President Barack Obama, with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius behind him, announces a new health care policy. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
The Jewish community sees a number of effective ways that Medicaid can be reformed while realizing cost savings and maintaining vital services for disabled people, write Rabbi David Saperstein and William Daroff. Read more »
The URJ mourns the passing of Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut, z"l. Learn more about the life, work, and monumental influence of this great scholar, read remembrances, and share your own. Read more »
In our rush to cater to young families and to place important and necessary resources in our religious schools, we must also devote time to nourishing our oldest, longest term members. Read more »
Israeli elections have rarely hinged on socioeconomic issues. Barring a major security flare-up -- like an attack on Iran -- that may be changing. Read more »
If U.S. aid to Egypt is cut amid deteriorating relations between Washington and Cairo, a crucial lever of U.S. influence in the region would be gone, with implications not just for Israel-Egypt relations but for America's ability to contain Iran. Read more »
Are intergroup rivalries or genuine concerns behind the effort by European Jewish leaders to discredit the "Jewish parliament" launching this week in Brussels and backed by two Ukrainian Jewish moguls? Read more »
French Jewish support for President Nicolas Sarkozy outpaces that of non-Jewish French, but with the country's economy stumbling and some Jews less than thrilled with his record on the Middle East, he may not find the same kind of backing among Jews from when he ran in 2007. Read more »
More than 65 years ago, Evan Kaufmann's great-grandparents were murdered in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Now he is taking the ice for the German national hockey team. Read more »
Rabbi Eric Yoffie asserts the need for religion over spirituality, "there is no substitute for religion of the organized sort. Spirituality is a day trip, while religion is a journey." Read more »
It has been said that "charity begins at home," but it doesn't end there. In performing acts of loving-kindness among our inner circles, we build an outlook and perspective that will be reflected in every individual action and interaction in the world. Read more »
Rabbi David Saperstein says: "In crafting his budget, President Obama has made many difficult choices, reflecting the trying times of our day. Not surprisingly, we are pleased by some of the choices and disappointed by others." Read more »
On one level, M’gillat Esther is a simple story whose meaning appears to be obvious. Yet as we explore the text more closely...It is filled with references to power and violence, sexual improprieties and anti-Semitism. Read more »
Rabbis Kravitz and Olitzky shed new light on this familiar story by combining traditional rabbinic views and contemporary literary criticism to create a readable and relevant commentary. Receive 10% off the book at checkout by using Coupon Code: Purim10. Read more »
This month, the URJ highlights Caring Community resources, including the Caring Community 101 guides and resources for Jewish Disability Awareness Month. Read more »
Member congregations are encouraged to contact Rabbi Edythe Held Mencher from the Union's Congregational Consulting Group for additional resources and support.
The URJ Camp and Israel Programs are committed to providing a Reform Jewish summer experience to all children, including those with special needs. Read more »
Just two weeks left to apply for a URJ Incubator Grant! The URJ is offering up to $5,000 to help launch creative projects for actively attracting new people to Reform synagogue life. Applications due February 28. Read more »
March 24-25 in Sacramento, CA May 4-5- Lake Charles, LA May 11-12 in South Bend, IN June 16 in Harrisburg, PA
Join other members from small congregations to study together, network with like-minded lay leaders and learn from a vibrant community of committed learners and knowledgeable teachers. Topics include leadership development, finances and outreach. Read more »
Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv and Jaffa: work with Israelis directly on the ground in communities in need, foster coexistence, study Hebrew and Arabic, and live in a close community of dedicated peers. Read more »
The World Union for Progressive Judaism, speaking on behalf its 1.8 million members, is outraged and appalled by the on-going murders in Syria of its own citizens, perpetrated by the Government and President of Syria. Read more »
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