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:
3,000+ Teens From Five Major Jewish Youth Movements to Join Together in Atlanta
February, 5, New York, NY - BBYO, the leading pluralistic Jewish youth movement, and NFTY, the Reform Jewish youth movement are collaborating to maximize their efforts to engage Jewish teens.
Six Teen Leaders Elected to Lead North American Reform Jewish Youth Movement
February 23, 2015, New York, NY -- Six outstanding teen leaders will lead NFTY, the Reform Jewish youth movement, for the 2015-2016 program year.
Five Reform Jewish Teens Win Award for Creative Excellence
February 24, 2015, New York, NY --Every two years, NFTY, the Reform youth Movement, challenges their teens to explore their creative and innovative outlets within a Jewish context through NFTY Competitions.
Reform Jewish Leaders Respond to Arson Attack at Greek Orthodox Seminary in Jerusalem
February 26, 2015, Jerusalem -- Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Execuitve Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) Anat Hoffman, and IRAC Director Rabbi Noa Sattath visited the Greek Orthodox Seminary in Jerusalem that was set on fire in a suspected hate crime by ul
URJ Condemns Harsh Ad, Calls for Respectful Debate
February 28, 2015, New York, NY -- As Jews around the world read the portion for Shabbat Zachor in Deuteronomy, which warns about the intractable enemies of the Jewish people beginning with Amalek, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, hid behind the façade of "The Values Network," and published a grotesque ad