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.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs Named as 2012 GA Scholar-in-Residence
URJ President to Spend Night at Synagogue Homeless Shelter He Founded 30 Years Ago
Brooklyn, NY, January 14, 2014 – In 1983, when Rabbi Rick Jacobs was the rabbi at Brooklyn Heights Synagogue (BHS), he had a vision to start a shelter to address the growing problem of homelessness in New York City.
URJ Announces New NFTY Director to Transform Jewish Youth Movement
May 2, 2014, New York, NY -- The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) announced that a new Director of NFTY. Micol Zimmerman Burkeman took the helm of the Reform Jewish Youth Movement this week.
Camp Harlam Receives Largest Gift Ever
New York, NY | May 22, 2014 – Camp Harlam, the Union for Reform Judaism's regional overnight camp based in Pennsylvania, announced today that it has received the largest gift in its history.
URJ Announces New Director for Jacobs Camp
May 22, 2014, New York, NY -- The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) announced this week that Anna Blumenfeld Herman will be the new director of the URJ's Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica, Mississippi. Ms.
The Union for Reform Judaism Launches Interactive Hebrew Curriculum
September 6, 2012, New York, NY -- The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) announced today the launch of Mitkadem Digital-- an interactive, fully supported, online component of Mitkadem, a 5-year Hebrew curriculum for religious school students, which explores grammar, vocabu
URJ Founds New Specialty Jewish Summer Camp Dedicated to Science and Technology
September 14, 2012, New York, NY -- The Reform Movement announced this week the founding of the first Jewish specialty camp for science and technology.
Rosh HaShanah Worship Services: Haftarah Blessings
The blessing after the reading of haftarah always sanctifies the day on which it is read. Throughout most of the year, that day is Shabbat, but haftarahis also read on the High Holidays. On Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur the text changes from the familiar Shabbat text to refer to the holiday.
Yom Kippur Worship Services: Haftarah Blessings
The blessing after the reading of haftarah always sanctifies the day on which it is read. Throughout most of the year, that day is Shabbat, but haftarah is also read on the High Holidays.