On January 17, 2013, Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, NY and The New York Jewish Week co-sponsored a distinguished panel of speakers, including Rabbi David Ellenson (President of Hebrew Union College), Rabbi Rick Jacobs (President of the Union for Reform Judaism), Rabbi Joy Levitt (Executive Director at The JCC in Manhattan and co-author of the Reconstructionist Haggadah), Rabbi Asher Lopatin (Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation in Chicago and incoming head of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah) and Rabbi David Hoffman (Assistant Professor of Talmud and Rabbinic Culture at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America).

The speakers discussed changes in American Judaism in previous decades and the shifting landscape for the future. Topics included the role of denominations and what unites and divides the diversity of practice and ideology of North American Jewry. The panel was moderated by Rabbi Andy Bachman, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim.

Listen to full recording of program.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs spoke at the General Assembly on November 11 and 13 about youth engagement, Tikkun Olam and pluralism in Israel.

Watch the speeches
Rabbi Jacobs' Opening Plenary Speech
Rabbi Jacobs' Closing Plenary Speech

URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs visited Israel to demonstrate the Reform Movement's solidarity with, and commitment to, the people of Israel during its time of crisis.

Read more on RJ Blog.

Listen to a briefing from Rabbi Jacobs about his trip, and see a video from Rabbi Jacobs' visit to Kibbutz K'far Aza on the Gaza border.