Union for Reform Judaism / Biennial / Highlights from the 2007 San Diego Biennial
 

Transforming Shabbat
Almost 150 years ago the founder of the Reform Movement transformed American Jewry by moving the major Shabbat worship service to Friday night, thus accommodating Jews who had to work on Saturday. At the Biennial in San Diego, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism began another major transformation, calling for a renewal of communal Shabbat morning worship and encouraging Jews to observe a full 24 hour day of rest.

Rabbi Yoffie Also Calls for Universal 
Health Care, Muslim Dialogue
In addition to calling for a greater personal and communal Shabbat observance, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union charged the more than 5,000 Biennial attendees to return home to create state coallitions for universal health care and to open dialogue with their Muslims neighbors.

Symposium on Gender and Jewish Education
250 Reform educators and educational leaders from across the Reform Movement spent two days considering how to best maximize learning and participation of all the males and females in the community, and examining the impact of gender on Jewish involvement and learning in formal and informal settings. The Symposium on Gender and Jewish Education was a great success. A highlight from the opening session was the keynote address from Dr. Gail Reimer, of the Jewish Women's Archive titled Male and Female – God Created Them: Bridging the Gender Divide.

 
Did You Miss a Workshop?

Want to get a presentation from a workshop that you attended, or one that you missed? Now you can download presentations and materials from the Biennial workshops.
Biennial BLOG Recent Posts

Talking The Talk Together

Press the play button below to hear Dr. Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America, address the Biennial on Sunday December 16, 2007. (Read the text here.)...

Thanks From Local Arrangements Committee

On behalf of our local arrangements committee and the almost 600 volunteers from our 10 host synagogues in San Diego and Orange County who worked almost 800 three-hour shifts throughout the week at the Biennial, we want to wish each...

Part of the Dialogue

Dr. Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America addressed the Union's Biennial this morning. The text is below. The audio version is online here. Good morning and greetings of peace from the members of the Islamic Society...

Rabbi Yoffie's Sermon

Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie delievered this address during the Shabbat Morning Service of the 69th Biennial Convention. See the "Quick Links" for more information. Shabbat shalom. Once again, I find myself overwhelmed by the power of this day. Here we...

Sunday Has Come

By Barbara Shuman We’re out of the closet! Over 4000 Reform Jews observed a 24 hour Shabbat at the Biennial. What a wild and beautiful day we had – filled with music, prayer, learning and dance. Yes – we were...
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