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
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.
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:
Rabbi Saperstein Confirmed as Ambassador for International Religious Freedom
December 12, 2014, Washington, D.C.- In response to today's Senate vote to confirm Rabbi David Saperstein as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism released the following statement:
URJ Announces Two New Vice Presidents as 2020 Vision Takes Shape
DECEMBER 12, SAN ANTONIO, TX – At the organization’s North American board meeting today, Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) President Rabbi Rick Jacobs introduced two new vice presidents who will work with him to implement the Union’s 2020 Vision.
New Online Learning Center to Enhance Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Congregations
December 15, 2014, New York, NY -- The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Ruderman Family Foundation this week launched the URJ Ruderman Disabilities Inclusion Learning Center, an innovative and interactive online resource center.
Reform Movement Mourns Slain NYPD Officers and Prays for Healing
Washington, D.C., December 22, 2014 - In response to the murders of two New York City police officers on Saturday afternoon, Union for Reform Judaism President, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, delivered the following statement:
URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs: We Condemn President Abbas' Recent Statements
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, responds to recent statements by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas: We condemn unequivocally President Abbas’ recent statements rejecting the Jewish people’s connections with Israel, denying the legitimacy of a Jewish State of Israel, and promulgating conspiracy theories about the creation of the State of Israel.