Israeli author David Grossman carries a Torah donated in honor of his fallen soldier son, Uri, into the Progressive synagogue in Mevasseret Zion. (Photo from WUPJ)

Rabbi Jacobs: A Torah for Israel's Memorial Day and Independence Day 5772

Rabbi Rick Jacobs tells the powerful story of Uri Grossman, who died on the last day of the Second Lebanon War. Read more »

See also:

• For Our Creative Survival: by Rabbi Eric Yoffie

• Yom HaZikaron Moments by Rabbi Daniel Allen

• An Israeli Perspective:
  Memorial and Independence Day

• JTA: At Yom Ha’atzmaut, school shows it’s OK for Jewish, Arab students to have differences

• Huffington Post: Liberal Zionists Speak Out

REFORM MOVEMENT
IN THE NEWS

Jewish Chronicle: Pesner lays out plan to re-engage Jewish youth

One of the highest-ranking leaders of the Reform Movement laid out a four-part plan to keep young Jews engaged in their faith for life. Read more »

Jerusalem Post: Religious streams join in appeal to release Pollard

In their appeals to Obama, the Jewish leaders threw their weight behind an official request from President Shimon Peres. Read more »

Des Moines Register: Growing past hate: 'Restorative justice' helps heal pain from teens' vandalism

After hours of exchanging stories, teens from the Aryan Nation school and several Holocaust survivors came to understand one another better. Read more »

New Jersey Jewish Standard:
Al Vorspan: Shrill and Proud

Al Vorspan, Senior Vice-President Emeritus of the URJ and Director of its Commission on Social Action for 50 years, speaks candidly about his work in the civil rights movement, then and now. Read more »

Chicago Sun-Times: Skokie temple's Mitzvah Day helping traumatized children

Synagogue members came together to perform good deeds, among the most notable was their contribution to Project Linus, an initiative to make blankets for children in need. Read more »

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Jewish teens dedicate day to community service

Nearly 250 Jewish teenagers dedicated a total of 625 collective volunteer hours to bettering their Pittsburgh community. Read more »

Jewish Journal: Raising the bar brings zest, creativity to rite of passage

Families across the Jewish spectrum are creating highly personalized b'nai mitzvah that let kids find more meaning in their Torah portions. Read more »

Colorado Springs Gazette: Springs Jewish temple vandalized on Hitler's birthday

Vandals painted swastikas on a Colorado Springs Jewish temple early Friday in an apparent hate crime. Read more »

Buffalo News: Two temples merging into Congregation Shir Shalom

The merger is unusual because it involves two different movements within Judaism. Temple Beth Am is Reform, while Temple Sinai is Reconstructionist. Read more »

JTA: Baltimore synagogue offers to share parking lot with mosque

A synagogue in a Baltimore suburb with a large Orthodox Jewish population has offered to share its parking lot with a mosque. Read more »

JEWISH WORLD NEWS

Obama letter to Peres: U.S. commitment to Israel 'strong'

Obama outlines Holocaust lessons that are particular and universal

FBI: Radicalized individuals, Hezbollah are potential terror threats for Detroit-area Jews

Haaretz: Israeli Conservative Movement approves ordination of gay rabbis

Israeli military chief Gantz: Iran has not decided to make a nuclear weapon

Sarkozy stumbles in first round of French vote, but Jewish support still strong

'60 Minutes' slammed on segment on Christians in Israel

Spotlight: Israel

In April, the URJ highlights Israel resources to help you and your congregations strengthen your connection to the Jewish State. Read more »

Reform Israel Shabbat

This weekend is Reform Israel Shabbat, a Movement-wide opportunity to recognize the growth of Reform Judaism in Israel. Read more »

Israel by Israelis: My Homeland,
My Self

Reform Israelis discuss what it's really like to live as a Reform Jew in Israel. Read more »

Israeli Dining:
The Restaurant Revolution

Israel's preeminent restaurant and wine critic Daniel Rogov offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Israeli restaurants have become top dining destinations. Read more »

The Challenges of Giving and Receiving

Rabbi Bradley Solmsen, URJ's incoming director of youth engagement, reflects on lessons learned - and questions asked - during his sabbatical in Israel. Read more »

Making Connections

Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York, NY, has embarked on a major partnership with a congregation in Israel, "that has brought two families together." Read more »

Make Sure Teens and Young Adults in Your Community Experience Israel!

• NFTY in Israel – Europe and Israel

• NFTY-EIE High School in Israel – fully-accredited summer academic program - Scholarships available!

• Netzer Year Israel Leadership
  Program for High School Grads
• Tikkun Olam Tel Aviv-Jaffa
  Program for College Grads
• Israel Teaching Fellows for College Grads

UNION NEWS

Jewish Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Awareness Shabbat

May 4-5:Promote inclusion of those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in Jewish life. Read more »

Teens Take Action!

May 6: Get your teens involved in NFTY's Mitzvah Day. Read more »

Summer is around the corner!

Spaces are still available for campers and staff at URJ Camp and Israel programs! Read more »

Registration is now open for these popular URJ training opportunities:

• Small Congregations Kallot
  May 11-12 in South Bend, IN
  June 16 in Harrisburg, PA
• Mifgash Musicale A Musical Happening! - July 22-July 26, in Cincinnati, OH.

Learn. Worship. Kibbitz.

Aug. 8-12, Cincinnati, OH. URJ's Summer Learning Institute is like "camp for adults." Read more »

Detroit: Because We Could
Not Stay Away

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism's Mark Pelavin explains why our Movement met in Detroit this week. Read more »

A Gem Grows in Brooklyn

Vote for Brooklyn's Congregation Beth Elohim, chosen as one of only 40 finalists in American Express’ Partners in Preservation program with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Read more »

Rabbi Jonah Pesner of the URJ to be Honored with the Tekiah Social Justice Award

During his 20-year career, Pesner has engaged thousands of synagogue congregants in successful campaigns for health care access, affordable housing, public education, gay and lesbian rights, and rights for nursing care workers. Read more »

URJ Books and Music: Shabbat Anthology Volume VI (Book/CD Set) New and newly-arranged music for today's worship. Receive 10% off the book at checkout by using Coupon Code: SA610. Read more »

Offer A Taste of Judaism to Existing and Potential Congregants

The URJ's "A Taste of Judaism" class makes exploring Judaism easy for individuals who are interested but do not know where to begin, and provides access for those who are unaffiliated to step into a synagogue and learn. Find out how to offer. Read more »

D'var Torah Tazria/M'tzora: Broken Pieces of God's World

Rabbi Billy Dreskin reminds us that even though we may be blemished, God does not abandon us. Read more »

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