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On Wednesday, September 17, in a ceremony held in the Member's Room of the Library of Congress, attended by ambassadors, Members of Congress, religious leaders, and others, Ambassador Rudolf Bekink of the Netherlands presented Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, with the inaugural Anne Frank Award for Human Dignity and Tolerance. The honor acknowledges those who have worked to "confront intolerance, anti-Semitism, racism, and discrimination while upholding freedom and equal rights."

"The Netherlands and the United States have been friends for more than 400 years, in part because both our nations share a respect for justice and human rights," Ambassador Bekink said after the ceremony. "Rabbi Saperstein has dedicated his life to confronting intolerance and anti-Semitism, upholding human rights, and helping people of different backgrounds understand each other. I can think of no one better qualified to receive the inaugural Anne Frank Award for Human Dignity and Tolerance."

The Jewish people have long been active in lifting up the voices of minorities and fighting for their rights and protection. Whether in the 1960s when Reform Jews supported and participated in the Civil Rights Movement or as recently as last month when the president and chief executive of the CCAR issued a statement denouncing the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities, the Reform Movement has consistently cherished opportunities to work with and support other religious, racial, or ethnic communities. With ISIS’s influence spreading in the Middle East and concern growing in the international community, one might be tempted to assume that the region is hostile to religious freedom and diversity -- the crisis of the Yazidi people has been particularly alarming. Fortunately, an article from Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs provides encouraging data about religious tolerance in the Arab World that is encouraging to all who value religious freedom.

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish New Year, we will think about how we have changed from one year to the next: how we have grown, and we can do differently in the year to come. This evaluative work is also done by the federal government through the United States Census (an official count or survey of the population.) Earlier this week, the U.S. Census Bureau issued its report on Income and Poverty in the United States for the year 2013. This report presents crucial metrics that can be utilized to evaluate the past year’s policies and ultimately improve current ones for the future. This most recent census report showed some signs of positive development. The U.S’ official poverty rate declined from 15.0% in 2012 to 14.5% in 2013, indicating that there has been some reduction in poverty. The poverty rate for children under the age of 18 declined from 21.8% in 2012 to 19.9% in 2013, making 2013 the first time that the child poverty rate has declined since 2000.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” These fifteen words shape our nation’s “First Freedoms,” enshrined in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights as the separation of church and state (the Establishment Clause) and religious freedom (the Free Exercise Clause). 227 years ago today, when the Constitution was ratified, these freedoms and the many others in the Bill of Rights, were not included. Many of the Framers thought the enumeration of these rights was unnecessary. Four years after the ratification of the Constitution, on December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was added to the law of the land. But, it was not until the 1940s that the Supreme Court used the Fourteenth Amendment to extend the Religion Clauses to state and local governments.

The URJ recently renewed its partnership with GreenFaith, an independent, interfaith organization that helps houses of worship become better stewards of the environment. As part of the renewed partnership, we are looking for 20 URJ congregations to enroll (free of charge!) in either GreenFaith’s Certification or Shield Programs. What is the GreenFaith Certification Program?

As we approach the end of the 113^th Congress, in which fewer bills have been passed than any previous congress, the lack of progress on crucial social justice issues can be disheartening. Fortunately, at least in the realm of criminal justice, there is still opportunity for positive change. Despite concerns that criminal justice reform was stalled, recent publications may give the topic the push it needs.

The People’s Climate March on September 21 in New York City is fast approaching. If you can be in New York that weekend you should come and march with Reform Movement congregations! The March is set to be one of the biggest climate rallies ever organized, making September 21 a day for the history books and a definitive step in the right direction for action on the environment.

More than a year after Wendy Davis took to the floor of the Texas State Senate for her famous filibuster in defense of abortion rights, the debate in Texas over a woman’s right to access abortion care is still not settled. On Friday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments over whether to uphold a district court ruling to strike down a provision of the infamous Texas bill that would require all clinics to become licensed as surgical centers or to close their doors to women seeking care. Representing a federal district court in Austin, Judge Lee Yeakel, who sought to strike down another of the bill’s provisions last fall, ruled the restrictions pose an undue, and thus, an unconstitutional burden on a woman’s right to choose.

On Thursday, the Senate passed the first of two procedural measures to advance the Paycheck Fairness Act (S.