Rabbi Rick Jacobs

Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him) is the president of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the largest Jewish movement in North America, with almost 850 congregations and nearly 1.5 million members. An innovative thought leader, dynamic visionary, and representative of progressive Judaism, he spent 20 years as the spiritual leader of Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, NY. Deeply dedicated to global social justice issues, he has led disaster response efforts in Haiti and Darfur.
Learn more about Rabbi Rick Jacobs.
Calling Out Antisemitism Wherever It Is Found, Especially When Criticism of Israel Crosses the Line Into Antisemitism
Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Read Rabbi Rick Jacobs' remarks at the recent webinar co-hosted by the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
On Interpreting the Pew Survey of Jewish Americans in 2020
Rabbi Rick Jacobs
They cannot determine what the future will be but give us a snapshot of where we are. And they allow us to be strategic and smart about how we steer Jewish life.
We Hold All of these Truths
Rabbi Rick Jacobs
The current wave of violence in Israel and Gaza is a heartbreaking human tragedy. The loss of innocent life (including that of children) rends the heart, destruction of homes and endemic fear defy the peace and security in which every human being deserves to live.
Ethics Accountability for Sexual Misconduct is Crucial to the Safety of Our Communities
Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Much communal focus has been appropriately directed at making the places we Jews gather safe from violent attacks by those who wish to cause us harm, from the spread of the deadly coronavirus during the pandemic, and other grave external threats. The time is long overdue, however, to confront an internal threat: abuse, misconduct, especially sexual misconduct in spaces for which the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) is responsible.
Important Message on Ethics Accountability
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman
Rabbi Rick Jacobs
In recent weeks, there have been several public reports of leaders in our Reform Jewish Movement who have engaged in abuse, misconduct, and sexual assault. The pain endured by the victims is heartbreaking. We hope the reports of these brave victims will empower others who have suffered in silence to come forward so that there can be both accountability and healing. We commit without hesitation that the Union for Reform Judaism (the URJ) will address all reports of misconduct appropriately and transparently, centering the survivors as we move forward.