Little Failure
The Yiddish phrase lachen mit yashtsherkes literally means "laughing with lizards" but is usually meant as "laughing through the tears." It's an idea that is prevalent throughout Gary Shteyngart's latest book, Little Failure, a memoir of his childhood as a Russian immigrant in A
"Please Join Us" URJ Opens Major Conference to All
Reform Movement Reacts to Palestinian "Unity Government"
June 5, 2014, New York, NY – In response to the formation of a Palestinian "unity government," Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) President Rabbi Rick Jacobs, issued the following statement:
Divestment Vote Undermines Presbyterian-Jewish Relations
Detroit, June 20, 2014 - In response to the Presbyterian Church's vote to divest from Israel at their General Assembly meeting, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
Reform Jewish Movement Mourns the Deaths of Three Murdered Israeli Teens
JERUSALEM, Israel, June 30, 2014: In response to the news that the bodies of three missing Israeli teens, Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar, and Eyal Yifrach, have been found, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs: “We Vehemently Oppose Israel’s ‘Nation-State’ Bill”
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism: "We vehemently oppose the ‘nation-state’ bill being debated in the Knesset."
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs Statement on Israel’s Nation-State Law
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the statement below about Israel’s controversial Nation-State law:
This is a sad and unnecessary day for Israeli democracy. The damage that will be done by this new Nation-State law to the legitimacy of the Zionist vision and to the values of the state of Israel as a democratic—and Jewish—nation is enormous.
Reform Movement Protests Israeli Police Interrogation of Israeli Rabbi Dov Haiyun
From Rabbi Rick Jacobs and Rabbi Joshua Weinberg: We are astonished, angered, and outraged by the interrogation by Israeli police of Rabbi Dov Haiyun yesterday morning. We stand in solidarity with the thousands of protesters who have raised their voices against this attack on religious freedom.
Reform Jewish Movement Calls on Senate to Reject Nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh
Today, the Reform Jewish Movement adds its voice to those calling on the Senate to reject the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.