Title IX Protects Students
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex under any educational program or activity receiving federal funding,
Outraged Reform Jewish Leaders to Israeli PM: Denounce Degrading Body Searches of Female Rabbinic Students at Kotel
Senior leadership of the Reform Movement, the largest movement in Jewish life, sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to unnecessary and demeaning body searches imposed on female rabbinic students at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:
Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu,
We are writing to express our outrage and dismay about the humiliation of a cohort of Reform rabbinic students, all of whom are the future leadership of the Jewish people, at the entrance to the Kotel on August 23rd, Rosh Hodesh Elul.
Two of our female rabbinic students, who are spending their first year of studies in Israel, were stopped at the entrance to the Kotel. After they passed through a metal detector (which clearly indicated that they were not posing any security threat), they were asked to lift their skirts and shirts in a demeaning way, an action that completely defied the decisions the Supreme Court reached on this matter.
Book Discussion: Houses of Study - A Jewish Woman Among Books
One of my favorite activities to bring to a classroom of elementary school-aged religious school students is a deceptively simple art project: "Draw a Jew." Easy, no? In fact, I encourage you to do so, even just in your own mind, as you read these words. What does a Jew look like to you?
URJ Releases Preliminary Findings From 2 Important Surveys Demonstrating Effectiveness Of Work In Priority Areas
URJ today released preliminary findings from two important surveys concerning the effectiveness of its work in priority areas: Israel and Youth Engagement. On the eve of the largest URJ Biennial ever, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, URJ Presidents says, “Our work raising up the next generation of Jewish leaders in North America and advocating for religious pluralism in Israel are among our very highest priorities, and we are proud to see that these authoritative surveys provide data to support what we have long thought to be true: The URJ’s work in these areas is making a profound difference. Individually, and especially when viewed together, they make a strong, data-driven argument that the Reform Movement is making great progress on priority concerns.”
A URJ Update on Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts
We are reaching out to all Reform-affiliated congregations in the affected area to provide assistance as appropriate.
How One Experiment Inspires Sacred Action
Learn what happened when members of the URJ Strengthening Congregations Team were challenged to experiment with an innovation of their own – and what made it a success.
5 Jewish Ways to Help After Hurricane Harvey
Recovery for a storm of this magnitude will take months, if not years. We are working hard to provide resources to affected families, and we encourage you to do the same.
What's in a (Jewish) Name?
Our family rejected one name’s legacy of slavery for another’s possible intimation of anti-Semitism. It was a small, quiet act of brit olam, our vision for a world filled with justice and compassion.
Book Discussion: A Seat at the Table
"A Seat at the Table" is a metaphor for the Chassidic adage that no matter what one has done to stray from the teachings of Torah he or she will not be abandoned by their family.