Related Blog Posts on Caring Communities

Across North America, Reform congregations are finding creative ways to strengthen community, live out Jewish values, and pursue justice. Whether investing in Jewish youth in Louisiana, turning a lighthearted NBA rivalry into community action in Indiana and

The URJ's North American Congregation Services & Community Vibrancy team is committed to listening to and learning from you - our lay and professional leaders - as we work together to continue building a dynamic network of Jewish communities that reflect the diversity of our Movement and models our values.

People can now form communities regardless of where they live, and accessibility has increased with the rise of online communities. Two such communities have recently partnered with the URJ in its 150th year— HaNefesh and Keeping It Sacred.

Those of us on the margins are not exceptions to a “normal” Jewish community; we are an integral part of the community itself, and we want to know that you know: We all belong here.

Let’s honor our elders by engaging in hiddur p’nai zaken, and support our teens by bringing them together in community to learn, celebrate, and be fully human together.

Two beloved public figures succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2020: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Alex Trebek. The congregational family at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester mourns the loss of one of our own, who was taken from us by this dreadful disease: Joseph

With no large gatherings or festive parades through the streets, how do we celebrate? It’s important to remember that LGBTQIA+ Pride itself is not something that can be cancelled, and there are many ways your congregation can safely celebrate and honor LGBTQIA+ Jews and our families.

As we struggle to consider all our options in this ever-changing environment, we strive to make decisions using a values-based matrix that will help us to act in a consistent manner that is in line with Jewish tradition and modern sensibility.

Recently, our synagogue leaders found itself in a similar position to Nachson. With news that coronavirus had reached our community, we stood between a known threat and unknown consequences.