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:
Reform Jewish Movement Responds to P5+1 Nuclear Agreement with Iran
Washington, DC, April 2, 2015 - In response to the joint statement of progress announced by the P5+1 and Iran, the leaders of the Reform Jewish Movement issued a statement saying that "a negotiated resolution ...
Union For Reform Judaism Announces Partnerships To Publish Torah Commentaries, Study Materials, Religious School Curricula And More
NEW YORK, April 20, 2015 - The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) today announced new partnerships with Behrman House Publishing and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) to provide long-cherished and innovative publications to the Reform Movement and beyond.
Women of the Wall Make History
Contact: Lauren Theodore
(212) 650-4154
An Open Letter to President Obama About the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Contact: Lauren Theodore
212-650-4514
ltheodore@urj.org
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.