Related Blog Posts on Jewish Values, Jews of Color, Social Justice, and Tikkun Olam

tree with sun shining
Jewish Values

Taking a Breath for Life: URJ’s Actions to Build Resilience

Ruben Arquilevich
 January 19, 2022
On Tu Bishvat we celebrated trees and a season of new growth. I've been doing lots of thinking about trees, as I frequently do, and the role they play in providing oxygen for the planet. At the Union of Reform Judaism, we provide oxygen to our communities by creating compassionate spaces for our participants to grow and thrive. We can respond to current and future challenges by fostering resilience that reflect our Jewish values.
new years day fireworks
Secular Holidays

A Jewish Take on New Year’s Resolutions

Dasee Berkowitz
 December 27, 2021
New Year's Day and the traditional resolutions that accompany it invite us to take stock of our lives. Are we living our lives to the fullest? Can we imagine a future in which the commitments we make for ourselves (e.g., healthier habits around eating and exercise) actually come true? What will it take this year to really change?
arnow_exodus
Jewish Values

Choosing Hope in Times of Trial

David Arnow
 December 6, 2021
From Covid and climate change to the erosion of democratic norms and the decline of a shared sense of truth (and the list could go on), two things are clear. First, are we living in an age that tests our ability to sustain hope. Second, if despair dominates hope, we will be unable to meet the challenges that beset us.
Dasee Berkowitz family Hanukkah menorahs
Jewish Values

Reimagining Hanukkah Gift-Giving

Dasee Berkowitz
 November 18, 2021
There are a lot of creative ways to make Hanukkah meaningful when we pause to ask ourselves a few good questions before automatically going into shopping mode.
Hand holding cell phone with icons visible
Jewish Values

Cultivating a Shmita Mindset with our Screens

Dasee Berkowitz
 November 1, 2021
Limiting the time we are on our devices and setting an intention about what we do there are small steps that can alter our relationship to the digital world. By committing to these changes in our day-to-day lives, we can more readily guide our kids to do the same.
Shot from the ground up of a group of Black men and women holding hands as if in friendship or support
Civil Rights & Voting Rights

What is Juneteenth to a Black Jew?

Chaim Ezra Harrison
 June 18, 2021

While Juneteenth marks an incredibly important step in Black American rights, it was just that – one step. Juneteenth celebrated slavery becoming illegal, but it did not do away with racism; not even close. And yet, the history and spirit of Juneteenth make me hopeful.

Home desk setup with Torah study displayed on the screen
COVID-19

How to Observe Shavuot from Home This Year

Chaim Ezra Harrison
 May 5, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted so much of how we engage Jewishly, but Shavuot is a fantastic holiday for families to celebrate from the safety of their homes. Here are a few ways you and your family can observe this rich, festive Jewish holiday this year.