Blog Filtered | Union for Reform Judaism

Doctor vaccinating a young woman in the arm while both wear masks

Vaccinating the Most Vulnerable Requires Proactive Congregational Effort

Rabbi Fred Guttman

Robert Wineburg

February 18, 2021

Judaism’s foremost physician made clear that providing healthcare to the community is fundamentally connected to the spiritual and moral health of society. Nine centuries later, with COVID-19 raging all around us, the urgent relevance of the Rambam’s words could not be clearer.

Screencap of teens gathered together on ZOom with an NC21 overlay atop it

NFTY Convention

Connecting During COVID: NFTY Convention 2021

Fletcher Block

Lynne Butner

February 16, 2021

The weekend was extraordinary. Teens shared that it was the best virtual experience they had this year - that it felt as close as it could get to an in-person experience. Many said that they felt a new connection to NFTY.

White railing with an EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY sign in red

COVID-19

6 Things You Should be Doing to Improve Your Congregation’s Security

Amy Asin

February 15, 2021

Tthere are critical tasks to be done to ensure congregational safety and security both now and as we reopen. The results of the URJ’s synagogue security survey points to six things you should be doing to make sure you're prepared.

Rabbi smiling and welcoming a small group of people to services

Caring Communities

Welcoming vs. Belonging: A Key Step in Making Our Communities Diverse and Whole

Rachel Hall

February 4, 2021

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.

Small Star of David held up against a sunset

Congregational Benefits & Services

The Reform Movement’s Commitment to a Brighter Future in 2021

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

February 2, 2021

Though the terrain may be uncertain, we are guided by our deep commitments to justice, learning, and action. As we walk hand-in-hand into 2021, let us make this year one filled with purpose, joy, nourishment, and a renewed sense of hope.

Aerial view of a laptop on a wooden table surrounded by items including a coffee mug and a pair of glasses

Strengthening Congregations

8 Helpful Communications Tools Included in Your Congregation’s URJ Membership

Amy Asin

January 26, 2021

As you plan your communications for the coming year, make sure you take advantage of these resources that are available to your URJ member congregation

Worship

Watch "Healing, Hope, Action," a Reform Jewish Gathering after the U.S. Capitol Insurrection

Kate Bigam Kaput

January 8, 2021

Before the start of Shabbat, the Reform Jewish community hosted a live webinar, "Healing, Hope, Action: A Reform Movement Pre-Shabbat Gathering," sharing a Jewish framing for what we’re experiencing communally and as a country.

Worship

Worship in the Time of Pandemic: What We Have Learned

Cantor Rosalie Will

December 21, 2020

During the High Holidays, our Reform clergy faced the challenge of maintaining the sense of awe and continuity while at the same time finding new ways to create a meaningful worship experience as they livestreamed to empty sanctuaries.

The late Joseph Dropkin dressed up on a pink hat glasses and feather boa for an annual Purim spiel

Caring Communities

The Value of Sacred Community: Sharing One Congregant’s Powerful Legacy

Cantor Lauren Phillips Fogelman

December 15, 2020

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

Collage of four images of kids doing various activities in front of a computer like chess and crafts

Summer Youth Experiences

Expand Your Congregation’s Reach: New Arts & STEM Online Programming for Jewish Families

December 14, 2020

These all-new winter sessions are perfect for families to enjoy high-quality, remote Jewish experiences that speak to them, on a schedule that works for their life. New, unaffiliated families will be connected with URJ congregations in their area – like yours!

Related Blog Posts on COVID-19, High Holidays, Strengthening Congregations, and Worship