Blog

February marked the 14th annual Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month, also known as JDAIM. JDAIM's mission is "to unite Jewish communities worldwide to raise awareness and champion the rights of all Jews to be accepted and included in all aspects of Jewish life like anyone else."

When I was a child, I remember saying to my mother about the Purim story, "Maybe Haman wouldn't have done anything if he'd known Queen Esther was Jewish." King Ahasuerus' easily manipulated nature laid the foundations for the story, while Haman's vociferous antisemitism drove the story forward.

This Wednesday, March 16, we are joining with many organizations to encourage Jews everywhere, to join together in the spirit of the Fast of Esther by demonstrating solidarity with the people of Ukraine. One of the many ways you might do this is by fasting.

Are you motivated to become a focused, intentional leader of transformation in your congregation and community? If so, Leading Change: A URJ Summit is for you! In this moment of hopefulness and transition, the timing is perfect to take stock, look ahead, and take big steps to transform our communities.

Rabbi Jared Saks of Congregation Bet Ha'am, South Portland, Maine spoke at the Faithful Majority Campaign Launch webinar about the importance of passing the Equality Act.

Around this time last year, I was preparing for my legislative assistant interview with the RAC when tragedy unfolded in Georgia. A racist and misogynist gunman, entered two Atlanta-area massage businesses and murdered eight people, including six Asian women spa workers.

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is proud to cosponsor a series of virtual events with the White House on Building a Better America. Following President Biden’s first State of the Union address, the White House Office of Public Engagement is hosting events across the country featuring discussions with local faith leaders, advocates, and elected officials focused on the issues that are important to their communities.

In meetings with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli, and Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, we discussed the crisis in Ukraine, the future of the Kotel, ensuring more funding and rights for non-Orthodox Jews, combatting racism, and stopping extremist violence against Palestinians, in addition to other pressing issues.

As Russia's vicious attack on Ukraine continues, we feel anger, pain, and a desire to act. Here are some steps you can take to support the Ukrainian people, including the Progressive Jewish community.