The ugly spat between Diaspora Jews and Israel over a controversial conversion bill produced a sorry spectacle that tarnished the image of the Jewish state at a time when Israel hardly needs more bad PR, writes the president of the Union for Reform Judaism. Read more »
Ten years ago, the United
States had two independent minyanim, plural of minyan.
Today, there at least 70 involving about 20,000 people, said Rabbi Elie
Kaunfer, who wrote a book on the independent minyanim, Empowered
Judaism.
"There is a mass of young people, taking hold of their Jewish identity, and willing to put in the volunteer time and effort to build a community that expresses their values," Kaunfer said. "That's extremely hopeful and significant." Read more »
As members of Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston celebrate the congregation's 60th anniversary, they bid farewell to renowned Reform Rabbi Peter Knobel, who has led the 400-family congregation for 30 years. His official retirement date was June 30. Read more »
As a Jewish congregation in the predominantly Protestant South, and in a small town on top of that, the members of Temple Beth El in Anniston have learned to do without some things: a full-time rabbi, weekly worship services, bat and bar mitzvahs for their children. But there are also ways they have learned to adapt, with the help of the broader community. A choir sings prayers and songs at almost every service at Temple Beth El -- but it is not made up of members of the congregation. The choir is made up of members of Christian churches who "have learned and are fluent in Hebrew and can sing our prayers in Hebrew," said Sherry Blanton, president of the congregation. Read more »
The latest fad was all fine and good in her mind ... until she caught sight of a student wearing a Silly Bandz that looked like a Christmas tree. "I got really upset," she says. "It's a shame there are no Jewish shapes, I thought. Jewish Silly Bandz could instill a sense of pride in our heritage. I envisioned my students walking around thinking, 'I've got a Jewish star on my wrist.'"
After a Google search for "Jewish Silly Bandz" came up short, Rabbi Losben-Ostrov decided to create her own. And so Meshuga Bands was born. Read more »
After discovering $7 million in fraudulent payments, the Claims Conference faces questions about whether it will recover the money and how extensive the fraud actually was. Read more »
With an offer of subsidies and a pitch to U.S. banks, the Israeli government is trying to turn Israel into a research and development hub for the financial services industry. Read more »
Budapest is a thriving center of Jewish fusion music that combines Israeli and traditional Jewish songs with reggae, hip hop, rap and funk. The music will be center stage at Budapest's "Jewstock" festival. Read more »
The 'Conversion' legislation in the Israeli Knesset has been tabled for action until January. Until then, it is critical that leaders in Israel understand the views of Reform Jews around the world as a compromise is worked out. Please send a 'thank you' letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu for his leadership on this issue and demonstrate the importance of this issue to Reform Jews. Send a letter»
URJ Books and Music is proud
to announce new offerings and a redesigned and easy-to-use web page for
our Torah and Haftarah MP3s. Now available are all Torah portions
(down to the individual aliyah) as well as all Haftarah
(by parashah and verse) and all blessings. For the first time,
all High Holy Day Torah Portions used in Gates of Repentance are
available for download, including a free PDF of printed versions both with
and without vowels. These resources are perfect for aliyot , volunteer leaders and bar/bat mitzvah students year round. Read more »
Featuring the 5th annual
RJ Guide to College Life; Living with Secrets; How to Draw In Generation Y; Lost in Mistranslation; Hungarian cooking, and much more. Read more »
This summer NFTY's Kutz Camp celebrates 45 years of music and magic, and you're invited to join. A remarkable array of alumni from each generation will be on hand to re-create the soundtrack of our collective experiences. Keep the music alive with Dan Nichols, Josh Nelson, Peri Smilow, Kol B'seder, Doug Mishkin, Beth Schafer and more! Read more »
With the celebration of the
High Holidays around the corner, the Religious Action Center has made our
Days of Awe High Holiday Social Action Guide available to help you and
your community make tikkun olam, repair of the world, a part of this year's observance. Read more »
Two Cuban madrichim
arrived at Canada's sole URJ Camp with the support of Yaldeinu, an
organization that partners with Jewish day schools and camps to provide
formal and informal education to Jewish children in various parts of the
world. The two madrichim, Monica and Alejandro, are part of a small group of Jewish youth living in Cuba who are trying to connect to their heritage and Israel. Read more »
The rabbis teach that Elul
is the month when Ani l'dodi v'dodi li: I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. Join us on the first of Elul (August 11) for an hour of interactive study and exploration of how this phrase from the Song of Songs can inform our daily study, practice and reflection as we prepare to enter the Days of Awe and the New Year. Read more »
6 Points Sports Academy is celebrating their last Shabbat of their inaugural season! In just over a year the URJ designed and implemented a very special program where the best of Reform Jewish overnight camping and sports specialty programming were combined to provide the very first Reform Jewish sports specialty camp. This was made possible thanks to the forward-thinking financial support of the Jim Joseph Foundation and the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Read more »
"Palace intrigue, ethnic
cleansing, murder, unrequited love, and the quest for new lands and their
riches are all woven together in Michael James Kaplan's novel By Fire
and By Water." Read this new Significant Jewish Books selection
reviewed in the fall issue of RJ magazine, and join in the discussion in our "virtual book club." Read more »
"This past June [we attended] services at a fledgling congregation in downtown Tel Aviv, followed by potluck supper with the congregants… We American visitors were greeted warmly and graciously at T'filat HaLev, and more concessions were made to us English-speakers than I've experienced at other Israeli Progressive congregations. …But the hospitality and spirituality were the least of our take-aways from a remarkable Shabbat." Read more »
While having been in the camping/Israel programs "business" for more than 35 years, I remain in awe of my friends and colleagues who willingly take responsibility for other people's children summer after summer. Anyone who has been connected to Jewish camping knows that the job of camp director has changed radically in the last 10+ years. Read more »
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