Emma Lazarus
Emma Lazarus' poem, "The New Colossus," affixed to the base of the Statue of Liberty in 1903 (twenty-five years after her death), identifies this icon as the "Mother of Exiles." It took time for Lady Liberty to grow into this role.
Kabbalah: A Love Story
When is a predictable love story more than a predictable love story? When a teacher of mysticism like Rabbi Lawrence Kushner uses it as a parable.
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
Reform Movement Condemns Reprehensible Tel Aviv Bus Attack
URJ Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Update - Nov. 29, 2012
The Union for Reform Judaism's Hurricane Relief Fund has now collected nearly $464,000 for hurricane relief and has disbursed more than $100,000.
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.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie Calls for Increased Shabbat Observance in Reform Movement
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 15, 2007—Almost 150 years ago the founder of the Reform Movement transformed American Jewry by moving the major Shabbat worship service to Friday night, thus accommodating Jews who had to work on Saturday.
Survey Confirms Trend Toward Reform Embrace of Ritual
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 15—A recent survey of Reform Jews affirms the trends toward a greater observance of Shabbat and the embrace of traditional rituals, with the trend most visible among those who are under 40 and in Jews-by-choice.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie Outlines Agenda for Reform Jews: Health Care, Muslim Dialogue and Increased Shabbat Observance
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 15, 2007—Reform Jews at the largest Jewish convention in North America were urged to return to their homes and become community activists, advocating for universal health care in their state and opening dialogue with Muslims in their communities.
Resilience of the Soul Breaks Ground in Adolescent Mental Health
SAN DIEGO, CA—To help families and congregations offer teens a safe place to mature into adulthood, the Union’s Department of Jewish Family Concerns has published Resilience of the Soul – Developing Emotional and Spiritual Resilience in Adolescents and Their Families, A Resourc