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.
Strong Evidence of the Impact of Reform Movement Youth Programs on Lifelong Jewish Identity
Rabbi Rick Jacobs: Israeli Ministers Must Stop Their Hate Speech
Union for Reform Judaism Establishes Presidential Fellowship on Millennial Engagement
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) is launching a new high-level fellowship to strengthen its engagement with millennials. The first Fellow will be Evan Traylor, 21, of Edmond, Oklahoma. Traylor, who will graduate from the University of Kansas in May, will work alongside URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs and leaders of the Reform Movement to develop a toolkit for engaging millennials as partners in creating a more just, whole, and compassionate world.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs: Ultra-Orthodox MKs Must Learn the Torah of Respect
Statement by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ):
MK Israel Eichler’s comments yesterday are yet another example of the extreme intolerance of the ultra-Orthodox religious establishment. Clearly they feel a seismic shift in their decades-old monopoly on Judaism in Israel. Their stranglehold on Judaism is being loosened, and their response is desperate and pathetic.
It is hard to imagine what twisted Torah MK Eichler studies when he characterizes the largest Movement in Jewish life as “mentally ill.” Our Torah teaches us the values of pluralism and of tolerance - and it teaches us not to use phrases like “mentally ill” as an epithet.
Reform Jewish Movement Comments on State of the Union Speech
Saperstein: Inspired by the words of Pirke Avot "Do not separate yourself from the community" (2:5) that remind us of our obligation to others, we will continue to work with President Obama and Congress to meet the needs of all Americans.
Extreme Anti-Choice Bill Violates Jewish Teachings
Rabbi Saperstein: "As Reform Jews committed to the sanctity of a woman's life and personal dignity, and as Americans committed to core Constitutional principles, we are extremely disappointed by the passage of this bill, which would result in greater government interference
Reform Movement Appaulds Introduction of Key Voting Rights Bill
Contact: Sean Thibault or Charlie Arnowitz
rac@rac.org | (202) 387-2800
Reform Movement Leaders Submit Statement Opposing House Anti-Choice Bill
Contact: Sean Thibault or Sarah Greenberg
rac@rac.org | (202) 387-2800
Reform Jewish Movement Appaulds Implementation of State-Paid Salaries for Reform Rabbis in Israel
Contact: Sean Thibault or Deborah Goldberg
news@rac.org | 202-387-2800