Standing for Inclusion and Love
"What if people protest the program and disrupt Shabbat?" I admit, I heard a loud voice in my head repeating this question as our Pride Shabbat festivities approached last June.
Bet Mitzvah: A Milestone for All
Rabbi Gubitz outlined why many synagogues across the country are adopting a more gender inclusive term to name the Jewish coming of age ceremony traditionally called bat or bar mitzvah. Many communities striving to be places of belonging are wondering which term to use in their congregations.
A $3,250 Gift for Your B’nei Mitzvah Teens
We are excited to announce that, thanks to a generous commitment from RootOne LLC (seeded by The Marcus Foundation and powered by The Jewish Education Project), the certificate will now be worth $3,250!* We hope that this increased amount allows all Reform Jewish teens to travel to Israel as a rite of passage.
Organizational Partners in Action: How the Jewish Grandparents Network, URJ, and Keshet Partnered to Support Grandparents of Transgender, Non-binary, and Gender-expansive Youth
Along with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the Jewish Grandparents Network (JGN) and Keshet share a commitment to an inclusive Jewish community that reflects and affirms marginalized identities. We realized we could have the greatest impact towards a more inclusive community if we worked together.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs’ Remarks on Reform LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), recently attended the 50th anniversary celebration of Beth Chayim Chadashim in Los Angeles, California, the world's first LGBTQ+ congregation. This is a excerpt taken from his remarks at the event.
Putting the Mitzvah Back into B’nei Mitzvah
When a colleague told me guests at his daughter’s bat mitzvah would pack grains and canned goods for the homeless, I was nonplussed. His explanation changed my thinking.
Let's Talk Jewish Lifecycle: A Day of Learning with Bestselling Author Anita Diamant
If you want to dig deeper on this topic, as I do, join congregational leaders across North America for a live interview with Anita Diamant on The Jewish Wedding Now and the changing landscape of Judaism.
3 Rules for a Better Bar or Bat Mitzvah: The URJ Responds
Mark Oppenheimer's article for Tablet overlaps with much of our own work at the Union for Reform Judaism’s B’nei Mitzvah Revolution (BMR).
Building a B'nei Mitzvah Community, One Retreat at a Time
Read about how one congregation infused the beginning of its b’nei mitzvah process with something more meaningful than a date assignment, and found ways to connect their b'nei mitzvah families to each other.
How Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Revolutionized Our B'nei Mitzvah Tutoring Program
When students become Tzofim, they become essential: They have a valuable role to fulfill and an important place within our synagogue community.
