Shelley Niceley Groff

Shelley Niceley Groff

Shelley Niceley Groff (she/her), Chair of the North American Board of the Union for Reform Judaism, leads a Board and Executive Board of more than 200 members from across North America. The North American Board works in close partnership with Rabbi Rick Jacobs, URJ President, the URJ Senior Leadership Team and staff, and Reform Movement partners, to advance the mission, vision, and values of the URJ.

Prior to serving as Chair, Shelley served as URJ Vice Chair and led in diverse roles including in the areas of camping and youth engagement, ethics accountability, budget oversight, congregational support, and lay leader engagement. Along with that experience, Shelley holds a deep belief in the values of Reform Judaism and a firm commitment to the Reform Movement. Learn more about Shelley Nicely Groff.

A compass with the needle pointing to the word ETHICS to illustrate ethical accountability for sexual abuse in our institutions

URJ February 2025 Ethics Communication

Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Shelley Niceley Groff
The URJ Ethics Committee, chaired by URJ North American Board members Blair Marks and Dr. Steve Weitz, continues to work with URJ staff to ensure that our environments are safe, equitable, and inclusive for all.
Smiling teen girl holding a Torah in a crowd of teens

Teens Take the Lead: Reflecting on NFTY Convention and What Comes Next

Shelley Niceley Groff

Pulsing music. Cheering crowds. A roar of enthusiasm as fans rushed the stage. 

No, these aren’t scenes from the last time I went to a Bruce Springsteen concert. Rather, they're from this past Friday night as I celebrated Shabbat with 1,400 Jewish teens