun
November 16, 2012, New York, NY -- In response to Israel's military efforts to stop the barrage of rockets fired from Gaza, and the subsequent escalation in violence, the arms of the Reform Movement, representing 1.5 million Jews in North America, as well as numerous professional organizati